Document Document Title
US08069414B2 Embedded video player
A system, method and various user interfaces provide an embedded web-based video player for navigating video playlists and playing video content. A website publisher can create and store a video player with customized parameters (e.g., player type, appearance, advertising options, etc.) and can associate the player with a playlist of selected videos. The stored video player is associated with a player ID in a player database and can be embedded in a website using an embed code referencing the player ID. A user interface for the embedded player provides controls for controlling video playback and for controlling the selection of a video from the playlist.
US08069411B2 System and method for auto-reuse of document text
A system and method for automatically reusing document text (e.g. repeated phrases or lists) in a newly created document having a predetermined document type (e.g. medical record). The present invention determines whether business rules exist for the predetermined document type associated with the newly created document. If business rules for the predetermined document type exist, the present invention determines whether the user has previously requested document text reuse for the newly created document. If the user has not previously requested document text reuse for the newly created document, the present invention selects document text from one or more stored documents in accordance with the business rules for the predetermined document type corresponding to the newly created document. The present invention then automatically inserts the selected document text into the newly created document.
US08069409B2 Customized remote access to imaging node front panels
Methods and systems for customized remote access to imaging node front panels offer improvements in the areas of unified access, on-screen viewing and comprehension of front panels delivered by diverse imaging nodes to remote client nodes. The imaging nodes may be diverse, for example, in terms of message formats used to deliver front panel data, screen resolution assumptions implicit in front panel data and languages in which front panel data are delivered. Customization is provided, in some embodiments, by a server node that intermediates between the imaging nodes and the client nodes.
US08069400B2 Optimal circular buffer rate matching for turbo code
Optimal circular buffer rate matching for turbo code. An offset index, δ, of 3 and a skipping index, σ, of 3 is employed in accordance with circular buffer rate matching. This allows less puncturing of information bits and more puncturing of redundancy/parity bits (e.g., which can provide for a higher rate). Multiple turbo codes may be generated from a mother code such that each generated turbo code can be employed to encode information bits. For example, a first turbo coded signal can be generated using a first turbo code generated from the mother code, and a second turbo coded signal can be generated using a second turbo code generated from the mother code. Any of these turbo coded signal can be decoded using parallel decoding processing or a single turbo decoder (when each turbo coded signal undergoes processing to transform it back to the mother code format).
US08069397B2 Use of ECC with iterative decoding for iterative and non-iterative decoding in a read channel for a disk drive
A scheme in which a first decoder provides first decoding of a signal read from a disk. A second decoder, coupled to an output of the first decoder, combines with the first decoder to provide iterative decoding to recover data stored on the disk when in an iterative mode of operation. However, when in a non-iterative mode of operation, the output of the first decoder is coupled to an error correction code module to apply error correction code (ECC) to the output of the first decoder to recover data stored on the disk by non-iterative decoding.
US08069387B2 Turbo coding having combined turbo de-padding and rate matching de-padding
Turbo coding having combined turbo de-padding and rate matching de-padding. An approach is presented by which a singular module is operable to perform both zero bit de-padding and dummy bit de-padding in accordance with turbo encoding. Zero padding can be performed on an input information stream before undergoing turbo encoding. One or more of the 3 outputs from the turbo encoding module (e.g., systematic bits, parity 1 bits, and parity 2 bits) may then undergo dummy bit padding as well. Thereafter, these 3 streams (some or all of which may have undergone dummy bit padding) undergo sub-block interleaving. After all of these operations have taken place, a singular combined de-padding module that can be employed to perform de-padding any zero padded bits and any dummy padded bits from each of the three streams that have undergone the sub-block interleaving.
US08069385B1 Programmable built-in self-test architecture
A PBIST architecture is described. A data path circuit is configured for bit-to-associated bit comparisons of expected result data read from a tile with the expected result data read from result memory. The data path circuit is configured to write a first type of failure indication to first failure memory responsive to a data 0 being read from the result memory and a data 1 being read from the tile for a bit-to-associated bit comparison failure. The data path circuit is further configured to write a second type of failure indication to second failure memory responsive to a data 1 being read from the result memory and a data 0 being read from the tile for the bit-to-associated bit comparison.
US08069380B2 Method, system and computer-readable code to test flash memory
A flash memory device includes a flash memory residing on at least one flash memory die. The flash memory device also includes a flash controller residing on a flash controller die that is separate from the at least one flash memory die. The flash memory and the flash controller reside within, reside on, or are attached to a common housing. The flash controller is configured to execute at least one test program to test at least one flash memory die.
US08069376B2 On-line testing for decode logic
Methods and apparatuses for on-line testing for decode logic are presented. In one embodiment, a processor comprises translation logic to decode an instruction to micro-operations and extraction logic to determine first information about numbers of occurrences of fields in the micro-operations. In one embodiment, the processor further comprises verification logic to indicate whether the decoding results of the instruction are accurate based at least on the first information.
US08069370B1 Fault identification of multi-host complex systems with timesliding window analysis in a time series
A method and apparatus is provided for determining the most probable cause of a problem observed in a complex multi-host system. The approach relies on a probabilistic model to represent causes and effects in a complex computing system. However, complex systems include a multitude of independently operating components that can cause temporary anomalous states. To reduce the resources required to perform root cause analysis on each transient failure, as well as to raise the confidence in the most probable cause of a failure that is identified by the model, inputs to the probabilistic model are aggregated over a sliding window of values from the recent past.
US08069358B2 Independent power control of processing cores
Independent power control of two or more processing cores. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the invention pertains to a technique to place at least one processing core in a power state without coordinating with the power state of one or more other processing cores.
US08069357B2 Multi-processor control device and method
A multi-processor control device according to an example of the invention comprises a cooperative control unit which determines priorities of requests issued from processors to a shared resource which are used to suppress a total power consumption of the processors within a range in which performance constraints of programs executed by the processors are satisfied, and determines a frequency of each of the processors so as to suppress the total power consumption within the range in which the performance constraint of the each program is satisfied, a first control unit which issues requests from the processors to the shared resource in accordance with priorities determined by the cooperative control unit, and a second control unit which controls the frequency of each of the processors in accordance with the frequency determined by the cooperative control unit.
US08069356B2 Accessory power management
Methods, apparatus, and circuits for managing power among portable computing devices and one or more accessories. One example provides commands to improve power management between a portable computing device and one or more accessories. Other examples provide commands that may allow a portable computing device to charge at a maximum available current level while providing an accessory with sufficient current for its proper operation. Another may help prevent a portable computing device from drawing a high level of current that could be detrimental to an accessory, while others provide commands that may allow a battery pack to instruct a portable computing device to not charge its internal battery. Another example may allow a portable computing device to determine which power supply among multiple power supplies should be used to power an accessory, while others may allow an accessory to retrieve charging current parameters from a portable computing device.
US08069352B2 Device, system and method for timestamp analysis of segments in a transmission control protocol (TCP) session
A method performed in an intrusion detection/prevention system, a system or a device for determining whether a transmission control protocol (TCP) segment in a TCP connection in a communication network is acceptable. The TCP connection can include TCP segments beginning with a three way handshake. A TCP segment can include a field for a timestamp. A timestamp policy of plural timestamp policies is identified, the timestamp policy corresponding to a target associated with the segments in a TCP connection. A baseline timestamp is identified based on a three way handshake in the TCP connection. Segments in the TCP connection are monitored. The segments in the TCP connection are filtered as indicated in the timestamp policy corresponding to the target, the timestamp policy indicating whether the segments are to be filtered out or forwarded to the target by comparing the timestamp of the segments to the baseline timestamp.
US08069340B2 Microprocessor with microarchitecture for efficiently executing read/modify/write memory operand instructions
A microprocessor instruction translator translates a macroinstruction into three microinstructions to perform a read/modify/write operation on a memory operand. A first microinstruction instructs the microprocessor to calculate a source address and to load the memory operand into the microprocessor from memory at the source address and to calculate a destination address. The second microinstruction instructs the microprocessor to perform an arithmetic or logical operation on the loaded memory operand to generate a result. The third microinstruction instructs the microprocessor to write the result to memory at the destination address calculated by the first microinstruction. A first execution unit receives the first microinstruction and responsively calculates the source address and loads the memory operand into the microprocessor from memory at the source address. A second execution unit also receives the first microinstruction and calculates the destination address. The first and second execution units are distinct execution units within the microprocessor.
US08069327B2 Commands scheduled for frequency mismatch bubbles
In some embodiments, a chip includes chip interface transmitters, a chip, and clock gearing logic. The transmitters are to transmit signals in frames including slots. The scheduler is to schedule signals at a first frequency including commands for first slots of the frames in general and commands for second slots of at least some frames immediately preceding frequency mismatch bubbles occurring when the frames are at a second frequency. The clock gearing logic is to provide the signals having the first frequency from the scheduler to the transmitters at the second frequency. Other embodiments are described.
US08069326B2 Relocation system and a relocation method
Provided are a relocation system and a relocation method capable of relocating a virtual volume that is formed based on thin provisioning while ensuring security against exhaustion of pools. A database stores attribute information for pools and virtual volumes for thin provisioning that exist in a storage device as well as parameters for predicting time period till exhaustion of the pools. When a virtual volume is to be relocated between a plurality of pools, a relocation control section predicts time periods till exhaustion of the pools before and after relocation based on information in the database and determines the relocation is possible or not based on the result of prediction or determines an appropriate relocation plan. This enables control of relocation of virtual volumes.
US08069322B2 Active-active remote configuration of a storage system
A method for data storage, including configuring a first logical volume on a first storage system and a second logical volume on a second storage system. The second logical volume is configured as a mirror of the first logical volume, so that the first and second logical volumes form a single logical mirrored volume. The method also includes receiving at the second storage system a command submitted by a host to write data to the logical mirrored volume, and transferring the command from the second storage system to the first storage system without writing the data to the second logical volume. On receipt of the command at the first storage system, the data is written to the first logical volume. Subsequent to writing the data to the first logical volume, the data is mirrored on the second logical volume.
US08069321B2 Secondary pools
Methods and apparatus for generating a secondary pool of data are disclosed. A primary pool of data is obtained or identified, where the primary pool of data includes a primary seed and one or more generations of data, wherein each of the generations of data in the primary pool of data includes one or more data blocks that have changed with reference to a safeset corresponding to a previous backup, the safeset corresponding to the previous backup including (e.g., referencing) the primary seed. A secondary pool of data is generated and at least a portion of the data in the primary pool of data is transferred to the secondary pool of data.
US08069317B2 Providing and utilizing high performance block storage metadata
An enhanced mechanism for the allocation, organization and utilization of high performance block storage metadata provides a stream of data (e.g., in a server system, storage system, DASD, etc.) that includes a sequence of fixed-size blocks which together define a page. Each of the fixed-size blocks includes a data block and a footer. A high performance block storage metadata unit associated with the page is created from a confluence of the footers. Each footer in the confluence of footers has space available for application metadata, which are provided as one or more information units. At least one of the footers includes a Checksum field containing a checksum that covers at least the confluence of footers. This approach is advantageous in that it provides data integrity protection, protects against stale data, and significantly increases the amount of metadata space available for application use.
US08069312B2 Apparatus, circuit and method of controlling memory initialization
An apparatus includes a first memory which includes a plurality of memory regions, a second memory which stores initializing information indicating whether each of the memory regions is initialized, the second memory controlling a coherency between the first memory and a cache memory, and a control circuit which initializes a memory region based on the initializing information when accessing the memory region.
US08069307B2 Accessing metadata with an external host
Systems and processes may be used to retrieve metadata from a nonvolatile memory of a portable device and transmit the retrieved metadata to an external host. Metadata may be analyzed using the external host and/or at least a portion of the metadata may be modified based on the analysis. Modified metadata may be transmitted from the external host to a memory controller of the host.
US08069304B2 Determining the presence of a pre-specified string in a message
A network device determines the presence of the pre-specified string in a message based on a sequence matching rule. A sequence represents non-contiguous portions of the message. A combination of content addressable memory, programmable processing units, and the programmable control unit may determine the presence of the pre-specified string in the message by comparing the non-contiguous portions of the message. Such an approach may reduce the computational resources required for searching the pre-specified string in the message.
US08069298B2 Method of storing and accessing header data from memory
Methods of storing and accessing data using a header portion of a file are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of storing content in a non-volatile memory is disclosed. The method includes reading a content file including media content and including a trailer, storing information related to the trailer together with secure data in a header portion of a file, and storing the file to a storage element of the non-volatile memory or a memory area of a host device coupled to the non-volatile memory device.
US08069297B2 Storage device, computer system, and storage device access method
A storage device that includes: an address table; a cache memory; a flash memory device that is a storage medium for user data; and a control circuit that is in charge of access management for the flash memory device. In the storage device, the control circuit makes access to the user data on the flash memory device via an address table, in the address table, with an index of an address value generated from an initial logical address, location information is acquired for the user data on the flash memory device corresponding to the index, and the address table is segmented in its entirety into a plurality of small address tables for every area of the index, and the small address tables that are segmentation results are stored in the flash memory device, read as required when the user data is accessed, and expanded on the cache memory with entries of the small address tables.
US08069296B2 Semiconductor memory device including control means and memory system
A semiconductor memory device includes a first nonvolatile memory which has a first external interface and is capable of recording 1-bit data in one memory cell, a second nonvolatile memory which has a test terminal interface and is capable of recording a plurality of data in one memory cell, and a control unit which has a second external interface and is configured to control a physical state of an inside of the second nonvolatile memory.
US08069286B1 Flexible on-chip datapath interface having first and second component interfaces wherein communication is determined based on a type of credit condition
Methods and apparatus are provided for allowing flexible on-chip datapath interfaces on a device. Datapath connections allow data streamlining without any knowledge of channels or packet boundaries. Flexible and modular interface adapters are used to allow component designers to efficiently provide interoperable components without having to adhere to a strict datapath interface specification. Interface adapters from an adapter library are instantiated and configured automatically when two components are connected.
US08069280B2 Direct memory access apparatus for sending data stored in memory separately from an operation of a main processor and direct memory access method using the same
There is provided a direct memory access apparatus and a direct memory access method.The direct memory access apparatus of the present invention comprises: a variable transmission rule map unit for setting a transmission rule with a variable block length and a variable block interval as a unit of memory transmission rule; a direct memory access unit for sending data line of the variable block length and the variable block interval, in case of access to the unit of memory by using the unit of memory transmission rule determined by the variable transmission rule map unit; and an interface unit for retrieving the unit of memory transmission rule, which is necessary for sending the data line of the variable block length and the variable block interval, from the variable transmission rule map unit and sending the unit of memory transmission rule to the direct memory access unit.
US08069270B1 Accelerated tape backup restoration
According to the present invention, methods and apparatus are provided improving reading of a remote tape device by a host through multiple fibre channel switches. A fibre channel switch preemptively sends read requests to a tape device before read requests are received from a host. Flow control, buffer management, and error handling mechanisms are implemented to allow accelerated tape back up restoration while working to prevent buffer overflow and underflow.
US08069269B2 Methods and apparatus for accessing content in a virtual pool on a content addressable storage system
One embodiment is directed to a method of segregating one or more content addressable storage systems into a plurality of virtual pools. The virtual pools can be allocated to different content sources and/or can be assigned to different storage system capabilities. Another embodiment is directed to transmitting with an input/output request for a content unit information specifying at least one storage capability to be applied to the content unit, and/or receiving such an I/O and implementing the specified storage system capabilities. Another embodiment is directed to extracting from an I/O request from a source information relating to an impact of the I/O on at least one characteristic of the content units stored on a CAS system from the source. Another embodiment is directed to storing information for content identifying the source and/or reading information associated with a stored content unit and determining based at least in part thereon, at least one characteristic of the content units stored from a source.
US08069268B2 Recycling items in a network device
A network device includes a data structure and an ager. The data structure includes a group of positions. One or more of the positions are associated with at least one item. The ager is configured to sequentially analyze each position of the group of positions, and recycle, at each analyzed position, any item associated with the analyzed position.
US08069262B2 Method, system and apparatus for playing advertisements
Embodiments of the present invention provide method, system and apparatus for playing advertisements during buffering time in network living broadcasting. The method includes: obtaining, by a network living broadcasting client, streaming media data of a channel currently watched by a user, obtaining an advertisement content file corresponding to the channel, triggering to play the advertisement content file; stopping play the advertisement content file when the amount of the streaming media data retrieved by the network living broadcasting client reaches a pre-determined quantity, and starting to play the streaming media data retrieved. The system includes an advertisement server and a network living broadcasting client.
US08069260B2 Dynamic buffer settings for media playback
Improved responsiveness and reduced latency of media playback on a media player is achieved by dynamic adjustment of storage parameters for the jitter buffer in the media player. Decreasing the size of the jitter buffer to a smaller constant value may provide acceptable, starvation-free playback in many cases. Playback of more demanding files requiring more buffered data for decode are addressed by dynamic adjustment of the jitter buffer parameters. An algorithmic or heuristic process is used to dynamically set the size of the jitter buffer before and during media playback. The jitter buffer size and/or preroll duration may be adjusted based upon the quality of playback experience. If playback starves, the jitter buffer size, starvation threshold, and/or preroll duration is increased before rebuffering and resuming playback. If the jitter buffer remains above a defined threshold for a given period of time, the jitter buffer size and/or preroll duration may be decreased, improving the responsiveness of startup and seek and trick mode operations.
US08069259B2 Managing removal of media titles from a list
The invention can be viewed as a system for providing media information to a user via an interactive media services client device coupled to a programmable television services server device. A method of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes receiving user input and excluding one or more media titles from a media title list based on the user input.
US08069254B2 Communication period management in a communication system
A method for communication period management in a communication system is disclosed. The method may involve determining a duration of a communication period that is scheduled between two electronic devices. The method may then involve determining whether the duration exceeds a threshold. If the duration does not exceed the threshold, the communication period may be unscheduled. Furthermore, the unscheduled time may be rescheduled with another communication period to another electronic device. The method may also involve determining whether a conflict exists between the communication period and any other communication periods that are scheduled to involve either of the electronic devices. If a conflict exists, the communication period may be unscheduled.
US08069249B2 Method, control device and network node for maintaining a connection when a request is pending
A method and a device in a communication apparatus for maintaining an established connection between said apparatus and a network node. The connection is established by a mobility management unit for providing a mobility management procedure. An acceptance message is issued by the node in response to a request relating to a first mobility management procedure. If any request relating to a second mobility management procedure issued by an upper layer is received by the mobility management unit after the request relating to the first procedure is transmitted and before the acceptance message is received, a maintaining request to maintain the connection is transmitted to the node in response to the acceptance message.
US08069246B2 Relay server and relay communication system including a relay group information registration unit, a shared resource information registration unit, and a control unit
A process of automatically transferring a file can be performed via an external network without using a VPN. A plurality of client terminals is separately connected with a relay server and can share a resource. The client terminal monitors the addition of a resource to a specified transfer source folder. When the resource is added, the client terminal adds information regarding the resource to the shared resource information. The updated shared resource information is shared with other client terminals via the relay server. When the client terminal detects the update, the client terminal transmits a resource transfer request to the client terminal via the relay server. When data of the resource is received via the relay server, the client terminal stores the resource in a specified transfer destination folder.
US08069242B2 System, method, and software for integrating cloud computing systems
A method for integrating cloud computing systems includes establishing a connection between a cloud computing system architecture and cloud computing systems. Each of the cloud computing systems includes computing resources. The method further includes integrating the computing resources with an external integration architecture by establishing a second connection between the cloud computing system architecture and the external integration architecture. The external integration architecture includes IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) software components. The cloud computing system architecture includes management components that provide integration points to connect the ITIL software components with the computing resources.
US08069241B2 Method and apparatus utilizing protocol hierarchy to configure or monitor an interface device
A method and apparatus for establishing a communication means for an interfacing device that utilizes a communication means hierarchy to decipher a communication means to be used by other hardware devices so that they may operative cooperatively. Particularly, a controlling device queries an interfacing device for the manufacturer of the interfacing device. If the manufacturer is determinable, then the controlling device queries the interfacing device for the model of the interfacing device. This querying for the model utilizes the identity of the manufacturer by using communication means that are particular to the manufacturer to query the interfacing device. Based on the information queried from the interfacing device, the controlling device is able to decipher the best known communication means for the interfacing device.
US08069237B2 Network system, information management server, and information management method
To reduce the load on a management server in a load distributed system, a server list manager 16 of a management server 10 selects servers 4, 6, 20, and 30 to be accessed by a client terminal management server 43 by referencing an operation status or a load status of the servers 4, 6, 20, and 30, generates a server list, and sends the generated server list to the client terminal management server 43. An inquiry unit 47 of the client terminal management server 43 regularly sends an inquiry to the network monitoring server 30, which is included in the server list 45, to ascertain whether or not information has been updated. If the information has been updated, an information collection unit 48 acquires a corresponding latest module and a rule base from the information providing server 20 included in the server list 45 based on information from the network monitoring server 30.
US08069233B2 Switch management system and method
A system and method of managing a switch includes installing a switch having a plurality of processor elements, installing an operating system on each processor element, creating a system virtual router and configuring the processor elements from the system virtual router.
US08069229B2 Topology static zones
Systems and techniques are provided for Topology-Static (TS) architecture within a computer system, and more particularly to the management of a Topology-Static architecture incorporating a storage area network (SAN). A SAN management system for monitoring and controlling zone integrity of a SAN. The SAN management system includes a monitoring module coupled to a SAN zone that includes at least one loop and optionally at least one fabric switch. When the status of the SAN zone changes, the monitoring manager sends an intimating signal to a zone manager. The zone manager determines whether such intimating signal is associated with a change pertaining to a node of any TS-Zone in “I” mode. If so, the zone manger sends a request to a switch manager for execution. After the execution, the zone manager further updates information stored in an internal storage relating to the change event.
US08069228B2 Preventing access of a network facility in response to an operation
Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for context sensitive selective control of usage of connection(s) to telecommunications networks, especially Internet and the like.Provision is made for allowing certain resource(s) to exploit Internet while disallowing other resource(s) from doing the same, and making the implementation hardened against attack or compromise. An exemplary implementation is to allow anti-malware products to update over Internet while preventing malware from interfering or using the same communications resource simultaneously. Previously developed implementations have shortcoming that are overcome by the present invention.
US08069220B2 System and method for providing a web-based operating system
A system and method for providing a web-based operating system is disclosed. A web-based operating system is downloaded from a server to a network-enabled device. The web-based operating system provides a platform from which to run web-based computer applications. Web-based computer applications are downloaded from the server onto the network-enabled device, and executed in conjunction with the web-based operating system. Those portions of the web-based operating system software and web-based computer application software are downloaded to the network-enabled device as needed. A component-based environment for the development and deployment of a web-based operating system and web-based computer applications is also provided. Components are deployed within library files as part of a component-based development model. The web-based operating system downloads those library files needed to execute the web-based computer applications.
US08069211B2 High availability message transfer system for side effect messages
Architecture that protects side effect messages by associating the side effect messages with a primary (redundant) message that was received by a transport mechanism (e.g., a message transport agent). Side effect messages are considered “side effects” of a primary message that caused generation of the side effect messages. The primary message is only considered fully delivered after the primary message and all associated side effect messages are delivered, after which the source of the primary message is ACK'd (sent an “ACKnowledgement” message). Hence, in case of hardware failures after the primary message was delivered, but before delivery of side effect messages, the redundancy approach used triggers re-delivery of the primary message and re-generation and delivery of the side effect messages.
US08069206B2 System and method for real-time feedback with conservative network usage in a teleconferencing system
Disclosed herein are teleconferencing devices having remote access monitoring and control functions, and network systems and methods including and using the same. Also disclosed herein are methods for interacting with teleconferencing devices over an HTTP or other network service utilizing a persistent network connection and systems which implement the methods. Also disclosed are systems that permit clients to select which types of information to be updated in real-time to conserve bandwidth. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.
US08069202B1 Creating a projection of a situational network
A method of creating a projection of a situational network includes creating, by an event node server, an event node in a multi-dimensional personal information network, where the event node corresponds to a situation. A projection of nodes of the situational network is formed using geographic locations of a plurality of devices corresponding to nodes in the multi-dimensional personal information network. An invitation is transmitted to establish a link with the event node server to the devices corresponding to each node in the projection. A response is received from at least one of the devices accepting the invitation to establish a link with the event node server. A link with each device accepting the invitation is established.
US08069191B2 Method, an apparatus and a system for managing a snapshot storage pool
Some embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus and a method of managing a snapshot storage pool (SSP) associated with a storage unit of a distributed data storage system. According to some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may include a logic module and a controller. The logic module may be adapted to provide a threshold corresponding to a ratio between a current amount of storage resources used for storing snapshots in the SSP and a total storage capacity defined for the SSP. The controller may be adapted to trigger an action which may be effective for managing the SSP in response to the amount of storage resources used for storing snapshots in the SSP crossing the threshold.
US08069185B2 Information retrieval
A concept dictionary is generated and/or updated in respect of an information system. The concept dictionary is used to assist in selecting queries and query terms for use in interrogating the information system. A lexical reference source is first used to generate queries semantically related to a query entered by a user, and the answers returned for each query are analyzed using a fuzzy processing technique to determine semantic relationships between the queries. The queries and the determined relationships are recorded in a concept dictionary for subsequent use.
US08069181B1 Autodiscovery of business services
An autodiscovery feature with an easy-to-use interface is provided to automatically collect metadata about electronic services for use within a business enterprise and to store that metadata in a metadata repository. The autodiscovery feature is used to create autodiscovery queries that are sent to electronic services to collect from the services' digests specified metadata useful for identifying the functionality of those services and integrating the services into business processes. Digests, such as RSS feeds and Atom feeds, are typically created by services to include useful metadata, such as the title of a service, the URL link to a description of the service, a brief description of the service, the publication date of the service, and other data. Autodiscovery queries can thus collect services' relevant metadata and store it in a business enterprise's metadata repository, so that the services' functionality can be quickly identified and used for business processes.
US08069171B2 Method and system for correlating information
A method and system for correlating input data that includes configuration data. The configuration data describes at least one hierarchy including a first hierarchy. Each hierarchy includes at least two nodes. Each node includes a value and is designated as an ontology end point consisting of a unique positive integer. For each hierarchy, a unique relationship number RN is stored in a medium for each pair of parent-child nodes of each hierarchy. RN is a function of X and Y which respectively denote the ontology end point of the parent and child node of each pair of parent-child nodes. Responsive to a query that identifies a measure of correlation between the first hierarchy and other information, the measure of correlation is computed by retrieving and utilizing each stored relationship number of the first hierarchy. Information relating to the measure of correlation is outputted.
US08069153B2 Systems and methods for securing customer data in a multi-tenant environment
Network security is enhanced in a multi-tenant database network environment using a query plan detection module to continually poll the database system to locate and raise an alert for suspect query plans. Security also can be enhanced using a firewall system sitting between the application servers and the client systems that records user and organization information for each client request received, compares this with information included in a response from an application server, and verifies that the response is being sent to the appropriate user. Security also can be enhanced using a client-side firewall system with logic executing on the client system that verifies whether a response from an application server is being sent to the appropriate user system by comparing user and organization id information stored at the client with similar information in the response.
US08069152B2 Methods, systems, and products for restoring media
Methods, devices, and products restore damaged or corrupt media files. A user's media catalog is received and stored in a database of media catalogs. When restoration is desired, the user's media catalog is retrieved that describes an identity of a media file to be restored. The database of media catalogs is queried for another media catalog that describes the same identity of the media file. A communications address associated with the another media catalog is retrieved.
US08069149B1 System and method for redirecting access to a remote mirrored snapshot
In a system and method for updating a remote replicated destination file system snapshot with changes in a source file system snapshot, users and processes are redirected to a local exported snapshot of the replicated snapshot on the active file system on the destination before beginning the next update of the active file system's replicated snapshot. In this manner, an unstable replicated snapshot is not accessed. Indirection is introduced into inode lookup at the destination as the destination's active file system is being updated. The indirection can be based upon a snapshot ID that conforms to a latest exported snapshot ID.
US08069146B2 Methods and apparatus for maintaining consistency during analysis of large data sets
Methods and apparatus for updating a database using a multi-dimensional data model in which data corresponding to the database are organized in multi-dimensional data blocks. Each data block has summary information associated therewith corresponding to a current state of evolution of the associated data block. Dependency information is maintained in the data model which identifies data dependencies within and among the data blocks. A list of change entries identifies changes made to the data blocks and times at which the changes were made. A request to apply a change entry to a data block is received. The change entry is applied to the data block, including generating a dependency list of data blocks whose data depends directly or indirectly from the updated data block. The data blocks in the dependency list are processed in accordance with a dependency update algorithm to update the data blocks in the dependency list.
US08069143B2 Systems and methods for remote deletion of contact information
An exemplary system for providing remote deletion of contact information includes a first device associated with a first user. The first device is configured to generate and send a delete request message to a second device. In some embodiments, the delete request message includes a request to delete contact information for the first user from the second device. The second device can be configured to receive the delete request message and delete the first user's contact information. A method for providing remote deletion of contact information includes a delete request message being generated at a first device, associated with a first user. The delete request message can include a request to delete contact information for the first user. The first device can send the delete request message to a second device. The delete request message can instruct the second device to delete the first user's contact information.
US08069142B2 System and method for synchronizing data on a network
The disclosure describes systems and methods for synchronizing data on a network based on temporal, spatial, social and logical data available to the network. The method includes receiving a first information object (IO) containing attributes for a first real-world entity (RWE), the first IO associated with a second RWE; identifying one or more second IOs, each second IO containing one or more attributes for the first RWE and each second IO independently associated with a third RWE; generating a different probability for each IO based on a comparison of contents of the first and second IOs and their associated RWEs; and replacing one or more of the attributes in at least one IO with at least one attribute from a different IO based on the probabilities for each IO.
US08069141B2 Interfaces for high availability systems and log shipping
Architecture for replicating a database through log shipping. A replication service replicates data using one or more new internal application program interfaces (APIs), a replay configuration API which abstracts configuration information for each destination (or target) instance. APIs for log file management as part of the replication process are provided for opening communications for log shipping, tracking success of log shipping and closing out log shipping communications. Log shipping APIs are also provided for log truncation control. A ship control object is provided as a base class which includes an API for other components of the replication service to operate on log files when the log files are placed into a log directory. The ship control API is utilized by the replication service and for interaction with storage system log files.
US08069139B2 Transitioning of database service responsibility responsive to server failure in a partially clustered computing environment
A facility is provided for transitioning a database service from a failing, primary server to another server of a computing environment including a plurality of servers, at least some of which have a common database service capability, but not commonly replicated supporting databases. The facility includes, responsive to detection of failure at the primary server, selecting another server of the plurality of servers to function as database service backup for the primary server, updating at least one configuration file of the computing environment to indicate that the another server is to function as database service backup for the primary, failing server, and dynamically creating at least one database structure at the another server. The dynamically created at least one database structure supports the database service backup function at the another server and corresponds to a database structure of a database supporting the database service at the primary server.
US08069137B2 Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing intelligent agent services
Methods, systems, and storage mediums for implementing intelligent agent services are provided. A method includes generating an ontological domain for an individual based upon information elements. A set of information elements represents a behavior of the individual at a point in time. Generating the ontological domain includes creating subdomains of contextually organized collections of sets of information elements, where the subdomains include any orthogonally related data identified among behaviors. The method also includes determining relevance of relationships among the information elements in the ontological domain. The relevance is determined based upon measurable aspects, whereby a relationship determined to be relevant is identified as an interest of the individual. The method also includes identifying sources of information topically related to the interest, and searching the sources of information using the information elements determined to be relevant to identify a solution for satisfying the interest.
US08069133B2 Decomposing human behavior into quantified layers of perception
A method, computer program product, and system are provided for decomposing human behavior into quantifiable layers of perception. The method for decomposing human behavior into quantifiable layers of perception may be referred to as “DAP-E,” which is an acronym representative of four main phases of the method. Theses phases include the following: decompose; aggregate; propagate; and, evaluate. For example, an embodiment of the method may include aggregating one or more outputs from one or more behavioral models to represent a statistically significant conclusion and propagating the conclusion across a social network to allow opinions of a first entity within the social network to influence a conclusion of a second entity. A token passing behavior algorithm may be used to weigh an opinion of an entity receiving a token when propagating the conclusion across the social network.
US08069132B2 Efficient processing in an auto-adaptive network
Feature values, which may be multi-dimensional, collected over successive time slices, are efficiently processed for use, for example, in known adaptive learning functions and event detection. A Markov chain in a recursive function to calculate imputed values for data points by use of a “nearest neighbor” matrix. Only data for the time slices currently required to perform computations must be stored. Earlier data need not be retained. A data selector, referred to herein for convenience as a window driver, selects successive cells of appropriate adjacent values in one or more dimensions to comprise an estimation set. The window driver effectively indexes tables of data to efficiently deliver input data to the matrix. In one form, feature inputs are divided into subgroups for parallel, pipelined processing.
US08069129B2 Editing and compiling business rules
A component in a graph-based computation having data processing components connected by linking elements representing data flows is updated by receiving a rule specification, generating a transform for transforming data based on the rule specification, associating the transform with a component in the graph-based computation, and in response to determining that a new rule specification has been received or an existing rule specification has been edited, updating the transform associated with the component in the graph-based computation according to the new or edited rule specification. A computation is tested by receiving a rule specification including a set of rule cases, receiving a set of test cases, each test case containing a value for one or more of the potential inputs, and for each test case, identifying one of the rule cases that will generate an output given the input values of the test case.
US08069121B2 End-to-end secure payment processes
A method of calculating the quality of a data record having a plurality of data fields involves indentifying individual fields in the data record that are incorrect and scoring those fields accordingly. Further fields are identified where any one or more of those fields may be incorrect, but it is not immediately possible to determine which one or ones. These further fields are also scored accordingly. A score for the data records as a whole is then calculated based on the scores assigned to individual fields. Different fields may be weighted according to their importance to the data record as a whole.
US08069120B2 Electronic purchasing method and apparatus
A computer-assisted method includes hardware, software and telecommunications components that cooperatively achieve the technical effect of an improved electronic purchasing transaction system. In various embodiments of the invention, at least one master account is established for a client. A pool of limited use account identifiers or secondary account identifiers, that are separate and distinct from the master account, is associated with the master account by a purchasing system or account management system. Each of the limited use account identifiers may be used by the client to purchase items from merchants.
US08069118B2 Mediated electronic messaging with value-added services
A method for processing a value-added electronic transmission, which includes obtaining user identification information (110), conveying software (120) to the user, where the software enables the user to selectively send electronic transmissions to intended recipients via a mediation site, and associating with the mediation site at least one value-added processing service, including carrier indication, sender indication, transmission identification, guaranteed delivery, address verification, address correction, archiving, and transmission security. The method further includes billing the user (140) for service rendered through the mediation site.
US08069117B1 Ad hoc access rights in restricted-access electronic space
One embodiment of the present invention provides the administrator of an access restricted electronic system with a flexible management scheme. In this scheme, users request access to the electronic system. Users who submit verified access information, such as a login identification and password, are immediately granted access as authorized users. Users who have not submitted access information, are presented to the administrator through an interface that enables the administrator to grant ad hoc access.
US08069113B2 Financial account management
An automated account management system provides a user with the ability to establish rules that dictate how the account management system is to manage the user's accounts. Once the user specifies a set of rules, the system automatically manages multiple accounts across multiple financial institutions in accordance with the user-defined rules. Other features, such as an on-line bill payment system, a money transfer system, and a retirement planning system, may be integrated within the automated account management system to provide the user with even greater control over his or her financial assets.
US08069105B2 Hedge fund risk management
A computerized method and system for managing risk associated with a Hedge Fund is disclosed. Information relating to Hedge Funds is gathered and stored as data in preparation for a risk inquiry search relating to a Hedge Fund. Documents and sources of information can also be stored. A subscriber, such as a Financial Institution, can submit a Hedge Fund descriptor for which a risk inquiry search can be performed. The risk assessment or inquiry search can include data retrieved resultant to augmented retrieval methods. Scrubbed data as well as augmented data can be transmitted from a risk management clearinghouse to a subscriber or to a proprietary risk system utilized by a subscriber, such as a risk management system maintained in-house. Risk inquiry searches can be automated and made a part of standard operating procedure for any transaction conducted by the subscriber in which a Hedge Fund is involved.
US08069103B1 Retirement and financial planning calculator apparatus and methods
Systems, devices, apparatus and methods of allowing one to use a handheld type calculator and/or computer based program having factory pre-set and preprogrammed color indicia buttons/keys to allow the user to easily and quickly do a variety of specialized calculations for financial planning results that include retirement planning, wealth accumulation, pension analysis, mortgage comparison shopping and funding future education.
US08069097B2 Media inventory service
One embodiment relates to a computer-implemented media inventory service that includes instructions for performing a method. The method can include selectively extracting inventory data from at least one media management system based on an agency identifier that defines a subset of the inventory data in the at least one media management system made available for a given agency. Agency inventory data is provided based on the extracted inventory data for use by the given agency, the agency inventory data enumerating at least one inventory spot available for the given agency. At least one request from the given agency is received for the at least one inventory spot a portion of the inventory data in the at least one media management system is caused to be modified according to the at least one request.
US08069096B1 Multi-constituent attribution of a vendor's product catalog
A single instance, multi-tenant procurement system, includes an access module to provide access to a plurality of end users associated with an organization to their respective accounts, each account being customized by a super user of the organization, a search engine to execute searches for products offered by one or more suppliers, a transaction module to process and track one or more requisitions generated by the plurality of end users, a business rules module to apply business rules established between the organization and the one or more suppliers to process the requisitions, and a data repository to store data generated on the system.
US08069090B2 Method and apparatus for creating contextualized auction feeds
A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for generating contextualized live auction feeds. The method of generating contextualized live auction feeds comprises receiving context data from a user. The method further comprises utilizing the context data received from the user to search auctions. The method, in one embodiment, includes generating contextualized live auction feeds for an auction based on the context data.
US08069078B2 Method of obtaining a representative online polling sample
A method of obtaining a representative online polling sample is disclosed. The first step is to provide a polling web site with polling information for a user to select or otherwise interact with. However, that polling web site has a domain name that differs from the domain name of a web site the user intends to reach, the polling web site being reached when the user makes a typing or other address input error and inadvertently enters the polling web site domain name. Hence, for example, Google could harvest the many thousands of users who inadvertently type in gogle.com instead of google.com and direct them to an online polling page, instead of simply redirecting them to the google.com web site. This approach substantially eliminates coverage bias from the sample.
US08069071B2 Suite of configurable supply chain infrastructure modules for deploying collaborative e-manufacturing solutions
A suite of configurable supply chain infrastructure modules provides the “collective manufacturing management infrastructure” necessary to support a high velocity e-business initiative. At the core of the collaboration scheme is the Business Process Modeling Module. The Business Modeling Module consists of two components: Business Process Event Coordinator, and Business Process Modeler. To further support the collaborative scheme, a suite of highly configurable application templates and pre-configured industry applications provide an interface or wrapper around the business rules. The application templates are designed to be used as stand-alone components, or can be assembled/configured into a cohesive solution to provide a basic foundation layer for a Collaborative Manufacturing Execution System (CMES). To address the connectivity of the CMES layer to the business layer and the shop floor automation layer, an Extensible Markup Language (XML) Business Connector and Optical Photo Conductor (OPC) Shop Floor Connector fulfill the interface needs required to support a collaborative infrastructure.
US08069062B2 Computerized method and system of determining inconsistencies in witness statements relating to an accident
Methods and systems are provided for estimating liability in an accident. In an embodiment, the liability estimate may include a base liability and one or more adjustments due to various factors. The base liability may be determined from characteristics including: the configuration of the roadway, the type of accident, right of way, and impact points of each vehicle. The adjustments due to various factors may be determined from conditions of vehicles in the accident, conditions of drivers in the accident, actions of drivers in the accident, and/or environmental conditions in the accident. In one embodiment, a base liability adjusted due to the various factors may exceed a predefined upper or lower bound of liability. In such a case, an absolute liability value may be assigned as the liability estimate.
US08069057B2 Systems and methods for providing healthcare asset intelligence using service-oriented architecture and service-oriented computing
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for providing healthcare asset intelligence comprising a data layer adapted to preprocess healthcare asset intelligence data, a service component layer adapted to comprise a plurality of service components, and a service application layer adapted to comprise a service application. The healthcare asset intelligence data is data related to management of healthcare assets. The system is configured according to a service-oriented architecture and uses service-oriented computing. Each of the plurality of service components is adapted to utilize the preprocessed healthcare asset intelligence data. The service application is adapted to utilize at least one of the plurality of service components to provide the healthcare asset intelligence.
US08069056B2 Methods and apparatus for increasing and/or for monitoring a party's compliance with a schedule for taking medicines
Methods and apparatus are provided for increasing and/or monitoring a party's compliance with a schedule for taking medicines. In a first embodiment, a method is provided for use by a first container that is adapted to store a first medicine. The method includes storing information regarding the first medicine and wirelessly communicating a signal between the first container and a second container adapted to store a second medicine. In a second embodiment, a method is provided that includes determining if a first container for storing a first medicine is positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with a second container for storing a second medicine. The method further includes generating data based at least in part on whether the first container is positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with the second container. In a third embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a signal and, based at least in part on the received signal, determining whether a first container for storing a first medicine was positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with a second container for storing a second medicine. In a fourth embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a signal from a device that monitors whether a first container for storing a first medicine and a second container for storing a second medicine are positioned so as to communicate. The method further includes determining if at least one party has complied with a schedule for taking the first medicine and the second medicine based at least in part on the received signal. Systems, apparatus and computer program products are provided for carrying out the above-described embodiments and numerous other embodiments.
US08069049B2 Speech coding system and method
A system for enhancing a signal regenerated from an encoded audio signal. The system comprises a decoder arranged to receive the encoded audio signal and produce a decoded audio signal, a feature extraction means arranged to receive at least one of the decoded and encoded audio signal and extract at least one feature from at least one of the decoded and encoded audio signal, a mapping means arranged to map the at least one feature to an enhancement signal and operable to generate and output the enhancement signal, whereby the enhancement signal has a frequency band that is within the decoded audio signal frequency band, and a mixing means arranged to receive the decoded audio signal and the enhancement signal and mix the enhancement signal with the decoded audio signal.
US08069048B2 Scalable audio encoding and decoding apparatus, method, and medium
Provided is a scalable encoding method, apparatus, and medium. The method includes: encoding a base layer and encoding a first enhancement layer and a second enhancement layer in a frame having the base layer; and generating an encoded frame by synthesizing the encoded results. Accordingly, only if the loss of the encoding frame is not as great as the encoded first enhancement layer is damaged, a case where speech restoration with respect to partial frequency bands must be given up does not occur. Furthermore, since an encoder divides the second enhancement layer into a plurality of layers in a horizontal or vertical direction, considering a distribution pattern of data belonging to the second enhancement layer and first encodes a layer in which lots of data are distributed among the divided layers, loss of audio information can be minimized even if a portion of the encoded second enhancement layer is damaged.
US08069046B2 Dynamic speech sharpening
An enhanced system for speech interpretation is provided. The system may include receiving a user verbalization and generating one or more preliminary interpretations of the verbalization by identifying one or more phonemes in the verbalization. An acoustic grammar may be used to map the phonemes to syllables or words, and the acoustic grammar may include one or more linking elements to reduce a search space associated with the grammar. The preliminary interpretations may be subject to various post-processing techniques to sharpen accuracy of the preliminary interpretation. A heuristic model may assign weights to various parameters based on a context, a user profile, or other domain knowledge. A probable interpretation may be identified based on a confidence score for each of a set of candidate interpretations generated by the heuristic model. The model may be augmented or updated based on various information associated with the interpretation of the verbalization.
US08069040B2 Systems, methods, and apparatus for quantization of spectral envelope representation
A quantizer according to an embodiment is configured to quantize a smoothed value of an input value (e.g., a vector of line spectral frequencies) to produce a corresponding output value, where the smoothed value is based on a scale factor and a quantization error of a previous output value.
US08069036B2 Method and apparatus for processing audio for playback
A method and apparatus for processing audio for playback to provide a smooth transition between a beginning region of an audio track and an end region of a previous audio track is disclosed. A quantity representative of a chromagram is calculated for each of the audio tracks and the mixing points for the beginning and end regions of each audio track are identified. A quantity representative of a chromagram at the mixing point of the beginning region of the audio track and a quantity representative of a chromagram at the mixing point of the end region of the previous audio track are correlated to determine an order of audio tracks for playback and/or to determine the duration of the mix transition.
US08069032B2 Lightweight windowing method for screening harvested data for novelty
Biasing of language model customization due to repetitious data is substantially reduced by introducing novelty screening to data harvesting process. Novelty detection based filtering is added to ensure that an adaptation system gives more weight to representative adaptation data that is not repetitious. The value of the adaptation data is preserved and the process prevented from being polluted when the same data is seen multiple times, such as the original posting in an email thread, various versions of the same document, and the like. The screening technique may be built on top of existing data harvesting mechanisms as already seen data is used to determine the novelty of a particular portion of the data. A window into the new data, fixed or variable size, is compared against the already collected data to determine the likelihood that the data is novel.
US08069023B1 Hardware support for instruction set emulation
A method for emulating a nexthop instruction in microcode with the assistance of dedicated hardware to extract read and write addressing from the nexthop instruction instead of performing this operation in microcode. A method for emulating a nexthop instruction in microcode with the assistance of dedicated hardware to compare a nexthop read address to a special value and to indicate whether the nexthop read address matches the special value, instead of performing this operation in microcode. A method for determining a network address by performing a single extraction of bit fields of a tree instruction to allow multiple tree search processes to be performed.
US08069022B2 Method and apparatus for the classification of surface features of an ear impression
A method and apparatus is disclosed whereby a point on an ear impression model to be labeled is selected and a shape context is determined for that point. This shape context is then compared to average shape contexts for different regions on a reference ear impression model, also referred to herein as an ear impression shape atlas. A cost function is used to determine the minimum cost between the shape context for the selected point and one of the average shape contexts. Once the minimized cost is determined, the region label corresponding to the average shape context having a minimized cost is assigned to that point. In this way, points on the surface of an ear impression are classified and labeled as being located in regions corresponding to the regions on the ear impression shape atlas.
US08069018B2 Computer system and method for modeling fluid depletion
A method for modeling fluid depletion in a reservoir is disclosed. A map is divided into cells. For each of the cells a value is stored that is based at least in part on a physical characteristic of the cell. At least one cell that contains a depletion location is identified along with a depletion amount corresponding to that location. An amount of walkers associated with the depletion location is determined. For each walker, a plurality of steps are calculated with each step to an adjacent cell. Each walker starts in the cell containing the depletion location associated with that walker. The visits of all the walkers are recorded by cell. The fluid depletion of each cell is then assessed based at least in part on the number of walker visits for each cell.
US08069011B2 Generating damage probability-of-detection curves in structural health monitoring transducer networks
A method for automatically creating a probability of detection (POD) curve of an entire network of transducers monitoring and detecting damage in a structure is based on the POD of each of the individual actuator-sensor paths. These individual path PODs may be generated in different ways, such as by experimentation or simulation. This technique makes it possible to create the POD curve of a structural health monitoring (SHM) system for the detection of damages in structures.
US08069007B2 Light scanning photoelectric switch
This invention provides a light scanning photoelectric switch with which various settings of the light scanning photoelectric switch such as setting of a protection area can be easily set. The light scanning photoelectric switch includes: a display unit having a display screen that displays information including at least one of a status of a safety function of the light scanning photoelectric switch, and information of a failure status; and an operating unit provided in vicinity of the display unit, and for switching the information displayed in the display screen to different one of the safety signal, the result of the determination, setting contents of the light scanning photoelectric switch, the status of the safety function of the light scanning photoelectric switch, and the information of the failure status.
US08069004B2 System comprising a generating device and a comparing device
Systems comprising generating devices comprising sensors for generating sensor signals representing orientations of the generating devices are provided with comparing devices comprising comparators for comparing the sensor signals with reference signals for interpreting the orientations, to increase the number of possible applications. The generating devices and the comparing devices may form parts of one apparatus or of different apparatuses and then communicate wiredly or wirelessly via radio or infrared. Reference sensors for generating the reference signals and/or reference memories for storing the reference signals may be located in the comparing devices and/or in sources and then communicate wiredly or wirelessly via radio or infrared. Further comparators in the comparing devices may introduce adjustable sensitivities.
US08069003B2 Monitoring of heat exchangers in process control systems
A method for monitoring the efficiency of a heat exchanger is provided. Heat flows from a first medium into a second medium and an actual heat flow is detected and compared with at least one reference heat flow corresponding to a respectively predetermined degree of soiling of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, a device for controlling a plant having at least one heat exchanger is described. The plant has a storage device storing at least one reference heat flow of the heat exchanger.
US08069000B2 Aging status diagnostic apparatus for power conversion system, and method thereof
An aging status diagnostic apparatus for a power conversion system and diagnosing method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes an output current sensing means detecting output current of an inverter switching module; and a measurement and diagnosis means receiving the output current, calculating one or more average values of the output current over one period, and magnitude or effective value of each harmonic of the output current, and determining whether aging of the inverter switching module has occurred. Furthermore, the measurement and diagnosis means determines that the aging of the inverter switching module has occurred if the average value of the output current over one period increases by a value equal to or greater than a predetermined range and/or an even order harmonic or a specific order harmonic based on FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) of the output current increases by a value equal to or greater than a predetermined range.
US08068990B2 Diagnosis of intra-uterine infection by proteomic analysis of cervical-vaginal fluids
The invention concerns the identification of proteomes of biological fluids and their use in determining the state of maternal/fetal conditions, including maternal conditions of fetal origin, chromosomal aneuploidies, and fetal diseases associated with fetal growth and maturation. In particular, the invention concerns a comprehensive proteomic analysis of human amniotic fluid (AF) and cervical vaginal fluid (CVF), and the correlation of characteristic changes in the normal proteome with various pathologic maternal/fetal conditions, such as intra-amniotic infection, pre-term labor, and/or chromosomal defects. The invention further concerns the identification of biomarkers and groups of biomarkers that can be used for non-invasive diagnosis of various pregnancy-related disorders, and diagnostic assays using such biomarkers.
US08068981B2 Off-board navigation system for vehicles
Described herein is an off-board navigation system for vehicles, comprising at least one operating center and at least one on-board navigation unit installed on board a vehicle, in which the operating center is provided with monitoring means configured for detecting events that modify the road conditions of stretches of road forming part of a road network, and processing means designed to determine, following upon detection of an event, whether said event has occurred on a stretch of road forming part of a route supplied to a user and, in this case, to request an alternative route and determine a point of no return (PNR) that is set along the route supplied to a user and beyond which the vehicle is no longer able to avoid the event and a point of influence (AR), in which the practicability of the route starts to be affected by the onset of the event and beyond which the user is still in time to request and receive an alternative route that will enable him to avoid the event in the case where the point of no return (PNR) has not yet been exceeded.
US08068978B2 System and method for managing mobile drive units
A method for moving a mobile drive unit within a workspace includes receiving a path. The path includes at least an initial segment and one or more additional segments. The initial segment includes a portion of the path adjacent to the first point; and at least one of the additional segments includes a portion of the path adjacent to the second point. The method further includes storing the path, reserving the initial segment of the path, and moving away from the first point along the initial segment. After initiating movement along the initial segment, the method includes reserving each of the additional segments of the path and moving toward the second point along each of the additional segments while that segment is reserved.
US08068973B2 Traffic information providing system and car navigation system
A traffic information providing system externally acquires traffic information including information relating to the travel time of a link, calculates a travel time for a non-provision link to which no travel time is provided through estimate/complement operation. The estimate/complement operation is carried out with use of travel times, emergencies, travel times of links in the vicinity of the non-provision link, and so on, obtained in the near past. The system stores and statistically processes the externally-acquired traffic information, and also estimates a travel time in the near future. When there is an abnormality in the acquired traffic information, the system deletes the abnormality, regards the information as a non-provision link, calculates a probability distribution of travel times of links, calculates a probability distribution of travel times of the entire route made up of a plurality of links, and also calculates a probability for a specific travel time range.
US08068969B2 Power distribution system
A power distribution system is provided having a power source configured to generate a power output. The power distribution system also has an available power module configured to determine a total available power generated by the power source. In addition, the power distribution system has one or more parasitic power request modules configured to receive a request for power from an associated parasitic device and one or more non-parasitic power request modules configured to receive a request for power from an associated non-parasitic device. The power distribution system further has a power distribution module configured to cause the distribution of power among the parasitic and non-parasitic devices. The power distributed among the non-parasitic devices is the power remaining after the parasitic devices receive their requested power.
US08068965B2 Control apparatus and method for shift-position changing mechanism
A control apparatus for a shift-position changing mechanism that changes the shift positions of an automatic transmission mounted in a vehicle using a rotational force of an actuator based on a signal corresponding to the state of an operation member, including: a mechanism that generates a rotational force for moving the actuator toward a rotation stop positional-range corresponding to the shift position, based on a rotation stop position of the actuator; a detection unit that detects a rotation amount of the actuator; a control unit that controls the actuator based on the signal and the detected rotation amount; and a learning unit that learns the rotation stop positional-range corresponding to the shift position, based on an amount by which the actuator has been rotated since a control over the actuator executed by the control unit is stopped.
US08068937B2 Power distribution system with fault protection using energy packet confirmation
The disclosed power distribution system regulates the transfer of energy from a source 1 to a load 3. Source Controller 5 on the source side closes Disconnect Device 7 and monitors the transfer of a pulse or “packet” of energy to the load side. A Load Controller 9 on the load side communicates the amount of energy received at the load back to the source controller via Communication Link 11. If it is confirmed that the energy received on the load side corresponds to that sent by the source side, another energy packet is sent. If the energy received does not correspond with that sent by the source side, energy transfer is stopped, indicating a system fault or safety hazard. The energy content of a single packet is kept small, such that if it is not properly delivered, it can not cause damage to equipment or harm personnel.
US08068936B2 Method and system for managing multiple model variants
According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling operation of a plurality of different model variants of a refrigeration appliance using a commonly-configured control board for the plurality of different model variants. The method includes identifying the first model variant as being one of the plurality of model variants to be controlled; and responsive to this identifying, selecting a suitable control routine from among a plurality of available control routines that are accessible to the control board for controlling operation of the plurality of model variants. The plurality of available control routines includes at least a first control routine to be executed for controlling operation of a portion of a refrigeration circuit provided to the first model variant and a second control routine to be executed for controlling operation of a portion of a refrigeration circuit provided to the second model variant. The first control routine is different than the second control routine. The first control routine is to be executed to control operation of the portion of the refrigeration circuit provided to the first model variant.
US08068926B2 Method for generating concealment frames in communication system
A method for generating a sequence of concealment samples in connection with transmission of a digitized audio signal, wherein the method comprises generating the sequence of concealment samples from buffered samples of the digitized representation of audio signal in sample time order, wherein at least two consecutive subsequences of samples in the sequence of concealment samples are based on subsequences of buffered samples, wherein said subsequences of buffered samples are consecutive in reordered time.
US08068923B2 System for optimizing power generating unit
A method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a single or multiple power generating units using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. In one embodiment, a plurality of component optimization systems for optimizing power generating unit components are sequentially coordinated to allow optimized values determined by a first component optimization system to be fed forward for use as an input value to a subsequent component optimization system. A unit optimization system may be provided to determine goals and constraints for the plurality of component optimization systems in accordance with economic data. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-unit optimization system is provided to determine goals and constraints for component optimization systems of different power generating units. Both steady state and dynamic models are used for optimization.
US08068921B2 Microwave antenna assembly and method of using the same
A microwave antenna assembly comprising an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends and a lumen defined therebetween, a conductive member at least partially disposed within the inner lumen of elongate shaft, conductive member being selectively deployable relative to a distal end of elongate shaft from a first condition wherein a distal end of conductive member at least partially abuts the distal end of elongate shaft to a second condition wherein the distal end of conductive member is spaced relative to the distal end of elongate shaft and a first dielectric material disposed between elongate shaft and conductive member, wherein a portion of conductive member is distal to the distal end of elongate shaft and adapted to penetrate tissue.
US08068919B2 Microwave heating apparatus and method for whole-body or regional heating
The invention provides a microwave heating method and apparatus for evenly heating an object, such as a person's body. The methods and apparatus involve use of microwave source (or sources) that outputs multiple microwaves that are non-correlated with each other in phase; an array of antennas that radiate substantially plane microwaves to form a pseudo uniform microwave electromagnetic field, where the microwaves are not phase-correlated, in order to eliminate non-uniform heating caused by interference. Each of the antenna array consists of multiple antenna units, each antenna unit consists of at least one microwave radiator and at least one converter that converts the spherical microwave to plane microwave. A computer based control system and a temperature monitoring subsystem can be used to adjust the output of each antenna, in order to enhance the uniform heating effect. The apparatus and method can be used to perform whole-body hyperthermia or regional hyperthermia.
US08068917B2 Fail-safe programming for implantable medical device
In general, the invention is directed to a system with a fail-safe mode for remote programming of medical devices, such as implantable medical devices (IMDs). During a remote programming session, an adverse event, such as a programming session failure, may prevent proper completion of a programming or result in improper programming due to data corruption or other factors. If a programming session is not completed correctly, the IMD is susceptible to improper operation, possibly exposing a patient to delivery of unnecessary or inappropriate therapies. A fail-safe mode reduces the likelihood of improper operation following a programming session failure. The fail-safe mode defines one or more fail-safe operations designed to preserve proper operation of the IMD. In some embodiments, the fail-safe operations include notifying a person concerning the failure of the programming session, modifying programming parameters within the implantable medical device, and delivering a therapy to a patient.
US08068914B1 Speech processor cases
A case for use with a speech processor unit including a housing configured to receive the speech processor unit and a connector configured to be connected to a connector on the speech processor unit.
US08068913B2 Visual prosthesis for improved circadian rhythms and method of improving the circadian rhythms
Present invention is a method of improving circadian rhythms in blind people by stimulation the visual neural system. Ideally a retinal prosthesis of the type used to restore vision can be used to restore normal circadian rhythms. Additionally, brightness on the prosthesis can be increased in the morning and decreased in the evening to stimulate normal Circadian rhythms. Alternatively, if a retinal prosthesis is not preferable, the retina can be stimulated externally, during the day and not at night. While such eternal stimulation can not produced artificial vision, it can stimulate normal circadian rhythms.
US08068902B2 Electrode device and electrocardiographic measurement device
A device for electrocardiogram measurement is provided, which is relatively not easily influenced by electrical activities of muscles, and which can perform electrocardiogram measurement during a measured person's daily life without removing clothes. The device includes a pair of lead electrode sections that are provided on a band section. Each of the pair of lead electrode sections includes a lead electrode that is disposed so that the lead electrode is positioned in the vicinity of a carotid artery of the measured person when the band section surrounds a neck portion of the measured person. The band section is configured to include a flexible band, and the band section detachably holds onto the neck portion of the measured person with nipping force arising from elastic deformation of the flexible band.
US08068896B2 Detection of radiation labeled sites using a radiation detection probe or camera incorporating a solid state photo-multiplier
Intraoperative radiation detection probes and cameras for use in surgical or transcutaneous procedures or procedures incorporating probes inserted through body orifices to aid in the location, detection and removal of radiation labeled cells, abnormal tissue or deposits thereon incorporate solid state or silicon photomultiplier (SSPM, or SiPM) devices to provide safe, highly sensitive and compact beta and gamma probes or cameras for use in locating the radiation labeled sites within the human body or abnormal labeled sites within the body. The probes may include both gamma and beta detecting components as well as means for enhancing the accuracy and sensitivity of the beta detectors.
US08068893B2 Real-time, interactive volumetric magnetic resonance imaging
A method of producing volume renderings from magnetic resonance image data in real time with user interactivity. The method comprises collecting raw magnetic resonance image (MRI) data representative of shapes within an image volume; transferring the raw MRI data to a computer; and continuously producing volume renderings from the raw MRI data in real time with respect to the act of collecting raw MRI data representative of shapes within the image volume.
US08068890B2 Pulse oximetry sensor switchover
Switchover of a filtered and unfiltered pulse oximetry sensor is provided with gain controlled amplifiers controlled by separate gain control voltages that may change in opposite directions over a period of time. The outputs of the gain controlled amplifiers may be coupled to voltage-to-current converters whose outputs may be coupled in parallel. The parallel coupled outputs of the voltage-to-current converters may produce a current signal representative of the output of the gain controlled amplifier having the highest gain/signal.
US08068889B2 Oximeter sensor with digital memory encoding sensor data
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to a sensor with memory. Specifically, one embodiment includes a method of sensor operation, comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detecting element configured to detect the light, and a memory storing a language code or country code, the memory providing access to an oximeter monitor to read the language code or country code.
US08068887B2 Mobile terminal device
A mobile terminal device includes a fixed side housing including a fixed side front case and a fixed side rear case, the fixed side rear case having a circuit board and a frame chassis disposed adjacent to the circuit board, a movable side housing including a display, connected to the fixed side housing with a connecting part, a power connector provided in an end portion of the circuit board and having a connecting terminal, the connecting terminal being electrically connected to an electrode terminal of a battery pack when the battery pack is stored in a battery storage portion formed in the fixed side rear case, and a connector supporting member that is provided in an end portion of the frame chassis and supports the power connector by covering a circumference of the power connector.
US08068883B2 Hands-free apparatus
A connection of a hands-free apparatus to a cellular phone is established through a hands-free profile, and the connection of the hands-free apparatus to the cellular phone through the hands-free profile is switched from the cellular phone to another cellular phone when a data communication is triggered. Then, the hands-free apparatus establishes another connection to the cellular phone through a dial-up network profile so that a hands-free call by the hands-free apparatus is appropriately handled.
US08068881B2 Voice controlled multimedia and communications system
A portable multimedia and communications device can include a transducive element for receiving sound. The device also can include a base unit having a plurality of multimedia units and a processor executing a speech recognition engine for recognizing user speech. Each of the plurality of multimedia units can be selectively enabled and operated responsive to user voice commands received via the transducive element and communicated to the base unit via a communication link.
US08068873B1 Cellular telephone without integrated speaker and microphone
Disclosed herein is a cellular telephone that does not include an integrated microphone and an integrated speaker but that instead requires use of an externally connected microphone and speaker to facilitate voice communication. By omitting any integrated microphone and integrated speaker, the cellular telephone may have increased surface area usable for other purposes, such as a display or keypad. Further, the cost to manufacture the cellular telephone could be incrementally lower than the cost to manufacture a comparable cellular telephone having an integrated microphone and integrated speaker.
US08068871B2 Systems and methods for time optimization for silencing wireless devices in coexistence networks
Embodiments provide systems and methods to optimize the time when to transmit a silencing frame, and hence, improve the overall network throughput and avoid access point transmission rate fall-back mechanism having an avalanche effect during coexistence of dissimilar wireless network technologies. A receiver comprises at least two dissimilar network technology subsystems, at least one subsystem of which is higher priority than at least another of the dissimilar subsystems. In some embodiments, a receiver is able to transmit a silencing frame during a predetermined transmission window within a lower priority technology network interval. In other embodiments, a receiver calculates a predetermined transmission window, the predetermined transmission window to occur within a lower priority technology network interval, and transmits a silencing frame during the predetermined transmission window. In further embodiments, a receiver is able to calculate a transmission window to occur during a lower priority technology network interval, and transmit a silencing frame during the calculated transmission window.
US08068866B2 Group communication server
It is an object of the present invention to ensure readily communication between subgroups with reduced trouble to the user in the group communication in terms of subgroup formation and so on. A group communication server according to an embodiment of the present invention provides terminals with an intercommunication function between a plurality of terminals belonging to the same group, specifically a group communication function. The group communication server comprises a group information database for storing subgroup information that specifies terminals belonging to subgroups comprising a plurality of terminals of the terminals belonging to the group, and timing information that indicates a timing for establishing connection for intercommunication between the terminals belonging to these subgroups, and a group management unit and connection control unit which constitute control means for executing a control to establish connection between the terminals belonging to the subgroups specified by the subgroup information at a timing specified by the timing information stored in the group information database.
US08068861B1 MMS brew message delivery hybridization architecture
Techniques and equipment are provided to allow Multimedia Message Service (MMS) communication between applications on a platform on a mobile station and third party websites or web servers by using a hybridized architectural design of MMS and BREW services. The following communications are provided: communication from a BREW application on a first mobile station to a BREW application on a second mobile station, communication from a BREW application on a mobile station to an application server or website, and communication from an application server or website to a BREW application on a mobile station.
US08068856B2 Mobile communication terminal equipped with location-based short message service system, location-based message generation method and location-based message display method
Disclosed herein are a mobile communication terminal equipped with a location-based short message service (SMS) system, a location-based message generation method and a location-based message display method. The mobile communication terminal having a location-based SMS (short message service) system includes a message sending module which receives from the message sender a message content, a telephone number of a mobile communication terminal of a designated message recipient, and a message mode, generates from location information received from the sender an SMS message containing the message content, mode identification information based on the message mode, and the location information if the message mode selected by the message sender is a location-based message mode rather than a general message mode, and sends to an SMS server the generated SMS message which is set to be forwarded to the telephone number of the message recipient's mobile communication terminal as a destination.
US08068852B2 Method and system for detecting position of mobile communication terminal by using pilot strength measurement message
There is provided a system for detecting a location of a mobile station (MS) by using a pilot strength measurement message (PSMM) in a mobile communication system providing a location-based service in a mobile communication network, comprising: a position determination entity (PDE) for detecting the location of the mobile station, collecting PSMM information from the mobile station, the location detection of which is required, and obtaining the location of the mobile station by using collected PSMM information.
US08068845B2 Transmission power level setting during channel assignment for interference balancing in a cellular wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for balancing the distribution of interference between radio cells in a wireless communication system comprising cells in which subcarrier blocks are used for communication. A number of adjacent cells build a cell cluster. Moreover, the present invention relates to a corresponding method adapted for use in a system in which multi beam antennas or multiple antennas are used. Furthermore, the present invention relates to base stations performing the above method as well as a communication system comprising the base stations. To reduce the large average SIR variations without causing additional SIR estimation, measurement and calculation problem as introduced with power control the invention suggests to group subcarrier blocks into a plurality of subcarrier block sets in each cell of a cell cluster, to determine transmission power levels for each of the cells of said cell cluster, and to assign transmission power levels to the subcarrier block sets.
US08068833B2 Candidate access router discovery
An arrangement and a method is provided for discovering candidate access routers in a mobile IP (Internet Protocol) network to enable seamless IP handover of a mobile node between access routers. A server element (19), which is separate from the access routers (11, 12) and the mobile node (MN), is provided with access router information relating to one or more access routers and with information identifying the access router serving the mobile node and reachability information about one or more access routers other than the serving access router that are within reach to the mobile node. The address of at least one of said one or more access routers within reach to the mobile node is determined in the server element on the basis of the provided information.
US08068824B2 Automated reconnection of interrupted voice call session
Techniques are disclosed for automatically reconnecting an interrupted voice call session. For example, a method for use in a communication system switch for managing a call session between a first device and second device includes the following steps. The first device and the second device are connected, via the communication system switch, in accordance with a call session. The first device and the second device are automatically reconnected, via the communication system switch, when the call session is unintentionally interrupted. By way of example, the communication system switch may be a private branch exchange server.
US08068818B2 Routing of media communication service
A method of routing a request in a communication system. The method comprises searching routing information associated to an identity, and prioritizing either one of the routing information related to the identity for the first type and the routing information related to the identity of the second type. The request is then routed by using the prioritized routing information. The invention advances correct routing in a system where different identity types are available.
US08068817B1 Virtual address translation to support wireless access to data networks
In a telephony communication system, mobile devices request access to packet-based networks using network access requests that identify access point names associated with the networks. The mobile devices and an operator network providing access to the networks support the use of virtual access point names within network access requests. These virtual access point names need not correspond to any existing networks. Rather, network access requests incorporating virtual access point names indicate actually requested access point names within other fields of the network access requests.
US08068813B2 Communication apparatus and communication method capable of wired and wireless communication
In a parameter setting method, when a wireless communication device has wired connection to a different device, the wired connection is used to acquire wireless setting values. If the wireless communication device has no wired connection to the different device, short distance wireless communication is used to acquire the wireless setting values from the different device. When the wireless setting values are acquired, notifying to the user is performed depending on an acquisition method.
US08068801B2 Electric wave receiving apparatus
An electric wave receiving apparatus comprises: an antenna; an amplifier; filter circuits that extract signals in different frequency bands from an output of the amplifier; detector circuits that demodulate time codes from outputs of the filter circuits; automatic gain control circuits that generate gain control signals from the detector circuits; a selector that selects one gain control signal indicating a maximum signal level among the gain control signals; and an arithmetic processing section to be able to analyze the time codes of outputs of the plurality of detector circuits, wherein the one gain control signal is supplied to the amplifier to control an amplification factor of the amplifier so that signal levels output from detector circuits do not become excessive, and the arithmetic processing section selects an output to enable the analysis of the time code among the outputs of detector circuits to perform the analysis of the time code.
US08068796B2 Power divider and dual-output radio transmitter
A power divider includes a substrate, a signal reception terminal formed in a first layer of the substrate for receiving signals, a first output terminal formed in the first layer for outputting radio-frequency (RF) signals, a matching terminal formed in a third layer of the substrate, a second output terminal formed in the third layer for outputting RF signals, a grounding plate formed in a second layer of the substrate, surrounding a hole and forming a circular shape, a first block transmission line formed at a position corresponding to the hole in the first layer and coupled to the signal reception terminal and the first output terminal, and a second block transmission line formed at a position corresponding to the hole in the third layer, coupled to the matching terminal and the second output terminal, and having a shape identical to a shape of the first block transmission line.
US08068795B2 RF multiband transmitter with balun
A multi-band RF transmitter circuit (30) for a wireless communication device combines a plurality of RF transmission blocks into a single transceiver integrated circuit which includes a shared broadband SVGA (32), a shared tunable balun (34), and an output switching network (38) at the output of the balun to support three different frequency bands. The outputs of the multi-band RF transmitter circuit are connected to separate external power amplifier circuits (42-44), where each power amplifier circuit generates an amplified signal for one of the plurality of predetermined frequency bands.
US08068781B2 Systems and methods for distributing information through broadcast media
There are disclosed systems, methods and processes for the distribution of information, typically digital information that is distributed actively, through broadcast media such as television and radio, displays, such as signage, etc., or passively, through displays such as signage or the like. The information can be captured from broadcasted transmissions, scanned from a display, or obtained by being transmitted to the user, who responded to a broadcast with a transmission to a receiving point during a period synchronized with the broadcast, requesting the information sent to his transmitted address. The captured or obtained information may include coupons or the like, that may be redeemed after being successfully captured or obtained. Redemption may be either on-line, where a transmission of coupon information is transmitted to a call center, that places a product order with a supplier and handles payment details, or off-line, where the user takes to coupon to the retailer, for redemption at the point of sale.
US08068772B2 Development device and image forming apparatus
A development device includes a developer carrier supplying developer to an electrostatic latent image carrier which is rotatable. The developer carrier includes a conductive metal core and a conductive elastic layer that is disposed outside a circumference of the conductive metal core and includes a surface having a roughness formed thereon. The surface of the conductive elastic layer satisfies a relationship 1.0
US08068770B2 Toner cartridge, image forming apparatus, method of recycling toner cartridge
An insertion passage 104Y for inserting a suction nozzle 73Y fixed to an image forming apparatus is provided on a holder 102Y, and a connecting passage 114Y that connects the insertion passage 104Y and a toner storage section 106Y of the holder 102Y is provided. After the toner sent from bottle 101Y to the holder 102Y falls towards the connecting passage 104Y, the toner flows into the suction nozzle 73Y through the connecting passage 114Y and is then discharged out of the holder 102Y. An airtightness between the insertion passage 114Y and the suction nozzle 73Y inserted into the insertion passage 114 Y is superior than an airtightness between the bottle 101Y and the holder 102Y engaged with the bottle 101Y.
US08068761B2 Image forming apparatus having a cleaning unit
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit including a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; a conveyor belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to convey a recording sheet; and a cleaning unit including a cleaning member positioned in contact with the conveyor belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the conveyor belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member. The cleaning member is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the conveyor belt and upstream from the image forming unit as viewed in a sheet conveyance direction along which the recording sheet is conveyed on the conveyor belt, and the image forming unit and the cleaning unit are pulled out together from a main body of the image forming apparatus toward an upstream side of the sheet conveyance direction.
US08068760B2 Sheet feeder and image forming apparatus
A sheet feeder which feeds a sheet in a sheet storage case includes a sheet storage case in which a sheet is stored, a dehumidifier which dehumidifies air, an air tank in which air dehumidified by the dehumidifier is stored, shutters and which bring the air tank and the sheet storage case into communication and out of communication, and fans and which send air between the air tank and the sheet storage case. The shutters and the fans are operated in accordance with humidity in the sheet storage case.
US08068759B2 Image forming apparatus and cooling method used therein
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit including an image carrier and a development device, a transfer unit to transfer an image formed on the image carrier onto a sheet, a fixing device to fix the image on the sheet, a sheet transport unit, a sheet stack portion, an air duct, and a first liquid-cooling device. The first liquid-cooling device includes a first heat receiving member disposed in thermal contact with a first heated portion, a first heat releaser, a first circulation pipe connecting the first heat receiving member and the first heat releaser to circulate a coolant therebetween, a first transport member to transport the coolant through the first circulation pipe, and an airflow generator to generate an airflow with external air to cool the first heat releaser. The air duct guides the air taken in by the airflow generator to a second heated portion.
US08068745B2 RF signal power regulation in optical transmitters
A circuit controlling the gain of an amplifier in an optical transmitter used for optical communication, including a detection circuit for measuring the power of the RF input to a laser; a gain controller or controlling a gain of an amplifier, and a switch connected to the gain controller, wherein the gain controller is adapted, in response to an activation of a switch, to: (i) automatically vary gain of the amplifier, and (ii) set the gain of the amplifier at a level corresponding to a reduction in the noise and/or distortion associated with the transmitter.
US08068742B2 Phase shift keyed modulation of optical signal using chirp managed laser
A high-speed optical transmitter comprises multiple digital lanes that are provided to a bank of digital-to-analog converters. The analog signals are then used to Phase Shift Keyed (PSK) modulation using a Chirp Managed Laser (CML)-based transmitter, and potentially using dual polarization. A corresponding optical receiver receives the sequence of optical signals at a demodulator. For each polarization, the demodulator includes a corresponding demodulation channel that is configured to demodulate that polarization component of the optical signal into one or more signal components. Each of these signal components is converted into a corresponding digital signal using a corresponding analog-to-digital converter. In the case of higher-order PSK modulation (e.g., 8PSK or higher), for each polarization, the analog converter has a lower sampling rate than for QPSK modulation.
US08068735B2 Transient control solution for optical networks
An optically amplified wavelength division multiplexing network has the functionality to add/drop channels at the optical add/drop multiplexing (OADM) nodes. The OADM node includes a receiver amplifier, an OADM module, and a transmitter amplifier. Once the OADM node detects a loss of signal (LOS) due to a fiber cut or network element failure upstream, the receiver amplifier is kept in operation as a noise source. The output of the receiver amplifier is immediately raised by increasing pump power to compensate for the LOS. The noise power received at the transmitter amplifier from the receiver amplifier is substantially equal to the signal power expected before LOS. The transient effect of downstream optical amplifiers is therefore completely suppressed and the inter-channel stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) induced spectrum tilt does not change. After the noise power is raised, the receiver amplifier may be shut down at a speed much slower than the speed of downstream amplifier control circuitry.
US08068731B2 Dynamic bandwidth allocation method of Ethernet passive optical network
A dynamic bandwidth allocation method of an Ethernet passive optical network, comprises a predictor and a rule of QoS-promoted dynamic bandwidth allocation (PQ-DBA); the predictor predicts a client behavior and numbers of various kinds of packets by using a pipeline scheduling predictor consisted of a pipelined recurrent neural network (PRNN), and a learning rule of the extended recursive least squares (ERLS); the present invention establishes a better QoS traffic management for the OLT-allocated ONU bandwidth and client packets sent by priority.
US08068730B2 Wavelength division multiplex signal monitoring system and wavelength division multiplex transmission device equipped with the same
A WDM signal monitoring system includes a measuring unit that measures power levels in a plurality of predetermined wavelength bands about a wavelength division multiplex signal, a waveform determination unit that determines an approximate waveform of each channel from each bit rate and modulation system of a plurality of channels which forms a wavelength division multiplex signal, and an approximation unit that determines a power level and a wavelength of each channel by approximating the power level in a plurality of wavelength bands which the measuring unit measured with the approximate waveform of each channel which the waveform determination unit determined.
US08068728B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus which can perform phase difference detection while causing light to enter an imaging device is provided.An imaging unit (1) includes an imaging device (10) for receiving light to perform photoelectric conversion, the imaging device (10) being configured so that light passes through the imaging device (10), a phase difference detection unit (20) including a line sensor (24a) for receiving the light which has passed through the imaging device (10) to perform phase difference detection, and a condenser lens (21a), provided between the imaging device (10) and the line sensor (24a), for bending an optical path of the light which has passed through the imaging device (10) to direct the light to the line sensor (24a).
US08068725B2 Fragrance emitting apparatus for use with USB port
A fragrance emitting apparatus for connection to a USB port. In one embodiment, the fragrance emitting apparatus comprises a casing having an interior and at least one vent in communication with the interior, a cover removably attached to the casing to provide access to the interior, and a fragrance bottle removably disposed within the interior of the casing and having therein a liquid that provides a desired fragrance. The fragrance bottle further comprises a fragrance member having a first portion within fragrance bottle and a second portion extending from the fragrance bottle. The fragrance member is configured to absorb liquid in the fragrance bottle. The apparatus further comprises a micro-pump device positioned within the interior of the casing and adjacent to the second portion of the fragrance member. The micro-pump device has an oscillating member that contacts the second portion of the fragrance member. The apparatus further includes a control circuit to control the micro-pump device the control circuit generating an electrical wave signal having a predetermined frequency that causes the oscillating member to vibrate so as to diffuse fragrance liquid that contacts the oscillating member. A USB connector is connected to the casing and electrically connected to the control circuit. The diffusion of the fragrance liquid produces a fragrance that exits the casing through the vent. Other embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention are disclosed herein.
US08068719B2 Systems and methods for detecting exciting scenes in sports video
Disclosed are systems and methods for identifying a scene in a video or audio source containing sports content. A representative method includes: extracting audio data from a video source, the video source containing sports content, removing from the audio data sounds not producible by human, classifying scenes of the video source as important scenes of the video clip by analyzing the energy, pitch and tonality of at least one frame of the audio data and determining whether the at least one frame is an exciting scene.
US08068714B2 Optical waveguide feedthrough assembly
An optical fiber feedthrough assembly includes a glass plug disposed in a recess of a feedthrough housing. The glass plug may define a large-diameter, cane-based, waveguide sealed within the recess in the housing and providing optical communication through the housing. Sealing occurs with respect to the housing at or around the glass plug of an optical waveguide element passing through the housing by braze sealing to the glass plug and/or embedding the glass plug in a polymer bonded with the plug to form a molded body that is sealed in the housing by, for example, compression mounting of the molded body or providing a sealing element around the molded body.
US08068705B2 Single-mode high-power fiber laser system
A monolithic fiber is configured with a double bottleneck-shaped multimode (MM) core capable of supporting substantially only a fundamental mode at a given wavelength and having opposite end regions, frustoconically shaped transformer regions, which run inwards from the respective end regions, and a central uniformly dimensioned region, which bridges the transformer regions. The MM core has a refractive step-index profile which is configured with a centrally positioned dip having a variable width along the length of the fiber. The width of the dip is relatively small at the end regions of the MM core so as to support only the fundamental mode with a Gaussian profile. As the dip becomes larger along the input transformer region, it gradually shapes the Gaussian profile into the ring profile of the fundamental mode, which is guided along the central region of the MM core. The dip gradually becomes smaller along the output transition region so as to shape the ring profile back into the substantially Gaussian profile of the fundamental mode radiated from the output end region of the MM core. The refractive index profile has a ring area doped with one or more rare-earth elements and configured to amplify substantially only the fundamental mode.
US08068701B2 Image-processing apparatus, image-processing method and image-processing program
Disclosed herein is an image-processing apparatus which may include an image holding section configured to store an input image; an image division section configured to divide the input image stored in the image holding section into a plurality of image portions having the same size and the same shape; a characteristic-quantity computation section configured to compute a characteristic quantity of each of the image portions generated by the image division section; and a difference computation section configured to carry out a difference computation process of computing a difference between the characteristic quantity computed by the characteristic-quantity computation section as the characteristic quantity of each individual one of the image portions generated by the image division section and a value determined in advance as well as a determination process of producing a result of determination as to whether or not the individual image portion is a portion of a background of the input image on the basis of the difference.
US08068700B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and electronic appliance
In an image processing apparatus, the amount of motion between a low-resolution image as a datum image and each of N low-resolution images is detected and, based on the detected amounts of motion, the datum image, and M consulted images (N>M≧1) selected out of the N low-resolution images, a high-resolution image is generated. An image evaluator, which selects the consulted images, takes each of the N low-resolution images as an evaluated image and arranges, based on the amounts of motion, the datum image and the evaluated images in a common coordinate system. Based on a pixel position on the datum image in the common coordinate system, a datum position in the common coordinate system is set. For each evaluated image, the distance from the datum position to a pixel position on that evaluated image is evaluated so that evaluated images corresponding to relatively small distances are selected as consulted images, while evaluated images corresponding to relatively great distances are excluded from the M consulted images.
US08068699B2 Imaging apparatus and imaging method
An imaging apparatus includes imaging means for imaging an image at a first aspect ratio, and image processing means for converting an original image at the first aspect ratio, which is imaged by the imaging means, to a converted image at a second aspect ratio, which is different from the first aspect ratio, by discarding a section of the original image as a discard section, and creating the converted image by, if the selected magnification of the converted image is lower than that of the original image, reducing the size of the original image according to the magnification and then adding a margin to the reduced original image and discarding the discard section according to the magnification as necessary.
US08068698B2 System and method for resizing images prior to upload
There is disclosed a system and method for resizing an image on a handheld mobile communication device prior to uploading to an image repository. In an embodiment, the method comprises: determining the size of an original image; determining any upload size restrictions for uploading the image to the image repository; and in dependence upon the upload size restrictions, resizing the original image to a new resized image to meet the upload size restriction. In another embodiment, the method may further comprise specifying at least one user selectable image size for resizing the original image; receiving a user selection of a desired image size; and resizing the original image to the user selected desired image size. In another embodiment, the image size automatically in dependence upon image upload bandwidth.
US08068684B2 Compression of digital images of scanned documents
A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for creating a binary mask image from an a inputted digital image of a scanned document, comprising the steps of creating a binarized image by binarizing the inputted digital image, detecting first text regions representing light text on a dark background, and inverting the first text regions, such that the inverted first text regions are interpretable in the same way as dark text on a light background. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for comparing in a binary image a first pixel blob with a second pixel blob to determine whether they represent matching symbols, comprising the steps of detecting a line in one blob not present in the other and/or determining if one of the blobs represents an italicized symbol where the other does not.
US08068681B2 Method and system for pipelined processing in an integrated embedded image and video accelerator
A method and system for pipelined processing in an integrated embedded image and video accelerator is described. Aspects of a system for pipelined processing in an integrated embedded image and video accelerator may include circuitry that enables pipeline processing of video data within a single chip, wherein the pipeline processing may further include decoding of a block of video data while simultaneously inverse transforming a previously decoded block of video data. Aspects of the system may also include circuitry that enables transformation, within the single chip, of a block of said video data while simultaneously encoding, within said single chip, a previously transformed block of video data.
US08068663B2 Simulation method of optical image intensity distribution, program, and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The intensity distribution of an optical image in a resist film is calculated (S1); the intensity distribution of the optical image is transformed through a Fourier transform in a periodic direction of the intensity distribution of the optical image (S2) and is transformed through a spectral transform in an aperiodic direction of the intensity distribution of the optical image by use of a base which satisfies a boundary condition (S3); a modulation function for modulating the intensity distribution of the optical image is transformed through a Fourier transform in the periodic direction (S4) and is transformed through a spectral transform in the aperiodic direction by use of the base satisfying the boundary direction (S5); a product of the post-transformed intensity distribution of the optical image and the post-transformed modulation function is computed (S6), is transformed through an inverse Fourier transform in the periodic direction (S7), and is transformed through an inverse spectral transform in the aperiodic direction by use of a base corresponding to the inverse transform of the spectral transform; and thereby a modulated intensity distribution of the optical image is calculated (S8).
US08068657B2 Method of microcalcification detection in mammography
A method of microcalcification detection in a digital mammographic image identifies one or more potential microcalcification sites in the mammographic image according to spot clustering. Each of the one or more potential microcalcification sites is assigned either as a member of a positive candidate set or as a member of a rejected candidate set. Optionally at least one subsequent classifier process that selectively assigns zero or more members of the positive candidate set to the rejected candidate set is executed, according to results from the at least one subsequent classifier process. One or more members of the rejected candidate set are selected as a reclamation candidate set according to results from the initial and any subsequent classifier process. One or more members of the reclamation candidate set are assigned either back to the rejected candidate set or to the positive candidate set according to results from a reclamation classifier process.
US08068652B2 Semi-automated registration of data based on a hierarchical mesh
A registration image is aligned or registered with a reference image by user interaction. The registration image is segmented into a hierarchy of elements defining a mesh having more than one level. At each level, individual elements may be selected by the user, translated, rotated and scaled with respect to the remainder of the registration image and to the reference image. Refinement of the user registration is facilitated by allowing the user to define further levels in the segmentation where each of the elements at the further levels may be separately manipulated in a similar manner. Interpolation may be performed between the moved or altered elements and between the elements and the remainder of the registration image to obtain a more satisfactorily registered image. The technique may be used with other interpolation and registration processes.
US08068651B2 Medical imaging diagnosis apparatus
The medical imaging diagnosis apparatus includes: a region-of-interest setting unit configured to acquire an image of an examination target region in the body of a subject, and thus to set up, on the image, a region of interest, in which change in concentration of a contrast medium is observed; a calculator configured to calculate an average of CT values each representing the concentration of the contrast medium in the region of interest; an approximation unit configured to find an approximation for the region of interest on the basis of multiple CT values calculated by the calculator for the region of interest; and a comparison unit configured to compare a coefficient of the approximation with a value representing a setup condition beforehand stored, and to detect the timing of a definitive scan on the basis of the approximation which agrees with the setup condition within a predetermined range.
US08068646B2 System and method for implementing algorithmic correction of image distortion within a fingerprint imaging system
A software implemented system for algorithmic correction of systematic image distortions within fingerprint imaging systems. The system may implement a three dimensional geometric model of a fingerprint imaging system to discover where a configuration prescribed by a conceptual fingerprint imaging system and an actual configuration of a manufactured fingerprint imaging system differ. By describing this difference using the model, images captured by the manufactured fingerprint imaging system can be rectified to generate rectified images with relatively low amounts of distortion present. Rectification to remove distortion based on the model, without physically adjusting and/or correcting the manufactured fingerprint imaging system or its components, may enable the fingerprint imaging system to be manufactured with relatively lower tolerances without degrading a precision of the images generated by the system, potentially enabling enhanced precision of generated images without increasing various costs of the fingerprint imaging system (or its components) generating the images.
US08068643B2 Method and apparatus for capturing, geolocating and measuring oblique images
A computerized system for displaying and making measurements based upon captured oblique images. The system includes a computer system executing image display and analysis software. The software reads a plurality of captured oblique images having corresponding geo-location data and a data table storing ground plane data that approximates at least a portion of the terrain depicted within the captured oblique images. The executed software causes the computer system to receive a starting point selected by a user, receive an end point selected by the user and calculate a desired measurement between the starting and end points dependent upon the geo-location data and ground plane data. The desired measurement is selected from a group consisting of a distance measuring mode, a height measuring mode, and a relative elevation measuring mode.
US08068638B2 Apparatus and method for embedding searchable information into a file for transmission, storage and retrieval
An apparatus is disclosed for acquiring information to be transmitted to a receiving facility and for transmitting such thereto. A capture device captures information from a first source. A stamping device is provided for associating with the captured information a representation of the date and time of the capture of the information, such that the representation of the date and time information in association with the captured information forms augmented captured information. A data processing unit is provided for placing the augmented captured information in association with subscriber information in a transmission of the augmented captured information to a receiving facility requiring such subscriber information. A transmitter transmits the transmission including the augmented captured information and the subscriber information to said receiving facility. An encryptor encrypts the augmented captured information for transmission to said receiving facility.
US08068629B2 Hearing aid and method of utilizing gain limitation in a hearing aid
A hearing aid (200) with multiple microphones comprises a first microphone (1) for converting sound into a first audio signal, a second microphone (20) for converting sound into a second audio signal, directional processing means for combining the first and said second audio signal according to a mixing ratio to form a spatial signal, estimating means for estimating a first acoustic feedback signal entering the first microphone and a second acoustic feedback signal entering the second microphone, processing means (4) for processing said spatial signal by applying a gain not exceeding a resulting maximum gain limit to form a hearing loss compensation signal, wherein the resulting maximum gain limit is derived from the first and second acoustic feedback signals and the mixing ratio, and an output transducer (3) for converting the hearing loss compensation signal into an acoustic output. The invention further provides a method and a computer program product.
US08068618B2 Spherical loudspeaker for omnipresent sound reproduction
A highly compact loudspeaker system having a spherical housing produces time and phase coherent sound waves in an omnipresent manner throughout a spatial listening environment. Within is a relatively low frequency sound driver and a relatively high frequency sound driver. The spherical housing has upper and lower hemispherical halves. The upper half is hollow and has holes through its surface over most of its surface. The lower half forms a sound compression propagation vacuum chamber for the low frequency driver. Mounted within the lower half is a crossover network conventionally connected to the sound drivers. Acoustic foam lines the interior wall surface of the lower half. The low frequency sound driver is mounted inverted, into the open end of the lower half, and then sealed air tight, at a lowered atmospheric pressure, while the high frequency sound driver is mounted upwardly, affixed to the backside of the low frequency driver.
US08068610B2 Method and system for providing security within multiple set-top boxes assigned for a single customer
Two or more set-top boxes are installed in a household. A communications link, preferably a physical link, is provided between or among the set-top boxes. One of the boxes is designated as a “master” box while the other box or boxes are “slaves.” The slave box will use the communications link to communicate in a secured and encrypted manner with the master box. If that communication is severed, e.g., if an attempt is made to move the slave box to another household to provide unauthorized service in that household, the slave box will stop working when it can no longer communicate with the master box.
US08068605B2 Programmable keypad
A device may include logic configured to process a request for a keypad layout, and to provide a keypad layout via keypad display in response to the processed request.
US08068600B2 Queue management system and method
A queue management system and method which uses a computer to manage queue priorities and contact customers. The queue management system includes communication circuitry, and a processor for storing contact information of a customer in a list, for establishing a position of the customer in a queue, and for automatically causing the communication circuitry to wirelessly contact a personal communication device carried by the customer using the contact information if the position is first for service in the queue.
US08068597B2 Method and apparatus for processing customer contacts using a state machine
A method and apparatus are provided for processing a call with a client within an automatic contact distributor system. The method includes the step of providing a user agent application within a terminal of an agent of the automatic contact distributor system that functions as an interface for exchanging SIP commands and providing an agent state machine within the terminal of the agent that controls a plurality of call states of a connection of the call between the client and the agent where the agent state machine is different than the user agent application. The method further includes the steps of receiving a SIP INVITE by the user agent application from an automatic contact distributor of the automatic contact distribution system transferring the call from the automatic contact distributor to the agent and depicting a state of the plurality of states of the call on a display of the terminal based upon a logical state of the state machine.
US08068596B2 Call center system for multiple transaction selections
A method includes displaying a transaction menu that includes multiple selectable call center agent transactions. A plurality of selected transactions are ordered into a list of selected transactions based on a first business rule. The list of selected transactions includes an indicator of a status of each of the selected transactions and the list is separated into a first group of completed transactions and a second group of uncompleted transactions. A selection of an additional transaction is received after initiation of one of the selected transactions but before completion of all of the selected transactions. An updated second group of uncompleted transactions, including the additional transaction, is ordered in a second order based on a second business rule.
US08068591B2 Method, system and apparatus for announcing caller information over a television link
A method, system and apparatus for announcing caller information to users over a television link. The method comprises receiving signalling information associated with an incoming call destined for a destination party, the signalling information comprising a portion conveying information regarding an origin of the incoming call and information regarding an identity of the destination party. The method also comprises attempting to establish a telephony link with a device associated with the destination party over a communication network in response to said receiving. The method further comprises attempting to establish a second telephony link with a processing entity to convey said portion of the signalling information to the processing entity to cause delivery of an indication of the origin of the incoming call over a television link associated with the destination party, said indication based on said information regarding an origin of the incoming call.
US08068583B2 X-ray analysis apparatus and X-ray analysis method
Provided is an X-ray analysis apparatus including: an X-ray tubular bulb for irradiating a sample with a radiation beam; an X-ray detector for detecting a characteristic X-ray and a scattered X-ray and outputting a signal containing energy information on the characteristic X-ray and the scattered X-ray; an analyzer for analyzing the signal; a sample stage capable of moving an irradiation point relatively with respect to the sample within a mapping area set in advance; and an X-ray mapping processing section for discriminating an X-ray intensity corresponding to a specific element, determining an intensity contrast in which a color or lightness is changed in accordance with the X-ray intensity, and for performing image display at a position corresponding to the irradiation point, in which the X-ray mapping processing section determines the intensity contrast of the X-ray intensity at the irradiation point by setting in advance the X-ray intensity discriminated as to a reference material in which a component element and a concentration thereof are known as a reference.
US08068580B2 Methods and devices for quantitative analysis of x-ray images
The present invention relates to network enabled analysis of x-ray images. Also described are devices comprising calibration phantoms; methods of using these devices; methods of formulating databases containing information regarding x-ray images; the databases themselves; and methods of manipulating the information and databases.
US08068579B1 Process for examining mineral samples with X-ray microscope and projection systems
A process to determine the porosity and/or mineral content of mineral samples with an x-ray CT system is described. Based on the direct-projection techniques that use a spatially-resolved x-ray detector to record the x-ray radiation passing through the sample, 1 micrometer or better resolution is achievable. Furthermore, by using an x-ray objective lens to magnify the x-ray image in a microscope configuration, a higher resolution of up to 50 nanometers or more is achieved with state-of-the-art technology. These x-ray CT techniques directly obtain the 3D structure of the sample with no modifications to the sample being necessary. Furthermore, fluid or gas flow experiments can often be conducted during data acquisition so that one may perform live monitoring of the physical process in 3D.
US08068576B2 Counters and exemplary applications
Embodiments described herein are related to a counter. In some embodiments, the counter can be used as a divider, e.g., in a fractional PLL. In some embodiments, the counter (e.g., the main counter or counter C) includes a first counter (e.g., counter C1) and a second counter (e.g., counter C2), which, together with the first counter C1, perform the counting function for counter C. For example, if counter C is to count to the value N, then counter C1 counts, e.g., to N1, and counter C2 counts to N2 where N=N1+N2. For counter C1 to count to N1, N1 is loaded to counter C1. Similarly, for counter C2 to count to N2, N2 is loaded to counter C2. While counter C1 counts (e.g., to N1), N2 can be loaded to counter C2. After counter C1 finishes counting to N1, N2, if loaded, is available for counter C2 to start counting to this N2. Counters C1 and C2 can alternately count and thus provide continuous counting for counter C. Other embodiments and exemplary applications are also disclosed.
US08068571B2 Featureless coherent chaotic amplitude modulation
Systems (400, 500, 600) and methods (300) for generating a chaotic amplitude modulated signal absent of cyclostationary features by preserving a constant variance. The methods involve: generating a PAM signal including pulse amplitude modulation having a periodically changing amplitude; generating a first part of a constant power envelope signal (FPCPES) by dividing the PAM signal by a square root of a magnitude of the PAM signal; generating a second part of the constant power envelope signal (SPCPES) having a magnitude equal to a square root of one minus the magnitude of the PAM signal; and generating first and second spreading sequences (FSS and SSS). The methods also involve combining the FPCPES with the FSS to generate a first product signal (FPS) and combining the SPCPES with the SSS to generate a second product signal (SPS). A constant power envelope signal is generated using the FPS and SPS.
US08068570B2 Weight generation method for multi-antenna communication systems utilizing RF-based and baseband signal weighting and combining based upon minimum bit error rate
A method for processing communication signals is disclosed and may include, in a receiver and/or a baseband processor coupled to the receiver, the receiver comprising a plurality of antennas, generating a plurality of RF weighting values based on one or more output bit error rates of the receiver. A plurality of spatially-multiplexed RF signals, which are received by the receiver, may be weighted with the one or more of the generated plurality of RF weighting values, to form a plurality of weighted RF signals. Two or more of the generated plurality of weighted RF signals may be combined to form one or more combined RF signals. Each of the one or more combined RF signals may be processed by a different RF processing chain. The one or more output bit error rates of the receiver may be minimized by the generation of the plurality of RF weighting values.
US08068568B2 Method and system for a sliding window phase estimator for wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) automatic frequency correction
Aspects of a method and system for a sliding window phase estimator for wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) automatic frequency correction are presented. Aspects of the system may include one or more circuits that enable adjustment of a current demodulation frequency for receiving at least one subsequent symbol based on a computed weighted sum of a plurality of computed frequency error values. Each of the plurality of computed frequency error values may be derived from a current symbol, a corresponding previous symbol, and/or a previous frequency error value. The current symbol may include a current received symbol segment and one or more previously received symbol segments.
US08068566B2 Unified multi-mode receiver detector
In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a unified simplified maximum likelihood detector to be utilized with multiple input multiple output (MIMO) receivers to estimate transmitted signals. The unified detector includes a common framework capable of being utilized for multiple detection modes and multiple MIMO configurations.
US08068562B1 Signal processing for multiple chains including barker code correlation and auto-correlation
A method of processing a signal in a wireless network including multiple chains is provided. This method can include receiving the signal in a receiver and, for each chain, performing a Barker correlation on the signal to generate a Barker correlated signal. At this point, an autocorrelation can be performed on the Barker correlated signal to generate an autocorrelated signal. The autocorrelated signals from the multiple chains can be summed to generate a summed output. Additional processing, e.g. at least one of CCK weak signal detection, peak selection in a rake receiver, frequency estimation, and differential decoding, can then be performed based on the summed output.
US08068561B2 DTV receiving system and method of processing DTV signal
A broadcast receiver and a method of processing broadcast data in the broadcast receiver are disclosed. The broadcast receiver includes a tuner for receiving a broadcast signal including mobile service data, main service data and known data sequences; an equalizer for compensating channel distortion of the broadcast signal using at least one of the known data sequences; a first decoder for decoding the mobile service data in the equalized broadcast signal; and a second decoder for CRC-decoding and RS-decoding the turbo-decoded mobile service data.
US08068557B2 IQ-modulator pre-distortion
An IQ-modulator pre-distorter includes an iteratively updated digital filter (gQ0, gQ1) for filtering one of the branches of an IQ-signal to compensate for IQ-modulator generated amplitude errors. An iteratively updated digital filter (cQI0, cQI1), cross-connected from one of the branches to the other branch, filters one of the components of an IQ-signal to compensate for IQ-modulator generated inter-modulation between the branches. Iteratively updated compensators (dcI, dcQ) counteract IQ-modulator generated offset errors.
US08068553B2 System and method for evaluating performance of a MIMO antenna system
A performance evaluation system for a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system receives simulation parameters from an input device, and simulates a MIMO antenna system accordingly. A method, also provided, further evaluates performance of the simulated MIMO antenna system when a series of radio frequency (RF) signals are transmitted through the MIMO antenna system, and displays a performance analysis result of the MIMO antenna system on a display device for evaluation of the performance of the simulated MIMO antenna system.
US08068551B2 Systems and methods for designing a reference signal to be transmitted in a multiplexed cellular system
A method for designing a reference signal to be transmitted in a multiplexed cellular system is described. A first set of matrices that comprises a plurality of matrices is selected. An optimal partition of the first set of matrices is determined. A third matrix is formed. The third matrix represents a cross-correlation of a second matrix and each of the plurality of first matrices. A minimum corresponding to the first set of matrices is set. The second matrix is updated using the minimum corresponding to the first set of matrices. Each column of the second matrix is scaled by a first value.
US08068549B2 Trellis decoder for decoding data stream including symbols coded with multiple convolutional codes
A trellis decoder decodes a stream of encoded symbols, including symbols of a first type (e.g. symbols encoded with a first trellis code) and symbols of a second type (e.g. encoded with a second, more robust, trellis code), without storing path indicators along a trellis for symbols of the first type. In this way, limited memory may be used to store path indicators along the trellis for symbols of the second type. This allows for more accurate decoding of the symbols of the second type. For transitions from symbols of the second type to symbols of the first type, states of the trellis decoder may be stored. In this way, paths may be traced back along the trellis for trellis decoding, without the path indicators for the symbols of the first type.
US08068544B2 Compression with doppler enhancement
Methods, medium, and machines which compress, enhance, encode, transmit, decode, decompress and display digital video images. Real time compression is achieved by sub-sampling each frame of a video signal, filtering the pixel values, and encoding. Real time transmission is achieved due to high levels of effective compression. Real time decompression is achieved by decoding and decompressing the encoded data to display high quality images. A receiver can alter various setting including, but not limited to, the format for the compression, image size, frame rate, brightness and contrast. In a Doppler improvement aspect of the invention, Doppler velocity scales are incorporated into grayscale compression methods using two bits. Variable formats may be selected and Doppler encoding can be turned on and off based on the image content. Frames or sets of pixels may be distinguished by automated analysis of the characteristics of an image, such as the presence of Doppler enhanced pixels.
US08068538B2 Jitter measuring apparatus, jitter measuring method and test apparatus
There is provided a jitter measuring apparatus for measuring jitter in a signal-under-measurement, having a pulse generator for outputting a pulse signal having a pulse width set in advance corresponding to edges-under-measurement from which the timing jitter is to be measured in the signal-under-measurement, a filter for removing carrier frequency components of the signal-under-measurement from the pulse signal and a jitter calculator for calculating the jitter in the signal-under-measurement based on the signal outputted out of the filter.
US08068530B2 Signal acquisition in a wireless communication system
Each base station transmits a TDM pilot 1 having multiple instances of a pilot-1 sequence generated with a PN1 sequence and a TDM pilot 2 having at least one instance of a pilot-2 sequence generated with a PN2 sequence. Each base station is assigned a specific PN2 sequence that uniquely identifies that base station. A terminal uses TDM pilot 1 to detect for the presence of a signal and uses TDM pilot 2 to identify base stations and obtain accurate timing. For signal detection, the terminal performs delayed correlation on received samples and determines whether a signal is present. If a signal is detected, the terminal performs direct correlation on the received samples with PN1 sequences for K1 different time offsets and identifies K2 strongest TDM pilot 1 instances. For time synchronization, the terminal performs direct correlation on the received samples with PN2 sequences to detect for TDM pilot 2.
US08068514B2 Efficient bandwidth utilization when streaming data over multiple network interfaces
Adjusting utilization of network bandwidth by a non-time critical data stream being sent from a sending endpoint to a receiving endpoint, wherein both of the sending endpoint and the receiving endpoint each have multiple physical interfaces connecting the sending endpoint and the receiving endpoint to multiple networks. The non-time critical data stream is split and sent over multiple physical interfaces. A determination is made as to whether at least one of the multiple physical interfaces of the sending endpoint is sending or receiving a time critical or a near-time critical data stream, and a notification is received by the sending endpoint in a case that at least one of the multiple physical interfaces of the receiving endpoint is sending or receiving a time critical or a near-time critical data stream. The network bandwidth utilization of at least one of the multiple physical interfaces of the sending endpoint is then adjusted in accordance with the determination and/or the notification.
US08068508B2 Electronic circuit with processing units coupled via a communication network
A two-way network interface is provided for both sending transmission messages and receiving reception messages between a pair of processors through a network. The network interface uses transmission messages to transmit both data and information representing respective amounts of unreported buffer space R for receiving data items from reception messages in a buffer storage circuit. The network interface holds up transmission until a number A of data items, that a particular one of the data processing circuits has made available for transmission in the message and for which buffer space is available across the network, exceeds a threshold. However the threshold is lowered, or the transmission message is transmitted before the threshold is exceeded in response to an increase in the amount R of unreported available buffer space in the buffer storage circuit for the particular one of the processing circuits.
US08068504B2 One-way router
A one-way router combines benefits of a network diode and router, and thus can route data between networks of varying confidentiality and/or integrity in a secure, one-way fashion. Secure routing is provided transparently so that the router is compatible with standard network applications by synthesizing responses for standard network protocols to provide many-to-many network connections while preventing bidirectional data flow. Separate network stacks are provided for each connected network, and the network stacks are separated from each other by data diodes that enforce one-way data flow. The one-way router can be implemented in hardware or software, and provides architectural flexibility to customize levels of assurance, performance, reliability, and cost.
US08068502B2 Method and apparatus for enabling persistent connections with wireless networks
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for establishing a persistent connection between a user device and a service gateway. Specifically, the method comprises obtaining state information in response to a connection request, establishing a connection between the user device and the service gateway using the state information, and maintaining the state information associated with the connection such that the connection is persistent through at least one network state change.
US08068498B2 Computer readable record medium on which data communication load distribution control program is recorded and data load distribution control method
Highly flexible trunking is actualized by using a switching hub without a trunking function. A computer generates a distribution algorithm notification packet including physical addresses of communication interfaces and a distribution algorithm used for distributing data sent from a computer at the other end to the computer among the communication interfaces (step S1) and sends the distribution algorithm notification packet to the computer at the other end (step S2). The computer at the other end determines a communication interface which is a destination of send data to be sent to the computer in accordance with the distribution algorithm about which the computer at the other end was informed, designates a physical address of the determined communication interface as a destination, and sends the send data.
US08068487B1 Network security device and method
A device described herein may include an input port operable to receive data packets; a switching board operable to classify the data packets, determine whether the data packets should be accepted by the device, and determine whether received data packets are first data packets in a session; a management board operable to receive the data packets from the switching board that were determined by the switching board to be the first data packets in a session; and one or more processing boards operable to receive data packets from the switching board that were determined by the switching board to not be the first data packets in a session and to process the received data packets.
US08068474B2 Variable rate coding for enabling high performance communication
A protocol for optimizing the use of coded transmissions such as over wireless links. In this technique, interframes are split into segments selected to be an optimum size according to transmission characteristics of the radio channel. The inverse process is applied at the receiver. Using this scheme, segments containing erroneous data may be resent.
US08068461B2 Foreign agent, home agent, mobile node, system of mobile ethernet and method for data transmission
A foreign agent, a home agent, and a mobile node of mobile Ethernet, and a mobile Ethernet system, and a method for data transmission are disclosed. The mobile Ethernet system includes an Ethernet foreign agent, an Ethernet home agent and a mobile node. The method for data transmission includes: relaying, by a mobile node (MN) and a corresponding node (CN) in the mobile Ethernet system, through an Ethernet foreign agent (E-FA) and an Ethernet home agent (E-HA) to which the MN belongs, and performing data transmission by using Ethernet tunnel between the E-HA and the E-FA. The invention provides a switching-based connection-oriented mobile Ethernet system suitable to multimedia communications.
US08068456B2 System and method for transmitting and receiving signals in a communication system using relay scheme
A system and method for transmitting and receiving a signal in a communication system using a relay scheme. A base station receives a first signal in a first time interval from a first mobile station which is at least one mobile station located in a third region which is a region where a first region which is a region of the base station itself overlaps with a second region which is a region of a relay station. The relay station receives a second signal in the first time interval from a second mobile station which is at least one mobile station located in a fourth region which is a region not overlapping with the first region in the second region, and receives the first signal from the first mobile station. The relay station transmits a third signal including the first signal and the second signal to the base station in a second time interval. The base station receives the third signal in the second time interval, and cancels the first signal from the third signal to detect the second signal.
US08068454B2 System for enabling mobile coverage extension and peer-to-peer communications in an ad hoc network and method of operation therefor
A method for enabling mobile coverage extension and peer-to-peer communications in an ad hoc network is provided. The method includes communicating at least one message among the plurality of nodes, wherein the at least one message comprises: an ad hoc zone, wherein the ad hoc zone comprises at least one channel selected from a group of channels comprising: at least one synchronization channel for synchronizing out of coverage nodes, at least one access channel for peer-to-peer communications, and at least one ad hoc relay data/traffic channel for exchanging data during data sessions between one or more nodes.
US08068452B2 Synergetic transmitting system for digital broadcast SFN and method thereof
A cooperative transmission system for single frequency digital broadcasting network and method thereof are disclosed, said system includes a first double-layer cooperative transmission structure with same frequency and a second double-layer cooperative transmission structure with same frequency, which are vertically aggregated; wherein each of the double-layer cooperative transmission structures with same frequency is made up of a main transmission layer including several main transmitters with same transmitting frequency and an auxiliary transmission layer including several auxiliary transmitters with same transmitting frequency; the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the main transmitters in the first double-layer cooperative transmission structure with same frequency and the electromagnetic wave transmitted by the main transmitters in the second double-layer cooperative transmission structure with same frequency have different frequencies. The present invention makes up the disadvantage of the single frequency network, and can greatly improve the spectrum efficiency of broadcasting channel, the coverage (especially the indoor coverage) of broadcasting signal and the effect of mobile receiving of broadcasting signal.
US08068444B2 Method and apparatus for communicating downlink and uplink sub-frames in a half duplex communication system
A method communicating downlink and uplink sub-frames between a base and at least one half duplex user equipment. For a scheduled synchronization time, beginning of reception of an effective part of the uplink sub-frame is separated from end of transmission of an effective part of the first downlink sub-frame by a duration of the difference between a single idle period and an incremental timing advance value. The single idle period, having a duration greater than or equal to summation of downlink/uplink and uplink/downlink required minimum idle durations, is reserved in the end of the first downlink sub-frame or the beginning of the uplink sub-frame, or both. The incremental timing advance value is greater than or equal to the uplink/downlink required minimum idle duration and lower than or equal to the difference between the duration of the single idle period and the downlink/uplink required minimum idle duration.
US08068442B1 Spanning tree protocol synchronization within virtual private networks
Loop detection information, such as information associated with the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), is synchronized within virtual private networks. A routing protocol, such as the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), is extended in a manner that allows STP information or other loop detection information to be opaquely communicated between routing devices across an intermediate network. These techniques may, for example, be useful in environments where Virtual Private LAN Service (VPLS) is run through one or more intermediate networks.
US08068441B1 Automated discovery of access points in wireless computer networks
As part of a wireless access point configuration process, a computer network is probed and each previously unprogrammed wireless access point on the network is programmed by transmitting wireless network configuration parameters thereto using a software agent residing on a node of the computer network.
US08068430B2 High quality timing distribution over DSL without NTR support
A method and system in which a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) that is part of a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) system is able to provide synchronous services to end user equipment connected to the DSLAM via a DSL link and Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). A sniffer device having direct or indirect access to a Primary Reference Clock (PRC) of the DSL system calculates the phase difference between the PRC and the DSLAM's Local Timing Reference (LTR). The phase difference is sent to the CPEs requiring accurate reference clock frequency. The CPEs are able to derive the PRC from the phase difference information transmitted by the sniffer device thus enabling synchronous end user equipment operation.
US08068429B2 Transmit scheduling
There are disclosed apparatus and methods for scheduling packet transmission. At least one scheduled traffic queue holds a plurality of scheduled packets, each scheduled packet having an associated scheduled transmit time. At least one unscheduled traffic queue holds plurality of unscheduled packets. A packet selector causes transmission of scheduled packets from the scheduled traffic queue at the associated scheduled transmit time, while causing transmission of unscheduled packets from the unscheduled traffic queue during the time intervals between transmissions of scheduled packets.
US08068421B2 Arrangement and method for session control in wireless communication network
An arrangement and method for session control in a wireless UMTS radio access network (100) by performing creation and deletion of application-specific packet sessions (PDP contexts) in the network, with application-specific QoS parameters, without requiring the explicit cooperation of the application software (either via software API or modem AT command). This allows session set-up and tear-down control of dedicated packet sessions for particular data services, in a UMTS 3G mobile wireless network, with application-specific QoS parameters, with umodified applications operating over the network.
US08068420B2 Temporal slaving device
The invention relates to a device for temporal slaving in a packet data transmission network, each data packet comprising a time label, comprising means of temporary storage. According to the invention, the said device is such that:—the means of temporary storage have a storage capacity able to record data received for a predetermined time (IPDV) dependant on the characteristics of the network, the said device furthermore comprising—means for regenerating a local reception clock as a function of the time label of the incoming packets,—means for reading the data in the buffer memory at an instant dependent on the said predetermined time (IPDV) and on the regenerated local clock.
US08068419B2 System and method for transmitting video, audio, and data content using a fiber optic network
The present invention is directed to a system and method for controlling a data transmission network, and in particular, to a fiber optic broadcast quality video and audio transmission network, that can also provide customers, or users, the feature of accessing and controlling network parameters to set up and customize their own network connection and services, and where the fiber optic network may also be integrated with satellite transmission.
US08068417B1 System, method, and computer program product for processing flow requests based on an associated preference using a single computation
A router system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, a flow request is received. In addition, the flow request is processed based on one of a plurality of preferences using a single measurement and/or a single computation. Further, the one preference is associated with the flow request.
US08068413B2 Overload control method for access media gateway and corresponding access media gateway
The present invention provides an overload control method for an access media gateway and the corresponding access media gateway. The access media gateway restricts call of a subscriber coupled thereto and acting as a calling side or a called side. Different overload levels and calls with high priority to be guaranteed for the respective overload levels are set at the access media gateway. The subscriber of the access media gateway acting as a calling side or a called side determines an overload level upon detection of its own overload, judges whether the call is a call with high priority to be guaranteed for the overload level. If it is a call with high priority to be guaranteed for the overload level, the call is processed in accordance with a normal call flow; otherwise, the call is rejected. The present invention protects an AG system from breakdown at a high traffic load, and efficiently guarantees connection of the call with high priority including an emergency call and/or a call via a subscriber port with high priority, which can reduce dependence on the MGC, prevent the MGC from overload and rapidly alleviate the overload of the AG, so that the time period in which the service is influenced is shortened.
US08068411B2 Method and apparatus to compute local repair paths taking into account link resources and attributes
A technique for calculating local repair paths through a computer network using one or more dynamically measured parameters in place of, or in addition to, statically assigned cost metrics. The dynamically measured parameters include various statistical measures of resources and attributes associated with data links and/or network nodes in the computer network. In operation, an intermediate node monitors a set of local link and/or node parameters. The node may generate an advertisement in response to at least one of its monitored parameters crossing a predetermined threshold value or changing value by a predetermined percentage or amount. The advertisement is “flooded” so as to advertise the dynamically measured parameter value to other neighboring intermediate nodes. After receiving the advertisement, each node may recalculate one or more local repair paths based on the advertised parameter value. The node may utilize a recalculated repair path if it provides an appreciably lower-cost path, e.g., by a predetermined percentage, as compared with the currently deployed repair path.
US08068407B2 Group MMSE-DFD with order and filter computation for reception on a cellular downlink
The present method resides in a user destination receiver to exploit the structure of the transmitted signals to design filters that yield improved performance. Moreover, the computational cost of designing these filters can be reduced and the demodulation complexity can be kept low. Further, the present method enables determining the order of decoding the transmitter sources. The present method provides group MMSE decision feedback decoding for the case when all the sources transmit at fixed pre-determined rates and the MCS employed by each source is known to the destination. The present method includes a filtering technique and an order and filter computation process, both improvements over previous efforts at group MMSE decision feedback decoding.
US08068405B2 Ferroelectric memory and method in which polarity of domain of ferroelectric memory is determined using ratio of currents
Methods and arrangements for data storage are discussed. Embodiments include applying a first voltage between a tip and an electrode, thereby forming a polarized domain in a ferroelectric material between 1 nanometer (nm) and 50 nm in thickness. The embodiments may also include applying another voltage through the tip, thereby generating a current responsive to an orientation of the polarized domain. The embodiments may also include measuring the current and determining the orientation of the polarized domain, based upon the measuring.
US08068400B2 Method of recording information on a multilayer record carrier, and device for recording on a dual layer record carrier
Recordable DVD+R and DVD+R/W optical discs with two (or more) information layers are developed to double the data storage capacity and video recording time. A method and device are proposed to make dual layer DVD disc recordings compliant with the dual layer DVD-ROM standard Recording the data in a DVD-ROM compliant way on the dual layer DVD+R or DVD+R/W disc is obtained by shifting the middle zone area towards the inner radius of a disc in such a way that the data zones of both layers are filled up with data.
US08068398B2 Recording method for optical recording medium and recording apparatus
A recording method suitable for high-density recording is provided. When information is recorded on an optical recording medium with irradiation of a write pulse of a laser beam, a length corresponding to 7 T is set to be equal to or less than the spot diameter λ/NA of the laser beam where T is one recording clock cycle, λ is a wavelength of the laser beam, and NA is a numerical aperture of the objective lens, and a specified mark with a length corresponding to 3 T or more is recorded by a single write pulse.
US08068391B2 Optical recording/reproducing method, system, and program
An optical recording/reproducing system 1 reads a recorded signal written to a recording track of a recording medium 3 by light. The light is modulated by a drive signal on which a frequency signal is superimposed. The light is scanned along the recording track at a predetermined scan velocity. The optical recording/reproducing system 1 includes a computer 13 and an LD driver 17 that control, based on the scan velocity, a superimposed magnitude of the frequency signal on the drive signal.
US08068387B2 Magneto-optical device
A magneto-optical device is disclosed that includes a non-magnetic support body and a fine particle arrangement layer on the non-magnetic support body. The fine particle arrangement layer includes multiple regularly arranged fine metal magnetic particles. In the magneto-optical device, magnetization is generated by applying an external magnetic field to the fine metal magnetic particles, and linearly polarized light is made incident on the fine metal magnetic particles, so that a magneto-optical effect is increased by the interaction between the incident light on the fine metal magnetic particles and the surface plasmon oscillation of the fine metal magnetic particles.
US08068386B2 Golf round pace regulator
A Golf Round Pace Regulator timing device is shown and described. The invention, with a custom course specific face decal, illustrates the time allocated to each hole on the golf course to help golfers maintain a steady pace of play to complete the course in the time allotted by the golf course management. The golfer(s) are responsible for maintaining the same pace on the course as the pace of the invention's moving clock hand across the easy to read face decal. The invention solves the problem of slow play and decreased course revenue due to slow play. The invention solves the expensive customization manufacturing problem since it may be mass produced, and after manufacturing the customized course decal may be created and applied. The Invention is easy to implement and use on any golf course.
US08068378B2 Clock and power fault detection for memory modules
A system, method and apparatus for clock and power fault detection for a memory module is provided. In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a voltage detection circuit and a clock detection circuit. The system further includes a controller coupled to the voltage detection circuit and the clock detection circuit. The system also includes a memory control state machine coupled to the controller. The system includes volatile memory coupled to the memory control state machine. The system further includes a battery and battery regulation circuitry coupled to the controller and the memory control state machine. The battery, battery regulation circuitry, volatile memory, memory control state machine, controller, clock detection circuit and voltage detection circuit are all collectively included in a unitary memory module.
US08068367B2 Reference current sources
Systems, methods, and devices are disclosed, including an electronic device that includes a first data location, a quantizing circuit, and a reference current source, all coupled to an electrical conductor. The reference current source may include a current mirror with a side coupled to the electrical conductor and a second data location coupled to another side of the current mirror.
US08068365B2 Non-volatile memory device having configurable page size
A flash memory device having at least one bank, where the each bank has an independently configurable page size. Each bank includes at least two memory planes having corresponding page buffers, where any number and combination of the memory planes are selectively accessed at the same time in response to configuration data and address data. The configuration data can be loaded into the memory device upon power up for a static page configuration of the bank, or the configuration data can be received with each command to allow for dynamic page configuration of the bank. By selectively adjusting a page size the memory bank, the block size is correspondingly adjusted.
US08068363B2 Flash memory apparatus and read operation control method therefor
A flash memory apparatus of an embodiment is configured to include a flash memory including a plurality of blocks and a read operation control circuit determining whether to replace a block in accordance with the number of times a read process is performed for each block of the plurality of blocks.
US08068362B2 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device and method of reading the same
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device capable of preventing reading failure during the occurrence of the FG-FG coupling effect is disclosed. The non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, each cell of which stores at least two bits, such as LSB and MSB, using different threshold voltages. In addition, the device includes a control circuit for controlling the data-reading operation of the memory cell array. When the reading operation of the memory cells of a first word line is performed, the memory cells of a second word line adjacent to the first word line are examined to determine whether the writing operation of the MSB is performed. If the writing operation of the MSB is performed, a pre-charge voltage of the bit lines connecting to the memory cells of the first word line is reduced to a predetermined voltage for canceling out the raising of the threshold voltage caused by the coupling effect between gate electrodes.
US08068361B2 Systems and methods for performing a program-verify process on a nonvolatile memory by selectively pre-charging bit lines associated with memory cells during the verify operations
A nonvolatile memory system is operated by performing a program loop on each of a plurality of memory cells, each program loop comprising at least one program-verify operation and selectively pre-charging bit lines associated with each of the plurality of memory cells during the at least one program-verify operation.
US08068358B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a plurality of cell arrays having a plurality of first wirings and a plurality of second wirings intersecting each other and memory cells disposed at intersections between said first wirings and said second wirings, each containing a variable resistive element that is electrically rewritable and stores a resistance value as data; and a control circuit for selectively driving said first wirings and said second wirings; wherein said control circuit performs a first operation of applying a voltage required for one operation selected from the data write, read and erase operations to said one memory cell via one combination of said first and second wirings and a second operation of applying a voltage required for an operation selected from the data write, read and erase operations and different from the first operation to said other memory cell via another combination of said first and second wirings.
US08068353B2 Switching mode power supply circuit
A switching mode power supply (SMPS) circuit includes: a rectifying unit that rectifies an AC voltage applied from an AC input terminal; a power factor correction (PFC) and standby voltage output unit that is connected to the rectifying unit and has a PFC part and a standby voltage output part integrated therein; a PFC and standby voltage control unit that is connected to the PFC and standby voltage output unit and controlling the PFC and standby voltage output unit; and a DC/DC conversion unit that is connected to the PFC and standby voltage output unit and outputting a main voltage.
US08068348B2 Electrical power distribution unit and electrical punched grid therefor
An electrical power distribution unit (1) for an electrical system has a printed circuit board (200) with a punched grid (100) arranged thereon. An electrical component (300, 310) is arranged on the printed circuit board on a side of the punched grid (100). An electrical contact (350) of the electrical component projects through a passage opening in the printed circuit board. The punched grid is arranged between the electrical component and the printed circuit board, and an opening is formed in the punched grid in an area (130) around the electrical contact. The punched grid has a current infeed (110) which comprises a plurality of tongues (111, 112; 113). At least one of the tongues is bendable out of a plane of the punched grid in such a way that two of the tongues form a mutually adjacent common portion (115), which is electrically contactable by an electrical plug connector.
US08068345B2 Electronic device
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a housing, a first substrate having rigidity and including a slit, contained in the housing, a part mount portion provided on the first substrate and adjacent to the slit, an electronic part mounted on the part mount portion and a second substrate having flexibility. The second substrate is stacked on an inside of the first substrate and an inside of the part mount portion, and it crosses the slit, thereby supporting the part mount portion to be displaceable with respect to the first substrate.
US08068344B2 Electronic apparatus
An electronic apparatus, which accommodates a chip card, includes a casing, a limit element and a carrier. The limit element is connected to the casing and has a protruding part. The carrier is slidingly disposed on the casing and has at least a contact area disposed on a side of the carrier. The limit element is located at a first position as the protruding part contacts the contact area, and the limit element is located at a second position as the protruding part is away from the contact area. The protruding part moves between the first position and the second position.
US08068342B2 Cover mechanism and electronic device using same
An electronic device using a cover mechanism to cover a hole is described. The cover mechanism includes a locking member slidably mounted on a base member and a cover member. The cover member can be locked to the base member by locking of the cover member to the locking member in a locked position, can rotate around the locking member in a released position, and can expose the hole and physically attach to the locking member in an opened position.
US08068331B2 Enclosure to prevent fluid ingress of a device having a touch screen interface
An electronic device enclosure having an integrated in-mold foil, which prevents fluid ingress around an included display of the electronic device, is disclosed. A portion of the in-mold foil is adapted to the specific contour and profile of the display, thereby allowing a user to use a touch screen interface of the display with no shortcomings. In addition, the in-mold foil protects the display from direct chemical attack, and may provide a liquid-tight seal between a button of the electronic device and the enclosure.
US08068326B2 Electrostatic chuck and substrate temperature control fixing apparatus
There is provided an apparatus including: an electrostatic chuck for holding an object; and a base plate which supports the electrostatic chuck and controls a temperature of the electrostatic chuck. The electrostatic chuck is fixed onto the base plate via an adhesive layer. The electrostatic chuck includes: a base; an electrostatic electrode built in the base; and a mounting portion containing a dielectric material and detachably mounted on the base. The object is mounted on the mounting portion.
US08068325B2 Method and apparatus for moving material
A method and apparatus for moving magnetic material includes an electromagnet for lifting the magnetic material where upon its release, the residual magnetic flux of the lifted magnetic material is reduced. The apparatus includes a generator coupled to the electromagnet. The generator includes a control input and an armature having a voltage output. A controller has an output coupled to the generator's control input and armature voltage output, whereupon receiving a release material signal from an operator interface panel to release the magnetic material from the electromagnet, the controller transmits a plurality of control signals, one of which is at least partially dependent upon the duration of a previously transmitted control signal, to effectively alternate the polarity and reduce the magnitude of the magnetizing force of the electromagnet.
US08068318B2 Apparatus for ground fault current interrupter with overall end-of-life indication and shutdown protection function
An apparatus for ground fault current interrupter with overall end-of-life indication and shutdown protection function includes a first silicon-controlled rectifier, a reverse unit, a test switch unit and a ground fault current interrupter. The ground fault current interrupter includes a second silicon-controlled rectifier, a switch unit, a switch control unit and a rectifier filter unit. When a test current leakage signal is generated, a drive power is provided to the reverse unit, and the input power supply generates a current leakage phenomenon. If the ground fault current interrupter fails, then the second silicon-controlled rectifier will not be triggered, which makes the reverse unit trigger the first silicon-controlled rectifier, such that the rectifier filter unit outputs a DC power flowing through the first silicon-controlled rectifier to interrupt a power supply of the switch control unit. Therefore, the input power supply electrically connected to the switch unit can not deliver any power to the load electrically connected to the switch unit.
US08068317B2 Magnetic tunnel transistor with high magnetocurrent
A magnetic tunnel transistor (MTT) having a pinned layer that has no antiferromagnetic material in an active area of the sensor. The MTT can include a layer of antiferromagnetic material that is exchange coupled with the pinned layer in an area outside of the active area of me sensor, such as outside the track-width, beyond the stripe height, or both outside the track-width and beyond the stripe height. The pinned layer can also be pinned without any exchange coupling at all. In that case, pinning can be assisted by shape enhanced magnetic anisotropy, by extending the pinned layer beyond the stripe height.
US08068311B2 Perpendicular magnetic write head having a novel trailing return pole for reduced wide-area-track-erasure
A magnetic write head having a magnetic return pole that is configured to prevent wide area track erasure. The magnetic return pole has a throat region with a relatively narrow width and has a inner and outer wing portions formed near the air bearing surface. The inner wing portion has a front edge that is disposed at the air bearing surface, whereas the outer wing portion has a front edge that is recessed from the air bearing surface.
US08068307B2 Position control apparatus and disk apparatus using the same
According to one embodiment, a position control apparatus includes: a digital control module that performs position control including disturbance adaptive control with a predetermined sampling period with the use of a control constant, in accordance with a position error between a target position and a current position of the object; and a table that stores the control constant corresponding to a value of sin(ωT/2), wherein the digital control module determines a control value of the actuator in accordance with the position error, calculates the value of sin(ωT/2) according to an adaptive law from a signal based on the position error, reads the corresponding control constant from the table in accordance with the calculated value of sin(ωT/2), and updates the control constant.
US08068303B2 Lateral partitioning for a shingled tape format
Various embodiments for writing data in a tape medium having wraps by a tape drive are provided. The tape drive allocates the wraps in a shingled data band between two or more data partitions. A set of contiguous wraps is allocated to one data partition of the two or more data partitions. An additional set of contiguous wraps is allocated to an additional data partition of the two or more data partitions. A minimum buffer is retained between the set and the additional set of contiguous wraps of at least one wrap per direction written within at least one data band shared between the one and the additional data partitions such that the one and the additional data partitions may be written to by the tape drive independently of each other.
US08068282B1 Solar-powered light damper for tubular skylight
A tubular skylight is provided with a solar-powered light damper unit that includes a damper supported by an axle within a light-conveying tube, a solar cell, and a motor powered by the solar cell. The motor includes a cam that connects to the axle and that rotates the damper between a fully open position and a fully closed position. The solar cell is housed protectively within the skylight assembly, and may be attached to one of the damper itself or an interior surface of the light-conveying structure. The damper unit may be operated by remote control. The unit may be provided with new skylight installations or may be sold separately for retro-fitting existing installations.
US08068281B2 Zoom lens system, interchangeable lens apparatus and camera system
A zoom lens system is provided that includes a compactly constructed focusing lens unit and that has a suppressed change in the image magnification at the time of movement of a focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system according to the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, comprises: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; and at least two subsequent lens units, wherein at the time of zooming, all lens units move in a direction along the optical axis so that intervals between the lens units vary, and at the time of focusing, a second most image-side lens unit moves in a direction along the optical axis.
US08068267B2 Speckle reduction in display systems that employ coherent light sources
Speckle effect in display system is reduced by utilizing the instability of phase-coherent light and the transmission of the instable phase-coherent light through a multi-mode optical fiber with a suitable length.
US08068264B2 Method and apparatus for recording holographic stereograms elements using replacable elements
Methods and devices are described for creating and printing holographic stereograms and holographic optical elements using computer rendered images or using computer processed images. Various embodiments of the system may utilize interchangeable band-limited diffusers and reference-beam masking plates.
US08068257B2 Color printing reducing artifacts and banding by rendering black dots, replacing dots with process black, and adding non-black dots for different subsets of black dots
A method of printing comprising setting a pixel black value of K for an ink limit and identifying each of black dots of a first subset of black dots having pixel black value K greater than the ink limit, and pixel color value of cyan, magenta, and yellow equal to zero. The method further comprises rendering only K for a pixel value for the first subset of black dots and replacing each of black dots of a second subset of black dots of a halftoned bit map for a predetermined area with a process black dot. The method still further comprises adding a non-black dot to each of black dots of a third subset of black dots of the bit-mapped data, wherein the halftoned bit map is generated by halftoning continuous tone data; wherein the black dots of the third subset comprises a percentage of all the black dots that tends to generally increase as a ratio of black coverage to total coverage in the predetermined area increases; wherein the first, second, and third subset comprises black dots that are mutually exclusive; and, printing the bit map.
US08068246B2 Image processing apparatus and control method and control program thereof
An image processing apparatus comprising an local interface and a network interface and capable of transmitting an image data to a host apparatus with ease.A local I/F management section and a network I/F management section are prepared, and when image data read by a scanner control section is to be transmitted via the interfaces, activated states of the local interface and the network interface are detected. In case the local interface only is in an activated state, image data is transmitted to a host apparatus connected to the local interface, without the host selection by a predetermined user interface means according to a predetermined key operation, while in case the network interface is in an activated state, image data is transmitted to the host apparatus selected by the host selection by the user interface means according to the predetermined key operation through the local interface or network interface.
US08068225B2 Color matching for display system for shops
A color identifying display system having a lighting surface having an alterable apparent surface color, a color capture device to capture a color of an object placed within a detection area, and a processor. The lighting surface and the color capture device are coupled to the processor. The processor analyzes the captured color to determine a prominent color of the object and to control a color of the lighting surface based on the determined prominent color. The color of the lighting surface may be adjusted to match the prominent color, complement the prominent color, or be analogous to the prominent color.
US08068224B2 Spectroscopic module
In the spectroscopy module 1, a light absorbing layer 6 having a light-passing hole 6a through which light L1 advancing into a spectroscopic portion 3 passes and a light-passing hole 6b through which light L2 advancing into a light detecting portion 4a of a light detecting element 4 passes is integrally formed by patterning. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deviation of the relative positional relationship between the light-passing hole 6a and the light-passing hole 6b. Further, since the occurrence of stray light is suppressed by the light absorbing layer 6 and the stray light is absorbed, the light detecting portion 4a of the light detecting element 4 can be suppressed from being made incident. Therefore, according to the spectroscopy module 1, it is possible to improve the reliability.
US08068218B2 Water in oil measurement using stabilizer
A method for determining an amount of polar substance in a non-polar media includes adding a surfactant to increase a dispersion of the polar substance in the non-polar media and to increase the optical absorbance of the polar substance in the non-polar media to create a sample, passing an initial optical spectrum through the sample, measuring a resultant optical spectrum exiting the sample, relating the resultant optical spectrum to a predetermined quantitative calibration, and determining a concentration of the polar substance in the non-polar media based on the relation of the resultant optical spectrum to the quantitative calibration.
US08068211B2 Exposure apparatus and method for manufacturing device
An exposure apparatus for exposing a shot region on a substrate includes a movable stage, a projection optical system, a measuring device configured to measure a position of a partial region of a surface of the substrate, and a controller configured to cause the measuring device to measure the position with respect to each of a plurality of measurement points of each of a plurality of shot regions, to determine a global shape of the surface based on the measured positions, to calculate a correction value with respect to each of the plurality of measurement points based on the determined global shape, and to move the stage based on measurement values corrected using the respective correction values corresponding to the respective measurement points.
US08068208B2 System and method for improving immersion scanner overlay performance
System and method for improving immersion scanner overlay performance are described. One embodiment is a method of improving overlay performance of an photolithography immersion scanner including a wafer table having lens cooling water (“LCW”) disposed in a water channel therein, the wafer table having an input for receiving the LCW into the water channel and an output for expelling the LCW from the water channel. The method includes providing a water tank that connects to at least one of the wafer table input and the wafer table output; monitoring a pressure of water in the water tank; and maintaining the pressure of the water in the water tank at a predetermined level.
US08068202B2 Liquid crystal device
A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposite each other with a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween, wherein the first substrate includes a signal line, a switching element electrically connected to the signal line, a first electrode electrically connected to the switching element, a wiring line, a dielectric film covering the first electrode, the switching element, and the wiring line, and a second electrode disposed on the dielectric film so as to be opposite the first electrode, and wherein the second electrode is drawn from the dielectric film toward an area where the dielectric film does not exist and is electrically connected to the wiring line through the area where the dielectric film does not exist.
US08068198B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus comprising a light-detecting and controling unit that sense and control the brightness of the display
A liquid crystal display includes: a display with an array substrate having scanning and data lines and an IC chip driving liquid crystal, and a color filter substrate; a light-detector having an optical sensor integrated in the display detecting external light; a detection circuit connected via sensor laid-around lines connecting to light-detector lines; an illuminator illuminating the display panel; and a controller controlling the illuminator based on the detection circuit's output. The data lines are distributed to the chip-mounting area and have terminals at an end for connecting to IC chip bump terminals. Leader lines distribute from the terminals toward the chip-mounting area and have inspection terminals at their ends. Sensor inspection lines connect at one end to the sensor laid-around lines and extend at the other end to the chip-mounting area. Sensor detection terminals are formed at the other end of the sensor inspection lines.
US08068196B2 Surface illumination device and a liquid crystal display device using such a surface illumination device
A surface illumination device is provided with a laser light source capable of emitting a laser light, an incident surface on which the laser light is incident, a light guiding plate having a principal surface from which the laser light emerges as a surface emergent light, and an irradiating member capable of irradiating the laser light from the laser light source over a specified range extending in the longitudinal direction of the light guiding plate.
US08068195B2 Portable device including external-light-shielding sheet
A portable device including an external-light-shielding sheet is provided. The portable device includes a display panel; and an external-light-shielding sheet arranged on the display panel, wherein the external-light-shielding sheet includes a base portion and a plurality of wedge shaped portions arranged on the base portion to absorb external light. Therefore, it is possible to absorb and block as much external light as possible. In addition, it is possible to improve bright-room contrast by effectively realizing a black image on a display panel.
US08068189B2 Liquid crystal display and liquid crystal projector
A plurality of liquid crystal modulation electrodes is arranged in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate 28, a light transmitting substrate 47 with a transparent electrode 23, and a semiconductor substrate are laminated together with liquid crystal interposed therebetween, the semiconductor substrate is connected to a flexible printed board 25 electrically connecting to an external circuit, the transparent electrode is connected to the wiring of the flexible printed board not through the semiconductor substrate, and the wiring is connected to the semiconductor substrate, whereby the transparent electrode is electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate 28 is provided with an anti-electrostatic protection circuit and the transparent electrode is connected to the anti-electrostatic protection circuit through the wiring.
US08068188B2 Thin film transistor array panel and manufacturing method thereof
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel is provided, the method includes: forming a gate line on an insulating substrate; forming a gate insulating layer; forming a semiconductor layer; forming a data conductive layer including a data line and a drain electrode; depositing a passivation layer; forming a photoresist including a first portion located on an end portion of the gate line, a second portion thicker than the first portion and located on the drain electrode, and a third portion thicker than the second portion; exposing a portion of the passivation layer under the second portion of the photoresist and a portion of the gate insulating layer under the first portion of the photoresist by etching using the photoresist as an etch mask; forming first and second contact holes exposing the drain electrode and the end portions of the gate line, respectively; and forming a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode through the first contact hole.
US08068178B2 Bezel color coordination
A processor, such as a TV processor, determines which one of at least two audio-video components is sending signals to a TV for display. Based on the determining act, the processor establishes a color of a bezel of the TV.
US08068172B2 Image aspect ratio adjustment system and method
An image aspect ratio adjustment system comprises an adjustment module configured to adjust image content to correspond to an aspect ratio of a display device based at least in part on motion within the image content.
US08068168B2 Device for connecting a camera lens to a movie camera
A device for connecting a camera lens to a movie camera has a camera housing with a lens mount and a device for acquiring data relating to the camera lens connected to the lens mount. Said device further comprising a miniaturized electronic system with data memory for storing data relating to the camera lens such as lens type, serial number, conversion tables and the like, and with a contact region that is arranged on a data interface between the lens mount of the movie camera and the lens fastening means of the camera lens and which is aligned with the contact region arranged in the lens mount of the movie camera is integrated in the lens fastening means of the camera lens or in a modified lens fastening means connected to the lens fastening means of the camera lens or replacing the latter.
US08068167B2 SMA actuator driving device, and image pickup device incorporated with the same
In a shape memory alloy actuator driving device, a predetermined constant current is applied to a shape memory alloy member as a retrieval signal to detect a terminal voltage of the shape memory alloy member, and a detection result of the terminal voltage is compared with a target voltage value to be calculated based on a target resistance value of the shape memory alloy member and a value of the constant current to cause a driving circuit to output, to the shape memory alloy member, a drive current that makes the detection result substantially equal to the target voltage value.
US08068165B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus where images of good quality can be obtained without being affected by the diffraction phenomenon and without recourse to any polishing. The imaging apparatus is adapted to form a subject image on an imaging plane having light receptor elements arranged on it via an imaging optical system. The imaging optical system has a molded optical element fabricated through a fabrication process in which a periodic streak is produced on an optical surface. When a high-brightness subject light whose brightness value exceeds the saturation sensitivity of each light receptor element enters the imaging optical system, a nonessential light image resulting from the streak on the optical surface based on the high-brightness subject light is formed on the imaging plane and in an area of a subject image from the high-brightness subject light at the time when the optical plane is supposed to be free of the streak.
US08068164B2 Face recognition auto focus apparatus for a moving image
A data processing device includes: a face-detecting unit to detect a face region from an input image input from an imaging unit which images a subject including a face; a setting unit to calculate subject distance based on the face size of the face detected by the face-detecting unit, and set limits as a focus lens operation range before and after a focus lens position with the calculated subject distance as focal distance; a detecting unit to move a focus lens within the limits set by the setting unit, and detect a focal point where a detection value corresponding to the contrast intensity obtained from a face frame including the face detected by the face-detecting unit is not smaller than a threshold; and a control unit to determine, in a case wherein a focal point has been detected within predetermined set time, the focal point thereof as a focus position.
US08068159B2 Image capturing device and method with infrared detection thorugh plural filter regions
An image capturing device and method, with the image capturing device including a lens, a filter unit, and an image sensor unit. The filter unit has a first filter region which limits incident light, having passed through the lens, to primary color light, a second filter region which passes the incident light in all wavelength ranges, and a third filter region which limits light in an infrared wavelength range. The image sensor unit senses an image using light passing through the filter unit. Thereby, the ability to sense an image can be improved.
US08068153B2 Producing full-color image using CFA image
A method of forming a full-color output image using a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, comprising capturing a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, wherein the panchromatic channel is captured using a different exposure time than at least one of the color channels; computing an interpolated color image and an interpolated panchromatic image from the color filter array image; computing a chrominance image from the interpolated color image; and forming the full color output image using the interpolated panchromatic image and the chrominance image.
US08068150B2 Memory access control apparatus and image pickup apparatus
A memory access control apparatus includes a memory controller controlling a memory adopting a DDR format; a DDR-PHY adjusting the timing of an interface signal between the memory controller and the memory; a DDR-PHY controller controlling the DDR-PHY; and a clock controller controlling the frequency of a clock signal. A first request signal for controlling the operation of the memory in a self-refresh mode is supplied to the memory controller, a second request signal for resetting the DDR-PHY is supplied to the DDR-PHY controller, a third request signal for changing the clock frequency is supplied to the clock controller, a fourth request signal for setting a parameter for the DDR-PHY is supplied to the DDR-PHY controller, and a fifth request signal for canceling the operation of the memory in the self-refresh mode is supplied to the memory controller in order to change the clock frequency of the memory.
US08068149B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and image pickup apparatus
An image processing device includes a corrector for performing an optical correction of correcting a distortion of an image by interpolating image data of the distorted picked-up image resulting from an optical characteristic of an image pickup section, and locally changing a resolution of the image; and a compressor for performing a dynamic range compression of compressing a dynamic range of the image data by extracting an illumination component from the image data based on a space frequency of the image, and compressing the extracted illumination component, wherein the compressor performs the dynamic range compression with respect to image data of an after-correction-image to be obtained after the optical correction is performed by the corrector.
US08068147B2 Setting the white balance of a video frame
Disclosed is a method for setting the white balance of a video frame. The frame is first divided into sub-regions. Those sub-regions determined to be possibly dominantly monochromatic are eliminated from consideration, and the white balance is set by adjusting the color gain of the frame, the adjusting based on the other sub-regions in the frame. A sub-region is determined to be possibly dominantly monochromatic if the difference between its averaged color and each of a set of neutral reference colors is greater than a threshold. If the difference between the averaged color and at least one of the neutral reference colors is less than or equal to the threshold, then the sub-region is still determined to be possibly dominantly monochromatic if that neutral reference color, along with an illuminant type of a previous frame in the video, match closely enough to an element in an ambiguous reference color list.
US08068143B2 Camera apparatus with saliency signal generation
An electronic still, video or hybrid camera has a physically or mechanically operable user control receiving an input from a user and generates a binary, continuous or multi-level saliency signal while an image signal is being produced. The user control may be the same as or different from the picture taking control. In real time the saliency signal controls processing of the camera signal, or the camera itself, for example by controlling the frequency of still picture taking, or by optimising image storage in memory. The signal can also be stored with the image signal for later use, as in editing. The user control can be mounted on the camera or remote therefrom and include a movement or pressure sensor.
US08068138B2 Image pickup apparatus for reducing fixed pattern noise
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup optical system having an optical axis and configured to form a subject image, an image pickup element configured to pick up the subject image and output the picked-up subject image as an image, an optical axis controller configured to displace an optical axis position relative to the image pickup element every time image capturing is performed, an image addition processor configured to correct positional displacement between a plurality of images output from the image pickup element and add the resulting images together, and an operation unit.
US08068123B2 Display and driving method thereof
A display device that includes a data modulator for comparing input data of m (m is a natural number of not less than 2) number of frames and inserts any one of black data and gray data in accordance with the comparison result and a driving method thereof are provided.
US08068104B2 Totally integrated intelligent dynamic systems display
An apparatus for graphically displaying analytical data, comprising a generic model to graphically represent a complex set of physical characteristics potentially leading to catastrophic failure of a physical system. A central region represents failure of the physical system; a series of concentric ridges represents level of function. Wedge shaped regions upon the ridges represent predetermined subsystems of the physical system. An icon is displayed with changes in the icon proportional to time, and any one or more of color, position, shape, and rotation of the icon representing prescribed analysis of the physical characteristics. Mappings correlate predetermined characteristics of the system with failure of the physical system, levels of functioning represented by the ridges, subsystems represented by the wedge shaped regions, and/or analysis of the physical characteristics represented in the icon. A sensor interface receives measurements, and a graphics generator prepares a presentation of the model.
US08068102B2 Drive voltage supply circuit
A drive voltage supply circuit has a first wire line, a second wire line, a first drive circuit, a plurality of second drive circuits, a control circuit for driving the first drive circuit and the plurality of second drive circuits, and an impedance element connected between the first wire line and each of output terminals.
US08068101B2 On a substrate formed or resting display arrangement
A touch screen apparatus, including a display unit including a touch surface, a number of light pulse emitting units, connecting to the display unit, for emitting light pulses over and across the touch surface, a number of light pulse receiving units, connected to the display unit, for measuring amounts of light received from the light pulse emitting units, circuitry, connected to the light pulse emitting units and to the light pulse receiving units, for selectively activating, at any given time, one or more of the light pulse emitting units and the light pulse receiving units, wherein the circuitry activates three or more light pulse emitting units and only one light pulse receiving unit during a designated time interval, and a calculating unit, connected to the light pulse receiving units, to determine the location of an object touching the touch surface, based on the measured amounts of light received at the receiving units.
US08068099B2 Mobile phone and method for controlling the same
A mobile phone is provided. The mobile phone comprises a touch panel, a camera, and a processor. The touch panel comprises a touch-sensitive display screen, implementing a plurality of virtual buttons. The camera comprises a camera lens having a view-finding area in relation to the touch panel. The processor, respectively coupled with the touch panel and the camera, switches on the camera in response to receipt of a trigger signal, determines whether a focus of the camera for a subject is shorter than a preset distance, and if so, locks the touch panel.
US08068097B2 Apparatus for detecting conductive material of a pad layer of a sensing device
An apparatus and method for distinguishing a particular button operation from among multiple button operations on a sensing device having multiple sensor elements that are electrically coupled together. The apparatus may include a sensing device having a first sensor element and a second element that are electrically coupled to detect a presence of a conductive object on the sensing device. The method may include detecting a presence of a conductive object on a sensing device having multiple sensor elements that are electrically coupled, each sensor element corresponding to a button operation, and distinguishing between the multiple button operations.
US08068087B2 Methods and systems for reduced flickering and blur
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems and methods for detecting motion in frames of a video sequence and for generating and applying a backlight modulation screen comprising at least one modulation pulse width dependent on the motion detection. Some aspects relate to a motion map variable used to determine modulation pulse widths for the backlight modulation screen.
US08068075B2 Liquid crystal display device
The liquid crystal display device of the invention includes a liquid crystal display element section that is initialized such that the alignment state of liquid crystal molecules is transitioned from a splay alignment to a bend alignment capable of displaying an image, and a driving circuit that applies to the liquid crystal display element section a transition voltage that causes the alignment state of liquid crystal molecules to be transitioned from the splay alignment to the bend alignment in the initialization. Further, a clock signal generator generates upon supply of power to the driving circuit, a clock signal, which is delivered to the driving circuit, as a reference for starting application of the transition voltage and for measuring a transition voltage application period.
US08068066B2 X-band turnstile antenna
An X-band, crossed dipole turnstile antenna configured to be omni-directional with horizontal polarization is disclosed. It comprises a set of two dipole antennas aligned at right angles to each other attached to a common 50 ohm coaxial feedpoint and fed 90 degrees out-of-phase. The antenna pattern is nearly omnidirectional in the horizontal plane. The antenna can be used generally in microwave communications including Digital Radio Frequency Tags (DRaFTs) communicating with airborne and satellite platforms.
US08068065B1 Concentric ring log-periodic slot direction finding antenna
A concentric ring, log-periodic slot antenna used for direction finding is disclosed. There are a number of continuous, circular slots nested inside of each other. A cover over the slots cavities has excitation plates and conductors thereon. There are four excitation plates spaced ninety degrees apart over each circular slot, and the excitation plates of all slots in each ninety degree sector are electrically interconnected. A conductor from the interconnected excitation plates in each of the four sectors conducts received signals to a Butler matrix which processes the signals and provides Mode 0, Mode +1, Mode −1, and Mode Δ outputs. These Mode outputs are used to provide direction finding information for DF signal sorting, and they may be used to provide radio frequency voltages to other equipment to provide accurate DF (CIDF) and CIGL transmitter geo-location information.
US08068062B2 Portable antenna positioner apparatus and method
A low power, lightweight, collapsible and rugged antenna positioner for use in communicating with geostationary, geosynchronous and low earth orbit satellite. By collapsing, invention may be easily carried or shipped in a compact container. May be used in remote locations with simple or automated setup and orientation. Azimuth is adjusted by rotating an antenna in relation to a positioner base and elevation is adjusted by rotating an elevation motor coupled with the antenna. Manual orientation of antenna for linear polarized satellites yields lower weight and power usage. Updates ephemeris or TLE data via satellite. Algorithms used for search including Clarke Belt fallback, transponder/beacon searching switch, azimuth priority searching and tracking including uneven re-peak scheduling yield lower power usage. Orientation aid via user interface allows for smaller azimuth motor, simplifies wiring and lowers weight. Tilt compensation, bump detection and failure contingency provide robustness.
US08068061B2 Mobile wireless communications device including an electrically conductive, electrically floating element and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a portable housing having an interior and comprising a removable panel providing access to the interior, a printed circuit board (PCB) carried by the portable housing. The device may further include an antenna connected to the PCB and carried by the bottom portion of the PCB, and at least one electrically floating, electrically conductive, antenna beam shaping element secured to the removable panel.
US08068056B2 Location reporting with secure user plane location (SUPL)
Techniques for supporting periodic and other location services with Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) and other location architectures are described. The techniques can provide position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET) to a SUPL agent periodically and/or based on trigger events. A Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP) receives from the SUPL agent a request for position estimates for the SET. The H-SLP starts a SUPL location session with the SET. For each of at least one reporting event during the location session, the H-SLP obtains a position estimate for the SET and sends the position estimate to the SUPL agent. The position estimate may be derived by the SET and sent to the H-SLP. Alternatively, the position estimate may be derived by the H-SLP based on measurements from the SET.
US08068054B2 Receiver with means for ensuring bona fide of received signals
A receiver that receives a plurality of signals that are modulated with a common carrier, where each signal of said signals originates at a different source and experiences a transit delay and Doppler frequency shift before reaching the receiver, and where the transit delay and Doppler frequency shift are related to position and movement of each of the respective sources. The receiver includes means, such as a directional antenna, to ensure that the received signals are bona fide, or at least not subject to the same bogus signal or signals to which a second receiver may be subjected.
US08068050B2 Methods and systems for detection of hazard to aviation due to convective weather
Systems and methods for improving output of weather information. A weather radar system receives weather reflectivity values. A processing device stores the received weather reflectivity values into a three-dimensional buffer, calculates a sum of the reflectivity value stored in a column of cells within the three-dimensional buffer, and assigns a first hazard indication to the cells of the column when the result of the calculation is above a first threshold. A display device generates a weather display based on data stored in the three-dimensional buffer. The weather display includes a display icon associated with the hazard indication when a cell from the three-dimensional buffer has been selected for the weather display.
US08068049B2 Passive detection apparatus
A passive detection device is disclosed comprising a plurality of antennas, receivers, and a digital beamformer, wherein the antennas and receivers are adapted to receive radiation of millimeter wavelengths from a near field region, to process and digitize it. The beamformer is adapted to process the received information and to generate static image information relating to the region. An indication means is provided to indicate the presence of objects of interest. The beamformer is preferentially adapted to generate information simultaneously in a plurality of planes at different distances from the apparatus. The indication means may comprise an array of pixels along the length of the apparatus to display image information, and may use the multi-planar information to construct images of the region comprising data from a plurality of planes. The invention has utility in security scanning applications such as at airports or other locations where security detection equipment is employed.
US08068048B1 Wireless microwave interferer for destructing, disabling, or jamming a trigger of an improvised explosive device
A wireless microwave interferer for destructing, disabling, or jamming a trigger of an improvised explosive device. The interferer includes a power source interface, a control and monitoring panel, a waveform generator, a modulated HV power supply, at least one microwave generator, a waveguide to co-ax transformer and combiner, one of an ellipsoidal antenna and a spiral antenna, and an antenna adjustment mechanism. The power source interface interfaces with a power source. The waveform generator is connected to the modulated HV power supply and to the control and monitoring panel. The control and monitoring panel is connected to the power source interface, the modulated HV power supply, and the antenna adjustment mechanism. The modulated HV power supply is connected to the at least one microwave generator. The at least one microwave generator is connected to the waveguide to co-ax transformer and combiner. The waveguide to co-ax transformer and combiner is connected to the one of the ellipsoidal antenna and the spiral antenna. The one of the ellipsoidal antenna and the spiral antenna is connected to the antenna adjustment mechanism.
US08068043B2 Method and apparatus for video processing in context-adaptive binary arithmetic coding
A method and apparatus of a digital signal processor for coding of a significant map. The method for coding of a significant map includes carrying out a scan of at least a portion of a block of transform coefficients; calculating runs of zeros of the scanned data; and coding runs of zeros with variable length coding.
US08068039B2 Flight track display system using data from a plurality of sources
Described is a system and method for displaying flight track data. The system and method include a data feed arrangement to receive target data points from a first data source and a second data source, a data receiving arrangement correlating target data points from the first data source with corresponding target data points received from the second data source, the correlation being based on location and time information in the target data points, a data analyzing arrangement to analyze the target data points and correlated data points and store each target data point and correlating data point in a target flight record, the target flight record corresponding to a target aircraft, a data generation arrangement to generate a flight track for the target aircraft using the data stored in the target flight record, wherein the flight track includes a first portion generated from the first data source and a second portion generated from the correlated target data points and a data distribution arrangement to organize the flight track into a displayable file and distribute the file to users of the system, wherein the displayable file is displayed on a graphical user interface including the flight track information.
US08068038B2 System and method for rendering a primary flight display having a conformal terrain avoidance guidance element
A flight deck display system and related operating methods for an aircraft are provided. The system includes a processor architecture and a display element coupled to the processor architecture. The processor architecture is configured to receive real-time aircraft data and terrain data for the aircraft and, based upon the real-time aircraft data and the terrain data, generate image rendering display commands. The display element receives the image rendering display commands and, in response thereto, renders a primary flight display that includes a conformal view of terrain corresponding to a flight deck viewpoint. The primary flight display also includes a conformal terrain avoidance guidance (TAG) element on the view of terrain. The TAG element includes visual indicia of a desired navigation path that is intended to avoid terrain that obstructs a current flight path of the aircraft.
US08068030B2 Deactivatable RFID labels and tags and methods of making same
Disclosed are deactivatable RFID labels and tags in individual and web form, and methods of making same. When it is desired to deactivate the label or tag, the tag or label is subjected to tearing. One arrangement involves providing the label or tag with a tear strip by which the RFID transponder in the label or tag is destroyed, and in another arrangement a tag can be torn along a weakening line to destroy the RFID transponder.
US08068029B2 Systems and methods for indicating a quality of grouped items
Systems and methods for determining a relative quantity of recyclable items with respect to a total number of items are disclosed. In one embodiment of the present invention, a computer-implemented method includes reading an identifier respectively associated with at least some of a total number of items. The computer determines a number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items. The computer also receives the total number of items, and computes the relative quantity of recyclable items by dividing the number of identifiers associated with the recyclable items by the total number of items.
US08068026B1 Periodic tester to determine readiness of a fire pump system
A periodic tester to determine the readiness of a fire pump system interfaces with a fire pump controller, an electric motor, and a sprinkler system. The fire pump controller has a power on/off sensor which interfaces with an electric motor which starts the fire pump to provide water to the sprinkler system. The power on/off system has a contactor coil as a component. The periodic tester targets two of the main components of fire system failure: the power on/off sensor and the contactor coil. The periodic tester may be retrofitted to existing systems and interface either directly or indirectly with the power on/off sensor to accommodate both systems that have a solenoid valve and those that do not. The periodic tester is designed to attempt to start the system only once during a set cycle. Any failure to start is displayed through audible and visual alarms.
US08068025B2 Personal alerting device and method
A personal alerting device and method for detecting an approaching sound source includes a sound detector for detecting environmental sounds and for providing an electrical signal to a sound analyzer. The sound signal is analyzed to determine a baseline sound pattern comprising a plurality of distinct sounds corresponding to sounds emitted from a reference sound source. The distinct sounds in the baseline sound pattern may have substantially the same amplitude and time interval. The sound signal is monitored and compared against the baseline sound pattern to determine whether a target sound pattern is present in the sound signal, the target sound pattern corresponding to sounds emitted by the approaching sound source. When it is determined that the target sound is present in the sound signal, one or more of an audible, visual and tactile alert may be emitted to provide warning of the approaching sound source.
US08068022B2 System and method for monitoring objects and people using a mobile device
A system for monitoring the location of persons or objects using a wireless device, comprising at least one tag unit capable of transmitting data signals of a first type identifying said at least one tag; a wireless device capable of receiving data signals of a second type; and a converter unit, that receives the data signals of the first type from said at least one tag unit, converts the data signals of the first type to data signals of a second type, and transmits said data signals of a second type to the wireless device.
US08068018B2 Confirming the presence of a run flat safety band incorporating a wireless device
A run flat safety band 1 has a wireless sensor 11 incorporated therein, which can be remotely interrogated in order remotely to confirm that the safety band is fitted on a wheel 4. The sensor 11 includes a pressure and temperature sensor, enabling the pressure and temperature within the tire 2 mounted on the wheel 4 to be remotely checked, by means of which remote indication can be provided that the tire 2 has deflated and is running on the runflat band 1 and also that the tire 2 is overheating and likely to break up prematurely while running on the runflat band 1.
US08068006B2 Method of detecting presence and motion for door control devices and door control devices implementing such a demand
A method of detecting presence and motion for door control devices, and a door control device implementing the method. On receipt of a door opening command (24), at least a portion of at least one image captured by a digital camera of the floor area is compressed (28) and the compressed image is compared (32) with at least one active presence criterion to inhibit or not inhibit the door closure command (34).
US08068005B2 Direct wireless polling of model trains
A method and apparatus for designating a particular model vehicle for a command function without punching in the ID of the model vehicle. A remote control device is positioned near one of the model vehicles. A limited field transmission occurs between the model vehicle and the remote control device. The device may be a train engine transmitting its train ID periodically via an infrared (IR) transmission. The remote near the train automatically receives the IR transmission of the train ID, so that the next press of a command button will automatically go to that train ID without needing to punch in the ID number.
US08068002B2 Coupled electromechanical relay and method of operating same
An electromechanical relay employing a movable first permanent magnet and a nearby third electromagnet is disclosed. The movable first magnet is permanently magnetized and has at least a first end. The third electromagnet, when energized, produces a third magnetic field which is primarily perpendicular to the magnetization direction of the first movable magnet and exerts a magnetic torque on the first magnet to force the first magnet to rotate and closes an electrical conduction path at the first end. Changing the direction of the electrical current in the third electromagnet changes the direction of the third magnetic field and thus the direction of the magnetic torque on the first magnet, and causes the first magnet to rotate in an opposite direction and opens the electrical conduction path at the first end. Multiple magnets can be stacked together to form multi-pole-multi-throw relays. Latching and non-latching types of relays can be formed by appropriately using soft and permanent magnets as various components.
US08067998B2 Communication transceiver having a three-line balun with power amplifier bias
A balun that includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a third conductor. The first conductor has a first length. The first conductor also has a first end connected to a first balanced power amplifier output port. The second conductor has substantially the same first length. The second conductor also includes a first end connected to a second balanced power amplifier output port and a second end connected to a second end of the first conductor. The third conductor has substantially the same first length. The third conductor has a first end connected to an antenna port and a second end connected to a ground potential.
US08067997B2 Apparatus and method of selecting components for a reconfigurable impedance match circuit
A method of selecting component values for an analog circuit includes identifying a cost function that evaluates similarity between an approximate frequency response function and a preferred frequency response function for at least one characteristic of the functions, determining the approximate frequency response function of the analog circuit based on an approximate component value, and changing the approximate component value based on a determined magnitude of similarity between the preferred frequency response function and the approximate frequency response function for the at least one characteristic. An impedance matching apparatus includes a mismatch detection circuit that produces a difference between source and load impedances, a match network controller that produces a control value based on the difference, and a reconfigurable varactor match network including at least one stub mounted varactor having a capacitance controlled by the control value to match the source and load impedances.
US08067994B2 Surface mount type crystal oscillator
There is provided a configuration in which a lead-out electrode that extends out from an excitation electrode provided on a lower surface of a crystal piece facing an inner bottom surface of a container main body, is connected to a crystal terminal of an IC chip via a conducting path provided on the inner bottom surface of the container main body, and the conducting path is superimposed, in plan view, on the excitation electrode of the lower surface of the crystal piece, and the excitation electrode of the lower surface and the conducting path have the same electric potential, to thereby suppress the occurrence of stray capacity therebetween. As a result, stray capacity occurring in the conducting path that connects the excitation electrode and the IC terminal is made small, thereby preventing variations in oscillating frequency.
US08067989B1 Alternate clock apparatus and methods for improving radio performance
An alternate clock apparatus and method configured to reduce noise in selected frequency bands in an electronic device such as a communication device is described. In one embodiment the alternate clock includes a ring oscillator to generate multiple time shifted signals which may then be combined to generate clock signals at alternate frequencies to a primary reference. A resynchronization circuit may be coupled to the ring oscillator to periodically resynchronize the ring oscillator to a reference signal to reduce alternate clock jitter.
US08067979B2 Semiconductor device and power supply device using the same
A semiconductor device capable of reducing an inductance is provided. In the semiconductor device in which a rectification MOSFET, a commutation MOSFET, and a driving IC that drives these MOSFETs are mounted on one package, the rectification MOSFET, a metal plate, and the commutation MOSFET are laminated. A current of a main circuit flows from a back surface of the package to a front surface thereof. The metal plate is connected to an output terminal via a wiring in the package. Wire bondings are used for wirings for connecting the driving IC, the rectification MOSFET, and the commutation MOSFET, all terminals being placed on the same plane. For this reason, the inductance becomes small and also a power source loss and a spike voltage are reduced.
US08067976B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit (1) comprises a substrate voltage control circuit (10A), a drain current adjuster (E1), a MOS device characteristic detection circuit (20), and a drain current compensator (E2). The substrate voltage control circuit (10A) has at least one substrate voltage supply MOS device (m1) for controlling the supply of the substrate voltage of the semiconductor integrated circuit (1). The drain current adjuster (E1) adjusts the drain current of the substrate voltage supply MOS device (m1) by controlling the substrate voltage of the substrate voltage supply MOS device (m1). The MOS device characteristic detection circuit (20) has a characteristic detection device (m2) for detecting the characteristics of the substrate voltage supply MOS device (m1). The drain current compensator (E2) corrects the drain current of the substrate voltage supply MOS device (m1) by controlling the substrate voltage of the substrate voltage supply MOS device (m1) according to the characteristics of the substrate voltage supply MOS device (m1) detected by the MOS device characteristic detection circuit (20).
US08067975B2 MOS resistor with second or higher order compensation
A circuit arrangement (e.g., an integrated circuit) generates a second or higher order compensation voltage to compensate for variations in operation parameters (e.g., temperature and process variations). In one aspect, the compensation voltage is applied to a MOS resistor to compensate for mobility variations of the MOS resistor by maintaining a stable equivalent resistance. The compensated MOS resistor can provide a relatively stable resistance for a variety of analog circuit applications, such as a current reference.
US08067961B2 Level conversion circuit for converting voltage amplitude of signal
In a level conversion circuit, two P channel MOS transistors form a current mirror circuit. When an input signal rises from the “L” level to the “H” level, an N channel MOS transistor connected to a drain of one P channel MOS transistor is brought out of conduction to prevent a leak current from flowing through two P channel MOS transistors, which decreases a power consumption. In addition, when the input signal rises from the “L” level to the “H” level, a P channel MOS transistor connected to a drain of the other P channel MOS transistor is brought into conduction to fix a potential of a node of the drain of the other P channel MOS transistor to the “H” level, which prevents the potential of the node from becoming unstable.
US08067960B2 Runtime loading of configuration data in a configurable IC
Some embodiments of the invention provide a configurable integrated circuit (IC) that has several configurable circuits for configurably performing different operations. During the operation of the IC, each particular configurable circuit performs a particular operation that is specified by a particular configuration data set for the particular configurable circuit. While the IC operates and a first set of configurable circuits performs a first set of operations, configuration data is loaded from the outside of the IC for configuring a second set of configurable circuits. In some embodiments, the configurable IC includes a configuration network for rapid loading configuration data in the IC from outside of the IC. In some of these embodiments, the configuration network is a pipelined network. Also, the IC of some embodiments includes a configuration controller for retrieving configuration data from outside of the IC, formulating configuration data sets, and routing the configuration data sets to the second set of configurable circuits over the configuration network.
US08067959B2 Programmable delay line compensated for process, voltage, and temperature
A delay line compensated for process, voltage, and temperature variations, includes a delay locked loop (DLL) configured to delay a digital signal by the clock period of the digital signal, the DLL including a DLL delay line arranged as a plurality of cascaded sub-delay lines each sub-delay line providing one of a plurality of delay quanta in response to a digital control signal. A fractionating circuit is configured to generate a digital delay line control signal that is a fraction of the digital control signal. A digital delay line is arranged as a plurality of cascaded sub-delay lines each sub-delay line providing one of a plurality of delay quanta in response to the digital delay line control signal.
US08067949B2 Methods for testing lasers using optical burn-in
Semiconductor lasers are aged to identify weak or flawed devices, resulting in improved reliability of the remaining devices. The lasers can be aged using a high-power optical burn-in that includes providing a high drive current to the lasers for a period of time, and maintaining the ambient temperature of the lasers at a low temperature. After the high-power optical burn-in, the output of the lasers can be measured to determine if the lasers are operating within specifications. Those that are not can be discarded, while those that are can be further aged using a high-temperature thermal burn-in that includes providing a drive current to the lasers while maintaining the ambient temperature of the lasers at a high-temperature.
US08067944B2 USB component tester
A universal serial bus (USB) component tester for testing a USB component that has a plug and a USB port includes a connector, a USB port, and a first indicator. The connector includes a first power pin, a first data pin connected to the first power pin, a second data pin, and a first ground pin connected to the second data pin and also connected to the first data pin via a first resistor. The USB port includes a power terminal connected to a power supply, a first data terminal, a second data terminal, and a grounded ground terminal, and the first data terminal is connected to the second data terminal via a second resistor. The first indicator includes a first terminal connected to the first data terminal via the second resistor, and a second terminal connected to the second data terminal.
US08067939B2 Magnetic resonance gradient coil formed by two different types of conductors
A gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus has a first conductor structure and a second conductor structure connected with one another so that windings of the gradient coil are formed. The first conductor structure is formed exclusively of planar, electrically conductive elements that are insulated from one another. The second conductor structure is formed exclusively of conductive wires insulated from one another.
US08067937B2 Probe and system for electron spin resonance imaging
ESR imaging probe, system, and method are described. The probe is an ex-situ probe, the system comprises the probe and configured for operating the probe, and the method comprises detecting ESR from outside a resonator of the probe. An exemplary embodiment of a probe according to the invention comprises a cooled dielectric resonator, and one sided gradient coils. An exemplary embodiment of the system comprises source current that is configured to supply to the gradient coils currents of up to 100 A in pulses shorter than 1 μsec.
US08067932B2 Advanced real-time grid monitoring system and method
This invention deals with an advanced Real-time Grid Monitoring System (RTGMS) suitable for both single-phase and three-phase electric power systems. This invention provides an essential signal processing block to be used as a part of complex systems either focused on supervising and diagnosing power systems or devoted to control power processors interacting with the grid. This invention is based on a new algorithm very suitable for real-time characterization of the grid variables under distorted and unbalanced grid conditions. The main characteristic of this invention is the usage of a frequency-locked loop, based on detecting the grid frequency, for synchronizing to the grid variables. It results in a very robust system response in relation to existing technique based on the phase-angle detection since grid frequency is much more stable variable than the grid voltage/current phase-angle, mainly during grid faults. Moreover, the algorithm supporting this invention is very efficient and can be implemented in regular industrial microprocessors. These features make the RTGMS object of this invention ideal to be applied in the control of distributed generation systems (DGS), flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), power quality conditioners (PQC) and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). In all these systems, the fast and precise real time detection of the voltage and/or current sequence components under grid fault conditions is a crucial matter.
US08067929B2 High-side sensing of zero inductor current for step down DC-DC converter
A DC to DC converter circuit includes circuitry for generating a PWM waveform signal at a phase node of a DC to DC converter responsive to an input voltage and a monitor output voltage. The circuitry further includes a high side switching transistor connected between the input voltage and a phase node and a low side switching transistor connected between the phase node and ground. An output filter is connected to the circuitry for generating the PWM waveform signal. The output filter includes an inductor having a first side connected to the phase node and a second side connected to an output voltage node. Detection circuitry detects zero current crossings in the inductor responsive to a voltage across the high side switching transistor and a voltage across the low side switching transistor.
US08067928B2 DC-DC converter with gate voltage control based on output current
A DC-DC converter includes a high side transistor and a low side transistor connected in series between an input potential and a grounding potential, and an LC filter connected between a connection point of the both transistors and an output terminal. A control unit controls the gate potential of the high side transistor in an ON state and the gate potential of the low side transistor in an ON state according to a magnitude of a current output from the output terminal.
US08067923B2 Rechargeable battery assembly having a data and power connector plug
A rechargeable battery assembly comprises a rechargeable battery unit and a data and power connector plug. The battery assembly has a deployed configuration in which the battery assembly has the general form of and functions as a conventional battery format, and a recharge configuration in which the data and power connector plug is made accessible to enable said connector to be connected to a suitable receptacle on a computing or peripheral device for recharging of the battery.
US08067922B2 Universal battery charger with adjustable pocket
A universal battery charger having an adjustable pocket for receiving batteries having differing dimensions. Each battery, regardless of their differing dimensions, may be firmly supported within the adjustable pocket and receive an electrical charge from a single set of electrical contacts exposed in the adjustable pocket. The adjustable pocket is adjustable, because a battery guide of the charger includes first and second ends that alternately protrude through the plane of the housing, thus providing different dynamic supporting walls for different batteries. The adjustable pocket may accommodate different batteries by utilizing different receiving areas of the pocket. One receiving area may supports one side of a first battery with a first dynamic wall and supports other sides of the first battery with stationary walls. Likewise, another receiving area may support one side of a second battery with a second dynamic wall and supports other sides of the second battery with stationary walls.
US08067914B2 Multizone capacitive anti-pinch system
An anti-pinch assembly is used for a closure panel movable between open and closed positions on a motor vehicle. A controller operably connected to the closure panel controls operation thereof. A position sensor connected to the controller indicates the position of the closure panel between the open and closed positions. A capacitive sensor mounted on the vehicle and connected to the controller provides an output signal to the controller indicative of the presence of a foreign object in the path of the closure panel. The controller varies the function of the capacitive sensor through a plurality of threshold levels as a function of the position of the closure panel as indicated by the position indicator. In a critical zone of travel with the closure panel nearing the closed position, the capacitive sensor can be utilized in either a contact mode or a non-contact mode or a combination of both.
US08067903B2 Method and driving unit for driving a gas discharge lamp
Disclosed is a method for driving a gas discharge lamp in at least two operation modes, including the step of applying an alternating voltage to the gas discharge lamp, the alternating voltage having a first polarity during a first time interval and a second polarity opposite to the first polarity during a second time interval. The first time interval and the second time interval are repeated alternately. During a second operation mode, the electrical power being provided to the gas discharge lamp is smaller compared to a first operation mode, and the duration of the first time interval is at least a multiple of the duration of the second time interval.
US08067897B2 Backlight assembly and method of driving the same
A backlighting assembly for an LCD display is divided into a plurality of selective dimming areas each having a respective plurality of light generating blocks. A plurality of driving units supply power to the light generating blocks. The light generating blocks are grouped into light source groups. Each of the driving units supplies power to at least one light generating block in a first light source group and a second light generating block in a second light source group but not to all the light generating blocks in any one light source group. Light generating blocks connected to a same driving unit may be distributedly arranged to be nonadjacent to one another. Plural driving units are used to fully power a brightly lit one dimming area, thereby reducing the loads on the individual driving units and preventing overheating.
US08067894B2 Light source system
A light source system capable of controlling a light emission amount of a light source section more accurately while keeping manufacturing costs low is provided. The light source system includes a light source, a light-sensing device detecting light from the light source, a calculation means, and a light source control means. The calculation means calculates a net light amount by subtracting a measurement environment component from a light amount detected by the light-sensing device. The measurement environment component is independent of a lighting state in the light source. The light source control means controls the light source on the basis of the net light amount obtained by the calculation means.
US08067890B2 Organic electroluminescence structure having a height difference between surfaces of a control device and an organic electroluminescence device
An organic electroluminescence structure comprises a first substrate, an organic electroluminescence device, and a control device. Forming either a lifting layer under the control device or a recess under the organic electroluminescence device, or forming both of them, creates a difference between their tops, in order to reduce the dark spots and promote the yield of the end product. The lifting layer preferably has a thickness greater than about 0.5 micro meters and the recess has a depth ranges of about 0.1 micro meters to about 100 micro meters. Alternatively, the height difference between the upper surfaces of the control device and the organic electroluminescence device is controlled to be greater than about 2 micro meters or substantially equal to 2 micro meters.
US08067877B2 Anti-EMI ultrasonic transducer
An anti-EMI ultrasonic transducer has a conductive casing, a piezoelectric ceramic board having an opening, a conductive shelter, a first and second wires and an encapsulation. A first electrode face of the piezoelectric ceramic board faces to the opening and a second electrode face is mounted inside the conductive casing. The conductive shelter is mounted inside the conductive casing or covered to the opening, so the piezoelectric ceramic board is encapsulated in the conductive shelter and the conductive casing. Since the second signal wire is connected to the conductive shelter mounted inside the conductive casing, the conductive shelter and the conductive casing and the second electrode face of the piezoelectric ceramic board are commonly electronically connected to a voltage signal transmitted by the second signal wire. Therefore, the conductive shelter and the conductive casing are constituted to an EMI shelter for the piezoelectric ceramic board to resist external EMI signal.
US08067875B1 Networked structure of electroactive polymer-based artificial neuromuscular units
An artificial neuromuscular unit (ANMU) network comprising: a plurality of ANMUs, wherein each ANMU comprises an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator layer and a uniquely addressable EAP logic layer coupled to the actuator layer; a plurality of inert, non-ion-conducting and non-charge-conducting interfaces mechanically coupled between the ANMUs such that the actuator layer of each ANMU is insulated from the actuator layers and logic layers of the other ANMUs; an EAP common conductor layer coupled to the logic layer of each ANMU such that the logic layer of each ANMU is interposed between the common conductor layer and the corresponding actuator layer; and wherein the logic layer of each ANMU is configured to control the transfer of energy to and from the common conductor layer and the corresponding actuator layer.
US08067872B2 Permanent magnet rotor having slanted or curved grooves
The invention relates to a permanent magnet rotor for an electric motor, in which the permanent magnets inside the rotor extend parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor, and in the area of the radially outer longitudinal edges of the permanent magnets, grooves that are open to the outside are formed on the outer periphery of the rotor. These groves are each, in a peripheral direction, slanted or curved with regard to the longitudinal edge of the adjacent permanent magnets. The center line of each groove intersects the longitudinal edge of the adjacent permanent magnet at least once. The grooves on the outside of the rotor have, in the peripheral direction, a smaller width than in an area of the groove situated radially further inside, and the cross-sectional shape of the groove is constant over the length of the rotor. The invention also relates to a method for producing a rotor of the aforementioned type.
US08067865B2 Electric motor/generator low hydraulic resistance cooling mechanism
The present disclosure, in one form, provides an electric motor/generator low hydraulic resistance cooling mechanism including a hollow cooling stator case having an inner and outer coaxial surface. The inner surface defines a generally cylindric cavity for receiving a stator in heat transference contact with the inner surface. The outer surface has integrated spiral groove cooling passages that are defined by filleted rectangular cross sections.
US08067863B2 Detent force correcting
An apparatus comprises a linear electromagnetic actuator which has a series of ferromagnetic poles, coils, and a series of permanent magnets to interact with the poles to induce movement of the actuator along a path. The poles have non-uniform configurations.
US08067833B2 Low noise high thermal conductivity mixed signal package
An improved microelectronic assembly (100) and packaging method includes a device package for housing a semiconductor die or chip, (105), an array of passive electronic components (305-355) operating in cooperation with the flip chip semiconductor die (105) and housed inside the device package to decouple noise from input signals, and a heat spreader (195) disposed between a top surface of the semiconductor die (105) and a package cover (185). The semiconductor die (105) is configured as a flip chip die and the device package includes a package substrate (110) configured as a ball grid array. The improved microelectronic device (100) reduces parasitic inductance in electrical interconnections between the semiconductor die and an electrical system substrate (115) and reduces signal noise in mixed signal high frequency analog to digital converters operating at clock rates above 1 GHz.
US08067824B2 Integrated circuit module package and assembly method thereof
An integrated circuit module package includes a lead frame having a recessed area. A semiconductor die containing active electrical components is attached to the recessed area of the lead frame. An integrated passive device containing passive electrical components is vertically stacked with, and electrically coupled to, the semiconductor die. An optional heat sink is attached to the integrated passive device. The integrated passive device is connected to the lead frame by conductors to electrically couple the integrated passive device and the semiconductor die to circuitry external to the integrated circuit module package. A cap is then attached to the heat sink or the integrated passive device to protect the semiconductor die and the integrated passive device. The integrated circuit module package dissipates heat from the semiconductor die through the lead frame, and dissipates heat from the integrated passive device through the cap and optional heat sink.
US08067817B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a ferroelectric capacitor formed over a semiconductor substrate, wherein the ferroelectric capacitor including a lower electrode, a ferroelectric film formed on the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the ferroelectric film, and the upper electrode including a first conductive film formed of a first conductive noble metal oxide, and a second conductive film formed of a metal nitride compound formed on the first conductive film.
US08067807B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device
In an LCD driver IC, a high-breakdown-voltage MISFET is mounted together with a typical low-breakdown-voltage MISFET. Because the high-breakdown-voltage MISFET has a gate oxide film thicker than that of the typical MISFET, the electrode of the high-breakdown-voltage MISFET is inevitably high in level. Accordingly, the depth of a gate contact is shallow so that process compatibility with the typical portion is necessary. In the present invention, in, e.g., the channel width direction of the high-breakdown-voltage MISFET, the boundary of a thick-film gate oxide region is located inwardly of the end of a gate electrode. At the gate electrode portion thus lowered in level, a gate contact is disposed so that the boundary of the thick film is located inwardly of the end of the gate electrode and between the gate contact and a channel end.
US08067801B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device is provided, which comprises a first transistor and a second transistor formed in a semiconductor layer. The first transistor includes a first source region and a first drain region sandwiching a first gate electrode with the first source region. The second transistor includes an LDD region and a drift region sandwiching the second gate electrode with the LDD region, and a second drain region adjacent to the drift region to sandwich the second gate electrode with the second source region. The first gate electrode has a first sidewall formed on sides thereof and the second gate electrode has a second sidewall formed on sides thereof. The width of the former along the first insulator differs from the width of the latter along the second insulator.
US08067800B2 Super-junction trench MOSFET with resurf step oxide and the method to make the same
A super-junction trench MOSFET with Resurf Stepped Oxide is disclosed. The inventive structure can apply additional freedom for better optimization and manufacturing capability by tuning thick oxide thickness to minimize influence of charge imbalance, trapped charges, etc. . . . . Furthermore, the fabrication method can be implemented more reliably with lower cost.
US08067796B2 Semiconductor component with cell structure and method for producing the same
A semiconductor component comprises a semiconductor body comprising a first component electrode arranged on one of the surfaces of the semiconductor body, a second component electrode arranged on one of the surfaces of the semiconductor body, and a component control electrode arranged on one of the surfaces of the semiconductor body. In this case, active semiconductor element cells are arranged in a first active cell array of the semiconductor body, the semiconductor element cells comprising a first cell electrode, a second cell electrode and a cell control electrode and also a drift path between the cell electrodes. At least the component control electrode is arranged on a partial region of the semiconductor body and a second active cell array is additionally situated in the partial region of the semiconductor body below the component control electrode.
US08067794B2 Conductive layers for hafnium silicon oxynitride films
Electronic apparatus and methods of forming the electronic apparatus include a HfSiON film on a substrate for use in a variety of electronic systems. The HfSiON film may be structured as one or more monolayers. Electrodes to a dielectric containing a HfSiON may be structured as one or more monolayers of titanium nitride, tantalum, or combinations of titanium nitride and tantalum.
US08067791B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device formed by the steps of: forming a dummy electrode 22n and a dummy electrode 22p; forming a metal film 32 on the dummy electrode 22p; conducting a thermal treatment at a first temperature to substitute the dummy electrode 22n with an electrode 34a of a material containing the constituent material of the metal film 32; forming a metal film 36 on the dummy electrode 22n; and conducting a thermal treatment at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature and at which an interdiffusion of constituent materials between the electrode 34a and the metal film 36 does not take place, to substitute the second dummy electrode with an electrode 34b of a material containing the constituent material of the metal film 36.
US08067786B2 Gallium nitride material devices including conductive regions
Semiconductor structures comprising a III-nitride (e.g., gallium nitride) material region and methods associated with such structures are provided. In some embodiments, the structures include an electrically conductive material (e.g., gold) separated from certain other region(s) of the structure (e.g., a silicon substrate) by a barrier material in order to limit, or prevent, undesirable reactions between the electrically conductive material and the other component(s) which can impair device performance. In certain embodiments, the electrically conductive material may be formed in a via. For example, the via can extend from a topside of the device to a backside so that the electrically conductive material connects a topside contact to a backside contact. The structures described herein may form the basis of a number of semiconductor devices including transistors (e.g., FET), Schottky diodes, light-emitting diodes and laser diodes, amongst others.
US08067778B2 Ultraviolet light emitting diode package
An ultraviolet light emitting diode package for emitting ultraviolet light is disclosed. The ultraviolet light emitting diode package comprises an LED chip emitting light with a peak wavelength of 350 nm or less, and a protective member provided so that surroundings of the LED chip is covered to protect the LED chip, the protective member having a non-yellowing property to energy from the LED chip.
US08067776B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufactured thereof
Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate and a hetero semiconductor region including a semiconductor material having a band gap different from that of the semiconductor substrate and contacting a portion of a first surface of the semiconductor substrate are taught herein, as are the resulting devices. The method comprises depositing a first insulating film on exposed portions of the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and on exposed surfaces of the hetero semiconductor material and forming a second insulating film between the first insulating film and facing surfaces of the semiconductor substrate and the hetero semiconductor region by performing a thermal treatment in an oxidizing atmosphere.
US08067772B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An object is to provide a semiconductor device with improved reliability and for which a defect due to an end portion of a semiconductor layer provided in an island-shape is prevented, and a manufacturing method thereof. A structure includes an island-shaped semiconductor layer provided over a substrate, an insulating layer provided over a top surface and a side surface of the island-shaped semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode provided over the island-shaped semiconductor layer with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. In the insulating layer provided to be in contact with the island-shaped semiconductor layer, a region that is in contact with the side surface of the island-shaped semiconductor layer is made to have a lower dielectric constant than a region over the top surface of the island-shaped semiconductor layer.
US08067771B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a p-type TFT having a first semiconductor layer, and an n-type TFT having a second semiconductor layer. A tilted portion, which is widened toward the insulating substrate side, is formed in at least a part of an outer edge portion of the first semiconductor layer. A tilt angle of a surface of the tilted portion to a surface of an insulating substrate, which is an angle formed inside the first semiconductor layer, is smaller than an angle of a side surface of an outer edge portion of the second semiconductor layer to the surface of the insulating substrate, which is an angle formed inside the second semiconductor layer.
US08067747B2 Parallel plate electrode arrangement apparatus and method
A system for guiding an ion beam along an axis (Z), comprises at least one section having upper flat plate strip electrodes (Iu, 2u, 3u, 4u and 5u) and lower flat plate strip electrodes (Id, 2d, 3d, 4d and 5d) for producing at least one electric field of substantially symmetric in a parallel direction and substantially antisymmetric in a perpendicular direction with respect to a plane including a beam axis and a fringe-field boundary that is located at the end of the at least one section.
US08067737B1 Photonic detector, imaging system and method employing plasmonic resonance absorption
A photonic detector, a photonic imaging system and a method of photonic detection employ plasmonic resonant absorption to detect an incident electromagnetic signal. The photonic detector and imaging system include a micro/nanoshell (MNS) structure that supports a surface plasmon and a rectifying junction that rectifies an evanescent electric field of the surface plasmon. The surface plasmon is excited by the incident electromagnetic signal at a plasmonic resonant absorption wavelength of the MNS structure. The method of photonic detection includes providing an MNS structure, exciting a surface plasmon on the MNS structure and rectifying an evanescent electric field of the excited surface plasmon to produce a rectified output signal. The rectified output signal provides detection of the incident electromagnetic signal.
US08067735B2 Shutterless infrared imager algorithm with drift correction
An infrared imaging system having functionality for maintaining image quality in the presence of temperature drift of the system. Such functionality is applied repetitively to maintain image quality of a target scene, yet without continuous actuation of a shutter of the system. The functionality of the imaging system results from implementing an imager algorithm. In use, the imager algorithm functions with a calibration curve created for the imaging system, with the curve comprising a plot of system output versus target scene temperature.
US08067732B2 Electron beam apparatus
An electron beam emitted from an electron gun (G) forms a reduced image on a sample (S) through a non-dispersion Wien-filter (5-1), an electromagnetic deflector (11-1), a beam separator (12-1), and a tablet lens (17-1) as an objective lens. The beam separator (12-1) is configured such that a distance by which a secondary electron beam passes through the beam separator is approximately three times longer than a distance by which a primary electron beam passes through the beam separator. Therefore, even if a magnetic field in the beam separator is set to deflect the primary electron beam by a small angle equal to or less than approximately 10 degrees, the secondary electron beam can be deflected by approximately 30 degrees, so that the primary and secondary electron beams are sufficiently separated. Also, since the primary electron beam is deflected by a small angle, less aberration occurs in the primary electron beam. Accordingly, since a light path length of a primary electro-optical system, it is possible to reduce the influence of space charge and the occurrence of deflection aberration.
US08067731B2 Chemical detection method and system
A system and method for detecting an analyte of interest in a sample is provided. The method includes passing a set of ions obtained from the sample through an ion mobility spectrometer to filter out ions that are not ions of interest and to generate an ion mobility spectrum. A mass spectrum of at least some of the ions is generated using a mass spectrometer. The method also includes determining that the analyte of interest is in the sample when peaks of interest are found in one or more of the ion mobility spectrum and the mass spectrum, and the peaks of interest follow a predetermined pattern of peaks associated with the analyte of interest or are confirmed by ion mobility spectrometry.
US08067724B2 All-optical integrated photonic clock having a delay line for providing gate signal to a gate waveguide
An all-optical integrated photonic clock, systems employing the same, and methods of making and using the same. Illustrative examples are provided based on silicon semiconductor technology that employs rectangular waveguides fabricated on SOI wafers. In some embodiments, the clock can provide an optical timing signal. In some embodiments, the clock can provide a jitter-free electrical signal derived from the clock by use of a high speed photodetector.
US08067719B2 Apparatus and method for capturing and displaying images of the undercarriage of vehicles including one or more scene cameras
A portable undercarriage vehicle inspection system (UVIS) (100) uses an under vehicle imaging (UVI) module (110) to capture an image of the undercarriage of a vehicle. The UVIS also includes multiple scene cameras (120) that capture the associated vehicle scene images. The scene cameras are easy to view and manipulate. The undercarriage image and the associated vehicle scene images are provided to a power and communications unit (PCU) (140) through a network (130) such as Ethernet. These images may be stored in a database repository connected to the network. A notebook computer will serve as an operator workstation (150, 152, 154) for display of real-time, as well as historical, vehicular records. An operator viewing the images can enter additional information related to the images, such as comments and remarks, and archive all of the information for future reference and comparisons.
US08067707B2 Self-calibrating sensor device
A self-calibrating sensor includes a housing, an input lever coupled to the housing and configured to contact a device to be sensed, and an actuating element configured to automatically reposition an output device to a calibrated position. The sensor also includes a cam ring that is configured to move the output device to the calibrated position based on an input received from the actuating element and a lock ring coupled to the input lever. In one exemplary embodiment, the output device is an electrical contact assembly that is slidably engaged with the cam ring. During operation, the cam ring is configured to reposition the electrical contact assembly based on the input received from actuating element.
US08067706B2 Timer for operating electric appliances at Saturday and Holyday according to Jewish religious law
A control device (timer) enabling activation of electric appliances for a required time period at Saturday and Holyday within the frame of Jewish religious law is disclosed. The timer comprises a first timing device, activating the appliance from time to time for a short period, and then deactivating it, and a second timing device, which, when activated manually or at any other way, delays the appliance deactivation by the first timing device for a required time period, and so makes the appliance usable for this period, beginning from the nearest initiation thereof by the first timing device. The timer can be a stand alone device or built into the appliance.
US08067702B2 Electromagnetic wave shielding material and production process of the same
The production process of an electromagnetic wave shielding material of the present invention comprises screen printing a conductive paste containing conductive particles, binder and solvent in a geometrical pattern on the surface of a transparent porous layer of a transparent resin substrate provided with the transparent porous layer, the porous layer containing as a main component thereof at least one type selected from the group consisting of an oxide ceramic, a non-oxide ceramic and a metal, followed by forming a conductive portion in a geometrical pattern on the surface of the transparent porous layer by heat treatment. An electromagnetic wave shielding material produced according to this production process has high electromagnetic wave shielding effects and superior transparency and visibility.
US08067694B2 High voltage cable
An extruded high voltage cable including a conductor with at least three concentric layers of helically wound metal wires, an extruded inner conducting layer surrounding the conductor, and an extruded electrical insulation arranged outside the inner conducting layer. The two outermost layers of the conductor have the same lay direction.
US08067691B2 Covers for power distribution line insulators
A cover is provided for acute angled insulator pair arrangement, such as a V-switch. The insulator pair arrangement includes a first insulator and a second insulator, the insulators extending relative to each other at an acute angle from first ends thereof. The cover includes a first cover member and a second cover member. The second cover member is configured to mate with the first cover member to define an enclosure that encloses the first ends of the insulators and a region therebetween. The enclosure extends to a position proximate an end skirt of each of the insulators closest to the first ends thereof without extending over the end skirts.
US08067684B2 Filter device and electronic musical instrument using the filter device
In a filter device, a filter coefficient calculation circuit has a parameter table. The parameter table stores a plurality of sets of filter coefficients associated with a first parameter based on a frequency and a second parameter based on respective plurality of levels representing a degree of attenuation or enhancement of a gain of a filter in filter characteristics. The filter coefficient calculation circuit extracts a set of filter coefficients from a parameter table with the use of the first parameter and the second parameter determined according to a frequency and a strength of a musical sound signal, and outputs the extracted set of filter coefficients to the filter. The filter circuit performs filter processing for the musical sound signal, based on the filter characteristics determined by the set of filter coefficients.
US08067679B1 Soybean cultivar 92394228
A soybean cultivar designated 92394228 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 92394228, to the plants of soybean 92394228, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 92394228, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 92394228 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 92394228, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 92394228, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 92394228 with another soybean cultivar.
US08067676B2 Soybean cultivar 83121431
A soybean cultivar designated 83121431 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 83121431, to the plants of soybean 83121431, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 83121431, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 83121431 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 83121431, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 83121431, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 83121431 with another soybean cultivar.
US08067667B2 Dominant gene suppression transgenes and methods of using same
Pairs of plants are provided in which complementing constructs result in suppression of a parental phenotype in the progeny. Methods to generate and maintain such plants and methods of use of such plants, are provided, including use of parental plants to produce sterile plants for hybrid seed production. Also provided are methods for maintaining a homozygous recessive condition and for repressing transmission of transgenes.
US08067660B2 Method and system for restraining a chemical discharge
A method for restraining a chemical discharge comprising (a) deploying a binding agent into a receptacle containing a hazardous material in a liquid state upon the occurrence of at least one predetermined event that increases the risk of accidentally discharging or leaking the hazardous material from the receptacle; and (b) contacting the hazardous material with the binding agent to form a composition comprising at least a portion of the hazardous material and the binding agent and having at least one property selected from a solid or semisolid state, a viscosity greater than the viscosity of the hazardous material at ambient conditions, a vapor pressure lower than the vapor pressure of the hazardous material at ambient conditions, and a surface tension greater that the surface tension of the hazardous material.
US08067657B2 Process to obtain N-paraffins from vegetable oil
The process described by this invention involves the hydroconversion of vegetable oils appropriately selected for the production of N-paraffins, through hydrotreatment of a stream of vegetable hydrocarbon oils in and/or natural fats that may be used in a pure state or in a mixture with mineral hydrocarbon oil. This mixture flow is submitted to the process of hydrotreatment, obtaining as a result, a product flow with an elevated content of N-paraffins in the range of C10-C-13. This process provides an alternative to the usual process that uses a mineral hydrocarbon oil load (petroleum kerosene of paraffin base) to produce C10-C13 N-paraffins that are raw materials for the production of detergents (LAB), being, therefore, especially advantageous for use in situations where kerosene is a limiting factor for producing N-paraffins, resulting in a product of good quality with a reasonable gain in the production of N-paraffins.
US08067654B2 Transition metal catalysts
Transition metal catalysts comprise (a) a source of a Group 3 to 10 transition metal, (b) a ligand having the formula: R1R2X—Y—XR3R4 wherein X is phosphorus, arsenic or antimony, Y is a bridging group having the formula: Z-(A)-D-Rm wherein Z is the moiety linking the X groups, A is a linear or cyclic hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl linking group wherein the number of atoms directly linking Z to D is 1, 2 or 3, D is N, P, As, O, S or Se, R is hydrogen, alkyl, hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heteroalkyl, heterohydrocarbyl or substituted heterohydrocarbyl, and m is 1 or 2, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are the same or different and represent hydrocarbyl or functionalized hydrocarbyl moieties with the proviso that if D is nitrogen, R is not a cyclic ether, and optionally an activator. The transition metal catalysts are suitable for the selective trimerisation or tetramerisation of olefins in particular ethylene.
US08067651B2 1-alkyl-5-oxopyrrolidine-3-carboxylic esters with improved biodegradability
The invention provides compounds of the formula 1 in which A is a C2- to C4-alkylene group x is from 1 to 100 R1 is C1-C30-alkyl, C2-C30-alkenyl, C7-C30-alkylaryl R2 is an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic radical which contains at least one structural unit of the formula 2  and y is from 0 to 100, with the proviso that y is from 1 to 100 when R2 is of the formula 2, and their use in amounts of from 0.01 to 2% by weight for preventing the formation of gas hydrates in aqueous phases which are in contact with a gaseous, liquid or solid organic phase.
US08067650B2 Process for the production of HFO trans-1234ze from HFC-245fa
This invention relates a process for the manufacture of the HFO trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO trans-1234ze). More particularly, the invention pertains to a process for the manufacture of the HFO trans-1234ze by first dehydrofluorinating 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane to thereby produce a mixture of cis-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and hydrogen fluoride. Then optionally recovering hydrogen fluoride and then recovering trans-1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.
US08067648B2 Method for synthesizing radioactive ligand having 18F-labeled fluorobenzene ring
A phenyl tin compound is synthesized by using a derivative having various functional groups and a bromo- or iodo-benzene ring as a labeling material of a radioactive ligand. On the other hand, a novel hydroxytosyl iodobenzene compound having an electron-donating group is obtained by oxidizing iodobenzene having one or more electron-donating groups and reacting it with tosylic acid. Then, a diphenyliodonium salt which is a labeling precursor is synthesized by reacting the resulting compound with various phenyl tin compounds. Finally, a 18F-labeled ligand having various functional groups and a [18F] fluorobenzene ring is synthesized by reacting the resulting diphenyliodonium salt with [18F]F−.
US08067642B2 Chiral phosphorous compounds
The present invention provides P-chiral compounds of general formulae (II) and (III): in formula (II) at least one of R21, R25, R26 and R30 is independently selected from CM alkyl, CF3, C1-4 alkoxy, phenyl and benzyloxy and the remaining substituents selected from R21, R25, R26 and R30 are hydrogen; at least one of R22, R24, R27 and R29 are independently selected from C1-14 alkyl, CF3, C1-14 alkoxy, phenyl and benzyloxy and the remaining substituents selected, from R22, R24, R27 and R29 are hydrogen; and R23 and R28 are independently selected from hydrogen, CM alkyl, CF3, C1-14 alkoxy, phenyl and benzyloxy; in formula (III) at least one of R21, R25, R26 and R30 is independently selected from phenyl and benzyloxy and the remaining substituents selected from R21, R25, R−26 and R30 are hydrogen; and R22, R−23 R24, R27, R28 and R29 are independently selected from hydrogen, C1-14 alkyl, CF3, C1-14 alkoxy, phenyl and benzyloxy.
US08067639B2 Crystalline form VI of agomelatine, a process for its preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing it
Crystalline form VI of the compound of formula (I): characterised by its X-ray powder diffraction diagram. Medicinal products containing the same which are useful in treating melatoninergic disorders.
US08067635B2 Method for producing tertiary amides of alkylphenyl carboxylic acids
The invention relates to a method for producing tertiary amides of alkylphenyl carboxylic acids by reacting at least one secondary amine with at least one alkylphenyl carboxylic acid to form an ammonium salt, said ammonium salt being subsequently converted into the tertiary amide by means of microwave radiation.
US08067625B2 Fluorosurfactants
The present invention relates to fatty acid esters of polyols or sulfonated fatty acid esters or sulfonated fatty acid amides containing at least one group Y, where Y stands for CF3—(CH2)a—O—, SF5—, CF3—(CH2)a—S—, CF3CF2S—, [CF3—(CH2)a]2N— or [CF3—(CH2)a]NH—, where a stands for an integer selected from the range from 0 to 5, or formula (I), where Rf stands for CF3—(CH2)r—, CF3—(CH2)r—O—, CF3—(CH2)r—S—, CF3CF2—S—, SF5—(CH2)t— or [CF3—(CH2)r]2N—, [CF3—(CH2)r]NH— or (CF3)2N—(CH2)r—, B stands for a single bond, O, NH, NR, CH2, C(O)—O, C(O), S, CH2—O, O—C(O), N—C(O), C(O)—N, O—C(O)—N, N—C(O)—N, O—SO2 or SO2—O, R stands for alkyl having 1 to 4 C atoms, b stands for 0 or 1 and c stands for 0 or 1, q stands for 0 or 1, where at least one radical from b and q stands for 1, and r stands for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, to processes for the preparation of these compounds, and to uses of these surface-active compounds.
US08067611B2 Substituted 1-(thiazolyl)-and 1-(isothiazolyl)pyrazol-4-ylacetic acids, processes for their preparation and their use as herbicides and plant growth regulators
The invention relates to 1-(thiazolyl)- and 1-(isothiazolyl)pyrazol-4-ylacetic acid derivatives of the general formula (I) and salts thereof in which Het, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and n are as defined in claim 1. The compounds (I) or salts thereof are suitable for use as herbicides and plant growth regulators, in particular as herbicides for the selective control of harmful plants in crops of useful plants and can be prepared by processes as described in claim 9.
US08067609B2 Methods for oligomerizing olefins with chromium pyridine thioether catalysts
The present invention provides a method of producing oligomers of olefins, comprising reacting olefins with a chromium based catalyst under oligomerization conditions. The catalyst can be the product of the combination of a chromium compound and a pyridyl thioether compound. In particular embodiments, the catalyst compound can be used to trimerize or tetramerize ethylene to 1-hexene, 1-octene, or mixtures of 1-hexene and 1-octene.
US08067607B2 Potassium channel inhibitors
The present invention relates to pyridin-3-yl pyridin-3-amine compounds and derivatives thereof having the structure formula (I) useful as potassium channel inhibitors to treat cardiac arrhythmias, and the like.
US08067602B2 Asymmetric cyanine fluorescent dyes, compositions and their use in staining biological samples
Asymmetric cyanine fluorescent dyes are represented by general formula I. These kinds of dyes may be used as a staining agent for nucleic acids, with the spectra at 600-900 nm in the near-infrared region and without interference from background fluorescence. These kinds of dyes may be useful with small-type red semiconductor lasers as the light source (such as 633 nm). Compositions comprising these dyes and methods for staining biological samples using these dyes or compositions are also provided.
US08067601B2 1-[2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1 -yl )-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-quinolin- 4-yl)- urea as crystalline sulfate salt
The invention relates to 1-[2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-quinolin-4-yl)-urea as a crystalline, stoichiometrically defined and non-hygroscopic sulfate salt and a process for its preparation. Further, the present invention relates to the use of said 1-[2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-quinolin-4-yl)-urea as a crystalline, stoichiometrically defined and non-hygroscopic sulfate salt alone or in combination with other compounds. Further, the present invention relates to formulations of said 1-[2-(4-benzyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl)-ethyl]-3-(2-methyl-quinolin-4-yl)-urea as a crystalline, stoichiometrically defined and non-hygroscopic sulfate salt in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also relates to the use of such sulfate salts in formulations as neurohormonal antagonists.
US08067597B2 Synthetic route to 14-hydroxyl opiates through 1-halo-thebaine or analogs
Novel methods of synthesis of known and novel 14-hydroxyl opiates through 1-halothebaine and derivatives are described.
US08067595B2 Process for producing tricyclic ketone
In order to efficiently supply CPT, which is a starting compound of irinotecan hydrochloride and a variety of camptothecin derivatives, by a practical total synthesis, the invention provides a means of efficiently preparing a tricyclic ketone that corresponds to a CDE ring moiety of a camptothecin (CPT) skeleton.
US08067590B2 Pyridone derivates with MCH antagonistic activity and medicaments comprising these compounds
The present invention relates to compounds of general formula I wherein the groups and radicals B, k, L, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, R1, R2, have the meanings given in claim 1. Moreover the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one compound according to the invention. By virtue of their MCH-receptor antagonistic activity the pharmaceutical compositions according to the invention are suitable for the treatment of metabolic disorders and/or eating disorders, particularly obesity, bulimia, anorexia, hyperphagia and diabetes.
US08067582B2 Fused heterocyclic compounds useful as modulators of nuclear hormone receptor function
Disclosed are fused heterocyclic compounds of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts or stereoisomers thereof. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds in the treatment of at least one androgen receptor-associated condition, such as, for example, cancer, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds.
US08067579B2 Nucleic acid extraction method
The present invention relates to a method for isolating nucleic acids from a nucleic acid containing sample, and a kit for carrying out said method. More specifically, it relates to a novel method for extracting nucleic acids from a nucleic acid containing sample, using an anion exchange solid support, and allowing this solid phase with the nucleic acid bound thereto to react with a compound which is also capable of binding to said anion exchange solid support and which optionally provides additional charges at the surface of the anion exchange solid material, thereby preferably changing the surface charge density of the solid support and then releasing the nucleic acid from the solid support, eliminating the need for high salt and/or high pH elution buffers.
US08067576B2 siRNA targeting serine/threonine kinase 12 (STK12 or aurora B kinase)
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to STK12.
US08067571B2 Antibacterial antisense oligonucleotide and method
A method for enhancing, by at least 10 fold, the antibacterial activity of an antisense oligonucleotide composed of morpholino subunits linked by phosphorus-containing intersubunit linkages. The method includes one or both of: conjugating an arginine-rich carrier to a 3′ or 5′ end of the oligonucleotide and modifying the oligonucleotide to contain 20%-50% intersubunit linkages that are positively charged at physiological pH. Also disclosed is an antisense oligonucleotide having enhanced antibacterial activity by virtue of one or both modifications.
US08067568B2 Method for diagnosing spinal muscular atrophy
A method for diagnosing spinal muscular atrophy is provided. The method includes providing a biological sample of a subject containing a nucleotide of SMN gene, amplifying SMN exons 1, 2a, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 by a universal multiplex PCR using the nucleotide as a template and the primers to obtain fragments of the SMN exons 1, 2a, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, labeling the fragments of the SMN exons 1, 2a, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 by a fluorescent primer to obtain fluorescence-labeled exon fragments, and analyzing the fluorescence-labeled exon fragments by a capillary electrophoresis. If the SMN1/SMN2 ratios in exon 7 and 8 are different, it indicates that the subject is susceptible to spinal muscular atrophy. Additionally, if the peak of certain exon fragment appears crossed, it indicates an intragenic mutation in the exon.
US08067561B2 Isolated DNA encoding recombinant glucose isomerase
This invention provides a series of recombinant Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum glucose isomerases with improved catalytic activity and thermostability obtained by using recombinant techniques. These recombinant glucose isomerases comprise amino acid variation including phenylalanine (Phe) at position 139, alanine (Ala) at position 182, serine (Ser) at position 187, and glutamine (Gin) at position 299, and carry at least one additional mutated amino acid at position 87, position 217, position 260 or position 276, and possess a higher catalytic activity than that of the wild-type when using D-glucose as substrate. These recombinant glucose isomerases can be used for direct production of high fructose corn syrup containing 55% [wt] or higher concentration of fructose.
US08067548B2 Fusion proteins having mutated immunoglobulin hinge region
A fusion protein having a non-immunoglobulin polypeptide having a cysteine residue proximal to the C terminal thereof, and an immunoglobulin component with a mutated hinge region is provided. The mutation comprises a point mutated site corresponding in position to the position in a native hinge region of the cysteine residue located nearest the cysteine residue of the non-Ig component. The distance from the cysteine residue of the non-immunoglobulin polypeptide and any remaining cysteine residues of the mutated hinge region is sufficient to prevent the formation of a disulphide bond therebetween.
US08067547B2 Stable and soluble antibodies inhibiting TNFα
The present invention relates to particularly stable and soluble scFv antibodies and Fab fragments specific for TNFα, which comprise specific light chain and heavy chain sequences that are optimized for stability, solubility, in vitro and in vivo binding of TNFα, and low immunogenicity. Said antibodies are designed for the diagnosis and/or treatment of TNFα-related disorders. The nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expression of the recombinant antibodies of the invention, methods for isolating them and the use of said antibodies in medicine are also disclosed.
US08067546B2 Humanized anti-CD70 binding agents and uses thereof
Disclosed are CD70 binding agents, such as humanized anti-CD70 antibodies and fragments and derivatives, that exert a cytotoxic, cytostatic or immunomodulatory on CD70 expressing cells, as well as pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the antibody, fragment or derivative. Also disclosed are methods for the treatment of CD70-expressing cancers and immunological disorders, comprising administering to a subject the CD70 binding agents or pharmaceutical compositions.
US08067545B2 Isolated antibodies against biologically active leptin-related peptides
The present invention relates to methods and compositions containing novel leptin peptides, preferably for the modulation of body mass (i.e., weight), more specifically for novel diagnostic and therapeutic applications in homeostasis of body weight and adipose tissue mass.
US08067541B2 Highly thermostable fluorescent proteins
Thermostable fluorescent proteins (TSFPs), methods for generating these and other stability-enhanced proteins, polynucleotides encoding such proteins, and assays and method for using the TSFPs and TSFP-encoding nucleic acid molecules are provided. The TSFPs of the invention show extremely enhanced levels of stability and thermotolerance. In one case, for example, a TSFP of the invention is so stable it can be heated to 99° C. for short periods of time without denaturing, and retains 85% of its fluorescence when heated to 80° C. for several minutes. The invention also provides a method for generating stability-enhanced variants of a protein, including but not limited to fluorescent proteins.
US08067531B2 Inactivated pepsin fragments for modulating immune system activity against human malignant tumor cells
Isolated anti-cancer peptides are disclosed which are characterized by the amino acid sequences TLTSGGGAIALPPSMAAPPLGPVAPLTGAIHAPTXG; TLSTATGGAIPPVAAMPPGLVAPTHGPAIHP; CCATSGPCGAVMILTPHLTA; MTLTTGSGAIAPAMPPGLPPHTGAIHAPM; and NXVPVSVEGYXQITLDSITX and a significant in vitro binding affinity for gp96. The peptides exhibit anti-tumor, anti-cancer activity in vivo. Also disclosed is an isolated antiviral peptide is characterized by the amino acid sequence GDEPLENYLDTEYF and a significant in vitro binding affinity for HIV-1 gp 120 and gp 41, and human CD4 cells. The peptide exhibits anti-retroviral activity in vivo, particularly anti-HIV-1 activity.
US08067528B2 Method for producing fluorine-containing polymer, aqueous dispersion of fluorine-containing polymer, 2-acyloxycarboxylic acid derivative, and surface active agent
The present invention provides a method of producing a fluoropolymer, wherein polymerization using a carboxylate ester bond-containing carboxylic acid derivative as a surfactant in an aqueous medium to give the fluoropolymer is conducted, the above carboxylate ester bond-containing carboxylic acid derivative has a carboxylate ester bond and —COOM (M representing H, NH4, Li, Na or K), the above carboxylate ester bond may optionally be substituted by fluorine atom.
US08067527B2 Polyamic acid and polyimide
A polyamic acid comprising at least 10 mol % repeating units represented by the formula [1] or [2]; and a polyimide represented by the formula [3] or [4] which is obtained from the polyamic acid. A polyimide film having high heat resistance and satisfactory in light-transmitting properties and tensile strength is obtained from the polyamic acid. (In the formulae, R1 and R2 each independently represents hydrogen or C1-10 alkyl; R3 and R4 each independently represents hydrogen, halogeno, C1-10alkyl, or phenyl or the R3 and R4 on adjoining carbon atoms are bonded to each other to form C3-8 cycloalkyl or phenyl; R5 represents a divalent organic group; and n is an integer of 2 or larger.)
US08067522B2 Low viscosity, alkoxysilane-functional prepolymers and a process for their preparation
The present invention relates to a process for preparing alkoxysilane-functional prepolymers by reacting A) 1.0 equivalent of a polyol component have a number average molecular weight of 3000 g/mol to 20,000 g/mol and containing one or more polyoxyalkylene polyols or polyoxyalkylene polyol prepolymers with B) 1.05 to 1.50 equivalent of an isocyanate- and alkoxysilane-functional compound of formula I) wherein X, Y, and Z independently of one another are linear or branched C1-C8 alkyl or C1-C8 alkoxy radicals, wherein at least one of the radicals is a C1-C8 alkoxy group and R is an organic radical having a functionality of at least two, and subsequently further reacting the remaining free NCO groups by allophanatization or by reaction with C) an isocyanate-reactive component. The present invention also relates to the alkoxysilane-functional prepolymers obtained by the process of the invention.
US08067521B2 Amphiphilic co-networks, films made from amphiphilic co-networks and uses for such co-networks and films
The present invention relates to the production of amphiphilic copolymer networks or co-networks that are both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, the copolymer networks comprise polyalkylene glycol segments and disubstituted polysiloxane segments. Furthermore, the present invention relates to products and/or films made from the amphiphilic copolymer networks or co-networks produced in accordance with the synthesis methods of the present invention. In one embodiment, amphiphilic networks or co-networks are synthesized using functional multiblock co-polymers according to the formula (AY)x(BY)y, where A represents an alkylene glycol polymer having n repeating alkylene glycol units, B represents a disubstituted siloxane polymer having m repeating siloxane units, and Y represents a molecule (e.g., a silane) that functions both as a chain extender and a crosslinker.
US08067517B2 Water-soluble copolymer having alkyl-modified carboxyl groups
A water-soluble copolymer having alkyl-modified carboxyl groups which is able to produce a neutralized viscous liquid in which although its viscosity is very low when no electrolyte exists, the viscosity greatly increases when electrolytes are added, which has a sufficiently high viscosity and a very high transmittance and which has moist textures without stickiness even in the presence of a relatively high concentration of electrolytes, and a thickening agent comprising the same.
US08067511B2 Ethylene copolymer and a method of preparing the same
Provided are ethylene copolymers and a process for preparing the same. More specifically, provided are ethylene copolymers exhibiting excellent processibility and physical properties due to its multimodal molecular weight distribution index, through a multi-stage process by using reactors connected in series or in parallel in the presence of catalyst composition containing transition metal catalyst, and a process for preparing the same.
US08067508B2 Compositions consisting of partially silyl-terminated polymers
This disclosure relates to a curable composition comprising at least one polymer A with at least one reactive silyl group and at least one polymer B with at least one reactive silyl group, the number of reactive silyl groups in the polymer A being greater or equal to the number of silyl groups in polymer B and the reactive silyl groups being capable of cross-linking to form siloxane bonds. The disclosure also relates to preparations containing a composition of this type and to the use of said compositions.
US08067483B2 Adjuvant-mediated reactivity enhancement of polymerizable diacetylenic materials
Indicator inks, indicators formed by printing or otherwise utilizing the inks and host products utilizing the indicators are disclosed. Reactivity-enhancing adjuvants stimulate enhanced thermal reactivity of diacetylenic or other indicator agents capable of responding to ambient thermal conditions with a visual change signaling an end point. The diacetylenic or other agents may be sensitive or relatively insensitive to ambient temperatures. Use of a reactivity-enhancing adjuvant provides a useful means for adapting the reactivities of indicator agents to the response characteristics of prospective host products, for example perishables such as vaccines or fresh fish and maturables such as fruit, cheese and wine. Some exemplary adjuvants include low-temperature polymerization initiators, for example methyl ethyl ketone peroxide and polymerization accelerators, for example cobalt compounds. Such initiators and accelerators can also be used in combination.
US08067480B2 Porous polyisocyanate polyaddition products
Process for producing porous polyisocyanate polyaddition products by reacting (a) isocyanates with (b) compounds which are reactive toward isocyanates in the presence of (f) solvent, wherein compounds having a functionality toward isocyanates of at least 6 and a molecular weight of at least 1000 g/mol are used as (b) compounds which are reactive toward isocyanates.
US08067478B1 Process for preparing polymer reinforced silica aerogels
Process for preparing polymer-reinforced silica aerogels which comprises a one-pot reaction of at least one alkoxy silane in the presence of effective amounts of a polymer precursor to obtain a silica reaction product, the reaction product is gelled and subsequently subjected to conditions that promotes polymerization of the precursor and then supercritically dried to obtain the polymer-reinforced monolithic silica aerogels.
US08067475B2 Adhesive sheet comprising hollow parts and method for preparing the same
Disclosed herein are an adhesive sheet comprising a cured acrylic polymer, hollow polymeric microspheres dispersed and ruptured in the cured acrylic polymer, and hollow parts formed by rupturing the hollow polymeric microspheres dispersed in the cured acrylic polymer, and a preparation method thereof.
US08067468B2 L-carnitine and alkanoyl L-carnitine phytates and process for preparing the same
Salts of L-carnitine and alkanoyl L-carnitines with phytic acid of general formula (I), and the process of preparing the same, wherein the mole ratio between the L-carnitine or its alkanoyl derivatives cation and phytic acid anion be within the range of 1:1 to 6:1, wherein: n=1-6; R1 is the phytate anion; R is either hydrogen, a straight alkanoyl group having 2-12 carbon atoms or a branched-chain alkanoyl group having 2-12 carbon atoms.
US08067464B2 Compositions and methods using apocynin compounds and nitric oxide donors
The invention describes novel compositions comprising at least one apocynin compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one nitric oxide donor, and, optionally, at least one therapeutic agent. The invention also provides novel kits comprising at least one apocynin compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one nitric oxide donor compound, and, optionally, at least one therapeutic agent. The invention also provides methods for (a) treating cardiovascular diseases; (b) treating renovascular diseases; (c) treating diabetes; (d) treating diseases resulting from oxidative stress; (e) treating endothelial dysfunctions; (f) treating diseases caused by endothelial dysfunctions; (g) treating gastrointestinal disorders; (h) treating inflammatory disorders; and (j) treating respiratory disorders; and (k) treating peripheral vascular diseases. The apocynin compound may preferably be apocynin. The nitric oxide donor compound may preferably be isosorbide dinitrate and/or isosorbide mononitrate.
US08067463B2 Protease inhibitor precursor synthesis
The present invention provides a compound having the structure (I) and processes for the production thereof and the intermediates used in such process.
US08067460B2 5-phenoxyalkoxypsoralens and methods for selective inhibition of the voltage gated Kv1.3 potassium channel
Compositions of matter comprising 5-phenoxyalkoxypsoralen compounds and their method of synthesis and use. The compounds are useable to treat diseases or disorders in human or animal subjects, including autoimmune diseases. The compounds inhibit potassium channels, including the Kv1.3 channel and at least some of the therapeutic effects of such compounds may be due at least in part to potassium channel inhibition. In some embodiments, the compounds are more selective for certain potassium channels (e.g., Kv1.3 channels) than other potassium channels (e.g., Kv1.5 channels).
US08067454B2 Thio-substituted Anthra [1, 2-d] imidazole- 6, 11-dione derivatives, preparation method and application thereof
A series of novel thio-substituted anthra[1,2-d]imidazole-6,11-dione derivatives, and the preparation method and application of said derivatives, said application having a pharmaceutical composition containing said derivatives with therapeutically effective amount for treating cancer, and said application involves effects of said derivatives for inhibiting telomerase activity, inhibiting the growth of cancer cell, treating cancer and the like.
US08067442B2 Heterocyclic antiviral compounds
Compounds having the formula I wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R2c, R3, Y and p are as defined herein and C2-C3 is a single or double bond are Hepatitis C virus NS5b polymerase inhibitors. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for treating an HCV infection and inhibiting HCV replication.
US08067437B2 Beta-2-adrenoreceptor agonists
Compounds of formula in free or salt or solvate form, where Ar is a group of formula Y is carbon or nitrogen and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, X, n, p, q and r are as defined in the specification, their preparation and their use as pharmaceuticals, particularly for the treatment of obstructive or inflammatory airways diseases.
US08067436B2 c-Met modulators and methods of use
The present invention provides compounds for modulating protein kinase enzymatic activity for modulating cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. More specifically, the invention provides quinazolines and quinolines which inhibit, regulate, and/or modulate kinase receptor, particularly c-Met, KDF, c-Kit, flt-3 and flt-4, signal transduction pathways related to the changes in cellular activities as mentioned above, compositions which contain these compounds, and methods of using them to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions. The present invention also provides methods for making compounds as mentioned above, and compositions which contain these compounds.
US08067435B2 Nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds, their preparation and their use as antibacterial drugs
The invention relates to nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds of general formula (I) wherein: R1 represents a (CH2)n—NH2 radical, n being equal to 1 or 2; R2 represents a hydrogen atom; R3 and R4 form together a nitrogen-containing heterocycle with aromaticity with 5 apices containing 1, 2 or 3 nitrogen atoms, substituted on this nitrogen atom or one of these nitrogen atoms with a (CH2)m—(C(O))p—R5 group, m being equal to 0, 1, 2 or 3, p being equal to 0 or 1 and R5 representing a hydroxy group, in which case p is equal to 1, or an amino, (C1-C6)alkyl or di-(C1-C6)alkyl amino, a nitrogen-containing heterocycle with aromaticity with 5 or 6 apices containing 1 or 2 nitrogen atoms and if necessary, an oxygen or sulfur atom; it being understood that when the sub-group (C(O))p—R5 forms a carboxy, amino, (C1-C6) alkyl or di-(C1-C6) alkyl amino, group, m is different from 0 or 1; in free form or as zwitterions and salts with pharmaceutically acceptable mineral or organic bases and acids, to their preparation and to their use as antibacterial drugs.
US08067427B2 Pharmaceutical compositions comprising ZD6474
A pharmaceutical composition comprising ZD6474 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a brittle diluent and a second diluent which is practically insoluble and has ductile compression properties.
US08067419B2 Piperazines as antimalarial agents
The invention relates to novel piperazine derivatives and their use as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also concerns related aspects including pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of those compounds and their use as medicaments for the treatment or prevention of protozoal infections, especially malaria.
US08067416B2 Methods and compositions for the treatment of metabolic disorders
The present invention is directed to a novel methods and compositions for the therapeutic intervention in hyperphenylalaninemia. More specifically, the specification describes methods and compositions for treating various types of phenylketonurias using compositions comprising BH4. Combination therapies of BH4 and other therapeutic regimens are contemplated.
US08067414B2 Nitric oxide enhancing prostaglandin compounds, compositions and methods of use
The invention provides compositions and kits comprising at least one nitric oxide enhancing prostaglandin compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and, optionally, at least one nitric oxide enhancing compound and/or at least one therapeutic agent. The invention also provides methods for (a) treating ophthalmic disorders; (b) treating cerebrovascular disorders; (c) treating cardiovascular disorders; (d) treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); (e) treating peptic ulcers; (e) treating sexual dysfunctions and (f) inducing abortions. The nitric oxide enhancing prostaglandin compounds comprise at least one heterocyclic nitric oxide donor group and/or at least one nitroxide group.
US08067413B2 9-substituted-8-oxo-adenine compounds as toll-like receptor (TLR7 ) modulators
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, Y1, X1, L and R2 are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy.
US08067411B2 Compounds
The present invention provides compounds of formula wherein R1, Y1, X1, Z1, X2, Y2, A, n and R2 are as defined in the specification, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in therapy.
US08067396B2 Amino alcohol compounds or phosphonic acid derivatives thereof
A compound having a formula II(a): wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen lower alkyl, lower aliphatic acyl, or lower alkoxycarbonyl; R4 is C1-C4 alkyl; n is 2 or 3; X is a formula ═N-D, wherein D is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl or phenyl; Y is ethylene, ethynylene, —CO—CH2—, —CH(OH)—CH2— or phenylene; Z is C1-C6 alkylene; R5 is C3-C10 cycloalkyl or C6-C10 aryl; R6 and R7 are hydrogen, lower alkyl, halogeno lower alkyl, lower alkoxy or lower alkylthio; and R10 and R11 are hydrogen or lower alkyl.
US08067394B2 Synthesis and biological activities of new tricyclic-bis-enones (TBEs)
This invention describes novel tricyclic-bis-enone derivatives (TBEs), such as TBE-31, TBE-34, TBE-45 and water-soluble TBEs. The methods of preparing these compounds are also disclosed. The inventors demonstrate the ability of these new TBEs to inhibit proliferation of human myeloma cells, inhibit the induction of iNOS in cells stimulated with interferon-γ, induce heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), induce CD11b expression—a leukemia differentiation marker, inhibit proliferation of leukemia cells, induce apoptosis in human lung cancer, and induce apoptosis in other cancerous cells. The TBEs of this invention are expected to be useful agents for the treatment and prevention of many diseases, including cancer, neurological disorders, inflammation, and pathologies involving oxidative stress.
US08067390B2 Therapeutic targeting of interleukins using siRNA in neutral liposomes
The present invention relates to the fields of molecular biology and drug delivery. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides compositions that include an siRNA targeted to an interleukin and a neutral lipid, and methods of treating a human subject with cancer involving administering to the subject a pharmaceutically effective amount of an interleukin-8 antagonist or a composition as set forth herein.
US08067379B2 Sulfur compounds as inhibitors of hepatitis C virus NS3 serine protease
The present invention discloses novel compounds which have HCV protease inhibitory activity as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds as well as methods of using them to treat disorders associated with the HCV protease.
US08067378B2 Peptides effective in the treatment of tumors and other conditions requiring the removal or destruction of cells
The embodiments include methods of treating conditions requiring removal or destruction of cellular elements, such as benign or malignant tumors in humans, using compounds based on small peptides. The method includes, but is not limited to, administering the compounds intramuscularly, orally, intravenously, intrathecally, intratumorally, intranasally, topically, transdermally, etc., either alone or conjugated to a carrier.
US08067375B2 Treatment of demyelinating disorders with soluble lymphotoxin-β-receptor
Methods of treating a demyelinating disorder using inhibitors of the lymphotoxin pathway.
US08067374B2 Adhesive hemostatic agent based on porcine atelocollagen and method for production thereof
Disclosed is an adhesive hemostatic agent based on non-blood constituents including DOPA, able to strongly adhere to collagen fibers. The agent includes an antifibrinolytic agent in addition to an esterified atelocollagen which is non-immunogenic and may become positively charged thereon such that the adhesive hemostatic agent has no possibility of mediating particular diseases or viral infections (HIV, HCV, HBV, CMV, etc), unlike conventional agents comprising blood constituents, and readily binds to negatively charged platelets at high adhesive strength, thus inducing quick blood coagulation. Also, provided is a method for preparing the same.
US08067368B2 Vascular endothelial growth factors and methods of their use
Vascular endothelial growth factor alternative splice variants and methods of their use are provided.
US08067366B2 Facilitation of resuscitation from cardiac arrest by erythropoietin
The present invention relates generally to the use of erythropoietin (EPO) to facilitate resuscitation from cardiac arrest. For a mammalian subject suffering from cardiac arrest, concurrent administration of EPO with resuscitation after the onset of ventricular fibrillation facilitates the resuscitation. Administration of EPO serves to attenuate myocardial abnormalities caused by cardiac arrest and the resuscitation efforts and favor improved resuscitation outcomes. The main effect of EPO that facilitates resuscitation is the preservation of left ventricular myocardial distensibility leading to improve left ventricular preload and the amount of blood ejected by chest compression. This effect enables higher coronary perfusion pressures to be generated resulting in a higher rate of return of spontaneous circulation and higher survival rates. The very same effect enables the return of spontaneous circulation to occur faster reducing the time a human subject is in cardiac arrest. These effects lead to a higher number of cardiac arrest victims to survive and to do so with intact neurological function in most of the survivors.
US08067361B2 Chaperonin 10 immunosuppression
The invention is directed to the use of cpn10 in transplantation and particularly to treatment and/or prevention of graft versus host disease. The invention provides a method of administration of cpn10 to a donor and/or recipient animal or cells, tissues or organs derived from the donor, although in a particularly advantageous form treatment of both the donor and recipient animal. The method may further include the administration to the donor and/or recipient animal at least one other immunosuppressive agent to prevent or alleviate graft versus host disease.
US08067355B2 Benefit agent containing delivery particles
The present invention relates to benefit agent containing delivery particles, compositions comprising said particles, and processes for making and using the aforementioned particles and compositions. When employed in compositions, for example, compositions for cleaning, fabric care, or coating onto various substrates, textiles or surfaces, such particles increase the efficiency of benefit agent delivery, thereby allowing reduced amounts of benefit agents to be employed. In addition to allowing the amount of benefit agent to be reduced, such particles allow a broad range of benefit agents to be employed.
US08067353B2 Method for making a fabric softener utilizing a dynamic orifice changer
A dynamic orifice is useful in making fabric softening composition.
US08067351B2 Composition with a color marker
A composition comprising at least one indicator, at least one light stabilizer, and at least one antioxidant. The composition is useful as a cleanser that provides a usage timer based on color change to indicate to a user that sufficient time has elapsed for cleansing.
US08067346B2 Tetraoxy-silane lubricating oil compositions
Disclosed are lubricating oil compositions comprising a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity and a tetra-functional hydrolyzable silane compound of the general formula Si—X4 or hydrolysis product thereof, wherein X is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, acyloxy, amino, monoalkyl amino and dialkyl amino.
US08067344B2 Lubricating grease composition
A lubricating grease composition, which comprises a base oil consisting of a mixture of 100 parts by weight of at least one of a perfluoropolyether oil (A), represented by RfO[CF(CF3)CF2O]p(CF2CF2O)qRf (where Rf is a perfluoroalkyl group having 1-5 carbon atoms, p+q=2-200, q/p=0-2, and q may be 0), and a perfluoropolyether oil (B), represented by F(CF2CF2CF2O)sC2F5 (where s=2-100), and 0-100 parts by weight of at least one of a perfluoropolyether oil (C), represented by RfO(CF2CF2O)m(CF2O)nRf (where m+n=3-200 and m:n=10-90:90-10), and a perfluoropolyether oil (D), represented by RfO[CF(CF3)CF2O]a(CF2CF3O)b(CF2O)cRf (where a+b+c=3-200, b is 0 or an integer of 1 or more, and c is an integer of 1 or more), preferably further admixed with a thickening agent, can suppress corrosion of metallic materials by corrosive gases and also has a good heat resistance.
US08067343B2 Methods and compositions for preventing high density well completion fluid loss
A method of reducing fluid loss from a wellbore that includes emplacing a fluid loss pill in the wellbore, the fluid loss pill comprising: a base fluid; a hydratable or solvatable synthetic copolymer having at least one crosslinkable comonomer; and a crosslinking agent is disclosed.
US08067339B2 Surface display of whole antibodies in eukaryotes
Methods for display of recombinant whole immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin libraries on the surface of eukaryote host cells, including yeast and filamentous fungi, are described. The methods are useful for screening libraries of recombinant immunoglobulins in eukaryote host cells to identify immunoglobulins that are specific for an antigen of interest.
US08067337B2 Agricultural chemical composition
An agricultural chemical composition which enables a wide range of herbicidal compounds including ones showing phytotoxicity to crop plants, etc. upon mere application to exhibit a sufficient herbicidal effect and to show reduced or no phytotoxicity to the crop plants. The agricultural chemical composition comprises (A) a herbicidal compound selected from the group consisting of sulfonylurea compounds, sulfonamide compounds, chloroacetanilide compounds, thiocarbamate compounds, pyrimidinyloxy(thio)benzoic acid compounds, tetrazolinone compounds, pyrazole compounds, cyclohexanedione compounds, phenoxycarboxylic acid compounds, oxazinone compounds, and difluoromethanesulfonylanilide compounds or salts thereof and (B) a compound selected among benzoic acid compounds.
US08067336B2 Cardboard cylinder for a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet, rolled heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet to form a roll shape, and image-forming method
A cardboard cylinder for winding a heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet having a receptive layer on one surface of a support around the cardboard cylinder, wherein an innermost surface of the cardboard cylinder is composed of a layer containing a polyolefin resin having a number average molecular weight of 12,000 or more in a proportion of at least 80% by mass based on the layer.
US08067324B2 Low dielectric loss ceramic ferroelectric composite material
The ceramic ferroelectric composite material ensures the achievement of the technical result, consisting in a decrease in the level of the dielectric losses in the radio and microwave frequencies for the materials with the dielectric constant from 152 to 796 together with an increase in the tunability of the dielectric constant by the electric field. The ceramic ferroelectric composite material is produced from the composition including BaTiO3 and SrTiO3, which additionally includes the magnesium-containing mixture of magnesium orthotitanate Mg2TiO4 and magnesia MgO, with the following content of components, mass%: BaTiO3 - 27.0 - 48.8; SrTiO3 - 25.0 - 39.5; magnesium-containing mixture of Mg2TiO4 and MgO - the remainder, where the components in the magnesium-containing mixture have the following content, mass%: Mg2TiO4 - 6.2 - 92.4: MgO - the remainder.
US08067319B2 Fibers made from copolymers of ethylene/α-olefins
A fiber is obtainable from or comprises an ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer characterized by an elastic recovery, Re, in percent at 300 percent strain and 1 cycle and a density, d, in grams/cubic centimeter, wherein the elastic recovery and the density satisfy the following relationship: Re>1481−1629(d). Such interpolymer can also be characterized by other properties. The fibers made therefrom have a relatively high elastic recovery and a relatively low coefficient of friction. The fibers can be cross-linked, if desired. Woven or non-woven fabrics can be made from such fibers.
US08067313B2 Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including forming a transistor on a first surface of a device substrate, forming a hole in a second surface opposite to the first surface of the device substrate, and supplying hydrogen to a gate insulating film of the transistor from the second surface of the device substrate through the hole.
US08067312B2 Coaxial through chip connection
An integrated circuit chip includes devices formed by doping of a semiconductor on a substrate and at least one post-device formation through-chip via made up of an annulus of insulating material, an annulus of metallization bounding an outer surface of the annulus of insulating material and an annulus of electrically conductive material within the annulus of insulating material, the annulus of metallization and the annulus of electrically conductive material being electrically isolated from each another.
US08067309B2 Semiconductor device using metal nitride as insulating film and its manufacture method
A first insulating film is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A second insulating film made of insulating metal nitride is formed on the first insulating film. A recess is formed through the second insulating film and reaches a position deeper than an upper surface of the first insulating film. A conductive member is buried in the recess. A semiconductor device is provided whose interlayer insulating film can be worked easily even if it is made to have a low dielectric constant.
US08067306B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with exposed conductor and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a substrate; forming a component connector on the substrate; forming a resist layer on the substrate with the component connector exposed; forming a vertical insertion cavity in the resist layer, the vertical insertion cavity isolated from the component connector or a further vertical insertion cavity, the vertical insertion cavity having a cavity side that is orthogonal to the substrate; forming a rounded interconnect in the vertical insertion cavity, the rounded interconnect nonconformal to the vertical insertion cavity; and mounting an integrated circuit device on the component connector.
US08067300B2 AlxInyGa1-x-yN mixture crystal substrate, method of growing same and method of producing same
Seeds are implanted in a regular pattern upon an undersubstrate. An AlxInyGa1-x-yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0
US08067280B2 High performance CMOS devices and methods for making same
An integrated circuit having high performance CMOS devices with good short channel effects may be made by forming a gate structure over a substrate; forming pocket implant regions and source/drain extensions in the substrate; forming spacers along sides of the gate structure; and thermal annealing the substrate when forming the spacers, the thermal annealing performed at an ultra-low temperature. An integrated circuit having high performance CMOS devices with low parasitic junction capacitance may be made by forming a gate structure over a substrate; forming pocket implant regions and source/drain extensions in the substrate; forming spacers along sides of the gate structure; performing a low dosage source/drain implant; and performing a high dosage source/drain implant.
US08067277B2 Active matrix device with photo sensor
An active matrix pixel device is provided, for example an electroluminescent display device, the device comprising circuitry supported by a substrate and including a polysilicon TFT (10) and an amorphous silicon thin film PIN diode (12). Polysilicon islands are formed before an amorphous silicon layer is deposited for the PIN diode. This avoids the exposure of the amorphous silicon to high temperature processing. The TFT comprises doped source/drain regions (16a,17a), one of which (17a) may also provide the n-type or p-type doped region for the diode. Advantageously, the requirement to provide a separate doped region for the photodiode is removed, thereby saving processing costs. A second TFT (10b) having a doped source/drain region (16b,17b) of the opposite conductivity type may provide the other doped region (16b) for the diode, wherein the intrinsic region (25) is disposed laterally between the two TFTs, overlying each of the respective polysilicon islands.
US08067276B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
An oxide or nitride semiconductor layer is formed over a substrate. A first conductive layer including a first element and a second element, and a second conductive layer including the second element are formed over the semiconductor layer. The first element is oxidized or nitrogenized near an interface region between the first conductive layer and the oxide or nitride semiconductor layer by heat treatment or laser irradiation. The Gibbs free energy of oxide formation of the first element is lower than those of the second element or any element in the oxide or nitride semiconductor layer.
US08067275B2 Integrated circuit package system with package integration
An integrated circuit package system comprising: providing a base substrate; attaching a base integrated circuit die over the base substrate; forming a support over the base substrate near only one edge of the base substrate; and attaching a stack substrate over the support and the base integrated circuit die.
US08067268B2 Stacked integrated circuit package system and method for manufacturing thereof
A method for manufacturing of a stacked integrated circuit package system includes: providing a base integrated circuit package having a base encapsulation with a cavity therein and a base interposer exposed by the cavity; mounting an intermediate integrated circuit package over the base interposer; and mounting a top integrated circuit package over the intermediate integrated circuit package.
US08067266B2 Methods for the fabrication of microelectronic device substrates by attaching two cores together during fabrication
The present disclosure relates to fabricating substrates for use in microelectronic device packages. In at least one embodiment, two substrate cores may be attached together during build-up layer formation on each substrate core to increase substrate fabrication throughput. The embodiments of the present disclosure may allow the processing of relatively thin substrates.
US08067248B2 Method for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis via assaying myofibroblast-like synoviocytes for fibroblast activation protein
The invention relates to methods for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis by assaying for Fibroblast Activation Protein Alpha expression in rheumatoid, myofibroblast like synoviocytes. Therapeutic aspects are also a part of the invention.
US08067246B2 Diagnostic testing process
A method and apparatus for use in a flow through assay process is disclosed. The method is characterised by a “pre-incubation step” in which the sample which is to be analyzed (typically for the presence of a particular protein), and a detection analyte (typically one or more antibodies bound to colloidal gold or a fluorescent tag) which is known to bind to the particular protein may bind together for a desired period of time. This pre-incubation step occurs before the mixture of sample and detection analyte come into contact with a capture analyte bound to a membrane. The provision of the pre-incubation step has the effect of both improving the sensitivity of the assay and reducing the volume of sample required for an assay. An apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed defining a pre-incubation chamber for receiving the sample and detection analyte having a base defined by a membrane and a second membrane to which a capture analyte is bound. In one version the pre-incubation chamber is supported above the second membrane in one position but can be pushed into contact with the membrane carrying the capture analyte thus o permitting fluid transfer from the incubation chamber through the capture membrane. In another version the membrane at the base of the incubation chamber is hydrophobic and its underside contacts the capture membrane and when a wetting agent is applied to the contents of the pre-incubation chamber fluid transfer occurs.
US08067244B2 Method and device for investigation of a surface layer
A method and device for investigation of a surface layer of a material. The material without surface layer is exposed for a gas and the penetration of the gas into the material is measured. Then the surface layer is applied to the material. Finally, the material including the surface layer is exposed for the gas and the penetration of the gas into the material through the surface layer is measured. The measurement of the passage of the gas into the material is performed by a method comprising measurement of light absorption by the gas by absorption spectroscopy.
US08067243B2 Methods and systems for analyzing medication levels in a sample
Methods and systems for assessing patient compliance with opioid drug therapy are provided. A liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) can be used to simultaneously detect a set of measurements including an amount of at least ten opioids (and their metabolites) in a body fluids sample from a patient. The set of at least ten opioids can include at least oxymorphone and fentanyl. The amounts of opioids and their metabolites are analyzed. For example, the ratios of opioids and their respective metabolites can be used to determine which opioids a patient has been administered. A report of patient compliance is generated based on the set of measurements.
US08067228B2 Nucleic acid compositions and their use against the hepatitic C virus
Peptide compositions are described. In particular, peptide compositions are described which include at least two peptides which are selected from among the following peptides: a peptide A having at least the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N° 1, a peptide B having at least the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N° 45, a peptide C having at least the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N° 127, and a peptide D having at least the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID N° 174. The compositions can be used, in particular, in the preparation of active pharmaceutical compositions against the hepatitis C virus.
US08067227B2 Viral vectors and the use of the same for gene therapy
The invention relates to viral vectors comprising nucleic acid sequences coding for single chain interleukin-12 (single chain IL-12 or scIL12) and a costimulator protein, and to the use of vectors for gene therapy, especially for the treatment of tumors. The invention further relates to adenoviral vectors containing nucleic acid sequences having a sequence homology of at least 90% in relation to the sequence displayed in FIGS. 19 and 20 (IL-12), in FIG. 21 (4-1BB ligand) and in FIG. 22 (IL-2) and optionally also one of the sequences displayed in FIG. 23A (B7-1) or 23B (B7-2).
US08067226B2 Device and method for multiple analyte detection
The invention is directed to a method and device for simultaneously testing a sample for the presence, absence, and/or amounts of one or more of a plurality of selected analytes. The invention includes, in one aspect, a device for detecting or quantitating a plurality of different analytes in a liquid sample. Each chamber may include an analyte-specific reagent effective to react with a selected analyte that may be present in the sample, and detection means for detecting the signal. Also disclosed are methods utilizing the device.
US08067221B2 Von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease
This invention is intended to isolate and identify a vWF-specific cleaving protease. The vWF-specific cleaving protease cleaves a bond between residues Tyr 842 and Met 843 of vWF and comprises a polypeptide chain having Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 1) as a partial sequence, and more preferably comprises a polypeptide chain having the partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of a mature protein, Ala-Ala-Gly-Gly-Ile-Leu-His-Leu-Glu-Leu-Leu-Val-Ala-Val (SEQ ID NO: 2), and having a molecular weight of 105 to 160 kDa in SDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. Isolation and identification of this vWF-specific cleaving protease have led to the possibility of replacement therapy for patients having diseases resulting from a deficiency of the protease, such as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
US08067220B2 Alternative crystal form of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL)
A number of soluble engineered forms of MGLL that are suitable for high-throughput screening and protein crystallization, as well as a crystallized forms of monoacylglycerol lipase protein (MGLL) and descriptions of the X-ray diffraction patterns are disclosed. The engineered constructs of MGLL permit the expression and purification of protein suitable for crystallography or high-throughput screening and identification of ligands, which can function as active agents to MGLL. The X-ray diffraction patterns allow the three dimensional structure of MGLL to be determined at atomic resolution so that ligand binding sites on MGLL can be identified and the interactions of ligands with MGLL amino acid residues can be modeled. Models prepared using such maps permit the design of ligands which can function as active agents which include, but are not limited to, those that function as inhibitors of MGLL.
US08067208B2 Probes and methods for hepatitis C virus typing using multidimensional probe analysis
This invention provides compositions and methods for HCV typing, e.g., genotyping and/or subtyping. The compositions and methods of the invention can be used to assign an HCV isolate to one of at least five HCV types (for example, selected from types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6), or to one of at least five subtypes (for example, subtypes 1a/b/c, 2a/c, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a or 6a). These methods integrate the hybridization data from a plurality of HCV typing probes in a multidimensional analysis to make an HCV type assignment for an HCV in an experimental sample. The invention also provides related compositions, including, for example, the HCV typing probes and HCV typing diagnostic kits.
US08067198B2 Protein expression system
The present invention relates to a method of producing a target protein, which method comprises expressing said protein in a host cell which contains a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a chimeric protein, said chimeric protein comprising a signal peptide from a non-mammalian bulk-secreted protein and said target protein; nucleic acids, vectors, host cells and kits for carrying out the method are also described.
US08067195B2 Process for producing 7-methoxy-3-desacetylcefalotin
The invention relates to a method for preparing 7-methoxy-3-desacetylcefalotin by a hydrolysis process which takes place in water and is catalyzed by an enzyme obtained from Bacillus pumulis possessing acetyl hydrolasic activity.
US08067187B2 Cross-β structure binding compounds
The invention relates to the field of biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, molecular biology, structural biology and medicine. More in particular, the invention relates to cross-β structure conformation. Even more particular, the invention relates to compounds capable of binding to a compound with cross-β structure conformation, i.e., cross-β structure binding compounds and uses thereof.
US08067184B2 Optoelectronic detection system
The invention described herein provides methods for the detection of soluble antigens. In particular, the methods provide for the detection of soluble proteins and chemicals. In addition, the invention provides methods of detecting a nucleic acid sequence in a sample. Also described is an emittor cell comprising an Fc receptor and an emittor molecule for the detection of a target particle in a sample wherein the target particle to be detected is bound by one or more antibodies. Also provided is an optoelectronic sensor device for detecting a target particle in a plurality of samples.
US08067175B2 Methods and compositions for detecting a drug resistant EGFR mutant
Polymerase chain reaction primers and methods directed to detecting the EGFR mutant C→T at the position corresponding to base 2369 of EGFR cDNA. The invention provides a PCR primer that hybridizes under suitable PCR conditions to a polynucleotide sequence 5′ in each respective strand to a mutation of an EGFR gene that encodes a substitution of threonine by methionine at position 790 of the EGFR polypeptide. The invention also provides a PCR primer hybridizes to a sequence that includes a mutant T at the position corresponding to base 2369 of EGFR cDNA but not to a second EGFR polynucleotide containing a wild type C. The invention provides several methods and kits for detecting a mutant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in a sample comprising probing the sample with a means for selectively detecting a nucleotide sequence comprising a mutant T at the position corresponding to base 2369 of EGFR cDNA, and identifying that the base at said position is T. These methods and kits are also useful to predict resistance to the therapeutic effects of gefitinib or erlotinib in a subject suffering from or suspected of having a cancer.
US08067167B2 Hybrid antibodies
Hybrid antibodies and/or hybrid antibody fragments and methods of making them are provided. In one embodiment the hybrid antibodies and/or hybrid antibody fragments contain heavy and/or light variable regions that contain two or more framework regions derived from at least two antibodies. In another embodiment, at least two of the framework regions are classified in the same germline gene family. In one embodiment, at least two framework regions are classified in the same germline gene family member. The hybrid antibodies or hybrid antibody fragments may contain human framework regions and nonhuman CDRs.
US08067163B2 Determination of the biological function of a target gene in a cell
Disclosed herein is a method to determine the biological function(s) of a target gene in a cell, the steps of which involve separately culturing a first population and a second population of the cell under same culturing conditions, the first population of the cell differing from the second population of the cell in that the first population of the cell has accepted the introduction of a methylated polynucleotide; comparing the first population and the second population of the cell to determine which biological difference(s) is/are present therebetween; and determining which biological function(s) the target gene is associated with based on the determined biological difference(s) between the first population and the second population of the cell.
US08067161B2 Dopaminergic neuron proliferative progenitor cell marker Nato3
The present invention is a probe, a primer, and an antibody, for detecting a dopaminergic neuron proliferative progenitor cell. According to the present invention, there is provided a polynucleotide probe and a polynucleotide primer for use in the detection or selection of a dopaminergic neuron proliferative progenitor cell, which can hybridize with a polynucleotide consisting of a nucleotide sequence of a Nato3 gene, or a complementary sequence thereto, and an antibody against a Nato3 protein, or a part thereof for use in the detection or selection of a dopaminergic neuron proliferative progenitor cell.
US08067147B2 Removable pellicle for immersion lithography
A method of irradiating to pattern a photosensitive layer such as a resist (L2) immersed in a fluid (L3), involves applying a removable transparent layer (L4, L5), projecting the radiation onto the resist through the immersion fluid and through the transparent layer, such that imperfections in the fluid are out of focus as projected on the surface, and subsequently removing the transparent layer. The transparent layer can help distance such imperfections from the focus of the radiation on the surface and so can reduce or eliminate shadowing. Hence the irradiation can be more complete, and defects reduced. It can be particularly effective for imperfections in the form of small bubbles or particles in the immersion fluid especially at the fluid/surface interface for example. The radiation can be for any purpose including inspection, processing, patterning and so on. The removal of the transparent layer can be combined with a step of developing the resist layer.
US08067139B2 Resin mixture backing layer containing photoconductor
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a backing layer, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and a charge transport layer, and where the outermost layer of the backing layer is comprised of a mixture of a glycoluril resin and a polyol resin.
US08067132B2 Photomask and exposure method
To provide a photomask capable of preventing a foreign matter generation in using the photomask, and an exposure method using this photomask. The photomask includes a transparent substrate 2; a transfer pattern 4 formed in a main region 3 of a center portion of the transparent substrate 2; a light-shading band region 5 provided adjacent to the main region 3 in the outer peripheral region of the main region 3; and a pellicle 6 formed by adhering a pellicle film 6a to a pellicle frame 6b by an adhesive 8a, wherein this pellicle 6 is adhered onto a light-shading region 7 consisting of a light-shading film formed in the outer peripheral region of the main region 3, through an adhesive 8b.
US08067127B2 Fuel cell system and control method thereof for detecting a chemical short
A fuel cell system is provided with a fuel cell (20) which generates electricity by a chemical reaction between a fuel gas supplied to an anode side of the fuel cell and an oxidization gas supplied to a cathode side of the fuel cell; estimating means (50) for estimating whether there is a possibility that a chemical short is occurring in the fuel cell when supply of the fuel gas and the oxidization gas to the fuel cell is stopped; and scavenging means (12) for supplying a scavenging gas to the cathode side when it has been estimated that there is a possibility that the chemical short is occurring.
US08067125B2 Fuel cell system and its operation stop method
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell which has a catalyst layer therein and which receives supply of a reactive gas to generate power, and a refrigerant system which supplies a refrigerant to the fuel cell to control its temperature. A method for stopping an operation of the system is also provided. When operated in a low-temperature environment, the system cannot be restarted due to freezing in the fuel cell. When the temperature of the fuel cell during the next system start is a predetermined temperature or less, the supply of the refrigerant is stopped during the system stop, and the supply of the refrigerant is resumed after elapse of a predetermined time.
US08067123B2 Fuel cell system and shutdown method of the same
At shutdown of a fuel cell system, a system-shutdown controller is configured to cause a current extraction device to extract current from a fuel cell in a state where a supply of a fuel gas through a fuel supply system is continued and a supply of an oxidant gas through an oxidant supply system is stopped, and the system-shutdown controller is configured to airtightly close fresh-air control valves after increasing pressure of the fuel gas in a fuel electrode to not less than atmospheric pressure and not less than pressure of the oxidant gas in an oxidant electrode.
US08067121B2 Fuel cell system which can be used in a mobile manner with an adsorption accumulator
A fuel cell system which can be used in a mobile manner with a fuel cell unit (1) in order to produce electric energy, and an adsorption accumulator (3) which is associated with a fuel cell unit (1) are provided. The adsorption accumulator (3) is used to release heat and interacts in a thermal manner with a heat exchanger (2) which is arranged downstream from the fuel cell unit (1) in a cooling circuit (4, 5) associated with the fuel cell unit. A method for operating said type of fuel cell system, especially during a cold start is provided.
US08067112B2 Stacked lithium secondary battery and its fabrication utilizing a folded configuration
There is provided a stacked lithium secondary battery in which a plurality of cathode plates and a plurality of anode plates are alternatively facing each other, and its fabrication method. The method comprises adhering a plurality of anode plates to a portion of one surface of a separator onto which the anode plates are neighboring one another, adhering a plurality of cathode plates to a portion of the other surface of the separator onto which the cathode plates are neighboring one another, covering either the cathode or anode plates with the separator by folding the portion to which no electrode plate is adhered, successively folding the separator in a fixed one-direction along folding lines formed between the electrode plates to obtain a stacked body, and housing the obtained stacked body within a pouch, followed by injection of an electrolyte solution and packaging. The method simplifies the folding process by a fixed one-directional folding rather than a zig-zag folding, and reduces the scale of a facility required for the adhesion process by minimizing the length occupied by the electrode plates. Further, the separator can be tightly fastened such that the charge/discharge characteristics and cycle life of the battery can be enhanced, compared to a zig-zag folding.
US08067105B2 Biaxially oriented film
A thin biaxially oriented film excellent in dimensional stability against humidity change, as well as a magnetic recording medium and a film capacitor using the same. The present invention provides a laminated biaxially oriented film comprising: at least one layer comprising an aromatic polyester (a); and at least one layer of a polyolefin (b) having a melting point of from 230 to 280° C.; wherein the ratio of the polyolefin (b) is from 2 to 60% based on the entire weight of the film, and the film thickness is from 1 to 10 μm.
US08067102B2 Absorption type multi-layer film ND filter
In an absorption type multi-layer film ND filter having a thin substrate and provided thereon first and second absorption type multi-layer films which attenuate transmitted light, the first and second absorption type multi-layer films are constituted of multi-layer films each consisting essentially of dielectric layers formed of SiO2, Al2O3 or a mixture of these and metal film layers formed of Ni alone or an Ni alloy; the layers being alternately layered on the substrate; and the first and second absorption type multi-layer films are so formed on one side and the other side, respectively, of the substrate as to have a film structure in which they are symmetrical to each other interposing the substrate between them, and the warpage of the substrate has been controlled at a curvature of radius of 500 mm or more.
US08067089B2 Cationic microcapsule particles
The present invention teaches a cationically charged or neutral microcapsule particle comprising an oil soluble or dispersible core material and a wall material at least partially surrounding the core material, the microcapsule wall material comprising the reaction product of a first composition in the presence of a second composition comprising an emulsifier which is cationic or nonionic, the first composition comprising a reaction product of i) an oil soluble or dispersible amine with ii) a multifunctional acrylate or methacrylate monomer or oligomer, an oil soluble acid and an initiator. The cationic or nonionic emulsifier comprises a water soluble or water dispersible material and optionally a water phase initiator. The first composition initiator and the water phase initiator is an energy-activated initiator. The reaction product of the first composition and second composition results in the formation of a population of microcapsules having a microcapsule wall of low permeance to the core material and having a zeta potential of −5 millivolts or greater. The resulting microcapsules have adherence to anionic surfaces.
US08067085B2 Gas barrier film, and display device comprising the same
Disclosed is a gas barrier film having, on one surface of a substrate film, a gas-barrier layer comprising at least one organic region and at least one inorganic region, and having, as a barrier property-having layer, only a layer comprising a barrier property-having resin as the main ingredient of the layer on the other surface of the substrate film. The gas barrier film has can effectively prevent moisture penetration through the other surface thereof not having the gas-barrier layer.
US08067076B2 Duplex capable paper backed transparencies
A paper backed transparency includes a transparency, a paper backing for the transparency and a first adhesive along a leading edge of the paper backed transparency. A second adhesive along a trailing edge of the paper backed transparency is disclosed to limit movement between the transparency and the paper backing during duplexing.
US08067073B2 Thermoplastic medical device
An medical device such as a guidewire or a catheter having a flexible elongate component which comprises a thermoplastic rigid rod polymer, which component may comprise a bundle of threads, a sleeve, a coil, a co-extrusion, a strut, or other suitable component.
US08067065B2 Fibrillar, nanotextured coating and method for its manufacture
A fibrillar, nanotextured coating is deposited on a substrate by contacting the substrate with a reaction mixture comprising a reagent which is hydrolyzable to produced a cross-linked reaction product, and a first solvent which solvates the reagent and the reaction product. The reagent is hydrolyzed so as to provide a cross-linked reaction product which is bonded to the substrate. The substrate is then contacted with a second solvent which is a non-solvent for the reaction product so as to cause nanoscopic phase separation of the reaction product, resulting in the formation of a fibrillar nanotextured coating which is bonded to the substrate. The thus produced coating may be subjected to further chemical modification. The method may be utilized to produce superhydrophobic coatings. Also disclosed are coatings made by the method of the present invention.
US08067061B2 Reaction apparatus having multiple adjustable exhaust ports
A reaction apparatus for a semiconductor fabrication apparatus, wherein the reaction apparatus includes at least two adjustable outlet ports for withdrawing reactant gases from the reaction chamber. Adjustment of the flow rate through each of the outlet ports selectively modifies the flow pattern of the reactant gases within the reaction chamber to maintain a desired flow pattern therewithin, such as a substantially uniform flow over the surface of a substrate being processed, and/or minimization of turbulence within the reactor.
US08067058B2 Method for producing battery electrode and apparatus for producing battery electrode
The amount of a paint for forming a porous heat-resistant layer supplied to the outer surface of a gravure roll is adjusted by removing the paint with a blade that is disposed so as to contact the outer surface. A resin blade is used, and the position at which the resin blade contacts the outer surface of the gravure roll is changed as the resin blade wears away. This prevents the amount of the paint for forming the porous heat-resistant layer removed from the outer surface of the gravure roll from changing as the resin blade wears away, so that the excess amount of the paint carried on the outer surface of the gravure roll is removed with good accuracy. An almost constant amount of the paint is thus transferred to an electrode surface from the outer surface of the gravure roll, and a porous heat-resistant layer with an almost uniform thickness is stably formed on an industrial scale.
US08067054B2 Stents with ceramic drug reservoir layer and methods of making and using the same
A method of making a drug eluting stent comprises forming a porous stent body surface layer by ion implantation, applying a layer of ceramic particles on the porous layer and compressing the layer of ceramic particles. The layer of ceramic particles can be compressed to successively higher densities. Drugs can be loaded into the layer of ceramic materials at a relatively low density before the layer of ceramic materials is compressed to a higher density to achieve a desired low drug release rate.
US08067044B2 Cosmetic compositions containing an extract of leaves of the Castanea sativa plant and cosmetic treatments
The present invention is concerned with a composition comprising an extract of the leaves of the Castanea sativa plant. It is furthermore directed to the use of the extract for the manufacture of a cosmetic composition and with the use of this extract for the cosmetic treatment of the human body.
US08067042B1 Megestrol acetate products, method of manufacture, and method of use
Disclosed herein is a method of using megestrol acetate. In one embodiment, the method comprises informing a user that megestrol acetate is metabolized by a cytochrome p450 isozyme. In another embodiment, the method comprises obtaining megestrol acetate from a container associated with published material providing information is metabolized by a cytochrome p450 isozyme. Also disclosed are articles of manufacture comprising a container containing a dosage form of megestrol acetate, wherein the container is associated with published material informing that megestrol acetate is metabolized by a cytochrome p450 isozyme, a method of treatment, and a method of manufacturing a megestrol acetate product.
US08067040B2 Cinnamomi and poria composition and uses thereof
A composition comprising Chinese herbal medicines Ramulus cinnamomi and Poria cocos is provided, wherein the composition is defined by a fingerprint profile obtained from an improved chromatographic method. Various uses of such compositions are also provided.
US08067023B2 Implantable medical devices incorporating plasma polymerized film layers and charged amino acids
An implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed comprising an amino acid or a polypeptide bonded to a plasma polymerized film layer formed on the device. A method of manufacturing the same is also disclosed.
US08067022B2 Therapeutic inhibitor of vascular smooth muscle cells
Methods are provided for inhibiting stenosis following vascular trauma or disease in a mammalian host, comprising administering to the host a therapeutically effective dosage of a therapeutic conjugate containing a vascular smooth muscle binding protein that associates in a specific manner with a cell surface of the vascular smooth muscle cell, coupled to a therapeutic agent dosage form that inhibits a cellular activity of the muscle cell. Methods are also provided for the direct and/or targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to vascular smooth muscle cells that cause a dilation and fixation of the vascular lumen by inhibiting smooth muscle cell contraction, thereby constituting a biological stent. Also discussed are mechanisms for in vivo vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation modulation, agents that impact those mechanisms and protocols for the use of those agents.
US08067020B2 Sustained release formulation
A composition comprises a protein, a polyol, and a metal. The protein is stabilized by the polyol and the metal, and is protected from denaturing when in contact with an organic solvent. The polyol may be a hydrocarbon containing two or more hydroxyl groups (—OH) bonded to carbon. The metal may be divalent.
US08067009B1 Metalloproteinase oligopeptides and their therapeutic use
The invention discloses identification and therapeutic use of matrix metalloproteinase oligopeptides and peptidomimetics. The oligopeptides are used for making antibodies. The antibodies are used for diagnostic and treatment purposes of various diseases. In particular, the diseases may involve the mechanism of degradation of extracellular matrix by MMP's during cell proliferation cycle. Suppression of MMP activity seems to arrest tumor growth during cancer progression. MMP oligopeptides were used as vaccines to treat mice having murine melanoma B16FO induced tumor. There was a significant drop in tumor weight and size for the group of mice that were immunized with MMP oligopeptide.
US08067008B2 Peptide inhibitors for mediating stress responses
The present invention relates to peptides capable of inhibiting cellular and immune stress responses in a eukaryotic cell. The invention provides compositions and methods for the treatment of human degenerative diseases and inflammation, utilizing these peptides.
US08067005B1 Divalent antibody fragments
Divalent antibody fragments are described, each of which has one or more interchain bridges containing a synthetic or naturally occurring polymer selected from a polyalkylene, polyakenylene, polyoxyalkylene or polysaccharide. Each bridge may be the residue of a homo- or heterobifunctional cross-linking reagent and serves to link two heavy chains in each antibody fragment via the sulphur atoms of cysteine residues present in the chains. Each fragment may be attached to one or more effector or reporter molecules, and is of use in therapy or diagnostics where it has markedly improved binding and/or pharmacokinetic properties when compared to other antibody fragments which have the same number and type of polymer molecules but in which the polymer molecules are randomly attached.
US08067000B2 Cancer treatment with endothelin receptor antagonists
The present invention relates to therapeutic protocols and pharmaceutical compositions designed to treat and prevent cancer. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel method of treating cancer using antagonists to the endothelin B receptor (ETB) or inactive mimic forms of endothelin-1. The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are capable of selectively inhibiting the early events associated with the development of cancer. The present invention further relates to screening assays to identify compounds which inhibit ETB activation.
US08066997B2 Modulation of activity of neurotrophins
The present invention relates to methods for modulating the activity of one or more neurotrophins, such as neural growth factor (NGF), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), in an animal and methods for treatment of a disease or disorder in an individual by modulation of neurotrophin activity. The modulation is carried out by interfering with binding between a neurotrophin and a receptor of the Vps10p-domain receptor family or modulating the expression of a receptor of the Vps10p-domain receptor family. Methods for screening for agents capable of modulating neurotrophin activity and agents selected using these screening methods are also disclosed, as are methods for determining the effect of an agent on one or more neurotrophins in cells. The present invention also pertains to methods for modulating the transport of one or more neurotrophins.
US08066992B2 Medicament and a method of treating a pathological syndrome
A medicament based on antibodies contains an activated form of monoclonal, polyclonal, or natural antibodies to interferon in low or ultra-low doses prepared by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors, preferably in accordance with homeopathic technology. In order to obtain antibodies, human or heterologous interferon alpha, beta, or gamma, including recombinant interferon, is used; a mixture of various, mostly centimal, homeopathic dilutions being employed. A method of treating a pathologic syndrome, whose formation is affected by interferon, consists in the use of activated forms of antibodies to interferon alpha, beta, or gamma in low or ultra-low doses obtained by multiple consecutive dilutions and exposure to external factors.
US08066991B2 Enzyme inhibitors of PAI-1
The invention provides a method for the treatment of a subject suffering from a cardiovascular disease using a therapeutically effective amount of at least one enzyme that is capable of inhibiting PAI-1 activity. The invention also provides a method of decreasing the risk of the occurrence of a cardiovascular disease in a subject who presents at least one risk factor that is associated with a cardiovascular disease, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one enzyme that is capable of inhibiting PAI-1 activity. Additionally, the invention provides a method of inhibiting PAI-1 activity in a subject in need thereof, where the subject is administered an enzyme selected from a protease or peptidase.
US08066990B2 Lysin protein having broad antibacterial activity specific to bacteria
The present invention relates to a lysin protein originated from bacteriophage, more precisely a lysin protein comprising the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ. ID. NO: 2 which has no harm to human and animals comprising eukaryotic cells owing to its specificity to bacteria and has broad antibacterial activity, and a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of infectious disease caused by bacteria comprising the said lysin protein as an active ingredient.
US08066988B1 In-hive trap and lure for control of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida
A Small Hive Beetle trap, which replaces the bottom board of beehives, includes a frame having three walls and a top surface, a trap plate, an entry means, and a trapping means. The trapping means provides a dark environment attractive to small hive beetles and contains a small hive beetle attractant made from pollen dough and inoculated with yeast that produces small hive beetle attracting volatiles. The yeast is a biologically pure strain of yeast producing hive beetle attracting volatiles designated yeast spp. NRRL Y-30722.
US08066987B2 Bacterial delivery of biologically active polypeptides
The present invention relates to methods for the delivery of biologically active polypeptides to a subject by colonizing non-pathogenic Gram negative bacteria. Also provided by this invention are methods of treating or preventing diseases by administering colonizing Gram negative bacteria that express one or more biologically active polypeptides. The colonizing non-pathogenic Gram negative bacteria may be administered in pharmaceutical formulations.
US08066980B2 Osteogenic synthetic peptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and medium containing the same
Disclosed herein is an osteogenic synthetic peptide, derived from bone morphogenetic protein-7, consisting of a sequence of 15 amino acid residues. Provided are also a pharmaceutical composition and a medium composition comprising the same. Having remarkable activity related to promoting osteoblast differentiation, the osteogenic synthetic peptide is very useful in the treatment of osteoporosis, bone defects and/or osteoarthritis.
US08066978B2 Biopolymer and gene complex
Disclosed herein is a biopolymer/gene complex for the aerosol delivery of a gene. The biopolymer/gene complex comprises a polyethyleneimine (PEI) having a substitution of glucose for at least a portion of the primary amino groups of the polyethyleneimine, and the content of the polyethyleneimine is 2-4 times the content of the gene. Also, disclosed is a lung cancer therapeutic agent comprising a biopolymer/gene complex including a polyethyleneimine (PEI) having a substitution of glucose for 30-40 mol % of the primary amino groups of the polyethyleneimine, and a gene encoding PTEN, in which the content of the polyethyleneimine is 2-4 times the content of the gene.
US08066977B2 Agent for permanent hair waving containing heterocyclic mercapto compound
Disclosed is an agent for permanent hair waving that can realize permanent hair waving even in the neutral to weakly acidic pH range in which irritation particularly to the skin is not significant. The agent for permanent hair waving includes at least one heterocyclic mercapto compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; X represents —O—, —S—, —NH—, or —NR3—; R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; n is an integer of 0 to 2; and, when n is 2, group SH may be attached to any carbon atom of an alkylene group having 2 carbon atoms.
US08066975B2 Foaming composition for washing and treating hair and/or scalp based on an active principle
The invention concerns a foaming composition for washing and treating hair and/or scalp essentially characterized in that it contains in an aqueous medium: at least an active principle selected among corticoids and retinoids; at least an anionic surfactant; at least an amphoteric surfactant; and a pro-penetrating agent.
US08066962B2 Environment holding apparatus and environment control type analyzer
An environment holding apparatus includes: a first chamber that has an opening and holds a sample; a moving stage that is two-dimensionally moved with the first chamber being mounted thereon; and a first plane that includes an introduction port having a function of introducing gas adjusted to predetermined conditions into the first chamber from a pipe, and that is provided so as to cover the opening of the first chamber. The first plane is provided so as to be kept stationary regardless of a movement of the moving stage and the opening of the first chamber is two-dimensionally moved along the first plane by the movement of the moving stage.
US08066955B2 Processing apparatus fabrication
A processing apparatus that is formed from a plurality of metal layers that are stacked and aligned together and then connected together to form one or more portions of the processing apparatus.
US08066950B2 Catalytic converter system and element for diesel engines
An improved exhaust system and catalytic converter element for a diesel engine wherein the improvement comprises: holding means for restricting the movement of catalytic converter elements in an overhead exhaust manifold; an improved catalytic converter element having at least one retaining rod extending through the catalyst substrate and/or having at least one retaining lip projecting into the substrate; a stabilizer projecting from the cover for the element insertion slot for receiving an end portion of the catalytic converter element to restrict the movement of the converter element in the exhaust manifold; perforated flow distribution elements provided upstream of the catalytic converter elements; and/or vertical coupling manifolds which each receive exhaust from a pair of engine cylinders and then deliver the combined exhaust stream to a separate one of the inlet openings in the bottom of the overhead exhaust manifold.
US08066947B2 Air scrubbing system
An air scrubber for eliminating an associated airborne contaminants and sterilizing air provided to protect against nocosomial infections, environmental allergens, weapons of biological and chemical attacks and operations requiring clean environment. The air scrubber includes a housing containing an alkali solution at pH 14 through which air passes and suspended liquid particles removed; provides are made for use in central air-conditioning systems, stand-alone applications and portable use along with respirators.
US08066946B2 Hydrogen storage, distribution, and recovery system
Cassette based systems and methods of hydrogen storage, distribution, and recovery are taught. A cassette or other container may contain a hydrogen storage or storing material. Information may be stored in the material and subsequently read or accessed. A probe may be used to interrogate the material. The hydrogen content or other characteristics of the material may be determined based on the interrogation. A hydrogen dispensing unit may contain a depleted cassette acceptor to accept depleted cassettes and a charged cassette dispenser to dispense charged cassettes. The dispensing unit may be implemented in a hydrogen retail store or as a standalone unit. The retail store or the unit may connect to a hydrogen network and implement various business methods, as taught herein.