Document	Document Title
US07672183B2	Semiconductor memory device with two-stage input buffer A semiconductor memory device includes: a pre-amplifying unit configured to amplify a difference between an input signal and a reference signal to output a pre-output signal; a delaying unit configured to delay the input signal to output a delayed input signal; and a main amplifying unit configured to receive the pre-output signal and the delayed input signal as differential inputs to output an output signal.
US07672180B2	Semiconductor memory device capable of confirming a failed address and a method therefor A semiconductor memory device includes an address buffer, a row decoder, a column decoder, a fuse circuit, a memory cell array including regular and redundant memory cells, a regulator, a regular sense amplifier, a redundant sense amplifier, a selection circuit, an input/output buffer, and a test control circuit for a test mode. The test control circuit controls the regular and redundant sense amplifiers so as to output the signal upon accessing a regular memory cell different in level from that output upon accessing a redundant memory cell, whereby a failed address can be electrically confirmed with ease.
US07672179B1	System and method for driving a memory circuit using a pull-up resistance for inhibiting a voltage decay on a transmission line A system, method, and computer program product are provided for driving a memory circuit. In one embodiment, the memory circuit is driven utilizing a first resistance value in a first mode of operation. Further, in a second mode of operation, the memory circuit is driven utilizing a second resistance value. In another embodiment, a device is provided for driving a memory circuit without active termination utilizing a resistor.
US07672166B2	Method of programming in a non-volatile memory device and non-volatile memory device for performing the same Provided are methods for programming in a non-volatile memory device, using incremental step pulses as a program voltage that is applied to a selected wordline. Methods may include applying a precharge voltage to an even bitline and an odd bitline such that the even bitline and the odd bitline are alternately charged with the precharge voltage and a boosted voltage that is higher than the precharge voltage. Methods may further include applying a bitline voltage corresponding to program data to a selected bitline of the even bitline and the odd bitline.
US07672165B2	Methods for active boosting to minimize capacitive coupling effect between adjacent gates of flash memory devices A NAND flash memory device incorporates a unique booster plate design. The booster plate is biased during read and program operations and the coupling to the floating gates in many cases reduces the voltage levels necessary to program and read the charge stored in the gates. The booster plate also shields against unwanted coupling between floating gates. Self boosting, local self boosting, and erase area self boosting modes used with the unique booster plate further improve read/write reliability and accuracy. A more compact and reliable memory device can hence be realized according to the present invention.
US07672163B2	Control gate line architecture A non-volatile storage system that includes less word line drivers than word lines by having a limited set of individually controllable drivers for a subset of unselected word lines requiring word line by word line control, and have the remaining word lines connected to a common source.
US07672160B2	3-level non-volatile semiconductor memory devices and related methods A non-volatile semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell array and a controller coupled to the memory cell array. The memory cell array may include first and second memory cells coupled to respective first and second word lines. Each of the first and second memory cells may be configured to be programmed to one of a first, a second, or a third threshold voltage so that the first and second memory cells provide nine different threshold voltage combinations. The controller may be configured to provide a mapping of data of a set of three binary bits providing eight different data combinations to eight of the nine different threshold voltage combinations provided by the first and second memory cells. The controller may be further configured to write data of first, second, and third binary bits to the first and second memory cells by programming each of the first and second memory cells to a respective one of the first, second, or third threshold voltages using the mapping of data. Related methods are also discussed.
US07672155B2	Resistive memory devices including selected reference memory cells A magnetic memory cell array device can include a first current source line extending between pluralities of first and second memory cells configured for respective simultaneous programming and configured to conduct adequate programming current for writing one of the pluralities of first and second memory cells, a first current source transistor coupled to the first current source line and to a word line, a programming conductor coupled to the first current source transistor and extending across bit lines coupled to the one of the pluralities of first and second memory cells, configured to conduct the programming current across the bit lines, a second current source transistor coupled to the programming conductor and configured to switch the programming current from the programming conductor to a second current source transistor output, a second current source line extending adjacent the one of the pluralities of first and second memory cells opposite the first current source line, a first bias circuit configured to apply a first bias voltage to the first or second memory cells selected for accessed during a read operation, and a second bias circuit configured to apply a second bias voltage to the first or second memory cells unselected for access during the read operation.
US07672153B2	Deglitching circuits for a radiation-hardened static random access memory based programmable architecture A method for providing a deglitching circuit for a radiation tolerant static random access memory (SRAM) comprising: providing a configuration memory having a plurality of configuration bits; coupling read and write circuitry to the configuration memory for configuring the plurality of configuration bits; coupling a radiation hard latch to a programmable element, the radiation hard latch controlling the programmable element; and providing an interface that couples at least one of the plurality of configuration bits to the radiation hard latch when the write circuitry writes to the at least one of the plurality of configuration bits.
US07672150B2	Apparatus, embedded memory, address decoder, method of reading out data and method of configuring a memory Embodiments of the invention relate generally to an apparatus, to an embedded memory, to an address decoder, to a method of reading out data and to a method of configuring a memory. In an embodiment of the invention an apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a plurality of read-only memory (ROM) cells and an address decoder to access a ROM cell of the plurality of ROM cells, the address decoder further being fuse-programmable to divert an access to the ROM cell to a different memory cell.
US07672148B2	Controller and method for frequency-varying control of power converter A controller and method changing a frequency of a control (or carrier) signal in accordance with a waveform that periodically changes within a first frequency range from a frequency fc1 to a frequency fc2, where the frequency fc1 is smaller than the frequency fc2, and a second frequency range from a frequency fc3 to a frequency fc4, where the frequency fc3 is smaller than the frequency fc4. The frequencies fc1 and fc4 satisfy the inequalities (n−1)·fc4≦n·fc2 and n·fc3≦(n+1)·fc1 and/or satisfy an approximate expression n·fc4≈(n+1)·fc1 where n is an integer. The frequencies fc2 and fc3 satisfy the inequalities n·fc2≦fs−Δfs and fs+Δfs≦n·fc3 where fs±Δfs represents a predetermined frequency band.
US07672147B1	High attenuation filtering circuit for power converters A power converter includes an output filter circuit including first and second inductive elements; a voltage source coupled to the output filter circuit, the voltage source for generating a voltage across the output filter circuit, the voltage including an alternating voltage component, the alternating voltage component causing the application of an alternating current to the first inductive element of the output filter circuit; and an attenuation filtering circuit. The attenuation filtering circuit includes a first magnetically coupled inductive arrangement for generating a first opposing alternating current in response to the alternating voltage applied to the first inductive element of the output filter circuit; a first combining element for combining the first opposing alternating current with the alternating current to partially cancel the alternating current, thereby producing an attenuated alternating current applied to the second inductive element of the output filter circuit; a second magnetically coupled inductive arrangement for generating a second opposing alternating current in response to the attenuated alternating current applied to the second inductive element of the output filter circuit; and a second combining element for combining the second opposing alternating current with the attenuated alternating current to substantially cancel the attenuated alternating current.
US07672144B2	Fastening structure for expansion card A fastening structure for an expansion card is provided. The card has a baffle and one end of the baffle is formed with a bending portion and a first long hole. The fastening structure includes a flat plate located at one side of a case and has a plane extending toward inside the case; a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion fastened at the plane of the flat plate; a fastening member having a pressing portion and at least one second long hole. The fastening member is disposed at the first supporting portion via the second long hole, and slidably leans against the plane. The pressing portion extends toward the bending portion. When the fastening member slides to a fixing position, the pressing portion presses the bending portion, and the baffle is fastened at the second supporting portion via the first long hole and leans against the plane.
US07672138B2	Electronic apparatus An electronic apparatus include a housing, a circuit board held in the housing, and large electronic components held in the housing and electrically coupled to the circuit board. The housing has a mounting surface, and the electronic apparatus is mounted to an object at the mounting surface. The large electronic components are arranged in a three-dimensional manner with respect to the mounting surface in such a manner that at least one of the large electronic components overlaps at least one of the large electronic components in a direction toward the mounting surface.
US07672136B2	Heat sink assembly An electronic assembly includes a printed circuit board mounted with an electronic component, a heat sink, and a clip securing the heat sink on the printed circuit board to enable the heat sink to have an intimate contact with the electronic component. The printed circuit board forms two engaging portions each defining a receiving hole therein. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of fins. The clip includes a pressing member pressing the heat sink to the electronic component, two V-shaped operating members extending slantwise from ends of the pressing member, and two clasps extending outwardly from ends of the operating members. Height of each of the clasps is larger than that of each of the receiving holes of the engaging portions. The clasps of the clip lock with the engaging portions by manipulating the operating members.
US07672133B2	Retaining device for a heat sink A retaining device for a heat sink includes a frame, at least an operation member and at least an engaging member. The frame is attached to an upper portion of the heat sink with a projection at two opposite sides thereof and the projection has a contact face. The operation member provides a main operation part and a stir part. The main operation part is disposed on top of the contact face and the stir part is actuated to rotate for the main operation part being capable of moving relative to the contact face. The engaging member further has a follower part piercing the projection with an end of the follower part connecting with the main operation part pivotally and another end of the follower part being joined to a first elastic part and a second elastic part respectively. The first elastic part and the second elastic part oppositely extend horizontally and free ends of both the elastic parts are joined to two opposite lateral sides of an engaging part for controlling the engaging force evenly and decreasing plastic deformation.
US07672132B2	Electronic packaging apparatus and method An electronic assembly includes a substrate, a device attached to the substrate, and a thermally conductive heat spreader covering the device and at least a portion of the substrate. A metal substantially fills the space between the device and the thermally conductive heat spreader. A method includes attaching at least one die to a substrate, placing a thermally conductive heat spreader over the die, and injecting a molten metal material into the space between the thermally conductive heat spreader and the die.
US07672126B2	Mounting apparatus for fan A mounting apparatus is used to mount a fan having a bottom panel with a mounting hole defined therein. The mounting apparatus is configured to support the bottom panel on a top side thereof. The board forms a clip on the top side of the board, and defines a through hole adjacent the clip. The clip includes a elastic shank standing on the top side of the board, a flange formed on a top end of the shank and suspended over the shank, and a driving pole extending downwards from the shank and through the through hole of the board to have a driving end of the driving pole located below the board adapted to bend the shank. The clip is inserted in the mounting hole of the bottom panel with the flange engaging on a top surface of the bottom panel. The bottom panel is sandwiched between the flange and the top side of the board. The driving end of the driving pole is manually bendable to disengage the flange of the clip from the top surface of the bottom panel.
US07672124B2	Computer case with locking side panel and bezel A computer case includes a chassis comprising a first wall and a second wall detachably attached to the first wall, a cover detachably attached to the first wall, and means for coupling the cover to the first wall. The coupling means is driven by the second wall to fix the cover to the first wall and prevent the cover from being detached from the first wall before the second wall disengaged from the first wall.
US07672123B2	Apparatus, data processing apparatus and heat radiating member An apparatus includes: a first heat generating component; a second heat generating component arranged close to the side of the first heat generating component; a heat radiating member that absorbs heat from both the first heat generating component and the second heat generating component and radiates heat. The heat radiating member includes: a base section that extends horizontally and contacts the first heat generating component on the bottom surface of the base section; and a pair of arms that extend horizontally at both ends of the base section, have a fastener for fastening the heat radiating member, and contact the second heat generating component under one of the pair of arms.
US07672118B2	Electronic apparatus According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes: a main body that has a bearing hole having a first retaining portion and a second retaining portion; a sub module that has a shaft rotatably coupling with the bearing hole so that the sub module moves between a first position and a second position; and a detent spring that is coupled with the shaft to keep the sub module at the first position and at the second position, the detent spring having a third retaining portion, wherein the third retaining portion couples with the first retaining portion when the sub module is kept at the first position, and wherein the third retaining portion couples with the second retaining portion when the sub module is kept at the second position.
US07672111B2	Electrostatic chuck and method for manufacturing same An electrostatic chuck includes: a metal plate with an insulator film formed on a surface thereof by thermal spraying; and a dielectric substrate with an electrode formed on a surface thereof. The metal plate and the dielectric substrate are bonded together via an insulative adhesive interposed therebetween so that the insulator film is opposed to the electrode, and the insulator film has a thickness of 0.6 mm or less. Alternatively, An electrostatic chuck includes: a metal plate with an insulator film formed on a surface thereof by thermal spraying; and a dielectric substrate with an electrode selectively formed on a surface thereof. The metal plate and the dielectric substrate are bonded together via an insulative adhesive interposed therebetween so that the insulator film is opposed to the electrode. The insulative adhesive is interposed also between the insulator film and a portion of the surface of the dielectric substrate where the electrode is not formed, and the insulative adhesive has a thermal conductivity of 1 W/mK or more.
US07672110B2	Electrostatic chuck having textured contact surface An electrostatic chuck has an electrode embedded in a dielectric which is mounted on a pedestal. The dielectric has a contact surface with an average surface roughness of less than about 0.5 μm, a surface peak waviness of less than about 0.12 μm, and a surface peak waviness material ratio of greater than about 20%. The surface texture can be formed by lapping the dielectric surface with a slurry of abrasive particles.
US07672108B2	Fault interrupter and disconnect device A circuit or fault interrupting and disconnect device includes a tripping apparatus that ensures a vacuum interrupter of the device is opened upon initiation of a change of state of an associated disconnect blade assembly. The disconnect blade assembly may have an open state and a closed state. A drive mechanism couples to the blade assembly to move the blade assembly to its various states. The drive mechanism couples to the interrupter trip assembly to provide for opening of the contacts of the vacuum interrupter prior to the blade assembly making or breaking contact.
US07672106B1	Switching incandescent lamps and other variable resistance loads with a solid state, smart, high side driver having overcurrent and temperature sensing protection circuits A circuit and method for controlling a smart, high side driver with current and temperature sensing so that it can turn ON a relatively high current load of incandescent lamps or similar loads within a practical time. The output of the high side driver is sensed. In response to the coexistence of an ON command applied to the control input of the high side driver and the output terminal of the high side driver switching to an OFF state, an OFF command is applied to the control input of the high side driver. That OFF command is maintained for a selected cooling time interval. An ON command is applied to the control input of the high side driver after the selected cooling time interval. The selected cooling time interval is at least long enough to allow the MOS/FET temperature to cool to the thermal reset of its status temperature TRS, which is the temperature below which the driver operates with its highest current limit ILIMH when it is turned back on.
US07672098B2	Power plug with leakage current detection and protection circuit A power plug includes a base, an upper cover attached to the base, a base-side cover adjacent the base and removeably attached to the upper cover, an output cord, a leakage current detection and protection circuit for detecting a leakage current in the output cord, and an electrical connection mechanism for electrically connecting and disconnecting an input side and an output of the power plug. The leakage current detection and protection circuit and the electrical connection mechanism are attached to the base and disposed substantially within a space enclosed by the base and the upper cover. A plurality of connecting ends of the circuit extend from the space enclosed by the base and the upper cover into a space enclosed by the base-side cover and the upper cover. Wires of the output cord are connected to the connecting ends, respectively.
US07672095B2	Relay controller A relay controller for connecting a power source includes at least one relay having at least two contacts. The relay controller includes a processing device operable to selectively switch the relay contacts, and a feedback circuit adapted to identify an actual state of the relay contacts. The processing device is configured to recognize a fault contact condition of a disparity between an expected state of the relay contacts and the actual state of the relay contacts. The processing device is also configured to responsively communicate information relating to the relay fault condition.
US07672090B2	Magnetic read sensor employing oblique etched underlayers for inducing uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in a hard magnetic pinning layer A magnetoresistive sensor having a hard magnetic pinning layer with an engineered magnetic anisotropy in a direction substantially perpendicular to the medium facing surface. The hard magnetic pinning layer may be constructed of CoPt, CoPtCr, or some other magnetic material and is deposited over an underlayer that has been ion beam etched. The ion beam etch has been performed at an angle with respect to normal in order to induce anisotropic roughness for example in form of oriented ripples or facets oriented along a direction parallel to the medium facing surface. The anisotropic roughness induces a strong uniaxial magnetic anisotropy substantially perpendicular to the medium facing surface in the hard magnetic pinning layer deposited there over.
US07672063B2	Zoom lens, optical apparatus equipped with the zoom lens and method for forming an image of an object and varying a focal length A zoom lens comprises the following lens groups in the order from an object side: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power; wherein, upon zooming, at least the first lens group and the fourth lens group move to the object side; and wherein, upon focusing, the fourth lens group comprises a front lens group, and a rear lens group arranged with an air space on an image side of the front lens group, and the rear lens group is moved in a direction of an optical axis of the zoom lens.
US07672062B2	Projection zoom lens and projection type display device A projection zoom lens is provided and includes: in order from the magnification side, a positive first lens group performing focusing with being fixed during power-varying and having a focusing function; a negative second lens group, a negative third lens group, and a positive fourth lens group, which are moved with correlation during the power-varying; and a positive fifth lens group G5 fixed during the power-varying. An aperture diaphragm is fixed between the fourth lens group and the fifth lens group during the power-varying. In addition, the expression of 1.7
US07672059B2	Fluidic lens with electrostatic actuation An electrostatically actuated fluidic device capable of providing a variable focal length lens is disclosed. The device includes an elastic capacitor section, an elastic lens section in fluid communication with the capacitor section, the elastic lens section being characterized by a focal length and a fluid capable of fluid motion disposed at least partially in the capacitor and lens sections. A voltage may be applied to the capacitor section causing it to deform, which causes a portion of the fluid to flow into or out of the lens section. As a result, a change in volume of fluid in the lens section causes it to deform resulting in a variation in the focal length of the lens section.
US07672054B2	Illumination homogenizing optical element An illumination homogenizing optical element is disclosed that includes at least one optical surface having a plurality of refractive structures formed as either grooves or protrusions that, individually, are wider than the wavelength of light incident onto said illumination homogenizing optical element. At least part of the light incident onto the illumination homogenizing optical element is removed from the optical path by refraction of said light so as to provide even illumination on an illuminated surface. The illumination homogenizing optical element is advantageous over prior art illumination homogenizing optical elements in that it is easy and inexpensive to manufacture while providing sufficient optical performance.
US07672053B2	Print medium A print medium of the present invention has a structure in which a substrate 30 has an extending portion 10b extending from the portion fixed to a lenticular sheet 10a to the right in the drawing and adjacent to the rectangular lenticular sheet 10a. Printing “parallactic images”, “an addressee”, and “a fold” on an ink permeating layer 50, a print paper 60, and the ink permeating layer 50 of the print medium 10, respectively, and folding the extending portion 10b with respect to the “fold” facilitates bonding the portion on which the addressee is printed to the back surface of the lenticular sheet 10a.
US07672051B2	Optical film and surface light source using it An optical film 10 has a transparent base film 11 made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a prism made of photo-curing resin such as acryl modified epoxy on an incident surface 12 that is one face of the base film 11, and a hologram similarly made of photo-curing resin on an exit surface 13 opposing the incident surface 12. The prism has grooves or ridges each having a substantially triangular cross section to totally reflect incident light so as to bend the light into a direction perpendicular to the exit surface 13. The hologram anisotropically diffuses light exiting from the exit surface 13, to improve brightness.
US07672049B2	Telescope and panfocal telescope comprising planoconvex of planoconcave lens and deflecting means connected thereto The invention relates to a telescope which is used to inject and/or to extract, by reflection, emitting and/or capturing bundles of beams. According to the invention, at least one deflecting means is joined to the planar surface by means of at least one lens of the telescope objective unit, which is embodied as a plan convex or plan concave lens. The lens is used as a lens of the objective unit and as a holder for the deflection means. The number of optical components in the telescope about one of the holders is reduced due to the dual function thereof.
US07672045B2	Compact two-element infrared objective lens and IR or thermal sight for weapon having viewing optics A compact objective lens is disclosed which is particularly suitable for infrared optical systems. The lens features a simple design with only two lens elements, namely a first lens element receiving incident radiation and having front and rear surfaces, and a second lens element receiving incident radiation from the first element and having front and rear surfaces. The lens forms an image of a scene on a focal plane. At least three of the four surfaces of the elements are aspheric surfaces. The lens has an f-number less than about 2, a field-of-view less than about 30 degrees, and an effective focal length less than about 6 inches. The elements are made from a material selected to pass radiation in the infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum, e.g., germanium. The lens is suitable for use as an objective lens for a long-wave infrared sight for small arms, e.g., rifle or shoulder-launched surface to air missile launching system, i.e., a lens optimized for operating in the electromagnetic spectrum between about 7.5 and about 15 micrometers.
US07672044B2	Lens made of a crystalline material As a preliminary stage in manufacturing a lens or lens part for an objective, in particular a projection objective for a microlithography projection system, an optical blank is made from a crystal material. As a first step in manufacturing the optical blank, one determines the orientation of a first crystallographic direction that is defined in the crystallographic structure of the material. The material is then machined into an optical blank so that the first crystallographic direction is substantially perpendicular to an optical blank surface of the optical blank. Subsequently, a marking is applied to the optical blank or to a mounting element of the optical blank. The marking has a defined relationship to a second crystallographic direction which is oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the first crystallographic direction.
US07672032B2	Optical scanner and image forming apparatus using optical scanner An optical axis of at least one surface of a resin-made diffracting lens is shifted in a main scanning direction with respect to an incident beam. A synchronous detection can cancel a problem of a misalignment in the main scanning direction due to a temperature variation. A light reflected from a second surface of the resin-made diffractive lens condenses on a position that is displaced in an optical axis direction from an optical beam outgoing point of a semiconductor laser, and thereby the light reflected again from the semiconductor laser does not form an image on a scanned surface and an impact on the image becomes low.
US07672031B2	Hologram recording medium, hologram reproducing apparatus, hologram reproducing method, and hologram sheet A hologram recording medium includes a first element hologram and a second element hologram. On the first element hologram, main data is recorded such that the main data is converted into a two-dimensional image, object light of the two-dimensional image is interfered with recording reference light, and an interference fringe produced as a result of the interference is recorded on the first element hologram. On the second element hologram, simplified-form data representing the content of the main data using a smaller data size than the data size of the main data is recorded such that the simplified-form data is converted into a two-dimensional image, object light of the two-dimensional image is interfered with recording reference light, and an interference fringe produced as a result of the interference is recorded on the second element hologram.
US07672029B2	Creation of lookup table for printing with contrasting density ink In printing using a plurality of chromatic color inks of different lightness interchangeable with one another in color reproduction, ink consumption is reduced while preserving the quality of the printed result. On the basis of first color data represented in terms of density of a first reference color, second color data represented in terms of density of a plurality of second reference colors is generated. The plurality of second reference colors are the ink colors. They include two same hue reference colors of different lightness interchangeable with one another when reproducing a certain color. The lookup table holds the first color data and the second color data associated with one another. For a set of densities of a plurality of second reference colors representing achromatic color of higher lightness than the reference lightness, density of the same hue reference color having lower lightness is 0. The reference lightness is lightness equal to or less than the minimum lightness which is the lightness of the color having the lowest lightness among the colors that can be reproduced on a printing medium using only ink of the darker color of the two same hue reference colors.
US07672026B2	Sheet presser and image scanner A sheet presser including two pivot shaft portions fixedly disposed substantially coaxially with each other and parallel to a sheet of a document conveyed in a direction; a pressing member mounted on the shaft portions; a biasing member biasing the pressing member around the shaft portions in a direction to press the sheet; the pressing member having two elongate bearing bores each long in a direction substantially perpendicular to a surface of the sheet, which are formed in respective portions which are distant in a lateral direction of the pressing member to bear the shaft portions; and the biasing member biasing the pressing member such that at least one of the shaft portions is held in contact with one end of the bearing bore which is away from the sheet, so that an acute angle formed between the conveyance direction and the pressing member is within a predetermined range.
US07672025B2	Apparatus for detecting front edge of a document and determining the home position of an image scanning module An apparatus for detecting front edge of a document and determining home position of an image scanning module has a detecting light source near an outlet end of a document feeding track and aligned with an image reader of the image scanning module. The detecting light source emits a detecting light to be received by the image reader. By detecting whether the detecting light is received by the image reader, the front edge of the document can be detected to activate the image scanning module. And it can also determine whether or not the image scanning module has arrived on a home position.
US07672021B2	Image forming apparatus and method The image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming section which includes an image forming device forming an image onto a recording medium; a plurality of recording medium supply sections which store recording media and supply the recording media to the image forming section; a conveyance device which conveys the recording media supplied from the plurality of recording medium supply sections; and an end timing control device which controls a timing at which the recording media of each of the plurality of recording medium supply sections come to an end, by controlling selection of supply source of the recording medium used for image formation by the image forming device, from among the plurality of recording medium supply sections.
US07672019B2	Enhancing resolution of a color signal using a monochrome signal An image scanning apparatus includes three color line sensors for outputting red, green, and blue color signals, a monochrome line sensor for outputting a monochrome signal having a higher resolution than the color signals, and a resolution-enhancement processor. The resolution-enhancement processor enhances a resolution of a pixel signal of the color signals, based on a monochrome smoothed value obtained by smoothing a signal of an arbitrary pixel of the monochrome signal and signals of pixels around the arbitrary pixel and a color smoothed value obtained by smoothing a signal of a pixel of each color signal and signals of pixels around the pixel of the color signal, the pixel of the color signal corresponding to the position of the arbitrary pixel of the monochrome signal. The image scanning apparatus can perform high-luminance and high-resolution scanning with a 4-line configuration and can reduce color-misalignment phenomenon due to motor drive.
US07672015B2	Printing method and system for converting color tones to lighter and darker values for printing with light and dark inks The present invention provides a printing method including: (A) converting a tone value indicating a tone of a certain color to a first light tone value indicating a tone of a light color using a predetermined number of tones, and a first dark tone value indicating a tone of a dark color using a predetermined number of tones; (B) converting the first light tone value to a second light tone value indicating a tone of the light color with a smaller number of tones than the predetermined number of tones, based on a table for the light color; (C) converting the first dark tone value to a second tone value indicating a tone of the dark color with a smaller number of tones than the predetermined number of tones, based on a table for the dark color other than the table for the light color; (D) ejecting a light ink based on the second light tone value to form a light dot in the light ink on a medium, ejecting a dark ink based on the second dark tone value to form a dark dot in the dark ink on the medium, and expressing a tone of the certain color on the medium with the light dot and the dark dot.
US07672013B2	Methods and apparatus for electronically trapping digital images Methods and apparatus are provided for electronically trapping a selected digital color image pixel. A plurality of pixels that surround the selected pixel are identified, a colorant value of each of the surrounding pixels is compared with a corresponding colorant value of the selected pixel, one of the surrounding pixels is identified to control trapping of the selected pixel, and the selected pixel is trapped based on a relationship between a colorant value of the selected pixel and a corresponding colorant value of the identified controlling pixel.
US07672009B2	Systems and methods for providing true scale measurements for digitized drawings The present invention provides a measurement tool for use with an application suited for viewing a digitized drawing. The measurement tool enables the measurement of lengths (of both lines and poly lines) and areas (of both regular and irregular shapes) from a digital drawing in true scale. This is particularly advantageous with original architectural drawings or other drawings that are scanned from paper into a digital format and where measuring or annotating the drawing in true scale is important.
US07672000B2	Position detecting method and apparatus A method of detecting positions of first and second marks, at least one of the first and second marks being associated with a substrate, and exposing the substrate to a pattern. The method includes steps of sensing an image of the first and second marks, an image of the first mark and an image of the second mark having respective periodic patterns, of which periods are different from each other, and being formed in respective regions separate from each other, performing an orthogonal transform of a signal of the sensed image to obtain frequency components corresponding to the first and second marks, calculating positions of the first and second marks based on phases of respective frequency components corresponding to the first and second marks in the transformed signal, and positioning the substrate based on the calculated positions to expose the positioned substrate to a pattern.
US07671998B2	Surface configuration measuring method and surface configuration measuring system A measuring method, comprising a step of drawing a line on a surface such as ground surface, a step of performing measurement along the line on a predetermined measurement range including the line, a step of acquiring an image of a range including the predetermined measurement range as an image data, a step of superimposing the image data on a measurement data, and a step of calculating a measurement data of the line from line position in the image data and from the measurement data near the line.
US07671992B2	Measurement system and scanning device for the photoelectric measurement of a measurement object pixel by pixel The measuring device comprises a lighting system, a photoelectric receiver unit and optical means. The lighting system applies light to image elements disposed in strip-shaped lighting regions (15) at a standardized angle of incidence range. The photoelectric receiver unit comprises several photoelectric line sensors (21) disposed parallel at a distance apart which are sensitized to different wavelength ranges by color filters (22) connected upstream. The optical means comprise linear optical arrays (31) which pick up the measurement light reflected by the image elements at a standardized range of angle of reflection and direct it to one of the respective line sensors (21). By means of optical screening and other structural features, cross-talk effects between adjacent image elements are largely reduced.
US07671991B2	Handheld colour measurement device A handheld color measurement device includes a housing in which an optoelectronic measurement unit is located which receives measurement light originating from a measurement object, converts it into corresponding electrical measurement signals and processes these measurement signals into preferably digital measurement data characterizing the color of the measurement object. It further includes passive components required for the realization of different application functions, such as measurement windows and reference standards, which can be selectively positioned into the measurement beam path of the measurement unit. The passive components are positioned in a first housing block (100) and the opto-electronic measurement unit as a whole in a second housing block (200). The second housing block is adjustable into several defined application positions relative to the first housing block, in which application positions respectively one of the passive components is located in the measurement beam path of the opto-electronic measurement unit.This special division into two mutually relatively adjustable housing blocks allows an easy realization of a compact color measurement device suitable for many application functions, which is distinguished by a particular user friendliness.
US07671990B1	Cross hatched metrology marks and associated method of use The present invention is directed to novel metrology marks and methods for their use. The marks comprise cross hashed overlay metrology marks formed on a substrate including a plurality of target regions. The mark including a first grating structure formed in one layer of a target region and including a second grating structure formed in another layer of the target region. The periodic features of the first and second grating structures are oriented substantially orthogonal one another to form a cross-hatched metrology target in the target region. Additionally, the patent discloses methods of employing the metrology marks to obtain overlay metrology measurements.
US07671983B2	Method and apparatus for an advanced optical analyzer The present invention provides a sample tank having a window for introduction of electromagnetic energy into the sample tank for analyzing a formation fluid sample down hole or at the surface without disturbing the sample. Near infrared, mid infrared and visible light analysis is performed on the sample to provide a downhole in situ or surface on site analysis of sample properties and contamination level. The onsite analysis comprises determination of gas oil ratio, API gravity and various other parameters which can be estimated by a trained neural network or chemometric equation. A flexural mechanical resonator is also provided to measure fluid density and viscosity from which additional parameters can be estimated by a trained neural network or chemometric equation. The sample tank is pressurized to obviate adverse pressure drop or other effects of diverting a small sample.
US07671980B2	Surface inspection method and surface inspection apparatus A surface inspection apparatus capable of acquiring scattered light intensity distribution information for each scattering azimuth angle, and detecting foreign matters and defects with high sensitivity. A concave mirror for condensation and another concave mirror for image formation are used to cope with a broad cubic angle. Since mirrors for condensation and image formation are used, a support for clamping the periphery of a lens is unnecessary, and an effective aperture area does not decrease. A plurality of azimuth-wise detection optical systems is disposed and reflected light at all azimuths can be detected by burying the entire periphery without calling for specific lens polishing. A light signal unification unit sums digital data from a particular system corresponding to a scattering azimuth designated in advance in the systems for improving an S/N ratio.
US07671979B2	Apparatus and process for determination of dynamic lens field curvature A technique for the determination of dynamic lens field curvature uniquely associated with a photolithographic scanner is described. A series of lithographic exposures is performed on a resist coated silicon wafer using a photolithographic scanner. The lithographic exposures produce an array of focusing fiducials that are displaced relative to each other in a unique way. The resulting measurements are fed into a computer algorithm that determines the dynamic lens field curvature (ZDLC) perpendicular to the scanning direction in an absolute sense. Furthermore, the effects of wafer flatness, wafer surface non-uniformity, and stage error are considered. The ZDLC information can be used to improve lithographic modeling, overlay modeling, and advanced process control techniques related to scanner stage dynamics.
US07671975B2	Blood processing apparatus with dedicated stroboscopic controller for LED source A centrifuge blood processing system for separating fluid components comprising a first light source comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes in optical communication with the centrifuge blood processing system for providing an incident light beam for illuminating an observation region on the centrifuge blood processing system, a light collection element in optical communication with the centrifuge blood processing system for collecting at least a portion of the light transmitted, scattered or both from the observation region, a programmable controller for providing an operational procedure for the monitoring system; and an independent dedicated control circuit in electrical communication with the programmable controller and electrically coupled to the light source, the control circuit receiving command parameters from the controller and controlling periods of illumination from the light source in response to the command parameters. Periods of illumination are controlled to prevent the failure of LEDs.
US07671974B2	Cuvette apparatus and system for measuring optical properties of a liquid such as blood A optical sensor for measuring tranmissive properties of a solution having: a cuvette body with an enclosed flow passage for the solution, wherein the flow passage further includes a solution inlet and a solution outlet and a cuvette between the inlet and outlet; a light source projecting light of a predetermined wavelength through the cuvette and solution flowing through the cuvette and to a light sensor, wherein the cuvette has inner wall surfaces opaque to the light of said predetermined wavelength, and the inner wall is in contact with the solution.
US07671969B2	Semiconductor wafer flatness correction apparatus and method There are provided a wafer stage, an exposure apparatus having the same, and a wafer flatness correction method using the same. The wafer stage includes a chuck having first and second vacuum holes, a first vacuum pump applying a vacuum suction force to the first vacuum holes and a second vacuum pump applying a vacuum suction force to the second vacuum holes. Further, the exposure apparatus and the wafer flatness correction method using the same are disclosed.
US07671968B2	Lithographic apparatus having masking parts and device manufacturing method A lithographic apparatus includes a masking device that includes a first masking part configured to obscure a first part of a first patterning device before the pattern of the first patterning device is impinged by a radiation beam, a second masking part having an adjustable length, the second masking part configured to obscure a second part of the first patterning device after the pattern of the first patterning device is impinged by the radiation beam and to obscure a first part of a second patterning device before the pattern of the second patterning device is impinged by the radiation beam, and a third masking part configured to obscure a second part of the second patterning device after the pattern of the second patterning device is impinged by the radiation beam.
US07671965B2	Lithographic projection apparatus, device manufacturing method and device manufactured thereby A lithographic projection apparatus comprising a radiation system for supplying a projection beam of electromagnetic radiation in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) range, a support structure for supporting patterning structure, the patterning structure serving to pattern the projection beam according to a desired pattern, a substrate table for holding a substrate and a projection system for projecting the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate. A space within the apparatus, which space contains a mirror, is supplied with a hydrocarbon gas which forms a protective cap layer on the mirror surface. The partial pressure of the hydrocarbon gas in the space is controlled in response to variations in the background pressure in the space and/or in the reflectivity of the mirror, such that the thickness of the cap layer on the mirror remains within an acceptable range. The partial pressure of hydrocarbon may be increased in order to sputter away the cap layer and/or, if extra multilayers are provided on the mirror, the top layer(s) of the mirror, thus providing a clean mirror surface. The hydrocarbon used may be an alcohol, in which case the cap layer formed is self-terminating.
US07671955B2	Liquid crystal display panel and pixel array structure thereof A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel including a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a pixel array structure is provided. The first substrate includes a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines, and the second substrate includes a common electrode. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The pixel array structure includes a plurality of pixel units and a plurality of protrusions. The pixel units are arranged as an array, and each pixel unit includes an active device and a pixel electrode electrically connected the active device, wherein the pixel electrode has a plurality of electrode sections. The protrusions are substantially located in at least one junction region of the electrode sections. The liquid crystal molecules in the LCD panel have fast response speed and correct arrangement direction.
US07671952B2	Multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display panel A liquid crystal display panel is disclosed. The liquid crystal display panel includes a bottom substrate, a plurality of wires disposed on the bottom substrate, a plurality of pixel units electrically connected to the wires, a top substrate disposed opposite to the bottom substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the top and bottom substrates, and at least one protrusion disposed on the top substrate corresponding to the wires formed between two adjacent pixel units. Each pixel unit includes a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode disposed on the bottom substrate. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the thin film transistor, in which the pixel electrode has a plurality of main slits.
US07671951B2	Liquid crystal display A liquid crystal display includes a plurality of pixel electrodes that are formed in a matrix shape and each of which includes at least two parallelogram electrode pieces each having a pair of lengthwise edges and a pair of oblique edges adjacent the lengthwise edges, and a common electrode that faces the pixel electrodes and that has tilt direction determining members. Transverse center lines of the pixel electrodes that are adjacent each other in a row direction alternate, and the tilt direction determining members that correspond to the pixel electrodes that are adjacent to each other in the row direction are connected to each other in the row direction.
US07671947B2	Optical film, optical compensation film, polarizing plate, liquid crystal display unit and self luminous display unit An optical film which has Re(λ) and Rth(λ) fulfilling the following two formulae: 0≦Re(590)≦10 \|Rth(590)\|≦25 wherein Re(λ) is a retardation value in plane (nm) at a wavelength of λ nm; and Rth(λ) is a retardation value in film thickness direction (nm) at a wavelength of λ nm.
US07671945B2	UV curable alignment material for fabrication of monolithic compensators for liquid crystal displays A segmented, rigid-rod aromatic polyimide mixed with a UV curable acrylate photopolymer material comprises an alignment layer for aligning nematic polymeric liquid crystal compensator films. The material may also provide an out-of-plane retardation. The segmented, rigid-rod aromatic polyimide-based UV curable acrylate alignment layer, when applied in appropriate thickness, functions as a negative uniaxial C-plate compensator and causes alignment of the nematic liquid crystal molecules. The combination of the retardation provided by the alignment layer and the compensator film deposited on it provides a significant improvement in the contrast and color stability of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) at large viewing angles.
US07671943B2	Transflective liquid crystal display panel and fabricating method thereof A transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes an active device array substrate, an opposite substrate, and a liquid crystal layer in between. The active device array substrate includes scan lines, data lines, and pixel units. Each pixel unit includes an active device, a reflective pixel electrode, and a transparent pixel electrode. The active device is electrically connected to the corresponding scan line and data line. The reflective pixel electrode and the transparent pixel electrode are respectively disposed in a reflective region and a transmissive region and both electrically connected to the active device. The liquid crystal molecules in the reflective region are pre-tilted at a pretilt angle.
US07671940B2	Dual panel display and method for improving display performance thereof A dual panel display has a housing, a first display panel, a second display panel, and a backlight module positioned between the first display panel and the fixing face of the housing. The backlight module includes a light guide panel, a light source, at least a transflective film and at least an optical property enhancement film between the light guide panel and the second display panel. The transflective film is positioned between the light guide panel and the fixing face for reflecting a part of light from the light guide sheet so that the part of light passes back into the light guide panel.
US07671936B2	Liquid crystal display comprising at least one LED and a PCB and a frame having an opening with a narrow portion and a broad portion on a side surface of the frame and backlight module having the same A liquid crystal display has a light guide plate, a liquid crystal panel disposed on the light guide plate, a frame having a compartment for containing the light guide plate and a frame wall having an opening and a light bar cavity, and a light bar buried in the light bar cavity via the opening.
US07671935B2	Display A display comprises: a transmissive pixellated spatial light modulator (21); and a backlight (22). The backlight has a light-transmissive waveguide (26), with a first face of the waveguide being opposed to the spatial light modulator (21). The first face of the waveguide comprises a plurality of regions that are not totally internally reflective for at least one polarisation of light propagating within the waveguide, and the remainder of the first face of the waveguide is totally internally reflective for light propagating within the waveguide. Light is extracted from the waveguide at the regions where first face of the waveguide is not totally internally reflective. The pitch of the regions where first face of the waveguide is not totally internally reflective is substantially an integer multiple of the pitch of the pixels of the spatial light modulator.
US07671930B2	Liquid crystal display pixel structure having sub-pixels with particular capacitance A pixel structure suitable for disposing between a first scan line and a second scan line of a multi-domain vertical alignment liquid crystal display (MVA LCD) panel is provided. The pixel structure includes a first active device, a second active device, a first pixel electrode, a second pixel electrode and alignment members. The first active device is electrically connected with the first scan line and a data line of the LCD panel, and the second active device is also electrically connected therewith. The first and the second pixel electrode are electrically connected to the first and the second active device, respectively, and the first pixel electrode covers a part of the second scan line to form a compensation capacitance. Therefore, there is a voltage difference between the second pixel electrode and the first pixel electrode. The alignment members are disposed on the first and the second pixel electrode.
US07671926B2	Radio frequency modulator Disclosed herein is a Radio Frequency (RF) modulator. The RF modulator includes a Chrominance-to-Luminance (C/L) delay compensation unit for receiving a video signal and compensating for a time delay between the chrominance and luminance signals of the video signal, and a modulation unit for receiving the video signal, which is compensated for by the C/L delay compensation unit, and an audio signal and converting the video and audio signal into a preset frequency-band RE signal. The C/L delay compensation unit and the modulation unit are packaged in a single package.
US07671915B2	Solid-state imaging apparatus A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having two-dimensionally arrayed unit pixels each having a first pixel and a second pixel respectively containing photoelectric conversion devices that are located at positions regarded as the same position at which image is formed by an imaging optical system; a reset control means for simultaneously resetting respectively independently all first pixels and all second pixels of each unit pixel arrayed in the pixel section; a difference signal output means for obtaining a difference signal between signals of the first pixel and of the second pixel; a control section for rendering control such that a reset is effected of signals of all first pixels of the pixel section and, after a desired exposure time, a reset is effected of signals of all second pixels of the pixel section by the reset control means, and then signals of the first pixel and of the second pixel are read out respectively in a simultaneous or substantially simultaneous manner immediately after the reset of signal of all second pixels by the reset control means so as to output a difference signal between these as imaging signal by the difference signal output means; and a characteristic difference correction means for correcting a characteristic difference between the first pixel and the second pixel.
US07671912B2	Solid-state imaging apparatus A solid-state imaging device capable of simplifying a pixel structure to reduce a pixel size and capable of suppressing a variation in characteristics between pixels when a plurality of output systems are provided. A unit cell includes two pixels having upper and lower photoelectric converters, transfer transistors connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, a reset transistor, and an amplifying transistor. A full-face signal line is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor and the amplifying transistor. Controlling the full-face signal line along with transfer signal lines and a reset signal line to read out signals simplifies wiring in the pixel and permits reduction of the pixel size.
US07671907B2	Image-capturing apparatus A digital camera enables high-speed zooming operation without use of a zoom lens. Light originating from a fixed-focal-length lens is split into two beams by a beam splitter, to thus form respective images on a first image sensor and a second image sensor. The first image sensor and the second image sensor are equal to each other in terms of the number of pixels, but differ from each other in terms of a pixel size. The first image sensor acquires a wide image, and the second image sensor acquires a telephotography image. An output is produced by means of switching between the first image sensor and the second image sensor, in response to zooming operation. When the image from the first image sensor is recorded, focus detection is performed by use of an image signal from the second image sensor, to thus effect automatic focusing.
US07671903B2	Electronic camera apparatus and method in which data are recorded, transferred, and erased An electronic camera displays recorded information, such as image frames, to permit the selection of items of information to be transferred to external equipment. Each time an item of information is transferred, an informative indication (e.g., an icon) is displayed in association with the transferred item to confirm the transfer and to permit an operator to select items of recorded information that may be erased. If an error occurs during transfer of a series of items, the operator can determine from the display the point at which the error occurred, avoiding the need for transferring items that have already been transferred.
US07671895B2	Imaging pickup device with half-shutter alert The image pickup device of the present invention is capable of photographing still images during photography of a moving image, and is provided with a notifying means for visually notifying a subject that a photographic operation of a still image is to be performed when a release button 23 is pressed half-way down during photography of the moving image, and then performs the photographic operation when the release button 23 is fully pressed. The first notifying means may be a light emitting means 25 which lights up or flashes when the release button 23 is pressed half-way down, or maybe a flash lamp device in which a light source 27 pops up when the release button 23 is pressed half-way down.
US07671886B2	Video-phone terminal apparatus, image-shooting method, and computer product A remote-operation authenticating unit determines whether to permit a remote operation of the video-phone terminal apparatus by other video-phone terminal apparatus via a video phone communication. A remote operation unit receives, from the other video-phone terminal apparatus, a request for a control including at least a shutter control of the image capturing device to shoot an image, and executes the control in response to the request. An image converting unit converts the image into an image for the video phone communication. A communicating unit transmits the image for the video phone communication to the other video-phone terminal apparatus.
US07671868B2	Method and apparatus to provide visual cues indicative of the level of severity or importance A method of displaying information to relate level of severity or importance comprising the steps of (a) displaying data points; (b) coloring said data points in varying colors according to set levels; and (c) adjusting shades of said colors depending on further defined levels within said set levels. Another method of displaying information to relate level of severity or importance comprising the steps of (a) querying disparate information systems with a certain search parameter (b) displaying data points returned from said search parameter into a single window; (c) coloring said data points in varying colors according to set levels; and (d) adjusting shades of said colors depending on further defined levels within said set levels. A system for displaying information according to level of importance or severity comprising a database, a worklist and an interface wherein said interface conveys level of importance or severity using varying shades of colors.
US07671862B1	Systems and methods for providing an enhanced graphics pipeline An enhanced graphics pipeline is provided that enables common core hardware to perform as different components of the graphics pipeline, programmability of primitives including lines and triangles by a component in the pipeline, and a stream output before or simultaneously with the rendering a graphical display with the data in the pipeline. The programmer does not have to optimize the code, as the common core will balance the load of functions necessary and dynamically allocate those instructions on the common core hardware. The programmer may program primitives using algorithms to simplify all vertex calculations by substituting with topology made with lines and triangles. The programmer takes the calculated output data and can read it before or while it is being rendered. Thus, a programmer has greater flexibility in programming. By using the enhanced graphics pipeline, the programmer can optimize the usage of the hardware in the pipeline, program vertex, line or triangle topologies altogether rather than each vertex alone, and read any calculated data from memory where the pipeline can output the calculated information.
US07671857B2	Three dimensional image processing A method of preparing on a first device object files used for rendering two-dimensional images of three-dimensional objects on a second device by processing object files containing data defining triangle primitives representing at least one three-dimensional object to determine a rendering order in which the triangle primitives may be rendered for creating a two-dimensional image in which the hidden surfaces are removed. A plurality of planar triangle primitives corresponding to a plurality of surface portions of the at least one object as vertex data are stored on the first device.
US07671855B2	LCD, and driving device and method thereof Disclosed are an LCD capable of realizing a pre-charging method even in the random data-enable mode, and an apparatus and method for driving the same. In the LCD driving apparatus, a timing controller outputs a vertical sync start signal based on a data-enable signal having an irregular output interval to control the output of the image data. A gate driver sequentially applies both first and second gate-on voltages to a same gate line based on the vertical sync start signal. The first gate-on voltage is to drive a previous line being most adjacent to and having the same polarity as the current line, and the second gate-on voltage is to drive the current line. An LCD panel is first charged with the first gate-on voltage supplied from the gate driver, and then charged with the second gate-on voltage, so that it can display analog image data received from the data driver during the second charging.
US07671850B2	Electronic pen An electronic pen has a body which comprises a casing consisting of at least two casing parts which are joined to be separable, and electronic equipment arranged inside the casing. A girdle is arranged with a close fit round the joined casing parts. The casing and the girdle have coacting locking means which limit the movement of the girdle in the longitudinal direction of the pen in such manner that at least the girdle is destroyed as the locking is broken.
US07671844B2	Portable electronic reference device with pivoting light lid A portable electronic reference device is disclosed that can be used by a user when reading a book. The electronic reference device functions as a dictionary for the reader to look up words as they read. It can also have various other functions that would be suitable for a portable electronic device. The device has a display section and a keyboard section. A pivoting transparent lid is provided on the display. The lid also contains a light to allow a user to clearly see the device and pages of a book.
US07671843B2	Virtual holographic input method and device An input device for detecting input with respect to a three dimensional area in space. The input device includes an electromagnetic wave interference projector and receiver. The analysis of the difference between the projected interference pattern and the received interference pattern will determine the type and location of the user input. In addition, this holographic type of wave interference will display the image to be “manipulated” or “touched”.
US07671842B2	Dual mode input device A dual mode input device, e.g. an optical mouse, is capable of performing data input function by moving the input device. Alternatively, the dual mode input device can also be an optical trackball. By turning the dual mode input device upside down, a trackball can be mounted to or exposed from the bottom surface to perform data input function by manipulating the trackball so that no movement of the input device is required.
US07671841B2	Portable terminal with position-variable display and method A portable terminal with a position-variable display comprising a main body for inputting information and controlling communication, a folder coupled to the main body, a display unit rotationally disposed on the folder for displaying image information, a rotating means for providing angular rotation of the display unit along a plane of the folder, and a sliding means for moving the display unit in a direction along a length of the portable terminal.
US07671840B2	User interface control for changing a parameter A user interface comprises a control for adjusting a numeric field value. The control includes controls for editing the numeric field text directly and for dynamically incrementing and decrementing the value. In addition, the control includes controls for combining several functions into one control, allowing for quicker numeric value editing, control of multiple parameters, and taking up less user interface space.
US07671838B2	Biomechanically low load multi-angle multi-dexterity computer mouse A multi-angle, multi-dexterity mouse apparatus comprising: a base, configured to be placed on a working surface and having: a bottom surface configured to be placed on a working surface; a first inner surface; a second inner surface, the second inner surface being the mirror image of and opposed to the first inner surface, wherein the first inner surface and the second inner surface are in adjustable communication to receive a portion of the mouse users hand; a first housing in rotatable adjustable communication with the base, wherein the first housing has an inner surface with an actuation means and an outer surface.
US07671837B2	Scrolling input arrangements using capacitive sensors on a flexible membrane Scrolling input arrangements are presented including: a flexible membrane; a number of capacitive sensors mechanically integrated with the flexible membrane, the capacitive sensors radially disposed with respect to a first axis that is perpendicular with respect to the flexible membrane; an integrated circuit mechanically coupled with the flexible membrane and electronically coupled with the capacitive sensors, the integrated circuit configured to process a number of electronic signals from the capacitive sensors to provide a scrolling function; and a connection region on the flexible membrane for electronically coupling the scrolling input arrangement with an electronic device. In some embodiments, the capacitive sensors are configured with a plate element having a first surface area and a trace element having a second surface area such that the first surface area and second surface area comprise a sensor surface area, wherein the sensor surface areas for the capacitive sensors is substantially equal in size.
US07671819B2	Antenna assembly An antenna assembly includes an antenna. The antenna assembly includes at least one interrupted loop or rod of electrically conducting material and a printed circuit board (PCB). At least a part of the PCB together with the at least one interrupted loop or rod of electrically conducting material forms the antenna.
US07671818B2	Antenna device with integrated connection cable, and radio apparatus The objective of the present invention is to provide a connection cable that serves as an external antenna for a radio apparatus, and whose antenna performance is not deteriorated in the use state by an adverse affect attributable to the near proximity of a human body.According to the present invention, an antenna device, integrally formed with first connection means, which is to be connected to a radio apparatus, second connection means, which is to be connected to a peripheral device, and a connection cable and an antenna element, which are located in between and which transmit a plurality of signals from the radio apparatus to the peripheral device, includes: first relay means, located at a middle position in the connection cable, for relaying the plurality of signals; the antenna element, located between the second connection means and the first relay means; and a coaxial line, located between the first connection means and the first relay means for transmitting, to the radio apparatus, an antenna reception signal that has been received at the antenna element and has been extracted by the first relay means, wherein the antenna element serves as an external antenna for the radio apparatus.
US07671813B2	Earphone antenna and wireless device including the same An earphone antenna is provided in which two pairs of audio/high-frequency signal lines respectively corresponding to left and right earphone units are connected to a balun. The left and right earphone units are connected to terminals of the two pairs of audio/high-frequency signal lines remote from the balun via loading coils, respectively. The terminals of the two pairs of audio/high-frequency signal lines remote from the balun are further connected to each other by a pair of conductive lines via audio blocking means. The earphone antenna having such a structure can eliminate high-frequency adverse effects on a wireless device transmitted from a human body via an earphone.
US07671812B1	Wind noise reducing mounting bases for antenna assemblies An antenna assembly is provided that includes an antenna element depending from an antenna mounting base. The mounting base includes a shaft portion that uniformly tapers from a mounting end portion to a projecting end portion. The shaft portion includes grooves, or flutes, that each extends from the mounting end portion toward the projecting end portion, and that each has a curvature about an axis of the shaft portion. The grooves provide the shaft portion with an asymmetrical cross-sectional area that causes airflow impinging on the shaft portion to generate turbulence and scatter low air pressure regions that tend to form locally around the shaft portion. As a result, small vibrations generated by the low pressure regions are suppressed, and whistling sounds, noises, etc. associated with the vibrations may be reduced.
US07671810B2	Antenna structure for a notebook An antenna structure for a notebook with four radiation members, the antenna structure has an elongate supporting rack having thereon a first radiation member, a second radiation member, a third radiation member and a fourth radiation member; each radiation member is planar, and is integrally connected with the supporting rack. Thereby, when the notebook uses a plurality of antennas, the costs of mold developing and time for processing can be reduced, and in designing, the space of the antenna will not waste by having the structure, and a better effect in function can be obtained.
US07671802B2	Active player tracking Sports objects, such as players and their equipment, are tracked by receiving signals transmitted by tags attached to the sports objects, and triangulating the signals to estimate the locations of the sports objects. One feature that promotes good signal reception is the use of different groups of three or more receivers. Another such feature is the use of two or more transmitter tags attached to different portions of the sports object. Still another such feature is the use of Ultra-Wideband signals.
US07671795B2	Wireless communications device with global positioning based on received motion data and method for use therewith A circuit includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that receives a GPS signal and that generates GPS position data based on the GPS signal. A wireless receiver converts an inbound RF signal into an inbound symbol stream. A processing module converts the inbound symbol stream into inbound data that includes a motion parameter and generates position information based on at least one of the GPS position data and the motion parameter.
US07671794B2	Attitude estimation using intentional translation of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna A system determines three-dimensional attitude of a stationary or moving platform using signals from a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) antenna that undergoes deliberate translation, which may be occasional. The system uses single GNSS receiver, a single GNSS antenna, and inertial acceleration and/or rotation rate sensors. In one implementation, the GNSS antenna and inertial sensing components are rigidly connected and mounted to a pallet that is intentionally translated along a track as needed. In a second implementation, the GNSS antenna is mounted to a pallet, and the inertial sensing components are fixed in position. To maximize effectiveness, the track is oriented along a geometrical direction of the platform that is predominantly in a lateral direction from the gravity vector. The system achieves three-dimensional attitude accuracy that rivals interferometric GNSS systems.
US07671792B2	Global positioning receiver with system and method for parallel synchronization for reducing time to first navigation fix A global positioning system receiver with a system and method for parallel synchronization. The novel receiver includes a correlator having plural demodulator channels for receiving a signal from a first satellite, and a processor for processing the signal from the first satellite using a plurality of the channels. The processor includes a parallel synchronization process for synchronizing the receiver with the signal. In an illustrative embodiment, the processor is adapted to instruct the plurality of channels to track the signal from the first satellite in parallel, each channel using a different timing hypothesis. Only the channel determined to have the correct timing is retained for tracking the satellite. For the first satellite only, the processor also demodulates the hand-over word and determines a GPS transmit time. The parallel synchronization process is then repeated for subsequent satellites in turn.
US07671790B2	Positioning system, positioning device, communication base station, control method, and recording medium storing program A communication base station includes a propagation time evaluation section which determines whether or not a propagation time required for a communication radio wave to propagate between the communication base station and a positioning device is within a predetermined allowable time range, a code phase calculation section which calculates a code phase of each satellite signal, a difference calculation section which calculates a difference between the code phase calculated by the communication base station and a positioning-side code phase, a difference evaluation section which determines whether or not the difference is within a multipath range which is a difference range when the positioning-side code phase is affected by a multipath, a correction value transmission section which transmits the code phase calculated by the communication base station to the positioning device when the difference evaluation section has determined that the difference is within the multipath range, and the like.
US07671788B2	Apparatus and method for suppression of unnecessary signals in a radar system By pulsing transmission radio waves of continuous wave radar, clutter components included in a reception signal are suppressed.In a radar system that emits into space pulsed transmission radio waves being generated based on a frequency-modulated reference continuous waveform, acquires a reception signal by receiving the pulsed transmission radio waves reflected from an external object, and computes distance thereto and velocity thereof from the frequency of a beat signal obtained by mixing the acquired reception signal with the reference continuous waveform, the radar system includes a frequency-band selector 19 for classifying, on the basis of a spectral spread corresponding to the pulse width of the pulsed transmission radio waves, frequency components of the beat signal, and a distance/velocity calculator 20 for computing, on the basis of the classified results from the frequency-band selector 19, relative distance to and velocity of a moving object, or relative distance to a stationary object.
US07671786B2	Method and apparatus for representing and classifying microwave back-projection radar signals A moving object is classified by transmitting, by a linear array of transmit antenna elements, a microwave into a surveillance area. A scattered microwave backprojected from a moving object is received by a linear array of receive antenna elements. Features are extracted from the scattered microwave related to a spiral evolution of the scattered microwave. The moving object is then classified as one of a set of possible classes according to the extracted features, and an alarm signal can be generated indicating the selected class.
US07671785B1	Dual mode weather and air surveillance radar system A radar system having first and second modes of operation comprising a dual antenna assembly comprising first and second antennas having respective first and second antenna waveguides coupled to a waveguide switch operable to divert RF energy to or from either said antenna waveguide, said waveguide switch coupled to a common waveguide, said dual antenna assembly mounted to an antenna support assembly, said first and second antennas being designed for use in said first and second modes respectively and operable for coupling said RF energy to a transmit medium, and for coupling reflected RF energy from transmit medium to said first or second antenna waveguide; and a control processor configured with control logic operable to control the functions of said radar system wherein said first and second antennas are mounted generally perpendicularly in the vertical plane with respect to each other and wherein said radar system operates in only one of said modes of operation at any time.
US07671782B2	State-sensitive navigation aid Navigation logic and related methods are described for assisting a user in using a remote control (RC) device. The navigation logic determines a current state of a user's interaction with an application, and then determines the keys of the RC device that are relevant to the determined state. The navigation logic then displays a representation of the relevant keys on a user interface presentation of a presentation device. The representation resembles a physical layout of associated physical keys on the RC device. To assist the user in focusing on the relevant keys, the representation de-emphasizes other input mechanisms of the RC device that do not have a bearing on the user's current interaction with the application. One exemplary way of de-emphasizing these other keys is to entirely omit these keys from the representation.
US07671776B1	Input sampling network that avoids undesired transient voltages Circuits, methods, and apparatus that provide sampling networks that avoid undesired transient voltages. One example provides a sampling network that includes a switch such that charge is transferred to an integrator in two separate steps instead of one. This switch connects the first side of a capacitor to an intermediate voltage after it is connected to an input voltage and before it is connected to a reference voltage, where the reference voltage is the output of a one-bit digital-to-analog converter. This intermediate switching allows charge to be transferred from a sampling capacitor to an integrating capacitor in two steps, thus avoiding undesirable transient voltages.
US07671771B2	Optical quantizing unit and optical A/D converter An optical quantizing unit includes an optical divider dividing 1st optical pulses to be quantized and sending the divided 1st optical pulses into a plurality of paths; a plurality of optical filters passing with different transmittances the divided 1st optical pulses; and an optical threshold filter sequentially receiving the 1st optical pulses, and sending 2nd optical pulses when light intensities of the 1st optical pulses are above a preset threshold value.
US07671770B2	Single pass INL trim algorithm for networks A single-pass method of trimming a network, and a network manufactured according to the method, uses the assumption that the peak INL value is minimized by trimming all the structures in the network to a same target value based upon the boundary conditions of the discretely adjustable elements that make up the structures. Using this assumption, the number of targets that need to be simulated, can be greatly reduced making estimation of peak INL possible in a reasonable amount of testing or manufacturing time. The trim algorithm produces results that are optimum or substantially close to optimum and is guaranteed not to deteriorate the Peak INL compared to the untrimmed Peak INL. An auto-calibration system using the trim method is also provided so that the method can be used in a product in real time if desired.
US07671759B2	Remote control unit There is provided a remote control unit capable of setting time by a simple operation at a time when a battery is attached. In the remote control unit which is operated by the battery to remote-control operation start and stop of an apparatus main body and in which setting of a timer operation by a clocking means is possible, when the battery is attached to start the operation, a forced mode setting means displays a clocking initial value in a liquid crystal display in step 1, starts a monitor timer in step 2, and sets a “time setting mode” in which the setting of a clocking start initial value is possible by UP and DOWN switches without depending on the operation of a time set switch. When the UP or DOWN switch is not operated in step 3, and time is up in the monitor timer in step 6, processing advances to step 7, and the forced mode setting means switches the mode from the “time setting mode” to an “operation instructing mode” in which the operation of the apparatus main body is possible by an ON/OFF switch.
US07671756B2	Portable electronic device with alert silencing In some embodiments, audible alerts issued by a portable electronic device can be silenced in response to user smacks on the body of the device. These audible alerts are initiated by applications running on the device, such as email, phone, alarm, and/or timer applications. In some embodiments, the device includes one or more accelerometers that detect and signal the user smacks. In some embodiments, the alert response mode of the device (such as whether it rings or vibrates to signal an alert) can be changed in response to predefined patterns of user smacks.
US07671750B2	High reliability pest detection A pest detection device includes a housing with a sensor and one or more bait members. The sensor includes one or more of a chisel-shaped electrically conductive trace carried on a substrate, a low resistance electrically conductive ink defining an electrical pathway on a substrate with a pointed profile, and/or a substrate including a directional grain structure oriented in a predefined manner relative to an electrically conductive pathway.
US07671748B2	Radiofrequency identification device (RFID) affixed to an object to be identified A radiofrequency identification device (RFID) featuring an antenna (10) connected to a chip designed to be affixed to an object to be identified by a remote reader transmitting to the identification device electromagnetic signals received by the antenna and containing the data allowing the identification as well as the supply voltage (VDC) of the device, the antenna transmitting in return to said reader signals provided by the chip by retromodulation by means of a switch (22) in the chip whose open or closed position defines the digital identification data transmitted by the device. The chip features a variable impedance (30) connected in series with the switch to the terminals of the antenna and a means for detecting (32) the supply voltage to adjust the impedance value so that this supply voltage is always greater than a predetermined value (Vthreshold) below which the device can no longer transmit digital identification data.
US07671746B2	System and method for providing secure identification solutions The present invention provides a method and system for verifying and tracking identification information. In an embodiment of the invention, a system for delivering security solutions is provided that includes at least one of the following: a radio frequency (RF) identification device, an identification mechanism (e.g., a card, sticker), and an RF reader.
US07671744B2	Interrogator and interrogation system employing the same An interrogator, methods of discerning the presence of an object, and interrogation systems employing the same. In one embodiment, the interrogation systems include multiple interrogators that communicate with a base command unit to track a location of an object. In another embodiment wherein the object is an RFID object (e.g., an object with an RFID tag), the interrogators employ signal processing techniques such as precharging the RFID object, and correlating a reference code with a reply code from the RIFD object using selected techniques to increase a sensitivity of the interrogator, especially for adverse environments. In other embodiments, the interrogation systems include variations of metal instruments and sponges employed therewith. In yet another embodiment, the interrogation system includes metal interrogators capable of discerning the presence of a metal object, especially in a presence of another metal object.
US07671743B2	Detecting a departure of an RFID tag from an area A method of determining whether a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tag has been removed from an area can include, responsive to detecting an RFID tag in a first area, making an entry within a tag read cache associated with the first area. The entry within the tag read cache can include an identifier corresponding to the RFID tag and a timestamp indicating when the RFID tag was detected in the first area. A difference between a current time and the timestamp from the entry within the tag read cache can be calculated. An indication that the RFID tag is no longer in the first area can be provided if the difference exceeds a departure threshold.
US07671739B2	System and method for implementing ranging microwave for detector range reduction Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and system for use of ranging MW to detect range reduction in a dual (MW/PIR) intrusion detector. Embodiments of the invention utilize a Doppler microwave system capable of detecting an object range. Multiple range limited MW stages may be configured for different ranges to determine the general range of the moving object. Based on signal levels present on these MW stages, an approximate object range and size is determined. Embodiments of the invention recognize cases of PIR range reduction by use of range limited MW stages configured for different ranges to determine the general range of the moving object. If the MW recognizes a moving object of sufficient size within the coverage area, and if no PIR signal is present, the PIR is recognized as being blocked or disabled and notification is provided.
US07671738B2	Fan system and driving control device of motor A driving control device of a motor includes a temperature sensing circuit, a comparing circuit, a rotation speed control circuit and a driving circuit. The temperature sensing circuit detects an environmental temperature for generating a sensing signal. The comparing circuit is electrically connected to the temperature sensing circuit, and compares the sensing signal with a reference voltage signal for outputting a comparing signal. The rotation speed control circuit is electrically connected to the comparing circuit and has a first threshold voltage and a second threshold voltage, both of which are compared with the comparing signal for outputting a rotation speed control signal. The driving circuit is electrically connected to the rotation speed control circuit, and generates a driving signal to drive the motor in accordance with the rotation speed control signal.
US07671730B2	Automated computerized alarm system An automatic alarm system has an alarm device having a sensor and a telephone having a telephone number. The telephone may be wireless. When the sensor senses a predetermined environmental indicator, the alarm device calls a receiver in a location separate from the alarm device to send an alarm. The receiver may identify the location of the alarm device by its telephone number or an identification code. The receiver can call the alarm device to confirm the alarm and monitor events around the alarm device. The alarm device may include a camera.
US07671728B2	Systems and methods for distributed monitoring of remote sites Rules are applied to video surveillance data to detect events. Localization of the events is achieved by decomposing events into distinct components, each of which can, in some embodiments, be defined at different locations and by different users.
US07671727B2	Speed exceeded notification device for vehicle having a data bus and associated methods A speed exceeded notification device is for a vehicle of a type including a vehicle data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle, and at least one vehicle device generating data related to vehicle speed on the vehicle data communications bus. The speed exceeded notification device may include a wireless communications device, and a controller to be coupled to the vehicle data communications bus. The controller may be for reading the data related to vehicle speed from the vehicle data communications bus, and determining when a vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold for a first time period. Based thereon, the controller may cooperate with the wireless communications device to send a remote vehicle speed exceeded notification.
US07671714B2	Planar inductive component and a planar transformer The invention relates to a planar inductive component (11) comprising at least a first and a second concentric inductor, which include a first and a second spiral pattern (12A, 12B), respectively. Both spiral patterns have a first end point (13A, 13B) and a second end point (14A, 14B), are electrically interconnected, interlaced, and interrupted at the outer side, and provided with two contacts (16A, 16B) on one side of the opening (15A, 15B) and two contacts (17A, 17B) on the other side of the opening (15A, 15B). By interconnecting the first two contacts (16A, 16B) and the second two contacts (17A, 17B), respectively, both spiral patterns are connected in parallel. The spiral patterns (12A, 12B), which are magnetically coupled, have identical electrical and magnetic properties. This leads to a reduction of eddy current losses at high frequencies. This results in a planar inductive component (11) which is suitable for high-frequency operation with a high maximum quality factor Q. The invention also relates to a planar transformer comprising two planar inductive components according to the invention. The first planar inductive component serves as the first winding of the planar transformer; the second planar inductive component serves as the second winding of the planar transformer. As a result of the above-mentioned reduction in eddy current losses at high frequencies, the planar transformer can suitable be used for high-frequency operation.
US07671706B2	High frequency multilayer bandpass filter In a multilayer bandpass filter, capacitances are produced between a ground electrode provided in a ground electrode formation layer and capacitor electrodes provided in a capacitor electrode formation layer. A plurality of inductor electrodes are defined by via-electrodes and line electrodes such that loop planes of inductor electrodes at least partially overlap each other when seen in a direction in which the inductor electrodes are arranged. The direction of the loop of the inductor electrode of the LC parallel resonator located (at a first stage) at an input end is set to be opposite to the direction of the loop of the inductor electrodes of the LC parallel resonator (at a second stage) adjacent to the inductor electrode of the LC parallel resonator located at the input end. Similarly, the direction of the loop of the inductor electrode of the LC parallel resonator located (at a fifth stage) at an output end is set to be opposite to the direction of the loop of the inductor electrodes of the LC parallel resonator (at a fourth stage) adjacent to the inductor electrode of the LC parallel resonator located at the output end.
US07671700B1	Hollow waveguide directional coupler A hollow waveguide directional coupler comprises two hollow waveguide sections that are coupled to each other by a plurality of coupling openings formed in a wall extending between the hollow waveguide sections. Two adjacent coupling openings have a distance of 3λg/4. from each other, λg being the wavelength of the nominal center frequency of the operating frequency range of the directional coupler.
US07671697B2	High-isolation switching device for millimeter-wave band control circuit Provided is a high-isolation switching device for a millimeter-wave band control circuit. By optimizing a cell structure to improve the isolation of an off-state without deteriorating the insertion loss of an on-state, it is possible to implement a high-isolation switching device useful in the design and manufacture of a millimeter-wave band control circuit such as a phase shifter or digital attenuator using switching characteristics. In addition, when a switch microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) is designed to use the switching device, it is not necessary to use a multi-stage shunt field effect transistor (FET) to improve isolation, nor to dispose an additional λ/4 transformer transmission line, inductor or capacitor near the switching device. Thus, chip size can be reduced, degree of integration can be enhanced, and manufacturing yield can be increased. Consequently, it is possible to reduce manufacturing cost.
US07671675B2	Output limiting circuit, class D power amplifier and audio equipment An output limiting circuit includes a reference current generating portion for converting a predetermined constant voltage into a reference current by using a first resistor, an upper side clip voltage generating portion for converting the reference current into an upper side clip voltage with respect to a bias voltage of the operational amplifier by using a second resistor, a lower side clip voltage generating portion for converting the reference current into a lower side clip voltage with respect to the bias voltage of the operational amplifier by using a third resistor, and a gain adjusting portion for adjusting a gain of the operational amplifier so that a voltage level of the output signal does not exceed an upper side limit level corresponding to the upper side clip voltage and that the voltage level of the output signal does not exceed a lower side limit level corresponding to the lower side clip voltage.
US07671668B2	Core voltage generation circuit A core voltage generation circuit includes a comparator configured to perform a differential comparison of a reference voltage and a feedback core voltage. An amplifier is configured to amplify the external power supply voltage in response to an output signal of the comparator to generate the core voltage. A control switch is configured to form a current path of the comparator using different switch units according to a voltage level of an external power supply voltage input to the core voltage generation circuit.
US07671665B2	Constant-ON state high side switch circuit An electrical switching circuit for controlling current flow to an electrical load from a primary power source with a first electrical potential difference relative to a circuit ground comprising a primary energy storage device with a low side coupled to the electrical load, a secondary electrical energy storage device with a high side and a low side, a controllable electrical switch that toggles the low side of the secondary energy storage device from the circuit ground to the low side of the primary energy storage device, a primary unidirectional current gate coupled between the high side of the secondary energy storage device and the high side of the primary energy storage device to let current flow from the secondary energy storage device to the primary energy storage device when the potential difference of the high side of the secondary energy storage device is higher than the high side of the primary energy storage device, a secondary unidirectional current gate coupled between a secondary power source with an electrical potential difference of at least the predetermined potential relative to the circuit ground and the high side of the secondary energy storage device to let current flow from the secondary power source to the high side of the secondary energy storage device when the potential difference of the secondary power source is higher than the high side of the secondary energy storage device, wherein periodic operation of the secondary electrical switch charges the secondary energy storage device when the secondary switch toggles its low side to the circuit ground and the secondary energy storage device charges the primary storage device when the secondary switch toggles its low side to the low side of the primary energy storage device.
US07671664B1	Charge pump control circuit and method A charge pump control circuit that four main parts: a clock control circuit; a clock switch and driver circuit; a pump stage; and a dynamic load control circuit. The clock control circuit has a dynamic load that is controlled by the dynamic load control circuit. When the charge pump control circuit is enabled, the dynamic capacitive load is applied which incorporates a delay allowing the high frequency clock to control the pump stage and quickly charge the output to the desired boosted voltage. This provides a very fast boosted output voltage during a startup condition. Once the desired output voltage is realized, the dynamic capacitive load is disabled and the low frequency clock takes over the operation. During each low frequency clock cycle, the high frequency clock is enabled for several cycles per cycle of the low frequency clock.
US07671663B2	Tunable voltage controller for a sub-circuit and method of operating the same The present invention provides a tunable voltage controller for use with a sub-circuit. In one embodiment, the tunable voltage controller includes a diode-connected MOS transistor contained in a doped well of a substrate and configured to provide a voltage for the sub-circuit. Additionally, the tunable voltage controller also includes a biasing unit configured to adjust the voltage by selectively connecting the doped well to one of a plurality of voltage sources or to a variable voltage source.
US07671659B2	Clock control circuit and voltage pumping device using the same A clock control circuit is provided. The clock control circuit includes a voltage supplier for supplying a first voltage in response to a first clock signal, a voltage booster for boosting the first voltage in response to the first clock signal input to the voltage booster, and a clock generator for generating a second clock signal having a voltage level equal to the boosted first voltage in response to the first clock signal.
US07671657B1	Voltage level shifter with voltage boost mechanism A voltage level shifter with voltage boost mechanism is disclosed for interfacing two circuit units having different operating voltage swings. The voltage level shifter includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a first capacitor, a second capacitor and a plurality of transistors. The input and power ends of the first inverter function to receive an input voltage and a first voltage respectively. The output end of the second inverter functions to provide an output voltage. When the input voltage is a ground voltage, the output voltage is also a ground voltage; meanwhile, the switches are controlled for charging the first and second capacitors to a second voltage and a third voltage respectively. When the input voltage is the first voltage, a sum voltage of the first, second, and third voltages is furnished to the power end of the second inverter for providing the sum voltage as the output voltage.
US07671644B2	Process insensitive delay line A delay line including a phase detector having two inputs and one output. The first input of the phase detector is connected to an input of the delay line. The second input of the phase detector is connected to an output of the delay line. The output of the phase detector is connected to a control circuit which controls current flow at a control node to produce a control voltage at the node. A voltage-controlled delay unit is responsible to the control voltage to control a delay applied to a signal at an input of the delay line.
US07671642B2	Amplitude controlled sawtooth generator A sawtooth voltage generator has a first capacitor that is charged with a variable feedback control current to provide a sawtooth output signal with a controlled amplitude. A feedback loop includes a comparator that compares a version of the sawtooth output signal with a fixed voltage reference to provide a comparator output signal to a phase frequency comparator, the output of which controls a source of the variable feedback control current. A method includes controlling the amplitude of a sawtooth output signal by charging a capacitor in a sawtooth voltage generator with a variable feedback control current; comparing a version of the sawtooth output signal with a fixed reference voltage to provide a comparator output signal; processing the comparator output signal in a phase frequency comparator to provide up/down control signals; and controlling the variable feedback control current with the up/down control signals from the phase frequency comparator.
US07671638B2	Negative N-epi biasing sensing and high side gate driver output spurious turn-on prevention due to N-epi P-sub diode conduction during N-epi negative transient voltage A high-side driver in a driver circuit for driving a half-bridge stage having high- and low-side power switching devices series connected at a switched node, the high-side driver driving the high-side power switching device. The high-side driver including first and second complementary switched MOSFET series connected at a high-side node, driving the high-side power switching device, one of the MOSFETs having a parasitic bipolar transistor formed between the substrate, an N+ epitaxial region connected to the high-side driver supply voltage and the switched node, with the parasitic transistor having a base electrode formed by the N+ epitaxial region, an emitter electrode formed by the substrate and a collector electrode formed by the switched node, such that if a transient voltage that is negative with respect to the substrate is present at the high-side driver supply voltage, the parasitic transistor will conduct a short circuit current between the switched node and the substrate; a first circuit for controlling the conduction of the first and second MOSFETs to switch the high-side switching device ON and OFF; a diffusion in the N+ epitaxial region in which a terminal connected to the switched node is provided by the diffusion forming the collector of the parasitic transistor; and a second circuit coupled to the diffusion for sensing the high-side driver supply voltage at the epitaxial region and providing a signal to the first circuit to prevent turn-ON of the high-side power switching device.
US07671633B2	Glitch free 2-way clock switch The present invention switches between a first clock signal (CLK0) and a second clock signal (CLK1). Each input signal is buffered by a corresponding tristate buffer (TBUF0, TBUF1). A multiplexer (MUX) receives the tristate buffer outputs and selects one clock signal in response to a multiplexer control signal (MUX_SEL). A control stage (CONTROL) received a clock selection signal (SEL) and provides multiplexer control signal (MUX_SEL). A change in multiplexer control signal (MUX_SEL) is triggered by a next edge of target clock (CLK1) following a delay. This prevents glitches in the output signal.
US07671616B2	Semiconductor probe having embossed resistive tip and method of fabricating the same A semiconductor probe having an embossed resistive tip and a method of fabricating the semiconductor probe are provided. The semiconductor probe includes a protrusion portion protruded to a predetermined height on a cantilever in a first direction crossing a length direction of the cantilever, an embossed resistive tip formed on the protrusion portion, and first and second semiconductor electrode regions formed at opposite sides of the embossed resistive tip at the protrusion portion, wherein the cantilever is doped with a first dopant, the first and second semiconductor electrode regions and the embossed resistive tip are doped with a second dopant having a different polarity from the first dopant, and the embossed resistive tip is doped with a concentration lower than the first and second semiconductor electrode regions.
US07671614B2	Apparatus and method for adjusting an orientation of probes Probes of a probe card assembly can be adjusted with respect to an element of the probe card assembly, which can be an element of the probe card assembly that facilitates mounting of the probe card assembly to a test apparatus. The probe card assembly can then be mounted in a test apparatus, and an orientation of the probe card assembly can be adjusted with respect to the test apparatus, such as a structural part of the test apparatus or a structural element attached to the test apparatus.
US07671608B2	Electrical junction box An electrical junction box is adapted to be set in a conductivity inspection device. The conductivity inspection device includes a sensing pin assembly and guide pins, the guide pins extending beyond the sensing pin assembly. The electrical junction box includes a casing including a containing section and at least two guide holes formed in a surface wall of the casing, the guide holes being spaced away from each other by a given distance. The casing is shaped such that when the electric junction box is set in the conductivity inspection device, the guide pins are inserted into the guide holes before the sensing pin assembly is inserted into the containing section.
US07671602B1	Method and apparatus for cross-point detection A method and apparatus for cross-point detection in devices have been disclosed where each leg of a differential signal is compared to a reference voltage and time lags for each are noted in crossing the reference voltage and this information is used to identify characteristics of the differential signal.
US07671600B2	Gas concentration detection apparatus having function for detecting sensor element activation status A gas concentration detection apparatus includes a series-connected combination of a sensor element and a resistor, with an AC voltage being applied to one of the outer terminals of that combination and with the other outer terminal being held at a fixed potential. A DC voltage signal at a level determined by an oxygen concentration that is detected by the sensor element, and an AC voltage signal at an amplitude determined by sensor element impedance and hence by the sensor element activation status, are extracted from the series-connected combination by respectively separate circuits which apply separately determined amplification factors.
US07671599B1	Static electricity monitor comprising a walking footpad electrode and handrail electrode A static electricity monitor is disclosed operable to test a garment worn by a person, the garment comprising a first piece of footwear worn on a first foot of the person. The static electricity monitor comprises a first footpad electrode having a length of at least one meter, and a first handrail electrode running generally parallel to the first footpad electrode. The static electricity monitor further comprises control circuitry coupled to the first footpad electrode and the first handrail electrode, and operable to determine if the garment worn by the person passes a soundness test by taking a measurement as the person walks the first piece of footwear along the first footpad electrode while contacting a first hand to the first handrail electrode.
US07671598B2	Method and apparatus for reducing induction noise in measurements made with a towed electromagnetic survey system A method for reducing motion induced voltage in marine electromagnetic measurements includes measuring an electromagnetic field parameter at at least one position along a sensor cable towed through a body of water. Motion of the sensor cable is measured at at least one position along the cable; Voltage induced in the cable is estimated from the motion measurements. The measured electromagnetic field parameter is corrected using the estimated voltages.
US07671597B2	Composite encased tool for subsurface measurements A composite encased tool for making subsurface measurements in a borehole traversing a subsurface formation includes a conductive mandrel, a first composite layer wrapped around the conductive mandrel, the first composite layer having one or more slots, a source or sensor disposed in each of the one or more slots, and a second composite layer wrapped around the first composite layer with the source or sensor in the one or more slots.
US07671595B2	On-coil switched mode amplifier for parallel transmission in MRI Example systems, apparatus, circuits, and so on described herein concern parallel transmission in MRI. One example apparatus includes at least two field effect transistors (FETs) that are connected by a coil that includes an LC (inductance-capacitance) leg. The apparatus includes a controller that inputs a digital signal to the FETs to control the production of an output analog radio frequency (RF) signal. The LC leg is to selectively alter the output analog RF signal and the analog RF signal is used in parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) transmission.
US07671590B2	Method and apparatus of multi-echo MR data acquisition with non-discrete flip angle train An imaging technique is disclosed to reduce ringing artifacts from amplitude decay in MR multi-echo acquisition. A flip angle train is determined to match scan parameters for an MR scan to acquire MR data from a given tissue. Reducing the effects of amplitude decay in the echo signal reduces ringing artifacts and thereby improves image quality.
US07671589B2	Calibrating pMRI with cartesian continuous sampling Example systems, methods, and apparatus control a pMRI apparatus to produce a pulse sequence having an extended acquisition window, and overlapping phase-encoding gradients and read gradients. One example method controls a pMRI apparatus to produce a trajectory having Cartesian and radial segments that sample in a manner that satisfies the Nyquist criterion in at least one region of a volume to be imaged. The pMRI apparatus is controlled to apply radio frequency energy to the volume according to the pulse sequence and following the trajectory and to acquire MR signal from the volume in response to the application of the RF energy. The MR signal includes a first component associated with the Cartesian segment of the trajectory and a second component associated with the radial segment of the trajectory. The example method includes calibrating a reconstruction process using Nyquist-satisfying data from the second component.
US07671587B2	Low field SQUID MRI devices, components and methods Low field SQUID MRI devices, components and methods are disclosed. They include a portable low field (SQUID)-based MRI instrument and a portable low field SQUID-based MRI system to be operated under a bed where a subject is adapted to be located. Also disclosed is a method of distributing wires on an image encoding coil system adapted to be used with an NMR or MRI device for analyzing a sample or subject and a second order superconducting gradiometer adapted to be used with a low field SQUID-based MRI device as a sensing component for an MRI signal related to a subject or sample.
US07671579B1	Method and apparatus for quantifying and minimizing skew between signals 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.
US07671578B2	Detection circuit for sensing the input voltage of transformer A circuit for detecting an input voltage of a transformer is provided. The circuit includes a current source circuit coupled to a winding of a transformer. A current-to-voltage circuit is coupled to the current source circuit to generate a first voltage in response to a current outputted from the current source circuit. A sample-and-hold circuit generates an output voltage by sampling the first voltage. The transformer is coupled to the input voltage, and the output voltage is correlated to the input voltage of the transformer.
US07671577B2	Method for locating objects enclosed in a medium, and measuring device for carrying out the method A method for locating objects enclosed in a medium, comprising the steps of generating a measurement signal correlated with an enclosed object; using the generated measurement signal to produce a signal which represents a difference between at least a first state which is “object detected” and at least a second state which is “no object detected”; switching from the first state “object detected” to the second state “no object detected” if a magnitude of the measurement signal being measured currently falls below a previously measured local maximum value of the measurement signal by a predefined first percentage.
US07671576B2	Ratiometric AC wire tracer An implementation of an apparatus and method for sensing electrical wiring, for example, hidden behind a surface such as a wall is provided. The apparatus and method use multiple sensor signals, which may measure electric fields or changes in a dielectric. Pairs of signals are combined and compared to a sensed reference signal. Multiple sensors help in determining a direction or gradient to electrical wiring. Combining or averaging sensed signal before comparing the combined signal to a reference single helps to make the detection of electrical wiring less dependent on the relative orientation between the sensor and the electrical wiring.
US07671567B2	Multi-mode charging system for an electric vehicle A method and apparatus that allows the end user to optimize the performance of an all-electric or hybrid vehicle and its charging system for a desired mode of operation is provided. The system of the invention includes multiple charging/operational modes from which the user may select. Each charging/operational mode controls the cut-off voltage used during charging and the maintenance temperature of the battery pack.
US07671564B2	Integrated circuit for controlling charging, charging device using the integrated circuit, and method for detecting connection of secondary battery An integrated circuit for charging a secondary battery including a charge current detection circuit detecting a charge current output from a charging transistor, and generating a signal including the charge current information; a voltage comparison circuit comparing a voltage of the battery with one or more predetermined voltages, and generating a signal including the voltage comparison information; and a charge controlling circuit controlling the charging transistor according to information on the voltage of the battery and the signals output from the charge current detection circuit and the voltage comparison circuit such that the charging transistor performs constant current charging or constant voltage charging, wherein the charge controlling circuit stops applying a charge current for a predetermined time in the beginning of charging, and judges that the battery is abnormally connected when the voltage of the battery becomes less than a predetermined voltage within the predetermined time.
US07671563B2	Electrical device with a swivelable rechargeable battery pack An electrical device has an electrical device body, a rechargeable battery pack that can be removed from the electrical device body, and a fastening unit for attaching the rechargeable battery pack to the electrical device body. It is provided that the fastening unit is designed such that electrical contact between the electrical device body and the rechargeable battery pack is established during an attaching motion.
US07671558B2	Induction motor controller The present invention provides an induction motor controller which includes: a circuit for generating a d-axis current reference signal from a d-axis current command value and a periodically varying periodic signal; a d-axis current controller for controlling a d-axis motor current flowing through an induction motor to be controlled to match the d-axis current reference signal; parameter determining means for calculating and determining a motor parameter of the induction motor based on a deviation of the d-axis motor current from the d-axis current reference signal, and controlling a voltage applied to the induction motor using a compensation voltage calculated from the calculated and determined motor parameter, in which a control parameter for controlling the induction motor is set based on the calculated and determined motor parameter.
US07671557B2	Phase current detection method, inverter control method, motor control method and apparatus for carrying out these methods Apparatus and methods for phase current detection used for driving a motor by supplying outputs from a pulse width modulation (PWM) converter to the motor. One method presented provides detecting a DC link current and a vector pattern, determining whether a voltage vector lengths exceeds a predetermined value, and adjusting the voltage vector by adding a positive or reversed voltage based upon the above determination and an integrated error value.
US07671554B2	Motor driving system The present invention relates to a motor driving system. The motor driving system includes a motor, a transmission member, a follower member, a position-detecting light emitter, a position-detecting light receiver, and a positioning-status sensing element. The positioning-status sensing element includes a plurality of notches or openings. The positioning-status sensing element is moved between the position-detecting light emitter and the position-detecting light receiver such that a light beam emitted from the position-detecting light emitter is successively penetrated through the notches or openings to be received by the position-detecting light receiver. According to the light-receiving status of the position-detecting light receiver, the speed of the motor is reduced.
US07671552B2	Control device A control device sets parameters “n”, “ad”, “pd”, “aq”, “pq” and the like of a motor parameter setting unit, corrects a d-axis current command value outputted from a d-axis current instructing unit and a q-axis current command value outputted from q-axis current instructing unit based on these parameters of the motor parameter setting unit, on a detection result of a rotation angle detection unit, and makes a (6×n)f sine component, (6×n)f cosine component, (6×(n+1))f sine component, and (6×(n+1))f cosine component of torque to zero. In such a way, 6×n and 6×(n+1) ripple components and the like, which are generated in a motor provided in elevator equipment or the like, are suppressed, and a torque ripple of the motor is reduced to a large extent.
US07671550B2	Motor control apparatus providing exercise resistance and auto-rewinding functions A motor control apparatus providing an exercise resistance and an auto-rewinding function mainly employs a microprocessor to operate with a current detection feedback loop and a motor rotation speed detection loop for precisely controlling a quick random operation of a motor such that an axle of the motor can quickly control a loss braking unit and a power driving unit based on the existence of an external force, and the motor can automatically switch to an electric generator output mode (for providing an exercise resistance) or an electric machine output mode (for providing the automatic rewinding function).
US07671539B1	Systems and methods for generating optical energy using a light-emitting diode Systems for providing optical energy comprise an LED, a detector of optical energy, such as a photodiode, that measures the intensity of optical energy emitted by the light-emitting diode, and a controller. The controller adjusts the intensity of the optical energy emitted by the LED based on the intensity measurement provide by the photodiode, to maintain the intensity of the emitted optical energy at a desired level.
US07671538B2	Method and system for economical emergency activation of electrical devices A method for activation of an electrical device, for example, in case of power loss. The method may include sensing an effect associated with activity of the electrical device, detecting an electrical power interruption, and activating the electrical device if a change in the effect of the device is sensed in proximity to the power interruption. The invention also provides an activation circuit for activation of an electrical device. The activation circuit may include a device operation detector for sensing an effect associated with activity of the electrical device, a power supply detector for detecting an electrical power interruption, and a driver for activating the electrical device if a change in operation of the device if the change is sensed in proximity to the power interruption.
US07671531B2	Organic electroluminescent device with enhanced light emission An organic electroluminescent device is provided which includes a colored polarizer to reduce power consumption requirements for desired levels of brightness. The organic electroluminescent device includes a substrate, an anode electrode layer, an organic layer, a cathode electrode layer, and a colored polarizer provided on a surface of the substrate opposite a surface of the substrate on which the anode electrode layer is formed such that the colored polarizer polarizes light incident from the outside. The colored polarizer increases transmission of a given color of light based on the color(s) included in the polarizer to thereby decrease total current required by the organic electroluminescent device.
US07671519B2	Bond pad for use with piezoelectric ceramic substrates A piezoelectric assembly includes a piezoelectric substrate that has a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface. A top electrode is defined on the top surface and a first aperture is defined in the top electrode. A bottom electrode is disposed on the bottom surface. The electrodes are formed from a thin film metal. A first thick film bond pad is disposed in the first aperture and is in contact with the piezoelectric substrate. The first thick film bond pad is in electrical contact with the top electrode. In further embodiments, a second thick film bond pad is disposed on either the top surface or in a second aperture defined in the bottom electrode.
US07671510B2	Ultrasonic actuator, driving method of the ultrasonic actuator, lens driver, and portable device An ultrasonic actuator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a stator generating a rotational driving force in accordance with a driving signal having a train pulse, which is used, for example, an AF mechanism; and a rotor converting the rotational driving force into actual movement. In the thus-structured ultrasonic actuator of the present invention, the driving signal is obtained by removing a predetermined number of pulses from the pulse train upon deceleration, and the remaining number of consecutive pulses is set to at least 2 or 4 or more.
US07671506B2	Brush apparatus A brush apparatus includes a brush and a brush holder. The brush includes a pigtail embedded in a wider side thereof so that the longitudinal side in cross-section of the pigtail extends in parallel with a surface of the brush coming into contact with a commutator. The brush holder includes a brush holding member, a brush spring for pressing the brush against the commutator for sliding contact, a base for holding the brush holding member and electrically connecting the same to an earth circuit, and a connection lug on the base. The brush holding member is formed with a notch on a wider side from an upper end thereof for allowing a downward movement of the pigtail when the brush wears and hence is pressed downward. A distal end of the pigtail is connected to the connection lug.
US07671498B2	Fan motor and stator thereof A fan comprises a stator base, a rotor, at least one blade, an upper magnetic pole plate, a lower magnetic pole plate, a coil and a sidewall. The stator base comprises a stator base having a seat and a tubular portion protruding from the seat and having an axial hole. The seat and the tubular portion are formed as a monolithic piece to be a magnetic conductor. The rotor enclosing the tubular portion comprises a shaft disposed in the axial hole. The blades are circumferentially disposed at a periphery of the rotor. The upper magnetic pole plate is disposed near a top of the tubular portion and the lower magnetic pole plate is disposed near a bottom of the tubular portion. The coil is disposed between the upper and lower magnetic pole plates. The sidewall is circumferentially disposed at a periphery of the stator base.
US07671488B1	Voltage substitution device and method of use thereof A voltage substitution device and method of use thereof, wherein the voltage substitution device may include at least two voltage meter modules, a variable DC to DC converter, at least two leads, a switch, a variable resistor and at least two power supplies. One power supply provides power to the voltage meter modules, while the other power supply provides power for the variable DC to DC converter. The leads may be attached to alarm sensor wires, and one voltage meter module displays the voltage across the sensor wires. The output voltage of the variable DC to DC converter may be displayed on the second voltage meter module. The variable resistor may be adjusted to vary the output voltage of the DC to DC converter to match the voltage across the sensor wires. Once the voltages are matched, the switch may be closed to place the output voltage of the DC to DC converter onto the leads and in parallel with the sensor wires.
US07671482B2	Hydrogen powered vehicle refueling strategy A method for refueling hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles is disclosed, that is capable of automatically disabling the vehicle systems, resetting the vehicle systems to allow for normal vehicle operation after the refueling event is complete, and determining if a faulty refueling event has been detected and allows normal vehicle operation.
US07671481B2	Methods and systems for generating electrical power A power generation system including a wind turbine generator for generating electrical power, an alternate power source, and a processor programmed to control operation of the alternate power source to control a power output of the alternate power source at least partially based on at least one of a wind parameter, a wind forecast, a wind turbine condition sensor, and a power output of the electrical generator.
US07671473B2	Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same There is provided a semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same that employs an insulation film of a borazine-based compound to provided enhanced contact between a material for insulation and that for interconnection, increased mechanical strength, and other improved characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a first insulation layer having a recess with a first conductor layer buried therein, an etching stopper layer formed on the first insulation layer, a second insulation layer formed on the etching stopper layer, a third insulation layer formed on the second insulation layer, and a second conductor layer buried in a recess of the second and third insulation layers. The second and third insulation layers are grown by chemical vapor deposition with a carbon-containing borazine compound used as a source material and the third insulation layer is smaller in carbon content than the second insulation layer.
US07671471B2	Method for making a semiconductor device having a high-k dielectric layer and a metal gate electrode A method for making a semiconductor device is described. That method comprises forming a first dielectric layer on a substrate, then forming a trench within the first dielectric layer. After forming a second dielectric layer on the substrate, a first metal layer is formed within the trench on a first part of the second dielectric layer. A second metal layer is then formed on the first metal layer and on a second part of the second dielectric layer.
US07671468B2	Light emitting apparatus A light emitting apparatus is comprised of a multilayer chip varistor having a varistor element body, a semiconductor light emitting element, and a reflecting portion. The varistor element body includes a varistor layer, and a plurality of internal electrodes opposed to each other so as to interpose the varistor layer between the internal electrodes. The semiconductor light emitting element is disposed on the multilayer chip varistor and is electrically connected to the plurality of internal electrodes so as to be connected in parallel to the multilayer chip varistor. The reflecting portion is disposed between the multilayer chip varistor and the semiconductor light emitting element. The reflecting portion reflects light traveling toward the multilayer chip varistor out of light generated by the semiconductor light emitting element.
US07671463B2	Integrated circuit package system with ground ring An integrated circuit package system is provided forming a ring above a paddle and an external interconnect, mounting an integrated circuit die on the paddle, connecting the integrated circuit die and the external interconnect, the external interconnect and the ring, and the ring and the integrated circuit die, and encapsulating the integrated circuit die, the ring, and a portion of the external interconnect and the paddle.
US07671454B2	Tape carrier, semiconductor apparatus, and semiconductor module apparatus A tape carrier of the present invention includes an insulating tape and a wiring pattern formed on the insulating tape. The wiring pattern includes a connecting section via which the wiring pattern is connected to a bump electrode. The connecting section is provided at a part of an overlap part of the wiring pattern, which overlap part overlaps a semiconductor device when the semiconductor device is mounted on the wiring pattern. The connecting section of the wiring pattern is smaller in wiring width than the remaining part of the overlap part, which remaining part is other than the connecting section.
US07671443B2	Integrated circuit fuse structures including spatter shields within opening of an insulating layer and spaced apart from a sidewall of the opening At least one fuse pattern extending in a first direction is formed on a fuse region of a substrate. A preliminary first insulating pattern is formed on the fuse region to cover the fuse pattern. A conductive layer is formed on the preliminary first insulating pattern. The conductive layer and the preliminary first insulating pattern are etched to form at least one fence extending in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Related fuse structures are also disclosed.
US07671439B2	Junction barrier Schottky (JBS) with floating islands A Schottky diode includes a Schottky barrier and a plurality of dopant regions disposed near the Schottky barrier as floating islands to function as PN junctions for preventing a leakage current generated from a reverse voltage. At least a trench opened in a semiconductor substrate with a Schottky barrier material disposed therein constitutes the Schottky barrier. The Schottky barrier material may also be disposed on sidewalls of the trench for constituting the Schottky barrier. The trench may be filled with the Schottky barrier material composed of Ti/TiN or a tungsten metal disposed therein for constituting the Schottky barrier. The trench is opened in a N-type semiconductor substrate and the dopant regions includes P-doped regions disposed under the trench constitute the floating islands. The P-doped floating islands may be formed as vertical arrays under the bottom of the trench.
US07671438B2	Solid-state imaging device A solid-state imaging device includes first pixels and second pixels. Each of the first pixels and the second pixels includes a p-type diffusion layer formed in a semiconductor substrate and an n-type diffusion layer formed on the p-type diffusion layer. A first p-type implantation layer is formed on a surface side of the semiconductor substrate on the n-type diffusion layer of the first pixels. A second p-type implantation layer having a lower impurity concentration than the first p-type implantation layer or no p-type implantation layer is formed on a surface side of the semiconductor substrate on the n-type diffusion layer of the second pixels.
US07671430B2	MEMS resonator and manufacturing method of the same A method is for manufacturing a microeletromechanical system resonator having a semiconductor device and a microelectromechanical system structure unit formed on a substrate. The method includes: forming a lower electrode of an oxide-nitride-oxide capacitor unit included in the semiconductor device using a first silicon layer; forming, using a second silicon layer, a substructure of the microelectromechanical system structure unit and an upper electrode of the oxide-nitride-oxide capacitor unit included in the semiconductor device; and forming, using a third silicon layer, a superstructure of the microelectromechanical system structure unit and a gate electrode of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor circuit unit included in the semiconductor device.
US07671418B2	Double layer stress for multiple gate transistors Multiple gate transistors are provided with a dual stress layer for increased channel mobility and enhanced effective and saturated drive currents. Embodiments include transistors comprising a first stress layer under the bottom gate and a second stress layer overlying the top gate. Embodiments further include transistors with the bottom gate within or through the first stress layer. Methodology includes sequentially depositing stressed silicon nitride, nitride, oxide, amorphous silicon, and oxide layers on a substrate having a bottom oxide layer thereon, patterning to define a channel length, depositing a top nitride layer, patterning stopping on the stressed silicon nitride layer, removing the amorphous silicon layer, epitaxially growing silicon through a window in the substrate to form source, drain, and channel regions, doping, removing the deposited nitride and oxide layers, growing gate oxides, depositing polysilicon to form gates, growing isolation oxides, and depositing the top stress layer.
US07671417B2	Memory cell array, method of producing the same, and semiconductor memory device using the same A memory cell array includes isolated semiconductor regions formed on a supporting insulating substrate, memory cells formed in the respective semiconductor regions, and insulating regions formed so as to insulate the memory cells. Each memory cell formed in a semiconductor region includes a source region, a drain region, a front gate region formed on a gate insulating film formed on one of side surfaces of the semiconductor region such that the source region and the drain region are separated from each other by the front gate region, and a back gate region formed on a gate insulating film formed on an opposite side surface of the semiconductor region such that the source region and the drain region are separated from each other by the back gate region. Each memory cell shares the back gate region with a memory cell adjacent in a row direction.
US07671416B1	Method and device for electrostatic discharge protection A device for providing electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection is provided. The device includes a semiconductor substrate having a drain, a source, and a gate formed therein. The drain contains a region having a resistance that is higher than the resistance of the remainder of the drain and the source. The gate region is in contact with this higher resistance region and the source. In one embodiment, the higher resistance is lacking silicide in order to provide the higher resistance. A method of forming a device for providing ESD protection is included.
US07671414B2	Semiconductor on insulator apparatus A method and apparatus for producing a relatively thin, relatively uniform semiconductor layer which has improved carrier mobility. In an embodiment, a lattice-matched insulator layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a lattice-matched semiconductor layer is formed on the insulator layer to form a relatively thin, relatively uniform semiconductor on insulator apparatus. In embodiments of the method and apparatus, energy band characteristics may be used to facilitate the extraction of the well-region minority carriers.
US07671411B2	Lateral double-diffused MOSFET transistor with a lightly doped source Methods and systems for monolithically fabricating a lateral double-diffused MOSFET (LDMOS) transistor having a source, drain, and a gate on a substrate, with a process flow that is compatible with a CMOS process flow are described.
US07671408B2	Vertical drain extended MOSFET transistor with vertical trench field plate A vertical drain extended metal-oxide semiconductor field effect (MOSFET) transistor or a vertical double diffused metal-oxide semiconductor (VDMOS) transistor includes: a buried layer having a first conductivity type in a semiconductor backgate having a second conductivity type; an epitaxial (EPI) layer having the first conductivity type and formed above the buried layer; a deep well having the first conductivity type in the EPI layer extending down to the buried layer; at least one shallow well having the second conductivity type in the EPI layer; a shallow implant region having the first conductivity type and formed in the shallow well; a gate electrode having a lateral component extending over an edge of the shallow well and stopping at some spacing from an edge of the shallow implant and having a vertical trench field plate extending vertically into the EPI layer.
US07671405B2	Deep bitline implant to avoid program disturb A method of forming at least a portion of a dual bit memory core array upon a semiconductor substrate, the method comprising performing front end processing, performing a first bitline implant, or pocket implants, or both into the first bitline spacings to establish buried first bitlines within the substrate, depositing a layer of the spacer material over the charge trapping dielectric and the polysilicon layer features, forming a sidewall spacer adjacent to the charge trapping dielectric and the polysilicon layer features to define second bitline spacings between adjacent memory cells, performing a deep arsenic implant into the second bitline spacings to establish a second bitline within the structure that is deeper than the first bit line, removing the sidewall spacers and performing back end processing.
US07671396B2	Three-dimensional control-gate architecture for single poly EPROM memory devices fabricated in planar CMOS technology A capacitor for a single-poly floating gate device is fabricated on a semiconductor substrate along with low and high voltage transistors. Each transistor has a gate width greater than or equal to a minimum gate width of the associated process. A dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, and a patterned polysilicon structure is formed over the dielectric layer. The patterned polysilicon structure includes one or more narrow polysilicon lines, each having a width less than the minimum gate width. The LDD implants for low and high voltage transistors of the same conductivity type are allowed to enter the substrate, using the patterned polysilicon structure as a mask. A thermal drive-in cycle results in a continuous diffusion region that merges under the narrow polysilicon lines. Contacts formed adjacent to the narrow polysilicon lines and a metal-1 trace connected to the contacts may increase the resulting capacitance.
US07671395B2	Phase change memory cells having a cell diode and a bottom electrode self-aligned with each other Integrated circuit devices are provide having a vertical diode therein. The devices include an integrated circuit substrate and an insulating layer on the integrated circuit substrate. A contact hole penetrates the insulating layer. A vertical diode is in lower region of the contact hole and a bottom electrode in the contact hole has a bottom surface on a top surface of the vertical diode. The bottom electrode is self-aligned with the vertical diode. A top surface area of the bottom electrode is less than a horizontal section area of the contact hole. Methods of forming the integrated circuit devices and phase change memory cells are also provided.
US07671388B2	Lateral junction field effect transistor and method of manufacturing the same A lateral junction field effect transistor includes a first gate electrode layer arranged in a third semiconductor layer between source/drain region layers, having a lower surface extending on the second semiconductor layer, and doped with p-type impurities more heavily than the second semiconductor layer, and a second gate electrode layer arranged in a fifth semiconductor layer between the source/drain region layers, having a lower surface extending on a fourth semiconductor layer, having substantially the same concentration of p-type impurities as the first gate electrode layer, and having the same potential as the first gate electrode layer. Thereby, the lateral junction field effect transistor has a structure, which can reduce an on-resistance while maintaining good breakdown voltage properties.
US07671378B2	Photonic devices formed on substrates and their fabrication methods The present invention directed to photonic devices which emit or absorb light with a short wavelength formed using molybdenum oxide grown on substrates which consist of materials selected from element semiconductors, III-V or II-IV compound semiconductors, IV compound semiconductors, organic semiconductors, metal crystal and their derivatives or glasses.New inexpensive photonic devices which emit light with a wavelength from blue to deep ultraviolet rays are realized.
US07671376B2	Light emitting apparatus, method of manufacturing light emitting apparatus, and electronic apparatus A light emitting apparatus includes first and second unit devices, each including a reflecting layer, a semi-transmitting semi-reflecting layer, a first light emitting layer disposed between the light reflecting layer and the semi-reflecting layer, and a resonator structure. Each resonator structure includes a light transmitting pixel electrode disposed between the corresponding light reflecting layer and semi-reflecting layer. The pixel electrode of the first unit device has more electrode layers than the pixel electrode of the second unit device.
US07671367B2	Liquid crystal display device and fabricating method thereof A liquid crystal display device and a fabricating method thereof for simplifying a process and improving an aperture ratio are disclosed, including forming a first mask pattern group including a gate line, a gate electrode and a common line; forming a second mask pattern group including a semiconductor pattern and a source/drain pattern having a data line, a source electrode and a drain electrode overlapped thereon on the gate insulating film using a second mask; and forming a third mask pattern group including and a pixel electrode making an interface with the protective film in the pixel hole to be connected to the drain electrode, thereby forming a horizontal electric field with the common electrode, using a third mask.
US07671365B2	Reflection type liquid crystal display apparatus and liquid crystal projector system In order to suppress the effect due to electrons (holes) generated by incident light that cannot be prevented from entering only by means of light shielding, rather than the drain region 34 of a transistor, with respect to a majority carrier, a region 36 whose voltage is set to a value lower than the reference value of product of the voltage of a drain region and Q (unit electric charge) is provided, or a potential barrier is provided around the drain region. In such a configuration, by controlling the voltage of the periphery of the drain region 34 connected to a reflection electrode 30 to be in a floating state, photo carriers generated in the semiconductor substrate are caused to be hardly guided in the drain region 34.
US07671347B2	Cleaning method, apparatus and cleaning system A method to clean optical elements of an apparatus, the apparatus being configured to project a beam of radiation onto a target portion of a substrate, the apparatus comprising a plurality of optical elements arranged in sequence in the path of the radiation beam, wherein the cleaning method comprises: cleaning one or more second optical elements of the sequence, which receive one or more relatively low second radiation doses during operation of the apparatus, utilizing cumulatively shorter cleaning periods than one or more first optical elements of the sequence that receive one or more first radiation doses during operation of the apparatus, a second radiation dose being lower than each relatively high first radiation dose.
US07671342B2	Multi-layer detector and method for imaging X-ray portal imaging detectors have multiple layers, such as multiple layers of phosphor screens and/or detectors. Some x-rays that pass through one layer are detected or converted into light energies in a different layer. For example, one phosphor screen is provided in front and another behind that panel detector circuitry. Light generated in each of the phosphor screens is detected by the same detector circuitry. As another example, multiple layers of phosphor screens and associated detector circuits are provided. Some x-rays passing through one layer may be detected in a different layer. High energy x-rays associated with Megavoltage sources as well as lower or higher energy x-rays may be detected.
US07671341B2	Multi colour photon detectors Described herein is a multi-color radiation detector that comprises a mesa-type multi-layered mercury-cadmium-telluride detector structure monolithically integrated on a substrate. The detector is responsive to three or more discrete wavelength ranges and means is provided whereby each of the wavelength ranges can be detected independently or in combination with others of the ranges.
US07671339B2	Positron emission tomography scanner and radiation detector A positron emission tomography (PET) scanner is provided which uses information on the time-of-flight difference (TOF) between annihilation radiations for image reconstruction. The scanner has detection time correction information (memory) corresponding to information on coordinates in a radiation detection element (e.g., scintillator crystal), in the depth and lateral directions, at which an interaction has occurred between an annihilation radiation and the crystal. Reference is made to the detection time correction information, thereby providing information on time-of-flight difference with improved accuracy. As such, an improved signal to noise ratio and spatial resolution are provided for image reconstruction using time-of-flight (TOF) difference.
US07671337B1	System and method for pointing a laser beam Apparatus and method for directing a laser beam at an object. Some embodiments include generating direction-control information, based on the direction-control information, directing laser energy into a first fiber at a first end of a first fiber bundle during a first time period, forming an output beam of the laser energy from the second end of the first fiber bundle, and steering the output beam of the laser energy from the first fiber in a first selected direction of a plurality of directions during the first time period, and optionally modulating an intensity of the laser energy according to a predetermined pattern. The direction-control information is based on sensing electromagnetic radiation from a scene. Some embodiments use a remote camera wire-connected to the image processor to obtain scene information, while other embodiments use a second fiber bundle to convey image information from an external remote lens to a local camera.
US07671336B2	Method for soil content prediction based on a limited number of mid-infrared absorbances A single absorbance value was found in the mid infrared (mid-IR) region that correlated directly to soil nitrate content while not being influenced by other components in the soil, such as carbonate and organic matter. Using one or two absorbance values, at which interference from other ions is a minimum, to predict a component's concentration as opposed to the conventional method of using a continuous spectrum allows for an in-situ real-time soil nitrate content sensor.
US07671330B2	High resolution mass spectrometry method and system for analysis of whole proteins and other large molecules A matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) method and related system for analyzing high molecular weight analytes includes the steps of providing at least one matrix-containing particle inside an ion trap, wherein at least one high molecular weight analyte molecule is provided within the matrix-containing particle, and MALDI on the high molecular weight particle while within the ion trap. A laser power used for ionization is sufficient to completely vaporize the particle and form at least one high molecular weight analyte ion, but is low enough to avoid fragmenting the high molecular weight analyte ion. The high molecular weight analyte ion is extracted out from the ion trap, and is then analyzed using a detector. The detector is preferably a pyrolyzing and ionizing detector.
US07671328B2	Method of producing molecular profiles of isoparaffins by low emitter current field ionization mass spectrometry The present invention is devoted to an analytical method for directly determining carbon number and molecular weight distributions of isoparaffin mixtures. The analytical means uses low in-scan emitter-current field-ionization mass spectroscopy to substantially reduced or eliminated molecular ion fragmentation for isoparaffins, which allows direct measurement of isoparaffin molecular ions for their distributions. The analytical means is capable of directly characterizing isobutane to C50+ isoparaffins, covering naphtha to gas oil ranges.
US07671318B1	Sensor apparatus and method for low-frequency scene suppression and fixed pattern noise suppression An imaging circuit comprises an image detector, accumulator coupled to the image detector, a focus/defocus mechanism focusing and defocusing an optical image onto the image detector; and a controller operatively connected to the focus/defocus mechanism, wherein the controller controls the focus/defocus mechanism to focus and defocus the optical image onto the image detector to provide focused and defocused images; where the controller controls the focus/defocus mechanism to focus the optical image onto the image detector to provide charge carriers of the focused image onto the accumulator, where the accumulator accumulates the charge carriers of the focused image, the controller controls the focus/defocus mechanism to defocus the optical image onto the image detector to provide charge carriers of the defocused image onto the accumulator, where the accumulator subtracts the charge carriers of the defocused image, and the imaging circuit reads out the charge carriers from the accumulator representative of a low pass filtered version of the focused image.
US07671308B2	Container to facilitate microwave cooking and handling A container for use in microwave heating. The container includes a bottom and a sidewall extending upwardly from the bottom. The sidewall defines an interior and terminates at a staking wall. A flange extends from the stacking wall and includes an edge section and an upper section extending radially outward from the container.
US07671305B2	Systems for regulating voltage to an electrical resistance igniter Systems and methods for energizing an electrical resistance igniter are disclosed. The systems and methods determine the line voltage into the system and control the voltage being applied to the electrical resistance igniters so a first voltage is applied initially and for a time period and thereafter a second voltage is applied, the second voltage being the operating voltage for the igniter. The systems and methods decrease the amount of time required to heat-up the electrical resistance igniter to a temperature sufficient to ignite the gas while regulating the output voltage being delivered to the igniters to prevent over voltage damage to the igniters.
US07671303B2	Glass-ceramic plate and method for making same The present invention relates to a glass-ceramic plate intended especially for covering heating elements and provided on at least one face with at least one enamel patch and/or at least one coat of paint, with the exception, where appropriate, of functional and/or decorative areas.The invention also relates to the process for manufacturing the plate and to the cooking appliance comprising said plate.
US07671289B2	Capacitance type light-emitting switch and light-emitting switch element used for such capacitance type light-emitting switch A capacitance type light-emitting switch and a light-emitting switch element are provided that operate properly by preventing failure in entry and for which a small number of parts are used. A light-emitting switch 61 has a light-emitting switch element 51 and a control element 31. A light-emitting switch element 51 has a panel 2 made of transparent materials, a decorated layer 3 arranged on at least one side of the panel, a light guide plate 4 arranged on the back sides of the panel and the decorated layer, a point light source 5 or a line light source arranged on the side of the light guide plate, and a reflective layer 1 that is made of an opaque metal film of less than 1Ω/cm2 of surface resistance measured by the four-point probe array measurement method, mounted on the back side of the light guide plate, and is formed to have an electrode unit 1a and a conductive unit 1b connected to the electrode unit. The control element 31, which is connected to the electrode unit 1a through the conductive unit 1b, switches a circuit/circuits for an external loading device, depending on the change in the capacitance of the electrode unit.
US07671288B2	Switch apparatus for horn device of vehicle A switch apparatus for the horn device of a vehicle includes an inflator housing and a terminal unit provided in the inflator housing and configured to include a first contact element connected to the inflator and a second contact element connected to the inflator housing. A switching plate is installed using elastic members, which are spaced apart and insulated from the inflator housing, so that the switching plate makes contact with the inflator housing if the inflator housing is pressed, thereby operating the horn. A connector unit is coupled to the terminal unit with inflator wires and a horn wire, and is provided therein with a first connection element and a second connection element so that the horn wire and the inflator housing are electrically connected to each other.
US07671286B2	Key with variable position capability A device may include a key having a key head and an actuator configured to move and to change a position of the key head when the actuator moves, where the actuator is configured to change the position of the key head to a first key position, and when the key head is at the first key head position, the key, when at a depressed position, cannot provide a connection with respect to an electrical interface.
US07671284B2	Multidirectional actuator with variable return force The invention proposes a multidirectional actuator (18) comprising: a bottom support (22) with a main vertical axis “A”, a top actuation member (24) that is mounted so as to tilt relative to the bottom support (22) between a central rest position and several actuation positions that are distributed angularly about the vertical axis “A” of the support (22); and means (48, 60) of returning the actuation member (24) to its central rest position which exert on the actuation member (24) a return force, whose vertical component is not zero and is oriented upwards, at at least one bearing point “P” situated radially at a distance from the vertical axis “A” of the support (22), characterized in that the value of the vertical component of the return force varies according to the angular position of the actuation member (24) about the vertical axis “A” of the support (22).
US07671283B2	Apparatus for shielding electromagnetic radiation A gasket and gasket system for diminishing electromagnetic radiation from an enclosure having two edges remote from one another. The gasket has tangs on one edge for gripping one enclosure edge, and tangs on the other edge for gripping the other enclosure edge. The gasket system includes the combination of an enclosure member having two edges remote from one another with a two-sided gasket having tangs on one side engaged in gripping one enclosure edge, and tangs on the other edge engaged in gripping the other enclosure edge.
US07671275B2	Electrical connection box An electrical connection box includes a box body. The box body has a top wall and a side wall. The top wall is inclined to a horizontal plane and has an edge portion arranged at a lower side in an inclination of the top wall. The side wall is connected to an edge portion of the top wall. A drainage channel is provided along the edge portion of the top wall. A drainage port is provided at an edge of the drainage channel. The drainage port is placed at a position spaced from the side wall.
US07671272B2	Hole transporting material and solid electrolyte and photovoltaic device using same Disclosed herein is a material, and a solid electrolyte and a photovoltaic device using the same. When the material is used as a hole transporting layer material of the photovoltaic device, the reduction of an electrolytic layer resulting from leakage or volatilization of an electrolytic solution is prevented, thus the battery characteristics, long-term stability, and reliability of the photovoltaic device are improved.
US07671266B2	System and method for speech therapy The present disclosure relates to speech therapy and voice training methods. A system is provided which utilizes tonal and rhythm visualization components to allow a person to “see” their words as they attempt to improve or regain their ability to speak clearly. The system is also applicable to vocal music instruction and allows students improve their singing abilities by responding to visual feedback which incorporates both color and shape. The system may comprise a step-by-step instruction method, live performance abilities, and recording and playback features. Certain embodiments incorporate statistical analysis of student progress, remote access for teacher consultation, and video games for enhancing student interest.
US07671263B1	Locking mechanism for percussion musical instrument A high hat cymbal has a magnetic clutch that engages the top cymbal and allows it to be controlled by a standard high hat foot pedal. When the drummer's foot is removed from the high hat foot pedal, the magnetic clutch strikes a mechanical arm which causes the magnetic clutch to disengage without any action required on the part of the drummer. The top cymbal can be re-engaged by the magnetic clutch so that the high hat foot pedal can now be operated again, simply by depressing the high hat foot pedal. A trip bar may be provided to provide for automatic disengagement of the clutch mechanism.
US07671261B1	Musical instrument carrier and related methods A body-supportable musical-instrument carrier featuring a rigid frame, a belly plate, and first and second mounting members is provided. The frame includes a substantially U-shaped intermediate section and end sections at opposite ends of the intermediate section. The intermediate section substantially conforms to shoulder and upper back regions of a user for resting on the shoulder regions and extending across the upper back region of the user in use. The end sections extend substantially parallel to one another for resting in front of a front torso region of the user in use. The first mounting members are mountable on the belly plate and engageable with the end sections, respectively, for securing the belly plate to the frame. The second mounting members are mountable on the belly plate and engageable with a musical instrument for securing the musical instrument to the carrier.
US07671255B2	Low pungency long day onion The present invention includes long-day onion plants comprising bulbs having low pungency and methods for obtaining such onions. The present invention also provides reagents and materials that can be used in the methods for obtaining such onions.
US07671254B2	Herbicide resistance gene, compositions and methods The present disclosure provides methods, recombinant DNA molecules, recombinant host cells containing the DNA molecules, and transgenic plant cells, plant tissue, seeds and plants which contain and express an herbicide resistant protoporphyrinogen oxidase such that they germinate from seed and grow in the presence of an amount of herbicide where the parent plant does not. Such plants are especially appropriate for use in agriculture or horticulture where herbicides are used to kill undesirable plants which might contaminate or compete with the transgenic plant of interest.
US07671251B2	In vivo assay for neurite outgrowth in zebrafish and its application in drug screening A genetically modified zebrafish embryo, comprising a HBNF cDNA or a NGF cDNA or a GDNF cDNA together with a cDNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) so as to induce neurite outgrowth during said zebrafish embryonic development, and a method of using such genetically modified zebrafish embryo to identify a therapeutic agent are disclosed.
US07671250B2	Method of acquiring immunological tolerance The aim of the present invention is to provide a method of acquiring immunological tolerance to a foreign DNA or its expression product whereby the foreign DNA such as a vector carrying a foreign gene incorporated thereinto or its expression product can be recognized not as non-self but as self; a method of sustaining a gene therapeutic effect whereby a rejection to a foreign DNA such as a vector carrying a foreign gene incorporated thereinto or its expression product can be avoided; and a non-human animal which has acquired immunological tolerance to a foreign DNA such as a vector carrying a foreign gene incorporated thereinto or its expression product. Fetal immature T lymphocytes transferred with a foreign DNA, such as a foreign gene-incorporated viral vector, are introduced into thymus and said foreign DNA is expressed in the thymus organ. The methods of transferring said foreign DNA into a fetal immature T lymphocyte include, for example, co-cultivating the fetal immature T lymphocytes with viral vector-infected virus producer cells.
US07671248B2	Process for producing sec-butyl benzene A process for producing sec-butylbenzene comprises contacting a feed comprising benzene and ethylene under alkylation conditions with catalyst comprising (i) a molecular sieve having an X-ray diffraction pattern including d-spacing maxima at 12.4±0.25, 6.9±0.15, 3.57±0.07 and 3.42±0.07 Angstrom and (ii) at least one metal selected from Group 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements to produce an alkylation effluent comprising sec-butylbenzene.
US07671239B2	Method and apparatus for producing purified methyl isobutyl ketone This invention relates to a method of producing purified methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) comprising subjecting a feed stream containing MIBK and impurities to a first distillation procedure from which acetone is recovered. The bottom product of the first distillation procedure is fed to a liquid-liquid separator and an organic phase from the said liquid-liquid separator is fed to the top region of a second distillation column to produce an overhead product. The said overhead product is condensed and fed to the said liquid-liquid separator. A bottom product containing MIBK is withdrawn from the second distillation column. This bottom product is fed to a third distillation column, high boiling impurities are withdrawn as a bottom product, and purified MIBK is also withdrawn. The invention also relates to an apparatus used in such a method.
US07671231B2	Process for making amino acids A process for making an amino acid by the steps of: (a) contacting a compound of formula I with a hydroformylation catalyst and synthesis gas to produce a mixture of aldehyde compounds comprising the formulas IIa, IIb and IIc; (b) reacting the mixture of aldehyde compounds from step (a) to produce a mixture of derivative compounds; (c) contacting the mixture of derivative compounds from step (b) with an enantioselective hydrolase enzyme in the presence of water to produce an L-amino acid having the formula IV; (d) isolating the amino acid having the formula IV in substantially pure form, wherein in formulas I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc and IV, R is H, alkyl or aryl and R1 and R2 are the same or different alkyl groups and wherein R1 and R2 may be fused.
US07671230B2	Derivatization and solubilization of insoluble classes of fullerenes This invention provides improved methods for the derivatization and solubilization of fullerenes, which are particularly useful for those fullerenes that are normally insoluble and which are specifically applied, among others, to endohedral fullerenes, including endohedral metallofullerenes; empty fullerenes, including small-bandgap fullerenes and other insoluble fullerenes and to very high molecular weight fullerenic materials generated in fullerenic soot, including giant fullerenes, fullerenic polymers, carbon nanotubes and metal-carbon nanoencapsulates. More specifically the invention relates to improved methods for cyclopropanation of fullerenes. Specific reaction conditions are provided which allow for cyclopropanation reactions to be successfully performed for the first time on insoluble classes of fullerenes. Also provided is a method for purification of one or more fullerenes from a fullerenic material containing the one or more fullerenes in addition to non-fullerenic carbonaceous material, particularly amorphous carbonaceous material, by derivatizing one or more fullerenes using the methods of the invention and separating soluble derivatizes fullerenes from insoluble materials.
US07671225B2	Ferrocenyl ligands for homogeneous, enantioselective hydrogenation catalysts Compounds of the formula (I) or (I′), where R1 is a hydrogen atom or C1-C4-alkyl and R′1 is C1-C4-alkyl; X1 and X2 are each, independently of one another, a secondary phosphine group; R2 is hydrogen, R01R02R03Si—, C1-C18.acyl substituted by halogen, hydroxy, C1-C8-alkoxy or R04R05N—, -or R06—X01—C(O)—; R01, R02 and R03 are each, independently of one another, C1-C12-alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C4-alkyl or C1-C4-alkoxy-substituted C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl; R04 and R05 are each, independently of one another, hydrogen, C1-C12-alkyl, C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl, or R04 and R05 together are trimethylene, tetramethylene, pentamethylene or 3-oxapcntylene; R06 is C1-C18-alkyl, unsubstituted or C1-C4-alkyl- or C1-C4-alkoxy-substituted C3-C8-cycloalkyl, C6-C10-aryl or C7-C12-aralkyl; X01 is —O— or —NH—; T is C6-C20-arylene; v is 0 or an integer from 1 to 4; and * denotes a mixture of racemic or enantiomerically pure diastereomers or pure racemic or enantiomerically diastereomers, are excellent chiral ligands for metal complexes as enantioselective catalysts for the hydrogenation of prochiral organic compounds.
US07671216B2	Process for preparation of (3R,5R)-7-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-isopropyl-3-phenyl-4-[(4-hydroxy methyl phenyl amino) carbonyl]-pyrrol-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-heptanoic acid hemi calcium salt The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of (3R, 5R)-7-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)-5-isopropyl-3-phenyl-4-[(4-hydroxy methyl phenyl amino)carbonyl]-pyrrol-1-yl]-3,5-dihydroxy-heptanoic acid hemi calcium salt.
US07671212B2	Isothiazole dioxides as CXC- and CC-chemokine receptor ligands Disclosed are novel compounds of the formula: and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof. D and E are different groups wherein one is N and the other is CR50. Examples of groups comprising Substituent A include heteroaryl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkynyl, alkenyl, aminoalkyl, alkyl or amino. Examples of groups comprising Substituent B include aryl and heteroaryl. Also disclosed is a method of treating a chemokine mediated diseases, such as, cancer, angiogenisis, angiogenic ocular diseases, pulmonary diseases, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, stroke and cardiac reperfusion injury, pain (e.g., acute pain, acute and chronic inflammatory pain, and neuropathic pain) using a compound of formula IA.
US07671206B2	Synthesis and uses of pyroglutamic acid derivatives Novel pyroglutamic acid derivatives (I), wherein R1 is —OH, —ORa, wherein Ra is alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, aralkyl or heterocyclyl; R2, R3 and R4 are independently H, a nitrogen protecting group which hydrolyzes under acidic conditions or phtalamide; X is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion; and Y is a N-containing group; either in the form of their isolated optically active stereoisomers or in the form of mixtures thereof, are useful compounds for enhancing an immuneresponse in a subject and/or for treating tumors, bacterial, fungal or viral infections, or autoimmune diseases.
US07671195B2	Process for preparing dibenzothiazepine compounds A dibenzothiazepine compound is suitably prepared by subjecting a 2-amino-2′-carboxy-diphenylsulfide compound to dehydration-condensation reaction in the presence of an acidic catalyst; the 2-amino-2′-carboxy-diphenylsulfide compound is suitably prepared by reducing a 2-nitro-2′-carboxy-diphenylsulfide compound in a lower aliphatic ester solvent; and the 2-nitro-2′-carboxy-diphenylsulfide compound is suitably prepared by reacting a nitrobenzene compound with a thiosalicylic acid compound in a mixture of a lower aliphatic alcohol and water.
US07671193B2	Method for adjusting the degree of substitution with acetyl group of cellulose acetate A process for adjusting an intermolecular or intermolecular degree of acetyl substitution of cellulose acetate is disclosed. The process comprises ripening cellulose acetate in the presence of a catalyst, an acetyl donor, and water or an alcohol. The amount of water and the alcohol is in the range of 0.1 to 10 mol % based on the amount of the acetyl donor.
US07671188B2	Cellulose synthase from pine and methods of use The present invention concerns isolated polynucleotides that encode a polypeptide with cellulose synthase activity and methods of producing a plant that expresses the cellulose synthase-encoding polynucleotides and thereby has a different phenotype compared to a non-transformed plant of the same species.
US07671183B2	PAAD domain-containing polypeptides, encoding nucleic acids, and methods of use The invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding PAAD-domain containing polypeptides and functional fragments thereof, including fragments containing PAAD domains, NACHT domains and ARED domains, encoded polypeptides, and antibodies. Also provided are methods of identifying polypeptides and agents that associate with a PAAD-domain containing polypeptide or fragment thereof, or that alter an association of a PAAD domain-containing polypeptides. Further provided are methods of identifying agents that modulate PAAD domain-mediated inhibition of NFKB activity, or modulate an activity of a NACHT domain of a PAAD domain-containing polypeptide. Also provided are methods of modulating NFKB transcriptional activity in a cell, and methods of altering expression of a PAAD domain-containing polypeptide in a cell.
US07671181B2	Polynucleotides encoding coccidian parasite casein kinase I, a chemotherapeutic target for antiprotozoal agents Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding coccidian casein kinase I, CKI, enzymes from the species Eimeria tenella and Toxoplasma gondii are disclosed. The isolation of these coccidian CKI cDNA sequences results in the disclosure of purified forms of E. tenella and T. gondii CKI proteins, recombinant vectors and recombinant hosts which express coccidian CKI.
US07671169B2	Polycarbonate-polyester block copolymer compositions, methods, and articles A polycarbonate-polyester block copolymer includes a polycarbonate block and a polyester block, each having specific structures. The block copolymer can be prepared, at least in part, from renewable feedstocks. In some forms, the block copolymer includes biodegradable segments that facilitate structural breakdown of objects molded from the block copolymer. Methods of preparing the block copolymer are described as are compositions that include it and articles prepared from it.
US07671163B2	Polymerization process using bivalent monomeric phenoxy tin catalysts The present invention relates to monomeric bivalent phenoxy tin compounds, processes for making the phenoxy tin compounds, and processes for making polyurethanes using the tin compounds as polymerization catalysts.
US07671161B2	Process for producing controlled viscosity fluorosilicone polymers A process for making a fluorosilicone MDaDFbM′ where M=R1R2R3SiO1/2; M′=(OH)R6R7SiO1/2 or (OH)R4R5SiO1/2; D=R4R5SiO2/2; and DF=R6R7SiO2/2; where the subscript a is zero or positive, the subscript b is positive and the subscripts a and b satisfy the following relationship: b>0.4(a+b) and R1 is selected from the group of 1 to 20 carbon atom monovalent alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl hydrocarbon radicals and terminally unsaturated alkenyl groups of from 2 to 10 carbon atoms; R2, R3 are each independently any monovalent hydrocarbon radical: alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or R1 and each R4 and R5 are any monovalent hydrocarbon radical: alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, or alkaryl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and R6 is a fluorine substituted 3 to 20 carbon atom monovalent hydrocarbon radical having no fluorine substitution on the alpha or beta carbon atoms of the radical and R7 is any monovalent hydrocarbon radical: alkyl, aryl, or alkaryl of from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or R6 by reacting 1) b moles of (R6R7SiO)3, with 2) a moles of (R4R5SiO)3, 3) R1R2R3SiOH and 4) an oxygenated promoter. Compositions made by the process and articles of manufacture made from the compositions.
US07671160B2	Curable perfluoropolyether compositions and rubber or gel articles comprising the cured products of the compositions Curable perfluoropolyether rubber compositions are provided comprising (A) a linear perfluoropolyether compound containing at least two alkenyl groups and having a perfluoropolyether structure containing recurring units —CaF2aO— in its backbone, (B) an organosilicon compound containing at least two SiH groups, (C) an inorganic powder capable of chemical and/or physical adsorption of acidic gases and/or sulfur-containing gases, and (D) a hydrosilylation catalyst. The compositions cure into rubber or gel products having minimal permeability to acidic gases and sulfur-containing gases.
US07671155B2	Crosslinked polymers with amine binding groups Crosslinked polymeric materials are described that contain pendant amine capture groups. The amine capture groups include N-sulfonyldicarboximide groups that can react with amine-containing materials by a ring opening reaction. Reaction mixtures used to prepare the crosslinked polymeric materials, articles containing the crosslinked polymeric materials, methods of making articles, and methods of immobilizing an amine-containing material are also described.
US07671152B2	Surfactantless synthesis of amphiphilic cationic block copolymers The present invention is directed to a method of producing an amphiphilic block copolymer, including the steps of: (1) preparing a first aqueous polymerization medium which is comprised of (a) 4-vinylpyridine, (b) a trithiocarbonate RAFT agent, and an emulsifier, wherein the emulsifier is prepared in-situ within the aqueous polymerization medium by the reaction of a latent surfactant with a surfactant activator; (2) polymerizing the 4-vinylpyridine within the first aqueous polymerization medium in the presence of a first free radical initiator to produce a poly(4-vinylpyridine); (3) protonating the poly(4-vinylpyridine) to form a protonated poly(4-vinylpyridine) RAFT macroinitiator; (4) preparing a second aqueous polymerization medium which is comprised of the protonated poly(4-vinylpyridine) RAFT macroinitiator and a monomer containing ethylenic unsaturation but is exclusive of a surfactant; and (5) polymerizing the protonated poly(4-vinylpyridine) RAFT macroinitiator and monomer containing ethylenic unsaturation within the second aqueous medium in the presence of a second free radical initiator and a temperature less than 100° C. to produce an amphiphilic block copolymer of the 4-vinylpyridine and monomer containing ethylenic unsaturation.
US07671151B2	Olefin polymerization process A process for making polyethylene having an uncommon but valuable balance of broad molecular weight distribution and a low level of long-chain branching is disclosed. The process comprises polymerizing ethylene in a single reactor in the presence of an α-olefin and a catalyst comprising an activator and a supported dialkylsilyl-bridged bis(indeno[1,2-b]indolyl)zirconium complex. The polyethylene, which has an Mw/Mn greater than 10 and a viscosity enhancement factor (VEF) of less than 2.5, is valuable for making blown films.
US07671150B2	Polymerization of acyclic aliphatic olefins A robust, impurity tolerant method of making substantially linear polymers of acyclic aliphatic olefins using catalyst complexes comprising a single palladium metal center and a substituted tri-aryl ligand is disclosed.
US07671149B2	Hydrogen response through catalyst modification The present invention provides a process for preparing a catalyst useful in gas phase polymerization of olefins wherein the hydrogen response of the catalyst can be improved by using a ketone as the electron donor in the catalyst. The catalyst consists of compounds of Ti, Mg, Al and a ketone preferably supported on an amorphous support.
US07671147B2	Composition of oxazolidine epoxy resin, epoxy phosphazene, phosphorus compound or polyphenylene ether and curing agent Disclosed is a flame-retardant epoxy resin composition characterized by containing (A) an epoxy resin containing 0.5-10 equivalent/kg of oxazolidone rings, (B) an epoxy group-containing phosphazene compound, (C) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of phosphates, condensed phosphates, quinone derivatives of phosphine compounds, and polyphenylene ethers, and (D) at least one curing agent selected from the group consisting of guanidine derivatives, phenol novolacs, bisphenol A novolacs, cresol novolacs and naphthol novolacs.
US07671140B2	Ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters, polyesters formed thereby, and articles comprising the polyesters Cyclic esters are polymerized in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Group 4 transition metal hydride. The method is capable of producing high molecular weight polyesters with low polydispersities. These high molecular weight polyesters exhibit improved mechanical properties and are useful in a variety of product applications.
US07671134B2	Compositions with improved adhesion to low surface energy substrates Acrylic-based pressure sensitive adhesives are modified with a telechelic hydrocarbon oligomer. The oligomer comprises a hydrocarbon polymer chain or backbone and a functional end group, e.g., an oligomer prepared from a mono hydroxyl polybutadiene polymer and toluene diisocyanate. The oligomer attaches to the acrylic backbone of the polymer as a pendant group and in a preferred embodiment, the oligomer is mixed with the PSA shortly before the PSA is coated.
US07671131B2	Interpolymers of ethylene/α-olefins blends and profiles and gaskets made therefrom Polymer blends comprise at least an ethylene/α-olefin interpolymers and at least one polyolefin. The polyolefins can be homopolymers or interpolymers and have a melt strength of at least about 6 cN. The ethylene/α-olefin interpolymer is a block copolymer having at least a hard block and at least a soft block. The soft block comprises a higher amount of comonomers than the hard block. The block interpolymer has a number of unique characteristics disclosed here. The polymer blends can be profiled extruded to make profiles, gaskets, and other products.
US07671129B2	Polycarbonate/graft copolymer compositions The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition capable of demonstrating impact strength, and high resistance to hydrolysis and heat discoloration without impairing the essential properties of the thermoplastic resin. The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition containing: 70 to 99% by mass of thermoplastic resin (A) containing a polycarbonate resin as an essential component; and 1 to 30% by mass of graft copolymer (B) which is a graft copolymer obtained by emulsion graft polymerization of a monomer or monomer mixture containing at least alkyl methacrylate in the presence of a latex containing a butadiene rubber polymer, wherein the amount of the butadiene rubber polymer included is in the range of 55 to 90% by mass, and the graft copolymer (B) is obtained by using 0.05 to 10 parts by mass of sodium alkylphenylether disulfonate with respect to 100 parts by mass of the graft copolymer (B).
US07671126B1	Tire with tread The invention relates to a tire having a tread which contains coal dust to promote a fast wearing tread running surface designed to expel internally heated tread rubber.
US07671124B2	Hydrotalcite and synthetic resin composition It is an object of the present invention to provide hydrotalcite which can inhibit a white discoloration by water of a polyolefin film for agricultural uses, a blooming to the surface of a vinyl chloride resin film, a reduction in electric resistance in the case of using the hydrotalcite as a stabilizer of a vinyl chloride resin for covering wires, the occurrence of die drool in the case of using the hydrotalcite as a neutralizer of an acid catalyst residue in a polyolefin resin or a copolymer thereof, and coloring (yellowing) in extrusion in preparing pellets and can be suitably used as a resin additive, a method of producing the same and a synthetic resin composition containing the same.Hydrotalcite expressed by the following formula (1); [(Mg)x(Zn)y]1−z(Al)z(OH)2(An−)z/n.mH2O (1) in the formula An− represents an anion having a valence of n, and x, y, z and m are values which satisfy the following expressions, 0.5≦x≦1, 0≦y≦0.5, x+y=1, 0.1≦z≦0.5, 0≦m<1, and the hydrotalcite has a sodium content of 100 ppm or less and is used as a resin additive.
US07671123B2	Fluororesin aqueous dispersion with polyoxyalkylene ester surfactant A fluororesin aqueous dispersion comprising from 20 to 70 mass % of microparticles of a fluororesin and from 1 to 12 mass %, based on the mass of the fluororesin, of a non-ionic surfactant represented by the formula (1): R1—O-A-X (1) wherein R1 is a C6-18 alkyl group, O is an oxygen atom, A is a polyoxyalkylene group comprising from 1 to 3 oxybutylene groups and from 5 to 20 oxyethylene groups, and X is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
US07671119B2	Compositions The present invention provides a composition containing a particulate solid, an organic medium and/or water and a compound of Formula (1) and salts thereof: Formula (1) wherein R and R′ are independently H or C1-30-optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; or R is H or C1-30-optionally substituted hydrocarbyl and R′ is R″C═O (an acyl group where R″ is hydrogen, alkyl or an optionally substituted alkyl or aryl or an optionally substituted aryl); Y is C2-4-alkyleneoxy; T is C2-4 alkylene; A is the residue of a dibasic acid or anhydride thereof; Z is the residue of a polyamine and/or polyimine; W is the residue of an oxide, urea or dibasic acid or anhydride thereof, or mixtures thereof; x is from 2 to 90; and v represents the maximum available number of amino and/or imino groups in Z which does not carry the group RR′N-T-O—(Y)X-T-NH-A-.
US07671117B2	Resin composition Moldings made with a polyester resin which comprises a cyclic compound represented by a following formula A1-B-A2 (in the formula, A1 and A2 are the same or different and show groups represented by a below-described formula, P shows a benzene ring which may be replaced by a material, and B shows a bivalent hydrocarbon group which may be replaced by a material) and polyester capable of having a crystal structure.
US07671115B2	Method for enhancing water-repellency treatment of mineral hydraulic binder compositions and compositions obtainable by said method and their uses The invention concerns a method for enhancing water-repellency repellency treatment of mineral hydraulic binder compositions and compositions obtainable by said method and their uses in the building sector, said method comprising the step of adding a sufficient amount of at least one monovalent cation salt of a carboxylic acid to said composition.
US07671101B2	Gelled biopolymer based foam Gelled biopolymer based foams are disclosed. The gelled foams comprise a cross-linked biopolymer, preferably alginate; optionally, a foaming agent such as hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose; and a plasticizer, preferably glycerin sorbitol, or a mixture thereof, that forms the predominant portion of the gelled foam. The foams are soft and pliable and have high absorbency. They are used as wound dressing materials, controlled release delivery systems, cell culture, barrier media for preventing tissue adherence, and bioabsorbable implants. They also have various personal care applications, especially in oral hygiene, and can be used in food applications.
US07671100B2	Gelled biopolymer based foam Gelled biopolymer based foams are disclosed. The gelled foams comprise a cross-linked biopolymer, preferably alginate; optionally, a foaming agent such as hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose; and a plasticizer, preferably glycerin sorbitol, or a mixture thereof, that forms the predominant portion of the gelled foam. The foams are soft and pliable and have high absorbency. They are used as wound dressing materials, controlled release delivery systems, cell culture, barrier media for preventing tissue adherence, and bioabsorbable implants. They also have various personal care applications, especially in oral hygiene, and can be used in food applications.
US07671098B2	Alkoxylated, cross-linked polyglycerols and use thereof as biodegradable demulsifier The invention relates to the use of alkoxylated crosslinked polyglycerols for demulsifying oil/water emulsions in amounts of from 0.0001 to 5% by weight, based on the oil content of the emulsion to be demulsified. The alkoxylated crosslinked polyglycerols of the invention is crosslinked with multifunctional electrophilic compounds having a molecular weight of from 1000 to 100 000 units and which comprise 5 to 100 glycerol units which are alkoxylated with C2-C4-alkylene oxide groups or a mixture of such alkylene oxide groups so that the crosslinked alkoxylated polyglycerols have a degree of alkoxylation of from 1 to 100 alkylene oxide units per free OH group.
US07671094B2	Bupropion hydrobromide and therapeutic applications Bupropion hydrobromide formulations as well as their use for the treatment of conditions is described.
US07671089B2	Levodopa prodrugs, and compositions and uses thereof Prodrugs of levodopa, methods of making prodrugs of levodopa, methods of using prodrugs of levodopa, and compositions of prodrugs of levodopa are disclosed.
US07671081B2	Multifunctional cationic photoinitiators, their preparation and use Compounds of formula (I): wherein the substituents are as defined herein.
US07671072B2	Aminopyrazole derivatives as GSK-3 inhibitors The present invention provides compounds of formula (I) the stereoisomers and prodrugs thereof, and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds, stereoisomers, and prodrugs, wherein R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein; pharmaceutical compositions thereof; combinations thereof; and uses thereof in the treatment of, inter alia, conditions, diseases, and symptoms including, inter alia, Alzheimer's Disease, cancer, dementia, depression, diabetes, hair loss, schizophrenia, and stroke.
US07671067B2	Treatment of non-hodgkin's lymphomas with multi-arm polymeric conjugates of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamtothecin The present invention relates to methods of treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The present invention includes administering polymeric prodrugs of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin to patients in need thereof.
US07671063B2	2,4 Di (hetero) -arylamino-pyrimidine derivatives as ZAP-70 and/or syk inhibitors Disclosed are pyrimidine derivatives of formula wherein R0, R1, R3 to R9, and Z have a signification as indicated in claim 1, which have interesting pharmaceutical properties.
US07671061B2	Methods and compositions for treating pain The present application relates to compounds and methods for treating pain, incontinence and other conditions.
US07671058B2	N-(3,4-disubstituted phenyl) salicylamide derivatives A compound represented by the following formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, cyano group, nitro group, a C1-4 alkyl group, a halogenated C1-4 alkyl group or a C1-4 alkoxy group, R5 represents a halogen atom, cyano group, a C1-4 alkyl group, a halogenated C1-4 alkyl group or a C1-4 alkoxy group, R6 represents a C5-7 cycloalkyl group, a substituted C5-7 cycloalkyl group, a 5 to 7-membered completely saturated heterocyclic group or a substituted 5 to 7-membered completely saturated heterocyclic group, X represents a single bond, oxygen atom, sulfur atom, NR7, —O—CH2— or —N(R8)—CH2—, R7 represents hydrogen atom or a C1-4 alkyl group, or R7 may combine with a substituent of R6 to represent a single bond, methylene group or ethylene group, R8 represents hydrogen atom, a C1-4 alkyl group or a C7-12 aralkyl group, which is useful as an active ingredient of a medicament for prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of diseases caused by an activation of STAT6 and/or NF-κB.
US07671056B2	Piperazine-piperidine antagonists and agonists of the 5-HT1A receptor The present invention relates to novel piperazine-piperidine compounds. The compounds are useful as 5-HT1A binding agents, particularly as 5-HT1A receptor antagonists and agonists. These compounds are useful in treating central nervous system disorders, such as cognition disorders, anxiety disorders, depression and sexual dysfunction. The invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of formula (I′): wherein R1-R16, Ra, Rb, and n are set forth in the specification. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of formula (I′).
US07671055B2	Insecticidal 3-(dihaloalkenyl) phenyl derivatives Certain novel 3-(dihaloalkenyl)phenyl derivatives have unexpected insecticidal activity. These compounds are represented by formula (I), where R through R5, a, b, D, E, G and U are fully described herein. In addition, compositions comprising an insecticidally effective amount of at least one compound of formula (I), and optionally, an effective amount of at least one of second compound, with at least one insecticidally compatible carrier are also disclosed; along with methods of controlling insects comprising applying said compositions to a locus where insects are present or are expected to be present.
US07671045B2	17-phosphorous steroid derivatives useful as progesterone receptor modulators The present invention is directed to novel 17-phosphorous steroid derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by a progesterone or glucocorticoid receptor.
US07671041B2	Hydrolysate of avian cartilage, process of preparation and uses thereof This invention relates to a hydrolysate of avian cartilage comprising 45% to 70% by weight of hydrolysed type II collagen, 9% to 15% by weight of chondroitin sulphate, 0.5% to 2% in weight of hyaluronic acid; with a composition of amino acids in which valine represents 2.7% to 3.3%, isoleucine represents 2.0 to 2.4, phenylalanine represents 2.2% to 2.6%, lysine represents 3.8% to 4.2%, tryptophane represents 0.4% to 0,6%, hydroxyproline represents 5.5% to 8.7%, hydroxylysine represents 0.7% to 1.8%, and in which the molar ratio between hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine is between 5.0 and 8.0; and having an average molecular weight of the peptidic fraction between 500 and 1000 Daltons. The invention also relates to a process for preparing said hydrolysate, and its use as a food complement, and/or as a medicament, particularly for treatment or prevention of joint pain.
US07671035B2	Epidermal growth factor receptor antisense oligonucleotides Disclosed are synthetic oligonucleotides complementary to nucleic acids encoding epidermal growth factor and methods of their use.
US07671034B2	Stabilized formulation of ivermectin feed premix with an extended shelf life The invention relates to a stabilized premix feed or feed-like formulation that has an extended shelf life due to a decrease of the degradates of the active ingredient by controlling the amount of an already existing stabilizer in the formulation. The feed premix is used in the treatment of parasites in mammals, in particular swine and horses. The invention further relates to a method to extend the shelf life of a stable premix feed or feed-like formulation for the treatment of parasite infestation in swine and horses comprising controlling the amount of an already existing antioxidant or stabilizer in the formulation to decrease or to prevent the formation of acid/base catalyzed decomposition of the active ingredient.
US07671028B2	Peptides that antagonize FPR class receptor mediated signaling The present application discloses W-rich peptide that is useful for inhibiting FPR class receptor activity.
US07671023B2	Amylin agonist for treating depression, anxiety disorder and schizophrenia Methods and compositions for treating psychiatric diseases and disorders are disclosed. The methods provided generally involve the administration of an amylin or an amylin agonist to a subject in order to treat psychiatric diseases and disorders, and conditions associated with psychiatric diseases and disorders.
US07671022B2	Methods for treating cardiovascular disease using a soluble CTLA4 molecule The present invention relates to compositions and methods for treating cardiovascular system diseases by administering to a subject soluble CTLA4 molecules that block endogenous B7 molecules from binding their ligands.
US07671020B2	Methods of increasing cartilage deposition using FGF homologs The present invention relates to methods of using zFGF5 compositions to proliferate chondrocytes and their progenitors, and to induce deposition of cartilage. zFGF5 compositions are disclosed for treating disorders associated with chondrocytes, such as cartilage injuries and defects. In addition, methods for treating neurological disorders, such as stroke, are disclosed, and methods for using zFGF5 compositions to stimulate growth of cells associated with neurological injury and disease are disclosed.
US07671015B2	Aequorin-containing compositions and methods of using same Compositions containing aequorin and methods for their use in preventing and/or alleviating symptoms and disorders related to calcium imbalance are provided by the present invention.
US07671011B2	Antimicrobial and anticancer lipopeptides Lipophilic conjugates comprise a peptide coupled to a fatty acid The peptide comprises at least two positively charged amino acid residues; the peptide after conjugation to the fatty acid possessing antibacterial, antifungal, and/or anticancer activity higher than prior to conjugation. The lipophilic conjugates are suitable for treatment of infections caused by pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and fungi. The lipophilic conjugates are also suitable for sanitation, as disinfectants, or for food preservation.
US07671007B2	Personal care compositions comprising hydrophobically modified cationic polymers The invention provides personal care/personal wash compositions comprising hydrophobically modified cationic polymers which enhance deposition of benefit agent.
US07671006B2	Phosphated alcanol, its use as a hydrotrope and cleaning composition containing the compound The present invention relates to the use of phosphated 2-propylheptanol or a phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate as a hydrotrope in aqueous alkaline solutions for a C8-C18-alcohol alkoxylate containing 1-20 ethyleneoxy units. It also relates to a phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate per se, and an alkaline cleaning composition comprising a C8-C18-alcohol alkoxylate containing 1-20 ethyleneoxy units and phosphated 2-propylheptanol and/or a phosphated 2-propylheptanol alkoxylate as a hydrotrope. The cleaning compositions may be used for industrial cleaning of hard surfaces, for example for vehicle cleaning or machine dishwashing.
US07671005B2	Active containing delivery particle The present invention relates to non-surfactant active containing delivery particles, cleaning compositions comprising said particles, and processes for making and using the aforementioned particles and cleaning compositions. When employed in cleaning compositions, such particles provide more uniform active delivery. Thus, resulting in improved cleaning performance without the increased cleaning negatives that may be associated with higher levels of certain active levels.
US07670992B2	Method of producing probe arrays for biological materials using fine particles The use of probe arrays in which probes of various biological substances such as DNA are immobilized on the surface of a solid is becoming established as an effective means for high-speed screening. Different kinds of probes, such as DNA, are immobilized on the surface of a multiple number of independently treatable fine particles, such as beads, instead of the surface of a single solid, and the resulting beads are aligned in a capillary or a cell in a designated order. The size of the area where one probe is immobilized is reduced. The bead probe array is characterized in that such small beads are aligned one by one in a designated manner using a sheet with holes, and one or a multiple number of beads are held in the holes and then transferred to a probe array holder such as a capillary.
US07670982B2	Rare-earth oxide sintered body and manufacturing method A rare-earth oxide sintered body, or corrosion-resistant material, having low sintering temperature and high density is prepared by adding a boron compound at a ratio of 0.06 mol % or more and less than 25 mol % when converted into boron oxide (B2O3) to oxide powder of at least one of La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, and Sc, after which the mixed powder is formed and sintered. The sintered body comprises at least one of La2O3, Nd2O3, Sm2O3, Eu2O3, Gd2O3, Dy2O3, Ho2O3, Er2O3, Tm2O3, Yb2O3, Lu2O3, and Sc2O3, and at least one of Ln3BO6 (Ln=La, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu), and Sc3BO6 as a main constituent crystal thereof.
US07670978B2	Optical glass, precision press molding preform and optical element The optical glass has a refractive index of equal to or greater than 1.65 and an Abbé number ranging from 50 to 60. In the optical glass, as molar basis, a ratio of SiO2 content to B2O3 content is greater than 0.5 and equal to or less than 0.90; a total content of SiO2 and B2O3 ranges from 50 to 70 percent; Li2O content ranges from 5 to 20 percent; La2O3 content ranges from 0.5 to 22 percent; a ratio of ZnO content to RO (MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO) is equal to or greater than 0.5; a total content of Gd2O3, Y2O3 and Yb2O3 ranges from 1 to 15 percent; Sb2O3 content ranges from 0 to 1 percent; and no BaO is comprised, or a ratio of the total content of La2O3, Gd2O3, Y2O3 and Yb2O3 to the content of BaO is equal to or greater than 10.
US07670972B2	Chalcogenide glass composition A chalcogenide glass composition composed of arsenic (As), selenium (Se), sulfur (S), and antimony (Sb) is presented. The composition includes arsenic in the range from 25% to 45% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, selenium in the range from 40% to 65% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, sulfur in the range from 2% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, and antimony in the range from 0% to 15% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition. The variability of constituents on a weight basis is greater than the related arts, thus facilitating a broader range of design options. The glass composition is preferred to have a thermal expansion coefficient of about 23.6×10−6/° C., a temperature coefficient of refractive index less than about 1×10−6/° C., a glass transition temperature less than 200 degrees Celsius, and/or a glass softening temperature less than 250 degrees Celsius. The present invention has immediate applicability within infrared sensors, infrared imaging devices, lasers, and fiber optic components, one example being amplifiers.
US07670970B2	Method for making carbon fabric and product thereof A carbon fabric of high conductivity and high density is formed of oxidized fibers of polypropylene. The oxidized fibers have a carbon content at least 50 wt %, an oxygen content at least 4 wt %, and a limiting oxygen index at least 35%. The carbon fabric is made by preparing a raw fabric obtained from oxidized fibers of polypropylene by weaving and then carbonizing the raw fabric.
US07670967B2	Dispersible alcohol/cleaning wipes via topical or wet-end application of acrylamide or vinylamide/amine polymers The present invention is directed to a wet wipe product. The wet wipe product comprises a fibrous substrate and a triggerable binder formulation. The triggerable binder formulation is capable of binding the fibers in the fibrous substrate. The triggerable binder formulation may include acrylamide polymers, vinylamide/amine polymers, and mixtures. The triggerable binder formulation is insoluble in a wetting composition comprising an insolubilizing agent but is dispersible in disposal water.
US07670963B2	Single-wafer process for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device A method for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The method includes first forming a tunnel dielectric layer on a substrate in a first process chamber of a single-wafer cluster tool. A charge-trapping layer is then formed on the tunnel dielectric layer in a second process chamber of the single-wafer cluster tool. A top dielectric layer is then formed on the charge-trapping layer in the second or in a third process chamber of the single-wafer cluster tool.
US07670952B2	Method of manufacturing metal silicide contacts A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising forming a metal silicide gate electrode on a semiconductor substrate surface. The method also comprises exposing the metal silicide gate electrode and the substrate surface to a cleaning process. The cleaning process includes a dry plasma etch using an anhydrous fluoride-containing feed gas and a thermal sublimation configured to leave the metal silicide gate electrode substantially unaltered. The method also comprises depositing a metal layer on source and drain regions of the substrate surface and annealing the metal layer and the source and drain regions of the substrate surface to form metal silicide source and drain contacts.
US07670948B2	Semiconductor device having diffusion barriers and a method of preventing diffusion of copper in a metal interconnection of a semiconductor device Embodiments of a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same may include an insulating layer formed on a substrate and having a predetermined hole, a metal interconnection formed in the hole and protruding relative to the insulating layer, a first barrier extending in a lateral direction of the metal interconnection, a second barrier formed on the metal interconnection, and a metal pad formed on the second barrier.
US07670945B2	In situ deposition of a low κ dielectric layer, barrier layer, etch stop, and anti-reflective coating for damascene application The present invention provides a SiC material, formed according to certain process regimes, useful as a barrier layer, etch stop, and/or an ARC, in multiple levels, including the pre-metal dielectric (PMD) level, in IC applications and provides a dielectric layer deposited in situ with the SiC material for the barrier layers, and etch stops, and ARCs. The invention may also utilize a plasma containing a reducing agent, such as ammonia, to reduce any oxides that may occur, particularly on metal surfaces such as copper filled features. This particular SiC material is useful in complex structures, such as a damascene structure and is conducive to in situ deposition, especially when used in multiple capacities for the different layers, such as the barrier layer, the etch stop, and the ARC and can include in situ deposition of the associated dielectric layer(s).
US07670942B2	Method of fabricating self-aligned contact pad using chemical mechanical polishing process A method of fabricating a self-aligned contact pad (SAC) includes forming stacks of a conductive line and a capping layer on a semiconductor substrate, spacers covering sidewalls of the stacks, and an insulation layer filling gaps between the stacks and exposing the top of the capping layer, etching the capping layer to form damascene grooves, forming a plurality of first etching masks with a material different from that of the capping layer to fill the damascene grooves without covering the top of the insulation layer, and forming a second etching mask having an opening region that exposes some of the first etching masks and a portion of the insulation layer located between the first etching masks. The method further includes etching the portion of the insulation layer exposed by the opening region using the first and second etching masks to form a plurality of opening holes, removing the second etching mask, forming a conductive layer filling the opening holes to cover the remaining first etching masks and performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process on the conductive layer using the capping layer as a polishing end point to remove the first etching masks such that a plurality of SAC pads separated from each other are formed that fill the opening holes.
US07670938B2	Methods of forming contact openings The present invention is directed to methods of forming contact openings. In one illustrative embodiment, the method includes forming a feature above a semiconducting substrate, forming a layer stack comprised of a plurality of layers of material above the feature, the layer stack having an original height, reducing the original height of the layer stack to thereby define a reduced height layer stack above the feature, forming an opening in the reduced height layer stack for a conductive member that will be electrically coupled to the feature and forming the conductive member in the opening in the reduced height layer stack.
US07670934B1	Methods for fabricating MOS devices having epitaxially grown stress-inducing source and drain regions Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device on and in a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method comprises forming a first gate stack overlying the first region and a second gate stack overlying the second region, etching into the substrate first recesses and second recesses, the first recesses aligned at least to the first gate stack in the first region, and the second recesses aligned at least to the second gate stack in the second region, epitaxially growing a first stress-inducing monocrystalline material in the first and second recesses, removing the first stress-inducing monocrystalline material from the first recesses, and epitaxially growing a second stress-inducing monocrystalline material in the first recesses, wherein the second stress-inducing monocrystalline material has a composition different from the first stress-inducing monocrystalline material.
US07670933B1	Nanowire-templated lateral epitaxial growth of non-polar group III nitrides A method for growing high quality, nonpolar Group III nitrides using lateral growth from Group III nitride nanowires. The method of nanowire-templated lateral epitaxial growth (NTLEG) employs crystallographically aligned, substantially vertical Group III nitride nanowire arrays grown by metal-catalyzed metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) as templates for the lateral growth and coalescence of virtually crack-free Group III nitride films. This method requires no patterning or separate nitride growth step.
US07670924B2	Air gap integration scheme Methods are provided for forming a structure that includes an air gap. In one embodiment, a method is provided for forming a damascene structure comprises depositing a porous low dielectric constant layer by a method including reacting an organosilicon compound and a porogen-providing precursor, depositing a porogen-containing material, and removing at least a portion of the porogen-containing material, depositing an organic layer on the porous low dielectric constant layer by reacting the porogen-providing precursor, forming a feature definition in the organic layer and the porous low dielectric constant layer, filing the feature definition with a conductive material therein, depositing a mask layer on the organic layer and the conductive material disposed in the feature definition, forming apertures in the mask layer to expose the organic layer, removing a portion or all of the organic layer through the apertures, and forming an air gap adjacent the conductive material.
US07670923B1	Method of fabricating strain-silicon CMOS Recesses are formed in the drain and source regions of an MOS transistor. The recesses are formed using two anisotropic etch processes and first and second sidewall spacers. The recesses are made up of first and second recesses, and the depths of the first and second recesses are independently controllable. The recesses are filled with a stressed material to induce strain in the channel, thereby improving carrier mobility. The widths and depths of the first and second recesses are selectable to optimize strain in the channel region.
US07670917B2	Semiconductor device made by using a laser anneal to incorporate stress into a channel region In one aspect there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising forming gate electrodes over a semiconductor substrate, forming source/drains adjacent the gate electrodes, depositing a stress inducing layer over the gate electrodes. A laser anneal is conducted on at least the gate electrodes subsequent to depositing the stress inducing layer at a temperature of at least about 1100° C. for a period of time of at least about 300 microseconds, and the semiconductor device is subjected to a thermal anneal subsequent to conducting the laser anneal.
US07670912B2	Methods of fabricating multichannel metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors Unit cells of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors are provided including an integrated circuit substrate an a MOS transistor on the integrated circuit substrate. The MOS transistor includes a source region, a drain region and a gate. The gate is positioned between the source region and the drain region. A horizontal channel is provided between the source and drain regions. The horizontal channel includes at least two spaced apart horizontal channel regions. Related methods of fabricating MOS transistors are also provided.
US07670903B2	Method for fabricating a cylindrical capacitor using amorphous carbon-based layer A method for fabricating a cylindrical capacitor. The method includes forming an isolation structure including an interlayer on a substrate, the substrate having a plurality of contact plugs formed therein, forming a plurality of opening regions by etching the isolation structure, thereby exposing selected portions of the contact plugs, forming storage nodes on a surface of the opening regions, etching selected portions of the isolation structure to form a patterned interlayer that encompasses selected portions of the storage nodes, thereby supporting the storage nodes, removing remaining portions of the isolation structure, and removing the patterned interlayer to expose inner and outer walls of the storage nodes.
US07670900B2	Method and structure for fabricating capacitor devices for integrated circuits A dynamic random access memory device including a capacitor structure, e.g., trench, stack. The device includes a substrate (e.g., silicon, silicon on insulator, epitaxial silicon) having a surface region. The device includes an interlayer dielectric region overlying the surface region. In a preferred embodiment, the interlayer dielectric region has an upper surface and a lower surface. The device has a container structure within a portion of the interlayer dielectric region. The container structure extends from the upper surface to the lower surface. The container structure has a first width at the upper surface and a second width at the lower surface. The container structure has an inner region extending from the upper surface to the lower surface. In a specific embodiment, the container structure has a higher dopant concentration within a portion of the inner region within a vicinity of the lower surface and on a portion of the inner region near the vicinity of the lower surface. The device also has a doped polysilicon layer overlying the inner region of the trench structure. The device has a first hemispherical grained silicon material having a first grain dimension near the vicinity of the lower surface and a second hemispherical grained silicon material having a second grain dimension near a vicinity of the upper surface of the container structure. In a preferred embodiment, the first grain dimension has an average size of no greater than about ½ of an average size of the second grain dimension to prevent any bridging of any portions of the hemispherical grained silicon material within the vicinity of the lower surface.
US07670894B2	Selective high-k dielectric film deposition for semiconductor device Embodiments of the present invention describe a method of fabricating a III-V quantum well transistor with low current leakage and high on-to-off current ratio. A hydrophobic mask having an opening is formed on a semiconductor film. The opening exposes a portion on the semiconductor film where a dielectric layer is desired to be formed. A hydrophilic surface is formed on the exposed portion of the semiconductor film. A dielectric layer is then formed on the hydrophilic surface by using an atomic layer deposition process. A metal layer is deposited on the dielectric layer.
US07670893B2	Membrane IC fabrication General purpose methods for the fabrication of integrated circuits from flexible membranes formed of very thin low stress dielectric materials, such as silicon dioxide or silicon nitride, and semiconductor layers. Semiconductor devices are formed in a semiconductor layer of the membrane. The semiconductor membrane layer is initially formed from a substrate of standard thickness, and all but a thin surface layer of the substrate is then etched or polished away. In another version, the flexible membrane is used as support and electrical interconnect for conventional integrated circuit die bonded thereto, with the interconnect formed in multiple layers in the membrane. Multiple die can be connected to one such membrane, which is then packaged as a multi-chip module. Other applications are based on (circuit) membrane processing for bipolar and MOSFET transistor fabrication, low impedance conductor interconnecting fabrication, flat panel displays, maskless (direct write) lithography, and 3D IC fabrication.
US07670892B2	Nitrogen based implants for defect reduction in strained silicon A transistor is fabricated upon a semiconductor substrate, where the yield strength or elasticity of the substrate is enhanced or otherwise adapted. A strain inducing layer is formed over the transistor to apply a strain thereto to alter transistor operating characteristics, and more particularly to enhance the mobility of carriers within the transistor. Enhancing carrier mobility allows transistor dimensions to be reduced while also allowing the transistor to operate as desired. However, high strain and temperature associated with fabricating the transistor result in deleterious plastic deformation. The yield strength of the silicon substrate is therefore adapted by incorporating nitrogen into the substrate, and more particularly into source/drain extension regions and/or source/drain regions of the transistor. The nitrogen can be readily incorporated during transistor fabrication by adding it as part of source/drain extension region formation and/or source/drain region formation. The enhanced yield strength of the substrate mitigates plastic deformation of the transistor due to the strain inducing layer.
US07670889B2	Structure and method for fabrication JFET in CMOS A design structure, and more particularly, to a design structure for manufacturing a JFET in SOI, a JFET and methods of manufacturing the JFET are provided. The JFET includes a gate poly formed directly on an SOI layer and a gate oxide layer interposed between outer edges of the gate poly and the SOI layer.
US07670888B2	Low noise JFET Fashioning a low noise (1/f) junction field effect transistor (JFET) is disclosed, where multiple implants are performed to push a conduction path of the transistor away from the surface of a layer upon which the transistor is formed. In this manner, current flow in the conduction path is less likely to be disturbed by defects that may exist at the surface of the layer, thereby mitigating (1/f) noise.
US07670876B2	Integrated circuit device with embedded passive component by flip-chip connection and method for manufacturing the same An integrated circuit device with embedded passive component by flip-chip connection is provided which includes a flip chip and a dummy chip. The dummy chip includes at least an embedded passive component, a plurality of redistribution traces and a plurality of flip-chip pads. The flip chip is smaller than the dummy chip and is mounted on a surface of the dummy chip with the flip-chip pads. The embedded passive component is electrically connected to the flip chip via the redistribution traces and the flip-chip pads. A plurality of solder balls are placed at the peripheral region of the surface of the dummy chip.
US07670871B2	Method of fabricating a phase-change memory A phase-change memory comprises a bottom electrode formed on a substrate. A first isolation layer is formed on the bottom electrode. A top electrode is formed on the isolation layer. A first phase-change material is formed in the first isolation layer, wherein the top electrode and the bottom electrode are electrically connected via the first phase-change material. Since the phase-change material can have a diameter less than the resolution limit of the photolithography process, an operating current for a state conversion of the phase-change material pattern may be reduced so as to decrease a power dissipation of the phase-change memory device.
US07670868B2	Complementary metal oxide silicon image sensor and method of fabricating the same Disclosed is a method of fabricating a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Silicon) image sensor. The method includes the steps of: forming a device protective layer and a metal interconnection on a substrate formed with a light receiving device; forming an inner micro-lens on the metal interconnection; coating an interlayer dielectric layer on the inner micro-lens and then forming a color filter; and forming an outer micro-lens including a planarization layer and photoresist on the color filter. The inner micro-lens is formed by depositing the outer layer on dome-shaped photoresist. The curvature radius of the inner micro-lens is precisely and uniformly maintained and the inner micro-lens is easily formed while improving the light efficiency. Since the fabrication process for the CMOS image sensor is simplified, the product yield is improved and the manufacturing cost is reduced.
US07670867B2	Method for manufacturing CMOS image sensor having microlens therein with high photosensitivity The method for manufacturing a CMOS image sensor is employed to prevent bridge phenomenon between adjacent microlenses by employing openings between the microlenses. The method includes the steps of: preparing a semiconductor substrate including isolation regions and photodiodes therein obtained by a predetermined process; forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD), metal interconnections and a passivation layer formed on the semiconductor substrate in sequence; forming a color filter array having a plurality of color filters on the passivation layer; forming an over-coating layer (OCL) on the color filter array by using a positive photoresist or a negative photoresist; forming openings in the OCL by patterning the OCL by using a predetermined mask; and forming dome-typed microlenses on a patterned OCL.
US07670864B2	CMOS image sensor and fabricating method thereof A CMOS image sensor and method of manufacture reduces the problem of electron loss in a floating diffusion area. A method of fabricating a CMOS image sensor includes forming a gate electrode over a first conductive type semiconductor substrate. A second conductive type first diffusion layer is formed within the semiconductor substrate to be aligned with an edge of one side of the gate electrode. A spacer may be attached to both sidewalls of the gate electrode. A first conductive type second diffusion layer may be formed within the first diffusion layer to leave a distance amounting to a width of the spacer in-between. A second conductive type third diffusion layer may be formed within the semiconductor substrate to be aligned with an edge of the other side of the gate electrode. A first conductive type fourth diffusion layer may be formed over the third diffusion layer, and a first conductive type fifth diffusion layer may be formed under the third diffusion layer.
US07670862B2	Silicon optoelectronic device, manufacturing method thereof, and image input and/or output apparatus using the same A method of manufacturing a silicon optoelectronic device, a silicon optoelectronic device manufactured by the method, and an image input and/or output apparatus having the silicon optoelectronic device are provided. The method includes: preparing an n-type or p-type silicon-based substrate; forming a polysilicon in one or more regions of the surface of the substrate; oxidizing the surface of the substrate where the polysilicon is formed, to form a silicon oxidation layer on the substrate, and forming a microdefect flection pattern at the interface between the substrate and the silicon oxidation layer, wherein the microdefect flection pattern is formed by the oxidation accelerated by oxygen traveling through boundaries of the grains in the polysilicon; exposing the microdefect flection pattern by etching the silicon oxidation layer; and forming a doping region by doping the exposed microdefect flection pattern with a dopant of the opposite type to the substrate.
US07670858B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A method for improving productivity when manufacturing a semiconductor device. A lower electrode, insulating films, an upper electrode and insulating films are formed on a semiconductor substrate in a sensor region. A cavity is formed between the insulator films above the lower electrode. The lower electrode, insulating film, the cavity and insulating film, and an upper electrode form a variable capacity sensor. The cavity is formed by etching a sacrificial pattern between the insulation films by way of a hole formed in a pair of insulation films. Other than in the above sensor region, a dummy lower electrode and four insulating films are formed on the TEG region on the semiconductor substrate; and a dummy cavity is formed between a pair of insulation films above the lower electrode however no conductive layer on the same layer as the upper electrode is formed on the dummy cavity.
US07670854B2	Immunological assay and chip The present invention provides an immunological assay suitable to be carried out on a chip. After an antigen-antibody complex in which an antigen 2 to be measured and an antibody 3 have bound to each other was obtained in a reaction chamber 7, the amount of the antigen-antibody complex or the antibody that has not bound to the antigen to be measured by using a measurement solution obtained by using the sample solution 8 as a solvent. According to the present invention, the measurement solution for detecting the signal that reflects the amount of the substance to be measured can be obtained without using a buffer solution free from a substance to be measured, such as protein. Thus, it is not necessary to supply a buffer solution from the outside of the chip or to allow the buffer solution to be retained on the chip beforehand. Accordingly, an immunological assay can be carried out easily on a chip.
US07670846B2	Automatic differentiation of a sample solution and a control solution The invention concerns a method for automatically differentiating between a sample liquid and a control liquid especially within the context of analytical measuring systems, wherein the presence of a special property of the control liquid and/or at least two criteria are used for the differentiation. In addition the invention concerns appropriate control liquids that are suitable for the new method.
US07670845B2	Indicator granular material The present invention relates to indicator granular material, especially for a cat lavatory, in which at least one first granular material is substantially completely coated with a first polymer layer, which is solid at a first pH and is dissolved at a second pH; and also to a cat lavatory and the use of the indicator granular material in a cat lavatory.
US07670841B2	Method of analyzing C-terminal amino acid sequence of peptide The present invention provides, as a method of analyzing the C-terminal amino acid sequence of a peptide with use of reaction technique for successively releasing the C-terminal amino acids, in which undesirable side reactions, such as cleavage of a peptide bond at the middle of the peptide, can be prevented and chemical treatments therein can be carried out under widely applicable conditions in the course of successive release of the C-terminal amino acids from a peptide, such a method comprising steps of dehydrating the gel on which a target peptide that has been separated by gel electrophoresis is held in the bound state; immersing it in a mixture solution of an alkanoic acid anhydride added with a small amount of a perfluoroalkanoic acid in a dipolar aprotic solvent to re-swell the gel carrier, forming a 5-oxazolone structure, at a temperature chosen in the range of from 30° C. to 80° C., followed by the cleavage of the 5-oxazolone ring to release the C-terminal amino acids, and then specifying the C-terminal amino acid sequence of the peptide based on the measured decrease in the molecular weight of a series of reaction products resulting therefrom.
US07670838B2	Coupling of excitation and neurogenesis in neural stem/progenitor cells Coupling of excitation to neurogenesis in proliferating post-natal NPCs is demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Neurogenesis is potently enhanced by excitatory stimuli, and involves Cav1.2/1.3 channels and NMDA receptors. These Ca2+ influx pathways are located on the proliferating NPCs, allowing them to directly sense and process excitatory stimuli. Excitation increases the fraction of NPC progeny that are neurons, and increases total neuron number. Signaling in this pathway leads to rapid induction of a proneural gene expression pattern involving the bHLH genes HES1, Id2, and NeuroD, and the resulting cells become fully functional neurons defined by neuronal morphology, expression of neuronal structural proteins, expression of neuronal TTX-sensitive voltage gated Na+ channels, and synaptic incorporation into active neural circuits.
US07670832B2	System for fluorescence monitoring The present invention is directed to devices for performing PCR and monitoring the reaction of a sample comprising a nucleic acid and a fluorescent dye. Illustrative devices comprise a heat exchange component for heating and cooling the sample, a control device for repeatedly operating the heat exchange component to subject the sample to thermal cycling, an excitation source for optically exciting the sample to cause the sample to fluoresce, a photodetector for detecting temperature-dependent fluorescence levels from the sample, and a processor configured to record and process emissions from the fluorescent dye.
US07670829B2	Yeast strains autonomously producing steroids The present invention relates to genetically modified yeast strains autonomously producing, from a simple carbon source, steroids. The invention also relates to a method for producing steroids from such yeast strains.
US07670828B2	Screening method for genes of brewing yeast Provided herein are a method for selecting a gene participating in the desired brewing character and compiling a database of the whole genome sequence of industrial yeast; identifying a gene participating in a brewing characteristic from the database; functional analysis of the gene; and a DNA array of the whole genome sequences of an industrial yeast. Also provided are a method for yeast breeding; a method of producing an alcoholic beverage with improved quality; and a screening method to identify genes that increase productivity and/or improve flavor in the production of an alcohol or an alcoholic beverage by (A) analyzing a whole industrial yeast genome sequence, (B) comparing the genome sequence with the genome sequence of S. cerevisiae, (C) selecting a gene of the industrial yeast encoding having 70 to 97% identity to an amino acid sequence of S. cerevisiae; and (D) analyzing the selected gene.
US07670827B2	Strain belonging to the genus Streptomyces and being capable of producing nemadictin and process for producing nemadictin using the strain In the present invention, a recombination of gene groups of nemadectin aglycon biosynthesis is performed for obtaining C-13 hydroxylnemadectin, to which sugar groups can be attached, and a production strain which produces C-13 hydroxylnemadectin is produced. Further, C-13 glycosylnemadectin producing strain is prepared by introducing aveBI-BVIII genes involving glycosidation of avermectin and biosynthesis of oleandrose. As described, C-13 hydroxylnemadectin and C-13 glycosidated nemadectin can be obtained effectively by using the producing strain prepared by means of the molecular genetic technology, and improvement in the biological activity thereof can be expected.
US07670825B2	Method for enhancing production of isoprenoid compounds The present invention provides methods of producing an isoprenoid or an isoprenoid precursor in a genetically modified host cell. The methods generally involve modulating the level of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) in the cell, such that the level of HMG-CoA is not toxic to the cell and/or does not substantially inhibit cell growth, but is maintained at a level that provides for high-level production of mevalonate, IPP, and other downstream products of an isoprenoid or isoprenoid pathway, e.g., polyprenyl diphosphates and isoprenoid compounds. The present invention further provides genetically modified host cells that are suitable for use in a subject method. The present invention further provides recombinant nucleic acid constructs for use in generating a subject genetically modified host cell, including recombinant nucleic acid constructs comprising nucleotide sequences encoding one or more mevalonate pathway enzymes, and recombinant vectors (e.g., recombinant expression vectors) comprising same. The present invention further provides methods for identifying nucleic acids that encode HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) variants that provide for relief of HMG-CoA accumulation-induced toxicity. The present invention farther provides methods for identifying agents that reduce intracellular accumulation of HMG-CoA.
US07670824B2	Multicopy-integration of heterologous genes and expression in Methylobacterium The integration of genes into methylobacterium, such as M. extorquens ATCC is disclosed, using a transposon system, preferably the mini-Tn7 transposon system, and under the control of a promoter, such as the strong methanol dehydrogenase promoter (PmxaF). Multicopy integration of genes of interest is also disclosed. The unique and specific attachment site for the Tn7 attachment (attTn7) is identified for M. extorquens.
US07670816B2	UDP-galactose:β-D-galactose-R 4-α-D-galactosyltransferase, α4gal-T1 A novel gene defining a novel enzyme UDP-galactose: β-D-galactose-R 4-α-D-galactosyltransferase, termed α4Gal-T1, with unique enzymatic properties is disclosed. The invention provides isolated DNA molecules and DNA constructs encoding α4Gal-T1 and derivatives thereof by way of amino acid deletion, substitution or insertion exhibiting α4Gal-T1 activity, as well as cloning and expression vectors including such DNA, host cells comprising DNA encoding α4Gal-T1, and recombinant methods for providing α4Gal-T1. The enzyme α4Gal-T1 and α4Gal-active derivatives thereof are disclosed. Further, the invention discloses methods of obtaining α1, 4galactosyl glycosylated glycosphingolipids by use of an enzymatically active α4Gal-T1 protein thereof or by using cells stably transfected with a vector including DNA encoding an enzymatically active α4Gal-T1 protein as an expression system for recombinant production of such glycosphingolipids. Also a method for the identification of DNA sequence variations in the α4Gal-T1-coding exon by PCR, and detecting the presence of DNA sequence variation, are disclosed.
US07670813B2	Inorganic salt recovery during processing of lignocellulosic feedstocks A method for recovering inorganic salt during processing of a lignocellulosic feedstock is provided. The method comprises pretreating the lignocellulosic feedstock by adding an acid or a base to the feedstock to produce a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock. A soluble base or acid is then added to the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock to adjust the pH and produce a neutralized feedstock. The neutralized feedstock is then hydrolyzed to produce an hydrolyzed feedstock and a sugar stream. Inorganic salt is recovered from a wash stream obtained from the pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock, a stream obtained from the neutralized feedstock, a stream obtained from the sugar stream, or a combination of these streams. The inorganic salt may be concentrated, clarified, recovered and purified by crystallization, electrodialysis, drying, or agglomeration and granulation, and then used as desired, for example, as a fertilizer.
US07670805B2	Antibodies and peptide antigens for producing antibodies having a selective binding specificity to bioactive intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) 1-84 Peptide antigens corresponding to amino acid residues 2-12, 1-12, 2-15 and 1-15 of parathyroid hormone (PTH), antibodies having an affinity to such peptide antigens and methods of producing the same. Such antigens, antibodies and methods producing the same according to the present invention are useful in determining bioactive intact PTH levels in serum, plasma, and/or cell culture media. Such antibodies further possess a high degree of species cross-reactivity, but substantially mitigated cross-reactivity to non-whole PTH peptide fragments and little to no recognition of the first amino acid residue of PTH.
US07670801B2	Using viruses to detect or purify proteins Disclosed are methods of isolating and purifying proteins and other organic small molecules produced in hosts using viruses. Also disclosed are methods of visualizing and/or localizing proteins and other organic small molecules produced in hosts using viruses. Further disclosed are compositions of matter containing the protein or small molecule bound to a virus.
US07670799B2	Method for making 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (carboxyphenyl) porphine (TCPP) solution and composition comprising TCPP Presented is a method of solubilizing TCPP, as well as a composition comprising TCPP solubilized by this method.
US07670797B2	Method of determining toxicity with three dimensional structures A method of determining toxicity of a test agent in a tissue including A) incubating a test agent within a three-dimensional tissue engineered structure comprising a first mold or polymer scaffold, a semi-permeable membrane, and a second mold or polymer scaffold, wherein the semi-permeable membrane is disposed between the first and second molds or polymer scaffolds, and wherein the first mold or polymer scaffold has microchannels comprising vessels that bifurcate, and B) obtaining information from step A) to assess toxicity.
US07670776B1	MYH gene variants and use thereof Variants in MYH gene are disclosed which can result in abnormal synthesis of MYH proteins and alteration of MYH activities. The invention provides methods for detecting the newly discovered genetic variants. Use of MYH genetic variants as biomarkers in diagnosing cancer and detecting a predisposition to cancer are also disclosed herein.
US07670770B2	Nanochannel arrays and their preparation and use for high throughput macromolecular analysis Nanochannel arrays that enable high-throughput macromolecular analysis are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of preparing nanochannel arrays and nanofluidic chips. Methods of analyzing macromolecules, such as entire strands of genomic DNA, are also disclosed, as well as systems for carrying out these methods.
US07670766B2	Early detection of flaviviruses using the NS1 glycoprotein The invention concerns a method for early detection of a flavivirus-induced infection, comprising the detection of the flavivirus non-structural glycoprotein NS1 in a biological sample during the clinical phase of the infection, by an immunological method using at least two identical or different antibodies, the first antibody consisting of polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies pre-selected for their high affinity for said NS1 protein hexameric in shape.
US07670761B2	Method of forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device using a resist reflow measurement key In a resist reflow measurement key, and method of fabricating a fine pattern of a semiconductor device using the same, the resist reflow measurement key includes a first reflow key including a plurality of first pattern elements each having a first pattern with a first radius of curvature located on a first side of a first center line and a second pattern with a second radius of curvature located on a second side of the first center line, and a second reflow key including a plurality of second pattern elements each having a third pattern with a third radius of curvature located on a first side of a second center line and a fourth pattern with a fourth radius of curvature located on a second side of the second center line, the second reflow key being formed on a same plane of a substrate as the first reflow key.
US07670754B2	Exposure apparatus having a processing chamber, a vacuum chamber and first and second load lock chambers An exposure apparatus for executing an exposure of a substrate to light via a mask. The apparatus includes a booth which stores the mask in an atmospheric pressure, a processing chamber in which the exposure is executed in a first vacuum pressure, a vacuum chamber, arranged between the booth and the processing chamber, stores the mask at a second vacuum pressure that is higher than the first vacuum pressure and is between 0.1 Pa and 100 Pa, a first load lock chamber, arranged between the booth and the vacuum chamber, through which the mask is transferred, in which the atmospheric pressure and the second vacuum pressure are replaceable, and a second load lock chamber arranged between the vacuum chamber and the processing chamber, through which the mask is transferred, in which the second vacuum pressure and the first vacuum pressure are replaceable.
US07670750B2	Polymer, resist protective coating material, and patterning process A resist protective coating material comprises a polymer comprising repeat units having formulae (1a) and (1b) and having a Mw of 1,000-500,000. R1a and R1b are H, F or alkyl or fluoroalkyl, R2a, R2b, R3a and R3b are H or alkyl, or R2a and R2b, and R3a and R3b may bond together to form a ring, 0
US07670740B2	Photoconductors containing fillers A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and an overcoating layer in contact with and contiguous to the top charge transport layer, and which overcoating is comprised of a polymer, an optional overcoating charge transport component, and needle shaped particles with an aspect ratio of from 2 to about 200.
US07670737B2	UV absorbing hole blocking layer containing photoconductors A photoconductor that includes a substrate; an undercoat layer thereover comprised of a metal oxide, and an ultraviolet light absorber component; a photogenerating layer; and at least one charge transport layer.
US07670726B2	Optical diffusers, photomasks and their methods of fabrication A large mask with random apertures may be formed by forming a smaller mask (also called a cell mask) with a random pattern of transmissive apertures which is then repeatedly replicated to create the large mask. The random pattern may be created by perturbing the aperture locations by a small amount or the apertures may be randomly placed within the cell mask provided certain criteria are met. Alternatively, a large mask with a random pattern of transmissive apertures may be formed without using a cell mask. This large mask may be used to fabricate diffusers and other devices that do not suffer from the interference, diffraction and other optical effects common in devices having structures that are non-randomly patterned.
US07670724B1	Alkali-hydroxide modified poly-vinylidene fluoride/polyethylene oxide lithium-air battery A metal-air battery includes a housing having an aperture for the passage of air and a pair of electrodes that extend from the housing. An air cathode may be interconnected with one of the electrodes and an anode may include a metal foil that is interconnected with another of the electrodes. A separator may be interposed between the air cathode and the metal foil and a barrier layer may surround the metal foil. The barrier layer may function to substantially reduce the passage of moisture to the metal foil. A method of making a metal-air battery is also presented.
US07670723B2	Positive electrode active material, production method thereof and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprising a lithium-containing transition metal oxide, produced with the use of a dry precursor obtained by: introducing an alkaline solution together with an aqueous solution containing two or more of transition metal salts or two kinds or more of aqueous solutions of different transition metal salts into a reaction vessel to obtain a hydroxide or an oxide as a precursor through coprecipitation with a reductant being coexistent or an inert gas being supplied; and drying the precursor at 300 to 500° C. to obtain a dry precursor.
US07670715B2	Nonaqueous cell with improved thermoplastic sealing member An electrochemical battery cell with an improved thermoplastic sealing member. The seal member is made from a thermoplastic resin comprising polyphthalamide or impact modified polyphenylene sulfide. The seal member provides an effective seal vent over a broad temperature range and has a low electrolyte vapor transmission rate.
US07670713B2	Fuel cell electrode and membrane-electrode assembly and fuel cell system A fuel cell electrode includes a catalyst layer and an electrode substrate supporting the catalyst layer and including a conductive substrate. The catalyst layer includes a first catalyst supported on a carbon supporter and a second catalyst supported on an inorganic oxide supporter. The first catalyst includes an alloy of Pt and a metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, and a mixture thereof, and the second catalyst includes an alloy of Pt and a metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Ni, and a mixture thereof.
US07670710B2	Fuel cell and fuel cell stack with pressure chambers A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators. The separator includes first through third plates which are stacked together. A fuel gas channel connected to a fuel gas supply passage is formed between the first and third plates. The fuel gas channel forms a fuel gas pressure chamber between the first and third circular disks. Further, an oxygen-containing gas channel connected to an oxygen-containing gas supply passage is formed between the second and third plates. The oxygen-containing gas channel forms an oxygen-containing gas pressure chamber between the second and third circular disks.
US07670695B2	Lubricant for recording medium and magnetic disk The present invention provides a lubricant for recording media that does not readily decompose, and which has high adhesion to recording media, and a magnetic disk that is durable against continuous sliding under high-speed rotation.The present invention provides a lubricant for recording media containing: a perfluoropolyether compound represented by Formula (1), R1—CH2CF2O—(CF2CF2O)m—(CF2O)n—CF2CH2—R2 (1) wherein R1 represents R represents a C1-4 haloalkyl group, R2 represents —OCH2CH(OH)CH2OH, and m and n are each independently 1-30; and another perfluoropolyether compound represented by Formula (2), R1—CH2CF2O—(CF2CF2O)m—(CF2O)n—CF2CH2—R3 (2) wherein R1, m and n are as defined above and R3 represents —OCH2CH(OH)CH2OCH2CH(OH)CH2OH. The present invention also provides a magnetic disk having a lubricating layer essentially consists of such a lubricant.
US07670693B2	Magnetic recording medium possessing a columnar structure The present invention provides a magnetic recording medium that excels in electromagnetic conversion characteristics. The magnetic recording medium has a 55 nm or less thickness magnetic layer formed on a major surface of an elongated nonmagnetic support by performing a vacuum thin film forming technique, the magnetic recording medium being slid over a magnetoresistive effect magnetic head or a giant magnetoresistive effect head to reproduce a signal, wherein an angle θ which is formed by a growth direction of magnetic particles in a columnar structure in a longitudinal cross-section of the magnetic layer and a normal to a longitudinal direction of the nonmagnetic support, satisfies the following relation: θi−θf≦25°. where θi is an angle of θ in an initial growth portion of the magnetic layer, and θf is an angle of θ in a final growth portion of the magnetic layer.
US07670684B2	Functional coating compositions of perfluoroalkyl perfluoro-phthalocyanine compounds Coating compositions comprising perfluoroalkyl metallo and non-metallo perfluoro-phthalocyanine compounds and associated coating methods are provided by the present invention. Perfluoroalkyl metallo and non-metallo perfluoro-phthalocyanine compounds are suitable for use as functional coatings and may be optionally combined with conductive polymers. The functional properties imparted generally include one or more of chemical resistance, thermal resistance, biological and chemical non-stick surface behavior, electrochromism, variable electromagnetic field signatures, and/or non-linear optical properties. Advantages of the disclosed perfluoroalkyl metallo and non-metallo perfluoro-phthalocyanine coatings include the fact that an inert uninterrupted fluorinated surface provides for improved hydrophobic properties at the periphery while exhibiting improved hydrophilicity at the center, which in turn results in one or more of the following properties: variable optical, electric and magnetic properties; enhanced durability; and enhanced resistance to chemical and biological surface contamination.
US07670680B2	Coated microspheres comprising ferromagnetic and conductive coatings A device having a substrate, a pair of ferromagnetic leads on a surface of the substrate, laterally separated by a gap, and one or more ferromagnetic microparticles comprising a conductive coating at least partially within the gap. The conductive coating forms at least part of an electrical connection between the leads. A molecular junction may connect the leads to the microparticle.
US07670669B2	Absorbent paper product such as napkin or handkerchief, methods for manufacturing such a product, and apparatus implementing such methods The invention relates to an absorbent paper product, such as a napkin or tissue, including at least two tissue paper plies which are superposed and joined, cut or precut into a desired format and connected to one another at least over a segment of a peripheral zone. The plies are joined along the segment by marking patterns without resort to glueing and at least one ply is fitted with embossing patterns in a central zone. The invention applies to sanitary and household papers, in particular disposable napkins and tissues.
US07670666B2	Cloth A fabric for clothes that has a decreased flow resistance shows a compression ratio of a micro-area in the fabric surface, on the surface side opposite to a body, of from 8 to 90%, and has streaky protruded portions on the surface side opposite to body. The protruded portions preferably have a width of 100 to 2,500 mm, and a height of 30 to 300% of the width of the protruded portions. Moreover, the protruded portions are preferably wavy, streaky ones in one direction on the surface side opposite to a body.
US07670662B2	Laminate material element for a hook and loop closure, particularly a diaper closure A laminate material element (1) for a hook and loop closure, particularly a diaper closure, has a carrier film (2) and a textile material (3) laminated onto the carrier film (2), which has a surface structure that is suitable for forming a connection with the hooks of a hook and loop closure. The carrier film (2) and the textile material (3) are bonded together over their entire surface in an edge region that extends along the edges of the laminate material element and has the shape of a frame. A bond between the carrier film (2) and the textile material (3) that does not cover the entire surface is provided in the region within this frame.
US07670658B1	Anti-static ball and method of manufacture An anti-static ball has a ball housing having a plurality of outwardly extending spikes and a plurality of receivers. A plurality of anti-static foam wafers are mounted on the receivers of the ball housing.
US07670655B2	Liquid-crystalline medium Disclosed are liquid-crystalline mediums containing one or more compounds of formula I and uses thereof for electro-optical purposes, e.g., to electro-optical liquid-crystal displays.
US07670650B2	Method for producing a replaceable fuser member A method for producing a replaceable fuser member including a thin, seamless or welded high temperature nickel sleeve, a base cushion positioned around the sleeve and an outside topcoat applied over the base cushion elastomer layer. The sleeve is replaceable on a machine mandrel positioned in an electrophotographic copying machine in a fuser section of the electrophotographic copying machine. The method includes the use of a mandrel having a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to that of the sleeve to support the sleeve during positioning of a cured base cushion layer around the sleeve and a cured topcoat layer over the cured base material.
US07670648B2	Method of forming a diffusion barrier on a titanium alloy substrate A phosphate bonded ceramic is used to provide a diffusion barrier on a titanium alloy substrate, conferring degradation (eg oxidation) resistance to the alloy. The substrate may, for example, be an aerospace component such as a part of a gas turbine engine.
US07670647B2	Method for depositing zinc oxide coatings on flat glass A method of forming zinc oxide films on a heated, moving glass substrate utilizes a gaseous precursor mixture comprising an alkyl zinc compound chelated by at least one tridentate ligand, an oxygen-containing compound, and one or more inert carrier gases.
US07670645B1	Method of treating metal and metal salts to enable thin layer deposition in semiconductor processing Techniques for vaporizing and handling a vaporized metallic element or metallic element salt with a heated inert carrier gas for further processing. The vaporized metallic element or salt is carried by an inert carrier gas heated to the same temperature as the vaporizing temperature to a heated processing chamber. The metal or salt vapor may be ionized (and implanted) or deposited on substrates. Apparatus for accomplishing these techniques, which include carrier gas heating chambers and heated processing chambers are also provided.
US07670638B2	Protection layer for fabricating a solar cell A method for fabricating a solar cell is described. The method includes first providing, in a process chamber, a substrate having a light-receiving surface. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer is then formed, in the process chamber, above the light-receiving surface of the substrate. Finally, without removing the substrate from the process chamber, a protection layer is formed above the ARC layer.
US07670628B2	Mesenchymal precursor cell A method of enriching mesenchymal precursor cells including the step of enriching for cells based on at least two markers. The markers may be either i) the presence of markers specific for mesenchymal precursor cells, ii) the absence of markers specific for differentiated mesenchymal cells, or iii) expression levels of markers specific for mesenchymal precursor cells. The method may include a first solid phase sorting step utilizing MACS recognizing expression of the antigen to the STRO-1 Mab, followed by a second sorting step utilizing two colour FACS to screen for the presence of high level STRO-1 antigen expression as well as the expression of VCAM-1.
US07670627B2	pH triggered targeted controlled release systems for the delivery of pharmaceutical active ingredients The present invention relates to a novel pH triggered, targeted controlled release system. The controlled delivery system of the present invention is substantially a free-flowing powder formed of solid hydrophobic nano-spheres comprising pharmaceutical active ingredients that are encapsulated in a pH sensitive micro-spheres. The invention also relates to the processes for preparing the compositions and processes for using same. The controlled release system can be used to target and control the release of pharmaceutical active ingredients onto certain regions of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and the small intestine. The invention further pertains to pharmaceutical products comprising the controlled release system of the present invention.
US07670626B2	Delivery of a bioactive material A solid pharmaceutical composition comprising a water-soluble bioactive material and an encapsulating material which is present in the composition in the form of continuous solid phase, and in which solid particles of the bioactive material are dispersed and encapsulated in the continuous solid phase of the encapsulating material, wherein each of the bioactive material and the encapsulating material is normally a solid at room temperature and the melting point of the encapsulating material is lower than the melting point of the bioactive material, the bioactive material being preferably a bisphosphonate, most preferably alendronate, and the encapsulating material includes an enhancer, preferably a mono- or di-glyceride, or an encapsulating surfactant, preferably, a polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene block copolymer having surface active properties, and a process for preparing the composition in which solid particles of the bioactive material are mixed with and dispersed in the encapsulating material which is in molten (liquid) form; and cooling the molten form of the encapsulating material to form a solid pharmaceutical composition having the solid particles of the bioactive material dispersed and encapsulated in a continuous solid phase of the encapsulating material.
US07670619B2	Controlled-release formulations containing tryptophan or its metabolites New controlled-release formulations containing tryptophan and/or its metabolites are described, as well as the process to obtain them in tablet forms suitable for oral administration in the treatment of pathologies or conditions related to serotonin deficiency in the Nervous System. The formulations are comprised in double-layer tablets, one layer containing 5-hyrohytryptophan released rapidly (phase “fast), the other layer containing tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan, progressively released (“retarded”). The finished product is characterized by optimal differential release profile under physiological conditions. In all cases the release kinetics obtained is accurately time- and concentration-controlled, therefore avoiding fortuitous release of the active ingredients, and in clinical setting is free of undesirable side effects.
US07670618B2	Pharmaceutical compositions Discloses is a pharmaceutical composition suitable for oral administration in the form of a homogeneous solution which on exposure to water or gastrointestinal fluids forms an emulsion having a particle size of less than 5 microns, the solution containing: (a) a pharmaceutically effective amount of a cyclosporin, in particular Cyclosporin A, (b) a carrier medium which is a mixture of mono- and diesters of propylene glycol with fatty acids having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms or with mixtures of such fatty acids, wherein the monoester makes up less than 60 mol % of the mixture, and (c) a non-ionic surfactant having a hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB) greater than 10.
US07670614B2	Use of alkylpolyglycosides as emulsifying agents for the preparation oil-in-water emulsions containing mineral pigments or fillers and the oil-in-water emulsions containing such alkylpolyglycosides A composition and process of preparation of emulsifier agents based on an alkylpolyglycoside structure with a length of alkyl chain having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms to be used. The resulting emulsions exhibit an excellent dispersion of the fillers and/or pigments without it being necessary to add coemulsifier or dispersant. The emulsifier makes it possible, by itself alone, to prevent the reagglomeration of the fillers and/or pigments.
US07670612B2	Multi-phase, multi-compartment capsular delivery apparatus and methods for using same A multi-compartment capsule, comprising, a first receiving chamber comprising at least one ingredient having a first physical state, wherein said ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a nutraceutical, a vitamin, a dietary supplement and a mineral; and a second receiving chamber comprising at least one ingredient having a second physical state, wherein said ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a nutraceutical, a vitamin, a dietary supplement and a mineral; wherein said first physical state of said ingredient of said first receiving chamber being different from said second physical state of said ingredient of said second receiving chamber; and said ingredient of said first receiving chamber being different from said ingredient of said second receiving chamber.
US07670603B2	Human DNAX toll-like receptor 4 proteins, related reagents and methods Nucleic acids encoding mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been identified in human cells. Recombinantly produced TLRs are used in the preparation of antibodies that are capable of binding to the TLRs. The antibodies are advantageously used in the prevention and treatment of septic shock, inflammatory conditions, and viral infections.
US07670585B2	Method for preparing electroconductive mayenite type compound Provided is a method for preparing an electroconductive mayenite type compound with good properties readily and stably at low cost without need for expensive facilities, a reaction at high temperature and for a long period of time, or complicated control of reaction.A method for preparing an electroconductive mayenite type compound comprises a step of subjecting a precursor to heat treatment, wherein the precursor contains Ca and/or Sr, and Al, a molar ratio of (a total of CaO and SrO:Al2O3) is from (12.6:6.4) to (11.7:7.3) as calculated as oxides, a total content of CaO, SrO and Al2O3 in the precursor is at least 50 mol %, and the precursor is a vitreous or crystalline material; and the method comprises a step of mixing the precursor with a reducing agent and performing the heat treatment of holding the mixture at 600-1,415° C. in an inert gas or vacuum atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure of at most 10 Pa.
US07670569B2	Combustion furnace humidification devices, systems & methods An injection device for humidifying a reactor space and injecting and dispersing reagents into the humidified reactor space, including an exterior injection duct for high-velocity gas injection and at least one interior injector for reagent and humidifying agent injection as droplets with a droplet environment. The high-velocity gas ensuring the humidification of the liquid droplet environment and mixing and dispersion of the liquid reagent droplets into the reactor. A multiple injection device system and a method for operating the system are also described.
US07670565B2	Building decontamination with vaporous hydrogen peroxide When microbial contamination is introduced into a room (20*) of an enclosure, such as a building, an HVAC system including supply ductwork (16) and a return ductwork (34) is decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide vapor. A decontamination controller (46) operates controllable baffles (22) at outlet registers (20), temporary controllable baffles (44) at inlet registers (30), and a blower system (10) to circulate hydrogen peroxide vapor from hydrogen peroxide vapor generators (42) through the ductwork in both forward and reverse directions. Further, at least portions of the baffles are closed to create dwell times in which the hydrogen peroxide vapor resides in the ductwork with minimal or turbulent flow.
US07670559B2	Microfluidic systems with enhanced detection systems Microfluidic devices and systems having enhanced detection sensitivity, particularly for use in non-fluorogenic detection methods, e.g., absorbance. The systems typically employ planar microfluidic devices that include one or more channel networks that are parallel to the major plane of the device, e.g., the predominant plane of the planar structure, and a detection channel segment that is substantially orthogonal to that plane. The detection system is directed along the length of the detection channel segment using a detection orientation that is consistent with conventional microfluidic systems.
US07670546B2	Control device of a stopper-rod Control device for a stopper-rod to regulate the outflow of liquid metal through a calibrated hole of a pouring receptacle comprising motor means, suitable to operate lifting and lowering means (2) of the stopper (4) by means of first driving means (7) and second driving means (14, 14′), the latter being suitable to convert a rotating motion into a translational motion, wherein the second driving means are flexible longitudinal elements and are fixed at a first end thereof to lifting and lowering means and a second end thereof to an anchor element (9), integral with the first means.
US07670545B2	Method for producing semicrystalline polylactic acid articles Amorphous sheets of PLA resins are thermoformed by heating the sheets until they become semicrystalline, and then forming the sheets on a relatively cold mold. Semicrystalline formed articles having improved heat resistance are made by the process.
US07670544B2	Use of polypropylene films for in-mold labelling The invention relates to the use of a biaxially oriented microporous film, which contains a propylene polymer and at least one β-nucleating agent and whose microporosity is produced by converting β-crystalline polypropylene when drawing the film, in order to label containers during blow molding.
US07670541B2	Optical shaping apparatus and optical shaping method The cross-sectional shape data of a three-dimensional model is divided according to work small areas obtained by dividing a work entire area where optical shaping work is performed into a plurality of areas, and work small area data which is cross-sectional shape data corresponding to said work small areas is generated. Also, the work small area data is enlarged with offset width based on the contracting ratio of a light hardening resin, and areas, which are wider than the work small areas on the surface of the light hardening resin by the offset width, are subjected to one-shot exposure based on the enlarged work small area data to form a hardening layer for each of the work small areas. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an optical shaping apparatus.
US07670535B2	Method for making a casing with protective bellows for transmission device and casing obtained by said method A method for making a casing (1) with protective bellows (2, 2A) for transmission device, such as a transmission joint, includes at least two shafts mobile axially and/or at an angle relative to each other, the casing (1) with bellows (2, 2A), whereon at least part of the bellows (2′) are radial, having at each open end a section (3A, 3B) for being fixed to the transmission device. The method includes moulding the casing (1) with bellows (2, 2A), using a hollow mould and at least one core, having each at least a matching helical thread delimiting the moulding space and stripping the casing (1) formed by relatively unscrewing the casing (1) and the core to obtain a single-piece casing (1). The invention is applicable to a casing with bellows by arrangement of extensible or flexible coupling elements.
US07670521B2	Method and apparatus for the manufacture of conduit with assembled components and conduit assembly made therefrom A method and apparatus for performing a manufacturing operation at a plurality of locations along the length of a previously fabricated flexible conduit. The apparatus comprises a driving mechanism, a manufacturing station, and a support device. The conduit is first fed through the manufacturing station. The manufacturing station then performs the manufacturing operation at a plurality of locations along the length of the conduit. The support device within the conduit is not attached to any other structure and provides structural support at the manufacturing station during the manufacturing operation and remains at a generally fixed axial and functional location while the conduit continues to move axially.
US07670513B2	Fire control composition and method A composition and method of controlling a fire are disclosed. The composition contains a superabsorbent polymer, a colorant, an opacifying agent, and water. The method includes a step of applying the composition to a combustible object, either before or after initiation of combustion. The composition and method are especially useful for application to vegetation or foliage to prevent, retard, suppress, and/or extinguish forest fires and wildfires.
US07670510B2	Carbon nanotube adducts and methods of making the same The invention provides an adduct comprising a carbon nanotube and a transitional metal coordination complex, wherein the metal of the complex is attached by a covalent linkage to at least one oxygen moiety on the nanotube.
US07670507B2	Phosphor composition for a low-pressure discharge lamp with high color temperature A phosphor composition for a low-pressure discharge lamp with a high light yield and a high color temperature contains phosphors which emit in the red wavelength region, including yttrium oxide doped with europium or gadolinium-zinc-magnesium pentaborate doped with cerium and manganese, phosphors which emit in the green wavelength region including lanthanum phosphate doped with cerium and terbium and/or cerium-magnesium aluminate doped with terbium and/or cerium-magnesium pentaborate doped with terbium, and optionally a phosphor which emits in the blue wavelength region of the barium-magnesium aluminate doped with europium type. The phosphor composition additionally contains at least one phosphor which emits in the blue or blue-green wavelength region selected from the group consisting of manganese-strontium-barium-magnesium aluminate doped with manganese and europium or barium-magnesium aluminate doped with europium and manganese and strontium aluminate doped with europium and strontium-barium-calcium chloroapatite doped with europium and strontium borophosphate doped with europium.
US07670506B1	Photoactive compositions for liquid deposition Compositions are provided, comprising a host and a dopant, wherein the weight:weight ratio of host:dopant is about 10:1 to about 40:1, and a solvent, and methods for making the same, as well as devices and sub-assemblies including the same.
US07670493B2	Mobile vacuum flotation and clarification unit A mobile apparatus and method of operation for the pretreatment of wastewater to remove and concentrate fats, oils, grease and settled solids using vacuum flotation and a clarifier and returning the pretreated wastewater to the source structure, tank or sewer system. The vacuum flotation process is enhanced by injecting hydrogen peroxide to increase the dissolved oxygen concentration and a cationic emulsion polymer as a coagulant to the wastewater prior to removal into the vacuum flotation tank by vacuum pumping.
US07670466B2	Methods and apparatuses for electrochemical-mechanical polishing Methods and apparatuses for removing material from a microfeature workpiece are disclosed. In one embodiment, the microfeature workpiece is contacted with a polishing surface of a polishing medium, and is placed in electrical communication with first and second electrodes, at least one of which is spaced apart from the workpiece. A polishing liquid is disposed between the polishing surface and the workpiece and at least one of the workpiece and the polishing surface is moved relative to the other. Material is removed from the microfeature workpiece and at least a portion of the polishing liquid is passed through at least one recess in the polishing surface so that a gap in the polishing liquid is located between the microfeature workpiece and the surface of the recess facing toward the microfeature workpiece.
US07670435B2	Apparatus for epitaxially growing semiconductor device structures with sharp layer interfaces utilizing HVPE A method and apparatus for fabricating thin Group III nitride layers as well as Group III nitride layers that exhibit sharp layer-to-layer interfaces are provided. According to one aspect, an HVPE reactor includes one or more gas inlet tubes adjacent to the growth zone, thus allowing fine control of the delivery of reactive gases to the substrate surface. According to another aspect, an HVPE reactor includes both a growth zone and a growth interruption zone. According to another aspect, an HVPE reactor includes a slow growth rate gallium source, thus allowing thin layers to be grown. Using the slow growth rate gallium source in conjunction with a conventional gallium source allows a device structure to be fabricated during a single furnace run that includes both thick layers (i.e., utilizing the conventional gallium source) and thin layers (i.e., utilizing the slow growth rate gallium source).
US07670434B2	Vapor phase growth apparatus It is to provide a vapor phase growth apparatus which can perform vapor phase growth of a thin film having a good uniformity throughout a surface of a wafer. The vapor phase growth apparatus includes at least a sealable reactor, a wafer containing member (wafer holder) installed within the reactor and having a wafer mounting portion (pocket hole) on a surface thereof for holding a wafer, a gas supply member (gas inlet pipe) for supplying raw material gas towards the wafer, a heating member (heater) for heating the wafer, and a heat uniformizing member (susceptor) for holding the wafer containing member and uniformizing heat from the heating member, wherein raw material gas is supplied into the reactor in a high temperature environment while heating the wafer by using the heating member via the heat uniformizing member and the wafer containing member, to form a film grown on a surface of the wafer, and wherein a recess portion depressed in a dome shape is formed at a back side of the wafer containing member.
US07670432B2	Exhaust system for a vacuum processing system A method, computer readable medium, and system for treating a substrate in a process space of a vacuum processing system is described. A vacuum pump in fluid communication with the vacuum processing system and configured to evacuate the process space, while a process material supply system is pneumatically coupled to the vacuum processing system and configured to supply a process gas to the process space. Additionally, the vacuum pump is pneumatically coupled to the process supply system and configured to, at times, evacuate the process gas supply system.
US07670422B2	Storage-stable coating composition for abrasion-resistantly and weathering-stably providing smooth inorganic surfaces with easy-to-clean properties The present invention relates to a special coating composition based on components a) at least one hydrolyzable fluoroalkylsilane of the formula (I) CF3(CF2)n(CH2)2Si(CH3)yX3-y (I), in which X is a group from the series chlorine, methoxy, ethoxy, isopropoxy, and n-propoxy and n is a number from the series 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, and y is 0 or 1, b) HC1, c) water, d) isopropanol, and e) dodecane, and on a silane component (a): water molar ratio of 1:4.5 to 1:9. The invention further relates to a process for preparing such a composition and also to its use for providing smooth, inorganic substrate surfaces with an abrasion-resistant and weathering-stable easy-to-clean coating.
US07670421B2	Penetration reinforcing agent for preventing aging of concrete and process for preparing the same A penetration reinforcing agent for preventing aging of concrete is prepared by using an inorganic silicate compound having an ethoxy or methoxy group and a monomer having a hydroxyl (OH) group. When the penetration reinforcing agent is applied onto the surface of a concrete structure it penetrates the concrete structure where it is hydrolyzed by water existing within the concrete to form silica (SiO2) having a particle size of several nanometers, is gelled by a sol-gel process and reacts with concrete hydrates, so that internal pores of the concrete structure are compactly filled with the reaction products. The penetration reinforcing agent is effective in enhancing the strength of, inhibiting penetration of aging factors into, improving waterproofness of, and preventing neutralization of the concrete structure.
US07670415B1	Vapor barrier for porous structures and system Systems and methods for enhanced moisture vapor barrier performance for concrete-containing materials and surfaces are disclosed. Treatment modalities that include addition of the disclosed materials, compositions and systems to pre- and post-construction concrete-containing materials and surfaces are provided. Moisture vapor barrier properties are effected over an extended period of time as compared to control systems. The disclosed compositions and systems also yield reductions in the rate and/or impact of corrosion are achieved for concrete-containing structures and surfaces and, despite the water soluble properties of the compositions and systems, the treatments are effective in delivering an advantageous level of liquid moisture resistance to the treated concrete-containing structure and/or surface. The composition is synthesized from a feedstock that includes C9 to C16 branched hydrocarbons of varying structures.
US07670410B2	Carbon-dioxide-gas absorber, method for separating carbon-dioxide-gas using carbon-dioxide-gas absorber, and apparatus for separating carbon-dioxide-gas including carbon-dioxide-gas absorber A carbon-dioxide-gas absorber includes a main component of composite oxide, the composite oxide including Ti and X that is at least one of Sr and Ba, and the composite oxide having a molar ratio (X/Ti) of about 1.8 to about 2.2. A substance having a perovskite structure and an (X/Ti) of about 0.9 to about 1.1 or at least one selected from green sheets, green sheet wastes, green-sheet-laminate wastes, and precursors of green sheets including the substance is fired with at least one of strontium carbonate and barium carbonate. An apparatus includes a carbon-dioxide-gas-absorbing mechanical unit that allows a carbon-dioxide-gas absorber to absorb a carbon dioxide gas at about 1.0×104 to about 1.0×106 Pa and at about 500° C. to about 900° C.; and a carbon-dioxide-gas-evolving mechanical unit that evolves the absorbed carbon dioxide gas at about 1000 Pa or less and at at least about 750° C.
US07670402B2	Radial seal for axial flow air filter An air cleaner located in the air intake tract of an internal combustion engine includes a filter housing, a filter element, and a sealing ring. The sealing ring comprises a support rim and a lip seal. The sealing ring is adapted to form a seal between an internal annular sealing surface of the filter housing and an interior annular sealing surface of a sealing band that is attached to one axial end of the filter element.
US07670400B2	Motor mount assembly for an air cleaner A motor mount assembly for an air cleaner is provided according to an embodiment of the invention. The motor mount assembly includes a motor ring adapted for receiving a motor, a mount ring adapted to be received in the air cleaner, and a plurality of mounting vanes extending between the motor ring and the mount ring. A mounting vane of the plurality of mounting vanes includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is affixed to the motor ring and the proximal end is affixed to the mount ring.
US07670394B2	Compact reforming reactor Reforming reactor for the conversion of a process fluid into hydrogen comprising: a reforming section and a boiler section which are both contained within a common volume and a combustion section, in which said reforming section contains one or more catalyst tubes filled with reforming catalyst, said boiler section is provided with one or more tubes carrying flue gas from the combustion section and said combustion section is provided with at least one burner, wherein the heat exchanging medium required for the reforming of said process fluid in the one or more catalyst tubes is a gas-liquid mixture that self-circulates and is encapsulated inside said common volume containing said reforming and boiler sections.
US07670388B2	Fiber-treating composition Disclosed is a fiber-treating agent composition comprising an oil-in-water emulsion wherein composition (A) comprising the following component (b) is emulsified with the following component (a): a polymer compound of a polysaccharide derivative, and component (b): a polyether-modified silicone having an HLB value of larger than zero to 7 or smaller; wherein the mass ratio of the component (a) to the component (b) in the composition, that is, the component (a)/component (b), is 9/100 to 30/100.
US07670382B2	Extended articular surface resurfacing head A resurfacing implant comprising a head and an extended articulating surface protruding from a portion of the head operable to articulate with at least one of a bone and a ligament. The head has an exterior articulating surface, an interior surface opposite the exterior articulating surface, and an anchoring device extending from the interior surface.
US07670381B2	Prosthesis for interpositional location between bone joint articular surfaces and method of use A biocompatible prosthetic device comprising a thin low friction spacer for location to overlie a bone member in an interpositional location between opposed bone joint articular surfaces. The prosthesis is preferably a thin spacer with at least one low friction surface, the spacer being adapted for location about a bone member in an interpositional location between opposed bone joint articular surfaces preferably about a margin of articular cartilage of a bone member's condyle, preferably without any modification of the articular surface of the condyle. One preferred use of a prosthesis is in a human temporomandibular joint as a thin cap-like member fitted closely over the mandibular condyle to be disposed intermediate of the mandibular condyle and the mandibular fossa of the temporomandibular joint.
US07670372B2	System and method for breast lifting A system and a method and a surgical tool for breast lifting, wherein at least one anchor is fixed to a posture tissue, above a desired nipple level, with one or more suspending members suspended from the at least one anchor and extending through the breast for cradling the breast from below.
US07670351B2	Medical device using beam construction and methods A medical device is provided with a flexible shaft having a first beam element with a first elongated cross section and a second beam element having a second elongated cross section. An end effector is located at a distal end of the flexible shaft and actuated by relative movement between the first beam element and the second beam element. In another example, a handle is located at a proximate end of the flexible shaft. A first control is mounted on the handle and is directly coupled to the first beam element for placing the first beam element in tension relative to the second beam element to thereby cause bending of at least a portion of the flexible shaft toward the first beam element.
US07670347B2	Tool for removing object from the body of a patient Disclosed is a device for removing a foreign object from the body of a human or animal patient, the device being formed from a single length of tubing, slit lengthwise at its distal end to define an envelope of a basket cavity, the envelope featuring a set of second strands, each formed by slitting one of the first strands over a distal portion of the first strand, which distal portion is less than the full length of the first strand.
US07670346B2	Specimen retrieval apparatus A specimen removal apparatus includes a pouch assembly fabricated from a flexible membrane, a pouch support, a drawstring having a knot and forming a noose disposed circumferentially around a mouth of the pouch assembly, an endoscopic tubular portion, and a drive rod. The pouch assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially disposed guide members advantageously circumferentially spaced apart to define gaps therebetween. The guide members are disposed in a circumferential pathway proximal to the mouth of the pouch assembly. When the drawstring is pulled, the knot is stopped at an end of a guide member and the noose is closed, thereby closing the mouth of the pouch assembly. The pouch assembly is detachable from the apparatus.
US07670342B2	Osteochondral implant procedure and device A surgical procedure according to which a cutting blade is positioned over an area of the bone to be cut and indicia is projected onto the area. The blade is adjusted relative to the area until the indicia takes a predetermined configuration on the area corresponding to the desired position of the blade relative to the area. Then the blade can be driven to cut an opening in the bone.
US07670341B2	Orthopaedic device with locking barrel A bone fixation assembly includes a side plate for mounting on a bone and a barrel for receiving a portion of a lag screw, and configured to be inserted into a hole in the side plate. A mechanical spring located at the upper portion of the barrel biases a first detent portion toward a locking position with a second detent portion located on the side plate such that rotation of the barrel within the hole from a first position to a second position causes a compressing portion on the detent portion to contact a compressing portion on the second detent portion thereby compressing the mechanical spring so as to allow the barrel to be rotated to a third position wherein the mechanical spring is allowed to bias the first detent portion into the locking position such that a retaining portion of the first detent is adjacent to a retaining portion of the second detent and rotation of the barrel with respect to the side plate is restricted.
US07670339B2	Expandable orthopedic device A device for stabilizing bone includes a tubular body having first and second end regions defining a longitudinal axis therebetween. A plurality of splines extend from the first end region, the splines including first ends coupled to the first end region, and second ends disposed away from the first end region, the second ends being directable from a generally axial collapsed state to a substantially transverse expanded state. A plurality of support arms are coupled to the splines, and an actuator is coupled to the support arms, the actuator movable axially relative to the elongate body for causing the support arms to direct the second ends of the splines from the collapsed state to the expanded state. Optionally, the device includes another set of splines extending from the second end region or located at an intermediate region of the tubular body.
US07670336B2	Ablation probe with heat sink An ablation device includes an electrode having an enclosed lumen, and a heat sink located within the lumen. An ablation device includes an elongated body, an electrode secured to the elongated body, and a heat sink connected to the electrode, wherein the heat sink is confined by the electrode and at least a portion of the elongated body. An ablation device includes an electrode, and a heat sink connected to the electrode, wherein the heat sink is not connected to a pump.
US07670331B2	Device for opening a human bladder A device for urinary catheterization including an oblong member for opening the human bladder and a guide member for manipulating the oblong member. The guide member may be provided in a bent configuration, e.g. being curled or folded, such that the size of the device is small in comparison with the size of known catheters, especially in comparison with existing catheters for male users.
US07670328B2	Apparatus and method to provide emergency access to bone marrow An apparatus and method for penetrating the bone marrow is provided. The apparatus includes a housing, a penetrator assembly, operable to penetrate the bone marrow, a connector operable to releasably attach the penetrator assembly to a drill shaft, the drill shaft operable to connect the penetrator assembly to a gear assembly, a gear assembly operable to engage and rotate the drill shaft, a motor operable to engage the reduction gear assembly and drive the penetrator into the bone marrow by rotation of the drill shaft, and a power supply and associated circuitry operable to power the motor. The apparatus and method may be adapted to insert a probe through the skull and into the brain.
US07670322B2	Check valve for medical Y-site A check valve for use in a Y-site in an infusion system comprises a fixation portion configured to retain the check valve in a common lumen of the Y-site, and a flap member extending axially from the fixation portion. The flap member has an outer surface, at least a portion of which is configured to engage an internal wall of the common lumen overlying an inlet from a main lumen. In one embodiment, the flap member comprises a pocket surrounding the hole and any burr extending from the wall adjacent the hole. In some embodiments, the flap member is resiliently biased towards a sealed position, and can flex to allow fluid flow from the main lumen to the common lumen.
US07670319B1	Safety device for use with a vial A safety device to be used with a vial, or capsule, has a collar dimensioned to slidably fit about the body of the vial. Extending from the collar is a neck member that has connected to its other end a housing pivotable to a position along the longitudinal axis of the vial. A latch member having a lip is integrated to the neck member and extends out from the neck member in a direction towards the center of the collar. Neck member is fabricated to have an elastic characteristic so that if it is not biased by any external force, it will return to its original position. As the collar of the safety device is moved along the body of the vial, neck member is biased away from the vial as the latch member maintains contact along the outer surface of the vial, and then the outer surface of the hub formed at the top end of the vial. Once the collar of the safety device is moved to a position adjacent the hub, given the configuration of the neck member forms a space between the top of the collar and the lip of the latch member, the hub of the vial would fit within the space thus formed, as neck member snaps back to its original position. At which time the lip of latch member latches onto a shoulder portion of the hub. Once latched onto the hub, the latch member would prevent the safety device from being removed from the vial. Instead of the neck member, another embodiment of the inventive safety device has extending from the collar a rigid support frame and an elongate elastic latch member.
US07670315B2	Injectors, injector systems and methods for injecting fluids An injector for injection a fluid into a patient, including: a first pressurizing mechanism adapted to operatively connect with a first fluid container to pressurize fluid therein; at least a second pressurizing mechanism to operatively connect with a second fluid container to pressurize a fluid therein; a single drive; and a transmission to control how power from the drive is distributed to the first pressurizing mechanism of the first container and to the second pressurizing mechanism of the second container to control injection of fluid from the first container and from the second container. The drive can, for example, be an electric motor or other drive.
US07670308B2	Medical splinting apparatus and methods for using the same An articulated, adjustable, and lockable alignment arm, and associated extensions and accessories, which are user manipulable to model the size and shape of the fractured limb of a patient in the field. The alignment arm includes a first elongated arm segment, a second elongated arm segment, and connector means for interconnecting the first segment to the second segment through respective pivotal receivers having normal axes of rotation. The alignment arm is adjusted for proper orientation by setting it over the injury, and then locking the arm into a selected orientation which models the patient's limb around the area of the injury. Next, first and second arm extenders and protective end pads are used to expand the effective size of the alignment arm to form a custom splint structure. Lastly, the splint structure is secured to the patient's injured limb through the use of flexible cravats.
US07670306B2	Flexible support comprising elastically stretchable framework A potentiating support for an area of a body includes a framework having a surface for abutment with an area of a body. The framework defines a plurality of permanent openings in the surface regardless of whether the surface is in abutment with the area of the body, the openings extending completely through and being bounded by the framework. Furthermore, the framework, along its entire boundary with at least one of the openings, is elastically stretchable between a first initial state and extended states and, when expanded to an extended state, the framework stores potential energy that is released as kinetic energy upon its return to the initial state. The support also includes a fastening mechanism connected at multiple points proximate each of opposite sides of the framework for applying tension at each of the multiple points for tensioning the framework's surface in abutment with the area of the body.
US07670300B2	Swing lance with integrated sensor An apparatus for lancing skin and collecting a liquid sample. The apparatus having a housing with an outer periphery and a rotatable arm having a lance to puncture the skin. A sample collection area is attached to the arm. The arm of the apparatus rotates from a first position to a second position. As the arm rotates, the lance extends beyond the housing allowing the lance to contact the user's skin and create a lance site. As the arm continues to move to the second position, the lance is brought out of contact with the user's skin and back within the housing while the collection area is brought into position. When the arm is located in the second position, the collection area is in substantially the same location as the lance site on the user's skin.
US07670297B1	Chamber mapping system A computational process for approximating and representing the shape of the interior of the heart is disclosed.
US07670290B2	Electric circuit for tuning a capacitive electrostatic transducer An electrostatic transducer circuit and method of tuning the same, in which a balancing circuit is inserted into the electrostatic transducer circuit, is described. The electrostatic transducer circuit generally includes transmit circuitry, receive circuitry, a capacitive electrostatic transducer and the balancing circuit. The balancing circuit can include, either singly or in combination, an inductance and a negative capacitance. The balancing inductance is tuned to counteract the negative reactance of the capacitive electrostatic transducer at a desired operating frequency and can be inserted into the transmit circuitry and/or the receive circuitry. The balancing negative capacitance is tuned to counteract the capacitance of the capacitive electrostatic transducer and can be inserted into the receive circuitry and/or the transmit circuitry. The transmit circuitry can be isolated from the receive circuitry, and vice versa, once the balancing circuit has been inserted. Isolation can be achieved by switching the electrostatic transducer circuit between transmit and receive modes of operation, or by providing separate transmit and receive electrode subsets.
US07670276B2	Decanter type centrifugal separator with torque transmission mechanism A decanter type centrifugal separator includes a torque transmission mechanism with enhanced effect of absorbing a torsional vibration. The decanter type centrifugal separator (10) includes a bowl (20); a screw conveyor (40) disposed in the bowl (20); a processed liquid feed portion (15); a separated liquid discharge port (81); a solid discharge port (82); a drive portion (71); and a differential gear unit (50) for generating a difference in speeds between the bowl (20) and the screw conveyor (40). A torque transmission mechanism (60, 61) includes an elastic damping member (67) for absorbing the torsional vibration of the screw conveyor (40).
US07670274B2	Folding station with adjustable folding strap A folding station of a folding box gluing machine for processing a blank having a middle piece and side pieces which are attached to sides of the middle piece and which are deflected upward and inward along folding grooves between the middle piece and the side piece across a folding line toward the lengthwise middle of the blank and then folded up in order to produce a folding boxes, includes a folding strap that deflects the side pieces and folds them upward. The folding strap is guided by a folding shunt, a positioning roller, and one or more deflection and pressure rollers. A distance between the folding strap from the folding line of the blank is adjustable, such that the folding strap acts on an outer region of the side piece.
US07670268B1	Exercise methods and apparatus with elliptical foot motion An exercise apparatus includes a frame configured to rest on a floor surface; left and right cranks rotatably mounted on the frame; left and right drive links having forward ends rotatably coupled to respective cranks, and rearward ends constrained to move in reciprocal fashion relative to the frame; left and right rocker links rotatably mounted on the frame at a common pivot axis; left and right drawbar links rotatably interconnected between respective rocker links and respective drive links; and left and right foot links having forward ends rotatably coupled to respective rocker links, and rearward, foot supporting ends constrained to move in reciprocal fashion relative to respective drawbar links or respective drive links. The resulting linkage assemblies constrain the foot supporting ends to move through elliptical paths, and the paths may be altered by adjusting various components of the linkage assemblies relative to one another and/or the frame.
US07670263B2	Modular personal network systems and methods We have disclosed a modular personal network (MPN) that includes multiple devices that may be worn, carried, or used in close proximity to a user. The devices communicate wirelessly. Functions of the MPN may be modified by adding or removing components. The MPN may communicate with a personal computer. General purpose devices may include a control unit, a display, a user input, and an audio output. The MPN may provide a variety of functions, including time, communication, entertainment, organization, guidance, athletic, medical, travel, outdoors, identity, security, and military.
US07670256B2	Automotive drive train and method for reducing chatter in the same The invention relates to a method for reducing chatter in automotive drive train which comprises an internal combustion engine as the drive and a clutch device. According to the method, a rotating component of the drive train is driven by means of the internal combustion engine and the speed of the component is detected. Any chatter is also detected. When chatter occurs, an electric motor is used to transmit a torque onto the rotating component in order to actively dampen the chatter. The rotating component is driven by the electric motor for any chatter component at which the speed of the rotating component decreases and the rotating component is slowed down by the electric motor for any chatter component at which the speed of the rotating component increases.
US07670255B2	Split serial-parallel hybrid dual-power drive system A split serial-parallel hybrid dual-power drive system, comprised of two or more than two separation drive systems allowing independent operation to respectively drive the load, or all loads driven individually are incorporated in a common frame to drive land, surface, underwater transportation means or aircraft, industrial machines and equipment or any other load drive by rotational kinetic energy.
US07670253B2	Clutch control for hybrid transmission A method and system to off-load motive torque from a clutch to execute a transmission shift is provided. The powertrain includes torque-generative devices operably connected to a two-mode, compound-split, hybrid electro-mechanical transmission. The method includes determining a commanded output torque, and a shift command. A first torque is transmitted by electrical motors, and is limited by their torque capacities. A supplemental motive torque is transmitted from an oncoming clutch. The supplemental motive torque is limited by a torque capacity of the oncoming clutch. Output torque of an internal combustion engine to the transmission is adjusted by an amount substantially equal to a difference between the commanded output torque and the first and the supplemental motive torques.
US07670242B2	Electrically variable transmission having three planetary gear sets with two fixed interconnections The electrically variable transmission family provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first, second and third differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors or generators, and five selectable torque-transfer devices. The selectable torque transfer devices are engaged in combinations of two or three to yield an EVT with a continuously variable range of speeds (including reverse) and four or five mechanically fixed forward speed ratios. The torque transfer devices and the first and second motor/generators are operable to provide five operating modes in the electrically variable transmission, including battery reverse mode, EVT reverse mode, reverse and forward launch modes, continuously variable transmission range mode, and fixed ratio mode.
US07670234B1	Golf club system A golf club system comprising a set of golf clubs, with each golf club having a face angle being between one and sixty five degrees from a plumb plane. Each golf club has a club head having an associated hosel. The hosel may have an offset configuration.
US07670227B2	Changeable console face plate A console includes a face plate that is removably mounted to a console body by at least one clip. The face plate includes a power button for turning on the console. The face plate further includes a DVD slot that provides access to a DVD tray and a DVD ejection button mounted on the console body. The face plate may include additional features as desired. The ability to readily remove the face plate allows users to switch between a first face plate with a first set of graphics to a second face plate having a second set of graphics. Thus, a console is provided with increased user customizability.
US07670226B2	Method for managing game using communication line A game is divided into a plurality of charged playing sections which a player can play by paying a point and the thus divided charged playing sections are set. Game cards to which proper passwords are respectively assigned are distributed. The password is transmitted from a game playing terminal to a server, and the point corresponding to the password is set by the server. At this time, data comprising an image of a present item usable in the game is downloaded into the game playing terminal. In the game playing terminal, the image of the present item is produced and is displayed, and the server controls for allowing the player to play the charged playing section within bounds of the point which has been set on the account.
US07670223B2	Bingo gaming system with player selected daub modes Players participate in bingo-type games through player stations each having a suitable player interface. The player may manually select between multiple modes in which the player's bingo card representations are daubed. In one daub mode, once a player is assigned a bingo card representation and a game designation set is associated with the bingo card representation, daubing the bingo card representation must be performed manually by the player at the player's respective player station using a suitable interface at the player station. In a card daub mode, one or more of the player's bingo card representations is automatically daubed in response to a card daub input made by the player at the player station using a suitable input device. In a game daub mode, one or more of the player's bingo card representations are daubed without any action by the player other than the player's selection of the game daub mode and the player's submission of a request to enter a bingo game offered by the system.
US07670221B2	Method of playing a poker-type game There is provided a method of playing a poker-type game amongst a large number of players located at remote locations. The method includes the steps of dividing a standard 52-card deck into a reserve and a player deck, so that the reserve contains 16 randomly selected cards and the player deck contains the remaining 36 cards. Each player is then provided with a ticket showing two randomly selected cards from the player deck. Fictitious opponents are each provided with two randomly selected cards from the reserve, while five randomly selected cards from the reserve are used to form the community cards. As in Texas Hold'Em poker, the best 5-card poker hand for each player and each fictitious opponent is determined from amongst the two cards the 5 community cards. Two categories of prizes are awarded. The first two players whose hands beat all fictitious opponents. If no player beats all fictitious opponents, then the second prize goes to the players with the best hands amongst all players participating in the game. Optionally, there may also be a “Bad Beat Jackpot” for certain exceptionally good hands that do not beat all fictitious opponents. There is also provided an apparatus for carrying out this method.
US07670219B2	Integrated axle and cleaning fan wrapper for an agricultural harvesting machine An integrated axle and fan wrapper for an agricultural harvesting machine, including a fan wrapper structure connected between first and second spaced apart side sheets and extending sidewardly therebetween in spanning relation to the space, the wrapper structure incorporating at least one cross member connected between the first and second side sheets for holding the side sheets in the parallel spaced relation, and the fan wrapper structure defining and at least partially enclosing an internal cavity configured for receiving a fan for rotation therein. The integrated axle and fan wrapper includes a first axle structure mounted sidewardly outwardly of and integrated with the fan wrapper structure and having a first outer end portion configured for mounting a first wheel thereon, and a second axle structure mounted outwardly of the fan wrapper structure and integrated therewith and having a second outer end portion configured for mounting a second wheel thereon, the fan wrapper structure serving to support and stiffen, strengthen and integrate the axle structures.
US07670218B2	Process and device for controlling working parts of a combine harvester The process and device for controlling at least one operating condition parameter (54) of working parts (45) of a combine harvester (1) has at least one sensing device (36, 40) for monitoring a crop tailings stream (31) and for generating a grain tailings signal (X) and a tailings flow rate signal (Y) for control of the operating condition parameters (54), such as blower speed, upper sieve mesh, lower sieve mesh, so that changes in the crop harvesting conditions can be reacted to rapidly and efficiently. The device includes an evaluating and display unit (39), which includes a controller (53) for automatically controlling operating condition parameters or for displaying control information produced by control algorithms (56 to 58), so that the operating condition parameters can be optimized according to the grain tailings signal (X) and tailings flow rate signal (Y).
US07670206B2	Substrate polishing apparatus and substrate polishing method The present invention relates to a substrate polishing apparatus and a substrate polishing method for polishing a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer to a flat finish. The substrate polishing apparatus includes a polishing table (100) having a polishing surface (101), a substrate holder (1) for holding and pressing a substrate (W) against the polishing surface (101) of the polishing table (100), and a film thickness measuring device (200) for measuring a thickness of a film on the substrate (W). The substrate holder (1) has a plurality of pressure adjustable chambers (22 to 25), and pressures in the respective chambers (22 to 25) are adjusted based on the film thickness measured by the film thickness measuring device (200).
US07670203B2	Process for making an on-chip vacuum tube device A method of making a microelectromechanical microwave vacuum tube device is disclosed. The device is formed by defining structural regions and sacrificial regions in a substrate. The structural regions have flexural members. The substrate is treated to remove the sacrificial regions and release the structural regions such that the structural regions are moveable by the flexural members. The structural regions include a device cathode, a device grid or both a device cathode and a device grid. The cathode comprises electron emitters. The device further includes an output structure where amplified microwave power is removed from the device. In the method, the cathode surface and the grid surface are moved to a position where they are substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the substrate. The device further comprises an anode that is substantially parallel to the cathode surface and the grid surface.
US07670193B2	Connector with insulation piercing contact and conductor guiding passageway 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.
US07670191B2	Extension/expansion to universal serial bus connector An extension to USB includes an insulative tongue portion and a number of contacts held in the insulative tongue portion. The contacts have four conductive contacts and two pairs of differential contacts for transferring differential signals. The four conductive contacts consist of a power contact, a ground contact, a − data contact and a + data contact. One pair of the differential contacts is located between the power contact and the − data contact and the other pair of the differential contacts is located between the power contact and the + data contact. The four conductive contacts are for USB protocol and arrangement of the four conductive contacts with the insulative tongue portion is compatible to the standard USB connector. The two pairs of differential contacts are for non-USB protocol. The extension to USB is capable of mated with a commentary standard USB connector and a commentary extension to USB, alternatively.
US07670188B2	Electrical card connector with improved spring tab An electrical card connector includes an insulative housing defining a card receiving space, a plurality of contacts for mating with a first card and a second card wider than the first card, and a spring tab at one side of the card receiving space. The spring tab includes a retaining portion fixed to the insulative housing and a body portion extending from the retaining portion. The body portion includes a bend portion extending from a lateral side of the body portion under a condition that the first card is sidewardly restricted by the bend portion with insertion of the first card into the card receiving space, and body portion is deformable to let the second card overstepping the body portion with insertion of the second card into the card receiving space.
US07670175B2	Movable connector A movable connector includes a first member, a second member that is adapted to be fixed to the first member, a first connector that is fixed to the first member, a holder that is integrally formed on the second member, and a second connector that is provided within the holder so as to move in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which the first connector is connected to the second connector. The first connector is connected to the second connector in accordance with an operation for fixing the first member to the second member.
US07670172B2	Modular jack assembly A modular jack assembly includes first and second contact-holding inserts (10, 20) having first and second groups of interengaging elements (11 and 21, 12 and 22) between opposite bottom surfaces thereof. The first and second groups of interengaging elements are configured to interferentially engage the first contact-holding insert (10) with the second contact-holding insert (20) in respective first and second lateral and horizontal positioning directions (A, B). The second lateral and horizontal positioning direction (B) extends at approximately 90 degrees. from the first lateral and horizontal positioning direction (A). This arrangement will result in a reliable and stable positioning of the first contact-holding insert with respect to the second contact-holding insert.
US07670164B2	Waterproof electrical connector A waterproof electrical connector having a main housing providing a fitting section which is fitted into a contact-receiving concavity of a mating connector and a head section stretching at a rear of the fitting section in a direction in which the fitting section is fitted into the mating connector, a contact that is housed in the fitting section such that one end of the contact is housed in the head section and is connected to one end of an insulated electrical wire which is guided out in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the fitting section is fitted into the mating connector, a cover housing that covers the head section, and a body that covers at least a boundary portion between the main housing and the cover housing.
US07670158B2	Connector engaging structure A connector engaging structure includes an electrical connection box including a first connector provided with a connecting terminal, a second connector to be engaged with the first connecter, and provided with a mating terminal to be connected to the connecting terminal, an outer housing which houses a whole of the second connector, and is secured to the electrical connection box, and a rotatable lever which couples the second connector with the outer housing, and relatively moves the second connector to/from the first connector to connect/disconnect the connecting terminal to/from the mating terminal.
US07670140B2	Orthodontic hand instrument for detaching brackets from teeth A hand instrument for detaching orthodontic brackets from a patient's teeth has first jaw, a second jaw and a blade that extends between the first jaw and the second jaw. The blade is received in a channel of a bracket during a debonding procedure, and serves to releasably clamp mesial and distal sections of the bracket to the hand instrument as the sections are detached from the tooth.
US07670134B2	Injection molding apparatus An injection molding apparatus capable of minimizing cracks at the corners of a mold is provided. The injection molding apparatus includes first and second molds that mate with each other to define a molding cavity, a stationary member that supports the first mold, a movable member that supports the second mold and moves backwards and forwards together with the second mold, and a plurality of pressing members installed around the first mold so as to press a periphery of the first mold toward the molding cavity by a pressing force of the movable member when the first mold is mated with the second mold.
US07670133B2	Twin-sheet thermoforming of plastic fuel tanks A method and a plant for twin-sheet thermoforming of fuel tanks; first and second sheets (SA, SB) of thermoformable plastic material, are separately fed along respective processing lines (10A, 10B). The sheets (SA, SB) are heated and gripped along their peripheral edges by a pneumatically actuate suction and vacuum holding device (15A, 15B), for supporting the heated sheets (SA, SB) in a substantially flat condition while they are moved towards a respective thermoforming station (16A, 16B). Both the molds (17A, 17B) are disposed side by side with their open cavity facing upwards. After thermoforming of the plastic sheets (SA, SB), one of the molds (17B) is turned upside down onto the other mold (17A), to overlap and weld superimposed sealing areas of the two thermoformed shells (GA, GB). Cooling of the molds and thermoformed tank may be performed on a side of the processing lines (10A, 10B).
US07670127B2	Apparatus for pattern replication with intermediate stamp The invention relates to an imprint apparatus for carrying out a two-step process for transferring a pattern from a template to a target surface of a substrate. The apparatus works by creating an intermediate disc, e.g. from a flexible polymer stamp, by imprint from the template in a first imprint unit. A feeder device is then operated to feed the intermediate stamp to a second imprint unit, where it is used to make an imprint in a target surface of a substrate.
US07670121B2	Spherical fluid machines A rotary fluid machine, such as a pump or motor has a housing with a spherical interior in which primary and secondary vanes rotate with the secondary vane reciprocating between open and closed positions with respect to the primary vane. Improvements to this type of fluid machine are defined to improve the rigidity of the internals while removing heat generated by compression as well as providing facile conversion of the machine from a liquid pump to a gas compressor, to provide for multiple flow streams at multiple flow rates in a single machine, multiple flow streams at multiple compression ratios in a single machine, and dual simultaneous function as a motor and a compressor.
US07670117B1	Fluid metering device A fluid metering device for monitoring flow of fluid is provided. The fluid metering device comprises: an electric motor; and a housing having a manifold section, a motor adapter plate and a pressure retaining container, said pressure retaining container encompassing a pressurized chamber having a hydraulic pump placed in the pressurized chamber; and the manifold section including an air bleed valve and a pressure biased relief valve for maintaining pressure within the housing.
US07670116B1	Turbine vane with spar and shell construction The present invention is a vane for us in a gas turbine engine, in which the vane is made of an exotic, high temperature material that is difficult to machine or cast. The vane includes a shell made from either Molybdenum, Niobium, alloys of Molybdenum or Niobium (Columbium), Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC), or SiC—SiC ceramic matrix composite, and is formed from a wire electric discharge process. The shell is positioned in grooves between the outer and inner shrouds, and includes a central passageway within the spar, and forms a cooling fluid passageway between the spar and the shell. Both the spar and the shell include cooling holes to carry cooling fluid from the central passageway to an outer surface of the vane for cooling. This cooling path eliminates a serpentine pathway, and therefore requires less pressure and less amounts of cooling fluid to cool the vane.
US07670107B2	Variable-vane assembly having fixed axial-radial guides and fixed radial-only guides for unison ring A variable-vane assembly for a variable nozzle turbine comprises a nozzle ring supporting a plurality of vanes affixed to vane arms that are engaged in recesses in the inner edge of a unison ring. The unison ring is rotatable about the axis of the nozzle ring so as to pivot the vane arms, thereby pivoting the vanes in unison. A plurality of radial-axial guide pins for the unison ring are inserted into apertures in the nozzle ring and are rigidly affixed therein such that the radial-axial guide pins are non-rotatably secured to the nozzle ring with a guide portion of each radial-axial guide pin projecting axially from the face of the nozzle ring. Each guide portion defines a groove for receiving the inner edge of the unison ring such that the unison ring is restrained by the radial-axial guide pins against excessive movement in both radial and axial directions.
US07670104B2	Fan with laminar flow element in front of the suction hole A radial fan (1) with a housing (2) and a fan impeller (3) disposed therein, an air inlet (4) and an air outlet (5) is provided, a pressure space (6) being formed between the latter, and in front of the air inlet (4) a laminar element (7) being disposed which, in a bypass (8) formed therein, has a sensor (9) for recording at least one parameter of the medium flowing through the air inlet (4).
US07670102B2	Heat dissipating module A heat dissipating module includes a rotational member, a stationary member and a driving member. The rotational member meshes with the driving member and has an uneven surface at a side thereof to space to the stationary member. The stationary member has plural flow passages and each flow passage has an air inlet at an end thereof and an air outlet at another end thereof. When the driving member actuates the rotational member to rotate with the fluid, the fluid enters the stationary member via the inlet and gathers at the outlet before being guided outward for concentrating the air and cooling the heat dissipated object.
US07670096B2	Compound truck leveler A compound truck leveler for use upon a driveway abutting a loading dock is provided that includes an incline portion having a trailing edge disposed further from the driveway than its leading edges, and a decline portion having a leading edge rigidly attached to the trailing edge of the incline portion and disposed further from the driveway than its trailing edge. The leveler is pivotally attached to a pivot apparatus rigidly attached to the driveway adjacent to the front of the leveler wherein the leveler is limited only to rotational movement about the pivot apparatus between lowered and raised positions. Preferably, the leveler also includes an extension portion extending towards the loading dock and rigidly attached to the decline portion wherein the extension is substantially parallel with the driveway in the lowered position. The pivot point of the leveler is preferably disposed further from the driveway than the rear of the leveler.
US07670095B2	Wafer processing apparatus having dust proof function The wafer processing apparatus includes a chamber that is pressurized to a pressure that is higher than the pressure of the exterior thereof, an opening portion through which the interior and the exterior of the chamber are in communication with each other, and a door that closes the opening portion. When the opening portion is closed by the door, a portion of the opening remains as an aperture uncovered by the door. In conventional semiconductor wafer processing apparatus, the interior of the apparatus is sealed and pressurized in order to keep a high degree of cleanness in the wafer processing portion, and therefore airflow is generated due to a pressure difference between the interior and the exterior of the apparatus. With the above feature of the invention, it is possible to suppress creation of such airflow and prevent dust from entering the wafer processing apparatus to eliminate wafer contamination.
US07670085B2	In situ immobilization of subsurface contamination Vertical migration of a plume of subsurface contamination in the vadose zone to the groundwater is prevented by forming and maintaining one or more desiccation layers in the vadose zone in or above a layer of contamination. Horizontal barrier layers are produced by injecting dry air at a specific elevation in one borehole and removing the air at another borehole. These horizontal layers act as an impermeable barrier to the vertical migration of dissolved contaminants.
US07670084B2	Precasting of fabricated flumes for machining coolant systems A method and apparatus for constructing machinery flumes couples precast, fabricated sections of flume having a channel lining in a concrete cast. The sections are assembled to seal end to end forming a continuous trough in which assembly work is contained to reduce installer exposure, reduce field installation time and reduce construction costs for flume systems. Preferably, an end of a lining extends beyond the cast sheath for connection with an overlapped portion of an adjacent precast section's lining.
US07670081B2	Method of forming surface seeded particulate An improved surface seeded exposed particulate concrete and method of making the improved surface seeded exposed particulate concrete is disclosed. Small particulate is sprayed over the upper surface of the concrete. The particulate may be sprayed using a material sprayer. The particulate may be uniformly sprayed to distances exceeding twenty feet. The particulate is mixed into a cement paste derived from the concrete mixture using floats. A surface retarder is then applied to cover the concrete surface. Subsequently, any surface film is washed from the surface of the concrete and the concrete is cured. The result is a surface seeded particulate with an exposed surface that is flat and is suitable for high traffic areas. The resultant surface may resemble stone, granite or marble.
US07670080B2	Catch basin system A drainage catch basin is formed from a rectangular trough with a planar upper rim defined by at least two opposite sidewalls and includes at least one inner wall forming a lower rim to define the gutter opening for flush mounting with the curb. The basin is covered by a top with a planar bottom that preferably includes a central circular manhole cover. The top is preferably formed by first providing a mold having a bottom and side frame of steel plates reinforced by a galvanized steel nosing and crossing rebar. The mold is then filled by concrete casting while installed on the catch basin trough to match the exterior color and/or finish of the adjacent sidewalk, street and/or curb.
US07670078B2	Dust boot with grease relief passage A joint enclosure apparatus includes a dust boot having an opening and a rim located adjacent to the opening, a flexible flap formed as a portion of the rim, and at least one grease relief passage located on an outer surface of the dust boot adjacent to the flexible flap. The dust boot is useful for use in a ball joint assembly which includes a ball stud having a shank portion and a ball portion; a housing adapted to receive the ball portion in articulatable engagement in a ball stud exit end; a dust boot having a shank opening in sealing engagement with the shank portion and a housing opening in sealing engagement with the housing at the ball stud exit end and a rim adjacent to the shank opening; a flexible flap formed as a portion of the rim; and at least one grease relief passage located on an outer surface of the dust boot adjacent to the flexible flap. The grease relief passage may comprise a rib or a recessed channel. The area of the outer surface of the dust boot adjacent to the flexible lip may be undercut to control the relief characteristics of the flexible lip. As grease is flushed from the dust boot, it is directed along a path defined by the grease relief passage. If a dust boot becomes pinched during stud articulation, the grease relief passage provides an escape path for grease after it passes the flap.
US07670072B2	Cam-locking positioning mechanism A locking positioning mechanism includes a first element and a second element, the first element and second element rotatable relative to one another about a common rotational axis between a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation and axially translatable relative to one another. The mechanism further includes one or more first locking surfaces of the first element and one or more second locking surfaces of the second element. The second locking surfaces are configured to clear the first locking surfaces in the unlocked orientation. The second locking surface is configured for an interference fit with a first locking surface in the locked orientation.
US07670065B2	Multi-electrode system A multi-electrode system comprises a fiber support configured to hold at least one optical fiber and a set of electrodes disposed about the at least one optical fiber and configured to generate arcs between adjacent electrodes to generate a substantially uniform heated field to a circumferential outer surface of the at least one optical fiber. The electrodes can be disposed in at least a partial vacuum.
US07670059B2	Vehicle corner module A corner module for an automotive vehicle includes a suspension upright, a wheel end, and a CV joint. The wheel end has a housing that is secured to the suspension upright and a hub that is provided with a flange to which a road wheel is attached and also spindle that projects from the flange into the housing. In addition, the wheel end has a tapered roller bearing located between the housing and the hub spindle. The CV joint drives the hub through a coupler ring or an inboard bearing cone that fits around and is engaged with the hub spindle, all through mating splines. The CV joint may have a stub shaft that projects from the bell through the hub spindle to clamp the CV joint and hub spindle together. Torque is transferred to the hub spindle at a large diameter through the bell of the CV joint. When present, the stub shaft serves merely to hold the CV joint and hub spindle together and thus may exist at a small diameter. Because the bearing transfers radial and thrust loads through tapered rollers, it and the wheel end of which it is a part may exist in configurations smaller than their counterparts in traditional wheel ends.
US07670058B2	Cage for antifriction bearings with rollers A cage for antifriction bearings with rollers, which has a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, webs, and pockets, which are adjacent to one another along the periphery and which serve to accommodate rollers. The webs and the lateral edges are formed together as a single piece, and the flanks have a finished profile-milled contour. The finished contour is a negative reproduction of a positive outer cutting contour of one profiling cutter.
US07670054B2	Bearing A bearing is provided comprising an elongated body including an outer surface and an inner bore. The body includes a front face and a rear face. The front face has at least one circumferential groove and the rear face has at least one circumferential groove. The inner bore and the front face groove define a first wall having a thickness. The front face groove and the rear face groove define a second wall having a thickness. The rear face groove and the outer surface define a third wall having a thickness. The first wall, second wall, and third wall form a pair of crenulations therebetween wherein the first wall thickness is greater than the second wall thickness.
US07670042B2	Marinating device A marinating device includes a supporting base having a blocking sidewall, a food marinating container having a guiding rib and a container sidewall physically contacted with the blocking sidewall to block a sideward movement of said food marinating container at a first sideward direction, and an electric driving arrangement. The electric driving arrangement includes a driving unit and a plurality of driving rotors adapted to be driven by the driving unit to rotate. At least two corresponding driving rotors are frictionally and alignedly engaged with the guiding rib to block the sideward movement of the food marinating container at an opposed second sideward direction such that when the food marinating container is driven to rotate via the driving rotors, the food marinating container is securely retained on the supporting base.
US07670038B2	LED collimator element with an asymmetrical collimator The invention relates to an LED collimator element (1; 20) which can be used in particular for motor vehicle headlights. It comprises an LED (2; 23), of which the emitted light can be emitted essentially directly into an emission angle region of the LED collimator element (1; 20), and a collimator (3; 22) which deflects the light which is not emitted in the emission direction into the emission angle region. The LED collimator element (1; 20) is designed to be asymmetrical at least with respect to a sectional plane (4) so that a defined non-uniform light intensity distribution is achieved in an emission plane (10; 26) of the LED collimator element (1; 20) which is orthogonal to the sectional plane (4) and to the main emission direction.
US07670036B2	Floor lamp having low light replaceable bulb A lamp having at least a portion of a body formed of translucent material defining a hollow chamber within which a low light level light bulb is housed. A portion of the body is removable to provide easy access to the light bulb for removal and changing when required.
US07670034B2	LED lamp An LED lamp includes a housing having a base, a frame at a top end of the housing and a plurality of stanchions interconnecting the base and the frame. A heat sink is mounted on the frame. An LED module is received in the housing and attached on a bottom surface of the heat sink. A printed circuit board is arranged on the base of the housing, and a reflector is located on the printed circuit board. A transparent envelope is received in the housing and covers windows defined between the stanchions. A light generated by the LED module is reflected by the reflector to transmit outwardly through the envelope to illuminate a surrounding environment.
US07670016B2	Interior rearview mirror system with compass An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a mirror housing, a transflective reflective element, a compass sensor and compass circuitry. An information display is disposed in the mirror housing rearward of a transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element, and information displayed by the information display is viewable by a driver of the equipped vehicle through the transflective minor reflector of the reflective element when the information display is displaying information. The compass sensor may be disposed in the mirror housing rearward of the reflective element. The compass circuitry may be responsive to the compass sensor for determining a directional heading of the vehicle. The information display is operable to display the directional heading to the driver of equipped vehicle. The compass circuitry at least partially compensates for movement of the compass sensor caused by adjustment of the mirror housing.
US07670014B2	Infant viewing auto mirror An infant viewing auto mirror comprising a main panel having a reflective surface (i.e., mirror) exposed in the front side or surface thereof, and a flap affixed to the rear surface thereof. The flap is releasably secured to the rear surface of the main panel through the use of complimentary snaps. In addition to the main panel, the auto mirror comprises a mounting strap which is extensible about and removably attachable to a headrest through the use of a strip of Velcro disposed adjacent one end of the strap which is itself releasably engageable to a portion of the strap adjacent the opposite end thereof. Protruding from one side of the strap in the approximate center thereof is a dome-shaped support fabricated from hard foam. Extending diametrically across the support is a strip of fabric material. When the strap is properly secured to the headrest, the foam support (and hence the strip) is forwardly presented. The main panel is cooperatively engaged to the strap by advancing or “threading” the flap of the main panel between the fabric strip and foam support of the strap, the main panel being maintained in releasable engagement to the strap by thereafter snapping the flap to the rear surface of the main panel.
US07670013B2	Triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective article having curved reflective lateral face To provide a retroreflective article formed of many triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective element pairs. One-side groove angle formed between a cross line between a plane vertical to the common plane and to a V-groove vertical plane which includes the base line of a V-shaped groove is vertical to the common plane, and a reflective lateral face containing the base line of the V-shaped groove, and the V-groove vertical plane, does not form a constant angle in the reflective lateral face but the lateral face forms a curved and/or multiple surface. A base line constituting any directional V-shaped groove in retroreflective element pairs is a nonlinear base line which does not form a linear trajectory and the reflective lateral face formed of the V-shaped groove forms a curved and/or multiple surface.
US07670008B2	Oblique projection optical system In an oblique projection optical system for performing enlargement projection from a primary image surface on the reduction side to a secondary image surface on the enlargement side, at least one reflective surface having an optical power is provided, and, assuming that of the aforementioned surfaces, the reflective surface located on the most secondary image surface side in the optical path is a first curved reflective surface, the first curved reflective surface has a portion having a positive optical power and a portion having a negative optical power.
US07669994B2	Ink cartridges An ink cartridge includes a particular wall, a protruding member extending from the particular wall in a particular direction, a protrusion extending from the particular wall in the particular direction, and an ink chamber configured to store ink therein. The ink cartridge also includes a translucent portion defining an enclosure, an ink supply portion configured to supply ink from an interior of the ink chamber to an exterior of the ink chamber, in which the ink supply portion and the translucent portion are each positioned between the protrusion and the protruding member. The ink cartridge further includes a signal blocking member positioned within the enclosure. Moreover, the signal blocking member is configured to move within the enclosure based at least on an amount of ink disposed within the ink chamber, and the signal blocking member is sandwiched between the at least one pair of wall surfaces.
US07669986B2	Droplet discharging head and droplet discharging device, and discharging control method A droplet discharging head includes a nozzle supplied with a liquid substance, a meniscus moving section that moves a meniscus of the liquid substance in the nozzle, and a meniscus regulating section that is provided to an inside wall of the nozzle at a predetermined depth from an opening of the nozzle and regulates movement of an edge of the meniscus in the nozzle at the depth.
US07669985B2	Jetstack plate to plate alignment An apparatus has a first plate having a first array of holes, with a first plate alignment hole having a smaller size than the other holes in the array, a second plate having a second array of holes to be alignable to the first array of holes, a second plate alignment hole having a smaller size than the other holes in the array, and the first plate alignment hole and the second plate alignment hole having different positions. A method of aligning plates provides a first plate having a top and bottom and first array of holes including a first plate alignment hole having a size smaller than the other holes in the first array, places a second plate having a second array of holes on the top of the first plate such that the first array of holes and the second array of holes align, directs light at the bottom of the first plate, locates a profile of the first plate alignment hole in the second array of holes to verify alignment.
US07669984B2	Liquid ejection head, image forming apparatus and liquid supply method for liquid ejection head The liquid ejection head includes: a head main body which is constructed from a plurality of head units layered together in a layering direction perpendicular to a liquid ejection direction of nozzles, each of the head units having the nozzles, pressure chambers connected with the nozzles and arranged in a one-dimensional configuration, and piezoelectric elements corresponding to the pressure chambers and arranged in a one-dimensional configuration, the head main body having through channels substantially parallel to the layering direction of the head units, the through channels being in connection with the pressure chambers; and first and second liquid accommodating chambers which are arranged on sides of the head main body opposing to each other in the layering direction of the head units, the first and second liquid accommodating chambers being in connection with the through channels.
US07669977B2	Nozzle device with expansive chamber-defining layer A nozzle device is provided for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle device includes a substrate assembly defining an ink supply. A chamber-defining layer defines a nozzle chamber in fluid communication with a nozzle opening and the ink supply. An actuating arm is coupled to the substrate assembly and terminates in a paddle separating the ink supply and the nozzle chamber. The arm includes a thermal bend portion proximal to the substrate assembly, and is configured to bend during actuation so that the paddle moves and causes ink within the nozzle chamber to be ejected out through the nozzle opening.
US07669973B2	Printhead having nozzle arrangements with radial actuators A printhead for an inkjet printer has a wafer that defines a plurality of nozzle chambers and ink supply channels in fluid communication with the nozzle chambers to supply the nozzle chambers with ink. An ink ejection port is associated with each nozzle chamber. A series of actuators is associated with each nozzle chamber and is radially positioned with respect to the nozzle chamber. The actuators are operable so that, when activated, they are displaced into the nozzle chamber to generate an ink meniscus at the ink ejection port and, when deactivated, return to an original position resulting in the necking and breaking of the ink meniscus to eject an ink drop.
US07669965B2	Alignment mechanism for a printhead module An alignment mechanism for a printhead includes a support frame into which there is formed a printhead module mounting plate. The mounting plate is coupled to a lever at one side of the lever's fulcrum point. A grub screw is captured by a portion of the mounting frame and rotatably received at a point on the lever at an opposite side of the fulcrum to the mounting plate coupling point. The fulcrum point is located closer to the mounting plate than to the grub screw. Rotation of the grub screw causes minute movement of the mounting plate. A number of hinged arms are also provided which interconnect the mounting plate and the frame and are arranged to facilitate linear movement of the mounting plate in response to adjustment of the grub screw.
US07669958B2	Printhead cartridge comprising integral printhead maintenance station with maintenance roller A printhead cartridge for an inkjet printer is provided. The cartridge is removably receivable in the printer. The cartridge comprises: (a) a printhead; (b) an ink delivery system for supplying ink to the printhead; and (c) a maintenance station for maintaining the printhead in an operable condition. The maintenance station comprises a maintenance roller having an elastically deformable contact surface and an ink removal system for removing ink from the contact surface when the maintenance roller is rotated.
US07669946B2	Ink jet printing system for printing colored images on contact lenses The present invention provides a method for making colored contact lenses and an apparatus for implementing the method of the invention. The apparatus of the invention comprises a securing means for holding a contact lens or a portion of a mold for making the contact lens, a printer head, wherein the printer head comprises one or more nozzles each of which is capable of jetting droplets of color liquid independent of each other under control of a computer system; a positioning means for precisely positioning the printer head at each of a plurality of predetermined positions, one at a time, on a surface of the contact lens or the mold portion under control of the computer system. The method and apparatus of the invention are useful for producing colored contact lenses having high quality color images thereon.
US07669945B2	Refrigerating or freezing apparatus A refrigerator or freezer is provided with a chilling space for receiving refrigerated or frozen products and a holder for a support tray for the products, the holder at most projecting only insignificantly beyond the wall of the chilling space.
US07669944B2	Refrigerator having basket lift apparatus A refrigerator having a basket lift apparatus comprises: a body having cooling chambers for storing food; a basket arranged at the lower cooling chamber to be slidable back and forth and having a door at a front side thereof; a lifting frame arranged at a rear surface of the door to be movable up and down and on which the basket is positioned; and a driving unit for lifting the lifting frame, wherein the lifting frame is composed of a first frame connected to the rear surface of the door to be movable up and down, a second frame extended from an end of the first frame with an inclination angle, and a third frame horizontally extended from an end of the second frame and on which the basket is positioned. In the refrigerator, the basket is attached or detached to or from the lifting frame more easily.
US07669932B1	Headrest A vehicle headrest has a support defining a horizontal pivot axis and a cushion having a front face and pivotal about the axis on the support between a use position with the face upright and a rest position with the face generally horizontal. A latch element is displaceable in a longitudinal direction relative to the cushion between a blocking position operatively engaging the cushion and preventing the cushion from pivoting from the use position into the rest position and an unblocking position permitting such pivoting. A separate safety element engageable with the latch element is displaceable in a transverse direction between a locking position operatively engaging the latch element and preventing movement of the latch element into the unblocking position and a releasing position permitting movement of the latch element into the unblocking position.
US07669926B2	Headrest actuator for juvenile vehicle seat A juvenile seat includes a base having a bottom seat portion, a lower back section coupled to the base and positioned to lie at an angle relative to the bottom seat portion, and a headrest coupled to the lower back section for up and down movement relative to the base and the lower back section. The juvenile seat also includes a height-adjustment mechanism coupled to the headrest for up and down movement with the headrest to adjust the height of the headrest above the bottom seat portion. The height-adjustment mechanism is movable between a locked position to prevent up and down movement of the headrest relative to the lower back section and an unlocked position to permit up and down movement of the headrest relative to the lower back section.
US07669923B2	Seat, especially an aircraft passenger seat A seat, especially an aircraft passenger seat, has seat components such as a seat part, a seat back (3), and a shell body (5). The shell body forms at least a partially rear enclosure (9) of the seat part and the seat back (3). With an adjusting mechanism, the seat part and the seat back (3) can be adjusted in position relative to one another and relative to the rear enclosure (9). The distance between the rear enclosure and the seat back (3) is variable. A cover assembly (31, 45) bridges a distance formed by the variable distance between the seat back (3) and enclosure (9) between formed gaps.
US07669921B2	Reclining seating unit with headrest A reclining seating unit includes: a base configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat; a backrest that includes a body and a headrest that is positioned above the body; a reclining mechanism that interconnects the base, seat and backrest that controls the movement thereof between an upright position, in which the seat is generally horizontally disposed above the base and the backrest is generally vertically disposed at a first angle to the underlying surface above a rear portion of the backrest, and a fully reclined position, in which the backrest is disposed at a second angle to the underlying surface, the second angle being less than the first angle; and a headrest mechanism coupled to the reclining mechanism and attached to the body and headrest. In the upright position, a lower edge of the headrest is positioned at a first distance from an upper edge of the body, and in the reclined position, the lower edge of the headrest is positioned a second distance from the upper edge of the body, the second distance being greater than the first distance. The headrest moves generally parallel to the backrest as the chair moves from the upright to the reclined position.
US07669913B2	Protective cover for a motor vehicle A protective cover for covering at least a portion of an external surface of a motor vehicle, the protective cover includes a first segment comprising a pliable material configured to cover at least a portion of a first external surface of the motor vehicle. The first external surface is disposed substantially on a first side of a reference plane centrally positioned between two opposing lateral sides of the motor vehicle and extending between a front end and a rear end of the motor vehicle. The protective cover further includes a second segment comprising a pliable material configured to cover at least a portion of a second external surface of the motor vehicle, wherein the second external surface is disposed substantially on a second side of the reference plane and extends between the front end and the rear end of the motor vehicle. The first and second segments are positioned adjacent to one another on opposing sides of the reference plane.
US07669912B2	Convertible vehicle A convertible vehicle is provided with at least two roof elements that are separated from each other at a joint when the roof is in the closed position and arranged one after the other relative to the direction of travel, and in order to open the roof a rear roof element can move at least essentially rearward and downward, and a front roof element can swivel toward the rear roof element. When the roof is open, the C pillars can be swiveled inward in relation to a center section comprising to mediate the swiveling, at least one shaft, which when the roof is closed has at least one component in the direction of travel and one upwardly directed component, and whose rotary movement in the region of the joint between the roof elements can be translated into a swivel movement between them.
US07669903B2	Ultra low contact area end effector The present invention comprises a vacuum end effector having workpiece supports that work in conjunction with distorted workpiece surfaces. In one embodiment, each workpiece support has the ability to gimbal and conform the workpiece surface in contact with an outer edge of the support. Each workpiece support preferably provides a knife-like contact edge to minimize the contact area between the support and the workpiece while still providing an effective vacuum area to hold the wafer securely on the support. In another embodiment, each workpiece support is replaceable without having to remove the end effector from the robot assembly.
US07669901B2	Door safety latch for an air cleaner A door safety latch for air cleaner is provided. The door safety latch includes a latch arm including a latch projection, with the latch arm configured to pivot with respect to a door of the air cleaner, and a slider that traps a portion of the latch arm. The slider is configured to hold the latch arm in a first, latched position and further configured to pivot the latch arm to a second, unlatched position. The door safety latch further includes a release button that includes a stop shoulder. The release button is biased to a normally extended position with the stop shoulder blocking movement of the slider and the latch arm to the second, unlatched position.
US07669897B2	Vehicle passenger restraining apparatus and method for the same A vehicle passenger restraining apparatus is provided that basically includes a knee angle restraining structure, a shin restraining structure and a groin angle restraining structure. The knee angle restraining structure is configured to restrain a passenger during a frontal collision to attain a posture with a prescribed knee angle as measured between a passenger's thigh and a passenger's shin. The shin restraining structure is configured to restrain the passenger during a frontal collision. The groin angle restraining structure is configured to restrain the passenger during a frontal collision to attain the posture with a prescribed groin angle as measured between the passenger's thigh with respect to a longitudinal axis passing through a rotational center of a passenger's groin joint.
US07669882B2	Airbag module An airbag module includes an airbag, an inflator for inflating the airbag, a mounting plate, and a non-rigid tension element. The tension element comprises at least one fabric layer. The tension element is attached to the mounting plate to restrict lateral movement of the airbag during deployment. The airbag module may also include a fabric casing with a bowl section and a draw section. The fabric casing includes a casing opening and a tether drawstring. The tension element may be attached to the fabric casing.
US07669880B2	Strap for snowboard boots or bindings A binding or boot strap is provided that allows a rider to easily, rapidly and/or effectively tighten and/or loosen the strap about his or her boot. The strap includes a boot-engaging strap portion that engages with an engagement strap coupleable to the boot, as may be the case with boots used for step-in bindings, or to the binding, as may be the case with strap-type bindings. An arrangement for facilitating tightening/loosening of the two strap pieces so that a rider can slip his or her foot into or out from the boot or fasten the boot to or loosen it from a snowboard binding is also provided. In one embodiment, this arrangement includes a tightening element, such as for example a cord, lace or strap, suitably coupled to one or both strap portions such that a rider can pull on the tightening element to move the strap pieces relative to each other and tighten the strap. The tightening arrangement may be configured with a mechanical advantage whereby the force applied to the tightening element results in a greater force applied to the strap. To take up any excess amount of tightening element after the strap has been tightened, a retraction device, such as a self-winding spool, may be utilized. To separate the strap from the boot or binding, a hook and catch arrangement may be employed.
US07669878B1	Quick release hitch assembly A quick release assembly for remotely actuating operative disconnection between vehicles includes a lock bolt ejection assembly for remotely ejecting a lock bolt normally maintaining a coupling between the vehicles thereby allowing independent movement of the vehicles.
US07669870B2	Retrofit adjustable eccentric front motorcycle axle An adjustable axle assembly for the front fork of a motorcycle. In the preferred embodiment, the axle is received within an eccentric axle carrier which in turn is received within mounting holes in the front fork. The mounting holes utilize a pinch bolts as a clamping method to secure the eccentric axle carrier within the fork. In the preferred embodiment, loosening the pinch bolts allows the eccentric axle carrier to be rotated effectively moving the position of the wheel relative to the fork. Moving the wheel forward and backwards changes the trail characteristic of the motorcycle's geometry.
US07669869B2	Drive apparatus A drive apparatus for converting a substantially linear driving force to a rotary propulsive force, the apparatus including a pedal assembly for accepting a substantially linear drive force and fixed structure assembly for converting the substantially linear drive force to a rotary propulsive force.
US07669865B2	Axle suspension for heavy vehicles The present invention relates to an axle suspension for heavy vehicles, in particular trucks, comprising an axle beam which bears axle parts projecting over at oppositely disposed sides, each axle part preferably bearing a wheel drive; an axle beam bearing which permits upward and downward movements of the axle beam as well as pendular movements of the axle beam around a substantially lying pendular axis transverse to the longitudinal direction of the axle parts; a spring device for the resilient support of the upward and downward movements of the axle beam at a vehicle frame; and also a pendular damping device for the damping of the pendular movements of the axle beam. The invention is characterized in that the pendular damping device has a rotary axle which is pivoted to a part connected to the vehicle frame and drives a damping lever rotatably pivoted to the axle beam in a rotary manner on pendular movements of the axle beam, said damping lever acting on at least one damping element fastened to the axle beam.
US07669859B2	Cylinder head gasket A cylinder head gasket is formed of at least one metal plate for forming the gasket. The gasket includes cylinder bores, and sealing devices or beads to surround the cylinder bores. A notch portion for reducing surface pressure is provided at a flat portion of the at least one metal plate where a rigidity of the sealing device is not affected.
US07669854B1	Method of simulating a traditional craps game with barcoded cards and video display A method of simulating a traditional craps game experience using a specially designed deck of thirty six (36) playing cards to determine play rather than rolling dice. The deck of playing cards includes one card for each possible roll combination of a pair of dice. The deck is shuffled so that the cards are drawn at random to simulate a player rolling dice. The stickman activates the shuffler to draw a card from the shuffled deck. A bar code on the drawn card is read into a computer via a scanner and the computer then provides a visual representation of a dice roll on the monitors provided on either end of the craps table with the visualization showing the dice landing on the roll combination dictated by the drawn card. The display is activated when the shooter rolls the trackball mouse.
US07669852B2	Automatic card shuffler An automatic card shuffler includes a card input unit, card ejection unit, card separation and delivery unit and card collection unit. A card ejection unit ejects cards in a singular fashion from a stack of cards placed into the input unit. The cards are ejected to a stop arm maintaining the entrance to the card separation unit. Adjustment means permit the shuffler to accommodate different sized cards. Upon processor command, the stop arm raises to allow a plurality of cards to pass under to the card separation and delivery unit. A series of rotating belts and rollers act to separate the cards and propel them individually to the collection unit. By utilizing separate motors to drive the belts and rollers it is possible to cease the movement of the belts so that the rollers independently act upon the cards. A floating gate slightly forward of the stop arm dictates that a minimum number of cards are managed simultaneously. The shuffler is controlled by a processing unit in communication with multiple internal sensors. An audio system communicates voice outputs regarding shuffler malfunctions and instructions to an operator.
US07669851B2	Playing card viewing device A card viewing device has a housing having opposed first and second side walls, opposed front and rear walls, a card-accepting entranceway in a lower portion of the front wall, a viewing aperture in an upper portion of the rear wall, and an optical system within the housing for projecting an image of a portion of at least one card received within the device through the entranceway through the viewing window for observation by a user. The device is particularly adapted to allow private viewing of playing cards lying face-down on a playing surface, allowing the user of the device to view the card faces without lifting the cards off the playing surface or otherwise making them viewable by others.
US07669850B1	Multi-ball roulette A selection mechanism such as a Roulette wheel determines at least two outcomes for each game. Players are permitted in various embodiments to wager on the various outcomes with betting options such as a second chance wager, an enhanced wager, a combination wager, sequenced or non-sequenced, or the like. After determination of the two outcomes, losing wagers are collected and winning wagers are rewarded according to a predetermined pay table.
US07669849B2	Follower roller mounting mechanism for paper feeding apparatus A follower roller mounting mechanism for a paper feeding apparatus is provided, which has at least one follower roller and a shaft passing through the follower roller. The follower roller mounting mechanism includes a base having a trough and a hole on a top surface thereof. The trough has a back wall, a bottom wall, and two opposite lateral walls. The bottom wall and the back wall are adjacent to each other. Each of the lateral walls has a sliding slot. The shaft is disposed inside the base passing through the trough via the sliding slot for making the follower roller protruding from the top surface through the hole. An elastic element is disposed between the shaft and the back wall for generating elastic force, pushing the shaft sliding along the sliding slot, and making the follower roller to constantly rise above the top surface through the hole.
US07669839B2	Vacuum hold down A vacuum cup is made from rubber to resist damage and providing a vacuum seal without a separate gasket or O-ring. The vacuum cup may be one of several configurations suitable for different CNC machines and includes a rubber body comprising a bottom surface for mounting, a top surface including a vacuum area for holding a work piece, and a raised edge around the perimeter of the top surface for sealing against the work piece. The bottom surface may have any one of a variety of machine interfaces to cooperate with various machines. A vacuum passage connects the bottom surface with the vacuum area and a check valve may reside in the vacuum passage. The rubber body is sufficiently strong to resist flexing due to vacuum or work piece weight and the vacuum area includes work piece supports for contacting a work piece held on the vacuum cup.
US07669836B2	Bracket A bracket having a main body with attachment structure for fixing the bracket to a first post and fastening means for securing the bracket relative to a second post. The bracket is preferably used for strengthening a post assembly for a fence or trellis system.
US07669835B2	Closure system, method of use, and devices including closure system A closure system and various exemplary embodiments for devices including the closure system are disclosed. The closure system may include a base, a sideplate configured to rotate with respect to the base, and a retaining mechanism carried by the sideplate and configured to pivot with respect to the sideplate substantially transverse to an axis of rotation of the sideplate. The retaining mechanism may be configured to engage with a engagement protrusion of the base to prevent rotation of the sideplate. A chest roller, a snatch block, an ascender including the closure system and a method of use of the closure system, are additionally disclosed.
US07669832B2	Solenoid actuated valve with a damping device The invention provides a solenoid actuated valve with a plunger which moves in a sleeve under influence of a magnetic field from the solenoid and further comprising a damping device for reducing noise and wear caused by the plunger when it bounces against a top part located in the sleeve. The damping device comprises a first part which forms the limit of the travel of the plunger and another part which is allowed to move relative to the first part in a dampened movement. To enable application in a vacuum system, the damping device comprises a conduit which allows evacuation of a chamber confined between one end of the sleeve and the damping device. The invention further provides a damper for a solenoid actuated valve.
US07669831B2	Electrically controllable valve A controllable valve includes an axial working air gap arranged on a side of magnet armature that cooperates with a valve closure member the side facing away from the valve closure member so that upon electric actuation of the actuating drive, the valve closure member is movable by the actuating drive in the direction of the first valve seat surface.
US07669830B2	Three position shutoff valve A valve comprises a valve body and a shutoff assembly. The valve body includes an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow passage therebetween. The shutoff assembly includes a poppet and a piston. The poppet is movable between a closed position, a partially open position, and a full open position. The piston is disposed in the valve body adjacent to the poppet, and is moveable between a first position, in which the piston at least inhibits movement of the poppet from the closed position to the full open position, and a second position, in which the piston allows movement of the poppet from the closed position to the full open position.
US07669817B2	Mounting bracket A reversible mounting bracket for mounting an article such as a loudspeaker is disclosed. The reversible mounting bracket in a first configuration is adapted to mount the article substantially flush to an upright mounting surface and in a second configuration, wherein the mounting bracket is reversed in orientation with respect to the article, the mounting bracket is adapted to mount the article to a mounting member.

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