Document Document Title
US08204751B1 Relevance recognition for a human machine dialog system contextual question answering based on a normalization of the length of the user input
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer-readable media for controlling a computing device to provide contextual responses to user inputs. The method comprises receiving a user input, generating a set of features characterizing an association between the user input and a conversation context based on at least a semantic and syntactic analysis of user inputs and system responses, determining with a data-driven machine learning approach whether the user input begins a new topic or is associated with a previous conversation context and if the received question is associated with the existing topic, then generating a response to the user input using information associated with the user input and any previous user input associated with the existing topic.
US08204748B2 System and method for providing a textual representation of an audio message to a mobile device
A textual representation of a voice message is provided to a communication device, such as a mobile phone, for example, when the mobile phone is operating in a silent mode. The voice message is input by a caller and the voice message converted to phonemes. A text representation of the voice message is transmitted to the mobile phone. The representation includes characters based on the phonemes with well known words being represented in an easily understood shorthand format.
US08204746B2 System and method for providing an automated call center inline architecture
A system and method for providing an automated call center inline architecture is provided. A plurality of grammar references and prompts are maintained on a script engine. A call is received through a telephony interface. Audio data is collected using the prompts from the script engine, which are transmitted to the telephony interface via a message server. Distributed speech recognition is performed on a speech server. The grammar references are received from the script engine via the message server. Speech results are determined by applying the grammar references to the audio data. A new grammar is formed from the speech results. Speech recognition results are identified by applying the new grammar to the audio data. The speech recognition results are received as a display on an agent console.
US08204738B2 Removing bias from features containing overlapping embedded grammars in a natural language understanding system
A method of removing bias from an action classifier within a natural language understanding system can include identifying a sentence having a target embedded grammar that overlaps with at least one other embedded grammar and selecting a group of overlapping embedded grammars including the target embedded grammar and at least one additional embedded grammar. A sentence expansion can be created that includes the sentence including the target embedded grammar and a copy of the sentence for each additional embedded grammar of the group. Each copy of the sentence can include a different additional embedded grammar from the group in place of the target embedded grammar. The sentence expansion can be included within action classifier training data.
US08204737B2 Message recognition using shared language model
A system is disclosed for generating text responsive to both voice and handwriting input, including a microphone, stylus, and a tablet having an flat-panel display integrated into its surface. The system performs speech and handwriting recognition using a shared language model, which in one embodiment is trainable responsive to user correction of errors in either speech or handwriting recognition. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08204725B1 Real-time breaking waves for shallow water simulations
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for efficiently simulating breaking waves in real-time. A two-dimensional shallow water height field simulation generates height and velocity information used to generate a wave line for each wave within the height field that satisfies criteria for overturning. For each overturning wave, a wave sheet is created from particles generated relative to points on the respective wave line. Each wave sheet may move separately from an underlying wave that gave rise to the wave sheet, allowing the wave sheet to fall and break, creating a realistic appearance. As a falling wave sheet collides with the underlying wave or water surface, free particles may be generated to simulation spray visible on a real breaking wave.
US08204723B2 Enterprise multi-program process development and integration process
Tools and methods allow an enterprise to define a set of processes and create scenarios which link and integrate combinations of processes. In addition, both processes and scenarios can be categorized, enabling re-use of existing definitions and easing subsequent scenario building. Processes and scenarios both allow variations which are stipulated to have a certain applicability in terms of organizations within the enterprise and time-frame. The variations can be evolved and improved over time via versions. Subsequently designed process scenarios can be tested and released for use in an organization and used to drive work planning, initiation and status reporting.
US08204721B2 Apparatus and method for emulation of process variation induced in split process semiconductor wafers
Predictive Split Lot Emulator, and methods simulating integrated circuit performance variations, before IC fabrication. The emulator receives a split lot parameter, maps the split lot parameter onto an IC element model, and transforms the IC element into a predictive IC element model. The emulator uses the predictive model to determine simulated performance characteristic of the IC element model. Also, a predictive split lot analyzer, a CAD simulation system, and a PDK including the emulator. IC simulating methods include choosing a Split Condition from a Split Table; a Predictive Split Lot Emulator receiving the Condition, determining a Split Parameter Condition Perturbation, mapping the Perturbation into a Model Parameter Perturbation for an IC element, and storing the Model Perturbation for an IC element into a Model Parameter Perturbation Library. The Perturbation Library emulates IC element performance characteristic in a Split Condition. Determining, mapping, and emulating are executed prior to integrated circuit fabrication.
US08204716B2 System and method for characterizing vibration of a rack structure
A system for characterizing vibration of a rack structure having at least one hard disk drive disposed therein and a vibration exciter operatively associated with the rack structure includes one or more computers. The one or more computers are configured to command the vibration exciter to provide vibration input to the rack structure and to command a plurality of reads from the at least one hard disk drive such that, for each of the plurality of reads, data stored on the at least one hard disk drive is retrieved from the at least one hard disk drive. The one or more computers are also configured to obtain read rate information related to the plurality of reads and to identify at least one resonant frequency of the rack structure based on the read rate information.
US08204691B2 Method and apparatus for recording and using down hole sensor and diagnostic events in measurement while drilling
A method and apparatus for providing a downhole measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool with diagnostic capability by including one or more printed circuit boards to the tool with firmware processors that internally record significant system diagnostic events that can be time correlated with known tool operational problems. The concept includes firmware protocol to enable transfer all of the recorded data to an external software analysis program after the MWD tool is removed from a drilling run.
US08204686B2 Scheduling method using portable terminal and navigation terminal
A scheduling method using a portable terminal and a navigation terminal is disclosed, each of which has a short-range wireless communication module. The portable terminal creates schedule information including location data and alarm time data, and registers the schedule information as navigation schedule information. The portable terminal displays the schedule information when the alarm time occurs and transmits the location data to the navigation terminal through the short-range wireless communication module. The navigation terminal displays a route according to the received location data.
US08204685B2 Navigation device and road lane recognition method thereof
Provided is a road lane recognition method in a navigation device, which can differentiate a road lane occupied by a vehicle running on bidirectional lanes, including estimating a vehicle location based on satellite signal received from a carrier-based navigation satellite system and correction information received from a master station; determining a drive direction of the vehicle using vehicle location information and road lane information stored in a digital map; for each road lane in the road lane information, calculating a distance between a center line of the respective road lane and the vehicle location using the vehicle location information and the road lane information; and determining the road lane having a minimum value among the calculated distances as a drive lane.
US08204684B2 Adaptive mobile device navigation
Adaptive mobile device navigation system, methods, and apparatus provide location information for a mobile device performing location estimation using dead reckoning. Multiple estimation modes can be selected including a mode for restricting measured movements to surrounding streets. Updated location fixes can be obtained through turn comparison with surrounding map information and user feedback. User feedback prompts can include photographs having geographic tag information corresponding to locations near an estimated location of the device.
US08204678B2 Vehicle drive assist system
A control unit sets a front-end collision risk of a subject vehicle against a front vehicle in accordance with a time headway of the subject vehicle and a margin time to front-end collision of the subject vehicle, and a rear-end collision risk of the subject vehicle by a rear vehicle in accordance with a time headway of the rear vehicle and a margin time to rear-end collision of the subject vehicle, the margin time to rear-end collision having a larger weight than that of the margin time to front-end collision in the front-end collision risk against the front vehicle. Brake control and alarm control are performed in accordance with the front-end collision risk against the front vehicle and the rear-end collision risk by the rear vehicle.
US08204673B2 Method for controlling the air system in an internal combustion engine
A method for closed loop controlling the air system in an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel internal combustion engine with a first actuating element for recirculated exhaust gas in the exhaust gas recirculation tract and a second actuating element for air in the inlet tract, the two actuating elements being adjusted as a function of each other. In order to increase the quality of closed loop control, provision is made for each actuating element to be controlled separately by its own respective controller, each controller being optimally configured for the respective controlled system, and a target value being provided for each controller.
US08204669B2 Method and device for regulating the driving dynamics of a vehicle
The present device relates to a method for regulating the driving dynamics of a vehicle, in which at least one wheel of the vehicle is acted upon by a torque on the basis of control of a clutch transmitting a torque to the wheel and/or on the basis of control of a differential distributing torque to the wheel and at least to one other wheel. The method is characterized in that a value of the torque is determined as a function of a first and a second value of a yaw moment. The first value of the yaw moment is in the form of a value of the yaw moment generating a setpoint value of a yaw rate on the basis of a vehicle reference model is determined on the basis of a vehicle reference model and the second value of the yaw moment is determined as a function of a system deviation between the setpoint value of the yaw rate and a detected actual value of the yaw rate and as a function of a system deviation between a setpoint value and an actual value of another driving state variable that is different from the yaw rate.
US08204661B2 Reduced power mode for an aircraft electric brake system
An electric brake system for an aircraft as described herein is capable of operating in a normal full power mode, a low power mode, and a sleep mode. The full power mode is supported by the active power supply of the aircraft, while the low power and sleep modes are supported by the backup power supply (e.g., a battery) of the aircraft. The low power mode is activated in response to the detection of certain conditions or operating states where full braking performance is not required. For example, the low power mode can be utilized in connection with towing operations and parking brake adjustment operations. The sleep mode is activated in response to the absence of braking commands for an extended period of time. Various parameters and/or settings of the electric brake system are adjusted, controlled, or regulated during the low power and sleep modes to achieve reduced power consumption relative to the full power mode.
US08204649B2 Integrated systems and method for preventing mobile computing device use while driving
A system and method for controlling use of a mobile computing device in a vehicle are disclosed. The method comprises monitoring a vehicle-key system comprising a vehicle and a vehicle key having a particular code to determine when the vehicle has been activated using the vehicle key. An operational state of the vehicle is identified based on information received from an OBD port in the vehicle. The operational state of the vehicle is communicated to the mobile computing device. Use of selected device features on the mobile computing device are controlled based on the particular code of the vehicle key when the operational state of the vehicle indicates that the vehicle is outside of selected parameters.
US08204648B2 Apparatus and method for controlling wiper position
An apparatus and a method for controlling a wiper position are provided. The apparatus to control a wiper position includes a controller to receive a wiper operation control signal output from a user input unit to control a wiper to be stopped at a desired position, a wiper motor to drive the wiper, a wiper relay switched to drive the wiper motor under a control of the controller, and a wipe sensor to sense a position of the wiper motor to transfer a position signal to the controller.
US08204647B2 Electric power steering system
In an electric power steering system, an electric motor generates output power for power-assisting steering operation of a steering wheel, a torque sensor generates a plurality of electric output signals corresponding to a torque applied to the steering wheel, and a control unit controls the steering operation of the electric motor in accordance with at least one of the electric output signals of the torque sensor. The control unit detects a difference between rotation speeds of left and right steered wheels, checks whether any one of the plurality of output generating parts is in failure, and specify a failing-device based on the rotation speed difference and the plurality of output signals.
US08204643B2 Estimation device, estimation method and estimation program for position of mobile unit
Enabled is to estimate a self-position even when no landmark is seen or when an article confusing the landmark is brought in. An omnidirectional camera recognizes a vertical land-mark near a wall to determine a candidate for the self-position. On the basis of the candidate determined, a break in a map between a floor and a wall is projected on the camera image thereby to perform the matching.
US08204630B2 Modular sprinkler controller
A modular sprinkler controller is disclosed. The modular sprinkler controller includes a base unit and one or more add-on modules. The base unit and each add-on module include valve terminals for communicating with coupled sprinkler valves. The base unit includes one or more communication connection points for communicating with adjacent add-on modules. Each add-on module may include two connection points for communication with an adjacent base unit or add-on module. In one embodiment, the base unit and add-on modules are arranged in a piggyback configuration. An add-on module for use with a base unit is also disclosed.
US08204628B2 Setpoint recovery with utility time of day pricing
An HVAC controller with setpoint recovery with utility time of day pricing. In one illustrative embodiment, the HVAC controller may include a nominal programmable schedule and a utility pricing schedule. The utility pricing schedule may correspond to scheduled price changes of a utility, including one or more enhanced pricing time periods each having corresponding one or more enhanced pricing time period setpoints. The HVAC controller may establish or modify an enhanced pricing setpoint recovery schedule based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule, and may control one or more HVAC units in accordance with the setpoint recovery schedule. In some instances, the HVAC controller may identify recovery opportunities based at least in part upon the nominal schedule and the utility pricing schedule.
US08204627B2 Air conditioner and method of controlling the same
The present invention relates to an air conditioner, including a discharge driving unit for discharging an air-conditioned air, a sensor module for rotating and scanning predetermined areas and outputting data for radiation heats of heat sources, and a control unit for calculating observed change-amount signals based on the data and stored old data, acquiring human body information by converting each of the observed change-amount signals into energy levels, and controlling the discharge driving unit.
US08204606B2 Implantable lead for septal placement of pacing electrodes
A pacing lead having a lead body configured into a pre-formed J-shape. The lead includes a pacing electrode coupled to an intermediate portion of the lead body and located distally from a bottom of the pre-formed J-shape. The lead is adapted to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration with the electrode positioned proximate a ventricular septum or a right ventricular outflow tract such that at least a portion of the distal end of the lead body is located within a pulmonary artery. In one embodiment, the distal end of the lead is configured to be passively fixated within the pulmonary artery. Another aspect includes a lead body wherein a section of the intermediate portion of the lead body is less stiff than adjacent sections of the lead body. The lead includes a pacing electrode coupled to the intermediate portion of the lead body and located distally from the less stiff section. The lead is adapted to be placed within a heart in a J-shaped configuration with the less stiff section near a bottom of the J-shape such that the electrode is positioned proximate a ventricular septum or a right ventricular outflow tract and at least a portion of the distal end of the lead body is fixated within a pulmonary artery.
US08204603B2 Blocking exogenous action potentials by an implantable medical device
An implantable medical device (IMD) to treat a medical condition in a patient comprises an electrical signal generator; a cathode and an anode operatively coupled to the electrical signal generator and a cranial nerve of the patient; and a third electrode operatively coupled to the electrical signal generator and implanted within the patient's body; wherein the electrical signal generator is capable of generating and delivering at least one electrical signal effective at the anode to block at least a sufficient portion of action potentials induced by the at least one electrical signal in the cranial nerve proximate the cathode to reduce a side effect of said induced action potentials.
US08204588B2 System and method for transmitting and activating a plurality of control data
A cardiac pacemaker, defibrillator, or other programmable medical device (25) includes a source unit (15) and a collection unit (20). The source unit (15) has a check data unit (40) generating at least one check datum for control data for the medical device (25), and a transmitting unit (45) transmitting the control data and the check datum to the collection unit (20). The collection unit (20) has a storage unit (65) storing the control data, a check unit (70) checking the integrity of the control data using the check datum, and a transmitting unit (75) transmitting the control data to a programmable control unit (80) of the medical device (25) only if the integrity of the control data is established by the check unit (70). The control unit (80) of the medical device (25) controls the functions of the medical device (20) on the basis of the transmitted control data.
US08204586B2 External continuous field tomography
Methods for evaluating tissue motion of a tissue location, e.g., a cardiac location, via external continuous field tomography are provided. Aspects of the methods include generating at least one substantially linear continuous field gradient across the tissue location of interest, and using a resultant signal from a sensing element stably associated with the tissue location to evaluate motion of the tissue location. Also provided are systems, devices and related compositions for practicing the subject methods. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of different applications, including cardiac resynchronization therapy.
US08204581B2 Method to discriminate arrhythmias in cardiac rhythm management devices
Techniques for discrimination of heart rhythms in cardiac rhythm management devices include determining a current covariance matrix of multiple electrograms measuring each current heart beat, determining a distance measure between the current covariance matrix and a predetermined covariance matrix of the multiple electrograms measuring at least one different heart beat; and determining whether the heart beat represents ventricular tachycardia based on the distance measure.
US08204572B1 Medical electrode
The invention relates to a medical electrode comprising a carrier having a first conductor surface and an outer conductor surface surrounding the first conductor surface wherein the outer conductor surface is free from radial tabs for connection to circuitry so as to remain electrically uncontacted on the carrier.
US08204568B2 Blood inspection device
A blood inspection device using laser as puncture means. The blood inspection device has an electric power source control circuit for controlling electric power supply of an electric power source section including an electric power source for driving an electric circuit for measurement and also including an electric power source for driving a laser emission device. When a battery is used as the electric power source, the circuit measures the remaining level and voltage of the battery to control the power source so that electric power shortage does not disenable measurement.
US08204566B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring blood constituent levels in biological tissue
In accordance with the invention, a low coherence interferometer is used to non-invasively monitor the concentration of glucose in blood by shining a light over a surface area of human or animal tissue, continuously scanning the light over a two dimensional area of the surface, collecting the reflected light from within the tissue and constructively interfering this reflected light with light reflected along a reference path to scan the tissue in depth. Since the reflection spectrum is sensitive to glucose concentration at particular wavelengths, measurement and analysis of the reflected light provides a measure of the level of glucose in the blood. The measurement of glucose is taken from multiple depths within blood-profused tissue, and sensitivity is preferably enhanced by the use of multiple wavelengths. Noise or speckle associated with this technique is minimized by continuously scanning the illuminated tissue in area and depth.
US08204565B2 Reagentless optical analyte detection system
Disclosed is an implantable microspectrometer for the reagentless optical detection of an analyte in a sample fluid. The microspectrometer comprises an optical sampling cell having a cell housing defining a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port, the fluid inlet port configured to receive an optical sampling fluid from a test subject; an electromagnetic radiation source in communication with a first portion of the optical sampling cell housing and configured to irradiate at least a portion of the optical sampling fluid with electromagnetic radiation; and an electromagnetic radiation detector in communication with a second portion of the optical sampling cell housing and configured to detect electromagnetic radiation emanating from the optical sampling cell. In use, the implantable microspectrometer can optically detect at least one parameter of an analyte contained within the optical sampling fluid in the absence of an added reagent.
US08204558B2 Compact palmtop computer system and wireless telephone with foldable dual-sided display
The present invention is a compact personal digital assistant (PDA) and cellular telephone with foldable dual-sided display. By utilizing flexible display technology, both a PDA and a cellular telephone are incorporated into one device. In a closed state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical cellular telephone use (e.g., candy bar size). In an open state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical PDA use by providing an enlarged viewing area. The present invention provides the benefit of two distinct devices in one device by allowing for common operations and functionality without compromising the respective form factor of either device.
US08204548B1 System and method for mobile device application pre-emption
A mobile device is provided. The mobile device comprises a wireless transceiver, a first application, a second application, and an interface. The wireless transceiver provides a wireless communication link to a communication network. The second application provides communication based on the wireless communication link. The interface presents, when the first application is active on the mobile device, an indication of a communication directed to the second application being received via the wireless communication link for less than 2 seconds before the second application pre-empts the first application.
US08204542B2 Methods for processing apparatus originated communication request and communication apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication apparatus is provided. A first subscriber identity card camps on a first cell belonging to a first wireless network via at least one radio transceiver module. A second subscriber identity card camps on a second cell belonging to a second wireless network via the radio transceiver module. A memory device stores information indicating at least one discount period of the first wireless network and at least one discount period of the second wireless network. A processor receives an apparatus originated communication request with a destination address, determines whether a current time falls within the discount period of the first wireless network or the discount period of the second wireless network, and establishes a wireless communication with a peer device of the received destination address through one of the first cell or the second cell in response to the fallen discount period.
US08204538B2 Configurable conversion module of an RF front-end
A configurable conversion module includes a down conversion module and an up conversion module. The down conversion module is operable to convert, when in a first mode, a first amplified inbound RF signal into a first inbound symbol stream in accordance with a first protocol and convert, when in a second mode, a second amplified inbound RF signal into a second inbound symbol stream in accordance with a second protocol. The up conversion module is operable to convert, when in the first mode, a first outbound symbol stream into a first outbound RF signal in accordance with the first protocol and convert, when in the second mode, a second outbound symbol stream into a second outbound RF signal in accordance with the second protocol.
US08204536B2 Automatic provisioning based on communication network connectivity and characteristics
A communication device and/or applications capable of facilitating communication through different networks are automatically provisioned based on recognition of network environment including network connectivity and characteristics. A user's multiple identities for different networks with varying capabilities and features are accommodated by detecting and prioritizing available network(s), then provisioning the device to enable the user to communicate through one or more of those networks. Communication types and media may vary depending on network type such as cellular, VOIP, and so on. The device may be configured to scan for new networks automatically periodically or based on location change, time change, etc.
US08204533B2 Method and system for bluetooth HID activity prediction for wireless coexistence throughput optimization
A host device may be enabled to support a plurality of wireless interfaces, wherein some of these interfaces may be utilized to support human interface device (HID) based communication. The host device may be enabled to monitor activity of HID devices based on communications via HID capable wireless interfaces, may predict future use of the HID devices based on the monitoring, and may manage sniff communication that is utilized to track and/or detect activities in the HID devices. The management of the sniff communication may comprise adjusting characteristics of the sniff communication to enable improving throughput of other wireless interfaces available via the host device that may be affected by the sniff communication. The adjustment of the characteristics of sniff communication may comprise adjusting, statically and/or dynamically, length of sniff intervals and/or designating of sniff packets as high priority requests.
US08204530B2 Power control for wireless communication systems
Techniques for controlling transmit power of a terminal are described. The terminal may send a first transmission (e.g., for pilot or signaling) on the reverse link, receive feedback (e.g., a power control command or an erasure indicator) for the first transmission, and adjust a reference power level based on the feedback. The terminal may also receive interference information and possibly other parameters such as a pilot quality indicator (PQI), an offset factor, and a boost factor from a sector. The terminal may determine transmit power for a second transmission to the sector based on the interference information, the reference power level, and/or the other parameters. The terminal may receive the feedback from one sector and may send the second transmission with CDMA or OFDMA to the same sector or a different sector.
US08204516B2 Methods for scheduling collided paging occasions of multiple wireless networks and communication apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication apparatus is provided. A first subscriber identity card camps on a first cell. A second subscriber identity card camps on a second cell. A processor obtains information regarding first paging occasions distributed within a predetermined time interval for the first subscriber identity card, obtains information regarding second paging occasions distributed within the predetermined time interval for the second subscriber identity card, detects a forthcoming time slot of the predetermined time interval in which one of the first paging occasions collides with one of the second paging occasions, determines listening to one of the first cell and the second cell in the detected time slot, and notifies of the determination to the radio transceiver module so as to direct the radio transceiver module to listen to the determined cell to receive a corresponding paging message from the determined cell in the detected time slot.
US08204515B2 Single point location tracking for a mobile device in a communication network
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, the location of a mobile device within a floor plan of a building or the like environment may be determined using a single transmission link between transceiver and the mobile device. A bit error rate value and a receiver signal strength indication value are measured for the present location of the mobile device in the floor plan. The coordinates where the mobile device is located may be determined by looking up the measured bit error rate value and the received signal strength indication value in a lookup table. Due to environmental factors of the floor plan, the combination of the bit error rate value and the received signal strength indication value corresponds to a unique coordinate location in the floor plan from which the location of the mobile device may be determined.
US08204503B1 Base station identification to indicate mobility of a wireless communication device
A base station identification system comprises a processing system and a memory device. The processing system is configured to initiate a modulo count to indicate mobility of the wireless communication device, determine a last base station identifier for a last base station serving the wireless communication device, compare the last base station identifier to a set of previous base station identifiers for previous base stations serving the wireless communication device, if the last base station identifier is in the set of previous base station identifiers, assign a previous modulo number in the modulo count to the last base station identifier, and if the last base station identifier is not in the set of previous base station identifiers, assign a next modulo number in the modulo count to the last base station identifier, and add the last base station identifier to the set of previous base station identifiers.
US08204501B2 Cumulative neighboring cell list
A method and apparatus for reducing the number of cells that must be broadcast and the number of cells that a mobile terminal must measure when different frequencies and technologies must be listed as neighboring cells.
US08204484B2 System and method for managing missed calls and unread messages
A method and system for reporting missed calls and unread messages include setting a report function in a predetermined communication device, determining if the predetermined communication device receives a short message, which is substantially the same as a preset short message service (SMS) command. The method and the system further include invoking the report function to send unread short message and a list of missed calls of the predetermined communication device if the predetermined communication device receives a short message being substantially the same as the preset SMS command.
US08204481B2 Method and system for managing autonomous search in various modes in a long-term evolution environment
A method for wireless communication in a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE-equivalent environment which allows a mobile device to manage autonomous search functions (ASF) is disclosed. In an LTE-equivalent environment, a mobile device may function in several modes, including idle and connected. In either mode, the mobile device may need to use an autonomous search function (ASF) to find or exchange information with base stations. The mobile device first determines the mode the current operation pertains to. When modifying the availability of an ASF, the mobile device distinguishes between the modes that will execute the ASF. When calling an ASF, the mobile device determines the availability of that function based on the device's current mode. In idle mode, the mobile device uses the idle mode ASF. Conversely, in connected mode the mobile device uses the connected mode ASF. The two functions are distinctly managed and operated by the mobile device.
US08204470B2 Predecoding for joint processing coordinated multi-point transmission
This invention is a method of predecoding for joint processing coordinated multi-point transmission. The invention identifies for a particular transmission the cooperating point and the transmit antenna. The invention selects a code by reference to a selected one of a super-cell codebook for each combination of cooperating point and transmit antenna and a multi-cell codebook for each transmit antenna regardless of the cooperating point.
US08204468B2 Constant output DC bias circuit using an open loop scheme
Embodiments of the present invention provide DC biasing circuits. Embodiments employ an open loop scheme, instead of a closed loop scheme as used in conventional circuits. In addition, embodiments generate a DC bias voltage that is independent of temperature, process, and power supply variations. Further, embodiments require low amounts of power and silicon.
US08204462B2 Digital radio receiver
A digital radio receiver for receiving information on a piece of music that is identification information for specifying content of digital acoustic information, the identification information being broadcast together with the digital acoustic information, is provided. The digital radio receiver includes an internal memory configured to store the information on the piece of music; an operation unit configured to set a timing at which a flag is attached to the information on the piece of music recorded in the internal memory; and a controller configured to perform a process for storing the information on the piece of music in the internal memory.
US08204456B2 Systems and methods for spurious emission cancellation
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include digitally pre-distorting a digital baseband signal with an opposite phase of a C-IM3 distortion term such that the pre-distortion and C-IM3 distortion cancel each other out in a transmitter. The method may also include digitally conditioning the pre-distorted digital signal in order to provide a flat amplitude response of a composite filter comprising a baseband filter and a digital half-band filter of the transmitter, and to provide a linear phase response for the composite filter.
US08204454B2 Distortion compensator apparatus, amplifier apparatus, transmitter, and method of compensating distortion
This distortion compensator apparatus is a distortion compensator apparatus compensating nonlinearity of an amplifier and includes: a memory storing a compensation parameter used for correcting an input signal of the amplifier; a compensator correcting the input signal of the amplifier based on the compensation parameter; and an update controller updating the compensation parameter according to an operation state of the amplifier.
US08204453B2 Method, apparatus and communication unit
A method, an apparatus and a communication unit for generating preceding feedback information in a multiple frequency radio transmission system are disclosed. A rank for preceding matrices, wherein the rank is constant over the multiple frequencies, is selected and a plurality of preceding matrices having the selected rank are selected. A different preceding matrix is selected for each frequency subset of the multiple frequencies.
US08204452B2 Transmitter and transmission method thereof
A signal transmission method includes: converting an input signal to generate a first converted signal having a first bandwidth, and a second converted signal having a second bandwidth; mixing the first converted signal with an oscillation signal to generate a first mixed signal, and mixing the second converted signal with the oscillation signal to generate a second mixed signal; and transmitting the first and second mixed signals by different antennas; wherein the input signal has a predetermined bandwidth, the first bandwidth is smaller than the predetermined bandwidth; and the second bandwidth is smaller than the predetermined bandwidth.
US08204443B2 Adjustable receive filter responsive to internal radio status
An adjustable filter is responsive to a control signal to change a frequency response of the adjustable filter based on at least one of a geographic location, frequency spectrum information, and a status of a secondary internal radio. The control signal may shift a center of the pass band from a first center frequency to a second center frequency and/or change a pass band bandwidth from a first bandwidth to a second bandwidth. A receiver includes an adjustable filter responsive to a control signal and controller configured to select a frequency response of the adjustable filter by generating the control signal based on a geographical location. In one aspect the geographical location indicates a region of operation of the receiver and the frequency response is selected in accordance with the region.
US08204441B2 Transmitting apparatus, body-insertable apparatus, and transmitting and receiving system
A transmitting apparatus includes a receiving unit that receives an external specifying signal for specifying a center frequency of data to be transmitted; a control unit that outputs a specifying signal corresponding to the center frequency; and a frequency switching circuit. The frequency switching circuit includes a center frequency adjuster that adjusts a center frequency of a carrier wave that carries the data to be transmitted; a frequency modulator that modulates a frequency of the carrier wave according to the center frequency and the data to be transmitted; and a frequency switching unit that switches the center frequency of the carrier wave on the basis of the specifying signal.
US08204432B2 System and method for receiving broadcast content on a mobile platform during international travel
A vehicle information system for passenger vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The vehicle information system includes a multi-regional antenna subsystem and a multi-regional receiver system for receiving viewing content provided by diverse content sources during travel, including international travel. The multi-regional antenna and receiver system provide selected viewing content for distribution throughout the vehicle information system and presentation via one or more passenger interfaces. As the vehicle approaches the coverage region of a selected content source, the vehicle information system automatically reconfigures the multi-regional antenna and receiver system to receive viewing content from the content source without requiring manual adjustment to, or replacement of, the multi-regional antenna subsystem and/or receiver system. Passengers traveling aboard the vehicle thereby can continuously enjoy the viewing content during travel with limited interruption in service and without unwanted travel delays.
US08204425B2 Waste dry ink system with pressure equalizing hermetically sealed outer box
This is a novel xerographic marking system having a novel toner waste dispensing assembly. The assembly comprises a hermetically sealed outer box that houses a disposable waste toner container. The container is a biodegradable carton or bag that can be removed from the outer box when filled with waste toner. A feature of this invention is that the dispensing assembly can easily be retrofitted into existing marking systems. Also because the containers are inexpensive and biodegradable, the expensive prior art non-degradable waste containers and their adverse effect on the landfills can be avoided.
US08204418B2 Fixing device with separation mechanism and image forming apparatus comprising the same
A separation mechanism of a fixing device includes a first separation member arranged opposite the first region in a state apart from the first region by a first gap, a second separation member arranged opposite the second region in a state apart from the second region by a second gap and at a position different from that of the first separation member in a direction orthogonal to the convey direction of the paper, a first gap adjustment member capable of moving the first separation member relative to the first region of the fixing member to adjust the first gap, and a second gap adjustment member capable of moving the second separation member relative to the second region of the fixing member to adjust the second gap.
US08204412B2 Image forming apparatus generating electrostatic forces in first and second directions with a predetermined duty ratio
A duty ratio Du (%), denoted by (T2/(T1+T2))×100, is in the range of 60≦Du≦80; a magnetic carrier has a resistivity ρ which decreases in accordance with an increasing electric field strength, and a relative dielectric constant ∈ which increases in accordance with an increasing electric field strength; a product of a time constant ∈0∈ρ(s) of electric charge decay in an electric field strength E2D decided by a second peak voltage V2 and a dark potential VD, and an electric field strength E2D satisfies a relation of 20≦∈0∈ρ E2D (s·V/cm); and a time constant ∈0∈ρ(s) and a relative dielectric constant ∈ in an electric field strength E1L, which is decided by a first peak voltage V1 and a bright potential VL, satisfy the following relations: ∈0∈ρ(s)≦6.0×10−4, and 30≦∈.
US08204411B2 Electrographic image developing apparatus and method for developing including compensation for slippage
An electrostatic printing method in which the toning shell and the magnetic core each rotate in a co-current direction with the imaging member such that the portion of the toning shell adjacent to the image development area moves in a process direction, and the magnetic core rotates in the same direction as the toning shell such that a the average developer bulk velocity (ADBV) of the developer on the toning shell is in the same direction and proportional to the photoconductor velocity.
US08204407B2 High strength, light weight corona wires using carbon nanotube yarns, a method of charging a photoreceptor and a charging device using nanotube yarns
Exemplary embodiments provide methods, materials and devices for a corona charging. Specifically, carbon nanotube yarns can be used as corona wires (or coronode) in a corotron-type or scorotron-type charging device. The carbon nanotube yarns can provide small diameters, and desired electrical, mechanical and thermal properties. The carbon nanotube yarns can have a diameter of about 100 microns or less for a low operating voltage of the charging device.
US08204404B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a main assembly; a movable member movable, while supporting a cartridge including at least one of an image bearing member on which a latent image is to be formed and developing means for developing with a developer the latent image formed on the image bearing member, between an outside position in which the cartridge is located outside the main assembly and an inside position in which the cartridge is located inside the main assembly; and a cartridge displacing member for displacing the cartridge with respect to the movable member in a demounting direction in which the cartridge is demountable from the movable member in a state in which the movable member is located at the outside position.
US08204396B2 Apparatus and method for adjustment of a printer fuser nip
An apparatus (100) and method (300) that adjusts a printer fuser nip is disclosed. The apparatus can include a media transport (110) configured to transport a media sheet (112) in a media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a fuser assembly (120) configured to fuse an image on the media sheet. The fuser assembly can include a fuser nip (126) that can have a fuser nip width (128) parallel to the media sheet travel direction. The apparatus can include a controller (130) coupled to the fuser assembly, where the controller can be configured to control operations of the apparatus. The apparatus can include a nip width profile generation module (140) coupled to the controller, where the nip width profile generation module can be configured to determine fuser nip width parameters based on media sheet properties and based on fuser assembly properties. The fuser assembly can be adjusted according to the fuser nip width parameters.
US08204395B2 Wet development device, wet development method, and image forming apparatus using the device
The invention provides a wet development device, wet development method and image forming apparatus having the device by which appropriate cleaning can be performed, the wear of the blade or developing roller can be reduced, and good images can be obtained without toner contamination even when the amount of toner for development or that of electric charge of the toner is changed for changing the density or gradation of image or type of paper. The toner in the developer is electrically charged to an arbitral charging amount by a discharging section and provided for the development and the charge of the toner is eliminated after development by that a discharging section is provided before cleaning the developer remaining on the developing roller and the output of the discharging section is appropriately controlled corresponding to the output of the discharging section.
US08204394B2 Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus, image adjustment is performed by detecting a toner image constituting an image adjustment pattern 22 transferred to an intermediate transfer member. On the intermediate transfer member 2, a leading pattern 21 longer than a circumference of a secondary transfer roller 13 is formed at a leading position in a travelling direction of the intermediate-transfer-member ahead of the image adjustment pattern 22 by using a toner that is highest in brightness among toners used for the image adjustment pattern 22 or a toner that is higher in brightness than any toner used for the image adjustment pattern 22. Staining of the rear face of the recording medium due to toner adhering to the secondary transfer roller is prevented without increasing the apparatus scale.
US08204390B2 Image forming apparatus and method for detecting the fullness of waste-toner container
An image forming apparatus includes a waste-toner container, a light sensor having a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, a light-blocking member for covering the light sensor to detect the attachment of the waste-toner container, and a control unit. When the waste-toner container is determined to be full based on the output voltage of the light sensor, a printing operation is stopped or is not started until it is determined that the waste-toner container is removed and then attached, and that the waste-toner container is not full. A method for detecting the fullness of a waste-toner container includes the steps of detecting the fullness of the waste-toner container, prohibiting printing, detecting whether or not the waste-toner container is attached, and permitting printing.
US08204378B1 Coherent optical signal processing
Coherent optical signal processing is performed in a coherent receiver (or diagnostic/testing apparatus) that converts an amplitude and/or angle-modulated optical signal into two electrical signals. A simple receiver can only detect one phase of the signal and only the polarization that is aligned with a local oscillator laser polarization. To detect both phases and both polarizations, two sets of two interferometers, one each with a π/2 phase shift are required. Coherent optical signal processing methods, apparatus, techniques, etc. are disclosed that include individual components comprising a polarization combiner, a Savart device and photodetection apparatus with substantially reduced temperature and alignment sensitivity operating in optical communication systems and/or subsystems. The various embodiments can be used alone or in such combinations to provide improved coherent optical signal processing in a receiver.
US08204367B2 DVD recorder and PVR instant on architecture
A method for transitioning a video system is disclosed. The method generally includes a first step for (A) executing in a processing circuit a standby code stored in a nonvolatile memory while the video system is in an off state, the off state defining a low power configuration for the processing circuit and a power off condition for the video system, the standby code being responsive to a plurality of wake up conditions to wake up the video system. In a second step, the method may (B) store an application code in a volatile memory while in the off state, the application code configured to operate the video system while in an on state of the video system. The method generally includes a third step for (C) transitioning from the off state to the on state upon detection of at least one of the wake up conditions. A step for (D) executing in the processing circuit the application code while in the on state to decode video may also exist in the method.
US08204356B2 Control device and method, recording medium and program
The present invention relates to a control apparatus and a method, a recording medium and a program, which enable to control devices more efficiently and quickly. As information of the devices that can be controlled by a remote controller 1 by way of a personal computer 351, the address information of a television receiver 21 and a personal computer 31, which are connected via a wireless LAN to the personal computer 351, are provided from the personal computer 351 to the remote controller 1. Between the remote controller 1 and the television receiver 21, and between the remote controller 1 and the personal computer 31, a variety of information are sent/received by way of the personal computer 351, and these devices are controlled by the remote controller 1. The present invention is applicable to an information processing apparatus, which can control by wireless communication a variety of AV equipment, appliances, and the like.
US08204353B2 Apparatus and methods for tracking and analyzing digital recording device event sequences
Methods and apparatus for tracking a sequence of events associated with a digital recording device are disclosed. Example methods and apparatus read first information transmitted on a data bus in communication with a mass storage device associated with the digital recording device and identify a set of digital information to be stored on the mass storage device based at least in part on the first information. The example methods and apparatus read second information transmitted on the data bus to derive storage location information associated with the set of digital information. Additionally, the example methods and apparatus store time information together with the storage location information to generate a sequence of events record corresponding to the sequence of events associated with the digital recording device.
US08204347B2 Optical signal processing device
In a conventional optical signal processing device, a confocal optical system is configured in which a focusing lens is positioned at a substantially-intermediate point of a free space optical path. Thus, the free space optical system had a long length. It has been difficult to reduce the size of the entire device. The optical signal processing device of the present invention uses a lens layout configuration different from the confocal optical system to thereby significantly reduce the length of the system. The optical signal processing device consists of the first focusing lens positioned in the close vicinity of a signal processing device, and the second focusing lens positioned in the vicinity of a dispersing element. A distance between the dispersing element and the signal processing device is approximately a focal length of the first focusing lens. Compared with the conventional technique, the length of the optical path can be halved.
US08204343B2 Fault detection of a printed dot-pattern bitmap
Embodiments of the present invention enable fault detection in a printed dot-pattern image. Certain applications of the present invention are its use in various embodiments of a system for inspection of a printed circuit board (“PCB”) substrate. In embodiments, a generated distortion map is based on a comparison of a reconstructed dot-pattern image, a simulated reference bitmap, and an error map representing differences between the reconstructed dot-pattern image and the reference bitmap. In embodiments, the pixels of the distortion map are color coded to identify the locations and types of aberrations that were discovered as a result of the comparison.
US08204337B2 Image processing system and method for noise reduction
To provide an image processing apparatus which reduces, using a temporal noise removal scheme, image block distortion or noise and temporal flickering and fluctuation phenomena. The image processing apparatus (1) removing noise in an input image by adding a reference image to the input image includes a motion estimation unit (20) which generates motion information indicating a motion estimated for the input image; a motion compensation unit (30) which generates a after motion compensation second image corresponding to a before motion compensation first image by performing motion compensation using the generated motion information; a flatness degree calculation unit (40) which calculates a flatness degree of the input image; a blending rate calculation unit (53) which calculates addition rates for the input image, first image, and second image, using the calculated flatness degree; and a pixel addition unit (60) which adds the respective images according to the addition rates.
US08204329B2 System and method for image quality enhancement by reducing the effects of air pollution and haze
A low cost image quality enhancement method to be utilized in an ordinary consumer camera and for post processing of an existing image database is described herein. The quality enhancement is transferred into an adaptive intensity stretching process in the YUV domain. A different enhancement process is designed for a luminance (Y) channel and chrominance (UV) channel. The parameters in the enhancement process are estimated based on the contents of the image. After the stretching-based enhancement, an adaptive unsharp masking process is applied to the luminance data. The quality is significantly improved for the images shot under unfavorable conditions.
US08204328B2 Automated underwater image restoration via denoised deconvolution
A method for simultaneously optimizing a digital image taken in or through a scattering medium and obtaining information regarding optical properties of the scattering medium is provided. Data of the digital image is received by a computer. The digital image is evaluated according to an objective image quality metric and a resulting image quality value is compared to a previously stored image quality value for the image. A revised optical transfer function is derived by modeling the optical properties of the medium to be used to generate a restored digital image, which is derived from the original image and the revised optical transfer function. The restored digital image is evaluated according to the objective image quality metric and an optimized restored image is identified. The optical properties associated with the optical transfer function producing the optimized restored image are retrieved and represent a close approximation of the true optical properties of the medium.
US08204327B2 Context adaptive hybrid variable length coding
A coding method for an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients of a block of image data, including a context adaptive position coding process to encode the position of clusters of non-zero-valued coefficients, e.g., a multidimensional position coder that uses one of a plurality of code mappings selected according to at least one criterion including at least one context-based criterion, and an amplitude encoding process to encode any amplitudes remaining to be coded, the amplitude coding using one or a plurality of amplitude code mappings selected according to at least one criterion, including a context-based criterion. A context-based selection criterion is meant a criterion that during encoding is known or derivable from one or more previously encoded items of information. Also a coding apparatus, a decoding apparatus, a computer readable medium configured with instructions that when executed implement a coding method, and another medium for a decoding method.
US08204325B2 Systems and methods for texture synthesis for video coding with side information
A method for texture synthesis for video coding with side information may be implemented by a decoder device. The method may include receiving seed texture at high fidelity. The method may also include receiving remaining portions of synthesized regions at low fidelity. The method may also include receiving marking of regions to synthesize. The method may further include synthesizing the marked regions based on the high-fidelity seed texture and the low-fidelity portions of the synthesized regions.
US08204318B2 Method and apparatus for image compression and decompression
A method of image compressing is provided. During compressing, color intensity of the image is considered. When the color intensity of the image is relatively high, lower bits used for representing the image are dropped. When the color intensity of the image is relatively low, upper bits used for representing the image are dropped. By this, the image is compressed according to color intensity of the image. Therefore, the images with different color intensities are compressed dynamically. Correspondingly, a method of image decompressing is provided. Moreover, a compressing apparatus and a decompressing apparatus are also provided.
US08204317B2 Method and device for automatic generation of summary of a plurality of images
Method and device for providing a summary of a plurality of images, e.g. a video sequence. The method includes dividing the video sequence into a plurality of segments. The segments are analyzed with respect to content and a set of content descriptors are associated to the segments. Preferably, additional textual information about the segments, screenplay etc., is used to determine the content descriptors. A graph representing relations between the segments is constructed indicating relations between segments. Weights are associated to the relations so as to represent a measure of relation, e.g. a logical correlation, between segments. The weights are based on the calculated content descriptors. A relevance measure for a segment is determined based on all weights associated with relations to said segment. Finally, a summary is generated by selecting the most relevant segments. The method can create an automatic summary of a film that preserves all the logical plot of the original but is shorter in duration (e.g. 70% of the original film) while the original playback rate is preserved.
US08204311B2 Method and apparatus for shoulder-line detection and gesture spotting detection
A gesture spotting detection method and apparatus employ a shoulder-line algorithm. The shoulder-line detecting method recognizes a GSD calling gesture that occurs in a shoulder-line, head or higher part in a remote distance or a short distance, although a user does not have a fixed posture. In the method, an image of people is received, and skin information of a person in the image is detected to detect a face area. Then, the cloth color information of the person is modeled from the inputted image to detect a cloth area. An external space is defined from the image based on the body space area, and an edge is extracted from the image based on the body space and the external space. Then, shoulder-line information is acquired based on an energy function obtained based on the body space, the external space, and the edge.
US08204309B2 Method of processing pre-printed cards
After pre-printed cards are manufactured at least a corner of each card is imaged. It is then determined whether the position and orientation of markings in the image with respect to the corner are within tolerance. If not, the card is rejected. If the markings are, or include, indicia, these indicia may be identified to allow identification of the card. This allows a determination of whether the card is in an intended order, or it allows selection of the batch into which the card is placed. It also means that cards in a given set of cards arranged in a first order can be randomized by first buffering cards in buffers and then outputting the cards to an output conveyor.
US08204302B2 Systems and methods for automatically determining 3-dimensional object information and for controlling a process based on automatically-determined 3-dimensional object information
An image containing one or more types of objects to be located is analyzed to locate linear features within the image. The objects have edges having known spatial relationships. The linear features and identified virtual lines are analyzed to find groups of linear features and/or virtual lines that have one of the known spatial relationships. These relationships can include parallel edges, edges that meet at certain angles or angle ranges, the number of lines meeting a vertex and the like. The identified group is compared with projected 2-dimensional representation(s) of the object(s) to determine whether any additional lines appear in the image that are part of the located object. In various exemplary embodiments, two or more hypotheses for how the identified group of linear features maps to the 3-dimensional representation of the object can be generated. The best fitting hypothesis becomes the recognized 3-dimensional shape and orientation for that object.
US08204290B2 Method and device for planning a medical imaging procedure
In a method and device for planning a medical imaging, a number of quality parameters that associate a desired image quality with the image exposure are imported into an image acquisition of an examination region that can be executed by means of an image acquisition apparatus. A number of image acquisition parameters are determined and, using the image acquisition parameters, an achievable image quality of the image exposure is concluded under consideration of an apparatus variable. The achievable image quality is compared per image region with the desired image quality and, if the achievable image quality falls short of the desired image quality, a shortfall indicator is output relative to the image region.
US08204289B2 System for identifying medical images having a particular medical characteristic
A system identifies a particular image associated with a particular cardiac characteristic from within a sequence of cardiac images including image noise artifacts and obtained over a heart beat cycle. The system comprises at least one repository including, first data comprising heart cycle information derived from ECG data, second data comprising data representing multiple images acquired over at least one heart cycle and third data comprising data associated with timing of contrast agent flow. An image data processor identifies a particular image exhibiting a particular cardiac characteristic from within a sequence of cardiac images by processing the first, second and third data to identify an image having a substantially maximum likelihood of exhibiting the particular cardiac characteristic. A storage processor retrieves data representing the particular image from storage.
US08204284B2 Fingerprint identifying system using a set of microstructure layers formed on one of top and bottom faces of light-transmissive finger press plate
A fingerprint identifying system includes a light source, a light-transmissive finger press plate, and an image-capturing unit. The light-transmissive finger press plate is disposed to receive light from the light source, and has a top face adapted to contact a finger, a bottom face, and at least one first microstructure layer formed on at least one of the top and bottom faces of the light-transmissive finger press plate for guiding the light received from the light source to uniformly scatter. The image-capturing unit is disposed below the light-transmissive finger press plate.
US08204276B2 In-vehicle apparatus for recognizing running environment of vehicle
An in-vehicle running-environment recognition apparatus including an input unit for inputting an image signal from in-vehicle imaging devices for photographing external environment of a vehicle, an image processing unit for detecting a first image area by processing the image signal, the first image area having a factor which prevents recognition of the external environment, an image determination unit for determining a second image area based on at least any one of size of the first image area, position thereof, and set-up positions of the in-vehicle imaging devices having the first image area, an environment recognition processing being performed in the second image area, the first image area being detected by the image processing unit, and an environment recognition unit for recognizing the external environment of the vehicle based on the second image area.
US08204274B2 Method and system for tracking positions of human extremities
A method for tracking positions of human extremities is disclosed. A left image of a first extremity portion is retrieved using a first picturing device and an outline candidate position of the first extremity portion is obtained according to feature information of the left image. A right image of the first extremity portion is retrieved using a second picturing device and a depth candidate position of the first extremity portion is obtained according to depth information of the right image. Geometry relations between the outline candidate position and the depth candidate position and a second extremity portion of a second extremity position are calculated to determine whether a current extremity position of the first extremity portion is required to be updated.
US08204273B2 Systems and methods for analysis of video content, event notification, and video content provision
A method for remote event notification over a data network is disclosed. The method includes receiving video data from any source, analyzing the video data with reference to a profile to select a segment of interest associated with an event of significance, encoding the segment of interest, and sending to a user a representation of the segment of interest for display at a user display device. A further method for sharing video data based on content according to a user-defined profile over a data network is disclosed. The method includes receiving the video data, analyzing the video data for relevant content according to the profile, consulting a profile to determine a treatment of the relevant content, and sending data representative of the relevant content according to the treatment.
US08204270B2 Apparatus, method, program, and mobile terminal device with person image extracting and linking
Face images are extracted from still image content and linked to communication address information. When a person is selected from the still image content the communication address information is acquired, and a communication section is controlled to prompt a telephone call or e-mail according to the communication address information. In the still image content, the image of the person determined to be linked to the communication address information is displayed in a display mode that is different from a display mode for a person not linked to communication address information.
US08204264B2 Faceplate for hearing devices and method for producing a faceplate
A faceplate of a hearing device housing with a component fitted in an opening of the faceplate and an associated method are provided. The faceplate is formed from a first material. When a predefinable distance between the support surface of the components in the opening and the surface facing away from the exterior of the faceplate is not reached, a second material is applied below the support surface to the surface of the faceplate such that the predefinable distance is produced. As a result, even with fitted components, for instance the volume controller or program selection switch, the mechanical stability of the faceplate is ensured.
US08204262B2 Sound image localization processor, method, and program
There are provided: a means (101a) for storing standard head related transfer functions for reference positions from a virtual listener; a means (101) for, when given information (DIR, DIST) about a virtual sound source position, forming head related transfer functions (hL(k), hR(k)) as left ear and right ear head related transfer functions by selecting one of the stored standard head related transfer functions or by selecting two or more of them and interpolating; means (102, 103) for imprinting a sense of direction and distance on the audio listening signal by using the head related transfer functions thus obtained; and means (104, 105) for correcting a distance related to the obtained head related transfer functions and the sense of distance to the virtual sound source position, in the audio listening signals (sL(n), sR(n)) given the sense of direction and distance or the source audio listening signal (s(n)). A highly precise sense of distance can be provided in a small structure.
US08204260B2 Speaker apparatus, speaker driving apparatus and control method thereof
The present invention provides a sound producing apparatus which suppresses an increase in electric power consumption and cost, and an increase in a number of wiring when a plurality of speaker apparatuses is configured. A speaker driving apparatus supplies electric power to a speaker apparatus, acquires information about an electroacoustic characteristic and maximum input electric power of each speaker apparatus from the speaker apparatus, and executes characteristic correction and output electric power restriction according to the information.
US08204253B1 Self calibration of audio device
An audio device performs self calibration with respect to an audio source location when processing an audio signal frame determined likely to be dominated by the audio source. One or more conditions for sub-bands within the audio frame are evaluated to help identify whether the frame is dominated by the audio source. If the conditions meet a threshold value for a number of sub-bands within the frame, the audio signal may be identified as one dominated by the desired audio source and an audio source location coefficient may be adapted. Additionally, when the audio source location coefficient falls below a threshold value, (e.g., suggesting that one of two or more microphones is blocked), noise suppression is reduced or eliminated for the frame or frame sub-bands to prevent suppression of a desired audio source component along with the noise component.
US08204251B2 Amplifier apparatus and method
An amplifier start-up apparatus for reducing transient signals in a circuit, for example an audio circuit, comprising a reference voltage generator circuit for generating a reference voltage. The reference voltage generator circuit comprises a capacitor for maintaining the reference voltage at a desired level. The amplifier start-up apparatus comprises a control circuit for controlling the operation of the reference voltage generator circuit during power-up. The control circuit comprises an amplifier with a positive feedback path for controlling a current flow to the capacitor.
US08204236B2 Protection procedure for speaker systems
Protection method and system for use with speaker systems. The method and system being suitable for use in any number of environments to protect speakers from overload and other undesirable operating conditions. The method and system optionally being suitable for use in maintaining system sound integrity while protecting the speakers from overload and/or other undesirable operating conditions.
US08204235B2 Center channel positioning apparatus
A center channel positioning apparatus is provided, which does not cause strange feeling in sound quality even at a position apart from an original listener position.A sound signal processing unit (40) changes a phase of at least one of a left sound signal for center channel positioning (CL) and a right sound signal for center channel positioning (CR), based on a processing coefficient, and causes a left speaker (46) and a right speaker (52) to output sound based on a center channel sound signal (C).The processing coefficient is calculated based on the difference in level between both ears in the case where the left sound signal for center channel positioning (CL) for the left speaker (46), and the right sound signal for center channel positioning (CR) for the right speaker (52) are reproduced simultaneously.
US08204233B2 Administration of data encryption in enterprise computer systems
Encrypting data on an originating computer and prevent access to this data if the computer is stolen or otherwise unauthorized for use. Access to the encrypted data is granted based on the originating computer's ability to successfully send the data encryption keys, via an electronic connection, to a remote computer and have the remote computer decrypt the encryption keys and transmit them back to the he originating computer. When originating computer receives the decrypt encryption keys, it can then successfully decrypt the encrypted hard drive using the encryption key provided by the remote computer.
US08204230B2 Communication device, method for establishing a communication connection and method for using a communication connection
A communication device including a communication connection establishing circuit configured to establish an ad hoc network communication connection between the communication device, a second communication device and a third communication device, a generating circuit configured to generate encryption parameters to be used by the second communication device and the third communication device for encrypting and decrypting data transmitted between the second communication device and the third communication device via the communication connection when the first communication device has left the communication connection, a signaling circuit configured to signal the encryption parameters to the second communication device and the third communication device, and a disconnection circuit configured to remove the communication device from the communication connection.
US08204228B2 Group key management re-registration method
In an embodiment, a fast group key management re-registration is described. One computer-implemented method comprises, at a key server: receiving a registration request from a network element to join a group of network elements managed by the key server; generating and storing a group member registration state comprising information identifying the network element within the group of network elements; generating a token using information from the group member registration state, wherein the token identifies the network element within the group; deleting the group member registration state for the network element at the key server; generating an encrypted token by encrypting the token using a secret key that is local to the key server; sending the encrypted token to the network element; receiving the encrypted token along with a re-registration request from the network element to re-join the group of network elements; and re-registering the network element using the encrypted token.
US08204226B2 Encoding and recording apparatus, playback apparatus, and program
The present invention relates to an encoding and recording apparatus, a playback apparatus, and a program which solve the possibility of a capacity shortage of a protected area accompanying an increase in an information amount and the number of content keys. It is configured such that an encoded user identifier is recorded in a protected area of a key storage medium. The encoded user identifier is fixed information, and has the characteristic in which a data amount is not increased in connection with a utilization form. Therefore, a capacity shortage of the protected area is not brought about.
US08204221B1 Manipulating and encrypting media packets
A method for transmitting encrypted packets, the method includes: receiving a program that comprises an encrypted video stream, an encrypted audio stream and an encryption information stream; rescheduling a transmission of a certain encrypted video packet of the encrypted video stream to provide an altered encrypted video stream; rescheduling, in response to the rescheduling of the transmission of the certain encrypted video packet and in response to at least one encryption timing constraint, a first transmission of a certain encryption information item that is used to encrypt the certain encrypted video packet to provide an altered encryption information stream; and transmitting an amended program that comprises the altered encrypted video stream, the encrypted audio stream and the altered encryption information stream.
US08204214B2 Method and system for generating data transaction ID
A method for generating a data transaction ID for an interaction between first and second units, the method comprising: the first data unit generating a first data item as a function of a first time data element, the first time data element being representative of a first time value, and transmitting the first data item to the second data unit; the second data unit generating a second data item as a function of the received first data item and transmitting the second data item to the first data unit; and the first data unit generating a third data item as a function of the second data item and a second time data element, the second time data element being representative of a second time value, wherein the third data item comprises a transaction ID unique to the interaction between the first and second data units.
US08204201B2 Calling party ringtone selection in telephone system
A ringtone system is provided to a called party that wishes to have a particular ringtone annunciated for each of several types of calls from calling parties. In the ringtone system, for a call from a calling party, the calling party is prompted to identify the type of the call. The type of the call is received from the calling party, and if no type is received, the call is typed in a particular manner. A list of types of calls with respect to and as specified by the called party is maintained, where each type of call on the list has a corresponding ringtone specified therefor. The typed call is processed by determining from the list of types of calls for the called party the corresponding ringtone specified for the typed call, and by putting the call through to the called party with the determined ringtone.
US08204200B2 Method, system, and apparatus for overriding a ring back signal
Overriding a ring back signal involves receiving a ring back signal at a communications apparatus from a communication network in response to a user-initiated connection request. The ring back signal is rendered to a user of the communications apparatus, and a user input is received at the communications device to override the ring back signal. An alternate output is rendered to the user in place of the ring back signal.
US08204196B2 Notification to absent teleconference invitees
A method includes receiving an indication of an elapsed time since a scheduled teleconference meeting start and attendance of the teleconference meeting, determining from the indication whether to issue a notification to an absent invitee of the teleconference meeting, and selectively issuing the notification to the absent invitee.
US08204183B2 Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium thereof for enabling an internet extension to ring a conventional extension
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product thereof for enabling an Internet extension to ring a conventional extension are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an SIP proxy and an RTP relay. The SIP proxy receives a calling request from the Internet extension, substitutes an exchange number for a conventional extension number comprised in the calling request, and transmits the substituted calling request to a gateway, so that the substituted calling request can be transmitted to a voice automatic machine via a telephone exchange. The RTP relay transmits the conventional extension number in DTMF format to the gateway. Thus, this invention enables the Internet extension to ring the conventional extension with lower hardware costs.
US08204176B2 System for instructing individuals on the dialing sequence for emergency number 911 using distinctly colored 9 and 1 buttons
A method in one example has: applying, for a telephone having a plurality of number buttons having at least a nine button and a one button, a first predetermined color to the nine button and a second predetermined color to the one button, the remaining number buttons having a third predetermined color, the first, second, and third predetermined colors being three different colors; and pushing the number buttons in a sequence first predetermined color—second predetermined color—second predetermined color to dial an emergency telephone number. In one embodiment the first predetermined color may be red, and the second predetermined color may be yellow. Therefore, a 911 emergency telephone number may be dialed by pushing the number buttons in the order red-yellow-yellow.
US08204175B2 Electronic surveillance via correlation of call legs
A variety of methods and systems can be used to achieve electronic surveillance when a call is directed to a destination as a result of service processing. For example, in a system involving a redirecting switch and a service platform switch, correlation between calling party identities for outgoing and incoming call legs can be done to identify a hairpin loop scenario. Upon detection of such a scenario, an appropriate electronic surveillance message can be sent to a monitoring device indicating the call's destination. Correlation information can be collected from available call setup signaling parameters. The methods and systems can be applied, for example, to systems involving directory assistance call completion, voice-activated dialing, voicemail callback, and prepaid services.
US08204172B1 System and method of prior image constrained image reconstruction using short scan image data and objective function minimization
A tomographic system includes a gantry having an opening for receiving an object to be scanned, a radiation source, a detector positioned to receive radiation from the source that passes through the object, and a computer programmed to acquire a short scan angular range of data of the object, and define a temporal subset of the acquired short scan angular range of data for image reconstruction, the defined temporal subset of the acquired short scan angular range of data comprising approximately half of the angular range of the short scan angular range of data. The computer is programmed to reconstruct a prior image using the acquired short scan angular range of data, and input an estimated image of the object and the prior image into an objective function and minimize the objective function to reconstruct a refined image using the defined temporal subset of scan data and the prior image.
US08204170B2 Shift register circuit
A shift register circuit includes plural shift register stages for providing plural gate signals. Each shift register stage includes a pull-up unit, a pull-up control unit, an input unit, a first pull-down unit, a second pull-down unit, and a pull-down control unit. The pull-up control unit generates a first control signal according to a driving control voltage and a first clock. The pull-up unit pulls up a corresponding gate signal according to the first control signal. The input unit is utilized for inputting the gate signal of a preceding shift register stage to become the driving control voltage according to a second clock having a phase opposite to the first clock. The pull-down control unit generates a second control signal according to the driving control voltage. The first and second pull-down units pull down the corresponding gate signal and the first control signal respectively according to the second control signal.
US08204162B2 Reception frequency control circuit
The present invention aims to provide a reception frequency control circuit that is small in mounting area and unaffected by disturbance where an FSK-modulated signal is demodulated. In the reception frequency control circuit, a reception signal processing unit converts an FSK-modulated digital signal to an intermediate frequency when the FSK-modulated digital signal is received. Thereafter, a frequency voltage converting unit converts the intermediate signal to a voltage signal and outputs an output signal. At the same time, an analog frequency controlling unit detects a frequency deviation from the output signal by analog processing. A digital frequency controlling unit generates a reception frequency control signal for correcting the frequency and feeds back the same to the reception signal processing unit. Stable frequency control can be realized by performing reception frequency control by a combination of an analog circuit-digital circuit in this way.
US08204150B2 Apparatus and method for reducing peak-to-average power ratio in a wireless communication system
An apparatus is provided for reducing a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) in a wireless communication system having multiple transmit antennas. A symbol generator generates symbols to be transmitted via the multiple transmit antennas, and a PAPR calculator calculates a PAPR value for each symbol. A detector detects a maximum PAPR value among the PAPR values of the symbols. A controller outputs a control signal to reduce a PAPR value of a corresponding symbol when the detected maximum PAPR value exceeds a reference PAPR value. A PAPR reducer reduces the PAPR value of the corresponding symbol upon receipt of the control signal.
US08204148B2 Space-time digital power amplifier
Described is a space-time digital power amplifier that can be used to generate an arbitrary waveform for a carrier signal. The space-time digital power amplifier employs temporal modulation of transmit signals generated by an array of transmitter modules. The RF signals transmitted from the array are spatially combined through free space propagation to generate the desired waveform. Advantageously, no digital-to-analog conversion is required and upconversion is unnecessary. The digital power amplifiers for the transmitter modules can be combined in a single chip package. The space-time digital power amplifier enables high power efficiency to be realized using pulse-shaped waveforms thus eliminating any need for the power amplifiers to operate over a wider bandwidth with a spectrally unconfined waveform.
US08204146B2 Impulse waveform generating apparatus and radio-frequency pulse waveform generating apparatus
An impulse waveform generating apparatus includes a multistage delay pulse signal generating part for generating a plurality of delay pulse signals by a timing signal; a signal source signal generating part for generating a signal source signal indicating the frequency component of an impulse waveform signal by the delay pulse signals; an envelope formation signal generating part for generating an envelope formation signal indicating the amplitude component of the impulse waveform signal by the delay pulse signals; and a mixer part for multiplying the signal source signal by the envelope formation signal to generate a prescribed impulse waveform signal. The impulse waveform generating apparatus generates the impulse waveform signal from the timing signal. Therefore, the circuit arrangement requires no digital-to-analog converter, the operational frequency of each element can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.
US08204143B2 Beamforming in MIMO communication systems
A communication terminal includes first and second transmitters, which are coupled to produce respective first and second Radio Frequency (RF) signals that are phase-shifted with respect to one another by a beamforming phase offset, and to transmit the RF signals toward a remote communication terminal. The terminal includes a reception subsystem including first and second receivers and a phase correction unit. The first and second receivers are respectively coupled to receive third and fourth RF signals from the remote communication terminal. The phase correction unit is coupled to produce, responsively to the third and fourth RF signals, a phase correction for correcting an error component in the beamforming phase offset.
US08204142B2 Precoder and precoding method in a multi-antenna system
A precoder and a precoding method in a multiuser multi-antenna system are provided. The precoder includes a channel checker for determining a DownLink (DL) channel condition of terminals in a service coverage area, a pre-compensator for pre-compensating, for channel distortion, signals to be sent to the terminals when a nonlinear algorithm is selected based on the channel condition of the terminals, and an interference remover for canceling interference in a channel by multiplying the pre-compensated signals by inverse channels of the terminals, and for canceling interference between the terminals. Accordingly, the pre-equalization can be carried out without global channel state information, and an increase of the transmit power can be prevented in the permutation.
US08204140B2 Subscriber unit and method for variable forward error correction (FEC) decoding
The present invention provides for making code rate adjustments and modulation type adjustments in a pseudonoise (PN) encoded CDMA system. Coding rate adjustments may be made by changing the number of information bits per symbol, or Forward Error Code (FEC) coding rate. A forward error correction (FEC) block size is maintained at a constant amount. Therefore, as the number of information bits per symbol are increased, an integer multiple of bits per epoch is always maintained. The scheme permits for a greater flexibility and selection of effective data rates providing information bit rates ranging from, for example, approximately 50 kilobits per second to over 5 mega bits per second (Mbps) in one preferred embodiment.
US08204138B2 Symbol-based signaling device for an electromagnetically-coupled bus system
The present invention provides an apparatus for transferring data through an electromagnetic coupler. The apparatus comprises a transmitter to encode a first plurality of bits into a symbol, a receiver to decode a transferred symbol into a second plurality of bits; and a coupling element having a geometry that provides robust electromagnetic transfer of the symbol and the transferred symbol. For one embodiment of the apparatus, the coupling element has a zig-zag geometry.
US08204137B2 Channel equalizer and method of processing broadcast signal in DTV receiving system
A channel equalizer includes a first transformer, an estimator, an average calculator, a second transformer, a coefficient calculator, a compensator, and a third transformer. The first transformer converts normal data into frequency domain data, where a known data sequence is periodically repeated in the normal data. The estimator estimates channel impulse responses (CIR) during known data intervals adjacent to each normal data block. The average calculator calculates an average value of the CIRs. The second transformer converts the average value into frequency domain data. The coefficient calculator calculates equalization coefficients using the average value, and the compensator compensates channel distortion of each normal data block using the coefficients. The third transformer converts the compensated data block into time domain data.
US08204136B2 Image encoding apparatus
This invention provides a technique of efficiently executing prediction error calculation processing while preventing any increase in the circuit scale. An encoding apparatus of this invention includes a determination unit determining the size of an encoding target pixel block, a plurality of predicted value calculation units, a first error calculation unit calculating, based on a predicted value from a predicted value calculation unit in a prediction mode using one reference pixel value, the prediction error in the determined pixel block size, a second error calculation unit calculating, based on a predicted value from a predicted value calculation unit in a prediction mode for calculating a predicted value based on a plurality of reference pixel values, the prediction error in the determined pixel block size, and a unit determining, based on the sum of the prediction errors from the first and second error calculation units, a prediction mode.
US08204131B2 Method and system for rapid and smooth selection of digitally compressed video programs
A system and method for rapid selection and viewing of video programs in digital video broadcasting are disclosed. In one example of the invention, a parser sorts the data stream from different video programs and the sorted data are then stored in a fast cache memory. There are at least two intra-coded frames per video program available for decoding in the cache memory, constituting at least one group of pictures. Upon selecting a video program, a decoder decodes data starting from the oldest intra-coded frame in the cache memory. Full motion video and accompanying audio of the new video program are therefore available immediately resulting in a seamless and aesthetically pleasing transition between video programs. Multiple decoders are used in other aspects of the invention to provide thumbnail videos of a group of video programs for visual program selection.
US08204128B2 Learning filters for enhancing the quality of block coded still and video images
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reducing blocking artifacts in block-wise coding of still and video images. A learning filter generator is provided at the image encoder for generating a set of filters and associated filtering rules for filtering cross-boundary image patterns based on representative original and decoded training images using a supervised machine learning algorithm. An adaptive filter at the image decoder receives the generated filters and associated filtering rules and performs locally adaptive filtering in accordance with the received filtering rules.
US08204126B2 Video codec apparatus and method thereof
An optimal interpolation frame is achieved by estimating optimal motion vectors both for a coding process and an interpolation frame generating process. A video codec apparatus coding and decoding a video and generating an interpolation frame in the decoding includes a motion vector estimation unit calculating an evaluation value to evaluate a correlation between images using a calculating formula and estimates a motion vector using the evaluation value, a motion vector coding unit coding video data using the motion vector and outputs a coded stream, video decoding unit decoding the coded stream and outputs video frames generated by the decoding, a frame interpolation unit generating interpolation frame using the motion vector, a cost calculating formula selecting unit selecting the calculation method depending upon whether the coding by the motion vector coding unit or the generating an interpolation frame by the frame interpolation unit is being executed.
US08204123B2 Motion vector searching apparatus, motion vector searching method and storage medium for storing motion vector searching program
A motion vector searching apparatus to which a reference image, an object image and weight parameters for the reference image are inputted and searches a motion vector based thereon is provides. The motion vector searching apparatus includes an inverse weighting section that generates an inverse weighted object image by performing, on the object image using the weight parameter, a weighting inverse from a weighting performed on the reference image using the weight parameter; an image comparing section that compares the generated inverse weighted object image with the reference image to obtain a comparison value indicating a degree of approximation between the two images; and a determination section that determines an optimum motion vector from the comparison value.
US08204121B2 Method and apparatus for MP3 decoding
A memory optimization method for a MP3 decoder. In a pipeline structure for speeding matrix calculation in Mp3 decoding, an output sequence of IMDCT calculation is altered so that matrix calculation is activated before completing the IMDCT calculation. A decoding control method allows pipeline processing in MP3 decoding, with decoding procedures for subsequent granules activated while the current granule is still being processing in the matrix calculation.
US08204118B2 Video encoding method and decoding method, apparatuses therefor, programs therefor, and storage media which store the programs
A video encoding apparatus used in encoding of a multi-viewpoint image. The apparatus generates a synthetic image for a camera used for obtaining an encoding target image, by using an already-encoded reference camera image having a viewpoint different from the viewpoint of the camera used for obtaining the encoding target image, and disparity information between the reference camera image and the encoding target image, thereby encoding the encoding target image. A predicted image for a differential image between an input image of an encoding target area to be encoded and the synthetic image generated therefor is generated, and a predicted image for the encoding target area, which is represented by the sum of the predicted differential image and the synthetic image for the encoding target area, is generated. A prediction residual represented by a difference between the predicted image for the encoding target area and the encoding target image of the encoding target area is encoded.
US08204113B2 Moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, and stream data
A signal separation unit (101) separates an input picture made up of component pictures of RGB, each of which has an equal number of pixels as the input picture, into three component pictures, and outputs the three component pictures. Each of coding units (102 to 104) codes one of the component pictures into an intra-picture prediction coded picture or an inter-picture prediction coded picture, and outputs a bit stream corresponding to the component picture. A bit stream multiplexing unit (105) multiplexes three bit streams outputted from the three coding units into one bit stream, and outputs the bit stream. Each of the coding units (102), (103) and (104) determines a prediction method for the component picture at the time of coding.
US08204108B2 Apparatus and method for detecting letter box, and MPEG decoding device having the same
In a device and a method for detecting a letter box for an MPEG decoder, the method includes performing processing area filtering for selecting a processing area of an image used to detect the letter box; performing intra-macroblock filtering for determining the letter box area based on a change level of pixels in macroblocks in one line of the image from the processing area; performing impulse data filtering for excluding the line being detected a high frequency component from the determined letter box area; performing inter-macroblock filtering for determining the letter box area based on a change level of lines between macroblocks of the image; performing inter-line filtering for determining a boundary of the letter box based on an average of the pixel values of the lines; and performing inter-picture filtering for outputting a boundary value of the letter box that has the highest frequency number as the boundary of the letter box in successive images.
US08204105B2 Transcoder and coded image conversion method
A quantization step determination part inputs an evaluation value (ACT_MB) indicating the dispersion in a macroblock and its average value (ACT_PIC). A subtracter obtains the difference between these values, and a multiplier multiplies the difference by raq (<1) to obtain a weighting value. Next, an adder adds the weighting value to an average quantization step value of source data, and finally a multiplier multiplies the sum by a step value adjustment factor α (>1) to obtain a converted quantization step value (Qstep_AVC). This optimizes a bit allocation in accordance with an Activity value of the macroblock, to thereby improve the quality of image.
US08204100B2 Methods and apparatuses for data transmission
According to an embodiment of a communication device, the communication device includes communication circuitry configured to communicate via a plurality of transmission channels. The communication circuitry includes crosstalk reduction circuitry to reduce crosstalk for a part of the plurality of transmission channels by joint processing of data of the part of the transmission channels. This part is selected from the plurality of transmission channels depending on a grouping of the transmission channels into at least two groups. Each of the at least two groups is assigned a target bit rate. The target bit rate differs for different groups.
US08204091B2 Wavelength normalization in phase section of semiconductor lasers
Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to semiconductor lasers and laser projections systems and, more particularly, to schemes for controlling semiconductor lasers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a laser having a gain section, a phase section and a wavelength selective section is configured for optical emission of encoded data. The optical emission is shifted across a plurality of laser cavity modes by applying a quasi-periodic phase shifting signal I/VΦ to the phase section of the semiconductor laser. The amplitude of the quasi-periodic signal transitions periodically between a maximum drive level and a minimum drive level at a frequency that varies randomly over time.
US08204090B2 Scalable, reconfigurable, laser combiner
Modular electrical, mechanical and optical components allow for the building of a laser combiner system that can be used, for example, for biological research that allows different lasers to be easily added to or removed from a laser system. Each individual laser can be packaged into a module which can be added to or taken away from the laser system with relative ease. Each of the modules can be controlled via a control module that allows one or more of varying of power levels, switching on/off, shutter control and diagnostic/status information monitoring.
US08204089B2 Mode locked laser device
There is provided a mode locked laser device including: a cavity, the cavity having a semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror and a negative dispersion mirror that controls group velocity dispersion within the cavity, disposed in a straight line; a solid-state laser medium, disposed in the cavity and outputting oscillating light due to excitation light being incident thereon; an excitation unit that causes the excitation light to be incident on the solid-state laser medium; and a cavity holder, the light incident face of the semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror attached to one end of the cavity holder, the negative dispersion mirror attached to the other end of the cavity holder, and the cavity holder integrally supporting the semiconductor saturable absorbing mirror and the negative dispersion mirror.
US08204079B2 Joint transmission of multiple multimedia streams
A system and method for partitioning a bandwidth of a single channel among plural multimedia streams in a time varying manner. The partitioning is undertaken by dynamically establishing first and second bit rates respectively associated with first and second multimedia streams.
US08204078B2 Apparatus, system, and method for integration of wireless devices with a distributed control system
A wireless marshalling panel includes a field device protocol communication link. The wireless marshalling panel is capable of receiving a message from a wireless device and transmitting a corresponding message to a process controller via the communication link. The panel is also capable of receiving a message from the process controller via the communication link and transmitting a corresponding message to the wireless device. The messages transmitted and received via the communication link may be an analog current signal or a frequency shift keying signal. The wireless marshalling panel may include a second field device protocol communication link and also be capable of receiving a message via the second communication link and transmitting a corresponding message to a second wireless device. The wireless marshalling panel may also be capable of receiving a message from the second wireless device and transmitting a corresponding message via the second communication link.
US08204077B2 Auto-adaptation to packet size on a physical medium
A method for automatically adapting to statically varying packet sizes at a transmission convergence layer is provided. The method includes determining if an output of calculation logic in boundary detection circuitry is equal to a next value in a data stream being received, providing output indicative of an identified packet boundary to a synchronization circuit and a packet size calculator when the output equals the next value, determining a size of a packet at the packet size calculator based on two consecutive packet boundaries identified by the boundary detection circuitry, receiving output from the boundary detection circuitry and the packet size calculator at the synchronization circuit; and one of entering, remaining, or exiting a synchronous state. The entering the synchronous state is based on a counting of consecutive good packet boundaries. The exiting the synchronous state is based on a counting of consecutive missed boundaries.
US08204073B1 Personalized television
A method, system, and medium providing personalized media content to a display device. The method includes receiving television programming at a media-receiving device from a content provider (where the media-receiving device includes a wireless-communications component that transmits to and receives data from a mobile communications device in a protocol via a wireless personal area network (PAN) that is effective within a distance range from the wireless-communications component), incident to a mobile communications device entering the distance range, receiving identifying indicia associated with the mobile communications device, communicating the identifying indicia to at least one database to retrieve profile data from at least one profile associated with the mobile communications device; and communicating personalized media content to the display device, the personalized media content based on at least a portion of the profile data associated with at least one profile associated with the mobile communications device.
US08204061B1 Virtual port channel switches with distributed control planes
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes one or more ports for connection to one or more links in communication with a network device, a multi-chassis trunk (MCT) port for connection to an MCT in communication with a switch, and an MCEC manager for creating an MCEC comprising the one or more links in communication with the network device and one or more links connecting the switch to the network device, and transmitting messages to the switch to synchronize state for the MCEC. The apparatus further includes a control plane and a data plane configured for operation independent from a control plane and a data plane at the switch. A method is also disclosed.
US08204059B2 Method for formatting signal in mobile communication system
A method for formatting a signal in a mobile communication system by appending a plurality of medium access control headers to a plurality of medium access control-service data units for data transfer between a mobile station and network in the mobile communication system. If the service data units have the same characteristics, a medium access control-protocol data unit is formed by successively coupling the service data units to any one of the medium access control headers. If the service data units have different characteristics, the protocol data unit is formed by sequentially coupling each of the service data units and each of the medium access control headers. The formed protocol data unit is then transformed into a transport block with a predetermined size. A medium access control sublayer formats medium access control-protocol data units according to transport channel characteristics in peer-to-peer communication in such a manner that the protocol data units can have different formats with respect to different transport channels. This makes it possible to provide more efficient functions.
US08204055B2 Multicast over unicast in a network
A method is described for receiving a multicast in user devices in a network issuing a request to join a multicast group, identifying multicast data packets associated with the multicast group, monitoring transmissions of the multicast data packets to determine whether the identified multicast data packets are being transmitted in an already established unicast session and establishing a unicast session and processing multicast data packets if an already established unicast session does not exist A method is described for receiving a multicast transmission in user devices in a network establishing a unicast session with a dedicated terminal, identifying multicast data packets associated with a multicast group, monitoring transmissions of the multicast data packets and processing the multicast data packets by the dedicated terminal. Additonally, an apparatus is described for accepting a request to join a multicast group, for identifying multicast data packets associated with the multicast group, establishing a unicast session, for encapsulating said multicast data packets in a unicast frame and for forwarding the unicast frame via the unicast session.
US08204054B2 System having a plurality of nodes connected in multi-dimensional matrix, method of controlling system and apparatus
A system has a plurality of nodes connected in a multi-dimensional matrix and having node addresses, respectively, each of the nodes having a processor, and a router for transmitting a request packet to a node adjacent to its own node located in n+1th dimension when the address of nth dimension of its own node is matched to the address of nth dimension of the target node, transmitting a response packet to a node adjacent to its own node located in nth dimension when the address of n+1th dimension of its own node is matched to the address of n+1th dimension of the response packet, wherein the router terminates a request packet when the address of the request packet is fully matched to the node address of its own node in all the dimensions, transfers the data conveyed by the request packet to the processor of its own node for processing.
US08204040B2 Wireless communications method, wireless control station, and wireless base station
The present invention relates to a wireless communications method, a wireless control station, and a wireless base station. One of the objects of the present invention is to make it possible to allocate the wireless resources to more than one road side device without interference thereamong. Therefore, the allocation information in the communications regions, used by the wireless base stations in their communications with the wireless terminal from the wireless control station, is sent to each of the wireless base stations, and each of the signal base stations performs communications with the wireless terminal by using the communications region in the wireless frame corresponding to the allocation information received from the wide-area control station.
US08204034B2 Method and device for transmitting data packets
A method for transmitting a packet from a transmitting node to a destination node in a communication network can enable improved network efficiency. The method includes receiving and storing identification information concerning at least one foreign node that is directly reachable in the communication network (block 505). It is then determined, using the identification information, whether the destination node is directly reachable in the communication network (block 510). Based on whether the destination node is directly reachable in the communication network, it is then determined whether to transmit the packet to the destination node using a tunneling protocol or without using a tunneling protocol (block 515). The packet is then transmitted from the transmitting node to the destination node (block 520).
US08204032B2 Information polling method, apparatus and system
The invention provides an information polling method, apparatus and system thereof, wherein a message gateway receives an information polling request from an application in an application client, and according to the received information polling request, the message gateway acquires at least one message requested by the application and calculates a reference polling cycle of the application, and sends the acquired message requested by the application and the reference polling cycle to the application. The application determines a polling cycle of a next poll according to a load condition of the application client and the received reference polling cycle. According to the invention, efficiency and quality of the information polling is improved, while the system is ensured to run normally, reducing the cases of message blocking and system breakdown which may occur in the existing situations.
US08204026B2 Element-based method for auto-configuration of handsets by a base station in a heterogeneous MAC protocol for wireless networks
An element-based method to automatically configure mobile handsets by the base station using a protocol that combines contention-free and contention-based MAC protocols for use in wireless VoIP systems with multiple base stations is disclosed.
US08204023B2 CQI reporting method and apparatus for mobile telecommunication system
A CQI reporting method for a Dual-Cell HSDPA service of a mobile communication system is provided for reducing CQI reporting overhead. A user terminal transmits channel quality indicators for downlink channels in a mobile communication system, measures channel qualities of a first downlink channel and a second downlink channel, compares the channel qualities of the first and second downlink channels with each other, selects at least one channel quality of the first and second downlink channels, and transmits at least one channel quality indicator indicating the at least one channel quality.
US08204008B2 Techniques for resource block mapping in a wireless communication system
A technique of operating a wireless communication device includes creating a resource block map by associating respective subscriber station identifications, corresponding to respective subscriber stations, with one or more resource blocks. The respective subscriber station identifications and the resource block map are transmitted, from a serving base station, in one or more control channel symbols.
US08204007B2 Method and apparatus for control of enhanced dedicated channel transmissions
A method and apparatus for controlling enhanced dedicated channel (E-DCH) transmissions are disclosed. An enhanced uplink medium access control (MAC-e/es) entity processes a received scheduling grant to calculate a serving grant. The MAC-e/es entity determines whether both a hybrid automatic repeat request (H-ARQ) process for scheduled data and scheduled data are available. If an H-ARQ process for scheduled data and scheduled data are available, the MAC-e/es entity determines whether a serving grant exists. The MAC-e/es entity calculates a remaining power based on maximum allowed power and restricts an E-DCH transport format combination (E-TFC) based on the remaining power. The MAC-e/es entity selects an E-TFC using the serving grant and generates a MAC-e protocol data unit. The MAC-e/es entity may process the received scheduled grant is at each transmission time interval or may store the received scheduled grant in a grant list until there is E-DCH data to transmit.
US08204005B2 Wireless communication device and method for dynamic bidirectional aggregation of MAC frames with delayed channel access in a wireless network
Embodiments of a wireless communication device and method for dynamic bidirectional aggregation of media-access control (MAC) layer frames in a wireless network are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments, the time between consecutive bursts is dynamically varied based on a MAC channel access delay.
US08203999B2 Routing in selfish networks
There is disclosed a method of operating a communications network having a plurality of selfish users. Each selfish user may send messages to a destination node with the messages being forwarded through intermediate nodes of a mesh network. Each selfish user may accumulate a debt equal to the power saved by having messages forwarded through other nodes in the mesh network less the power consumed forwarding messages for other nodes in the mesh network. Each selfish user having greater than zero accumulated debt may be required to forward messages for other nodes.
US08203997B2 System and method for multiple packet data network connectivity detachment
A system is provided that includes a component configured to promote detachment of a user equipment (UE) from a plurality of packet data network (PDN) gateways by sending a message to the plurality of PDN gateways to detach multiple PDN connections associated with the UE.
US08203987B2 Mobile communications system, base station apparatus, user apparatus, and method
A user apparatus which wirelessly communicates with a base station apparatus within a mobile communications system is disclosed. The user apparatus includes a receive unit which receives control information in downlink; and a transmit unit which transmits a first channel in uplink, wherein the transmit unit, based on the control information, makes a value of a maximum transmit power of the first channel smaller than that of a nominal power specified for the mobile communications system.
US08203984B2 Power management for wireless networks
Embodiments provide techniques for device power management in wireless networks. For instance, an apparatus may include a power management module, and a transceiver module. The power management module determines a beacon interval and a wakeup interval. The transceiver module to send a transmission to one or more remote devices that includes the beacon interval and the wakeup interval. The beacon interval indicates a time interval between consecutive beacon transmissions of the apparatus, and the wakeup interval indicates a time interval between when the apparatus receives two consecutive beacons from a peer device.
US08203980B2 Industrial ethernet communications adapter
Communications adapters and methods are provided for interfacing communications for an EtherNet/Ip or other general purpose industrial network, a Fieldbus or other open protocol device network, and a PointBus or other proprietary network. The adapter may be integrated in a module of a backplane system with connections to the general purpose, proprietary, and open protocol device networks, and provides a bridging for communications across the networks to make devices on the proprietary and open protocol networks accessible as if they were on a single device network and with sequential addressing capabilities.
US08203978B2 Multi-mode terminal in a wireless MIMO system
A user terminal supports multiple spatial multiplexing (SM) modes such as a steered mode and a non-steered mode. For data transmission, multiple data streams are coded and modulated in accordance with their selected rates to obtain multiple data symbol streams. These streams are then spatially processed in accordance with a selected SM mode (e.g., with a matrix of steering vectors for the steered mode and with the identity matrix for the non-steered mode) to obtain multiple transmit symbol streams for transmission from multiple antennas. For data reception, multiple received symbol streams are spatially processed in accordance with the selected SM mode (e.g., with a matrix of eigenvectors for the steered mode and with a spatial filter matrix for the non-steered mode) to obtain multiple recovered data symbol streams. These streams are demodulated and decoded in accordance with their selected rates to obtain multiple decoded data streams.
US08203969B2 Network timing topology via network manager
The invention is directed to providing a method and system for monitoring and managing from a network management entity, timing-over-packet synchronization performance in a packet switching network having multiple network nodes. The network management entity determines a physical topology and a synchronization topology of the network and monitors synchronization performance by collecting virtual path information.
US08203967B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for implementing a standardized interpretive engine
A method, system, and computer program product for implementing a standardized interpretive engine is provided. The method includes externalizing at least one of a business and a user requirement into a component class of a data control structure. The method also includes defining a solution to the business and user requirement and entering the solution into metadata within the component class. The method further includes pulling data from a data warehouse into the component class based upon the business and user requirement. The method also includes performing a calculation on the data in accordance with the business and a user requirement.
US08203963B1 Overflow pages in heavily loaded slots
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for scheduling pages to mobile stations in a radio access network. An exemplary method involves (a) at a radio access network, determining whether or not a first load that is scheduled for transmission during a first paging period, is greater than a threshold load, (b) if the first load is greater than the threshold load, then (i) determining whether or not a second load that is scheduled for transmission during a second paging period, is less than the threshold load and (ii) if the second load is less than the threshold load, then rescheduling at least a portion of the first load for transmission during the second paging period, and (iii) otherwise, refraining from rescheduling the portion of the first load for transmission during the second paging period.
US08203948B2 Session admission control in a communications network
There is provided a en edge node and a method of controlling session admission in a communications network. The method comprises measuring a Quality of Service parameter between an edge node and a corresponding edge node and, on the basis of the measured Quality of Service parameter, calculating a target window size. The target window size relates to the maximum rate of data that can be sent from the edge node to the corresponding edge node while retaining a predetermined Quality of Service. A current window size is determined on the basis of existing established sessions between the two edge nodes. When a request for session admission is received, the current window size is compared with the target window size and, on the basis of the comparison, a determination is made whether to admit the request for session admission.
US08203933B2 Method and system for automatically identifying a logical circuit failure in a data network
For automatically identifying a failure in a logical circuit in a data network without manual intervention, the logical circuit includes one or more logical connections for communicating data in the data network. A network management module periodically requests trap data indicating the status of the logical connections in the logical circuit. After the trap data has been received by the network management module, the trap data is analyzed to determine whether any of the logical connections has failed. If it is determined that a logical connection has failed, the network management module may wait a predetermined time period to determine whether the failed logical connection has been restored. If after the predetermined time period the logical connection has not been restored, then the logical circuit is identified as having failed.
US08203924B2 Optical information recording/reproducing apparatus
There is provided an optical information recording/reproducing apparatus having an optical disc drive unit for driving an optical disc mounted, a hologram disc drive unit for driving a hologram disc mounted, a disc discrimination device for discriminating which of an optical disc and a hologram disc was mounted, a selection device of the disc drive unit for selecting an optical disc drive unit, when discriminated to be an optical disc, by the disc discrimination device, while selecting a hologram disc drive unit, when discriminated to be a hologram disc, by the disc discrimination device, and a drive device of the disc drive unit for driving the disc drive unit selected by the selection device of the disc drive unit.
US08203921B2 Recording apparatus and recording method
An optical disc apparatus capable of deriving optimum laser beam power even when OPC areas overlap with one another and a method for the apparatus. OPC result is recorded to an optical disc and OPC (area-saving OPC) that reduces an area use quantity by using the OPC result is executed and optimum laser power is determined.
US08203917B2 Optical pickup apparatus, signal generating method, and optical disk apparatus
An optical pickup apparatus is provided with an optical system for guiding a laser light emitted from a laser light source to an objective lens and also for guiding the laser light reflected by a recording medium to a photodetecting section as a convergent light. The photodetecting section is provided with first and second photodetectors disposed at positions at which a first part of the target laser light and a second part different from the first part are respectively received, the positions being separated further from the optical system than a convergence position of a target laser light reflected by an irradiation-target recording layer, out of the laser light reflected by the recording medium, and a third photodetector disposed at a position closer to the optical system than the convergence position of the target laser light, the position being bridging more over the second part than the first part.
US08203914B2 Disc storage apparatus and disc storage method
A disc storage apparatus includes a disc changer mechanism including a disc slot through which a disc is insertable, a storage section having storage locations that are capable of storing discs inserted through the disc slot, and a transport mechanism that transports the disc, inserted through the disc slot, to any of the storage locations in the storage section. The apparatus further includes an operation section having operations keys; a display section; and a controller that associates, when the disc is inserted and any of the operations keys is operated, the operated operation key with the storage location in which the disc is stored. In accordance with a predetermined operation on the operation section, the controller extracts all discs stored in the storage locations associated with the operated operation key and causes information regarding all the extracted discs to be displayed on the display section.
US08203910B2 Autonomous ultrasonic indoor location system, apparatus and method
An autonomous ultrasonic indoor location system includes a location beacon transmitting apparatus and a location beacon receiving apparatus. The location beacon transmitting apparatus is configured to sequentially transmit US signals at a predetermined time interval upon transmission of a signal containing synchronization information. The location beacon receiving apparatus is configured to synchronize with the location transmitting apparatus when synchronization information is detected, determine transmission order of the received US signals based on the obtained synchronization timing, infer transmission timings of the respective US signals based on the determined transmission order, calculate TOA information corresponding to each of the received US signal from the transmission timings and reception timings of the respective US signals, and determine location of the location beacon receiving apparatus on basis of the positions of the US transmitters in the transmitting apparatus and the calculated TOA information sequence.
US08203898B2 Leakage and NBTI reduction technique for memory
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a logic circuit and a memory circuit that includes multiple bit lines and bit line precharge circuits. The memory circuit may include level shifters for control signals generated from logic circuit inputs, and particularly there may be one or more level shifters that generate precharge enable signals to control the bit line precharge circuits. The level shifters for the bit line precharge circuits may also be controlled, during periods of time that the memory circuit is idle, by an input control signal (FloatBL herein). If the FloatBL signal is asserted, the bit line precharge circuits may be disabled to float the bit lines. In some embodiments, the FloatBL signal may also disable bit line bit line hold circuits on the bit lines. In some embodiments, when the memory circuit is exiting an idle state, the bit line precharge circuits may be enabled in a staggered fashion.
US08203895B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus and driving method using the same
Various embodiments of a semiconductor memory apparatus and a related driving method are disclosed. According to one exemplary embodiment, a semiconductor memory apparatus may include a switching unit and a switching control unit. The switching unit couples or decouples a cell plate voltage line to or from a cell plate electrode in response to a control signal. The switching control unit is configured to enable the control signal at a first timing and disable the control signal at a second timing.
US08203894B2 Current cancellation for non-volatile memory
A method and apparatus for reading data from a non-volatile memory cell. In some embodiments, a cross-point array of non-volatile memory cells is arranged into rows and columns that are each controlled by a line driver. A read circuit is provided that is capable of reading a logical state of a predetermined memory cell by differentiating a non-integrated first reference value from a non-integrated second reference value. Further, each reference value is measured immediately after configuring the column corresponding to the predetermined memory cell to produce a first and second amount of current.
US08203883B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of programming the same
In an embodiment, a semiconductor memory device including a cell array with NAND strings arranged therein, wherein the device has such a program mode that bit lines and cell's channels of the NAND strings coupled thereto are initially charged in accordance with program data, and then program voltage is applied to memory cells selected in the cell array. In the program mode, a certain bit line and a program-inhibited cell's channel coupled thereto, which are initially charged to Vdd, are boosted to be higher than Vdd by capacitive coupling from the cell source line prior to the program voltage application.
US08203868B2 Semiconductor memory device
An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of reducing the power consumption of an entire low power consumption SRAM LSI circuit employing scaled-down transistors and of increasing the stability of read and write operations on the memory cells by reducing the subthreshold leakage current and the leakage current flowing from the drain electrode to the substrate electrode.Another object of the present invention is to provide a technique of preventing an increase in the number of transistors in a memory cell and thereby preventing an increase in the cell area.Still another object of the present invention is to provide a technique of ensuring stable operation of an SRAM memory cell made up of SOI or FD-SOI transistors having a BOX layer by controlling the potentials of the wells under the BOX layers of the drive transistors.
US08203866B2 Capacitor-less memory cell, device, system and method of making same
A capacitor-less memory cell, memory device, system and process of forming the capacitor-less memory cell includes forming the memory cell in an active area of a substantially physically isolated portion of the bulk semiconductor substrate. A pass transistor is formed on the active area for coupling with a word line. The capacitor-less memory cell further includes a read/write enable transistor vertically configured along at least one vertical side of the active area and operable during a reading of a logic state with the logic state being stored as charge in a floating body area of the active area, causing different determinable threshold voltages for the pass transistor.
US08203860B2 Semiconductor memory device having driver for compensating for parasitic resistance of data input-output pads
A semiconductor memory device that includes a supply voltage pad, a ground voltage pad, and at least two data input/output pads arranged between the supply voltage pad and the ground voltage pad. The semiconductor memory device has a first pull-up driver that is connected to the second data input/output pad located at a first distance from the supply voltage pad, and a first pull-down driver that is connected to the first data input/output pad located at a second distance from the ground voltage pad.
US08203856B2 Method and arrangement to reverse the power flow of a direct current power transmission system
A direct current power transmission system includes a first and a second converter station that are coupled to each other via a direct current link. Each converter station includes a first or second line commutated converter, respectively. Before power reversal the first converter is operated as a rectifier and the direct current is controlled in the first station, while the second converter is operated as an inverter and in the second station the extinction angle of the second converter or the direct voltage is controlled. After power reversal, the first converter is operated as an inverter and the second converter as a rectifier. During power reversal a change is carried out in the first station from control of the direct current to control of the extinction angle of the first converter or to control of the direct voltage, which is performed in synchronization with a change in the second station from control of the extinction angle of the second converter or from control of the direct voltage to control of the direct current.
US08203854B2 Display suspending frame device, and assembly of the display suspending frame device, a display, and an electronic device
A display suspending frame device includes a suspending seat and at least one suspending frame. The suspending seat includes an upright mounting plate, a rear slide rail set disposed forwardly of the mounting plate and connected to the mounting plate, and a front slide rail set disposed forwardly of the rear slide rail set and connected to the rear slide rail set. The at least one suspending frame is for mounting to a rear face of a display and is mounted slidably on the front slide rail set. By arranging the rear slide rail set between the mounting plate of the suspending seat and the front slide rail set, a space is provided for accommodating an electronic device.
US08203852B2 Expansion card retention assembly
A retention assembly for an expansion card in an enclosure, the expansion card having an expansion card cover plate. The retention assembly includes an expansion card mounting frame, a limiting member, a resisting member, and an elastic member. The expansion card mounting frame is disposed on the enclosure to fix the expansion card cover plate. The limiting member is disposed on the enclosure adjacent to the expansion card mounting frame, and the limiting member and the enclosure cooperatively define a guide groove. The resisting member includes a resisting portion and a limiting portion connected to the resisting portion and slidably received in the guide groove. The elastic member interconnects the expansion card mounting frame and the resisting member. The resisting portion resists the expansion card cover plate by a resilient force applied by the elastic member.
US08203844B2 Electronic device with back-up power supply
The disclosure provides an electronic device having back-up power during battery replacement. The electronic device includes a body, a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted in the body, and an electrode assembly connected to the PCB. The body defines an accommodating space. The electrode assembly may rotate relative to the body and further comprises at least two groups of contacts aligned in different rotation orientations. The accommodating space is configured to accommodate a first battery. A first group of the at least two groups of contacts is engaged with the first battery, the at least two groups of contacts are connected in parallel to the PCB, when the first battery is being replaced by a second battery, the first group of contacts is kept engaged with the first battery, and a second group of the at least two groups of contacts is engaged with the second battery.
US08203843B2 Electronic device and engaging structure thereof
The invention discloses an electronic device and an engaging structure thereof. The electronic device comprises a first casing and a second casing. The first casing comprises a plate portion and a plurality of hooks. Each hook is located on the plate portion. The second casing comprises a first side portion, a second side portion, an engaging portion, a first rib and a second rib. The engaging portion is between the first and the second side portions and comprises a plurality of recesses. Each recess is engaged with one of the hooks and has a front edge. A gap is between one end of the hook and the front edge of the recess. The first and second ribs are respectively located on the first and the second side portions. The plate portion is disposed on the first and second ribs. The hook can be detached from the recess by the gap.
US08203841B2 Data center
A data center includes a housing and a number of server module assemblies received in the housing. Airflow interspaces are formed between neighboring server module assemblies, and between the two outmost server module assemblies and corresponding sidewalls of the housing. The airflow interspaces are alternately used for cold aisles and hot aisles. An inside of each server module is communicated with one of the hot aisles and one of the cold aisles at opposite sides of the server module. A number of cooling units are installed in the housing over the server module assemblies. A number of fans are installed in the housing to draw hot air from the hot aisles to flow through the corresponding cooling units to be cooled, and the cooled air flow into the corresponding cold aisles, thereby creating air differences in air pressure between the cold aisles and the hot aisles.
US08203831B2 Slide mechanism for portable electronic device
A slide mechanism used in a mobile device includes a main plate, a slide plate, at least one undeformable slider, and at least one guide. The slide plate is installed on the main plate and slidable relative to the main plate. The slider is securely attached to the slide plate, and the guide is securely attached to the main plate, deformably moving the slider along. When the slide plate slides along the main plate, the slider compresses the guide, thereby generating deformation of the guide and sliding the slide plate along the main plate.
US08203828B2 Portable power and signal distribution system for a controllable system including multiple devices
A power supply assembly which can drive a number of different devices at different voltages. A rack holds a number of breaker modules, and each breaker module can connect to one or many breakout boxes. The breakout boxes are keyed to the breaker modules, so that the breaker boxes will not be energized with power unless they are the proper voltage and/or configuration to receive that power. The coil of a contactor in the breaker module is powered by a key wire that is connected through specified pins in the breakout box. Therefore, no power is ever provided to the breakout box unless it is of the proper voltage configuration. In addition, feeder power to the power supply assembly is provided over bolted connections, without any wire connections between the power feed and the circuit breaker.
US08203826B2 Lithium ion capacitor
A lithium ion capacitor includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-protonic organic solvent electrolytic solution of a lithium salt. A positive electrode active material is a material capable of reversibly doping a lithium ion and/or an anion. A negative electrode active material is a material capable of reversibly doping a lithium ion. The lithium ion is doped in advance to either one or both of the negative electrode and the positive electrode so that a positive electrode potential after the positive electrode and the negative electrode are short-circuited is 2.0 V (relative to Li/Li+) or less when capacitance per unit weight of the positive electrode is C+(F/g), weight of the positive electrode active material is W+(g), capacitance per unit weight of negative electrode is C−(F/g), and weight of the negative electrode active material is W−(g), a value of (C−×W−)/(C+×W+) is 5 or more.
US08203814B2 Electrical switching apparatus including a plurality of Rogowski coils and method of calibrating the same
An electrical switching apparatus includes a plurality of poles each having a Rogowski coil and a conductor passing through an opening thereof, and a processor circuit including a sensor circuit including a plurality of inputs each electrically interconnected with an output of the Rogowski coil of a corresponding pole. The sensor circuit further includes a number of outputs having values each corresponding to current flowing through the conductor, a memory including for each corresponding pole an offset value and a gain correction factor for the sensor circuit, and a gain correction factor for the Rogowski coil, a number of routines, and a processor cooperating with the sensor circuit and the routines to provide for each pole a corrected current value as a function of a corresponding one of the values, the sensor circuit offset value and gain correction factor, and the Rogowski coil gain correction factor.
US08203807B2 Magnetic head suspension with load beam support point control
The present invention provides a magnetic head suspension, wherein a supporting portion such as an arm or base plate includes a pair of supporting pieces extending from its opposite sides in the widthwise direction to a tip-end side of the suspension, and a concave portion which is defined by the pair of supporting pieces and is opened toward the tip-end side of the suspension, there is provided an elastically-deformable elastic plate which is connected to the pair of supporting pieces at a first end and a second end in the widthwise direction of the magnetic head suspension, the member forming the load beam portion is connected to the elastic plate, and the elastic plate forms the load bending portion.
US08203803B2 Magnetic recording head for perpendicular recording with wrap around shield, the fabrication process and magnetic disk storage apparatus mounting the magnetic head
Embodiments of the invention are directed to narrowing a read/write gap of a perpendicular magnetic head by applying a wrap around shield, data erasing from return pole edges by returning recording field, and reducing TPR of a magnetic material. In one embodiment, the wrap around shields are formed by partitioning and making Gd, which is the height of the shield at the main pole side in the sensor height direction, smaller than the height of the shield connected to the return pole in the sensor height direction.
US08203801B2 System for adjusting the pressure of a head on an information storage medium of a disk device
According to one embodiment, a disk device rotates a disk information storage medium to record and reproduce information on the information storage medium by use of a head that slides in contact with a lubricant coated on the information storage medium, wherein a sliding speed U, area A and normal force N are set to cause U×A/N to fall within a monotonously increasing region in which a coefficient of friction associated with a frictional force occurring in a contact area of the head that faces the information storage medium monotonously increases as U×A/N increases, where the sliding speed U represents a sliding speed at a sliding time of the head, the area A represents the contact area of the head, and the normal force N represents a normal force applied to the contact area of the head.
US08203800B2 Servo design in data storage media
A data storage medium comprises a plurality of data regions, and a plurality of servo regions configured to provide positioning information to a reading device. Each of the plurality of data regions corresponds to more than one of the plurality of servo regions. The more than one of the plurality of servo regions are configured to provide positioning information to the reading device at discrete times corresponding to a data operation of a corresponding data region.
US08203798B2 Objective optical system
The invention provides a high-performance objective lens that is capable of implementing focusing relative to an object point distance change with no or little angle-of-view change, and is well compatible with a high-pixel type imaging device. The objective optical system comprises, in order from an object side thereof, a first group of negative power, a second group of positive power, an aperture stop, and a third group of positive power. Only the second group moves thereby implementing focusing relative to an object point distance change, with satisfaction of the following conditions (1)-1, (1)-2 and (8): ωf>60  (1)-1 ωn>60  (1)-2 −1.2
US08203783B2 Microscope with switchable condenser arrangement for different observation methods
A microscope includes a condenser lens that is provided in an illumination light path and in which at least one optical device is insertable into and removable from an illumination light axis for switching observation method. The microscope also includes a first polarizing plate that is provided in the same light axis as the optical device and is insertable into and removable from the illumination light axis integrally with the optical device; and a second polarizing plate that is provided in the illumination light axis independently from insertion and removal of the optical device into and from the illumination light axis.
US08203778B2 Electrophoretic display device and method for manufacturing same
A method of manufacturing is disclosed for an electrophoretic display apparatus that includes an array substrate and an electrophoretic film laminated to the array substrate. A thermally activated adhesive is used to adhesively attach the electrophoretic film to the array substrate. The electrophoretic film is first aligned to and flattened against the array substrate and then a substantially stronger than original adhesion property of the adhesive is activated by annealing at a high temperature that is substantially greater than room temperature. Rework prior to annealing is therefore possible when alignment errors occur between the electrophoretic film and the array substrate.
US08203777B2 Bias controller
A bias controller and a method for controlling the bias of an electro-optic modulator are provided. In the method, for a received indication of modulator temperature, steps are provided for accessing a look-up table to determine a corresponding value of bias voltage, for a required bias point, to apply to the modulator. If no such value is stored, additional steps are provided to generate a pilot tone for input to the modulator and to recognize, from the signal content of a modulated optical signal output by the modulator, operation of the modulator at the required bias point, adjusting the value of bias voltage being applied to the modulator as required. When operation at the required bias point is recognized, the respective value of bias voltage for that modulator temperature is stored in the look-up table. The same method is provided to configure a bias controller in respect of a given modulator, if necessary ab initio.
US08203775B1 MEMS bistable optical switch and methods for use thereof
An optical switch including a bistable component, a reflective component, the reflective component being operatively connected to the bistable component, a first electrothermal bent beam actuator, a first contacting component operatively connected to the first electrothermal bent beam actuator component, the first electrothermal bent beam actuator component and the first contacting component disposed such as to enable advancing the bistable component the reflective component from a first stable configuration to a second stable configuration, a second electrothermal bent beam actuator component and a second contacting component operatively connected to the second electrothermal bent beam actuator component, the second electrothermal bent beam actuator component and the second contacting component disposed such as to enable advancing the bistable component and the reflective component from the second stable configuration to the first stable configuration.
US08203774B2 Optical scanning device
An optical scanning device having: a light source for emitting a light beam; a deflector having a plurality of flat reflecting surfaces; a first optical system disposed between the light source and the deflector; and a second optical system disposed between the deflector and a photoreceptor surface, and configured such that the reflecting surfaces of the deflector and the photoreceptor surface are conjugated in a sub-scanning direction at every deflection angle in a main-scanning range. In the optical scanning device, the light beam traveling from the first optical system to the deflector has a width greater than a dimension in a main-scanning direction of each reflecting surface of the deflector, and the light beam passes through different portions of the first optical system depending on whether the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to an edge portion of the main-scanning range or to be directed to a center portion of the main-scanning range such that the light beam traveling to the deflector has a smaller average wavefront curvature in a sub-scanning direction when the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to an edge portion of the main-scanning range than when the light beam is to be deflected by the deflector to be directed to the center portion of the main-scanning range.
US08203772B2 Image output method, apparatus, and program using one or more attention levels
When a processed image obtained by performing image processing on an original image is presented, an option desired by a user is presented. A plurality of object regions is detected from an original image to detect the imaged state of each of the object regions when the original image was obtained. Then, an attention level for each object region is calculated based on the imaged state of the object region, and an output condition and an image processing condition are set based on the calculated attention level. Thereafter, a processed image is generated by performing image processing according to the image processing condition, and the processed image is outputted according to the output condition.
US08203770B2 Multi-dimensional interpolation device, multi-dimensional interpolation method and computer-readable medium
A data divider divides N-dimensional digital image signals into higher-order bit signals and lower-order bit signals. Reference values corresponding to all combinations of the divided higher-order bit signals are divisionally stored in 2N−1 sub-memories without overlaps. The (N+1) reference values necessary for interpolation processing are read by a reference value reader at the same time.
US08203767B2 Auto document feeding device
An auto document feeding device causes an original document passing through an OUT path and an original document passing through an IN path to flow together with overlap a trailing edge of a preceding original document and a leading edge of a following original document. Before the original documents reach to a READ document glass, the auto document feeding device comprises a separating unit configured to separate an overlapping portion of the original documents. The auto document feeding device reduces a distance between the preceding original document and the following original document passing on the READ document glass to nearly 0 mm.
US08203765B2 Receipts scanner and financial organizer
Expense information is obtained from receipts having various formats. Electronic image information of a receipt is processed to obtain expense information contained on the receipt. The expense information contained on the receipt can be categorized into one or more predetermined categories to obtain categorized information for the receipt. The categorized information for the receipt can be combined with categorized information of other receipts to produce reports for one or more of the predetermined categories.
US08203760B2 Vector halftoning in an image path utilizing sub-sampled cross-channel image values
This disclosure provides methods, apparatus and systems to generate vector halftone data for rendering an image on an image output device. According to one aspect, a method generates vector halftone data as a function of contone pixel data for a given colorant at its nominal resolution and contone pixel data for the other colorants at a relatively lower resolution.
US08203751B2 Color signal converting apparatus, image forming apparatus, color signal conversion method and computer readable medium
The color signal converting apparatus is provided with: a color signal receiving unit that receives input of first color signals; and a converting unit that performs a conversion of the first color signals received by the color signal receiving unit, into second color signals. The converting unit performs the conversion to make a total sum of color component values of each of the second color signals equal to or smaller than an upper limit value set for each of the second color signals.
US08203749B2 Printing device, carriage and color measurement method
The invention relates to a color printing device, whereby the color printing device comprises a reciprocating color measurement device and a reciprocating optical density sensor, to a mobile carriage comprising a color printhead, a color measurement device and an optical density sensor and to a color measurement method comprising the following steps: identify the position of a pattern on a two-dimensional media using a mobile optical density sensor; derive the position of a color patch on the media from the position of the pattern; measure the color of the color patch using a color measurement device.
US08203746B2 Image forming system and recording medium storing program
An image forming system includes an image forming portion for forming a transparent image on a sheet by using transparent toner; an obtaining portion for obtaining a size of the sheet on which an image is to be formed; a storing portion for storing image data, for forming the transparent image on an entire image formable area of the sheet with the transparent toner, for each of a plurality of predetermined sheets different in size from each other; and a control portion for controlling the image forming portion so that the transparent image is formed on the sheet on the basis of the image data corresponding to the size of the sheet obtained by the obtaining portion.
US08203745B2 Automated image sizing and placement
Versions of user-selected content images are automatically created, sized, and positioned within a template such that all versions are simultaneously displayed without overlapping in a defined acceptable image area of the template. Creating the content image versions may include creating a frame image for the content image. A predefined anchor point associated with the acceptable image area is used to control the location of the image versions within the image area.
US08203740B2 Image processing apparatus, distribution management method, and recording medium
A process-flow calling unit calls existing flow definition data defining a process flow of image data from a distribution management apparatus connected via a network. A list display unit displays thereon a list of existing flow definition data called by the process-flow calling unit. A process-flow generating unit generates new flow definition data, when desired flow definition data does not exist in the list displayed on the list display unit.
US08203731B2 Hard imaging devices, and hard imaging device file system accessing and sharing method
Hard imaging devices, hard imaging systems, articles of manufacture, hard imaging device file system accessing methods, hard imaging device file system sharing methods are described. According to one aspect, a hard imaging device comprises a communications interface configured to communicate with a communications medium external of the hard imaging device, an image engine configured to form hard images using media, a file system configured to store a plurality of electronic files, processing circuitry having a server system configured to communicate with the file system and at least an external management device or a computer device, and wherein communication with at least the external management device or the computer device is performed using a web sharing protocol.
US08203713B2 Method and device for quantitatively determining the surface optical characteristics of a reference object comprised by a plurality of optically differentiable layers
A method and device to determine quantitatively the surface optical characteristics of an object of reference made up of a plurality of optically differentiable layers. The device includes lighting and image capture means, connected to analysing means which execute the method to obtain the parameters of the repair material components best fitting the optical characteristics of the dental environment of the subject under treatment. The result of the analysis through the method in the invention consists mainly in the identification of each one of the various materials which should constitute the different layers, as well as their respective thicknesses, and which are to lead to a dental repair with optimum optical characteristics. It is thus achieved that the repair be visually imperceptible, both under natural light and under ultraviolet light.
US08203709B2 Image obtaining method and image obtaining apparatus
Emitting illumination light and auxiliary light having a wavelength range different from that of the illumination light onto an observation target simultaneously, obtaining an image formed of reflection light of the illumination light and reflection light of the auxiliary light reflected from the observation target, calculating, with respect to each pixel of the obtained image signal, estimated spectroscopic data in the wavelength range of the auxiliary light using a value of the image signal and estimated matrix data in the wavelength range of the auxiliary light stored in advance, obtaining quasi reflectivity information reflecting a reflectivity of the observation target in the wavelength range of the auxiliary light based on the estimated spectroscopic data in the wavelength range of the auxiliary light, and generating a special image based on the quasi reflectivity information.
US08203701B2 Apparatus and method for checking component parts of a mechanical piece
An optoelectronic system for checking the relative attitude of component parts of an HSA (32) including a base (2); a reference system (40) connected to the base and having a stationary support (3) adapted to cooperate with positioning surfaces (34) of the HSA, and a floating device (10) which floats with respect to the stationary support and is adapted to cooperate with working surfaces (33) of the HSA; an optoelectronic detection device; and a processing unit for receiving and processing signals of the optoelectronic detection device. The floating device includes a floating element (11) adapted to cooperate with the optoelectronic detection device. A method for checking the relative attitude of component parts of a mechanical piece by means of an optoelectronic system includes the steps of referring a first component part of the HSA to the reference system; locking the HSA at a checking position; bringing the floating device with the floating element (11) to contact a second component part of the HSA; and carrying out dimensional and positional checkings of component parts of the floating element (11) by means of the optoelectronic system.
US08203690B2 Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing same
A liquid crystal display device 10 of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel 11 and a lighting device 12. The liquid crystal panel 11 has a liquid crystal layer 50 between a pair of glass substrates 31 and 41. The lighting device 12 provides illumination light to the liquid crystal panel 11. A concave lens 60 is formed on the glass substrate 41 among the pair of glass substrates 31 and 41, which is arranged on a side opposite from the lighting device 12. The concave lens 60 has a recess on a surface of glass substrate 41 on an opposite side from the liquid crystal layer 50 in an area overlapping a black dot failure occurrence area when viewed in plan. A light transmissive material 70 having a refraction index equal to or higher than the glass substrate 41 is applied to at least a part of the concave lens 60.
US08203685B2 Liquid crystal display panel having seal pattern for minimizing liquid crystal contamination and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display panel and the method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. Because an overlap portion of the seal pattern that encompasses in a closed form the outer edge of the image display part is minimized, excessive distribution of sealant at the overlap portion may be prevented. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first and a second substrates having at least one image display part; a main pattern on one of the first and second substrates and encompassing the outer edge of the image display part; a start pattern connected to the main pattern and formed from a point spaced apart from the image display part to a point adjacent to an outer edge of the image display part; an end pattern connected to the main pattern and formed from the point adjacent to the outer edge of the image display part to a point spaced apart from the image display part, wherein the start pattern and end pattern extend in a direction substantially parallel to a facing side of the main pattern; and liquid crystal dispensed in the image display part.
US08203674B2 Manufacturing thin film transistor array panels for flat panel displays
A thin film transistor array panel for a flat panel display includes a substrate, a first signal line formed on the substrate, a second signal line intersecting and insulated from the first signal line, a switching element having a first terminal connected to the first signal line, a second terminal connected to the second signal line, and a third terminal, a pixel electrode connected to the third terminal of the switching element, and first and second light blocking members extending parallel to the second signal line, each being disposed on an opposite side of and partially overlapping an respective edge of the second signal line, an interval between the first and second light blocking members being in a range of from more than 1.5 μm to less than 4 μm. The array panel prevents light leakage from the display and improves its transmittance, aperture ratio and color reproducibility.
US08203671B2 View angle controllable display device and terminal having the same
A display device, capable of changing view angle range and suitable for reducing thickness and weight, is provided. One compensating panel has such a structure that two polymer films, having birefringence, adhere to each other. The birefringence directions of the polymer films are parallel or orthogonal to the liquid crystal orientation direction. Similarly, another compensating panel has such a structure that two polymer films, having birefringence, adhere to each other. The birefringence directions of the polymer films are parallel or orthogonal to the liquid crystal orientation direction. Since the compensating panel does not include glass substrates but includes polymer films, the display device can be thin and light.
US08203667B2 LCD and light guide plate thereof
A light guide plate includes an incident face, a bottom surface, a main reflective structure and an auxiliary reflective structure. The bottom surface is connected to the incident face. The main reflective structure is disposed on the bottom surface and has a first and a second inclined surface. The auxiliary reflective structure is disposed on the bottom surface and has a third and a fourth inclined surface. The auxiliary reflective structure and the main reflective structure have an interval therebetween, in which the interval ranges between 0.2 micrometer and 0.5 micrometer, and a bottom width of the auxiliary reflective structure on the bottom surface is smaller than a bottom width of the main reflective structure on the bottom surface. A liquid crystal display is also disclosed herein.
US08203665B2 Blacklight unit, liquid crystal display device having the same, and method for providing substantially white light for liquid crystal display device
A backlight unit as embodied includes a plurality of unit groups, each unit group having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs); and a light mixing layer formed over the unit groups, for mixing lights emitted from the LEDs to provide substantially white light.
US08203659B2 LCD display and gaming machine combination
A combination of an LCD display and a gaming machine includes an LCD comprising a touchscreen, a liquid crystal panel, a backlight module, printed circuit boards, and a rear cover having an opening wherein the backlight module comprises, from front to rear, four optical films each having three openings, three barrier films, a light guide having three openings, two light sources on top and bottom edges of the light guide respectively, a reflecting film having three openings, and a frame plate having three openings, the barrier films functions as a visual barrier or a transparent member by adjusting voltage applied thereto, and the openings are aligned one another; a plurality of revolving wheels disposed behind the LCD, each wheel comprising a plurality of symbols arranged annually thereon. One pattern including the symbols of the wheels behind the openings is illuminated by the light source.
US08203658B2 Screen protecting assembly for electronic device
A screen protecting assembly for an electronic device includes a pivot shaft, a cushion, and two connecting subassemblies positioned on the electronic device. Each connecting subassembly has a base and a rotating member rotatably received in the base. The rotating member engages with the pivot shaft. The cushion coils on the pivot shaft. When the rotating member is rotated in a first direction, the cushion unfolds to cover a screen of the electronic device. When the rotating member is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the cushion coils on the pivot shaft so that the screen of the electronic device is exposed.
US08203652B2 SECAM-L detector and video broadcast system having the same
A method for detecting SECAM-L signals is disclosed. First, a SECAM-L signal is received and demodulated into a demodulation signal. Then high frequency components of the demodulation signal are filtered out and a low frequency signal, including many sync pulses and many data pulses, is obtained. Next, the low frequency signal is inversion into an inversion signal, having many inversion sync pulses and many inversion data pulses. Afterwards a voltage level of the inversion signal is detected continuously whether it is a lowest level. After that, the lowest level is determined whether belonging to the inversion sync pulses when the voltage level of the inversion signal is the lowest level, and a detection signal is outputted. When the lowest level belongs to the inversion sync pulses, a voltage level of the detection signal is high, and the demodulation signal is an inversion SECAM-L demodulation signal.
US08203649B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An apparatus includes a memory which successively stores frame data of video data, an interpolating unit which generates interpolation frame data which is inserted between the frame data and stores the interpolation frame data in the memory, and a readout unit which successively reads out the frame data and the interpolation frame data from the memory at a frame rate higher than a frame rate of the video data. The apparatus further includes a generating unit which generates image data which is composited with the frame data and stores the image data in the memory, and a control unit which, based on display-related characteristics of the image data, controls the interpolating unit to halt the generation of the interpolation frame data, and also controls the readout unit to read out the frame data in duplicate instead of the interpolation frame data.
US08203640B2 Portable terminal having touch sensing based image capture function and image capture method therefor
Disclosed is a portable terminal having a touch sensing based image capture function and image capture method therefore, the method including: displaying a preview image of an object to be captured on a touch screen; recognizing (sensing) a touch input for the preview image; setting an image capture function based on the recognized touch input; and automatically performing an image capture operation according to the set capture function. The image capture function includes setting and change for a focus area, exposure, illumination, lightness, zoom-in/zoom-out and color change. Therefore, the present invention can enable the user to freely set the focus area and to perform a single or continuous image capture operation with a simple touch, thereby being utilized in all portable devices employing the touch screen.
US08203638B2 Electronic shutter control in image sensors
An image sensor includes an electronic shutter layer that is used to drain charge away from the photosensitive regions during an electronic shutter operation. A current sensing component and a selector component are electrically connected to a contact to the electronic shutter layer in the image sensor. The current sensing component senses a current level in the electronic shutter layer and changes a state of an alert signal when the current level equals or exceeds a threshold current level. The selector component receives the alert signal from the current sensing component and a shutter signal from an electronic shutter pulse driver component. Depending on the state of the alert signal, the selector component either transmits, or does not transmit, the shutter signal to the electronic shutter layer. An electronic shutter operation is performed when the electronic shutter layer receives the shutter signal.
US08203636B2 Semiconductor device and method of driving the same
To provide a semiconductor device and a driving method of the same that is capable of enlarging a signal amplitude value as well as increasing a range in which a linear input/output relationship operates while preventing a signal writing-in time from becoming long. The semiconductor device having an amplifying transistor and a biasing transistor and the driving method thereof, wherein an electric discharging transistor is provided and pre-discharge is performed.
US08203626B2 Apparatus and method for image processing with special effect application to image and display of animation image
An image processing apparatus is arranged so that when a special effect to be applied to an input image is selected, an image showing the behavior of the special effect is displayed during the selection, comprising an image input unit for inputting an image; a selecting unit for selecting a special effect to be applied to the input unit; an effect applying unit for applying the selected special effect to the input unit; a special effect image display unit for displaying an image showing behavior of the selected special effect during the selection by the selecting unit; and a display unit for displaying the image to which the effect applying unit has applied the special effect.
US08203625B2 Image capture device which selects reading method based on sensitivity information
An image capture device according to the present invention includes: an optical system for producing a subject's image; an imager with multiple photodiodes, which reads an electrical signal representing the intensity of light that has been incident on each photodiode from the photodiode, thereby generating an image signal representing the subject's image; a controller, which acquires sensitivity information by photometry in order to adjust the sensitivity of the imager to light and which selects one of multiple methods for reading the electrical signal from each photodiode according to the sensitivity information acquired; and a driver for driving the imager by the reading method selected. The multiple reading methods include a mixing reading method, by which the electrical signals supplied from the photodiodes are added together and then output.
US08203624B2 Image-data processing apparatus and image pickup apparatus
An image-data processing apparatus includes an operation unit; a correcting unit multiplying image data generated by an image pickup device by a correction gain; a totalizing unit sequentially calculating a total pixel level for every frame from the image data; a history holding unit holding the total pixel levels of a certain number; an in-phase averaging unit detecting the total pixel levels in phase with a flicker phase corresponding to the image data that is being supplied to the correcting unit from the held total pixel levels to calculate a first average of the detected total pixel levels; an average calculating unit calculating a second average of the held total pixel levels; and a correction gain calculating unit calculating the correction gain by dividing the first average by the second average to set the correction gain in the correcting unit.
US08203622B2 Techniques for modifying image field data obtained using illumination sources
Techniques for modifying data of an image that can be implemented in a digital camera, video image capturing device and other optical systems are provided to correct for non-uniform illumination and/or effects of saturation appearing in data obtained using one or more artificial illumination sources. In an implementation, correction factors are derived using data from at least two images that have been captured with different illumination levels of the object scene and close in time to the capture of the image of interest. Typically, the image of interest is of higher resolution than at least one of the at least two images.
US08203619B2 Target bit rate decision method for wavelet-based image compression
A method of deciding a target bit rate for wavelet-based image encoding based on the wavelet coefficients is described. The target bit rate is used for maintaining a high quality image. A minimum target bit rate and a maximum target bit rate are determined. A pseudo code length corresponding to the minimum target bit rate is calculated. The pseudo code length is calculated as a function of the wavelet coefficients. The corresponding pseudo code length is calculated for the maximum target bit rate. A curve between the pseudo code length and target bit rate is derived. Slope of the curve depends on buffer fullness. Using the curve, for a given pseudo code length, an appropriate target bit rate is derived. The derived target bit rate depends on the image content, and computing resources are able to be optimally used to attain similar quality for each image block of an image.
US08203618B2 Image processing device and method
An image processing device including a camera, a discrete signal processor (DSP) and an output device is disclosed. The camera provides image data for the DSP to process. The DSP samples sub-image data to generate a first image processing signal, discrete cosine transforms the first image processing signal to generate a second image processing signal, uses a quantization table to quantize the second image processing signal to generate a third image processing signal, zig-zag scans the third image processing signal to generate a fourth image processing signal, and Huffman codes the fourth image processing signal to generate an output image signal. The DSP adjusts a cut point of a next fourth image processing signal according to the size of the fourth image processing signal so as to control the size of a next output image signal. The output device outputs the output image signal.
US08203604B2 Calibration plate and calibration method
A calibration plate is configured for revising an image capture apparatus of a vision measuring system. The vision measuring system includes a worktable which is configured for supporting the calibration plate. The calibration plate includes a quadrate portion. A calibration area and a zero marker are formed on the quadrate portion. The calibration area includes a plurality of regions having the same shape.
US08203598B2 Method and apparatus for capturing three-dimensional stereoscopic images
A method for capturing a three-dimensional image. The method comprises capturing a combined beam of light having first polarized beam of light and a second polarized beam of light, sampling the combined beam of light using an imager, and providing the first polarized image to a first output and the second polarized image to a second output. The first polarized beam of light and the second polarized beam of light are orthogonally polarized. The imager includes a set of first polarized pixels for sampling the first polarized beam of light to produce a first polarized image, and a set of second polarized pixels for sampling the second polarized beam of light to produce a second polarized image.
US08203595B2 Method and apparatus for enabling improved eye contact in video teleconferencing applications
A method and apparatus for displaying images for use during a video teleconference provides improved eye contact between the participants. A video camera mounted on a display (e.g., a monitor or laptop) is co-located with a first participant in the video teleconference. An image of a second participant in the video teleconference is received, and a location of one or more facial features (e.g., the eyes) contained in the image of the second participant is determined. Then, the image of the second participant is displayed on the screen such that the eyes of the second participant are displayed in close proximity to (e.g., directly below) the video camera. In this manner, improved eye contact between the participants is advantageously provided. Alternatively, metadata representing the location of such facial features (e.g., the eyes) contained in the image of the second participant is received along with the image of the second participant.
US08203593B2 Audio visual tracking with established environmental regions
A method, apparatus, and electronic device for audio-video conferencing are disclosed. A memory may store an initial historical configuration parameter representation of an initial historical configuration parameter for a set of historical video data. A processor may determine a primary initial configuration parameter based on the initial historical configuration parameter representation. An audio-video capture mechanism may capture a current set of video data using the primary initial configuration parameter. An audio input may receive an audio trigger. A configuration control mechanism may switch automatically between the primary initial configuration parameter and a primary subsequent configuration parameter based on the audio trigger.
US08203591B2 Method and system for optimal balance and spatial consistency
A method for assigning video signals includes receiving a plurality of video signals from a plurality of cameras located at one or more remote sites, the plurality of video signals for display on a plurality of monitors at a local site. The method also includes determining an optimal monitor for displaying a first video signal associated with a first camera based on the location and alignment of the first camera in relation to one or more of the plurality of cameras. In addition, the method includes calculating a respective difference between a number of video signals assigned to the optimal monitor and a respective number of video signals assigned to each respective monitor of the plurality of monitors. The method further includes assigning the first video signal to the optimal monitor if the respective difference is not greater than a threshold value with respect to each of the plurality of monitors.
US08203583B2 Writing erasable paper using thermal printhead and UV illumination
A system for imaging erasable media includes a thermal print head on a first side of an erasable medium and a UV illumination source opposing the thermal print head and on a second side of the erasable medium. The thermal print head locally heats the erasable medium at a pixel level and the UV illumination source images the erasable medium only at the locally heated regions thereof. Thus the normal roles of uniformly heating the media and imaging with the UV source are reversed.
US08203580B2 Adaptive control of LCD display characteristics based on video content
Determining video content type of a video displayed on a LCD and triggering adjustment in drive power of the LCD based on the video content type. The video content type indicates relative content motion of the video. A video content type detection module is one or combination of a software and a hardware and directs the LCD to be driven relative slower or faster based upon video content. The module independently or in conjunction with another module identifies an active window from a plurality of windows corresponding to a plurality of applications running on the host device and sets the drive power of the LCD based on speed of a video displayed on the active window. The module may also adapt LCD drive power based upon user input and/or remaining battery life.
US08203579B2 Methods and systems for backlight modulation with image characteristic mapping
Elements of the present invention relate to systems and methods for selecting a display source light illumination level. Aspects of some embodiments also comprise methods and systems for temporal filtering of a display source light illumination level.
US08203568B2 Sharing a graphical processing unit between a plurality of programs
A centralised server in a bank (50) of servers runs a program for use by a user at a remote terminal (52, 56, 58). In the server, a plurality of programs share a GPU and instructions are used to cause the GPU to store the frames representing graphics of different programs at different memory locations. The frames are compressed and transmitted to remote terminals. Optionally the invention also allows for GPU time slice allocation, such that the GPU completes rendering the frame of one program before it renders the frame of another program. Optionally the invention also allows delivering false information about the capabilities of the GPU to the programs.
US08203565B2 Device control using data communication
A data processing device connected with a data supply device for performing predetermined data processing includes: a communication control unit for controlling communication with the data supply device; a data processing unit for performing the data processing based on input data received from the data supply device; and a device control unit for performing predetermined processing in correspondence with command data received from the data supply device based on the command data. The communication control unit receives the input data and the command data each of which is contained in a packet having a common fixed length from the data supply device. When an identification part at a predetermined position in the reception packet received from the data supply device is set at a predetermined command identification value indicating the command data, the communication control unit supplies data contained in the reception packet to the device control unit. When the identification part is set at a value different from the command identification value, the communication control unit supplies data contained in the reception packet to the data processing unit. The device control unit uses the remaining part in the reception packet other than the identification part as the command data. The data processing unit uses the remaining part as the input data.
US08203552B2 Geospatial data system for selectively retrieving and displaying geospatial texture data in successive additive layers of resolution and related methods
A geospatial data system may include at least one geospatial data storage device containing three-dimensional (3D) geospatial structure data, and also containing geospatial texture data associated with the geospatial 3D structure data and being retrievable in successive additive layers of resolution. The system may further include at least one geospatial data access device comprising a display and a processor cooperating therewith for communicating remotely with the at least one geospatial data storage device to retrieve and display a scene on the display based upon the 3D structure data and the geospatial texture data associated therewith. The geospatial texture data may advantageously be retrieved and displayed in successive additive layers of resolution.
US08203550B2 Plasma display and method for driving plasma display panel
A disclosed plasma display includes a plasma display panel including cells and display electrodes including a group of X electrodes and a group of Y electrodes; an X electrode driving circuit configured to apply a sustaining pulse to the group of X electrodes; and a Y electrode driving circuit configured to apply a sustaining pulse to the group of Y electrodes. One of the X electrode driving circuit and the Y electrode driving circuit applies a low-voltage sustaining pulse that can cause the sustaining discharge by itself to a corresponding one of the group of X electrodes and the group of Y electrodes. The other one of the X electrode driving circuit and the Y electrode driving circuit applies a high-voltage sustaining pulse that can cause the sustaining discharge by itself to the other one of the group of X electrodes and the group of Y electrodes.
US08203549B2 Plasma display panel driving method and plasma display apparatus
A plasma display panel driving method and a plasma display apparatus are disclosed in which a suitable address discharge can be performed at a next scanning timing by reducing voltage changes in a sustain electrode and a scan electrode caused by a change of an address pulse when the address pulse is applied to an address electrode at a scanning timing. The plasma display panel driving method drives a plasma display panel which includes plural scan electrodes extending in a first direction and plural address electrodes extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. In the method, a negative polarity scan pulse is applied to a scan electrode, a positive polarity address pulse is applied to an address electrode from an address electrode driving circuit, and an address discharge is generated. The positive polarity address pulse is generated by using a charge sharing system, in which before clamping a predetermined high voltage or a predetermined low voltage to the address electrode, an averaged voltage generated from electric charges remaining in the plural address electrodes is applied to the address electrode. A falling time of the address pulse is longer than a rising time of the address pulse.
US08203542B2 Pointing device
The invention relates to a pointing device including a touch plane for an object moving thereon to generate a sound, a microphone for converting the sound into a sound wave signal, and a control unit. The control unit receives the sound wave signal and determines a moving direction of the object, so as to generate a direction signal. Accordingly, the moving direction of the object can be determined according to the sound wave signal received by the microphone, such that the volume and the cost of the pointing device of the invention can be reduced.
US08203532B2 Portable mouse attachable on a surface of an object
A portable mouse includes a base, a casing, an attractable element and a control module. The control module includes a keycap, a triggering element, a positioning element and a retractable mechanism. The keycap is exposed outside a surface of the casing. By depressing the keycap, the attractable element is protruded out of the base, so that the attractable element could be attached on a surface of the object.
US08203530B2 Method of controlling virtual object by user's figure or finger motion for electronic device
The present invention provides a method of controlling a virtual object or instruction for a computing device comprising: detecting a user activity by a detecting device; generating a control signal in responsive to the user activity detection; controlling an object displayed on a display in responsive to the control signal to execute the instruction. The user activity is detected by CMOS or CCD. The user activity includes facial motion, eye motion, or finger motion.
US08203518B2 Display device
Provided is a display device including a level shift circuit, which includes a thin film transistor having a polycrystalline semiconductor layer, and which realizes a reliable operation even when a threshold of the thin film transistor varies. The display device includes: a board; and the level shift circuit which includes the thin film transistor having the polycrystalline semiconductor layer, and is formed on the board, in which the level shift circuit includes: a plurality of source-input level shift circuits including a plurality of unit level shift circuits having drain resistors different in value from one another; and a selection circuit, which selects one of outputs from the plurality of unit level shift circuits as an output from a normally operated unit level shift circuit.
US08203513B2 Low color shift liquid crystal display and its driving method
A low color shift liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of data lines; a plurality of scanning lines arranged across the plurality of data lines, two adjacent scanning lines and two adjacent data lines arranged across the two adjacent scanning lines together defining a pixel region; and a plurality of pixels each comprising a first and a second sub-pixels. The first sub-pixel is connected to a first scanning line of the two adjacent scanning lines, the second sub-pixel includes a compensation capacitor, which is coupled to a second scanning line of the two adjacent scanning lines. Thereby a voltage difference can be maintained between the two sub-pixels under the same driving condition, and the voltage difference can be easily adjusted by suitably changing the waveforms of scanning drive signals on the scanning lines.
US08203512B2 Subtractive display
A display and techniques for displaying information involve the use of pixel-generating elements that include a light conduit and multiple adjustable light absorbing filters. The light conduit allows light from a light source to pass from a first side to a second side of the pixel-generating element. A first adjustable light absorbing filter adjustably absorbs a first set of visible light wavelengths from light passing through the light conduit to produce a first filtered light. A second adjustable light absorbing filter adjustably absorbs a second, different set of visible light wavelengths from the first filtered light. Each adjustable light absorbing filter is adjustable to a substantially transparent state, and the pixel-generating element generates a viewable pixel having a color adjustable between substantially a color of the light source and a color of the light source as modified by one or both of the adjustable light absorbing filters.
US08203510B2 Display apparatus, driving method for display apparatus and electronic apparatus
A display apparatus, including: a pixel array section; and a driving section; the pixel array section including a plurality of scanning lines disposed along the direction of a row, a plurality of signal lines disposed along the direction of a column, a plurality of pixels disposed in rows and columns at places at which the scanning lines and the signal lines intersect with each other, and a plurality of feed lines disposed in parallel to the scanning lines; the driving section including a scanner for successively supplying a control signal to the scanning lines with a phase difference of a horizontal period, a selector for supplying an image signal having a signal potential, which changes over between a reference potential and a signal potential within each horizontal period, to the signal lines, and a power supply for supplying a power supply voltage, which changes over between a high potential and a low potential within each horizontal period, to the feed lines.
US08203508B2 Plasma display device and driving method thereof
A plasma display device includes a plasma display panel having a scan driver including a falling reset signal/scan low signal generating circuit that includes: a first switch coupled to a scan electrode, a second switch coupled in series with the first switch and coupled to a scan low voltage source having a scan low voltage, a first driving circuit having an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the first switch and a ground terminal coupled to the first and second switches, a second driving circuit having an output terminal coupled to a control terminal of the second switch and a ground terminal coupled to the second switch and the scan low voltage source, a control Zener diode between the control terminals of the first and second switches, and a control resistor between the control terminal of the second switch and the scan low voltage source.
US08203507B2 Drive method of plasma display panel
A drive method of a plasma display panel that can increase the dark contrast, without causing a discharge failure. When a discharge cell that assumes a black display state in a first field from among first and a second fields that are adjacent in time and switches to a display state representing a brightness other than black in the second field is detected as a lighting transition cell, at least one drive of the below-described first and second forced lighting drives is executed. In the first forced lighting drive, the lighting transition cell is forcibly set into the lighting mode only in the address process of a predetermined subfield within the field in the first field. In the second forced lighting drive, an adjacent discharge cell that is adjacent to the lighting transition cell is forcibly set into the lighting mode only in the address process of the predetermined subfield in the second field.
US08203496B2 Top mount mast antenna reinforcement
A mounting apparatus for a top mount mast antenna includes a secondary mounting bracket positioned below the fender panel to stabilize the antenna attachment screws extending through the antenna base into the fender panel of the automotive vehicle on which the antenna is mounted. The secondary mounting bracket is formed with a generally circular reinforcement collar that projects upwardly through the opening in the fender panel. The reinforcement collar has opposing retention tabs that pass through recesses formed in the opening. A rotation of the secondary mounting bracket within the opening rotates the retention tabs to a position overlying the fender panel, and moves deformable bosses into alignment with the screw holes in the fender panel. The rotation of the secondary mounting bracket is halted by the engagement of a closed side of the bosses with a flange of material created by the piercing of the screw holes.
US08203488B2 Integrated circuit package including miniature antenna
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit package comprising at least one substrate, each substrate including at least one layer, at least one semiconductor die, at least one terminal, and an antenna located in the integrated circuit package, but not on said at least one semiconductor die. The conducting pattern comprises a curve having at least five sections or segments, at least three of the sections or segments being shorter than one-tenth of the longest free-space operating wavelength of the antenna, each of the five sections or segments forming a pair of angles with each adjacent segment or section, wherein the smaller angle of each of the four pairs of angles between sections or segments is less than 180° (i.e., no pair of sections or segments define a longer straight segment), wherein at least two of the angles are less than 115°, wherein at least two of the angles are not equal, and wherein the curve fits inside a rectangular area the longest edge of which is shorter than one-fifth of the longest free-space operating wavelength of the antenna.
US08203486B1 Transmitter independent techniques to extend the performance of passive coherent location
Methods to improve the performance of passive coherent location by non-reliance on a direct view of the signal source are described. Passive Coherent Location, or PCL, has become a promising technology as more computer-processing power has become generally available. Basically, most PCL techniques rely on comparing signal sources with their reflections from an object in order to determine the location of the object. However, this requires line of sight access from the receiver system to the signal source which may not always be practical and may limit the performance of the system overall. The techniques described herein do not require line of sight to the transmitter sources.
US08203482B2 Method for autonomous determination of protection levels for GNSS positioning based on navigation residuals and an isotropic confidence ratio
The present invention relates to a method for computing autonomous horizontal and vertical Protection Levels for least squares-based GNSS positioning, based on navigation residuals and an isotropic confidence ratio.
US08203480B1 Predictive and adaptive weather radar detection system and method
A method of detecting weather on an aircraft uses a weather radar system. The method adapts the weather radar system in accordance with a time-of-year parameter, a time-of-day parameter, and/or a location parameter to remove ground clutter reflectivity. The method includes determining the particular parameter and automatically adjusting the weather radar system to display the weather in response to the parameter. The system can be implemented in hardware and/or software and can advantageously predict and identify weather and/or weather hazards more precisely.
US08203478B1 Distributed and coordinated electronic warfare system
A distributed and coordinated electronic warfare system is disclosed, which comprises a plurality of autonomous, geographically-distributed, mobile units (e.g., soldiers, vehicles, etc.), each of which carries an electronic warfare module. Each electronic warfare module comprises: a telecommunications transceiver for enabling the electronic warfare modules and their users to communicate with each other, and a threat-detection receiver for detecting potentially hostile radio signals, such as those that are used to detonate IEDs; and a jamming transmitter for transmitting sequences of electromagnetic pulses to interfere with potentially hostile radio signals, and an electronic warfare controller for coordinating the efforts of the electronic warfare modules.
US08203477B2 Analog-to-digital conversion and implementations thereof
In one embodiment, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes a comparator and a supply circuit. The comparator is configured to compare an input signal to a reference signal. The supply circuit is configured to supply the reference signal. The supply circuit is configured to provide different circuit configurations for supplying the reference signal during different stages of analog-to-digital conversion such that the reference signal is scaled in substantially a same manner during at least two of the stages.
US08203474B2 Pipeline A/D converter
In each stage, a digital signal corresponding to a portion of bits is generated from an input analog signal, an analog reference signal is generated by a DA conversion portion (7, 8) based on the digital signal, and a remainder operation on the input analog signal is performed by a remainder operation portion (9). A test can be performed by supplying a test signal in place of the input analog signal. A control portion (14a) performs control, in a test mode, to stop supply of the input analog signal to the remainder operation portion and stop the reference voltage selection of the DA conversion portion based on the digital signal, while performing reference voltage selection based on a DA conversion control signal for use in testing, thereby supplying the remainder operation portion with the test signal composed of predetermined one of the reference voltages, in place of the input analog signal, and the analog reference signal. A test signal can be input with a small-scale configuration, without providing a test signal line separately from a line used for normal operation.
US08203472B2 Compensation of clock jitter in analog-digital converter applications
Processes and systems for use in reducing clock jitter-induced error, obtain a first sample during each cycle of a periodic analog reference signal. The sample includes an error resulting at least in part from jitter-induced timing error of the clock signal. For each respective cycle, a second sample of a discrete-time analog representation of the periodic analog reference signal is also obtained. The second sample is substantially unsusceptible to jitter-induced timing error of the clock signal. Each of the first and second samples corresponds to the same respective cycle of the clock signal. For each cycle, a respective difference between each of the first and second samples is determined. The difference is indicative of timing error of the respective cycle of the clock signal. The difference is converted to a digital representation that can be used to compensate for jitter-induced error.
US08203469B2 Signal encoding apparatus and method of radio frequency identification reader
A signal encoding apparatus and method of a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader capable of removing a high frequency component without using a digital filter, and performing Manchester encoding by using two symbols. The signal encoding apparatus of the RFID reader including an encoding unit that stores a first symbol and a second symbol; transmits the first symbol if data received after an initial state is zero (0), and returns to the initial state; delays for a given time period if the data received after the initial state is one (1); transmits the second symbol if data received after the delayed given time period is zero (0), and returns to the initial state; and transmits the first symbol if the data received after the delayed given time period is one (1), and stands by.
US08203467B2 Apparatus, method, and medium for expanding number of input channels
Provided are an apparatus, method, and medium for expanding the number of input channels, more particularly, an apparatus and method for expanding the number of input channels, which can expand the number of input channels using a limited number of input code values. The apparatus includes a first input unit, a second input unit, and a control unit. The first input unit has a plurality of buttons arranged therein, the buttons each being assigned a predetermined input code value. The second input unit is formed on one side of the first input unit and has a plurality of buttons arranged therein, the buttons each being assigned a predetermined input code value and each being formed to be adjacent to neighboring buttons of the first input unit. The control unit performs predetermined functions depending on a combination of buttons manipulated in the first input unit and the second input unit.
US08203465B2 Filtering aircraft traffic for display to a pilot
A method for filtering and presenting relevant aircraft traffic to a pilot may include determining a location and altitude of aircraft within a predetermined airspace relative to the pilot's own aircraft. The method may also include presenting a representation of the pilot's own aircraft and a representation of the location of each of the aircraft within the predetermined airspace in relation to the pilot's own aircraft on a display to the pilot. The method may additionally include filtering relevant aircraft within a selected filtering airspace relative to the pilot's own aircraft. The method may further include presenting the representation of the relevant aircraft within the selected filtering airspace in a selected format to distinguish the relevant aircraft within the selected filtering airspace from any other aircraft that may be presented in the display.
US08203453B2 Dual communication fob assembly comprising an insert within a base
A dual communication fob assembly provided with an attachment area for a ring or a chain and including in combination: an insert including a first contactless communication device; and a base with a pocket in the base for holding at least a part of the insert when inserted therein, and being provided with a second contactless communication device which is electrically separate from the first contactless communication device.
US08203443B2 Vehicle vision system
A vision system for a vehicle includes a first imaging sensor having a first forward field of view and a second imaging sensor spaced from the first imaging sensor and having a second forward field of view, which at least partially overlaps with the first forward field of view. A control processes image data captured by at least one of the first and second imaging sensors to determine an object present in the first and/or second forward fields of view. The control is operable to modulate a headlamp of the vehicle responsive to the processing of image data captured by the at least one of the first and second imaging sensors. The control may process image data captured by both of the imaging sensors to determine a distance between the equipped vehicle and an object present in the overlap of the first and second forward fields of view.
US08203439B1 Mini-dome, nurse call visual communication system
A patient and room status display device used to provide effective communication in healthcare environments. The display device uses a RGB (Red, Green and Blue) LED (Light Emitting Diode) to illuminate a dome light with any color, thus providing signals to healthcare workers representing different patient or room statuses. The display device can be operated through an external web-based interface, a nurse call master station or at least one user controlled actuator located on the display device. Each display device is mounted outside of every patient's room to provide multiple status signals for every patient in the hospital wing.
US08203432B2 Method of reading a plurality of non-contact data carriers, including an anti-collision scheme
A method of inventorying data carriers (2) by means of a communication station, whereby the communication station and each data carrier (2) are brought into communicative connection, and each data carrier (2) brought into communicative connection with the communication station is capable of generating a response signal (IDS) that renders possible an inventorying of the data carrier and is capable of delivering a generated response signal (IDS) with the use of a transmission start moment that can be selected from a plurality of transmission start moments (t5, t6), each data carrier tests whether another data carrier (2) is already giving its response signal (IDS). Each data carrier (2) subsequently discontinues the generation or delivery of its response signal (IDS) if another data carrier (2) is already providing its response signal (IDS).
US08203430B2 Device, system and method for compensating signal delays in an RFID communication system
An RFID communication system comprises an NFC device (11) and a smart card (2) with contactless card functionality, wherein the NFC device (11) and the smart card (2) are couplable to each other via a protocol converter (7), wherein the NFC device (11) is coupled to an antenna (3) to receive electromagnetic signals (ES) from an RFID reader/writer and to transmit response signals (RS) to the RFID reader/writer by modulating received electromagnetic signals (ES). The electromagnetic signals (ES) contain first and second characteristic components (FE, RE) which define the begin and the end of a predefined signal pattern (PA), wherein the second characteristic component triggers a predefined response delay time (FDT) at the expiration of which the RFID communication system has to respond to the RFID reader/writer. A device (12) for compensating signal delays is provided that comprises signal pattern shortening means (13).
US08203423B2 Portable access device
Portable devices, methods, and systems for controlling access to computers and other secure systems such as systems protecting secure premises, by processing data supplied by the individual seeking access to the system and data supplied by the system to which the prospective user seeks access, to determine whether access by the individual is to be authorized or enabled. In one embodiment the invention provides a device for providing a code that may be used to access a system such as a computer or security system. The device comprises an output device and at least one processor. The processor processes data representing a biometric characteristic of a prospective user of the system and a signal provided by the system, and, depending upon a result of the processing, provides to the output device a code that may be used to access the system.
US08203415B2 Bobbin structure and transformer having the same
A bobbin structure is disclosed. The bobbin structure comprises plural modular bobbin members each connected with each other. Each modular bobbin member comprises a perforation channel, a first baffle disposed on one end of the perforation channel and placed perpendicularly to the perforation channel, and a second baffle disposed on the other end of the perforation channel and placed oppositely to the first baffle. The first baffle has a first connecting member, and the second baffle has a second connecting member. A first winding slot is disposed between the first baffle and the second baffle. The bobbin structure is formed by the engagement between the first connecting member of one modular bobbin member and the second connecting member of another connected one, wherein a second winding slot is formed between two connected modular bobbin members.
US08203411B2 Potted inductor apparatus and method of use thereof
The invention comprises a potted inductor, where a solid potting material substantially contacting the inductor enhances cooling of the inductor. The inductor comprises an annular core composed of a distributed gap material, where the distributed gap material includes sub-millimeter particles of alternating magnetic and non-magnetic layers separated by gaps. The potting material includes a urethane, resin, epoxy, or the like combined with a lower thermal impedance additive, such as a silica sand or an aluminum oxide. Optionally, one or more cooling lines direct a circulating coolant flow through the potting material, around the inductor, and/or through the inductor.
US08203409B2 Iron core reactor
An iron core reactor includes reactor active parts. The reactor active parts include two or more separate reactor active parts. The coils in the respective active parts are connected in series or in parallel. The respective active parts are placed in a same reactor oil tank.
US08203404B2 Vehicle power system and electrical contactor for use with same
A vehicle power system includes an electrical power source, an electrical bus, and a contactor electrically connected with the electrical power source and electrical bus. The contactor includes first and second poles, dual plungers each operatively associated with one of the first and second poles, and an electromagnetic coil configured to cause at least one of the dual plungers to move if the coil is energized.
US08203401B2 Strip line filter
A strip line filter includes a substantially rectangular plate-like shaped dielectric substrate. A ground electrode is arranged on a bottom surface of the substrate. A first resonant line and a second resonant line face the ground electrode through the substrate. Input/output electrodes are connected to the corresponding resonant lines. The first resonant line includes a first top-surface line, a connection line, and a second top-surface line. The first top-surface line is arranged on the top surface of the substrate and extends so as to pass a portion adjacent to a portion, on the left side, of a third top-surface line. The connection line and the second top-surface line are branched from the first top-surface line and pass a portion adjacent to a portion, on the right side, of the third top-surface line.
US08203384B1 Amplifier
An amplifier has first and second differential outputs connected to first and second ends of one side of a balun. A second side of the balun, inductively coupled to the first side of the balun, has a center tap that is electrically coupled to a conductive path to a power supply reference node for the amplifier.
US08203381B2 Voltage output device having an operational amplifier
A voltage output device which is capable of preventing an increase in circuit scale and includes an offset compensation function that is suitably applicable in particular to a drive circuit for display devices such as liquid crystal display panels. The voltage output device includes an operational amplifier which has an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal. Resistance values of a load resistor on the inverting input side and a load resistor on the non-inverting input side are maintained when the output voltage of the amplifier has changed while sequentially varying either one or both of the resistance values of the load resistor on the inverting input side and the load resistor on the non-inverting input side in a state that the inverting input terminal and the non-inverting input terminal are connected. The voltage output device is configured to output the output voltage of the amplifier with the inverting input terminal not connected to the non-inverting input terminal.
US08203378B2 Boosting circuit
Provided is a boosting circuit which avoids a malfunction of a peripheral circuit to be connected to the boosting circuit. The boosting circuit includes: a first discharge circuit for discharging a voltage of a first output terminal when a boosting unit stops a boosting operation; and a second discharge circuit for discharging a voltage of a second output terminal. The second discharge circuit discharges the voltage of the second output terminal to a potential of the first output terminal when a difference voltage between the voltage of the second output terminal and the voltage of the first output terminal is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage.
US08203377B2 Gate driver for enhancement-mode and depletion-mode wide bandgap semiconductor JFETs
A DC-coupled two-stage gate driver circuit for driving a junction field effect transistor (JFET) is provided. The JFET can be a wide bandgap junction field effect transistor (JFET) such as a SiC JFET. The driver includes a first turn-on circuit, a second turn-on circuit and a pull-down circuit. The driver is configured to accept an input pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signal and generate an output driver signal for driving the gate of the JFET.
US08203371B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit and method for determining delay amount using the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first node through which an input signal passes and an adjustment block including at least one delay unit electrically connected to the first node. The semiconductor integrated circuit also includes a correction block configured to generate a control signal which controls whether to activate a delay unit.
US08203363B2 Frequency detection apparatus and method
A frequency detection apparatus and method are provided. The frequency detection apparatus includes a frequency conversion circuit and an analog conversion circuit. The frequency conversion circuit receives an input clock, and generates an analog signal corresponding to a frequency of the input clock based on the frequency of the input clock. The analog conversion circuit is coupled to the frequency conversion circuit, receives the analog signal, and generates a discriminating signal corresponding to the frequency of the input clock based on the analog signal, where the discriminating signal represents a frequency interval of the input clock.
US08203360B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit capable of reducing unnecessary current consumption includes a plurality of bus drive circuits for receiving data input, a common bus coupled to the bus drive circuits, and a bus holder coupled to the common bus. One of the bus drive circuits is selected as the selected bus drive circuit. When a logical value corresponding to the data input to be output is the same as a logical value that has been held by the bus holder and output to the common bus, the selected bus drive circuit stops outputting the logical value corresponding to the data input to the common bus. With this configuration, it is possible to eliminate the unnecessary output of the selected bus drive circuit, and to reduce unnecessary current consumption compared to the conventional semiconductor integrated circuit.
US08203340B2 Magnetic resonance method and apparatus for generating a perfusion image
In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus for generating perfusion images, a perfusion series of magnetic resonance perfusion images is acquired that includes tag images and at least one control image, that are grouped in pairs. From each pair an initially processed perfusion image is obtained, such as by subtraction. Each initially processed image is subjected to a quality control review by analysis with respect to at least one image quality criterion. Any initially processed image that does not satisfy the quality criterion is rejected. Only initially processed images that satisfy the quality criterion are combined to form a resultant magnetic resonance perfusion image. Artifacts in the resultant perfusion image are thereby reduced or avoided.
US08203334B2 Magnetically spirally encoded shaft for measuring rotational angel, rotational speed and torque
A magnetically spirally encoded shaft and magnetic field detecting system includes first, second, third and fourth magnetically encoded bands spirally encircling a circumference of the shaft. Each band includes first magnetically encoded regions having a first magnetic polarity alternating with second magnetically encoded regions having a second magnetic polarity. Dead zones are defined in each band between successive first and second magnetically encoded regions. The shaft is for use with a first fixed magnetic field sensor for detecting magnetic fields in the force-sensitive regions, wherein one or more of rotational speed, shaft rotational position, bending forces, torque forces, stress forces and strain forces can be determined responsive to detected magnetic fields.
US08203331B2 Non-contact sensor system and method for selection determination
A non-contact sensor system is provided that comprises a first sensor element disposed on a stationary member, and a second sensor element disposed on a rotational member. The second sensor element is proximate the first sensor element without physically contacting the first sensor element. The rotational member is configured to facilitate selection of at least a first position and a second position, and the first sensor element and the second sensor element are operatively coupled to facilitate sensing of the selected position.
US08203325B2 Activation systems and methods to initiate HDMI communication with mobile sources
Activation systems and methods initiate High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) communication between an HDMI source and an HDMI sink through an HDMI receptacle of the source. These systems and methods are especially suited for use with mobile sources that generally operate from a battery that cannot provide the +5V signal which the HDMI protocol requires sources to place on the +5V pin of their HDMI receptacles. These systems and methods automatically detect the insertion of an HDMI cable into the source's HDMI receptacle and subsequently generate and apply the required +5V signal to the +5V pin of the source's HDMI receptacle to initiate HDMI communication. Because they are directed to use in mobile sources, the embodiments are configured to minimize current drain.
US08203322B2 DC-DC converter
A small and efficient DC-DC converter is provided. In this DC-DC converter, passive elements such as an inductor and a capacitor can be reduced in size by reducing switching loss by a soft switching technology and increasing the drive frequency of a switching element. The DC-DC converter has a main switching element, a main diode and an auxiliary circuit that discharges the electric charges of the capacitance between the ends of the main switching element. The DC-DC converter includes an auxiliary inductor magnetically coupled with the main inductor, an auxiliary switching element that stores energy in the auxiliary inductor, and an auxiliary diode that discharges energy stored in the auxiliary inductor to the direct-current power source or the output side. The auxiliary inductor is coupled with the main inductor in the direction in which backward voltage is applied to the auxiliary diode when the main inductor discharges energy.
US08203321B2 Multi-functional DrMOS
A DrMOS combines a high side power MOSFET, a low side power MOSFET and a driver circuit for driving the power MOSFETs with current balance and thermal balance mechanism and variable phase control circuit on a single chip.
US08203320B2 Switching mode converters
A switch mode converter converts an input DC voltage applied at one level at the converter input to an output DC voltage at a second level at the converter output. A switch is arranged to switch the input DC voltage on and off during each cycle of a plurality of cycles. An energy storage unit temporarily stores energy from the input source voltage when the switch is on, and releases energy when the switch is off during each cycle. Input energy stored is equal to the energy released with each cycle and achieves equilibrium when the converter is operating into normal loads. A reset mechanism provides additional reset voltage during each cycle to achieve equilibrium when the converter is operating in a fault condition.
US08203317B2 Control parameter adaptation dependent on rotational speed
A method for controlling an output voltage of generator arrangement includes generating a controlled field current for a field winding dependent on the output voltage and dependent on at least one control parameter that depends on a rotational speed of the generator. The method also includes decreasing a rate of change of the controlled field current with respect to an output voltage change if the rotational speed decrease.
US08203310B2 Energy storage module for load leveling in lift truck or other electrical vehicle
An energy storage module for use in an electric vehicle, such as a lift truck, is disclosed. The energy storage module includes a bank of super capacitors or ultra-capacitors which are connected between the battery and the load. In operation, the energy storage module charges the capacitors, and uses the charged capacitors to level the load on the battery, limiting spikes in current draw, and assuring a substantially smooth discharge profile, wherein the battery discharge is substantially steady state. The energy storage module further includes sensors for determining when the battery and load are connected.
US08203305B1 Enhanced voltage-based fuel gauges and methods
Enhanced voltage-based fuel gauges and methods that increase the accuracy of voltage-based fuel gauges and allow the use of voltage-based fuel gauges to detect current, and particularly excessive current from a battery without the use of a sense resistor. When used with a coulomb counter, the outputs of a voltage-based fuel gauge and a coulomb counter may be combined in a manner that allows the combination to provide better performance that either alone may provide. Various embodiments and methods of operation are disclosed.
US08203286B2 Solid state lighting panels with variable voltage boost current sources
A lighting panel system includes a lighting panel having a string of solid state lighting devices and a current supply circuit having a voltage input terminal, a control input terminal, and first and second output terminals coupled to the string of solid state lighting devices. The current supply circuit is configured to supply an on-state drive current to the string of solid state lighting devices in response to a control signal. The current supply circuit includes a charging inductor coupled to the voltage input terminal and an output capacitor coupled to the first output terminal. The current supply circuit is configured to operate in continuous conduction mode in which current continuously flows through the charging inductor while the on-state drive current is supplied to the string of solid state light emitting devices.
US08203285B2 High-brightness LED lamp with battery conservation
A high-brightness LED lamp with battery conservation and solar charging features. The portable, self-contained lamp utilizes one or more high-brightness LEDs to provide area or decorative illumination. A solar cell charging device maintains the rechargeable batteries during the daytime with available ambient light. An electronic control circuit conserves battery power by limiting the period of time that the LEDs are energized during nighttime hours when ambient lighting conditions cannot support the recharging function. A photodetector device allows the control circuit to make this determination.
US08203284B2 Driving light emitting diodes
Disclosed is a driver that includes a main power supply that has outputs coupled across a string of light emitting diodes to supply a main current. A secondary power supply is coupled to a junction between successive light emitting diodes in the string to supply or withdraw a delta current from the junction. The delta current is at least five times smaller than the main current. A controller controls the secondary power supply to generate the delta current to obtain a desired spectral composition of the mixed light emitted by the string.
US08203279B2 Method of dimming
A power supply unit provides a voltage, and a driving current to a series of light emitting diodes. A dimming unit adjusts a duty cycle of an original dimming signal to generate a dimming signal according to the driving current and an ideal current. A current sink coupled to the series of light emitting diodes adjusts a duty cycle of the driving current according to the dimming signal.
US08203278B2 Power supply for light emitting diode display
There is provided a power supply for a light emitting diode display using a light emitting diode as a backlight unit that unites a DC power supply provided from outside the light emitting diode display and a driving power supply provided inside the light emitting diode display. A power supply of a light emitting diode display according to an aspect of the invention may include: a power conversion unit converting commercial AC power into at least one driving power having a predetermined voltage level; and a backlight driving unit generating a backlight driving signal using the driving power from the power conversion unit, wherein the power conversion unit and the backlight driving unit are mounted onto one printed circuit board.
US08203277B2 Efficient electrically isolated light sources
Solid state light sources are compatible with AC phase-cut dimmers. The light sources may have switching mode power supplies having primary and secondary sides that are in first and second circuit parts that are electrically isolated from one another. Information regarding a waveform of input electrical power is extracted in the first circuit part and passed to a controller in the second circuit part by way of a galvanic isolator. Additional isolated paths may be provided to provide bi-directional exchange of information between the first and second circuit parts and/or to provide for the exchange of additional information relevant to control. The signal path from the first side to the second side may have a low latency.
US08203262B2 Light-emitting element including a carrier transport controlling layer, light-emitting device and electronic device
A light-emitting element is provided, which includes a light-emitting layer and a control layer between a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the control layer includes a first organic compound and a second organic compound, the first organic compound is included in the control layer more than the second organic compound, the second organic compound has a property of trapping carriers having the same polarity as carriers transported by the first organic compound, and the concentration and the carrier-trapping property of the second organic compound included in the control layer satisfy certain conditions.
US08203259B2 Phosphor and light emitting device
The present invention provides a phosphor, including a constituent having the formula CapSrqMm-Aa-Bb—Ot—Nn:Eur, wherein M selected from the group consisting of beryllium and zinc; A selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, indium, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, gadolinium and lutetium; B selected from a group consisting of silicon, germanium, tin, titanium, zirconium and hafnium; 0
US08203255B2 Piezoelectric sensor arrangement comprising a thin layer shear wave resonator based on epitactically grown piezoelectric layers
The invention relates to piezoelectric sensor arrangements, especially sensor arrangements that can be operated in a measuring fluid, in order to be able to detect, for example, elastic properties of the measuring fluid itself or the presence and/or concentration of analyte molecules in the fluid. According to the invention, the sensor arrangement comprises an acoustic resonator which has a sensitive region and is arranged such that a resonance frequency of the sensor arrangement varies according to properties of the measuring fluid. The acoustic resonator is formed by a piezoelectric thin layer resonator and the sensitive region is produced by means of epitaxy, such that transversally polarized vibration modes can be induced.
US08203252B2 Clamp and lock permanent magnets within a rotating electrical machine using pitched focused flux magnets
Permanent magnets are mounted within an electrical machine in a pitched saw-tooth pattern around the rotor shaft. This focused flux configuration provides for improved magnet mounting strength without resort to bonding or taping; provides improved rotor and stator cooling by access to the axial generator air flow; and provides for a simpler and more easily manufactured design. A laminated version of this basic structure provides for reduced surface losses and self-heating.
US08203247B2 Stator for electric rotating machine
A stator for an electric rotating machine includes a hollow cylindrical stator core and a stator coil made up of a plurality of wave-shaped electric wires. Each of the electric wires has a plurality of in-slot portions, each of which is received in one of slots of the stator core, and a plurality of turn portions each of which is located outside of the slots of the stator core to connect one adjacent pair of the in-slot portions of the electric wire. The stator coil includes a plurality of radial position shift portions each of which is provided, in one of the electric wires, in one of the turn portions of the electric wire between an apex part of the turn portion and one of the in-slot portions of the electric wire adjoining the turn portion and is radially bent to shift the radial position of the electric wire.
US08203240B2 Liquid cooled rotating electrical machine
A rotating electrical machine includes: a stator that including a stator core and a teeth section, with a stator coil wound at the teeth section; a rotor arranged via a clearance at an inner periphery side of the stator and supported in a freely rotating manner; and a distribution unit supported by a resin holder, and including a conductor connected to the stator coil. The rotating electrical machine is cooled by coolant. The stator coil includes a coil end section projecting from an end of the stator in an axial direction. A gap is formed between an end of the stator core and a lower surface of the distribution unit by mounting the distribution unit on an upper part of the coil end section. The gap constitutes a path for the coolant.
US08203238B2 Linear motor for linear compressor
The present invention relates to a linear motor for a linear compressor reciprocating a moving member linearly inside a stationary member to compress refrigerant, and more particularly, to a linear motor for a linear compressor capable of decreasing an iron loss of a flux generated when a current flows in a coil and increasing an inductance. A linear motor for a linear compressor includes an inner stator formed by stacking core blocks in a circumference direction to be insulated from each other, an outer stator formed by arranging core blocks in a circumference direction at a predetermined intervals, and winding a coil around the core blocks, and a plurality of permanent magnets formed between the inner stator and the outer stator with a predetermined gap, and reciprocated linearly due to a mutual electromagnetic force.
US08203237B1 Portable power generating unit
A portable power generating unit charged by an on-board solar panel is herein disclosed, capable of operating small electrical devices for extended periods of time. A solar cell panel is provided on an adjustable arm which swings up from a rectangular enclosure and is capable of being positioned so as to receive a maximum amount of solar energy. Output power from the solar panel is used to charge an internal battery through a charge controller. Power from the battery is conducted thereto a plurality of ports, each comprising an integral voltage regulator, thereby supplying different standard voltages to the ports. Such features allow the portable power generating unit to be used in an outdoor setting to operate electrical devices where conventional electrical outlets are unavailable. The portable power generating unit further comprises a personal locator beacon (PLB) and a flashing strobe light to locate and rescue a user in an emergency situation if required.
US08203236B2 Dual voltage-source inverter system and method
Systems and methods are disclosed for a dual voltage-source inverter system. The systems and methods selectively couple a first voltage source and a second voltage source to an inverter via a controllable switch.
US08203234B2 Power safety system
A power safety system includes a first MOS, a second MOS, a switch and a body controller. The first MOS is connected between a power input and a power output. The second MOSFET is connected between the power output and a charging output. The switch has an end connected to the body of the first MOS, and the opposite end switched between the source and the drain of the first MOS. A body controller controls the switch according to the voltage at the power input and the voltage at the power output, to connect the body of the first MOS to the source or the drain of the first MOS. By switching the switch, the first MOS will have a parasitic diode effective to prevent a reverse current from the power output to the power input.
US08203227B2 Retro-fitting a wind energy converter
A method for retro-fitting wind-energy conversion system includes disconnecting a first set of multiple windings from active circuitry; shorting together the first set of multiple windings; and connecting a second set of multiple windings to the active circuitry.
US08203223B2 Overlay target for polarized light lithography
A target and method for use in polarized light lithography. A preferred embodiment comprises a first structure located on a reference layer, wherein the first structure is visible through a second layer, and a second structure located on the second layer, wherein the second structure is formed from a photomask containing a plurality of sub-structures oriented in a first orientation, wherein a polarized light is used to pattern the second structure onto the second layer, and wherein a polarization of the polarized light is the same as the orientation of the plurality of sub-structures. The position, size, and shape of the second structure is dependent upon a polarity of the polarized light, permitting a single design for an overlay target to be used with different polarities of polarized light.
US08203218B2 Semiconductor device package including a paste member
A semiconductor device package is provided. The semiconductor device package includes a package body, a plurality of electrodes, a paste member, and a semiconductor device. The electrodes includes a first electrode disposed on the package body. The paste member is disposed on the first electrode and includes at least one of an inorganic filler and metal powder. The semiconductor device is die-bonded on the paste member.
US08203197B2 Thermally enhanced semiconductor devices
Thermal communication of matched transistors formed in lower electrical resistance subregions of first and second active substrate regions is provided by thermally conductive members formed to extend over isolation regions between higher electrical resistance subregions of the first and second regions. In one form, thermal communication is done, with or without contacts, through insulating layers to metal layers formed over the substrate. In another form, thermal communication is done through a polysilicon layer formed over the substrate.
US08203195B2 Materials, fabrication equipment, and methods for stable, sensitive photodetectors and image sensors made therefrom
Optically sensitive devices include a device comprising a first contact and a second contact, each having a work function, and an optically sensitive material between the first contact and the second contact. The optically sensitive material comprises a p-type semiconductor, and the optically sensitive material has a work function. Circuitry applies a bias voltage between the first contact and the second contact. The optically sensitive material has an electron lifetime that is greater than the electron transit time from the first contact to the second contact when the bias is applied between the first contact and the second contact. The first contact provides injection of electrons and blocking the extraction of holes. The interface between the first contact and the optically sensitive material provides a surface recombination velocity less than 1 cm/s.
US08203194B2 Image sensor and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed are an image sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. A metal wiring consisting of a lower metal wiring, an upper metal wiring, and a plug connecting the lower and upper metal wirings, in which the lower and upper metal wiring are made of a transparent conductive film pattern, is formed on a substrate with devices formed thereon, the devices including a photodiode and gate electrodes. Then, a passivation film, a color filter, and a microlens are sequentially formed on the metal wiring. All or a portion of the metal wiring is formed in a transparent conductive film pattern. As such, the metal wiring is formed on the photodiode.
US08203189B2 Semiconductor device including gate electrode having a laminate structure and plug electrically connected thereto
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, a source region, a drain region, an element separation insulating film layer and a wiring. The gate electrode include a laminated structure having a gate insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer, a metal or a metallic compound formed on the gate insulating film and a polycrystalline silicon layer formed on the metal or metallic compound. The source region and drain region are formed on a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate and sandwich the gate electrode therebetween. The element separation insulating film layer surrounds the semiconductor layer. The wiring is in contact with the metal or metallic compound of the gate electrode.
US08203183B2 Electrostatic discharge diode
The present invention relates to an electrostatic discharge diode. The electrostatic discharge diode according to exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an N-type well formed on a substrate; an n− region formed on the N-type well; a plurality of p− regions penetrated and formed in the n− region; a plurality of n+ regions penetrated and formed in a first layer in which the n− region and a plurality of the p− regions are formed; a plurality of n+ regions penetrated and formed in a first layer in which the n− region and a plurality of the p− regions are formed; and a plurality of p+ regions penetrated and formed in the first layer, wherein a first n+ region among a plurality of the n+ regions and a first p+ region corresponding to the first n+ region are penetrated and formed in each other region of the corresponding first p− region among a plurality of the p− regions.
US08203169B2 Glass, coating material for light-emitting devices and light-emitting device
To provide glass with which a sealing treatment can be carried out at a temperature of at most 400° C. and which does not deteriorate or change in quality for a long time.Glass comprising, as represented by mol % based on oxides, from 27 to 33% of P2O5, from 50 to 70% of SnO, from 0 to 10% of ZnO, from 0.5 to 5% of CaO and from 0 to 5% of B2O3.
US08203161B2 Wavelength converted semiconductor light emitting device
A device includes a semiconductor structure comprising a light emitting layer disposed between an n-type region and a p-type region. A luminescent material is positioned in a path of light emitted by the light emitting layer. A thermal coupling material is disposed in a transparent material. The thermal coupling material has a thermal conductivity greater than a thermal conductivity of the transparent material. The thermal coupling material is positioned to dissipate heat from the luminescent material.
US08203160B2 LED semiconductor body and use of an LED semiconductor body
An LED semiconductor body includes a number of at least two radiation-generating active layers. Each active layer has a forward voltage, wherein the number of active layers is adapted to an operating voltage in such a way that the voltage dropped across a series resistor connected in series with the active layers is at most of the same magnitude as a voltage dropped across the LED semiconductor body. The invention furthermore describes various uses of the LED semiconductor body.
US08203155B2 Cavity-enhanced multispectral photonic devices
A multispectral pixel structure is provided that includes a plurality of stacked cavity arrangements for emitting or detecting a plurality of specified wavelengths, wherein each stacked cavity arrangement having a photoactive layer for spectral emission or detection of one of the specified wavelengths. The photoactive layer is positioned within a resonant cavity stack and the resonant cavity stack being positioned between two adjacent mirror stacks. A plurality of coupling-matching layers are positioned between one or more of the stack mirror arrangements for controlling optical phase and coupling strength between emitted or incident light and resonant modes in each of the stacked cavity arrangements.
US08203152B2 Nitride semiconductor devices including a separation preventing layer
The nitride semiconductor device includes an insulating layer and a metal layer formed on a nitride semiconductor layer. The insulating layer makes contact with the nitride semiconductor layer. A separation preventing layer is formed between the insulating layer and the metal layer so as to make contact with each of these layers. The separation preventing layer includes, as a main component, at least one oxide of a metal selected from a group of metals consisting of tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, titanium, nickel, hafnium, zinc, indium and yttrium.
US08203151B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a SiC film, forming trenches at a surface of the SiC film, heat-treating the SiC film with silicon supplied to the surface of the SiC film, and obtaining a plurality of macrosteps to constitute channels, at the surface of the SiC film by the step of heat-treating. Taking the length of one cycle of the trenches as L and the height of the trenches as h, a relation L=h(cot α+cot β) (where α and β are variables that satisfy the relations 0.5≦α, β≦45) holds between the length L and the height h. Consequently, the semiconductor device can be improved in property.
US08203150B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A buffer layer configured of the same conductive semiconductor layers of two or more layers as a drift layer is installed by epitaxial growth between a first semiconductor layer configuring the drift layer that is a layer in which components of the semiconductor device are made and a base substrate including a silicon carbide single crystal wafer. A step of donor concentration is provided at an interface between the drift layer and the buffer layer, an interface between the semiconductor layers configuring the buffer layer, and an interface between the buffer layer and the base substrate and the donor concentration of the drift layer side is lower than that of the base substrate side, thereby making it possible to convert most basal plane dislocations into threading edge dislocations as compared to the drift layer having one layer or the buffer layer configured of one layer.
US08203143B2 Thin film field effect transistor
A thin film field effect transistor has at least a gate electrode 2, a gate insulating layer 3, an active layer 4, a source electrode 5-1 and a drain electrode 5-2 on a substrate 1. The active layer includes an amorphous oxide semiconductor including at least In and Zn, a first interface layer 61 is disposed between the gate insulating layer and the active layer such that it is adjacent to at least the active layer, and a second interface layer is disposed on the opposite side of the active layer with respect to the first interface layer such that it is adjacent to the active layer. A content of Ga or Al in the amorphous oxide semiconductor of each of the first interface layer and the second interface layer is higher than a content of Ga or Al in the amorphous oxide semiconductor of the active layer.
US08203139B2 Organic thin film transistor and organic thin film light-emitting transistor using an organic semiconductor layer having an aromatic hydrocarbon group or an aromatic heterocyclic group in the center thereof
An organic thin film transistor including a substrate having thereon at least three terminals of a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, an insulator layer and an organic semiconductor layer, with a current between a source and a drain being controlled upon application of a voltage to the gate electrode, wherein the organic semiconductor layer includes a specified organic compound having an aromatic hydrocarbon group or an aromatic heterocyclic group in the center thereof; and an organic thin film light emitting transistor utilizing an organic thin film transistor, wherein the organic thin film transistor is one in which light emission is obtained utilizing a current flowing between the source and the drain, and the light emission is controlled upon application of a voltage to the gate electrode, and is made high with respect to the response speed and has a large ON/OFF ratio, are provided.
US08203136B2 Epitaxial substrate, semiconductor light-emitting device using such epitaxial substrate and fabrication thereof
The invention provides an epitaxial substrate, a semiconductor light-emitting device using such epitaxial substrate and fabrication thereof. The epitaxial substrate according to the invention includes a crystalline substrate. In particular, a crystal surface of the crystalline substrate thereon has a plurality of randomly arranged nanorods. The plurality of nanorods is formed of oxide of a material different from that forms the crystalline substrate.
US08203134B2 Memory devices with enhanced isolation of memory cells, systems including same and methods of forming same
Memory cells of a memory device including a variable resistance material have a cavity between the memory cells. Electronic systems include such memory devices. Methods of forming a memory device include providing a cavity between memory cells of the memory device.
US08203127B2 Terahertz radiation device using polar semiconductor materials and method of generating terahertz radiation
A method and device for generating terahertz radiation comprising a plurality of layers of polar crystal material operative to emit terahertz radiation; the plurality of layers comprising transport layers and divider layers, the plane of the layers being not parallel to the polar axis, the interface between the transport layers and divider layers forming boundaries at which the internal electric polarization terminates leading to charges accumulating at the boundaries, and creation of internal electric fields oriented along the polar axis.
US08203125B2 Light to heat conversion layer incorporating modified pigment
A LTHC layer for use in radiation induced thermal transfer includes a modified pigment.
US08203120B2 4D imaging in an ultrafast electron microscope
The present invention relates to methods and systems for 4D ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM)—in situ imaging with ultrafast time resolution in TEM. Single electron imaging is used as a component of the 4D UEM technique to provide high spatial and temporal resolution unavailable using conventional techniques. Other embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for convergent beam UEM, focusing the electron beams onto the specimen to measure structural characteristics in three dimensions as a function of time. Additionally, embodiments provide not only 4D imaging of specimens, but characterization of electron energy, performing time resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS).
US08203118B2 Ion-trap mass spectrometer driven by a monolithic photodiode array
A chip-scale ion-trap mass spectrometer driven by a monolithic photodiode array and a method of fabricating the same. A high-voltage photovoltaic source is located in proximity to the ion-trap mass spectrometer structure. The high-voltage photovoltaic source includes monolithically fabricated and serially connected photodiodes. An external light source illuminates the photodiodes to generate a high voltage across the photodiode array. An RF voltage modulation is attained by modulating the light source at a desired RF frequency. The high-voltage photodiode array may be monolithically fabricated in association with the ion-trap mass spectrometer. The photodiode array requires a small area compared to the ion-trap mass spectrometer size as the spectrometer typically possess a very small capacitance and a low power consumption.
US08203117B2 Method and apparatus for embedded heater for desorption and ionization of analytes
A heated DESI spray device provides improved resolution or control of analyte desorption at a target locus on a sample. Heating controls spot size and enhances resolution in an imaging mode without impairing signal level. Additionally or alternatively the heated DESI spray may control desorption kinetics of a target analyte or otherwise control analyte discrimination in detection mode. One embodiment of the DESI spray is heated by heating nebulizing gas that accompanies the electrosprayed solvent. Another embodiment heats a separate gas stream that transports or directs desorbed material to the ion aperture of an analysis instrument. Heating may reduce size of primary droplets, alter the impact dynamics or the energy delivered by the spray to the surface, reduce size of secondary droplets and/or assure desolvation, improve species selectivity or otherwise affect sampling and enhance the ion signal level.
US08203111B2 CMOS image sensor pixel with an NMOS charge amplifier
A CMOS image sensor in which each column of pixels is connected to a signal line that is coupled to a current source, and each pixel includes a charge amplifier having a common source configuration arranged such that a charge generated by its photodiode is amplified by the charge amplifier and transmitted to readout circuitry by way of the signal line. In one embodiment the charge amplifier utilizes an NMOS transistor to couple the photodiode charge in an inverted manner to the signal line while converting the charge to a voltage through a capacitor coupled between the signal line and photodiode (i.e., forming a feedback of the NMOS amplifier transistor).
US08203101B2 Conveying device
A conveying device A is disposed inside a vacuum chamber B, includes a fixation base 1; a swivel base which is held rotatably with respect to the fixation base 1; linear movement mechanisms 3A, 3B supported by the swivel base 2; and hands 4A, 4B supported by the linear movement mechanisms 3A, 3B; and a transports work W placed on the hands 4A, 4B by operation of the linear movement mechanism 3A, 3B. Radiation plates 62, 63, 65 are provided at appropriate locations on a lower surface side of the swivel base or of the linear movement mechanisms 3A, 3B. The vacuum chamber is provided with heat absorption plates 61, 66 on a wall which faces the lower surface side of the swivel base 2.
US08203097B2 Workpiece support cleaning
A mechanical apparatus maintains and/or cleans support strips of a workpiece support that forms a support plane for supporting workpieces. The mechanical apparatus includes a transport device for moving the workpiece support along a transport axis X and a service device that has a tool for processing the support strips. The service device is movable by means of a mechanical movement unit along a movement axis Y that is arranged at an angle relative to the transport axis X and/or along a movement axis Z that is arranged at an angle relative to the transport axis X and that is different from the movement axis Y, with the movement of the workpiece support along the transport axis X and the movement of the service device along the movement axis Y and/or along the movement axis Z being controllable in a coordinated manner by means of a control unit.
US08203093B2 Pushbutton for electronic device
A pushbutton for an electronic device includes a pushbutton cap, a pushbutton base, and an adhesive member. The pushbutton cap has a flange extending from an edge thereof. The pushbutton base engages with the flange of the pushbutton cap, thus enveloping the adhesive member between the pushbutton cap and the pushbutton base.
US08203088B2 Electrical switching apparatus and close latch interlock assembly therefor
A close latch interlock assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, which includes a stored energy mechanism, such as a closing spring. The close latch interlock assembly includes a close D-shaft pivotable between a latched and unlatched positions corresponding to the closing spring being chargeable and discharged, respectively. An actuator is movable between an unactuated position corresponding to the close D-shaft being disposed in the latched position, and an actuated position corresponding to the close D-shaft being movable toward the unlatched position. A release member cooperates with the actuator and is pivotably coupled to the first end of a transfer link. The second end of the transfer link extends toward the close D-shaft. When the actuator is moved toward the actuated position, it moves the release member, thereby moving the transfer link and pivoting the close D-shaft toward the unlatched position.
US08203086B2 Detachable windshield for weighing apparatus with a T-shaped latching mechanism and a floor-member abutting portion for providing direct attachment of the windshield to the weighing apparatus housing
A windshield for attaching and detaching to an electronic scale includes a plurality of mechanism for the attaching and detaching. Each of the mechanisms includes a latch which engages a member generally found on conventional electronic seals.
US08203074B2 Messenger supported overhead cable for electrical transmission
A transmission line assembly for transmission and distribution of high voltage power which comprises a conductor, a separate messenger member and coupling means. The conductor has a predetermined length. The separate messenger member has a predetermined length. The coupling means couples the messenger to the conductor to the messenger. The messenger member and the conductor remain structurally separate from each other and functionally independent.
US08203061B2 V type electric guitar footrest
The V type electric guitar footrest (2) which is attached to the lower part of the input socket device (5) consists of an L-sectioned, half triangular component (1) on the lower edge of the V type electric guitar and a triangular stabilizing backrest (3) that is attached to the rear side of the half triangular component (1). An alternative way of stabilizing the V type electric guitar inside the footrest is to attach a pair of retaining straps (4) on the rear side of the L-sectioned, half triangular component (1). A second alternative way of stabilizing the V type electric guitar inside the footrest (without having to use a stabilizing triangular part nor any retaining straps) is to use a U-sectioned (Ia) instead of an L-sectioned half triangular component (1), like the one mentioned in the first application method. In all three application methods of this invention, there is the possibility of adjusting the position of the curved supporting base (2) along the input socket device (5), so that the best possible adjustment for the positioning of the guitar on the guitarist's/user's foot is achieved. This footrest allows the guitarist/user to hold the V type electric guitar like any other regular guitar (when the guitar is used in a sitting position) and to play without getting tired, resulting in a prolonged time of practice/use, in other words in a more efficient performance and ultimate pleasure.
US08203043B2 Soybean variety XB27L10
A novel soybean variety, designated XB27L10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB27L10, cells from soybean variety XB27L10, plants of soybean XB27L10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB27L10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB27L10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB27L10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB27L10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB27L10 are further provided.
US08203039B2 Soybean variety A1016536
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016536. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016536. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016536 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016536 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08203023B2 Tailored fischer-tropsch synthesis product distribution
Novel methods of Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are described. It has been discovered that conducting the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis over a catalyst with a catalytically active surface layer of 35 microns or less results in a liquid hydrocarbon product with a high ratio of C5-C20:C20+. Descriptions of novel Fischer-Tropsch catalysts and reactors are also provided. Novel hydrocarbon compositions with a high ratio of C5-C20:C20+ are also described.
US08203014B2 Fractionation processes and devices for oils and fats
The invention provides operating the dry or solvent fractionation of oils and fats in a crystallizer comprising a crystallization vessel (1,2), an agitator, cooling means and a drive, wherein said drive provides said agitator with an oscillating motion, and/or a rotating motion around an axis, with the proviso that each point of said agitator moves at substantially the same linear speed.The invention also provides a crystallizer comprising a crystallization vessel (1,2) having a polygonal cross-section, an agitator and a drive, wherein said drive provides said agitator with an oscillating motion, and wherein said agitator is not inclined to the moving direction.
US08203012B2 Process for preparing conjugated linoleic acid and derivatives thereof from ricinoleic acid
A process for preparing conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) or derivatives thereof from ricinoleic acid, lower alkyl esters of ricinoleic acid, or salts thereof. The CLA is formed by reacting a carboxylic acid, or anhydride, anhydride equivalent, or ester thereof with the ricinoleic acid or derivative to form an intermediate having a carboxylic ester at the 12-hydroxy position of the ricinoleic acid or derivative, and reacting the intermediate with a base to form a cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid.
US08203008B2 Stable lactide particles
The present invention is directed to stable lactide particles, more specifically lactide particles which are stable enough to be stored and transported at room temperature and have a quality high enough for use as starting material for polylactic acid. The lactide particles have a surface/volume ratio of the particle is lower than 3000. Preferably the lactide in the particle has an optical purity of at least 95%. The lactide particles are prepared by subjecting lactide to a shaping step comprising extrusion, pastillation, prilling, tabletting, or flaking.
US08203006B2 Process for producing vinylene carbonate
The present invention relates to the industrial production of vinylene carbonate (VC) by eliminating hydrogen chloride from chloroethylene glycol carbonate (CGC) or solid catalysts in the gas phase, the reaction being carried out over a catalyst bed agitated by thorough mixing.
US08203002B2 Intermediates for the preparation of pramipexole
Intermediates useful for the preparation of pramipexole and the use thereof in such synthesis.
US08202999B2 Compounds for inflammation and immune-related uses
The invention relates to compounds of structural formulas (I), (VII) and (XI): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, clathrate, or prodrug thereof, wherein X1, X2, X3, Y, Z, L, R1, R2, R3, R18 and n are defined herein. These compounds are useful as immunosuppressive agents and for treating and preventing inflammatory conditions, allergic disorders, and immune disorders.
US08202990B2 Polo-like kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates generally to processes of making 4-(9-cyclopentyl-7,7-difluoro-5-methyl-6-oxo-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]diazepin-2-ylamino)-3-methoxy-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)benzamide and Form A of 4-(9-cyclopentyl-7,7-difluoro-5-methyl-6-oxo-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-pyrimido[4,5-b][1,4]diazepin-2-ylamino)-3-methoxy-N-(1-methylpiperidin-4-yl)benzamide.
US08202986B2 Branched hyaluronic acid and method of manufacture
A branched hyaluronic acid, wherein the linear backbone comprises hyaluronic acid in which one or more N-Acetyl-Glucosamine has been deacetylated to Glucosamine, with branching sidechain(s) covalently linked to the primary amine(s) of said deacetylated Glucosamine thus forming a secondary amine(s); a precursor for producing said branched hyaluronic acid; and a method for producing said branching hyaluronic acid.
US08202971B2 Process for preparing compounds of chitosan saccharified with aminosugar
A process for preparing compounds of chitosan saccharified with aminosugar, adopts chitosan derivatives, aminosugar derivatives and anhydride derivatives as raw materials to synthesize target products. The process comprises: covalently bonding an anhydride derivative as a bonding arm to an aminosugar derivative, so as to form a monosaccharide derivative having an end group of carboxyl; and then covalently bonding the monosaccharide derivative having an end group of carboxyl to a primary amino group of a chitosan derivative via the carboxyl, so as to form a compound of chitosan saccharified with aminosugar.
US08202969B2 Platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) polypeptides comprising activating mutation(s)
This disclosure provides tyrosine kinase protein and nucleic acid variants, particularly PDGFRA variants, which are activating forms of these molecules and are linked to neoplasms and/or the development or progression of cancer. The disclosure further provides methods of diagnosis and prognosis, and development of new therapeutic agents using these molecules and fragments thereof, and kits for employing these methods and compositions.
US08202955B2 Aqueous fluorine-containing polymer dispersion
The present invention provides an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion having good mechanical characteristics and storage stability and containing substantially no fluorinated surfactant. The present invention is related to an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion comprising a dispersed fluoropolymer particle with an average primary particle diameter of 50 to 400 nm, a surface layer of the dispersed fluoropolymer particle being obtained by emulsion polymerization of a monomer composition consisting of 99.999 to 98 mole percent of tetrafluoroethylene and 0.001 to 2 mole percent of a modifier monomer, a fluorinated surfactant content being not higher than 50 ppm, a fluoropolymer content being 20 to 75% by mass, and a nonfluorinated nonionic surfactant content being 2 to 15% by mass relative to 100% by mass of the fluoropolymer.
US08202952B2 Process for making ethylene homopolymers
A process for making an ethylene homopolymer in the presence of an oxide-supported chromium catalyst is disclosed. A small amount of an α-olefin contacted with the catalyst before polymerizing ethylene or introduced into an ethylene homopolymerization unexpectedly boosts process productivity. When used at part per million levels, the α-olefin improves productivity while maintaining desirable polymer properties. The invention is particularly valuable for making HDPE resins useful for blow molding applications.
US08202940B2 Bimodal polyethylene compositions for blow molding applications
Bimodal polyethylene compositions and methods for making the same are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the bimodal polyethylene composition can include a high molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from about 400,000 to about 950,000. The bimodal polyethylene composition can also include a low molecular weight component having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of from about 3,000 to about 100,000. The high molecular weight component can be present in an amount ranging from about 25 wt % to about 40 wt % of the bimodal polyethylene composition. The bimodal polyethylene composition can also have a percent die swell of less than about 80%.
US08202938B2 Thermoplastic resin composition and molded product made using the same
Disclosed is a thermoplastic resin composition that includes (A) a polycarbonate resin, (B) a modified acryl-based copolymer resin, (C) a polysiloxane copolymer including an aryl group, and (D) a core-shell graft copolymer.
US08202934B2 Hot melt processable polyurea copolymers and methods of their preparation and use
Packaged viscoelastic compositions comprising viscoelastic copolymers and a packaging material are disclosed. The viscoelastic copolymers are urea copolymers, which are the reaction product of polyisocyanates and polyamines. The packaged viscoelastic compositions are hot melt processable.
US08202931B2 Organic polysiloxane, adhesive composition comprising the same, and rubber stiffener treated thereby
The present invention relates to a novel polymer, an adhesive composition including the same, and a rubber reinforcing material treated with the same, and more particularly to an organic polysiloxane including a certain repeating unit, an adhesive composition including the same, and a rubber reinforcing material treated with the same.Because the organic polysiloxane and the adhesive composition including the same is superior in reactivity to a hydroxyl group, an amide group, or an amine group, and has high thermal resistance and low stiffness, the composition is preferably used for surface-treating a rubber reinforcing material such as a tire cord and make it possible to provide a rubber reinforcing material such as a tire cord having good properties.
US08202928B2 Amine-cured silicone compositions resistant to hydrocarbon fluid and uses thereof
A silicone composition is provided that is resistant to a hydrocarbon fluid, such as a transmission fluid, and other harsh environments when cured. The silicone composition includes a dihydroxy-terminated silicone fluid, a filler material and amine-cured cross-linking agent, the composition containing substantially no plasticizer, and wherein the cured composition can be utilized as a sealant that is resistant to exposure to transmission fluid and high temperatures for extended periods of time. The silicone composition provides effective sealant properties that withstand the foregoing conditions present in the transmission fluids. Methods of making and using the cured silicone sealants made from the present compositions are also provided.
US08202921B2 Aqueous alkyd resin emulsion for fixing water-soluble dyes
The invention provides aqueous resin emulsion containing a resin obtained by reaction of a composition containing at least: at least one polyhydric alcohol having at least two hydroxyl groups, at least one polyetherpolyol having a molecular weight of 400 to 8000 g/mol, at least one monobasic carboxylic acid, and at least one polybasic carboxylic acid having at least two carboxyl groups or its anhydride, to form a resin and the resin emulsion is modified by providing basic groups. The invention further relates to a process for preparing a resin, to a resin as obtained by the process and to a coating film obtained from the resin emulsion.
US08202896B2 Compounds, compositions and methods for treating or preventing pneumovirus infection and associated diseases
Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for the prophylaxis and treatment of infections caused by viruses of the Pneumovirinae subfamily of Paramyxoviridae and diseases associated with such infection.
US08202893B2 Cannabinergic lipid ligands
One aspect of this disclosure relates generally to lipid compounds that exert diverse effects in the endocannabinoid system, such as regulating CB1 and CB2 receptor or moderating other bio-macromolecules within the endocannabinoid system. Some of the compounds showed improved receptor binding affinity, and/or improved receptor subtype selectivity, and improved bio-stability. Some of the compounds exhibit activities to regulate the enzymes that moderate the bio-disposal of endogenous cannabinoids, such as the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Some of the compounds exhibit activities to inhibit the anandamide transporter. Other aspects of the invention are pharmaceutical preparations employing these ligands and methods of administering therapeutically effective amounts of the preparations to provide a physiological effect.
US08202891B2 Quaternary ammonium compounds useful as muscarinic receptor antagonists
The invention provides compounds of the formula: in salt or zwitterionic form or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1-6, a, Z and Q are as defined in the specification. These compounds are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to, for example, treat pulmonary disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
US08202889B2 Inhibitors of bacterial IMPDH
The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting bacterial IMPDH comprising administering compounds of formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds. These compounds, and compositions thereof, are useful in treating bacterial infections.
US08202888B2 Piperidine sulphonamide derivatives
The present invention relates to piperidine sulphonamide derivatives of formula wherein Ar1, Ar2, R1, R2, m and n are as defined in the description and claims, or pharmaceutically suitable acid addition salts thereof. The compounds of formula I are orexin receptor antagonists and the related compounds can be useful in the treatment of sleep apnea, narcolepsy, insomnia, parasomnia, jet lag syndrome, circadian rhythms disorder or sleep disorders associated with neurological diseases.
US08202878B2 Inhibitors of diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase type 1 enzyme
The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a pharmaceutical composition of formula (I), and related methods for treating or preventing metabolic diseases or conditions.
US08202877B2 Aminopyrimidinamides as pesticides
The present application relates to novel aminopyrimidinamides, to processes for their preparation and to their use for controlling animal pests, especially arthropods, in particular insects.
US08202876B2 Compounds and compositions as protein kinase inhibitors
The invention provides a novel class of compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat or prevent diseases or disorders associated with abnormal or deregulated kinase activity, particularly diseases or disorders that involve abnormal activation of the Abl, ARG, BCR-Abl, BRK, EphB, Fms, Fyn, KDR, c-Kit, LCK, PDGF-R, b-Raf, c-Raf, SAPK2, Src, Tie2 and TrkB kinases.
US08202873B2 2-[4-(pyrazol-4-ylalkyl)piperazin-1-yl]-3-phenyl pyrazines as 5-HT7 receptor antagonists
The present invention provides selective 5-HT7 receptor antagonist compounds of Formula I and their use in the treatment of migraine, persistent pain, and anxiety: where A and B are each independently —C(H)═ or —N═, provided that at least one of A and B is —N═, n is 1-3, m is 0-3, and R1-4 are as defined herein.
US08202866B2 Ortho-aminoanilides for the treatment of cancer
The present invention is directed to a compound of formula I, and processes for the manufacture of said compounds as well as medicaments containing said compound. The compounds according to this invention show anti-proliferative and differentiation-inducing activity and are thus useful for the treatment of diseases such as cancer in humans or animals.
US08202856B2 Triazole oxadiazoles derivatives
The invention relates to compounds of formula I: wherein R1, R2,Ra, Rb, X have the meanings given in claim 16. The compounds are useful e.g. in the treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.
US08202839B1 Pharmaceutical composition of nanoparticles
The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition of bioactive nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and a bioactive agent for oral delivery. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and enhanced permeability for oral drug delivery.
US08202838B2 Methods for treatment of headaches by administration of oxytocin
The present invention relates to methods for the treatment of headache and headache disorders. The methods comprise administration of an oxytocin peptide for the treatment of primary and secondary headaches or trigeminal neuralgia.
US08202834B2 Fat regulation
The present invention provides methods and compounds for regulating fat metabolism and achieving fat homeostasis in a subject. Methods and compound for regulating body weight, reducing body fat, and inducing weight loss are also provided, as are methods and compounds for treating or preventing obesity and for preventing or treating conditions associated with altered fat metabolism including, e.g., obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, etc.
US08202832B2 Nano-clay composite and composition for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a nano-clay composite and a composition for fabricating the same. The nano-clay composite of the invention is formed by compounding a composition comprising a polymer, a surfactant, a polymer modification component, and micro/nano powders. The nano-clay composite is flexible to completely adhere to cleaning surfaces to remove unwanted materials via the release of surfactant, as well as the scrubbing effect produced by the friction between micro/nano powders and the surface.
US08202830B2 Development of an aluminum hydroxydicarboxylate builder
A cleaning composition for removing soils includes an aluminum salt, a hydroxydicarboxylate, an alkalinity source and optionally, a surfactant system. The cleaning composition has a pH of between about 9 and about 14.
US08202821B2 Thermal recording material
Provided is a thermal recording material superior in color development sensitivity, and having good preservation properties such as in heat resistance, moisture resistance, water resistance and the like.A thermal recording material comprising a support and a thermal recording layer comprising a colorless or pale basic leucodye and a developer to develop color of the basic leucodye, wherein the aforementioned developer comprises a first developer which is a condensate or condensed composition represented by the following formula (I) and a second developer other than the first developer, and the proportion of the first developer to the total amount of the developers is not less than 2 wt % and less than 50 wt %: wherein R is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a lower alkyl group, an alkoxyl group, a cyano group, a nitro group, an aryl group or an aralkyl group, R in the number of m may be the same or different, m is an integer of 0 to 3, n is an integer of 0 to 3, and X and Y are each a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group.
US08202820B2 Non-stoichiometric mixed-phase titania photocatalyst
A mixed anatase-rutile phase, non-stoichiometric titania photocatalyst material is a highly reactive and is a UV and visible light responsive photocastalyst in the as-deposited condition (i.e. without the need for a subsequent thermal treatment). The mixed phase, non-stoichiometric titania thin film material is non-stoichiometric in terms of its oxygen content such that the thin film material shows a marked red-shift in photoresponse.
US08202818B2 Catalyst composition for preparing carbon nanotube
The present invention relates to a catalyst composition for preparing carbon nanotube and a process for preparing carbon nanotube using the same. More particularly, this invention relates to a process for preparing carbon nanotube by the chemical vapor deposition method through the decomposition of lower saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbons using a multi-component metal catalyst composition containing active metal catalyst from Co, V, Al and inactive porous support. Further, the present invention affords the carbon nanotube having 5˜30 nm of diameter and 100˜10,000 of aspect ratio in a high catalytic yield.
US08202811B2 Manufacturing apparatus for selectively removing one or more material layers by laser ablation
To provide a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor device, which does not use a stepper in a manufacturing process in the case where mass production of semiconductor devices is carried out by using a large-sized substrate. A thin film formed over a substrate having an insulating surface is selectively irradiated with a laser beam through light control means, specifically through an electro-optical device to cause ablation; accordingly, the thin film is partially removed, thereby processing the thin film in a remaining region into a desired shape. The electro-optical device functions as a variable mask by inputting an electrical signal based on design CAD data of the semiconductor device.
US08202809B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, method of processing substrate, and substrate processing apparatus
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes: forming a layer on a heated substrate by supplying source gas into a process vessel; changing the layer into an oxide layer by supplying gases containing oxygen and hydrogen to the heated substrate in the process vessel under a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure; and forming an oxide film on the heated substrate by alternately repeating the forming of the layer and the changing of the layer while purging an inside of the process vessel therebetween. In the forming of the layer, the source gas is supplied toward the substrate through a nozzle at a side of the substrate, and inert or hydrogen-containing gas is supplied together with the source gas through the nozzle toward the substrate, such that the velocity of the source gas flowing parallel to the substrate is greater than the velocity of the inert gas flowing parallel to the substrate in the purging of the process vessel.
US08202800B2 Method of forming through silicon via with dummy structure
A method of forming a through silicon via (TSV) structure includes forming an interconnect pad over a substrate. An under layer is formed over the interconnect pad. A vertical conductive post is formed at least partially through the substrate. At least one dummy structure is formed at least partially through the under layer. A top pad is formed over the dummy structure and the vertical conductive post. The top pad covers a wider area than a cross section of the vertical conductive post. The interconnect pad is electrically connected to the top pad. The dummy structure connects the top pad and the under layer thereby fastening the top pad and the interconnect pad.
US08202791B2 Method for generating two dimensions for different implant energies
A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate; forming a first hard mask layer over the substrate; patterning the first hard mask layer to form one or more first openings having a first critical dimension; performing a first implantation process on the substrate; forming a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer to form one or more second openings having a second critical dimension; and performing a second implantation process.
US08202786B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor devices having a glass substrate
A method for manufacturing semiconductor devices is disclosed. A semiconductor wafer is provided having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A first glass substrate is provided which has at least one of cavities and openings at the bonding surface. The first glass substrate is bonded to the first surface of the semiconductor wafer such that the metal pads are arranged within respective cavities or openings of the first glass substrate. The second surface of the semiconductor wafer is machined. At least one metallization region is formed on the machined second surface of the semiconductor wafer.
US08202784B2 Semiconductor device having a high aspect ratio isolation trench and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device having high aspect ratio isolation trenches and a method for manufacturing the same is presented. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulation layer, and a second insulation layer. The semiconductor substrate has a second trench that is wider than a first trench. The first insulation layer is partially formed within the wider second trench in which the first insulation layer when formed clogs the opening of the narrower first trench. A cleaning of the first insulation layer unclogs the opening of the narrower first trench in which a second insulation layer can then be formed within both the first and second trenches.
US08202782B2 Method of manufacturing transistor
A method of manufacturing a transistor (300), the method comprising forming a gate (101) on a substrate (102), forming a spacer (201) on lateral side walls of the gate (101) and on an adjacent portion (202) of the substrate (102), modifying material of the spacer (201) so that the modified spacer (301) covers only a lower portion (303) of the lateral side walls of the gate (101), and providing source/drain regions (301) in the modified spacer (301).
US08202780B2 Method for manufacturing a FinFET device comprising a mask to define a gate perimeter and another mask to define fin regions
A method for manufacturing a FinFET device includes: providing a substrate having a mask disposed thereon; covering portions of the mask to define a perimeter of a gate region; removing uncovered portions of the mask to expose the substrate; covering a part of the exposed substrate with another mask to define at least one fin region; forming the at least one fin and the gate region through both masks and the substrate, the gate region having side walls; disposing insulating layers around the at least one fin and onto the side walls; disposing a conductive material into the gate region and onto the insulating layers to form a gate electrode, and then forming source and drain regions.
US08202772B2 Vertical junction field effect transistors having sloped sidewalls and methods of making
Semiconductor devices and methods of making the devices are described. The devices can be junction field-effect transistors (JFETs). The devices have raised regions with sloped sidewalls which taper inward. The sidewalls can form an angle of 5° or more from vertical to the substrate surface. The devices can have dual-sloped sidewalls in which a lower portion of the sidewalls forms an angle of 5° or more from vertical and an upper portion of the sidewalls forms an angle of <5° from vertical. The devices can be made using normal (i.e., 0°) or near normal incident ion implantation. The devices have relatively uniform sidewall doping and can be made without angled implantation.
US08202750B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, semiconductor laser, optical pickup, and optical disk device with nitride type group III-V compound semiconductor layer
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor laser having an end face window structure, by growing over a substrate a nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer including an active layer including a nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor containing at least In and Ga, the method includes the steps of: forming a mask including an insulating film over the substrate, at least in the vicinity of the position of forming the end face window structure; and growing the nitride type Group III-V compound semiconductor layer including the active layer over a part, not covered with the mask, of the substrate.
US08202748B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus and manufacturing method therefor
A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display apparatus, including disposing a pair of substrates to face each other, on which no surface alignment control films are formed; sealing a liquid crystal to which a polymerizable compound is added, between these substrates; polymerizing the polymerizable compound by irradiating UV rays when no voltage is applied; and forming a polymer near the surfaces of the substrates. The anchoring energy for the liquid crystal molecules on the substrate surface is controlled by controlling the composition, the adding amount and the polymerizing conditions of the polymerizable compound.
US08202745B2 Submounts for semiconductor light emitting devices and methods of forming packaged light emitting devices including dispensed encapsulants
A submount for mounting an LED chip includes a substrate, a die attach pad configured to receive an LED chip on an upper surface of the substrate, a first meniscus control feature on the substrate surrounding the die attach pad and defining a first encapsulant region of the upper surface of the substrate, and a second meniscus control feature on the substrate surrounding the first encapsulant region and defining a second encapsulant region of the upper surface of the substrate. The first and second meniscus control features may be substantially coplanar with the die attach pad. A packaged LED includes a submount as described above and further includes an LED chip on the die attach pad, a first encapsulant on the substrate within the first encapsulant region, and a second encapsulant on the substrate within the second encapsulant region and covering the first encapsulant. Method embodiments are also disclosed.
US08202739B2 Dopant marker for precise recess control
A semiconductor device is formed by implanting recess markers in a material during deposition and using the recess markers during etching of the material for precise in-situ removal rate definition and removal homogeneity-over-radius definition. An embodiment includes depositing a layer of material on a substrate, implanting first and second dopants in the material at first and second predetermined times during deposition of the material, etching the material, detecting the depths of the first and second dopants during etching, calculating the removal rate of the material in situ from the depths of the first and second dopants, and determining from the removal rate a stop position for etching. Embodiments further include depositing a layer of material on a substrate, laterally implanting a first dopant and a second dopant in the material at a predetermined depth during deposition of the material, etching the material, detecting the positions and intensities of the first and second dopants during etching, and calculating lateral homogeneity of the material in situ from the intensities of the first and second dopants. Embodiments further include in situ corrective action for the removal process based on the determined removal rate and lateral homogeneity.
US08202723B2 Multivalent vaccines comprising recombinant viral vectors
Described are vaccines comprising recombinant vectors, such as recombinant adenoviruses. The vectors comprise heterologous nucleic acids encoding at least two antigens from one or more tuberculosis-causing bacilli. Also described is the use of specific protease recognition sites linking antigens through which the encoded antigens are separated upon cleavage. After cleavage, the antigens contribute to the immune response in a separate manner. The recombinant vectors may comprise a nucleic acid encoding the protease cleaving the linkers and separating the antigens. Also described is the use of genetic adjuvants encoded by the recombinant vectors, wherein such genetic adjuvants may also be cleaved through the presence of the cleavable linkers and the specific protease.
US08202722B2 Temperature control method and system
For heating or cooling a sample contained in a vessel portion through a heat transfer member held in contact with the vessel portion, there is used the vessel portion, which has a part formed of an elastic member, expands and contracts for injection and discharge of the sample, is closed other than a connecting port with a channel connected to the vessel, and expands and contracts for injection and discharge of the sample. The vessel portion expands correspondingly to the injection when the sample is injected through an inflow path serving as the channel into the vessel portion contracting in a non-contacting state with the heat transfer member. A predetermined amount of sample is injected into the vessel portion so as to expand the vessel portion, and the vessel portion comes into contact with the heat transfer member. The vessel portion is heated or cooled through the heat transfer member.
US08202714B2 Pseudomonas SP. HN-72 and purification method of 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid using the same
Provided are a novel microorganism and a method for purifying 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid with high purity using the microorganism. The microorganism is Pseudomonas sp. Strain HN-72 isolated from soil and has the ability to convert 2-formyl-6-naphthoic acid contained as an impurity in a crude naphthalene dicarboxylic acid, which is an oxidation product of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, to 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid. The Pseudomonas sp. strain HN-72 has excellent effects in producing high-purity 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid in high yield.
US08202713B2 Producing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from biodiesel-derived crude glycerol
Pythium, when cultured with crude glycerol as a carbon source, produces useful polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The crude glycerol is pretreated to remove soaps and methanol. An exemplary Pythium species for use in the production of EPA is Pythium irregulare.
US08202711B2 Process for producing glutamate derivatives
The present invention relates to a process for producing efficiently glutamic acid derivatives (including salts thereof) such as monatin by converting a substituted α-keto acid of formula (1) into a glutamic acid derivative of formula (2) in the presence of an enzyme catalyzing conversion of the same.
US08202690B2 Cancer marker and therapeutic agent for cancer
A novel cancer marker is provided. A method for detecting cancer using a level of BMCC1 gene expression as an indication is provided, in which the cancer is selected from the group consisting of prostate cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, bladder cancer, and uterine cancer.
US08202684B2 Method for manufacturing probe sheet
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for manufacturing a probe sheet in which a probe tip can be arranged at a predetermined accurate position without the need for troublesome positional adjustment operations of the probe tip in coupling operations of each contactor and a probe sheet main body. It is a method for manufacturing a probe sheet comprising a probe sheet main body having conductive paths and a plurality of contactors formed to be protruded from one surface of the probe sheet main body and connected to the conductive paths. The manufacturing method comprises the steps of forming a plurality of the contactors on a base table by sequentially depositing on the base table metal materials for a plurality of contactors from their respective probe tips toward base portions with use of a photolithographic technique, forming on the base table the probe sheet main body to be coupled with the base portion of each contactor held on the base table, and separating the contactors from the base table integrally with the probe sheet main body.
US08202680B2 TARC material for immersion watermark reduction
Various lithography methods are disclosed herein. In an example, a method includes forming a resist layer over a substrate; forming a coating material layer that includes one of an acid and a chelate compound over the resist layer; and exposing the resist layer and the coating material layer to radiation, wherein during the exposing, the one of the acid and the chelate compound in the coating material layer substantially neutralizes any quencher that diffuses into the coating material layer from the resist layer.
US08202673B2 Method for manufacturing a surface and integrated circuit using variable shaped beam lithography
A method is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots is used to form a desired pattern on a surface. In this method some shots within the plurality of shots overlap each other. Additionally, the union of any subset of the plurality of shots differ from the desired pattern. In some embodiments, dosages of the shots vary with respect to each other. In other embodiments, an optimization technique may be used to minimize shot count. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of shots may be optionally selected from one or more pre-computed VSB shots or groups of VSB shots. The method of the present disclosure may be used, for example, in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit by optical lithography using a reticle, or in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit using direct write.
US08202644B2 Protection cover for an end cap assembly of a battery cell
An electrochemical storage cell is disclosed. The cell includes a core having a cathode sheet, an anode sheet, and a separator sheet. The core is located snuggly within a shell having an open end. An end cap assembly is provided to close the open end. A terminal in electrical communication with one of the cathode sheet and the anode sheet extends through the end cap from an interior portion of the electrochemical storage cell to an external portion thereof. A protection cover that generally conforms to the outermost portions of the end cap assembly is provided and includes a first cover half having a first mating structure and a second cover half having a second mating structure for engagement with the first mating structure. The first and second cover halves are adapted for assembly with one another about the terminal.
US08202639B2 Fuel cell with integrated fluid management
A fuel cell (FC) comprising a stack (A) of bipolar plates and ion exchange membranes arranged alternately, the stack (A) being clamped between two endplates (B and C), the stack (A) comprising feed and return ducts for the fluids required for the operation of the cell, said fluids comprising at least one fuel gas, the ducts communicating with a fluid management system comprising elements for controlling certain operating parameters, elements for recycling gases not consumed by the cell and elements for eliminating the water produced by the cell, said installation comprising connections for feeding gases to the cell, in which the fluid management system is at least partly integrated inside one of the endplates.
US08202632B2 Anthracene derivative, light-emitting material, material for light-emitting element, composition for coating, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and electronic device
An anthracene derivative represented by the general formula (G1) is provided. The anthracene derivative represented by the general formula (G1) is a novel anthracene derivative having a wide band gap. Further, the anthracene derivative has a large energy gap and can be very suitably used as a material for a light-emitting element which exhibits blue light emission.
US08202628B2 Fusion-bonded product having high-strength part and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention is a fusion-bonded product having a high-strength part, comprising: a first preform (2a) constituted by integrally, frictionally pressure-welding a first low-carbon steel part (L1) made of low-carbon steel containing less than 0.45% of C and a high-carbon steel part (H) made of high-carbon steel containing not less than 0.45% of C; and a second preform (2b) having a second low-carbon steel part (L2) made of second low-carbon steel containing less than 0.45% of C; wherein the high-carbon steel part (H) of the first preform (2a) is provided with a high-strength part (9) that has been previously formed into a desired shape and quenched, the second low-carbon steel part (L2) of the second preform (2b) has been previously formed into a predetermined shape, and the first low-carbon steel part (L1) of the first preform (2a) and the second low-carbon steel part (L2) of the second preform (2b) are bonded to each other by fusion welding.
US08202627B2 Electrocomposite coatings for hard chrome replacement
The invention provides a method and system for electrolytically coating an article. The method includes providing an article to be coated and disposing the article in an electrolytic cell. The cell includes an anode, a cathode in operable communication with the article, and an electrolyte bath. During electrolysis, the electrolyte bath comprises cobalt ions, phosphorous acid, and tribological particles selected from the group consisting of refractory materials, solid lubricants and mixtures thereof dispersed therein. The method further includes applying steady direct electric current through the anode, the electrolyte bath and the cathode to coat the article with cobalt, phosphorous and the tribological particles. An improved composition of matter is also provided that may be used as a coating, or the composition may be electroformed on a mandrel to form an article made from the composition of matter.
US08202622B2 Circuit connecting material, film-form circuit connecting material using the same, circuit member connecting structure and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention is a circuit connecting material used for the mutual connection of a circuit member in which electrodes and insulating layers are formed adjacent to each other on the surface of a board, and a circuit member in which electrodes and insulating layers are formed adjacent to each other on the surface of a board, with the edge parts and of the insulating layers being formed with a greater thickness than the electrodes on the basis of the main surfaces, wherein this circuit connecting material contains a bonding agent composition and conductive particles that have a mean particle size of 1 μm or greater but less than 10 μm and a hardness of 1.961 to 6.865 GPa, and this circuit connecting material exhibits a storage elastic modulus of 0.5 to 3 GPa at 40° C. and a mean coefficient of thermal expansion of 30 to 200 ppm/° C. at from 25° C. to 100° C. when subjected to the curing treatment.
US08202614B2 Additive particles having superhydrophobic characteristics and coatings and methods of making and using the same
Additive particles may be employed in sufficient amounts to impart superhydrophobicity to a coating system in which the additive particles are incorporated. The additive particles include carrier microparticles and a dense plurality of nanoparticles adhered to the surfaces of the carrier microparticles (e.g., preferably by electrostatic deposition or covalent bonding). The additive particles are advantageously incorporated into a coating material (e.g., a polymeric material) in amounts sufficient to render a substrate surface superhydrophobic when coated with the coating material. The substrate may be rigid (e.g., glass, ceramic or metal) or flexible (e.g., a polymeric film or sheet or a fabric). In some preferred embodiments, both the microparticle and nanoparticles are formed of silica and are surface treated with a hydrophobic treatment so as to impart superhydrophobic properties thereto. Especially preferred are particles treated with silicone fluid comprised of a polysiloxane and/or a perfluoro silane having between 1 and 40 carbon atoms.
US08202613B2 Multilayer pellet and method for producing the same
Disclosed are multilayer pellets comprising a core of a first material comprising a first thermoplastic resin and a sheath layer of a second material comprising a second thermoplastic resin, the sheath layer surrounding the core, wherein (i) the first thermoplastic resin has a melt index, measured at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 21.2 N, of 200 g/10 min or more, provided that the melt index of the second thermoplastic resin measured at a temperature of 230° C. and a load of 21.2 N is different from that of the first thermoplastic resin or (ii) the first thermoplastic resin is a modified thermoplastic resin having a structure originating in a compound having an unsaturated group.
US08202612B2 Polyester film
A heat-sealable, peelable, coextruded composite polymeric film comprising a substrate layer of polymeric material having on a surface thereof a heat-sealable layer, wherein said heat-sealable layer comprises a copolyester of least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid, at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and one or more glycol(s); the thickness of said heat-sealable layer is in the range of from about 0.3 to about 3 μm; and the heat-sealable layer comprises one or more wax(es) is described.
US08202603B2 Elastic sheet structure
An elastic sheet structure including a fixing section, a body section perpendicularly connected to the fixing section, an elastic section, and two support sections is provided. The elastic section perpendicularly connects to the body section so that a portion of the elastic section is substantially parallel to the fixing section. Two support sections perpendicularly connect to two opposite sides of the body section. The support sections are supported by the fixing section, and are higher than the body section concurrently with respect to the fixing section. The elastic section is located between and movable with respect to the two support sections, and a top of the elastic section is higher than a top of each support section concurrently with respect to the fixing section.
US08202600B2 Artificial leather, base to be used in the leather, and processes for production of both
A sheet of an artificial leather substrate contains an upper-layer nonwoven fabric A (1) and a base nonwoven fabric B (2). The upper-layer nonwoven fabric A (1) is a wet-laid nonwoven fabric having a density of 0.30 to 0.50 g/cm3 and being produced with synthetic fibers in which the component fibers have a fineness of 0.005 to 1.1 dtex, a fiber length of 3 to 10 mm and a weight per unit area of 20 to 150 g/m2, and the base nonwoven fabric B (2) is a layer of a nonwoven fabric having a density of 0.15 g/cm3 or more and less than 0.28 g/cm3 and being produced with synthetic fibers in which the component fibers have a fineness greater than that of the component fibers of the upper-layer nonwoven fabric A and 4.5 dtex or less, a fiber length of 2 to 15 mm and a weight per unit area of 50 to 400 g/m2. The upper-layer nonwoven fabric A (1) and the base nonwoven fabric B (2) are layered, made into a single body by entanglement of the component fibers of both layers and impregnated with an elastic polymer. Thus, artificial leather having a texture similar to natural leather and a substrate for use therein are provided at low cost.
US08202585B2 Inkjet recording media with cationically-modified clay particles
An inkjet printing system, comprises an inkjet printer, an ink composition, and an inkjet recording media comprising a support, and coated on the support in order from the support, a porous base layer and a porous uppermost layer, each with particular limitations The inkjet recording media and printer system is manufacturable using low-cost materials in an efficient process requiring only a single coating and drying step and that gives images with excellent gloss, color density, and image quality.
US08202579B2 Water-resistant fabrics and methods of preparation thereof
A composition having a polyurethane, a hydrophilic polyisocyanate, a wetting agent, and a fluoropolymeric additive can be disposed on a substrate such as a fabric to provide water-repellant characteristics. The urethane-coated substrate can then be fabricated into a water storage container.
US08202565B2 Flux spraying system and method
A flux spraying system controls a flux sprayer to selectively spray soldering flux onto a printed circuit board (PCB) by a fixture. The fixture is disposed between the PCB and the flux sprayer, and comprises a plurality of openings corresponding to target areas of the PCB. The flux spraying system comprises a statistic module, a calculation module, and a control module. The statistic module records attributes of the fixture to determine spraying areas on the fixture. The calculation module calculates movement parameters of the flux sprayer, a movement length during a movement period and spraying segments of the flux sprayer, and spray duration of the flux sprayer based on the movement length during one movement period and the spraying segments of the flux sprayer. The control module directs the flux sprayer to coat the target areas of the PCB through the openings of the fixture.
US08202564B2 Method for patterning a medical device
The present disclosure provides a method for forming a color pattern on a medical device.
US08202559B2 Microwave vegetable preparation
An improved method of preparing vegetables intended for microwave cooking allows a hot, cooked vegetable to be easily removed from an enveloping film. The vegetables are cleaned and seasonings and cooking aids such as oils are optionally applied to the vegetable. Then the prepared vegetables are enclosed by and sealed into a plastic film. The film protects the vegetable from excess desiccation and provides a “built-in” container for microwave cooking. The film includes an opening system for safely releasing the vegetable after cooking. A tear-strip includes an edge or tab for grasping so that the film can be opened by a simple pull.
US08202553B2 Methods and compositions for treating blood circulation disorders
Methods for preparing improved Panax Notoginseng saponin fraction from a Sanchi extract and its use in pharmaceutical compositions for treating or preventing a blood circulation disorder.
US08202547B2 Citrate-based dialysate chemical formulations
The present invention constitutes dialysate formulations that are suitable for use in preparing dialysate solutions for use in batch and/or proportioning systems and for improving dialysis efficiency by reducing or preventing clotting of the dialysis flow paths. The dialysate chemical formulations for one batch of dialysate comprise an acid concentrate stored in a first vessel, and a citrate-containing bicarbonate concentrate stored in a second vessel. The contents of the first and second vessels are emptied into a dialysate preparation tank and mixed with water to form a batch quantity of dialysate solution. Alternately, a dry acid and/or a dry citrate-containing base concentrates are dissolved separately in measured quantities of water to form liquid concentrates which are then used in conjunction with a proportioning machine to generate on-line a final dialysis solution stream.
US08202540B1 Method for controlled production of ultrafine microparticles and nanoparticles
The invention relates to superfine microparticles and nanoparticles and a process for their gentle preparation with exclusion of water or minimization of water and/or exclusion of plasticizers and/or reduced temperature load, in which a matrix material is subjected to a high-pressure homogenization process in an anhydrous or water-poor medium and/or at low temperatures, preferably room temperature (20° C.) and in particular below the freezing point of water, which leads to a gentle particle reduction with minimization of the impairment of the chemical stability of the homogenized material.
US08202528B2 Implantable medical devices with elastomeric block copolymer coatings
Implantable medical devices with elastomeric block copolymer coatings are disclosed.
US08202523B2 Glycosylated polypeptides produced in yeast mutants and methods of use thereof
The invention provides various high mannose glycosylated polypeptides that are useful in a vaccine formulations. The invention also provides methods for making such glycosylated polypeptides and its uses in eliciting HIV-neutralizing antibodies.
US08202521B2 Methods and compositions for poxvirus lacking A35R protein
The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating an immune response in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of an A35R protein or active fragment thereof of vaccinia virus or other poxvirus.
US08202512B2 Metabolic uncoupling therapy
A combination of chemical agents reduces reductive stress by limiting the accumulation of high-energy electrons potentially available to the electron transport chain. A method of metabolic uncoupling therapy comprises: analyzing a specific physiologic process involving reductive stress; identifying a plurality of MUT agents that modulate metabolic pathways by influencing electron flux; and formulating a combination of MUT agents that limits the accumulation of high-energy electrons potentially available to the electron transport chain.
US08202507B2 Assay for vitamin B12 absorption and method of making labeled vitamin B12
The invention provides methods for labeling vitamin B12 with 14C, 13C, tritium, and deuterium. When radioisotopes are used, the invention provides for methods of labeling B12 with high specific activity. The invention also provides labeled vitamin B12 compositions made in accordance with the invention.
US08202506B2 High activity small crystal ZSM-12
A porous, crystalline material is described having the framework structure of ZSM-12 and a composition involving the molar relationship: X2O3:(n)YO2 wherein X is a trivalent element, Y is a tetravalent element and n is less than about 45, e.g., less than about 40, wherein the average crystal size of the material is less than about 0.1 micron, which material is substantially free of impurities. The material is made by: (a) preparing a mixture capable of forming said material, said mixture comprising sources of alkali or alkaline earth metal (M), an oxide of trivalent element (X), an oxide of tetravalent element (Y), hydroxyl (OH−) ions, water, and an organic monoquaternary ammonium cation directing agent (R) and an organic diquaternary ammonium structure blocking agent (R′); (b) maintaining the mixture under sufficient conditions until crystals of said material are formed; and (c) recovering the crystalline material from step (ii). The material can be used as a hydrocarbon conversion process catalyst.
US08202505B2 Aligned carbon nanotube bulk aggregate, process for producing the same and uses thereof
An aligned carbon nanotube bulk structure capable of attaining high density and high hardness not found so far. The aligned carbon nanotube bulk structure has a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) applied with a density-increasing treatment, and having alignment in a predetermined direction, the structure has a degree of anisotropy of 1:3 or more between the direction of alignment and the direction vertical to the direction of alignment, and the intensity by irradiating X-rays along the direction of alignment is higher than the intensity by irradiating X-rays from the direction vertical to the direction of alignment at a (002) peak in X-ray diffraction data, and the degree of alignment thereof satisfies predetermined conditions.
US08202503B2 Visual, continuous and simultaneous measurement of solution ammonia and hydrogen ion concentration
Particular aspects provide novel devices and methods for accurately measuring total ammonia (NH3 plus NH4+) in a solution (e.g., freshwater and saltwater) by spatially proximate, simultaneous and continuous quantitative measurement of solution pH and ammonia. The devices overcome prior art inaccuracies relating to non-homogeneous sampling, and to spatial, temporal and thermal sampling discontinuities. Particular embodiments provide a combination pH and ammonia measuring device, comprising: a submersible member; a submersible non-bleeding ammonia-sensing portion attached to the submersible member and suitable to provide for a continuous visual indicator of solution ammonia concentration; a submersible non-bleeding pH-sensing portion attached to the submersible member and suitable to provide for a continuous visual indicator of solution pH; visual ammonia and pH indicator comparison means suitable for comparative quantitative determination of solution ammonia concentration and pH. Additional aspects provide novel ultra-sensitive devices and methods using same for measuring ammonia in air or solution.
US08202502B2 Method of preparing hydrophobic silica
The invention provides hydrophobic surface-treated silica particles having (1) a ratio T2:T3 of about 0.4 or more, wherein T2 is the intensity of a peak having a chemical shift in the CP/MAS 29Si NMR spectrum centered within the range of −56 ppm to −59 ppm, and wherein T3 is the intensity of a peak having a chemical shift in the CP/MAS 29Si NMR spectrum centered within the range of −65 ppm to −69 ppm, and (2) a ratio (T2+T3)/(T2+T3+M) of greater than about 0.05, wherein M is the intensity of a peak having a chemical shift in the CP/MAS 29Si NMR spectrum centered within the range of +7 ppm to +18 ppm. The invention also provides a method of preparing hydrophobic surface-treated silica particles.
US08202501B2 Method for preparing a synthetic talc composition from a kerolite composition
The invention relates to a method for preparing a synthetic talc composition. According to said method, a kerolite composition is subjected to an anhydrous thermal treatment carried out at a pressure lower than 5 bar, from over a few hours up to over a few days, at a treatment temperature higher than 300° C. The invention also relates to a synthetic talc composition prepared in this way, the synthetic talc particles of the composition being exclusively of chemical formula —(Si4)Mg3O10(OH)2— and identifiable, during X-ray diffraction, by the presence of a characteristic diffraction peak located at a distance of between 9.40-9.68 and corresponding to a plane (001). Said synthetic talc particles also have a thermally stable crystalline structure of stacked laminae, which is very similar to that of a natural talc and has a particle size smaller than approximately ten micrometers.
US08202496B2 Separation device of molecules and production method thereof
A molecule is separated from a liquid sample containing said molecule and at least one additional molecule having a larger hydrodynamic diameter than the hydrodynamic diameter of the molecule to be separated, by means of a separation device comprising a substrate, at least one circulation channel arranged in said substrate, and at least one nanotube associated with said molecule to be separated and formed on a free surface of the substrate. Separation is achieved by means of the internal channel of a nanotube, such as a carbon nanotube, presenting an effective diameter chosen in predetermined and controlled manner. The effective diameter of the internal channel is chosen such as to be larger than the hydrodynamic diameter of the molecule to be separated and smaller than the hydrodynamic diameter of the additional molecules of larger hydrodynamic diameters.
US08202489B2 Disposable cassette
A disposable cassette, preferably for use in analysis technology, has at least one first part in which channel structures are cut out in the surface and a second part covering the first part in a sealing manner, with engagement regions for actuator elements being provided at pre-determined points. The first part and/or the second part are constructed of a rigid material and have a flexible material region associated therewith, with the rigid material and the flexible material region being manufactured in one piece using two-component injection molding technology.
US08202470B2 Low NOx fuel injection for an indurating furnace
An indurating furnace has a heating station and an air passage leading to the heating station. A draft of preheated recirculation air is driven through the passage toward the heating station, and is mixed with fuel gas to form a combustible mixture of preheated recirculation air and fuel gas that ignites in the passage. This is accomplished by injecting the fuel gas into the passage in a stream that does not form a combustible mixture with the preheated recirculation air before entering the passage.
US08202466B2 Making process of an integrally plastic outlet pipe
An integrally plastic outlet pipe and making process thereof includes the steps of: a. preparing a mold; b. mold closing at the first opposite position; c. injection molding a semi-finished first part member; d. opening mold to take out a semi-finished upper cover of the wasted second part member; e. mold closing at a second opposite position; f. hot pressing a finished outlet pipe of a third part member and injection molding the semi-finished first part member and the semi-finished upper cover of the second part member; g. mold opening to obtain a finished integrally plastic outlet pipe of the third part member; h. mold closing at the first opposite position again; i. hot pressing the finished outlet pipe and rejection molding the semi-finished first part member and the semi-finished upper cover of the second part member; j. opening mold to acquire a finished integrally plastic outlet pipe.
US08202465B2 Preferential curing technique in compression molding of fiber reinforced composites
A molding process that involves applying heat (17) to a mold billet (12) located in a mold cavity (11) defined by steel inserts (15). A layer (19) of material having a low thermal conductivity of 1-2 BTU/hour/square foot/inch/F.° at 450° F. is positioned contiguously to at least one of the inserts (15) so that a portion (13) of the mold billet (12) in the vicinity of the low thermal conductivity material layer (19) remains cooler than portions of the mold billet that are remote from the layer of material (19). Also, a mold apparatus comprising a mold cavity (11) defined by steel inserts (15) wherein each of the inserts (15) rests on a bed (19) of low thermal conductivity material which is comprised of 38-48 weight-% calcium carbonate, 27-38 weight-% polymerized unsaturated polyester resin, and 20-30 weight-% fiberglass. The mold billet (12) may be configured in the shape of an aircraft landing system brake disc preform (33).
US08202464B2 Method and system for layerwise production of a tangible object
A method cycle of a method for layerwise production of a tangible object (5) comprises the successive steps of: solidifying a predetermined area of a layer (10) of a liquid (3), said liquid layer adjoining a construction shape (6), so as to obtain a solid layer (14) having a predetermined shape; separating said solid layer from said construction shape; and moving the separated solid layer and the construction shape to a predetermined position relative to one another for letting the liquid flow-in between the separated solid layer and the construction shape. Reduced pressure is applied to at least one fluid, such as the liquid (3).
US08202461B2 Flow elements for use with flexible spinal needles, needle assemblies for manufacture and methods therefor
A flow element (50) for use with flexible needles and flexible needle assemblies (10) to minimize flow occlusion within a flexible needle (15) is provided. The flow element (50) is particularly suited for uses with a flexible needle (15) for minimizing incidence of post-dural puncture headache. The flow element (50) includes a body having an internal flow path for conducting a fluid through a flexible needle, and an anti-restriction member (56). The anti-restriction member (56) includes an elongated body (58), a proximal end (70) coupled to the body within the internal flow path, and a distal end (60) for positioning at least a portion of the elongated body within a flexible needle. A flexible spinal needle assembly (10) for minimizing flow occlusion through an internal flow path of a flexible needle (15) by unintended kinking that is potentially caused by ligament or muscle layer movements is also provided, hi other embodiments, a flexible spinal needle assembly (10), a flexible spinal needle assembly kit, a method for installing a flexible spinal needle assembly, and a process for producing a flow element are provided.
US08202458B2 Method for producing profile parts
The present invention relates to a method for producing profile parts, each having an L-shaped cross-section, or an assembled profile part having, in particular, a T-shaped cross-section. For this purpose a lay-up made of composite fiber material is initially placed on a forming tool. In a further step, the lay-up is deformed by the forming tool to form a profile having a preferably U-shaped cross-section, the profile thus exhibiting the book effect at each opposite end. In a further step, the profile is preferably cut in the longitudinal direction in order to produce two profile parts. The idea on which the invention is based is to allow the layers in the lay-up to shift during the deformation process and subsequently to produce a substantially right-angled chamfered end on the profile parts by means of a cutting process. The disadvantageous formation of corrugations and complex clamping of the lay-up are thus avoided.
US08202445B2 Metal polishing composition and chemical mechanical polishing method
The invention provides a metal polishing composition that is used in chemical mechanical polishing in production of a semiconductor device, and includes an oxidizing agent, an abrasive grain, and at least one compound selected from compounds represented by the following formula (I) and the following formula (II). The invention also provides a chemical mechanical polishing method that uses the metal polishing composition. In formula (I), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and Ph represents a phenyl ring. In formula (II), R2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and Ph represents a phenyl ring.
US08202442B2 Spin-on protective coatings for wet-etch processing of microelectronic substrates
New protective coating layers for use in wet etch processes during the production of semiconductor and MEMS devices are provided. The layers include a primer layer, a first protective layer, and an optional second protective layer. The primer layer preferably comprises an organo silane compound in a solvent system. The first protective layer includes thermoplastic copolymers prepared from styrene, acrylonitrile, and optionally other addition-polymerizable monomers such as (meth)acrylate monomers, vinylbenzyl chloride, and diesters of maleic acid or fumaric acid. The second protective layer comprises a highly halogenated polymer such as a chlorinated polymer which may or may not be crosslinked upon heating.
US08202435B2 Method for selectively etching areas of a substrate using a gas cluster ion beam
A method for selectively etching areas of a substrate is described. The method includes providing in a process chamber a substrate containing a first material having a film deposition surface and a second material having an etch surface. The method further includes forming a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) from a pressurized gas containing a deposition-etch gas, and exposing the substrate to the GCIB to remove at least a portion of the second material from the etch surface and deposit a thin film on the film deposition surface of the first material. According to some embodiments, the deposition-etch gas may contain silicon (Si) and carbon (C), and it may possess a Si—C bond.
US08202432B2 Wastewater treatment system
The wastewater treatment system includes a tank having first and second partition walls dividing the tank into first, second and third chambers. An inlet port is formed through the first chamber and an outlet port is formed through the third chamber. A first port is formed through the first partition wall for controlling fluid flow from the first chamber to the second chamber, and a second port is formed through the second partition wall for controlling fluid flow from the second chamber to the third chamber. Oils and sludge are removed from the wastewater in the first chamber. Anaerobic bacteria within the second chamber then removes organic material from the water. The water is stored in the third chamber is irradiated by germicidal ultraviolet light before discharge from the third chamber.
US08202427B2 Porous ferro-or ferrimagnetic glass particles for isolating molecules
Porous, ferro- or ferrimagnetic, glass particles are described that selectively bind molecules of interest, especially nucleic acid molecules; under appropriate conditions. Methods of preparing the porous, ferro- or ferrimagnetic, glass particles and their use for identifying or separating molecules of interest are also described. Kits comprising the porous, ferro- or ferrimagnetic, glass particles are also provided.
US08202417B2 Chiral stationary phases for chromatography based on aromatic allyl amines
New chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on chiral selectors covalently bound on a solid support were prepared. Chiral selectors were obtained from enantiomerically pure aromatic amines and 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid and then linked to the support surface through the allylic double bond. Such obtained materials allow enantioseparation of racemates or enantiomerically enriched compounds. These chiral stationary phases can be used as fillings in chromatographic columns for enantiomer separation of naproxen type drugs and other similar non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) by means of high performance liquid chromatography on both the analytical and preparative scale.
US08202399B2 Process for modifying fuel solids
The invention provides a process for comminuting coal or other fuel solids in a shear field, and for optionally coating the solids with catalysts for combustion, liquefaction, and or gasification during the milling process. The process further provides for control of water content in the solids may be controlled before, during and after the milling in order to obtain micronized solids with fine hydration layers. The output fuel solids from the process can burn at low temperatures, avoiding emissions of nitrogen oxides, and they also have improved properties for surfactant-free suspension in either water or oil media, as well as for liquefaction and gasification.
US08202396B2 Structural clothing and method of manufacturing a tissue paper web
A clothing for structuring a wet fibre web (1′) in a press section of a tissue papermaking machine is described which has a three-dimensional woven structure forming elevations (62) and depressions (63), said elevations, like the depressions, are repeated and distributed to form a pattern of polygonal, geometrically similar smallest unitary surfaces (64), each of said unitary surfaces having an area a and covering a plurality of depressions with the mean depth d. According to the invention, the area a and the mean depth d of each unitary surface (64) are adapted in relation to each other in such a way that, calculated by the length unit mm, their ratio is equal to or greater than 30 mm, wherein a is selected within the range of 1.0-3.0 mm2 and d is selected within the range of 0.03-0.09 mm. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a creped tissue paper web by using said structuring clothing.
US08202395B2 Method for the creping of paper
A creping doctor device for the scraping off and creping of a running paper web from a rotating cylinder, comprising a holder device arranged to be able to support a continuous, or divided, longitudinally moveable doctor blade, which doctor blade is arranged to have a length that exceeds at least twice the length of said cylinder and is provided with a scraping surface and a contact line and/or contact surface, which contact line and/or contact surface is intended to bear against the jacket surface of said rotating cylinder at a certain linear load, said doctor blade comprising a supporting part and a wear part that is moveable in relation to the supporting part.
US08202394B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor devices and semiconductor manufacturing apparatus
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with plasma generated in a process chamber by impressing radio-frequency power, a level of a radio-frequency power for each step is switched over in response to processing in each step upon applying a plurality of processing steps to a semiconductor substrate while holding the semiconductor substrate, and thereby the plurality of steps are carried out successively.
US08202389B2 Engineered wood floor using core material with vertical glue-line position
A composite board comprising a first layer having an orientation and a second layer bonded to the first layer where the second layer comprises a plurality of wooden veneer structures, each wooden veneer structure is substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the first layer.
US08202385B2 Head for application of carbon-fibre strips and application method
The invention relates to a head for application of carbon-fibre strips that has at least two spools (1) conveying respective carbon-fibre strips for the selective feed of said strips and in order thus with said strips to make up the width of the stripping for application. These spools (1) are arranged on a master roller (5) formed by independent sections that are actuated individually by respective rotary transmissions.
US08202383B2 Method for forming porous PTFE layer
A method for forming a porous PTFE layer includes steps of: combining one or at least two unburned porous PTFE films and a support body that can withstand a heating condition in the following process (a rod or plate shaped support body made of mesh or the like is preferable) by using a predetermined means in such a manner that a slip can be prevented in a heating treatment in the following process; and heating the matter resulted from the above process at a temperature of at least 150° C. and less than the melting point of the PTFE film for the range of 5-120 minutes (preferably at a temperature in the range of the melting point of a thermoplastic resin fiber to 320° C. for the range of 10-60 minutes in the case in which the thermoplastic resin fiber or the like is used in the process).
US08202380B2 Method of manufacturing a molded door skin from a flat wood composite, door skin produced therefrom, and door manufactured therewith
A method of manufacturing a hollow core door is disclosed, as well as a corresponding hollow core door. The method includes the steps of providing a solid flat door skin, moisturizing the flat skin, applying a conditioning resin thereto, pre-heating the flat door skin, and thereafter pressing the flat door skin between a pair of heated platens in a press in order to reform the flat skin into a molded skin including a plurality of panels defined therein. The press continuously closes in order to reform the flat skin into the molded skin, with the rate of press closure being a function of the determined hardness of the flat skin to be reformed. The resulting door skins have an improved bond strength, and are efficiently manufactured.
US08202378B2 Apparatus and method for enhancement of connection performance and fatigue detection
An apparatus and method adapted to enhance the structural performance of a desired connection and provide a readily perceivable indication of predetermined limitations having being reached prior to actual failure of a connection. A method for enhancing structural performance of a desired structure by preventing fracture propagation.
US08202377B2 Non-toxic percussion primers and methods of preparing the same
A percussion primer composition including at least one explosive, at least one nano-size non-coated fuel particle having natural surface oxides thereon, at least one oxidizer, optionally at least one sensitizer, optionally at least one buffer, and to methods of preparing the same.
US08202374B2 Method of treating steel for grain-oriented electrical steel sheet and method of manufacturing grain-oriented electrical steel sheet
A surface temperature of a slab is decreased down to 600° C. or lower between start of continuous casting (step S2) and start of slab reheating (step S3). The surface temperature of the slab is held at 150° C. or higher between the start of the continuous casting (step s2) and the start of the slab reheating (step S3). The surface temperature of the slab in the slab reheating (step S3) is set to not lower than 1080° C. and not higher than 1200° C.
US08202371B2 Method for shortened clear rinse in a dishwasher and dishwasher adapted to carry out such method
A method for rinsing crockery in a dishwashing machine is disclosed. The dishwashing machine includes a circulation pump, a water heater, an upper spray arm and a lower spray arm both alternatively fed by the circulation pump. The method includes the step of heating of the rinsing circulated water up to a maximum predetermined value. The method further includes the step of interrupting the feeding of the lower spray arm when a threshold water temperature is reached so that only the upper spray arm is fed by the circulated water.
US08202370B2 Method for removing acidic deposit
To provide a method for removing an acidic deposit containing a sulfur compound, whereby the terminal point of the cleaning state can be ascertained simply and efficiently without necessity to visually directly observe the cleaning state or to observe the behavior of the pH value of the cleaning fluid. A method for removing an acidic deposit containing a sulfur compound, which comprises contacting the acidic deposit with a prescribed amount of an aqueous cleaning fluid, characterized in that the concentration of sulfate ion (SO42−) in the aqueous cleaning fluid is measured, and the contact with the aqueous cleaning fluid is terminated after the increase per hour of the measured value becomes 15 not more than 10%.
US08202361B2 Aqueous pigment preparations comprising anionic additives based on allyl ether and vinyl ether
The invention relates to an aqueous pigment preparation containing (A) at least one organic and/or inorganic pigment, (B) a dispersant of formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV) or mixtures of the dispersants of formula (I), (II), (III) or (IV), (C) optionally wetting agents, (C) optionally other surfactants and/other dispersants, (E) optionally at least one organic solvent or at least one hydrotropic substance, (F) optionally other additives commonly used to produce aqueous pigment dispersions.
US08202351B2 Limiting of impurity peaks
A process for gas purification or separation intended to produce a gas mixture containing mainly hydrogen and, to a minor extent CO, it being imperative for the CO content to remain below a set value is presented. This invention particularly relates to adsorption processes and even more particularly to processes of the PSA (“Pressure Swing Adsorption”) type.
US08202342B2 Organic containing sludge to fertilizer alkaline conversion process
This invention is directed to systems, devices and methods for treating organic-containing sludges and converting such sludges to high value fertilizers containing both inorganic and organic fertilizer components, which creates an inorganically-augmented bioorganic fertilizer. The invention describes methods to create a thixotrophic or paste-like material via the application of mixing energy to the organic sludge followed by an alkaline treatment and a subsequent ammoniation. The invention further describes a method to increase the plant nutrient content in the organic containing product to a level which permits the finished granular fertilizer product to compete in the commercial agricultural fertilizer marketplace. Further, the invention reduces odors associated with said organic-containing sludges.
US08202340B2 Waved filter media and elements
Various high performance, high efficiency filter media are provided that are cost effective and easy to manufacture. In particular, various filter media are provided having at least one layer with a waved configuration that results in an increased surface area, thereby enhancing various properties of the filter media. The filter media can be used to form a variety of filter elements for use in various applications.
US08202333B2 Method of shutdown of reforming apparatus
In a shutdown method for a reforming apparatus, shutdown is carried out without exhausting untreated carbon monoxide as it is, the durability of catalyzer is inhibited from being lowered despite the repetition of start-up and shutdown, the shutdown is carried out without lowering the durability of a reforming section, and the shutdown is carried out with a little loss in energy. A control device for the reforming apparatus commences purge of residual gas in the reforming apparatus by stopping the supply of reforming fuel to the reforming section, by stopping the supply of reforming water to an evaporator section, and by supplying the reforming water remaining in the evaporator section to the reforming section while evaporating the reforming water by the utilization of the remaining heat of the reforming apparatus and flows oxidizing air for a predetermined period of time only from the time point of the commencement of the purge.
US08202331B2 Pump purge apparatus and method
When odorant injection systems are inactive, they may accumulate unwanted vapors in the pump mechanism and associated tubing. In order to restart the odorant injection system, it is best to purge the unwanted vapors from the odorant pumps. The present pump purge system facilitates purging of unwanted vapors from odorant injection systems in an environmentally friendly fashion. The pump purge system purifies these vapors before they are vented to atmosphere. In addition, the pump purge system accumulates liquid odorant which is a byproduct of the purging process and stores it in a tank to reduce the likelihood of improper disposal. As an option, the pump purge system may also include a liquid odorant recapture system. The liquid odorant recapture system uses high pressure gas to return accumulated liquid odorant to the odorant injection system to be reused. This liquid odorant recovery system ensures environmentally responsible behavior.
US08202325B2 Orthopedic device
An orthopedic device is provided which comprises two components that are mounted so as to be pivotable relative to one another. The relative movement of the two components is transmitted as unidirectional mechanical energy by means of a transmitting mechanism which includes an energy accumulator connected to a generator. The mechanical energy is thereby converted to electric power.
US08202324B2 Modular orthopaedic component case
A case for modular neck components for hip implants. The case may include indicators based on independent variables associated with physical characteristics of the implant, including leg length, offset, and anteversion. During surgery, the surgeon may be confronted with a need to change a preoperatively-chosen modular neck. For example, the surgeon may desire a change in at least one of the variables, e.g., leg length, offset, and/or anteversion. The case allows the surgeon to quickly and easily select a different modular neck based on an evaluation of one of the variables without requiring reevaluation of the other variables. A method described herein may include preoperative planning in which a template including a grid coordinate system is used, which advantageously provides an intuitive system for the surgeon both preoperatively and during surgery.
US08202322B2 Dynamic six-degrees-of-freedom intervertebral spinal disc prosthesis
The subject invention provides a modular six-degrees-of-freedom spatial mechanism for spinal disc prosthesis, with up to three rotational and up to three translational degrees-of-freedom within the entire workspace of a Functional Spinal Unit (FSU). The prosthetic disc mechanism consists of up to three independent cylindrical joints, each joint providing one linear and one rotational degree of freedom. The superior and inferior vertebral plates of the device anchor to the superior and inferior vertebrae of an FSU and the device maintains an inseparable mechanical linkage between those vertebrae for all normal motions and positions of the FSU. The device utilizes resilient spring elements, components that self-adjust in position and orientation, in conjunction with a fiber reinforced boot and toroidal belt, as well as a unique hydraulic damping system to accommodate dynamic and static forces and sudden shocks on the FSU. The device can adjust to maintain the appropriate, but changing, intervertebral spacing during normal FSU motion. Scaling, conjoined with cushioned, joint-limit stops, allows the device to realize almost any nominal spinal articulation, from the cervical to lumbar regions.
US08202313B2 Expandable medical device with beneficial agent in openings
An expandable medical device having a plurality of elongated struts, the plurality of elongated struts being joined together by ductile hinges to form a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. The plurality of struts and ductile hinges are arranged to improve the spatial distribution of the struts which is particularly important when delivering beneficial agents with the struts. The improved strut arrangement expands to a substantially parallelogram shape for improved beneficial agent distribution to the surrounding tissue. A beneficial agent may be loaded into openings within the struts or coated onto the struts for delivery to the tissue.
US08202312B2 Longitudinally flexible stent
An intravascular stent especially suited for implanting in curved arterial portion. The stent retains longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The stent is formed of intertwined meander patterns forming triangular cells. The cells are adapted to provide radial support, and also provide longitudinal flexibility after expansion. The cells also provide increase coverage of a vessel wall. The stent has a reduced crimped profile due to the differing lengths of adjacent structural members within the cells, resulting in loops which are not aligned around the circumference of the stent. Also, this stent may contain a second type of square cells, which are adapted predominately to minimize flaring of the stent ends and to provide additional stiffness.
US08202308B2 Depth cooling implant system
A depth cooling implant system having a probe device implanted inside a targeted area of the brain, such as the medial temporal lobe, for the treatment of epilepsy is disclosed. The probe device includes a heat pipe having a sensor for detecting the temperature of surrounding brain tissue as well as a plurality of recording electrodes for monitoring EEG activity of the brain. Further, the heat pipe defines a proximal portion in operative engagement with a cooling chip that provides a nearly instantaneous cooling effect to the heating pipe in order to immediately cool the targeted area of the brain when an epileptic seizure is detected. The probe device is operatively associated with a probe controller having a computer and battery arrangement that may be implanted in the patient in order to monitor brain activity and selectively activate the cooling chip for cooling the medial temporal lobe in response to an epileptic seizure.
US08202307B2 Phototherapy equipment for the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia and other diseases
The present invention relates to a phototherapy equipment, provided with at least one super LED of high luminous radiation, whose application is the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia, constituted by a luminous source formed by a split compact and elongated housing, provided, in its lower and front portion, with a cover containing internally adjustable lenses having one or more phototherapic sources with very high luminous irradiation at blue spectral range, more accurately in the wavelength of 450 nm, containing in the upper part a fan and electrically connected with a microprocessed circuit, which is able to be adjusted through control and programming actuators, having its functions monitored by means a display and a connector for any sensor, or digitized through a connection with a microcomputer.
US08202303B2 Pedicle screw with a closure device
Pedicle screws with a closure device for receiving and securing a rod made up of a flexible plastic, for stabilization of a vertebral column. The pedicle screws include a screw-in part, a head part with a U-shaped recess formed by two arms and into which the rod to be held is insertable. The U-shaped recess is closable by a locking element. A clamping screw, put into the locking element, presses an insert on the rod and clamps the latter between a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface. The insert is provided with stop faces by which the clamping action against the rod, transmitted to the insert by the clamping screw during the clamping step, is limited. An optimal connection between rod and pedicle screw is thereby obtained.
US08202290B2 Visual obturator with handle
A trocar system includes an obturator handle defining a handle axis and having an axial bore and an obturator cartridge adapted for releasable mounting to the obturator handle. The obturator cartridge includes a cartridge frame and an elongate obturator extending from the cartridge frame and at least partially positionable within the axial bore of the obturator handle. The elongate obturator includes an image transmitting member and having an obturator blade mounted adjacent the image transmitting member. The obturator blade is adapted for movement relative to the image transmitting member between an initial condition and a deployed position. A trigger is mounted to the obturator handle and adapted for releasable operative coupling to the obturator blade. The trigger is movable to cause movement of the obturator blade from at least the initial condition to the deployed position thereof. The obturator cartridge includes a longitudinal opening extending through the cartridge frame and the elongate obturator. The longitudinal opening is adapted to receive an endoscope.
US08202285B2 Cutting blade for medical devices
An athertome assembly comprises a series of spanning and descending members extended between a segmented base and a cutting surface. This athertome assembly configuration provides both flexibility and structural strength which facilitates the implantation of medical devices.
US08202278B2 Sterile surgical drape
A sterile drape, system, and method for draping portions of a telerobotic surgical system are provided. In one embodiment, a sterile drape includes an exterior surface adjacent to a sterile field for performing a surgical procedure, and an interior surface forming a cavity for receiving the non-sterile portion of a robotic surgical system, such as a manipulator. The drape further includes an integral cuff including a permanently turned-up fold of the exterior and interior surfaces at an open end of the cavity and a marker on the permanently turned-up fold designating a sterile side and a non-sterile side of the drape.
US08202277B2 Small gauge surgical instrument with support device
A small gauge surgical instrument assembly is shown with advantages such as diminished “play” at the tip. A surgical instrument assembly is also shown with support along a length of the instrument that can be selected by the surgeon. In particular, very small and flexible instruments for vitreous surgery are shown with selectable stiffness, thus providing control as well as access to all parts of the vitreous cavity. Embodiments as shown are safer, and increase the variety of cases for which these instruments can be used.
US08202268B1 Method and multiple-mode device for high-power short-pulse laser ablation and CW cauterization of bodily tissues
An apparatus and process using a high-power, short-pulsed thulium laser to output infrared laser pulses delivered through an optical fiber, for cutting and ablating biological tissue. In some embodiments, the pulse length is shortened sufficiently to keep inside the stress-confined ablation region of operation. In some embodiments, the pulse is shortened to near the stress-confined ablation region of operation, while being slightly in the thermal-constrained region of operation. In some embodiments, the laser is coupled to a small low —OH optical fiber (˜100 μm diameter). In some embodiments, the device has a pulse duration of about 100 ns for efficient ablation; however in some embodiments, this parameter is adjustable.
US08202255B2 Dose display mechanism for a drug delivery device
A dose display mechanism for a drug delivery device is disclosed. The display mechanism has an elongated dose setting dial with both an external helical thread and external linear grooves extending from one end to the other end. A counter ring is mounted surrounding the setting dial. The counter ring has ribs on its inner surface which engage the grooves and permit the counter ring to move axially along the setting dial but prevent it from rotating relative to the setting dial. Indicia, in the form of digits, are arranged helically on the outer surface of the dose setting dial. The digits are spaced at a pitch which corresponds to the pitch of the external helical threads.
US08202253B1 Method and apparatus for introducing an intravenous catheter
A catheter insertion apparatus with visual indication of needle penetration of a blood vessel and placement of the catheter cannula within the blood vessel, using blood vessel pressure to indicate needle penetration by the presence of blood within a transparent chamber within the apparatus and the displacement of a plunger to create a negative pressure on the cannula and thus allowing blood to be visible within the catheter hub thereby indicating the introduction of the cannula into the blood vessel.
US08202252B2 Iris seal for single incision surgery
The present disclosure is directed to a surgical portal apparatus for use during a minimally invasive procedure. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a housing and a portal member extending distally from the housing, defining a longitudinal axis. The apparatus also has an iris seal including a plurality of leaf members, disposed within the housing. The leaf members are adapted for pivoting relative to the housing, to control the dimensioning of a passage in response to the insertion of a surgical object. The leaf members are not directly linked to each other to provide for off-axis movement of the surgical object. The apparatus further includes an actuation mechanism, including a motor and a sensor, operatively connected to the leaf members and adopted for movement upon the introduction of the surgical object.
US08202251B2 Access device
An access device places a medical article within a body space of a patient. The device has a needle that includes an elongated body and a needle hub. The device further includes a dilator and a medical article. A track can extend in a proximal direction from the dilator. The needle hub can slide along at least a portion of the track between a first position and a second position. The device can further include a locking mechanism operably disposed between the track and the needle hub so as to inhibit further axial movement of the needle in the proximal direction when the needle hub is in the second position. The device can further include a guidwire that can bend such that the guidewire can both pass through the needle hub at one end and attach to the needle hub at another end.
US08202245B2 Medical devices and methods of making the same
Medical devices and methods of making the devices are described. In some embodiments, a method of making a medical device includes addressing a member including a polymer with energy above an ablation threshold of the polymer, and using the member to make the medical device.
US08202238B2 Method for manufacturing thin film integrated circuit device, noncontact thin film integrated circuit device and method for manufacturing the same, and idtag and coin including the noncontact thin film integrated circuit device
A thin film integrated circuit which is mass produced at low cost and a method for manufacturing a thin film integrated circuit according to the invention includes the steps of: forming a peel-off layer over a substrate; forming a base film over the peel-off layer; forming a plurality of thin film integrated circuits over the base film; forming a groove at the boundary between the plurality of thin film integrated circuits; and introducing a gas or a liquid containing halogen fluoride into the groove, thereby removing the peel-off layer; thus, the plurality of thin film integrated circuits are separated from each other.
US08202237B2 Portable air pulsator and thoracic therapy garment
A portable human body pulsating apparatus has an air pulse generator mounted on a pedestal having wheels to facilitate movement of the apparatus on a surface. The pedestal has an upright piston and cylinder assembly operable to adjust the elevation of the air pulse generator. A reversible thoracic therapy garment is connected with a hose to an air pulse generator which can be selectively located adjacent opposite sides of a person receiving therapy.
US08202232B2 Lancing system
The invention relates to a lancing system having a lancet carrier tape (3) supporting a plurality of lancets (4), a transport means (5, 11, 17) serving to move the lancet carrier tape (3) in a feed or transport direction along a transport path and to thereby move lancets (4) of the lancet carrier tape (3) one after the other to a puncturing position, and a lancing drive (6) for causing a lancet (4) that occupies a puncturing position to perform a puncturing movement. It is provided according to the invention that during a puncturing movement the lancing drive (6) moves a lancet (4), that has been brought to a puncturing position, in the puncturing direction together with a portion of the lancet carrier tape (3) on which that lancet (4) is supported and that once a lancet (4) has been moved to the puncturing position at least one element of the transport means (5, 11, 17), arranged behind the puncturing position in the transport direction, performs a movement before or during the puncturing movement of that lancet (4).
US08202230B2 Oral care implement having a liquid collection system
An oral care implement includes a collection system for oral fluids. Some embodiments of the implement may include an oral care region having a wearable oral member having a thickness that is reduced during use, a reservoir for retaining an oral fluid, a receiver coupled to the oral member for receiving an oral fluid, and a fluid pathway in communication with the receiver to provide the oral fluid to the reservoir.
US08202222B2 Equal phase two-dimensional array probe
An ultrasonic image scanning system for scanning an organic object includes a 2D array probe constructed with transducer elements in both azimuth and elevation dimension. There is a multiplexer disposed in one dimension to route the transducer elements to system front-end channels, while the other dimension can sum into the first dimension with various element number.
US08202213B2 Medical device
A medical device for examination or treatment based on a reference point, includes: a virtual endoscopic image generation section configured to generate a virtual endoscopic image of a bronchus from a plurality of different line-of-sight positions using three-dimensional image data of the bronchus of a subject that is obtained in advance; an image retrieval section configured to retrieve a virtual endoscopic image highly similar to an endoscopic image of the bronchus picked up by an image pickup section arranged at a distal end portion of an insertion section; a reference-point setting section configured to set a reference point based on a line-of-sight position of the highly similar virtual endoscopic image; and a relative-position calculation section configured to calculate a relative position of a treatment instrument to the reference point.
US08202211B2 Controllable stomach band
The invention relates to a controllable stomach band (1) comprising a non-extendible rear (4) and a chamber (2) which is arranged on the stomach-side of the rear (4) and is used to control the restriction of the stomach by the supply or discharge of a liquid or a fluid into or out of the chamber (2). The aim of the invention is create one such stomach band (2), with which, during a corresponding rise in pressure in the stomach-restricting chamber (2), triggered for example by the passage of a swallowed bolus, the stomach can be temporarily enlarged to enable the bolus to pass easily and liquid to flow out via the stomach opening. To this end, a pressure chamber (6) is provided outside the rear (4), said pressure chamber being connected to the stomach-restricting chamber (2) by means of a pressure valve (5).
US08202203B2 Portable acrobatic trainer apparatus
One embodiment of a portable acrobatic training apparatus (I) with which to support and instruct athletes learning back handsprings having opposing flat vertical ends (16), a resilient arcuate uppermost surface (10), a flat horizontal base (12), and a convex near surface (14). Said trainer apparatus is of approximate elliptical shape, rests on its base until intentionally activated by user, is self-limiting rotationally, and returns to start position automatically following each usage.
US08202195B2 Pinion gear subassembly and method of assembling a planet carrier assembly
The pinion gear assembly thus includes a first and a second pinion gear arranged with generally parallel axes of rotation. A first and a second washer, referred to herein as stationary washers, are provided. Each of the washers has two openings spaced to generally align with two predetermined, spaced mounting locations on the planet carrier member. The first and the second washers are positioned on opposing sides of the first and second pinion gears, with the axes of rotation of the first and second pinion gears generally centered at the respective spaced openings of the washers. Because the stationary washer spans the two pinion gears, which are secured to the carrier member, the stationary member is operatively connected at two locations to the carrier member, eliminating the need for anti-rotation features and corresponding carrier features.
US08202187B2 Crank-CVT transmission
A crank-CVT transmission which has a freewheel device connected to an output shaft of the transmission. The device selectively enables and blocks a relative rotation between the device and the output shaft. The transmission further has a switching unit adapted to switch the device and an internal shaft, which can be connected to the output shaft and by a connecting element to a differential. The internal shaft can be displaced in the axial direction of the output shaft. The transmission further has an actuator interacting with the switching unit and adapted to initiate the switch of the device. The actuator has a first mechanism adapted to displace the internal shaft in the axial direction, disconnecting the internal shaft from the differential a second mechanism adapted to drive the switching unit. The second mechanism is coupled to the first mechanism and is driven after the first mechanism.
US08202180B1 Disc launching and catching device
A device for use in launching and catching flying discs includes a frame having a handle section and an open forked section. The opened forked section includes a pair of opposing forks wherein each fork has a distal end and a proximal end with the distal end being free and the proximal end adjoining the proximal end of the opposing fork. Flexible material such as nylon netting is strung between the opposing forks in a manner which enables the formation of a relatively deep elongated channel having an open end so that a forceful swing of the device will cause a flying disc placed in the channel to roll in the channel and out through the open end of the channel at a high rate of speed. A method of using the device to launch a flying disc as well as a novel flying disc are also disclosed.
US08202179B2 Low lift golf ball
A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas with dimples configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, and such that the golf ball exhibits a lift coefficient (CL) of less than about 0.295 over a range of Reynolds Number (Re) from about 120,000 to about 180,000 and at a spin rate of about 5,000 rpm.
US08202175B2 Golf club head
A golf club head of this invention includes a head body, a weight member attached to the head body, and a fixing unit to fix the weight member at one of a plurality of attachment positions of the head body. The plurality of attachment positions are located on a virtual cylindrical surface having the axis of a shaft to be mounted to the golf club head as a center.
US08202174B2 Golf club
A golf club includes a golf club head that is generally constructed as a perimeter weighted golf club head and comprises a perimeter body, a hosel, at least one truss member and a face. The truss member extends between portions of the perimeter body to tune the vibration and deflection response of the golf club head in response to a golf ball impact.
US08202172B1 Child rocking toy
A child's rocking toy provides a body, the body having a lower convex surface and an upper concave surface with a peripheral edge. The upper concave surface has a lower portion with a seat and a seating surface. A handle, handles or a steering wheel is mounted to the upper concave surface at a position next to the peripheral edge. The seating surface is placed in a position well below the peripheral edge and closer to the bottom of the body.
US08202169B2 Grease trap
A transmission system including a damper having a hysteresis package and a flange, wherein the flange includes a first set of splines, an input shaft having a second set of splines arranged about an interior of the input shaft, wherein the first set of splines form an engagement with the second set of splines for transferring torque between the input shaft and the flange, wherein grease is included between the first and second sets of splines for lubricating the engagement of the input shaft and the flange, and a grease trap mounted to the flange located between the input shaft and the hysteresis package for restricting the grease from traveling radially down the flange and into the hysteresis package.
US08202165B2 Method and system for providing asynchronous tournament participations
A tournament feature is herein disclosed. This tournament feature allows asynchronous participations in which, upon or after the tournament feature ending, scores resulting from participations are evaluated to determine a winner to be awarded a prize. In an embodiment, a method of providing the tournament feature comprises conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine; monitoring activity on the gaming machine; generating a tournament participation invitation based on said activity monitoring; detecting the invitation on the gaming machine; providing a tournament participation on the gaming machine, comprising conducting a tournament play sequence depending on which a tournament score is obtained; storing the score with a plurality of scores throughout conduct of the tournament feature; evaluating stored scores after the end of the tournament feature to determine a winning score; and awarding a prize to the player who entered the winning score.
US08202162B2 Apparatus and method of impact emulation for video games
An impact emulator that provides impact effects to a player of a video game system is provided. The video game system has a magnetic field generator that is able to produce magnetic field to generate a force on a magnet on a remote controller. The amount of magnetic field to be produced is depending on the relative movement of the remote controller and a target element.
US08202160B2 Wagering game with multi-level progressive game
A method for playing a wagering game allows an opportunity to achieve a progressive award. A wager input is received from a player for playing the wagering game. A triggered progressive game includes player-selectable elements, each of the player-selectable elements being capable of association with a progressive-winning outcome. An outcome is assigned to each of the player-selectable elements, wherein a probability that the outcome is a progressive-winning outcome depends upon an amount of the wager input. The player-selectable elements are displayed.
US08202143B1 Poultry paw cutter and related methods
A poultry paw cutting apparatus can include a conveyor that conveys a plurality of shackles. Each of the shackles can be adapted to hold a poultry paw. A chain can receive the poultry paws from the shackles at a first location and can convey the poultry paws substantially in unison with the shackles to a second location. The poultry paws can be released from the shackles at the second location. A paw cutting station can be positioned along the chain. A first guide member can be located along the chain substantially between the second location and the paw cutting station. The first guide member can be adapted to press the poultry paws against the chain. A method of cutting a poultry paw is also disclosed.
US08202132B2 Contact spring for vehicular antenna/amplifier connection
A pair of confronting and spaced contact surfaces of a predetermined conductive material are electrically interconnected by a spring-type contact that is between the surfaces. The contact has an anchored end secured to one of the surfaces, an opposite free end, and a plurality of blades unitary with and extending between the ends and each having a bowed section engaging a respective contact surface. These bowed sections of the contact extend in opposite directions toward the contact surfaces and form contact points engageable with the respective contact surfaces. A coating on each of the contact points is of a material matched to the conductive material of the contact surfaces.
US08202130B2 Data cable
A data cable including an electrical line with a plurality of line leads, an electrical shield, a molded piece including first counterpart form-locking elements and a housing enclosing the molded piece, wherein the housing has a central opening. The data cable further including a plug connector disposed on an end of the data cable, wherein the plug connector is electrically connected to the shield, wherein the plug connector includes a bush that is enclosed by the molded piece. The bush includes a deep-drawn tube and a bead with second form-locking elements which with the counterpart form-locking elements form a first form-locking connection, wherein an outer contour of the molded piece and an inner contour of the central opening of the housing form a second form-locking connection.
US08202127B2 Electrical connectors for storage device
An electrical connector includes an insulated housing and a plurality of contact loaded in the insulated housing. The insulated housing defines an uninterrupted longitudinal slot extending in a first direction and through a mating face in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction the slot having a first and a second inner side faces facing to each other. The first inner side defines a groove extending through the mating face in the second direction. Each contacts includes a retaining portion retained in the insulated housing, a contacting portion exposing in the slot and a tail portion. The contacting portions defines a mating orientation along which the contacting portions contact with corresponding contacts of a counter electrical connector intended to be inserted in the slot. The plurality of contacts includes a first group and a second group of contacts lined along the first side face of the slot at opposite sides of the groove, and a third group, a forth group and a fifth group of contacts lined along the second side face. The third group of contacts are aligned with the groove, the forth group of contacts faces to the first group of contacts and the fifth group of contacts faces to the second group of contacts in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions.