US07885482B2
Implementations of coverage-based image relevance ranking are described. In one implementation, an acquired image is ranked relative to a set of previously stored images based upon the conditional entropy of the acquired image. The conditional entropy may be computed after first removing overlapping pixels that are present in both the acquired image and the set of previously stored images. Once the image is assigned a relevance rank, other decisions concerning the image may be made based on the rank, such as whether to save the image, delete the image, or use it to replace a less relevant image.
US07885480B2
A correlation function peak finding method for an image correlation displacement sensing system is provided. The method may include capturing a reference image and a displaced image, and searching for an initial peak correlation function value point (CFVP) with pixel-level resolution based on correlating the reference image and displaced images at a plurality of offset positions. Then a complete set of CFVPs may be determined at each offset position in an analysis region surrounding the initial peak CFVP. Then a preliminary correlation function peak location is estimated with sub-pixel resolution, based on CFVPs included in the analysis region. Finally, curve-fitting operations are performed to estimate a final correlation function peak location with sub-pixel accuracy, wherein the curve-fitting operations apply a windowing function and/or a set of weighting factors that is/are located with sub-pixel resolution based on the preliminary sub-pixel correlation function peak location.
US07885478B2
The present invention provides a noise reduction method for use in reducing noise of a digital image, the method comprising steps of: providing a plurality of luminance threshold values; determining a plurality of luminance feature values according to the luminance value of a target pixel and the luminance values of neighboring pixels of the target pixel; determining whether the target pixel is a noise point based on the comparison between each of the luminance feature values and each of the luminance threshold values corresponding thereto, respectively; and adjusting the luminance value, a first chrominance value and a second chrominance value of the target pixel if the target pixel is determined as a noise point. Using the noise reduction method of the present invention, not only noise of a digital image can be identified, but also the degradation caused by the noise can be reduced and thus the overall picture quality can be improved.
US07885474B2
A solution for detecting a streak in a JPEG image is disclosed that includes an extraction system for extracting a DC value from each cell block in the compressed image; an identification system for identifying a peak DC value in each rank of cell blocks within the compressed image; and an analysis system for analyzing the peak DC values to determine if a streak exists in the compressed image.
US07885467B2
An image of high-aspect-ratio objects is analyzed to locate linear features within the image. The gradient direction for each pixel is determined, and connected pixels having similar gradient directions are grouped into line support regions. A linear feature is determined for each line support region. The linear features are analyzed to identify those that are co-linear. The linear features are then analyzed to find groups that are parallel and that sufficiently overlap. Additional sets of linear features that intersect the identified group are combined into that group. The line support regions of the grouped linear features are analyzed to determine representative orientation and/or dimensional information, which is analyzed to determine statistical information about a plurality of the objects. This information is used to monitor or control one or more processes associated with the objects, to reject the objects or a structure or device comprising the objects, or the like.
US07885465B2
An efficient technique is provided for determining a portion of a document corresponding to a captured image. Areas of a document in which the pattern is at least partially obscured are identified. A reference pixel in the image is selected, and an offset between the pixel and the pattern is determined. A pixel-by-pixel comparison is then made of the image with the document such that the reference pixel is only compared with locations in the document that are both within the identified areas and have the determined offset from the pattern. The comparison with the highest correspondence between the image pixels and the electronic document then identifies the position of the reference pixel relative to the electronic document.
US07885458B1
Methods and systems for processing image data are described. A scene classifier determines the probabilities that various scene classes are associated with the image data. A gamut mapper determines the probabilities that various combinations of illuminant color and scene class are associated with the image data. The probabilities from the scene classifier are used to weight the probabilities from the gamut mapper. The weighted results can be used to select an illuminant color. The image data can be adjusted to compensate for the selected illuminant color.
US07885448B2
A microscope array with staggered rows of magnifying imaging systems is used to scan a biological tissue sample in a single linear pass to produce an image and corresponding optical-density data. A conventional computerized algorithm is used to identify, isolate and produce segmented images of nuclei contained in the image. The OD values corresponding to nuclear chromatin are used to identify numerical patterns known to have statistical significance in relation to the health condition of the biological tissue. These patterns are analyzed to detect pre-neoplastic changes in histologically normal-appearing tissue that suggest a risk for the development of a pre-malignant and a potentially malignant lesion. This information is then converted to a visually perceptible form incorporated into the image of the tissue sample and is displayed for qualitative analysis by a pathologist.
US07885442B2
A method for perfusion weighted imaging in which a plurality of local arterial input functions is estimated at each of a plurality of voxels. At least in part of the basis of the local arterial input functions, a cerebral blood flow at a voxel associated with one of the local arterial input functions is estimated.
US07885440B2
After selecting two or more image series for comparison, images of the image series are interleaved so that they are alternatively displayed in a comparison pane on a display device. In one embodiment, after one or more image series are selected for comparison, an interleaved image series is created containing each of the images of the one or more selected image series, or, alternatively, the interleaved image series comprises links to the images arranged in the interleaved pattern. If differences exist in the images of the multiple image series, these differences may be more easily detectable as the display device cycles between the images. Comparison of images in an interleaved image series may be more advantageous if the images of each selected image series are of a common anatomical area, common image size, and the images are in the same order.
US07885437B2
To enable extraction of a specific area (pattern area) that includes a characteristic part of the inherent pattern of individual fingerprint from an inputted fingerprint image of a human being or other creature. The pattern area is extracted as the minimum area that is surrounded by a right pattern area slope, a left pattern area slope, and pattern area bases. The right (left) pattern area slope is a fingerprint ridge which runs towards the outside on the right (left) side from the start point that is located on the upper side of the center point of the fingerprint image, and satisfies a prescribed condition. The pattern area base is a fingerprint ridge which runs on the lower side of the center and satisfies a prescribed condition.
US07885436B2
A method in accordance with the present invention is used to organize minutiae and other identifying characteristics of a patterned object to verify a user. In one embodiment, the method includes matching minutiae points of the patterned object in one more sets with minutiae points of the patterned object in a candidate set. The method also includes adjusting a confidence value of each minutia point in the one or more sets based on results of the matching. The method also includes organizing the one or more sets based on the confidence values, such as by ordering the minutiae in the one or more sets based on the confidence values, or by deleting from the one or more sets any identifying characteristics with a confidence value below a threshold.
US07885433B2
A biometrics authentication system detect body characteristics, verify the characteristics against registered biometrics data to perform individual authentication. In 1:n authentication, a plurality of different type biometrics database sets of a user are registered in a database, and at the time of verification of one type biometrics data set with one type registered biometrics data set, the control unit judges whether similar biometrics data sets of other person are registered, and if other person's similar biometrics data sets are registered, performs verification of each of the another type biometrics data sets of the plurality of similar biometrics data sets with the detected another type biometrics data set, and identifies the individual in question.
US07885429B2
Embodiments of the invention include a system and a method for determining whether a person is carrying concealed contraband, such as an improvised explosives device or other weapon. The system includes a people tracking video subsystem, a people tracking decisioning subsystem, a concealed contraband detection aiming subsystem, and a concealed contraband detection decisioning subsystem.
US07885411B2
A method carried out by a first system for establishing a secure bidirectional communication path between the first system and a second system for an exchange of one or more messages is described. A first key pair having a first public key and a first private key is generated, and a second key pair having a second public key and a second private key is generated. The second public key is generated based upon a shared secret known to the first system and the second system. The second public key and the first public key are sent to the second system. A third public key and a fourth public key generated by the second system are received, wherein the fourth public key is generated based upon the shared secret. A master key is calculated based upon the first private key, the second private key, the third public key and the fourth public key, wherein the master key is configured to be used in encryption of one or more messages.
US07885410B1
A method for providing private sidestream transmissions between a first and second client in a wireless network generally includes sending a location discovery request from a first client to an access point and receiving a location discovery response from the access point. The response includes a ticket encrypted with a session key of the second client and containing a sidestream key. The method further includes sending a direct communication request from the first client to the second client. The request includes the ticket and an authenticator encrypted with the sidestream key. A direct communication response including an updated authenticator is received from the second client. A method and apparatus for secure context transfer during client roaming are also disclosed.
US07885403B2
A hand held communications device is provided. The device includes: a circuit board including electronic components; display coupled to the circuit board; a housing substantially surrounding the circuit board and electronic components, wherein the housing includes a base element covering a bottom side of the circuit board and electronic components and a housing element attached to the base element covering a top side of the circuit board and electronic components, wherein the housing element includes a display aperture with the display partially projecting therethrough; and a cover removably connected to the housing by a connection, wherein the cover and the base element substantially enclose the housing element therebetween.
US07885399B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for routing calls over an organization's private network of private branch exchanges. In particular, when a member of the organization (e.g., an employee, etc.) places a call from his or her affiliated off-premises telecommunications terminal (e.g., cell phone, etc.), the call is automatically routed to its destination through at least a portion of the private network of private branch exchanges when doing so reduces the cost of the call. In the illustrative embodiment, the call routing is performed automatically and transparently via software on the affiliated terminals (i.e., employees' cell phones) and on the organization's private branch exchanges.
US07885397B2
A method, system and apparatus for on-demand phone number updating. A system for on-demand phone number updating can include a smooth number transition (SNT) call routing table mapping prior telephone numbers to new telephone numbers for corresponding SNT subscribers. The system further can include an SNT processor linked to the SNT routing table and communicatively coupled to switch logic in a PSTN. Finally, the system can include at least one SNT update table indicating whether different callers associated with a particular SNT subscriber have received an update for a new telephone number for the particular SNT subscriber. For instance, the SNT update table can be coupled to the server-side SNT processor, for instance as part of the SNT routing table, or the SNT update table can be disposed in a telephone system for the particular SNT subscriber.
US07885396B2
A method and system for providing a user who places a telephone call on hold with a partial hold option. When a user places a first call on partial hold and picks up a second call, the user can still hear conversation and activity that occurs on the first call. For example a user participating in a conference call may receive a second call. The user can place the conference call on partial hold and pick up a second call (i.e. engage in a conversation on a second telephone call). However, the incoming channel to the conference call will remain active and the user will be able to hear, in the background, what is taking place in the conference call. Should the user hear something interesting in the conference call, or if the user hears someone ask a question directed to the particular use, the user can switch back to the conference call.
US07885390B2
A system for personalizing interactive services provided to users of voice and data enabled communications devices, including users of SMS, MMS and WAP enabled communications devices. The system is designed to access source information associated with a particular requester for a service and to map the source information to personalization information associated with a user of the system. The source information is extracted in various embodiments from different types of communications channels. The personalization information is employed by the system to influence the behavior of the system while providing an interactive service to the user.
US07885383B1
Crystallite size in a sample is determined by performing a quantitative γ-profile analysis on a diffraction ring in a two-dimensional X-ray diffraction pattern. In particular, a two-dimensional X-ray diffraction system is first calibrated with a sample having a known crystallite size, crystal structure and X-ray absorption coefficient. For a given instrument window, the number of grains contributing to a selected diffraction ring is determined by the effective diffraction volume, grain size and the multiplicity of the diffracting crystal planes. The grain size of an unknown sample can then be determined by a quantitative analysis of the diffraction ring.
US07885379B2
The present embodiments relate to a mammography unit may be improved, by provision of a positioning device for a mammography unit, comprising a device support section for accommodating the radiation source and an object support device for accommodating the object holder for the relative positioning of a radiation source and an object holder. The object support section may be and/or is connected to the mammography unit by means of a connector element, wherein the device support section is mounted such as to be able to rotate relative to the connector element.
US07885377B2
X-ray computer tomographic apparatus, medical imaging apparatus, and medical image display apparatus
An X-ray computed tomographic apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, a rotating mechanism unit which continuously rotates the X-ray tube around a subject to be examined, together with the X-ray detector, a data storage unit which stores projection data corresponding to an output from the X-ray detector in association with the angles of the X-ray tube at the time of data acquisition, a reconstruction processing unit which reconstructs a plurality of images on the basis of a plurality of projection data sets stored in the data storage unit, the plurality of projection data sets corresponding to the same range from a first view angle to a second view angle, and a display unit which displays the plurality of reconstructed images.
US07885375B2
A technique is provided for imaging a field of view using an X-ray source comprising two or more emission points. The two or more emission points may be independently operated. Independent operation of the two or more emission points in performed in accordance with a list of commands that specifies the operation of the emission points. The list of commands, in one embodiment, is stored in a sequence buffer. In other embodiments, the list of commands is generated for a given usage, without being stored in a sequence buffer.
US07885365B2
A high-speed receiver includes multiple receiver components. Each receiver component includes sampling latches for receiving data, phase rotators for controlling timing of sampling of data by the sampling latches, and a clock-tracking logic stage for providing clock and data recovery. The clock-tracking logic stage is divided into a high-speed early/late (E/L) logic and aggregation counter section and a low-speed logic section, separated by a synchronization logic block. The receiver also includes a delay locked loop (DLL) for receiving an input clock signal corresponding to a data rate of the received data, providing coarse delay adjustment of the clock signal and outputting multiple clock phase vectors corresponding to the adjusted clock signal to the phase rotators on each receiver component. The phase rotators control sampling of the data based on the clock phase vectors received from the DLL. A single regulated power supply regulator regulates power supplied to the DLL and the phase rotators.
US07885357B1
An apparatus for signal detection to enhance performance of a receiver and method therefor. The signal detection unit provides at least three filtered output signals with different bandwidths, wherein at least one of output signals is generated by phase derotation and filtering. The three filtered digital signals are provided for a subsequent stage, such as a digital signal processor, to perform further operations of a receiver in different modes, such as a synchronization mode where the receiver synchronizes with a base station or a normal mode where transmitted data contained in the received signal is extracted. The signal detection unit includes a memory buffer with a reduced memory size for preparation of the three filtered digital signals efficiently. The circuit complexity and size can be dramatically improved and the performance of the receiver can be enhanced by the signal detection unit.
US07885354B2
A system and method are described in which space-time coding techniques are used to transmit and receive multiple data streams within a near vertical incidence skywave (“NVIS”) communication system. Within the NVIS communication system, multiple independent data streams may be transmitted from a transmitting station at a high radiation angle, approaching or reaching 90 degrees. The data streams are reflected off of the ionosphere of the earth and received by one or more receiving stations. In one embodiment, the space-time coding techniques are multiple-input multiple-output (“MIMO”) signal communication techniques.
US07885345B2
The present invention relates to a pilot allocation method for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing system, and the said method is used for a communication system which at least includes one transmitter and two transmitting antennas, characterized in including the following steps: step 1, a user data carrier allocating module in the transmitter allocating a data carrier for a user data symbol, then mapping the user data to the allocated carrier, and finally, outputting the mapped user data to a inverse fourier transform module in the transmitter; step 2, at the same time with step 1, the pilot data carrier allocating module in the transmitter determining the allocation rule of the pilot data according to the subchannel allocation manner and the number of the transmitting antenna of the system, and allocating the pilot carriers for the pilot data, then mapping the pilot data to the allocated carriers, and finally, outputting the pilot data to the inverse fourier transform module. The present invention synthetically considers the question of practical application as well as reducing the floor effect.
US07885342B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a decoder connected to a wireless receiver for communication with a remote apparatus, first error data that indicates a current error rate that corresponds to a first inbound data packet received from the remote apparatus. Based in part on the first error data, it is determined whether the remote apparatus should increase a current signal to noise ratio. If so, then a first outbound data packet is sent to an encoder connected to a wireless transmitter. The first outbound data packet includes first link conditioning request data that indicates a current signal to noise ratio for one or more data packets received from the remote apparatus based at least in part on the first error data. The remote apparatus increases signal to noise ratio of transmissions in response to receiving the outbound data packet.
US07885337B2
The disclosure is directed to a video slicing technique that promotes low complexity, bandwidth efficiency and error resiliency. A video encoder places an RM close to the beginning of each logical transmission unit (LTU) so that all but a very small end segment of each video slice fits substantially within an LTU. Instead of requiring placement of RMs exactly at the LTU boundaries, a video encoder applies an approximate alignment technique. Video slices are encoded so that RMs are placed close to the beginning of each LTU, e.g., at the end of the first MB falling within the LTU. A portion of the last MB from the preceding slice carries over into the next LTU. Loss of an LTU results in loss of virtually the entire current slice plus a very small portion of the previous slice.
US07885326B2
A method is presented for determining an actual pulse position in a signal. This signal comprises a plurality of successive frames, wherein each frame has length L and contains one pulse with width W, a number of discrete possible pulse positions being considered within in each frame which is at least L/W. The method comprises the steps of a) sampling the signal at a sampling rate below L/W with a varying sampling phase such that the whole frame length L is covered, b) obtaining a set of samples with at least one at each of the possible pulse positions, c) correlating this set of samples with a set of one or more predetermined values and d) determining the actual pulse position from said correlation. The method provides a low-complex signal acquisition solution in a receiver and is particularly useful for low-complexity and low-power IR-UWB transceivers.
US07885325B2
A method of synchronizing a feedforward filter (46) that receives a signal resulting from the transmission of a series of symbols through a channel, wherein the series of symbols includes a predetermined sequence of symbols includes the step of developing a plurality of samples from the received symbols (60), wherein a sequence of samples corresponds to the predetermined sequence of symbols. The method further includes the steps of estimating a channel impulse response from the plurality of samples, calculating a characteristic of the channel impulse response, and synchronizing (54) the feedforward filter in accordance with the estimated channel impulse response.
US07885314B1
A cancellation system that delays received Global Positioning System (“GPS”) signals and cancels less than all of the received GPS signals from the delayed version of the received GPS signals. A delay circuit produces a delayed version of the received GPS signals and a demodulator and despreader unit produces a demodulated and despread GPS signal corresponding to one of the received GPS signals. A respreader and remodulator unit produces a remodulated and respread GPS signal from the demodulated and despread GPS signal and a combiner produces a combined GPS signal from the delayed version of the received GPS signals and the remodulated and respread GPS signal. The cancellation system and method may also store the received GPS signals and cancel less than all the received GPS signals from the stored version of the received GPS signals.
US07885311B2
A laser head generating ultrashort pulses is integrated with an active beam steering device in the head. Direct linkage with an application system by means of an adequate interface protocol enables the active device to be controlled directly by the application system.
US07885305B2
In an active layer 15 of a semiconductor laser device 3, a refractive index type main waveguide 4 is formed by a ridge portion 9a of a p-type clad layer 17. Side surfaces 4g and 4h of the main waveguide 4 form a relative angle θ, based on a total reflection critical angle θc at the side surfaces 4g and 4h, with respect to a light emitting surface 1a and a light reflecting surface 1b. The main waveguide 4 is separated by predetermined distances from the light emitting surface 1a and the light reflecting surface 1b, and optical path portions 8a and 8b, for making a laser light L1 pass through, are disposed between one end of the main waveguide 4 and the light emitting surface 1a and between the other end of the main waveguide 4 and the light reflecting surface 1b. The optical path portions 8a and 8b are gain type waveguides and emit light components L2 and L3, which, among the light passing through the optical path portions 8a and 8b, deviate from a direction of a predetermined axis A, to the exterior. A semiconductor laser device and a semiconductor laser device array that can emit laser light of comparatively high intensity and can reduce side peaks are thereby realized.
US07885303B2
A nitride semiconductor laser device is formed by growing a group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure on a substrate. The group III nitride semiconductor multilayer structure has a laser resonator including an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer and a light emitting layer held between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer. The laser resonator is arranged to be offset from the center with respect to a device width direction orthogonal to a resonator direction toward one side edge of the device. A wire bonding region having a width of not less than twice the diameter of an electrode wire to be bonded to the device is formed between the laser resonator and the other side edge of the device.
US07885298B2
A system for producing frequency converted light includes a first seed laser operable to provide a first laser signal and a second seed laser operable to provide a second laser signal. The system also includes an optical combiner optically coupled to the first seed laser and the second seed laser. The optical combiner is operative to combine the first laser signal and the second laser signal into a combined laser signal. The system further includes a power amplifier optically coupled to the optical combiner. An intensity of both the first laser signal and the second laser signal are increased by the power amplifier. The system additionally includes a harmonic converter optically coupled to the power amplifier.
US07885279B2
A method for data transmission via several data channels in a network linking several units to one another, where the units can function as data sources, data sinks or transceivers, includes the steps of arbitrarily assigning a first data channel to a first predetermined one or more connection segments; arbitrarily assigning the first channel to a second predetermined one or more connection segments other than the first predetermined one or more connection segments; and simultaneously transmitting data between two units across the first predetermined one or more connection segments via the first data channel, and between two or more other units across the second predetermined one or more connection segments via the first data channel. The data are transmitted in a first direction over the first predetermined at least one connection segment, and the data are transmitted in a second direction over the second predetermined at least one connection segment, where the first ands second directions are the same.
US07885271B2
A network configuration that supports latency-equalization (LEQ) routing by effectively “storing” packets on communication links, rather than at end points. A suitable network configuration is found by (i) identifying a candidate pool of routers through which the participating client terminals and application servers can exchange packets intended for LEQ routing and (ii) analyzing the delay inventory corresponding to the network paths connecting the client terminals and application servers, through those routers. Based on the analysis, M routers from the candidate pool are selected to serve as hub nodes. Each participating client terminal is assigned m of these M hub nodes and, thereafter, directs and receives its packets intended for LEQ routing through one of these m hub nodes.
US07885270B2
Described are computer-based methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for statistical multiplexing of compressed video streams. A deadline of a packet of a compressed video stream is computed based on a program clock reference value of the packet. A plurality of packets, which includes the packet, is sorted based on deadlines corresponding to the packets. A next packet from the sorted plurality of packets is selected, the next packet having a corresponding deadline nearest to a system clock time. The next packet is transmitted.
US07885264B2
An object is to transmit data such that the transmission speed is not reduced even in a transmission route with a comparatively high percentage of packet loss.The transmitter 1 comprises: a data transmission unit 11 which transmits data packets 50 comprising data, a data sequence number indicating the order of the data, and a transmission sequence number indicating the transmission order, and which receives acknowledgement packets 60 comprising the next data sequence number, a bit string indicating the reception status, and a received transmission sequence number; a transmission history memory unit 14 which memorizes the transmission history of the data packets transmitted by the data transmission unit 11; and a retransmission control unit 12 which refers to the transmission history memory unit 14 and specifies the data sequence numbers requiring retransmission based on the received acknowledgement packets 60, and which directs the data transmission unit 11 to retransmit. The receiver 2 comprises a data reception unit 21 which receives data packets 50 transmitted from the transmitter 1, and which produces and transmits to the transmitter 1 acknowledgement packets 60 corresponding to these packets.
US07885253B2
An improvement in the design and operation of telecommunications networks is described in which when a caller's telecommunication terminal does not know the address of the called party's telecommunications terminal, the caller's telecommunication terminal contacts one Session Initiation Protocol Proxy server after another until the address of the called party's telecommunications terminal is found. Thereafter, one or more of the Session Initiation Protocol Proxy servers that did not have the address of the called party's telecommunications terminal are populated with that information for future use.
US07885251B2
A network configuration method of a sensor network configured to collect sensed data from a plurality of sensor nodes comprising: arranging linearly a path of respective node so as to enable all sensor nodes except for a sink node and a terminal node to have respectively a predecessor and a successor; and setting the time synchronization of whole network by fixing the each node take its own time synchronization on the basis of an operation section of the predecessor.
US07885247B2
A method of transmitting feedback information is disclosed. More specifically, a mobile station (MS) receives a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) which includes a Medium Access Channel (MAC) header from a base station (BS). Thereafter, the MS determines from the received MAC header whether an extended subheader group appears after the MAC header, and also identifies a feedback request extended subheader from the extended subheader group. Lastly, the MS transmits the feedback information according to the feedback request extended subheader.
US07885246B2
A frequency band is divided into N subchannels. Sub-channels are first allocated for a power line communication system having a higher priority, such as public communication or the like. Sub-channels for a power line communication system having a relatively low priority, such as in-home communication or the like, are allocated from free subchannels. In this case, the subchannels used by the power line communication system having the high priority are limited to a plurality of consecutive subchannels from an upper side or a lower side of the frequency band.
US07885243B2
A design and proof of concept of a new type of WLAN, complete with simulation and results from the simulation has been described. Each AP Node is implemented as a self-contained embedded OS unit, with all algorithms resident in its Operating system. The normal day-to-day functioning of the AP node is based entirely on resident control algorithms. Upgrades are possible through a simple secure communications interface supported by the OS kernel for each AP node. Benefits provided by a wireless network, as proposed in this invention, are that: it installs out of the box; the network is self-configuring; the network is redundant in that mesh network formalism is supported, ensuring multiple paths; load balancing is supported; there is no single point of failure; allows for decentralized execution; there is a central control; it is network application aware; there is application awareness; there is automatic channel allocation to manage and curtail RF interference, maximize non interference bandwidth and enable seamless roaming between adjoining wireless sub networks (BSS) and it supports the wireless equivalent for switching—for seamless roaming requirements.
US07885238B2
A first transceiver determines whether a second transceiver has properly decoded at least one of a received data packet and control information associated with the corresponding data packet based on an estimated probability. The estimated probability is indicative of whether the second transceiver has properly decoded at least one of the data packet and associated control information.
US07885233B2
In a network comprising a first subnet comprising a first WLAN associated with a home wireless switch a second subnet comprising a second WLAN associated with a first current wireless switch and a third subnet comprising a third WLAN associated with a second current wireless switch, methods are provided for forwarding a Broadcast/Multicast (BCMC) packet generated by a first wireless client device when the first wireless client device roams from the first subnet to the second subnet and a second wireless device roams from the first subnet to the third subnet. Other methods are provided for forwarding a BCMC packet generated by a wired host to a first wireless client device when the first wireless client device roams from the first subnet to the second subnet and to a second wireless device when the second wireless device roams from the first subnet to the third subnet.
US07885230B2
A method for efficiently scheduling virtual resource blocks to physical resource blocks is disclosed. In a wireless mobile communication system that supports a resource block group (RBG) allocation scheme, when consecutively allocated virtual resource blocks are distributively mapped to physical resource blocks, a gap for the distribution is determined to be a multiple of a square of the number of consecutive physical resource blocks constituting an RBG.
US07885223B2
A communications infrastructure, such as a public land mobile network (PLMN) complying with the GPRS standards, is described comprising at least a local support node for packet stream communication with a plurality of terminals and a gateway support node for packet stream communication with an external network, which may be an IP network such as the public internet. The local support node and the gateway support node are arranged for interconnection by a point to point tunnel, a GTP tunnel in the case of GPRS via for instance an IP network, for carrying packets between each terminal and addressed servers on the external network. A control element and one or more edge servers are associated with the local support node. The edge servers are each associated with respective addresses on the external network and the control element is interposed between the local support node and the gateway support node. The control element is arranged in operation to extract from the tunnel packets destined for a predeterminable set of external network addresses and redirect the extracted packets to corresponding ones of the edge servers. Finally, the control element is arranged route packets received from the edge servers to a corresponding terminal via the local support node.
US07885222B2
A method for scheduling tasks for execution by a mobile device is provided. A connectivity prerequisite is defined for a task scheduled to be executed by the mobile device. Connectivity state information associated with the mobile device is received. The connectivity prerequisite is compared to the connectivity state information. The task is executed responsive to the connectivity state information satisfying the connectivity prerequisite.
US07885221B2
A method for adjusting a granularity of resource allocation in a wireless mobile communication system supporting a compact scheduling is disclosed. A resource indication value (RIV) corresponds to a start index (S) of one set of consecutive virtual resource blocks (VRBs) and a length of the VRBs. The start index (S) is selected from among ‘s’ values (where s=P+mT
US07885211B2
Within a wireless network, feedback information is used to determine channel quality. A node in the network receives a configuration message indicating at least a first type of feedback information and a subset S1, wherein S1 is a subset of S0, and wherein the set S0 comprises all possible values of the first type of feedback information. The node selects an element E1 from the set S1 and transmits the selected element E1 in a feedback transmission instance.
US07885209B1
In a communications system where a plurality of endpoints share a virtual address, all of the endpoints are involved in a communication with one of them, but only one has its talk path enabled at any one time. Each endpoint has an actuator that, when actuated, enables that endpoint's talk path and disables the other endpoints' talk paths. Preferably, one of the endpoints is either an announcement facility or a teletypewriter, while another one of the endpoints is a telephone.
US07885202B2
A method for a UE reporting a CQI comprising steps of: obtaining a total number M of CQI report sub-bands in a system and a number N of CQI report sub-bands needed to be reported; measuring channel qualities of all sub-bands and according to the measurement result, determining N CQI report sub-bands needed to be reported and corresponding CQI values; sending a L-bit long sequence to a base station for indicating the sub-bands that need to be reported; sending CQI values corresponding to the sub-bands need to be reported to the base station. The present invention uses comparatively shorter bit sequence to indicate CQI report sub-bands needed to be reported and reduces the number of information bits necessary for CQI report sub-bands and also reduces the number of information bits corresponding to the CQI values in the CQI report sub-bands.
US07885200B2
A graphic user interface facilitates the hierarchical analysis of timing parameters related to network-based applications. At the top level of the hierarchy, the user is presented a summary of the delays incurred while running an application, or while simulating the running of an application, organized by delay categories, including processing delays at each node, as well as propagation delays at each link between nodes. The interface enables a user to “drill down” into lower levels of the timing information hierarchy by ‘clicking’ on currently displayed information. The information is presented in a form most appropriate to the level of analysis. The presentation forms include, for example, pie-charts, multi-variable timing diagrams (in both absolute and relative forms), data exchange charts, and so on, and ‘zoom’ capabilities are provided as appropriate to the particular display form.
US07885195B2
A test system comprising: acquiring an upstream channel descriptor list; entering a pause network state when the upstream channel descriptor list is completed; and selecting a particular channel from the upstream channel descriptor list before exiting the pause network state.
US07885191B2
A load balance server has a first database for recording a list of identifiers of the presence servers, a second database for recording a subscription message receiving rate, an entry retrieval means for selecting a presence server that the subscription message receiving rate is lowest, in presence servers included in the list of the entry based on the presence information, a presence server selecting means for selecting an additional presence server whichever subscription message receiving rate is lower than predetermined threshold Ts, when the subscription message receiving rate in the selected presence server is higher than predetermined threshold Ts, and a message sending/receiving control means for sending the public message to the selected presence server.
US07885190B1
A packet transmitted on a network is read and decoded. A network device and its operating system are identified by analyzing the decoded packet. If more than one operating system is identified from the decoded packet, the operating system is selecting by comparing confidence values assigned to the operating systems identified. A service running on the network device is identified from the decoded packet or subsequent packets that are read, decoded and analyzed. The network topology of a network is determined by reading, decoding, and analyzing a plurality of packets. A flow between two network devices is determined by reading, decoding, and analyzing a plurality of packets. Vulnerabilities are assigned to operating systems and services identified by reading, decoding, and analyzing packets. Network configuration policy is enforced on operating systems and services identified by reading, decoding, and analyzing packets.
US07885188B2
A smoothing algorithm for round trip time (RTT) measurements is provided to a network device to effectively deal with variations or other potential anomalies that may occur in RTT measurements. The algorithm involves: first determining what should be considered a very high or a very small value for a RTT sample. If a new RTT sample is in an acceptable range, then the network device performs a relatively basic smoothing. If the new RTT sample is much higher than a current RTT value, then the network device ignores the value of this RTT sample a few times. If the network device still detects this large value after ignoring that value for some time, then the network device factors this value into the current RTT value using an additive increase. Similarly, if the value of the new RTT sample is much lower than current RTT value, the network device ignores the value of the new RTT sample a few times. If the network device still sees this small/low value after ignoring that value for sometime, then the network device factors this value into the current RTT value using a multiplicative decrease. An effective RTT value results, which can be used singly or in combination with other metrics to load balance network traffic.
US07885184B2
One embodiment of the present method and apparatus for re-establishing anonymous data transfers between a first endpoint and a second endpoint in a network includes receiving, from a first node, the identity of a second node connected to the first node, where at least the first node is a neighbor node. A third node (a neighbor node) is then selected, and instructed to connect to the second node in order to establish a link for the path. In this manner, the first endpoint and the second endpoint remain unknown at least to each other (e.g., where “unknown” means that neither endpoint knows any identifying information, such as network address, about the other endpoint), and likely to all other nodes in the path as well. In another embodiment, a failure is detected at a neighbor node, where the neighbor node is part of an original path between the first endpoint and the second endpoint. The neighbor node's repair server is contacted for a repair node associated with the neighbor node, and a connection to the repair node is made such that the path is established in a manner that maintains anonymity of the first endpoint and the second endpoint relative to each other.
US07885181B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a node apparatus used in at least part of nodes in a network formed by a plurality of nodes coupled in the shape of a ring, comprising: a working node function performing unit for performing functions as a working apparatus that selectively drops a frame destined for a terminal hosted by the node itself among frames transmitted on the ring and adds a frame from the terminal hosted by the node itself to frames transmitted on the ring; a back-up function performing unit for performing functions as a back-up apparatus that lets a frame destined for a terminal hosted by the node itself pass through to an adjacent node and discards a frame from the terminal hosted by the node itself; and a function selection unit for selectively enabling one of the working node function performing unit and the back-up function performing unit.
US07885170B2
A data reading/writing head reading/writing data from/to a ferroelectric recording medium by using an electric field effect, includes a semiconductor body having a first plane on which an air bearing pattern is formed and a second plane crossing the first plane. A sensing unit is located on the second plane and reads data written to the ferroelectric recording medium, wherein the second plane is separated from the first plane, and a floating gate is disposed on the sensing unit, wherein an end of the floating gate extends to the first plane to guide an electric field from the ferroelectric recording medium to the sensing unit.
US07885168B2
A data-storage device has a data-storage medium storing data as local deformations, and at least one read/write element including a supporting structure, which carries a local probe arranged facing the data-storage medium. The local probe is formed by a bipolar junction. The supporting structure is formed by a first and a second arms of semiconductor material, carried by a substrate and extending in cantilever fashion above a cavity made within the substrate.
US07885166B2
An optical pickup apparatus includes a semiconductor laser for emitting a laser light, an objective lens for irradiating the light flux emitted from the semiconductor laser onto an optical disc, and a light detector for receiving the light flux reflected from the optical disc. The light detector has a light receiving part that comprises a region 1, a region 2, a region 3, a region 4, a region 5, a region 6 and a region 7.
US07885165B2
An optical pickup device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a light source for projecting a beam of light to record and reproduce information with respect to an optical recording medium. A collimating lens is disposed on a path of the light to converge and convert the light into a parallel beam. An object lens condenses the parallel beam from the collimating lens and projects the parallel beam onto the optical recording medium. An optical element is disposed between the collimating lens and the object lens. A first actuator moves the collimating lens along the optical axis to thereby control a distance between the collimating lens and the optical element. A first controller drives the first actuator to find a position for the collimating lens, for reducing aberration generated in the light being projected to the optical recording medium. Accordingly, the aberration can be effectively prevented, thereby improving recording and reproducing performance of the optical pickup device.
US07885161B2
An information recording apparatus includes an information obtaining unit, a sign arrangement generating unit, a sign arrangement recording unit. The information obtaining unit obtains information to be recorded on a recording medium. The sign arrangement generating unit, based on information to be obtained by the information obtaining unit, generates an arrangement having three or more kinds of signs for expressing the obtained information. The sign arrangement recording unit, while shifting recording positions of a recording area included in the recording medium, records physical features sequentially into the respective recording positions of the recording area included in the recording medium. And each physical feature corresponds to one kind of the signs.
US07885158B2
A system controller is provided so as to record the second disk type information having the same content as that of the first disk type information, which is recorded in a DVD-R in advance, in a DVD-R in which the first disk type information is recorded as well as to record the record information in the DVD-R and reproduce the record information only if the first disk type information and the second disk type information have the same contents each other upon reproducing the record information.
US07885155B2
A data readout method is disclosed that is able to read data from an optical disk capable of super resolution readout with high accuracy. The data readout method allows reading data recorded in an optical disk by irradiating a laser beam onto the optical disk. The method includes the steps of varying a light emission power level of the laser beam while the laser beam is irradiated onto the optical disk, and acquiring a reflectivity of the optical disk corresponding to each light emission power level; calculating a second derivative of a curve representing correlation between the reflectivity and the light emission power with respect to the light emission power; calculating an extreme value of the second derivative; and calculating an optimum readout power level for super resolution readout based on the extreme value.
US07885152B2
A tracking error (TE) signal is formed from a single spot on a photodetector 25 to improve the robustness in optical disc applications having a reduced track-pitch. Reduced track pitches are employed in high data capacity optical disc formats. By using high frequency cross-correlation of a central aperture signal, the differences within the left 21 and right 23 detector halves yield a divergence from the zero crossing that produces a more pronounced tracking signal. The more pronounced tracking signal is insensitive to incoherent cross talk in multi-layer discs.
US07885148B2
In a disc processing apparatus capable of automatically carrying out processing work such as recording information on a plurality of optical discs and printing label surfaces on those optical discs, this disc processing apparatus is able to suppress by separating a conveyed optical disc from an optical disc located just under the conveyed optical disc the occurrence of a phenomenon in which a plurality of optical discs is simultaneously conveyed in the state in which they stuck together when a plurality of optical discs accommodated within a stacker in the stacked state stuck together. After a disc contact portion 17c of a disc holding mechanism C1 was brought in contact with an optical disc D, the disc holding mechanism C1 is lowered by a predetermined amount to urge the disc contact portion 17c to downwardly press the optical disc D to thereby apply force directed in the direction substantially perpendicular to the disc surface to the optical disc D. Thus, the optical disc D located at the uppermost portion of a stacker 5 can be separated from an optical disc D located just under the above-mentioned optical disc D.
US07885145B2
A system and method for selecting an object from a plurality of objects in a physical environment is disclosed. The method may include analyzing acoustic data received by a plurality of acoustic sensors, detecting a snapping sound in the acoustic data, determining the direction of the snapping sound, estimating the distance to an object based on loudness measurements of the snapping sound detected in the acoustic data, and determining the location of the object relative to the system based at least in part on the determined direction, the estimated distance to the object and the location of the system. The method may further include identifying the selected object based on its geolocation, collecting and merging data about the identified object from a plurality of data sources, and displaying the collected and merged data.
US07885132B2
An internal voltage generating circuit generates and supplies a boosted voltage higher than an internal power supply voltage, as an operating power supply voltage, to a sense amplifier in a read circuit for reading data of a memory cell. A bit line precharge current supplied via an internal data line is produced from the internal power supply voltage. It is possible to provide a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, which can perform a precise sense operation and an accurate reading of data even under a low power supply voltage condition.
US07885125B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a logic circuit supplied with a first supply voltage; a cell array supplied with a second supply voltage higher than the first supply voltage and including plural mutually intersecting word lines and bit lines and plural memory cells connected at intersections thereof; and a word line driver operative to drive the word lines. The word line driver includes plural pull-up circuits connected between the supply terminal of the first supply voltage and the drive terminal of the word line and between the supply terminal of the second supply voltage and the drive terminal of the word line, and a pull-down circuit connected between the drive terminal of the word line and the ground terminal, and drives the word line with an intermediate voltage between the first and second supply voltages in accordance with a driving force ratio between the plural pull-up circuits at the time of driving the word line.
US07885117B2
Disclosed is a method for programming a nonvolatile memory device including one time programmable unit cells. The method for programming a nonvolatile memory device including one time programmable (OTP) unit cells, the method comprising applying a pulse type program voltage having a plurality of cycles. The present invention relates to a method for programming a nonvolatile memory device, which can prevent malfunctions by enhancing a data sensing margin in a read operation through the normal dielectric breakdown of an antifuse during a program operation, and thus improve the reliability in the read operation of an OTP unit cell.
US07885104B2
An information storage device includes a magnetic layer configured to store information, a first and second conductive layer. The first conductive layer contacts a first end of the magnetic layer. The second conductive layer contacts a second end of the magnetic layer. The magnetic layer includes first and second pinning regions at which magnetic domain walls are pinned. The widths of the magnetic layer at the first and second pinning regions are different.
US07885100B2
A phase change random access memory (PRAM) includes a cell array divided into an active region and a dummy active region. A bitline is formed across the active region and the dummy active region and a global wordline is formed in the active region so as to intersect with the bitline. The cell array includes a phase change memory cell formed at an intersection point of the bitline and the global wordline that is electrically connected with the bitline and the global wordline. The cell array further includes a phase change dummy cell formed below the bitline in the dummy active region that is electrically isolated from the bitline. The dummy cell maintains a turn-off state as the dummy cell and the bitline are electrically isolated from each other.
US07885096B2
An end of a selected bit line in a selected column is electrically coupled to an end of a corresponding current return line by one of first and second write column select gates, which are selectively turned on in response to results of column selection. A data write circuit sets the other end of the selected bit line and the other end of the current return line to one and the other of a power supply voltage and a ground voltage in accordance with a level of write data via one of first and second data buses and an inverted data bus, respectively.
US07885088B2
A method is provided for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type. According to the method, there is detected when a change of the load applied to an output terminal of the converter occurs. All the phases of the converter are simultaneously turned on, and a driving interleaving phase shift is recovered to restart a normal operation of the converter. A controller for carrying out such a method is also provided.
US07885079B2
A flexible electronic assembly including a flexible circuit board and at least one electronic component is provided. The flexible circuit board includes at least one dielectric film layer and at least one patterned conductive layer disposed on the dielectric film layer. The electronic component is disposed on the flexible circuit board and electrically connected to the flexible circuit board. The flexible angle of the flexible electronic assembly is greater than 5 degrees.
US07885074B2
Cooling apparatuses and methods are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic device utilizing a cooling subassembly, a pump and a controller. The cooling subassembly includes a jet impingement structure, and a thermosyphon. The jet impingement structure directs coolant into a chamber of the subassembly onto a surface to be cooled when in a jet impingement mode, and the thermosyphon, which is associated with the chamber, facilitates convective cooling of the surface to be cooled via boiling of coolant within the chamber when in a thermosyphon mode. The controller, which is coupled to the pump to control activation and deactivation of the pump, also controls transitioning between the jet impingement mode and the thermosyphon mode based on a sensed temperature of the electronic device.
US07885071B2
A heat dissipation arrangement for communication chassis includes a chassis body defining an inner receiving space and being divided into at least one heat receiving portion and at least one heat dissipation portion; a first heat pipe set arranged in the receiving space to connect the heat receiving portion to the heat dissipation portion, so that heat absorbed by the heat receiving portion can be quickly transferred via the first heat pipe set to the heat dissipation portion; and at least one thermal module including a plurality of radiating fins and at least one second heat pipe, which is connected to the heat dissipation portion and extended through the radiating fins, allowing part of the heat transferred to the heat dissipation portion to be transferred to the radiating fins. The thermal module provides additional heat dissipating area, so that the communication chassis can provide excellent heat dissipation effect.
US07885068B2
Provided is a cooler for a notebook computer. The cooler includes: a body comprising an upper plate, a lower plate, and an air passage formed between the upper plate and the lower plate; one or more cooling fans mounted on the body and drawing air into the air passage; and one or more vent holes formed in portions of the upper plate other than portions of the upper plate over the cooling fans, wherein the air drawn by the cooling fan is flown through the air passage of the body and discharged through the vent holes to the notebook computer placed on the body of the cooler. Accordingly, the air drawn by the cooling fans is flown through the air passage of the body and discharged through the vent holes to the notebook computer placed on the body of the cooler, thereby cooling the notebook computer.
US07885063B2
A heat exchanger carrier system, method, and computer program product are provided. Included is a circuit board with components mounted thereon. Further included is a carrier coupled to the circuit board. Also included is a plurality of heat exchangers coupled to the carrier for transferring heat from the components.
US07885049B2
A transmission delay line is introduced between the switch and the power output side of a power switching system so that sparking of the load is hidden from the switch by the time delay of the transmission line. This makes it possible to detect the load spark and actively protect the switch, typically by turning the switch off, before it actually knows that there has been a load fault spark. Alternatively, the delay of the transmission line is long enough so that the switch has already been turned off in normal pulse operation before the load fault current reaches the switch. Either way, the switch will be turned off under normal current flow and will not be subject to destructive over-current or over-voltage conditions.
US07885048B2
A semiconductor device and an electronic apparatus incorporating the semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device includesa power circuit that further includes a power transistor for providing current to a load (load current), a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the power transistor, and a current detector for detecting the load current. If the detected temperature of the power transistor reaches a first predetermined temperature, and if the detected load current exceeds a first predetermined load current, a signal is output through an external terminal of the semiconductor device.
US07885047B2
Adaptive electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection of a device interface has very good ESD robustness when it is handled or when installed into or removed from a system. And has robust immunity to DPI, electromagnetic interference (EMI) and the like, when it is operational in a system. There is a significant capacitive coupling between the drain and gate of a ESD protection metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device to enhance ESD protection and lower snap back voltage thereof whenever there is no (or a low level) DPI on the external connection to be protected. Whereupon when a significant DPI/EMI signal is detected on the external connection, the capacitive coupling between the drain and gate of the MOS ESD protection device is disconnected, bypassed or attenuated so that DPI/EMI immunity of the device is enhanced.
US07885045B1
The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals. The plurality of line terminals are coupled to the plurality of load terminals in a reset state and decoupled therefrom in a tripped state. A wiring state detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals. The wiring state detection circuit is configured to monitor an electrical signal propagating on the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals and derive at least one signal characteristic therefrom. The wiring state detection circuit is configured to automatically determine a wiring state of the electrical wiring device based on the at least one signal characteristic upon device installation or device reinstallation. The wiring state detection circuit generates a miswire detection signal if the wiring state is determined to be in a miswired wiring state and generating a proper wiring detection signal if the wiring state is determined to be in a proper wiring state. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition. A circuit interrupter assembly is responsive to the wiring state detection circuit and the fault detection circuit. The circuit interrupter is configured to drive the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals into the tripped state in response to either the fault detection signal or the miswire detection signal.
US07885044B2
A cooling system is provided with a motor drive device, a fan motor, and a Hall element. The motor drive device includes a lock protection circuit and a lock controller. When a control signal instructing rotation of the fan motor that is to be driven instructs stoppage of the motor for a predetermined time-period or longer, the lock controller has the lock protection circuit inactive. At an occasion when the control signal has continued to instruct stoppage of the fan motor for a first time-period or longer, a standby controller starts time measurement, and after a further predetermined second time-period has elapsed, makes at least a part of the motor drive device transition to a standby mode.
US07885042B2
A giant magneto-resistive effect device having a CPP structure comprising a spacer layer, and a fixed magnetization layer and a free layer stacked one upon another with the spacer layer interposed between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction. The spacer layer comprises a first nonmagnetic metal layer and a second nonmagnetic metal layer, each made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and a semiconductor layer formed between the first and the second nonmagnetic metal layer. The semiconductor layer is an n-type oxide semiconductor. When the first and second nonmagnetic metal layers are formed in order, the first nonmagnetic metal layer is formed prior to the second nonmagnetic metal layer, and an anti-oxidizing layer is formed between the first nonmagnetic metal layer and the semiconductor layer. The anti-oxidizing layer is formed of a material incapable of producing a Schottky barrier upon joining to the semiconductor layer.
US07885038B2
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic head slider which includes a magnetic recording/reproducing element and a heater which are formed in an air outflow end surface of a slider. The heater includes a heating portion, terminal portions extending from both ends of the heating portion, and lead portions overlapping the respective terminal portions at an overlap ratio of approximately 50% or more.
US07885037B2
A media cartridge including a first substantially rectangular surface, a second substantially rectangular surface, and one or more side surfaces, where the first substantially rectangular surface and the second substantially rectangular surface are connected by the one or more side surfaces. Further, a disk drive assembly is enclosed by the first substantially rectangular surface, the second substantially rectangular surface, and the one or more side surfaces. In addition, the media cartridge includes a cooling component is configured to cool the disk drive assembly.
US07885035B2
A computer program product for operating an automated data storage library with storage shelves, data storage drive(s), a bus bar; and a robot accessor with a drive system for moving the robot accessor, an accessor communication interface, a bus bar relay configured to engage and disengage the bus bar; and a robot control configured to operate the drive system to move the robot accessor, to operate a picker, and to operate the bus bar relay to engage the bus bar when the robot accessor is stationary, to provide communication capability with a library communication interface via the bus bar relay and the bus bar when the bus bar relay engages the bus bar. Additionally, a second communication system may be provided between the robot accessor and the automated data storage library, which is operable at least when the robot accessor is moving.
US07885031B1
Systems and techniques relating to interpreting signals on a channel having an asymmetrical signal amplitude response. A signal processor, such as a read channel transceiver device usable in a magnetic recording system, includes an asymmetry correction circuit configured to receive an analog signal and to compensate for asymmetry in the received analog signal, a signal equalizer configured to receive an input signal responsive to an output of the asymmetry correction circuit and to generate an equalized signal, a discrete time sequence detector operable to examine the equalized signal, and a control circuit that provides a coefficient adjustment to the asymmetry correction circuit to affect the asymmetry compensation based on an estimate of non-linearity derived from the equalized signal and an output of the discrete time sequence detector. The estimate can be a least mean squared estimate of the non-linearity in the equalized signal.
US07885027B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive in which the error correction capability of ECC is improved without sacrificing the storage capacity. In one embodiment, a data track adopts a format structure in which no data-to-data gap area is formed in data sectors. When one of the data sectors is updated in a state in which the rotational speed of a magnetic disk does not satisfy specified conditions, a leading end area of a succeeding data sector or a trailing end area of a preceding data sector is overwritten by the data sector. If a read error occurs in the overwritten data sector, ERP steps are executed to perform read retry so that the read error is recovered by means of on-the-fly ECC or erasure correction. In the case of the erasure correction, an erasure pointer equivalent to the maximum number of overwritten bytes is set.
US07885024B2
An enhanced oscillation test for detecting off track writing associated with a read/write head writing, on a magnetic media, a measurement track. Once the measurement track is written, a series of seek, write, and read operations is performed, e.g., between various origin tracks and the tracks adjacent to the measurement track, in order to detect any off track write problems. If a measurement track read operation fails a certain number of times, then an error code is generated which indicates an off track write problem.
US07885023B2
Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus comprises a base, a yoke coupled to the base, having an upper surface formed with a hole, a closed side surface, and an opened bottom surface, a bobbin movably installed in an inner portion of the yoke, a lens module coupled to the bobbin to go in and out the hole according to movement of the bobbin, a magnet fixed to an inner portion of the yoke, a coil fixed to an outer portion of the bobbin while facing the magnets, and springs coupled to the bobbin to provide restoration force to the bobbin.
US07885020B2
A lens barrel includes a rotational ring, first and second movable members linearly movable having first and second followers, respectively; and first and second guide grooves formed on the rotational ring, the first and second followers being slidably engaged therein, respectively. The first movable member has a non-linear moving path. The first guide groove includes an inclined linear lead groove. The lens barrel includes a complementary cam mechanism for controlling the rotational ring to define a non-linear moving path of the first movable member via a cam track of the complementary cam mechanism and a track of the linear lead groove. The second guide groove includes first and second lead groove portions extending parallel to the linear lead groove at different positions in the optical axis direction, and a differential groove portion extending in the circumferential direction which connect the first and second lead groove portions.
US07885018B2
A second optical element is bonded to a first optical element by forming the second optical element larger in diameter than the first optical element by pressing a second optical element material against the first optical element under a condition free from restriction to at least part of the second optical element material in the direction orthogonal to a direction in which the second optical element material is pressed.
US07885015B2
A two-lens type optical lens system for taking image consists two lens elements with refractive power, from the object side: a positive first lens element with a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, both the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the first lens element being aspheric; a positive second lens element with a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, both the object-side surface and the image-side surface of the second lens element being aspheric, and an aperture stop located in front of the first lens element. A focal length of the first lens element is f1, a focal length of the second lens element is f2, a focal length of the optical lens system is f, a radius of curvature of the object-side surface of the second lens element is R3, and they satisfy the relations: f/f1>0.9; (f/f1)>(f/f2)>0.35; and 1/R3<−0.01 mm−1.
US07885010B1
A wide field video endoscope objective and method of assembly the objective including four groups with five lenses, a mechanical housing containing the entire image forming elements, a aperture stop, a centering member and a retainer sleeve. The centering member is at first centered over the photo sensitive area of the chip and bonded to the surface of the cover glass. The retainer sleeve slides over said centering member and is glued to the centering member and the housing of the video chip. The objective housing with the optical elements is screwed on the centering member to adjust for focusing.
US07885006B2
A lens unit includes a lens array, a first light blocking member, and a second light blocking member. The lens array includes a plurality of lens pairs arranged in a substantially linear arrangement. Each of the lens pairs includes a first lens for forming an inverted reduced-size image of an object and a second lens for forming an inverted enlarged-size image of the inverted reduced-size image. The first light blocking member is disposed between the first lenses and the second lenses, and includes first apertures. The second light blocking member includes second apertures arranged in a substantially linear arrangement corresponding to an arrangement interval of the lens pairs, and having different opening portion shapes depending on a position of the lens pairs in an optical axis direction of the lens pairs. The second light blocking member is disposed at least between the first lenses and an object plane or the second lenses and an image plane.
US07885005B2
An eyepiece system has a lens group S1 in which a lens L1 having a negative refractive index and refractive power and a lens L2 having a positive refractive index and refractive power are joined, so that the lens group S1 as a whole has a positive refractive index and refractive power; and a multi-layer (stacked) diffraction optical element PF. In an optical system positioned between an image surface I and an eye point EP, the position of a diffraction plane on the optical axis is between EF in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, EF is the range in which the value ra of the ratio between a distance (DH2) between the diffraction plane (C) and a principal point (H2) near the diffraction plane and a distance (DH1H2) between principal points is 0.5 or less in both directions from the principal points H1, H2.
US07885001B2
An optical device may include at least one optical element and a coupling section adapted to control relative movement between the at least one optical element and the coupling section. The coupling section may include an engaging element and a detent mechanism adapted to adjustably lock the at least one optical element in a plurality of rotational positions. The rotational positions may include rotational positions around a first axis that is substantially perpendicular to a second axis of the at least one optical element, the second axis being a substantially longitudinal axis of the at least one optical element.
US07884993B2
An electrophoretic display device is described. The device includes a substrate, first electrodes, an electrophoretic film having electrophoretic particles, and second electrodes. The substrate is has a plurality of pixel regions. First electrodes are disposed respectively on each pixel region, and include first patterns separated from one another and second patterns connected to the first patterns. The second electrode is disposed on the electrophoretic film. The area of one of the electrodes, opposing the other of the electrodes has apertures formed therein, reducing the contact area between the electrode and the electrophoretic film.
US07884991B1
The present invention discloses a structure and method for realizing electromagnetically-induced transparency. In the present invention, a first split-ring resonator and a second split-ring resonator form a resonance structure. The first split-ring resonator and the second split-ring resonator are made of a conductive material. The first split-ring resonator has a “U” shape with a containing space. The second split-ring resonator has a “rectangular loop” shape with a gap or has a “U” shape with an opening. The second split-ring resonator is inserted into the containing space with the gap or opening arranged inside the containing space and faced downward to form the resonance structure. The resonance structures are periodically arranged on a chip to form an array. Thereby, different-frequency electromagnetic waves can be used to generate electromagnetically-induced transparency via regulating the dimensions of the resonance structure.
US07884984B2
A multicolor hologram (e.g., a two-color hologram) is replicated (copied) into a photosensitive layer by masking to produce a copy (replicate) of the hologram in a manner such that the copy is an accurate and true replication of the hologram (e.g., master hologram), and the copy is characterized to possess a high brightness level and color fidelity comparable to that of the multicolor hologram that was replicated. Both flood and scan modes can be employed in the replication.
US07884981B2
In order to enable a user to easily and quickly set the processing mode, the user interface device sets the processing mode for job execution in an image processing apparatus. This user interface device includes specifying means that specifies the processing modes presented to the user prior to processing mode setting as presentation processing modes, generating means that generates presentation preview images indicating processing results when the image data is processed using the presentation processing modes, display means that displays the generated presentation preview images, and setting means that sets in the image processing apparatus the processing modes corresponding to the displayed presentation preview images.
US07884978B2
An aspect of the invention provides an image reading apparatus including: first and second light emitters that emit lights; a light guide unit that guides the lights emitted from the first and second light emitters to irradiate a document with the light; a photoelectric conversion unit that converts reflected light from the document into an image signal; and a control unit that controls the first light emitter to emit light for a first time period in a unit time period and controls the second light emitter to emit light for a second time period misaligned from the first time period in the unit time period.
US07884977B2
The image processing device is provided with an area process portion for generating objects indicating specific areas included in original image data of an scanned original and for discriminating whether each of the objects is a character object or a non-character object, an integration process portion for performing a process of integrating character objects that satisfy a first condition so as to make one character object and a process of integrating character objects that have remained after integration and satisfy a second condition if the number of the remaining character objects is larger than a preset value, a lossless compression portion for performing a lossless compression process on a character object, and a lossy compression portion for performing a lossy compression process on a non-character object.
US07884974B2
An image sensor includes: a case that extends in a longitudinal direction; and a first positioning member that is disposed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the case, the first positioning member positioning the case in the longitudinal direction.
US07884970B2
Disclosed are an information processing apparatus and method, a recording medium and a program, by which an image can be fetched in a size appropriate to a user. An image of a subject picked up by a camera is displayed in a predetermined first range corresponding to a size designated in advance within a predetermined display region of an LCD unit which corresponds to an image pickup range of the camera, but the image of the subject picked up by the camera is not displayed in a surrounding range of the predetermined display region around the first range. If a shutter button is depressed in this state, then the image displayed in the first range is stored in the designated size into a memory. The present invention can be applied typically to a PDA, a mobile terminal, a portable telephone set, a desk-top personal computer or the like which has a function as a digital camera.
US07884962B2
Apparatus and methods for raster image processing are provided that include a networked computer coupled to a plurality of networked printers, the networked computer adapted to receive a print job, parse the print job into one or more print pieces, load balance the print pieces among the printers based on color use and print speed, and provide a list of the printers that received the print pieces.
US07884958B2
A printer, image registration method, and printer system improve image data processing efficiency by tracking and storing the identical image data that is registered and stored in a printer. The image registration device has a graphics register for registering images in a printer. The graphics register sends the image data to be registered to the printer, receives an identification number from the printer, and records and stores a registered image data information file linking the image data sent to the printer with the printer identification number.
US07884948B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a surface inspection tool in which a flat inspection range capable of measuring surface roughness of a wafer with patterns with high accuracy and in a nondestructive manner can be searched without visual search. In order to solve the object, in a surface inspection tool 110 which measures scattering light intensity of scattering light generated by irradiated irradiation light in association with a measurement coordinate on a wafer 200 with patterns and inspects the surface roughness of the wafer 200, the surface inspection tool includes a controller 250 which extracts measurement coordinate of the measured scattering light intensity that is equal to or more than a lower limit threshold L, sets an inspection range 406 of the surface roughness inspection in a partial layout 405a of a part of the whole layout 401 of the pattern corresponding to the periphery of the extracted measurement coordinate, and obtains the surface roughness in the inspection range 406.
US07884946B2
An apparatus for measuring the axial length of a human eye, the apparatus comprising a low coherence light source; a beam splitter; a fast displacement module for rapidly varying the path length within a reference arm of an interferometer; a laser directing a laser beam that is co-propagating with light from the low coherence light source into the displacement module.
US07884942B2
A probe apparatus includes a first focusing lens and a second focusing lens. The first focusing lens is arranged on a surface of a base to which a terahertz excitation beam is applied, the surface being opposite to the surface to which terahertz excitation beam is applied, with the lens axis deviated from the center of a point at which the terahertz excitation beam is applied. The second focusing lens is arranged on a surface of a base to which a terahertz detected beam is applied from a source of the terahertz excitation beam, the surface being opposite to the surface to which the terahertz detected beam is applied, with the lens axis deviated from the center of a point at which the terahertz detected beam is applied, in a direction opposite to the direction in which the lens axis of the first focusing lens is deviated.
US07884934B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for biogenic substance concentration measurement including: a cell including therein a first region, a second region, and a test solution retention space; a light source; a polarizing plate; and a photoreceiver, in which a plurality of first metallic nanorods each having a first antibody on a surface thereof are immobilized on the first region, a plurality of second metallic nanorods each having a second antibody on a surface thereof are immobilized on the second region, the respective long axes of the plurality of first metallic nanorods are aligned in the same direction, the respective long axes of the plurality of second metallic nanorods are aligned in the same direction, the long-axis direction of the first metallic nanorod is orthogonal to the long-axis direction of the second metallic nanorod, and at least one of the polarizing plate and the cell is capable of rotation with an optical axis as the rotation axis.
US07884928B2
A cup attaching apparatus for attaching a cup as a processing jig to an eyeglass lens including an illumination optical system including an illumination light source arranged to illuminate a side of the front surface of the lens by light from the light source; an imaging optical system including an imaging device and a retroreflection member placed on an opposite side from the light source with respect to the lens; an image processing device adapted to process an image signal from the imaging device to detect at least one of a mark point provided on a unifocal lens, a small lens portion of a bifocal lens, and a progressive mark provided on a progressive focal lens and obtain a position of the detected one; and an arithmetic control device adapted to determine an attaching position of the cup based on the position obtained by the image processing device.
US07884927B2
A power transmission control device includes a power-transmitting-side control circuit that controls an operation of a power transmitting device, a driver control circuit that controls operations of a first power transmitting driver and a second power transmitting driver, and a waveform detection circuit that performs a waveform detection process based on a monitor signal from a waveform monitor circuit. The first power transmitting driver drives a first node of a primary coil directly, and the second power transmitting driver drives a second node of the primary coil through a capacitor. A switch circuit is provided in the waveform monitor circuit, the switch circuit being situated in a signal path between the primary coil and a low-level power supply potential. The power-transmitting-side control circuit causes the switch circuit to be turned ON/OFF using a switch control signal.
US07884922B2
An illumination system for a microlithography projection exposure apparatus for illuminating an illumination field with the light from an assigned light source includes a pupil shaping unit for receiving light from the assigned light source and for generating a predeterminable basic light distribution in a pupil plane of the illumination system, and a transmission filter assigned to the pupil shaping unit and having at least one array of individually drivable individual elements for the spatially resolving transmission filtering of the light impinging on the transmission filter in or in proximity to a pupil plane of the illumination system. The transmission filter generates a predetermined correction of the basic light distribution. An illumination system of this type can generate a multiplicity of location-dependent intensity distributions in a pupil plane of the illumination system, and ensure a high transmittance.
US07884918B2
An exposure apparatus includes a first measurement device, a second measurement device, and a controller. The first measurement device measures the position of a substrate stage in the optical axis direction when the substrate stage is scanned in the first direction. The second measurement device measures the surface positions of the substrate in the optical axis direction at a plurality of measurement points on one straight line extending in the second direction on the substrate. The controller controls the second measurement device to measure at least one identical region on the substrate at different measurement points of the plurality of measurement points both before and after the substrate stage moves in steps in the second direction, and calculates a measurement error of the first measurement device attributed to the driving of the substrate stage in the second direction based on the measurement result obtained by the second measurement device.
US07884905B2
This invention relates to a liquid crystal device wherein the surface profile of a surface alignment grating stabilizes at least one stable state. The invention involves the introduction or breaks (34, 36, 38) or discontinuities into the grating (10) to divide the grating into a plurality of groove segments. The breaks are discontinuities in the grating in the groove direction, the grating having substantially the same groove direction on each side of the break. The introduction of breaks prevent free movement of defects along the groove of the grating and therefore help to stabilize the desired liquid crystal configuration, either a Defect state or a Continuous state. Suitable breaks involve gaps (34) in the groove ridges (30), necks (36) between the groove ridges (30) and slips or relative displacement (38) of the grating.
US07884882B2
An address generating unit 102 generates a different write start address (w_adr) of a picture memory 105 depending on an aspect ratio and/or a display plane position of a motion picture to be displayed. A picture writing unit 104 writes data to the picture memory 105, starting at the calculated write start address (w_adr). A picture reading unit 108 uses the write start address (w_adr) as a read start address (r_adr) and reads data from the picture memory 105, starting at the read start address (r_adr).
US07884869B2
A method and digital imaging device, such as a digital camera module, is provided for digital imaging. The method includes the step of determining a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a first pixel location of a plurality of pixel locations and a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a second pixel location of the plurality of pixel locations, and the steps of assigning a first exposure time to the first pixel location in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the first pixel location and assigning a second exposure time different from the first exposure time to the second pixel in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the second pixel location. The method further includes the step of exposing the first pixel location for the first exposure time while exposing the second pixel location for the second exposure time to create a digital image.
US07884858B2
A method and apparatus are described for improving object trackability via parametric camera tuning. In one embodiment, a determination is made as to whether the camera settings loaded cause saturation of a video image and hue differences between objects and between the objects and a background of the video image. If the saturation and hue differences do not exceed the threshold, a search of camera settings is performed to increase saturation and hue differences between objects and between the objects and a background of the video image.
US07884851B2
Apparatus and methods of processing audio files used by the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a camera arrangement, a storage arrangement, and a user input arrangement. The storage arrangement can store one or more audio files. A user may prepare the camera arrangement to capture an image of a subject. A selected audio file arrangement can be played through a sound generation arrangement audible to the person whose image is being captured, in response to an activation of the user input arrangement of the apparatus. After the audio file is played, the camera apparatus captures the image. One exemplary embodiment includes a wireless device, and the audio files are downloaded from a vendor using a wireless network and a computer network. In addition or alternatively, a display arrangement can be provided that displays an interactive menu for selection of options related to the audio files. A two-step shutter control of the camera arrangement can be used as the input device for causing the audio file to play.
US07884847B2
An image processing system may include an imaging device for capturing an image and an image processing apparatus for processing the image. The imaging device may include an imaging unit for capturing the image, a first recording unit for recording information relating to the image, the information being associated with the image, and a first transmission control unit for controlling transmission of the image to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus may include a reception control unit for controlling reception of the image transmitted from the imaging device, a feature extracting unit for extracting a feature of the received image, a second recording unit for recording the feature, extracted from the image, the feature being associated with the image, and a second transmission control unit for controlling transmission of the feature to the imaging device.
US07884838B2
The invention discloses a gamma adjusting apparatus for adjusting the gray level of each pixel of an image signal. The gamma adjusting apparatus includes a measuring unit, a first processing unit, a second processing unit, and a third processing unit. The measuring unit measures the lightness of N reference gray levels. The first processing unit normalizes the lightness of the N reference gray levels to generate N normalized reference values. The second processing unit compares the N normalized reference values with a standard gamma curve to generate N adjusted gray levels. According to the N reference gray levels and the N adjusted gray levels, the third processing unit sets an adjusting rule. According to the adjusting rule, the gamma adjusting apparatus is capable of adjusting the gray level of each pixel of the image signal to comply with the standard gamma curve.
US07884836B2
When a physical change (e.g. a change in screen orientation) is detected at a display device that is attached to a graphics subsystem of a host device and on which images are currently being displayed, a hot plug detect signal may be provided to the graphics subsystem. In response, the graphics subsystem may adjust its processing of images to account for the physical change (e.g. the image may be rotated). The display device may communicate data representative of the physical change to the graphics subsystem. The graphics subsystem may use this data to determine how its processing of images should be adjusted. The data may be communicated over an I2C bus regardless of whether a hot plug detect signal is provided.
US07884829B1
A graphics system has a partitioned graphics memory that includes memory elements. The system supports having an non-power of two number of active memory elements. In one implementation, the memory elements are dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and the system supports having a non-power of two number of active DRAMs.
US07884823B2
Game data is rendered in three dimensions in the GPU of a game console. A left camera view and a right camera view are generated from a single camera view. The left and right camera positions are derived as an offset from a default camera. The focal distance of the left and right cameras is infinity. A game developer does not have to encode dual images into a specific hardware format. When a viewer sees the two slightly offset images, the user's brain combines the two offset images into a single 3D image to give the illusion that objects either pop out from or recede into the display screen. In another embodiment, individual, private video is rendered, on a single display screen, for different viewers. Rather than rendering two similar offset images, two completely different images are rendered allowing each player to view only one of the images.
US07884816B2
Scanning beam display systems using fluorescent screens and various servo feedback control mechanisms to control display imaging qualities, including techniques and mechanism for measuring and correcting pyramidal errors of a polygon scanner.
US07884808B2
A cover for a mobile device is provided. The cover includes a support member having an upper surface, and a touch sensitive portion located on the upper surface of the support member, the touch sensitive portion being configured to generate a signal when touched to control the mobile device. A mobile device is also provided. The mobile device has a cover including a support member having an upper surface, and a touch sensitive portion located on the upper surface of the support member, the touch sensitive portion being configured to generate a signal when touched to control the mobile device. The mobile device also includes a display unit located in the mobile device.
US07884807B2
A proximity sensor device and method is provided that facilitates orientation changes in displays. The proximity sensor device and method provide a user with the ability to indicate an orientation change in a display using the sensing region of a proximity sensor device as a user interface. In one specific embodiment, proximity sensor device is implemented to indicate an orientation change in a first way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a first direction, and is further implemented to indicate an orientation change in a second way responsive to detected object motion along the sensing region in a second direction. Thus, a user can cause orientation changes of different ways through the use of object motions in different directions along the sensing region.
US07884788B2
A liquid crystal display device provided with an audio signal processing function, which includes an audio signal processing circuit with a large S/N ratio and a small glitch is provided. The display device of the invention includes a resistor string D/A converter circuit whose dynamic range can be increased by using a common power supply for a D/A converter circuit and a signal line driver circuit. Accordingly, a glitch generated in the D/A converter circuit can be reduced relatively to an audio signal and an S/N ratio of the D/A converted signal can thus be increased.
US07884781B2
A method and apparatus for correcting video data signals for addressing an active matrix electroluminescent display device wherein input video signals are modified in accordance with stored electrical characteristic parameter values for each drive transistor (20) employed to control the current through a respective display element (11). The stored values are continually updated to ensure accurate data signal correction which counteracts variations in the electrical characteristics of each drive transistor such as threshold voltage drift, for example. A power line (10) supplies current to n display elements (11). Thus, n sets of data relating to the current through the power line are collected during normal operation of the display, for example. The data is used to calculate updated characteristic parameter values for each drive transistor (20).
US07884780B2
An electron emission display device and a method of correcting an image signal to enhance an image quality by reducing luminance unevenness among pixels. The display device includes: a display region having an anode electrode configured to collide with electrons emitted depending on a voltage applied to first and second electrodes, the image signal being corrected using a correction factor; an image signal generator for generating the corrected image signal by multiplying the image signal by the correction factor to generate a result, dividing the result by a first number to generate a quotient and a remainder, and summing the quotient with a second number corresponding to a value of the remainder; a data driver for generating a data signal using the image signal and for transferring the data signal to the first electrode; and a scan driver for generating and transferring a scan signal to the second electrode.
US07884777B2
In one embodiment, a device is disclosed that includes: a first substrate, a plurality of antennas adjacent the first substrate; a plurality of oscillators integrated in the first substrate, each oscillator providing an output signal to drive a corresponding subset of the antennas; and a plurality of photodetectors corresponding to plurality of oscillators, each oscillator being adapted to injection lock its output signal to an electronic photodetector signal from the photodetector produced in response to an illumination of the photodetectors with a free-space optical signal modulated such that the photodetector signals are globally synchronized with each other, whereby the output signals driving the plurality antennas are also globally synchronized across the plurality of antennas.
US07884770B2
A communication apparatus is provided that includes an apparatus main frame, an antenna, and a connecting element that connects the antenna to the apparatus main frame and positions the antenna away from the apparatus main frame.
US07884763B2
Techniques are provided for computing beamforming weight vectors useful for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless transmission of multiple signals streams from a first device to a second device. The techniques involve computing a plurality of candidate beamforming weight vectors based on the one or more signals received at the plurality of antennas of the first device. A sequence of orthogonal/partially orthogonal beamforming weight vectors are computed from the plurality of candidate beamforming weight vectors. The sequence of orthogonal/partially orthogonal beamforming weight vectors are applied to multiple signal streams for simultaneous transmission to the second device via the plurality of antennas of the first device.
US07884762B2
Method and apparatus for a GPS device that uses at least one cellular acquisition signal is described. More particularly, a GPS device is configured to receive at least one cellular acquisition signal for obtaining benefits associated with AGPS with only a small subset of AGPS circuitry to interact with a cell phone network. This facilitates use of GPS devices without subscription to a cell phone service provider, thus avoiding cellular subscription fees.
US07884761B2
A method for tracking a satellite signal by a GPS includes the following steps. Data is continuously received from one of satellites by using tracking frequencies updated one by one based on an average phase difference of received data. Phase inversion points in the plurality of received data are interpreted. A time difference between each two adjacent phase inversion points among the phase inversion points is calculated. It is determined whether each time difference is an integral multiple of 20 ms. When each time difference is an integral multiple of 20 ms, 1-bit data is retrieved for every 20 ms from the satellite signal by taking a first phase inversion point among the plurality of phase inversion points as a starting point. Thus, a positioning speed is increased and a required positioning time is reduced by finding out a precise tracking frequency and a correct phase inversion point.
US07884755B2
A level measuring instrument has a variable transmitting power for measuring a filling level in a tank. The level measuring instrument includes a generator unit generating one of a first oscillator signal and a second oscillator signal. The generator unit generates a transmit signal from one of the first oscillator signal and the second oscillator signal. The level measuring instrument includes further a controller controlling the generator unit. The generator unit generates one of first and second transmitting powers for the transmit signal.
US07884752B2
A radar system comprising a platform movable along a path in relation to a ground surface portion and carrying a positioning device, a timing device and a radar equipment. It is adapted to implement synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for imaging the ground portion. It includes recording means for collecting radar raw data comprising radar echo amplitudes annotated with distance and the moment of time of collection and being intertwined with platform position measurement data annotated with the respective moment of time of collection thereof.
US07884744B2
Circuit arrangement, LIN comprising such circuit arrangement as well as method for processing input signals of the LIN In order to further develop a circuit arrangement (100)—for processing at least one input signal (12) from at least one data bus (10) of at least one LIN and—for providing the data bus (10) with at least one output signal (18), as well as a corresponding operating method in such way that EMI performance and/or EMI performance of the LIN (300) is improved, it is proposed to provide—at least one analog-digital converting circuit (ADC) for converting the analog input signal (12) into at least one digital signal (14) to be processed, and—at least one digital-analog converting circuit (DAC) for converting the processed digital signal (16) into the analog output signal (18).
US07884732B2
Wireless control of building facility systems via a wireless network using a wireless relay controller with a unique identifier. The wireless relay controller receives wireless control signals via a wireless communication network. The wireless relay controller determines that a wireless control signal concerns the wireless relay controller based on the unique identifier. The wireless relay controller further identifies a mode of operation for a specified relay indicated by the wireless control signal and controls the power to the specified relay in accordance with the wireless control signal. The wireless control signal may also monitor the power consumption of the load controlled by the specified relay and send that information to the network.
US07884724B2
An adjustable radio frequency data communications device has a monolithic semiconductor integrated circuit with integrated circuitry, interrogation receiving circuitry provided on the monolithic integrated circuit forming at least part of the integrated circuitry and configured to receive an interrogation signal from the interrogator unit, an antenna electrically coupled to the interrogation receiving circuitry and configured to communicate with the remote interrogator unit, a power source electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry and configured to generate operating power for the communications device, and at least one of the antenna and the interrogation receiving circuitry having reconfigurable electrical characteristics, the electrical characteristics being reconfigurable to selectively tune the at least one of the antenna and the interrogation receiving circuitry within a range of tuned and detuned states to realize a desired receiver sensitivity of the communications device. Additionally, a method for tuning receiver sensitivity and/or transmitter sensitivity according to construction of the above device is disclosed.
US07884723B2
Provided are a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a wake-up method thereof. The RFID tag includes: a power source that supplies a driving voltage; a continuous wave detector that receives the driving voltage from the power supply so as to detect a continuous wave in a signal received from an RFID tag reader; a command detector that selectively receives the driving voltage and detects a command in the signal; and a controller that executes the command detected by the command detector by supplying the driving voltage to the command detector if the continuous wave is detected, and stops the driving voltage from being supplied to the command detector if no command is received from the command detector for a predetermined time period.
US07884720B2
The present invention provides an intermediate attachment mechanism, called a powerposer (10), which includes at least one power source (16) coupled to an integrated circuit (14), at least one integrated circuit, which is arranged to store a code comprising information and powered with energy provided by the power source and a substrate (12) on which the at least one power source and the at least one integrated circuit are disposed, and wherein the substrate comprises connection means (22) for connecting to an application device and attachment means for attaching to the application device. Further, the present invention provides a battery assisted or active RFID transponder featuring a transponder substrate, at least one antenna disposed on the transponder substrate and a powerposer disposed on the transponder substrate. Still further the present invention provides methods of production of a powerposer and an active or battery assisted RFID transponder comprising a powerposer.
US07884718B2
The present invention is directed to systems that use frequency selective surfaces (FSS) to aid in the operation of radio frequency identification (RFID) devices and products. In one embodiment, a system for interrogating radio frequency identification (RFID) tags includes a conveyor belt and an RFID reader. The conveyor belt has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to receive an item to which an RFID tag is affixed and the second surface is configured to slide on a metal slide plate. The RFID reader is configured to transmit instructions embodied in a radio frequency (RF) signal to the RFID tag, wherein the metal slide plate is positioned between the RFID reader and the RFID tag and comprises a frequency selective surface that is substantially transparent to the RF signal.
US07884716B2
In a movie projection system, a switch circuit is disposed on a door of a case in which a video server is disposed. A tamper detector detects a state of the door as to whether the door is open or not and a state of the switch circuit as to whether the switch circuit has been tampered with or not, on the basis of an output signal provided by the switch circuit. A projecting operation controller controls the operation of the movie projection system such that when the door is detected to be in the open state or the switch circuit is detected to have been tampered with, the projecting operation controller stops inputting and outputting video data to or from the video server.
US07884714B2
Disclosed is a method and system for altering settings on portable electronic devices based upon the surrounding sounds. The system and method create a series of improvements in electronic devices that enable a person to have a greater possibility to hear their name being called, important signals or emergency vehicles while using their electronic devices are in use by the instant user. An example embodiment (i) provides at least one sensor connected to a portable device, each sensor detecting surrounding sounds; (ii) recognizing a specific sound among the surrounding sounds by the at least one sensor by matching the specific sound to one of a plurality of reference sounds; and (iii) altering settings of the portable device from a first setting to a second setting, in a first event the specific sound matches with one of the plurality of reference sounds.
US07884694B2
A transformer is provided. The transformer includes at least a high voltage coil, at least a low voltage coil and a soft-magnetic colloid element. The soft-magnetic colloid element is disposed between the high voltage coil and the low voltage coil.
US07884682B2
When a microstrip line is connected with a waveguide, there is a limit to reducing the connection loss by using only a matching box. We have discovered that in a transmission mode line transducer for converting between the TEM waves of the microstrip line and the TE01 waves of the waveguide, if the cross-sections of the microstrip line and the waveguide are substantially the same size, in the case of a 50Ω microstrip line when the characteristic impedance of the waveguide is about 80%, i.e., 40Ω, the line conversion loss can be optimized. Therefore, according to the present invention, the microstrip line is connected with the waveguide using a λ/4 matching box by means of a ridged waveguide having a low impedance and a length of λ/16 or less.
US07884680B2
One embodiment relates to a circuit for active loss compensation. The circuit includes a parallel inductor-capacitive (LC) tank circuit having a first single-ended output. A first adjustable capacitor, which includes a first terminal and a second terminal, is coupled to the first single-ended output. The circuit also includes a first pair of transistors having sources coupled to a first common node. One transistor of the first pair of transistors has a drain coupled to the first single-ended output and the other transistor of the first pair of transistors has a gate coupled to the second terminal of the first adjustable capacitor. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07884664B2
An input device including an electrode a width dimension of which changes in its direction of extension, an output portion an output signal of which corresponds to an electrostatic capacity induced between the electrode and an electrically charged body when the body approaches or touches the electrode, a detecting portion to detect a change of an output signal value of the output portion, and an operation recognizing portion configured to recognize, on the basis of the detected change of the output signal value, one of a pressing operation and a sliding operation of the body performed with respect to the electrode, wherein the pressing operation is performed by a moving action of the body in which the body approaches or touches the electrode, while the sliding operation is performed by a sliding action of the body in the direction of extension of the electrode while the body is held in close proximity to or in touch with the electrode.
US07884663B2
Conventional diode rectifiers usually suffer from a higher conduction loss. The present invention discloses a gate-controlled rectifier, which comprises a line voltage polarity detection circuit, a constant voltage source, a driving circuit and a gate-controlled transistor. The line voltage polarity detection circuit detects the polarity of the line voltage and controls the driving circuit to turn on or turn off the gate-controlled transistor. The gate-controlled transistor may be a Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) with a gate, a source and a drain or an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) with a gate, an emitter and a collector. The constant voltage source is provided or induced by external circuits and referred to the source of the MOSFET or the emitter of the IGBT. Thanks to a lower conduction loss, this gate-controlled rectifier can be applied to rectification circuits to increase the rectification efficiency.
US07884660B2
A programmable delay element, variable-length delay chain, and ring oscillator are disclosed. The programmable delay element performs phase interpolation of input signals in response to a control signal and can be used in combination with other delay elements to create a highly-modular, variable-length delay chain or ring oscillator. The ring oscillator can be used as part of a digitally-controlled oscillator (DCO) in a digital clock synthesizer to adjust the frequency and phase of a clock signal by fractional unit delay steps. Within the variable-length delay chain, some programmable delay elements can be configured to scale the delay-step of other programmable delay elements so that a plurality of step sizes can be implemented with identical delay elements. Also, variations of the delay chain generate in-phase and quadrature phase (I/Q) signals in either an end-tap or center-tap configuration.
US07884657B2
Provided is an oscillation frequency control circuit for correcting its frequency, keeping the oscillation frequency stable when self-oscillating, and oscillating with a control voltage generated by making a fixed voltage given from outside variable. In the oscillation frequency control circuit, a CPU selects/outputs the control voltage preferentially according to a command of a control voltage selection. If the command is not given and the level of an outside reference signal detected by a detecting circuit is within an adequate range, it turns a select switch on. If the command is not given and the level of the outside reference signal is out of the adequate range, it turns the select switch off and outputs information about pulse generation stored in a memory to a PWM circuit.
US07884651B2
An electronic device compares a first voltage with a selected first reference voltage or second reference voltage. The electronic device includes a comparator having a first input receiving the first voltage, a second input receiving the selected reference voltage and an output providing an output signal based on a comparison. A control stage connected to the output of the comparator generates a control signal based on the output of the comparator. The electronic device selects either the first reference voltage or the second reference voltage in response to the control signal thus comparing the first voltage with the selected reference voltage.
US07884649B1
Techniques in which an optimal set of clock gating elements is determined for a selected circuit design. Those clock gating elements are coupled to selected flip-flops, with the effect that those selected flip-flops will consume less dynamic power during operation of the logic circuit. The selected set of clock gating elements provides an optimal savings in overall power consumption after modification of that selected circuit design.
US07884646B1
A voltage level shifting circuit may include a differential first-stage level shifter that receives a binary input signal and generates a non-inverted first-stage shifted output signal and an inverted first-stage shifted output signal, a second-stage level shifter that receives the first-stage shifted output signals and generates a non-inverted second-stage shifted output signal and an inverted second-stage shifted output signal, and a signal generator that generates a level shifted final output signal corresponding to the binary input signal that is based on the non-inverted second-stage shifted output signal and the inverted second-stage shifted output signal. The voltage swing of the first stage output signals may be limited to swing between a non-zero lower value and an upper value that is less than or equal to a source-to-drain voltage rating of transistors in the differential first-stage level shifter.
US07884642B2
A system LSI includes an input/output section and a logic circuit section. The input/output section includes an I/O power source cell having a supply voltage higher than a power source for the logic circuit section and a plurality of I/O cells in each of which an I/O power source line is provided for supplying source power from the I/O power source cell. The logic circuit section includes an I/O power consuming circuit which uses the I/O power source cell as a power source. The I/O power consuming circuit is connected to a line leading from an I/O power source line in at least one of the plurality of I/O cells.
US07884641B2
This invention is an integrated circuit having at least one data pin connecting to external circuits. The invention includes a plurality of operational units each having at least one data input/output for data transfer and an enable input. The operational unit have a normal mode and a stall mode controlled by an enable input. The operational units can exchange data via the data input/output in normal mode and are not capable of exchanging data in the stall mode. A selection logic selectively enables an operation unit and connects the data input/output of the enabled operation unit to the at least one data pin. The selection logic is responsive to external signals on at least one data pin to selectively enable operation units.
US07884633B2
Various apparatus and methods of testing a semiconductor chip for soft defects are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of testing a semiconductor chip that has a surface and plural circuit structures positioned beneath the surface is provided. An external stimulus is applied to a series of fractional portions of the surface to perturb portions of the plural circuit structures such that at least one of the series of fractional portions is smaller than another of the series of fractional portions. The semiconductor chip is caused to perform a test pattern during the application of external stimulus to each of the fractional portions to determine if a soft defect exists in any of the series of fractional portions.
US07884631B2
A parking-structure test system has motherboards that test memory modules. The motherboards are not stationary but are placed inside movable trays that move along conveyors. An unloader removes tested memory modules from test sockets on the motherboards, and a loader inserts untested memory modules into the motherboards using a robotic arm. A conveyor carries the motherboards from the loader to a parking and testing structure. An elevator raises or lowers the motherboards to different parking levels in the parking and testing structure. The motherboards move from the elevator to test stations on the parking level. A retractable connector from the test station makes contact with a motherboard connector to power up the motherboard, which then tests the memory modules. Test results are communicated from the test station to a host controller, which instructs the loader-unloader to sort the tested memory modules once the motherboard returns via the elevator and conveyors.
US07884620B2
A sensor for measuring the moisture and salinity of a material is disclosed herein. The sensor preferably includes a soil moisture circuit, a soil salinity circuit and a probe structure. The soil moisture circuit includes a high frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference capacitor. The soil salinity circuit includes a low frequency oscillator, a voltage meter and a reference resistor. A third voltage meter allows for voltage outputs to be measured to calculate soil moisture and soil salinity values.
US07884619B1
Delay associated with each of two signals along respective transmission paths is accurately measured using a delay measurement circuit that is fabricated in situ on the actual device where the circuitry for propagating the two signals is fabricated. Thus, the measured delay associated with each of the two signals is subject to the same fabrication-dependent attributes that affect the actual circuitry through which the two signals will be propagated during operation of the device. The skew between the two signals is quantified as the difference in the measured delays. Coarse and fine delay modules are defined within the transmission path of each of the two signals. Based on the measured skew between the two signals, the coarse and fine delay modules are appropriately set to compensate for the skew. The appropriately settings for the coarse and fine delay modules can be stored in non-volatile memory elements.
US07884604B2
Methods and systems in a parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system utilize sensitivity-encoded MRI data acquired from multiple receiver coils together with spatially dependent receiver coil sensitivities to generate MRI images. The acquired MRI data forms a reduced MRI data set that is undersampled in at least a phase-encoding direction in a frequency domain. The acquired MRI data and auto-calibration signal data are used to determine reconstruction coefficients for each receiver coil using a weighted or a robust least squares method. The reconstruction coefficients vary spatially with respect to at least the spatial coordinate that is orthogonal to the undersampled, phase-encoding direction(s) (e.g., a frequency encoding direction). Values for unacquired MRI data are determined by linearly combining the reconstruction coefficients with the acquired MRI data within neighborhoods in the frequency domain that depend on imaging geometry, coil sensitivity characteristics, and the undersampling factor of the acquired MRI data. An MRI image is determined from the reconstructed unacquired data and the acquired MRI data.
US07884599B2
A hardware description language (HDL) design structure for performing device-specific testing and acquiring parametric data on integrated circuits, such that each chip can be tested individually without excessive test time requirements, additional silicon, or special test equipment. The HDL design structure includes a functional representation of at least one device test structure integrated into an IC design which tests a set of dummy devices that are identical or nearly identical to a selected set of devices contained in the IC. The test structures are integrated from a device under test (DUT) library according to customer requirements and design requirements. The functional representations of selected test structures are further prioritized and assigned to design elements within the design in order of priority. Placement algorithms use design, layout, and manufacturing requirements to place the selected functional representations of test structures into the final layout of the design.
US07884593B2
A controlled, symmetrical, stable current source that can power floating resistive loads, eliminates the need to connect the load directly to either a power supply or ground and protects the load against overpower should either or both sides of the load be shorted to ground. The current source includes two operational amplifiers for providing a current through the load that is proportional to an input voltage applied across the respective non-inverting inputs of the two operational amplifiers; two current sensing resistors for providing voltage drops that are proportional to the current through the load; and four summing resistors connected to the sensing resistors for providing to the inverting inputs of the operational amplifiers voltages that offset the sum of the voltage drops provided by the sensing resistors so that the current through the load is controlled by only the input voltage.
US07884585B2
The present invention relates to voltage converters and especially to a control circuit with an input from the voltage converter output and arranged to control the voltage level on the voltage converter output. The problem addressed relates to the situation when there is a pre-bias voltage on the converter output at the moment it is switched on. The object of the control circuit is to increase the voltage on the converter output fast and avoiding any drain of voltage or current from the output at the start up sequence. This is performed by a comparator in the control circuit that is arranged to compare the reference voltage with a division of the output voltage and if the reference voltage is lower that the divided output voltage the reference voltage is increased at the comparator output. The comparator circuit includes an OP-amplifier.
US07884582B2
A method in connection with a frequency converter for correcting the power factor of the frequency converter, and a power factor correction unit. The method includes connecting the power factor correction unit between a rectifier bridge of the frequency converter and the supplying AC voltage network, generating with the power factor correction unit DC voltage from the AC voltage of the supply network and feeding the generated DC voltage to the frequency converter via the rectifier bridge of the frequency converter.
US07884566B2
A system and method of implementing servomechanism control without rate feedback is provided. A position feedback signal is filtered using a non-linear lead-lag filter that has a variable frequency response to thereby generate a compensated position feedback signal. A position error signal is generated from a position command signal and a sensed position signal, and the frequency response of the non-linear lead-lag filter is varied in response to the position error signal. A compensated position error signal is generated from the commanded position signal and the compensated position feedback signal. The compensated position error signal is at least selectively filtered using a non-linear integral filter that has a variable gain to thereby at least selectively supply a filtered position error signal. The gain of the non-linear integral filter is varied in response to the compensated position error signal.
US07884560B2
A device includes a housing configured with a working element. The device also includes a motor configured for urging motion of the working element. The device also includes a power control module which may be electrically connected with at least one of the motor, a first power source configuration and a second power source configuration. Electric current is provided to the motor by the first and/or the second power source configurations. The first power source configuration may be electrically connected to a battery assembly having a DC power output. The second power source configuration may be electrically connected to a power inverter which may receive AC power and output DC power to the second power source configuration. The motor may be one of a permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motor, a universal motor and an induction motor, the motor receiving power via the power control module from at least one of the first power source configuration and the second power source configuration.
US07884557B2
A light source is protected by selectively coupling a shunt path in parallel with the light source, such that current is diverted away from the light source and through the shunt path. A detection circuit detects the current flowing in the shunt path when the shunt path is connected in parallel with the light source. A comparator determines whether the current flowing in the shunt path exceeds a predetermined threshold and, if so, prevents or limits the flow of current when the shunt path is disconnected from being in parallel with the light source. In this way, a current detector is provided for monitoring the flow of current in a shunt path, the current detector being configured to disable or limit the flow of current through a light source when a predetermined threshold is reached. This aspect of the invention has the advantage of enabling the current flowing through a light source to be controlled by monitoring the current in the shunt path rather than the path having the light source, thus enabling the maximum current to be controlled without potentially damaging the light source.
US07884553B2
Light-emitting diode illumination circuit, illumination device, and liquid crystal display apparatus
A light-emitting diode illumination circuit includes light-emitting diodes connected in series and compensating elements connected in parallel with the light-emitting diodes. Each of the compensating elements includes positive and negative terminals and at least one conductor having a predetermined melting point. The conductor melts in the event of open-circuit failure so that the terminals are connected.
US07884549B2
A gas-discharge lamp (1) is described having an inner envelope (2) comprising a discharge vessel (3) and two tubular sections (6, 7) arranged on the discharge vessel, having two electrodes (4, 5) that project from the tubular sections (6, 7) into the discharge vessel (3) and that, to enable them to be supplied with power, are electrically connected to respective electrical conductors (10, 11) that extend through the associated tubular sections (6, 7) and that are enclosed in the tubular sections (6, 7) with a gastight seal along a sealing section (8, 9). The lamp (1) has an outer envelope (18) that is connected at each of its ends to respective ones of the tubular sections (6, 7) of the inner envelope (2) and that surrounds the discharge vessel (3) while leaving an outer cavity (20) between itself (18) and the discharge vessel (3). Arranged on the outside of the inner envelope (2), at least in a region or regions, is a conductive coating (22, 23) that is conductively connected, inside the outer envelope (18), to one (11) of the electrical conductors. Also described is a corresponding method of producing a gas-discharge lamp (1).
US07884546B2
An electrodeless discharge lamp apparatus is provided which is increased in heat dissipation, making it possible to adapt to an increase in output of the apparatus. The electrodeless discharge lamp apparatus comprises a bulb containing a discharge gas and a coupler accommodated in a cavity formed in the bulb for generating a high frequency electromagnetic field. The coupler has: an induction coil; a core inserted into the coil; a heat conductor for conducting heat generated from the coil and the core; and a bobbin made of resin which accommodates the core and the heat conductor therein, and which has the coil wound therearound. The bobbin is designed to be separated in a radial direction of the coil, so that it is possible to separately mold the respective parts of the bobbin. Thus, it is not necessary to form, in the bobbin, a draft angle which has been necessary in the prior art when molding a tubular-shaped bobbin, and it is possible to make the thickness of the bobbin thin and uniform, so that the proportion of the bobbin in the volume of the cavity can be reduced to increase the proportion of the heat conductor.
US07884538B2
A light-emitting device is provided, which includes a package having a first portion and a second portion surrounding it, a semiconductor light-emitting element mounted on the first portion and emitting a light having an emission peak in a near-ultraviolet region, a transparent resin layer covering the semiconductor light-emitting element and contacted with the package, and a laminated body formed on the transparent resin layer with end faces of the laminated body being contacted with the second portion. The transparent resin layer has an arch-like outer profile perpendicular cross section. The laminated body has an arch-like outer profile in perpendicular cross section and comprises a red fluorescent layer, a yellow fluorescent layer, a green fluorescent layer and a blue fluorescent layer laminated in the mentioned order. The yellow fluorescent layer has a top portion which is made larger in thickness than that of the end face portions thereof.
US07884535B2
A low-pressure gas discharge lamp includes a gas discharge vessel having a gas filling with a discharge-maintaining composition. At least part of a wall of the discharge vessel is provided with a luminescent material including a first UV-B phosphor containing, in a host lattice, gadolinium(III) as an activator and praseodymium(III) as a sensitizer.
US07884530B2
The present invention provides, in one embodiment, an apparatus. The apparatus, without limitation, may include a substrate with a surface, and a polymer layer attached to a region of the surface. The apparatus may further include a plurality of nanostructures, a first end of each nanostructure being in the polymer layer and a second end of each nanostructure protruding through the polymer layer, wherein the nanostructures are configured to move from a first position to a second position in response to a change in thickness of the polymer layer from a first thickness to a second thickness.
US07884528B2
A driving apparatus has a piezoelectric element as a driver. The driving apparatus includes a first vibrator which generates an elliptical vibration when a voltage of a predetermined frequency is applied; a first member which holds the first vibrator; a second member which includes a first sliding member to which the first vibrator is pressed and makes a relative displacement with respect to the first member by being driven by the elliptical vibration of the first vibrator; and a first resonance preventive member which is provided to the second member and prevents a resonance in the second member from being generated by the elliptical vibration of the first vibrator.
US07884527B2
A piezoelectric thin-film resonator includes: a substrate; a lower electrode that is formed on the substrate; a piezoelectric film that is formed on the lower electrode and the substrate; and an upper electrode that is formed on the piezoelectric film, with the piezoelectric film being partially interposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode facing each other. In this piezoelectric thin-film resonator, at least a part of the outer periphery of the piezoelectric film interposed between the lower electrode and the upper electrode overlaps the outer periphery of the region formed by the upper electrode and the lower electrode facing each other.
US07884499B2
Methods and apparatuses for intervening in the self power or thermal regulations of a plurality of independent power consumption devices are described herein. The novel methods may include monitoring power consumption and thermal conditions of the plurality of power consumption (i.e., power/heat dissipation) devices that are configured to independently self-regulate their power/thermal production. A determination may then be made as to whether an aggregate of the power and/or thermal production of the plurality of power consumption devices exceed a threshold. And if the aggregate of the power or thermal production of the power consumption devices was determined to exceed the threshold, terminating, at least partially, the independent self-regulating of the thermal production and intervening in the thermal regulation of one or more of the power consumption devices. In contrast, if the aggregate of the power and/or thermal production of the plurality of power consumption devices is determined to be below the threshold then the power consumption devices may be allowed to self-regulate their power consumptions, and in some instances, one or more of the individual power clamps for the one or more of the power consumption devices may be relaxed or raised.
US07884493B2
A disc brake arrangement is provided as adapted for a wind turbine generator incorporating a rotor shaft supporting a rotor wheel and support ring for a rotor structure surrounded by a stator structure within a generator casing. The disc brake arrangement includes a brake disc mounted normal to and concentric with the rotor shaft and operatively connected to the support ring. A plurality of disc brake calipers are arranged concentrically with the rotor shaft and adapted to engage the brake disc.
US07884491B2
A power turbine speed control system for a turbo-shaft type gas turbine engine that has a gas generator compressor spool and a power turbine spool and drives an electrical generator that powers at least one electrical load by way of at least one electrical bus, comprises a power turbine controller that senses the rotary speed of the power turbine spool and generates at least one signal that changes the torque of the electrical generator in response to the sensed change in the rotary speed of the power turbine spool.
US07884490B1
An apparatus for generating electric current from a vibrating blade exposed to a fluid flow. in one embodiment, a plurality of blades are secured within a tail cone of a steam turbine and each blade includes a magnet and a coil associated with the magnet to produce electric current in the coil when the magnet moves across the coil. Each blade is designed to have a natural frequency so that the blade will resonate under the influence of the exhaust flow from the turbine in the tail cone. Abutment members are mounted on the blade or the fixed support to limit the range of motion of the vibrating blade so that it does not exceed the fatigue limit. The blades are made from a low damping material such as titanium so that a low frequency is produced.
US07884488B2
A structure and method of forming low cost bond pads is described. In one embodiment, the invention includes depositing an insulating layer over a last metal line of a substrate and forming an opening in the insulating layer. A colloid is printed over the insulating layer and fills the opening in the insulating layer. A conductive via and bond pads are formed by heating the colloid.
US07884485B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for forming interconnects between semiconductor devices in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. For example, a method of forming interconnects between semiconductor devices includes depositing a plurality of first contacts on a plurality of corresponding first pads of a first semiconductor device; forming a plurality of plated contacts on a plurality of corresponding second pads of a second semiconductor device; aligning the plurality of first contacts with the plurality of plated contacts; and joining the plurality of first contacts to the plurality of plated contacts to form the interconnects between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device.
US07884484B2
A wiring board includes an insulating layer in which a semiconductor chip is embedded, and a wiring structure connected to the semiconductor chip. A reinforcing member reinforcing the insulating layer is embedded in the insulating layer. This enables reduction in a thickness of the wiring board and a suppression of warpage of the wiring board.
US07884481B2
A semiconductor chip package is disclosed. The semiconductor chip package comprises a package substrate having a bottom surface. At least four adjacent ball pads are on the bottom surface, arranged in a first two-row array along a first direction and a second direction. At least four vias are drilled through the package substrate, arranged in a second two-row array, wherein each of the vias in a row of the second two-row array is offset by a first distance along the first direction and a second distance along the second direction from the connecting ball pads in a row of the first two-row array, and each of the vias in the other adjacent row of the second two-row array is offset by the first distance along an opposite direction to the first direction and the second distance along the second direction from the connecting ball pads in the other adjacent row of the first two-row array.
US07884478B2
In a semiconductor apparatus having a plurality of wiring layers, the semiconductor apparatus includes a bonding pad formed by an uppermost wiring layer, a first-layer plug wire formed by a first lower wiring layer in a region under the bonding pad, and a first conductive plug connecting the bonding pad and the first-layer plug wire. The first-layer plug wire may include a plurality of first-layer plug wires arranged in parallel to one another in a stripe pattern.
US07884474B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device having an air-gapped multilayer interconnect wiring structure is disclosed. After having formed a first thin film on or above a substrate, define a first opening in the first thin film. Then, deposit a conductive material in the first opening. Then form a second thin film made of a porous material above the first thin film with the conductive material being deposited in the first opening. Next, define in the second thin film a second opening extending therethrough, followed by deposition of a conductive material in the second opening. The first thin film is removed through voids in the second thin film after having deposited the conductive material in the second opening. An integrated semiconductor device as manufactured thereby is also disclosed.
US07884467B2
A kind of microphone package structure includes at least of a substrate, a sound processing unit, an upper cap and other devices. There would be at least one trench set on the substrate, and a separation gap between the trench and the bonding pad of the substrate is maintained. After connective paste is smeared on the surface of the substrate, the trench would be assembled with other devices. This kind of package structure could prevent a short circuit being caused by the overflowing of the connective paste.
US07884454B2
A semiconductor package assembly may include a lead frame having a die bonding pad and plurality of leads coupled to the first die bonding pad. A vertical semiconductor device may be bonded to the die bonding pad. The device may have a conductive pad electrically connected to one lead through a first bond wire. An electrically isolated conductive trace may be formed from a layer of conductive material of the first semiconductor device. The conductive trace provides an electrically conductive path between the first bond wire and a second bond wire. The conductive path may either pass underneath a third bond wire thereby avoiding the third bond wire crossing another bond wire, or the conductive path may result in a reduced length for the first and second bond wires that is less than a predetermined maximum length.
US07884453B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device including a semiconductor chip encapsulated by an encapsulation resin and a manufacturing method thereof, and an object of the invention is to provide the semiconductor chip and its manufacturing method in which the reduction in size may be attempted. It includes a semiconductor chip 15, an external connection terminal pad 18 electrically connected to the semiconductor chip 15, and an encapsulation resin 16 encapsulating the semiconductor chip 15, wherein a wiring pattern 12 on which the external connection terminal pad 18 is formed is provided between the semiconductor chip 15 and the external connection terminal pad 18, and the semiconductor chip 15 is flip-chip bonded to the wiring pattern 12.
US07884452B2
A semiconductor power device package having a lead frame-based integrated inductor is disclosed. The semiconductor power device package includes a lead frame having a plurality of leads, a inductor core attached to the lead frame such that a plurality of lead ends are exposed through a window formed in the inductor core, a plurality of bonding wires, ones of the plurality of bonding wires coupling each of the plurality of lead ends to adjacent leads about the inductor core to form the inductor, and a power integrated circuit coupled to the inductor. In alternative embodiments, a top lead frame couples each of the plurality of lead ends to adjacent leads about the inductor core by means of a connection chip.
US07884444B2
This application relates to a semiconductor device comprising a first chip comprising a first electrode on a first face of the first chip, and a second chip attached to the first electrode, wherein the second chip comprises a transformer comprising a first winding and a second winding.
US07884443B2
A capacitor-equipped semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a plurality of electrode terminals; a sheet-like substrate at least having a film capacitor; and a mounting substrate. The mounting substrate is provided on one side thereof with chip connection terminals and ground terminals. The chip connection terminals are disposed to correspond to the electrode terminals of the semiconductor chip. The ground terminals are disposed to correspond to the one electrode terminals of the film capacitor of the sheet-like substrate. The mounting substrate is provided on the other side thereof with external connection terminals connected to the chip connection terminals and the ground terminals and used to mount the mounting substrate on an external substrate.
US07884438B2
A photodetector for detecting megavoltage (MV) radiation comprises a semiconductor conversion layer having a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, a first electrode coupled to the first surface, a second electrode coupled to the second surface, and a low density substrate including a detector array coupled to the second electrode opposite the semiconductor conversion layer. The photodetector includes a sufficient thickness of a high density material to create a sufficient number of photoelectrons from incident MV radiation, so that the photoelectrons can be received by the conversion layer and converted to a sufficient of recharge carriers for detection by the detector array.
US07884437B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having an imaging region in which a plurality of photoreceptors are arranged, and a peripheral circuit region arranged around the imaging region; a plurality of microlenses formed on the imaging region; a low-refractive-index film formed on the semiconductor substrate to cover the plurality of microlenses and part of the peripheral circuit region; and a transparent substrate formed on part of the low-refractive-index film above the imaging region. A through hole is formed in part of the low-refractive-index film above an amplifier circuit arranged in the peripheral circuit region.
US07884436B2
In a solid-state imaging device, the pixel circuit formed on the first surface side of the semiconductor substrate is shared by a plurality of light reception regions. The second surface side of the semiconductor substrate is made the light incident side of the light reception regions. The second surface side regions of the light reception regions formed in the second surface side part of the semiconductor substrate are arranged at approximately even intervals and the first surface side regions of the light reception regions formed in the first surface side part of the semiconductor substrate are arranged at uneven intervals, respectively, and the second surface side regions and the first surface side regions are joined respectively in the semiconductor substrate so that the light reception regions extend from the second surface side to the first surface side of the semiconductor substrate.
US07884433B2
A STT-MRAM integration scheme is disclosed wherein the connection between a MTJ and CMOS metal is simplified by forming an intermediate via contact (VAC) on a CMOS landing pad, a metal (VAM) pad that contacts and covers the VAC, and a MTJ on the VAM. A dual damascene process is performed to connect BIT line metal to CMOS landing pads through VAC/VAM/MTJ stacks in a device region, and to connect BIT line connection pads to CMOS connection pads through BIT connection vias outside the device region. The VAM pad is a single layer or composite made of Ta, TaN, or other conductors which serves as a diffusion barrier, has a highly smooth surface for MTJ formation, and provides excellent selectivity with refill dielectric materials during a chemical mechanical polish process. Each VAC is from 500 to 3000 Angstroms thick to minimize additional circuit resistance and minimize etch burden.
US07884413B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes forming a first insulating film containing silicon oxide as a main ingredient, on an underlying region, adhering water to the first insulating film, forming a polymer solution layer containing a silicon-containing polymer on the water-adhered first insulating film, and forming a second insulating film containing silicon oxide as a main ingredient from the polymer solution layer, wherein forming the second insulating film includes forming silicon oxide by a reaction between the polymer and water adhered to the first insulating film.
US07884410B2
Example embodiments may provide nonvolatile memory devices and example methods of fabricating nonvolatile memory devices. Example embodiment nonvolatile memory devices may include a switching device on a substrate and/or a storage node electrically connected to the switching device. A storage node may include a lower metal layer electrically connected to the switching device, a first insulating layer, a middle metal layer, a second insulating layer, an upper metal layer, a carbon nanotube layer, and/or a passivation layer stacked on the lower metal layer.
US07884380B2
This invention discloses a light emitting semiconductor device including a light-emitting structure and an external optical element. The optical element couples to the light-emitting structure circumferentially. In addition, the refractive index of the external optical element is greater than or about the same as that of a transparent substrate of the light-emitting structure, or in-between that of the transparent substrate and the encapsulant material.
US07884372B2
Au base electrode materials have fatal disadvantages, such as inferior adhesion to diamond, low mechanical strength, and low thermal stability.A diamond UV sensor is provided which includes a photoconductive or Schottky optical sensor element having two-terminal electrodes and detects light irradiating a light-receiving portion according to the changes in electrical resistance or photo-induced current of the material of the light-receiving portion. The sensor element includes diamond having a surface from which a conductive surface layer has been removed, and the surface of the diamond is used as the light-receiving portion and a junction interface with the electrodes. The electrodes include a rectifying and an ohmic electrode. The rectifying electrode is transparent electrode capable of transmitting light and is defined by a single layer made of a nitride of a refractory metal element. The ohmic electrode includes a first layer made of a reactive elementary metal that can react with diamond to form a carbide or a carbon-containing solid solution, and a second layer made of a nitride of a refractory metal element.
US07884369B2
The wiring of the present invention has a layered structure that includes a first conductive layer (first layer) having a first width and made of one or a plurality of kinds of elements selected from W and Mo, or an alloy or compound mainly containing the element, a low-resistant second conductive layer (second layer) having a second width smaller than the first width, and made of an alloy or a compound mainly containing Al, and a third conductive layer (third layer) having a third width smaller than the second width, and made of an alloy or compound mainly containing Ti. With this constitution, the present invention is fully ready for enlargement of a pixel portion. At least edges of the second conductive layer have a taper-shaped cross-section. Because of this shape, satisfactory coverage can be obtained.
US07884367B2
A polycrystalline Si thin film and a single crystal Si thin film are formed on an SiO2 film deposited on an insulating substrate. A polycrystalline Si layer is grown by thermally crystallizing an amorphous Si thin film so as to form the polycrystalline Si thin film. A single crystal Si substrate, having (a) an SiO2 film thereon and (b) a hydrogen ion implantation portion therein, is bonded to an area of the polycrystalline Si thin film that has been subjected to etching removal, and is subjected to a heating process. Then, the single crystal Si substrate is divided at the hydrogen ion implantation portion in an exfoliating manner, so as to form the single crystal Si thin film. As a result, it is possible to provide a large-size semiconductor device, having the single crystal Si thin film, whose property is stable, at a low cost.
US07884364B2
An array substrate includes a substrate, a gate line on the substrate, a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region, a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines, a pixel electrode in the pixel region, and a common electrode including first, second, third, fourth and fifth portions, wherein the first and second portions are disposed at both sides of the data line, each of the third and fourth portions is connected to the first and second portions, and the fifth portion is connected to the second portion and is extended into a next pixel region adjacent to the pixel region.
US07884346B2
A nonvolatile memory element comprising: a first electrode 2; a second electrode 6 formed above the first electrode 2; a variable resistance film 4 formed between the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 6, a resistance value of the variable resistance film 4 being increased or decreased by an electric pulse applied between the first and second electrodes 2, 6; and an interlayer dielectric film 3 provided between the first and second electrodes 2, 6, wherein the interlayer dielectric film 3 is provided with an opening extending from a surface thereof to the first electrode 2; the variable resistance film 4 is formed at an inner wall face of the opening; and an interior region of the opening which is defined by the variable resistance film 4 is filled with an embedded insulating film 5.
US07884331B2
A brain imager includes a compact ring-like static PET imager mounted in a helmet-like structure. When attached to a patient's head, the helmet-like brain imager maintains the relative head-to-imager geometry fixed through the whole imaging procedure. The brain imaging helmet contains radiation sensors and minimal front-end electronics. A flexible mechanical suspension/harness system supports the weight of the helmet thereby allowing for patient to have limited movements of the head during imaging scans. The compact ring-like PET imager enables very high resolution imaging of neurological brain functions, cancer, and effects of trauma using a rather simple mobile scanner with limited space needs for use and storage.
US07884329B2
A device for detecting electromagnetic radiation, with a diode structure acting absorbingly for the electromagnetic radiation and having a diode, and an ascertainer for ascertaining a measurement value for the absorbed electromagnetic radiation by means of at least two current/voltage measurements at the diode for different pairs of a diode current and a diode voltage.
US07884325B2
The present invention provides an electron beam measurement technique for measuring the shapes or sizes of portions of patterns on a sample, or detecting a defect or the like. An electron beam measurement apparatus has a unit for irradiating the patterns delineated on a substrate by a multi-exposure method, and classifying the patterns in an acquired image into multiple groups according to an exposure history record. The exposure history record is obtained based on brightness of the patterns and a difference between white bands of the patterns.
US07884323B2
The present invention relates generally to atom probes, atom probe specimens, and associated methods. For example, certain aspects are directed toward methods for analyzing a portion of a specimen that includes selecting a region of interest and moving a portion of material in a border region proximate to the region of interest so that at least a portion of the region of interest protrudes relative to at least a portion of the border region. The method further includes analyzing a portion of the region of interest. Other aspects of the invention are directed toward a method for applying photonic energy in an atom probe process by passing photonic energy through a lens system separated from a photonic device and spaced apart from the photonic device. Yet other aspects of the invention are directed toward a method for reflecting photonic energy off an outer surface of an electrode onto a specimen.
US07884321B2
A method to determine a distribution profile of an element in a film. The method comprises exciting an electron energy of an element deposited in a first film, obtaining a first spectrum associating with the electron energy, and removing a background spectrum from the first spectrum. Removing the background value generates a processed spectrum. The method further includes matching the processed spectrum to a simulated spectrum with a known simulated distribution profile for the element in a film comparable to the first film. A distribution profile is obtained for the element in the first film based on the matching of the processed spectrum to a simulated spectrum selected from the set of simulated spectra.
US07884320B2
A method for operating an ion mobility spectrometer that comprises a measuring tube, a substance collector and a membrane inlet, the measuring tube, the substance collector and the membrane inlet defining a closed internal gas circuit, comprising separating the closed internal gas circuit from an external sample gas flow through the membrane inlet, transferring circulating gas containing an analyte substance from the membrane inlet to the substance collector, the analyte substance accumulated in the substance collector, releasing the accumulated analyte substances, and transferring the released analyte substances to the measuring tube.
US07884310B2
A new pixel in semiconductor technology comprises a photo-sensitive detection region (1) for converting an electromagnetic wave field into an electric signal of flowing charges, a separated demodulation region (2) with at least two output nodes (D10, D20) and means (IG10, DG10, IG20, DG20) for sampling the charge-current signal at least two different time intervals within a modulation period. A contact node (K2) links the detection region (1) to the demodulation region (2). A drift field accomplishes the transfer of the electric signal of flowing charges from the detection region to the contact node. The electric signal of flowing charges is then transferred from the contact node (K2) during each of the two time intervals to the two output nodes allocated to the respective time interval. The separation of the demodulation and the detection regions provides a pixel capable of demodulating electromagnetic wave field at high speed and with high sensitivity.
US07884300B2
A method of realizing selective separation of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting carbon nanotubes from bundled carbon nanotubes; and obtaining of metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes separated at high purity through the above method. Metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes are dispersed one by one from bundled carbon nanotubes not only by the use of a difference in interaction with amine between metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting carbon nanotubes due to a difference in electrical properties between metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting carbon nanotubes but also by the use of the fact that an amine is an important factor in SWNTs separation. The thus dispersed carbon nanotubes are subjected to centrifugation, thereby attaining separation from non-dispersed semiconducting carbon nanotubes.
US07884298B2
A switch for a switching unit for energy supply and distribution includes a first connection and a second connection, each with a cylindrical bolt. The bolts are axially adjacent one another and spaced apart. An annular sleeve with an inner diameter larger than the diameter of the bolts, is arranged in such a way that it can be axially displaced on the bolt of the first connection, and partially on the bolt of the second connection. At least a first contact element is arranged between the surface of the bolt of the first connection and the inner surface of the annular sleeve. At least a second contact element is arranged and constructed in such a way that it can be positioned between the surface of the bolt of the second connection and the inner surface of the annular sleeve. The switch has an annular third connection, the inner diameter of which is greater than an outer diameter of the annular sleeve, and which is arranged such that the sleeve can be shifted between the bolts of the first connection and the annular third connection. At least a third contact element is arranged and constructed in such a way that it can be positioned between the inner surface of the annular third connection and the outer surface of the annular sleeve.
US07884296B2
The present invention is a side-surface light-emitting unit to illuminate one or more illuminated objects disposed on a flat surface to extend in one direction, from a side surface of the illuminated object and includes a light guiding body which is disposed along the side surface of the illuminated object and emits light toward the side surface of the illuminated object, and an LED disposed at at least one end of light guiding body, an upper surface and a lower surface of the light guiding body except the side surface facing the object being optically shielded. It is possible to brightly illuminate objects such as key switches or the like from one end of the arrangement along a direction of the arrangement by uninterrupted continuous emission light.
US07884293B2
Such a control (10) firstly has a control housing (11) with a control rocker switch (21) which is mounted on the control housing in such a way that it can be rocked and at least two electrical wires in the interior of the housing, which protrude from the control housing (11) and are attached to an electrical drive of one lock. An electrical switch which in turn has a switch housing with a ductile snap disc (40), which interacts with at least two rest contacts as articulated contact when a switch actuator deforms the snap disc, is normally a part of this control. The rest contacts are connected to the wires in the control housing (11). In order to manufacture an economical and space-saving device, it is proposed that the control housing (11) is also used as the switch housing and that the control rocker switch (21) is also utilized as the switch actuator. That way the rest contacts of the switch and the wires are formed from one part in the control housing (21) and make up a grill insert in the control housing (21). The control housing (21) has a support bearing (37) in the area of the grill insert, at which the snap disc (40) is supported with its bearing points.
US07884292B2
An electrical safety receptacle with a cross-connection circuit, comprising: a line, a neutral and a ground wire input from an electrical power source, a line, a neutral and a ground wire output receptacles, four sets of fixed connection points, four sets of movable connection points, a first and a second cross-connection metal connectors, receptacle housing, a top cover, and a plurality of installation screws, when a line prong and a neutral prong of a power plug are not inserted into the line and neutral wire output receptacles, the line and neutral wire output receptacles are not electrically connected to the line wire and neutral wire of the electrical power source, and when the line prong and the neutral prong of the power plug are inserted into the line and neutral wire output receptacles, the line and neutral wire output receptacles are electrically connected to the line wire and neutral wire of the electrical power source.
US07884290B2
A sanitary, live loaded, pass-through fitting apparatus which allows for variable depth insertion of a pass-through object is disclosed. The apparatus is useful for sanitary introduction of a thermowell probe, dip tube, or other objects into a process stream or vessel. The pass-through object is sealed to the fitting at the point of fluid insertion with the seal material under a live load.
US07884285B2
An animal protectant power line electrical insulator to be placed on structures such as electrical apparatus to protect birds, wildlife and other animals. Specifically the insulator may include, a snap-fit insulating cover configured to fit over an energized part of an electrical structure of a power line, a resiliently flexible separable juncture for application onto the power line and secure closure; and perhaps even at least one formed eye on the cover. A cover may hold itself in place and may be made from plastic, fiberglass, PVC, or other semi-rigid, non-conductive material; molded, formed, or fabricated to fit a desired application.
US07884284B2
A cable includes at least one electrical conductor and at least one extruded covering layer including a thermoplastic polymer material in admixture with a dielectric liquid, wherein the thermoplastic polymer material includes (a) at least 75% by weight, with respect to the total weight of the thermoplastic polymer material, of at least one copolymer of at least two α-olefin co-monomers, the copolymer having a melting enthalpy lower than 25 J/g; and (b) an amount equal to or less than 25% by weight with respect to the total weight of the thermoplastic polymer material of at least one propylene homopolymer or propylene copolymer with at least one α-olefin, the at least one propylene homopolymer or propylene copolymer having a melting enthalpy higher than 25 J/g and a melting point higher than 130° C. The covering layer has a melting enthalpy equal to or lower than 40 J/g, and the concentration by weight of the dielectric liquid in the thermoplastic polymer material is lower than the saturation concentration of the dielectric liquid in the thermoplastic polymer material.
US07884283B1
A security cover for selectively securing an access opening in an enclosure or a utility pole using a padlock with a shackle. The security cover includes a rigid cover, that substantially covers the access opening and has a lock-bar opening formed therethrough. A shroud is fixed about the lock-bar opening on the exterior surface of the rigid cover, and the shroud has an access port for enabling insertion of the padlock between the shroud and the exterior surface of the rigid cover. A lock-bar extends through the lock-bar opening in the rigid cover while the clamp-bar is engaged with the interior of the enclosure. The shackle-hole is accessible through the access port of the shroud.
US07884278B2
Apparatuses and methods to reduce safety risks associated with photovoltaic systems by providing a safety switch on a photovoltaic panel. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic panel includes: at least one photovoltaic cell; a connector to output energy from the photovoltaic panel; and a switch coupled between the at least one photovoltaic cell and the connector. The switch is configured to disconnect the at least one photovoltaic cell from the connector during installation of the photovoltaic panel, and to connect the at least one photovoltaic cell with the connector after installation of the photovoltaic panel.
US07884276B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for automatically converting audio input signal data into musical score representation data. Embodiments of the invention identify a change in frequency information from the audio signal that exceeds a first threshold value; identify a change in amplitude information from the audio signal that exceeds a second threshold value; and generate a note onset event, each note onset event representing a time location in the audio signal of at least one of an identified change in the frequency information that exceeds the first threshold value or an identified change in the amplitude information that exceeds the second threshold value. The generation of note onset events and other information from the audio input signal may be used to extract note pitch, note value, tempo, meter, key, instrumentation, and other score representation information.
US07884269B2
A barley cultivar, designated Champion, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of barley cultivar Champion, to the plants of barley Champion, and to methods for producing a barley plant produced by crossing barley cultivar Champion with itself or another barley variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a barley plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic barley plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to barley varieties or breeding varieties and plant parts derived from barley cultivar Champion, to methods for producing other barley varieties, lines or plant parts derived from barley cultivar Champion, and to the barley plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid barley seeds and plants produced by crossing barley cultivar Champion with another barley cultivar. This invention further relates to methods for developing other barley varieties or breeding lines derived from variety Champion including cell and tissue culture, haploid systems, mutagenesis, and transgenic derived lines.
US07884263B2
Compositions and methods for reducing the level of nornicotine and N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) in Nicotiana plants and plant parts thereof are provided. The compositions comprise isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides for cytochrome P450s that are involved in the metabolic conversion of nicotine to nornicotine in these plants. Expression cassettes, vectors, plants, and plant parts thereof comprising inhibitory sequences that target expression or function of the disclosed cytochrome P450 polypeptides are also provided. Methods for the use of these novel sequences to inhibit expression or function of cytochrome P450 polypeptides involved in this metabolic conversion are also provided. The methods find use in the production of tobacco products that have reduced levels of nornicotine and its carcinogenic metabolite, NNN, and thus reduced carcinogenic potential for individuals consuming these tobacco products or exposed to secondary smoke derived from these products.
US07884262B2
The invention provides a modified variant of dicamba monooxygenase (DMO). The invention relates to the unexpected finding that cells expressing this DMO exhibit high levels of tolerance to the herbicide dicamba. Compositions comprising DMO-encoding nucleic acids and methods of use are provided.
US07884261B2
The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules and their corresponding encoded polypeptides able confer the trait of modulated plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, growth rate, seedling vigor, growth rate, fruit and seed yield, tillering and/or biomass in plants. The present invention further relates to the use of these nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides in making transgenic plants, plant cells, plant materials or seeds of a plant having plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, growth rate, seedling vigor and/or biomass that are altered with respect to wild type plants grown under similar conditions.
US07884259B2
An absorbent article including a fiber aggregate formed by opening the tow, a super absorbent polymer particle, and a sheet covering these components. The super absorbent polymer particle are bonded to the sheet with an adhesive that is applied in a continuous plane to the entire surface or the substantially entire surface at least at the portion to be provided with the super absorbent polymer particle in this sheet.
US07884250B2
Use of a high shear mechanical device incorporated into a process for the production of chloral as a reactor device is capable of decreasing mass transfer limitations, thereby enhancing the chloral production process. A system for the production of chloral from acetaldehyde and chlorine, the system comprising a reactor and an external high shear device the outlet of which is fluidly connected to the inlet of the reactor; the high shear device capable of providing a dispersion of chlorine gas bubbles within a liquid, the bubbles having an average bubble diameter of less than about 100 μm.
US07884244B2
Disclosed herein is compound having a formula as described herein. Therapeutic methods, compositions, and medicaments related thereto are also disclosed.
US07884239B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a catalyst which can produce an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid through liquid-phase oxidation of an olefin or an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde in good reaction performance, a method for producing the catalyst, and a method for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid by using the catalyst. The present invention resides in a catalyst for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, wherein a metal is supported on a carrier with a total pore volume of 0.40 to 1.50 cc/g as measured by nitrogen gas adsorption method, or wherein palladium with an average particle diameter in the range of 1 to 8 nm is supported on the carrier.
US07884237B2
Methanol carbonylation with improved aldehyde removal includes: (a) scrubbing light ends and aldehyde impurity from vent gas with an absorber solvent; (b) stripping absorbed light ends and aldehyde impurity from the absorber solvent to provide a vent-recovered light ends stream; (c) purifying the vent-recovered light ends stream to remove aldehyde impurity; and (d) recycling purified light ends from the vent-recovered light ends stream to the production system.
US07884236B2
A process for the production of acetic acid by carbonylating methanol and/or a reactive derivative thereof with carbon monoxide in the presence of a promoted iridium carbonylation catalyst wherein the promoters are boron and gallium.
US07884235B2
The invention provides a method of gas-phase catalytic oxidation, in particular, a production method of (meth)acrylic acid, which enables stable continuous operation of gas-phase catalytic oxidation over a long term, maintaining high yield and suppressing increase in pressure loss. In the method a fixed bed reactor is used, in which a treating agent for removing organic substance and/or carbides, preferably a treating agent having an adsorption capacity of at least 0.05% by mass, as measured by crotonaldehyde as an indicator of organic substance, is disposed on the upstream side of the gas-phase oxidation catalyst layer in respect of the direction of the gas flow. It is desirable that at least a part of the treating agent is exchanged at a frequency of at least once a year.
US07884227B2
A synthesis and purification of felbamate, an anticonvulsant, are provided. The product of the synthesis and purification is with high untapped and tapped bulk densities, which increase ease of handling and suitability for use in pharmaceutical formulations. The felbamate may be incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions that can be administered orally for treatment of epilepsy.
US07884179B2
A novel gene 08P1D4 (also designated STEAP-1) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein STEAP-1 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, STEAP-1 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The STEAP-1 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with STEAP-1 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US07884176B2
An epoxy/modified silicon dioxide corrosion resistant nanocomposite material and a preparation method thereof are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: dispersing TS(TEOS-SiO2) or APTES/TEOS-SiO2 (TAS) in solvent so as to form TS solution or TAS solution; adding triphenylolmethane triglycidyl ether and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether into the TS solution or TAS solution to produce glycidyl ether/TS solution or glycidyl ether/TAS solution. Add a curing agent into the glycidyl ether/TS solution or glycidyl ether/TAS solution to generate epoxy/TS solution or epoxy/TAS solution. After curing, obtain epoxy/modified silicon dioxide nanocomposite corrosion resistant material. The material is applied to optoelectronics or other fields for corrosion prevention.
US07884149B2
A nanocomposite material suitable for electrical insulation includes a polymer compounded with a substantially homogeneously distributed functionalized nanoparticle filler. The nanocomposite material is produced by compounding the polymer with the functionalized nanoparticle filler by imparting a shear force to a mixture of the polymer and filler capable of preventing agglomeration of the filler whereby the filler is substantially homogeneously distributed in the nanocomposite material. The electrical insulation may be adapted for AC or DC high voltage, and may also be adapted for low or medium voltage to prevent formation of water tree structures.
US07884137B2
Hydroxyl polyester compounds or compositions which are useful as oilfield demulsifiers are prepared through esterifying carboxylic compounds and epoxide compounds under controlled molar ratios. The hydroxyl polyesters are useful as biodegradable demulsifiers on oil productions.
US07884136B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions, formulations and medicaments comprising a bupropion salt, in particular, modified-release tablets comprising an effective amount of bupropion hydrobromide, and the use of the bupropion salt to prepare a medicament to treat a condition.
US07884119B2
Triazole derivatives and pharmaceutical compositions containing the derivatives are disclosed as being useful in inhibiting the activity of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase Axl. Methods of using the derivatives in treating diseases or conditions associated with Axl catalytic activity are also disclosed.
US07884118B2
The compounds of the formula (I) in which R1 represents cycloalkyl, and its stereoisomers and any mixtures thereof are highly suitable as microbicides for protecting plants and materials.
US07884114B2
The present invention relates to a compound which is N-(4-{4-[(6-butyl-8-quinolinyl)oxy]-1-piperidinyl}butyl)ethanesulfonamide and salts thereof, processes for its preparation, to compositions containing it and to its use in the treatment of various diseases, such as allergic rhinitis.
US07884109B2
The present invention provides novel purine and imidazopyridine derivatives useful for the prevention and treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disease, mast cell mediated disease and transplant rejection. The compounds are of the general formulas:
US07884107B2
In its many embodiments, the present invention discloses novel compounds, as inhibitors of HDM2 protein methods for preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including one or more such compounds, methods of treatment, prevention, inhibition, of one or more diseases associated with the HDM2 protein or P53 using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.
US07884106B2
A method of stabilizing lipid-rich plaques and method of preventing the rupture thereof, characterized in that an effective amount of 2-[4-[2-(benzimidazol-2-ylthio)ethyl]piperazin-1-yl]-N-[2,4-bis(methylthio)-6-methyl-3-pyridyl]acetamide, its acid adduct salt or a hydrate thereof is administered to patients with lipid-rich plaques. Prevention of plaque rupture and stabilization of plaques can be attained by reducing the occupancy of macrophages in lipid-rich plaques being unstable and tending to rupture among plaques being a lesion from a seat of atherosclerosis and simultaneously increasing the occupancy of collagen therein.
US07884105B2
This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and X have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US07884097B2
Methods and compositions for treating disease caused by infectious agents, particularly tuberculosis. In particular, methods and compositions comprising novel diamine compositions for the treatment of infectious diseases are provided. In one embodiment, these methods and compositions are used for the treatment of mycobacterial infections, including, but not limited to, tuberculosis.
US07884095B2
A method is provided for treating pain in patients recovering from post-surgical trauma by administering between about 13 to about 30 mg of diclofenac potassium in a liquid dispersible formulation over a period of at least 24 hours, wherein the daily total amount of diclofenac potassium administered is less than or equal to about 100 mg. The method is particularly useful in treating acute pain in bunionectomy patients.
US07884091B2
This invention generally pertains to the field of psychiatry. In particular, this invention pertains to the discovery that agents which inhibit the binding of cortisol to its receptors can be used in methods for treating delirium. Mifepristone, a potent specific glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, can be used in these methods. The invention also provides a kit for treating delirium in a human including a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist and instructional material teaching the indications, dosage and schedule of administration of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist.
US07884087B1
An amide of hyaluronic acid or a derivative thereof which comprises at least one repetitive unit of general formula (I): wherein R═NR6R7, or alcoholic group of the aliphatic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heterocyclic series, OH, O—, alcoholic group of hyaluronic acid, amino group of deacylated hyaluronic acid; R1, R2, R3, R4═H, SO3—, acyl group derived from a carboxylic acid of the aliphatic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heterocyclic series, —CO—(CH2)2—COOY; Y═ negative charge, or H; R5═—CO—CH3, H, SO3—, acyl group derived from a carboxylic acid of the aliphatic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heterocyclic series, acylic group of hyaluronic acid; R6═ is H or a aliphatic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or heterocyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted; R7═ is H or an aliphatic, aromatic, arylaliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or heterocyclic group, substituted or unsubstituted; wherein at least one of R or R5 forms an amide group.
US07884075B2
The present invention relates to a proteinaceous construct (also designated as polymer-VWF-conjugate) comprising plasmatic and/or recombinant von Willebrand factor (VWF), said VWF being bound to at least one physiologically acceptable polymer molecule, as well as to a complex between said proteinaceous construct and at least one factor VIII (FVIII) protein. The physiologically acceptable polymer molecule can be, for instance, polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysialic acid (PSA). Further the present invention relates to methods for prolonging the in vivo-half-life of VWF or FVIII in the blood of a mammal having a bleeding disorder associated with functional defects of or deficiencies of at least one of FVIII or VWF.
US07884067B2
The present invention provides polypeptides and peptides derived from cadherin. The polypeptides and peptides are useful in a method of inhibiting amyloid deposition and a method of inhibiting tumor metastasis. A method of determining susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease and a method of screening for agents that modify cadherin processing are also provided.
US07884053B2
This invention pertains to the field of combination oligomers, including the block synthesis of combination oligomers in the absence of a template, as well as related methods, kits, libraries and other compositions.
US07884040B2
Optical glass has a refractive index of 1.83 or above and an Abbe number of 26 or less and contains SiO2, TiO2, Nb2O5 and Na2O as its essential constituents in such proportions on a final oxide basis that the amounts of its oxide constituents as expressed on a mass percentage basis may satisfy the relationship: (TiO2+Nb2O5)/(Na2O+K2O)=3.0 to 4.0.
US07884039B2
The invention relates to a dark gray soda-lime silicate glass composition which includes a coloring part essentially consisting of the compounds below in contents varying within the following weight limits: Fe2O3 (total iron)0.7 to 0.95% CoO50 to 80 ppm NiO400 to 700 ppm or Fe2O3 (total iron)0.7 to 0.95% CoO200 to 300 ppm NiO1500 to 1900 ppm said composition being free of selenium, having a redox of 0.40 or less, and the glass having a light transmission factor (TLA) under illuminant A of 50% or less and an overall energy transmission factor (TE) of less than 45%, these being measured for a thickness of 3.85 mm. The invention also relates to glass sheets, optionally thermally toughened, obtained from the aforementioned composition and to glazing comprising at least one of these sheets, especially as “privacy” windows for automobiles.
US07884037B2
The present invention generally relates to a wet wipe or sheet that is suitable for contacting the skin and that has a stratified wetting composition therein. More specifically, the present invention related to a wet wipe, which may optionally be an ion-triggerable, water-disintegratable wipe, wherein the organic phase, and more particularly one or more components of the organic phase, of the wetting composition is concentrated near the surface of the wipe, and the aqueous phase of the wetting composition is concentrated in the bulk of the wipe. The present invention is further directed to a number of processes for preparing such a wet wipe. For example, in one embodiment an emulsified wetting composition is applied to a fibrous substrate of the wet wipe, and then treated to destabilize the emulsion. In an alternative embodiment, an emulsified wetting composition may be destabilized prior to it being applied to the fibrous substrate. As a result of the destabilization, the emulsion undergoes phase separation after being applied to the fibrous substrate.
US07884036B1
Methods for treating a substrate in preparation for a subsequent process are presented, the method including: receiving the substrate, the substrate comprising conductive regions and dielectric regions; and applying an oxidizing agent to the substrate in a manner so that the dielectric regions are oxidized to become increasingly hydrophilic to enable access to the conductive regions in the subsequent process, wherein the dielectric region is treated to a depth in the range of approximately 1 to 5 atomic layers. In some embodiments, methods further include processing the substrate, wherein processing the conductive regions are selectively enhanced. In some embodiments, the oxidizing agent includes atmospheric pressure plasma and UV radiation.
US07884030B1
During semiconductor fabrication homogeneous gap-filling is achieved by depositing a thin dielectric layer into the gap, post deposition curing, and then repeating deposition and post deposition curing until gap-filling is completed. Embodiments include depositing a layer of low deposition temperature gap-fill dielectric into a high aspect ratio opening, such as a shallow trench or a gap between closely spaced apart gate electrode structures, as at a thickness of about 10 Å to about 500 Å, curing after deposition, as by UV radiation or by heating at a temperature of about 400° C. to about 1000° C., depositing another layer of low deposition temperature gap-filled dielectric, and curing after deposition. Embodiments include separately depositing and separately curing multiple layers.
US07884021B2
A method for fabricating a micro structure includes disposing a sacrificial material in a recess formed in a lower layer and forming a layer of compensatory material on the sacrificial material in the recess. The compensatory material is higher than the upper surface of the lower layer. A first portion of the compensatory material is removed to form a substantially flat surface on the sacrificial material. The substantially flat surface is substantially co-planar with the upper surface of the lower layer. An upper layer is formed on the lower layer and the substantially flat surface.
US07884019B2
A method of forming a dual-damascene structure is disclosed. A lower dielectric hardmask layer and an upper dielectric hardmask layer are deposited on an ultra low-k film. A first via is formed in the upper hardmask layer. Next, a first trench is formed using the tri-layer resist scheme. Finally, a full via and a full trench are formed simultaneously. An optional etch-stop layer can be used in the ultra low-k layer to control trench depth.
US07884015B2
Methods for forming interconnects in microelectronic workpieces and microelectronic workpieces formed using such methods are disclosed herein. One embodiment, for example, is directed to a method of processing a microelectronic workpiece including a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of microelectronic dies. The individual dies include integrated circuitry and a terminal electrically coupled to the integrated circuitry. The method can include forming a first opening in the substrate from a back side of the substrate toward a front side and in alignment with the terminal. The first opening has a generally annular cross-sectional profile and separates an island of substrate material from the substrate. The method can also include depositing an insulating material into at least a portion of the first opening, and then removing the island of substrate material to form a second opening aligned with at least a portion of the terminal. In several embodiments, the method may include constructing an electrically conductive interconnect in at least a portion of the second opening and in electrical contact with the terminal.
US07884011B2
A seal ring is provided between a region where a circuit is formed on a semiconductor substrate and a dicing region. The seal ring has a portion where sealing layers of which the cross sectional form is in T-shape are layered and a portion where sealing layers of which the cross sectional form is rectangular are layered.
US07884010B2
A wiring structure has a silicon layer, a backing layer provided on the silicon layer, the backing layer comprising a copper alloy containing a manganese, and a copper layer provided on the backing layer, and a diffusion barrier layer having an electrical conductivity, the diffusion barrier layer being provided at a region including an interface between the silicon layer and the backing layer, in which a manganese in the diffusion barrier layer is enriched compared with the backing layer.
US07884004B2
Semiconductor-based electronic devices and techniques for fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a device is provided comprising a first pad; a second pad and a plurality of nanowires connecting the first pad and the second pad in a ladder-like configuration formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer over a buried oxide (BOX) layer, the nanowires having one or more dimensions defined by a re-distribution of silicon from the nanowires to the pads. The device can comprise a field-effect transistor (FET) having a gate surrounding the nanowires wherein portions of the nanowires surrounded by the gate form channels of the FET, the first pad and portions of the nanowires extending out from the gate adjacent to the first pad form a source region of the FET and the second pad and portions of the nanowires extending out from the gate adjacent to the second pad form a drain region of the FET.
US07884002B2
A method of fabricating a self-aligned Schottky junction (29) in respect of a semiconductor device. After gate etching and spacer formation, a recess defining the junction regions is formed in the Silicon substrate (10) and a SiGe layer (22) is selectively grown therein. A dielectric layer (24) is then provided over the gate (14) and the SiGe layer (22), a contact etch is performed to form contact holes (26) and the SiGe material (22) is then removed to create cavities (28) in the junction regions. Finally the cavities (28) are filled with metal to form the junction (29). Thus, a process is provided for self-aligned fabrication of a Schottky junction having relatively low resistivity, wherein the shape and position of the junction can be well controlled.
US07883995B2
A novel top-down procedure for synthesis of stable passivated nanoparticles uses a one-step mechanochemical process to form and passivate the nanoparticles. High-energy ball milling (HEBM) can advantageously be used to mechanically reduce the size of material to nanoparticles. When the reduction of size occurs in a reactive medium, the passivation of the nanoparticles occurs as the nanoparticles are formed. This results in stable passivated silicon nanoparticles. This procedure can be used, for example in the synthesis of stable alkyl- or alkenyl-passivated silicon and germanium nanoparticles. The covalent bonds between the silicon or germanium and the carbon in the reactive medium create very stable nanoparticles.
US07883993B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor device with a semiconductor chip and a rewiring layer, the semiconductor chip being embedded in a housing plastics composition by its rear side contact. The active top side of the semiconductor chip forms a coplanar overall top side with the top side of the housing plastics composition. The rear side contact is led to the overall top side via a flat conductor sheet tape, so that the rear side contact of the semiconductor chip can be accessed from the overall top side.
US07883992B2
A laser beam is applied to an intersection area of each second street of a wafer by using a dicing apparatus to thereby form a first modified layer along the intersection area. Thereafter, the wafer is divided along each first street intersecting each second street at right angles to obtain a plurality of wafer strips. Thereafter, the laser beam is applied along the remaining area of each second street other than the intersection area to form a second modified layer along the remaining area of each second street. Thereafter, an external force is applied to each wafer strip in which the first and second modified layers have been formed along each second street, thereby dividing each wafer strip along each second street to obtain a plurality of devices.
US07883991B1
A method of bonding and detaching a temporary carrier used for handling a wafer during the fabrication of semiconductor devices includes bonding a wafer onto a carrier through a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer, in which the edge zone of the wafer and the carrier is covered by the first adhesive layer while the edge zone is not covered by the second adhesive layer. A wafer edge clean process is then performed to remove the first adhesive layer adjacent the edge of the wafer and expose the edge zone of the carrier, followed by removing the second adhesive layer from the carrier. After detaching the carrier from the wafer, the first adhesive layer remaining on the wafer is removed.
US07883988B2
One surface of a single crystal semiconductor substrate is irradiated with ions to form a damaged region in the single crystal semiconductor substrate. An insulating layer is formed over the one surface of the single crystal semiconductor substrate. A surface of a substrate having an insulating surface and a surface of the insulating layer are disposed in contact with each other to bond the substrate having the insulating surface and the single crystal semiconductor substrate to each other. Heat treatment is performed to divide the single crystal semiconductor substrate along the damaged region and to form a semiconductor layer over the substrate having the insulating surface. One surface of the semiconductor layer is irradiated with light from a flash lamp under conditions where the semiconductor layer is not melted, to repair a defect.
US07883985B2
The chip for the multi-chip semiconductor device having the markings for alignment formed on the front surface and/or the back surface of the chip only by the processing from the front surface of the chip (photolithography, etch) and the method for manufacturing same are presented, without adding any dedicated process step to the formation process for the marking for alignment. In the chip for the multi-chip semiconductor device having two or more electroconductive through plug in one chip for the multi-chip semiconductor device, one or more electroconductive through plugs are employed for the marking for alignment, and the chip is configured to allow identification of the marking for alignment on the front surface and/or the back surface of the chip for the multi-chip semiconductor device. Then, an insulating film is provided on the front surface and/or the back surface of the electrically conducting through plug.
US07883983B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: forming a gate insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first metal film on the gate insulating film; forming a second metal film on the first metal film; and patterning a stacked film of the first and second metal films such that the stacked film is left in a gate electrode formation region and a resistive element formation region. The method further includes: removing the second metal film in the resistive element formation region with protecting a contact hole formation region. The method further includes: forming an interlayer insulating film so as to cover the stacked film; and removing the interlayer insulating film formed in the contact hole formation region to form a contact hole leading to the second metal film.
US07883953B2
A semiconductor process and apparatus includes forming <100> channel orientation CMOS transistors (24, 34) with enhanced hole mobility in the NMOS channel region and reduced channel defectivity in the PMOS region by depositing a first tensile etch stop layer (51) over the PMOS and NMOS gate structures, etching the tensile etch stop layer (51) to form tensile sidewall spacers (62) on the exposed gate sidewalls, and then depositing a second hydrogen rich compressive or neutral etch stop layer (72) over the NMOS and PMOS gate structures (26, 36) and the tensile sidewall spacers (62). In other embodiments, a first hydrogen-rich etch stop layer (81) is deposited and etched to form sidewall spacers (92) on the exposed gate sidewalls, and then a second tensile etch stop layer (94) is deposited over the NMOS and PMOS gate structures (26, 36) and the sidewall spacers (92).
US07883949B2
Methods of forming a p-channel MOS device in silicon carbide include forming an n-type well in a silicon carbide layer, and implanting p-type dopant ions to form a p-type region in the n-type well at a surface of the silicon carbide layer and at least partially defining a channel region in the n-type well adjacent the p-type region. A threshold adjustment region is formed in the channel region. The implanted ions are annealed in an inert atmosphere at a temperature greater than 1650° C. A gate oxide layer is formed on the channel region, and a gate is formed on the gate oxide layer. A silicon carbide-based transistor includes a silicon carbide layer, an n-type well in the silicon carbide layer, and a p-type region in the n-type well at a surface of the silicon carbide layer and at least partially defining a channel region in the n-type well adjacent the p-type region. A threshold adjustment region is in the channel region and includes p-type dopants at a dopant concentration of about 1×1016 cm−3 to about 5×1018 cm−3. The transistor further includes a gate oxide layer on the channel region, and a gate on the gate oxide layer. The transistor may exhibit a hole mobility in the channel region in excess of 5 cm2/V-s at a gate voltage of −25V.
US07883943B2
A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor and a display device using a small number of masks is provided. A conductive film is formed, a thin-film stack body having a pattern is formed over the conductive film, an opening portion is formed in the thin-film stack body so as to reach the conductive film, a gate electrode layer is formed by processing the conductive film using side-etching, and an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, and a source and drain electrode layer are formed over the gate electrode layer, whereby a thin film transistor is manufactured. By provision of the opening portion, controllability of etching is improved.
US07883939B2
A method for manufacturing a thin but robust stack of electrically connected thin film semiconductor elements includes the steps of forming a first element to be stacked: forming a separation layer and a semiconductor element layer over a substrate, forming a wiring connected to the semiconductor element layer, forming a protective material over the semiconductor layer and the wiring, forming a conductive region electrically connected to the wiring in the protective layer, and separating the semiconductor element layer from the substrate along the separation layer. A second element is formed according to the aforementioned process, and the first element is stacked thereon, before separating the second element from its substrate. The first element is bonded to the protective layer of the second element so that the semiconductor element layers of the first and the second element are electrically connected to each other through the protective layer, without damaging the protective layer.
US07883936B2
In a method and system for fabricating a semiconductor device (100) having a package-on-package structure, a base laminate substrate (BLS) (110) is formed to include a base center portion (112) and a peripheral portion (114) separated by a barrier element (120). The barrier element (120) forms a peripheral wall (118) to surround the base center portion (112). A frame shaped top laminate substrate (TLS) (130) is disposed over the peripheral portion (114) of the BLS (110). The TLS (130) has an open top center portion (132) matching the base center portion (112) surrounded by the peripheral wall (118) to form a cavity (140). A plurality of conductive bumps (150) each disposed between a top contact pad (134) of the TLS and a base contact pad (116) of the peripheral portion (114) of the BLS (110) are formed to provide electrical and mechanical coupling therebetween. The barrier element (120) forms a seal between the cavity (140) and the plurality of conductive bumps (150).
US07883935B2
Aimed at improving adhesiveness between upper and lower interconnects in semiconductor devices, a semiconductor device of the present invention includes a second dielectric multi-layered film formed on a substrate, and containing a lower interconnect; a first dielectric multi-layered film formed on the second dielectric multi-layered film, and having a recess; an MOx film formed on the inner wall of the recess, and containing a metal M and oxygen as major components; an M film formed on the MOx film, and containing the M as a major component; and an electric conductor formed on the M film so as to fill the recess, and containing Cu as a major component, wherein the surficial portion of the interconnect fallen straight under the bottom of the recess has an oxygen concentration of 1% or smaller.
US07883928B2
An image sensor and fabricating method thereof are provided. The image sensor can include a color filter on a semiconductor substrate, a microlens on the color filter layer, and a carbon-doped low temperature oxide layer on the microlens.
US07883926B2
Image sensor devices and methods for fabricating the same are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an image sensor device comprises a support substrate. A passivation structure is formed over the support substrate. An interconnect structure is formed over the passivation structure. A first semiconductor layer is formed over the interconnect structure, having a first and second surfaces, wherein the first and second surfaces are opposing surfaces. At least one light-sensing device is formed over/in the first semiconductor layer from a first surface thereof. A color filter layer is formed over the first semiconductor layer from a second surface thereof. At least one micro lens is formed over the color filter layer.
US07883923B2
Embodiments relate to an image sensor and a method for manufacturing an image sensor. According to embodiments, a method may include forming a semiconductor substrate including a pixel part and a peripheral part, forming an interlayer dielectric film including a metal wire on and/or over the semiconductor substrate, forming photo diode patterns on and/or over the interlayer dielectric film and connected to the metal wire in the pixel part, forming a device isolation dielectric layer on and/or over the interlayer dielectric film including the photo diode patterns, forming a first via hole on and/or over the device isolation dielectric layer to partially expose the photo diode patterns, and forming a second via hole on and/or over the device isolation dielectric layer to expose the metal wire in the peripheral part. According to embodiments, vertical integration of transistor circuitry and a photo diode may be achieved.
US07883919B2
A method for fabricating a negative thermal expanding system device includes coating a wafer with a thermally decomposable polymer, patterning the decomposable polymer into repeating disk patterns, releasing the decomposable polymer from the wafer and forming a sheet of repeating patterned disks, suspending the sheet into a first solution with seeding compounds for electroless decomposition, removing the sheet from the first solution, suspending the sheet into a second solution to electrolessly deposit a first layer material onto the sheet, removing the sheet from the second solution, suspending the sheet into a third solution to deposit a second layer of material having a lower TCE value than the first layer of material, separating the patterned disks from one another, and annealing thermally the patterned disks to decompose the decomposable polymer and creating a cavity in place of the decomposable polymer.
US07883916B2
A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor comprises a first photosensitive diode comprising a first semiconductor material is formed in a first semiconductor substrate. A second photosensitive diode comprising a second semiconductor material, which has a different light detection wavelength range than the first semiconductor material, is formed in a second semiconductor substrate. Semiconductor devices for holding and detecting charges comprising a sensing circuit of the CMOS image sensor may also be formed in the second semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor substrate and the second semiconductor substrate are bonded so that the first photosensitive diode is located underneath the second photosensitive diode. The vertical stack of the first and second photosensitive diodes detects light in the combined detection wavelength range of the first and second semiconductor materials. Sensing devices may be shared between the first and second photosensitive diodes.
US07883912B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, at least one or more of patterns required for manufacturing a display device, such as a conductive layer which forms a wiring or an electrode and a mask, is formed by a droplet discharging method. At that time, a portion of the gate insulating film where is not located under the semiconductor layer is removed during manufacturing steps of the present invention.
US07883909B2
A device and method for measuring ion beam angle with respect to a substrate is disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of shadowing structures extending substantially perpendicular from an upper surface of the substrate, directing an ion beam toward the substrate, the plurality of shadowing structures interrupting an incident angle of the ion beam to define implanted and non-implanted portions of the substrate. The method further includes measuring the dose of implanted species within the substrate, determining an implanted surface area as a function of measuring the dose of implant, determining non-implanted surface area based on the implanted surface area, and obtaining the ion beam angle as a function of the non-implanted surface area.
US07883907B2
Various embodiments disclosed herein include methods for measuring a parameter associated with a workpiece. Such a method may include providing a first overlay pattern on the workpiece and a second overlay pattern over the first overlay pattern. The first overlay pattern may comprise a first plurality of features spaced apart from each other, and the second overlay pattern may comprise a second plurality of substantially optically transmissive features spaced apart from each other. The second plurality of features may be offset with respect to and partially overlapping the first plurality of features. The method may further comprise directing light onto the first and second overlay pattern such that the light is reflected from both the first and second overlay patterns and using reflectometry to obtain a measure of the parameter from the reflected light.
US07883898B2
Systems and methods are described for measuring pH of low alkalinity samples. The present invention provides a sensor array comprising a plurality of pH indicators, each indicator having a different indicator concentration. A calibration function is generated by applying the sensor array to a sample solution having a known pH such that pH responses from each indicator are simultaneously recorded versus indicator concentration for each indicator. Once calibrated, the sensor array is applied to low alkalinity samples having unknown pH. Results from each pH indicator are then compared to the calibration function, and fitting functions are extrapolated to obtain the actual pH of the low alkalinity sample.
US07883896B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acids and polypeptides associated with lung cancer. The invention is more specifically related to a nucleic acids and the polypeptides transcribed thereof, the expression of which is significantly altered in association with lung cancer. The invention relates to a series of differentially spliced transcripts of the gene disclosed herein, that are associated with tumors of the respiratory tract. Furthermore the present invention provides a method for early diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of the disease course and for therapy and vaccination of cell proliferative disorders such as e.g. lung tumors.
US07883893B2
Membrane proteins represent ˜30% of the proteome of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Unique to cell surface receptors is their biogenesis pathway, which involves vesicular trafficking from the endoplasmic reticulum through the Golgi apparatus and to the cell surface. Increasing evidence suggests specific regulation of biogenesis for different membrane receptors, hence affecting their surface expression. A pulse-chase assay can be used to monitor function recovery after chemobleaching (FRAC) to probe the transit time of the cell surface receptors to reach the cell surface. This method distinguishes molecular density from functional density. The ability of the reported method to access the biogenesis pathways in a high-throughput manner facilitates the identification and evaluation of molecules affecting receptor trafficking.
US07883889B2
The present invention discloses a method of generation of antigen presenting cells, comprising: a collecting said cells from a subject, b. activating said collected cells; c. culturing and optionally expanding ex vivo said activated cells; d. treating said cultured and optionally expanded cells with DNA hypomethylating agents so that said cells concomitantly express multiple tumor associated antigens. The cells obtainable according to the method of the present invention, as well as the cellular components thereof whether alone or in combination with said cells, are useful for prevention and treatment of malignancies of different histotype that constitutively express one or more of the multiple tumor associated antigens that are expressed in said cells. Conveniently, said cells and/or cellular components are in the form of a vaccine. Said vaccines are advantageous over the prior art in that as they concomitantly express multiple/all methylation-regulated tumor associated antigens.
US07883884B2
The present invention concerns an anaerobic digestion of animal manures, energy crops and similar organic substrates. The process is capable of refining nutrients comprised in the digested biomass to fertilizers of commercial quality. The invention also provides a method for oprocessing animal carcasses or fractions thereof including meat and bone meal etc., with the objective of providing an alternative means for processing the organic waste material of animal origin while at the same time facilitating the production of fertilizers. The risk of spreading BSE prions or any other prions to animals or humans is thus substantially reduced if not eliminated. The biogas and slurry separation system according to the present invention is preferably integrated with the operations of animal husbandries into a total concept in which the internal and external performances of animal husbandries are optimised. The internal performances concern quality aspects related to the management of the animal houses and include industrial hygiene, animal welfare, gaseous and dust emissions and food safety. The external performances concern mainly energy production and emissions to the environment of nutrients and greenhouse gases and the sale of high quality food product.
US07883882B2
Disclosed herein are methods of manufacturing renewable chemicals through the manufacture of novel triglyceride oils followed by chemical modification of the oils. Methods such as transesterification, hydrogenation, hydrocracking, deoxygenation, isomerization, interesterification, hydroxylation, hydrolysis and saponification are disclosed. Novel oils containing fatty acid chain lengths of C8, C10, C12 or C14 are also disclosed and are useful as feedstocks in the methods of the invention.
US07883858B2
The present invention relates generally to methods for identifying drug side effects by detecting perturbations in organ-specific molecular blood fingerprints. The invention further relates to methods for identifying drug-specific organ-specific molecular blood fingerprints. As such, the present invention provides compositions comprising organ-specific proteins, detection reagents for detecting such proteins, and panels and arrays for determining organ-specific molecular blood fingerprints.
US07883857B2
An isolated polypeptide is provided. The isolated polypeptide comprising an antigen recognition domain capable of specifically binding a CD44 polypeptide as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 and incapable of binding a CD44 polypeptide selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID NO: 4 or 6.
US07883851B2
Disclosed are methods and compositions for determining whether a person carries an allele associated with increased risk for coronary atherosclerosis by determining whether the person has had RA-CHR9 allele, such as by determining whether the person has an RA-CHR9 allele-associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).
US07883850B2
This invention relates to plant breeding and the protection of plants from insects. More specifically, this invention includes novel transformation events of cotton plants comprising one or more polynucleotide sequences, as described herein, inserted into specific site(s) within the genome of a cotton cell. In highly preferred embodiments, said polynucleotide sequences encode “stacked” Cry1F and Cry1Ac lepidopteran insect inhibitory proteins. However, the subject invention includes plants having single cry1F or cry1Ac events, as described herein. Additionally, the invention is related to cotton plants derived from that transformation event and to assays for detecting the presence of the event in a sample. More specifically, the present invention provides DNA and related assays for detecting the presence of certain insect-resistance events in cotton. The assays are based on the DNA sequences of recombinant constructs inserted into the cotton genome and of the genomic sequences flanking the insertion sites. These sequences are unique. Based on these insert and border sequences, event-specific primers were generated. PCR analysis demonstrated that these cotton lines can be identified in different cotton genotypes by analysis of the PCR amplicons generated with these event-specific primer sets. Thus, these and other related procedures can be used to uniquely identify these cotton lines. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are also provided. These materials and methods can also be used to assist breeding programs to further develop traits in cotton.
US07883839B2
A method is provided for creating a plurality of substantially uniform nano-scale features in a substantially parallel manner in which an array of micro-lenses is positioned on a surface of a substrate, where each micro-lens includes a hole such that the bottom of the hole corresponds to a portion of the surface of the substrate. A flux of charged particles, e.g., a beam of positive ions of a selected element, is applied to the micro-lens array. The flux of charged particles is focused at selected focal points on the substrate surface at the bottoms of the holes of the micro-lens array. The substrate is tilted at one or more selected angles to displace the locations of the focal points across the substrate surface. By depositing material or etching the surface of the substrate, several substantially uniform nanometer sized features may be rapidly created in each hole on the surface of the substrate in a substantially parallel manner.
US07883811B2
A control apparatus for a fuel cell stack includes a fuel cell stack having a stacked body formed by stacking fuel cell units together and a pair of end plates sandwiching the stacked body therebetween; electrical heaters disposed near the ends of the stacked body or the end plates, respectively; a water purging device for purging water which is generated during a power generation operation in the fuel cell stack, and which is held in the fuel cell units; and a control unit which controls the power generation operation in the fuel cell stack, and which is operatively connected to the electrical heaters and the water purging device. The control unit is adapted to operate the electrical heaters and the water purging device when the power generation operation is stopped.
US07883803B2
A solid oxide fuel cell power generation system's entire output is made up of three streams: water, sequestered carbon dioxide provided into a storage tank, and carbon dioxide depleted air. Thus, the system generates electricity from a hydrocarbon fuel, while outputting substantially no pollutants into the atmosphere and cleaning the air by removing carbon dioxide from the air exhaust stream. Thus, the system outputs cleaner air than it takes in without releasing pollutants into the atmosphere, while generating electricity from a readily available hydrocarbon fuel, such as natural gas.
US07883785B2
The present invention describes novel organometallic compounds which are phosphorescent emitters. Such compounds can be used as active components (=functional materials) in a variety of different applications which can in the widest sense be considered part of the electronics industry.The compounds of the invention are described by the formulae (I), (Ia), (II) and (IIa).
US07883780B2
The present invention provides a laminate comprising a resin layer and a copper foil. The resin layer is made from a liquid crystalline polyester having at least one structural unit selected from a structural unit derived from aromatic diamine and a structural unit derived from aromatic amine with a phenolic hydroxyl group in an amount of 10 to 35% by mole on the basis of the total structural units in the polyester. The copper foil has a tensile modulus of 60 GPa or smaller and a tensile strength at break of 150 MPa or smaller measured after heat treatment at a temperature of 300° C. The copper-foil laminate has good flexibility and high durability with little anisotropy is provided.
US07883778B2
A sheet glass that has a side surface with an average surface roughness equal to or less than 0.2 μm is provided. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing a sheet glass is provided that includes processing a base-material glass sheet to obtain a sheet glass that has a side surface with an average surface roughness equal to or less than 0.2 μm. Moreover, a method of manufacturing a sheet glass is provided that includes processing a base-material glass sheet so that an average surface roughness of a side surface becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value according to a section modulus of the sheet glass that is to be manufactured.
US07883770B2
A process for improving vehicle seat craftsmanship by camouflaging a receiving surface on a predetermined vehicle component (e.g., a foam seat cushion) is described. The camouflaging conceals the vehicle component from observation. One example of the process includes designating a receiving surface area on the vehicle component and providing a covering material having an opaque characteristic. The covering material includes an opaque dye that bonds with the polyurethane foam that is poured into a mold with deionized water for solidification. Another example of the process further includes spraying the covering material according to a surface of the mold cavity which corresponds to the designated receiving surface area on the vehicle component.
US07883742B2
This disclosure relates generally to networks of polymers in fullerene compounds and polymers, to methods of preparing precursors for such networks, and to their subsequent use as low dielectric constant materials in microelectronic devices.
US07883741B2
The method comprises a stage of drying of the granular materials followed by a stage of coating of the whole thereof with a hot bituminous binder.According to the invention, the drying stage is carried out in conditions which allow a fraction of the initial humidity of the granular materials to remain.The invention has application in road building.
US07883736B2
A process for making an endoprosthesis comprising: (a) applying a powder that includes a metal hydride to a surface of a metal endoprosthesis, or precursor tubing thereof; and (b) exposing the powder to a heat source to melt the powder and liberate hydrogen gas, thereby forming a porous coating on the surface of the endoprosthesis, or precursor tubing thereof.
US07883735B2
An apparatus and method for producing a substantially spiral shaped food product is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a die defining a plurality of apertures disposed in a circle about a center. The apparatus also includes at least one cutting blade disposed for rotation about the center and operable to intermittently pass fully across each of the apertures during rotation. The apparatus also includes a plurality of slicing blades arranged for individual rotation about one of the plurality of apertures. The plurality of slicing blades are also arranged for continuous extension less than fully across the one aperture. The apparatus also includes a planetary coupling arrangement operably disposed to facilitate reciprocating rotation between the at least one cutting blade and the plurality of slicing blades.
US07883730B2
Use of lysine imines and compositions containing them as a source of rumen protected lysine for ruminant animals.
US07883719B2
A patch comprising a backing layer and an adhesive layer disposed on the backing layer and compounded with an adhesive agent and oxybutynin and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the adhesive agent comprises an acrylic polymer substantially free of both carboxyl group and hydroxyl group and a rubber polymer, in which weight ratio of content of the acrylic polymer to content of the rubber polymer is from 1:4 to 1:19.
US07883709B2
This invention relates to the stabilization of a bacterial ADP-ribosylating exotoxin class protein (bARE), a method for analysing a bARE class protein, a method for the stabilization of the bARE class bacterial protein, compositions comprising a stabilized bARE protein, compositions comprising a substantially integral bARE class protein and immunogenic composition formulations incorporating same.
US07883705B2
To provide an antibody against FGF23 and a pharmaceutical composition such as a preventive or therapeutic agent which can prevent or treat by suppressing an action of FGF23 by using the antibody. An antibody or its functional fragment against human FGF23 produced by hybridoma C10 (Accession No. FERM BP-10772).
US07883704B2
Human antibodies, preferably recombinant human antibodies, that specifically bind to human interleukin-12 (hIL-12 ) are disclosed. Preferred antibodies have high affinity for hIL-12 and neutralize hIL-12 activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hIL-12 and for inhibiting hIL-12 activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hIL-12 activity is detrimental. Nucleic acids, vectors and host cells for expressing the recombinant human antibodies of the invention, and methods of synthesizing the recombinant human antibodies, are also encompassed by the invention.
US07883701B2
A method for reducing gastrointestinal inflammation, enhancing growth, or improving feed efficiency in a human or non-human animal is disclosed. The method involves administering to the animal an agent that can reduce the formation of the signal transduction complex of endotoxin, TLR4 and CD14 on the cellular surface of a cell in the gastrointestinal tract of the animal. In a preferred embodiment, an antibody against the extracellular domain of TLR4 or CD14 is used to reduce the formation of the complex. A composition that contains the antibody and an ingestible carrier is also disclosed. Further disclosed is a method for producing a peptide for enhancing growth, improving feed efficiency, or both in a human or non-human animal.
US07883700B2
Human anti-human IL-21 monoclonal antibodies and the hybridomas that produce them are presented. Certain of these antibodies have the ability to bind native human IL-21, a mutant recombinant IL-21 protein and/or peptide regions of human IL-21. These human anti-IL-21 antibodies are useful in therapeutic treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, particularly diseases mediated by T follicular helper cells, B cells TH cells or TH17 cells.
US07883686B2
MCM-22 family molecular sieve composition, its method of making, and use for hydrocarbon conversions
This disclosure relates to a crystalline MCM-22 family molecular sieve having a platelet aggregates morphology wherein greater than 50 wt % of the molecular sieve having a crystal diameter greater than 1 μm as measured by the SEM. The crystalline MCM-22 family molecular sieve of this disclosure, wherein the platelet aggregates morphology is rosette habit morphology, or multiple layer plate's morphology.
US07883674B2
A coke removal system removes coke deposits from the walls of a high temperature passage in which hydrocarbon fuel is present. The system includes a carbon-steam gasification catalyst and a water source. The carbon-steam gasification catalyst is applied to the walls of the high temperature passage. The water reacts with the coke deposits on the walls of the high temperature passage to remove the coke deposits from the walls of the high temperature passage by carbon-steam gasification in the presence of the carbon-steam gasification catalyst.
US07883654B2
Two catalyst electrode layers (CEL) are separately formed on two surfaces of a proton exchange membrane (PEM). The structure and processes are simple in the present invention for obtaining a membrane exchange assembly (MEA) with its thickness controllable. The MEA obtained can have a structure of CEL+PEM+CEL′. If a gas diffusion layer (GDL) is added before obtaining the CEL, a MEA having a structure of GDL+CEL+PEM+CEL′+GDL′ is obtained.
US07883651B1
The incorporation of borates during the manufacture of lignocellulosic based thermoplastic materials containing about 25 to 75 percent by weight of the thermoplastic material will increase their resistance to surface impairment caused by mold as well as increase their resistance to fungal decay. For resistance to surface impairment, the preferred amount is 3 to 5 percent of the boron containing fungicide. When fungal decay resistance is needed the preferred amount is about 0.3 to 2 percent of the boron containing fungicide.
US07883643B2
The invention provides a process for preparing an overvoltage protection material comprising: (i) preparing a mixture comprising a polymer binder precursor and a conductive material; and (ii) heating the mixture to cause reaction of the polymer binder precursor and generate a polymer matrix having conductive material dispersed therein, wherein the polymer binder precursor is chosen such that substantially no solvent is generated during the reaction.
US07883635B2
A substrate treating apparatus for treating substrates with a treating solution having a mixture of a chemical and a diluent. The apparatus includes a treating tank for storing the treating solution, a heating device for heating the treating solution, a supply pipe for supplying a gas at a fixed flow rate, the supply pipe having a detecting end at a predetermined depth in the treating tank, a pressure detecting device for detecting a pressure in the supply pipe, a converting device for converting the pressure detected by the pressure detecting device into a voltage, a storage device for storing, as a reference voltage, a voltage received from the converting device when a reference liquid at a reference temperature is stored in the treating tank, and a computing device for deriving an actual specific gravity of the treating solution from the reference voltage stored in the storage device, and a treatment voltage received from the converting device when the treating solution stored in the treating tank has been heated to a treating temperature by the heating device.
US07883632B2
A plasma processing apparatus that enables polymer to be removed from an electrically insulated electrode. A susceptor of the plasma processing apparatus is disposed in a substrate processing chamber having a processing space therein. A radio frequency power source is connected to the susceptor. An upper electrode plate is electrically insulated from a wall of the substrate processing chamber and from the susceptor. A DC power source is connected to the upper electrode plate. A controller of the plasma processing apparatus determines a value of a negative DC voltage to be applied to the upper electrode plate in accordance with processing conditions for RIE processing to be carried out.
US07883629B2
During the patterning of stressed layers having different types of intrinsic stress, the effects of the deposition of a silicon dioxide based etch indicator material between the first and second dielectric layers may be significantly reduced by a controlled etch on the basis of optical measurement data indicating the etch rate and, thus, the performance of the respective etch process. In other cases, highly efficient etch indicator species may be incorporated into the stressed dielectric layers or may be formed on a surface portion thereof with reduced layer thickness, thereby providing an enhanced endpoint detection signal without creating the negative effects of silicon dioxide based indicator layers. In one illustrative embodiment, a stressed silicon, nitrogen and carbon-containing layer may be combined with a stressed silicon and nitrogen-containing layer, wherein the carbon species provides a prominent endpoint detection signal.
US07883628B2
A method for reducing the roughness of a free surface of a semiconductor wafer that includes establishing a first atmosphere in an annealing chamber, replacing the first atmosphere with a second atmosphere that includes a gas selected to and in an amount to substantially eliminate or reduce pollutants on a wafer, and exposing the free surface of the wafer to the second atmosphere to substantially eliminate or reduce pollutants thereon. The second atmosphere is then replaced with a third atmosphere that includes pure, and rapid thermal annealing is performed on the wafer exposed to the third atmosphere in the annealing chamber to substantially reduce the roughness of the free surface of the wafer.
US07883626B2
A process for neutralizing acid mine drainage which includes a neutralizer and binder component consisting of steel slag in an amount of 75% to 95% by weight of the agglomeration, a sodium carbonate selected from the group consisting of soda ash and pulp liquor in an amount of 0.5% to 25% of the agglomeration, and, optionally, a lime component selected from the group consisting of limestone sand and slag. Further included is a dissolution control and filtration component consisting of an organic material in an amount of 0.24% to 15% by weight of the agglomeration selected from the group consisting of recycled newsprint, sphagnum peat moss, and sawdust. Next is a dispersant and neutralizer component consisting of a surfactant in an amount of 0.01% to 0.075% by weight of the agglomeration. The agglomeration may further comprise an oxidation component such as calcium peroxide, potassium permanganate, and hydrogen peroxide.
US07883621B2
According to the invention, the filter is fixed to the engine block by screwing it to an attached connecting sleeve. The connecting sleeve contains a bypass valve, in the form of a tubular piston sliding in a through-passage and pushed against an intermediate shoulder by a spring. By sliding, the piston opens or closes a radial passage establishing direct communication between the inlet passage and the through-passage of the device. If the filter element of the filter is clogged, the pressure rise in the inlet passage causes the piston to move and the radial passage to open to reduce the pressure rise and ensure a satisfactory flow of oil. This reduces pressure rises upstream of the filter and ensures sufficient lubrication of the engine even in the case of clogging of the filter.
US07883613B2
The present invention provides a capillary electrophoresis apparatus in which a capillary is easily attached to and detached from a migration medium filling unit without mixing impurities into the capillary. Mixture of impurities such as dust is also prevented when a capillary negative-electrode end is brought into contact with a sample stored in a vessel. Furthermore, temperature control is efficiently performed in the capillary. In the capillary electrophoresis apparatus, the whole of capillary array can be supported by grasping a grip portion by hand. A migration medium filling mechanism includes a slide mechanism which moves a polymer block with respect to a capillary head. The capillary electrophoresis apparatus includes a vessel in which a sample and a buffer can simultaneously be stored. Temperatures of the capillary and an irradiation and detection unit are controlled by a temperature control function provided in a thermostatic device.
US07883605B2
Various embodiments of a process for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material are provided. In one embodiment the process for pyrolyzing hydrocarbonaceous material includes charging a reactor with a feed material comprising hydrocarbonaceous material, heating the feed material, and collecting liquid product from the reactor which is anaerobic in operation. At least 5% of the organic carbon atoms which are not present in an aromatic ring of a compound of the feed material are present in an aromatic ring of a compound in a liquid portion of the product.
US07883603B2
A method for making a sheet of paper and/or cardboard and the like, comprises, prior to forming said sheet, adding to the fibrous suspension, separately or mixed, in any sequence of introduction, into one or more injection points, at least three dry strength agents respectively: first agent corresponding to a (co)polymer having a cationic filler density higher than 1 meq/g and exhibiting primary amine functions; a second agent corresponding to a synthetic organic (co)polymer having cationic filler density higher than 0.1 meq/g; and a third agent corresponding to a (co)polymer having an anionic filler density higher than 0.1 meq/g.
US07883590B1
A method of forming high temperature heat treatable aluminum alloys that can be used at temperatures from about −420° F. (−251° C.) up to about 650° F. (343° C.) are described. The alloys are strengthened by dispersion of particles based on the L12 intermetallic compound Al3X. These alloys comprise aluminum, copper, magnesium, at least one of scandium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium; and at least one of gadolinium, yttrium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, and niobium. Lithium is an optional alloying element.
US07883589B2
The free-cutting copper alloy according to the present invention contains a greatly reduced amount of lead in comparison with conventional free-cutting copper alloys, but provides industrially satisfactory machinability. The free-cutting alloys comprise 71.5 to 78.5 percent, by weight, of copper, 2.0 to 4.5 percent, by weight, of silicon, 0.005 percent up to but less than 0.02, by weight, of lead, and the remaining percent, by weight, of zinc.
US07883582B2
A gas exhaust unit evacuates the inside of a vacuum transfer chamber at a constant exhaust rate. An gas exhaust valve is kept normally open, and a purge gas (N2 gas) is supplied from a purge gas supply source into the vacuum transfer chamber via a mass flow controller (MFC) and an opening/closing valve. A main control unit controls a pressure in the vacuum transfer chamber to be within a specified range through a flow rate set value for the MFC while monitoring a pressure in the vacuum transfer chamber via a vacuum gauge. The main control unit determines occurrence of abnormality when the pressure exceeds a specified upper limit and then takes such actions as changing a flow rate set value for the MFC, giving an alarm and stopping the operation of a vacuum processing apparatus.
US07883578B2
Homogeneity residuals of the refractive index have a strong influence on the performance of lithography tools for both 193 and 157 nm application wavelengths. By systematic investigations of various defects in the real structure of CaF2 crystals, the origin of homogeneity residuals can be shown. Based on a quantitative analysis we define limiting values for the individual defects which can be either tolerated or controlled by optimized process steps, e.g. annealing. These correlations were carried out for all three relevant main crystal lattice orientations of CaF2 blanks. In conclusion we achieved a strong improvement of the critical parameters of both refractive index homogeneity and striae for large size lens blanks up to 270 mm diameter.
US07883566B2
A method of using scrap rubber and other scrap materials, such as tires or parts or pieces of tires, to manufacture or melt steel and other metals in a furnace is disclosed. The scrap rubber may be used as a carbon source for the manufacture of steel and other metals, and may be used as an energy source to melt the scrap metal used to make the steel and other metals. The net benefit of this method includes reducing the amount of scrap rubber, such as tires, to be sent to a waste disposal facility or landfill, thereby improving the environment. In addition, by increasing the use of scrap rubber as a source of energy for steel or metal production, less energy is required from other sources.
US07883565B2
An economically efficient agricultural pellet of enhanced structural integrity comprises up to about 15% by weight of non-crystalline silica fibers blended with one or more other nutrient substances, such as calcium silicate and/or magnesium sulfite, such that the silica fibers to form an interlaced matrix dispersed throughout the body of the pellet. Fragmentation agent(s) and/or soil amendments may also be included. The silica fiber matrix provides both structural reinforcement and a source of bio-available silicon. In embodiments including calcium silicate, additional structural integrity is gained through pozzolonic bonding.
US07883554B2
Provided are a lithium secondary battery with suppressed decomposition of an electrolytic solution, and a preparation method thereof. The lithium secondary battery includes a current collector, a cathode and an anode having each active material layer formed on the current collector, and a polymer electrolyte interposed between the cathode and the anode. In the lithium secondary battery, a fluorine resin film is formed on at least one surface of the active material layers of the cathode and the anode. A fluorine resin exists in pores between constituents contained in at least one active material layer of the cathode and the anode. The polymer electrolyte is a polymerized product of a crosslinking monomer and an electrolytic solution including a lithium salt and an organic solvent. Also, a porous membrane made of an insulating resin is interposed between the cathode and the anode.
US07883551B2
The present invention is directed to a crystallization process and apparatuses for such processes. In a first aspect, the process of the invention comprises a step wherein a liquid comprising a solvent and material dissolved therein, is subjected to crystallization conditions in the presence of Dean vortices, which Dean vortices result from said liquid flowing through a channel having at least one curvature. In a second aspect, the invention is directed to a crystallization process, which comprises a step wherein a liquid comprising a solvent, material dissolved therein and heterogeneous particles is subjected to crystallization conditions in the presence of Dean vortices, which Dean vortices result from said liquid flowing through a channel having at least one curvature, wherein said material crystallizes on solid surfaces, in particular on surfaces of the heterogeneous particles present in the feed.
US07883546B2
A power generating leg, configurable to be coupled to a person's lower limb, comprising a thigh link, a shank link, a knee mechanism, a torque generator, and a power unit. The knee mechanism is connected to said thigh link and said shank link, and configured to allow flexion and extension movements of said thigh link and said shank link relative to each other. The torque generator is configured to generate torque between said shank link and said thigh link. The power unit is coupled to said torque generator, and configured to cause said torque generator to generate torque. When said power unit is in a power regeneration mode, said power unit causes said torque generator to generate a torque that opposes the angular velocity of said thigh link and said shank link relative to each other and said power unit converts a portion of the power associated with the product of said torque and said angular velocity of said shank link and thigh link relative to each other into electrical power to be stored in a storage device.
US07883539B2
Devices and methods for treatment of a failing heart by reducing the heart wall stress. The device can be one which reduces wall stress throughout the cardiac cycle or only a portion of the cardiac cycle.
US07883533B2
A device and method for increasing the number and type of ions in a hydrotherapy treatment to assist in removing unwanted chemicals from the body. A battery-powered array is submerged into a liquid foot bath to generate ions through electrolysis. The array has at least two electrodes, one containing copper and/or zinc, the other steel. The device can be run in two modes, thereby creating different types of ions and enabling the removal of different types of chemicals. The device uses a current and voltage regulator to deliver a regulated amount of current into the array regardless of the conductivity of the liquid, and electrical circuitry is used to control the duration and mode of the treatment. Excessive heat is dissipated with a heat sink.
US07883532B2
An improve spinal surgical implant used primarily in the posterior aspect of the spinal column for spinal reconstruction; revision surgery; deformity correction; and/or tumor surgery and/or trauma surgery of the cervical, thoracic and/or and lumbo-sacral spine.
US07883527B2
A system for sealing a hole in a body, comprising a generally cylindrical mesh formed from a plurality of helical strands which is inserted into the hole, with at least one end of the cylindrical mesh being moved least partially through an interior portion of the cylindrical shaped mesh such that the mesh expands radially outwards against sides of the hole.
US07883521B2
Apparatus for the removal of lens tissue includes a first instrument for inserting into a lens capsule and removing a cataract therein, the first instrument including a lumen for aspiration of cataract tissue and irrigation fluid from the lens capsule and manipulate the cataract until cataract is removed. The second instrument includes an irrigation port for introducing the irrigation fluid into the lens capsule.
US07883508B2
A catheter assembly for pressure-sensitive control of ablation treatment is disclosed. The assembly includes a conductive element, an electrode, and a pressure sensitive conductive composite member positioned between the conductive element and the electrode. At least one of the conductive pin, the pressure sensitive conductive composite element and the ablation electrode are moveable to create an engagement position and a non-engagement position. In the engagement position, the elements are electrically coupled such that ablation energy may be delivered from the conductive pin to the ablation electrode via the pressure sensitive conductive composite element. In the non-engagement position, the elements are electrically decoupled such that ablation energy is not delivered to the ablation electrode. A related method for pressure-sensitive control of ablation is also disclosed.
US07883503B2
A directionally limited illuminating balloon catheter includes a multi-lumen shaft having a distal end and a hollow balloon portion disposed at the distal end and inflated through the shaft, the balloon portion having a light source illuminating only a portion of the environment outside the balloon portion. The balloon portion can be have a directionally limited light source directing substantially all illumination towards the shaft. Also provided is a directionally illuminating balloon catheter kit including a set of illuminating catheters each having the light source with different sized illuminating areas to illuminate a different sized partial portion of the environment outside the balloon portion.
US07883498B2
Absorbent articles suitable for use as diapers or other hygiene products are provided. The absorbent articles have one or more closure system features including dual elasticity, rear closure, and the use of co-adhesives for the fasteners. Products according to the invention may provide any of several benefits, including a high level of comfort in use, resistance to tampering by the wearer, and relatively quiet attachment and detachment of the closures.
US07883495B2
A disposable absorbent article with an associated polymer film that is positioned to be activated by contact with bodily fluids, wherein the polymer film can release odor control and/or skin wellness agents upon contact with such bodily fluids. The polymer film can release the odor control and/or skin wellness agents immediately, gradually over a period of time after contact with such bodily fluids, or a combination of both. The polymer film can also be used for household cleaning applications, in which the polymer film can similarly contain and subsequently release household cleaning agents upon contact with water.
US07883492B2
A catheter for administering a substance into body tissues includes an elongated catheter body that has at least one portion of the length of the catheter body that expands after the catheter is inserted in the patient's body. The portion that expands provides a seal against backflow of the substance along the outer surface of the catheter body and away from the intended treatment area.
US07883476B2
A disposable tissue removal device comprises a “tube within a tube” cutting element mounted to a handpiece. The inner cannula of the cuffing element defines an inner lumen and terminates in an inwardly beveled, razor-sharp cutting edge. The inner cannula is driven by both a rotary motor and a reciprocating motor. At the end of its stroke, the inner cannula makes contact with the cutting board to completely sever the tissue. An aspiration vacuum is applied to the inner lumen to aspirate excised tissue through the inner cannula and into a collection trap that is removably mounted to the handpiece. The rotary and reciprocating motors are hydraulically powered through a foot pedal operated hydraulic circuit. The entire biopsy device is configured to be disposable. In one embodiment, the cutting element includes a cannula hub that can be connected to a fluid source, such as a valve-controlled saline bag.
US07883461B2
An incrementally adjustable wound retractor, which provides access to a body cavity, includes an inner ring having a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, an outer ring having an annular axis and a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, and a flexible sleeve disposed in a generally cylindrical form between the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes first and second circular tubes spaced apart axially with each including a lumen having a rigid, noncompliant split hoop positioned therein. The outer ring may be rolled over itself and around the annular axis to retract the sleeve with sufficient force to stretch the incision to the desired diameter. A gel cap seal may be coupled to the outer ring outside of the biological body to seal the opening produced by the wound retractor between the body cavity and outside the body cavity.
US07883449B2
An auxiliary supporting device is designed for supporting and fixing a bicycle. When a user rides a bicycle which is set up on this supporting device, the bicycle will neither move forward nor fall down if the user applies the skill of riding bicycle. This device can be used to train a rider for better bicycle controllability or to let user exercise at a fixed location.
US07883443B2
A method of controlling an engine for a vehicle including increasing an amount of air taken into the engine to an amount larger than an idling air amount corresponding an idling engine speed, when an engine speed of the engine is predetermined value or more, a throttle valve for controlling the amount of air taken into the engine has not been operated to be opened, and a clutch is in an off-state not to permit transmission of a drive force from the engine to a running drive element of the vehicle.
US07883439B2
A gas turbine engine includes an epicyclic gear train that drives a turbo fan. The epicyclic gear train employs a one-piece carrier in which the spaced side walls are interconnected with circumferentially spaced apart mounts to form a unitary structure. Baffles are secured to the carrier near the mounts and provide lubrication passages that spray oil onto the sun gear and/or intermediate gears arranged between the baffles. The baffles can be constructed from a different material than the carrier since the baffles are not structural components in the gear train.
US07883438B2
A support shaft provides lubrication to a journal bearing during windmilling operation of a gear set. A primary oil pump provides oil from an oil supply during driven operation of the fan, and a secondary oil pump provides oil from an internal sump during windmilling operation of the fan. During driven operation of the fan, oil is pumped with the primary oil pump through a primary oil flow path to an outer surface of the support shaft. During windmilling fan operation, oil is pumped from an internal sump with a secondary oil pump through the secondary oil flow path. The secondary oil flow path has a smaller flow capacity, and the secondary oil pump is a smaller capacity pump.
US07883434B2
A structure for a bat is described by using multiple composite tubes bonded to one another, wherein apertures, or “ports,” are molded between the tubes to improve the stiffness, strength, aerodynamics and comfort of the bat.
US07883432B2
Rotatable sleeves are disposed adjacent the ends of the crossbar of a goalpost. A stub is integrally formed with each of the sleeves and each stub protrudes through an opening in the crossbar. The opening in the crossbar is dimensioned to permit back to front movement of the stub and corresponding rotation of the sleeve until verticality of the stub and its associated upright is achieved. At that point, the sleeve is locked against further rotation by means of a tapping block previously installed in the sleeve and engaged with a serrated bolt through an appropriately dimensioned opening in the crossbar and corresponding holes in the sleeve. Once the bolts are tightened into the tapping block, the sleeve is drawn tightly against the interior surface of the crossbar, thereby locking the sleeve and the stub and the upright against further rotation.
US07883431B2
There is provided a golf club head capable of increasing carry on average even if being used by an amateur golfer who is prone to hit a ball with various hit points across the clubface. A golf club head 1 has a face part 2, a crown part 3, a sole part 4, a side part 5, and a hosel part 6, which are formed of titanium or a titanium alloy. The golf club head 1 is formed by integrating a head body 10 and a face plate 30 with each other by welding such as laser welding or plasma welding. A thick part 20 is provided only in the central portion in the toe-heel direction of the cross corner portion between the face part 2 and the sole part 4. The width in the toe-heel direction of the thick part 20 is 20 mm or narrower.
US07883430B2
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
US07883425B2
A floor system for simulating a natural environment, such as snow, is disclosed. The system includes a confinement member that holds an aggregate. The confinement member may be positioned between a pair of disturbing agent layers comprising meshes that contact the confinement member at a plurality of discrete points. Force applied to the floor system by a user walking across the system results in force being communicated to the confinement member through the disturbing agent layers through the plurality of discrete contact points. The force applied at each of the discrete contact points causes portions of the aggregate proximate to the contact points to shift, resulting in vibrations and sounds that simulate the sound and feel of walking on snow. Additional layers for support, durability, and comfort may also be included in the floor system.
US07883423B2
A shaft coupling mechanism for an electric power steering apparatus includes a coupling base body coupled to a rotating shaft; a coupling base body coupled to a steering shaft serving as a rotating shaft; and a rotation transmitting member which is disposed between the both coupling base bodies and transmits the rotation of the coupling base body in a direction about the axis, i.e., in an R direction, to the coupling base body as rotation in the R direction.
US07883415B2
A method for processing interactive user control with a scene of a video clip is provided. The method initiates with identifying a head of a user that is to interact with the scene of the video clip. Then, the identified head of the user is tracked during display of the video clip, where the tracking enables detection of a change in position of the head of the user. Next, a view-frustum is adjusted in accordance with the change in position of the head of the user. A computer readable media, a computing device and a system for enabling interactive user control for defining a visible volume being displayed are also included.
US07883413B2
A disclosed gaming machine may be customized according to one or more player preferences. A player may view and modify player preferences stored in a player preference account as preference account information. The preference account information may include but is not limited to loyalty point account information, loyalty point account settings, promotional opportunities, preferred games, preferred game features for the preferred games, preferred gaming machine settings, preferred bonus games, preferred service options and preferred progressive games. The preference account information may be stored in a plurality of preference accounts on a preference account server. Using a preference account interface which may be compatible with a web-browser, a player may be able to view and modify preference account information stored on the preference account server from a number remote devices such as a gaming machine, a home computer, a hotel room video interface and a casino kiosk.
US07883407B2
Periodic prize draws are conducted by a jackpot controller (13) in a gaming system having one or more electronic gaming devices (10). The probability of each electronic gaming device winning a particular prize draw is dependent upon the amount wagered on that gaming machine during a period preceding that prize draw. The prize may be a progressive jackpot which comprises an initial starting value and a contribution from the amounts wagered on the electronic gaming devices. If an electronic gaming device wins a prize draw, its player may be granted a feature game to determine the actual prize. Jackpots are suspended pending the completion of the feature game. The probability that a gaming device will win the prize draw, or the relative win probabilities of the gaming devices, may be displayed graphically.
US07883406B2
A method is set forth for playing a bonus game in a secondary slot machine adjacent a primary slot machine. The primary slot machine issues a bonus qualifying signal to the secondary slot machine to start play of a bonus game when a bonus qualifying event occurs. The reels of the bonus game include value symbols, null symbols, and end game symbols which may be of two basic types: a lose game symbol and a stop game symbol. After the random spin, the values of any value symbols displayed on the payline of the secondary slot machine are accumulated into an accumulated winning value. The value symbols could include positive integer values, negative integer values, and multiples. The random spinning, determination of values of any value symbol and the accumulation of a winning value is repeatedly continued until an end of the bonus game occurs.
US07883392B2
A toy helicopter, in accordance with the present disclosure, includes a body having a longitudinal length and a main rotor. There is an element movable along the longitudinal length. The element allows a user to selectively adjust the location of the center of gravity of a toy helicopter by moving the element along the longitudinal length, thereby changing the velocity of the helicopter.
US07883388B2
A method of manufacturing a display device having a display panel that includes a first electrode, a light emitting layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the light emitting layer, the manufacturing method comprising: aging the display panel by applying a predetermined electrical signal and a predetermined temperature so that the luminance of the light emitting layer lies between about 10 nits and 10,000 nits.
US07883386B2
An organic light emitting display (OLED) pixel structure and a method for manufacturing the same, which can be applied for improving the resolution of an OLED without significantly changing the current OLED manufacturing process. With a novel pixel arrangement and circuit layout, an organic light emitting material is evaporated onto a substrate through a mask and thus a plurality of sub-pixels are formed simultaneously while enabling each sub-pixel to correspond to different pixels. Thereby, the area of each sub-pixel is reduced and the resolution of a display is increased.
US07883385B2
An outboard motor having an engine cover formed from a lower cover fixed to a casing and an upper cover joined to the lower cover at a first mating surface. A linear member lead-out part is formed from a case part integrally connected to the lower cover. The linear member lead-out part is closer to one side wall and projects forward from a front wall of the lower cover. A lid member is joined to the case part by a second mating surface disposed below the first mating surface. A water entrance chamber is formed in the lower cover and has front and rear walls defined by a pair of wall portions integrally provided with the lower cover while being spaced in a fore-and-aft direction. The water entrance chamber is disposed on the side on which a small gap is formed between the lid member and the lower cover.
US07883384B1
A self-contained hydraulic thruster for vessel. The hydraulic thruster incorporates a lower unit housing tiltably attached to a lower unit mounting tube attached to a base, a tube whose upper end is attached through the lower unit housing, and a shaft slidably disposed within the tube. A substantial length of tube extends downwards from the lower unit housing, thus providing support for the shaft. An actuator is disclosed which extends and retracts the shaft relative to the tube. A steering clamp is releasably attached to an end of the shaft which protrudes through the top of the lower unit housing. A steering clamp key traveling in a shaft keyway, or a shaft key in combination with a steering clamp keyway, help maintain constant the angular orientation between the steering clamp and the shaft. A steering gear meshing with a steering assembly, or an actuator driving a tie rod, provide steering.
US07883382B2
A grounding system includes a mounting surface, a first ground conductor including first and second ends, a plurality of second ground conductors, and a grounding apparatus. The grounding apparatus includes an elongated conductive member having a first end including an open jaw lug structured to receive and electrically and mechanically engage a portion of the first ground conductor extending transverse to the elongated conductive member, an opposite second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first end and the opposite second end. The intermediate portion includes a plurality of lugs. Each of the plurality of lugs is structured to receive and electrically and mechanically engage an end portion of a corresponding one of the second ground conductors. The intermediate portion further includes a plurality of mounting apertures. Each of a plurality of fasteners mounts the intermediate portion to the mounting surface at a corresponding one of the mounting apertures.
US07883380B2
A wire coupling device which may be used joining at least a separate first wire and second wire comprising: a housing having at least a first port and a second port, each port configured to receive a separate wire; a camming member disposed between the at least first and second ports, the camming member rotatable between a first, open position and a second, closed position, where the camming member provides electrical contact between the at least first wire and second wire when in the second, closed position.
US07883376B2
There is disclosed a connector and method for terminating a cable comprised twisted pairs of conductors. In one aspect of the invention the connector comprises a wire lead guide for arranging the twisted pairs of conductors and a plurality of piercing contacts which interconnect with respective ones of the twisted pairs of conductors when the wire guide is secured to the module. In a further aspect of the invention the wire lead guide ensures that the spacing between the conductors of a particular twisted pair is maintained, thereby improving the performance of the subsequent assembly.
US07883371B1
An electrical connector includes a housing member and a number of contacts attached to the housing member. The contacts include a number of first contacts and second contacts arranged side by side along a transverse direction, respectively. The second contacts include a first pair of differential contacts, a second pair of differential contacts and a grounding contact disposed therebetween. At the mounting end of the electrical connector, a space between the grounding contact and the differential contact of each pair most adjacent to the grounding contact is much bigger than any internal space between the differential contacts of each the first or the second pair. As a result, a rear wall of the housing member can provide adequate area for easily mounting a fiber optical lens.
US07883366B2
A connector assembly includes an array of signal contacts having mating portions configured for mating engagement with corresponding signal contacts of a mating connector assembly. The assembly also includes a housing holding the array of signal contacts in rows and columns. The signal contacts are arranged along axes of the rows and columns, and the mating portions of the signal contacts are oriented at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the axes of the rows and columns.
US07883362B2
A joint connector has a housing (10) with cavities (11) capable of accommodating mating terminals (30) and a joint terminal (40) with a strip-like base (41) and terminal portions (42) projecting at specified intervals from the strip-like base (41). Insertion openings (18) are formed in a part of the housing (10) before the cavities (11) and communicate with the cavities (11). The joint terminal (40) is mounted into the housing (10) from the front with the terminal portions (42) in the lead. The strip-like base (41) has engaging holes (43) located between the terminal portions (42). Engaging projections (19A) project from a resilient wall (19) continuous with left and right side wall portions (12D) of the housing (10) and engage with the engaging holes (43).
US07883358B1
A connection-sensing DC plug has an insulative body, a connection portion, two power terminals, a conductive sheet and a retractable pin. The connecting portion is adapted to electronically connect to a target device and has an isolation layer and a ground layer. The conductive sheet is mounted in the insulative body and contacts either the isolation layer or the ground layer. The retractable pin is movably mounted in the insulative housing parallel to the connecting portion, with one end securely engaging the conductive sheet and the other end protruding from the insulative body. When the DC plug is connected to the target device, the retractable pin is pressed and moves inward to bend the conductive sheet, turning the conductive sheet to a floating state and resulting in a trigger signal.
US07883353B2
An electronic storage device for connecting with a host system in accordance with the present invention includes a frame defining a receiving cavity, a main body rotatably received in the receiving cavity of the frame and including an electrical connector with an interface and a pivoting portion cooperating with the frame to realize the rotation of the main body. At least one of the frame and the main body forms a number of elastic pieces protruding into the receiving cavity. At least one of the main body and the frame defines a receiving space surrounded by a number of cooperating edges curved inwardly, and a number of recesses formed at the cross of each adjacent two cooperating edges. At a first position, the elastic pieces are respectively received in the recesses. As the main body is actuated to rotate, each elastic piece is actuated by the cooperating edge to produce deformation and slide along the curved cooperating edge and located in a neighboring recess with the main body rotating to a second position.
US07883352B2
An integrated circuit socket includes an insulating housing having a plurality of contact openings arranged in rows and a recess that receives an integrated circuit package. A plurality of contacts arranged in a first contact group and a second contact group in the insulating housing. Each of the contacts has a flat plate fixing member fixed in the contact opening, a connecting member extending from a lower portion of the fixing member, and a spring member extending diagonally upward from an upper portion of the fixing member. The spring member has a contact member extending into the recess. The contacts are arranged in the contact openings such that the spring members are arranged at an angle offset from a direction of arrangement of the rows and the spring arms of the first contact group are arranged in a direction opposing the spring arms of the second contact group.
US07883344B1
An electrical connector having a dielectric housing. The housing has an elongated, vertically extending portion and a base portion. The base portion extends laterally beyond the elongated, vertically extending portion. The connector includes a pair of retention posts disposed through a portion of a base of the connector. The base of the housing has an alignment pin deposed between the retention posts for extending into a hole in the surface of the printed circuit board. A pair of dust cover members is insertable into sidewalls of the housing.
US07883343B1
A solar cell that is readily manufactured using processing techniques which are less expensive than microelectronic circuit processing. In preferred embodiments, printing techniques are utilized in selectively forming masks for use in etching of silicon oxide and diffusing dopants and in forming metal contacts to diffused regions. In a preferred embodiment, p-doped regions and n-doped regions are alternately formed in a surface of the wafer through use of masking and etching techniques. Metal contacts are made to the p-regions and n-regions by first forming a seed layer stack that comprises a first layer such as aluminum that contacts silicon and functions as an infrared reflector, second layer such titanium tungsten that acts as diffusion barrier, and a third layer functions as a plating base. A thick conductive layer such as copper is then plated over the seed layer, and the seed layer between plated lines is removed. A front surface of the wafer is preferably textured by etching or mechanical abrasion with an IR reflection layer provided over the textured surface. A field layer can be provided in the textured surface with the combined effect being a very low surface recombination velocity.
US07883340B2
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of contacts that may be compatible with surface mount technology. The contacts may be surface mountable for establishing an electrical pathway (e.g., electrical grounding contact, etc.) from at least one electrically-conductive surface on the substrate to another electrically-conductive surface (e.g., EMI shield, battery contact, etc.). In one exemplary embodiment, a contact generally includes a resilient dielectric core member. At least one outer electrically-conductive layer is electrocoated onto the resilient dielectric core member. A solderable electrically-conductive base member may be coupled to the resilient core member and/or the outer electrically-conductive layer. The base member may be in electrical contact with the outer electrically-conductive layer.
US07883339B2
A socket connector includes a frame having a receiving cavity therein, a plurality of wafers aligned along a direction and received in the receiving cavity of the frame, and a plurality of contacts. The wafer is formed with a plurality of parallel slots located along at least one surface thereof and matched with corresponding slots of a neighboring wafer to constitute a plurality of receiving holes. The contacts are received in the receiving holes respectively. Each contact includes a top contacting section extending upwardly beyond an upper surface of the wafers and a bottom contacting section extending downwardly beyond a lower surface of the wafers.
US07883338B2
A moisture proof, telescoping coupler assembly for electric metal tubes and threaded rigid pipe with an enhanced grounding arrangement both internally and externally for electrically grounding the telescoping tube to the coupler body, Moisture proof sealing is improved by centering the electric metal tube within the coupler body adjacent the seal preventing possible leaking after securing the electric metal tube to one end. A modified arrangement utilizes a snap fitting retaining ring for securing an electric metal tube to the coupler body to provide for unidirectional insertion of an electric metal tube into the open end of a coupler body in a manner that prohibits unintentional separation of the tube and/or retainer ring from the coupler body.
US07883335B2
Gingival retraction cords are constructed from two or more strands that are interlocked to form a knitted, braided, woven, or twisted retraction cord. At least one strand is made from an absorbent material and another strand is made from a degradation-resistant material, such as nylon, polyester, fiberglass, or metal. The absorbent strands are impregnated with an active agent. The degradation-resistant strands resist degradation by the active agent. Alternatively, one or more strands are used to make the knit, weave, or braid and each strand is made from two or more different fibers. For example, one or more absorbent fibers and one or more synthetic fibers can be twisted to make a blended strand. The blended strands can be used to knit, braid, or weave a retraction cord. Because the degradation-resistant strands are part of the strand pattern, the retraction cords can be made sturdier without adversely affecting the cord's inherent deformation properties.
US07883325B2
First and second structures are connected by helical fibers. The orientation between the first and second structures are changed, and by doing so, the positions of the helical fibers are correspondingly changed. The position of change of the helical fibers can be used for a pumping effect, or to change some other fluidic characteristics. One other fluidic characteristics, for example, may use the movement of the helical fibers as a valve.
US07883308B2
A slotted set screw includes a slot in an upper end surface and a cut metal waste storing recess respectively formed at two ends of the slot. The cut metal waste storing recess is defined by a vertical wall and a flat bottom wall to have a large opening, separated from the slot for a little distance. The opening of the cut metal waste storing recess communicates with the outside of the threads of the set screw. Thus, cut metal waste may be stored in the cut metal waste storing recesses during cutting threads of the set screw and cannot fall into and remain in the slot to result in extra cleaning work for the waste in the slot.
US07883304B2
The present invention provides an automatic bottom lock comprises a lock base, and a lock body fastened above the lock base comprising a hook provided thereon having a transverse guiding slope extending forward and downwardly from a top at a front side of the hook, a hooking slope extending backward and downwardly from a lower end of the transverse guiding slope, a transverse sliding slope extending backward and downwardly from a top at a rear side of the hook, and a locating plane at the bottom of the lock body extending backward and downwardly from the transverse sliding slope, wherein the locating plane is vertical to the horizontal plane, and extends left and right along the lock body.
US07883299B2
A metal cutting system with a tool holder, a shim, an insert with a top depression, a top piece and a clamp. A rake face cooling channel for fluid delivery is formed between the top piece and the depression in the insert. A primary discharge slot at the end of the rake face cooling channel delivers fluid from below the cutting edge of the insert. A second cooling channel for delivery of fluid to the flank face is formed between the insert and the shim or is formed between the shim and the tool holder with a portion of the cooling channel passing through the shim.
US07883292B2
A method and apparatus for storing, deploying and retrieving a plurality of seismic devices is described. The apparatus includes a ramp device coupled to a portion of a trailing end of a vessel, a cable handling device positioned between the ramp device and a leading end of the vessel to define a cable path across the ramp device, and at least one conveyor system having a first end located adjacent the ramp device and a second end extending toward the leading end of the vessel. A deployment method includes providing nodes from a storage area to a workstation where the nodes may be attached to a cable. A retrieval method includes routing a cable through a workstation to detach nodes from the cable section and transfer the detached nodes to the storage area.
US07883286B2
A device for packaging and method for applying a product configured to be applied on fibers. One example of the device includes a base incorporating a recess to accommodate a cup. This example of the device also includes a cup forming a seat for receiving a stick of product and a driving means for moving the cup relative to the base between a stowed position of the cup in the recess and a usage position in which an applicator portion of the stick emerges at least partially from an opening of the recess. The device includes a plurality of separator/comb elements extending around at least a portion of the opening of the recess, the separator/comb elements being configured so as to engage with the fibers to separate/comb them simultaneously to, or after the application of, the product onto the fibers by the applicator portion. A method is of using the device is also provided.
US07883281B2
An interchangeable lens system includes an interchangeable lens capable of communication between the interchangeable lens and a camera body. The interchangeable lens includes a camera identifying unit that identifies a camera body from information obtained by the communication between the interchangeable lens and the camera body. In response to a data transmitting request instruction transmitted from the camera body through the communication, the camera identifying unit converts reply data into a format adapted for the camera body on the basis of an identifying result of the camera identifying unit, and transmits the reply data.
US07883277B2
For integrated circuits including circuit packaging and circuit communication technologies provision is made for a method of interconnecting or mapping a two-dimensional optoelectronic (OE) device array to a one-dimensional waveguide array. Also provided is an arrangement for the interconnecting or mapping of a two-dimensional optoelectronic (OE) device array to a one-dimensional waveguide array.
US07883276B2
The present invention is directed to systems and methods that couple together optical devices in a manner that prevents damaging light from escaping the coupling except through the devices. In order to prevent damaging light from coming into contact with the user, the present invention obscures the source optical device by using at least one moveable gate to prevent damaging light from being transmitted outside of the coupling until such time as the target optical device is fully inserted into the coupling, thereby preventing light that could potentially damage a person from escaping the system except through the optical device.
US07883264B1
A method and apparatus for personal product delivery have been disclosed.
US07883263B1
Improved preconditioners (10) are provided for partial moisturization of human food or animal feed ingredients prior to downstream final processing thereof in an extruder (56) or pellet mill. The preconditioner (10) preferably includes an elongated housing (12) having a wall (14) with an inlet (20) and an opposed outlet (22). The housing (12) also has a larger diameter end wall (16) proximal to the inlet (20), a smaller diameter end wall (18) proximal to outlet (22), and a progressively converging housing wall (14) with a taper angle of from about 2-9°. A shaft (36) extends along the length of housing (14) and supports a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements (46) positioned in axially and circumferentially spaced relationship along the length of the shaft (36). The outer margins (54) of the mixing elements (46) cooperatively define a taper along the length of the housing wall (14). The shaft (36) is designed to operate at high rotational speeds, and the mixing elements (46) may be selectively angularly oriented to retard or increase the flow rate of materials through the preconditioner (10). The simplified preconditioner (10) is operable to provide high degrees of moisturization and precooking.
US07883260B2
In a backlight assembly and a flat panel display apparatus, the backlight assembly has a diffusing plate, a supporting member and reflecting plate. The supporting member has a base body portion, a supporting portion supporting the diffusing plate and a lamp holder receiving lamps to uniformly maintain spaced intervals between the lamps. The base body portion is disposed under the reflecting plate. The supporting portion and the lamp holder are inserted through engaging openings formed at the reflecting plate such that the supporting portion and the lamp holder are upwardly protruded with respect to the reflecting plate. Accordingly, the backlight assembly may reduce an area of the reflecting plate covered by the supporting member, thereby providing the light having uniform brightness distribution.
US07883259B2
A holder is disposed at a side of a back light module adjacent to a light incident side of a light guide plate (LGP). A light source module is fixed on a wall of the holder that faces the light incident side. A holder engager on a side wall of the LGP engages with an LGP retainer of the holder. When the LGP expands or contracts due to changes of temperature, the holder and the light source module move with the side of the LGP, thereby a gap between the light source module and the light incident side is maintained and the luminance of the backlight module is stabilized.
US07883257B2
An optical film and a display device having the same are disclosed. The display device comprises a display panel including a plurality of subpixels and an optical film disposed at one side of the display panel, the optical film includes a base film and a plurality of prisms, wherein a bias angle between a long axis direction of the subpixels and a longitudinal direction of the prisms is substantially 2 to 88 degrees.
US07883256B2
There is disclosed a timepiece (40) including optical means for forming a decorative pattern, in the form of a figurative image, in response to an action by the user. The optical means forming a figurative image include an optical guide (1, 51) having two large faces (10, 11) and at least one lateral face (12). Optical extractors (19) each having at least one light reflective surface (20) are arranged in at least one of the large faces (11). A light source (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) is arranged so as to emit light in the direction of the reflective surfaces (20), via the lateral face (12) of the optical guide. Thus, each of the reflective surfaces causes a reflected light beam to form in a well defined direction, the set of light beams forming a figurative image in that direction, which can typically be selected as the normal with respect to the mid-plane of the watch.
US07883240B2
An LED based light source assembly (10) comprises a circuit board (11), a plurality of LEDs (13), a heat sink (15) and a plurality of fasteners (17). The circuit board comprises a first surface (12) and a second surface (14) opposite to the first surface. The first surface is provided with electrical conductive traces (118). The plurality of LEDs are arranged on the first surface of the circuit board and electrically connecting with the electrical wires of the circuit board. The heat sink thermally contacts the second surface of the circuit board. The plurality of fasteners each comprise a first end (172) and a second end (174) opposite to the first end. The first end of each of the fasteners abuts on the first surface of the circuit board. The second end of each of the fasteners extends through the circuit board to be secured to the heat sink.
US07883234B2
A modular in-road lighting system is easily installed in the road and is convenient for repair, replacement and maintenance. The lighting system includes at least one modular light, at least one modular cable and a control unit. The top surface of the modular light is flush with a road surface so as to avoid abrasion by passing items. The modular light includes an illumination source and a control circuitry. The illumination source and the control circuitry are configured to emit light in selected direction(s).
US07883233B2
An assembly for providing illumination to a selected incident area includes a support; a first illumination device coupled to the support, the first illumination device including a first light emitting device and a first lens positioned for focusing light emitted by said first light emitting device; a second illumination device coupled to the support, the second illumination device including a second light emitting device and a second lens positioned for focusing light emitted by said second light emitting device; the first and second lenses projecting defocused images of the respective first and second light emitting devices to the selected incident area.
US07883227B1
Methods are provided for adapting existing manufacturing processes for non-illuminated data-entry devices and mouses to the manufacture of illuminated data-entry devices. Luminescent sheets of one or more colors underlying optically transmissive device components provide illumination of the components visual to a user of the device. The optically transmissive components may be doped with phosphors or tinted to provide components that emit light of different colors. The intensity of illumination of the luminescent sheet may be controlled by the user and may vary in response to the background light of the environment.
US07883221B2
A portable telephone device with incorporated projector 10 displays the contents of a received email upon a main liquid crystal display device 204 This portable telephone device with incorporated projector 10 projects the contents of the received email after having changed its vertical-horizontal ratio (its row-column ratio) so that the number of characters in the horizontal direction becomes greater, as compared to the display screen of the main liquid crystal display device 204, upon which the numbers of characters being displayed vertically and horizontally are equal.
US07883207B2
Aspects of the present invention provide multifocal lenses having one or more multifocal inserts comprising one or more diffractive regions. A diffractive region of a multifocal insert of the present invention can provide a constant optical power or can provide a progression of optical power, or any combination thereof. A multifocal insert of the present invention can be fabricated from any type of material and can be inserted into any type of bulk lens material. A diffractive region of a multifocal insert of the present invention can be positioned to be in optical communication with one or more optical regions of a host lens to provide a combined desired optical power in one or more vision zones. Index matching layers of the present invention can be used to reduce reflection losses at interfaces of the host lens and multifocal insert.
US07883201B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a conveyance device which conveys an ejection receiving medium; and an ejection head which ejects and deposits droplets of liquid on the ejection receiving medium conveyed by the conveyance device, the deposited droplets of the liquid constituting an image on the ejection receiving medium, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: γS≧γL; and d≧√{square root over (2)}×l, where γS is a surface energy of the ejection receiving medium, γL is a surface energy of the liquid, d is a diameter of each of the droplets of the liquid deposited on the ejection receiving medium, and l is a maximum of a resolution pitch of the image.
US07883200B2
A recording sheet including base paper including pulp fiber and filler, wherein the recording sheet further includes carboxylic acid. An ink jet recording method and an electrophotographic image recording method using the recording sheet.
US07883198B2
A valve assembly is provided for a high-speed phase change ink image producing machine between a first storage reservoir for receiving and holding a first volume of melted ink from a source and a second storage reservoir for holding a second volume of melted ink to be delivered under pressure to a printhead system. The valve assembly includes a passive valve disc movable from the closed position in which said disc abuts a valve seat in sealed contact, and an open position in which said valve disc is supported by an angled surface. An upper portion of the valve disc is unsupported and a flow director surface behind the disc directs fluid flow against the upper portion to assist in closing the valve. The surface characteristics of the valve seat are controlled to improve the “crack” time of the valve disc when opening.
US07883180B2
A nozzle plate of an inkjet printhead, and a method of manufacturing the nozzle plate. The nozzle plate includes a substrate through which nozzles are formed; an ink-philic coating layer formed on an outer surface of the substrate and inner walls of the nozzles; and an ink-phobic coating layer selectively formed on the ink-philic coating layer disposed around the nozzles.
US07883171B2
A liquid discharging apparatus is provided. The liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid discharging head that is provided on a carriage reciprocating in a running direction of the carriage, a cooling liquid flow channel that is provided on the carriage; a cooling liquid outgoing channel; and a cooling liquid returning channel, wherein the recording liquid flow channel is led to a first side of the running direction from the carriage, at least one of the cooling liquid outgoing channel and the cooling liquid returning channel is led to a second side that is opposite the first side of the running direction from the carriage, and the recording liquid flow channel and the cooling liquid flow channel are partially separated from each other by a pressure transmission unit so as to enable the recording liquid flow channel and the cooling liquid flow channel to transmit pressure to each other.
US07883164B2
A liquid storing device includes a storage unit that stores a liquid to be consumed and a rotation member inside the storage unit that rotates around a rotation axis. A blade member is installed to the rotation member to be movable in the axis direction of the rotation axis with respect to the rotation member and has a specific gravity smaller than that of the liquid. A detection member detects the blade member when the blade member is located vertically at a detection position. When the rotation member rotates in one direction, the blade member agitates the liquid while moving toward the lower side of a liquid surface of the liquid in the vertical direction along the axis direction in accordance with rotation of the rotation member. When the rotation member stops rotating, the blade member floats toward the liquid surface due to buoyancy of the liquid.
US07883153B2
A road milling drum assembly that is for use with a road milling machine. The road milling drum includes a core portion carrying a first road planing bit assembly wherein the core portion detachably connects to the road milling machine. The first road planing bit assembly has a first milling width. The assembly further including one of the following components selected from the group of: (1) a protective cover that detachably connects to the core portion and the road milling machine; or (2) a milling extension segment carrying a second road planing bit assembly wherein the milling extension segment detachably connects to the core portion and the road milling machine. The second road planing bit assembly has a second milling width wherein the road milling drum has a milling width equal to the sum of the first milling width and the second milling width.
US07883150B2
A portable and self storing head and neck support having a horseshoe shaped portion filled with batting material attached at the top to a rectangular shaped portion having closed sides and a continuous open interior resulting in an open end opposite the point of attachment to the horseshoe shaped portion with an internal strap secured at the closed sides said strap incorporating an elastic member.
US07883146B2
A seating arrangement in which a modular seat/console that moves between a first space between front seats, an intermediate position, and a second space between rear seats. The seat/console may function as a seat in the second space, or in the intermediate position. In the intermediate position, the seat/console in the seat configuration may advantageously be used to support a child safety seat. The seat/console may also be configured as a console in either the rear seat, intermediate, or front seat positions. The seat/console is provided with an adjustable height support.
US07883139B2
A drainage arrangement for a tailgate of a motor vehicle body has water outflow spouts in the inner panel of the tailgate. The water outflow spouts are arranged correspondingly to water outflow openings in a rear part or a rear-end trim panel of the body behind a vehicle license plate as viewed in relation to the direction of travel.
US07883138B2
A convertible includes an automobile body and a movable roof having at least a rear roof part and an upper roof part, wherein the rear roof part extends at least between a belt line and the upper roof part. The upper roof part is located above a passenger compartment and in front of the rear roof part. The rear roof part has a middle section that encloses a rear window and is located between lateral main posts of the automobile body when the roof is closed. The main posts and the middle section are each rotationally connected with the automobile body and with the upper roof part by joints which form a multijoint linkage whose axis of rotation lie in a common plane in at least one movement position of the roof, so that at least one additional support of the upper roof part located in front of the rear roof part is provided for supporting the upper roof part with respect to the automobile body, wherein the additional support is active in the at least one movement position of the roof.
US07883135B2
An energy absorbing device is provided for reducing acceleration resulting from a force of a high energy impact acting on one side of the device in an impact direction. The device includes two plates transverse to the impact direction, an energy absorbing mechanism between the plates, and a stabilizing mechanism having at least one pair of a projecting element and a receiving element, the projecting element comprised on one plate and a corresponding receiving element comprised on the other plate. Each pair is adapted for enabling the projecting element thereof to be at least partially received by the corresponding the receiving element in a manner to restrict relative displacement between the two plates at least in one direction different from the impact direction and to allow substantially free relative displacement between the plates in the impact direction.
US07883130B2
A surgical magnetic retrieval tool for retrieving objects attractable by a magnet lost in a surgical cavity during a surgical procedure. The tool is a permanent magnet having a size and shape adapted to be placed in and moved through a surgical cavity to attract and hold the objects for retrieval of them from the cavity, and a flexible tether is attached to the magnet for supporting the magnet, pulling it through the cavity, and retrieving the magnet and objects attracted thereto from the cavity. In one form of the invention the magnet is a flexible magnetic sheet; in another form it is a sphere; in another form it is an oblate spheroid; and in another form it is a disc. The tool is disposable following use.
US07883106B2
A seat belt assembly for use in a seat belt system of a motor vehicle to restrain a vehicle occupant. The assembly includes a belt webbing extending from a first end to a second end and includes tubular webbing extending from the first end and configured to open at a tear seam. An airbag is disposed within the tubular webbing and configured to inflate and deploy through the tear seam. A gas generator is fluidly coupled to the airbag and configured to provide an expanding gas to inflate and deploy the airbag in response to a control signal. A first part of the airbag is configured to inflate above the tubular webbing such that the first part of the airbag is disposed between a side or door of the vehicle and the thorax of the vehicle occupant.
US07883102B1
A fixture designed to hasten and ease aligning a trailer, in particular a gooseneck trailer, to a receiver ball situated on a vehicle by using a drop rod to signal the driver when the optimum hitching point is reached.
US07883099B2
A model vehicle suspension is provided, comprising a vehicle chassis, a spring for providing a supporting suspension force, one or more dampers for providing a damping suspension force, the dampers having an elongated shape, wherein the dampers are mounted on the chassis with a longitudinal axis substantially horizontal relative to the chassis and at least a first suspension member mounted to the chassis for supporting a vehicle wheel, the first suspension member being mounted for movement upwardly and downwardly at the location for supporting a vehicle wheel. A coupling mechanism for transmitting suspension forces from one or both of the spring and the one or more dampers to the first suspension member at the location for supporting a vehicle wheel is also provided, the coupling mechanism being configured to transmit suspension forces to the first suspension member, while allowing movement of the first suspension member at the point of supporting a wheel.
US07883096B2
A tool container assembly includes a container, rollers, a handle, and a slidable closure member. The container includes an upper and a lower storage space therein, a rear wall, opposing side walls, a lower front wall and a front opening above the lower front wall. The front opening generally lies along a plane that extends away from the rear wall as it extends downwardly. The slidable closure member is slidably movable between a first position wherein it substantially covers the front opening and a second position wherein it exposes the front opening. The closure member moves to a position wherein it generally lies between the plane and the lower front wall, and at an angle with respect to the plane, when it is moved to the second position.
US07883095B2
An annular seal member for use in a spherical exhaust pipe joint is provided with, on an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface thereof, a sliding surface for slidably moving the spherical exhaust pipe joint. The annular seal member includes an annular mesh structural body having a compressed wire mesh; and a heat-resistant sheet member which is compressed to be integrally formed with the compressed wire mesh. At least a part of the compressed wire mesh which is exposed from the sliding surface has a dispersive plating layer in which at least one kind of particle selected from the group consisting of fluorine resin particles, boron nitride particles, molybdenum disulfide particles, and silicon carbide particles is dispersed.
US07883088B2
Apparatus for singling sheet material, in particular bank notes, which is inputted into an input area of the apparatus as a stack and is transported up to a singler, which transfers individual pieces of sheet material of the stack of sheet material to a sheet transport system, which transports the singled sheet material in a transport direction, a sensor disposed in transport direction upstream of the singler, which substantially extends over the width of the input area, generating signals which specify whether and in which area of the width of the input area the sheet material is present, and a control device evaluating the signals of the sensor during a transport of the stack of sheet material to the singler and comparing occurring fluctuations and changes of the signals of the sensor regarding the presence or absence of sheet material with predetermined threshold values for fluctuations and changes of the signals of the sensor, in order to derive a statement from the occurring fluctuations and changes of the signals of the sensor, whether the pieces of sheet material forming the stack of sheet material are aligned to each other with respect to their edges, and whether the stack of sheet material has an alignment which substantially is in parallel to the transport direction of the transport system.
US07883084B2
A sheet feeding device for feeding a sheet-form recording medium includes: a sheet accommodating portion for accommodating a sheet stack constituted by a plurality of sheets of the sheet-form recording medium; and a first warm air unit having a first blowing port for blowing warm air toward an upper face of the sheet stack accommodated in the sheet accommodating portion. The sheet feeding device preferably further includes a second warm air unit having a second blowing port for blowing warm air onto a side face of the sheet stack that is parallel to a sheet feeding direction.
US07883078B2
A clamp having a first member and a second member; and a mechanism to linearly displace the first member and the second member away from, and toward each other in unison.
US07883075B2
A terminal portion of a guardrail safety system includes a terminal portion of a guardrail beam having a downstream end and upstream end. The terminal portion of the guardrail beam slopes from a height appropriate for redirecting an errant vehicle to a height proximate the surface of the ground at an upstream end of the terminal portion. Support posts are installed adjacent a roadway in spaced apart relation to one another and are coupled to the terminal portion of the guardrail beam. A terminal support post is installed adjacent the roadway at the upstream end of the terminal portion of the guardrail beam. The terminal support post couples to an upstream end of the terminal portion of the guardrail beam by a resistive, tensile coupling that maintains tension in the terminal portion of the guardrail beam. The resistive, tensile coupling is maintained between the terminal support post and the guardrail beam during an end-on or re-directive impact by a vehicle. However, the resistive, tensile coupling between the terminal support post and the guardrail beam is released during a reverse-direction impact.
US07883071B2
Methods and apparatus for isolation system according to various aspects of the present invention comprise a plurality of elastic elements disposed in one or more planes between an equipment body and a mounting structure and are not symmetric about the center of gravity of the equipment body. The isolation system is configured to modally decouple vibration along one axis from other axes of vibration and provide an isoelastic mounting system in up to all six degrees of freedom.
US07883067B2
A ceiling mounting system configured to provide height and viewing angle adjustment for a flat panel display mounted thereon. An adapter plate attaches to at least one rear surface of a flat panel display. A tube, at a first end, is pivotally attached to the adapter plate, while the tube, at a second end is attached to a ceiling decoupler. The ceiling decoupler has integrated therein, a return to zero mechanism configured to withstand impact to the ceiling mounting system and/or flat panel display, and return to a default position once the impact is released. Various related media components can also be secured to the adapter plate, while the tube, in conjunction with the adapter plate allows for cable and cord routing and management. A back cover slidably engages the adapter plate to hide the rear of the flat panel display and any related media components, cables, and cords.
US07883063B2
A device comprising a monitor and a monitor support stand. The monitor support is configured to hold the monitor in a plurality of fixed locations. The monitor support includes a spring, a spring counterweight balance, and a cam. The spring is configured to support a weight of the monitor. The spring counterweight balance is coupled to the spring, and is configured reduce a force required to adjust a tension of the spring. The cam is coupled to the spring counterweight balance, and has a plurality of positions, wherein each of the plurality of positions is configured to adjust a weight range of the monitor that the spring can support.
US07883039B2
A continuous granulating and drying apparatus includes a granulator and a dryer. Measurement of product and process parameters is carried out by means of measurement units positioned at critical locations in the apparatus.
US07883035B2
A mobile drip irrigation system that includes a supply pipe connected at one end to a liquid source and extending therefrom. At least one tower supports the supply pipe above the ground, and includes a driver for moving the tower and supply pipe in a desired direction. A plurality of ports are positioned along the supply pipe. The system includes a plurality of vertically oriented drop line assemblies. Each drop line assembly has an upper end connected to one of the plurality of ports, and a lower end spaced above the ground. A horizontal liquid distribution system is fluidly connected to the plurality of drop line assemblies to allow a horizontally uniformly spaced drip of the liquid at a desired distance from the ground.
US07883031B2
A fluid atomizer is disclosed. The fluid atomizer comprises a body having a proximal end and a distal end. A removable reservoir containing a fluid disposed therein is connected to the body. A discharge plate is disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough. An ultrasonic oscillator is disposed in the body for transmitting the fluid from the reservoir to the discharge plate and through the plurality of openings, wherein transmission of the fluid through the plurality of openings atomizes the fluid.
US07883026B2
In accordance with certain embodiments, a system includes a spray device having a liquid pathway leading to a liquid exit, an air pathway leading to an air exit directed toward a spray region downstream of the liquid exit, and an assembly disposed in the liquid pathway adjacent the liquid exit. The assembly includes a threadless pintle generally fit into a sleeve in a concentric manner without threads. The assembly also includes a generally annular passage between the threadless pintle and the sleeve and a passage coupled with the generally annular passage. The generally annular passage also has a cross-sectional area that alternatingly increases and decreases in a lengthwise direction along the liquid pathway.
US07883022B2
An IC card formed by sandwiching a circuit board formed with an antenna pattern and an IC chip mounted on the circuit board with a plurality of card constituent sheets. Ferrite beads to absorb and remove noises (unnecessary radiation energy) input to and output from the IC chip are mounted on wiring sections interconnecting the antenna pattern and IC chip.
US07883017B1
A card in a rectangular configuration has horizontal upper and lower edges, vertical left and right side edges, front and rear faces, and horizontal and vertical mid lines. Indicia on the front face of the card is in the form of alphanumeric characters. A plurality of pinholes extend through the card. Each pinhole is adapted to refract light and magnify images to be read.
US07883014B2
An election ballot printing system includes a printer and electronic imaging device operatively coupled to a computer. The electronic imaging device images a ballot outputted by the printer in response to an indication provided by the computer. The electronic imaging device flows information corresponding to the ballot to the computer.
US07883011B2
An information processing apparatus distributes service information related to an electronic transaction to a user who performs the electronic transaction. The information processing apparatus includes a storage unit that stores a service information group including the service information, transaction information relating to the electronic transaction, and user information relating to the user; a service information selector that selects the service information to be transmitted to the user from the service information group based on the transaction information and the user information; and a destination address selector that selects, from a plurality of destination addresses associated with the user, a destination address to which the service information selected by the service information selector is to be distributed.
US07883008B1
An automated banking machine operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that reads card data from a card of a machine user. The card data may be linked in a data store to both a customer's financial account and a cell phone assigned to that customer. The automated banking machine user may provide inputs to the machine via one or more sensors that operate to determine where on a display of the machine at least one eye of the machine user is looking.
US07883002B2
Disclosed is a sales system for lots of items that includes business rule definition logic. The sales system also includes offering creation logic that is operative to dynamically create different offerings for items in the lots. The offering creation logic optimizes return based on one or more of the business rules by using different offering parameter values for the different offerings.
US07883001B2
The disclosure indicates that the compression strength of a corrugated shipping crate can be increased through the use of horizontal panels adhered to the inside surface of the vertically fluted outer walls of the crate. The panels can comprise a layer of horizontally fluted single layer of double wall or triple wall corrugated, and a layer of vertically oriented double or triple wall corrugated. The crates' outer walls can be vertically fluted 1100 weight corrugated or less. The double wall vertically fluted corrugated, can be corrugated board have a weight in the range from 500 to 1100 pounds.
US07882991B2
A food container particularly configured for use with food products having a refuse component, such as sunflower seeds having shells and cherries having pits. The food container comprises an inner cup having a wall that encloses a receptacle that is open at the top and a chamber that is closed at the bottom. A divider separates the chamber, which stores the food product for consumption, from the receptacle, which receives the refuse. The inner cup is rotatably received in a sleeve. The consumer rotates the sleeve to align an outer opening thereon with an inner opening on the inner cup to dispense food product from the chamber. A cover closes the outer opening and prevents rotation of the sleeve. A beverage can be served in the receptacle. An indexing mechanism and a rotation mechanism can be incorporated into the food container. The food product chamber can include a freshness seal.
US07882986B2
A liquid dispenser is mounted on a container and has a shell, a spout assembly, an injection assembly, a power pack and an activating assembly. The shell is mounted on the container and has an injection tube. The spout assembly is formed on and protrudes from the shell. The injection assembly is mounted in the shell pumps air into the injection tube to force liquid from the spout assembly. The activating assembly selectively activates the injection assembly and selectively seals or opens an air passage to the injection tube.
US07882969B2
A display system for product stored in bins includes a first track member which can be fixed to an elongate support member, and a second track member which can be fixed to the first track member in a selected one of a plurality of relative positions to form a track having a height dimension which is dependent on the relative position selected. A plurality of product holders can be secured side-by-side in the track, the relative position of the track members being selected dependent on the height dimension of the product holders. A plurality of bins can be arranged side-by-side on shelves adjacent to the track, the elongate support member preferably being fixed to the distal end of a cantilever beam.
US07882968B2
A device and method for storing a youth potty seat on an adult toilet assembly. The device includes a support bar, a hook connected to the upper portion of the support bar, and at least one peg attached to the lower portion of the support bar. The hook is effective for hanging the support frame from the upper rim of a toilet tank, and the peg is effective for suspending a child's potty seat. The method comprises hanging the hook from the upper rim of a toilet tank and hanging a youth potty seat from the peg; thereby storing the youth potty seat on the adult toilet assembly. An extension bar may be provided to extend the length of the support bar. Multiple pegs may be used.
US07882964B2
An apparatus and method for removably coupling a hanger to a latch at a first end of the hanger, removing the hanger from the latch while the latch remains coupled to a support member, threading an item of hanging stock onto the hanger via the first end, and recoupling the hanger to the latch while the latch remains coupled to the support member, wherein the hanger extends from the latch at an angle that is less than the horizontal, so that the hanging stock is urged by gravity toward a second end of the hanger.
US07882959B1
A method and apparatus for separating multiple food pieces and removing clumps from food pieces in order to process individual pieces for subsequent packaging includes a vibrating conveyor bed which receives a substantially continuous supply of a dried product, such as RTE cereal or another snack product, and delivers the dried product to a screen unit including a plurality of spaced slots through which only individual food pieces can pass for further processing. Prior to the screen unit, the bed can be provided with an upstanding deflector member which diverts the traveling food product away from a discharge chute and onto the screen unit. In any case, the screen unit includes an upwardly angling portion, extending away from the discharge chute, for retaining product which needs to be further processed, while the discharge chute also has an associated, raised lip for product retention purposes.
US07882956B2
A suspension packaging system can include a retention member having at least one pocket and a relatively more rigid member configured to be inserted into the pocket and folded into a state in which a tension in the retention member is increased. The more rigid member can be in the form of a tray and can include protrusions over which the pocket is placed. The protrusions can then be moved into engagement with apertures thereby engaging the resilient member between the protrusion and the aperture. Additionally, flaps of a box can be inserted into pockets of a resilient member and rotated so as to generate attention in the retention member so as to provide further cushioning of an article to be packaged therein.
US07882953B2
A clear package for storing a packaged product and providing an easy locking mechanism to seal and secure the product. The package of the present invention has a sleeve having foldable tabs at the top and bottom, and a top and bottom opening, and a slidable insert having indents at the top and bottom, the slidable insert being slidably inserted into the sleeve through the top or bottom opening, where the tabs align with the indents to provide a locking mechanism, and where the height of the sleeve is substantially the same as the height of the slidable insert.
US07882952B2
A method for applying a heat shrinkable film to a carton for forming a shape of the carton is provided. The carton includes a top panel, a bottom panel, at least one side panel extending between the top panel and the bottom panel, and a movable section that is movable between a first position and a second position. The method includes providing a heat-shrinkable but unshrunken film, wrapping the film in an unheated condition around at least a portion of the carton including at least a portion of the movable section of the carton, and moving the movable section from the first position to the second position to form a shape of the carton by heating the heat-shrinkable film to shrink the heat-shrinkable film into contact with at least a portion of the movable section.
US07882945B2
A rolling conveyor has a plurality of feed rollers that define a conveyor surface, in which the feed rollers are joined on their end regions rotatably to a first and a second bearing assembly, at least some of the feed rollers on the second bearing assembly each have a first drive wheel, which is in rotary drive communication each with one second drive wheel, the second drive wheels are located on a rotatable drive shaft, with which they are in rotary drive communication, wherein the drive shaft is joined rotatably to a third bearing assembly, which is embodied separately from the first and second bearing assemblies, so that a drive shaft assembly comprising the drive shaft and the associated third bearing assemblies is joined as a unit detachably to the rolling conveyor.
US07882943B1
A plow for a conveyor belt for efficiently removing debris from the return portion of the conveyor belt. The plow for a conveyor belt generally includes a frame having a pair of front plow blades, wherein the pair of front plow blades define a V-shape oriented toward an upstream direction of travel with respect to the conveyor belt. The frame also includes a pair of pivotal wings each including a rear plow blades. A support bracket extends from the frame to secure the frame to a conveyor structure of the conveyor belt. At least one roller is rotatably connected to the frame and extends beyond a lower end of the frame to contact the conveyor belt and to maintain a separation between the frame and the conveyor belt as the at least one roller travels along the conveyor belt.
US07882938B2
An elevator system (20) includes a transceiver (22) that receives at least one wirelessly transmitted signal (24). In one example, a signaling device (26) includes a plurality of switches (28) that can be activated to provide a signal indicating a desired or intended destination. The signal also provides an indication of the individual from whom the signal is received. A system controller (30) responds to the signal by assigning an elevator car (32) to travel to the intended destination. When the elevator car (32) is situated to receive the individual, in the event that another wireless signal is received, the system provides at least one access feature including delaying closing an elevator car door or generating an audible sound to guide the individual to the car. In one example, the system maintains information regarding expected locations of individuals providing such signals to facilitate providing assistance to them for exiting a building, for example.
US07882931B2
The present invention generally relates to an offset treestand stabilizing bracket and to a treestand employing same. The treestand stabilizing bracket of the invention greatly enhances the safety of the treestand by minimizing the slipping and/or shifting of same during usage, especially when attached to trees that are crooked and/or not vertical.
US07882926B2
An improved system and method for controlling and directing sound waves is provided. A fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to at least one detonator having at least one spark initiator. The fuel-oxidant mixture flows through the at least one detonator and into the closed end of at least one detonation tube also having an open end. The timing at least one spark initiator is controlled to initiate at least one spark within the at least one detonator while the fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the at least one detonator thereby initiating a detonation wave at the closed end of the at least one detonation tube. The detonation wave propagates the length of the at least one detonation tube and exits the open end of the at least one detonation tube as a sound wave. When multiple detonation tubes are detonated with controlled timing, the resulting sound waves are directed to a desired location. Sound waves can be directed from groups of detonation tubes and from a sparse array of detonation tubes.
US07882923B2
In a vehicle of a type which does not bank a vehicle body at the time of turning, an inclination angle sensor is provided which receives the least influence of a centrifugal force at the time of turning. In a four-wheeled buggy that includes a vehicle body frame, four longitudinal wheels including front wheels and rear wheels are provided together with an engine, a fuel tank and a fuel pump. A steering shaft is connected to a steering handle with an inclination angle sensor arranged above a seat and being positioned in front of the steering shaft. Accordingly, the inclination angle sensor is hardly influenced by a centrifugal force at the time of turning.
US07882912B2
To provide an intake structure for a seat type vehicle which makes it possible to shorten the air intake path and to prevent the taken-in air from being heated with the heat of an engine. An intake structure for a seat type vehicle is provided in which an engine and a fuel tank are mounted side by side in the lateral direction of the vehicle under the occupant seats attached onto a frame. An air cleaner is arranged to the rear of the engine with an intake port for the air cleaner being provided under the occupant seats and above the fuel tank.
US07882911B2
A straddle-type vehicle with enhanced heat exhaust efficiency in a transmission case housing a continuously variable transmission. The continuously variable transmission and an engine are arranged forward of a rear wheel 4. An air intake duct introduces outside air into the transmission case and an air exhaust duct exhausts air from the transmission case. The air exhaust duct is connected to and extends upward from a top portion of the transmission case. The air exhaust duct has an air exhaust port that is positioned above the transmission case.
US07882899B2
A power tool comprising a housing, a motor, an output shaft, a gear transmission mechanism and a control system. The gear transmission mechanism is connected between the motor and the output shaft to transmit the rotary power of the motor to the output shaft. The gear transmission mechanism has a high speed position and a low speed position. The control system is coupled to the gear transmission mechanism for detecting an operating characteristic of the power tool to actuate a ring gear to automatically move from the high speed position to the low speed position and to reduce the rotational speed of the ring gear when the operating characteristic exceeding a predetermined value.
US07882897B2
The device of the present invention is located in a closed containment enclosure surrounding a storage bin and comprises a closed tank (28) positioned on the storage bin containing a liquid (26) and having a fireproof shield enclosing the tank and a liquid level control system for controlling the level of liquid in the tank with the tank (28) comprising at least one opening in communication with the closed container enclosure, and at least one internal chamber in direct communication with the storage bin via a flue pipe and at least one external chamber in direct communication with the containment enclosure via said at least one opening.
US07882882B2
A tire changing machine for changing difficult to mount tires is provided. The machine utilizes various implements configured about the machine's chassis in such a way that they do not interfere with each other's operation. In this way, the machine enables an operator to effectively change various tires.
US07882879B2
Apparatus for bonding rubber O-Rings from cord stock, rubber extrusions and extruded tubing materials, consists of heated die-sets, holding fixtures, electronic module, assembly device, spring clamping and pneumatic clamping arrangement. The combined heated die-set and holding fixture are two separable heat conductive blocks having a common interface. Apertures are located across the interface having diameters or matching shapes of extrusions, these apertures are slightly less than the cord or extrusion dimensions, the rubber is axially mated in the open heated aperture, and will stay unlovable when the clamping device is closed. The electronic module controls both a heating and timing device for proper control of maintaining a constant temperature and accurate timing cycle.
US07882878B2
A radial tire for airplane comprises a pair of bead cores, a radial carcass, and a belt disposed on an outer periphery of a crown portion of the radial carcass and comprised of plural belt layers each containing organic fiber cords, in which a total strength in a circumferential direction over a full width of the belt Tbelt(N) satisfies Tbelt/WD≧1.5×106 when an outer diameter of the tire is D (m) and a width of the tire is W (m), and at least one layer of the belt layers is constituted with an organic fiber cord spirally winding at an angle of approximately 0° with respect an equatorial plane of the tire and satisfying the following equations (I) and (II): σ≧−0.01E+1.2 (I) σ≧0.02 (II) (wherein σ is a heat shrinkage stress at 177° C. (cN/dtex) and E is an elastic modulus at 25° C. under a load of 49 N (cN/dtex)).
US07882867B2
A mortise/tenon machine has a base which includes two side plates, a guiding plate installed between the side plates transversely and horizontally, numbers of openings formed on a side of the guiding plate, and a rail member installed between the side plates and in the same horizontal position of the guiding plate. A workpiece is slideably disposed on the openings. A sliding base is slideably mounted on the rail member. A working platform includes a bit installed at a first end thereof, with the bit extending from a desired opening, and with another end of the working platform longitudinally disposed on the sliding base.
US07882859B2
A system for preparing and making available a flowable medium (43) that is formed by mixing a dry substance (39) with a fluid (41), in particular a medium for therapeutic purposes includes a) a first container (1) receiving the fluid (41) and has a wall part (3) able to deform counter to a restoring force to change the container volume, b) a second container (35) receiving the dry substance (39), and c) a transfer device (21) for producing a fluid communication between the first container (1) and the second container (35).
US07882837B2
An adjustable forehead support for a nasal mask. The present invention discloses an adjustable forehead support for a nasal or full-face mask wherein the forehead support may be adjusted for the different shapes and sizes of a facial profile. The forehead support utilizes a dual-arm system which adjusts the position of the forehead support vis-à-vis the mask and/or air flow tube. The angle of the mask to the face may be adjusted with the present invention.
US07882828B2
An ignition apparatus includes a cylindrical core made from magnetically-permeable material and a C-shaped magnetic return path structure that is made from a stack of silicon steel laminations. A tightly controlled air gap is provided between one leg of the C-shaped structure and an end face of the core, forming a magnetic circuit having a high magnetic permeability, which overall reduces the number of primary winding turns needed, thereby reducing the amount of copper wire. In addition, the circular cross-section of the core reduces the mean length per turn (MLT) of the primary winding because the primary winding can be wound directly on the core, which in turn also reduces the MLT of the secondary winding. The reduced MLT also reduces the amount of copper wire. The structure may be replaced using a magnetically-permeable, U-shaped shield.
US07882826B2
A rotor assembly is provided for a compressor assembly having a housing defining an inlet port, outlet port, and a rotor cavity in communication with the inlet port and outlet port. The rotor assembly includes a rotor body having a plurality of lobes formed thereon and rotatably mountable within the rotor cavity of the housing. The rotor body has a first end, substantially adjacent to the inlet port, and a second end, substantially adjacent to the outlet port, when mounted within the housing. Each of the plurality of lobes has an outer radius that is greater at the first end than at the second end.
US07882824B2
A method for recovering vapor during an onboard refueling operation comprising the steps of: providing a flow path between a fuel tank and a purge canister; providing a valve in the flow path; providing a fuel level sensor for indicating the level of fuel in the fuel tank, and a vapor pressure sensor for indicating the pressure of the fuel vapor in the fuel tank; and actuating the valve to selectively open and close the flow path in response to signals received from the fuel level sensor and the vapor pressure sensor.
US07882821B2
An engine provided with a variable timing mechanism (B) able to control a closing timing of an intake valve (7) and a variable compression ratio mechanism (A) able to change a mechanical compression ratio and controlling the closing timing of the intake valve (7) to control the amount of intake air fed into a combustion chamber (5). To obtain an output torque in accordance with the required torque even when the atmospheric pressure changes, when the atmospheric pressure falls, the closing timing of the intake valve (7) is made to approach intake bottom dead center and the mechanical compression ratio is reduced.
US07882818B2
A cylinder liner for insert casting used in a cylinder block is provided. The cylinder liner includes an outer circumferential surface having a plurality of projections. Each projection has a constricted shape. A film of a metal material is formed on the outer circumferential surface and the surfaces of the projections. As a result, the cylinder liner ensures sufficient bond strength with the casting material of a cylinder block, and sufficient thermal conductivity with the cylinder block.
US07882815B2
A hydraulic cam follower for simultaneous actuation of several equal-acting gas-exchange valves, especially for a tappet pushrod valve train of an engine, includes an outer part, whose base forms a cam contacting surface, and from whose head hollow-cylindrical guides extend in the same number as the valves in a direction towards the base. A housing of a hydraulic play compensation element is provided in each guide and sits with its bottom side on an inside of the bottom of the outer part. A concentric pressure piston is guided in a borehole starting from a head end of each housing so it can move axially. A non-return valve is located at a bottom-side base of the piston and a high-pressure space is formed axially between the base and the bottom side of the housing. A reservoir for hydraulic medium is formed between the base and a head end of the piston.
US07882814B2
A roller finger follower assembly for variably activating a valve in an internal combustion engine includes at least one vertical recessed channel formed inside an outer arm and a shaft. The channel includes a machined upper surface closing the channel. The shaft engages with the recessed channel, the shaft reciprocates within the recessed channel, and the upper surface stops an upward movement of the shaft.
US07882799B2
A method for establishing a calibrating standard for wafer inspection includes depositing solid ionized particles of a known size range with an aerosol onto a wafer. The method also includes depositing particles onto a wafer in a deposition chamber by using an aerosol stream and the solid particles suspended in a gas; ionizing the aerosol stream with a negative or positive charge polarity or both by passing the aerosol stream through a non-radioactive ionizer to produce charged particles and supplying such aerosol stream to the deposition chamber. An apparatus for producing charged particles includes an atomizer and a non-radioactive ionizer in fluid communication with each other. The apparatus may also include an electrospray droplet generator for producing an aerosol with dry-solid particles and an ionizer that ionizes the molecules of the gas. The apparatus may also include a generator for generating an aerosol with particles suspended in the gas with a non-radioactive ionizer that ionizes the gas in the aerosol causing the aerosol particles to be charged. The apparatus may further include an electrostatic classifier for classifying the charged particles to a selected size range.
US07882798B2
A spray painting tool for painting key caps is disclosed, which comprises: a platform, having a plurality of columns formed on a top surface of the same; a panel, having a plurality of holes formed thereon at positions corresponding to the plural columns for allowing the plural columns to pass through the panel therefrom; a diaphragm, disposed on the panel while aligning a plurality of holes formed thereon with the plural columns for allowing the plural columns to pass through the diaphragm therefrom; and at least a holding unit, each being arranged on the panel at a position corresponding to one of the plural column for fixedly securing a key cap. As the diaphragm can be easily replaced, the spray painting tool can be used repetitively without worrying the stacking of residue paint on its panel. Moreover, as the spray painting tool is simple in structure and ease to use, painting key caps can be achieved with lower cost and less time.
US07882788B2
The present invention provide a rail system for transporting spherical objects comprising: a first flexible rail; a second flexible rail; a flexible spine; and a connector attached to said first flexible rail, said second flexible rail, and said flexible spine. The connector allows for the track to be easily adjusted, while providing rigidity to hold the flexible rails and spline into position during use.
US07882776B2
Armor for a vehicle comprises a grid of bars, at least the majority of the bars being formed from carbon fiber. The carbon fiber bars may be pultruded and some of the bars may be metallic.
US07882773B2
An apparatus for cutting a roll of material includes an elongated blade having a distal end, a cutting guide attached to the elongated blade and positioned to direct the distal end of the elongated blade towards the roll of material, and a support position to hold the roll of material approximate to the elongated blade. A method for cutting a roll of material having an axis and a circumference is taught. The method comprises radially cutting the roll of material from the circumference to the axis by advancing the distal end of an elongated blade, then rotating the elongated blade relative the axis to cut the roll of material. Alternately, the method teaches rotating the roll of material relative to the axis to cut the roll of material.
US07882772B2
A repetitive fence utilizes a plurality of telescoping arms driven by a metal tape of the tape measure type to position a stop member at a desired location from a saw blade. A user can position a work piece, such as board lumber against the stop member to repeatedly position the work piece at a desired cut dimension with respect to a saw blade. The repetitive fence preferably employs a plurality of telescoping arms to position the stop member at the desired location, and an electronic read-out provided to indicate to the user the position of the stop member with respect to the saw blade. The telescoping arms can be motivated by electronic devices, such as an electric motor, or by a manual crank.
US07882767B2
A power tong having a ring gear and dumbell rollers, with mating load surfaces on the ring gear and dumbell rollers which transfer horizontal and vertical loads from the ring gear to the dumbell rollers, without contact between the ring gear teeth and the dumbell rollers. The power tong further has a dumbell roller shaft configuration which permits vertical and rotational locking of the shaft, while permitting easy replacement and without binding of the rotation of the top and bottom plates on the dumbell rollers.
US07882761B2
An adjustable steering column assembly with a steering shaft extending through a jacket member. An elongate locking member extends through two opposed sidewalls and a compression member positioned between the sidewalls. One of either the sidewalls or the compression member is fixed relative to the jacket member while the other is fixed relative to the vehicle structure. Spacers are located on opposite sides of the compression member between the compression member and the two sidewalls. First and second abutment surfaces are engaged with outward facing surfaces of the sidewalls and are coupled to the elongate locking member. An actuator assembly moves the locking assembly between unlocked and locked positions. In the locked position, the abutment surfaces bias the sidewalls inwardly to firmly engage the compression member between the spacers.
US07882759B2
In a gear drive unit (10), in particular for adjusting moving parts in the motor vehicle, having a rotor shaft (18) supported in a housing (16) and braced axially on the housing (16) via at least one face end (50) and in which a separate toothed element (32) for transmitting torque to a gear component (38, 40) is secured to the rotor shaft (18), the toothed element (32) has an axial bearing face (48) that rests on one of the face ends (50) of the rotor shaft (18).
US07882755B2
This invention provides a sensor attachment device that can be easily attached and detached, a sensor and a light emitting device for a photo-electrical sensor. By downward displacement of an operation member after tip ends of a pair of locking hooks are locked to a sensor main body by inserting the sensor main body into an insertion opening with second regions of a pair of facing surfaces respectively facing toward external surfaces of central portions of the pair of locking hooks, the central portions of the pair of locking hooks can be pressed inwardly by first regions of the pair of facing surfaces, thereby fixing the sensor main body to a holding member. Accordingly, the attachment of the sensor main body is easy in comparison with the conventional configuration in which a nut is screwed onto the sensor main body, then rotated and fastened.
US07882753B2
A magnetostrictive torque sensor includes first and second magnetostrictive films mounted on a pinion shaft and having different magnetic anisotropic properties, a first detecting coil disposed in facing relation to the first magnetostrictive film, a second detecting coil disposed in facing relation to the second magnetostrictive film, a transistor, and a detector for detecting a torque applied to the pinion shaft based on a first detected signal representative of a potential at the junction between the first detecting coil and the second detecting coil.
US07882742B1
An apparatus for ultrasonic inspection of an object. A tire is mounted for rolling along the surface of the object. It contains a liquid and a transducer assembly. The transducer assembly is positioned in the tire adjacent a portion of the surface of the tire in contact with the object. The liquid and the surface of the tire in contact with the object provide an acoustic bridge between the transducer assembly and the object. An electric signal processing system is connected to the transducer assembly. It generates electric signals which are converted to acoustic signals in the transducer assembly to place acoustic signals in the object. Acoustic signals returned from the object are converted to electric signals by the transducer assembly, and are processed in the electric signal processing system to indicate flaws in the object.
US07882740B2
Static and dynamic acceleration as well as static and dynamic angular velocity are detected with a simple structure. An acceleration detecting section includes a weight body, a pedestal around the weight body, flexible plate-like bridge portions, and piezoresistive elements embedded in the upper surface of the bridge portions. An angular velocity detecting section includes a weight body, a pedestal around the weight body, flexible plate-like bridge portions, and piezoelectric elements fixed to the upper surface of the bridge portions. The pedestals are fixed to a device chassis. When the weight body is displaced by acceleration, the plate-like bridge portions are deflected, so that the acceleration is detected based on the change in the electrical resistances of the piezoresistive elements. When the weight body is displaced by a Coriolis force based on angular velocity while supplying alternating signals to the piezoelectric elements to oscillate the weight body, the plate-like bridge portions are deflected, so that the angular velocity is detected based on charge generation in the piezoelectric elements.
US07882738B2
A wheel balancer for balancing a wheel having a rim and tire. The wheel balancer comprises a chassis and a driven shaft extending away from the chassis for rotating the wheel. An A&D arm, pivotal and axially extendible with respect to the chassis, is also provided. A first laser device is operable to produce a laser spot at a desired weight placement location on an inner surface of the rim. The first laser device is manipulable by an operator to move the laser spot to the desired weight placement location. A second laser device is attached to the A&D arm and movable therewith. The second laser device produces a visible marker on the inner surface of the rim for determining when the A&D arm is in a plane of the desired weight placement location.
US07882722B2
A jaw assembly including a first jaw, a second jaw, and a pivot pin. The first jaw has two spaced first ears having pivot pin holes through the first ears. The second jaw has two spaced second ears having a pivot pin holes through the second ears. The pivot pin is located in the pivot pin holes to pivotably mount the first and second jaws to each other. The pivot sections include a guide surface configured to guide alignment of the ears relative to each other to thereby align the pivot pin holes with each other. The jaws each include a rear end with a roller contact surface configured to be moved apart by rollers of a roller assembly of a tool. The rear ends each include a concave surface configured to locate one of the rollers therein.
US07882721B2
A container bodymaker gearbox (20, 130) drives rams (60, 66) linearly by use of a hypocycloid drive that controls operation of a rotating and orbiting output shaft (40) by synchronizing the rotating and orbiting motion such that a tracking point at a predetermined radius from the shaft 40 tracks a straight line. A coaxial sleeve (124) is spaced around shaft (40) and carries an annular crank hub (140) on bearings (142). The crank hub (140) is eccentrically mounted on the sleeve (124) with the hub centerpoint positioned to track the straight line tracking point. A rotary ring (166) mounted around the periphery of the crank hub (140) supports diametrically opposed connections (176) to rams (60, 66). The ring (166) and rams (60, 66) translate on the straight-line path determined by the centerpoint, with the hub (140) rotating as required within the ring (166) to cancel rotary motion of hub (14) from the translational motion of the ring (166).
US07882720B2
An automatic bending machine produces a steel rule punching die to be used for forming predetermined notch lines or fold lines in a paper strip, a sheet, a board member, or the like in production of a paper container or a corrugated box. The automatic bending machine has a bending tool which bends a band blade into a predetermined shape. In the machine, a diamond grinder which is laterally and vertically moved by a computer control is disposed in front of the bending tool. When the bending tool is combined with the diamond grinder, bending of the band blade, linear cutting of the both ends, nicking of a blade edge, bridging (notching) of a blade bottom, and broaching (slotting) of a blade side wall are enabled.
US07882718B2
A computer controlled roll-forming apparatus is adapted to provide a repeating pattern of different longitudinal shapes to a continuous beam “on the fly” during the roll-forming process. A sweep station of the apparatus includes a primary bending roller tangentially engaging the continuous beam along the line level and an armature for biasing the continuous beam against the primary bending roller for a distance partially around a downstream side of the primary bending roller to form a sweep. Actuators adjustably move the armature partially around the downstream side of the primary bending roller between multiple positions for imparting a series of different longitudinal shapes. Internal and external mandrels control wall stability to allow even sharper sweeps. In one form, the apparatus also includes a coordinated cut-off, so that when separated into bumper beam segments, the ends of the individual beam segments have a greater sweep than their center sections.
