Document Document Title
US07821883B2 Computer system and method capable of automatically duplicating data into discs
The invention relates to a computer system capable of automatically duplicating data into discs with automatically blank-disc-supplying. The invention can be implemented by software, hardware, or any of the combinations. Since the invention does not utilize a mechanical arm to move the discs, the structure of the invention saves space compared with a traditional disc duplicating machine; moreover, the cost is less than that of the prior art.
US07821881B2 Reproduction device, reproduction method, reproduction program, and recording medium
With a reproduction-only disc having a large recording capacity, an interactive function having a higher degree of freedom than the related art can be easily accomplished. A virtual player model corresponding to a function of a player is created and described in Java. BDBasicPlayer 210 detects a user input and the status change of the player and generates an event. An object 211 that implements a listener interface registers an event listener corresponding to an event that the object 211 is caused to receive to BDBasicPlayer 210 before the event takes place. When the event becomes unnecessary, it is unregistered. BDBasicPlayer 210 transmits the event to the object 211 in which the event listener has been registered. The object 211 executes a method corresponding to the received event. The relationships between events and methods can be flexibly set. Thus, a complicated interactive function can be easily accomplished.
US07821878B2 Wearable electronic device with multiple display functionality
A wearable electronic device for conveying information in an analog manner at least in part by the use of at least one display hand positioned on the dial side of a dial, wherein the wearable electronic device uses the display hand(s) to convey information that is stored in the controller of the device and/or provided by sensors and/or an external transmitter. An actuation mechanism, preferably a stepper motor, is used to rotate the display hands in the clockwise and/or counterclockwise directions in predefined increments to convey the information.
US07821877B2 Pointer indication type timepiece
A pointer indication type timepiece, wherein three projecting portions (11) projecting from a shaft part (112) to an outer peripheral side and formed in such a shape that a cylinder is split into two parts along a central axis direction are disposed at a root portion (113) of the shaft part (112) of an hour wheel (110) at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the shaft part (112). The projecting portions (11) engage with a circular hole (123) in a dial washer (120).
US07821876B2 Synchronization of a plurality of devices in a wireless sensor arrangement
Two or more wirelessly networked devices for control or data acquisition functions for real-time application are provided with a error corrected synchronization and data collection process. A single start device transmits a start message, followed by each stop device acknowledging that start message. If one or more stop devices fails to acknowledge the initial start message, one or more start messages are transmitted including an elapsed time since the initial start message. Each stop device receives the initial start message and any subsequent start messages, using the elapsed time in the start message to synchronize a local timer. Upon stop event detection, each stop device records its local timer value and subsequently transmits that value to a collection device or console.
US07821875B2 Daylight saving time support for mobile devices
The invention relates to a method for updating a time marking according to new location, wherein a country related information is detected, a need for time update is determined, and if needed, time rules corresponding to said country related information is retrieved and the time is updated according to said rules. The invention relates also to a system, to a device, to a update converter and to computer program product.
US07821871B2 Switching circuit for an electromagnetic source for the generation of acoustic waves
A switching circuit for an electromagnetic source for generating acoustic waves has at least one first capacitor connected in parallel with a series circuit formed by a second capacitor and an electronic switch. The switching circuit is connected to a coil of the electromagnetic source, and the first and second capacitors are switched so as to both discharged into the coil, thereby supplying the coil with current.
US07821868B2 Memory and control unit
A memory includes a first holding circuit holding a first address of first data, a second holding circuit holding at least one of a second address of the first data and the amount of the first data, and an operation control circuit performing an operation rewriting the first address, an operation rewriting the second address or the amount of the first data and an operation continuously holding the first address and the second address or the amount of the first data.
US07821865B2 Nonvolatile memory device using variable resistive elements
The nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of memory banks, each of which includes a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells. Each cell includes a variable resistive element having a resistance varying depending on stored data. A plurality of global bit lines are included, and each global bit line is shared by the plurality of memory banks. A plurality of main word lines are arranged corresponding to one of the plurality of memory banks.
US07821863B2 Voltage supply circuit and semiconductor memory
Each of first and second differential amplifiers has a function of increasing a bias current in response to the activation of a drivability control signal. A first driving circuit connects an output node to a high power supply line in response to the activation of an output signal of the first differential amplifier, and connects the output node to a low power supply line in response to the activation of an output signal of the second differential amplifier. Only during the activation period of the drivability control signal, a second driving circuit connects the output node to the high power supply line in response to the activation of the output signal of the first differential amplifier, and connects the output node to the low power supply line in response to the activation of the output signal of the second differential amplifier.
US07821860B2 Stable temperature adjustment for refresh control
A refresh control circuit and method generates a refresh signal in response to one of a plurality of clock signals and a temperature signal. The clock signals and temperature signal may be synchronized to prevent an incomplete refresh operation at a trip point of a temperature sensor. In one embodiment, a pulse generator may generate a temperature sensor enable signal in response to the clock signals when the clock signals are synchronized. In other embodiments, the temperature signal may be latched to prevent a transition in the refresh signal during a refresh operation. The temperature signal may be latched in response to one of the clock signals or the refresh signal.
US07821856B2 Memory device having an evaluation circuit
A memory device comprising a memory cell and an evaluation circuit, the memory cell being coupled with the evaluation circuit via a bit line. The memory device further comprises a reference line coupled with the evaluation circuit, the evaluation circuit being designed for amplifying a difference between electric potentials of the bit line and the reference line. Inputs of the evaluation circuit are directly connected to the bit line. Outputs of the evaluation circuit are coupled to the bit line via a switch.
US07821853B2 Memory redundance circuit techniques
In a memory module having a designated group of memory cells assigned to represent a logical portion of the memory structure, a memory redundancy circuit having a redundant group of memory cells; and a redundancy controller coupled with the designated group and the redundant group. The redundancy controller, which can include a redundancy decoder, assigns the redundant group to the logical portion of the memory structure in response to a preselected memory group condition, e.g., a “FAILED” memory group condition. The redundancy controller also can includeselectable switches, for example, fuses, which can encode the preselected memory group condition. The designated group of memory cells and the redundant group of memory cells can be a memory row, a memory column, a preselected portion of a memory module, a selectable portion of a memory module, a memory module, or a combination thereof.
US07821850B2 Semiconductor digital circuit, FIFO buffer circuit, and data transferring method
A FIFO buffer circuit is provided which, in data transmission between two circuit areas having different combinations of a power supply voltage and an operation clock frequency, can perform voltage level and clock rate conversion at the same place and time. In an input side area are a plurality of data entry registers, a write entry management circuit and a full signal generating circuit. In an output side area are a read entry management circuit, an empty signal generating circuit and an output selector. On the boundary between the input and output sides are entry management flag circuits that manage the presence or absence of effective data in the respective data entries; and voltage level converting circuits that convert voltage levels of the outputs of the data entry registers to the voltage levels of the output side. In this way, the clock rate replacements and voltage level conversions are performed.
US07821844B2 Content addresable memory having programmable interconnect structure
A content addressable memory (CAM) device includes a CAM array, a programmable interconnect structure, and a priority encoder. The CAM array includes a plurality of CAM rows, each row including a number of CAM cells for storing a data word and coupled to a match line that indicates a match result for the CAM row. The programmable interconnect structure is coupled to each CAM row and a plurality of CAM rows, each row including a number of CAM cells for storing a data word and coupled to a match line that indicates match results for the row. The programmable interconnect structure coupled to each CAM row, and is configured to logically connect any number N of selected CAM rows together to form a data word chain spanning N rows, regardless of whether the selected CAM rows are contiguous.
US07821837B2 Reprogrammable nonvolatile memory devices and methods
A nonvolatile memory device includes a command decoder configured to generate a read/write flag signal in response to a read/write command and to generate a reprogram flag signal in response to a reprogram command, and a read/write circuit configured to control reading and writing operations in a memory cell array. The device further includes a read/write controller configured to cause the read/write circuit to perform a reading/writing operation in response to the read/write flag signal provided from the command decoder, and a reprogram controller configured to cause the read/write controller to perform a reprogramming operation in response to the reprogram flag signal. Methods of reprogramming a memory device include determining whether the memory device is in a busy state, delaying a reprogramming operation if the memory device is in a busy state, and executing the reprogramming operation when the memory device has turned to a standby state from the busy state.
US07821834B2 Nonvolatile memory devices that utilize dummy memory cells to improve data reliability in charge trap memory arrays
A charge trap flash memory device includes a flash memory array having at least a first page of charge trap memory cells therein electrically coupled to a first word line. The first page of charge trap memory cells includes a plurality of addressable memory cells configured to store data to be retrieved during read operations and a plurality of immediately adjacent non-addressable “dummy” memory cells configured to store dummy data that is not retrievable during the read operations. The plurality of dummy memory cells include at least one auxiliary dummy memory cell that operates as a buffer against lateral hole transfer within a charge trap layer of the array.
US07821831B2 Block erase for volatile memory
A system and method for erasing a block of data in a plurality of memory cells includes clamping one of a digit line and an I/O line in a sensing circuit of a memory device to a fixed logic level. The memory cells of the block of memory cells are selected and refreshed to the fixed logic level. A sense amplifier includes a clamping circuit adapted to connect one of a digit line and an I/O line to a fixed logic level in response to an erase signal during a refresh of the selected block of memory cells.
US07821828B2 Memory device and memory device heat treatment method
A memory device and a memory device heat treatment method are provided. The memory device may include: a non-volatile memory device; one or more heating devices configured to contact with the non-volatile memory device and heat the non-volatile memory device; and a controller configured to control an operation of the one or more heating devices based on operational information of the non-volatile memory device. Through this, it may be possible to improve an available period of the non-volatile memory device.
US07821821B2 Multibit electro-mechanical device and method of manufacturing the same
A multibit electro-mechanical memory device and a method of manufacturing the same include a substrate, a bit line in a first direction on the substrate, a lower word line in a second direction intersecting the first direction, a pad electrode isolated from a sidewall of the lower word line and connected to the bit line, a cantilever electrode expending in the first direction over the lower word line with a lower void therebetween, and connected to the pad electrode and curved in a third direction vertical to the first and second direction by an electrical field induced by a charge applied to the lower word line, a trap site expending in the second direction over the cantilever electrode with an upper void therebetween, and an upper word line to which a charge to curve the cantilever electrode in a direction of the trap site is applied, and on the trap site.
US07821807B2 Nonequilibrium photodetectors with single carrier species barriers
A photosensitive diode has an active region defining a majority carrier of a first conductivity type and a minority carrier of a second conductivity type. An extraction region is disposed on a first side of the active region and extracts minority carriers from the active region. It also has majority carriers within the extraction region flowing toward the active region in a condition of reverse bias. An exclusion region is disposed on a second side of the active region and has minority carriers within the exclusion region flowing toward the active region. It receives majority carriers from the active region. At least one of the extraction and exclusion region provides a barrier for substantially reducing flow of one of the majority carriers or the minority carriers, whichever is flowing toward the active region, while permitting flow of the other minority carriers or majority carriers flowing out of the active region. The barrier substantially reduces flow of the carriers without relying on diffusion length of the one carriers in order to reduce the flow.
US07821806B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory circuit utilizing a MIS transistor as a memory cell
A memory circuit includes a latch having a first node and a second node to store data such that a logic level of the first node is an inverse of a logic level of the second node, a MIS transistor having a gate node, a first source/drain node, and a second source/drain node, the first source/drain node coupled to the first node of the latch, and a control circuit configured to control the gate node and second source/drain node of the MIS transistor in a first operation such that a lingering change is created in transistor characteristics of the MIS transistor in response to the data stored in the latch, wherein the MIS transistor includes a highly-doped substrate layer, a lightly-doped substrate layer disposed on the highly-doped substrate layer, diffusion regions formed in the lightly-doped substrate layer, a gate electrode, sidewalls, and an insulating film.
US07821805B2 Semiconductor memory device
To secure a sufficient read-out voltage even when lines are arranged at a fine pitch, a semiconductor memory device including: a memory array in which a plurality of memory cells are arranged in rows and columns; and a plurality of bit lines associated with the respective columns of the memory cells is provided. The bit lines include main bit lines and sub bit lines to have a hierarchical structure, the main bit lines are divided among a plurality of interconnection layers, and a distance between the main bit lines in one of the interconnection layers is larger than a distance between the sub bit lines.
US07821799B2 Ripple reduction for switch-mode power conversion
A power converter includes an isolated or a nonisolated current-doubler rectification circuit including two magnetic circuit elements, each magnetic circuit element formed with a primary winding and a voltage-sensing winding. The primary windings are coupled in series. The voltage-sensing windings are also coupled in series but with a coupling sense opposite from that of the primary windings. A properly sized inductor and capacitor are coupled in series with the voltage-sensing windings to produce a ripple-cancellation current with slope opposite to a net slope error of currents produced in the two magnetic circuit elements. The current-doubler rectification circuit is preferably coupled to a rectangular ac input waveform. By sensing a scaled voltage difference between two magnetic circuit elements, a very low level of output ripple is produced by the circuit with very low power losses over a range of operating conditions.
US07821796B2 Reference plane voids with strip segment for improving transmission line integrity over vias
Reference plane voids with a strip segment for improving transmission line integrity over vias permits routing critical signal paths over vias, while increasing via insertion capacitance only slightly. The transmission line reference plane defines voids above (or below) signal-bearing plated-through holes (PTHs) that pass through a rigid substrate core, so that the signals are not degraded by an impedance mismatch that would otherwise be caused by shunt capacitance from the top (or bottom) of the signal-bearing PTHs to the transmission line reference plane. In order to provide increased routing density, signal paths are routed over the voids, but disruption of the signal paths by the voids is prevented by including a conductive strip through the voids that reduces the coupling to the signal-bearing PTHs and maintains the impedance of the signal path conductor.
US07821793B2 Mounting device for electronic component
A mounting device for an electronic component includes a plate, a securing piece, and an electronic component. The plate forms a first fixing hole and an L-shaped hook. The securing piece includes a first end, an opposite second end, and at least one hole. An insert portion extends outwards from the second end, insertable into the first fixing hole of the plate. A resilient arm extends outwards from the first end and forms a second fixing hole. The hook is inserted into the second fixing hole by resilient force of the resilient arm. The electronic component forms at least one positioning block insertable into the at least one hole of the securing piece.
US07821792B2 Cell board interconnection architecture
According to at least one embodiment, a cell board interconnection architecture comprises an interconnection structure for interconnecting a plurality of cell boards, the interconnection structure configured to allow air to pass therethrough in a direction in which the cell boards couple therewith.
US07821779B2 Bag computer assembly with exposable control surface
The Bag Computer Assembly with Exposable Control Surface is a panel-like computer with mounting attachments to allow it to be pivotally attached to a bag so that it may be stored flat against the bag front or pivoted out on one computer edge so that the display on the computer's front is in the line of sight of the operator/wearer for use. In addition, the computer is comprised of two panel-like parts which slide relative to each other and allow a control surface, with keyboard, electronic write pad or other controls, to be exposed for use when needed. The back side of the computer may have controls so there is no need to reduce display size because of controls. There may be a bag with mounting attachments to match the computer's mounting attachments and these both attach the bag and computer and allow them to pivot for storage and use.
US07821772B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor
A solid electrolytic capacitor has an anode body including a porous sintered body consisting of a valve action metal, a dielectric layer deposited on a surface of the anode body, a conductive polymer layer deposited on a surface of the dielectric layer, and a cathode layer deposited on a surface of the conductive polymer layer. The conductive polymer layer includes a laminated film consisting of a first conductive polymer layer formed by a chemical polymerization process and a second conductive polymer layer formed by an electrolytic polymerization process. The first conductive polymer layer has recesses on its surface against the dielectric layer. Interior surfaces of such recesses define cavities which constitute pores at an interface between the first conductive polymer layer and the dielectric layer. These pores are distributed at intervals along the interface between the first conductive polymer layer and the dielectric layer in such a way that the dielectric layer is exposed to their interior surfaces.
US07821769B2 Metal capacitor and manufacturing method thereof
A metal capacitor in which an electric conductivity is significantly improved by applying a metal material for an electrolyte and a manufacturing method thereof is provided. The capacitor includes: a terminal increase-type metal member comprising a groove forming portion; a metal oxide layer being formed on the terminal increase-type metal member; an insulating layer being formed on the terminal increase-type metal member; a plurality of main electrode layers being formed in a groove forming portion; a plurality of conductive connecting layers being formed on the plurality of main electrode layers and the insulating layer; a first lead terminal being selectively connected to the first and the second electrode withdrawing portions of the terminal increase-type metal member; a second lead terminal being connected to the main electrode layer of the terminal increase-type metal member; and a sealing member sealing the terminal increase-type metal member connected to the first and the second lead terminals to externally expose the first and the second lead terminals.
US07821768B2 Laminated variable capacitor
A laminated variable capacitor including: input-output terminals for inputting an alternating-current signal and outputting an output signal; and controlling terminals for controlling a capacitance value for voltage of the input alternating-current signal; wherein a total area of external electrodes for input and output connected to said input-output terminals is larger than a total area of external electrodes for control connected to said controlling terminals, or the external electrodes for input and output connected to said input-output terminals are different in structure from the external electrodes for control connected to said controlling terminals.
US07821766B2 Systems and methods for pulse delivery
An apparatus for interfering with locomotion of a target by conducting a current through the target includes according to various aspects of the present invention a transformer, a capacitance, a charge detector, and a processor. The transformer has a secondary winding that is coupled to the target to provide the current. The capacitance is in series with the secondary winding and is charged to a voltage. The charge detector detects a charge provided through the target by the capacitance and the secondary winding. The processor sets the voltage (e.g., for charging for a next pulse) responsive to the charge detected by the charge detector.
US07821765B2 Ion generating light assembly
A light to plug into a wall socket having a negative ion generator in the form of a pin. The pin design can be easily cleaned with a swab and cleaning solution such as rubbing alcohol, eliminating the need to trim or clean a brush electrode when corrosion or deposits form. The negative ion generator is always on and produces the negative ions to purify the air. The device can have a light sensor to activate the light when light is low. The device can also come with light emitting diodes which can be set to indicate the status of the various systems of the device. The device can come equipped with an air freshener that disperses vaporized perfume into the air.
US07821761B2 Current inductive timer socket
A current inductive timer socket comprises: a principle relay circuit, a reed relay circuit, a plurality of diodes, a reed relay and a resistance, a counter circuit, a holding circuit, a time switch circuit and amplification circuit. When the electric appliance is in use, a signal of voltage drop produced at both ends of the rated resistance will be amplified by the operational amplifier and then transmitted to the counter circuit and an overload detecting circuit, making the counter circuit start to count automatically, and thus time operation is carried out. Further, when electric appliance is overloaded or in the case of short circuit, the power source can also be cut off automatically.
US07821759B2 Surge absorption circuit
A surge absorption circuit according to an embodiment comprises (a) an input terminal, (b) an output terminal, (c) a common terminal, (d) a mutual inductive element having a first inductive element and a second inductive element which are electromagnetically coupled to each other so as to increase each inductance, wherein one terminal of the first inductive element is connected to the input terminal, one terminal of the second inductive element is connected to the output terminal, and the other terminal of the first inductive element and the other terminal of the second inductive element are connected to each other, and (e) a surge absorption element having one terminal connected to the other terminal of the first inductive element and the other terminal of the second inductive element and the other terminal connected to the common terminal.
US07821754B2 Circuit arrangement for producing a defined output signal
A circuit arrangement for producing a defined output signal in CMOS integrated circuit is provided in which the output of a sensor signal conditioning circuit is connected to the drain terminal of a first N channel depletion transistor, to a source terminal of a second N channel depletion transistor and to the output (OUT) of an integrated CMOS circuit. The gate terminals of the first and second N channel depletion transistors are connected to the output (VP) of a control circuit and the first terminal of a discharge resistance. The second terminal of the discharge resistance and the source terminal of the first N channel depletion transistor are connected to a potential VSS, and the drain terminal of the second N channel depletion transistor is connected to a potential VDD.
US07821753B2 DC high power distribution assembly
A DC high power distribution system provides power to a load in parallel with one or more storage capacitors. The system includes a hot-swap controller and an array of parallel-connected transistors connected in series between a DC source and the capacitors/load. A power contactor is connected in parallel to the transistor array, both of which are connected to control outputs of the controller. The controller monitors various circuit conditions of interest, such as input over-voltage, input under-voltage, and over-current. If the circuit conditions meet designated parameters, the controller activates the transistors for charging the capacitors, for limiting inrush current. After charging, the controller activates the power contactor for shunting the transistors and carrying the 150+ ampere current during ongoing operation. If any of the monitored circuit conditions fail to meet designated parameters, the controller halts operation of the circuit by deactivating the power contactor and/or transistors.
US07821752B2 Device to protect a semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge by efficiently discharging a micro current
A device to protect a semiconductor device from electrostatic discharge is disclosed. In order to protect an internal circuit from electrostatic discharge, the semiconductor electrostatic protection device includes a transfer unit for transferring static electricity inputted to an input/output terminal to a first power line. A driving unit is also included for outputting a driving voltage corresponding to a potential difference between the input/output terminal and the first power line. Finally, a discharge unit for discharging the static electricity inputted to the input/output terminal to a second power line by way of the driving voltage is provided. The semiconductor electrostatic protection device prevents damage to an internal circuit due to the voltage drop of an intermediate medium by reducing the intermediate medium on a static electricity discharge path.
US07821743B2 Micro-actuator for use in small platform disk drive devices, and method of making the same
A micro-actuator for use with an HGA and/or disk drive device (e.g., a small platform disk drive device) with the micro-actuator having a reduced mass suitable for improving shock performance, and/or methods of making the same are provided. In certain example embodiments, the micro-actuator may comprise a substantially U-shaped frame including a cavity capable of receiving a slider, with the frame including two side arms and a bottom support arm at least partially defining the cavity. The bottom support arm may have a reduced mass capable of providing improved shock performance and capable of conveying a high resonance frequency response at a low gain. The bottom support arm may be, for example, substantially rectangle shaped, substantially I-shaped, toothed, etc. Also, the bottom support arm may be less thick than the side arms.
US07821742B1 High stroke sensitivity suspension with laminate load beam for additive laminated and other interconnect support
A high stroke sensitivity microactuated disk drive suspension includes a microactuator, a laminate of first and second outer layers and a plastic inner layer that define a base portion, a spring portion and a beam portion. The base portion has proximate and distal regions coupled by a segment of an outer layer and fixed to the microactuator for relative shifting of the beam portion to the base portion. The segment has a part that is locally arcuate and readily bendable during said shifting for low resistance to shifting giving the suspension high stroke sensitivity.
US07821735B1 Apparatus and method for sealing a hard drive enclosure
A disk drive housing, base assembly for use as part of the housing and associated method are disclosed. The base assembly is configured for receiving a cover. In one feature, a base housing serves to define a housing interior in cooperation with the cover for receiving a plurality of components therein as part of the disk drive and the base housing includes a peripheral edge configuration. A molding surrounds and sealingly engages the base housing such that the molding defines a peripheral sealing surface for use in sealing the cover to the base assembly. In another feature, accommodating one or more given components within a given base housing outline, which would not otherwise be accommodated, is described by outsetting a peripheral sidewall of the base housing, adjacent to the given component.
US07821732B2 Thermally assisted magnetic head having an asymmetric plasmon antenna and manufacturing method thereof
A thermally assisted magnetic head according to the present invention includes: a medium-facing surface, a main magnetic pole provided on the medium-facing surface, and a plasmon antenna provided on the medium-facing surface in the vicinity of the main magnetic pole, wherein the plasmon antenna is shaped as a triangular flat plate having first, second and third corners, such that the distance from the first corner to the main magnetic pole is shorter than the distance from the second corner to the main magnetic pole and the distance from the third corner to the main magnetic pole, and the interior angle α of the first corner, the interior angle β of the second corner and the interior angle γ of the third corner satisfy relationships α<β, α<γ and β≠γ.
US07821724B2 Photographing optical lens assembly
The present invention provides a photographing optical lens assembly comprising, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; and an aperture stop located in front of the first lens element; wherein an Abbe number of the first lens element is V1, an Abbe number of the second lens element is V2, and they satisfy the relation: |V1−V2|<15; and wherein the number of the lens elements of the photographing optical lens assembly is limited to two. Such an arrangement of optical elements can effectively reduce the volume of the lens assembly and the sensitivity of the optical system and enable the lens assembly to obtain a higher resolution.
US07821721B2 Two-element f-θ lens used for micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit
A two-element f-θ lens used for a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit includes a first lens and a second lens, the first lens is a biconvex lens, the second lens is a meniscus lens of which the convex surface is disposed on a side of a MEMS mirror, at least one optical surface is an Aspherical surface in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction, and satisfies special optical conditions. The two-element f-θ lens corrects the nonlinear relationship between scanned angle and the time into the linear relationship between the image spot distances and the time. Meanwhile, the two-element f-θ lens focuses the scan light to the target in the main scanning and sun scanning directions, such that the purpose of the scanning linearity effect and the high resolution scanning can be achieved.
US07821718B1 Laser line generator
A laser beam emission is collimated by optics. The collimated beam is shaped into an expanding planar laser beam by line generator optics. The expanding planar laser beam is collimated by other optics such that a beam having a generally rectangular cross-section is derived. The resulting beam can be used in ink drop detection and/or other applications.
US07821716B2 Method for producing a multilayer body and corresponding multilayer body
There is described a process for the production of a multi-layer body (100) having a partially shaped first layer (3m), wherein it is provided that in the process a diffractive first relief structure (4) with a high depth-to-width ratio of the individual structure elements, in particular with a depth-to-width ratio of >0.3, is shaped in a first region (5) of a replication layer (3) of the multi-layer body (100) and the first layer (3m) is applied to the replication layer (3) in the first region (5) and in a second region (4, 6) in which the relief structure is not shaped in the replication layer (3), with a constant surface density, and the first layer (3m) is partially removed in a manner determined by the first relief structure so that the first layer (3m) is partially removed in the first region (5) or in the second region (4, 6) but not in the second region (4, 6) or in the first region (5) respectively.
US07821715B2 Diffractive optical element
A diffractive optical element 10 is constituted by sandwiching and closely bonding first and second optical element components 13, 14 which have different refractive indices and are adhered via a relief pattern 20, between third and fourth optical element components 11, 12.
US07821707B2 Drive system useful in a night vision device
A drive system for optical components particularly useful with night vision devices. The drive system uses a single motor to rotate a selected one of two components between its operative and inoperative positions while retaining the other component in its inoperative position.
US07821706B2 Dual optical path periscope
A direct vision periscope is disclosed having a second set of mirrors strategically positioned within a wide angle trapezoidal periscope. The main optical path has a vertical field of view of 24° above and below horizontal while the secondary optical path provides a field of view of 12° to 59° above horizontal to allow the occupants to see elevated areas. When used on military vehicles, multiple periscopes may be disposed about the operator's compartment to create a near panoramic view.
US07821704B1 Compact, tunable, efficient IR laser and IR guiding silica fibers
An IR laser source providing light in the IR spectrum, the laser source comprising a pump laser operating at a frequency equivalent to wavelength shorter than 2 μm and at a predetermined power, and an optic fiber coupled to the pump laser. The optic fiber has at least a section of a hollow core photonic crystal fiber, the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber being designed to have at least a passband in the IR spectrum and being filled with a molecular gas for triggering at least one Stoke's shift in the light entering the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber for the particular power of the pump laser, the at least one Stoke's shift be selected to cause the light entering the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber to shift in frequency into the passband in the IR spectrum of the hollow core photonic crystal fiber.
US07821697B2 Exterior reflective mirror element for a vehicular rearview mirror assembly
An exterior reflective mirror element suitable for a vehicle includes a transparent glass substrate having a reflector and a visual indicator display disposed to the rear of the substrate. The visual indicator display may be part of a blind spot detection and display system of the vehicle wherein the visual indicator display is actuated to emit light responsive to a detection by a blind spot detection detector of the equipped vehicle of an overtaking vehicle in a side lane adjacent the side of the equipped vehicle. The visual indicator display includes at least a first indicator at a first location to the rear of the exterior reflective mirror element. A first portion of the reflector may be at least partially removed at the first location in order to establish an at least partially transmissive first portion of the exterior reflective mirror element at the first location.
US07821692B2 Method of and apparatus for recording/reproducing data on/from holographic storage medium
A method of and apparatus for recording/reproducing data on/from a holographic storage medium. The method of recording data on a holographic storage medium in which holograms containing data by interference between a signal light and a reference light are recorded in pages includes modulating additional information including information about a page so as to keep the rate of 0s or 1s in binarized data of the additional information constant and recording the page having the modulated additional information added thereto on the holographic storage medium.
US07821691B2 Zero-order diffractive filter
A Zero-order diffractive filter comprising a first layer (1) with a periodic diffractive microstructure, forming a waveguide, and at least one adjacent second layer (2, 4, 5), wherein said first layer (1) has a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of said second layer (2, 4, 5) by at least 0.2. At least one of said second layers (2, 4, 5) is a porous layer comprising nanopores. The period Λ of the diffractive microstructure is between 100 nm and 3000 nm.
US07821679B2 System and method for electronically combining images taken by two or more adjacent image sensors
A camera system for imaging a document, the camera system including at least 2 adjacently disposed image sensors with coupling optics. The adjacently disposed image sensors are configured to acquire respective image frames of at least a portion of the document, thereby obtaining a set of corresponding two-dimensional image frames. The system further includes a processor for processing the corresponding two-dimensional image frames. The processor is facilitated to combine the corresponding two-dimensional image frames into a single image frame.
US07821677B2 Method and apparatus for image forming capable of accurately detecting displacement of transfer images and image density
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers, an image forming mechanism, a seamless belt-like intermediate transfer body or a transfer material carrier, a detection mechanism, and an optical detecting apparatus. The optical detecting apparatus includes at least a printed board, and a plurality of photodetectors formed of a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element and light-shielding members, which are mounted on the printed board. The optical detecting apparatus is disposed such that it detects a belt surface adjacent to rollers of the intermediate transfer body or the transfer material carrier, and either displacement of a transfer image or image density is detected by a plurality of photodetectors detecting pattern images which are transferred from the plurality of image carriers to the image transfer body or the transfer material carrier.
US07821671B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus for converting input image data based on n dimensional color space to output image data based on m dimensional color space, comprising: a storing section to store a color conversion value in the m dimensional color space determined for every lattice point obtained by dividing the n dimensional color space as lattice point data; and a color converting section to determine an interpolating operation point in the n dimensional color space based on the input image data, to perform an n dimensional Bi-cubic interpolating operation by using the lattice point data of a primary neighborhood lattice point and the lattice point data of a secondary neighborhood lattice point of the interpolating operation point out of the stored lattice point data, and to calculate a color conversion value of the interpolating operation point in the m dimensional color space.
US07821669B2 Image retouching program
Provided is photo retouching software which is easy for photo studio personnel to use. Upon opening photo image(s), special photo retoucher 11 converts photo image data thereof to working color space image data. At such time(s), if working ICC profile(s) is/are set which is/are different from ICC profile(s) previously embedded in such photo image file(s), color perceptual matching is carried out on the photo image data thereof based on such embedded ICC profile(s) and working ICC profile(s) when such photo image file(s) is/are opened. Furthermore, when such photo image(s) is/are displayed at monitor(s), such image data is converted to monitor color space image data through color matching using working ICC profile(s) and monitor ICC profile(s).
US07821666B2 Alternative to pre-printed special forms
A system and method allowing pre-printed forms to print onto plain paper and also for converting a pre-printed form type system into a plain paper system. The pre-printed form is recreated as an electronic template file in PCL (printer control language) including the contents of the pre-printed form (e.g., the pre-printed text, lines, boxes, logos, etc.), combined with a data file from an application and printed to a plain paper printer. Alternatively, the system may migrate the combined file to a database or web server to allow for easy access and searching by multiple-users at remote locations.
US07821656B2 Method of drawing images using a dynamic reconfigurable processor, circuit therefor and image output control apparatus
A drawing processing circuit includes a plurality of rasterizing means capable of executing rasterizing processes in parallel. Each rasterizing means includes a dynamic reconfigurable processor. Data described by a page description language is received, analyzed, and converted into intermediate data for each drawn object. Before execution of a rasterizing process, scheduling data of reconfiguration of the processor is generated by estimating the process time of each rasterizing process on the basis of the intermediate data. The plurality of rasterizing means rasterize the data to bitmap data on the basis of the intermediate data while reconfiguring the processor on the basis of the generated scheduling data. In addition, the process time of each of the plurality of rasterizing means is determined on the basis of the scheduling data. The scheduling data is corrected so as to make the process times of the plurality of rasterizing means substantially equal. With this arrangement, a method of drawing image, which reduces the waste of hardware resources and perform a high-speed drawing process, a circuit thereof, and a print control apparatus are provided.
US07821654B2 System for scatterometric measurements and applications
Instead of constructing a full multi-dimensional look-up-table as a model to find the critical dimension or other parameters in scatterometry, regression or other optimized estimation methods are employed starting from a “best guess” value of the parameter. Eigenvalues of models that are precalculated may be stored and reused later for other structures having certain common characteristics to save time. The scatterometric data that is used to find the value of the one or more parameter can be limited to those at wavelengths that are less sensitive to the underlying film characteristics. A model for a three-dimensional grating may be constructed by slicing a representative structure into a stack of slabs and creating an array of rectangular blocks to approximate each slab. One dimensional boundary problems may be solved for each block which are then matched to find a two-dimensional solution for the slab. A three-dimensional solution can then be constructed from the two-dimensional solutions for the slabs to yield the diffraction efficiencies of the three-dimensional grating. This model can then be used for finding the one or more parameters of the diffracting structure in scatterometry. Line roughness of a surface can be measured by directing a polarized incident beam in an incident plane normal to the line grating and measuring the cross-polarization coefficient. The value of the one or more parameters may then be supplied to a stepper or etcher to adjust a lithographic or etching process.
US07821642B2 Method and system of device identification
A medical device susceptible to identification using interference patterns for performing device identification is disclosed. A source signal may be directed from an energy source towards the surface of a device for reflection therefrom. An interference pattern may be detected from the surface of the device, such as by a sensor. A determination as to whether a match exists between the representation of the interference pattern and a stored representation of an interference pattern may be performed. If a match exists, the device may be identified based on the stored representation of the interference pattern. Otherwise, a representation of the interference pattern may be stored and a unique identifier may be assigned to the stored representation of the interference pattern.
US07821640B2 Method and device for reconstructing a three-dimensional fluorescence optical tomography image by double measurement
To examine a plate-shaped object comprising fluorophores and having a first face and an opposite second face, the method comprises a first sequential illumination step of the first face of the object with a fluorophore excitation light and a first sequential acquisition step of a first series of images by detecting light emitted by the second face of the object. The density of the lighting points is lower than the density of the detection points and the method further comprises a second sequential illumination step of the second face of the object with a fluorophore excitation light and a second sequential acquisition step of a second series of images by detecting light emitted by the first face of the object. Reconstruction of the three-dimensional fluorophore distribution image in the object is performed by means of the first and second series of images.
US07821638B2 Alignment mark
An alignment mark on a substrate includes a first pattern and a second pattern. The first pattern has a substantially planar upper surface by which parallel light is specularly reflected. The second pattern forms an interface with the first pattern and has a plurality of fine patterns. Parallel light is irregularly reflected by the second pattern.
US07821637B1 System for controlling intensity of a beam of electromagnetic radiation and method for investigating materials with low specular reflectance and/or are depolarizing
Disclosed is a system for controlling focus, angle of incidence and intensity of an electromagnetic beam over a spectrum of wavelengths, and methodology for optimizing investigation of samples which demonstrate low specular reflectance and/or are depolarizing of a polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation, such as solar cells.
US07821631B1 Architecture of laser sources in a flow cytometer
The architecture of air-coupled laser sources in a flow cytometer is provided. The flow cytometer includes a mounting plate with a first major surface and a second major surface. A cuvette is mounted on the first major surface and a fluid core stream flows through the cuvette essentially parallel to the major surfaces of the mounting plate. A first air-coupled laser source is mounted on the first major surface. The first air-coupled laser source generates a first laser beam. The flow cytometer also includes a first beam-shaping optic system corresponding to the first air-coupled laser source. The first beam-shaping optic system receives the first laser beam and focuses it at the center of the fluid core stream perpendicular to the fluid core stream.
US07821628B2 Mask defect inspection computer program product
A mask defect inspecting method comprises preparing detection sensitivities of defects on a plurality of portions of a mask pattern on a photomask, the detection sensitivities being determined according to influences of the defects upon a wafer, and inspecting defects on the plurality of portions based on the detection sensitivities.
US07821603B2 Vertically-alligned (VA) liquid crystal display device
A vertical alignment type liquid crystal display device including a plurality of pixels, which further includes a first substrate and a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate and the second substrate include alignment control structures which extend linearly, and when viewed in a direction vertical to the first substrate, in a pixel, the alignment control structure of the first substrate and the alignment control structures of the second substrate are arranged alternately. The alignment control structure of the first substrate includes first and second linear portions, and distances between the first and second linear portions and an adjacent alignment control structure of the second substrate are different from each other. Additionally, each of the first and second linear portions and the alignment control structures of the second substrate are arranged in parallel.
US07821596B2 Lamp unit and liquid crystal display device
A lamp unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a cold cathode lamp, a lamp cable, a lamp socket and a lamp reflector. The lamp cable is electrically connected to the cold cathode lamp to supply electric power to the cold cathode lamp. The lamp socket supports the cold cathode lamp and has a holder portion holding the lamp cable. The lamp reflector houses the cold cathode lamp and the lamp socket and has a bottom plate, front and rear plates that extend from the bottom plate and a pair of support tabs that extends from lateral end portions of the front and rear plates to sandwich the holder portion of the lamp socket therebetween.
US07821591B2 Separation type chassis and flat panel display having the same
A separation type chassis for a flat panel display includes at least two chassis members, and a plurality of fastening members for coupling the chassis members, and coupling holes having a predetermined shape are formed at both ends of each of the chassis members. Each of the fastening members is coupled with the coupling holes.
US07821587B2 Display device and manufacturing method of display device
It is an object of the present invention to realize thinning, low power consumption, and improvement of an yield at the time of manufacture of a display device capable of double-sided display which is used for a piece of portable informational terminal equipment such as a cellular phone. A liquid crystal display device, including a first substrate 1a and a second substrate 1b, has a transmission type active-matrix first liquid crystal display device 3001 and a reflective type active-matrix second liquid crystal display device 3002, where the first substrate has a TFT region of the first liquid crystal display device and an opposite region of the second liquid crystal display device, and the second substrate has an opposite region of the first liquid crystal display device and a TFT region of the second liquid crystal display device.
US07821580B2 Contour free point operation for video skin tone correction
A method for a color tone correction is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a plurality of first intermediate components by scaling a plurality of first color components towards a first ideal color, wherein the first color components (i) are for a first plurality of pixels in an input video signal and (ii) fall inside a first region of a color space, (B) generating a plurality of first corrected components by adjusting the first intermediate components such that a first mapping of the first color components to the first corrected components is both (i) continuous in the color space and (ii) non-overlapping in the color space and (C) generating an output video signal by combining the first corrected components with a plurality of unaltered color components, wherein the unaltered color components (i) are for a second plurality of the pixels and (ii) fall outside the first region.
US07821574B2 Method and apparatus for synchronizing audio and video streams
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for synchronizing an audio stream with a video stream. This method involves searching in the audio stream for audio data having values that match a distinct set of audio data values and synchronizing the audio stream with the video stream based on the search. In some embodiments, the distinct set of audio data values is defined by a predetermined distinct tone. In other embodiments, the distinct set of audio data values is defined by audio data contained in the video stream.
US07821567B2 Focus position detection apparatus and method
A focus position detection apparatus calculates a focus position of a focus lens using an image signal obtained from an image sensing element. The apparatus comprises an acquisition unit that acquires focus states for a predetermined distance range, a control unit that controls the acquisition unit to acquire focus states at first intervals and second intervals which is shorter than the first intervals, and a focus position detection unit that determines a focus position on the basis of the focus states obtained at the first or second intervals. The control unit changes whether to acquire focus states at the second intervals based on the focus states obtained at the first intervals.
US07821564B2 Assembly for aligning an optical system
A lens holder assembly for aligning an optical system over an image sensor is described. The image sensor may be lying on a substrate. The assembly may include a lens holder aperture and at least one centering leg or protrusion which may be detached from the substrate and wherein the centering legs or protrusions may tightly abut or surround the image sensor in order to center the lens holder assembly with respect to the image sensor and to the optical system.
US07821562B2 Portable terminal equipped with camera and adapted for self-imaging
The present invention relates to a portable terminal provided with a camera to take a picture of a subject comprised of a lens, and an image pickup device. The invention is aimed to provide a portable terminal in which a mirror image or information about photographing status is displayed on a first display which can be seen from the object side when an object is photographed using the portable terminal, and the image is displayed on a second display which can be seen from the to-be-taken subject so that a person to be photographed can easily check his/her image or photographing status. To this end, the first display is provided on the surface on which the lens is provided and the second display is provided on a side different from the side on which the lens is provided. Provision is made of a display unit that displays the image, photographed by directing the lens to the subject, on the first and the second displays.
US07821559B2 Photoelectric conversion apparatus provided with arrangement of plurality of pixels each having plurality of photoelectric conversion devices and accumulating unit for temporarily accumulating charges accumulated in plurality of photoelectric conversion devices
A pixel unit in which a plurality of pixels shares an accumulating unit for temporarily accumulating charges accumulated in photoelectric conversion devices, is arranged so that a control unit of a photoelectric conversion apparatus is adapted, when an accumulated charge amount of a first photodiode exceeds a saturation charge amount, to effect control in accordance with a first operation to discharge excess charges to a floating diffusion FD, and adapted, when an accumulated charge amount of a second photodiode exceeds a saturation charge amount, to effect control in accordance with a second operation to discharge excess charges to a charge discharge area, thereby expanding a dynamic range.
US07821556B2 Amplifying solid-state imaging device, and method for driving the same
By providing dummy pixels separately from effective pixels, the total number of pixel rows is equalized with the number of horizontal sync signals included in one frame interval (which is called an “HD number”). A period during which a reset signal for an electronic shuttering operation is being supplied to an arbitrary pixel row overlaps with a period during which another pixel row is selected to perform a readout operation thereon. Thus, it is possible to suppress a variation in reset potential among effective pixels.
US07821548B2 Temporal image buffer for image processor using compressed raw image
A system and method for capturing and storing digital images. Instead of processing images on the fly or storing images in a raw format, the present invention involves the compression of captured images before the images are stored. When it is desirable to display an image, the particular image can be decoded and processed as necessary. The present invention reduces the amount of storage space necessary for each image. A variety of compression algorithms and systems can be used in conjunction with the present invention.
US07821534B2 Method and apparatus for dynamically testing video equipment
A method and apparatus are presented for dynamically testing video equipment. One or more test patterns utilize different regions of video signal characteristics. Adjustment is made to the video characteristics of a region until a perceived parameter of the region matches a second region. A performance parameter of said video equipment is determined from said adjustment.
US07821524B2 Adaptive contextual filtering
Selectively applying graphical filtering to a portion of an object. One method described herein includes a method including accessing an object to be rendered. At least one characteristic of a portion of the object is determined. A filter is selected that has been pre-specified for the at least one determined characteristic. The filter is applied to the portion of the object, while not applying the filter to at least one other portion of the object.
US07821522B2 Image processing apparatus and image display apparatus using same
An image processing apparatus of the present invention comprising (a) a first signal processing circuit for applying gamma correction to an n-bit (n: a natural number) digital signal inputted as a video signal and for converting the n-bit digital signal into an m-bit (m>n, m: a natural number) digital signal, and (b) a second signal processing circuit for adding a noise signal, which is used for pseudo contour reduction, into the m-bit digital signal from the first signal processing circuit and for outputting a Q-bit (Q: a natural number) digital signal, which is obtained from rounding off a less significant (m−Q) bit (Q≦n) from the m-bit digital signal, to a display section.
US07821519B2 Scalable unified memory architecture
A memory architecture includes a memory controller coupled to multiple modules. Each module includes a computing engine coupled to a shared memory. Each computing engine is capable of receiving instructions from the memory controller and processing the received instructions. The shared memory is configured to store main memory data and graphical data. Certain computing engines are capable of processing graphical data. The memory controller may include a graphics controller that provides instructions to the computing engine. An interconnect on each module allows multiple modules to be coupled to the memory controller.
US07821518B1 Fairly arbitrating between clients
An apparatus and method for fairly arbitrating between clients with varying workloads. The clients are configured in a pipeline for processing graphics data. An arbitration unit selects requests from each of the clients to access a shared resource. Each client provides a signal to the arbitration unit for each clock cycle. The signal indicates whether the client is waiting for a response from the arbitration unit and whether the client is not blocked from outputting processed data to a downstream client. The signals from each client are integrated over several clock cycles to determine a servicing priority for each client. Arbitrating based on the servicing priorities improves performance of the pipeline by ensuring that each client is allocated access to the shared resource based on the aggregate processing load distribution.
US07821517B2 Video processing with multiple graphical processing units
One embodiment of a video processor includes a first media processing device coupled to a first memory and a second media processing device coupled to a second memory. The second media processing device is coupled to the first media processing device via a scalable bus. A software driver configures the media processing devices to provide video processing functionality. The scalable bus carries video data processed by the second media processing device to the first media processing device where the data is combined with video data processed by the first media processing device to produce a processed video frame. The first media processing device transmits the combined video data to a display device. Each media processing device is configured to process separate portions of the video data, thereby enabling the video processor to process video data more quickly than a single-GPU video processor.
US07821510B2 Dynamic conference table display system
A conference table display system, which includes a screen displayed on top of a conference table. The screen is capable of displaying multiple desktop views. The system further includes multiple storage devices, each storage device containing information related to a particular user. The location and size of each desktop view on the screen is associated with a particular storage device. The computer system causes information from the storage device to be displayed on the screen in a desktop view. When a new storage device is coupled to the computer system, the computer system adjusts the sizes and the locations of the desktop views displayed on the screen to enable information from the new storage device to be displayed on the screen in a desktop view at a location and of a size associated with the new storage device.
US07821503B2 Touch screen and graphical user interface
A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
US07821502B2 Two-dimensional position sensor
A capacitive position sensor for determining the position of an object along first and second directions is described. The sensor comprises a substrate having an arrangement of electrodes mounted on a single surface thereof. The electrodes are arranged so as to define an array of sensing cells arranged in columns and rows to form a sensing area. Each of the sensing cell including a column sensing electrode and a row sensing electrode with the column sensing electrodes of sensing cells in the same column being electrically coupled together and the row sensing electrodes of sensing cells in the same row also being electrically coupled together. Row sensing electrodes of sensing cells at opposing ends of at least one of the rows are connected together by an electrical connection made outside of the sensing area so that there is no requirement for electrical connections to cross within the sensing area, thus providing a capacitive position sensor having a sensing area with electrodes on only one side of a substrate.
US07821478B2 Display apparatus and method of driving same
Disclosed is a display apparatus which can improve the characteristics of TFTs used to select and drive self-emissive elements such as OLEDs. The display apparatus has row electrodes, column electrodes, and a driving unit. The self-emissive elements are formed in regions corresponding to intersections of the row electrodes with the column electrodes. Element driving circuits are formed for driving the self-emissive elements. Each of the element driving circuits includes a selection transistor, a capacitor, and a driving transistor. The driving unit applies a reverse bias to a control terminal of the driving transistor in a non-emission period in which the self-emissive element is not supplied with a driving current.
US07821469B2 Printed antenna
A printed antenna is positioned on a substrate, and includes a feeding portion and a radiating portion. The feeding portion is configured for feeding electromagnetic signals. The radiating portion is electronically connected to the feeding portion for transceiving the electromagnetic signals, and includes a first radiator, a second radiator, and a guiding portion. The first radiator is electronically connected to the feeding portion, and includes an arc-shaped radiating section. The second radiator is electronically connected to the feeding portion and the first radiator. The guiding portion is arc-shaped. The guiding portion and the second radiator are respectively positioned on different sides of the first radiator. A space between the guiding portion and the arc-shaped radiating section of the first radiator defines a first slot.
US07821462B1 Compact, dual-polar broadband monopole
A dual-polarized radiating element is formed from two orthogonally oriented monopole radiators disposed on a dielectric substrate. An RF image plane placed orthogonally to the two monopole radiators presents a balanced excitation for element impedance optimization that allows for operation over multiple octave bandwidths with a physically compact device. The dual-polarized radiating element provides a broad field-of-view (FOV) as a stand alone radiator and may be used in a phased array.
US07821452B2 Positioning device, positioning control method, and recording medium
A positioning device includes a phase calculation section which performs a correlation process of a specific positioning base code replica and a positioning base code from a specific transmission source to calculate a present phase of the positioning base code, an estimated phase calculation section which calculates an estimated phase when estimating the present phase based on the phase used for preceding positioning, a Doppler shift of a frequency of a radio wave carrying the positioning base code, and an elapsed time from the preceding positioning, a phase difference evaluation section which determines whether or not a phase difference between the calculated present phase and the estimated phase is within a phase difference allowable range specified in advance, and a positioning section which locates a present position using the phase within the phase difference allowable range.
US07821451B2 Positioning apparatus and positioning method
A positioning apparatus includes: a position computing part configured to receive signals from a plurality of radio transmitters to compute a position of the positioning apparatus; a reception status determining part configured to determine a reception state of the signals from the plurality of the radio transmitters; and an intermittent drive setting part configured to set a time interval for receiving signals by the position computing part according to the reception state determined by the reception status determining part.
US07821450B1 System and method for transmitting GPS signals over a network
A method involves digitizing an analog Global Positioning System (GPS) signal received directly from an antenna, storing the digitized analog GPS signal into data buffer storage units, and transmitting the data buffer storage units over a network. The GPS signal received directly from an antenna may be an unprocessed GPS signal. The method may include receiving and queuing the data buffer storage units, converting the digitized analog GPS signal from the data buffer storage units into an analog GPS signal, and transmitting the analog GPS signal to a GPS receiver. The data buffer storage units may be UDP packets and may be multicast over an IP network. The data buffer storage units may be ATM cells and may be transmitted over an ATM network. The analog GPS signal may be converted from electronic to photonic form, or vice versa, prior to storage in the data buffer storage units.
US07821439B2 Programmable CAN bus to analogue signal converter
A module (10) connects to a CAN bus in a motor vehicle and converts a CAN message into an analog signal that can be monitored by test equipment. The module also has wireless communication with a PDA (300) via a radio transceiver (28) to allow the PDA to display a converted CAN message and to select different messages for display.
US07821430B2 Arithmetic decoding apparatus
Disclosed herein is an arithmetic decoding apparatus that decodes encoded data while updating first and second state variables based on first and second context variables. The first context variable represents a probability state. The second context variable represents a most probable symbol. The arithmetic decoding apparatus includes: a decoding information table that stores transitions of a range of the most probable symbol and a range of a least probable symbol within a range identified by the first context variable, and a number of a symbol for which the range of the most probable symbol becomes less than a specific value; a number-of-symbols determination section configured to determine the number of symbols in the encoded data that are to be decoded collectively; and an output section configured to decode and output a symbol corresponding to the number of symbols that are to be decoded collectively.
US07821429B2 Parallel to serial conversion circuit
A parallel to serial conversion circuit includes a plurality of switching units and a voltage output unit providing an operating voltage for the switching units. Each of the plurality of switching units is operable to receive a first clock signal and a second clock signal which have the same frequency, a phase shift exists between the first clock signal and the second clock signal for each of the switching units, and a phase difference exists between the first clock signals received by adjacent two switching units of the plurality of switching units. The plurality of switching units receive data bits of parallel data in sequence according to the phase difference, particularly, each of the plurality of switching units receives one data bit within a time window corresponding to the phase shift. In comparison with the prior art, the inventive solution implement the parallel to serial conversion using a single system clock frequency, so that the complexity and power consumption of the system is reduced.
US07821427B2 Data processing system and method
A method of processing an encoded data stream comprises determining one or more data strings of interest; wherein the data string comprises a predetermined sequence of characters; encoding (3) the or each data string using the same encoding that was used to encode to the data stream; and searching (4) for the encoded data string in the encoded data stream.
US07821425B2 Capacitive keyboard with non-locking reduced keying ambiguity
Keyboards, keypads and other data entry devices can suffer from a keying ambiguity problem. In a small keyboard, for example, a user's finger is likely to overlap from a desired key to onto adjacent ones. An iterative method of removing keying ambiguity from a keyboard comprising an array of capacitive keys involves measuring a signal strength associated with each key in the array, comparing the measured signal strengths to find a maximum, determining that the key having the maximum signal strength is the unique user-selected key, and maintaining that selection until either the initially selected key's signal strength drops below some threshold level or a second key's signal strength exceeds the first key's signal strength.
US07821406B2 System for monitoring and tracking animals
A product is inserted subcutaneously, either manually or mechanically, into domesticated or wild animals to assist in tracking domesticated or wild animals. The product and methods of using include GPS transmitting or any other electronic device to locate and find a lost pet, livestock, migratory movements of birds, or the study of any and all aquatic life. A central data base or a location information receiving device allows an owner/caregiver to locate the animals.
US07821402B2 IC tags/RFID tags for magnetic resonance imaging applications
An RFID tag for use with an MRI machine has an integrated circuit and structure for protecting it from damage when exposed to an intense MRI RF transmitter field. The structure for protecting the integrated circuit may include a controllable low impedance device coupled across the integrated circuit, a controllable high impedance device coupled in series with the integrated circuit, and/or frequency selective RF filter.
US07821397B2 Information access system, reader/writer device, and active-type contactless information storage device
In an information access system, an active-type contactless information storage device senses a carrier of an RF signal at a first frequency in time periods for carrier sensing occurring in a predetermined carrier sensing cycle period, and then in response to detection of a carrier of an RF signal at the first frequency, further receives the information request signal, while it also transmits the tag information signal at a second frequency carrying information in time periods for tag information transmission occurring in a predetermined tag information transmitting cycle period. A reader/writer device cyclically transmits an information request signal carrying values of the predetermined carrier sensing cycle period and the predetermined tag information transmitting cycle period, at a first frequency during a predetermined period of time for information request transmission, and in response to reception of a tag information signal at the second frequency, reproduces and compares received tag information with a list of tag information. In response to reception of the information request signal, the active-type contactless information storage device reproduces and sets the values of the two predetermined cycle periods into its respective timers. Thus the active-type contactless information storage device reduces its power consumption.
US07821394B2 Penetration detecting apparatus
The present invention provides a penetration detecting apparatus which is applicable for various kinds of applications. Although an interval between processing machines and the conveying of an object W is suspended to wait for processing, a muting function of the penetration detecting apparatus is effective. Another feature of the present invention is to provide a penetration detecting apparatus which can avoid the muting function continuously being activated when a trigger sensor for initiating the muting function is malfunctioning. According to the present invention, there is provided a penetration detecting apparatus having a muting function that has a muting terminator for terminating the activated muting function based on the comparison performed by the muting timer and a signal representing a passage of the object provided from a passage sensor when the differential time is within the predetermined criterion, and for terminating the activated muting function based on a signal representing a passage of the object provided from a passage sensor when the differential time is not within the predetermined criterion.
US07821385B2 Detection of vehicle wheel positions using triggering signal including startup command for starting the detection and execution command for calculating reception intensity of triggering signal
In a vehicle's wheel position detecting apparatus, plural transceivers respectively attached to the front and rear four wheels are provided. Each transceiver receives a triggering signal, calculates a reception intensity of the triggering signal, stores data indicating the reception intensity into a frame, and transmits the frame to a receiver attached to a vehicle's body. Each triggering signal radio-transmitted from the first and second triggering devices contains a startup command to starts up each transceiver and an execution command to allow each transceiver to calculate the reception intensity. The first and second triggering devices, which are responsible for radio-transmitting the triggering signal toward at least the front wheels and the rear wheels respectively, are positionally offset to either way in the body's lateral direction. A receiver receives the frames and uses the frames radio-transmitted from the transceivers to detect the wheels' positions using the reception intensity in each frame.
US07821383B2 Apparatus for medium-range vehicle communications and control
Medium-range remote communication and control for a vehicle is achieved with a wireless vehicle telematics unit, a medium-range wireless portable fob, and an unmodified wireless personal communication device. The portable fob includes a medium-range RF transceiver for bi-directional communication with the telematics unit and a short-range wireless transceiver for bi-directional communication with the personal communication device. The fob communicates with the vehicle telematics unit in a conventional manner, and also relays information between the telematics unit and the personal communication device. Communication can be initiated by the telematics unit or by the operator via the fob or personal communication device. Once communication is initiated, the fob relays: (1) menu options and status information from the telematics unit to the personal communication device; and (2) menu selections from the personal communication device to the telematics unit. No cellular network service or special programming is required for the personal communications device.
US07821379B2 Method and apparatus for remote powering of device connected to network
A network node determines the suitability of coupled devices for being remotely line powered before actually powering them. The node scan its ports to determine which ports are coupled to devices. The node then interrogates the coupled devices. A unique discovery tone or bit pattern is generated and sent to devices coupled to ports. The node then monitors the port for a return signal. If there is a return signal, it is compared to the transmitted discovery signal. The signal will be identical after allowing for line losses if the coupled device is suitable for remote line powering. If the comparison yields a match, the network node supplies remote line power to the device.
US07821378B2 Apparatus and method for receiving tag signal in mobile RFID reader
Provided are a tag signal receiving apparatus that can perform digital Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) demodulation onto signals received in a tag, decode the demodulated tag signal in synchronization, and acquire tag data in a mobile RFID reader, and a method thereof. The tag signal receiving apparatus includes: a digital demodulating block for performing ASK demodulation onto a digital tag signal received through a reader antenna and converted into a digital tag signal in an analog-to-digital (AD) converter; and a decoding block for detecting edge position information of the demodulated tag signal by performing accumulation and decoding the demodulated tag signal by using the detected edge position information. The digital demodulating block includes a channel level comparator, a phase inverter, a signal converter; and an adder. The decoding block includes an edge information detector, a correlator, and a bit data decider.
US07821372B2 On-chip transformer BALUN structures
An electronic device includes a first winding having a first port and a second port. The first winding formed in a first metal layer. A second winding has a third port and a fourth port. The second winding includes a plurality of segments formed in the first metal layer. The second plurality of winding segments are connected by a bridge formed in a second metal layer. The first and second ports of the first winding are connected to the inner-portion of the first winding.
US07821352B1 Ultra-wideband, directional coupler and method of implementation
The present invention is a wideband directional coupler comprising first and second coupled transmission lines and first and second equalizers connected at opposite ends of the coupled portion of the second transmission line. Illustratively, the first and second equalizers are RC filters. The first and second equalizers are designed to have transmission characteristics that vary with frequency so as to offset the frequency variation of the coupling factor of the coupled transmission lines.
US07821349B2 Cascode amplifier and differential cascode voltage-controlled oscillator using the same
Provided is a differential cascode voltage-controlled oscillator that can reduce a phase noise by the use of a quality factor enhancement technique with negative conductance and can mitigate a ground-caused noise effect by the use of a cascode connection technique. The differential cascode voltage-controlled oscillator includes an AC signal generator, and first through fourth cascode amplifiers. The AC signal generator generates an AC signal with a certain frequency according to a control voltage. The first cascode amplifier is connected in a cascode configuration, and amplifies the AC signal to output the resulting signal to a first output terminal. The second cascode amplifier is connected in a cascode configuration and connected to the first cascode amplifier in a cross-coupled configuration, to amplify the AC signal to output the resulting signal to a second output terminal. The third cascode amplifier is connected in a cascode configuration to amplify the AC signal to output the resulting signal to the first output terminal. The fourth cascode amplifier is connected in a cascode configuration and connected to the third cascode amplifier in a cross-coupled configuration, to amplify the AC signal to output the resulting signal to the second output terminal. Herein, the first and second cascode amplifiers and the third and fourth cascode amplifiers are symmetrically connected to differentially amplify the AC signal.
US07821347B2 Surface-mount crystal oscillator
In a surface-mount crystal oscillator, an IC chip having an IC terminal at each of at least four corner portions is housed in a substantially rectangular recess. Circuit terminals to which the IC terminals are fixed via bumps are provided on an inner bottom surface of the recess, and external terminals electrically connected to the circuit terminals are provided at the four corner portions of an opening end surface surrounding the recess. In each of at least three vertices or corners on the inner bottom surface of the recess, an external terminal corresponding to the vertex is formed into an L-shape to be in contact with a longer side and a shorter side of an outer perimeter of the recess, and an exposed part in which the inner bottom surface is exposed is formed between the circuit terminal which is the closest to the vertex and its external terminal.
US07821345B2 Calibrating an oscillator and corresponding calibration device
A method of calibrating an oscillator in order to compensate the dispersions generated, on the one hand, during the process of fabricating the oscillator circuit components and, on the other hand, by variations of operating conditions by modifying the parameters of a resonant component, for example a capacitor or an induction coil of the oscillator, in order to change the frequency range covered by the oscillator, according to the control voltage. Accordingly, calibrating the oscillator adjusts the output frequency of the oscillator according to an oscillator control signal. The calibration device determines the difference between the output frequency of the oscillator divided by a quantity and a reference frequency of the oscillator. The device includes a set of impedances selectively connected to the oscillator and each corresponding to a frequency deviation of the oscillator, and a calibration stage to generate a calibration word according to the measured frequency difference.
US07821336B2 Amplifier device
An amplifier device has an amplifier circuit, an energy supply device, a switching matrix and a control device. A radio-frequency, low-energy signal pulse can be amplified into a high-energy power pulse by the amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit is supplied with electrical energy by the energy supply device. The energy supply device has a number of electrical energy sources that are separated in terms of potential relative to one another in a state in which they are not connected to the amplifier circuit. The electrical energy sources can be selectively connected to the amplifier circuit by the switching matrix. The switching state of the switching matrix can be dynamically set for this purpose by the control device.
US07821329B2 Pumping voltage generating circuit and semiconductor memory apparatus using the same
A pumping voltage generating circuit in a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a voltage supplying unit configured to supply an external power supply voltage to a first node in response to a first transfer signal, a node control unit configured to couple the first node to a second node in response to a second transfer signal and to couple the second node to an output node in response to a third transfer signal, a first pumping unit configured to increase a voltage level on the first node through a pumping operation that is performed in response to a first oscillation signal and to control one of an amount of voltage increment and decrement on the first node in response to a first control signal, and a second pumping unit configured to increase a voltage level on the second node through a pumping operation that is performed in response to a second oscillation signal and to control one of an amount of voltage increment and decrement on the second node in response to a second control signal.
US07821322B2 Chip for non-contact reader/writer having power-supply management function
A semiconductor integrated-circuit device rectifies a received carrier wave, generates a first power-supply voltage based on the rectified output, and selects, as a power-supply voltage required for operation, one of the first power-supply voltage and a supplied second power-supply voltage. The first power-supply voltage is selected as the power-supply voltage required for operation when the second power-supply voltage is lower than a threshold value. The second power-supply voltage is selected as the power-supply voltage required for operation when the second power-supply voltage is equal to or higher than the threshold value and an instruction to operate in accordance with a predetermined function is given.
US07821318B1 Wireless transceiver components with improved IQ matching
A mixer includes first and second differential input pairs that include first and second transistors. First and second bias transistors receive a first signal of a differential input signal that is the one of a first phase and a second phase, and that respectively communicate with first terminals of the first and second transistors of the first differential input pair. Third and fourth bias transistors receive a second signal of the differential input signal, and that respectively communicate with first terminals of the first and second transistors of the second differential input pair. First and second capacitive elements have first and second ends that respectively communicate with the first terminals of the first and second transistors of the first and second differential input pairs. Four current sourcing elements respectively communicate with first terminals of the first, second, third, and fourth bias transistors.
US07821313B2 DLL circuit
A DLL circuit includes an input circuit generating a synchronization reference signal, a first delay unit delaying the synchronization reference signal to generate a plurality of delayed synchronization reference signals and selecting one of the delayed synchronization reference signals, a timing offset circuit adjusting a synchronization position of the delayed synchronization reference signal to generate a signal to be synchronized, a phase comparison circuit comparing phase of the synchronization reference signal with that of the signal to be synchronized, a first control circuit selecting an output signal of the first delay unit, a second delay unit delaying the synchronization reference signal or the signal to be synchronized to generate a plurality of delayed signals, a configuration information memory storing configuration information, and a second control circuit selecting an output signal of the second delay unit if the comparison result of the phase comparison circuit is within a predetermined range.
US07821311B2 Delay locked loop circuit and memory device having the same
A DLL circuit includes a multiphase clock signal generating unit configured to produce a plurality of multiphase clock signals by delaying a reference clock signal for a unit delay time and to produce an enable signal that is enabled when one of the plurality of the multiphase clock signals synchronizes with the reference clock signal at a frequency, and a multiphase clock signal selecting unit configured to delay one of the plurality of the multiphase clock signals for a predetermined time in response to a first control signal, to compare a phase of a delayed multiphase clock signal with a phase of the reference clock signal, and to output one of the plurality of the multiphase clock signals as a delayed clock signal, wherein a phase of the delayed clock signal synchronizes with the phase of the reference clock signal when the enable signal is enabled.
US07821310B2 DLL circuit having duty cycle correction and method of controlling the same
A delay locked loop (DLL) circuit includes a duty cycle correcting unit configured to correct a duty cycle of a reference clock signal in response to a duty cycle correction signal and generate a correction clock signal. A feedback loop of the DLL circuit performs a delay lock operation on the correction clock signal and generates an output clock signal. A first duty cycle detecting unit detects a duty cycle of the correction clock signal and generates a first detection signal and a second duty cycle detecting unit detects a duty cycle of the output clock signal and generates a second detection signal. Finally, a duty cycle control unit generates the duty cycle correction signal in response to the first detection signal and the second detection signal to perform the duty cycle correction.
US07821307B2 Bandgap referenced power on reset (POR) circuit with improved area and power performance
In an apparatus for monitoring a supply voltage, a current mirror coupled to the supply voltage provides a pair of matching currents. A resistor divider that includes a first resistor coupled in series with a second resistor to from a first node is disposed between the supply voltage and a voltage reference. A pair of transistors that have their bases coupled to the first node are coupled to receive a corresponding one of the pair of matching currents. A collector of a first transistor of the pair of transistors provides an output voltage in response to the supply voltage. A third resistor is disposed between an emitter of a second transistor of the pair of transistors and the voltage reference. A base and a collector of a third transistor are coupled to the first node and an emitter is coupled to the voltage reference.
US07821300B2 System and method for converting between CML signal logic families
A system includes a first CML buffer configured to receive a first bias signal and a first CML signal of a first CML logic family. The first CML buffer produces a second CML signal of the first CML logic family based on the first CML signal and the first bias signal. A first coupling capacitor module couples to the first CML buffer. The first coupling capacitor module receives the second CML signal and produces a third CML signal based on the second CML signal. A second CML buffer couples to the coupling capacitor module and receives a second bias signal and the third CML signal, producing a fourth CML signal of a second CML logic family. A feedback module couples to the second CML buffer and receives the fourth CML signal producing a fifth CML signal. The second CML buffer is produces the fourth CML signal based on the second bias signal, the third CML signal, and the fifth CML signal.
US07821298B2 Multiplexing using product-of-sums and sum-of-products
A method for and the results of implementing a tree of multiplexing are disclosed. At each level of the tree, a sum-of-products or a product-of-sums representation is chosen to maximize inter-level optimizations.
US07821297B2 Low power output driver
A low power output driver includes one of a regulated reduced voltage source that receives a supply voltage and outputs a regulated reduced voltage that is a lower voltage than the supply voltage. The driver also includes a first driver input that receives a first logic signal, a second driver input that receives a second logic signal, a first driver output that outputs a first output signal and a second driver output that outputs a second output signal. The driver includes first, second, third and fourth n-type metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) that are cross-connected between the reduced voltage and the first and second driver outputs or a constant voltage internal ground. When the second input is high, the second NMOS and the third NMOS are gated on, the second driver output is raised to the reduced voltage and the first driver output is pulled down to the constant voltage ground.
US07821295B1 Methods and systems for improving a maximum operating frequency of a PLD having a shift register within an embedded memory block
A method for improving a maximum operating frequency of an integrated circuit including a first shift register within a first random access memory (RAM) block is described. The method includes improving the maximum operating frequency by finding the first shift register implemented within the first RAM block.
US07821289B2 Data output driving circuit and method for controlling slew rate thereof
A data output driving circuit capable of optimizing a slew rate of data according to the variation of operational conditions and a method for controlling a slew rate thereof includes a slew rate control signal generating unit configured to generate slew rate control signals by using a code signal, and a plurality of drivers configured to output data by driving the data at a slew rate set according to the slew rate control signals.
US07821286B2 Testing device for performing a test on a liquid crystal display and a method of driving the testing device
A testing device for performing a high-voltage test on a liquid crystal display is provided. The testing device includes a voltage converting unit, an input connector, and a power supplier. The voltage converting unit includes a plurality of resistors between an output terminal and a ground terminal. The input connector includes a terminal connected to one node of the plurality of resistors. The power supplier includes a switching unit to output a ground voltage to the terminal when power is applied from an external power source.
US07821284B2 Semiconductor test head apparatus using field programmable gate array
A semiconductor test head apparatus using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) is disclosed. A semiconductor test head apparatus using a field programmable gate array, includes a pattern generator for generating a predetermined memory test pattern, a driver/comparator unit comprising a first transceiver which performs a driver function capable of recording a memory test pattern generated from the pattern generator in a device under test and a comparator function capable of comparing a level of a signal read by the device under test with a predetermined high-level reference value, and a second transceiver which performs the driver function and a comparator function capable of comparing a level of a signal read by the device under test with a predetermined low-level reference value, and a connection unit for electrically connecting the first transceiver in parallel to the second transceiver, and connecting the first transceiver and the second transceiver to the device under test.
US07821281B2 Method and apparatus of testing die to die interconnection for system in package
Method and apparatus of testing die to die interconnection for system in package (SiP). For testing a die to die interconnection connected between two pads of two dice, an IO buffer, e.g., a bi-directional IO buffer, in one of the two dice coupled to one of the two pads is arranged. An oscillating feedback is formed between an output port and an input port of the IO buffer, such that a state, e.g., an open state, a short state or a normal state of the die to die interconnection is tested according to a timing characteristic, e.g., a frequency, of a signal of the IO buffer.
US07821278B2 Method and device for testing of non-componented circuit boards
The invention relates to a method and a device for the testing of noncomponented circuit boards.The method according to the invention is used to determine deviations of circuit board test points of a series of circuit boards from the CAD data relating to these circuit boards, by scanning the surface of the circuit board by an imaging method and subjecting this image to automatic image analysis so that it may be compared with the CAD data. The CAD data are then suitably corrected so that, with the aid of the corrected CAD data, the circuit board may be tested in a finger tester, with test fingers of the finger tester being controlled on the basis of the deviations found.
US07821270B2 Electrode contact pellet and associated photoionisation detector assembly
A demountable pellet is disclosed for use as an electrode contact assembly. The pellet comprises a base 1 upon which is mounted a plurality of electrodes 18, 19, 20 arranged in respective spaced parallel planes and having respective contacts 23, 24, 25 protruding from them. A closure 2 for the base 1 has a member 11, 12, 13 engaging at least one of the electrode contacts. In an unassembled condition of the pellet, with the closure 2 separate from the base 1 and each closure member disengaged from its respective electrode contact, the contacts 23, 24, 25 lie in respective spaced parallel planes. In the assembled condition of the pellet with each closure member engaging its respective electrode contact, at least one of the contacts 23, 24, 25 lies in a plane other than that in which it lay in the unassembled condition of the pellet.
US07821263B2 Self-refocused spatial-spectral pulse
A method for frequency selective and slice selective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is provided. A B0 field is applied. A self-refocused spatial-spectral (SPSP) RF pulse is applied. A readout of a portion of k-space for the excited slice is performed. A second self-refocused SPSP excitation RF pulse is applied, wherein the second self-refocused SPSP excitation has an 180° echo phase difference from the self-refocused SPSP excitation. A second readout of a portion of k-space for the excited slice was performed. A difference between the readout and the second readout was found. The previous steps were repeated until k-space has been filled for the excited slice. The previous steps were repeated for a plurality of slices.
US07821258B2 Method and system for generating and receiving torsional guided waves in a structure
A method is shown for magnetostrictive testing of structures using magnetostrictive techniques. A torsional guided wave is generated in the structure either directly, or through a magnetostrictive strip dry coupled or bonded to the structure. A permanent magnetic field is created by either permanent magnets or DC current for a permanent bias in a bias direction in the magnetostrictive strip and/or structure. By pulsing the magnetic field with an AC current pulse, a torsional guided wave will flow through the structure in the same direction as the permanent bias. By saturating the permanent magnetic field, a maximum torsional guided wave is reflected from defects in the structure to given an improved signal to noise ratio.
US07821255B2 Test system with wireless communications
A test system for testing electronic devices can include a plurality of testers and a test station. The test station can include probes to contact the devices and the tester can control testing. Test data can be received by the test station from the testers using wireless communications links.
US07821254B2 Method and apparatus for improving load time for automated test equipment
An SOC tester having test cards with memory cards is presented. The SOC tester may be running a test on a device under test using test programs stored on one set of memory cards. Test programs may be down loaded to a second set of memory cards during testing using test programs from the first set of memory cards or during off times.
US07821251B2 Current sensor
A current sensor includes a sensing circuit for sensing current and supplying indications thereof. The current sensor also includes two or more output terminals coupled to the sensing circuit that alternately supply respective indications of the sensed current according to control signals supplied to the current sensor.
US07821238B1 Feedback loop compensation for buck/boost switching converter
A system and a method are disclosed for providing an optimized feedback loop compensation for a buck/boost switching converter circuit. The buck/boost switching converter circuit may be operating in either a continuous conduction mode boost mode, or a continuous conduction mode buck mode, or a discontinuous conduction mode. A compensation circuit is provided that includes an error amplifier circuit that includes at least one compensation capacitor that provides an additional capacitance that adjusts a location of at least one dominant pole and at least one compensation zero of the buck/boost switching converter circuit to provide optimized feedback loop compensation.
US07821237B2 Power factor correction (PFC) controller and method using a finite state machine to adjust the duty cycle of a PWM control signal
A power factor correction (PFC) controller and method uses a finite state machine to adjust the duty cycle of a pulse width modulation (PWM) switching control signal. The PFC controller has a target current generator that receives the link output voltage and generates a target current proportionate to the rectified line input voltage. The PFC controller further includes a comparator which outputs a two-level current comparison result signal. The finite state machine responsive to the two-level current comparison result signal, generates a switch control signal that has a duty cycle which is adjusted for controlling the switch so that the sensed current is approximately proportionate to the rectified line input voltage, such that power factor correction is performed.
US07821235B2 Method for measuring a temperature in an electronic device having a battery
A temperature sensing device can be embedded in a memory circuit in order to sense the temperature of the memory circuit. One oscillator generates a temperature variable signal that increases frequency as the temperature of the oscillator increases and decreases frequency when the temperature of the oscillator decreases. A temperature invariant oscillator generates a fixed width signal that is controlled by an oscillator read logic and indicates a temperature sense cycle. An n-bit counter is clocked by the temperature variable signal while the fixed width signal enables/inhibits the counter. The faster the counter counts, the larger the count value at the end of the sense cycle indicated by the fixed width signal. A larger count value indicates a warmer temperature. A smaller count value indicates a colder temperature.
US07821226B2 Method for the allocation of addresses in the memory cells of a rechargeable energy accumulator
A method for placing addresses in the memory cells of a rechargeable energy storage device for use in a motor vehicle, each of which memory cells includes at least one sensor device and an individualizing device for storing an address. In order to optimize the placing of addresses in the memory cells of a rechargeable storage device, the functionality of the memory cells is checked using the sensor device in the vehicle, an individual address is assigned to each operable memory cell, and the individual address is used to individualize the sensor values made available from the sensor device.
US07821225B2 Hybrid power supply and power management method thereof
The invention provides a power management method for a hybrid power supply, comprising providing a primary power source, providing a rechargeable battery, providing a DC-DC converter, acquiring an amount of the power stored in the rechargeable battery, and when the energy level of the rechargeable battery does not exceed a first predetermined value, the DC-DC converter controls the primary power source to output a first value of a first electrical parameter.
US07821215B2 Pump controller system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of detecting a fault condition in a motor of a pump. The method includes sensing a first current value and a speed of the motor, attempting a recovery operation if the first current value is greater than a current threshold and if the speed of the motor is less than a motor speed low threshold, and sensing a second current value during the recovery operation and shutting down a drive to the motor if the second current value is also greater than the current threshold. The method also includes performing the recovery operation for a time period if the second current value is less than the current threshold and attempting to operate the motor in a normal mode after the time period has elapsed.
US07821214B2 Load driving apparatus, vehicle incorporating the same, and control method for load driving apparatus
An ECU estimates an output allowable power of a power storage device based on the temperature and SOC of the power storage device. The ECU also calculates a threshold power based on the power required to start an engine. When the ECU determines that the output allowable power is lower than the threshold power, the up-converter is controlled such that the boosting rate of the up-converter is restricted to be below a prescribed value.
US07821212B2 Networkable controllers for LED lighting
LED controller devices (e.g., color changing modules) that may be connected to an LED fixture (e.g., an LED light strip or series of LED light strips) having multicolored LED lights or LED's which otherwise vary in intensity, color, brightness, etc. In some embodiments, the LED light strips may incorporate red/green/blue (RGB) LEDs or white/warm white/amber (WWA) LEDs. This LED controller device operates to vary the colors emitted by the LED lights in accordance with desired programs, colors, tones, light shows, etc. The controller devices of this invention may be used in a stand alone LED lighting fixture of part of a network, such as a network that uses a form of RS-485 architecture known as a “Digital Multiplexed Interface” (DMX) as frequently used for control of lighting.
US07821208B2 Inductively-powered gas discharge lamp circuit
An inductively powered gas discharge lamp assembly having a secondary circuit with starter circuitry that provides pre-heating when power is supplied to the secondary circuit at a pre-heat frequency and that provides normal operation when power is supplied to the secondary circuit at an operating frequency. In one embodiment, the starter circuitry includes a pre-heat capacitor connected between the lamp electrodes and an operating capacitor located between the secondary coil and the lamp. The pre-heat capacitor is selected so that the electrical flow path through the pre-heat capacitor has a lesser impedance than the electrical flow path through the gas of the lamp when power is applied to the secondary circuit at the pre-heat frequency, and so that the electrical flow path through the pre-heat capacitor has a greater impedance than the electrical flow path through the gas when power is applied the operating frequency. The primary circuit may include a tank circuit for which the resonant frequency can be adjusted to match the pre-heat frequency and the operating frequency.
US07821206B2 Plasma display panel and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to plasma display panel and manufacturing method thereof to simplify the manufacturing steps and reduce cost of production. In the present invention, a black layer formed between a transparent electrode and a bus electrode is formed together with a black matrix at the same time. In this case, the black layer is formed together with the black matrix in one. Cheap nonconductive oxide is used as a black powder of a black layer. Specifically, in case the black layer and the black matrix are formed in one, the bus electrode is shifted to a non-discharge area to improve the brightness of the plasma display panel.
US07821204B2 Plasma display apparatus comprising connector
A plasma display apparatus comprising a connector is provided. The plasma display apparatus comprises a plasma display panel comprising an electrode of a predetermined width and a connector comprising an electrode line of a width narrower than the predetermined width of the electrode to supply a driving signal to the electrode. A distance between the electrode line and an adjacent electrode line is longer than a distance between the electrode and an adjacent electrode.
US07821202B2 Self-emitting element, display panel, display apparatus, and method of manufacturing self-emitting element
A display panel includes a light-emitting layer, a protective layer, a reflective layer, and a reflective surface. The protective layer is deposited on an emitting side of the light-emitting layer and forms an interface with an external medium. The protective layer has a thickness that allows the light emitted from the light-emitting layer to undergo total reflection at least once at the interface in an area of the light-emitting layer. The reflective layer is deposited on an opposite side of the protective layer with respect to the light-emitting layer. The reflective surface is at a periphery of the light-emitting layer and changes the direction of the light propagating inside the protective layer emitted from the light-emitting layer.
US07821201B2 Tandem OLED device with intermediate connector
A tandem OLED device including an anode; a cathode; at least two electroluminescent units disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein each of the electroluminescent units includes at least one hole-transporting layer and one organic light-emitting layer; and an intermediate connector of at least two layers disposed between adjacent electroluminescent units, wherein the intermediate connector includes an organic alkali metal complex layer and an organic electron-accepting layer, the organic electron-accepting layer being disposed closer to the cathode than the organic alkali metal complex layer, and there is present metallic aluminum in the organic alkali metal complex layer.
US07821198B2 Organic light-emitting diode display device and method of fabricating the same
An organic light-emitting display device and a method of fabricating the same is disclosed, to prevent contact defects, the organic light-emitting display device comprising a first substrate formed a sub-pixel driving array; a second substrate formed an OLED array; a sealant to bond the first and second substrates to each other; and a conductive material deformed when bonding the first and second substrates to each other so as to electrically connect the sub-pixel driving array and the OLED array to each other, the conductive material formed on the sub-pixel driving array.
US07821196B2 Illumination device with at least one LED as the light source
An illumination device with at least one LED as the light source, the LED emitting primary radiation in the range from 370 to 430 nm of the optical spectral region (peak wavelength), this radiation being partially or completely converted into radiation of a longer wavelength by three phosphors which are exposed to the primary radiation from the LED and which emit in the blue, green and red spectral regions, so that white light is formed. The conversion is achieved at least with the aid of a phosphor which emits blue light with a wavelength maximum at 440 to 485 nm, and with the aid of a phosphor which emits green light with a wavelength maximum at 505 to 550 nm, and with the aid of a phosphor which emits red light with a wavelength maximum at 560 to 670 nm.
US07821193B2 Color pixel element for field emission display
A color pixel element for field emission display includes a sealed container having a light permeable portion, at least two anodes, a cathode, at least two phosphor layers formed on the end surfaces of the anodes, and at least two CNT strings electrically connected to and in contact with the cathode with the emission portions of the CNT strings suspending. The phosphor layers are opposite to the light permeable portion, and one emission portion is corresponding to one phosphor layer. In each CNT string, some of CNT bundles are taller than and project over the adjacent CNT bundles, and each of projecting CNT bundles functions as an electron emitter. The anodes, the cathode, the phosphor layers and the CNT strings are enclosed in the sealed container. The luminance of the color pixel element is enhanced at a relatively low voltage.
US07821192B2 Field emission light source
A field emission light source includes a substrate, a cathode conductive layer, a plurality of electron emitters, a transparent substrate, an anode layer and a fluorescent layer. The cathode conductive layer is formed on the substrate. The electron emitters are disposed on the cathode conductive layer. The transparent substrate is spaced from the cathode conductive layer. The anode layer is formed on the transparent substrate facing the electron emitters and includes a carbon nanotube film structure having carbon nanotubes arranged in a preferred orientation. The fluorescent layer is formed on the anode layer facing the electron emitters.
US07821185B2 Display filter and display apparatus having the same
A display filter and a display apparatus including the display filter, which can increase a contrast ratio in a bright room, and prevent a moiré phenomenon and a Newton's ring phenomenon, are provided. The display filter includes: a filter base; an external light-shielding layer comprising a base substrate including a transparent resin and light-shielding patterns spaced apart on a surface of the base substrate at predetermined intervals; and a diffusion layer diffusing a light provided from a panel assembly.
US07821177B2 Laminated core
A laminated core includes a laminated body, clamping plates and holding members. The laminated body includes a plurality of amorphous alloy plates, which are stacked one after another in a stacking direction such that each adjacent two of the plurality of amorphous alloy plates directly contact with each other. The clamping plates contact opposed end surfaces, respectively, of the laminated body in the stacking direction. A thickness of each of the first and second clamping plates in the stacking direction is larger than that of each of the plurality of amorphous alloy plates. Each holding member contacts with the clamping plates and maintains a predetermined space between the clamping plates while the laminated body is clamped between the clamping plates.
US07821176B2 Electric motor, stator for an electric motor and method of manufacturing same
An electric machine has a rotor and includes a first portion that is substantially rectangular and includes a rotor aperture configured to receive a portion of the rotor. A second portion is separate from and connected to the first portion. The second portion is substantially U-shaped and includes a first leg, a second leg, and a base. A first coil surrounds a portion of the first leg and a second coil surrounds a portion of the second leg.
US07821174B2 Armature of rotating electric machine and method of manufacturing the same
A rotating electric machine includes a shaft and an armature with a core that includes a shaft hole. The core includes a plurality of core materials that are laminated. When pressing in and fixing the shaft to the shaft hole, the shaft hole is applied with an ironing process in advance in order to rectify a cylindrical hole shape of the shaft hole.
US07821172B2 Motor stator with different winding volume for different stator teeth
A device includes a stator lamination of a stator for a motor with a first set of stator teeth and a second set of stator teeth, a first set of windings with wire having a first diameter on the first set of stator teeth and a second set of wire windings with wire having a second diameter. The second diameter is greater than the first diameter. The first and seconds sets of stator teeth are divided among at least two phases of the motor. Each phase includes an equal number of stator teeth from the first set of stator teeth and an equal number of stator teeth from the second set of stator teeth.
US07821165B2 Motor and method of manufacturing stator used therefor
A motor includes: a rotor in which 10 poles are magnetized at regular intervals; a stator having 12 core pieces and facing the rotor, all core pieces having a concentrated winding wound in the same direction and being annularly arranged; and a wiring board for making 3-phase connection of the windings. A wire connection is made through the wiring board in such a manner that electric currents of adjacent same phase windings flow in opposite directions and of electric currents of adjacent different phase windings flow in same directions.
US07821154B2 Device and method for controlling an electric parking brake of a utility vehicle
A device for controlling an electric parking brake of a utility vehicle includes an electronic control unit and a manual control unit that communicates with the electronic control unit and via which driver requests depending on the type of actuation of the manual control unit can be transmitted to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is adapted to process signals of the manual control unit when the ignition is switched on. The manual control unit is adapted to output in at least one mode of operation a wake-up signal to the electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is adapted to process, once having received a wake-up signal, at least one additional signal of the manual control unit even if the ignition of the utility vehicle is switched off.
US07821145B2 Aircraft engine starter/generator and controller
An aircraft starting and generating system includes a starter/generator that includes a main machine, an exciter, and a permanent magnet generator. The system also includes an inverter/converter/controller that is connected to the starter/generator and that generates AC power to drive the starter/generator in a start mode for starting a prime mover of the aircraft, and that converts AC power, obtained from the starter/generator after the prime mover have been started, to DC power in a generate mode of the starter/generator. The exciter includes a stator and a rotor, and wherein the exciter rotor includes a three-phase AC winding.
US07821141B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including: a heat sink, a die on the heat sink, resin encapsulating the die, and a mounting aperture in the resin having at least a segment between the heat sink and a first end of the resin, wherein the thickness of the heat sink is no greater than 35% of the thickness of the device.
US07821139B2 Flip-chip assembly and method of manufacturing the same
A flip-chip assembly comprises a semiconductor chip, a substrate, a first buffer layer, a second buffer layer and a conductive bump. The semiconductor chip includes a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region. The substrate is disposed under the semiconductor chip. The first buffer layer is disposed between the first region of the semiconductor chip and the substrate. The second buffer layer is disposed between the second region of the semiconductor chip and the substrate. The conductive bump is formed through the second buffer layer and electrically connects the semiconductor chip to the substrate.
US07821135B2 Semiconductor device with improved stress migration resistance and manufacturing process therefor
A semiconductor device of improved stress-migration resistance and reliability includes an insulating film having formed therein a lower interconnection consisting of a barrier metal film and a copper-silver alloy film, on which is then formed an interlayer insulating film. In the interlayer insulating film is formed an upper interconnection consisting of a barrier metal film and a copper-silver alloy film. The lower and the upper interconnections are made of a copper-silver alloy which contains silver in an amount more than a solid solution limit of silver to copper.
US07821128B2 Power semiconductor device having lines within a housing
A power semiconductor device has a semiconductor chip stack and lines within a housing. The lines electrically connect large-area contact regions of power semiconductor device components within the housing to one another. In this case, at least one of the lines has a large-area planar conductive layer. This planar conductive area electrically connects the large-area contact regions to one another.
US07821127B2 Semiconductor device package having buffered memory module and method thereof
A method and apparatus of fabricating a semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device may include a buffer chip package having a buffer chip mounted on a buffer chip substrate and at least one memory package mounted on the buffer chip substrate, wherein the at least one memory package may include a plurality of memory chips. Further, the buffer chip package may have a plurality of external connection terminals.
US07821126B2 Heat sink with preattached thermal interface material and method of making same
A process of making an integrated heat spreader is disclosed. The integrated heat spreader is stamped with a thermal interface material under conditions to form a diffusion bonding zone between the integrated heat spreader and the thermal interface material. The thermal interface material can have one of several cross-sectional profiles to facilitate reflow thereof against a die during a method of assembling a packaged microelectronic device. The thermal interface material can also have one of several footprints to further facilitate reflow thereof against the die.
US07821114B2 Multiphase synchronous buck converter
Disclosed in this specification is a multiphase buck converter package and process for forming such package. The package includes at least four dice and several parallel leads. The dice are electrically connected through a plurality of die attach pads, thus eliminating the need for wirebonding.
US07821109B2 Stressed dielectric devices and methods of fabricating same
A structure and a method of making the structure. The structure includes a field effect transistor including: a first and a second source/drain formed in a silicon substrate, the first and second source/drains spaced apart and separated by a channel region in the substrate; a gate dielectric on a top surface of the substrate over the channel region; and an electrically conductive gate on a top surface of the gate dielectric; and a dielectric pillar of a first dielectric material over the gate; and a dielectric layer of a second dielectric material over the first and second source/drains, sidewalls of the dielectric pillar in direct physical contact with the dielectric layer, the dielectric pillar having no internal stress or an internal stress different from an internal stress of the dielectric layer.
US07821102B2 Power transistor featuring a double-sided feed design and method of making the same
A power transistor (210) comprises a plurality of unit cell devices (212), a base contact configuration, an emitter contact configuration, and a collector contact configuration. The plurality of unit cell devices is arranged along an axis (194), each unit cell device including base (80), emitter (82), and collector (84) portions. The base contact configuration includes (i) a first base feed (150) coupled to the base portion of each unit cell device via a first end of at least one base finger (154) associated with a corresponding unit cell device and (ii) a second base feed (152) coupled to the base portion of each unit cell device via an opposite end of the at least one base finger associated with the corresponding unit cell device. The emitter contact configuration includes (i) a first emitter feed (172) coupled to the emitter portion of each unit cell device via a first end of an emitter metallization (176) associated with a corresponding unit cell device and (ii) a second emitter feed (174) coupled to the emitter portion of each unit cell device via an opposite end of the emitter metallization associated with the corresponding unit cell device. The collector contact configuration includes a collector feed (188) coupled to the collector portion of each unit cell device.
US07821098B2 Trench widening without merging
A semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a trench in the semiconductor substrate. The trench comprises a side wall which includes {100} side wall surfaces and {110} side wall surfaces. The semiconductor structure further includes a blocking layer on the {100} side wall surfaces and the {110} side wall surfaces. The method further comprises the steps of removing portions of the blocking layer on the {110} side wall surfaces without removing portions of the blocking layer on the {100} side wall surfaces such that the {110} side wall surfaces are exposed to a surrounding ambient.
US07821093B2 Solid-state imaging device with biased light shielding film
A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
US07821087B2 Spin transfer magnetic element having low saturation magnetization free layers
A method and system for providing a magnetic element that can be used in a magnetic memory is disclosed. The magnetic element includes pinned, nonmagnetic spacer, and free layers. The spacer layer resides between the pinned and free layers. The free layer can be switched using spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element. The magnetic element may also include a barrier layer, a second pinned layer. Alternatively, second pinned and second spacer layers and a second free layer magnetostatically coupled to the free layer are included. In one aspect, the free layer(s) include ferromagnetic material(s) diluted with nonmagnetic material(s) and/or ferrimagnetically doped to provide low saturation magnetization(s).
US07821081B2 Method and apparatus for flatband voltage tuning of high-k field effect transistors
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for flatband voltage tuning of high-k field effect transistors. One embodiment of a field effect transistor includes a substrate, a high-k dielectric layer deposited on the substrate, a gate electrode deposited on the high-k dielectric layer, and a dipole layer positioned between the substrate and the gate electrode, for shifting the threshold voltage of the field effect transistor.
US07821080B2 N-ary three-dimensional mask-programmable read-only memory
N-ary three-dimensional mask-programmable read-only memory (N-3DMPROM) stores multi-bit-per-cell. Its memory cells can have N states (N>2) and data are stored as N-ary codes. N-3DMPROM has a larger storage density than the prior-art binary 3D-MPROM. One advantage of N-3DROM over other N-ary memory (e.g. multi-level-cell flash) is that its array efficiency can be kept high. N-3DMPROM could be geometry-defined, junction-defined, or a combination thereof.
US07821078B2 Semiconductor device having resistor elements and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device of the invention has a plurality of resistor elements formed on an element isolating oxide film in predetermined regions on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. Active regions are furnished close to the resistor elements. This allows the element isolating oxide film near the resistor elements to be divided into suitable strips, forestalling a concave formation at the center of the element isolating oxide film upon polishing of the film by CMP and thereby enhancing dimensional accuracy of the resistor elements upon fabrication.
US07821075B2 CMOS device with zero soft error rate
A CMOS device and method of manufacture is provided for producing an integrated circuit that is not susceptible to various soft errors such as single-event upsets, multi-bit upsets or single-event latchup. The CMOS device and method utilizes a new and novel well architecture in conjunction with metal source/drain electrodes to eliminate soft errors. In one embodiment, the CMOS device uses a first metal source/drain material for the NMOS device and a second metal source/drain material for the PMOS device. The CMOS device further uses a multi-layered well-structure with a shallow N-well and a buried P-well for the PMOS device and a shallow P-well and a buried N-well for the NMOS device.
US07821073B2 Patterned backside stress engineering for transistor performance optimization
Some embodiments of the present invention include selectively inducing back side stress opposite transistor regions to optimize transistor performance.
US07821065B2 Semiconductor device comprising a thin film transistor comprising a semiconductor thin film and method of manufacturing the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device having high operation characteristic and reliability.The measures taken are: A pixel capacitor is formed between an electrode comprising anodic capable material over an organic resin film, an anodic oxide film of the electrode and a pixel electrode above. Since the anodic oxide film is anodically oxidized by applied voltage per unit time at 15 V/min, there is no wrap around on the electrode, and film peeling can be prevented.
US07821053B2 Tunable capacitor
Disclosed are embodiments of a transistor that operates as a capacitor and an associated method of tuning capacitance within such a capacitor. The embodiments of the capacitor comprise a field effect transistor with front and back gates above and below a semiconductor layer, respectively. The capacitance value exhibited by the capacitor can be selectively varied between two different values by changing the voltage condition in a source/drain region of the transistor, e.g., using a switch or resistor between the source/drain region and a voltage supply. Alternatively, the capacitance value exhibited by the capacitor can be selectively varied between multiple different values by changing voltage conditions in one or more of multiple channel regions that are flanked by multiple source/drain regions within the transistor. The capacitor will exhibit different capacitance values depending upon the conductivity in each of the channel regions.
US07821052B2 Method for forming a buried digit line with self aligning spacing layer and contact plugs during the formation of a semiconductor device, semiconductor devices, and systems including same
A method for use during fabrication of a semiconductor device comprises the formation of buried digit lines and contacts. During formation, a buried bit line layer may be used as a mask to etch one or more openings in a dielectric layer. A conductive layer is then formed in the one or more openings in the dielectric layer, and is then planarized to form one or more individual contact plugs. Next, the buried bit line layer is etched to recess the buried bit line layer, and a capacitor plate is formed to contact the contact plug.
US07821044B2 Transistor with improved tip profile and method of manufacture thereof
Embodiments are an improved transistor structure and the method of fabricating the structure. In particular, a wet etch of an embodiment forms source and drain regions with an improved tip shape to improve the performance of the transistor by improving control of short channel effects, increasing the saturation current, improving control of the metallurgical gate length, increasing carrier mobility, and decreasing contact resistance at the interface between the source and drain and the silicide.
US07821041B2 Electrical fuse circuit for security applications
A fuse circuit is disclosed, which comprises at least one electrical fuse element having a resistance that changes after being stressed in an electromigration mode, a switching device serially coupled with the electrical fuse element in a predetermined path between a fuse programming power supply (VDDQ) and a low voltage power supply (GND) for selectively allowing a programming current passing through the electrical fuse element during a programming operation, and at least one peripheral circuit coupled to the VDDQ, wherein the peripheral circuit is active and draws current from the VDDQ during a fuse programming operation.
US07821035B2 ED inverter circuit and integrate circuit element including the same
A second semiconductor layer of a second nitride-based compound semiconductor with a wider bandgap formed on a first semiconductor layer of a first nitride-based compound semiconductor with a smaller bandgap includes an opening, on which a gate insulating layer is formed at a portion exposed through the opening. A first source electrode and a first drain electrode formed across a first gate electrode make an ohmic contact to the second semiconductor layer. A second source electrode and a second drain electrode formed across a second gate electrode that makes a Schottky contact to the second semiconductor layer make an ohmic contact to the second semiconductor layer.
US07821016B2 Light activated silicon controlled switch
The present invention provides an optically triggered switch and a method of forming the optically triggered switch. The optically triggered switch includes a silicon layer having at least one trench formed therein and at least one silicon diode formed in the silicon layer. The switch also includes a first thyristor formed in the silicon layer. The first thyristor is physically and electrically isolated from the silicon diode by the trench and the first thyristor is configured to turn on in response to electromagnetic radiation generated by the silicon diode.
US07821013B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate including first and second gate layers, a channel layer, a source layer, and a trench; a gate wiring having a first portion and a plurality of second portions; and a source wiring having a third portion and a plurality of fourth portions. The trench extends in a predetermined extending direction. The first portion connects to the first gate layer in the trench, and extends to the extending direction. The second portions protrude perpendicularly to be a comb shape. The third portion extends to the extending direction. The fourth portions protrude perpendicularly to be a comb shape, and electrically connect to the source layer. Each of the second portions connects to the second gate layer through a contact hole.
US07821006B2 Liquid crystal display comprising light sensing TFT having opening in gate electrode
There are provided a TFT, a TFT substrate using the TFT, a method of fabricating the TFT substrate, and an LCD. The TFT includes a source region, a drain region, and a gate electrode having an opening. The opening of the gate electrode is to enhance the light sensing ability of the TFT when it is used as a light sensor, since light is incident into a region where the opening is formed. The TFT including the gate having the opening can be used in a substrate of a flat display or an LCD using such a substrate. The above TFT can sense light incident from outside the display to adjust the brightness of the screen according to the external illumination.
US07821002B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
The semiconductor device has a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode which covers an end portion of the semiconductor layer, and an insulating layer for insulating the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode. The film thickness of the insulating layer which insulates a region where an end portion of the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode overlap each other is thicker than the film thickness of the insulating layer which covers the central portion of the semiconductor layer.
US07821001B2 Organic electronic device
An organic electronic device. The device includes a first electrode to inject or extract hole, the first electrode including a conductive layer and an n-type organic compound layer disposed on the conductive layer, a second electrode to inject or extract electron, a p-type organic compound layer disposed between the n-type organic compound layer and the second electrode. The p-type organic compound layer forms an NP junction between the n-type organic compound layer and the p-type organic compound layer. The energy difference between a lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy of the n-type organic compound layer and a Fermi energy of the conductive layer is about 2 eV or less, and the energy difference between the LUMO energy of the n-type organic compound layer and a highest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy of the p-type organic compound layer is about 1 eV or less.
US07820997B2 Resistor random access memory cell with reduced active area and reduced contact areas
A memory device has a sidewall insulating member with a sidewall insulating member length according to a first spacer layer thickness. A first electrode formed from a second spacer layer having a first electrode length according to a thickness of a second spacer layer and a second electrode formed from the second spacer layer having a second electrode length according to the thickness of the second spacer layer are formed on sidewalls of the sidewall insulating member. A bridge of memory material having a bridge width extends from a top surface of the first electrode to a top surface of the second electrode across a top surface of the sidewall insulating member, wherein the bridge comprises memory material.
US07820992B2 Neutron chopper
A neutron chopper according to the present invention includes a housing which internally forms a sealed space, the housing having window portions through which neutrons pass, a fixed shaft which is fixed inside the housing, a rotor which is rotatably supported by the fixed shaft, the rotor provided with a blocking portion which can block neutrons passing through the housing, and a motor which is provided inside the housing for rotating the rotor of the neutron chopper, where a stator of the motor is fixed to the fixed shaft, and a rotor of the motor receives a rotating force from the stator around the fixed shaft, and is fixed to the rotor of the neutron chopper. The neutron chopper is formed with small size, and neutron guides are easily disposed closely, consequently vacuum leak is hardly occurred in the neutron chopper.
US07820991B2 Radiation source and device
Radiation source for electromagnetic radiation the major effective component of which is in the near-infrared region, in particular in the wavelength region between 0.8 μm and 1.5 μm, to form an elongated irradiation zone, with an elongated halogen lamp comprising a glass body that has a tubular shape with bases at the ends and contains at least one spiral filament, and with an elongated reflector, such that the bases of the halogen lamp are disposed in the region of the reflector surface or behind it with reference to the position of the halogen lamp, wherein the ends of the halogen lamp are bent around toward the reflector and the spiral filaments or at least one of them is made thicker or is more densely wound in the bent region of the glass body, in such a way that the radiation flux density of the radiation source is substantially constant in the long direction of the source, between the outermost points of the bases.
US07820984B2 Measuring device and measuring method
A measuring device includes a light source, a holding member for holding a sample, a first concave mirror and a second concave mirror, the second concave mirror being arranged on the light path from the light source to the holding member, the first concave mirror being arranged vis-a-vis the second concave mirror with the holding member interposed between them, the first concave mirror and the second concave mirror being arranged with their concave surfaces facing each other, the first concave mirror being larger than the second concave mirror in terms of their outer dimensions.
US07820980B2 High speed combination multi-mode ionization source for mass spectrometers
The present invention combines ionization modes produced by, for example, electrospray (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), and thermospray for analysis of molecules. Specifically, this invention relates to the creation of a new source apparatus combining APCI and ESI which will interface with existing mass spectrometers, as well as the creation of new mass spectrometers where the present invention would be the ionization source. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an ionization source for a mass spectrometer which features an ion chamber defining an ion path, an electrospray probe for ionizing a sample using electrospray ionization, a corona discharge needle for ionizing a sample using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, a power supply for applying an electrical potential to one of said electrospray probe and said corona discharge needle, and a solid state switch for directing the electrical potential from the power supply to one of the electrospray probe and said corona discharge needle.
US07820978B2 Charged-particle beam system
A charged-particle beam system has a demagnifying lens for reducing the dimensions of an electron beam produced from an electron beam source, an objective lens for focusing the demagnified beam onto the surface of a target, a first deflector located before the demagnifying lens, a second deflector placed such that the deflection field produced by it is totally or partially superimposed on the objective lens field, and a third deflector located in a stage following the second deflector. An image of the light source is created by the demagnifying lens. An image of the light source image is formed on the target by the objective lens.
US07820976B2 Radiation image detector
A radiation image detector with a moisture-proof structure which is formed easily. The radiation image detector includes: a substrate, a rectangular radiation detection unit provided on the substrate, with signal lines drawn out from each of a pair of opposing sides of the radiation detection unit; electrically insulative rib members provided on the substrate and signal lines along only at most three sides of the circumference of the radiation detection unit; and a moisture-proof film applied along the upper faces of the rib members.
US07820975B2 Achieving accurate time-of-flight calibrations with a stationary coincidence point source
A method for calibrating an imaging system includes coincident detecting scatter radiation events from a calibration source located within a bore of the imaging system. The scatter radiation events are subsequently used to compute calibration time offsets for each detector channel in the imaging system. Each detector channel is then calibrated with respective calibration time adjustments.
US07820956B2 Optical position transducer systems and methods employing reflected illumination for limited rotation motor systems
A position transducer system is disclosed for a limited rotation motor that includes an illumination source that directs illumination toward an illumination reflector that rotates with a rotor of the limited rotation motor, and a plurality of detector areas adjacent the illumination source for receiving modulated reflected illumination from the illumination reflector.
US07820955B2 Coded aperture imager comprising a coded diffractive mask
The present invention relates to an imaging system which employs the same principles as coded aperture imaging. High angular resolution coded aperture imagers require a small aperture size and relatively large spacing between the coded aperture array and the detector. At such high resolutions diffraction effects can start to dominate and can degrade image quality. The present invention provides a detector array which receives radiation from a scene via a coded diffractive mask. The coded diffractive mask is designed such that its diffraction pattern at the waveband of interest is a well conditioned coded intensity pattern having a strong autocorrelation function with low sidelobes. Thus radiation reaching the detector array is diffracted by the diffractive mask but in a defined way and it is the diffraction pattern of the mask which provides the coding. The scene image can then be reconstructed using the same techniques as for conventional coded aperture imaging but using the diffraction pattern of the mask as the aperture function. The coded diffractive mask may be a binary or greyscale mask, may operate in reflection or transmission and may be an amplitude or phase modulating mask.
US07820948B1 Brewing machine/satellite contactless power and communication transfer-enabling system and method
The present invention provides a system for enabling control of the temperature of a receptacle in a satellite for containing a brewed fluid, so as to enable control of the temperature of the brewed fluid in the receptacle upon transfer of the brewed fluid from a brewing machine into the receptacle. The control of the temperature of the receptacle is responsive to contactless and wireless transfer of power and communication between the brewing machine and the satellite, and to generating, communicating, and processing fluid temperature measurement-enabling data between the brewing machine and the satellite, so as to enable control of the temperature of the brewed fluid.
US07820938B2 Butt welding method of two sheet metals in a continuous line processing installation
A method is provided for adjusting the thickness of the welding bead of two bands obtained by butt welding by means of a laser beam without using filler material. The bands are clamped in jaws, both cut edges being spaced apart by a reference distance. Then the mobile jaw is moved along a travel. Said travel differs from said reference distance by an offset calculated in relation to the thickness of the bands, and while taking into account the degree of accuracy of the positioning and of the cut of said edges. The offset is counted as positive or negative, in order to obtain a final welding position such that it exists, between the edges, an actual allowance, positive or negative, adapted to the thickness of the bands.
US07820930B2 Low-profile switch mechanism
A switch mechanism includes a frame, an electrical switch on the frame, a lever extending from the frame alongside the switch and including an activation portion whereupon deflection of the lever, the activation portion bears upon the switch so as to activate the switch A force-transfer device associated with the frame moves upon user-activation to deflect the lever. Furthermore, the present switch mechanism is not limited in its application to ON-OFF switches as it could be equally applied to other function switches of low-profile devices.
US07820929B2 Electrical interface shield and method
Disclosed herein is an electrical interface shield. The shield includes, a transparent support member having a first end and a second end, a transparent housing hingedly attached at the first end of the transparent support member and latchably engagable with the second end, and at least one brace. The at least one brace has at least one mounting hole therethrough and is removably attached to the transparent support member and the at least one mounting hole is configured to receive a fastener therein for mounting the transparent support member to an electrical interface frame.
US07820921B2 Housing for accommodating an electronic component and electronic component arrangement
A housing can accommodate an electronic component. An outer wall of the housing forms a flat contact wall in which contact areas for connecting the housing to an interconnect device are arranged.
US07820911B1 Reversible protective cable chute assembly for routing low voltage cables through walls
A reversible protective cable chute assembly for routing low voltage cables through walls. The protective cable chute includes a cover plate with an integral cable shield and a removable panel. The cover plate and panel each include an aperture therein for securing the cable chute assembly to an electrical box or low voltage frame. An alignment device is provided on the removable panel to enable rapid alignment of the panel with either side of the cable chute. An opening and passageway is provided in the cable shield portion of the cover plate for receiving low voltage cables for the purpose of routing them through the wall and into an adjacent room. The removable panel provides a convenient means for adding or removing cables after the initial installation.
US07820910B1 Adapter for electrical outlet cover
An electrical device cover with a lid coupled to a base assembly including an adapter that couples to the base through sliding lateral to the opening in the base. Particular implementations of an adapter include adapters with “L-” or other-shaped engagement tabs and adapters including straight, flat or pin-shaped engagement tabs. In particular implementations using an engagement tab, the adapter may be moved toward the base either before or after sliding parallel to the base surface, and thus engages with the base. In other implementations, the adapter is simply slid parallel to the base surface to engage with the base.
US07820907B2 Liquid crystalline interpenetrating polymer networks
A photovoltaic cell is provided. The photovoltaic cell can be an interconnecting liquid crystalline polymer network. Reactive mesogens of the formula B-S-A-S-B wherein A is a chromophore, S is a spacer and B is an end group susceptible to polymerization are used in the manufacture of the interconnecting liquid crystalline polymer network.
US07820906B2 Photovoltaic receiver
A solar receiver can have a base plate having a first surface and a second surface, a plurality of solar cells positioned over and supported by the first surface of the base plate, each solar cell having a cell face suitable for receiving solar radiation that faces away from the base plate, the plurality of solar cells being arranged in at least one string having a string axis, and a plurality of fins attached directly to the second surface of the base plate, wherein the fins extend outwardly from the second surface of the base plate in a direction that is generally perpendicular to both the string axis and the solar cell faces.
US07820901B2 Information management method, information management program, and information management device
A file storage apparatus provides an information management method. The information management method includes correlating one or more electronic files with audible cues relative to audio content reproduced via the file storage apparatus, designating respective time intervals of the audio content during which each of the one or more electronic files can be accessed by the file storage apparatus, and retrieving the one or more electronic files of the file storage apparatus upon a predetermined user input provided to the file storage apparatus during one of the respective time intervals of the audio content.
US07820893B1 Maize variety PHGMA
A novel maize variety designated PHGMA and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHGMA with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHGMA through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHGMA or a trait conversion of PHGMA with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGMA, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHGMA and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US07820877B2 Transgenic mammals having human IG loci including plural Vh and Vk regions and antibodies produced therefrom
The present invention relates to transgenic non-human animals that are engineered to contain human immunoglobulin gene loci. In particular, animals in accordance with the invention possess human Ig loci that include plural variable (VH and Vκ) gene regions. Advantageously, the inclusion of plural variable region genes enhances the specificity and diversity of human antibodies produced by the animal. Further, the inclusion of such regions enhances and reconstitutes B-cell development to the animals, such that the animals possess abundant mature B-cells secreting extremely high affinity antibodies.
US07820874B2 Acacia fiber-containing fibrous structures and methods for making same
Multi-layered fibrous structures comprising hardwood pulp fibers that are present in the outer layers of the fibrous structures at differing weight percents, sanitary tissue products comprising such fibrous structures and methods for making such fibrous structures are provided. More particularly, the present invention relates to multi-layered fibrous structures comprising Acacia fibers that are present in the outer layers of the fibrous structures at differing weight percents, sanitary tissue products comprising such fibrous structures and methods for making such fibrous structures are provided.
US07820868B2 Transition metal substituted polyoxometalates and process for their preparation
This invention relates to polyoxometalates represented by the formula (An)m+[My(H2O)pXzZ2W18O66]m−1 or solvates thereof, wherein A represents a cation acting as counterion of the polyanion, n is the number of the cations A, m is the charge of the polyoxoanion, M represents a transition metal selected from Cu, Zn, Pd, Pt and mixtures thereof, y is the number of transition metals M and is a number from greater than 4 to less than 6, p is a number of water molecules and is a number from 0 to 10, X is a halide selected from F, Cl, Br, I and mixtures thereof, z is a number of halides and is a number from 0 to 6 and Z represents a heteroatom selected from SbIII, BiIII, AsIII, SeIV and TeIV.
US07820859B2 Process for preparing L- (+) -lactic acid
The present invention provides a commercially viable process for the preparation of highly pure and optically active L-(+)-lactic acid and S-(−)-methyl lactate, in high yield, obtained from esterification of aqueous crude lactic acid solution produced by sugar cane juice fermentation broth and methanol in continuous counter current trickle phase approach or in continuous counter current bubble column manner, using stabilizers and the methyl lactate so obtained is recovered and followed by purification of reasonably pure methyl lactate using reagent mixture such as sodium bi-carbonate, mono-ethanolamine or di-ethanolamine, urea or sodium-bicarbonate, mono-ethanolamine or di-ethanolamine, thiourea to reduce the impurity of dimethyl ester of dicarboxylic such as dimethyl oxalate or di-methyl succinate or methyl ester of mono-carboxylic acid such as methyl pyruvate present as an impurity, so as to get highly pure S-(−)-methyl lactate followed by hydrolyzing highly pure S-(−)-methyl lactate using highly pure lactic acid as a catalyst, using highly pure water as the hydrolysis media and by using pre-treated activated carbon with dilute L-(+)-lactic acid, in batch or continuous mode. This very high pure S-(−)-methyl lactate constitutes an important product having interesting possibilities of application at an industrial level, in pharmaceuticals. Highly pure L-(+)-lactic acid thus obtained is used as an acidulant, as a food additive, for pharmaceutical applications, a monomer for making poly-lactic acid, as a monomer to prepare biodegradable polymer which are useful for manufacturing bags, application films, in the field of sanitary field, and has medical applications.
US07820857B2 Method for treating pain in trigeminal neuralgia
The present invention is directed to the use of a class of peptide compounds for treating pain in trigeminal neuralgia.
US07820856B2 Process for producing α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid
Disclosed is a method for enhancing a yield of an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid obtained by liquid-phase oxidation reaction of an olefin or an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde. In particular, there is provided a method for producing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, wherein the method includes the step of carrying out oxidation reaction of an olefin or an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde in a liquid phase to obtain a reaction mixture containing an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride and the step of bringing the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride into contact with an alcohol or water to obtain an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid resulting from decomposition of the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid anhydride.
US07820854B2 Process for converting alkanes to unsaturated carboxylic acids
The present invention relates to an improved process for the conversion of alkanes to unsaturated carboxylic acids.
US07820846B2 Bifunctional phenyliso(thio)cyanates, processes and intermediates products for their preparation
A process for preparing phenyl iso(thio)cyanates of the formula I in which a compound of the formula II or its HCl adduct is reacted with a phosgenating agent where W is oxygen or sulfur and Ar and A are as defined in claim 1 is described. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of the phenyl iso(thio)cyanates for preparing crop protection agents.
US07820842B2 Polyunsaturated fatty acid monovalent and divalent metal salt synthesis
Disclosed herein are methods for the preparation of a free-flowing, storage-stable fatty acid metal salt product by forming a reactive admixture comprising (a) an unsaturated fatty acid glyceride feedstock; and (b) from about 1 mol to about 3 mol of at least one monovalent metal hydroxide or at least one divalent metal hydroxide; and heating the admixture to a temperature at which said fatty acid glycerides saponify to form fatty acid metals salts; wherein said monovalent metal is potassium; and wherein said divalent metal is selected from the group consisting of calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc. The fatty acid glycerides may be saponified in an atmosphere in which the partial pressure of oxygen has been reduced by an amount effective to provide an improvement in storage stability until a free-flowing, storage-stage product is obtained, or prior to saponification, the fatty acid glycerides may blended with a stabilizing oil that promotes storage stability, or both. Storage stable metal salts of unsaturated fatty acids prepared by the inventive methods are also disclosed.
US07820824B2 Modified carbocyanine dyes and their conjugates
Chemically reactive carbocyanine dyes incorporating an indolium ring moiety that is substituted at the 3-position by a reactive group or by a conjugated substance, and their uses, are described. Conjugation through this position results in spectral properties that are uniformly superior to those of conjugates of spectrally similar dyes wherein attachment is at a different position. The invention includes derivative compounds having one or more benzo nitrogens.
US07820806B2 Methods for producing soluble membrane spanning proteins
Methods for producing membrane-spanning polypeptides in high yields, with native conformation, and/or in soluble form include solubilizing in non-ionic or zwitterionic detergents, as well as use of promoters and expression vectors for expressing high yields of membrane-spanning polypeptides in bacterial cells. Mutated promoters provide tight control of membrane-spanning polypeptides in bacterial cell hosts.
US07820804B2 Fluoroglycoside derivatives of pyrazoles, medicaments containing these compounds, and the use thereof
The invention relates to substituted fluoroglycoside derivatives of pyrazoles of formula (I) as further defined in the specification, to the physiologically compatible salts thereof, to a method for their production, and to their use as antidiabetics.
US07820801B2 Highly purified proteinase K
A method for producing solid proteinase K which is insoluble in water and has high purity, the method comprising the steps of adding to an aqueous solution of proteinase K ammonium sulfate in an amount of 0.1 to 0.2 M per 5 minutes up to a final amount of 1.5 to 2 M after 1 hour, thereby precipitating the proteinase K as a solid, and isolating the solid proteinase K.
US07820794B2 Long-lasting collagen and manufacturing method thereof
In a long-lasting collagen and its manufacturing method, a pig skin is gone through processes of scraping extra tissues, removing fats, imbibition, digesting, centrifugal separation, salting-out, collecting lower-layer precipitate and freeze-drying to form a collagen, and the collagen is mixed with γ-PGA, and then a glutaraldehyde solution is added and mixed uniformly to perform a first crosslinking and form the long-lasting collagen, so as to overcome the shortcomings of a conventional collagen having a short storage time, a requirement of applying the collagen repeatedly, and a high concentration of remained glutaradldehyde which is biologically poisonous to human bodies.
US07820792B2 CDNA encoding the human α2 δ4 calcium channel subunit
The present invention provides nucleic acid and polypeptide sequences describing an isoform of the α2δ-4 subunit of a voltage gated calcium channel. The nucleic acids described herein can be used to produce functional α2δ-4 protein. The calcium channel α2δ-4 protein may be isolated for the purposes of binding experiments or may be used in cells to form a functional calcium channel complex.
US07820774B2 Ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer composition
The present invention provides an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer composition having a high melt flowability while maintaining satisfactory mechanical properties in the obtainable molded product are maintained. The ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer composition (C) has a melt viscosity of from 80 to 500 Pa·s, preferably from 100 to 300 Pa·s and a tensile elongation of from 200 to 500%, preferably from 350 to 450%. The copolymer composition (C) is may be obtained by melt kneading an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (A) having a low melt viscosity of from 60 to 400 Pa·s, preferably from 80 to 300 Pa·s and an ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene copolymer (B) having a melt viscosity higher than this i.e. from 600 to 10,000 Pa·s, preferably from 1,000 to 7,000 Pa·s in a mass ratio of (A)/(B)=50/50 to 99/1, preferably (A)/(B)=60/40 to 97/3.
US07820769B2 Polymer for use in conduits, medical devices and biomedical surface modification
A copolymer comprising (a) one or more pendant group segments and (b) one or more polyol segments, each of said segments being linked to one or more further segments which may be the same or different,wherein said one or more pendant group segments are the same or different and are selected from: (i) siloxane segments; (ii) segments containing phosphoryl choline or a derivative or analogue thereof; (iii) segments containing a di- or trifluoromethyl group; (iv) heparin-like segments containing a group of formula (XII) D-N═N—Ar—SO3−  (XII) wherein D is an aliphatic or aromatic group and Ar—SO3− comprises one or more linked aryl and/or heteroaryl groups, at least one of the aryl and/or heteroaryl groups having an SO3− substituent; and (v) segments containing a group of formula (I) [P]n′-[Lys]n-Lys-[Spacer]-Lys-[Al]x  (I) wherein: [Al] is an inert amino acid; x is 0, 1, 2 or 3; [Spacer] is a fatty acid, amino acid, peptide or PEG; [P]n′-[Lys]n is a dendritic structure formed from n lysine groups and terminating in n′ groups P; n is an integer of from 1 to 15; n′ is zero or an integer of up to 16; and each P is the same or different and is an amino acid or a peptide having up to 25 amino acids, and wherein at least a part of each of said pendant group segment(s) is on a side chain of the copolymer. The copolymer is useful in the production of implantable devices such as vascular grafts.
US07820766B2 Branched acetylene-containing poly(alkylene oxides, oxyethylated polyols or olefinic alcohols)
The invention provides water-soluble compounds that include a polymer and at least one terminal azide or acetylene moiety. Also provided are highly efficient methods for the selective modification of proteins with PEG derivatives, which involves the selective incorporation of non-genetically encoded amino acids, e.g., those amino acids containing an azide or acetylene moiety, into proteins in response to a selector codon and the subsequent modification of those amino acids with a suitably reactive PEG derivative.
US07820758B1 Polymeric glycerin surfactants
The invention discloses a series of glycerin/succinate/alkyl succinate polyesters. These materials are high foaming detergents useful in the formulation of biodegradable, polyoxyalkylene free, cosmetic and personal care products.
US07820756B2 Polymeric composition suitable for manufacturing heat sealable films or sheets
A polymeric composition suitable for manufacturing heat sealable films or sheets comprising, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to the extent of about 80% to 95% by mass of the total composition; a polymer additive for lowering the melting point of the composition selected from Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN), Polytrimethylene Naphthalate (PTN), in-situ formed Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN) and in situ formed Polytrimethylene Naphthalate (PTN) to the extent of about 20% to 5% by mass of the total composition; a nucleating agent to the extent of about 200 to 1500 ppm by mass of the composition; a polycondensation catalyst to the extent of about 30 to 300 ppm by mass of the composition; a clear fast reheat (CFRH) additive to the extent of about 10 to 30 ppm by mass of the composition; a color toner to the extent of about 0.75 to 25 ppm by mass of the composition; and a heat stabilizer to the extent of about 20 to 55 ppm by mass of the composition.
US07820754B2 Aqueous polymer dispersion for barrier coating
The invention relates to an aqueous polymer dispersion which can be obtained from a mixture of monomers comprising, in parts by weight: a) 100 of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer not comprising an ionic group, b) 0.5 to 15 of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer carrying at least one carboxyl and/or carboxylic anhydride functional group, c) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer carrying at least one second functionality selected from: phosphate, phosphonate or phosphinate, in an amount such that the ratio c/(b+c) varies from 0.05 to 0.4, d) 0 to 2 of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer carrying at least one alkoxysilane functional group, e) 0 to 5 of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer additionally carrying at least one active carbonyl functional group or an other aldhehyde-reactive functional group, such as an ureido derivative, or morpholine, imidazoline, oxazolidine, aziridine, or an aldhehyde-reactive amine function, f) 0 to 10, preferably 2 to 8, of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer carrying at least one functional group selected from hydroxyl and primary or secondary amine. The invention also relates to a preparation process, to a coating composition comprising the said dispersion and to a method of use in coatings for metal or plastic substrates, in particular corrosion-inhibiting coatings for metal substrates.
US07820743B2 Process for preparing bitumen/asphalt bale
A process for preparing bitumen bale for clean, safe, eco-friendly and cost-effective packing, storing and transporting of viscous bitumen products and the products thereof is delineated in the present disclosure. The bituminous products are introduced into a baling process line. The cooling efficiency is enhanced by utilizing the process. Viscous bitumen products are made in the form of spiral bitumen bale. “BituBale Film capsules” are produced by the process. Polymer additives are added to bitumen/asphalt, by the process, to enhance the durability and to get good gripping surfaces. The process enhances the homogenous nature of the products. The process for preparing bitumen bale for clean, safe, eco-friendly and cost-effective packing, storing and transporting of viscous bitumen products is a clean, safe, environmentally friendly and cost effective method.
US07820742B2 Adhesive exhibiting maximum melt viscosity of 10,000 Pa s at 40 to 80 degrees C
Provided is an adhesive composition, which exhibits a melt viscosity at 40 to 80° C. of not more than 10,000 Pa·s, and which after heating for a period of 1 minute to 2 hours at a temperature within a range from 80° C. to (T+50)° C., exhibits a melt viscosity at a temperature of 100° C. to (T+30)° C. that is within a range from 100 to 10,000 Pa·s (wherein, T represents the curing start temperature for the composition). The adhesive composition is capable of forming a cured product that exhibits excellent filling of substrates with finely patterned circuits, excellent lamination performance at low temperatures, a low elastic modulus, and excellent levels of adhesion and heat resistance. The adhesive composition is useful for providing an adhesive film and for producing a semiconductor device.
US07820739B2 Modified asphalt binders and asphalt paving compositions
A method for forming a modified asphalt binder composition, the method comprising preparing a phosphorus pentasulfide-binder concentrate by introducing and mixing phosphorus pentasulfide and asphalt binder, where the phosphorus pentasulfide-binder concentrate includes greater than 0.5 parts by weight phosphorus pentasulfide per 100 parts by weight asphalt, preparing a polymer-binder concentrate by introducing and mixing polymer and asphalt binder, where the polymer-binder concentrate includes greater than 5 parts by weight polymer per 100 parts by weight asphalt, and introducing and mixing the phosphorus pentasulfide-binder concentrate with the polymer-binder concentrate to form a modified asphalt binder composition, where the phosphorus pentasulfide includes a blend of P4S10 and P4S9.
US07820725B2 Integrated microchannel synthesis and separation
A process for carrying out at least two unit operations in series, the process comprising the step of: (a) directing a feed stream into an integrated assembly which comprises a first microchannel unit operation upon at least one chemical of the feed stream to generate a distributed output stream that exits the first microchannel unit operation in a first set of discrete microchannels isolating flow through the discrete microchannels; and (b) directing the distributed output stream of the first microchannel unit operation into a second microchannel unit operation as a distributed input stream, to continue isolating flow between the first set of discrete microchannels, and conducting at least one operation upon at least one chemical of the input stream to generate a product stream that exits the second microchannel unit operation, where the first microchannel unit operation and the second unit operation share a housing.
US07820722B2 Permeation enhancers
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a drug and a permeation enhancer that comprises a multi-carbon backbone having a functional group and also one or more side chains which have one or more carbon atoms and, optionally, one or more functional groups.
US07820721B2 Compounds for the treatment of metabolic disorders
Agents useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are disclosed. wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; q is 0 or 1; t is 0 or 1; R1 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; one of R3 and R4 is hydrogen or hydroxy and the other is hydrogen; or R3 and R4 together are ═O; R5 is hydrogen or alkyl having one, two, three, four or five carbon atoms; A is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 groups selected from: halo, hydroxy, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy; or cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms wherein the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or one or two ring carbons are independently mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl; or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring having 1 or 2 ring heteroatoms selected from N, S and O and the heteroaromatic ring is covalently bound to the remainder of the compound of formula I by a ring carbon. Alternatively, the. agent can be a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of Formula I.
US07820711B2 Uses of selective inhibitors of HDAC8 for treatment of T-cell proliferative disorders
Described herein are methods for treating a subject suffering from a T-cell lymphoma by administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition containing a therapeutically effective amount of a selective inhibitor of histone deacetylase 8. Also described herein are methods for treating a subject suffering from a T-cell lymphoma by administering to the subject a population of autologous T-cells that have been exposed to a selective HDAC8 inhibitor composition ex vivo.
US07820708B2 Carboxamides
Novel carboxamides of the formula (I) The present application also relates to a plurality of processes for preparing these compounds and their use for controlling unwanted microorganisms, and also novel intermediates and their preparation.
US07820707B2 Heterocyclic derivatives
The present invention relates to a heterocyclic derivative according to formula I wherein the variables are defined as in the specification, or to a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof. The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said heterocyclic derivatives and to their use in therapy, for instance in the treatment or prevention of psychiatric diseases where an enhancement of synaptic responses mediated by AMPA receptors is required, including schizophrenia, depression and Alzheimer's disease.
US07820699B2 Cyclic amines
The invention is concerned with cyclic amines of formula (I) wherein X1 to X3, Y1 to Y3, R1′, R1″ and n are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as physiologically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds inhibit coagulation factor Xa and can be used as medicaments and for treating diseases associated with coagulation factor Xa.
US07820689B2 Methods and compositions for preventing or treating cardiovascular disease
The present invention relates to a method for preventing or treating a cardiovascular disease.
US07820687B2 Pyrimidinyl sulfonamide compounds which inhibit leukocyte adhesion mediated by VLA-4
Disclosed are compounds, which bind VLA-4. Certain of these compounds also inhibit leukocyte adhesion and, in particular, leukocyte adhesion mediated by VLA-4. Such compounds are useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases in a human or animal subject such as asthma, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, AIDS dementia, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, tissue transplantation, tumor metastasis and myocardial ischemia. The compounds can also be administered for the treatment of inflammatory brain diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
US07820681B1 Methods for concomitant administration of colchicine and a second active agent
Methods for concomitant administration of colchicine together with one or more second active agents, e.g., ketoconazole and ritonavir, are disclosed. Such methods reduce the dangers commonly associated with such concomitant administration and provide additional benefits. Methods of notifying health care practitioners and patients regarding appropriate dosing for concomitant administration of colchicine together with second active agents are also provided.
US07820680B2 HIV integrase inhibitors
Bicyclic uracils and related compounds are inhibitors of HIV integrase and inhibitors of HIV replication. In one embodiment, the compounds are of Formula I: wherein a, b, Y, R1, R2, R3 and R4 are defined herein. The compounds are useful in the prevention and treatment of infection by HIV and in the prevention, delay in the onset, and treatment of AIDS. The compounds are employed against HIV infection and AIDS as compounds per se or in the form of pharmaceutically acceptable salts. The compounds and their salts can be employed as ingredients in pharmaceutical compositions, optionally in combination with other antivirals, immunomodulators, antibiotics or vaccines.
US07820677B2 Phosphoric acid addition salt of (2R)-1-[3-(2-{[2-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)-3-pyridinyl]oxy}-ethoxy)-2-pyrazinyl]-2-methylpiperazine
Stable acid addition salts of certain 2,3-disubstituted pyrazine compounds that are selective for the 5-HT2c receptor and therapeutically active in the central nervous system are described.
US07820675B2 Benzofuran compounds
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein P, R3, W1, and W2 are as described herein, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, to processes for their preparation, as well as to the use of the compounds for the preparation of a medicament against 5-HT6 receptor-related disorders.
US07820673B2 Urea derivative, process for producing the same, and use
The present invention provides a urea derivative or a salt thereof, which is useful as a therapeutic agent for thrombosis. The derivative is represented by Formula (I): wherein Cy is an aromatic hydrocarbon group which may be substituted or an aromatic heterocyclic group which may be substituted; R1 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted; V is —C(O)—, —S(O)—, or —S(O)2—; W is —N(R2)—, —O—, or a bond (wherein R2 is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group which may be substituted); X is alkylene which may be substituted; Y is —C(O)—, —S(O)—, or —S(O)2—; Z is a bond, a chain hydrocarbon group which may be substituted, or —N═; ring A is a non-aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring which may be substituted; ring B is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring which may be substituted; and [Chemical formula 2] , are each independently a single bond or a double bond; provided that R1 may be bonded to R2 to form a non-aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring and that R2 may be bonded to a substituent of X to form a non-aromatic nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring which may be substituted.
US07820671B2 Peptidomimetic protease inhibitors
The present invention relates to peptidomimetic compounds useful as protease inhibitors, particularly as serine protease inhibitors and more particularly as hepatitis C NS3 protease inhibitors; intermediates thereto; their preparation including novel steroselective processes to intermediates. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions and to methods for using the compounds for inhibiting HCV protease or treating a patient suffering from an HCV infection or physiological condition related to the infection. Also provided are pharmaceutical combinations comprising, in addition to one or more HCV serine protease inhibitors, one or more interferons exhibiting anti-HCV activity and/or one or more compounds having anti HCV activity and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and methods for treating or preventing a HCV infection in a patient using the compositions. The present invention is also directed to a kit or pharmaceutical pack for treating or preventing HCV infection in a patient.
US07820669B2 2-(piperidin-4-yl)-4,5-dihydro-2H-pyridazin-3-one derivatives as PDE4 inhibitors
The compounds of a certain formula (1), in which R1, R2, R3 and R9 have the meanings as given in the description, are novel effective PDE4 inhibitors.
US07820659B2 Cyclohexylimidiazole lactam derivatives as inhibitors of 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1
The present invention discloses novel compounds of Formula I: (I) having 11β-HSD type 1 antagonist activity, as well as methods for preparing such compounds. In another embodiment, the invention discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I, as well as methods of using the compounds and compositions to treat diabetes, hyperglycemia, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and other conditions associated with 11β-HSD type 1 activity.
US07820644B2 Substituted porphyrins
The present invention relates, in general, to a method of modulating physiological and pathological processes and, in particular, to a method of modulating cellular levels of oxidants and thereby processes in which such oxidants are a participant. The invention also relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such methods.
US07820643B2 Methods of treating fibromyalgia syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome and pain
The present invention provides a method of treating fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and pain in an animal subject. The method generally involves administering a therapeutically effective amount of a dual serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein said dual serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor compound is characterized by a non-tricyclic structure and an equal or greater inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake than serotonin reuptake. In particular, the use of milnacipran to treat FMS, CFS, and pain is disclosed.
US07820642B2 Nandrolone 17β-carbonates
Disclosed are compounds of the formula (I) wherein R is C1-C30 alkyl, which may be optionally further substituted with one or more of C5-C8 cycloalkyl groups, or a C5-C12 cycloalkyl, which may be optionally substituted with one or more C1-C30 alkyl groups, R′ is hydrogen or lower alkyl, R″ is a C1-C30 alkyl or halo, and the bond between C14 and C15 can be a single bond or double bond. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods of use thereof. These compounds can find use in treating a number of diseases or conditions such as hypogonadism, osteoporosis, and anemia, in providing hormonal therapy and contraception, as an anabolic agent, and in suppressing the release of hormones such as the luteinizing hormone.
US07820630B2 Substituted indole-O-glucosides
Substituted indole-O-glucosides, compositions containing them, and methods of using them, for example for the treatment of diabetes and Syndrome X are disclosed.
US07820627B2 Lipid A and other carbohydrate ligand analogs
The core structure of pentaerythritol has been used as a replacement for one or both sugars in lipid A, leading to the generation of a series of lipid A analogs. These lipid A analogs may further differ from lipid A with respect to, e.g., the number, nature and location of negatively charged groups, and the number, nature and location of the lipid chains. The lipid A analogs may be lipid A agonists useful as immunostimulatory agents, or lipid A antagonists useful in the treatment of septic shock. In a like manner, a residue of pentaerythritylamine may be used as a replacement for an amino sugar residue in a carbohydrate ligand having a biological activity of interest, generating a series of ligand analogs. These are useful, e.g., as haptens, inhibitors of bacterial-host cell adhesion, etc.
US07820625B2 UV-induced dermatitis inhibitor and atopic dermatitis inhibitor
At least one substance selected from the group consisting of a water-soluble peptide comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of an isoleucylglycylseryl unit, a prolylisoleucylglycylseryl [SEQ ID NO: 2] unit, a glycylprolylisoleucylglycylseryl [SEQ ID NO: 6] unit, a glycylprolylisoleucylglycylthreonyl [SEQ ID NO: 7] unit, a prolylisoleucylglycyl unit and a glycylprolylisoleucylglycyl [SEQ ID NO: 1] unit and a water-soluble salt thereof can be used as an UV-induced dermatitis inhibitor or atopic dermatitis inhibitor.
US07820619B1 Antimicrobial peptides and derived metapeptides
The peptides and derivative metapeptides based upon natural antimicrobial peptides have potent and broad spectrum activity against pathogens exhibiting multiple antibiotic resistance. Specific peptides can also potentiate the antimicrobial functions of leukocytes, such as neutrophils. In addition, they exhibit lower inherent mammalian cell toxicities than conventional antimicrobial peptides, and overcome problems of toxicity, immunogenicity, and shortness of duration of effectiveness due to biodegradation, retaining activity in plasma and serum. The peptides and derivative metapeptides exhibit rapid microbicidal activities in vitro, can be used to potentiate conventional antimicrobial agents, to potentiate other antimicrobial peptides, and are active against many organisms that exhibit resistance to multiple antibiotics currently in existence.
US07820613B2 Powder soap composition
A powder soap composition that contains a powder soap made of a fatty acid alkali metal salt. The fatty acid alkali metal salt of the composition contains an alkali metal salt of a saturated fatty acid having 12 to 16 carbon atoms as a main component. The mean particle size of the powder soap is 50 to 500 μm, and the water content of the composition is 3 wt % or less.
US07820612B2 Laundry detergent containing methyl ester sulfonate
Laundry detergent compositions containing from about 6% to about 35% of a surfactant component; wherein the surfactant component comprises: from about 0.5 to about 15%, by weight of the composition, of an MES blend having an average level of disalt of from about 8% to about 50%, wherein said MES blend comprises C16 MES; and wherein a ratio of C16 MES to surfactant component is less than about 0.3.
US07820608B2 Methods of cleansing dyed hair
Provided are methods of cleansing dyed hair comprising applying to dyed hair a composition comprising anionic surfactant and a hydrophobically-modified polymer capable of binding surfactant thereto.
US07820606B2 Lubricant for sewing machines
A lubricant for sewing machines to be supplied to lubricate a movable part of a sewing machine is formed by using, as main components, a plurality of kinds of synthetic esters combined to have consistency within a range of grade 2 to grade 000 (defined by the NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute)) under a temperature of 25° C., and a melting point within a range of 70° C. to 150° C.
US07820602B2 Amine tungstates and lubricant compositions
This invention relates to lubricating oil additives, and to lubricating oil compositions, their method of preparation, and use. More specifically, this invention relates to several novel lubricating oil additives and compositions which contain a tungsten compound and an antioxidant, namely aminic antioxidants such as a secondary diarylamine or an alkylated phenothiazine. The use of the tungsten compound with the secondary diarylamine and/or the alkylated phenothiazine provides improved oxidation and deposit control to lubricating oil compositions. The lubricating oil compositions of this invention are particularly useful as crankcase and transmission lubricants, gear oils and other high performance lubricant applications.
US07820598B2 Solid lubricant sticks having a two part formulation
A solid lubricant and composition useful for lubricating the flanges of locomotive wheels, railcar wheels, rail track and in applications where it is desirable to reduce friction when metal contacts metal. The solid lubricant having from about twenty-five percent to about seventy percent by volume of a polymeric carrier, about five to seventy-five percent by volume of organic and inorganic extreme pressure additives, about zero to twenty percent by volume synthetic extreme pressure anti-wear liquid oil, and about zero to one percent by volume optical brightener.
US07820592B2 Composition and devices for gas sorption and process for their manufacturing
Compositions and devices for gas sorption are provided that can be activated just before their use, which hence do not need storing under inert atmosphere during storage and transportation.
US07820590B2 Method for preparing vanadium/titania-based catalyst for removing nitrogen oxide at low temperature
Disclosed is a method of preparing a vanadium/titania-based catalyst containing non-stoichiometric vanadium and titanium having excellent ability to remove nitrogen oxides at a wide temperature window, particularly, at a relatively low temperature window of 300° C. or lower.
US07820588B2 Carbon monoxide catalyst
The invention relates to a catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) at low temperatures, which is a catalytically active composition based on platinum and cobalt. The catalyst can be used in the removal of CO from hydrogen-rich gas for fuel cell technology in order to avoid poisoning the electrodes with CO. Further fields of application relate to the automobile sector, and in particular, to the effective removal of CO during cold starting of a diesel or petrol engine and also to air purification systems for quality control of air in interior spaces, e.g., the removal of CO in a tunnel, an underground railway, multi-story car parks or submarines.
US07820585B2 Metal cluster-carrying metal oxide support and process for production thereof
The present invention provides a metal cluster-carrying metal oxide support wherein a metal cluster obtained by use of a dendrimer is prevented from migrating to the surface of support and being sintered, and a process for production thereof. The process for producing the metal cluster-carrying metal oxide support of the present invention comprises (a) coordinating a first metal ion to a dendrimer 10, (b) reducing the first metal ion coordinated to the dendrimer to precipitate a cluster 6a of the first metal in the dendrimer, (c) further coordinating a second metal ion 8 to the dendrimer, and (d) drying and firing the solution containing this dendrimer on a metal oxide support 9, wherein the oxide of the second metal is the same as the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide support, or a metal oxide capable of forming a composite oxide with the metal oxide constituting the metal oxide support. In the metal cluster-carrying metal oxide support of the present invention, the cluster 6a of the first metal is held by the oxide of the second metal 8 on the metal oxide support 9.
US07820581B2 Methods of preparation of an olefin oligomerization catalyst
A method of making a catalyst for use in oligomerizing an olefin comprising a chromium-containing compound, a pyrrole-containing compound, a metal alkyl, a halide-containing compound, and optionally a solvent, the method comprising contacting a composition comprising the chromium-containing compound and a composition comprising the metal alkyl, wherein the composition comprising the chromium-containing compound is added to the composition comprising the metal alkyl.
US07820577B2 Biomedical member and method for producing the same
A biomedical member having high strength, high toughness and high hardness and an artificial joint that uses the same are provided. In addition, a biomedical member that exhibits high wear resistance even in in vivo environment and an artificial joint are provided.Such a composite ceramic is used that contains 65% by weight or more Al2O3, 4 to 34% by weight of ZrO2 and 0.1 to 4% by weight of SrO, while Sr forms a solid solution with part of the ZrO2 grains. The composite ceramics further contains TiO2, MgO and SiO2 as sintering additives, while controlling the amounts to 0.20% by weight or more SiO2, 0.22% by weight or more TiO2 and 0.12% by weight or more MgO, and the total amount of SiO2, TiO2 and MgO within a range from 0.6 to 4.5% by weight.
US07820575B2 Near infrared absorbent green glass composition, and laminated glass using the same
The present invention provides a near-infrared absorbent green glass composition which contains basic glass components and 0.6 to 1.3% total iron oxide amount in terms of Fe2O3 (T-Fe2O3), 0 to 2.0% CeO2 and, 300 ppm or less MnO expressed in units of mass and wherein a mass ratio (FeO ratio) of FeO converted into Fe2O3 relative to the T-Fe2O3 is from 0.21 to 0.35. Further the glass composition satisfies at least one of the following a) and b):a) when the glass composition is formed to have a thickness in the range of 1.3 to 2.4 mm, a visible light transmittance is at least 80%, a total solar energy transmittance is 62% or less, a dominant wavelength is from 500 to 540 nm, and an integrated value obtained by integrating transmittance of every 1 nm in the wavelength from 1100 to 2200 nm is 62000 or less; b) when the glass composition is formed to have a thickness in the range of 3 to 5 mm, a visible light transmittance is at least 70%, a total solar energy transmittance is 45% or less, a dominant wavelength is from 495 to 540 nm, and an integrated value obtained as above is 62000 or less.
US07820573B2 Low porosity facings for acoustic applications
A fibrous blanket material is provided having a first fibrous layer selected from a group of fibers consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, fiberglass, natural fibers, nylon, rayon and blends thereof and a layer of meltblown polypropylene fibers. In an alternative embodiment the blanket may also include a second fibrous layer made of the same material as the first layer where the layer of meltblown polypropylene fibers is sandwiched between the two fibrous layers.
US07820572B2 Garments comprising a flexible high thermal performance outer shell fabric of polybenzimidazole and polypyridobisimidazole fibers
This invention concerns a flame-resistant garment having an outer shell fabric comprising 5 to 50 parts by weight of a polypyridobisimidazole fiber having an inherent viscosity of greater than 20 dl/g and 50 to 95 parts by weight of polybenzimidazole fiber.
US07820571B2 Woven or knitted fabric exhibiting reversibly changeable air permeability
A multi-layer woven or knitted fabric exhibiting reversibly changeable air permeability, which contains reversibly crimping cellulose acetate fibers exhibiting a percentage of crimp of less than 10% at a humidity of 95% or above and a percentage of crimp of 20% or above at a humidity of 45% or below and which has a basis weight of 100 to 350 g/m2. When water content of the fabric is enhanced by the absorption of water or moisture, the air permeability of the fabric increases to inhibit in-clothes stuffiness or stickiness due to sweat and in-clothes temperature rise, while when the fabric has discharged the water into the outside environment, the air permeability of the fabric decreases to the original one to prevent the body temperature from lowering excessively because of the heat of vaporization and thus keep the in-clothes environment comfortable.
US07820567B2 Fabrics made from a blend of polypyridobisimidazole/flame-retardant treated cellulose fibers and articles made therefrom
The invention concerns flame retardant fabrics made from mixtures of polypyridobisimidazole fibers with cellulose fibers that have been treated to make them flame retardant and articles made therefrom.
US07820565B2 Densely woven quasi-unidirectional fabric for ballistic applications
A fabric including a first layer of high-performance unidirectional yarns and a second layer of high-performance unidirectional yarns disposed transversely to the first layer. The fabric also includes warp and fill encapsulating yarns woven around the unidirectional yarns to substantially stabilize the unidirectional yarns. The encapsulating yarns have tenacities and tensile moduli substantially less than the tenacities and tensile moduli of the unidirectional yarns. The fabric has a cover factor between approximately 0.75 and approximately 1.50.
US07820562B2 Structure made from a thermoplastic composition of a polyolefin functionalised by polyether grafts and use thereof
The present invention relates to a structure comprising a substrate and at least one first layer applied to the substrate and made of a thermoplastic composition comprising at least one functionalized polyolefin obtained either by copolymerization or by grafting of a polyolefin backbone with an unsaturated monomer comprising an anhydride, acid or epoxide function, said functionalized polyolefin being grafted with polyether units comprising a terminal amine, by means of reactive extrusion, as a breathable waterproof material having a water vapor permeability of at least 300 g/m2 24 h−1 measured according to the standard ASTM E96, method BW (38° C./50% relative humidity), for a film of 25 μm.It also relates to the use of such a composition as a breathable waterproof material having a water vapor permeability of at least 300 g/m2 24 h−1 (measured according to the standard ASTM E96, method BW 38° C./50% relative humidity), for a film of 25 μm.
US07820556B2 Method for purifying acetylene gas for use in semiconductor processes
Acetylene is treated to remove some residual storage solvent that may be present with the acetylene in a source of acetylene such as a container. Such treatment may be performed prior to supplying the acetylene to a deposition chamber or other reactor where acetylene is a reactant. After treatment, the acetylene gas stream has a relatively constant concentration of storage solvent, regardless of how much acetylene has been released from the acetylene source. The treatment may involve condensing the storage solvent from the gas stream at a certain temperature and separating the storage solvent from the gas stream.
US07820555B2 Method of patterning multilayer metal gate structures for CMOS devices
A method of forming patterning multilayer metal gate structures for complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices includes performing a first etch process to remove exposed portions of a polysilicon layer included within a gate stack, the polysilicon layer formed on a metal layer also included within the gate stack; oxidizing an exposed top portion of the metal layer following the first etch process so as to create an metal oxide layer having an etch selectivity with respect to the polysilicon layer; removing the metal oxide layer through a combination of a physical ion bombardment thereof, and the introduction of an isotropic chemical component thereto so as to prevent oxide material at bottom corners of the polysilicon layer; and performing a second etch process to remove exposed portions of the metal layer.
US07820549B2 Layered semiconductor wafer with low warp and bow, and process for producing it
Semiconductor wafers with a diameter of at least 200 mm comprise a silicon carrier wafer, an electrically insulating layer and a semiconductor layer located thereon, the semiconductor wafer having been produced by means of a layer transfer process comprising at least one RTA step, wherein the semiconductor wafer has a warp of less than 30 μm, a DeltaWarp of less than 30 μm, a bow of less than 10 μm and a DeltaBow of less than 10 μm. Processes for the production of a semiconductor wafer of this type require specific heat treatment regimens.
US07820547B2 Flash memory device with word lines of uniform width and method for manufacturing thereof
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method including: forming a bit line in a semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of word lines which intersect with the bit line at predetermined intervals on the semiconductor substrate; eliminating a portion of the plurality of word lines; forming an interlayer insulating film on the semiconductor substrate; and forming a metal plug which penetrates through the interlayer insulating film and is coupled to the bit line in a region where the portion of the plurality of word lines was eliminated.
US07820539B2 Method for separately optimizing spacer width for two transistor groups using a recess spacer etch (RSE) integration
A method for making a semiconductor device is provided. In accordance with the method, a semiconductor structure is provided which comprises (a) a substrate (203), (b) first (219) and second (220) gate electrodes disposed over the substrate, and (c) first (223) and second (225) sets of spacer structures disposed adjacent to said first and second gate electrodes, respectively. A first layer of photoresist (231) is disposed over the structure such that the first set of spacer structures is exposed and the second set of spacer structures is covered. The structure is then subjected to an etch which etches the first layer of photoresist and a portion of the first and second sets of spacer structures.
US07820531B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, method of manufacturing display apparatus, apparatus of manufacturing semiconductor device, and display apparatus
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: modifying a semiconductor film by applying a laser beam; and forming a semiconductor device on the modified semiconductor film. In the step of modifying the semiconductor film, the laser beam and the substrate are moved relative to each other in a first direction and a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, a change in an optical characteristic between an area irradiated with the laser beam and an area which is not irradiated with the laser beam in the substrate or an optical characteristic of the irradiated area is measured in each of the first and second directions, and irradiation power of the laser beam is modulated so that the difference between a measurement result in the first direction and a measurement result in the second direction lies in a predetermined range.
US07820529B2 Method for manufacturing integrated circuit
A method for separating an integrated circuit formed by a thin film having a novel structure or a method for transferring the integrated circuit to another substrate, that is, so-called transposing method, has not been proposed. According to the present invention, in the case that an integrated circuit having a thin film having a novel structure formed over a substrate via a release layer is separated, the release layer is removed in the state that the thin film integrated circuit is fixated, the thin film integrated circuit is transposed to a supporting substrate having an adhesion surface, and the thin film integrated circuit is transposed to another substrate having an adhesion surface with higher strength of adhesion than that of the supporting substrate.
US07820528B2 Method of forming a leaded molded array package
In one embodiment, a method for forming a leaded molded array package includes placing a lead frame assembly into a molding apparatus having lead cavities. The method further includes forming seals between conductive leads within the lead frame assembly and the lead cavities, and encapsulating the lead frame assembly to form a molded array assembly. The molded array assembly is then separated into individual leaded molded packages.
US07820527B2 Cleave initiation using varying ion implant dose
An approach for providing a cleave initiation using a varying ion implant dose is described. In one embodiment, there is a method of forming a substrate. In this embodiment, a semiconductor material is provided and implanted with a spatially varying dose of one or more ion species. A handler substrate is attached to the implanted semiconductor material. A cleave of the implanted semiconductor material is initiated from the handler substrate at a preferential location that is a function of a dose gradient that develops from the spatially varying dose of one or more ion species implanted into the semiconductor material.
US07820525B2 Method for manufacturing hybrid image sensors
A method for wafer-to-wafer bonding of a sensor readout circuitry separately fabricated with a silicon substrate to a photodiode device made of non-silicon materials grown from a separate substrate. In preferred embodiments the non-silicon materials are epitaxially grown on a silicon wafer. The bonding technique of preferred embodiments of the present invention utilizes lithographically pre-fabricated metallic interconnects to connect each of a number of pixel circuits on a readout circuit wafer to each of a corresponding number of pixel photodiodes on a photodiode wafer. The metallic interconnects are extremely small (with widths of about 2 to 4 microns) compared to prior art bump bonds with the solder balls of diameter typically larger than 20 microns. The present invention also provides alignment techniques to assure proper alignment of the interconnects during the bonding step.
US07820521B2 Conductive through via structure and process for electronic device carriers
Conductive through vias are formed in electronic devices and electronic device carrier, such as, a silicon chip carrier. An annulus cavity is etched into the silicon carrier from the top side of the carrier and the cavity is filled with insulating material to form an isolation collar around a silicon core region. An insulating layer with at least one wiring level, having a portion in contact with the silicon core region, is formed on the top side of the carrier. Silicon is removed from the back side of the carrier sufficient to expose the distal portion of the isolation collar. The core region is etched out to expose the portion of the wiring level in contact with the silicon core region to form an empty via. The via is filled with conductive material in contact with the exposed portion of the wiring level to form a conductive through via to the wiring level. A solder bump formed, for example, from low melt C4 solder, is formed on the conductive via exposed on the carrier back side. The process acts to make the conductive via fill step independent of the via isolation step.
US07820513B2 Nonplanar semiconductor device with partially or fully wrapped around gate electrode and methods of fabrication
A nonplanar semiconductor device and its method of fabrication is described. The nonplanar semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a top surface opposite a bottom surface formed above an insulating substrate wherein the semiconductor body has a pair laterally opposite sidewalls. A gate dielectric is formed on the top surface of the semiconductor body on the laterally opposite sidewalls of the semiconductor body and on at least a portion of the bottom surface of semiconductor body. A gate electrode is formed on the gate dielectric, on the top surface of the semiconductor body and adjacent to the gate dielectric on the laterally opposite sidewalls of semiconductor body and beneath the gate dielectric on the bottom surface of the semiconductor body. A pair source/drain regions are formed in the semiconductor body on opposite sides of the gate electrode.
US07820512B2 Spacer patterned augmentation of tri-gate transistor gate length
In general, in one aspect, a method includes forming a semiconductor substrate having N-diffusion and P-diffusion regions. A gate stack is formed over the semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode hard mask is formed over the gate stack. The gate electrode hard mask is augmented around pass gate transistors with a spacer material. The gate stack is etched using the augmented gate electrode hard mask to form the gate electrodes. The gate electrodes around the pass gate have a greater length than other gate electrodes.
US07820507B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes: an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer formed on a semiconductor substrate; a contact plug formed in the ILD layer, such that a predetermined portion of the contact plug protrudes above the ILD layer; an etch stop layer formed on the ILD layer exposing a top portion of the contact plug; and a bottom electrode of a capacitor formed partially in the etch stop layer to be isolated from the ILD layer by the etch stop layer and the contact plug to prevent a direct contact with the ILD layer, and to be partially contacted with the contact plug.
US07820488B2 Microelectronic devices and methods
A microelectronic device is made of a semiconductor substrate, a heat generating component in a layer thereof, and a body within the remaining semiconductor substrate. The body is made of materials which have a high thermal inertia and/or thermal conductivity. When high thermal conductivity materials are used, the body acts to transfer the heat away from the substrate to a heat sink.
US07820487B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes providing an adhesive on a supporting board, the supporting board being where a semiconductor element is to be mounted; providing a member configured to block flow of the adhesive on a first main surface of the semiconductor element, the semiconductor element having a second main surface where an outside connection terminal is provided; mounting the semiconductor element on a part of the supporting board where the adhesive is provided by pressing the semiconductor element via the member.
US07820484B2 Wafer level packaging
Through vias in a substrate are formed by creating a trench in a top side of the substrate and at least one trench in the back side of the substrate. The sum of the depths of the trenches at least equals the height of the substrate. The trenches cross at intersections, which accordingly form the through vias from the top side to the back side. The through vias are filled with a conductor to form contacts on both sides and the edge of the substrate. Contacts on the backside are formed at each of the trench. The through vias from the edge contacts. Traces connect bond pads to the conductor in the through via. Some traces are parallel to the back side traces. Some traces are skew to the back side traces. The substrate is diced to form individual die.
US07820483B2 Injection molded soldering process and arrangement for three-dimensional structures
A method of implementing an injection molded soldering process for three-dimensional structures, particularly, such as directed to three-dimensional semiconductor chip stacking. Also provide is an arrangement for implementing the injection molded soldering (IMS) process. Pursuant to an embodiment of the invention, the joining of the semiconductor chip layers with a substrate is implemented, rather than by means of currently known wire bond stacking, through the intermediary of columns of solder material formed by the IMS process, thereby providing electrical advantages imparted by the flip chip interconnect structures. In this connection, various diversely dimensioned solder column interconnects allow for simple and dependable connections to a substrate by a plurality of superimposed layers or stacked arrays of semiconductor components, such as semiconductor chips. In accordance with a further aspect, it is possible to derive a unique design for an IMS mold structure, which contains cavities for forming the columnar fill of solder, and which also incorporates further cavities acting as cutouts for dies or the positioning of other electronic packages or modules.
US07820481B2 Rotary chip attach process
A rotary chip attach process and manufacturing approach takes chips (e.g., integrated circuits (ICs)) from a wafer in a rotary process. A chip wafer with a positioning unit is placed over the top of a sprocketed wheel that picks the ICs directly from the wafer and moves them in a semi-continuous in-step motion to a web that will accept the ICs. The sprocketed wheel includes chips that are preferably the same type as used in a typical pick-and-place robotic system, with vacuum heads adapted to pierce the wafer flat membrane (if needed), grab and IC and place and IC as desired. This positioning system keeps the IC's placement in an accurate position on the web, which can be made to move continuously with a plurality of sprocketed wheel placement units in place.
US07820480B2 Lead frame routed chip pads for semiconductor packages
A redistributed lead frame for use in a molded plastic semiconductor package (38) is formed from an electrically conductive substrate by a sequential metal removal process. The process includes: (a) patterning a first side of an electrically conductive substrate to form an array of lands separated by channels, (b) disposing a first molding compound (18) within these channels, (c) patterning a second side of the electrically conductive substrate to form an array of chip attach sites (24) and routing circuits (26) electrically interconnecting the array of lands and the array of chip attach sites (24), (d) directly electrically interconnecting input/output pads on the at least one semiconductor device (28) to chip attach site members (24) of the array of chip attach sites (24), and (e) encapsulating the at least one semiconductor device (28), the array of chip attach sites (24) and the routing circuits (26) with a second molding compound (36). This process is particularly suited for the manufacture of chip scale packages and very thin packages.
US07820478B2 Light-emitting device
To provide a light-emitting device which can emit light with high luminance and high efficiency, and is excellent in durability. The light-emitting device includes an organic compound layer containing a phenanthroline compound represented by the general formula [I] and a carbonate.
US07820475B2 Back side contact solar cell structures and fabrication processes
In one embodiment, active diffusion junctions of a solar cell are formed by diffusing dopants from dopant sources selectively deposited on the back side of a wafer. The dopant sources may be selectively deposited using a printing method, for example. Multiple dopant sources may be employed to form active diffusion regions of varying doping levels. For example, three or four active diffusion regions may be fabricated to optimize the silicon/dielectric, silicon/metal, or both interfaces of a solar cell. The front side of the wafer may be textured prior to forming the dopant sources using a texturing process that minimizes removal of wafer material. Openings to allow metal gridlines to be connected to the active diffusion junctions may be formed using a self-aligned contact opening etch process to minimize the effects of misalignments.
US07820474B2 Metal catalyzed selective deposition of materials including germanium and antimony
A chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method for selectively depositing GeSb materials onto a surface of a substrate is provided in which a metal that is capable of forming an eutectic alloy with germanium is used to catalyze the growth of the GeSb materials. A structure is also provided that includes a GeSb material located on preselected regions of a substrate. In accordance with the present invention, the GeSb material is sandwiched between a lower metal layer used to catalyze the growth of the GeSb and an upper surface metal layer that forms during the growth of the GeSb material.
US07820470B2 Manufacturing method of micro-electro-mechanical device
A method of forming a microstructure body and a semiconductor element for controlling the microstructure body over the same substrate to reduce manufacturing cost, for mass-production of micromachines having a microstructure. In manufacturing a micromachine, a sacrifice layer is formed using a mask material for forming a pattern of a film, and removal of the mask in a region for forming a semiconductor element and removal of the sacrifice layer and the mask in a region for forming a microstructure body are performed by the same step. Specifically, a manufacturing method of a micro-electro-mechanical device is provided wherein a sacrifice layer is selectively formed over an insulating substrate, a semiconductor layer is formed to cover the sacrifice layer, a mask is formed over the semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer is etched using the mask, and the mask and the sacrifice layer are removed by the same step.
US07820468B2 Stack type surface acoustic wave package, and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a stack type surface acoustic wave package. The surface acoustic wave package comprises a first bare chip having a plurality of electrodes formed thereon, a second bare chip having a plurality of electrodes and via-holes formed thereon, a connecting portion electrically connecting the first bare chip to an upper surface of the second bare chip such that the electrodes of the first bare chip face the electrodes of the second bare chip, and a sealing member provided on the first and second bare chips to form an air-tight space on an operating surface between the first and second bare chips. The surface acoustic wave package can prevent deformation due to thermal impact from the outside during a packaging process, enhancing reliability of the product, minimizing the size of the product, and reducing manufacturing costs by reducing the number of components and material costs.
US07820444B2 Method for sample identification in a mammal as well as a kit for performing this method
Method as well a kit for the performance of the method for the investigation of biological samples from a mammal for at least one component, wherein the method includes the following steps: (a) Administering at least one marker substance to a mammal; (b) Waiting for a length of time which is sufficient for the at least one marker substance to reach the location of sample removal; (c) Removing a biological sample from the mammal; (d) Investigating the biological sample for the presence and/or amount of at least one marker substance or a derivative thereof; and, if the at least one marker substance or the derivative thereof is detectable in the biological sample; (e) Investigating the biological sample for an analyte.
US07820429B2 Method for dry fermentation and equipment for carrying out the same
The present invention relates to a method for dry fermentation and equipment for carrying out the same. The invention equipment comprises a fermentation tank for dry fermentation which includes a tank body 5 for accommodating materials, a flexible sealing membrane 7 for covering said tank body 5, and a tight fixing means 3 for hermetically covering the tank body 5 with the flexible sealing membrane 7. This invention is characterized in that said tank body 5 is provided with a top opening 2 at its top part and at least one side opening 4 for loading and unloading materials at its side portions. When the tank body 5 is covered hermetically by the flexible sealing membrane 7, said tight fixing means 3 makes the contact area 6 between the tank body 5 and the flexible sealing membrane 7 form at least one sealing contacting strip or at least one sealing line which is continuous and close in three-dimensional space so that the flexible sealing membrane 7 covers hermetically both the top opening 2 and at least one side opening 4 for loading and unloading materials.
US07820428B2 Portable light generation and detection system
A field deployable optical assembly for use in testing a light-responsive sample is disclosed. The assembly includes a microfluidic device, a first optical package, and a second optical package. The first optical package includes a light emitting diode (LED), a first optical device, and a first light-path control, the first optical package configured to guide and focus light from the LED onto the sample. The microfluidic device includes a tethered control substance. In response to a substance within the sample being associated with, and attaching to, the tethered control, the sample emits light. The second optical package includes a photo sensor, a second optical device, and a second light-path control, the second optical package configured to guide and focus the light emitted from the sample onto the photo sensor.
US07820417B2 Methods and systems for biomass conversion to carboxylic acids and alcohols
The disclosure includes a method, process and apparatus for the conversion of biomass to carboxylic acids and/or primary alcohols. The system may include a pretreatment/fermentation subsystem operable to produce a fermentation broth containing carboxylic acid salts from biomass, such as lignocellulosic biomass. The system may also include a dewatering subsystem operable to remove excess water from the fermentation broth to produce a concentrated product. The system may also includes an acid springing subsystem operable to produce a mixed carboxylic acid product. The system may also include a hydrogenation subsystem operable to produce an alcohol mixture, such as a mixture containing primary alcohols. Methods of operating this system or other systems to obtain a carboxylic acid or alcohol mixture are also provided.
US07820410B2 Proteins with high immunoreactivity and method for their production
The invention relates to (glyco-) proteins, in particular monoclonal antibodies, which have an immunoreactivity of >81%, preferably >90%. The inventive monoclonal antibodies are produced using a fluidized bed reactor in conjunction with a conventional protein-chemical purification method or preferably with a purification method involving less column chromatography. The monoclonal antibodies thus produced are suitable, in gamma-irradiated form, e.g. Tc-99m labeled, for the in vivo diagnosis of inflammatory diseases and bone marrow metastases. In alpha- or beta-irradiated form, e.g. astatine or Re-188 or Y-90 labeled form, the inventive monoclonal antibodies can be used, for example, in the treatment of leukemia.
US07820400B2 Tumor-associated marker
The present invention provides monoclonal antibody-producing hybridomas designated 27.F7 and 27.B1. The invention provides a method of detecting TIP-2 antigen bearing cancer cells in a sample. The invention provides a method of detecting TIP-2 antigen on the surface of cancer cells. The invention provides a method for diagnosing cancer in a subject. The invention provides a method for delivering exogenous material to TIP-2 antigen-bearing cancer cells of a human subject. The invention provides a method for treating cancer in a human subject. The invention provides isolated peptides having the amino acid sequences Lys Leu Leu Gly Gly Gln Ile Gly Leu (SEQ. ID No.) and Ser Leu Leu Gly Cys Arg His Tyr Glu Val (SEQ. ID No.). The invention provides a method for immunohistochemical screening of a tissue section for the presence of TIP-2 antigen bearing cancer cells. The invention provides a kit for detecting the presence of TIP-2 antigen-bearing cancer cells. The invention provides a method for detecting the presence of TIP-2 antigen. The invention provides a method for immunohistochemical screening of tissue sections. The invention provides a method for monitoring progression of cancer wherein the cancer cells are TIP-2 antigen-bearing cells. The invention provides a method for diagnosing cancer associated with the expression of TIP-2.
US07820397B2 Methods of modulating and identifying agents that modulate intracellular calcium
Methods are provided for identifying agents that modulate intracellular calcium. Also provided are methods of modulating calcium within cells and methods of identifying proteins involved in modulating intracellular calcium.
US07820389B2 Inhibition of mismatch hybridization by a universal competitor DNA
Provided herein are compositions and methods for enhancing the relative efficiency of hybridization between target nucleic acids and capture probes compared to target variants and capture probes.
US07820388B2 Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene mutations
The present invention provides novel mutations of the CFTR gene related to cystic fibrosis or to conditions associated with cystic fibrosis. Also provided are probes for detecting the mutant sequences. Methods of identifying if an individual has a genotype containing one or more mutations in the CFTR gene are further provided.
US07820382B2 Method for the early detection of breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and colon polyps, growths and cancers as well as other gastrointestinal disease conditions and the preoperative and postoperative monitoring of transplanted organs from the donor and in the recipient and their associated conditions related and unrelated to the organ transplantation
A method for the early diagnosis of breast, lung, pancreatic and colon growths and cancers as well as conditions associated with donor and recipient organ transplants, both before and after transplantation to identify and allow treatment of possible transplanted organ rejection and other disease conditions related and unrelated to the transplantation, compares the gene expression patterns from a patient's peripheral blood monocytes-lymphocyte's gene system with either the similar gene expression patterns of a normal person, or with the similar gene expression patterns of a person known to have the condition being screened for. Differences between the patient's gene expression patterns for particular genes and the normal patterns indicates the presence of the condition with the number of differences indicating the probability of the condition. Similarities between the patient's gene expression patterns for those particular genes and the patterns of a person known to have the condition indicates the presence of the condition with the number of similarities indicating the probability of the condition. For example, particular genes for use in identifying pancreatic cancer are disclosed.
US07820381B2 Method and apparatus for applying fluids to a biological sample
The invention is directed to a method of contacting a biological sample with a solution, comprising the steps of moving a curved surface wetted with the solution in proximity to the biological sample whereby the distance separating the wetted curved surface and the biological sample is sufficient to form a moving liquid meniscus layer between the two. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for contacting a biological sample suspected of containing a biomarker with a solution, comprising a platform for supporting a microscope slide having a biological sample thereon; a translating cap having a curved lower surface positioned above the platform, the curved lower surface being in proximity to a biological sample when in operation; means for moving the translating cap back and forth over the biological sample; and means for applying and removing liquid to and from the cap.
US07820379B2 Process for high throughput screening of CpG-based immuno-agonist/antagonist
The invention pertains to murine TLR9 and related TLR9s which include murine-specific amino acids, as well as nucleic acids which encode those polypeptides. The present invention also includes fragments and biologically functional variants of the murine TLR9. The invention further relates to methods of using such murine and non-murine TLR9 nucleic acids and polypeptides, especially in methods for screening for agonists and antagonists of immunostimulatory CpG nucleic acids. Also included are murine TLR9 inhibitors which inhibit murine TLR9 activity by inhibiting the expression or function of murine TLR9. In a further aspect the present invention pertains to murine TLR7 and murine TLR8, as well as related TLR7 and TLR8 molecules which include murine-specific amino acids, as well as nucleic acids which encode those polypeptides. The present invention also includes fragments and biologically functional variants of the murine TLR7 and TLR8. Methods are included for screening for ligands of TLR7 and TLR8, as well as for inhibitors and agonists and antagonists of signaling mediated by TLR7 and TLR8.
US07820354B2 Method for producing toner
The present invention relates to a process for producing a toner including the steps of melt-kneading raw materials containing two or more kinds of polyesters, heat-treating a melt-kneaded product, pulverizing a heat-treated product, and classifying a pulverized product, wherein the two or more kinds of polyesters contain at least one kind of an amorphous polyester, and the heat-treating step is carried out at a temperature t (° C.) and time h (hour) satisfying the following formulas (a) and (b), Tg1≦t≦Tm−10  (a) h≧100/(t−30), with proviso that t>30  (b) wherein Tg1 is a glass transition temperature (° C.) of the melt-kneaded product before the heat-treating step; and Tm is the lowest softening point (° C.) of softening points of the two or more kinds of polyesters, and the toner produced by the process. The toner obtained according to the present invention is suitably used, for example, for developing latent images formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US07820351B2 Non-magnetic toner, two-component developer, and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus for forming images with a toner and includes an image forming section, a paper feeding section and an image reading section, in which the non-magnetic toner is as follows: the particle size D10V and the particle size D90V of the toner satisfy the following formula (1), the particle size D50V is from 5 to 8 μm, and the content of the toner particles having a particle size of at most 5 μm is from 15 to 35% by number: 0.415≦(D10V−D90V)/D10V≦0.475  (1) wherein D10V, D50V and D90V each are a particle size where a cumulative volume from the large particle size side in the cumulative volume distribution of the toner particles reaches 10%, 50% and 90%, respectively.
US07820350B2 Toner, developer, toner container, process cartridge, image forming apparatus, and image forming method
A toner containing a colorant, and a binder resin, wherein the toner is prepared by dissolving or dispersing a colorant, a precursor of the binder resin having a site capable of reacting with an active hydrogen group-containing compound, the active hydrogen group-containing compound, in an organic solvent, to prepare a toner constituent mixture liquid, dispersing or emulsifying the toner constituent mixture liquid, in an aqueous medium while subjecting the precursor to a reaction with the active hydrogen group-containing compound, to prepare a toner dispersion, and removing the organic solvent from the toner dispersion; the binder resin contains a modified polyester having an isocyanate-derived binding site; the Sn content in the toner is 800 ppm or less; the content of a metal which is non Sn and derived from a polyesterified catalyst is 10 ppm to 200 ppm; and the content of a metal which is non Sn and derived from an isocyanated catalyst is 10 ppm to 200 ppm.
US07820349B2 Toner for electrostatic latent image development, production method thereof, and developer for electrostatic latent image development
The invention provides a toner for electrostatic latent image development comprising a first component and a second component which are isolated from each other and capable of forming a color when the first component and the second component are brought into reaction with each other, and a photo-curable composition containing either the first component or the second component, the photo-curable composition not being capable of forming a color when the photo-curable composition is not cured, that is irreversibly controlled to a state of being capable of forming a color by irradiating light having a specific wavelength at which the photo-curable composition is cured.
US07820339B2 Gas diffusion electrode for electrochemical oxygen reduction
An improved gas diffusion electrode composed of a perovskite-type oxide dispersed in a mixture of carbon black and a hydrophobic binder polymer. An improved catalyst for use in the electrochemical reduction of oxygen comprising a perovskite-type compound having alpha and beta sites, and having a greater molar ratio of cations at the beta site. A particularly good reduction catalyst is a neodymium calcium manganite. An improved method of dispersing the catalysts with carbon in a reaction layer of the electrode improves performance of the electrode and the oxygen reduction process. This is provided by adding carbon black to an aqueous solution of metal salts before it is heated to a gel and then to a char and then calcined. Optionally, a quantity of the desired oxide catalyst can be premixed with a portion the carbon before adding the carbon to an aqueous solution of the metal salts to be heated. The amount of premixed metal oxide is chosen in conjunction with the amount of metal salts to provide the desired molar ratio after heating and calcining of the aqueous solution.
US07820334B2 Fuel cell and oxidant distribution plate for fuel cell
To provide a fuel cell and an oxidant distributing plate for the fuel cell. A water created in the fuel cell is used to humidify an oxidant gas and/or a fuel flowing in an opposite passage opposite to a MEA. The fuel cell includes a MEA 1, an oxidant distributing plate 3 disposed facing to an oxidant pole for supplying an oxidant gas thereto, and a fuel distributing plate 4 disposed facing to an fuel pole for supplying the fuel thereto. At least one of the oxidant distributing plate 3 and the fuel distributing plate 4 is provided with an opposite passage 31, 41 formed on an opposite surface opposite to the MEA, and a reaction passage 32, 42 formed on a facing surface facing to the MEA, and communicated with the opposite passage 31, 41.
US07820328B1 Electrochemical cell electrode with improved particle-to-particle contact and method of manufacturing
An electrochemical cell comprising an electrode, whether it is the cathode of a primary cell or an anode or a cathode of a secondary cell, comprised of a mixture of a robust, high temperature binder along with a sacrificial decomposable polymer is described. The robust binder remains in the electrode throughout formation and processing, and maintains adhesion and cohesion of the cathode during utilization. The sacrificial decomposable polymer is present during the electrode formation stage. However, it is decomposed via a controlled treatment prior to electrode utilization. Upon subsequent high pressure pressing, the void spaces formerly occupied by the sacrificial polymer provides sites where the electrode active material collapses into a tightly compressed mass with enhanced particle-to-particle contact between the active material particles. For a cathode in a primary cell, for example a Li/SVO cell, the result is believed to be improved rate capability, capacity and stability throughout discharge.
US07820323B1 Metal borate synthesis process
The carboxyl borate represents a novel liquid that upon reaction with lithium halide produces a lithium ion electrochemical device electrolyte upon dissolution in an aprotic solvent mixture.
US07820319B2 Cell thermal runaway propagation resistant battery pack
A means for inhibiting the propagation of thermal runaway within a plurality of batteries is provided, wherein the means is comprised of a layer of intumescent material covering the interior surfaces of the battery pack.
US07820313B2 Fuel source recognition and gating apparatus and associated method
A gating device (100) and associated method (900) for identifying a fuel container (101) used to refill a fuel cell (102) are presented. A fuel source identification device (103) identifies a fuel container (101) to verify that it is compatible with the fuel cell (102). Upon identification, a gating engine (105) opens a retractable barrier (106), thereby providing access to the fuel cell (102). The gating engine (105) moves the retractable barrier (106) from a closed position to an open position when a control circuit (803) indicates that the fuel container (101) is compatible with the fuel cell (102). The fuel container identification device may be an impedance detector (201), a connectivity detector (301), a barcode reader (401), a memory reader (501), a radio-frequency identification device (601), a label reader (701), or other similar device.
US07820309B2 Low-maintenance coatings, and methods for producing low-maintenance coatings
The invention provides a substrate bearing a low-maintenance coating. In some embodiments, the coating includes a low-maintenance film that includes both titanium oxide and tungsten oxide. The invention also provides methods and equipment for depositing such coatings.
US07820303B2 Conductive material for connecting part and method for manufacturing the conductive material
There is provided a conductive material comprising a base material made up of a Cu strip, a Cu—Sn alloy covering layer formed over a surface of the base material, containing Cu in a range of 20 to 70 at.%, and having an average thickness in a range of 0.1 to 3.0 μm and an Sn covering layer formed over the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer having an average thickness in a range of 0.2 to 5.0 μm, disposed in that order, such that portions of the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer are exposed the surface of the Sn covering layer, and a ratio of an exposed area of the Cu—Sn alloy covering layer to the surface of the Sn covering layer is in a range of 3 to 75%.
US07820296B2 Low-maintenance coating technology
The invention provides a substrate bearing a low-maintenance coating. In some embodiments, the coating includes a low-maintenance film that includes a thickness of film comprising titania, wherein only part of that thickness includes tungsten. The thickness includes an inner portion and an outer portion, the outer portion being the part that includes tungsten. The invention also provides methods and equipment for depositing such coatings.
US07820292B2 Nanostructured coating for a carrying base
The invention pertains to high-molecular compound-based composite materials using carbon in nanostructured coatings including additional elements and bonds.Nanostructured coating of the carrying base comprises layers of amorphous carbon of sp-, sp2- and sp3-hybridized states of carbon atoms.New is that coating with a highly-developed surface of the polyester film base is directly bonded by the layer of sp3-hybridized state of carbon atoms and has on top an extra metal layer 25-250 nm thick; at the same time the film base surface has corrugations 10-30 nm deep and/or is furnished with pores 0.2-6 micron in size of a total volume of 10-60%, with ⅕-⅓ portion of pores made through.The proposed technical solution is a new film material with functional nanostructured coating intended to be used as an anode of the electrolytic capacitor due to an accumulated electric potential in current-carrying layers separated by the polyester base having a highly developed modified surface that provided their adhesion and improved the electrophysical characteristics of the material.
US07820291B2 Core-shell type nanoparticles comprising metal cores and crystalline shells of metal oxide or metalloid oxide
Disclosed herein are core-shell type nanoparticles comprising nanoparticle cores made of a metal or semiconductor, and shells made of crystalline metal oxide formed on the surfaces of the nanoparticle cores, as well as a preparation method thereof. According to the disclosed invention, the core-shell nanoparticles, consisting of metallic or semiconductor cores and crystalline metal oxide shells, can be prepared by epitaxially growing metal oxide on the surfaces of the metallic or semiconductor nanoparticle cores. By virtue of the crystalline metal oxide shells, the core nanoparticle made of metal or semiconductor can ensure excellent chemical and mechanical stability, and the core-shell nanoparticles can show new properties resulting from the interaction between the metal cores and the metal oxide crystal shells.
US07820290B2 Water dispersible carbon fiber and water dispersible chopped carbon fiber
Water dispersible carbon fibers, (1) wherein the surface oxygen concentration (O/C) of each of the single fibers is 0.03 or more and less than 0.12 as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and forming a first contact angle with water of 75° or less as measured by the Wilhelmy method; (2) wherein the O/C is 0.12 or more and less than 0.20 and forming a first contact angle with water of 65° or less as measured by the Wilhelmy method; or (3) wherein the O/C is 0.20 or more and 0.30 or less and forming a first contact angle with water of 55° or less as measured by the Wilhelmy method; and wherein a sizing agent containing a surfactant as a major component has adhered to the single fibers of each of the water dispersible carbon fibers.
US07820286B2 Coating composition and resin article having optical permeability
A coating composition capable of forming a curable coating layer having a sufficient dyeability on a resin substrate and improving adhesion after dyeing between the resin substrate and the curable coating layer, and a resin product having optical permeability applied with the curable coating layer by the composition are provided. The coating composition contains an ingredient (A): a hydrolyzate of an organosilane with the content of a bifunctional organosilane of from 50 to 100% by weight, an ingredient (B): colloid particles of metal oxide, and an ingredient (C): a solvent.
US07820274B2 Prepreg and conductive layer-laminated substrate for printed wiring board
A prepreg having low dielectric constant, low dielectric loss, and high heat cycle resistance. The prepreg includes a sheet-like preform and a resin-impregnated, sheet-like, fiber-reinforced material thermal pressure adhered to the sheet-like preform. The sheet-like preform includes a graft copolymer (a) in which 15 to 40 parts by mass of an aromatic vinyl monomer are grafted to 60 to 85 parts by mass of a random or block copolymer comprising monomer units selected from nonpolar α-olefin monomers and nonpolar conjugated diene monomers. The resin-impregnated, sheet-like, fiber-reinforced material includes a sheet-like, fiber-reinforced material (b1) and a thermoplastic resin (b2) into which the sheet-like, fiber-reinforced material (b1) is impregnated. The thermoplastic resin (b2) is a random or block copolymer composed of 60 to 90 mass % of a monomer unit, which is selected from nonpolar α-olefin monomers and nonpolar conjugated diene monomers, and 10 to 40 mass % of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit.
US07820269B2 Transfer film
Described is a transfer film, in particular a hot embossing film, which includes a carrier film (22) and a transfer layer portion having a structure layer (14), the transfer layer portion being arranged on the carrier film (22) and being detachable from the carrier film (22). It is provided that the carrier film (22) has a master relief structure (22m) on its side towards the structure layer (14), the structure layer (14) on its side towards the carrier film (22) has a first relief structure (14o) complementary to the master relief structure (22m) of the carrier film (22), the structure layer (14) on its side remote from the carrier film (22) has a second relief structure (14u) which differs from the first relief structure (14o), and the second relief structure (14u) is covered at least region-wise with a reflection layer (16). There are further provided a process for the production of the transfer film, a multi-layer body formed with the structure layer and a security document having the multi-layer body.
US07820268B2 Door skin, a method of etching a plate for forming a wood grain pattern in the door skin, and an etched plate formed therefrom
The present invention is directed to a door skin having an exterior surface with an woodgrain pattern formed therein, and an etched plate for use as an embossing plate or with a molded die set, for forming the woodgrain pattern in the door skin. The exterior surface has outer portions lying on a first plane, spaced grooves recessed from the plane of the outer portions, and halftone portions. The halftone portions have spaced protrusions defined by channels, wherein the channels are recessed from the plane of the outer portions.
US07820256B2 Stirring rod
The invention relates to a rod, particularly a stirring rod for liquids, said stirring rod comprising a hollow structure, which is made of transparent material and the interior of which is filled with liquid and/or gas, and in which is present at least one solid body, at least one other solid body forming a hollow space being provided in the hollow structure of the rod instead of or in addition to the solid bodies, and other solid bodies being located inside the hollow space of the body.
US07820253B2 Poly(aryletherimides) for negative birefringent films for LCDs
A negative birefringence film prepared from a poly(aryletherimide) which is the reaction product of a dianhydride and a diamine, where the dianhydride is 4,4′-[4,4′-(p-phenyleneoxy)isopropylidene]bis(phthalic anhydride) (BisADA), bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)ether dianhydride (ODPA), 4,4′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)biphenyl dianhydride (BPEDA), 1,4-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyloxy)phenyl dianhydride (BPQDA), 3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylicbiphenyl dianhydride (BPDA), or 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA), alone or a mixture with one or more of: 3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylicbiphenyl dianhydride (BPDA), 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA); and where the diamine is 1,4-bis(2-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenoxy)-2,5-di(t-butyl)benzene (BTBDA), 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diamino biphenyl (OTOL), or mixtures thereof and wherein when a mixture of dianhydrides is present, they are present in a molar amount of between 99 to 1 (99:1) and 1 to 99 (1:99), and the film has a negative birefringence greater than 0.01, at a thickness of less than 15 μm, when the poly(aryletherimide) is solution cast or coated onto a substrate.
US07820250B2 Liquid crystal optical modulation element and optical head device
To provide a liquid crystal optical modulation element which is excellent in durability against blue laser and which can maintain the characteristics for a long period of time.A liquid crystal optical modulation element to modulate a laser beam having a wavelength of at most 500 nm, which comprises a layer of a polymer liquid crystal composition sandwiched between a pair of transparent substrates facing each other, characterized in that each of the pair of transparent substrates has an alignment film on the surface which faces the other transparent substrate, and the polymer liquid crystal composition is a polymer liquid crystal containing a hindered amine compound and a hindered phenol compound.
US07820249B2 Ultrasonic energy system and method including a ceramic horn
An acoustic system for applying vibratory energy including a horn connected to an ultrasonic energy source. The horn defines an overall length and wavelength, and at least a leading section thereof is comprised of a ceramic material. The leading section has a length of at least ⅛ the horn wavelength. In one preferred embodiment, an entirety of the horn is a ceramic material, and is mounted to a separate component, such as a waveguide, via an interference fit. Regardless, by utilizing a ceramic material for at least a significant portion of the horn, the ultrasonic system of the present invention facilitates long-term operation in extreme environments such as high temperature and/or corrosive fluid mediums. The present invention is useful for fabrication of metal matrix composite wires.
US07820244B2 Method of forming a layer and method of removing reaction by-products
In a method of forming a layer, a titanium layer and a titanium nitride layer may be successively formed on a first wafer. By-products adhered to the inside of a chamber during the formation of the titanium nitride layer may be removed from the chamber. Processes of forming the titanium layer, forming the titanium nitride layer, and removing the by-products may be repeated relative to a second wafer.
US07820241B2 Device and method for applying layers of a powder material onto a surface
A device (51) for applying layers or a powder material (71) by means of an application device (52) is described, wherein the application device (52) can be moved back and forth between two end positions in order to apply a layer of material (71) and the application device (52) comprises a blade (56) for removing excess material during the application of a layer of material (71). The device (51) is characterized by a material transport device (53), by which the material can be transferred from one side of the blade (56) to the other side of the blade. The device has the particular advantage that layers of material (71) can be applied without any loss of material and is particularly applicable in a laser sintering device.
US07820239B2 Method of manufacturing iron member
An iron member having a coating film on at least part of its surface is manufactured by a step of projecting zinc particles to the surface of a base material made of an iron material to form a base film, and a step of forming a coating film of resin coating material on at least a part of the base film.
US07820229B2 Method of coating a stent
Coatings for stents that include a polymer and a drug are provided. A method of forming the coatings is also provided.
US07820228B2 Medical device and manufacturing method of colored medical device
A method for the manufacture of a medical wire includes manufacturing a fluororesin-coated wire and irradiating with infrared radiation. The fluororesin-coated wire is manufactured with a fluororesin-containing liquid, or fluororesin powder body being applied to the outer circumference of a superelastic alloy wire or of a resin-coated superelastic alloy wire. The fluororesin-coated wire is irradiated with a defined wavelength of infrared radiation for a defined period of time.
US07820216B1 Apparatus and methods for pasteurizing food product
Apparatus and methods for pasteurizing food product are provided. The apparatus includes a cabinet enclosing the food product as it is transported from upstream to downstream through a series of processing zones including a pre-condensing zone, a pre-heating zone, a pasteurizing zone, a post-heating zone, and a post-condensing zone. In use, the food product is conveyed through the series of processing zones, which together function to efficiently and effectively heat and apply pasteurizing steam to the surfaces of the product to kill bacteria, while at the same time managing migration of steam from the pasteurizing zone and preventing steam from migrating out of the cabinet into the surrounding area.
US07820215B2 Apparatus and method for producing colored extruded food products
An apparatus and associated method for varying the color and/or flavor of an extruded food product during a single production run of a single extrusion device. The apparatus includes a multi-additive injection system, which is attached to a fluid supply line of an extrusion device. The injection system is comprised of a plurality of additive supply tanks, which are each in fluid communication with the fluid supply line via an injection manifold, and a metering mechanism which selectively controls the amount of additive injected into the supply line by each individual supply tank. The injection system may also include a central control mechanism for calibrating the amount of additive injected into the supply line and for maintaining a constant fluid volume added to the extrusion device. Each of the additive supply tanks may contain a different colorant and/or flavoring. Two variants of the injection manifold are provided as well as a novel injection sequence for use with the disclosed system.
US07820214B2 Food consumption appliance
A food consumption appliance having a first chamber and a second chamber, where the first chamber contains a liquid and the second chamber contains a dry comestible, where each chamber has an opening into a common mouthpiece so that when the appliance is tipped, the liquid and dry comestible exit into the mouthpiece.
US07820207B2 Stabilized anthocyanin compositions
The invention describes stabile anthocyanin compositions, methods to prepare such compositions and also methods of use of such compositions to treat various afflictions. The present invention describes unique compositions of an anthocyanin and a stabilizing compound such that the combination of the two components provides that the anthocyanin does not readily undergo degradation, such as oxidation, pH instability, etc.
US07820201B2 System for manufacturing controlled release dosage forms, such as zero-order release profile dosage form manufactured by three-dimensional printing
The present invention includes controlled release dosage forms and methods of designing and manufacturing dosage forms to obtain specific release profiles, for example, zero-order release profiles, escalating release profiles or decreasing release profiles. The dosage forms of the present invention can include spatial variation of API concentration in the dosage form and can include nested regions. Dosage forms according to the present invention may be manufactured by any appropriate method for obtaining the internal structure as disclosed herein for producing zero-order release profiles and increasing or decreasing release profiles. The invention further includes methods of manufacturing such dosage forms, such as by three-dimensional printing, possibly also including compression of the dosage form after three-dimensional printing. The invention further includes methods of designing such dosage forms. Release profiles from non-uniform distributions of API concentration may be predicted based on simple experiments with uniform-concentration dosage forms.
US07820199B2 Stable extended release oral dosage composition
A film-coated extended release solid oral dosage composition containing a nasal decongestant, pseudoephedrine or salt thereof, e.g., pseudoephedrine sulfate in a core effective to provide a geometric maximum plasma concentration of pseudoephedrine of about 345 ng/mL to about 365 ng/mL at a time of about 7.60 hrs to about 8.40 hrs and having two or three film-coatings on the core, the second one containing an amount of the non-sedating antihistamine, desloratadine, effective to provide a geometric maximum plasma concentration of desloratadine of about 2.15 ng/mL to about 2.45 ng/mL at a time of about 4.0 hours to about 4.5 hours, and use of the composition for treating patients showing the signs and symptoms associated with allergic and/or inflammatory conditions of the skin and airway passages are disclosed.
US07820198B2 Pool chemical tablet
One aspect of the present invention is directed to a solid chemical tablet in a shape comprising an elongated cylindrical side surface and an elongated flat side surface or an elongated concave cut side surface. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a solid chemical tablet comprising a blend of hydrated calcium hypochlorite with magnesium sulfate heptahydrate. This invention further relates to a solid chemical tablet comprising a blend of solid calcium hypochlorite, and one or more solid alkali metal phosphate.
US07820193B2 Anti-angiogenic compositions and methods of use
The present invention is directed to a stent comprising (a) a balloon expandable coronary stent; and (b) paclitaxel, in an amount that when tested in a chick chorioallantoic membrane assay is anti-angiogenic.
US07820189B2 Pesticide compositions
This invention is related to the field of compositions useful in the control of pests that eat cellulose, such as, termites, where said composition is compacted and where said composition comprises alpha-cellulose, water, and a pesticide.
US07820182B2 Production of attenuated, human-bovine chimeric respiratory syncytial viruses for use in immunogenic compositions
Chimeric human-bovine respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are infectious and attenuated in humans and other mammals and useful in immunogenic compositions for eliciting an anti-RSV immune response. Also provided are isolated polynucleotide molecules and vectors incorporating a chimeric RSV genome or antigenome which includes a partial or complete human or bovine RSV “background” genome or antigenome combined or integrated with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) of a different RSV strain. Chimeric human-bovine RSV of the invention include a partial or complete “background” RSV genome or antigenome derived from or patterned after a human or bovine RSV strain or subgroup virus combined with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) of a different RSV strain or subgroup virus to form the human-bovine chimeric RSV genome or antigenome. In preferred aspects of the invention, chimeric RSV incorporate a partial or complete bovine RSV background genome or antigenome combined with one or more heterologous gene(s) or genome segment(s) from a human RSV. Genes of interest include any of the NS1, NS2, N, P, M, SH, M2(ORF1), M2(ORF2), L, F or G genes or a genome segment including a protein or portion thereof. A variety of additional mutations and nucleotide modifications are provided within the human-bovine chimeric RSV of the invention to yield desired phenotypic and structural effects.
US07820180B2 Listeria-based and LLO-based vaccines
This invention provides methods of treating and vaccinating against an antigen-expressing tumor and inducing an immune response against a sub-dominant epitope of antigen, comprising a fusion of an LLO fragment to the antigen or a recombinant Listeria strain expressing the antigen. The present invention also provides recombinant peptides comprising a listeriolysin (LLO) protein fragment fused to a Her-2 protein or fragment thereof, recombinant Listeria strains expressing a Her-2 protein, vaccines and immunogenic compositions comprising same, and methods of inducing an anti-Her-2 immune response and treating and vaccinating against a Her-2-expressing tumor, comprising same.
US07820167B2 IL1-β: a new target for myeloma therapy
Diagnostic methods for the detection of multiple myeloma (MM) and the identification of high-risk patients with multiple myeloma-related plasma proliferative disorders, such as MGUS or SMM, likely to progress to active MM are described. The diagnosis is based on the determination of concentrations of bioactive IL-1β produced by the bone marrow plasma cells of these patients. Also described are therapeutic methods for the treatment of MM and for the chemoprevention of the progression from disorders such as MGUS and SMM to active MM, involving the administration of inhibitors of IL-1β.
US07820162B2 Methods for chemically synthesizing immunoglobulin chimeric proteins
The invention provides methods of chemically synthesizing chimeric proteins comprising at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region and a biologically active molecule.
US07820161B1 Treatment of autoimmune diseases
Methods are disclosed of treating rheumatoid arthritis in a human comprising administering to the human more than one intravenous dose of a therapeutically effective amount of rituximab and administering methotrexate to the human.
US07820151B2 Composition for coating keratin fibers, comprising at least one tacky wax and fibers
Disclosed herein is a composition for coating keratin fibers, comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, at least one tacky wax and fibers, wherein the at least one tacky wax may have a tack of greater than or equal to 0.7 N.s and a hardness of less than or equal to 3.5 MPa. Also disclosed herein are methods of using this composition and an assembly comprising this composition.
US07820150B2 Cosmetic or dermatological formulations of improved pearlescence
A cosmetic or dermatological preparation which comprises a C12-C40 fatty acid, a C12-C40 fatty alcohol, an amphiphilic polymer, an associative polymer and/or a siloxane elastomer, sodium and/or potassium hydroxide, and a pigment and/or a dye.
US07820142B2 Immunogenic glycopeptides, screening, preparation and uses
The invention relates to immunogenic glycopeptides derived from pathogenic microorganisms, which can be used for immunization and diagnosing infections dye to such pathogenic microorganisms and also to method for the selection and preparation thereof.
US07820141B2 Molecular sieve SSZ-82 composition of matter and synthesis thereof
The present invention is directed to a new crystalline molecular sieve designated SSZ-82, a method for preparing SSZ-82 using a 1,6-bis(N-cyclohexylpyrrolidinium) hexane dication as a structure directing agent, and uses for SSZ-82. The molecular sieve has a mole ratio of 20 or greater of (1) an oxide of a first tetravalent element, e.g., silicon oxide to (2) an oxide of a trivalent element, pentavalent element or a second tetravalent element different from the first, e.g., aluminum oxide, gallium oxide, iron oxide, boron oxide, titanium oxide, or indium oxide.
US07820126B2 Method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of purification and deposition of polycrystalline silicon
Methods and apparatus for the commercial-scale production of purified polycrystalline silicon granules with one or more tailored levels of n- and p-type impurities from an impure silicon source such as, for example, metallurgical-grade silicon. Purification systems and methods involve: (1) one or more series of temperature controlled reactors or vessels provided with dual fluidized beds wherein solids and gases are transported so that varying degrees of purification and deposition of solid silicon is accomplished by strict control of temperature and residence time; (2) separation and recovery of the compounds of high-melting-point impurities such as, for example, FeSi and FeI2; (3) purification, separation, and recycling of silicon tetraiodide; (4) separation and recovery of iodide compounds of lower-boiling-point liquid impurities such as for example, AlI3, in a continuous fractional distillation column, facilitated by an iodine reflux; (5) separation and recovery of very fine solid particles including impurity iodides and elemental silicon in a liquid mixture downstream of a fractional distillation column; (6) recovery of input iodine from the oxidation of both solid and liquid iodide impurity waste streams from the process.
US07820117B2 System for securing the end cone or mounting mat of a pollution control device
A thin-walled structure (e.g., an end cone insulator (12) and/or a mounting mat) (12) comprising insulating material suitable for insulating portions (e.g., an end cone) of a pollution control device (16) and/or mounting material suitable for mounting a pollution control element in a pollution control device (16) (e.g., a catalytic element in a catalytic converter, a filter element in a diesel or gasoline engine exhaust filter, etc.). The thin-walled structure can comprise an insulating material and/or mounting material in the form, for example, of a sheet, mat (12) or three-dimensional thin walled structure (e.g., a single piece or multiple piece three dimensional end cone insulator). (12) An intermediate adhesive (18) (e.g., a heat activated adhesive, hot melt adhesive and/or adhesive-like thermoplastic material) is bonded to at least one major surface of the thin-walled structure so as to coat and penetrate into the at least one major surface. The intermediate adhesive (18) at least mechanically bonds to the thin-walled structure. A pressure sensitive (20) adhesive is bonded to the intermediate adhesive (18) and used to secure the thin-walled structure in place in the pollution control device (16).
US07820114B2 Reaction container for chemical analysis with the controlled surface property
A highly reliable reaction container capable of restraining an initial detection failure (bubble attachment), and a biochemical and/or immunological automatic analyzer loaded with the reaction container. In a reaction container made of a synthetic resin and used for receiving a biological sample and a reagent, developing a biochemical and/or immunological reaction between the biological sample and the reagent, and measuring proceedings of the reaction and/or the state at a predetermined point in time by optical means, an inner wall surface of the reaction container in contact with the biological sample, the reagent, and a reaction product of the biological sample and the reagent has a critical surface tension of not smaller than 25.0 mN/m, or a contact angle between the inner wall surface of the reaction container and a solvent of a reaction solution is not larger than 60 degrees.
US07820109B2 Testing chip and micro analysis system
A testing chip that analyzes a specimen includes: a reagent storage section; a mixing and reaction flow channel to perform a series of operations to mix a specimen and aqueous reagent, make the specimen and reagent react with each other, and detect the reaction; and a liquid feed control section provided between an outlet flow channel of the reagent storage section and the inlet of the mixing and reaction flow channel. Herein, aqueous reagent, lipophilic liquid, and aqueous liquid having greater surface tension than that of the aqueous reagent are disposed in the reagent storage section in this order toward the outlet flow channel, the aqueous liquid being stored in contact with the liquid feed control section; and aqueous liquid passes the micro flow path of the liquid feed control section by applying a liquid feed pressure higher than or equal to a predetermined pressure to the reagent storage section.
US07820108B2 Marker detection method and apparatus to monitor drug compliance
The present invention includes a method and apparatus for monitoring drug compliance by detecting markers, such as odors, upon exhalation by a patient after medication is taken, wherein such markers result either directly from the medication itself or from an additive combined with the medication. In the case of olfactory markers, the invention preferably utilizes electronic sensor technology, such as the commercial devices referred to as “artificial noses” or “electronic noses,” to non-invasively monitor compliance. The invention further includes a reporting system capable of tracking compliance (remote or proximate) and providing the necessary alerts.
US07820100B2 System and method for photocatalytic oxidation air filtration using a substrate with photocatalyst particles powder coated thereon
The present invention relates to an air filtration system and a method for making a photocatalytic oxidation substrate by powder coating a photocatalyst onto a metal substrate.
US07820098B2 High Cr ferritic heat resistance steel
In the thermal power system, the electricity production efficiency may be improved by providing turbine members having the improved high temperature characteristic over the corresponding prior art turbine members. Turbine members may be provided by using high resistant steels composed of any one or ones selected from the group consisting of the components, including 0.08 to 0.13% of carbon (C), 8.5 to 9.8% of chromium (Cr), 0 to 1.5% of molybdenum (Mo), 0.10 to 0.25% of vanadium (V), 0.03 to 0.08% of niobium (Nb), 0.2 to 5.0% of tungsten (W), 1.5 to 6.0% of cobalt (Co), 0.002 to 0.015% of boron (B), 0.015 to 0.025% of nitrogen (N), and optionally, 0.01 to 3.0% of rhenium (Re), 0.1 to 0.50% of silicon (Si), 0.1 to 1.0% of manganese (Mo), 0.05 to 0.8% of nickel (Ni) and 0.1 to 1.3% of cupper. The long-time creep strength may be improved by using those high resistant steels for turbine rotors, turbine members and the like, which enable the steam temperature to be higher, thereby improving the electricity production efficiency in the thermal power system. The accelerated creep inhibitor parameter is provided for controlling the reduction in the creep strength so that the high creep strength can be maintained for the extended period of time.
US07820082B2 Method for adding a thermoset overmold layer to a lens within a mold
A method and coating used to prepare a photochromically-enabled bifocal ophthalmic lens. The method and equipment includes injection molding a single vision lens, for example, from polycarbonate. The clamp opens vertically and the top insert is exchanged for a bifocal mold having a base curve similar to the single vision lens. The thermoset coating includes compounds from several acrylate classes, and is applied to the single vision lens. The coating may include a photochromic dye. The coating is also formulated to receive a photochromic solution through an imbibition process.
US07820081B2 Method for post-injection lamination to add a functional film to an optical lens
A method for laminating a functional film on to a thermoplastic injection molded lens. A thermally curable glue is deposited on the lens while it is still in the mold. A functional film is introduced and the mold is closed again. The heat from the mold and the clamping pressure thermoform the film and cure the glue, in a lamination process. A functionally enhanced lens having a film intimately laminated on to one side.
US07820074B2 Phosphor, method for manufacturing same, and light emitting diode
A phosphor is formed with a glass coating layer on a surface of a phosphor grain to have improved moisture and/or thermal stability. A method for manufacturing the phosphor comprises preparing phosphor grains excitable by light, and forming a glass coating layer on a surface of each phosphor grain. The glass coating layer may be formed by mixing the phosphor grains with a glass composition; heat-treating a mixture of the phosphor grains and the glass composition to make the glass composition melt and surround the phosphor grains; and cooling and breaking the heat-treated mixture to provide phosphors, each comprising the phosphor grain having the glass coating layer formed on a surface of the phosphor grain.
US07820068B2 Chemical assisted lapping and polishing of metals
Compositions for lapping gears and methods for preparing the same are described. These compositions contain a salt of polyaspartic acid and may contain additional components that are useful for lapping gears. Also provided are processes for using the compositions described herein.
US07820062B2 Tertiary filter
A filter cloth of long pile fiber bundles is used as a tertiary filter in a wastewater processing method. The filter may be backwashed by a rotating suction head which does not touch the filter cloth. A combination of countercurrent and horizontal flow dislodges entrained solids from the filter cloth. Mounting of the filter media as modular components permits increased capacity within a single tank while avoiding down time in changeover of filter media.
US07820060B2 Synergistic biocide and process for controlling growth of microorganisms
Synergistic mixtures of haloamines and their use to control the growth of microorganisms in aqueous systems are disclosed. The method of using the synergistic mixtures entails adding an effective amount of a monohaloamine and an effective amount of a dihaloamine to an aqueous system. The ratio of monohaloamine to dihaloamine is selected to result in a synergistic biocidal effect
US07820057B2 Method for removing at least one constituent from a solution
The invention relates to a method for removing at least one constituent from a solution, comprising:—forming a liquid mixture by bringing together said solution (1) and a particulate seed material (6) under conditions or in the presence of one or more substances which cause the constituent to be removed to crystallize out on the surface of the seed material; and—separating the seed material having the constituent to be removed crystallized out thereon from the liquid mixture by passing the liquid mixture through a filter (3), wherein the pore size of the filter (3) is greater than or equal to the particle size of the seed material (6). The invention also relates to a method for preparing a particulate material wherein use is made of the method according to the present invention. The invention also relates to the particulate material obtainable by this method. The invention further relates to an apparatus that can be used in the process of the present invention.
US07820041B2 Drain cover
A uniquely designed drain cover for swimming pools, spas, whirlpools and the like that is non-flat and clover shaped containing three or more “leaves” that provides for strengthened rigidity, increased protection against hair and body entrapment and that is connected to the sump through ribs that run across the body of the drain cover that allow for securing the drain cover to the sump through these ribs in addition to the perimeter providing for greater anti-deflection properties and anti-vortexing properties. Apertures found on the surface of the cover and along the perimeter add to the anti-deflection and anti-vortexing properties of the cover.
US07820035B2 Process for steam cracking heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks
A process for cracking heavy hydrocarbon comprising heating the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, mixing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and cooling the product effluent in a transfer line exchanger, wherein the amount of the fluid and/or the primary dilution steam stream mixed with the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock is varied in accordance with at least one selected operating parameter of the process, such as the temperature of the flash stream before entering the flash/separator vessel.
US07820031B2 Method and apparatus for converting and removing organosulfur and other oxidizable compounds from distillate fuels, and compositions obtained thereby
The present disclosure is directed to a multi-stage system and a process utilizing said system with the design of reducing the sulfur-content in a liquid comprising hydrocarbons and organosulfur compounds. The process comprising at least one of the following states: (1) an oxidation stage; (2) an extraction state; (3) a raffinate washing stage; (4) a raffinate polishing stage; (5) a solvent recovery stage; (6) a solvent purification stage; and (7) a hydrocarbon recovery stage. The process for removing sulfur-containing hydrocarbons from gas oil, which comprises oxidizing gas oil comprising hydrocarbons and organosulfur compounds to obtain a product gas oil.
US07820027B2 Method for electrolytically producing aluminum using closed end slotted carbon anodes
An electrolysis cell (10) contains a number of carbon anodes (12) having top, bottom and side surfaces, operating in molten electrolyte (17) in an aluminum electrolysis cell (10), where gas bubbles (28) are generated at the anode surfaces and where alumina particles (20) are added to the top of the molten electrolyte, where the carbon anodes (12) have at least two inward slots (21) passing through the carbon anode (12) along the longitudinal axis 40 of the carbon anode and also passing through only one front surface (25) of the carbon anode, where the height (32) of the slots (21) is from about 45% to 80% of the anodes thickness and the slotted front surfaces (25) are disposed toward the center of the electrolysis cell so that generated gas bubbles (28) are directed to the alumina particles.
US07820015B2 Device for recording the boiling curve of liquids
A device for recording the boiling curve of liquids, in particular petroleum products, made of a distillation apparatus which includes a distillation column and a condenser, a sample dish connected to the distillation apparatus and a pump connected to the sample dish to fill the sample dish, wherein the filling means and the condenser are made of well heat-conducting material and the filling means and the condenser are connected to a temperature controller.
US07820013B2 Screen cylinder
A screen cylinder comprising screen slots (3) and accept channels (8) for directing the portion penetrated the screen slots (3) to an accept side (9) of the screen cylinder (1) of the fiber pulp suspension fed into a feed side (10) of the screen cylinder (1). At least one feed side surface (4) is provided between the screen slots (3) and the accept channels (8) comprise at least one first surface (5) of the accept channel (8) and at least one second surface (6). At least a third of the total length of the accept channel (8) is arranged in a direction opposite to a feed flow direction (A) of the fiber pulp suspension in relation to a normal (19) of a tangent (18) of the screen cylinder (1), which is arranged to pass through the screen slot (3).
US07820012B2 Reverse bump test for closed-loop identification of CD controller alignment
A reverse bump test, for identifying the alignment of a sheetmaking system while the system remains in closed-loop control, includes the following steps: (a) leaving the control system in closed-loop, (b) artificially inserting a step signal on top of the measurement (or setpoint) profile from the scanner, (c) recording the data as the control system moves the actuators to remove the perceived disturbance (or setpoint change), and (d) refining or developing a model from the artificial measurement disturbance (or setpoint change) to the actuator profile. The technique supplies the probing/perturbation signal to the scanner measurement, which is equivalent to supplying the probing/perturbation signal to the setpoint target) rather than inserting bumps via the actuator set points as has been practiced traditionally.
US07820010B2 Treated tissue products having increased strength
Tissue products are disclosed containing an additive composition. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition may be incorporated into the tissue web by being combined with the fibers that are used to form the web. Alternatively, the additive composition may be topically applied to the web after the web has been formed. For instance, in one embodiment, the additive composition may be applied to the web as a creping adhesive during a creping operation. The additive composition may improve the strength of the tissue web without substantially affecting the perceived softness of the web in an adverse manner.
US07820006B2 Die pickup apparatus for picking up semiconductor dies and methods for picking up semiconductor dies
A die pickup apparatus facilitates picking up a semiconductor die in a manner such that, in a state in which a semiconductor die to be picked up is suctioned by a collet, a frontal end of a cover plate is caused to extend from a contact surface, and the cover plate is caused to slide while pushing up a dicing sheet and the semiconductor die, and subsequently a rear end of the cover plate is caused to extend from the contact surface such that an upper surface of the cover plate is substantially in parallel with the contact surface, the cover plate is caused to slide while pushing the dicing sheet and the semiconductor die with the upper surface of the cover plate such that the suction opening is opened, and the dicing sheet is suctioned into the opened suction opening, thereby separating the dicing sheet.
US07820003B2 Method for producing diaper
A method for producing a diaper of the present invention includes the steps of: folding back a first strip-shaped portion 13 and a second strip-shaped portion 23; successively forming pairs of first and second belts 1 and 2 by cutting first and second separate webs W1 and W2; placing pairs of the first and second belts 1 and 2 at a predetermined interval P in a carrying direction Y of a continuous piece; temporarily attaching the first and second belts 1 and 2 to a portion of the continuous piece to be a back portion; fixing the belts 1 and 2 to the continuous piece; and severing the continuous piece with the belts 1 and 2 fixed thereon at a predetermined pitch into individual diapers.
US07820000B2 Tire producing method and tire molding machine
In a tire molding process, a mutual positional deviation or angular deviation between the axis of a carcass member and the axis of a bead core takes place in a produced tire when the bead core is set on the outer periphery of cylindrical carcass member. By the use of an estimation formula for estimating the primary harmonic component in the waveform of a radial force, an inverse waveform with the primary harmonic component inversed is found with respect to the measurement waveform of the produced tire or with respect to the treatment waveform with a numerical value treatment applied thereto. Thereafter, in producing a tire of the same size by the mold used for producing the preceding tire, the mutual positional deviation or angular deviation between the axis of the carcass member and the axis of the bead core found by a backward calculation from the estimation formula is changed to set the bead core on the carcass member.
US07819998B2 Method of forming a touch screen laminate
There is described a method of forming a touch screen laminate for use in a resistive touch screen display, the method comprising the steps of bonding a layer of ultra-thin glass to a polymer layer by means of an optical adhesive applied uniformly between the glass layer and the polymer layer and applying a non-electrically conductive insulating layer to a lower surface of the polymer layer in a peripherally extending band.
US07819997B2 Transparent composites and laminates and methods for making
An exemplary method for making a transparent composite includes steps of combining a refractive index modifier with a precursor solution, combining glass with the precursor solution, and curing the precursor solution to create a transparent glass reinforced polymer composite. An exemplary transparent composite comprises a glass reinforced thermosetting polymer composite layer sandwiched between glass layers.
US07819994B2 Reinforced nonwoven fire blocking fabric, method for making such fabric, and articles fire blocked therewith
This invention relates to a thin reinforced nonwoven fabric for fire blocking an article, articles containing such fabrics, and methods for making the fabrics and fire blocking the articles. When exposed to heat or flame, the fabric is capable of increasing its thickness by at least three times. The fabric comprises an open mesh scrim having a having crimped, heat-resistant organic fibers compressed thereon and held in a compressed state by a thermoplastic binder. When subjected to high heat or flame, the binder in the structure softens and flows, releasing the restrained crimped fibers and allowing the thickness of the fabric to increase dramatically.
US07819992B2 Copper alloy water supply member
A member for water works is proposed in which the content of lead is limited to a very small values while maintaining its mechanical properties, castability, machinability, pressure resistance, etc. to levels equivalent to those of conventional copper alloys containing lead.A copper alloy is produced which contains not less than 2.0% by weight and not more than 5.9% by weight of tin, not less than 1.5% by weight and not more than 5.0% by weight of nickel, not less than 5.0% by weight and not more than 12.1% by weight of zinc, not less than 0.4% by weight and not more than 3.3% by weight of bismuth, and not less than 0.009% by weight and not more than 0.15% by weight of phosphorus, the balance being copper and impurities.
US07819990B2 Iron-cobalt alloy, in particular for the moving core of electromagnetic actuators
An iron-cobalt alloy containing in weight percentages: 10 to 22% of Co; traces to 2.5% of Si; traces to 2% of Al; 0.1 to 1% of Mn; traces to 0.0100% of C, a total of O, N and S content ranging between traces of 0.0070%; a total of Si, Al, Cr, Mo, V, Mn content ranging between 1.1 and 3.5%; a total of Cr, Mo and V content ranging between traces of 3%; a total of Ta and Nb content ranging between traces and 1%; and the rest being iron and impurities resulting from production wherein: 1.23×(Al+Mo) %+0.84 (Si+Cr+V) %−0.15×(Co %−15)≦2.1, and 14.5×(Al+Cr) %+12×(V+Mo) %+25×Si %≧21. The inventive alloy is useful for making electromagnetic actuator mobile cores.
US07819987B2 Antigen exposure chamber and method of cleaning and drying the same
An antigen exposure chamber for quickly performing cleaning and drying with high quality is provided. The antigen exposure chamber of the present invention includes: a cleaning water supply device for supplying cleaning water for cleaning the antigen exposure chamber; cleaning nozzles for jetting the cleaning water supplied from the cleaning water supply device into the antigen exposure chamber and ducts of fan units to clean the antigen exposure chamber and the ducts; a floor surface of the antigen exposure chamber; and an exhaust device provided below the floor surface to exhaust air from the floor surface of the antigen exposure chamber and collect and drain the cleaning water during cleaning.
US07819982B2 Dishwasher and method of controlling the same
A controlling method of a dishwasher is provided. The method includes performing various cycles according to a selected course, beginning a rinse cycle during the execution of the various cycles, controlling the operation of a heater and a wash pump according to whether the rinse cycle was specified as a hot rinse cycle, ending the operation of the wash pump upon completion of the rinse cycle, and performing subsequent cycles.
US07819978B2 Diesel particulate filter cleaning apparatus and method
A diesel particulate filter of a motor vehicle is cleaned of diesel particulate material like ash and possibly soot, typically using equipment already available in a service shop following the method and diesel particulate filter cleaning apparatus of the invention. The diesel particulate filter cleaning apparatus has an air chamber that is coupled to a vibrator and is attached to the diesel particulate filter. The vibrator vibrates the air chamber and the diesel particulate filter to dislodge the diesel particulate material. Air is introduced into the air chamber and into the diesel particulate filter to further remove the diesel particulate material from the diesel particulate filter.
US07819976B2 Biomass treatment method
A method for treating biomass was developed that uses an apparatus which moves a biomass and dilute aqueous ammonia mixture through reaction chambers without compaction. The apparatus moves the biomass using a non-compressing piston. The resulting treated biomass is saccharified to produce fermentable sugars.
US07819973B2 Apparatus for crystal growth of biomacromolecules
A method comprising the steps of continuously changing the concentrations in solution of a biomacromolecule to be crystallized and a precipitant, thereby constructing a crystal phase diagram containing a solubility curve, searching for optimum conditions of crystallization on the basis of the constructed crystal phase diagram, and performing efficient growth of the crystal of the biomacromolecule. Also disclosed is an apparatus for implementing the method.
US07819958B2 Purge valve
A purge valve for use with an air drying system is provided. The valve includes a housing or body, a piston disposed within the body, and a valve in communication with the piston. The respective geometries of the piston body and the valve define a circumferential cavity between and around the piston body and the valve. A sealing means is disposed within the circumferential cavity for forming a seal between the valve and the body. A plurality of guide members attached to or formed integrally with the valve provide positional stability to the valve within the body and provide enhanced airflow in, through, and around the valve.
US07819949B2 Process for extracting (chlorinated) hydrocarbon-free hydrogen chloride and phosgene-free (chlorinated) hydrocarbons from a hydrogen chloride stream containing (chlorinated) hydrocarbons and phosgene
(Chloro)hydrocarbon-free hydrogen chloride and phosgene-free (chloro)hydrocarbons are recovered from a hydrogen chloride stream having (chloro)hydrocarbons and phosgene. The recovery involves connecting a first adsorber and a second adsorber in series and passing the fresh hydrogen chloride stream comprising phosgene and (chloro)hydrocarbons firstly through the first adsorber and subsequently through the second adsorber until essentially no more (chloro)hydrocarbon is adsorbed by the first adsorber, passing the fresh hydrogen chloride stream through the second adsorber while the first adsorber is regenerated, with essentially phosgene-free (chloro)hydrocarbon being obtained in the regeneration, passing the fresh hydrogen chloride stream firstly through the second adsorber and subsequently through the regenerated first adsorber until essentially no more (chloro)hydrocarbon is adsorbed by the second adsorber, and passing the fresh hydrogen chloride stream through the first adsorber while the second adsorber is regenerated, with essentially phosgene-free (chloro)hydrocarbon being obtained in the regeneration.
US07819947B2 Ozone production by pressure swing adsorption using a protective adsorbed component
Adsorption process for recovering ozone from a feed gas mixture containing at least ozone and oxygen comprising (a) introducing the feed gas mixture into a first end of an adsorber vessel containing a zeolite adsorbent and selectively adsorbing ozone on the adsorbent; (b) withdrawing from a second end of the vessel a stream of oxygen essentially free of ozone; (c) terminating the flow of the feed gas mixture, introducing a purge gas into the second end of the vessel, and withdrawing from the first end of the vessel an outlet gas mixture containing at least purge gas and desorbed ozone; and (d) introducing an additional component into the feed gas mixture and/or the purge gas and adsorbing the additional component on the zeolite adsorbent. The additional component when adsorbed reduces the decomposition of ozone that would occur in the absence of the additional component adsorbed on the zeolite adsorbent.
US07819946B2 Reactive gas detection in complex backgrounds
A differential absorption spectrum for a reactive gas in a gas mixture can be generated for sample absorption data by subtracting background absorption data set from the sample absorption data. The background absorption data can be characteristic of absorption characteristics of the background composition in a laser light scan range that includes a target wavelength. The differential absorption spectrum can be converted to a measured concentration of the reactive gas using calibration data. A determination can be made whether the background composition has substantially changed relative to the background absorption data, and new background absorption data can be used if the background composition has substantially changed. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US07819945B2 Metal fluoride trap
A method for making a metal fluoride trap including: assembling a precipitation tube assembly including a plurality of precipitation tubes supported between a first tube end support and a second tube end support; assembling a precipitation tube, flowsheet and filter media assembly including: wrapping a flowsheet around at least one full circumference of the plurality of precipitation tubes, wherein the flowsheet has a width less than a length of the plurality of precipitation tubes between the first tube end support and the second tube end support; and wrapping a filter media around the wrapped flowsheet, wherein the filter media and the flowsheet are wrapped so as to have a diameter less than an inner diameter of an outer casing of the metal fluoride trap; inserting the precipitation tube, flowsheet and filter media assembly into the outer casing of the metal fluoride trap; allowing the flowsheet to expand; and pressing the filter media between the flowsheet and an inner surface of the outer casing of the metal fluoride trap. A method of filtering gas in a metal fluoride trap is also disclosed. A metal fluoride trap apparatus is also disclosed.
US07819940B2 Production of stainless steel of AISI 4xx grade ferritic steel in an AOD converter
For the production of stainless steel of the ferritic AISI 4xx group of steels, particularly the AISI 430 group of steels, based on liquid pig iron and FeCr solids, the invention proposes the use of the AOD (Argon Oxygen Decarburization) process in which oxygen and inert gas (inactive gas) together are blown into the bath through nozzles and top-blown onto the surface of the bath by a blowing lance. The aim of the treatment is to conclude a smelting charge within an optimal time period, to achieve the intended tapping temperature and composition, and to minimize chromium losses. This is achieved by a correspondingly applied technology and by means of a metallurgic process model which observes, prognosticates and controls the treatment of the smelting charge.
US07819939B1 Synthesis of nickel nanopowders
The invention relates to a method of making a nickel powder having an average particle size of less than about 100 nanometers, comprising contacting, at a temperature of about 50° C. to about 95° C., a reduction solution with a nickel solution to form a reaction mixture. The reduction solution comprises a base and a reducing agent. The nickel solution comprises a nickel compound water, a nucleation agent, a surfactant or dispersant, and combinations thereof. The yield of nickel nanoparticles is greater than about 90% relative to starting moles of nickel compound. The nickel powder is suitable for use in electronics applications and sintered metal applications.
US07819936B2 Filter felts and bag filters comprising blends of fibers derived from diamino diphenyl sulfone and heat resistant fibers
This invention relates to a filter felt and bag filters comprising an intimate staple fiber blend of 20 to 75 parts by weight polymeric staple fiber containing a polymer or copolymer derived from a monomer selected from the group consisting of 4,4′diaminodiphenyl sulfone, 3,3′diaminodiphenyl sulfone, and mixtures thereof; and 25 to 80 parts by weight of a heat resistant staple fiber selected from the group consisting on meta-aramid fiber, acrylic fiber, polyphenylene sulfide fiber, and para-aramid fiber; based on 100 parts by weight of the polymeric fibers and heat resistant fibers in the felt.
US07819929B2 Sealed battery and manufacturing method therefor
The present invention's manufacturing method for a sealed battery includes: a process whereby a sealed battery application electrode assembly 11 is formed that has multiple positive electrode substrate exposed portions 14 at one end and multiple negative electrode substrate exposed portions 15 at the other end; a process whereby the negative electrode collector 181 and negative electrode collector receiving part 183 are brought against both surfaces of the part to be welded on at least the negative electrode substrate exposed portions 15, with tape 23a constituted of thermodeposited resin and having an opening 231 in the center being interposed; and a process whereby resistance welding is effected by passing current between the negative electrode collector 181 and negative electrode collector receiving part 183 positioned at the two sides.
US07819925B2 Composite prosthetic bearing having a crosslinked articulating surface and method for making the same
An implantable prosthetic bearing is constructed of a composite material having a first layer and second layer. The first layer has an articulating surface defined therein, whereas the second layer has a engaging surface defined therein for engaging either another prosthetic component or the bone itself The first layer of the implantable prosthetic bearing is constructed of crosslinked polymer such as Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, whereas the second layer of the implantable prosthetic bearing is constructed of polymer such as Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene that is either non-crosslinked or crosslinked to a lesser degree than the first layer. In such a manner, the first layer possesses mechanical properties which are advantageous in regard to the articulating surface (e.g., enhanced wear and oxidation resistance), whereas the second layer possesses mechanical properties which are advantageous in regard to the engaging surface (e.g., high ductility, toughness, and creep resistance). A method of making a prosthetic bearing is also disclosed.
US07819923B2 Shoulder prosthesis
The present invention is directed to a modular shoulder prosthesis having an adjustable radial offset and/or angular inclination provided by relative rotation of an adapter interdisposed between the stem and the head. Specifically, the interface configuration between the stem and the adapter, as well as between the adapter and the head are designed such that relative positioning of these components provides a continuous adjustment in the radial offset and/or angular inclination. Indicia are provided at the interface between the adapter and the head to precisely determine the magnitude and direction of the adjustment being made.
US07819915B2 Heart valve holders and handling clips therefor
An improved holder, system and method for implanting a tissue-type prosthetic heart mitral valve that constricts the commissure posts of the valve and allows the user to detach the handle of the holder prior to withdrawing the holder itself. The ability to remove the handle allows a surgeon greater access to suturing the prosthetic valve to the mitral annulus. The holder may include two relatively movable plates, one of which attaches to the valve sewing on the inflow end of the valve ring and the other which attaches via sutures to the valve commissures on the outflow end. Separation of the plates places the sutures in tension and constricts the commissures. An adjusting member or adapter is interposed between the handle and holder to enable separation of the two plates and removal of the handle. The adjusting member or adapter may be packaged with the valve and holder combination, or may be sold as a separate unit, possibly with the handle, so that prior art holders can be retrofit. Removable storage and handling clips secure the holder and heart valve assembly within a storage jar during transportation. A kit of a number of identical storage and handling clips and holders for different diameter tissue-type prosthetic heart valves may be provided.
US07819892B2 Embolic coil delivery system with spring wire release mechanism
A medical device for placing an embolic device at a predetermined site within a vessel of the body including a delivery catheter and a flexible pusher member slidably disposed within the lumen of the catheter. An embolic device is retained within the delivery catheter by a mechanical interlocking mechanism which includes an engagement member attached to the distal end of the pusher member and extends through a retaining ring at the proximal end of the embolic device. A detachment member extends through an aperture at the distal end of the engagement member thereby locking the embolic device onto the pusher member. A kicker member which takes the form of a generally U-shaped wire spring which extends from the distal end of the pusher member and is biased so as to lift the retaining ring off of the engagement member to ensure the release of the embolic device when the detachment member is withdrawn from the aperture of the engagement member.
US07819887B2 Rotational thrombectomy wire
A rotatable thrombectomy wire for breaking up thrombus or other obstructive material comprising an inner core composed of a flexible material and an outer wire surrounding at least a portion of the inner core. The outer wire has a sinuous shaped portion at a distal region. The inner core limits the compressibility of the outer wire. The outer wire is operatively connectable at a proximal end to a motor for rotating the wire to macerate thrombus.
US07819881B2 Segmented joint distractor
A method of separating two articulating surfaces of a joint is provided. The method includes providing a distractor having a series of generally spheroidal members. The method also includes inserting the distractor into the joint, and moving the distractor to separate the two articulating surfaces.
US07819873B1 Method and apparatus for fixation of surgical instruments
A fixation pin, surgical assembly and method of fixing a cutting guide to a bone. The fixation pin includes a body having an interference portion which engages the wall of a hole in bone, a tip and a tool mating section. The surgical assembly includes an instrument for engaging the selected bone and a fixation pin operably interconnected with the instrument to engage the selected bone. Methods of fixing an instrument with a fixation pin are included. An incision is made to expose a bone. The instrument and fixation pin are interconnected and the assembly is mounted relative to a surgical site. The fixation pin is positioned in a rotationally fixed manner at a select position relative to the instrument to hold the instrument against the bone.
US07819871B2 Side-port sheath for catheter placement and translation
Side-port sheaths for catheter placement and translation are disclosed. The sheaths include a side-port opening through which a gliding catheter may be deployed during diagnosis or treatment of tissue. The side-port sheath may include a suspension ribbon used to deploy, or that aids in the deployment of, the embedded gliding catheter. The suspension ribbon may be slideably or fixably engaged with an outer surface of the sheath of the gliding catheter.
US07819870B2 Tissue contact and thermal assessment for brush electrodes
System and methods are disclosed for tissue contact and thermal assessment, e.g. for tissue ablation procedures. An exemplary brush electrode comprises a plurality of flexible filaments adapted to transfer electrical energy to a tissue. At least one piezoelectric sensor is embedded among the plurality of flexible filaments. The at least one piezoelectric sensor is responsive to contact stress of the flexible filaments by generating electrical signals corresponding to the amount of contact stress. An output device is electrically connected to the at least one piezoelectric sensor. The output device receives the electrical signal for assessing tissue contact by the flexible filaments. The brush electrode may further comprise a sensing device mounted adjacent the at least one piezoelectric sensor, wherein the sensing device is a pressure sensor, a thermistor, a thermocouple, or an ultrasound sensor.
US07819866B2 Ablation catheter and electrode
An ablation catheter including a shaft supporting one or more partially or completely exposed braided electrodes that may be positioned against a target tissue to ablate the tissue. The shaft may be precurved in a loop-like shape or any other shape to assist in positioning the electrode against a target tissue. The shaft may include a fluid lumen to direct a fluid material, which may be conductive, through one or more apertures or ports. The ports are adapted to direct the fluid past portions of the braided electrode to cool the electrode, flush blood away from the electrode, and to transfer ablation energy to the target tissue. Ablation energy may be delivered directly by the electrode and by way of a conductive fluid contacting the electrode. The shaft may further include a second lumen to provide a housing for a control wire that may be used to control the shape of the shaft.
US07819864B2 Electrosurgery devices
Devices for electrosurgery by means of oxy-hydro combustion. Deleterious effects to tissue are minimized by means of control of acid-base shift reactions, which reactions can further be employed to control oxy-hydro combustion reactions. In one embodiment, radiofrequency energy in electrical connection with electrodes is employed to induce electrolysis in an aqueous salt environment, thereby producing oxygen and hydrogen, with the same energy source employed to initiate a combustion reaction.
US07819855B2 Catheter for modification of agent formulation
The present invention provides a catheter for use in delivering formulation that allows modification of the formulation prior to or concomitant with its transport or at a delivery site. The catheter comprises an elongate body, which defines an inner lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a modifying element, which provides for modification of one or more components of a formulation prior to or concomitant with release at the delivery site.
US07819852B2 Sanitary napkin for clean body benefit
An absorbent article capable of reliably achieving an improved body-fitting profile. The absorbent article includes a fluid permeable facing layer having a first elastic modulus and an absorbent core joined to the facing layer, the absorbent core having a second elastic modulus, wherein at equal strain from about 1% to about 5% the first elastic modulus is greater than the second elastic modulus, and a fluid impermeable backsheet joined to the facing layer.
US07819850B2 Ostomy appliance and a compacted bag
An ostomy appliance is provided having a receiving member and a disposable bag liner, as well as a method for producing a compacted inner bag liner, and a method for applying such an ostomy appliance. The inner bag is compacted lengthwise while twisting a bottom part in relation to a rim, with the method including the manner of compacting the same.
US07819841B2 Vessel isolation device
The device utilizes a reversibly expandable body partially covered by a blood impermeable sleeve. The device has a low profile collapsed state for delivery and a expanded state for deployment. The impermeable sleeve extends from a proximal portion to a distal portion of the expandable body and generally follows the contour of the expandable body. When deployed, the device is configured in the expanded state and has a generally hourglass, or dumbbell shape. In the expanded state, portions of the sleeve adjacent to the proximal and distal portions are placed in apposition to a vessel wall and blood is free to flow through the expandable body via inlets and outlets provided in the proximal and distal portions. As a result, an isolated treatment space is created that surrounds the device between the vessel wall and the blood impermeable sleeve adjacent to the neck portion of the expandable body.
US07819837B2 Device for controlling flow rate of aspirated fluids
A flow control device includes a housing having a motor chamber and a pump chamber. The motor chamber has an outlet for communication with a fluid collection device, and an inlet for communication with an aspiration line through which fluids are delivered into the motor chamber. First and second motor rotors are rotatably disposed in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet in the motor chamber, and a drive shaft is coupled to the first motor rotor. The pump chamber has an outlet for infusing fluid to a surgical site, and an inlet through which infusion fluids are delivered into the pump chamber. First and second pump rotors are rotatably disposed in a flow path between the inlet and the outlet in the pump chamber, where the first pump rotor is coupled to the drive shaft. The drive shaft drives the pump rotors at the same speed as the motor rotors, such that any surge in aspiration flow induces a similar surge in infusion flow.
US07819830B2 Knee brace with mechanical advantage closure system
An orthopedic knee orthosis having a closure unit with a pull system that provides a mechanical advantage for applying user-desired forces to the knee joint structures and yet permits the knee joint to move within a range of motion during activity by the user. A method of using the orthopedic knee orthosis by placing the orthosis over a user's knee, wrapping the orthosis around the user's knee, and tightening the orthosis to apply user-defined forces to the knee joint structures.
US07819822B2 Body fluid sampling device
Body fluid sampling device comprising a skin-piercing element having a collection zone for receiving body fluid, and the device further comprising a fluid receiving means remote spaced apart from the collection zone so that body fluid in the collection zone will not contact the fluid receiving means initially. The collection zone takes up a very small volume of body fluid of about 10 to 500 nl in a very short time period of less than 0.5 seconds. The fluid receiving means may have a test zone for performing an analytical reaction. Fluid sample from the collection zone is automatically or manually transported to the fluid receiving means to contact the fluid with the test zone.
US07819816B2 Periodic disordered breathing detection
Systems and methods are directed to evaluating breathing disorders, such as periodic disordered breathing. A signal representative of patient respiration is developed, typically patient-internally. An envelope of the signal is provided. Periodicity of the envelope is detected, and presence and severity of periodic disordered breathing is determined based on the periodicity of the envelope.
US07819812B2 Modulation and analysis of cerebral perfusion in epilepsy and other neurological disorders
A system including an implantable neurostimulator device capable of modulating cerebral blood flow to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders. In one embodiment, the system is capable of modulating cerebral blood flow (also referred to as cerebral perfusion) in response to measurements and other observed conditions. Perfusion may be increased or decreased by systems and methods according to the invention as clinically required.
US07819800B2 Fully automated iris seal for hand assisted laparoscopic surgical procedures
A laparoscopic device assembly provides a tubular diaphragm twist seal that responds to a slight rotation of an actuating ring in a first direction by coupling a motor spring power assisted rotation of a bottom circumference of the twist seal achieves a pneumatic seal in an adjustable access channel defined by the state of the twist seal for maintaining an insufflated body cavity for a hand assisted laparoscopic surgical procedure. A slight rotation of the actuating ring in an opposite second direction releases compression spring energy and energy in the twisted state of the twist seal so that an upper circumference of the twist seal is allowed to open the adjustable access channel.
US07819799B2 System and method for controlling force applied to and manipulation of medical instruments
Apparatus for controlling force applied to and for manipulation of a surgical instrument. Movement and/or forces applied to the surgical instrument are preferably sensed within the apparatus. An actuator is preferably used to apply force to the surgical instrument for control and manipulation of the instrument. The apparatus applies variable force feedback to apply force to the surgical instrument in one or more degrees of freedom to provide an enhanced haptic experience to the user.
US07819789B2 Exercise handle and methods of use
An exercise handle for use with a cord and a method for the use thereof, the handle having a channel portion having at least two channel ends that are positioned non-diametrically relative to each other on the channel portion, the channel portion being rounded relative to a center point; a channel being fashioned on the channel portion, the channel being adapted to receive the cord; a grip portion being positioned between the at least two channel portion ends in an off-center relationship to the center point of the channel portion.
US07819781B1 Methods and apparatus for improved isolated musculature training
Devices and methods providing for improved training of isolated regions of the human physiological system are disclosed and described herein. The devices and methods provide isolated training of muscle groups that may be transferrable to the sport of cycling or other athletic activities. An exercise apparatus is disclosed to enable training. In an embodiment, the exercise apparatus includes a front portion adapted to provide a vertically supported hand support assembly. The apparatus further includes a back portion adapted to be coupled to the front portion. The back portion is constructed to present an exercise support member with at least one exercise support surface adapted to receive an exercise ball such that a user may grip at least one gripping member presented by the hand support assembly and position him or herself upon the exercise ball to perform exercises according to various aspects of the invention described herein.
US07819773B2 Automatic transmission for a vehicle
An output side transfer member 103 of a second clutch C-2 extends around the outer circumferences of the output side transfer members 101, 102 of the third and first clutches C-3, C-1, the output side transfer member 104 (or 13, 101) of a fourth clutch C-4 and the output side transfer member 101 of a third clutch C-3 are linked to a sun gear S2, the output side transfer member 104 (or 13, 101) of a fourth clutch C-4, an output side transfer member 101 of a third clutch C-3, and a sun gear S2, which rotate integrally, are disposed radially inward with respect to the output side transfer member 102 of the first clutch C-1. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the diameter of the output side transfer member 104 (or 13, 101) of the fourth clutch C-4, to reduce the weight and inertia, and to improve the controllability of the automatic transmission 1.
US07819771B2 Asymmetrical, active axle transmission
The invention relates to an asymmetrical, active axle transmission with an epicyclic gear system, which is arranged concentrically to a side shaft (7) and has a planet carrier (17). To achieve an active yaw function, the planet carrier (17) or the central wheel (13) can be braked.Conventional asymmetrical active yaw gears use in this connection two separate brake clutches. This enlarges the construction space and increases the manufacturing costs which the invention avoids in that the planet carrier (17) is part of a first brake coupling (5) and that a second brake clutch (9) for braking the side shaft (7) as well as the first brake clutch (5) use a common abutment lamella (19).
US07819770B2 Oscillating internally meshing planetary gear system
An oscillating internally meshing planetary gear system is provided in order to improve basic performance and reduce cost at the same time. The oscillating internally meshing planetary gear system has an internal gear and external gears internally meshing with the internal gear and is configured such that one of the external gears and the internal gear is oscillatingly rotated by means of eccentric bodies formed in an input shaft (eccentric body shaft). The system includes: a sliding motion-facilitating member intervening between an outer periphery of the eccentric body and the oscillating gear; and an eccentric body shaft bearing supporting the eccentric body shaft. In addition to this, the eccentric body shaft bearing and the sliding motion-facilitating member have the same configuration.
US07819769B2 Vehicle driveline component having heat sink for increased heat rejection capabilities
An axle assembly that includes an axle housing assembly, a differential disposed in the axle housing assembly, an input pinion, a pair of axle shafts and a heat sink. The input pinion is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is configured to transmit a rotary input to the differential. The axle shafts are coupled to the differential and housed in the axle housing assembly. The heat sink is coupled to the axle housing assembly and is formed of a material having a thermal conductivity that is greater than that of the axle housing assembly. The heat sink does not consist entirely of a chrome plating, a zinc plating or a cadmium plating. A cover for an axle assembly is also provided.
US07819762B2 Golf training aid
A golfer training aid for use in teaching a golfer how to square up the face of the golf club at impact resulting in golf shots having substantial accuracy. The device is a one-piece or multi-piece flat-face practice golf ball. The one-piece or multi-piece practice golf ball is shaped with a flat face 2 on one side. (FIG. 1B). The flat face has a 90-degree or right angle cut 4 to the radial portion or circular embodiment 3 of the semi-sphere 1. The importance of this unique feature is that it enables the golfer to position the flat side of the club face with the flat face of the practice golf ball and contact the ball flush and correctly.The flat face practice golf ball helps teach the golfer to hit a variety of controlled fades and a variety of controlled draws, a straight shot, as well as a backspin or descending blow, or a flop shot. These controlled shots are accomplished by rotating the practice ball's flat face to a desired angle and degree of openness depending on which direction the golfer chooses to target his or her golf shot. This flat face feature takes all the guesswork out of the mechanics of the golf swing by enabling the golfer to match the flat side of the club face with the flat face of the practice golf ball resulting in the golfer's ability to square up the face of the golf club at impact, regardless of his or her desired target.
US07819756B2 Golf club head
This invention provides a golf club head including a plurality of score lines on the face. The golf club head includes a plurality of striations formed on the face and extending from a toe side to a heel side. The cross-sectional shape of each of the striations is a triangle asymmetric with regard to a virtual center line in the width direction, and the smallest interior angle among three interior angles of the triangle is placed at the sole side of the golf club head. A depth D from the face to the deepest portion of each of the striation satisfies 10 μm≦D≦40 μm.
US07819751B2 Torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus
A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus includes a first component member, a second component member, a third component member being movable relative to at least either one of the first component member and the second component member, an elastic member biasing the third component member in a direction to contact either one of the first component member and the second component member, and a pressing generating mechanism for generating pressing force in an identical direction to the direction of the biasing force by the elastic member when the third component member moves relative to at least either one of the first component member and the second component member.
US07819748B2 Game apparatus and storage medium storing game program
A display section 12 covered with a touch panel 13 displays a character image C on a display screen. Structure data of a character in which a plurality of bones B are joined together with joints J, and polygon data Po for each portion of the character C corresponding to each bone B, are stored. The character image is displayed on the display screen based on the structure data, the polygon data Po, and a position of the character C. Position data corresponding to touch operation input data is calculated, and an angle of a joint J of the character C corresponding to the position data is changed. Thereafter, the character C is drawn and displayed on the display screen while changing a portion whose joint angle is changed, in real time, in accordance with the angle.
US07819747B2 Method and apparatus for conducting a game of chance
A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type game. A result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in another medium. In one example, the result is revealed during multiple game instances of one or more online games. In one example, the online game includes a dice game in which the result is revealed. In another example, the dice game is coupled with a second level game in which at least a portion of the result is revealed.
US07819745B2 Gaming system which provides multiple players multiple bonus awards
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. Upon a suitable triggering event at a triggering gaming device in the gaming system a bonus event occurs. When the bonus event occurs, the players actively playing each auxiliary gaming device in the gaming system are each provided a chance to participate in the bonus event as well. Each remaining gaming device's chance of participating in the bonus event is based on the individual accumulated bonus event pool for that gaming device.
US07819738B2 Lottery game based on letter puzzles
A system and method for a lottery game. The game includes a plurality of puzzles, where each puzzle is a concatenation of characters including letters, wherein some characters are missing from each puzzle. A player selects a set of characters from a predefined set of characters and if the select set of characters includes a solution for at least one puzzle, the player may receive a prize.
US07819732B2 Image generation system, program, and information storage medium
An image generation system performs a specific pattern determination process of determining the combination pattern of a puzzle block and other puzzle blocks each time the placement of the puzzle block in a display area is determined, and setting an erasing target block when a specific pattern has been formed, and a chain determination process of determining whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied after the erasing target block has been set, and repeatedly performs the chain determination process until the predetermined condition becomes not satisfied in the chain determination process. The image generation system performs an erasing process of erasing the erasing target block from a game space when the predetermined condition becomes not satisfied in the chain determination process.
US07819726B2 Rotary piston pump
A rotary piston pump includes a stator defining a cylindrical cavity, a rotor or barrel housed in said cylindrical cavity, able to be driven in rotation by a motor. The rotor includes an array of bores spaced circumferentially wherein pistons are mounted. The pump has a mechanical cam cooperating with the pistons in order to provoke movement of said pistons between a low position and a high position, a lid closing the cylindrical cavity, a feeding orifice coming into communication with at least one cylindrical chamber, a hopper, a discharging orifice simultaneously in communication with at least two consecutive chambers, and vacuuming means for vacuuming cylindrical chambers for filling. The vacuuming means includes at least one vacuuming channel connecting to the lower part of each cylindrical chamber able to vacuum by the bottom each chamber by the vacuuming channel therewith when the piston associated therewith is in lower position.
US07819722B2 Apparatus and method for manufacturing abrasive tools
A compression molding apparatus and method for the manufacture of abrasive layers for abrasive tooling which provides a compression mold space defined between an inflexible wall surface and a flexible wall surface. The apparatus and method of the present invention is particularly well suited to making annular or hollow cylindrical shaped abrasive layers of novel configurations during a single mold cycle useful for grinding wheel and the like, as well as other shapes such as laps, wherein the flexible wall expanded with fluid pressure provides a highly uniform distribution of pressure against the surface of the mold composition being formed. In an annular configuration, the flexible wall is used to radially direct pressure against a molding composition disposed in an annular configuration wherein the axial length of the annular mold shape formed may be many times greater than priorly obtained by the prior art means.
US07819716B2 Organic electroluminescent element and the manufacturing method
A manufacturing method of an organic electroluminescent element is provided. The method includes forming an insulator layer between pattern-formed pixel electrodes on a substrate, and forming a hole transport layer by printing hole transport ink, having a hole transport material dissolved in a solvent, on the pixel electrodes between the insulator layers by relief printing, wherein the hole transport ink includes 3,4-polyethylen dihydroxy thiophen (PEDOT), and monohydric alcohol and dihydric alcohol as solvents.
US07819708B2 Receptacle contact for improved mating characteristics
A first contact beam of a receptacle contact may define an indentation and a second contact beam may define a protrusion such that the protrusion may at least partially extend into the indentation. The protrusion may extend across the center of the receptacle contacts, and therefore the normal force created by each contact beam may be exerted against the normal force created by the other contact beam. Thus, rotation of a blade contact inserted into the receptacle contact may be reduced or eliminated. The contact beams of the receptacle contact may each include a formed area placed at different locations on the receptacle contact. A blade contact may overcome the normal force and mechanical resistance of a formed area of one of the contact beams before being confronted by the normal force and mechanical resistance of the other beam's formed area.
US07819699B2 Electrical connector assembly having improved substrate
An electrical connector assembly has an insulative housing (2) defining a number of receiving spaces (24) and a number of contact modules (4) inserted in the receiving spaces. Each contact module comprises a first substrate (41) having a pair of substrate halves (411), and a pair of conductive units respectively mounted on corresponding substrate halves. The first substrate has a number of circuit traces formed thereon and one electronic component (415) disposed on one substrate half. The circuit traces is electrically connected with the pair of conductive units and the electronic component. The pair of conductive units share the electronic component commonly via the circuit traces.
US07819689B2 Electrical connector assembly with pick up cap alternatively attached to a housing or a cover
An electrical connector assembly (100) for electrically connecting a CPU to a PCB, comprises an insulating housing (30), a metal frame (40) receiving the insulating housing, a metal cover (20) moveably assembled on the metal frame, a lever (50) rotatablely arranged on the metal frame to engage the metal cover with the metal frame. The insulating housing and the metal cover having several locking elements (31,21,22), a pick up cap having several latches (11,12) and capable of attaching on the insulating housing or metal cover alternatively in different periods through by the latches engaging with the locking elements.
US07819687B2 Electrical connector with fastening structure
An electrical connector (100) comprises an insulative housing (30) having a plurality of terminals receiving therein; a stiffener (50) surrounding the insulative housing (30); a clip (60) and a lever (70) pivotally assembled to the stiffener (50). The stiffener (50) comprises a main portion (502) defining an opening (503) for receiving the insulative housing (30) and some through holes (516) at corners thereof. The electrical connector (100) further comprises a plurality of gaskets (80) retained on a peripheres of the through holes (516) of the stiffener (50).
US07819686B2 Burn-in socket
A burn-in socket, for electrically connecting an IC package to a print circuit board, includes a base, a lid assembled upon the base and being movable up and down relative to the base and a latch pivotally linking to the base by a first shaft thereof. The latch defines a through hole which receives a second shaft pivotally linking to the lid. When being brought by the lid, the second shaft moves up and down in the through hole and drives the latch to rotate.
US07819684B2 Electrical connector having a positioning protrusion with various thickness
An electrical connector for accepting an edge of a circuit board having a notch and a plurality of circuit board electrical contacts disposed on the edge is disclosed. The electrical connector has an insulative housing that accepts the edge of the circuit board. A positioning protrusion is formed on the insulative housing and is at least partially receivable within the notch of the edge of the circuit board. A plurality of contacts are carried by the insulative housing and contact the circuit board electrical contacts. The positioning protrusion has a lower portion that is less than or the same thickness as a width of the notch, an upper portion that is thicker than the width of the notch, and a middle portion connecting the upper portion and lower portion, where the middle portion having a thickness that changes symmetrically.
US07819681B1 Thermally efficient busway joint pack
A busway joint pack includes a pair of opposing phase connector plates, a first insulating sheet, a second insulating sheet, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The busway joint pack passively transfers thermal energy generated in its core to an exterior housing such that the thermal energy is dissipated or transferred to the surrounding environment, which reduces the internal temperature of the joint pack. The first and the second insulating sheets are positioned and selected with a particular thermal resistance and dimensions such that a portion of the thermal energy generated in the core of the busway joint pack is transferred from the pair of opposing phase connector plates to the external housing.
US07819676B1 Electrical power distribution system
An electrical power distribution system that can provide power to load equipment at any point along its length includes two main components: a power track housing assembly with current carrying conductors that can be mounted to the wall, ceiling or under the floor, and a plug-in power tap. The power track housing assembly includes a housing, insulators, and two or multiple conductors. In order to increase the housing assembly length, the housing assembly is preferably arranged such that multiple housing assemblies can be spliced together using cam operated splicing assemblies that form straight, “90 degree” and/or “T” splices to configure the system to match the equipment arrangement, and that allow all conductors in respective housing assemblies to be connected to each other simultaneously. The plug-in power taps also employ a system such as a shaft-cam mechanism that allows the assemblies to be electrically connected to all phase conductors within the power track housing assembly simultaneously. In addition, the power taps may include circuit breakers or other protective devices, and/or other sub-modules.
US07819672B2 Electrical connecting apparatus with inclined probe recess surfaces
An electrical connecting apparatus comprises a housing having a first recess extending in a first direction in a horizontal plane, opened downward, and having at least a backside inward surface and a plurality of slits spaced in the first direction and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the horizontal plane, a plurality of contacts each arranged in the housing in a state of extending inside the slit from within the first recess and electrically connecting a conductive portion provided on a board to an electrode of a device under test, and a probe holder arranged in the first recess. The backside inward surface of the first recess includes an inclined portion inclined to both the horizontal plane and a vertical plane vertical to it in a state of being further to the front side towards the upper side, and each contact abuts on the inclined portion at least at part of the back end. Thus, slip of the contact against the conductive portion is reduced.
US07819664B2 Wind tunnel for training parachutists
A wind tunnel is provided usable for training of sportsmen-parachutists and entertainment purposes. The tunnel comprises a channel, including sequentially arranged and interconnected components: an input confusor, a first working zone, an intermediate confusor, and a second working zone. The working zones are shaped as diffusers, having different longitudinal flow speed gradients, so that the working zone having the lesser longitudinal speed gradient is shorter, whereas the working zone having the greater longitudinal speed gradient is longer. A honeycomb is arranged between the working zones. The entrances and exits of the working zones are equipped with safety nets. The structural design of the tunnel makes it possible to simultaneously train parachutists for team acrobatics and artistic types of parachuting under conditions, maximally adapted to a given type of training, thereby improving a training quality and substantially increasing the tunnel's cost effectiveness.
US07819663B2 Preparation for producing a material used to restore a mineralised substance, particularly in the dental field
A preparation contains an aqueous liquid part, a solid part comprising at least one silicate selected from tricalcium silicate Ca2SiO5 and dicalcium silicate Ca2SiO4; and calcium chloride CaCl2 and a water reducing agent which are both contained in at least one of the aforementioned parts. According to the invention, the solid part and the liquid part are intended to be mixed in order to obtain the material. The preparation can be used to restore a mineralized substance, particularly in the dental field.
US07819661B2 Orthodontic appliance and method
An orthodontic appliance for realigning one or more teeth in the intra oral cavity of a subject, includes a base having formed therein one or more guiding cells arranged to fit over a preselected tooth sought to be realigned from an initial position to a final position, each said guiding cell including a guiding structure defining a predetermined trajectory specific to the preselected tooth, along which the tooth is sought to be moved from the initial position thereof to the final position thereof; and apparatus, arranged within each guiding cell, for urging a predetermined tooth along its trajectory.
US07819659B2 System for organizing dental aligners
A system for organizing dental aligners for a subject includes a plurality of dental aligners configured to move the subject's teeth at different steps of an orthodontic treatment and one or more connectors (including frangible connectors) configured to connect a plurality of dental aligners in an order that is consistent with the sequence in which the dental aligners are to be used by the subject in the orthodontic treatment.
US07819658B2 Heat treatment system and method therefore
Disclosed herein is a vertical heat treatment system capable of simplifying the structure of various mechanisms in the vicinity of an opening which is formed in a partition wall separating a housing-box transfer area from a treating-object transfer area (a wafer transfer area), and of contributing to space saving, when an object to be treated is carried in the vertical heat treatment system through the opening to carry out a predetermined treatment. In a vertical heat treatment system for carrying an object W to be treated, which is housed in a treating-object housing box closed by an opening/closing lid, in a treating-object transfer area via an opening, which is formed in a partition wall 26 separating a housing-box transfer area for transferring the treating-object housing box from the treating-object transfer area 46 in an atmosphere of an inert gas, to carry out a predetermined treatment, a standby box transfer means is provided in the housing-box transfer area for holding a treating-object housing box, which houses therein the next object to be carried in the treating-object transfer area, in the vicinity of the opening to cause the treating-object housing box to stand by.
US07819653B2 Light transmissive stamper
Provided is a light transmissive stamper which does not generate a residue of a curable resin even when the stamper including a support substrate and an inorganic resist is used to mold a substrate. The light transmissive stamper is used when an information pattern of an optical recording medium is formed using a curable resin. The light transmissive stamper includes a light transmissive support substrate, a light transmissive inorganic resist layer having an uneven pattern corresponding to an information pattern formed therein, and a peeling layer provided on a side surface of the light transmissive stamper and having a higher peelability from the curable resin than a peelability from the light transmissive support substrate.
US07819636B2 Air pump with improved air intake control structure
An air pump operably by a motor to pump air is disclosed to include a body, an airbag unit, which is mounted in the body has multiple airbags each having an air chamber and an air inlet, a lifting mechanism rotatable by the motor to move the airbags to pump air, a plurality of air intake control valves movably set between the air inlet of each airbag and respective air inlets of the lifting mechanism to control the air passage between the air inlet of each airbag and the air inlets of the lifting mechanism subject to the operation status of the airbags, and an exhaust structure coupled to the airbag unit for exhaust of air from the airbags.
US07819632B2 Turbo machine with a rotor which has at least one rotor disk with a bore
The invention relates to a rotor disk for the rotor of a non-positive displacement machine with at least one borehole extending in an axial direction. The aim of the invention is to provide a rotor disk for a non-positive displacement machine that has an increased serviceable life. To this end, the boring extends in an at least partially convex manner whereby having an enlarged diameter in the middle area in order to increase internal compressive stress an to reduce tangential stresses.
US07819624B2 Suspension system
A suspension system for suspending an apparatus is disclosed. The suspension system includes at least one suspension element mountable between the apparatus and a support. The at least one suspension element includes a laminate material having at least one metal layer and at least one elastomer layer laminated thereon.
US07819623B2 Clearance control apparatus
A clearance control apparatus for controlling the clearance between a rotary assembly (17) and a casing (24) surrounding the rotary assembly (17) is disclosed. The clearance control apparatus comprises a temperature measuring device (34) to measure the temperature of a radially outer portion of the rotary assembly and a cooling arrangement (28) to cool the casing (24). A control system (36) is associated with the temperature measuring device (34) and the cooling arrangement (28) to control the extent of cooling of the casing (24). The extent of cooling is dependent upon the temperature of the aforesaid portion.
US07819621B2 Method and apparatus for separating rod-shaped bodies
In order to separate rod-shaped bodies from a bundle of bodies, the surface of an uppermost body in the bundle is determined in a separation apparatus by a sensor, which body is then seized laterally of the sensor by a first gripper and is vertically lifted, whereupon a further gripper engages under said body, laterally of the first gripper unit. The further gripper is then moved to the other end region of the body, with the body being lifted out of the bundle. Next, said body is moved to a deposition location by both grippers.
US07819615B2 Method and apparatus for finishing sheets for a bound document
A method of finishing a plurality of sheets for a bound document. The method comprises accumulating a stack of sheets at a first position, scoring the sheets at the first position, and outputting the stack of scored sheets from the first position.
US07819612B2 Parking device
A parking device comprises a trolley, two guide rails located on the trolley, shanks on each of the guide rails and a drive unit located on the trolley, in which, numbers of round transmission bodies are arranged adjacently and alternately between the inner side of the shanks, the transmission bodies are strung as an array and each of the arrays coupled with the shanks by a shaft respectively, furthermore, whether the odd arrays or the even arrays of the transmission bodies are strung and coupled with the shanks. As a result, the clearance resulting from the sedate array is filled up by the alternated spaced array of the transmission bodies, while the two opposite sides of the transmission bodies from the forked butt joint in the ends. Therefore, the parking device stabilizes the transmission of the car and shortens the transmission time.
US07819606B2 Protective apparatus for a roadway marker
A side guard for a roadway marker comprising an elongated rail member having a top and a bottom. A rooting pin extending from the bottom of the rail member. The rooting pin having a laterally open recess.
US07819602B2 Ring binder mechanism
A ring binder has housing including a central portion and lateral sides. Hinge plates are held between the lateral sides of the housing. Each of multiple rings includes at least one ring member mounted for movement with the hinge plates between closed and open positions. The mechanism has an actuator mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing and engageable with the hinge plates for opening rings. In one embodiment, the housing defines a stop engaged by the actuator upon arrival of the actuator at a terminal position when the actuator has opened the rings. The engagement between the surface of the actuator and the stop limits pivoting movement of the actuator relative to the housing in the opening direction beyond the terminal position. In another embodiment, the actuator is constructed for quicker response of the binder to movement of the actuator to open the rings.
US07819590B2 Ferrule for an evanescence field sensor line
A ferrule for an evanescence field sensor line is specified that has a lower part and a correspondingly attachable upper part. The upper and lower parts respectively have a recess substantially in the shape of a half shell in such a way that in the assembled state a guide tube is formed for holding an optical wavelength in a fashion enclosing the end face. A number of geometric structures for locally fixing the optical wavelength are respectively arranged in the recesses. Furthermore, a pressure sensor having such a ferrule is specified that contains an optical wavelength configured for pressure acquisition by influencing the assigned evanescence field, and at least one optoelectronic module. The ferrule is assigned to the optoelectronic module.
US07819582B2 Container blank and container made thereof
The invention relates to a container blank (1) comprising a bottom-forming wall (3) and two opposite side walls (2), said walls (2, 3) being joined along boundary lines (9, 10, 13). The container blank is characterised in that intersections (A, B, C, D) between a front boundary line (9) and respectively a rear boundary line (10) and an upper portion (5) and a bottom portion (7) constitute corners of a parallelogram having an angle of inclination ((x) relative to the longitudinal axis (L) of the container blank (1). The front boundary angle which is acute towards the bottom portion (7). The front boundary line (9) and the intermediate boundary line (13) give the central portion (6) an essentially symmetrical shape along the longitudinal axis (L) of the container blank (1). The invention also relates to a container (21) which is produced by filling of such a container blank (1).
US07819579B2 Radiation sensing device and holder
A system for holding and aligning a radiation sensing device is described. The system includes a radiation sensing device having a sensor engagement member. The system also includes a holder having a retention member including first and second retention guides connected with opposing ends of a back plate. The first retention guide also includes a complementary holder engagement member configured to mate with the sensor engagement member at a preset position.
US07819562B2 Integral reflector lamp assembly
An integral HID reflector lamp may be formed with an HID held in a reflector. An inner element is mechanically coupled to the reflector. The inner element is formed with a first mechanical coupling to mate with the reflector, a second mechanical coupling to mate with a circuit board, and an electrical coupling to at least electrically couple one of the leads to the circuit board. A circuit board has an edge mechanically coupled to the inner element and electrically connected to the leads by an electrical coupling on the inner element. A heat sink spans at least one side of the circuit board and forming an EMI shielding. An outer cover encloses the heat sink, circuit board, and inner element and coupled to the assembly of the reflector, HID lamp, inner element, and heat sink with each elements of the assembly clipped together.
US07819551B2 Light source mounting system and method
A mounting system and method for a light source includes a light source support structure. The light source support structure positions the light source with respect to a source of electrical power which, when connected to the light source, will cause the light source to emit light energy. Further included in the mounting system and method of present invention is a mounting for a pair of electrical contacts which enable connection between the source of electrical power and the light source. Still further included in mounting system is a heat sink which is attachable to the light source support structure for conducting heat energy away from the light source.
US07819550B2 Collection optics for led array with offset hemispherical or faceted surfaces
An array of LEDs (30) is provided having a lens array (34) for collecting divergent light from each LED (30). Each lens (34) in the array is associated with a respective LED (30) and has a compound shape including a curved surface (40) that may be spherical or may have an offset aspherical shape. The curved surfaces (40) are centered about each side of its associated LED (30). The lens (34) may alternatively include faceted surfaces (46) that approximate the curved lens surface.
US07819549B2 High efficiency light source using solid-state emitter and down-conversion material
A light emitting apparatus includes a source of light for emitting light; a down conversion material receiving the emitted light, and converting the emitted light into transmitted light and backward transmitted light; and an optic device configured to receive the backward transmitted light and transfer the backward transmitted light outside of the optic device. The source of light is a semiconductor light emitting diode, a laser diode (LD), or a resonant cavity light emitting diode (RCLED). The down conversion material includes one of phosphor or other material for absorbing light in one spectral region and emitting light in another spectral region. The optic device, or lens, includes light transmissive material.
US07819548B1 Protective sleeve combination for tubes of fluorescent bulbs
A safety sleeve apparatus comprises a safety sleeve encapsulating a fluorescent tube for protecting the fluorescent tube from physical damage and for preventing the tube from sliding out of the sleeve and breaking if the sleeve is tilted from the horizontal during installation of the tube into a pair of lamp sockets. The sleeve protects the tube from damage if the sleeve is struck by a hard object, and creates an airspace around the tube to protect the tube from cold and prevent the escape of fragments from a broken tube. The sleeve has a greater inside diameter than the outside diameter of the tube. An end cap is mounted on each end of the sleeve, and the end cap includes a cylindrical ring extending upright from the edges of a flat end wall. Projections are included in the cylindrical ring and the projections attach to the slots in the ends of the sleeve.
US07819545B2 Outdoor solar decorative lights
An outdoor solar powered decorative lighting system includes a light string having a plurality of light bulbs evenly spaced along the length of the string and being electrically connected to a roof mounted solar collector having one or more solar panels or cells for collecting sunlight—radiant energy—from the sun and which is then conveyed to a rechargeable battery enclosed within the solar collector for discharge to provide the power to illuminate the light bulbs and thus create the decorative lighting effect with the solar collector including a switch to automatically turn the light bulbs on at dusk and to switch the light bulbs off at the following sunrise.
US07819543B2 Optical unit, backlight device, liquid crystal module and liquid crystal display apparatus
An optical unit for use in a backlight device of a liquid crystal display apparatus, has a first light-collecting and -diffusing optical component, a light-collecting optical component, and a second light-collecting and -diffusing optical component, provided in this order on the optical path of light emitted from a light source. Each light-collecting and -diffusing optical component has a surface provided on which are a plurality of microlenses each having a shape of a hemisphere- or semi-oval-like protrusion, with light collecting and diffusing functions. The light-collecting optical component has a surface provided on which are a plurality of prisms each having a saw-teeth like section, with a light collecting function. Each surface is provided on a light-emitting side of the optical unit.
US07819542B2 Planar illumination light source device and planar illumination light device using the planar illumination light source device
The present invention provides a planar illumination light source device by which uniform illumination light can be obtained over a wide area without increasing the thickness of LEDs in the radiation direction even when a highly directional light source such as LEDs is used, and a planar illumination device using this. The present invention includes a highly directional light source, a light guiding body having a radiation plane in a radiation direction of the light source, a casing that encloses the light source and seals planes other than the radiation plane of the light guiding body, inside reflection means provided in the entirety of the area between the casing and the light guiding body, and radiation side reflection means provided on the radiation plane and reflecting light from the light source at a prescribed ratio. A light emitting diode group consisting of one or a plurality of light emitting diodes is used as the highly directional light source.
US07819537B2 Flash unit
A flash unit for an image capturing device includes a main body and a flash tube. The main body has a light emitting surface, a light reflecting surface, and two opposite end surfaces. The light reflecting surface is formed with a light-reflective film. The main body is made of transparent material and defines a through hole running through the two end surfaces. The flash tube is received in the through hole.
US07819536B2 Projector lamp unit with air and light leakage prevention
With this projector, by forming in a lamp casing an aperture, for leading out a wire connected to an electrode terminal of a lamp, near that electrode terminal, and by fitting an insulating member which has an opening portion for leading out this wire, and a lid member which covers this opening portion, to this wire lead out aperture, even though the lamp casing is made from metal, still it is possible to ensure adequate clearances and creepage distances between the electrode terminal and the lamp casing. Furthermore it is possible to prevent light, or air which has been heated up, from leaking out from the wire lead out aperture.
US07819535B2 Projection apparatus and cover glass attaching structure
A projection apparatus includes a light source unit. The light source unit includes a light source, a cover glass that transmits light emitted from the light source, and a case that holds the light source and the cover glass. The projection apparatus forms and projects an image using the light exiting the light source unit. The case includes a front case made of metal that covers a front of the light source and an insulating member that is attachable to an inner side of the front case. The front case and the insulating member each include an opening that allows light emitted from the light source to exit and a fitting portion into which the cover glass is fitted, the fitting portion being provided around the opening.
US07819532B2 Projector
A projector includes a light source device, a light modulation device, and an exterior casing. The projector is arranged so as to be installed in a desktop mount position and a ceiling suspension position. The light source device includes an elliptic reflector having a nearly ellipsoidal reflection surface and converging and outputting a luminous flux radiated from a light source lamp in a certain direction, and a parallelizing lens that parallelizes the converged light of the elliptic reflector, and a lens supporting part that supports the parallelizing lens and makes a position of the parallelizing lens relative to the light source device main body changeable according to the position of the projector is provided.
US07819528B1 Table-free mounting system for slit lamp biomicroscope assembly
An apparatus providing a means for slit lamp biomicroscopes and similar opthalmological instruments to be accurately positioned and controlled without the need for a table base under the instrument, comprising an overhead assembly and mounting device which allows controlled movement and positioning of the slit lamp and associated illumination system in all three spatial axes. The overhead location of the support and movement mechanism combined with a joystick control on the instrument arm eliminates ergonomic obstacles allowing the instrument to be used when examining patients in wheelchairs and those affected by medical and anatomic restrictions.
US07819526B2 Fundus camera
The components of a fundus camera for observing an eye (11)—namely, an illumination device (1) to illuminate an image field of the eyeground (12) and an image recording device (14) onto which the eyeground (12) is projected by means of a projection device (10)—are positioned to be confocal. The illumination device (1) is so structured that a periodic light pattern is created against the eyeground (12) within the illuminated image field. Further, an offset medium is present to offset the pattern by less than one period. The image recording device (14) is connected to an evaluation unit (22) in order to combine at least three recordings illuminated with offset patterns into a single photograph. A single, unstructured, extremely sharply focused photograph of the eyeground (12) may thus be obtained.
US07819525B2 Automatic direct gaze detection based on pupil symmetry
The present invention provides a system and methods for direct gaze detection based on pupil symmetry. The system and methods work by first finding the user's eyes in a video camera image and measuring the symmetry of the pupil region. If this pupil region is close to round, the invention determines that the user is looking nearly directly or close to directly at the camera, or has direct gaze at the camera. This technique handles both eye motions and head motions (e.g., the gaze may shift with or without the head being turned).
US07819521B2 Modular printer system and print media dispenser
A hand-held modular printer system for printing a stored image. The printer system includes a memory module in which the image is stored; a printer module releasably interconnected with the memory module; and a print media dispenser module defining a print media outlet at one end thereof. The printer module has an elongate body defining an entry slot along one longitudinal side thereof and an exit slot along an opposite longitudinal side thereof. The printer module further includes a print media passage extending transversely through the elongate body, and a printer arranged across the print media passage. The print media dispenser is adapted to be releasably interconnected with the printer module along a longitudinal side thereof so that the print media outlet is in register with the entry slot, the dispenser module being configured to store a stack of sheets of print media and including a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a sheet of print media through the outlet and into the passage for printing. The print media dispenser is provided, adjacent the print media outlet and parallel thereto, with a channel-shaped socket. The channel-shaped socket adapted to releasably receive the elongate body of the printer module therein.
US07819519B2 Printing moving substrates
An ink jet printing apparatus for printing on a moving substrate (16) is described. The apparatus comprises ink jet printheads (4) for printing on a surface of the substrate, a plurality of rollers (12, 14) arranged to move the substrate (16) relative to the printheads (4), and a pressure source (22). The pressure source (22) is arranged to apply a negative gauge pressure (32) to the substrate (16). The application of the pressure can hold the substrate flat and can reduce undesired movement of the substrate relative to the rollers (12, 14). The apparatus allows for high quality full colour images to be printed onto substrates in a single pass using an ink jet printer.
US07819503B2 Printhead integrated circuit comprising inkjet nozzle assemblies having connector posts
A printhead integrated circuit is provided. The printhead integrated circuit comprises a silicon substrate having a plurality of inkjet nozzles assemblies formed on a surface of the substrate. The substrate has drive circuitry for supplying power to the nozzle assemblies. Each nozzle assembly comprises: a nozzle chamber for containing ink, the nozzle chamber having a nozzle opening defined therein; an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle opening; a pair of electrodes positioned at the surface of the substrate, the electrodes being electrically connected to the drive circuitry; and a pair of connector posts, each connector post electrically connecting a respective electrode to the actuator. Each connector post extends linearly from a respective electrode to the actuator.
US07819499B2 Liquid droplet jetting apparatus
A liquid droplet jetting apparatus includes: a head having a jetting port surface in which a jetting port is formed; and a maintenance unit having a cap in which a discharge port is formed, an absorber arranged in the cap, and a suction mechanism which communicates with the discharge port. The absorber includes a first absorbing portion covering the discharge port, and a second absorbing portion arranged to be in contact with the first absorbing portion. A channel resistance of the first absorbing portion with respect to a liquid is higher than that of the second absorbing portion. Accordingly, when an idle suction is performed, it is possible to discharge uniformly a liquid absorbed in the first and absorbing portions.
US07819495B2 Print method, print apparatus, and recording medium driving apparatus
A print method that prints visible information by ejecting ink droplets from a print head onto a printed object rotated by a rotational driving unit is provided. The print method includes the steps of: carrying out impact position correction that corrects displacements in impact positions of the ink droplets to convert the visible information to impact position-corrected polar coordinate data when converting the visible information from biaxial perpendicular coordinate data to polar coordinate data; generating ink ejection data based on the impact position-corrected polar coordinate data; and printing the visible information by ejecting the ink droplets onto the printed object based on the ink ejection data.
US07819467B1 Shopping cart seat
A foldable shopping cart seat includes a back with a hook extending between columns for hanging the back on a shopping cart front. Side rails slidably disposed along corresponding columns and downwardly extendable therefrom support a seat having parallel front and back rails with a pliable material extending therebetween. Scissor-like cross pieces extend between a front and back rail of the seat and are pivotably attached thereto for enabling the seat to fold against the back for carrying the shopping cart seat to and from a retail store and supporting the seat on the floor adjacent a shopping cart front.
US07819466B2 Roof apparatus
A roof apparatus for a vehicle includes a pair of guide rails adapted to be mounted and extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle along both sides of an opening provided at a vehicle roof, the pair of guide rails supporting a movable panel for opening and closing the opening and a frame extending in a width direction of the vehicle and connected with the guide rails, the frame made of a light alloy material and having a closed cross sectional shape when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a length direction thereof, the frame including a joining surface portion connected with each guide rail, an opposing surface portion opposing with the joining surface portion; and a hollow portion located between the joining surface portion and the opposing surface portion.
US07819463B2 Truck box space frame
A truck box frame includes first and second laterally extending frame members and a frame side rail assembly. The frame side rail assembly includes first and second frame side rails. The first and second frame side rails generally extend between and are coupled to the first and second laterally extending frame members. The first and second laterally extending frame members are extendable laterally, creating a variable width truck box frame. The first and second frame side rails may be curved or swept so that the intermediate portions extend inwardly toward one another, forming a tapered portion of the frame side rail assembly. The length and curvature, or sweep, of the side frame rails may also be varied to create a variable length truck box frame.
US07819461B2 Convertible top with trim covered panels
A convertible top includes a plurality of panel assemblies movably coupled to each other for movement between a closed position in which the panel assemblies are arranged end to end to cover a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and an open position in which the panel assemblies are disposed in a storage space adjacent the passenger compartment. Each of the panel assemblies has an outer surface and a fabric trim cover separate from the other of the panel assemblies. The trim covers remain along the outer surface during movement of the top between the closed position and the open position.
US07819460B2 Serviceable fabric assembly for convertible of a motor vehicle
The present invention is a serviceable fabric assembly for a convertible roof of a motor vehicle having a retainer connected to a fabric cover and slidably engaged within a channel formed in a first bow member. The first bow member has an upper panel and a lower panel configured to form the channel substantially along the longitudinal length of the first bow member. The channel is configured to laterally receive a compressible portion of the retainer which prevents the retainer from exiting the channel in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first bow member. A gap is formed near at least one end of the channel on the outboard side of the channel and is sized such that an operator can slide the retainer out of the channel through the gap for servicing and replacing the fabric cover without having to disassemble the first bow member.
US07819452B2 Automotive structural joint and method of making same
A joint for an automotive vehicle may be formed by applying an adhesive to at least one of a first member and a first surface of a composite member, placing the first member in contact with the first surface of the composite member, applying an adhesive to at least one of a second member and a second surface of the composite member, positioning a divot portion of the second member within an aperture of the composite member, placing the second member in contact with the second surface of the composite member, attaching the divot portion of the second member with the first member and curing the adhesives.
US07819451B2 Cargo net for vehicle
A cargo net for vehicle enabling stored luggage to be prevented from being damaged by vibrations transmitted from a floor of a luggage compartment. A cargo net 1 comprises a first partition member 2 and a second partition member 3 having one end 3a thereof connected with one end of the first partition member 2, so that it is detachably attached to a luggage compartment 5 of a vehicle 4. The first and second partition members 2, 3 are formed into a pouched shape, each including an openable and closable portion 12 near the center of the luggage compartment 5. The cargo net 1 can hold the luggage 21 stored in the second partition member 3 without being contacted by the floor 5a of the luggage compartment 5, the stored luggage 21 can be prevented from being damaged by the vibration of the vehicle 4 from the floor 5a.
US07819446B2 Device for picking up solid material within a flexible bag
A device for picking up solid material within a flexible bag is provided. The disclosed device comprises an outer body; an inner body substantially and slidably enclosed by the outer body; at least one spring mounted between the outer body and the inner body, wherein the inner and outer bodies each comprises an open end, wherein the inner body comprises an edge margin which is slidably protrudable from the open end of the outer body, wherein an elastic band is stretchably fittable around the protruding edge margin, wherein the outer body can be pushed downwards over the protruding edge margin of the inner body, causing the elastic band to be dislodged from the edge margin of the inner body.
US07819445B2 Handle unit
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a handle unit including: a main body including: a pair of bearings; and a pair of holding walls separated from the pair of the bearings; a handle including: a pair of support walls; and a pair of rotational shafts projecting outward from the pair of support walls to be engaged with the pair of the bearings, wherein the handle is rotatable between a stored position and a operating position, wherein the support walls are formed to not face the holding walls when the handle is in the stored position, and formed to face the holding walls and contact the holding walls by being deflected when the handle is in the operating position.
US07819443B2 Door latch assembly
A door latch assembly for use with a door. The door latch assembly includes first and second handles that are coupled to a pair of housings. The door latch assembly including an adjustable latch member that can be selectively coupled to either the first or second handle and can be incrementally repositioned with respect to the handle to which it is coupled to allow for adjustment of the adjustable latch member to the door.
US07819441B1 Magnetic open door retainer for a motor vehicle conveyance component
An operatively automatic magnetic open door retainer for motor vehicle conveyance components, as for example semi-trailers. The magnetic open door retainer includes a pair of magnetic source members, each magnetic source member being attached to a respective one of the left and right doors of the motor vehicle conveyance component and a pair of magnetically attractive plates attached to the sidewalls of the motor vehicle conveyance component. When a door is in its fully open state, its respective magnetic source member will magnetically clamp to the respective magnetically attractive plate.