Document Document Title
US08086099B2 Camera module having a low-friction movable lens
Systems and methods to achieve an auto-focus camera module having a precise bearing with low friction have been disclosed. Ball bearings are guiding a lens barrel. The balls of the ball bearings are running in guide slots and are held together by ball cages. Creeping of the balls is prevented by a positioning pin being deployed between a fixed part of a carrier of the camera module and a movable part of the lens barrel.
US08086097B2 Optical apparatus including an image stabilizing apparatus
An image stabilizer includes: an optical system movable in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis (“orthogonal plane”) and correcting image blur; a movable member holding the optical system and movable relative to a fixed member in an orthogonal plane; a guide guiding the movable member while preventing from rotating in an orthogonal plane; three first balls rollably interposed between the fixed and guide members; two second balls rollably interposed between the guide and movable members; one third ball rollably interposed between the fixed and movable members; a biasing unit biasing the movable member toward the fixed member; and a drive unit driving the movable member relative to the fixed member in two directions perpendicular to the optical axis, wherein in an orthogonal plane, two of the first balls are rollable only in first direction; the second balls are rollable only in second direction different from the first direction.
US08086096B2 Shake correction device and imaging apparatus
A shake correction device includes: a first driving means for driving an imaging component, which is related with either an imaging optical system or an imaging device, in a first direction; a second driving means for driving the imaging component in a second direction which is different from the first direction; and a control means for correcting shake of the imaging apparatus by driving the imaging component on the basis of a detection result of the shake of the imaging apparatus, which is obtained by a shake detection means, using the first and second driving means, wherein the control means sequentially executes first return processing in the first direction using the first driving means and second return processing in the second direction using the second driving means when returning the imaging component to a reference position at a predetermined timing.
US08086091B2 Data recording system, data acquiring apparatus, and recording medium storing therein data acquiring apparatus control program
A data recording system includes a data acquiring apparatus that acquires data externally and a data recording apparatus that is communicably connected to the data acquiring apparatus via a network, and records data transmitted from the data acquiring apparatus. The data acquiring apparatus includes a data acquiring unit, a temporary storage unit, a transmitting-receiving unit, a communication-band management unit, and a control unit. The data recording apparatus includes a transmitting-receiving unit, a recording unit, and a control unit.
US08086090B2 Recording medium and playback apparatus for selecting sub-picture data according to combination of aspect ratio of display screen and type of display mode
A multimedia optical disc for recording main video data which is composed of sets of frame data that is processed beforehand to allow compatibility with displays of a plurality of aspect ratios. The disc has a stream area storing streams made up of the main video data and a plurality of sets of sub-picture data, with each set of sub-picture data including a set of tel-op data and a set of coordinate information showing a display position of the set of tel-op data. The disc also includes a control area storing a plurality of pairings of a set of display mode information and a set of sub-picture indicating information. Each set of display mode information shows a species of display method according to which the frame data is to be processed for a case when the frame data decoded from the main video data is displayed at one of the plurality of aspect ratios. Each set of sub-picture indicating information shows a set of sub-picture data, out of the plurality of sets of sub-picture data in a same stream as the main video data, which includes a set of coordinate information which coincides with the species of display method shown by the display mode information.
US08086086B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer program
The present invention is intended to provide an apparatus and a method for realizing the presentation of a content list and the reproduction of content in accordance with proper user preference on the basis of date and time at which content is viewed. Content preference values that change with time are computed. On the basis of the computed content preference values, a content list is generated for presentation to the user. For example, preference values are computed on the basis of daily time zone, holiday, weekday, and day-of-the-week and a content list in accordance with the computed preference values is generated for presentation to the user. The novel configuration allows the presentation of an optimum content list on the basis of date and time at which content is viewed, thereby realizing the selection and viewing of content that properly reflects user preference.
US08086082B2 Methods for mounting an electro-optical component in alignment with an optical element and related structures
Mounting an electro-optical component (1) on a carrier substrate (2) in an accurate position with respect to an optical element (6), the carrier substrate and the electro-optical component each being provided with at least one solder pad (3, 4). The solder pads are arranged such that, when said electro-optical component is soldered onto the pads, a force is generated that acts on the electro-optical component in a direction (x) towards the optical element, and the structure is designed to allow said electro-optical component to move laterally during soldering, such that it is brought into abutment with said optical element, thereby ensuring an accurate relative positioning between the electro-optical component and the optical element.
US08086069B2 Data-generating apparatus, method, and program for image forming
A data-generating apparatus comprising a bitmap data-generating unit to generate binary bitmap data indicating an image-formed area and an image-excluding area based on the figure information in response to the figure-describing data being inputted, a judging unit to judge whether modifying information is included in the figure-describing data, a modifying unit to modify the bitmap data based on the modifying information, and an image-forming data-generating unit to generate the image-forming data based on the bitmap data modified by the modifying unit and the pattern information in response to the judging unit determining that the modifying information is comprised in the figure-describing data and generates the image forming data based on the bitmap data generated by the bitmap data-generating unit and the pattern information in response to the judging unit determining that no modifying information is comprised in the figure-describing data, is provided.
US08086064B2 System and method for generating an image enhanced product
A system for generating an image enhanced output product and method for operating the same are provided. An image enhanceable product is identified having a tangible surface and a printing map is defined that defines a plurality of window areas in which images are to be printed on the tangible surface. A desired visual impact characteristic is determined based upon the appearance of the image enhanceable product and the printing map and a selection of a plurality of digital images are received. An image processing method is selected method based upon the determined visual impact characteristic and at least one of the digital images is automatically processed in accordance with the selected image processing method. At least some of the digital images, including the automatically processed image, are provided on the tangible surface according to the printing map.
US08086062B2 Content-adaptive filter technique
Selection of a filter for filtering an image to achieve fast noise reduction while retaining picture details and edge sharpness begins by first determining the detail throughout the image. Detection of the image edges then occurs. Using the image detail and edge information, the filter properties are selected, including the number of filter taps and the filter strength.
US08086051B2 Method of decoding fetched scene on encoded dotmap and electronic device thereof
By determining a center physical grid dot at intersects of virtual grid lines of a fetched scene on an encoded dotmap, and by defining a blank dot closest to the determined center physical grid dot on the fetched scene, the orientation of encoded blocks on the encoded dotmap may be determined. And therefore, a plurality of data dots on the fetched scene may also be decoded easily.
US08086040B2 Text representation method and apparatus
A text-like data representation technique and a text-like data representation apparatus are disclosed that may: acquire image data from a scanned image; segment text regions from the image data; further extract each connected component in the text regions; form clusters based on the connected components; group each connected component in the text regions into one of the clusters with similar or identical characters; generate a high-resolution representative for each cluster; generate a vector representation for each high-resolution representative; and code the text as text data by associating each connected component with its vectorized high-resolution representative, and location in the document.
US08086031B2 Region detection
Disclosed herein are systems methods and devices related to region detection of an image. Detected regions include pixels of a particular one or more colors without requiring faces within the image to be previously detected. Region detection may include receiving information that a flash was used to capture the image or that return light was detected in the image.
US08086030B2 Method and system for visually presenting a high dynamic range image
Method for presenting an image, exhibiting a dynamic range, the method including the procedures of determining the dynamic range of the image, determining a color space configuration including more than one cycle of a color space, applying the color space configuration to the dynamic range, and displaying the image to a user, according to the color space configuration.
US08086026B2 Method and system for the determination of object positions in a volume
A method or a system embodiment determines positional information about a moveable object to which is affixed a pattern of stripes having reference lines. A method determines image lines of stripe images of each stripe within at least two video frames, uses the image lines to prescribe planes having lines of intersection, and determines a transformation mapping reference lines to lines of intersection. Position information about the object may be derived from the transformation. A system embodiment comprises a pattern of stripes in a known fixed relationship to an object, reference lines characterizing the stripes, two or more cameras at known locations, a digital computer adapted to receive video frames from the pixel arrays of the cameras, and a program stored in the computer's memory. The program performs some or all of the method. When there are two or more moveable objects, an embodiment may further determine the position information about a first object to be transformed to a local coordinate system fixed with respect to a second object.
US08086022B2 Electron beam inspection system and an image generation method for an electron beam inspection system
An inspection system uses a scanning electron microscope that detects a high-precision electron beam image, and at the same time removes restrictions for a low sampling rate. A sampled signal is obtained by sampling an analog brightness signal generated by a secondary electron detector at a predetermined sampling rate, and contiguous digital values contained in the sampled signal are added on an N by N digital value basis to generate a digital brightness signal whose frequency is equal to 1/N of the sampling frequency. Each, digital value contained in the digital brightness signal is divided by N to generate a digital signal made of digital values having a number of bits equal to that of the sampled signal and to generate an image signal in which each digital value of the digital signal forms one pixel data.
US08086017B2 Detecting improved quality counterfeit media
A method of creating a classifier for media validation is described. Information from all of a set of training images from genuine media items is used to form a segmentation map which is then used to segment each of the training set images. Features are extracted from the segments and used to form a classifier which is preferably a one-class statistical classifier. Classifiers can be quickly and simply formed, for example when the media is a banknote for different currencies and denominations in this way and without the need for examples of counterfeit banknotes. A media validator using such a classifier is described as well as a method of validating a banknote using such a classifier. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of segmentation maps are formed, having different numbers of segments. If higher quality counterfeit media items come into the population of media items, the media validator is able to react immediately by switching to using a segmentation map having a higher number of segments without the need for re-training.
US08086008B2 Device and method for superimposing patterns on images in real-time, particularly for guiding by localisation
The invention relates to a device for superimposing known patterns, characteristic of a region, on (real) images of said region. The device comprises, a memory in which patterns are stored, which are representative of a selected region, of known position and orientation with relation to a common reference and processing means, for determining a pattern representative of the selected portion in the memory, on receipt of the designation of at least one portion of an observed image of the selected region, taken at a selected angle and at least one representative attribute of said region, taking account of the attribute selected, then superimposing the determined pattern on the selected portion of the image taking account of the selected angle.
US08086006B2 Method and system for evaluating image segmentation based on visibility
A method and system for evaluating image segmentation is disclosed. In order to quantitatively evaluate an image segmentation technique, synthetic image data is generated and the synthetic image data is segmented to extract an object using the segmentation technique. This segmentation results in a foreground containing the extracted object and a background. The visibility of the extracted object is quantitatively measured based on the intensity distributions of the segmented foreground and background. The visibility is quantitatively measured by calculating the Jeffries-Matusita distance between the foreground and background intensity distributions. This method can be used to evaluate segmentation of vessels in fluoroscopic image sequences by coronary digital subtraction angiography (DSA).
US08085988B2 Apparatus and method for recognizing and determining a position
An apparatus for recognizing and determining the position of at least one teat of a milking animal includes a scanning head comprising a light source and a camera. The light source emits light into a region which is expected to contain a teat or teats and the camera captures images formed by the light. In a first scanning mode, the scanning head is moved from a low initial position upwards in a circular coil until the position of at least a first teat has been established. Thereafter, in a second scanning mode, the scanning head is moved upwards in a to circular coil until the positions of all teats have been established, or a predetermined time limit has elapsed during the scanning procedure. The coil traversed during the first scanning mode is wider than the coil traversed during the second scanning mode.
US08085982B1 Object tracking in video with visual constraints
Embodiments of the present invention relate to object tracking in video. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method tracks an object in a frame of a video. An adaptive term value is determined based on an adaptive model and at least a portion of the frame. A pose constraint value is determined based on a pose model and at least a portion the frame. An alignment confidence score is determined based on an alignment model and at least a portion the frame. Based on the adaptive term value, the pose constraint value, and the alignment confidence score, an energy value is determined. Based on the energy value, a resultant tracking state is determined. The resultant tracking state defines a likely position of the object in the frame given the object's likely position in a set of previous frames in the video.
US08085979B2 Methods employing stored preference data to identify video of interest to a consumer
The picture information of video can be used in various ways to identify the video or its topical subject matter. This enables numerous novel arrangements in which particular video of interest to a particular consumer can be discerned. Preference data for the consumer, by which video of interest is identified, can be shared with third parties, e.g., in exchange for a fee. A variety of other embodiments and features are also detailed.
US08085974B2 Method for determining elastic-wave attenuation of rock formations using computer tomograpic images thereof
A method for estimating at least one elastic-wave-related property of a porous material from a sample thereof includes making a three dimensional tomographic image of the sample of the material. The image is segmented into pixels each representing pore space or rock grain. Bulk modulus and shear modulus of the porous material are determined from the segmented image at a frequency corresponding to mobile fluid. Bulk modulus and shear modulus of the porous material are determined from the segmented image at a frequency corresponding to immobile fluid. The at least one elastic-wave-related property is determined from the mobile fluid and immobile fluid moduli. The method includes at least one of storing and displaying the at least one elastic-wave-related property so determined.
US08085964B2 Apparatus and methods for generating pressure waves
Actuator apparatus for generating a physical effect, at least one attribute of which corresponds to at least one characteristic of a digital input signal sampled periodically in accordance with a clock, the apparatus comprising at least one array of moving elements each constrained to travel alternately back and forth along a respective axis in response to an alternating electromagnetic force applied to the array of moving elements, at least one latch operative to selectively latch at least one subset of said moving elements in at least on latching position there by to prevent the individual moving elements from responding to the electromagnetic force, an electromagnetic field control system operative to receive the clock and, accordingly, to control application of the electromagnetic force to the array of moving elements and a latch controller operative to receive the digital input signal and to control the latch accordingly.
US08085962B2 Audio system for portable device
An audio system includes an enclosure having a transducer. The transducer creates a vibration in the enclosure in response to being driven by an audio signal having a frequency range. A cradle assembly mechanically couples a portable device to the enclosure through an isolator. A portion of the vibration is coupled into the cradle assembly. The isolator reduces an amplitude of the coupled vibration so that an operation of the portable device within a portion of the frequency range is uninterrupted when the portable device is coupled to the cradle assembly.
US08085953B2 Audio-signal time-axis expansion/compression method and device
An audio-signal time-axis expansion/compression method for subjecting an audio signal to time-axis expansion/compression at a time domain includes the steps of: cross-fade-signal generating wherein a first period and a second period which are similar within the audio signal are employed to generate the cross-fade signal of the first period signal and the second period signal; correction-signal generating wherein the difference signal between the first period signal and the second period signal is subjected to time-axis reversal, and is multiplied with a window function to generate a correction signal; and connection-waveform generating wherein the cross-fade signal and the correction signal are added to generate a connection waveform for subjecting the audio signal to time-axis expansion/compression at the time domain.
US08085950B2 Sound signal processing apparatus and sound signal processing method
A sound signal processing apparatus and a sound signal processing method divide an input signal into a low frequency signal output (11) and a high frequency signal output (10), and delay only the high frequency signal output (10), thereby reducing the temporal shift between the high frequency signal and the low frequency signal. Furthermore, correcting the phase of the low frequency signal output (11) in accordance with a change in phase due to the delay of the high frequency signal output (10) allows to prevent variation in frequency characteristics due to interference at the time of addition of the low frequency signal output (11) and the high frequency signal output (10).
US08085947B2 Multi-channel echo compensation system
A system reduces echoes in an audio system by de-correlating audio signals. Adaptive filters provide compensation based on the de-correlated signals. A controller controls the de-correlation based upon the adaptation state of the adaptive filters.
US08085944B2 Device and method for active noise cancellation in an exhaust gas channel of a combustion engine
The invention relates to an active noise cancellation device. The invention proposes a device and a method used to cancel the noise in an exhaust gas channel of a vehicle A noise signal is received form the exhaust gas channel, using a sound sensor, a frequency signal which has same amplitude as of noise signal but opposite phase, is generated, the generated frequency signal is acoustically mixed with the noise signal in the exhaust gas channel, using a sound converter, there by reducing the noise in the exhaust gas channel. The device also takes into account the reflection of the sound caused by an obstacle near the exhaust gas channel. A distance measuring device which is external to the active noise cancellation device provides the information about the distance between the obstacle and the exhaust gas channel. Based on the distance, the frequency signal is suitably modified to reduce the effect of sound reflections caused by the obstacle.
US08085943B2 Noise extractor system and method
A noise extraction method in which an environmental input which includes a noise indicia is selectively modified in accordance with an algorithm that includes one or more factors representing time response, amplitude of response, and error correction. The algorithm may also include thresholding, delay or convergence, among other techniques.
US08085941B2 System and method for dynamic sound delivery
A dynamic range manipulation system, for use for example in an audio playback system such as a two-way communication system, mobile telephone, MP3 player, and the like, obtains a measure of ambient noise at the playback location and adjusts the gain of the drive signal provided to the loudspeaker based on this measure and based on the audio signal to be played back.
US08085939B2 Stereophonic sound reproduction system for compensating low frequency signal and method thereof
A stereophonic sound reproduction system for compensating a low frequency signal and a method thereof, wherein a mono component signal for compensating low frequency signals which are attenuated when removing a crosstalk of inputted left and right signals inputted is calculated using an average value between the left and right signals, left and right compensation gains which are inversely proportional to an absolute value of a power difference value between the first left and right signals, an amplitude of the calculated mono component signal is controlled according to the left and right compensation gains, and thereafter the mono component signal with the controlled amplitude is added to the left and right signals when removing the crosstalk, whereby the left and right signals from which the crosstalk is removed and to which the mono component signal is added are outputted through left and right speakers to thus prevent distortion of the low frequency signals of original stereophonic sound with maintaining a stereophonic sound effect.
US08085938B2 Secret information management scheme based on secret sharing scheme
In a secret information management system for managing a secret information of a user, the secret information is divided into a plurality of divided data by using a secret sharing scheme, such that the secret information can be recovered from a prescribed number of the divided data, and a part of the plurality of divided data is stored into a terminal of the user as user's divided data while a rest of the plurality of divided data are stored into one or more of deposit servers. Then, a plurality of re-divided data different from the plurality of divided data are generated, from a combination of the prescribed number of the divided data among the divided data stored in the deposit servers by using the secret sharing scheme, and a part of the plurality of re-divided data is stored into the terminal as newly generated user's divided data while a rest of the plurality of re-divided data are stored into the deposit servers as newly generated divided data.
US08085935B2 Embedding and extraction of information from an embedded content using replica modulation
Apparatus and methods are provided for embedding or embedding digital data into an analog host or cover signal. A distributed signal feature of the cover signal in a particular domain (time, frequency or space) is calculated and compared with a set of predefined quantization values corresponding to an information symbol to be encoded. The amount of change required to modify the signal feature to the determined target quantization value is calculated and the cover signal is modified accordingly to so change the feature value over a predefined interval. Information symbols are extracted by the opposite process. In one embodiment, the predefined value is a short term autocorrelation value of the cover signal.
US08085934B1 Reverse cryptographic key expansion
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise: a key input module to receive a first cryptographic key; and a reverse key expansion module to generate a second cryptographic key based on the first cryptographic key, wherein each of the first cryptographic key and the second cryptographic key comprises a plurality of words, and wherein the reverse key expansion module comprises a first word module to generate the first word of the second cryptographic key based on the first word of the first cryptographic key and the last two words of the first cryptographic key, and a remaining word module to generate the remaining words of the second cryptographic key, the remaining word module comprising at least one word module to generate a word of the second cryptographic key based on the corresponding word, and the immediately previous word, of the first cryptographic key.
US08085932B2 Secure distribution of data or content using keyless transformation
A computer enabled method and apparatus for encrypting and decrypting data using a keyless transformation cryptographic technique. Data is protected using a keyless (unkeyed) complex mathematical transformation, in contrast to a traditional cryptographic algorithm using a secret key. This approach is resistant to both static analysis (hacking) performed on executable encryption/decryption code, as well as dynamic analysis performed during execution (runtime) of ciphering or deciphering. The method uses a family of asymmetric data transformations based on Galois field polynomials.
US08085930B2 Communication system
A method for removing an echo component in a first signal received at an audio input device, said method comprising the steps of outputting a second signal from an audio output device, receiving at the audio input device the first signal wherein the echo component in the first signal is the result of the second signal traversing an echo path having a frequency response which defines the relationship between the echo component and the second signal; determining an echo path model indicating an estimate of the frequency response of the echo path; removing an estimate of the echo component from the first signal using the echo path model; detecting if the first signal is overloaded; and wherein if it is detected that the first signal is overloaded the step of determining an echo path model comprises determining an overload echo path model such that the estimate of the frequency response indicated by the overload echo path model is only allowed to increase over time regardless of whether the frequency response of the echo path is decreasing over time.
US08085926B2 Call flow staffing estimation tool
A call flow staffing estimation tool that includes: generating a staffing impact chart that indicates, in a visually indicated display, an expected difference between call volume and available agents for a plurality of time intervals in a future period of time based on a plurality of inputs, the plurality of inputs including: historical call volume data to a call center, a prospective schedule of agents servicing the call center, and an average handing time of calls to the call center by the agents, wherein historical call volume data which is skewed data is ignored and predetermined representative data is substituted for the skewed data; providing a variable table having a plurality of variables, each variable including a scaling value that modifies at least one of the plurality of inputs used in generating the staffing impact chart; selectively changing, by a user, at least one of the variables in the variable table; and immediately updating the staffing impact chart to reflect modified expected differences for each of the plurality of time intervals based on application of the change to the plurality of inputs.
US08085923B2 System and method for efficient call management for directory assistance services
A communication assistance system includes a first database having a plurality of listings, each listings has at least one contact name and a corresponding contact number. A means is provided for receiving communications from a user among a plurality of users desiring to access the listings. An operator terminal displays a search screen among a plurality of search screens, each of which maintain at least a partially different arrangement of content and search windows for receiving search terms to search for listings contained in the first database, where the displayed search screen is determined based on criteria contained in a search request from the user. The operator terminal is further configured to receive the communication from the user and retrieve a listing from the first database using the displayed search screen.
US08085912B1 System and method for reducing toll charges to a customer service center using VolP
A method and system are disclosed where a call center operator having multiple locations, including a call center is able to utilize existing network infrastructure to route telephone communications to the call center to the location where the lowest toll rate is applicable. The telephone communications are converted into data packets and routed to the call center using VoIP technology. No toll would apply to the transmission of the data to the call center.
US08085911B2 Central monitoring station with method to process call based on call source identification information
A system and a method for processing an incoming telephone call to an alarm system central monitoring station using call source identification data such as caller ID. The alarm system central monitoring station can use the caller ID information transmitted by the telephone company to make decisions as to how to process a call prior to the central monitoring station receiver answering the call. The central monitoring station will process the call by checking if the caller ID information matches caller ID information stored in memory and it will check status information associated with the caller ID information to determine if the call should be disconnected, transferred, or connected. In order to accomplish this the central monitoring station comprises receiving circuits for detecting an incoming telephone call on the telephone line and reading caller ID information associated with the call, switching circuits coupled to the receiving circuitry for transferring the call if necessary, memory for storing status information comprising the caller ID information, and processing circuitry for determining if caller ID information has been stored in the memory, and if it has, then accessing the status information and processing the call as a function of the status information. The central monitoring station may process the call by 1) transferring the call to an invalid alarm call station, 2) connecting the call to a central monitoring station receiver, a second central monitoring station receiver, or a second line of a central monitoring station receiver, or 3) disconnecting the call.
US08085905B2 Multimedia emergency services
A system and method for remotely controlling one or more monitoring devices in a user's household in the event of emergency so as to more productively monitor the emergency situation on a real-time basis. The monitoring devices may include a number of multimedia instruments such as a telephone with an answering machine, a computer with a built-in digital camera, a video recording device, a cellular phone with an integrated digital camera, etc. An emergency service provider may remotely activate the monitoring devices in the user's vicinity upon receiving an emergency help request from the user, and receive the information sent by the monitoring devices to enable the service personnel to plan appropriate response to the emergency at hand. Such an arrangement allows for better monitoring of the user's vicinity in an emergency situation without the need for prolonged user participation in narrating or describing the emergency situation.
US08085887B2 Method and receiver circuit for reducing RFI interference
In a method for generating a compensation signal for the compensation of at least one RFI interference signal that, in a DMT transmission, is permanently superposed on a received DMT reception signal being divided into a multiplicity of channels at least one reference channel from the multiplicity of channels is provided. The multiplicity of channels comprise a first portion provided as data channels for the data transmission and a second portion which is an observation region unused for the data transmission. Channel-specific coefficients for at least one of the data channels to be compensated are provided. The channel-specific coefficients specify a correlation of the RFI interference signal being superposed on the respective data channel in respect of the reference channel. A compensation signal is generated by weighting and summing the received DMT reception signals with the channel-specific coefficients per DMT frame and for each data channel to be compensated.
US08085882B1 Multi-sensor signal fusion for modulation classification of weak signals
A multi-sensor signal fusion apparatus is provided for automatic modulation classification of weak unknown signals in non-cooperative communication environment with a more accurate description of the signal. The multi-sensor non-cooperative demodulation device combines a group of sensors, a signal fusion sensor, a means for signal demodulation, and a means for automatic modulation classification. An output of the signal fusion sensor is sent to a means for modulation scheme classification to select the appropriate demodulation technique for demodulating the unknown signal and provide the necessary intelligence about the monitored signals to the user and allow the user to simulate the unknown non-cooperative signal. The present invention also contemplates a multi-sensor signal fusion article of manufacture with a storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for more accurate descriptions of monitored signals and methods for achieving higher accuracy descriptions of monitored signals in a non-cooperative environment with multi-sensor non-cooperative demodulation.
US08085881B2 High data rate demodulation system
The demodulation process of a wireless data transmission system using multi-level symbols makes use of templates corresponding to each of the possible symbol transitions, so that knowledge of previously decoded symbols can be used to decode the next one. An estimation and correction loop provides for initial estimation of the values of a plurality of consecutive symbols, and error estimates are made for the estimated initial values of the symbols and for one or more alternative values, a final estimate being determined to minimize the total estimated error.
US08085868B2 Phase modulating and combining circuit
A transmitter includes a modulating and combining circuit to which signals are supplied and modulated into in-phase and quadrature-phase signals. The in-phase and quadrature-phase signals are combined in a closed-loop voltage summing circuit. The voltage summing circuit is an amplifier using capacitors as negative feedback elements. The negative feedback improves the linearity of the modulator. An LC tank circuit at the output of the voltage summing circuit bandpass filters the output before being applied to a power amplifier and eventually transmitted by an antenna. A multi-summing amplifier with different frequency tuning can be used for a multi-band transmitter design.
US08085862B2 Optimizing transmission for broadcast multicast service
The present invention is method and system for transmitting a signal in a wireless communication system. The present invention includes differentiating a data stream into at least a first layer data stream and a second layer data stream. At least the first layer data stream and the second layer data stream are then channel coded. Afterward, at least one of the channel coded first layer data stream and the channel coded second layer data stream is spread.
US08085858B2 Power saving techniques for a partial functionality communication link
Power saving techniques for a device including an active mode of operation for transmitting a first data stream of at least two data types over wires, and a low power partial functionality mode of operation for transmitting a second data stream over a subset of the wires used for transmitting the first data stream. The power saving techniques may utilize different modulation schemes, different throughputs, different symbol rates, or other techniques.
US08085852B2 Inverse tone mapping for bit-depth scalable image coding
A method performs inverse tone mapping of an image in a decoder. For each block of each color channel of the image the following steps are performed. A scaling factor is determined for a current block of the image by adding a predicted scaling factor for the current block to a difference between the predicted scaling factor and the scaling factor of an adjacent block. An offset value for the current block is determined by adding a predicted offset for the current block to a difference between the predicted offset value and the offset value of the adjacent block. The scaling factor and the offset value are applied to pixel intensity values of the current block to produce a mapped block in which a bit-depth of the mapped block is greater than the bit-depth of the current block.
US08085851B2 Moving image encoding method and apparatus
A moving image encoding method of encoding a moving image while switching between variable-length encoding schemes. In this method, a continuous unit to be continuously reproduced is determined (S5201), a stream is generated by encoding the moving image without switching between variable-length encoding schemes in the continuous unit (S5202), and management information is generated that includes a first flag information indicating that a variable-length encoding scheme is fixed in the continuous unit (S5204, and S5205).
US08085841B2 Sampled current-integrating decision feedback equalizer and method
A decision feedback equalizer (DFE) and method including a branch coupled to an input and including a sample-and-hold element configured to receive and sample a received input signal from the input and a current-integrating summer. The current-integrating summer is coupled to an output of the sample-and-hold element. The summer is configured to receive and sum currents representing at least one previous decision and an input sample. The at least one previous decision and the input sample are integrated onto a node, wherein the input sample is held constant during an integration period, thereby mitigating the effects of input transitions on an output of the summer.
US08085840B2 Method and apparatus for reducing interference of a signal over a plurality of stages
An apparatus for reducing interference of a signal over a plurality of stages includes a processor configured to determine at least two equalizer taps based on at least one of a covariance and a channel impulse response of the signal. The processor is further configured to estimate at least one additional equalizer tap based on the at least two equalizer taps. In addition, the processor is configured to reduce, for each of the plurality of stages, the interference of the signal for that stage using an equalizer tap from either the at least two equalizer taps or the at least one additional equalizer tap, so that the signal for the next stage in the plurality of stages has the reduced interference. A method is also provided for reducing interference of a signal over a plurality of stages.
US08085825B2 Method of fabricating semiconductor laser diode apparatus and semiconductor laser diode apparatus
A semiconductor laser diode apparatus capable of suppressing difficulty in handling of the semiconductor laser diode also when the width of a semiconductor laser diode portion is small is obtained. This method of fabricating a semiconductor laser diode apparatus includes steps of forming a plurality of first semiconductor laser diode portions on a first substrate at a prescribed interval in a second direction intersecting with a first direction in which cavities extend, bonding one or some of the plurality of first semiconductor laser diode portions to a second substrate, separating the one or some of the plurality of first semiconductor laser diode portions bonded to the second substrate from the first substrate; and dividing the second substrate along the second direction.
US08085823B2 Laser source device, wavelength conversion element, method of manufacturing wavelength conversion element, projector, and monitoring device
A laser source device includes: a light emission unit which emits laser beam having first wavelength; a first mirror which selectively reflects S-polarized light contained in the first wavelength laser beam emitted from the light emission unit in a direction different from the direction toward the light emission unit and transmits second wavelength laser beam; a second mirror which receives laser beam reflected by the first mirror and reflects laser beam having first wavelength and contained in the received laser beam toward the first mirror; and a wavelength conversion element disposed between the first mirror and the second mirror and converts at least a part of S-polarized light contained in the received first wavelength laser beam into laser beam having second wavelength.
US08085810B2 Cross-layer pipelining optimizations for reduced roundtrips and improving quality of experience
Methods for pipelining, piggybacking, and transporting cross layer parameters through a network to reduce round-trip times are disclosed. Application activation, such as accessing a web-site through the internet, currently uses several protocols, including DNS Name resolution, establishing a TCP connection, sending HTTP Request and getting HTTP-Response that contains the web-page data, before the data from the web-site can be displayed to the user. Such operations take several round-trips through the transit network and are of the order of 100 to 200 milliseconds in the wireless access network in the best case. A method of generating a multi-part message to reduce these round trip is disclosed, as well as a proxy device which minimizes client side round trips while utilizing standard messaging in the wireline network. The invention includes client side user parameter gathering when specifying the application first (pre-fix), or specifying the application last (post-fix).
US08085802B1 Multimedia over coaxial cable access protocol
A BCN network with BCN modems that communicate using predefined messages to establish, optimize and facilitate data communication.
US08085798B2 Host device interface with a point of deployment (POD) and a method of processing broadcast data
A host device interfacing with a point of deployment (POD) and a method of processing broadcast data are disclosed. Herein, an Internet Protocol (IP) physical interface unit receives an Ethernet frame including broadcast data; and a routing engine transforms the Ethernet frame to an IP packet when a destination address included in the Ethernet frame matches with an address of a pod and routs the transformed IP packet to an extended channel connected to the POD. Accordingly, it is possible to protect contents using a conditional access provided by the existing cable card and process broadcast data received on all types of transmission protocols including an IP protocol over a wired/wireless network using a channel provided for connection between the existing cable card and the host device.
US08085796B2 Methods, systems, and products for virtual personalized networks
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for enabling a virtual personalized network. Communications are established with a personal digital gateway to control access, sharing, security, and/or management of up-to-date personalized data exchanged between or among a plurality of associated communications devices and/or communications networks. The associated communications devices are owned, operated, and/or accessed by a common user.
US08085784B2 Data transmitting apparatus and data transmitting method
With time intervals and transmission times of packets of real time streams, transmission end times thereof are calculated. The transmission order of packets of the real time streams is decided in the order of the earlier transmission end times thereof. Transmission end times of packets of a non-real time stream are compared with the scheduling times of packets of the plurality of real time streams. When the transmission end times of packets of the non-real time stream are earlier than any one of the scheduling times of packets of the plurality of real time streams, the packets of the non-real time streams are transmitted.
US08085775B1 Identifying flows based on behavior characteristics and applying user-defined actions
A mechanism is disclosed for identifying, classifying, and controlling flows in a network. In one implementation, a separate set of behavioral statistics is maintained for each flow. These behavioral statistics are updated as packets belonging to a flow are processed. Whenever a packet belonging to a flow is processed, a set of policies that the flow's behavioral statistics satisfy is determined. For each policy that the flow's behavioral statistics satisfy, actions that are associated with that policy are applied relative to the packet. The actions may be designed to cause a router to handle, in a user-specified manner, packets that are likely to represent a particular kind of traffic. Thus, different flows, such as VOIP, gaming, streaming, and P2P flows, which are associated with different behavioral statistics, may be handled in ways applicable for the specific application traffic type.
US08085772B2 Packet forwarding
A method includes inserting a vector in a packet that identifies a first device in a stack of packet forwarding devices to receive the packet.
US08085758B2 Methods and apparatus for controlling call admission to a network based on call peers
A session controller configured to be coupled to a database and configured to receive an indication associated with an ingress call is disclosed. The session controller is further configured to query the database for an ingress-call peer associated with the ingress call, and to query the database for a dynamic-peer-definition template associated with the ingress call when the ingress-call peer is not identified upon query of the database. The session controller is further configured to reject the ingress call when the dynamic-peer-definition template is not identified upon query of the database.
US08085752B2 Handling connections moving between firewalls
A method of handling mobile entities in a firewall, wherein a first mobile entity table comprising identifiers of mobile entities, which are active in a firewall, and a second mobile entity table comprising identifiers of mobile entities, which are active in a predefined set of other firewalls and identifiers of corresponding other firewalls, are maintained in the firewall. A new mobile entity, which is not currently active in the firewall, is detected, after which it is found on the basis of the second mobile entity table, if the new mobile entity is currently active in another firewall. If the mobile entity is currently active in another firewall, state information related to the new mobile entity is queried from the another firewall, and stored in the firewall to be used for processing data packets from/to the new mobile entity.
US08085750B2 Streaming video data to mobile devices
The streaming of video data to mobile devices (101 to 103) is shown in which a support server (106) and an asset server (107, 108) are provided. The support server receives a first request (303) from a mobile device for a selected video asset. The support server relays (304, 305) the first request to the asset server. The asset server serves (306) the selected video stream to the requesting mobile device from the start of the asset. The support server is halted (307) from streaming video and the asset server provides an indication (308) of the halt position to the support server. The support server records an indication of the mobile device and the halt position of the asset. The support server receives a second request (311) from the mobile device for the selected asset. The support server relays (310 to 313) the selected request to the asset server and the asset server serves (314) the selected asset as a video stream to the requesting mobile device from the previous halt position.
US08085744B2 Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and compute program
A wireless communication network that forms an ad-hoc network without the arrangement of a controlling station sets a period that a communication apparatus can utilize with priority and performs isochronous communication in the period as required. When isochronous communication has not been performed or after isochronous communication has finished in the priority utilization period, other communication apparatuses perform arbitrary communication. When another communication is performed in a communication apparatus's own priority utilization period, the start of isochronous communication is temporarily delayed. In an ad-hoc communication environment, data having a real-time characteristic, such as AV content, can be efficiently transmitted through the isochronous communication.
US08085739B2 Quality dependent data communications channel
A data channel to transmit data from a transmitter to one or more of a plurality of receivers, each of which intermittently reports to the transmitter its reception quality of signals transmitted by the transmitter. The transmitter transmits the data in frames which include at least one block. Each block includes the same predefined number of traffic symbols, and includes a header portion and a payload portion. The header portion of each block is packaged for transmission in a robust manner, enhancing the probability that each receiver will be able to recover it and the header portion includes information required to recover the payload portion. The payload portion is, in accordance with the reception quality reported by the intended receiver, packaged to make efficient use of the transmission resources while ensuring a reasonable probability that the intended receiver will be able to recover the payload. The header portion can include indications of the modulation, forward error correction and repetition utilized to package the payload and can indicate the length of the payload.
US08085736B2 CDMA receiving device and SFN detecting method used for the same
A CDMA receiving device is provided which can prevent erroneous determination of an SFN detection. The CDMA receiving device (1) performs detection of a slot boundary in a slot timing detection unit (14), and performs detection of frame timing and code group in a code group identification unit (15), with regard to each slot timing detected in this way. The CDMA receiving device (1) uses a P-CPICH to detect scrambling code in a scrambling code identification unit (16) from the detected frame timing and code group. The CDMA receiving device (1) performs detection of SFN in a broadcast channel decoding unit (17) from the frame timing and the scrambling code. A P-CCPCH is used in the detection of the SFN. The SFN is included in the P-CCPCH and it is possible to detect SFN timing of a base station by decoding a BCH.
US08085734B2 System and method for dynamic receive diversity allocation
A system and method for dynamic receive diversity allocation. A communications device comprises a first physical layer (PHY) unit, a second PHY unit, a first signal path coupled to a first antenna and to the first PHY unit, a switchable signal path coupled to a second antenna and switchably coupled to the first PHY unit and the second PHY unit, and a switch control unit coupled to the second antenna. The switch control unit dynamically generates a control signal used to switchably couple the second antenna to either the first PHY unit or the second PHY unit. The second antenna may be used to provided a needed transmit or receive antenna or an extra antenna for use in increasing diversity. Switching antennas reduces the total number of antennas and support hardware, such as digital processing hardware, for wireless communications standards having a high ratio of idle to busy time.
US08085723B2 Method of allocating resources in a wireless network
A method of allocating channel resources in a wireless network is disclosed. The method of allocating instant channel resources in a wireless network includes receiving channel resource scheduling information of a specific superframe from a coordinator of the wireless network, requesting the coordinator to allocate instant channel resources for an unreserved duration of the specific superframe, and receiving an announcement message from the coordinator, the announcement message announcing allocation of the instant channel resources within the unreserved duration of the specific superframe.
US08085714B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for preserving a signalling connection
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for preserving a signaling connection after a network has indicated that the signaling connection can be closed, such as by selection of a no follow on proceed mode during routing area updates or attach procedures. By preserving the signaling connection, subsequent communications between the network and the user equipment can be completed without closing and then subsequently reopening the signaling connection.
US08085712B2 Method for implementing media gateway function, radio access control device and radio access system
A method for implementing the media gateway function is disclosed by the embodiment of the present invention, including: receiving a first signaling message; determining to perform a processing of a base station application layer or a processing of a media gateway control application layer according to a Simple Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) link, wherein the SCTP link is indicated by the first signaling message; if determine to perform the processing of the media gateway control application layer, routing traffic data to a destination device. A radio access control device and a radio access system according to the above mentioned method are further disclosed. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the exchange number of an IP packet is reduced, and the bearer is separated from the control.
US08085711B2 Method and system for managing radio resources for soft handoff in an OFDMA-based communication system
A method and system is disclosed for managing resource within a predetermined soft handoff group in an OFDM based telecommunications system. Logical radio resources are separated into at least one set to support the soft handoff group and at least one set for supporting normal communication traffic. At least one physical radio resource is identified for each logical radio resource in the set for supporting the SHOG according to a predetermined mapping function so as to minimize resource collision.
US08085709B2 Method and system for managing radio resources in mobile communication networks, related network and computer program product therefor
A method for managing radio resources in a mobile communications network having a plurality of cells, wherein the radio resources are managed by a plurality of radio resources management procedures arranged for having available at least one maximum downlink total load value representative of the maximum total load level of each cell of the network; and for measuring at least one uplink load value and at least one current downlink total load value of each cell of the network. The method includes the steps of defining at least two status parameters including a first status parameter or load status parameter adapted to reach a first set of status ranges, depending on the measured uplink load value and the current downlink total load value; a second status parameter or packet congestion flag adapted to reach a second set of status ranges, depending upon reaching of a congestion status in a packet management procedure; and adopting different sets of managing strategies associated with the radio resources management procedures of the network as a function of the at least two status parameters being in the respective sets of status ranges. Preferred application is in UMTS mobile networks.
US08085707B2 Device and method for nodal multiple access into communications channels
A nodal division multiple access technique for multiple access to a communications channel such as a satellite transponder. The present invention provides multiple access into a communications channel where each accessing site utilizes one signal from a composite amplitude/phase digital signal constellation, such that demodulators receive the composite signal without changes in the system design related to the multiple access operation.
US08085706B2 Wireless communication method and apparatus
A wireless communication method and apparatus for the same performs access control in the following manner, where an acquisition of a right to transmit is performed by CSMA access control method, and a collision of transmitted data packets among different communication apparatuses is prevented for facilitating a stable transmission of data packets from each of the apparatuses in a predetermined interval. The transmission of a data packet having a predetermined data length under a cyclical access control sets an access control start time at a time that is after a lapse of predetermined amount of time from the previous acquisition of the right to transmit. As a result, the competition of the right to transmit is resolved due to a different access control start time set for the next transmission.
US08085703B2 Methods and systems for accelerating wireless communication handover
Methods and apparatus for ranging with one or more neighboring sectors during normal operation of a mobile station (MS) with its serving sector are provided. The ranging results may be frequently updated in an effort to accelerate the handover process to another base station (BS) providing coverage for one of the neighboring sectors.
US08085700B2 System node and method for providing media arbitration
A multi-node communications system is provided with communications protocol using both static (11, 12, 13, 18) (pre-determined) and dynamic (51, 52, 53 . . . ) (run-time determined) consecutive communication slots is used. The system has a number of distributed communication nodes, each node being arranged for communicating frames of data with the other nodes during both the static (11, 12, 13 . . . ) and the dynamic (51, 52, 53 . . . ) communication slots. Each node includes a synchronized time base 5 made up of consecutive timeslots (11, 12, 13 . . . , 51, 52, 53 . . . ). The timebase 5 has substantially the same error tolerance in each node. For static communication (10), a predetermined number of timeslots (20) are utilized for each static communication slot. For dynamic communication a dynamically allocated number of timeslots (60) are utilized for each dynamic communication slot. In this way both static and dynamic media arbitration is provided within a periodically recurring communication pattern. Communication jitter is well defined and dealt with, and large oscillator drifts are compensated for.
US08085687B2 Returning domain identifications without reconfiguration
In one embodiment, a technique for returning Domain IDs to a Fibre Channel fabric without a full build fabric (BF) phase is provided. A switch in the fabric may send a principal switch a message requesting the return of one or more Domain IDs assigned to that device. The principal switch may update the list of fabric Domain IDs to remove the Domain IDs identified in the message and send the updated list to devices in the fabric.
US08085686B2 Aggregation and propagation of sensor data within neighbor discovery messages in a tree-based ad hoc network
In one embodiment, a method comprises attaching, by a mobile router, to an attachment router according to a protocol requiring establishment of a tree topology having a single clusterhead, the attaching by the mobile router based on the mobile router receiving, from the attachment router, an advertisement message specifying an attachment prefix; outputting a second advertisement message specifying availability of a prescribed address prefix used by the mobile router, and further specifying attributes of the mobile router relative to the tree topology; receiving a plurality of sensor data messages from at least one attached sensor host node, each sensor data message specifying at least one sensor data element specifying a detected sensor parameter; aggregating the sensor data elements from the sensor data messages into aggregated sensor data; and generating and outputting a neighbor advertisement message to the attachment router, the neighbor advertisement message specifying the aggregated sensor data.
US08085685B2 Method and system for testing multiple data packet transceivers together during a predetermined time interval
A method and system for testing multiple data packet transceivers together during a predetermined time interval. A sequence of downlink data packets are generated and distributed as corresponding sequences of downlink data packets for reception by multiple data packet transceivers each one of which is responsive during at least a respective portion of a predetermined time interval to a respective one of the corresponding sequences of downlink data packets by transmitting a respective one of multiple corresponding sequences of uplink data packets. At least a portion of each of the corresponding sequences of uplink data packets are combined to provide a sequence of test data packets of which at least one signal parameter is measured.
US08085684B2 Method and apparatus for identifying base station in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus for identifying a base station in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes storing a Neighbor Cell List (NCL) received from a serving base station, obtaining a Physical Cell IDentifier (PCID) from a signal received from a neighbor base station, and identifying whether the neighbor base station is a macro base station or a femto base station by determining whether the obtained PCID exists in the stored NCL.
US08085682B2 Electronic device, system on chip and method for monitoring a data flow
An electronic device is provided which comprises a plurality of processing units (IP1-IP6), a network-based inter-connect (N) coupled to the processing units (IP1-IP6) and at least one monitoring unit (P1, P2) for monitoring a data flow of at least one first communication path between the processing units (IP1-IP6) and for forwarding monitoring results at least temporarily via at least two separate communication paths (MC1, MC2).
US08085664B2 Bi-directional and reverse directional resource reservation setup protocol
A wireless user equipment (UE) configured to initiate a packet based session includes a reservation setup protocol (RSVP) message generator configured to transmit a RSVP PATH message. The RSVP PATH message includes a direction indication. The direction indicator indicates that reservations should be made for the UE to transmit only, to receive only or to both transmit and receive. The UE also includes an RSVP message receiver configured to receive an RSVP RESV message indicating that reservations have been made as a result of the RSVP PATH message.
US08085661B2 Control channel allocation apparatus, mobile communications system, and control channel allocation method
A control channel allocation apparatus includes a memory portion that stores an identifier indicating a layer 1 control channel associated with a downlink data channel, and a physical channel parameter for transmitting an uplink layer 1 control channel, the identifier being related to the physical channel parameter; a physical layer parameter determination portion that determines the physical channel parameter for transmitting the uplink layer 1 control channel in accordance with the identifier; a layer 1 control channel generation portion that generates a layer 1 control channel indicating a decoding result of a data channel, in accordance with the determined physical channel parameter; and a transmission portion that transmits the generated layer 1 control channel.
US08085658B1 System and method of cross-chip flow control
A system and method of controlling data flow may take into account an egress port flow control configuration as well as an original ingress port flow control configuration. A queue controller may execute a flow control algorithm or a quality of service algorithm responsive to the flow control modes at either or both of the original ingress port and the egress port.
US08085654B2 Method for reducing fault detection time in a telecommunication network
A method for reducing fault detection time in a network includes routers configured to exchange messages via at least one switch to check mutual reachability, each message including a list of routers reachable from the sending router. The method includes snooping, by the switch, a message from a router to extract the list of routers reachable from the router; and, when a network fault occurs that prevents the router from being reachable via the switch, sending, by the switch and to all the other routers connected to the switch, a network fault message including an empty list of routers, so that the receiving routers, not seeing their own identifier in the list, declare the adjacency with the sending router closed, and proceed to reroute traffic on a new route.
US08085652B2 Communication systems
A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. The system includes a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and two or more intermediate apparatuses. The system has access to a time-frequency format for use in assigning available transmission frequency bandwidth during a discrete transmission interval, said format defining a plurality of transmission windows within such an interval. Each window occupies a different part of that interval and has a frequency bandwidth profile within said available transmission frequency bandwidth over its part of that interval. Each said window is assignable for such a transmission interval to one of said apparatuses for use in transmission. The method for use in this system includes employing said format for one or more such transmission intervals to transmit information along at least three consecutive said links as a set of successive transmission signals, link by link, each said signal being transmitted in an available transmission window of said interval(s) and at least two of said signals being transmitted during the same said transmission interval such that said information is transmitted along said consecutive links in fewer transmission intervals than said number of consecutive links.
US08085650B2 Optical encoder having optical encoding disc with light converging portions and light diverging portions
An optical encoder includes an optical encoding disc, a light source module, a motor, and an optical detection system. The optical encoding disc includes a plurality of concentric annular tracks. Each track includes a plurality of coding units. Each coding unit includes a light converging portion and a light diverging portion. The light converging portions and the light diverging portions are arranged alternately along a circumferential direction of the optical encoding disc. The motor is configured for driving the optical encoding disc to rotate. The optical detection system includes a plurality of photo-detectors arranged in a line parallel to a radius of the optical encoding disc. Each photo-detector is corresponding to each track of the optical encoding disc respectively. Each photo-detector is configured for receiving the light beam transmitted through the corresponding track, and generating a voltage according to an intensity of the received light beam.
US08085641B2 Reproduced signal evaluation method and write adjustment method
The present invention aims to provide a reproduced signal evaluation method and a write adjustment method for offering a Blu-ray disc having a large storage capacity with excellent media compatibility. An evaluation index L-SEAT is calculated through signed addition using a Euclidean distance difference calculated from at least one of target signals in which a focused edge is shifted to the right and left, and the quality of the reproduced signal is evaluated based on the evaluation index. Write condition adjustment using the index enables write adjustment not depending on SNR and achieving high adjustment accuracy.
US08085628B2 Focus servo controlling method and apparatus and optical disk drive using the focus servo controlling method
A method and apparatus for controlling a focus servo of an optical disk drive is provided. The focus servo controlling method includes the operations of, when an operating mode enters into a focus pull-in mode, detecting a period of time that satisfies a first threshold condition, the first threshold condition set to determine a duration in which a focal point of an optical signal emitted from a pickup is passing through a cover layer of a disk, the determination made by using a first signal proportional to a detected portion of an optical signal reflected by the disk, and preventing focus servo control from being performed during a detected period of time that first satisfies the first threshold condition since the operating mode entered into the focus pull-in mode.
US08085627B2 Lens position control method, lens position control apparatus, cutting method, and cutting apparatus
A lens position control method is disclosed. Either an objective lens or a master disc having a resist material film on its substrate is moved, thereby changing a distance between the objective lens and the master disc surface. A return laser beam transmitted through the objective lens and reflected by the master disc surface is detected by a photodetector. The movement of either of them is stopped when the master disc is located near a focal point of the objective lens and the return laser beam is detected. Limit data is rewritten to data corresponding to a position obtained by adding a movement permission amount smaller than a working distance of the objective lens to the stop position. When the return laser beam is not detected, the movement which changes the distance between them is stopped at a position corresponding to the limit data.
US08085624B1 Method for storing audio-centered information with a multi-level Table-of-Contents (TOC) mechanism with one Master-TOC and Sub-TOCs for various audio formats, a device for use with such mechanism and a unitary storage medium containing such mechanism
Audio information is stored on a unitary storage medium with a Table-of-Contents (TOC) mechanism for therein specifying an actual configuration of various audio items on the medium. In particular, one or more Sub-TOCs are each assigned to a respective different audio format. A single Master-TOC is provided for specifically pointing to each Sub-TOC.
US08085617B2 System and method for reducing the effects of ghosts from the air-water interface in marine seismic exploration
A system mechanically alters the geometry of the surface of the water by breaking the water surface with a mechanical device. The mechanical device may comprise a plurality of propellers, a plurality of aquafoils in the shape of plows, a wire whip, or other mechanical device to reduce the coefficient of reflectivity of the air-water interface.
US08085608B2 Signal adjusting system and signal adjusting method
A signal adjusting system includes: a signal generating apparatus for transmitting a first driving signal and a second driving signal, a plurality of signal transmitting paths coupled to the signal generating apparatus, and a controlling apparatus coupled to the plurality of signal transmitting paths for receiving a first transmitted signal corresponding to the first driving signal and a second transmitted signal corresponding to the second driving signal, and detecting a phase difference between the first transmitted signal and the second transmitted signal to generate a detected result for the signal generating apparatus, wherein the signal generating apparatus adjusts a first driving ability of the first driving signal and a second driving ability of the second driving signal according to the detected result.
US08085605B2 Sequence detection for flash memory with inter-cell interference
A memory integrated circuit (IC) includes a read module and a sequence detector module. The read module reads S memory cells (cells) located along one of a bit line and a word line and generates S read signals, where S is an integer greater than 1. The sequence detector module detects a data sequence based on the S read signals and reference signals. The data sequence includes data stored in the S cells. Each of the reference signals includes an interference-free signal associated with one of the S cells and an interference signal associated with another of the S cells that is adjacent to the one of the S cells.
US08085602B2 Page buffer circuit, nonvolatile memory device including the page buffer circuit, and method of operating the nonvolatile memory device
A page buffer circuit comprises a bit line selection unit, a latch unit, and a bit line control unit. The bit line selection unit is configured to select a bit line coupled to memory cells. The latch unit comprises a plurality of latch circuits. The plurality of latch circuits is coupled to a sense node and configured to latch data to be programmed into the memory cells or store data from the memory cells. The bit line control unit is coupled to the sense node and configured to temporarily charge a voltage of the selected bit line in response to charge and transfer control signals or transfer the charged voltage to the selected bit line.
US08085593B2 Method of inputting address in nonvolatile memory device and method of operating the nonvolatile memory device
A method of inputting address in a nonvolatile memory device includes inputting a row address including an information for selecting a memory block and an information for selecting a page, and inputting a column including an information for selecting a column and an information for selecting a plane.
US08085587B2 Non-volatile memory device and method of verifying a program operation in the same
A page buffer in a non-volatile memory device for performing a program operation for a multi level cell having m bits includes first register to mth registers, a first data transmitting circuit configured to transmit data stored in a first node or a second node of the first register to a sensing node in accordance with a first data transmitting signal or a second data transmitting signal, and (m−1) sensing node discharging circuits configured to couple the sensing node to ground in accordance with data stored in a first node or a second node of each of the second to mth registers, and a first sensing node discharge signal or a second sensing node discharge signal.
US08085581B2 STT-MRAM bit cell having a rectangular bottom electrode plate and improved bottom electrode plate width and interconnect metal widths
A Spin Transfer Torque Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (STT-MRAM) bit cell is provided. The STT-MRAM includes a rectangular bottom electrode (BE) plate, and a storage element on the rectangular bottom electrode (BE) plate. A difference between a width of the rectangular bottom electrode (BE) plate and a width of the storage element is equal to or greater than a predetermined minimum spacing requirement. A width of the bottom electrode (BE) plate is substantially equal to a width of an active layer or a width of a plurality of metal layers.
US08085574B2 Nonvolatile ferroelectric memory and control device using the same
A nonvolatile ferroelectric memory immediately outputs data stored in a page buffer without performing a cell access operation when a page buffer is accessed. Since a block page address region and a column page address region are arranged in less significant bit region, and a row address region is arranged in more significant bit region, the cell operation is not performed in the access of the page address buffer, thereby improving reliability of the cell and reducing power consumption.
US08085566B2 Semiconductor circuit device and data processing system
Occurrence of power supply noise arising in connection with a step-down action at the time of turning on power supply is to be restrained. A step-down unit is provided with a switched capacitor type step-down circuit and a series regulator type step-down circuit, and stepped-down voltage output terminals of the step-down circuits are connected in common. The common connection of the stepped-down voltage output terminals of both step-down circuits makes possible parallel driving of both, selective driving of either or consecutive driving of the two. In the consecutive driving, even if the switched capacitor type step-down circuit is driven after driving the series regulator type step-down circuit first to supply a stepped-down voltage to loads, the switched capacitor type step-down circuit will need only to be compensated for a discharge due to the loads, and a peak of a charge current for capacitors can be kept low. When operation of the switched capacitor type step-down circuit is started, no large rush current arises, and occurrence of noise is restrained.
US08085560B2 Power supply apparatus
A power supply apparatus includes: a transformer which converts input power supplied to a primary winding to be induced to a secondary winding; a current detector which detects an output current of the secondary winding of the transformer; a voltage detector which detects an output voltage of the secondary winding of the transformer; a switch which adjusts the output voltage outputted by the transformer; and a controller which controls the switch to maintain output power obtained by multiplying the output current by output voltage, within a predetermined level.
US08085553B1 Lead assembly for a flip-chip power switch
A power switch assembly includes a flip-chip type integrated circuit chip and a lead-frame with a plurality of spaced apart parallel lead sections. The flip-chip type integrated circuit chip includes a distributed transistor, and first and second pluralities of flip-chip interconnects connected to source and drain regions, respectively. The first and second lead sections at least partially overlap along the first axis. Each of the plurality of lead sections includes a contact portion and an extended portion extending laterally from the contact portion. The extended portions of the first and second lead section extend from the contact portion in opposite directions. The first side of the first and second lead section contacts at least two of the first and plurality of flip-chip interconnects, respectively. The second side of the first and second lead are configured to contact a first and second contact area on a printed circuit board, respectively.
US08085552B2 Attachment device and electronic apparatus
An attachment device includes a first holding member configured to be fixed to a board and engage a first end part of a device to be attached to the board to hold the first end part; a second holding member configured to be attached to the board and engage a second end part of the device to be attached to hold the second end part; and a positioning mechanism configured to adjust the attachment position of the second holding member relative to the board.
US08085548B2 Circuit for suppressing electromagnetic interference, implementation structure and electronic apparatus implementing the same
There is provided a circuit substrate to be mounted in an electronic apparatus, and the circuit substrate has a power supply and a GND. The GND of the circuit substrate is electrically connected to GNDs of other components of the electronic apparatus through connecting parts. The circuit substrate has a part or circuit that implements a low impedance in an intended frequency range between the peripheral conductor of the connecting part opening to be used for the connection and the power supply of the circuit substrate.
US08085547B2 Electronic elements carrier
An electronic elements carrier includes a body, at least an electronic element and a filler. The body includes a substrate having a plate and a dam formed on the peripheral of plate, a conductive layer mounted on a surface of the dam, and at least a cavity defined by the plate and the dam of the substrate. The electronic element is disposed in the cavity of the body. The filler is received in the cavity of the substrate for encapsulating, sealing and protecting the electronic element.
US08085546B2 Multilayer printed wiring board for semiconductor devices and method for manufacturing the board
A coreless multilayer printed wiring board including a coreless layer having an opening, a conductive film formed on an upper surface of the coreless layer and closing one end of the opening of the coreless layer, a via-hole formed in the opening of the coreless layer, a first resin layer formed on the coreless layer and the conductive film and having an opening reaching to the conductive film, a via-hole formed in the opening of the first resin layer, a second resin layer formed on the upper surface of the first resin layer and having an opening, a via-hole formed in the opening of the second resin layer. The via-holes formed in the first and second resin layers are open in the direction opposite to the direction in which the via-hole formed in the coreless layer is open.
US08085531B2 Anisotropic thermal conduction element and manufacturing method
An anisotropic thermal conductive element that can conduct heat from a thermal source with high efficiency in the thickness direction which maintaining strength and a method of making the element. To achieve the above, an anisotropic thermal conductive element that can conduct heat from a heat source, a structure with a stack of graphite sheets having a contact surface across the thickness direction of the graphite sheets, and the stack of graphite sheets has the surroundings thereof coated to form a support parts. The coating process covers the structure of stacked graphite with a support part. A cutting process can be performed by cutting along the surface in the stacking direction after the coating process. After the cutting process, a surface treatment process can make a surface treatment to a section.
US08085526B2 Electric double layer capacitor
A solution or dispersion of an ion-permeable compound, a carbon fine particle a, and a solvent is coated on a conductive sheet such as an aluminum foil, the coat is dried to form a film a, which allows to obtain a collector for an electric double layer capacitor. A solution or dispersion of a binder, a carbon fine particle b, an activated carbon b, and a solvent is coated on the film a, the coat is dried to form a film b, which results in obtaining an electrode for an electric double layer capacitor. The electrode is piled on a separator, and immersed in an electrolytic solution to obtain an electric double layer capacitor.
US08085521B2 Flame rod drive signal generator and system
A flame rod drive signal generator and system for producing a flame rod drive signal for a flame rod of a combustion system. In one illustrative embodiment, the flame rod drive signal generator may include a voltage source, an input signal having a frequency, an LC oscillator and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may be powered by the voltage source, and may have an output coupled to the LC oscillator. The drive mechanism may receive the input signal, and produces a current in the LC oscillator that has a frequency that is related to the frequency of the input signal. The LC oscillator may then provide a flame rod drive signal to a flame rod that has an amplitude that is larger than the amplitude of the voltage source. In some cases, a controller may monitor the amplitude of the flame rod drive signal and adjust the frequency, duty cycle, or both, of the input signal to achieve a desired amplitude of the flame rod drive signal. Alternatively, or in addition, the controller may monitor an ionization current produced by the flame rod when the flame rod is subject to a flame.
US08085519B2 Circuit arrangement for providing a DC operating voltage
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement for providing an operating DC voltage from a mains voltage, more particularly to operating circuits comprising a clocked electronic converter. Such operating circuits are preferably used for lamps or other light sources. The present invention protects such circuit arrangements from transient mains overvoltages. As soon as a mains overvoltage occurs a diverter switch Th connects the voltage-sensitive switch S11 of the electronic converter to a storage capacitor C12.
US08085518B2 Electronic circuit, electronic circuit arrangement and method for producing an electronic circuit
An electronic circuit and method for producing the electronic circuit, where the electronic circuit includes a functional circuit including at least one multigate functional field effect transistor and an ESD protection circuit including at least one multigate ESD protection field effect transistor. The multigate protection field effect transistor is a transistor that is partially depleted of electrical charge carriers, and the trigger voltage of the multigate protection field effect transistor is less than the trigger voltage of the multigate functional field effect transistor.
US08085515B2 Electric power source for motor vehicle
An electric power source for a motor vehicle is equipped with a welded state discriminator, and while a positive-side contactor and negative-side contactor are controlled to be switched off, the welded state discriminator detects a voltage of a positive-side contactor or negative-side contactor on its loading side with respect to a connecting point of a battery unit on a positive side and a battery unit on a negative side. Accordingly, when in a plus voltage where the detected voltage thus obtained is larger than a predetermined voltage, the positive-side contactor is judged to be in a welded state, and when in a minus voltage where the detected voltage is larger than the predetermined voltage, the negative-side contactor is judged to be in a welded state.
US08085513B2 Magnetic sensor
An object is to provide a magnetic sensor permitting an increase in potential output. The magnetic sensor has a channel layer, a magnetization free layer provided on a first portion of the channel layer and configured to detect an external magnetic field, and a magnetization fixed layer provided on a second portion different from the first portion of the channel layer, and a cross-sectional area of the magnetization fixed layer in a surface opposed to the channel layer is larger than a cross-sectional area of the magnetization free layer in a surface opposed to the channel layer.
US08085511B2 Magnetoresistance effect element having resistance adjusting layer and thin-film insertion layer
A magnetoresistance effect element includes a magnetoresistance effect film including a magnetically pinned layer having a magnetic material film whose direction of magnetization is pinned substantially in one direction, a magnetically free layer having a magnetic material film whose direction of magnetization changes in response to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer located between said pinned layer and said free layer. The element also includes a pair of electrodes electrically connected to the magnetoresistance effect film to supply a sense current perpendicularly to a film plane of the magnetoresistance effect film. At least one of the pinned layer and the free layer may include a thin-film insertion layer. The nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer includes a resistance adjusting layer including at least one of oxides, nitrides and fluorides, and the thin-film insertion layer includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni).
US08085509B2 Write head with common mode termination resistor
A write circuit and a head for a hard disk drive. The head includes a substrate that has an electrical ground and a write element that has a center tap. The head also has a resistor that is connected to the center tap and the electrical ground. The resistor provides a return path for AC and DC components of any common mode signal in a write circuit. The resistor can also generate heat that thermally expands the head and varies a head flying height. The write element is connected to an write driver circuit that provides in phase currents to a write element during the write operation and out of phase currents during a read operation. The out of phase currents allow for thermal expansion and flying height control even during a read operation.
US08085508B2 System, method and apparatus for flexure-integrated microactuator
A piezo in-tongue microactuator includes a suspension assembly with a flexure tongue. The tongue has two slots that accept piezo actuators. The tongue also has multiple hinge flexible elements that translate the extension and/or contraction of the piezo actuators into rotary motion of the recording head. This rotary motion is then used to precisely position the recording element over the desired track on the hard disk drive and permits higher track density to be achieved.
US08085500B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording head with partial side shield layers
In a perpendicular magnetic recording head in which a magnetic pole part of a main magnetic pole layer exposed at a medium-opposing surface exhibits a trapezoidal form narrower on the leading edge side than on the trailing edge side, a pair of partial side shield layers made of a soft magnetic material are provided on both sides in the track width direction of the magnetic pole part of the main magnetic pole layer such as to be located more on the leading edge side of the magnetic pole part.
US08085492B1 Helicoid group switching
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to magnetic recording devices, such as disk drives. A recording medium of a magnetic recording device can include multiple helicoid patterns arranged in multiple helicoid groups. A described technique includes receiving a waveform produced by a head operated with respect to the medium; determining, based on the waveform, first phase difference(s) corresponding to a first helicoid group; affecting an alignment of the head with respect to the medium based on the first helicoid group by compensating for the first phase difference(s) to maintain the alignment; determining, while compensating for the first phase differences, second phase difference(s) corresponding to a second helicoid group; and affecting, responsive to a switch from the first helicoid group to the second helicoid group, the alignment of the head with respect to the medium by compensating for the second phase difference(s) to maintain the alignment.
US08085490B2 Slider fly-height control in a hard disk drive
In fly-height control system, a slider comprises a spin torque oscillator that is configured for generating an RF carrier signal which is out-of-band of a frequency band of read data, write data, and control signals in a hard disk drive.
US08085483B2 Lens barrel
A telescopic lens barrel which is capable of increasing the assembling workability and advancing and retracting a lens in an optical axis direction of the lens barrel with high accuracy, without miniaturizing of the lens barrel. A barrel base plate holds an image pickup device. A fixed cylinder is secured to the barrel base plate and has an axis in an optical axis direction of the lens barrel. A guide shaft holds a lens frame so as to be advanced and retracted in the optical axis direction in the fixed cylinder and held by the barrel base plate. The barrel base plate includes bearing portions holding the guide shaft on opposite sides of a sliding region of the lens frame, and a protruding portion of the guide shaft protruding from one of the bearing portions of the barrel base plate is regulated in position by the fixed cylinder.
US08085476B2 Zoom lens system and an image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens system is provided that can be used as an optical system for an image pick-up device, which can have improved shading characteristics using multiple lens units, for example three lens units.
US08085472B2 Expanded beam interface device and method for fabricating same
An optoelectronic device comprising a gradient index lens having an optical length, L, wherein L=P/4+NP/2, where N is an integer equal to or greater than 0 and P is the pitch of the gradient index lens. If the desired focus spot is spaced from the end face of the gradient index lens, the optical length L can be adjusted accordingly as a function of that distance and the index of refraction of the medium occupying that distance.
US08085471B2 Light integrating device for an illumination system and illumination system using the same
A light integrating device for an illumination system and an illumination system. The illumination system includes a first light source module and a second light source module providing a first light and a second light, respectively. The device includes first and second light collecting elements and a beam splitting element. The first light travels into the first light collecting element and is split into a plurality of light groups by the beam splitting element. At least one light group travels into the second light collecting element from the beam splitting element. The second light travels into the second light collecting element, is reflected by the beam splitting element and emits out from the second light collecting element along the principle axis of the light integrating device together with the at least one light group which is split from the first light and travels into the second light collecting element.
US08085466B2 Optical system of light gathering using orthogonal compressions to form large diameter, shallow depth telescopes
Optical system for a telescope having independent optical arms adapted to collect light rays over a first cross sectional area and compress it into a second cross sectional area less than the first cross sectional area. Orthogonal mirror pairs of parabolic trough mirrors compress light in first one dimension and then the other dimension and feed the light into a focusing smaller telescope structure. The gathered light is kept parallel and its wavefront is kept in phase, allowing the telescope to have the diffraction limit of the collective aperture. The optical arms are independently adjustable to point the system toward different objects of interest and track them.
US08085453B2 Phase retrieval and phase hologram synthesis
A method of retrieving phase information from input intensity information, representative of a target image, in which a Fourier transform is performed on data and the result used in forming a phase estimate, the phase estimate being inverse Fourier transformed, thereby producing magnitude and phase replay, and wherein not only is the phase reply component but also data derived from the magnitude replay component, iteratively fed back.
US08085450B2 Image reading apparatus and image reading method
The invention provides, as an aspect thereof, an image reading apparatus including a light irradiating unit that has a red-light irradiating sub-unit that irradiates red light onto a reading target object, a green-light irradiating sub-unit that irradiates green light onto the reading target object, and a blue-light irradiating sub-unit that irradiates blue light onto the reading target object; a reading unit that detects the amount of each of the red, green, and blue lights; a setting unit that sets an irradiation time period for each of the red, green, and blue lights on the basis of the corresponding amount of light detected by the reading unit by commanding each of the red-light, green-light, and blue-light irradiating sub-units to irradiate light; and a controlling unit that commands the red-light, green-light, and blue-light irradiating sub-units to irradiate light.
US08085444B2 Image generating apparatus, image generating method, image display medium, and computer readable recording medium
A leak-prohibited image to be subjected to leak prohibition is comprised of dots DT so that two dots are included in an 8×8 matrix at a resolution of 600 dpi. The leak-prohibited image is formed as a computer terminal acquires image data, converts the image data to an image comprised of discrete microdots DT which cannot be resolved by copying, and outputs the converted image. Because the leak-prohibited image cannot be copied even if an image including the leak-prohibited image is copied, copy-originated information leak can be prohibited. Synthesizing a concealment image having a regularly discrete pattern with such a leak-prohibited image makes it difficult to view the leak-prohibited image from other directions than a front, thus prohibiting information leak by peeping.
US08085439B2 Method and device for processing a print data flow for producing multicolor printed images using a high performance printing system
In a method/device for preparing a print data stream for generation of print images with at least two primary colors, the print data contained in an input print data stream are supplied to a processing stage as input print data. The input print data are processed with the processing stage wherein at least one raster image of a first primary color is generated. Trapping information is generated by use of the raster image. An output print data stream is generated that has the trapping information in addition to print data.
US08085436B2 Digital printing using similar colorants
A method for printing an input digital image using a digital printer having a set of colorants with substantially the same color but different densities, including a sequence of node points where each of the two or more colorants are either at their maximum or minimum values, setting colorant concentrations such that the color channel output responses corresponding to the sequence of node points are substantially equally spaced in a visually uniform color space; forming colorant control look-up tables to provide smooth transitions in the color channel output response between the sequence of node points; addressing the colorant control look-up tables with the printer code value for each pixel of the input digital image to determine the colorant control signals for each of the two or more colorants; and controlling the digital printer using the colorant control signals to produce a print of the input digital image.
US08085405B2 Detecting element, and target substance detecting device and method of detecting target substance using the same
A detecting element used for a detecting device for detecting a target substance in a sample by utilizing plasmon resonance. The detecting element includes a substrate and a plurality of metal members provided on the substrate, the metal member constituting a columnar structure and being oriented in a long axis direction thereof. The detecting element can improve sensitivity of the detecting device for detecting a target substance utilizing plasmon resonance.
US08085393B2 Exposure apparatus inspection method and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A mask pattern includes a first pattern having a line-and-space pattern extending in a first direction, a second pattern formed as a line-and-space pattern having a larger period than the first pattern and extending in the first direction, a third pattern having a line-and-space pattern extending in a second direction, and a fourth pattern formed as a line-and-space pattern having a larger period than the third pattern and extending in the second direction. Illumination light is obliquely incident on the first pattern and the second pattern from a first oblique direction, illumination light is obliquely incident on the third pattern and the fourth pattern from a second oblique direction, and a relative distance from the first pattern to the second pattern transferred on to an image receptor and a relative distance from the third pattern to the fourth pattern transferred onto the image receptor are measured and an optical characteristic of an exposure apparatus is ascertained based on the relative distances.
US08085379B2 Circuit board and display device having the same
Provided are a circuit board and a display device having the circuit board. The circuit board includes a first surface opposite to a second surface and a first and a second wire disposed on the first surface. The circuit board is attached substantially to one side of the display panel unit.
US08085375B2 Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal material interposed between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal display includes first protrusions and second protrusions that are alternately disposed with each other on the first substrate. A common electrode is provided at a side part of the first protrusions, and a pixel electrode is provided at a side part of the second protrusions to face the common electrode. A lateral electric field is generated between the common electrode and the pixel electrode facing each other for controlling an alignment of molecules of the liquid crystal material.
US08085373B2 Liquid crystal display device treated by UV irradiation
A liquid crystal display device includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal between substrates and alignment layers disposed on the inner surface sides of the substrates. The alignment layer is made from a material including polyamic acid containing a diamine component and polyimide containing a diamine component different from the diamine component of the polyamic acid. The alignment layer is subjected to alignment treatment by irradiation of light. UV light can be irradiated in the oblique direction onto the alignment layer through a mask having openings. A reflecting plate can be arranged between a UV light source and the mask. Also, bank structures having a thickness from 0.1 to 0.15 μm can be provided on the alignment layer of the TFT substrate.
US08085368B2 Liquid crystal display and method of fabricating the same
A liquid crystal display and a simple method to fabricate the same are provided, which can accurately measure luminance of an external light. The liquid crystal display includes a substrate; a thin film transistor array formed on the substrate; and a photoelectric conversion element having a reflection pattern formed on at least one side of the substrate, a photoelectric conversion region provided with a first semiconductor region formed on an upper part of the reflection pattern to receive an external light reflected by the reflection pattern, and a dummy pattern formed on an upper part of the photoelectric conversion region with a width corresponding to the first semiconductor region. The photoelectric conversion region may be configured to adjust the quantity of light incident to the thin film transistor array.
US08085364B2 Display with focussed illumination
A liquid crystal display with focused illumination is described. In an example, a light-source emitting a plurality of discrete colors is focused onto a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel has a plurality of pixels and each pixel has regions corresponding to the colors emitted by the light-source. Light of each color is focused onto the regions of the pixels corresponding to that color.
US08085360B2 Display device and planar light source device
The present invention relates to a technique which can make a backlight used in a liquid crystal display device thin and light-weighted. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which includes a display panel and a backlight which is arranged behind the display panel, wherein the backlight includes a film-like light guide member, a film-like light semi-transmissive member which is adhered to a first surface of the light guide member which faces the display panel in an opposed manner, a film-like reflective member which is adhered to a back surface of the light guide member opposite to the first surface, and a spot light source which is arranged at a position of the light guide member at which light is incident on the light guide member from the first surface or the back surface, and a refractive index of the light semi-transmissive member is set smaller than a refractive index of the light guide member.
US08085352B2 Electrostatic discharge protection circuit, manufacturing method thereof and liquid crystal display device having the same
A width and a length of the electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit are reduced by changing a connection structure of the electrostatic discharge protection circuit. The ESD protection circuit includes a plurality of gate electrodes disposed between odd signal lines and even signal lines adjacent to the odd signal lines among the signal lines; source/drain electrode pairs each disposed on a respective one of the gate electrodes to form a plurality of transistors; and connection nodes parallel to the source/drain electrode pairs, each connection node adjacent to a respective one of the source/drain electrodes pairs and on a respective one of the gate electrodes, wherein each of the connection nodes is directly connected to the source/drain electrode pair of an adjacent transistor and the gate electrode formed below the source/drain electrode through a contact part.
US08085349B2 Digital photo frame with interchangeable front frame
The present invention relates to a digital photo frame including: a control module; a display panel electrically connected to the control module and displaying an image; a first front frame having a first and a second surfaces; and a plurality of swing fasteners mounted on the second surface. Each of the swing fasteners is composed of a first arm and a pivot connecting thereto. The first arm pushes against the display panel when the display panel is attached to the front frame. At least one of the swing fasteners has a second arm and a hollow portion thereon, and the digital photo frame is hung on a support by the hollow portion. The design of swing fastener makes the interchangeability of different front frames possible, and the replaced front frame can be wedged in another size-suitable display panel or form a traditional photo frame with a photograph and a rear board.
US08085347B2 Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
A technology is provided that suppresses a noise that an image forming apparatus makes in the course of an operation thereof from interfering with a user who is watching television. When a printer 203 receives a print command, the printer 203 performs a print job as per a normal mode if a commercial is being displayed on a digital TV 201. If what is being displayed on the digital TV 201 is not the commercial, the printer 203 suspends the print job until the commercial begins to be displayed.
US08085341B2 Digital camera including remaining battery voltage check
A digital camera has a battery that supplies electric power, a battery level detector, a time detector, a remaining voltage calculator, and a boot controller. When the digital camera is turned off, the battery level detector detects a remaining voltage level of the battery. When the digital camera is turned on, the time detector detects an elapsed time from the last electric power OFF operation to the current electric power ON operation, namely, a time period in which the camera is in the OFF state. Further, when the digital camera is turned on, the remaining voltage calculator calculates a remaining voltage-level of the battery on the basis of the detected elapsed time, the last detected remaining voltage level, and the discharge characteristic of the battery. Then, the boot controller allows the digital camera to boot if the calculated remaining voltage level is larger than a limited voltage necessary to boot the digital camera.
US08085340B2 Camera
A camera is disclosed, which has a simple structure and capable of detecting a flash light amount at high accuracy. The camera comprises a camera body unit, a exterior unit fixed to the camera body unit, a flash unit provided on the exterior unit, a first light-leading member which has a flexibility and is used for leading light from the flash unit, and a light-receiving element receiving light that has passed through the first light-leading member. Both the first light-leading member and the light-receiving element are fixed to the exterior unit.
US08085339B2 Method and apparatus for optimizing capture device settings through depth information
A method for adjusting image capture settings for an image capture device is provided. The method initiates with capturing depth information of a scene at the image capture device. Depth regions are identified based on the captured depth information. Then, an image capture setting is adjusted independently for each of the depth regions. An image of the scene is captured with the image capture device, wherein the image capture setting is applied to each of the depth regions when the image of the scene is captured.
US08085329B2 Solid-state imaging device, driving control method, and imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging device and an imaging apparatus are provided. The solid-state imaging device performs an AD conversion in a column parallel for an analog pixel signal outputted from each of pixels disposed in a two-dimensional matrix shape. The solid-state imaging device includes: an AD conversion unit including a plurality of pixel signal accumulating units; a first switching unit for disconnecting parallel connection of a second pixel signal accumulating unit other than a first pixel signal accumulating unit which is one of the plurality of pixel signal accumulating units; and a second switching unit for connecting the second pixel signal accumulating unit to a pixel signal line of a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel in a row direction, when parallel connection of the second pixel signal accumulating unit is disconnected by the first switching unit.
US08085324B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes a plurality of A/D converters converting the analog electric signal from the pixel into a digital signal to output the digital signal from an output terminal of the A/D converter; a plurality of register circuits holding the digital signal; and a connecting unit for selectively connecting the output terminal of the A/D converter arranged correspondingly to one column to the input terminal of the register circuit arranged correspondingly to another column, and connecting an output terminal of the register circuit arranged correspondingly to one column to the input terminal of the register circuit arranged correspondingly to another column.
US08085322B2 Defect pixel correction circuit, image processing system using the same, and defect pixel correcting method
A defect pixel correction circuit that can easily determine a defect of an image sensor that has the defect that ranges to one direction and replace with the correcting pixel is provided. The defect pixel correction circuit 1 includes: a defect pixel determination unit 10 configured to determine whether a noteworthy pixel oo is a defect pixel referring to a referring pixels ko, mo, qo and so that excludes the noteworthy pixel oo, the referring pixels centering on the noteworthy pixel oo and lining up in one direction; and a defect pixel correcting unit 20 configured to generate a correcting pixel value on the basis of the referring pixels mo and qo, and replace the noteworthy pixel value that is pixel value of the noteworthy pixel oo with the correcting pixel value, when the noteworthy pixel oo is a defect pixel.
US08085320B1 Early radial distortion correction
Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise an input module to receive image data representing an image, wherein the image data includes radial distortion; and a zoom module to scale the image based on the image data and a scaling factor, wherein the zoom module comprises a radial distortion correction module to correct the radial distortion in the image data while the zoom module scales the image.
US08085319B2 Photoelectric conversion device and image capturing device
A photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel unit including a photoelectric converter, an amplifier arranged on the output side of the pixel unit, an output unit arranged on the output side of the amplifier, a first restriction circuit, and a second restriction circuit. The first restriction circuit restricts, between the amplifier and the output unit, a noise level read out from the pixel unit via the amplifier in reading out the noise level from the pixel unit. The second restriction circuit restricts, between the photoelectric converter and the amplifier, a noise level to be provided to the amplifier in reading out the noise level from the pixel unit.
US08085316B2 Image-processing unit, imaging apparatus, and computer program product
An image-processing unit, comprising an exposure conversion circuit, a standard image-setting circuit, a contour extraction circuit, a contour comparison circuit, a final setting circuit, and an image synthesis circuit, is provided. The exposure conversion circuit generates first and second exposure level image data. The standard image-setting circuit sets standard image data. The contour extraction circuit extracts standard and first comparison contours on the basis of the standard image data. The contour comparison circuit detects a first accordance indicator on the basis of the contours. The final setting circuit sets the first conclusive threshold on the basis of the first accordance indicator. The image synthesis circuit generates the rendered image data based on the first conclusive threshold.
US08085311B2 Optical apparatus with motor drive control selected based on rotor position sensor or determined time interval
An optical apparatus having a recording mode that is switchable between motion picture recording and still picture recording includes an optical element, a motor that includes a rotor having a magnet, and a stator having a coil configured to provide a rotational force to the magnet, the motor being configured to drive the optical element, a position sensor configured to detect a position of the rotor of the motor, and a driving circuit configured to select, in accordance with the recording mode, first driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with a determined time interval, or second driving configured to switch an electrization to the coil in the motor in accordance with an output of the position senor.
US08085299B2 Digital line scan camera
Disclosed is a digital line scan camera, having at least at least one focal plane, on which at least one linear photosensitive sensor is arranged, an objective lens, and a location measurement system. The location measurement system is used to determine six external location parameters, where the location system measurement comprises a satellite-supported position determination device and an inertial navigation measurement unit. The line scan camera includes at least on two-dimensional photosensitive sensor, which is synchronously driven with the linear sensor. At least one displacement vector ({right arrow over (x)}) is calculated from the data of the minimum of one two-dimensional photosensitive sensor, and where the displacement vector ({right arrow over (x)}) is used to correct the date of the inertial measurement unit.
US08085279B2 Drawing an image with transparent regions on top of another image without using an alpha channel
An image display system draws a first image on top of a second image. Pixels of the first image include one or more color channels which encode color information, but do not include an alpha channel which encodes transparency information. The system encodes transparency information for the pixels in the first image using at least one bit in at least one color channel of each pixel. The system draws the first image on top of the second image using the transparency information encoded in the color channels of the pixels to obtain a combined image.
US08085276B2 Combined color harmony generation and artwork recoloring mechanism
Obtaining an original set of two or more original colors associated with an artwork is disclosed. An input set of one or more user selected colors is received. For each original color in the original set, a mapping from the original color to one of a plurality of derived colors is determined. The plurality of derived colors is derived based at least in part on one or more user selected colors. The artwork is colored with at least two of the plurality of derived colors using the mapping.
US08085274B2 Video data compression
Systems and methods for compressing data within a block of data for storage in memory and for transmission along a data path are described herein. By utilizing previously unused bits in data words, the valid data can be stored more efficiently and transmitted in fewer transfer cycles, thereby increasing the availability of the data bus to other masters. One embodiment of a system for storing and transmitting compressed data includes masters and slaves interconnected by a data bus. One of the masters is a video input interface configured to receive video data from an external video source. The video input interface is further configured to compress the video data using a compression algorithm based on the difference in color between two adjacent pixels. Another one of the masters is a video display controller configured to receive the compressed video data. Also, the video display controller is configured to decode the compressed video data to restore the video data to its original form for transmission to an external video display.
US08085259B2 Display apparatus
The present invention improves the reliability of a display apparatus by suppressing the temperature rise of the display apparatus mounted on a wall. The display apparatus is provided with a wall mount switch to detect a wall mount member if the wall mount member is attached to the rear of the display apparatus. If it is detected by the wall mount switch that the display apparatus is mounted on a wall, the display power supplied to a display unit is set lower than normal by a power controller. This suppresses the temperature rise of the apparatus mounted on a wall.
US08085251B2 Display-and-image-pickup apparatus, object detection program and method of detecting an object
A display-and-image-pickup apparatus includes: a display-and-image-pickup panel having an image display function and an image pickup function; an image producing means for producing a predetermined processed image on the basis of a picked-up image of a proximity object obtained through the use of the display-and-image-pickup panel; an image processing means for obtaining information about the proximity object through selectively using one of two obtaining modes on the basis of at least one of the picked-up image and the processed image; and a switching means for switching processes so that, in the case where the parameter is increasing, one of the two obtaining modes is switched to the other obtaining mode when the parameter reaches a threshold value, and in the case where the parameter is decreasing, the other obtaining mode is switched to the one obtaining mode when the parameter reaches a smaller threshold value.
US08085248B2 Element for a control panel of a device
There is described a design element for a control panel of a device and further a device having a plurality of design elements that can be freely positioned on a control panel, and to a method for configuring such a device and a corresponding computer program. An aim is to provide a control panel which is extremely flexible in its handling. For this purpose, individual design elements are freely positioned on a control panel. Power supply and data transmission to a control module are carried out in a contactless manner. The design elements are preferably printed polymer electronic components having their own electronics.
US08085243B2 Input device and its method
An input device for inputting a command and information to a device, includes a body shape input section acquiring body shape information of a user and a display information generation section generating a display image necessary for the user to input the command and the information. Further, the input device includes an operation section having an operation surface corresponding to the display image, a body shape extraction section extracting a portion corresponding to the operation surface from the body shape information acquired by the body shape input section and generating a body image, an image composition section making a composite image of the display image generated by the display information generation section and the body image generated by the body shape extraction section, and a display section displaying the composite image made by the image composition section.
US08085238B2 Backlight, display apparatus and light source controlling method
A backlight for illuminating the back of a display section includes a plurality of light sources disposed in positions corresponding to a display area of the display section; a diffusion member configured to transmit light from the light sources to the display section; a photo-sensor; a light guiding member configured to introduce the light from the light sources to the photo-sensor for detection; and an arithmetic operation processing section configured to calculate the luminance or chromaticity of each of the light sources from the luminance or chromaticity detected by the photo-sensor.
US08085233B2 Pixel driving method, pixel driving circuit for performing the same, and display apparatus having the pixel driving circuit
A pixel driving circuit includes a first gate line, a second gate line, a first data line, a second data line, a pixel part, a first driving part, a second driving part, and a first voltage-changing part. The first driving part applies a first data voltage to the first pixel electrode. The second driving part applies a second data voltage to the second pixel electrode. The first voltage-changing part is connected to the first pixel electrode, the first data line, and the second data line to change a first pixel voltage of the first pixel electrode to increase a voltage difference between the first and second pixel electrodes.
US08085229B2 Optically compensated bend (OCB) liquid crystal display and method of operating same
In a optically compensated bend (OCB) liquid crystal display, an impulsive voltage is applied to a pixel between applications of normal data voltages for displaying an image, and the impulsive voltage and the normal data voltage are controlled to prevent breaking of the bending alignment of the (OCB) liquid crystals. Accordingly, luminance of the liquid crystal display can be improved.When the normal data voltage of 0V is applied, the impulsive voltage at which the bending alignment of OCB liquid crystal is broken is set to the impulsive voltage at (for, corresponding to) the highest gray. There occurs a broken region (0-VB) where the bending alignment of the OCB liquid crystal is broken at a predetermined range that is higher than 0V. A voltage that is higher than the highest voltage (VB) of the broken region is set to a white voltage. Accordingly, luminance of the OCB liquid crystal display can be enhanced.
US08085222B2 Plasma display device and method for driving the same
A plasma display device and a driving method thereof are provided. The plasma display device has a panel having a plurality of discharge cells including a display electrode pair that is formed of a scan electrode and a sustain electrode, and a temperature detecting circuit for detecting the ambient temperature of the panel and outputting the detected temperature. In the driving method, an unusual charge erasing period when a rectangular waveform voltage is applied to the scan electrode is disposed between the initializing period and address period of at least one of a plurality of subfields, and the number of subfields having the unusual charge erasing period is controlled based on the detected temperature detected by the temperature detecting circuit.
US08085211B2 Single drive variable azimuth and beam tilt antenna for wireless network
An antenna array employing a combined azimuth and elevation beam angle adjustment electromechanical system is disclosed. The system employs a dual purpose remotely controllable actuator. The actuator is used to adjust azimuth angle of the antenna array and radiation beam tilt of the same. An antenna array employing a combined azimuth, beamwidth and elevation beam angle adjustment electromechanical system is also disclosed.
US08085210B2 Method for obtaining a predetermined position of an antenna
Method for obtaining a predetermined position for a satellite antenna, whereby a controller (9) is made to transfer information to a velocity controller (3), in turn being made to transfer information to a current regulator (4), being made to transfer current to a motor which is intended for setting the desired position of the satellite antenna. The electrical motor (5) is made to receive current from the current regulator so that the electrical motor is made to turn a predetermined angle during a predetermined time interval. An angle sensor (6) is positioned on the satellite antenna and is made to read an absolute angle or an angular displacement of the satellite antenna, and the angle sensor is connected to the controller so as to create a feedback loop. An automatic control system is also disclosed.
US08085209B2 Sub-array polarization control using rotated dual polarized radiating elements
A system and method of minimizing a polarization quantization error associated with an antenna sub-array. The antenna sub-array includes at least two radiating elements, with the radiating elements having different polarization orientations from other radiating elements in the antenna sub-array. The radiating elements are dual polarized and have electronic polarization control. In an exemplary embodiment, the radiating elements are configured to reduce the polarization quantization error to be less than half of a polarization quantization step size. In various embodiments, rotating the radiating elements and implementing a phase delay, individually or in combination, is used to change the polarizations of the radiating elements.
US08085205B2 Antenna module and an electronic device having the antenna module
An antenna module for wireless signal transmission of an electronic device is disclosed. The antenna module comprises an antenna body and a fixing part. The antenna body comprises a radiating element, a grounding element, a connecting element, and a feeding point. The radiating element has a first radiating area and a second radiating area. The connecting element has a first end and a second end. The first end is connected with the first radiating area of the radiating element and the second end is connected with the grounding element. The feeding point is disposed on the radiating element and is used to feed a signal. The fixing part comprises a main body and a first clip portion. The main body is used to match the shape of the antenna body. The first clip portion is used to clip and fix the antenna body.
US08085199B2 Receiver including a matrix module to determine angular position
A receiver includes an antenna array, a plurality of phase shifters, a matrix module, a low noise amplifier module, and a down conversion module. The antenna array is operably coupled to receive an inbound wireless signal. The plurality of phase shifters is operably coupled to the antenna array and to produce a plurality of phase shifted inbound wireless signals. The matrix module is operably coupled to beamform the plurality of phase shifted inbound wireless signals to produce a plurality of beamformed and phase shifted inbound wireless signals. The low noise amplifier module is operably coupled to amplify one or more of the plurality of beamformed and phase shifted inbound wireless signals to produce one or more amplified inbound signals. The down conversion module is operably coupled to convert the one or more amplified inbound wireless signals into one or more baseband or near baseband signals.
US08085197B2 Position calculating method and position calculating device
A position calculating method includes: executing position calculation processing using a plurality of Kalman filter processing, which is processing corresponding to each of a plurality of power spectral density groups classified by performing in advance frequency analysis on the movement acceleration of a movable body as an object of position calculation and which includes an error parameter set to a different value according to the power spectral density group and a parameter indicating that the movable body is in a uniform motion state, on the basis of a satellite signal from a positioning satellite; and determining the position of the movable body using a position calculated by each Kalman filter processing.
US08085196B2 Removing biases in dual frequency GNSS receivers using SBAS
A method for removing biases in dual frequency GNSS receivers circumvents the need for ionosphere corrections by using L2(P) in combination with either L1(P) or L1(C/A) to form ionosphere-free ranges. A table of biases is stored in microprocessor controller memory and utilized for computing a location using corrected ionosphere-free pseudo ranges. A system for removing biases in dual frequency GNSS receivers includes a dual frequency GNSS receiver and a controller microprocessor adapted to store a table of bias values for correcting pseudo ranges determined using L2(P) in combination with either L1(P) or L1(C/A).
US08085193B2 System and method for preventing A-GPS devices from searching for specific satellites
A system and method for estimating the location of a wireless device. A set of satellites may be determined as a function of an approximate area in which the wireless device is located. Assistance data is transmitted to the device including information from the set of satellites, and a location of the device may be estimated from the information where the assistance data prevents the wireless device from searching for signals from one or more satellites in the set of satellites. The one or more satellites may be an operable satellite but signals therefrom cannot be measured or acquired by the wireless device.
US08085189B2 Antenna calibration
The present invention relates to antenna calibration for active phased array antennas. Specifically, the present invention relates to a built-in apparatus for autonomous antenna calibration. Accordingly, the present invention provides an antenna array comprising: a plurality of antenna elements forming an array face and a plurality of calibration antennas mounted around the array face. The plurality of calibration antennas comprising one or more pairs. The calibration antennas have overlapping coverage areas such that the entire array face of the antenna array is within the coverage area of at least one calibration antenna and each pair of calibration antennas have overlapping coverage areas such that of a common area of the array face is within both coverage areas.
US08085188B2 Method and apparatus for determining a deviation between an actual direction of a launched projectile and a predetermined direction
A method of determining a deviation of a path of a projectile from a predetermined path. The method uses an image of a target area in which the desired path or direction is pointed out. Subsequently, the real direction or path is determined and the deviation determined.
US08085177B2 Digital to analog converter system and method with multi-level scrambling
Tri-level scrambling in a digital to analog converter system is achieved by, in response to a tri-level binary code input, disabling a negative data directed scrambler circuit when the input code is in the positive cycle portion, disabling a positive data directed scrambler circuit when the input code is in the negative cycle portion and disabling both scrambler circuits upon a zero input code for reducing low level distortion due to a reversal of current during crossover between those cycles.
US08085176B2 Method and apparatus for dithering in multi-bit sigma-delta digital-to-analog converters
A multi-bit (M-bit, M>1) Sigma-Delta digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a variable resolution multi-bit quantizer that has its digital value inputs that are truncated or rounded to a resolution that follows a random or pseudo-random sequence to provide automatic dynamic dithering for removing undesired idle tones in the analog output of the Sigma-Delta DAC. Random numbers N(n) between 1 and M are provided, and M−N(n) least significant bits in each M-bit digital value at the output of the quantizer are forced to zero with a digital truncator or rounder. The random numbers N(n) may be provided by a random or pseudo-random sequence generator, e.g., Galois linear feedback shift register in combination with digital comparators and an adder.
US08085173B2 Multi-speed burst mode serializer/de-serializer
A multi-speed burst mode serializer/de-serializer (SerDes) is configurable and can operate in one of a plurality of operating modes. The plurality of operating modes correspond to the reception of signals from optical network units that operate at different nominal speeds. These various modes of operation can enable a single SerDes design to apply to a variety of speeds and network configurations (e.g., point-to-point or point-to-multipoint). In one example, the design can be initially configured for operation with a single ONT or a network of ONTs at a single speed, or can be dynamically configured during operation for use with a network of ONTs operating at different speeds.
US08085166B2 Traffic information system
A method of evaluating the driving behavior in a vehicle. The method includes determining values of a plurality of parameters of the operation of a first vehicle in a first road segment, determining values of the plurality of parameters for one or more second vehicles in a second road segment having similar properties to those of the first road segment, comparing the determined values of the first vehicle and the one or more second vehicles and providing an evaluation of the driving behavior of the first vehicle, responsive to the comparison.
US08085155B2 Sanitizer dispensers with compliance verification
A system is provided for providing compliance verification of sanitizer use from a sanitizer dispenser. The system provides for identifying individual users of one or more sanitizer dispensers through technologies such as RFID. Individual's use of sanitizer dispensers is monitored to determine compliance with sanitizer use requirements. A compliance report may be generated based on data associated with one or more individuals' use of the sanitizer dispenser(s). Additionally, the sanitizer dispenser may identify containers having authorized sanitizer.
US08085145B2 Personal environmental monitoring method and system and portable monitor for use therein
A personal environmental monitoring method and system and a portable monitor for use therein permit real-time mobile monitoring of environmental conditions in the immediate vicinity to ensure compatibility with the particular environmental sensitivities of a person being monitored. The portable monitor may be a fully integrated mobile device that provides real-time mobile monitoring of immediate environmental conditions without network connectivity.
US08085144B2 Equipment and method for identifying, monitoring and evaluating equipment, environmental and physiological conditions
A system and method are disclosed for identifying monitoring and evaluating hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions. The system may be worn by safety personnel to detect equipment conditions such as low power supply, environmental conditions such as ambient temperature and/or physiological conditions such as heart rate of a wearer. The system may further include a control unit having electronics operable to communicate signals associated with equipment, environmental and physiological conditions.
US08085140B2 Travel information providing device
A traveling information providing device is provided in which a surrounding information corrector acquires surrounding information on the condition surrounding a vehicle equipped with the device. An object extractor extracts a safety confirmation object the safety of which must be confirmed by a driver from the surrounding information acquired by the surrounding information collector. A line-of-sight detector detects a line-of-sight direction of the driver. A visibility calculator receives the extracted safety confirmation object and the line-of-sight direction of the driver and calculates visibility in consideration of the driver's peripheral vision with respect to the safety confirmation object according to the distance or the angle from the driver's line-of-sight direction to the object. An information presenter presents safety confirmation to the driver depending on the calculated visibility.
US08085134B2 Wireless sensor network and sampling rate allocation method thereof
A sampling rate allocation method for a wireless sensor network is provided. In this method, a distributed computing method is adopted to allow each node to calculate and obtain its decision table and energy table and upload its energy table to its parent node, and finally, the number of samples to be provided by all the child nodes is determined according to the decision table of the root node and a total sample number. Compared to the conventional techniques, the present invention provides a wireless sensor network which has longer life time and can meet the requirements to both the total number of samples and the fairness.
US08085121B2 Transformer with electrical shield
A transformer, in particular an entirely cast resin transformer, includes at least one lower voltage winding and at least one upper voltage winding. The application of an electrical shielding around the upper voltage winding makes it possible to prevent a voltage disruptive discharge in such a way that the outer wall of the transformer can be touched by a person and also provides the transformer with electromagnetic shielding. The transformer is provided with bushings for internal electric connections and for that reason, it can be placed in media affected by dirty surroundings and in open air.
US08085120B2 Solid insulation for fluid-filled transformer and method of fabrication thereof
An insulation system for a fluid-filled power transformer that allows for operation of the transformer at higher temperatures and with lowered susceptibility to aging. The insulation system includes a plurality of fibers that are bound together by a solid binding agent. The solid binding agent may, for example, for sheaths around the fibers or may be in the form of dispersed particles that bind the fibers to each other. Also, a method of fabricating such an insulation system.
US08085107B2 Transmission module
The invention relates to a transmission module for transmitting data in the form of useful digital signals by modulation of a carrier, determined by the useful signals, by means of frequency shift keying. The transmission module contains a PLL circuit with a voltage-controlled oscillator and a controllable frequency divider with a frequency divider control input. The transmission module is designed to induce direct frequency shift keying (DFSK) of the carrier signal by appropriate triggering of the frequency divider with at least two different frequency divider control signals, and it has a modulation data preprocessing unit, which is connected to the frequency divider control input and is designed to weight samples of the same polarity of the useful signals to be transmitted and to fine tune the frequency divider control signal with regard to the frequency deviation to be induced.
US08085105B2 Constant-temperature type crystal oscillator
A constant-temperature type crystal oscillator includes: a crystal unit including a case main body including a first power source terminal on an outer bottom surface thereof; a surface-mounted oscillator; a temperature control circuit including a heating resistor and a temperature sensor; and a circuit substrate including a second power source terminal. One ends of the heating resistor and the temperature sensor are electrically connected to the second power source terminal. The first power source terminal of the surface-mounted oscillator and the one ends of the heating resistor and the temperature sensor are electrically connected to the second power source terminal of the circuit substrate. The first power source terminal of the surface-mounted oscillator is directly and electrically connected to, at least, the one end of the temperature sensor via an electrically-conducting path.
US08085103B2 Resonant oscillator circuit with reduced startup transients
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that implements a resonant oscillator circuit. This resonant oscillator circuit includes: a first inductor, a second inductor, a first capacitance, and a second capacitance, wherein the first and second inductors are configured to operate with the first and second capacitances to produce resonant oscillations which appear at a first phase output and a second phase output. The system also includes a startup circuit which is configured to start the resonant oscillator circuit in a state where: the first phase output is at a peak voltage; the second phase output is at a base voltage; and currents through the first and second inductors are substantially zero. By starting the resonant oscillator circuit in this state, the oscillations commence without a significant startup transient.
US08085100B2 Poly-phase frequency synthesis oscillator
A frequency synthesis/multiplication circuit and method for multiplying the frequency of a reference signal. In one embodiment, multiple versions of the reference signal are generated having different phases relative to one another, and these multiple versions are combined to form an output signal having a frequency that is a multiple of the frequency of the reference signal.
US08085096B2 Apparatus and method for improved amplifier shunt-peak loading
An amplification apparatus comprising first amplification circuitry having first shunt-peak circuitry and second amplification circuitry having second shunt-peak circuitry, wherein the amplification apparatus is arranged to provide an operational bandwidth over which the first and second amplification circuitry amplify signals, and wherein the second shunt-peak circuitry is arranged to use at least part of the first shunt-peak circuitry.
US08085095B2 Switched capacitor voltage converter for a power amplifier
A voltage converter includes a plurality of capacitors and corresponding first switch elements, the capacitors coupled in series and arranged to each charge to a voltage level during a first clock period, the voltage level determined by a supply voltage level, the number of capacitors and a value of each capacitor; and a plurality of second switch elements configured to cause the plurality of capacitors to be connected in parallel and to discharge into an output capacitor during a second clock period, the output capacitor charged to a discrete voltage output level so that the output capacitor provides the discrete voltage output level, wherein the discrete voltage output level is less than the supply voltage level and wherein the discrete voltage output level is used to develop a bias signal that is supplied to a power amplifier element.
US08085090B2 Method and system for polar modulating QAM signals with discontinuous phase
Aspects of a method and system for polar modulating QAM signals with discontinuous phase may include amplifying a signal via a plurality of amplifiers such that a combined gain of the plurality of amplifiers comprises a coarse amplitude gain and an amplitude offset gain. A gain of one or more of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the coarse amplitude gain, and a gain of one or more remaining ones of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the amplitude offset gain. The setting of the coarse amplitude gain and/or said amplitude offset gain may be adjusted dynamically and/or adaptively. The signal may be generated by phase-modulation of a radio-frequency carrier. The combined gain of the plurality of amplifiers may be controlled based on a desired amplitude modulation. The plurality of amplifiers may be integrated within an integrated circuit (IC) or chip.
US08085089B2 Method and system for polar modulation with discontinuous phase for RF transmitters with integrated amplitude shaping
Aspects of a method and system for polar modulation with discontinuous phase for RF transmitters with integrated amplitude shaping may include amplifying a signal via a plurality of amplifiers such that a combined gain of the plurality of amplifiers comprises a coarse amplitude gain, an amplitude offset gain and a pulse-shaping gain. A gain of one or more of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the coarse amplitude gain. A gain of one or more of the plurality of amplifiers may be adjusted to set the amplitude offset gain and the pulse-shaping gain, wherein the one or more of the plurality of amplifiers used to set said amplitude offset gain and said pulse-shaping gain are distinct from the one or more of said plurality of amplifiers used to set the coarse amplitude gain.
US08085081B2 Semiconductor device for output of pulse waveforms
A semiconductor device has multiple high-side field-effect transistors and multiple low-side field-effect transistors connected to a single output terminal to generate an output signal. A driver circuit outputs driving signals that turn the field-effect transistors on and off. The driving signal for the field-effect transistors on each side is conducted by a salicided gate line with salicide block areas that produce successive delays, causing the field-effect transistors to turn on sequentially. Alternatively, the transistors have different threshold voltages, or the driving signals for different transistors are output from drivers with different driving abilities, again causing the transistors to turn on sequentially. The output signal therefore rises and falls gradually, reducing electromagnetic interference.
US08085080B2 Generation of a low jitter clock signal
Systems and methods for generation of a low jitter clock signal for wireless circuits are disclosed. In an implementation, the system includes a wireless circuit powered by a first power supply and a low jitter clock (LJC) generator powered by a second power supply. The LJC generator provides at least one clock signal to the wireless circuit. The system further includes an LJC driver circuit including a clock buffer powered by the first power supply and a receive buffer powered by the second power supply.
US08085071B2 Phase-locked loop circuit and delay-locked loop circuit
A phase-locked loop circuit includes a phase comparator that compares phases between a reference signal and a feedback signal and outputs a phase difference signal indicating a phase difference therebetween; a charge pump that outputs a charge pump current according to the phase difference signal; a low-pass filter that includes a resistor and a capacitor and that smoothes the charge pump current and converts the smoothed current into a control voltage; a voltage-controlled oscillator that generates an oscillation signal with a frequency according to the control voltage; and a frequency divider that generates a frequency-divided signal by frequency-dividing the oscillation signal and outputs the frequency-divided signal to the phase comparator as the feedback signal, wherein the resistor in the low-pass filter is a variable resistor that is changed according to the control voltage.
US08085070B2 Overclocking with phase selection
A novel solution that combines the technologies of fractional divider and phase selection is provided to implement over-clocking for CPU PLL in PC clock generator with a set resolution that is independent of the clock frequency.
US08085066B2 xCP on 2 CSI
A microprocessor control unit (MCU) is mounted on a printed circuit board. The MCU includes first and second clocked serial interface (CSI) circuits. The first CSI circuit is configured to serially transmit a first xCP packet to a first encoder circuit, which in turn is configured to generate an encoded first xCP packet as a function of the first xCP packet and a first clock signal. A first low voltage differential signal (LVDS) circuit is coupled to the first encoder circuit and configured to serially receive the encoded first xCP packet therefrom. The first LVDS circuit is configured to generate a first differential signal as a function of the encoded first xCP packet.
US08085064B2 Logic module including versatile adder for FPGA
A logic module for an FPGA includes a LUT formed from an N-level tree of 2:1 multiplexers. Each of the N inputs to the LUT is connected to the select inputs of the multiplexers in one level of the tree. Each of the data inputs at the leaves of the tree is driven by a configuration memory cell that produces either a logic 0 or a logic 1. The output of the single multiplexer at the last level of the tree forms a Y output and is coupled to one input of an XOR gate and to the select input of a two-input carry multiplexer. The 0 input of the carry multiplexer is coupled to a G input. A CI input is coupled to the other input of the XOR gate and to the 1 input of the carry multiplexer.
US08085063B2 Power regulator circuitry for programmable logic device memory elements
Power regulator circuitry for programmable memory elements on programmable logic device integrated circuits is provided. The programmable memory elements may each include a storage element formed from cross-coupled inverters and an address transistor. Address drivers may be used to supply address signals to the address transistors. The power regulator circuitry may include an address power supply circuit that produces a time-varying address power supply voltage to the address drivers and storage element power supply circuits that provide time-varying storage element power supply voltages to the cross-coupled inverters in the storage elements. Unity gain buffers may be used to distribute a reference voltage from a bandgap voltage reference to the power supply circuits. The power supply circuits may use voltage dividers and p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor control transistors.
US08085061B2 Output circuit of semiconductor device
An output circuit of a semiconductor includes unit buffers, each unit buffer having transistors and resistors connected between a power source terminal VDDQ and an output terminal DQ, and transistors and resistors connected between a power source terminal VSSQ and an output terminal DQ. On-resistance values of transistors included in the unit buffers are mutually substantially the same, and resistance values of resistors included in the unit buffers are mutually different. A deviation of impedances attributable to a power source resistance can be offset based on a difference between resistance values of the resistors.
US08085055B2 Branch current monitoring system
A power monitoring system that reduces the need for transient voltage suppressors while using current transformers on an associated support operating using a current mode.
US08085046B2 Coil array mode compression for parallel transmission magnetic resonance imaging
A method for target-dependent, sparsity-enforced selection for choosing a substantially optimal connection of radiofrequency (“RF”) transmitters to the elements of the RF coil array is provided. In particular, a method is provided that selects the linear combinations of the “N” spatial mode profiles of a transmission RF coil array, such that the k-space trajectory and pulse duration acceleration capabilities of the array are advantageously utilized. A sparsity-enforcement method that determines a subset of the available spatial modes for a parallel transmission RF coil array is employed to this end. In this manner, the utilization of the encoding power of a highly-parallel N-mode coil array in a system with only “P” available excitation channels is enabled.
US08085042B2 Method and device for automatic determination of slice positions in an MR examination
Two method and device embodiments allow automatic determination of slice positions in an MR examination in an MR system. In the first embodiment, a volume to be measured by the MR examination is predetermined. The MR examination is subsequently planned in that at least one of the parameters slice direction, slice interval, slice thickness, number of slices for the MR examination is adapted such that an extent in the slice direction of the MR examination essentially corresponds to the predetermined volume. In the second embodiment, at least one volume segment is predetermined. Multiple slices for the MR examination are subsequently determined such that each volume segment is contained in at least one of the slices.
US08085038B2 Method for testing noise of thin-film magnetic head, and magnetic disk drive apparatus with noise testing function
A noise-testing method for a thin-film magnetic head with an MR read head element and a heating unit capable of applying a heat and a stress to the MR read head element, includes a step of applying alternately and discontinuously with each other an electrical power having a first level and an electrical power having a second level higher than the first level to the heating unit, and a step of evaluating the thin-film magnetic head by measuring a noise output or noise outputs obtained from the MR read head element when the electrical power or the electrical powers are applied to the heating unit.
US08085030B2 Voltage generator having a dynamic resistors feedback control
A voltage generator includes a charge pump, a voltage dividing circuit, and a comparator. The charge pump can output a high voltage. The dividing circuit includes a plurality of resistors and at least one switch. The dividing circuit can generate a first divided voltage of the high voltage when the switch is turned on and a second divided voltage of the high voltage when the switch is turned off. An output signal of the comparator can control the switch and the charge pump. The dividing circuit and the comparator form a feedback loop so that the response speed of the comparator can be increased and the ripples of the high voltage outputted from the charge pump can be decreased.
US08085022B2 Switching regulator and control circuit thereof, and method for determining on-time in switching regulator
The present invention discloses a switching regulator and control method thereof, and a method for determining On-time in switching regulator. The switching regulator comprises: a power switch circuit including at least one power transistor switch which operates to convert an input voltage to an output voltage; a PWM generation circuit for generating a duty signal in a normal operation mode according to a feedback signal relating to the output voltage; a pulse skipping circuit for determining On-time in a pulse skipping mode according to a node with non-constant voltage level, the node being connected with the power transistor switch; and a driver circuit for driving the at least one power transistor switch according to one of the outputs from the PWM generation circuit and the pulse skipping circuit.
US08085009B2 IGBT/FET-based energy savings device for reducing a predetermined amount of voltage using pulse width modulation
An IGBT/FET-based energy savings device, system and method (1) wherein a predetermined amount of voltage below a nominal line voltage and/or below a nominal appliance voltage is saved, thereby conserving energy. Phase input connections (2) are provided for inputting analog signals into the device and system (1). A magnetic flux concentrator (3) senses the incoming analog signal (20) and a volts zero crossing point detector (5) determines the zero volts crossing point (21) of the signal (20). The positive half cycle (22) and negative half cycle (23) of the signal (20) are identified and routed to a digital signal processor (10) for processing the signal (20). The signal (20) is reduced by pulse width modulation and the reduced amount of energy is outputted, thereby yielding an energy savings for an end user.
US08085005B2 Buck-boost converter with sample and hold circuit in current loop
In an average-current mode control type buck-boost PWM converter, a sample and hold circuit is inserted in the current loop to avoid problems associated with ripple of the average inductor current demand signal. The rippling average inductor current is generated by a differential transconductance amplifier having applied to its inputs an error signal and a signal corresponding to the instantaneous current through the inductor, where the output of the amplifier is filtered. The rippling average inductor current is sampled and held at the beginning of each switching cycle, prior to the average inductor current demand signal being compared to buck and boost sawtooth waveforms. By using the sample and hold circuit, the feedback loops are easier to stabilize, and the converter cannot switch modes during a switching cycle.
US08085003B2 Voltage regulated permanent magnet generator
A single phase AC generator uses a rotor contained within a stator. The stator has an armature winding and a control winding which is capable of having its magnetic permeability adjusted, thereby limiting the output voltage of the armature winding. The stator additionally has two core sections.
US08084993B1 Replacement system for heavy battery banks
A plurality of manually maneuverable battery bank modules are formed into a train and transported by a vehicle to the site of electrically operated equipment. At the site, the modules replace modules already connected to the equipment.
US08084990B2 Camping kit
An electrical system (60, 200) for a tent or shelter (98, 201). Wires (60) are routed through a tent or shelter (98, 201) either by attaching the wires to the tent or shelter, running the wires through hems, seams (100), or sleeves, or integrating the wires into the fabric for the tent or shelter. In accordance with an embodiment, an appliance (208) is connected to the wiring harness (60) and is mounted or attached in the tent or shelter. The appliance (208) may be mounted in a socket (234) that includes contacts that may engage a fixture or appliance, such as a light. An opposite end of a cord (222) leading to the socket is attachable to an electrical power supply, such as a battery pack (203).
US08084988B2 Power supply system
A power supply system includes a fuel cell, a capacitor connected in parallel to the fuel cell, a voltage boost means for boosting output voltages from the fuel cell and the capacitor to supply the electric motor with electric power resulting from the boosted voltages, a voltage control means for further boosting an output voltage from the voltage boost means, a secondary battery connected to the voltage control means, an external power source connecting means connected to the one end of the voltage boost means and in parallel with the fuel cell and for receiving supply of electric power from an external power source, and an electronic control unit which charges the secondary battery from the external power source by controlling step-up ratios of the voltage boost means and the voltage control means such that a voltage applied to the secondary battery during the charging becomes a desired voltage.
US08084965B2 All-Ion accelerator and control method of the same
An accelerator that can accelerate by itself all ions up to any energy level allowed by the magnetic fields for beam guiding, and provides an all-ion accelerator in which with trigger timing and a charging time of an induced voltage applied to an ion beam injected from a preinjector by induction cells for confinement and acceleration used in an induction synchrotron, digital signal processors for confinement and acceleration and pattern generators for confinement and acceleration generate gate signal patterns for confinement and acceleration on the basis of a passage signal of the ion beam and an induced voltage signal for indicating the value of the induced voltage applied to the ion beam, and intelligent control devices for confinement and acceleration perform feedback control of on/off of the induction cells for confinement and acceleration.
US08084964B2 Methods for adjusting brightness of light sources
A method for adjusting brightness of a light source is provided. A light source with X brightness degrees is provided. The light source is turned on and off at least one time. When the number n of times of turning on the light source is less than or equal to the total number X of brightness degrees, the brightness degree of the light source is determined to be the nth brightness degree. When the number n is greater than the total number X, the brightness degree of the light source is determined to be the mth brightness degree, wherein the number m is equal to a remainder obtained by dividing the number n by the number X, is determined; if the number m is equal to zero, the brightness degree of the light source is determined to be the last brightness degree.
US08084954B2 Lamp driving circuit
The present invention relates to a lamp driving circuit capable of achieving miniaturization by using a safe insulation type multi-output transformer. The lamp driving circuit in accordance with the present invention includes a rectification unit for rectifying an input voltage; a PFC (Power Factor Correction) unit for enhancing a power factor of a voltage rectified by the rectification unit and converting the rectified voltage into a DC voltage; a switching unit for switching the DC voltage of the PFC unit in order to convert the DC voltage into a square wave voltage; an insulation transformer unit which includes a transformer to secure safe insulation by including an input terminal and a ground terminal of one primary side and all output terminals of first and second secondary sides each of which includes two output terminals at sides facing each other and a resonant capacitor, and outputs a plurality of driving voltages which have the same amplitude and drive a plurality of lamps respectively by receiving the square wave voltages outputted from the switching unit; and an insulation feedback unit for sensing any one of the plurality of driving voltages and transmitting the driving voltage to the switching unit positioned at the primary side of the transformer, wherein the insulation feedback unit insulates the primary side of the transformer from the secondary side of the transformer.
US08084950B2 Drive circuit
Provided is a drive circuit for a light emitting device, which compensates for a decrease in luminance of the light emitting device and reduces a burn-in phenomenon. The drive circuit includes: a first capacitor connected to a gate of a drive transistor; and a second capacitor formed between the first capacitor on a side to which the gate of the drive transistor is not connected, and one end of a light emitting device. The drive circuit corrects an amount of charge of the first capacitor according to a change in potential of the node when the light emitting device starts illumination, and then, causes the light emitting device to illuminate according to the corrected amount of charge.
US08084941B2 Organic light emitting diode display having improved mechanical strength
The present invention is related to an OLED display, and one aspect of the OLED display includes a substrate member, an insulating layer formed on the substrate member, a metal wire formed on the insulating layer and having a plurality of joining enhancement holes, a sealant formed on the metal wire, and a sealing member attached on the sealant. In some embodiments, the joining enhancement holes efficiently suppress stripping of the sealant from the metal wire, since the sealant can integrally bond with the interlayer insulating layer through the joining enhancement holes. This feature may compensate for any weak bonding adherence between the sealant and metal wire. In some embodiments, the area of the joining enhancement holes may range from about 5% to about 60% of the entire area of the metal wire.
US08084938B2 Organic electroluminescent panel, organic electroluminescent display, organic electroluminescent lighting device, and production methods thereof
An organic electroluminescent panel, an organic electroluminescent display, an organic electroluminescent lighting device, each include an organic electroluminescent element that maintains stable light emission characteristics for a long period of time. The organic electroluminescent panel includes an element substrate; a sealing substrate facing the element substrate; and an organic electroluminescent element disposed on a sealing substrate side of the element substrate, wherein the organic electroluminescent panel further includes a first sealing member and a second sealing member, the first sealing member sealing a gap between the element substrate and the sealing substrate, the second sealing member covering the organic electroluminescent element, the first sealing member and the second sealing member being arranged with a space therebetween, the space is in a vacuum or reduced pressure state.
US08084929B2 Multiple device shaping uniform distribution of current density in electro-static focusing systems
System that focuses electron beams in an electro-static area to a laminar flow of electrons with uniform distribution of current density and extraordinary demagnification includes a body that defines a boundary for an electric field, a field-forming cathode electrode system, a focusing electrode system, and at least one anode electrode system in the electro-static section and a second electric field-free section including an adjustable screen system arranged in an interior of the body. The field-forming near-cathode electrode system includes a cathode electrically connected to a flat part and a curvilinear part electrically connected to a cylindrical part. The anode electrode system includes an opening part, an anode electrically connected to a flat part and a curvilinear part electrically connected to a cylindrical part which is similar or identical to and symmetrical with the cathode electrode system. The system parameters are calculated and created due to the CGMR conceptual method.
US08084927B2 Thermal electron emitter and thermal electron emission device using the same
A thermal electron emitter includes at least one carbon nanotube twisted wire and a plurality of electron emission particles mixed with the twisted wire. The carbon nanotube twisted wire comprises a plurality of carbon nanotubes. A work function of the electron emission particles is lower than the work function of the carbon nanotubes. A thermal electron emission device using the thermal electron emitter is also related.
US08084923B2 Diagnostic ultrasound transducer
An ultrasound transducer includes an array of PZT elements mounted on a non-recessed distal surface of a backing block. Between each element and the backing block is a conductive region formed as a portion of a metallic layer sputtered onto the distal surface. Traces on a longitudinally extending circuit board—preferably, a substantially rigid printed circuit board, which may be embedded within the block—connect the conductive region, and thus the PZT element, with any conventional external ultrasound imaging system. A substantially “T” or “inverted-L” shaped electrode is thereby formed for each element, with no need for soldering. At least one longitudinally extending metallic member mounted on a respective lateral surface of the backing block forms a heat sink and a common electrical ground. A thermally and electrically conductive layer, such as of foil, transfers heat from at least one matching layer mounted on the elements to the metallic member.
US08084921B2 Ultrasonic motor drive apparatus
An ultrasonic motor drive apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element 107 having a plurality of piezoelectrically active regions, in which longitudinal vibration and flexural vibration are induced with application of alternate signals to the plurality of piezoelectrically active regions, a piezoelectric element holder 108 that is fixedly attached to the piezoelectric element, covering the neighborhood of a common node of the longitudinal vibration and the flexural vibration induced in the piezoelectric element all along the circumference of the central portion of the piezoelectric element with respect to the longitudinal direction, a vibrator holder 103 having a plurality of openings, a driven member 104 having a substantially spherical shape, an output shaft 106 attached to the driven member, through which power output of the driven member is transmitted, a pressing member 102 that brings the driven member 104 and the piezoelectric member into pressure contact with each other along the third direction, a cap 105 having an opening 105a, a link member 101 one end of which is connected with the pressing member 102 along the third direction and the other end of which can be connected with another apparatus, and a control section 600 that applies an alternate signal to the piezoelectric member.
US08084918B2 Surface acoustic wave device and surface acoustic wave oscillator
A surface acoustic wave device, includes: an interdigital transducer serving as an electrode pattern to excite a Rayleigh surface acoustic wave, the interdigital transducer including a comb-tooth-shaped electrode having a plurality of electrode fingers; a piezoelectric substrate on which the interdigital transducer is formed, the piezoelectric substrate being made of a quartz substrate that is cut out at a cut angle represented by an Euler angle representation (φ, θ, ψ) of (0°, 95°≦θ≦155°, 33°≦|ψ|≦46°); electrode finger grooves formed between the electrode fingers of the comb-tooth-shaped electrode; and electrode finger bases being quartz portions sandwiched between the electrode finger grooves and having upper surfaces on which the electrode fingers are positioned. The surface acoustic wave device provides an excitation in an upper limit mode of a stop band of the surface acoustic wave.
US08084909B2 Dual armature motor/generator with flux linkage
The present invention relates to cylindrical rotating electric machines which comprise armature and field source, with either the field source or the dual armature being the rotating component. The dual armature is composed of two concentric cylindrical sets of coils with the field source situated in the gap between the inner and outer armature sections. Relative rotational motion between the field source and armature coils can be achieved by having either one be the rotor. By using two armature coil sections, one inside the field source aperture and the other external to the field source, the flux linkage between the armature and field source can be approximately doubled. The increased flux linkage in the invented technology produces a substantially higher power density than can be obtained with conventional machine technology.
US08084907B2 Spindle motor having holding magnet preventing oil discharge
The spindle motor includes a rotating shaft, a rotor cover which is secured to the rotating shaft and rotates the rotating shaft, a bearing for rotatably supporting the rotating shaft, a holder for holding the bearing, and a holding magnet which is directly mounted to an inner wall of the rotor cover. In this case, the holding magnet is positioned above the bearing to prevent oil from being discharged from the bearing to the outside.
US08084906B2 Brushless motor including thrust cover for holding thrust plate
A brushless motor is provided which has excellent anti-impact properties and is easily assembled even if the brushless motor is reduced in size. A stator (2) includes a bearing (5) for holding a rotating shaft (3), a bearing housing (6) in which the bearing (5) is placed vertically relative to the stator base (1), a thrust plate (7) for receiving one end of the rotating shaft (3) in a thrust direction, a metal thrust cover (8) for holding the thrust plate (7), a metal installation member (25) including an annular section (25a) which is superposed over a base (6b) of the bearing housing (6) and projecting pin sections (25b) which project from the annular section (25a) to the outer periphery of the thrust cover (8). The projecting pin sections (25b) of the installation member (25) have projection sections welded to the thrust cover (8).
US08084902B2 End plates for high speed generator applications
An end plate for a generator includes an end plate generally cylindrical and having a central bore to receive a rotor shaft. The end plate has a radially inner boss and a radially outer boss. The radially outer boss is positioned radially outwardly of windings in a generator. The radially inner boss is positioned radially inwardly of the windings in a generator. A main core assembly, a rotor, and a generator incorporating the end plates are all disclosed and claimed.
US08084901B2 Power tool
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power tool including: a housing having a suction port formed thereon to introduce an cooling air from an outside of the housing; and a brushless motor that is housed in the housing and has an electric circuit, the electric circuit having a heat radiating surface, wherein the heat radiating surface is disposed in a neighborhood of the suction port.
US08084893B2 Semiconductor device for controlling switching power supply
A semiconductor device controls a switching power supply. The semiconductor device includes a current inflow terminal; a starter circuit to cause a starting current to flow from the current inflow terminal to a power supply terminal to charge a capacitor externally connected to the power supply terminal; a control unit which controls the starter circuit to turn on to charge the capacitor with the starting current and controls the starter circuit to turn off to perform brown-out detection; a comparator which detects a brown-out state while the starter circuit is turned off; and a brown-out detection unit which receives output signals from the comparator and the control unit as inputs. The brown-out detection is performed while the starter circuit is off, so that the current inflow terminal for the starter circuit is used in common as a voltage detection terminal for detection of the brown-out state.
US08084888B2 Method for the production of high amplitude RF voltages with control of the phase angle between outputs
A method of producing high frequency high amplitude AC voltages with control of the phase angle between outputs from a plurality of generators having individual DC current controlled variable inductors which method comprises controlling the timing of the circuit to allow inputs at the same frequency to have their phase angle preserved. All the outputs are phase locked and synchronized to a common external timed signal and programmed to the same output frequency.
US08084885B1 System for paralleling power supplies
A turbo compounding system may include a turbo generator having a switched reluctance machine having at least one pole-matched rotor and stator pair, a single phase inverter coupled to the turbo generator and further coupled to a direct current link, an inverter coupled to the direct current link, a motor generator coupled to the inverter.
US08084872B2 Overlay mark, method of checking local aligmnent using the same and method of controlling overlay based on the same
An overlay mark is described, including N sets of parallel x-directional linear patterns respectively defined by N (≧2) exposure steps and N sets of parallel y-directional linear patterns respectively defined by the N exposure steps, and a set of parallel x-directional photoresist bars and a set of parallel y-directional photoresist bars both formed in a lithography process. The N sets of x-directional linear patterns and the set of x-directional photoresist bars are arranged in parallel. The N sets of y-directional linear patterns and the set of y-directional photoresist bars are arranged in parallel.
US08084867B2 Apparatus, system, and method for wireless connection in integrated circuit packages
Some embodiments of the invention include a connecting structure between a support and at least one die attached to the support. The die includes a number of die bond pads on a surface of the die. The connecting structure includes a plurality of via and groove combinations. Conductive material is formed in the via and groove combinations to provide connection between the die bond pads and bond pads on the support. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08084856B2 Thermal spacer for stacked die package thermal management
In some embodiments, a thermal spacer for stacked die package thermal management is presented. In this regard, an apparatus is introduced having a top integrated circuit die, a bottom integrated circuit die, and a thermal spacer between the top and bottom integrated circuit dice, the thermal spacer comprising a heat conducting material and the thermal spacer overhanging and extending parallel with one outside edge of the bottom integrated circuit die. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08084851B2 Side stacking apparatus and method
A module has at least two ICs connected to each other such that they lie in different planes and are arranged as a first stack of ICs, a third IC is connected to at least one of the at least two ICs, wherein the third IC is off plane from both of the at least two ICs.
US08084846B2 Balanced semiconductor device packages including lead frame with floating leads and associated methods
A semiconductor device assembly or package includes at least one semiconductor device that is positioned adjacent to floating leads. Such an assembly or package may include at least two semiconductor devices that face opposite directions from one another, with each being oriented such that bond pads thereof are at an opposite side of the assembly or package from bond pads of the other. Alternatively, an assembly or package may include a lead assembly with an internal portion, including one or more floating leads, and an external portion that are in planes that are offset relative to one another. Methods for designing lead frames, assemblies, and packages are also disclosed, as are assembly and packaging methods.
US08084845B2 Subresolution silicon features and methods for forming the same
Novel etch techniques are provided for shaping silicon features below the photolithographic resolution limits. FinFET devices are defined by recessing oxide and exposing a silicon protrusion to an isotropic etch, at least in the channel region. In one implementation, the protrusion is contoured by a dry isotropic etch having excellent selectivity, using a downstream microwave plasma etch.
US08084825B2 Trilayer resist scheme for gate etching applications
A trilayer resist (TLR) patterning scheme is provided to enable gate conductors, particularly polySi gate conductors, with critical dimensions (CDs) of less than 40 nm and minimal LER and LWR. In accordance with the present invention, the inventive patterning scheme utilizes an organic/inorganic/organic multilayer stack instead of an organic layer used in the prior art. The top organic layer of the inventive TLR is a photoresist material such as a 193 nm photoresist that is located atop an antireflective coating (ARC), which is also comprised of an organic material. The middle inorganic layer of the TLR comprises any oxide layer such as, for example, a low temperature (less than or equal to 250° C.) chemical vapor deposited (CVD) oxide, an oxide derived from TEOS (tetraethylorthosilicate), silicon oxide, a silane oxide, or a Si-containing ARC material. The bottom organic layer of the TLR comprises any organic layer such as, for example, a Near Frictionless Carbon (NFC), a diamond-like carbon, a thermosetting polyarylene ether.
US08084824B2 Metal gate transistor and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating metal gate transistor is disclosed. First, a substrate having a first transistor region and a second transistor region is provided. Next, a stacked film is formed on the substrate, in which the stacked film includes at least one high-k dielectric layer and a first metal layer. The stacked film is patterned to form a plurality of gates in the first transistor region and the second transistor region, a dielectric layer is formed on the gates, and a portion of the dielectric layer is planarized until reaching the top of each gates. The first metal layer is removed from the gate of the second transistor region, and a second metal layer is formed over the surface of the dielectric layer and each gate for forming a plurality of metal gates in the first transistor region and the second transistor region.
US08084817B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a high voltage first conduction type well in a semiconductor substrate, a second conduction type body in the high voltage first conduction type well, a source region in the second conduction type body, a trench in the high voltage first conduction type well, a first isolation oxide, an impurity doped polysilicon film, and a second isolation oxide stacked in the trench in succession, a drain region in the high voltage first conduction type well on one side of the trench, and a polygate on and/or over the high voltage first conduction type well.
US08084813B2 Short gate high power MOSFET and method of manufacture
A short gate high power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor formed in a trench includes a short gate having gate length defined by spacers within the trench. The transistor further includes a buried region that extends beneath the trench and beyond a corner of the trench, that effectively shields the gate from high drain voltage, to prevent short channel effects and resultantly improve device performance and reliability.
US08084810B2 Fabrication method and structure of semiconductor non-volatile memory device
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device with good write/erase characteristics is provided. A selection gate is formed on a p-type well of a semiconductor substrate via a gate insulator, and a memory gate is formed on the p-type well via a laminated film composed of a silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film, and a silicon oxide film. The memory gate is adjacent to the selection gate via the laminated film. In the regions on both sides of the selection gate and the memory gate in the p-type well, n-type impurity diffusion layers serving as the source and drain are formed. The region controlled by the selection gate and the region controlled by the memory gate located in the channel region between said impurity diffusion layers have the different charge densities of the impurity from each other.
US08084805B2 Three-dimensional microelectronic devices including repeating layer patterns of different thicknesses
A vertical NAND flash memory device includes a substrate having a face and a string of serially connected flash memory cells on the substrate. A first flash memory cell is adjacent the face, and a last flash memory cell is remote from the face. The flash memory cells include repeating layer patterns that are stacked on the face, and a pillar that extends through the series of repeating layer patterns. The pillar includes at least one oblique wall. At least two of the series of repeating layer patterns in the string are of different thicknesses. Other vertical microelectronic devices and related fabrication methods are also described.
US08084802B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A select gate transistor has a select gate electrode composed of a first-level conductive layer and a second-level conductive layer. The first-level conductive layer has contact areas. The second-level conductive layer has its portions removed that are located above the contact areas. Two adjacent select gate electrodes that are adjacent to each other in the column direction are arranged such that the contact areas of one select gate electrode are not opposed to the contact areas of the other select gate electrode. One select gate electrode has its first- and second-level conductive layers removed in their portions that are opposed to the contact areas of the other select gate electrode.
US08084801B2 Cell structure for a semiconductor memory device and method of fabricating the same
In a 6F2 cell structure of a memory device and a method of fabricating the same, the plurality of active regions may have a first area at both end portions and a second area at a central portion. A portion of a bit-line contact pad may be positioned on the second area and the other portion may be positioned on a third area of the substrate that may not overlap with the plurality of active regions. The bit line may be connected with the bit-line contact pad at the third area. The cell structure may be more easily formed despite a 6F2-structured unit cell. The plurality of active regions may have an elliptical shape including major and minor axes. The plurality of active regions may be positioned in a major axis direction to thereby form an active row, and may be positioned in a minor axis direction in such a structure that a center of the plurality of active regions is shifted from that of an adjacent active region in a neighboring active row.
US08084790B2 Image sensing device and packaging method thereof
An image sensing device and packaging method thereof is disclosed. The packaging method includes the steps of a) providing an image sensing module, having a light-receiving region exposed, on a first substrate; b) forming a plurality of first contacts around the light-receiving region on the image sensing module; c) providing a second substrate, having a plurality of second contacts corresponding to the plurality of first contacts and an opening for allowing the light-receiving region to be exposed while the second substrate is placed over the image sensing module, the plurality of second contacts being disposed around the opening; d) connecting the plurality of first contacts and the plurality of second contacts; and e) disposing a transparent lid above the light-receiving region, on a side of the second substrate which is opposite to the plurality of second contacts.
US08084789B2 Phase change memory with ovonic threshold switch
A phase change memory includes a memory element and a selection element. The memory element is embedded in a dielectric and includes a resistive element having at least one sublithographic dimension and a storage region in contact with the resistive element. The selection element includes a chalcogenic material embedded in a dielectric. The chalcogenic material and the storage region are part of a stack having a common etched edge.
US08084781B2 Compound semiconductor device
A compound semiconductor device (1) includes a compound semiconductor having a stacked structure (100) of a hexagonal single crystal layer (101), a boron phosphide-based semiconductor layer (102) formed on a surface of the hexagonal single crystal layer and a compound semiconductor layer (103) disposed on the boron phosphide-based semiconductor layer, and electrodes (108, 109) disposed on the stacked structure, wherein the boron phosphide-based semiconductor layer is formed of a hexagonal crystal disposed on a surface formed of a (1.1.-2.0.) crystal face of the hexagonal single crystal layer.
US08084779B2 Casting for an LED module
A casting adapted to carry a light emitting diode die and an anti-static die is disclosed. The casting comprises two electrodes for opposite electrodes and a wall. The light emitting diode die is mounted one of electrodes and the anti-static die is mounted on the other electrode. The wall is arranged between the light emitting diode die and the anti-static die. Further, the height of the wall is larger than that of the anti-static die to shade the anti-static die, whereby reflecting the light emitted from the light emitting diode die. Therefore, the reflection ratio of the light emitting diode die is improved, and the intensity generated by the whole light emitting diode is also improved.
US08084774B2 Light emitting device having light emitting elements
A light-emitting device operating on a high drive voltage and a small drive current. LEDs (1) are two-dimensionally formed on an insulating substrate (10) of e.g., sapphire monolithically and connected in series to form an LED array. Two such LED arrays are connected to electrodes (32) in inverse parallel. Air-bridge wiring (28) is formed between the LEDs (1) and between the LEDs (1) and electrodes (32). The LED arrays are arranged zigzag to form a plurality of LEDs (1) to produce a high drive voltage and a small drive current. Two LED arrays are connected in inverse parallel, and therefore an AC power supply can be used as the power supply.
US08084772B2 Organic light emitting display including an auxiliary electrode
Disclosed are an organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light emitting includes a first substrate, a first electrode, an organic light emitting layer, and a second electrode. The first substrate includes a pixel region showing an image and a peripheral region surrounding the pixel region. The first electrode is formed in the pixel region of the first substrate. The organic light emitting layer is formed on the first electrode. The second electrode is formed on the organic light emitting layer and extends to the peripheral region. An auxiliary electrode is formed on the second electrode to contact the second electrode on an entire surface of the first substrate, thereby applying a voltage having the same voltage level as that of the second electrode.
US08084769B2 Testkey design pattern for gate oxide
A testkey design pattern includes a least one conductive contact, at least one conductive line of a first width vertically and electrically connected to the conductive contact, and at least one pair of source and drain respectively directly connected to each side of the conductive line. The pair of source and drain and part of the conductive line of a first length directly connected to the source and drain form an electronic device. The testkey design patterns are advantageous in measuring capacitance with less error and for better gate oxide thickness extraction.
US08084766B2 Organic optoelectronic component
The invention relates to an organic optoelectronic component comprising a base electrode, a top electrode that is provided with passages and an arrangement of organic layers, which is formed between the base electrode and the top electrode and makes electrical contact with said electrodes. In said component, light can be generated in a light-emitting region by the application of electrical energy to the base electrode and the top electrode. An organic current distribution layer also extends into the region containing the passages, said layer making electrical contact with the top electrode and the light-emitting region.
US08084733B2 Systems and methods for decreasing settling times in MS/MS
Systems and methods are provided for optimizing the performance of a mass spectrometer system when multiple measurements are made. For example, the total settling time of different components or stages of a mass spectrometer, such as a tandem mass spectrometer, are decreased by optimally ordering the measurements.
US08084730B2 Dual mode source follower for low and high sensitivity applications
In certain embodiments, a unit cell is provided. The unit cell may include a high sensitivity path and a low sensitivity path. The high sensitivity path may include a first transistor and a first switch. The first switch may couple an output node to the first transistor. The low sensitivity path may include a capacitor. A second switch may couple the high sensitivity path to the low sensitivity path. A third switch may couple the high sensitivity path and the low sensitivity path to a voltage node.
US08084728B2 Optical sensing device
The present invention discloses an optical sensing device with multiple photodiode elements and multi-cavity Fabry-Perot ambient light filter structure to detect and convert light signal with different wavelength spectrum into electrical signal. In embodiment, the optical sensing device capable of sensing color information of ambient light or sunlight and provides blocking of infrared (IR) light within the wavelength ranging from 700 nm to 1100 nm. Preferably, the optical sensing device senses not just the ambient light brightness but also the fundamental red, green and blue color components of the ambient light.
US08084720B2 High rate method for stable temperature control of a substrate
A method for multi-step temperature control of a substrate includes selecting a first set-point temperature and a second set-point temperature for the substrate, and selecting a first PID parameter set including a first proportional constant KP1, a first integral constant KI1 and a first derivative constant KD1, and selecting a second PID parameter set including a second proportional constant KP2, a second integral constant KI2 and a second derivative constant KD2. The substrate is placed on a substrate holder, the temperature of the substrate is adjusted to the first set-point temperature and the substrate is processed for a first period of time at the first set-point temperature. The temperature of a region of the substrate is changed from the first set-point temperature to the second set-point temperature using the first PID parameter set for a first ramp period of time and using the second PID parameter set for a second ramp period of time, the second ramp period of time following the first ramp period of time. The substrate is then processed for a second period of time at the second set-point temperature.
US08084719B2 Variable heat distribution for indoor cooking appliance
An electric cooking device with a cooking surface. The cooking surface includes a first heating element positioned under the cooking surface arranged to heat substantially the entire cooking surface to a first power density and a second heating element positioned under a portion the cooking surface arranged to heat approximately half of the cooking surface to a second power density. The second power density can be greater that the first power density. The electric cooking device can include a temperature regulator and a selector connected to the first heating element and the second heating element arranged to selectively connect the first heating element or the second heating element through the temperature regulator to a power source.
US08084718B1 Wax melting system
A wax melting system including a melting stage and a holding stage. Implementations may include a melting stage having a drain and the drain configured to permit flow of melted wax from the melting stage to the holding stage. A vessel may also be included. The melting stage and the holding stage may be coupled into the vessel and the melting stage oriented above the holding stage. The vessel may enclose the melting stage and the temperature of the melting stage may be maintained above the temperature of the holding stage.
US08084711B2 Apparatuses for breaking a glass panel unified with a process table
Disclosed herein are apparatuses for breaking a glass panel unified with a process table which break the glass panel formed with scribing lines along the scribing lines by irradiating laser beams. The apparatuses for breaking a glass panel unified with a process table to conduct breaking operations of the glass panel after scribing work of the glass panel as one body with the process table are installed on both sides of the process table included in a transfer-type cutting head laser cutting device. Each apparatus for breaking the glass panel unified with the process table comprises: breaking bars for cutting the glass panel by applying pressure to cutting sections of the glass panel; rotating devices for rotating the breaking bars by combining with both ends of the breaking bars; and a support equipped with cylinders for vertically moving the rotating devices in both sections.
US08084707B2 Laser irradiation apparatus, laser irradiation method, fabrication method for thin film semiconductor device and fabrication method for display apparatus
Disclosed herein is a laser irradiation apparatus, including: an optical system configured to form laser light of a linear cross section to be irradiated on an irradiation object; and a cutting member having a light blocking portion configured to block the laser light formed in the linear cross section by the optical system to cut the laser light so as to have a predetermined length along a line longitudinal direction; the light blocking portion having a plurality of fins provided on the light blocking portion thereof so as to fetch and absorb the laser light.
US08084704B2 Switch for a brush wear recording circuit
A switch for a brush wear monitoring recording circuit for monitoring wear of at least one brush, the switch having an open and a closed state, comprises a fixed part including a switch plate having a switch face and a moving part including a capacitive flag disposed on a brush so as to move the capacitive flag corresponding to a brush wear movement in a brush wear direction and a capacitive plate having a capacitive face, wherein the capacitive face and the switch face are disposed parallel to each other and provide capacitance to the switch, and further wherein the capacitive flag is disposed on the brush so as to bring the capacitive face and the switch face in proximity to each other so as to face each other and increase capacitance, thereby changing the switch state.
US08084703B2 Rotating operation type electronic component, and electronic device including the same
A rotating operation type electronic component has a rotation shaft and a signal generating section. The rotation shaft has a rod-shaped intermediate section, a cylindrical operation section, and a coupling section coupling the upper end of the intermediate section with the operation section. The rotatable operation section covers the upper part of the intermediate section, and has an operation knob mounted thereon. The signal generating section generates an electric signal in response to the rotation of the operation section. The coupling section has strength at which it breaks when a load of a predetermined level or higher is applied to the operation section from an axial direction of the rotation shaft.
US08084696B2 Printed circuit board and manufacturing method thereof
A printed circuit board and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method of manufacturing a printed circuit board including a connecting layer configured to which is configured to electrically connect both sides of an insulator, and a pad part, electrically connect both sides of an insulator, and a pad part formed in one side of the insulator to be directly in contact with the connecting layer, includes: forming a seed layer part on one side of the insulator, a portion of the seed layer part being bulged, forming a via hole by processing the other side of the insulator, corresponding to the bulged portion of the seed layer part, forming the connecting layer inside the via hole, and forming a plating layer, corresponding to the pad part, on the seed layer part. A pattern having a finer pitch, maintaining a VOP structure, can be formed and a lower side of a substrate is not penetrated through when a via hole is processed.
US08084683B2 Low-cost multi-junction solar cells and methods for their production
Solar cells fabricated without gasification of metallurgical-grade silicon. The substrates are prepared by: melting metallurgical grade silicon in a furnace; solidifying the melted metallurgical grade silicon into an ingot; slicing the ingot to obtain a plurality of wafers; polishing and cleaning each wafer; depositing aluminum layer on backside of each wafer; depositing a layer of hydrogenated silicon nitride on front surface of each wafer; annealing the wafers at elevated temperature; removing the hydrogenated silicon nitride; and, removing the aluminum layer. The front surface may be textured prior to forming the solar cell. The solar cell structure comprises a metallurgical grade doped silicon substrate and a thin-film structure formed over the substrate to form a p-i-n junction with the substrate. The substrate may be doped p-type, and the thin film structure may be an intrinsic amorphous layer formed over the substrate and an n-type amorphous layer formed over the intrinsic layer.
US08084682B2 Multiple band gapped cadmium telluride photovoltaic devices and process for making the same
A heterojunction photovoltaic device for the production of electrical energy in response to the incident light includes an optically transparent substrate, a front contact formed of an transparent conductive oxide for collecting light generated charge carriers, an n-type window layer formed of cadmium sulfide or zinc sulfide, a p-type absorber structure disposed on the window layer, thereby forming a rectification junction therebetween, and a back contact comprising at least one metal layer. The p-type absorber structure has a plurality of p-type absorber layers in contiguous contact. Each absorber layer contains cadmium as a principal constituent and has a different composition and a different band gap energy. The first absorber layer is in contiguous contact with the n-type window layer. The band gap energy progressively decreases from the first absorber layer to the last absorber layer in the p-type absorber structure.
US08084681B2 Distortion pedal
A combination distortion pedal and amplifier includes a foot pedal controls the distortion and the amplification of audio signals. The level of distortion and amplification are determined by the position of the foot pedal with a low level of distortion and amplification when the foot pedal is in a released position and a high level of distortion and amplification when the foot pedal is depressed. Various intermediate distortion and amplification levels are provided when the foot pedal is in positions between fully released and fully depressed.
US08084677B2 System and method for adaptive melodic segmentation and motivic identification
The present invention comprises a system and method, modeled on research observations in human perception and cognition, capable of accurately segmenting primarily (although not exclusively) melodic input in performance data and encoded digital audio data, and mining the results for defining motives within the input data.
US08084660B2 Use of direct heating device with a reheater in a dehydrogenation unit
Methods and processes for increasing the efficiency and/or expanding the capacity of a dehydrogenation unit by use of at least one direct heating unit are described.
US08084658B2 Integrated process for preparing benzene and ammonia from aliphatic hydrocarbons and nitrogen
Process for the integrated preparation of aromatics and ammonia by reaction of a gas stream A comprising at least one C1-C6-aliphatic and nitrogen in the presence of at least one catalyst, wherein the C1-C6-aliphatics are converted nonoxidatively into aromatics in one reaction and the hydrogen liberated in this reaction is reacted with nitrogen to form ammonia in a further reaction.
US08084656B2 Systems and methods for oxidation of synthesis gas tar
The various embodiments of the present invention relate generally to the process of gasification and the production of synthesis gas. More particularly, the various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the process of biomass gasification and the reduction or elimination of tars from the hydrocarbon-rich product gas derived from biomass gasification. The present invention comprises systems and methods for the reduction of tar from a synthesis gas derived from biomass gasification.
US08084651B2 Process for purification of glycerol
A process for the recovery of glycerol comprises contacting an aqueous feed composition that comprises water, glycerol, and at least one contaminant with a solvent extractant comprising at least one C5-C8 alkanol, optionally in admixture with at least one alkane, to form a first mixture, and separating the first mixture into a first solvent phase and a first aqueous phase. The first solvent phase comprises a majority (more than 50 wt %) of the solvent extractant and a majority of the glycerol that was present in the aqueous feed composition. The weight ratio in the first solvent phase of glycerol to a contaminant present is greater than the weight ratio of glycerol to the contaminant in the aqueous feed composition. The first aqueous phase comprises a majority of the water from the aqueous feed composition and at least some of the contaminant from the aqueous feed composition.
US08084649B2 Herbicides
Cyclohexanedione compounds, and derivatives thereof, which are substituted in 5-position, are suitable for use as herbicides. The cyclohexanedione compounds and derivatives of the invention are compounds of formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in the description.
US08084644B2 Iminopropene compound and use thereof
The compound (I) or a salt thereof has an excellent controlling activity against pests. Then the compound (I) or a salt thereof is useful for an active ingredient of a pesticidal composition.
US08084641B2 Organocataslysts and methods of use in chemical synthesis
The present invention is directed to compositions comprising organocatalysts that facilitate stereo-selective reactions and the method of their synthesis and use. Particularly, the invention relates to metal-free organocatalysts for facilitation of stereo-selective reactions, and the method of their synthesis and use.
US08084639B2 Method of reducing inflow of water from a reactor outlet gas to a dehydration tower for separating carboxylic acid solvent and water
A method of reducing or eliminating inflow of water to a dehydration tower using steam for separating water from a carboxylic acid from a reactor outlet gas produced in a reactor during oxidation of an aromatic compound in a carboxylic acid solvent to produce an aromatic acid, for example, oxidation of p-xylene in acetic acid solvent to produce terepthalic acid. The aromatic compound is introduced at the top of an absorption tower and collects ascending carboxylic acid solvent, introduced in the reactor outlet gas at the bottom of the absorption tower, for reintroduction into the reactor eliminating the need to remove and recover the solvent. The absorption tower, condensers and an organic-water separator remove the water in the reactor outlet gas as waste water, and the amount of water inflow to the dehydration tower is reduced or eliminated, as is the amount of steam required for separation.
US08084635B2 Glyceryl ether compounds and their use
Glyceryl ether compounds prepared by the reaction of glycerol and olefin epoxides are disclosed. The compounds are renewable biomass-based surfactants useful as detergents and emulsifiers in formulations for cleaning, laundry, personal care, cosmetics, and industrial uses.
US08084624B2 Condensed polycyclic aromatic compound and use thereof
The object of the present invention to provide an organic semiconductor device comprising an organic semiconductor material satisfying both the requirement of high electron field-effect mobility and high on/off current ratio. The present invention provides a novel condensed polycyclic aromatic compound satisfying both the high electron field-erffect mobility and high on/off current ratio required for organic semiconductor materials.
US08084623B2 Pyrrolidinyl and piperidinyl ketone derivatives and uses thereof
Compounds of the formula: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein m, n, Ar, R1, R2, Ra and Rb are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, methods of using, and methods of preparing the compounds.
US08084622B2 Process for producing 3,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine derivative and production intermediate thereof
An industrially advantageous process for the production of (3R,4S)-3-cyclopropylaminomethyl-4-fluoropyrrolidine or an enantiomer thereof that is useful as an intermediate for the production of novel antimicrobial agents 10-(3-cyclopropylaminomethyl-4-fluoropyrrolidinyl)pyridobenzoxazine carboxylic acid derivatives.Highly stereoselective asymmetric hydrogenation of 1-protected-4-alkoxycarbonyl-3-oxopyrrolidine, followed by ester hydrolysis, followed by amidation with cyclopropylamine gives crude crystals. The crude crystals are purified by recrystallization to give a novel compound (3R,4S)-1-protected-3-cyclopropylcarbamoyl-4-hydroxypyrrolidine or an enantiomer thereof at high optical purity. The use of these intermediates enables industrial production of high-quality products of (3R,4S)-3-cyclopropylaminomethyl-4-fluoropyrrolidine or an enantiomer thereof. The process is highly simple and can produce the desired products at high purity and stable yields.
US08084611B2 Process for preparing tetrahydroquinoline derivatives
The present invention is to provide a process for preparing optically active tetrahydroquinoline derivatives which can be used for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases such as arteriosclerotic diseases, dyslipidemia and the like, and a process for preparing synthetic intermediates thereof.Specifically, (2R,4S)-2-ethyl-6-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-4-ylamine or a salt thereof is prepared with fewer steps without using an optical resolution, and the optically active tetrahydroquinoline derivatives are obtained from the amine compound.
US08084608B2 2,2′ -bipyridine derivative having a reactive silyl group, its production method, and transition metal complex
A 2,2′-bipyridine derivative having a reactive silyl group represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 represent a substituent selected from a monovalent hydrocarbon group, an organoxy group, an acyloxy group, hydroxy group, a halogen atom, hydrogen atom, mercapto group, an amino group, cyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, and isothiocyanate group; R3 represents a monovalent aliphatic unsaturated hydrocarbon group, an organoxy group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, hydroxy group, a halogen atom, hydrogen atom, mercapto group, an amino group, cyano group, cyanate group, isocyanate group, thiocyanate group, and isothiocyanate group; R4 represents a reactive silyl group represented by the formula: R1R2R3Si, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or hydrogen atom; R5, R6, R7, and R8 are a monovalent hydrocarbon group or hydrogen atom.
US08084607B2 Apoptosis promoters
Disclosed are compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic protein family members, compositions containing the compounds and uses of the compounds for preparing medicaments for treating diseases during which occurs expression one or more than one of an anti-apoptotic protein family member.
US08084603B2 Naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid derivatives and their use as semiconductors
The present invention relates to naphthalenetetracarboxylic acid derivates, to a process for their preparation and to their use, especially as an n-type semiconductor.
US08084599B2 Methods and compositions for the specific inhibition of gene expression by double-stranded RNA
The invention is directed to compositions and methods for selectively reducing the expression of a gene product from a desired target gene in a cell, as well as for treating diseases caused by the expression of the gene. More particularly, the invention is directed to compositions that contain double stranded RNA (“dsRNA”), and methods for preparing them, that are capable of reducing the expression of target genes in eukaryotic cells. The dsRNA has a first oligonucleotide sequence that is between 25 and about 30 nucleotides in length and a second oligonucleotide sequence that anneals to the first sequence under biological conditions. In addition, a region of one of the sequences of the dsRNA having a sequence length of at least 19 nucleotides is sufficiently complementary to a nucleotide sequence of the RNA produced from the target gene to trigger the destruction of the target RNA by the RNAi machinery.
US08084597B2 Artificial entropic bristle domain sequences and their use in recombinant protein production
Compositions and methods for recombinant protein production and, more particularly, fusion polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding fusion polypeptides, expression vectors, kits, and related methods for recombinant protein production.
US08084595B2 Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG/dPNAG)-binding peptides and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to peptides, particularly human monoclonal antibodies, that bind specifically to poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG), such as Staphylococcal PNAG, in acetylated, partially acetylated and/or fully deacetylated form. The invention further provides methods for using these peptides in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy of infections by bacteria that express PNAG such as but not limited to Staphylococci and E. coli. Some antibodies of the invention enhance opsonophagocytic killing and in vivo protection against bacteria that express PNAG such as but not limited to Staphylococci and E. coli. Compositions of these peptides, including pharmaceutical compositions, are also provided, as are functionally equivalent variants of such peptides.
US08084590B2 Labelled nucleotides
The invention provides a nucleotide or nucleoside having a base attached to a detectable label via a cleavable linker, characterised in that the cleavable linker contains a moiety selected from the group comprising: Formula (I) (wherein X is selected from the group comprising O, S, NH and NQ wherein Q is a C1-10 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, Y is selected from the group comprising O, S, NH and N(allyl). T is hydrogen or a C1-10 substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group and * indicates where the moiety is connected to the remainder of the nucleotide or nucleoside).
US08084586B2 Doxorubicin immunoassay
Novel conjugates of doxorubicin and novel doxorubicin immunogens derived from the 13 and 14 positions of doxorubicin and antibodies generated by these doxorubicin linked immunogens all of which are useful in immunoassays for the quantification and monitoring of doxorubicin in biological fluids.
US08084579B2 Composition comprising a purified collagen-like polypeptide suitable as a peptizer
A composition comprising a purified collagen-like polypeptide suitable as a peptizer, said polypeptide comprising [Gly-X-Y] repeats, wherein Gly stands for glycine, X and Y represent any amino acid and n is selected such that the length of the [Gly-X-Y] repeat is at least 2.5 kDa and wherein the amino acid sequence of said polypeptide comprises more than 4 different amino acids and wherein said purified polypeptide is free of helix structure.
US08084576B2 Cancer associated glucose transporter 8 variant
The present invention provides the amino acid and nucleic acid sequences of heavy chain and light chain complementarity determining regions of a cancer specific antibody. In addition, the invention provides cancer specific antibodies and immunoconjugates comprising the cancer specific antibody attached to a toxin or label, and methods and uses thereof. The invention also relates to diagnostic methods and kits using the cancer specific antibodies of the invention. Further, the invention provides a novel cancer-associated antigen and its uses thereof.
US08084572B2 Segmented polymers and their conjugates
Segmented water soluble polymers, containing a higher molecular weight segment linked to a lower molecular weight segment, are described. In one embodiment, the polymer segments are poly(ethylene glycol) segments. The segmented polymers are functionalized and are useful for conjugation to various moieties such as pharmacologically active substances. Also described are conjugates of such polymers and methods of their preparation.
US08084561B2 Process for preparing acrylate copolymers
The present invention relates to a method of producing polymers by free-radical polymerization in solution, wherein the polymerization initiator used is an ethanol-soluble initiator, and the solution polymerization is carried out in an alcoholic solvent which comprises 5 to 50% by weight of water.
US08084556B2 Method for preparing water-absorbing polymer particles by suspension polymerization
In a process for producing water-absorbing polymeric particles by suspension polymerization, a monomer solution is metered into a stirred reactor via at least one feed line, the stirred reactor has a volume of at least 1 m3 and the at least one feed line ends in the stirred reactor at a point less than 25 cm above the liquid surface.
US08084552B2 Method for producing silicone polyethers
Silicone polyethers are prepared in a two stage process by reacting an unsaturated polyether with a first Si—H functional organopolysiloxane and then with a second organopolysiloxane, in which the weight ratio of silicon bonded hydrogen in the first and second organopolysiloxanes is at least 0.9. The reaction is more rapid than a single step process and produces a product with less unreacted Si—H content.
US08084550B2 Low gloss thermoplastic composition
A composition comprising a) about 30 to 80 wt. % of a polycarbonate, b) about 5 to about 50 wt. % of a polyester, c) about 2 to about 25 wt. % of an impact modifier and d) a gloss reducing effective amount of a multifunctional additive comprising at least one epoxy group.
US08084547B2 Methods for producing rubber mixtures
The invention relates to processes for the production of microgel-containing rubber mixtures, to rubber mixtures obtainable by the processes, to processes for the production of vulcanizates, and also to vulcanizates after the vulcanization process, in particular in the form of tires, parts of tires, or industrial rubber items.
US08084535B2 Organosiloxane compositions
A method of making a diluted organopolysiloxane containing polymer comprising the steps of:— (i) Preparing an organopolysiloxane containing polymer by reacting a siloxane containing material with:— (a) one or more organopolysiloxane polymers(s) or (b) one or more organic polymers(s) via an addition reaction pathway in the presence of an extender and/or plasticiser, a suitable catalyst and optionally an end-blocking agent; and (iii) Where required quenching the polymerisation process; wherein the extender and/or plasticiser is substantially retained within the resulting diluted organopolysiloxane containing polymer.
US08084529B2 Thermosetting silicone rubber composition
A thermosetting silicone rubber composition that contains a cerium oxide powder in an amount of 0.001 to 10 mass % and that is characterized by total transmittance of light equal to or greater than 90% according to JIS K7105 when the light is passed through a 1 mm-thick layer of an alkenyl-containing dimethylpolysiloxane gum with 0.1 mass % of said cerium oxide powder dispersed in the gum.
US08084524B2 Flame retardant combinations of hydroxyalkyl phosphine oxides with 1,3,5-triazines and epoxides
The present invention relates to flame retardant polymer compositions which comprise combinations of hydroxyalkyl phosphine oxides with 1,3,5-triazine compounds and polyfunctional epoxide compounds. The compositions are in the form of epoxy laminates which are useful for the manufacture of prepregs, laminates for the preparation of printed circuit boards and printed wiring boards.
US08084515B2 Dental compositions containing carbosilane polymers
Carbosilane-containing polymers (including oligomers) having the following structural features: greater than one repeat unit; at least four Si-arylene bonds; at least one (meth)acrylate moiety, Si—H moiety, or both; no Si—O bonds; preferably at least four silicon atoms; wherein two silicon atoms are separated by one arylene group in each repeat unit.
US08084511B2 Flame retardants for use in styrenic foams
The invention is a flame retardant for styrene foams. The flame retardant contains both aromatic bromine and an olefin. The olefin is an internal olefin. Desirable flame retardants are selected from:formula I: wherein R1 is C1-C6 and optionally containing a heteroatom or olefin; R2 is C1-C6 and optionally containing a heteroatom or olefin; and R3-R12 is H, C1-C6 (optionally containing a heteroatom), or halogen; and further wherein the compound of formula I is present in a concentration of at least 50 percent of a trans isomer; formula II: wherein R1 is Halogen, C1-C6 and optionally containing a heteroatom or olefin; R2 is Halogen, C1-C6 and optionally containing a heteroatom or olefin; and R3-R7 is H, C1-C6 (optionally containing a heteroatom), or halogen; and formula III: wherein R1 is Halogen, C1-C6 and optionally containing a heteroatom or olefin; R2 is Halogen, H, C1-C6 and optionally containing a heteroatom or olefin; and R3-R6 is H, halogen.
US08084507B2 Cosmetic O/W emulsion comprising 1,2-hexanediol
A cosmetic oil-in-water emulsion which comprises 1,2-hexanediol and a method of preparing same.
US08084505B2 Substance-containing carbon nanohorn composite having polyamine plug and process for producing the same
The present invention provides: a carbon nanohorn composite including a carbon nanohorn, a substance encapsulated in the carbon nanohorn, and a polyamine adsorbed by chemical reaction firmly to a surface functional group present on the opening part on the surface of the carbon nanohorn, wherein the release amount and release rate of the encapsulated substance can be controlled using the difference in size, substituent or three-dimensional structure of the polyamine, which is used as a plug; a method of controlling the release of the encapsulated substance; and a process for producing the carbon nanohorn composite. The release amount and release rate of the substance encapsulated in the carbon nanohorn composite is controlled by selecting a polyamine molecule, which plugs the opening part formed in the carbon nanohorn by oxidation, by its size, substituent or three-dimensional structure.
US08084493B1 Pharmaceutical composition of peptide drug and enzyme-inhibition compounds
The invention relates to a method of co-administering a peptide or protein drug with an enzyme-resistant PGA-complexone compound orally so to mitigate enzyme attack in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal subject.
US08084491B2 Treatments for wound healing
The subject invention provides methods of promoting wound healing comprising the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising topiramate. Compositions may administered to a wound site via a salve, ointment, or as a component of a bandage or bioadhesive applied to the site of injury.
US08084490B2 Sulfamate and sulfamide derivatives useful for the treatment of epilepsy and related disorders
The present invention is directed to novel sulfamide and sulfamate derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of epilepsy and related disorders.
US08084488B2 Forms of [R-(R*,R*)]-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-β,δ-dihydroxy-5-(1-methylethyl)-3-phenyl-4-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-1H-pyrrole-1-heptanoic acid magnesium
Novel forms of atorvastatin magnesium salt designated Form A, Form B, Form C, Form D, Form E, and Form F, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, methods for their preparation and methods utilizing the compounds for treatment of hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, osteoporosis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and Alzheimer's disease are described.
US08084486B2 Substituted arylpyrazoles
This invention relates to a combination product comprising a compound of formula I wherein X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R9 are as described herein, and one or more further biologically active compounds as described herein, particularly anti-parasitic agents.
US08084485B2 6-(aminoalkyl)indazoles
6-(Aminoalkyl)indazoles of formula (I) and the salts thereof have renin-inhibiting properties and can be used as antihypertensive, and renal, cardiac and vascular protecting medicinally active ingredients.
US08084480B2 Microbicidal composition based on formaldehyde donor compounds and antioxidants
A microbicidal composition and its method of use for preserving technical products such as fuels and lubricants. The composition is made up of at least one formaldehyde donor compound and at least one antioxidant. The antioxidant is either a gallic ester, a phenol derivative, a L-ascorbic acid, including salts and derivatives thereof, a tocopherol or one of its associated derivatives.
US08084476B2 Substituted methyl aryl or heteroaryl amide compounds
This invention provides a compound of the formula (I): wherein X represents a carbon atom or the like: Y represents imino, or the like: R1 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms or the like: R2 and R3 independently represents a hydrogen atom or the like. These compounds are useful for the treatment of disease conditions mediated by prostaglandin such as pain, or the like in mammalian. This invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising the above compound.
US08084473B2 Heterocyclic compounds with affinity to muscarinic receptors
The present invention relates to heterocyclic compounds of the formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate or hydrate thereof.
US08084467B2 Pyrazole derivatives as cannabinoid receptor antagonists
One aspect of the invention is concerned with cannabimimetic pyrazole analogs. Another aspect of the invention is concerned with new and improved pyrazole analogs having high affinities and/or selectivities for the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. A further aspect of the invention is concerned with pharmaceutical preparations employing the inventive analogs and methods of administering therapeutically effective amounts of the inventive analogs to provide a physiological effect.
US08084462B2 3-substituted-2(arylalkyl)-1-azabicycloalkanes and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to the pharmaceutical compositions incorporating compounds capable of affecting nicotinic acetylcholinergic receptors (nAChRs), for example, as modulators of specific nicotinic receptor subtypes (specifically, the α7 nAChR subtype). The present invention also relates to methods for treating a wide variety of conditions and disorders, particularly those associated with dysfunction of the central and autonomic nervous systems.
US08084452B2 Substituted enaminocarbonyl compounds used as insecticides
The present application relates to novel substituted enaminocarbonyl compounds, to processes for their preparation and to their use for controlling animal pests, especially arthropods, in particular insects.
US08084451B2 Heteropyrrole analogs acting on cannabinoid receptors
Disclosed are biologically active hetero pyrrole analogs such as imidazoles, thiazoles, oxazoles and pyrazoles capable of interacting with the CB1 and/or the CB2 cannabinoid receptors. One aspect discloses hetero pyrrole analogs acting as antagonists for the CB1 and/or the CB2 receptors. Another aspect discloses hetero pyrrole analogs having selectivity for the CB1 or CB2 cannabinoid receptor. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical preparations employing the disclosed analogs and methods of administering therapeutically effective amounts of the disclosed analogs to provide a physiological effect.
US08084442B2 N,N-substituted 3-aminopyrrolidine compounds useful as monoamines reuptake inhibitors
The present invention provides a pyrrolidine compound of General Formula (1) or a salt thereof, wherein R101 and R102 are each independently a phenyl group or a pyridyl group, the phenyl group or the pyridyl group may have one or more substituents selected from halogen atoms and lower alkyl groups optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, etc. The pyrrolidine compound or a salt thereof of the present invention is usable to produce a pharmaceutical preparation having a wider therapeutic spectrum and being capable of exhibiting sufficient therapeutic effects after short-term administration.
US08084426B2 Pharmaceutical composition comprising FGF18 and IL-1 antagonist and method of use
FGF18 is known to stimulate the proliferation of chondrocytes, bone, and nervous tissue, resulting in repair of diseased tissue. When an IL-1 antagonist is administered in addition to FGF18, the effects on the IL-1 mediated disease and also, the effect on cartilage, bone, and nervous cell proliferation, are found to be greater than administration of FGF18 or the IL-1 antagonist alone. The present invention encompasses a pharmaceutical composition that combines FGF18 with IL-1 antagonist and methods of treating IL-1 mediated disease using this pharmaceutical composition.
US08084425B2 Dopaminergic neuronal survival-promoting factors and uses thereof
In general, the invention features substantially purified MANF and substantially purified nucleic acids encoding the same. The invention also features a pharmaceutical composition that includes MANF and a pharmaceutically-acceptable excipient, methods for treatment of a neurodegenerative disease, methods for improving dopaminergic neuronal survival during or following cell transplantation, methods for production of neurons for transplantation, and methods for identifying compounds that modulate or mimic MANF's biological activity.
US08084423B2 Synthetic single domain polypeptides mimicking apolipoprotein E and methods of use
The present invention is directed to a synthetic apolipoprotein-E mimicking polypeptide consisting of a single domain. The invention is also directed to nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide, vectors including the nucleic acid, antibodies specific for the polypeptide, and compositions comprising the same and methods of using the same.
US08084421B2 Method of reducing blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes patients by administering granulocyte-colony stimulating factor
A method for treating adult onset neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes by administering an effective dose of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factors.
US08084416B2 AXMI-150 delta-endotoxin gene and methods for its use
Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions including a coding sequence for pesticidal polypeptides are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also include transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated pesticidal nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules having nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2, the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12, as well as variants and fragments thereof.
US08084412B2 Fabric treatment composition
A heat activated fabric treatment composition comprising: a) at least 1% by weight of one or more quaternary ammonium fabric softening materials, b) at least 1% by weight of a non-ionic surfactant, such that components a) and b) comprise at least 30% by weight of the composition, c) at least 20% by weight of a fatty component selected from fatty acids having a melting point of at least 40° C., fatty alcohols having a melting point of at least 40° C. and mixtures thereof, d) from 5 to 30% by weight water. The composition is provided in a dispensing device which, in use, is attached to the internal panel of a tumble dryer.
US08084404B2 Crankcase lubricating oil composition for protection of silver bearings in locomotive diesel engines
The present invention is directed to a crankcase lubricating oil composition for protection of silver bearings in locomotive diesel engines comprising (A) a major amount of an oil of lubricating viscosity, and (B) a silver wear protection additive composition, and (C) one or more detergents. The silver wear protection additive composition of the present invention comprises a mixture of (i) a hydrocarbylamine salt of a di-alkyl di-thiophosphoric acid and (ii) a hydrocarbylamine salt of an alkyl acid phosphate.
US08084394B2 Method for the control of harmful micro-organisms and insects in crop protection with means of dipole-electrical air-jet spray-technology, ozonated water and UV-C irradiation
The invention relates to a plant protection method using ozonized water and UV-C light, applying dipole electric air jet spray technology and wetting agents.
US08084393B1 Potato treatment composition
A potato treatment composition and method assists in the suberization process. In accord with the preferred embodiment, a potato treatment composition incorporates organic material, which may be derived from organic waste or residue, preferably from oilseed hulls and most preferably from ground or powdered oilseed sunflower seed hulls, into powder compositions. Incorporating organic matter having elevated oil content greatly reduces generation of fugitive dust, reduces clumping as compared to known fungicide dusts, and reduces shrinkage of potato seed pieces due to moisture depletion. The use of ground or powdered sunflower seed hulls as a carrier and/or diluent makes beneficial and productive use of an organic residue which is a byproduct of other industries.
US08084391B2 Fibers having biodegradable superabsorbent particles attached thereto
Cellulose fibers having particles attached thereto, the particles comprising a carboxyalkyl cellulose, a starch, and a plurality of non-permanent metal crosslinks. The non-permanent intra-fiber metal crosslinks include multi-valent metal ion crosslinks formed with one or more metal ions selected from aluminum, boron, bismuth, titanium, and zirconium ions.
US08084389B2 Sulfur storage catalyst
A noble metal is supported on an upstream-side catalytic portion 20 at least, and an SOx storage material, such as Mg and K that lower the noble metal's activities, is supported on a downstream-side catalytic portion 21. The noble metal being supported on the upstream-side catalytic portion 20 oxidizes SO2 efficiently to turn it into SOx, because the lowering of oxidizing activities is suppressed. These SOx are retained by means of storage in the SOx storage material being loaded on the downstream-side catalytic portion 21. Therefore, the SOx storing performance improves, and it is good in terms of durability as well.
US08084372B2 Substrate processing method and computer storage medium
In the present invention, a coating solution containing polysilazane is applied to a substrate to form a coating film. Thereafter, an ultraviolet ray is applied to the coating film formed on the substrate to cut a molecular bond of polysilazane in the coating film. Then, the coating film in which the molecular bond of polysilazane has been cut is oxidized while the coating film is being heated. Then, the oxidized coating film is baked at a baking temperature equal to or higher than a heating temperature when the coating film is oxidized.
US08084368B2 Method of forming barrier film
A barrier film made of a ZrB2 film is formed by use of a coating apparatus provided with plasma generation means including a coaxial resonant cavity and a microwave supply circuit for exciting the coaxial resonant cavity, the coaxial resonant cavity including spaced apart conductors provided around the periphery of a nonmetallic pipe for reactive gas introduction, the coaxial resonant cavity having an inner height equal to an integer multiple of one-half of the exciting wavelength, the plasma generation means being constructed such that a gas injected from one end of the nonmetallic pipe is excited into a plasma state by a microwave when the gas is in a region of the nonmetallic pipe which is not covered with the conductors and such that the gas in the plasma state is discharged from the other end of the nonmetallic pipe.
US08084366B2 Modified DARC stack for resist patterning
A method of making a device includes forming a device layer, forming an organic hard mask layer over the device layer, forming a first oxide hard mask layer over the organic hard mask layer, forming a DARC layer over the first oxide hard mask layer, forming a photoresist layer over the DARC layer, patterning the photoresist layer to form a photoresist pattern, and transferring the photoresist pattern to the device layer using the DARC layer, the first oxide hard mask layer and the organic hard mask layer.
US08084356B2 Methods of low-K dielectric and metal process integration
An integrated process for forming metallization layers for electronic devices that use damascene structures that include low-k dielectric and metal. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the integrated process includes planarizing a gapfill metal in low-k dielectric structures, generating a protective layer on the low-k dielectric followed by cleaning the surface of the gapfill metal. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method of protecting low-k dielectrics such as carbon doped silicon oxide.
US08084355B2 Methods of forming copper-comprising conductive lines in the fabrication of integrated circuitry
A method of forming copper-comprising conductive lines in the fabrication of integrated circuitry includes depositing damascene material over a substrate. Line trenches are formed into the damascene material. Copper-comprising material is electrochemically deposited over the damascene material. The copper-comprising material is removed and the damascene material is exposed, and individual copper-comprising conductive lines are formed within individual of the line trenches. The damascene material is removed selectively relative to the conductive copper-comprising material. Dielectric material is deposited laterally between adjacent of the individual copper-comprising conductive lines. The deposited dielectric material is received against sidewalls of the individual copper-comprising conductive lines. A void is received laterally between immediately adjacent of the individual copper-comprising conductive lines within the deposited dielectric material. Other embodiments are contemplated.
US08084353B2 Methods for pitch reduction formation
Methods and apparatus for providing a memory array fabrication process that concurrently forms memory array elements and peripheral circuitry. The invention relates to a method for fabricating memory arrays using a process that concurrently forms memory array elements and peripheral circuitry and results in a reduction in pitch.
US08084351B2 Contact structure of a semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a contact of a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a dielectric layer having a contact hole on a semiconductor substrate, forming an out-gassing barrier layer comprising a poly-silicon layer to cover at least inner walls of the contact hole in order to prevent undesired out-gassing from the dielectric layer, and depositing an aluminum layer on the out-gassing barrier layer. The contact structure of the semiconductor device includes the aluminum layer filled in the contact layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, and the out-gassing barrier layer formed under the aluminum layer to prevent out-gassing from the dielectric layer. A fine contact can be formed along with the aluminum layer, thereby realizing the contact structure of a lower contact resistance. As a result, it is possible to realize stabilization of an overall contact resistance of the semiconductor device.
US08084346B1 Replacement metal gate method
A method includes forming a dummy gate in a dielectric layer on a substrate, the dummy gate including a sacrificial oxide layer and a dummy gate body over the sacrificial oxide layer; removing the dummy gate body resulting in a gate opening with the sacrificial oxide layer in a bottom of the gate opening; performing an off-axis sputtering to create an angled entrance on the gate opening; removing the sacrificial oxide layer; and forming a replacement gate in the gate opening.
US08084340B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device whereby, even in cases where ions are implanted into a shallow region of a semiconductor substrate when a deep well is formed, the influence of the ions on a MOSFET can be removed, thereby eliminating the need for increasing the chip area. A photoresist with a thickness matching the wavelength of exposure light is formed over the semiconductor substrate and then is exposed to the exposure light to form a photoresist pattern with an opening corresponding to a region for forming a first well. Subsequently, using the photoresist pattern as a mask, ions are implanted to form the first well, and after the photoresist pattern is removed, an epitaxial layer is grown over the semiconductor substrate. Consequently, the deep well is virtually located deeper in level than at the time of the ion implantation by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the epitaxial layer.
US08084328B2 Semiconductor device including I/O oxide nitrided core oxide on substrate
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, wherein the semiconductor substrate includes a core area for core circuits and a peripheral area for peripheral circuits. The semiconductor device includes a core oxide on the semiconductor substrate in the core area, a portion of the core oxide being nitrided, a first polysilicon pattern on the core oxide, an I/O oxide including pure oxide on the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral area, and a second polysilicon pattern on the I/O oxide.
US08084326B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, and provides to reduce a contact resistance of a landing plug by forming the landing plug in such a manner that a polysilicon layer is deposited only on the surface of a landing plug contact hole, and a metal layer is buried in the rest of the landing plug contact hole in the process of forming a storage node contact or a bit line contact.
US08084324B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory and fabrication method for the same
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes a memory cell transistor including a first floating gate electrode layer formed on a first tunneling insulating film, a first inter-gate insulating film, a first and a second control gate electrode layer, and a first metallic silicide film; a high voltage transistor including a high voltage gate electrode layer formed on the high voltage gate insulating film, a second inter-gate insulating film having an aperture, a third and a fourth control gate electrode layer, and a second metallic silicide film; a low voltage transistor including a second floating gate electrode layer formed on the second tunneling insulating film, a third inter-gate insulating film having an aperture, a fifth and a sixth control gate electrode layer, and a third metallic silicide film; and a liner insulating film directly disposed on a first source and drain region of the memory cell transistor, a second source and drain region of the low voltage transistor, and a third source and drain region of the high voltage transistor.
US08084319B2 Precisely tuning feature sizes on hard masks via plasma treatment
Methods are provided for fabricating devices. A first layer is formed. A hardmask on the first layer is formed. Features on the hardmask are patterned. The sizes of features on the hardmask are reduced by applying a plasma treatment process to form reduced size features. Also, the size of features on the hardmask can be enlarged to form enlarged size features by applying the plasma treatment process and/or removing the oxidized part of the feature during plasma treatment process. Another method may include a first layer formed on a substrate and a second layer formed on the first layer. First features are patterned on the first layer, and second features are patterned on the second layer. A size of second features on the second layer is closed due to the different oxidation rate of the two layers during the plasma treatment process, to form a self-sealed channel and/or self-buried trench.
US08084313B2 Method for forming a bipolar junction transistor and a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor
A method for forming BiCMOS integrated circuits and structures formed according to the method. After forming doped wells and gate stacks for the CMOS devices and collector and base regions for the bipolar junction transistor, an emitter layer is formed within an emitter window. A dielectric material layer is formed over the emitter layer and remains in place during etching of the emitter layer and removal of the etch mask. The dielectric material layer further remains in place during source/drain implant doping and activation of the implanted source/drain dopants. The dielectric material layer functions as a thermal barrier, to limit out-diffusion of the emitter dopants during the activation step.
US08084312B2 Nitrogen based implants for defect reduction in strained silicon
A transistor is fabricated upon a semiconductor substrate, where the yield strength or elasticity of the substrate is enhanced or otherwise adapted. A strain inducing layer is formed over the transistor to apply a strain thereto to alter transistor operating characteristics, and more particularly to enhance the mobility of carriers within the transistor. Enhancing carrier mobility allows transistor dimensions to be reduced while also allowing the transistor to operate as desired. However, high strain and temperature associated with fabricating the transistor result in deleterious plastic deformation. The yield strength of the silicon substrate is therefore adapted by incorporating nitrogen into the substrate, and more particularly into source/drain extension regions and/or source/drain regions of the transistor. The nitrogen can be readily incorporated during transistor fabrication by adding it as part of source/drain extension region formation and/or source/drain region formation. The enhanced yield strength of the substrate mitigates plastic deformation of the transistor due to the strain inducing layer.
US08084299B2 Semiconductor device package and method of making a semiconductor device package
A method of manufacturing an electronic device is provided. The method comprises providing a carrier sheet, etching the lead frame material sheet to form a recess on a first surface of the lead frame material sheet, placing an electronic chip into the recess of the carrier sheet, and thereafter, selectively etching a second surface of the lead frame material sheet, the second surface being opposite to the first surface.
US08084293B2 Continuously optimized solar cell metallization design through feed-forward process
An improved, lower cost method of processing substrates, such as to create solar cells, is disclosed. The doped regions are created on the substrate, using a mask or without the use of lithography or masks. After the implantation is complete, visual recognition is used to determine the exact region that was implanted. This information can then be used by subsequent process steps to crate a suitable metallization layer and provide alignment information. These techniques can also be used in other ion implanter applications. In another aspect, a dot pattern selective emitter is created and imaging is used to determine the appropriate metallization layer.
US08084287B2 Photoelectric conversion apparatus, producing method therefor, image pickup module and image pickup system
A photoelectric conversion apparatus has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of wiring layers arranged on the semiconductor substrate through the first and second insulation layers, and a high refractive index region which is arranged in an opening part that is arranged in the interlayer insulation layer so as to correspond to the photoelectric conversion element and has a higher refractive index than the interlayer insulation layers, wherein an area of a cross section parallel to a photoreceiving plane of the photoelectric conversion element in the high refractive index region increases as the position approaches to an upper part of the substrate from a photoreceiving plane of the photoelectric conversion element, namely, as the position approaches to a light-incident plane, and the increasing rate continuously increases with the increase of the area.
US08084284B2 Complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor and method for fabricating the same
A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) device and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The CMOS image sensor includes: a first conductive type substrate including a trench; a channel stop layer formed by using a first conductive type epitaxial layer over an inner surface of the trench; a device isolation layer formed on the channel stop layer to fill the trench; a second conductive type photodiode formed in a portion of the substrate in one side of the channel stop layer; and a transfer gate structure formed on the substrate adjacent to the photodiode to transfer photo-electrons generated from the photodiode.
US08084278B2 Method of manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device
A wafer WF is mounted in a substrate holder, and the substrate holder is placed in a film forming furnace. The film forming furnace is evacuated by a vacuum pump through a gas discharge part to remove remaining oxygen as completely as possible. Then, a temperature in the film forming furnace is heated to a range of 800° C. to 950° C. under reduced pressure while an inert gas such as Ar or helium (He) is being introduced through a gas introduction part. When the temperature reaches this temperature range, an inflow of the inert gas is stopped. Vaporized ethanol is introduced as a source gas into the film forming furnace through the gas introduction part, thus forming a graphite film on an entire surface of the wafer WF.
US08084276B2 Method for identifying a subject at risk of developing heart failure by determining the level of galectin-3 or thrombospondin-2
Described herein are methods for identifying a subject at risk of progression of heart failure. In some embodiments, the level of galectin-3 in a biological sample from a human subject may be measured and compared to a standard level indicative of risk of progression of heart failure, wherein an elevated level of galectin-3 in the sample indicates a risk of progression of heart failure.
US08084270B2 Device for analyzing fluids
It is an object of the invention to provide for an alternative for analyzing fluids. To this end a device for analyzing fluids comprising magnetic particles is provided, the device comprising magnetic means for generating a magnetic field designed for exerting a magnetic force to the magnetic particles creating a movement of the fluid comprising targets and a membrane with an array for moving the fluid through or along the array.
US08084260B2 Spectral calibration method and system for multiple instruments
Implementations of the present invention describe an apparatus for generating calibration factors for a spectral detector instrument. The calibration factors are derived from a calibration plate containing one or more spectral species in each well of the calibration plate. Each well is then exposed to an excitation source that causes the one or more spectral species in each of the wells to fluoresce. The signal response is measured and associated with each spectral species at each different well position in the calibration plate. Next, the measured signal response from each spectral species at each well position in the calibration plate is compared with a predetermined signal response for each spectral species. The results of this comparison can be used to determine a calibration factor for each well and spectral species to compensate for the difference between the measured signal response and the predetermined signal response.
US08084248B2 Reverse genetic system for rift valley fever virus and uses thereof
The present invention describes a reverse genetic system for Phlebovirus such as Rift Valley fever virus. This system comprised of RNA expression plasmids and protein expression plasmids. Additionally, the present invention also discloses the modification of this system to generate a recombinant virus that expresses a non-viral foreign gene. Furthermore, the present invention discloses the use of this system in the development of anti-Rift Valley fever virus vaccines, screening of antivirals testing for anti RVF immune response and developing marker vaccines for Rift Valley fever virus. We also claim the utility of this approach to other phleboviruses.
US08084246B2 Method and apparatus for in vivo surveillance of circulating biological components
The invention relates generally to in vivo collection of circulating molecules, tumor cells and other biological markers using a collecting probe. The probe is configured for placement within a living organism for an extended period of time to provide sufficient yield of biological marker for analysis.
US08084244B2 Hybrid mushroom strain J9277 and its descendants
A novel hybrid fungus culture, designated J9277, of the mushroom species Agaricus bisporus produces crops of mushrooms having white, rounded, thick-fleshed caps and proportionally long stems in a relatively short interval of time. Diverse additional strains can be developed from J9277 by various means including somatic and tissue culture selection, basidiospore selection, and hybridization to other strains of Agaricus bisporus, and the resulting derivative strains can be screened for desirable commercial characteristics.
US08084242B2 Methods and mediums for cultivating dinophysis acuminata
Disclosed are a method and a medium for cultivating the marine dinoflagellate Dinophysis acuminata. The laboratory culture of D. acuminata causing diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, whose cultivation was known difficult, has been first established, thereby contributing to a better understanding of ecophysiology, biology and toxicology of Dinophysis species, as well as the evolution of dinoflagellate plastids.
US08084237B2 Microorganism and method for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using the novel microorganism
This invention relates to a novel microorganism that efficiently produces a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using sclareol as a substrate. As a result of concentrated studies, a plurality of novel microorganisms having properties of interest that are not classified as conventional microorganisms were isolated and identified. The novel microorganism of the present invention belongs to Ascomycetes and has the ability of producing a dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan intermediate using sclareol as a substrate. Such microorganism of Ascomycetes represents a new finding and it can be effective for producing dodecahydro-3a,6,6,9a-tetramethylnaphtho[2,1-b]furan and an intermediate thereof.
US08084235B2 Purification process for bacterial cytolysin
The present invention relates to a method for purifying bacterial cytolysins such as pneumococcal pneumolysin. A single chromatography step produces excellent purification of the cytolysin by binding soluble aggregated cytolysin to a hydrophobic interaction chromatography material in the presence of detergent and high salt.
US08084217B2 CD161 ligand, pilar, for modulating activation and proliferation of T cells
The invention relates to a CD161 ligand known as Proliferation-Induced Lymphocyte-Associated Receptor (PILAR), which is crucial for a robust expansion of human lymphocytes. PILAR is markedly up-regulated on both CD4 and CD8 T cells upon TCR engagement and increases the expression of anti-apoptotic genes and glucose transporters through CD161, which globally results in a dramatic enhancement of T cell proliferation. Agents which stimulate or block this activity are also provided as are methods for manipulating PILAR signaling in the treatment of disease.
US08084210B2 Methods for the assessment of drug response
The present invention provides methods for predicting or determining a subject's response to an antiplatelet agent, and methods for determining a subject's suitability to a treatment regime or intervention for a disease associated with platelet aggregation, using analysis of genetic polymorphisms. The present invention also relates to the use of genetic polymorphisms in assessing a subject's response to an antiplatelet agent. Nucleotide probes and primers, kits, and microarrays suitable for such assessment are also provided.
US08084208B2 Method of identifying maize plants having increased oil content using quantitative trait locus 6 (QTL6)
Compositions related to the quantitative trait locus 6 (QTL6) in maize and methods for their use are provided. The compositions are novel molecular marker loci that are genetically linked with QTL6 and which are associated with increased oil content and/or increased oleic acid content and/or an increased oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio of a plant or plant part thereof. These novel markers are characterized by the presence of at least one polymorphism relative to the corresponding marker locus from the QTL6 region of non-high-oil, non-high-oleic acid maize plants. In some embodiments, the novel marker loci comprise coding sequence for a maize DGAT1-2 polypeptide or biologically active variant thereof. The marker loci of the invention, and suitable fragments thereof, are useful in methods of the invention for manipulating oil and/or oleic acid content and/or oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio of a plant or plant part thereof, for marker-assisted selection of a plant, for example, a maize plant, or plant part thereof, having an increased oil content and/or increased oleic acid content and/or an increased oleic acid/linoleic acid ratio, and for marker-assisted breeding of the high oil and/or high oleic acid trait.
US08084207B2 Compositions for use in identification of papillomavirus
The present invention relates generally to identification of HPV, and provides methods, compositions and kits useful for this purpose when combined, for example, with molecular mass or base composition analysis.
US08084204B2 Displacement assay for detection of small molecules
Complex of an anti-cocaine aptamer and the dye diethylthiotricarbocyanine behaves as a calorimetric sensor with attenuation in absorbance at 760 nm for cocaine in the concentration range of 2-5000 μM. Mechanistic studies indicate an intermolecular displacement of the dye as the mechanism of action of the sensor. As the dye is insoluble in buffer, cocaine binding can be detected as displaced dye precipitates and supernatant decolorizes.
US08084200B2 Compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor
The present invention is directed to compositions of matter useful for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor in mammals and to methods of using those compositions of matter for the same.
US08084194B2 Substrate edge treatment for coater/developer
A method of substrate edge treatment includes forming a processing target film on a treatment target substrate, applying an energy line to a predetermined position on the processing target film to form a latent image on the processing target film, heating the treatment target substrate in which the latent image is formed on the processing target film, developing the processing target film after the heating, inspecting whether a residue is present at an edge of the treatment target substrate after the developing, and cleaning an end of the treatment target substrate to remove the residue at the edge of the treatment target substrate determined to be defective in the inspecting.
US08084186B2 Hardmask process for forming a reverse tone image using polysilazane
The present invention relates to a process for forming an reverse tone image on a device comprising; a) forming an optional absorbing organic underlayer on a substrate; b) forming a coating of a photoresist over the underlayer; c) forming a photoresist pattern; d) forming a polysilazane coating over the photoresist pattern from a polysilazane coating composition, where the polysilazane coating is thicker than the photoresist pattern, and further where the polysilazane coating composition comprises a silicon/nitrogen polymer and an organic coating solvent; e) etching the polysilazane coating to remove the polysilazane coating at least up to a level of the top of the photoresist such that the photoresist pattern is revealed; and, f) dry etching to remove the photoresist and the underlayer which is beneath the photoresist, thereby forming an opening beneath where the photoresist pattern was present.The invention further relates to a product of the above process and to a microelectronic device made from using the above process.
US08084185B2 Substrate planarization with imprint materials and processes
The present invention relates to planarization materials and methods of using the same for substrate planarization in photolithography. A planarization layer of a planarization composition is formed on a substrate. The planarization composition contains at least one aromatic monomer and at least one non-aromatic monomer. A substantially flat surface is brought into contact with the planarization layer. The planarization layer is cured by exposing to a first radiation or by baking. The substantially flat surface is then removed. A photoresist layer is formed on the planarization layer. The photoresist layer is exposed to a second radiation followed by development to form a relief image in the photoresist layer. The relief image is then transferred into the substrate.
US08084179B2 Electrostatic image developing toner having specific variation coefficient of number distribution, two-component developer, image forming method and process cartridge
A toner including: toner particles which include: a colorant, a releasing agent, and a binder resin. The number average particle diameter of the toner particles is in the range of from 3.5 μm to 6.5 μm, wherein the number average particle diameter is determined by the Coulter method, the variation coefficient of the number distribution of the toner particles is in the range of 22.0 to 35.0, wherein the variation coefficient is found by dividing the standard deviation of the number distribution by the number average particle diameter, and 40% by number to 59% by number of the toner particles are 4.0 μm to 8.0 μm in diameter.
US08084178B2 Non-magnetic toner
A non magnetic toner comprises toner particles each containing at least a binder resin, a colorant and a wax component. The toner further comprises an inorganic fine powder. A storage elastic modulus at 110° C. (G′110) of the non magnetic toner is in a range of 2.00×104 to 2.00×105 dN/m2. A storage elastic modulus at 150° C. (G′150) of the non magnetic toner is in a range of 3.00×103 to 2.00×104 dN/m2. The toner particles are obtained by dispersing a polymerizable monomer composition containing polymerizable monomers, the colorant, the wax component and a low-molecular weight polymer into an aqueous medium, granulating the dispersed polymerizable monomer composition, and polymerizing the polymerizable monomers in granulated particles. The low-molecular weight polymer has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) measured by means of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) in a range of 2000 to 5000.
US08084172B2 Organic photoreceptor, image forming apparatus, process cartridge, and color image forming apparatus
An organic photoreceptor comprising a photosensitive layer on a conductive substrate and a protective layer on the photosensitive layer, wherein the protective layer is a surface layer prepared via reaction curing of a compound having a radical polymerizable, curable functional group using a polymerization initiators and the content of the polymerization initiator detected in the photosensitive layer is at most 5,000 ppm.
US08084148B2 Insert for milling of cast iron
Coated cemented carbide inserts, particularly useful for milling of cast iron, methods for making the inserts, and methods of their use are disclosed. The inserts are characterized by a composition of the substrate of about 5-7 wt % Co, about 0.05-2.0 wt % total amount of the metals selected from the group consisting of Ti, Nb,Ta and combination thereof, and balance WC with a coercivity (Hc) of 1 about 4-19 kA/m and an S-value of about 0.81-0.96. The coating comprises a homogeneous layer of (TixAl1-x)N, where x is between about 0.25 and about 0.50 with a crystal structure of NaCl type and a total thickness of between about 1.0 and about 5.0 μm as measured on the middle of the flank face.
US08084146B2 Light-emitting device material and light-emitting device
The present invention is a light emitting device material characterized by containing an anthracene compound represented by the following general formula (1), and the present invention allows a light emitting device having high luminous efficiency and excellent durability. (R1 to R10 are a hydrogen atom, alkyl group, cycloalkyl group, heterocyclic group or the like. At least one of the R1 to R10 is a substituent represented by the following general formula (2))
US08084140B2 Silver platelets comprising palladium
The invention provides an aqueous solution-based method for producing nanosized silver platelets, which employs the controlled mixing of a silver ion solution, a reducing solution, and an acidic solution in the presence of palladium ions.
US08084139B2 Article formed into sheet, method for producing the same and exothermic formed article
A molded article containing a powder and a fibrous material which is obtained by a wet papermaking process. The fibrous material has a fiber length frequency distribution such that 30% to 90% of the fibrous material have a fiber length of 0.4 to 2.0 mm and that 9% to 50% of the fibrous material has a fiber length of 0.4 mm or less. The molded article contains at least 50% by weight of the powder.
US08084130B2 Epoxy resin molding material for sealing and electronic component device
The present invention provides an epoxy resin molding material for sealing that is excellent in fluidability and solder reflow resistance without lowering the curability thereof, and an electronic component device provided with an element sealed with the material. The epoxy resin molding material for sealing, comprising (A) an epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, (C) a curing accelerating agent, (D) an inorganic filler, and (E) an alkoxysilane polymer, wherein the alkoxysilane polymer (E) is a polymer obtained by polymerizing an alkoxysilyl group moiety of a specific alkoxysilane compound.
US08084119B2 Mobile phone shell and method of manufacturing the same
An outer shell of a mobile phone, the outer shell comprises a substrate, a semi-transparent coating formed on the substrate, and an opaque layer partially formed on the opposite side from the semi-transparent coating, wherein the substrate includes at least two sub-areas, a first sub-area overlaps a second sub-area to form a first overlapping area showing a mixture of colors between a first color and a second color.
US08084117B2 Multi-directional and variably expanded sheet material surfaces
Expandable surfaces made from sheet materials with slits distributed on the surface of sheet material where the surfaces expand by application of force along or/and across the surface of sheet material. The unexpanded surfaces are flat sheets, or closed surfaces like cylinders, spheres, tubes, or custom-designed organic shapes marked with pre-formed or post-formed slit designs. The expanded surfaces can be single units or modules which can be attached to one another through various means. The sheet materials range from hard surfaces like metals, to softer materials like papers and plastics, or pliable materials like fabrics, rubbers, synthetic surfaces or bio-surfaces. The slits are arranged in patterns ranging from periodic, non-periodic to irregular designs. The slits can be straight, bent, curved or irregularly shaped with even or uneven spacing. Slitting can be achieved by digital cutting or punching devices like laser-cutting, water-jet cutting, digital punching, automated dies, etc. or pre-formed when casting the sheet material. Force can be applied manually with tools or through the use of machines and special set-ups. Applications range from architectural surfaces, walls, ceilings, panel systems, structures and sculpture. On a smaller scale, applications include containers, packaging material, fabrics and human wear. On micro- to nano-scale, applications range from expandable surfaces for gauzes, band-aids, stent designs, skin grafts, semi-permeable membranes and micro-filters for various industries including purification of fluids and chemical substances.
US08084115B2 Removable sheathing apparatus and method
The present invention provides a removable sheathing apparatus comprising a covering member with a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is removably attached to the second edge by a connector. The apparatus also comprises a first shape retaining member which is attached to a third edge of the covering member. Further included is at least one support member movably extending away from the third edge of the covering member. Also provided is a corresponding method of sheathing a pole utilizing the removable sheathing apparatus.
US08084113B2 Multi-layered phase-change optical recording medium
A multi-layered phase-change optical recording medium having a first substrate and a second substrate, and a plurality of information layers, wherein each of thermal diffusion layers of information layers other than an information layer disposed at the innermost side as viewed from the first substrate side has In oxide, Zn oxide, Sn oxide and Si oxide, and when the contents of thereof are represented by “a”, “b”, “c” and “d” [mol %] respectively, the following requirements are satisfied, and when the refractive index of the first and second substrates was represented by “n”, the laser light wavelength is represented by “λ” and the depth of the groove guide of the first and second substrates is represented by H, the H satisfied the following requirement, 3≦a≦50 0≦d≦30 a+b+c+d=100 λ/17n≦H≦λ/11.5n.
US08084111B2 Polyaniline dialkylsulfate complexes containing intermediate transfer members
An intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes a polyaniline dialkylsulfate complex.
US08084107B2 Ink-jet media with multiple porous media coating layers
The present invention is drawn to a print medium and a method of preparing the same. The print medium can include a media substrate, a porous ink-absorbing layer coated on the media substrate, and a porous ink-receiving layer coated on the porous ink-absorbing layer. The porous ink-absorbing layer can include semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates and a first binder, and the porous ink-receiving layer can include organosilane-functionalized semi-metal oxide or metal oxide particulates and a second binder.
US08084105B2 Method of depositing boron nitride and boron nitride-derived materials
Methods for forming boron-containing films are provided. The methods include introducing a boron-containing precursor and a nitrogen or oxygen-containing precursor into a chamber and forming a boron nitride or boron oxide film on a substrate in the chamber. In one aspect, the method includes depositing a boron-containing film and then exposing the boron-containing film to the nitrogen-containing or oxygen-containing precursor to incorporate nitrogen or oxygen into the film. The deposition of the boron-containing film and exposure of the film to the precursor may be performed for multiple cycles to obtain a desired thickness of the film. In another aspect, the method includes reacting the boron-containing precursor and the nitrogen-containing or oxygen-containing precursor to chemically vapor deposit the boron nitride or boron oxide film.
US08084101B2 Fabrication of patterned and ordered nanoparticles
Methods, apparatus and systems form structures from nanoparticles by: providing a source of nanoparticles, the particles being capable of being moved by application of a field, such as an electrical field, magnetic field and even electromagnetic radiation or fields such as light, UV, IR, radiowaves, radiation and the like; depositing the nanoparticles to a surface in a first distribution of the nanoparticles; applying a field to the nanoparticles on the surface that applies a force to the particles; and rearranging the nanoparticles on the surface by the force from the field to form a second distribution of nanoparticles on the surface. The second distribution of nanoparticles is more ordered or more patterned than the first distribution of nanoparticles as a result of the rearranging.
US08084081B2 Lighting emitting device, manufacturing method of the same, electronic apparatus having the same
One pixel is divided into a first region including a first light emitting element and a second region including a second light emitting element, wherein the first region emits light in one direction and the second region emits light in the direction opposite to that of the first region. Independently driving the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element allows images to be displayed independently on the surface.
US08084077B2 One-step phosphorylcholine-linked polymer coating and drug loading of stent
A one step method for drug coating an interventional device is disclosed by mixing a drug with a phosphorylcholine-linked methacrylate polymer in a liquid and applying the mixture to an interventional device, such as a stent, in a single step.
US08084069B2 Apparatus and process for preparing confectionery having an inclusion therein using forming rolls and a forming pin
The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.
US08084065B2 Compositions for treating and preventing hyperlipidemia
A composition for treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia consists of phytosterols and phytostanols 30-50%, flavones derived from bamboo leaf 20-40%, procyanidins 10-25% and β-glucan of 5-20% by weight. Said composition demonstrates markedly therapeutic effects on preventing and treating hyperlipidemia, compared with the combinations of two or three components selected from phytosterols or phytostanols, flavones derived from bamboo leaf, procyanidins and β-glucan. When applied in supplementary nutrient foods or medicaments, the present composition can effectively lower the levels of cholesterol and triglyceride in blood, therefore can be useful for treating and preventing hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, heart disease and the like.
US08084060B2 Fibrous calcium pyrophosphate particles and methods of making and using same
Fibrous calcium pyrophosphate particles with a unique fibrous nanostructure are disclosed. The invention includes a composition, comprising fibrous particles, wherein the fibrous particles include fibers and the fibers include calcium and pyrophosphate. Also included are methods for making calcium pyrophosphate particles wherein solutions of calcium salt and pyrophosphate salt are combined to form the particles. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating a patent using the disclosed particles are also described.
US08084056B2 Preparation of a lipid blend and a phospholipid suspension containing the lipid blend
The present invention describes processes for the preparation of a lipid blend and a uniform filterable phospholipid suspension containing the lipid blend, such suspension being useful as an ultrasound contrast agent.
US08084054B2 Bioerodible film for ophthalmic drug delivery
Drug delivery film compositions containing a combination of a water-soluble, film-forming polymers and a fatty acid glyceride or ester are suitable for delivering ophthalmic drugs.
US08084053B2 Dry mouldable drug formulation
Solid pharmaceutical compositions and methods of making and administering for parenteral injection comprising a binder and at least one therapeutic agent. The pharmaceutical composition has the strength to be injected directly with the need of using cannulas or the like.
US08084049B2 Complexes of fatty acid esters of polyhydroxyalkanes and pyridine carboxy derivatives
The present invention relates to novel combinations of fatty acid derivatives and pyridine carboxy derivatives, including fatty acid esters with glycerol and 3-carboxy pyridine derivatives such as niacinamide. Such combinations have surprisingly shown antiviral and anti-microbial activity and the use for the treatment of inflammatory conditions and infections is disclosed herein.
US08084048B2 Vascularization enhanced graft constructs
A tissue graft construct for use in repairing diseased or damaged tissues is provided. The tissue graft construct comprises a matrix composition selected from the group consisting of liver basement membrane and extracts and hydrolysates thereof, and processed collagen from vertebrate non-submucosal sources, added endothelial cells, and at least one additional preselected, exogenous population of cells which enhance the initiation of vessel-like structures in the grant. The preselected population of cells can be a population of non-keratinized or keratinized epithelial cells or a population of mesodermally derived cells selected from the group consisting of fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, skeletal muscle cells, cardiac muscle cells, multi-potential progenitor cells, pericytes, osteogenic cells, and any other suitable cell type, preferably selected based on the tissue to be repaired. Methods for enhancing the vascularization in vivo of these tissue graft constructs and for preparing these graft constructs are also provided.
US08084039B2 Methods and compositions for live attenuated viruses
Embodiments herein relate to compositions of and methods for live viruses. In certain embodiments, a live, attenuated virus composition includes, but is not limited to, one or more live, attenuated viruses and compositions to reduce inactivation and/or degradation of the live, attenuated virus. In other embodiments, the live, attenuated virus composition may be a vaccine composition. In yet other compositions, a live, attenuated virus composition may include at least one carbohydrate, at least one protein and at least one high molecular weight surfactants for reducing inactivation and/or degradation of the live, attenuated virus.
US08084032B2 Purification method which prevents denaturation of an antibody
The present invention provides a method of purifying an antibody by protein A affinity chromatography. More specifically, the present invention provides a technique relating to an elution buffer solution which provides a good antibody recovery rate without denaturation.
US08084031B2 Method for the treatment of inflammatory disorders
A method for the treatment of inflammatory disorders is disclosed, particularly the treatment of arthritis. The method comprises the administration of a function blocking antibody which is capable of binding an epitope of VLA-1.
US08084020B2 Use of anti-CD1 antibodies for the modulation of immune responses
The invention provides methods for the administration of an anti-CD 1 antibody for the treatment or prevention of a variety of disorders, such as autoimmune disease, viral infection, bacterial infection, parasitic infection, infection by a eukaryotic pathogen, allergy, asthma, inflammatory condition, graft versus host disease, graft rejection, immunodeficiency disease, spontaneous abortion, pregnancy, and cancer.
US08084016B2 Measurement of biosynthesis and breakdown rates of biological molecules that are inaccessible or not easily accessible to direct sampling, non-invasively, by label incorporation into metabolic derivatives and catabolitic products
Methods of determining rate of biosynthesis or breakdown of biological molecules from metabolic derivatives and catabolic products are disclosed herein. In particular, methods of measuring the rates of biosynthesis and breakdown of biological molecules inaccessible or not easily accessible to direct sampling by sampling metabolic derivatives and catabolic products in accessible biological samples are disclosed herein.
US08084012B2 Selective placement of carbon nanotubes through functionalization
The present invention provides a method for selectively placing carbon nanotubes on a substrate surface by using functionalized carbon nanotubes having an organic compound that is covalently bonded to such carbon nanotubes. The organic compound comprises at least two functional groups, the first of which is capable of forming covalent bonds with carbon nanotubes, and the second of which is capable of selectively bonding metal oxides. Such functionalized carbon nanotubes are contacted with a substrate surface that has at least one portion containing a metal oxide. The second functional group of the organic compound selectively bonds to the metal oxide, so as to selectively place the functionalized carbon nanotubes on the at least one portion of the substrate surface that comprises the metal oxide.
US08084006B2 Method and device for entrained-flow sulfation of flue gas constituents
A method for entrained-flow sulfation of sulfatable flue gas constituents of an oxygen-containing flue gas in an incineration plant having at least one combustion chamber and a waste gas burnout zone includes passing the oxygen-containing flue gas through the waste gas burnout zone. The oxygen-containing flue gas is tempered by lowering a temperature of the oxygen-containing flue gas. The oxygen-containing flue gas is passed through a sufation zone so that the oxygen-containing flue gas has a temperature interval of between 700 and 900° C. during a time period of between 2 and 20 s so as to convert sulfatable flue gas constituents present in the oxygen-containing flue gas to solid sulfate-containing ash particles so as to reduce a halide concentration in ash deposits thereof.
US08083999B2 Sterilizing apparatus
There is provided a sterilizing apparatus which is capable of sterilizing articles, such as test tubes, flasks, beakers, scalpels, forceps and so on, with high efficiency in a short time. The sterilizing apparatus includes a sterilizing gas generator 42 that supplies sterilizing gas into a chamber 4. The sterilizing gas generator 42 atomizes a sterilizer solution (oxygenated water) by means of an ultrasonic vibrator 46. The sterilizing apparatus further includes an ultraviolet generator (ultraviolet lamp 50) that irradiates gas in the chamber 4 with an ultraviolet ray. The sterilizing apparatus further includes a door 14 for blocking an opening 2A of the chamber 4 in a free-opening/closing manner and a locking device 52 for prohibiting the door 14 from being opened. The sterilizing apparatus further includes a controller 60 for controlling the locking device 52 to prevent the door 14 from being opened from start of the sterilization process to end of the decomposition process.
US08083997B2 Conversion of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to nitric oxide (NO)
Inhalation of low levels of nitric oxide can rapidly and safely decrease pulmonary hypertension in mammals. A nitric oxide delivery system that converts nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide employs a surface-active material, such as silica gel, coated with an aqueous solution of antioxidant, such as ascorbic acid.
US08083996B2 Thermal siphon reactor and hydrogen generator having the same
Provided are a thermal siphon reactor and a hydrogen generator including the same. The hydrogen generator including the thermal siphon reactor includes: a housing; a reaction source container disposed in the housing; a reactor tube connected to the reaction source container in which a catalytic reaction of a reaction source provided from the reaction source container occurs; a catalyst layer which is porous, facilitates gas generation by being contacted with the reaction source, and is disposed in the reactor tube; and a product container which is connected to the reactor tube and collects a reaction product generated in the reactor tube, wherein in the reactor tube, a convection channel through which the reaction product is discharged passes through the reactor tube in the lengthwise direction of the reactor tube. The thermal siphon reactor and the hydrogen generator including the same have a self-operating ability, operate at low costs, and have small installment volume.
US08083989B2 Method for producing three-dimensional shaped article
A method for producing a three-dimensional shaped article, including molding by irradiation of an optical beam to powder and by a rotating tool, providing a hollow part in a base pedestal supporting a shaped object, filling the hollow part with powder, forming a powder layer in the upper part of the hollow part and a surrounding region thereof, after a sintering region supporting the shaped object from the underside is formed in a region containing the powder layer, molding three or more supports of the base pedestal and two or more support frames connecting the shaped object, then the molded product and the base pedestal are then reversed in a vertical direction, thereby cutting and removing the sintering region, and molding the bottom part to achieve the object based on the fact that the supporting frames and the shaped object are cut and separated.
US08083987B2 Buoyant plugs for liquid metal control
A method of initiating a pour of a liquid alloy comprises the steps of filling an interior of a crucible with a displacement plunger and the liquid alloy until a metal head of the liquid alloy exceeds a critical height. The crucible has a bottom pour opening with a plug inserted therein. The plug is configured to be buoyant within the liquid alloy when the liquid alloy is below the critical height. Pour is initiated by at least partially withdrawing the displacement plunger until the metal head drops below the critical height.
US08083986B2 Fabrication of advanced thermoelectric materials by hierarchical nanovoid generation
A novel method to prepare an advanced thermoelectric material has hierarchical structures embedded with nanometer-sized voids which are key to enhancement of the thermoelectric performance. Solution-based thin film deposition technique enables preparation of stable film of thermoelectric material and void generator (voigen). A subsequent thermal process creates hierarchical nanovoid structure inside the thermoelectric material. Potential application areas of this advanced thermoelectric material with nanovoid structure are commercial applications (electronics cooling), medical and scientific applications (biological analysis device, medical imaging systems), telecommunications, and defense and military applications (night vision equipments).
US08083984B2 Apparatus and method for close tolerance forming of areas in fiber reinforced resin composite components
An apparatus and method for forming a fiber reinforced resin composite component by a resin transfer infusion (RTI) process in which a preform is laid up on a hard base tool and a bagging blanket is applied as a flexible upper tooling. Edge and/or other regions of the preform are superimposed by localized control plates which, together with spacer pins passing through the preform, serve to determine localized dimensional accuracy in the component without the need for hard upper tooling throughout.
US08083977B2 Golf ball mold, golf ball and method of manufacturing a golf ball
A golf ball mold that is composed of a plurality of mold parts which removably mate to form a cavity having an inner wall with a plurality of dimple-forming protrusions thereon, wherein a non-circular resin injection port is formed between a plurality of mutually adjoining dimple-forming protrusions which include dimple-forming protrusions that lie across a parting line of the mold. Also provided is a golf ball molded using such a mold, and a golf ball manufacturing method which uses such a mold. By using the mold of the invention, even when manufacturing golf balls with a high dimple surface coverage on which the dimples are tightly arranged particularly up to the vicinity of the resin injection port, imbalances in the resin injection pressure and flow rate during injection molding are suppressed, enabling golf balls to be manufactured without production problems such as molding defects, scorching, core deformation and core eccentricity.
US08083975B2 Exhaust and/or condensate port for cured in place liners and installation methods and apparatus
A process for porting air inflated flexible resin impregnated cured in place liner by pulling without loss of pressure is provided. A selectively openable bulkhead fitting is installed at the pull-in end. The filling may be installed in the end of a pull-in liner; on a porting sleeve or secured to an inflated pulled in or inverted liner. A port is formed through the bulkhead fitting by cutting a hole through the valve assembly. A steam fitting with an exhaust hose is coupled to the bulkhead fitting while maintaining pressure in the inflation bladder. Steam for curing the resin is then introduced into the inversion apparatus to cure the resin and is exhausted through the exhaust hose.
US08083973B2 Polychromic substances and their use
A compound which undergoes a color change upon irradiation, and which has the general structure: X—C≡C—C≡C—Y—(CO)n-QZ wherein X is H, alkyl or —Y—(CO)n-QW; each Y is the same or a different divalent alkylene group; Q is O, S or NR; R is H or alkyl; W is H, alkyl or Z; each Z is the same or a different unsaturated alkyl group; and each n is 0 or 1.
US08083952B2 Filter bowl supports and filter systems comprising the same
A support for supporting and positioning a filter bowl of a filter system may include a bracket body, a rod, an extension arm threadably connected to the rod and a support band connected to and rotatable with respect to the extension arm. The bracket body may include a top plate. The top plate may include an opening for receiving the rod. The rod may be rotatably positioned in the opening in the top plate and extend from the top plate in a direction away from the top plate of the bracket body. The extension arm may be operable to extend from the bracket body or retract towards the top plate of the bracket body when the rod is rotated. The support band may be configured for attachment to the filter bowl of the filter system.
US08083948B2 Method and apparatus for generating fresh water
An object is to provide a fresh water generating method that is capable of efficiently producing purified water, such as fresh water, from unpurified water, such as sea water. Provided is a fresh water generating method for generating fresh water by way of reverse osmosis membrane filtration, which includes mixing sea water with low salt concentration water having a salt concentration lower than sea water to produce mixed water, and subjecting the mixed water prepared by the mixing to reverse osmosis membrane filtration, thereby generating fresh water.
US08083945B2 Fluid storage and purification method and system
A method of storing and dispensing a fluid includes providing a vessel configured for selective dispensing of the fluid therefrom. The vessel contains an ionic liquid therein. The fluid is contacted with the ionic liquid for take-up of the fluid by the ionic liquid. There is substantially no chemical change in the ionic liquid and the fluid. The fluid is released from the ionic liquid and dispensed from the vessel.
US08083940B2 Oil strainer for a gas turbine engine
The oil strainer has a filtering portion and a flexible sleeve portion to which the filtering portion is connected. The flexible sleeve portion has a plurality of spigot-receiving slots on the upstream side of the strainer.
US08083939B2 Screen nozzle
A screen nozzle for a media retention screen is disclosed which includes a nipple, a bottom cover, a top cover, and a cylindrical screen element sandwiched between the top and bottom covers. The top cover is secured to the bottom cover by means of a threaded rod extending from either the bottom cover or the nipple through the interior of the screen through an aperture in the top cover with the top cover being retained in place by a nut or the like. The nipple is secured to the bottom cover by swaging and the threaded rod is welded to the bottom cover. Assembling the screen element using an internal threaded rod has two substantial advantages over existing screen nozzles. The first advantage is that there are no external welds which may damage or deform or foul the screen and which are also are potential areas of weaknesses which may be subject to corrosion. Secondly the screen element may be replaced without removing the nozzle from the screen plate. This makes repair and replacement of the screen nozzles considerably easier and also cheaper, since the nipple itself does not need to be replaced.
US08083935B2 Cuttings vessels for recycling oil based mud and water
A system for recycling a drilling fluid that includes a first cuttings storage vessel, a second cuttings storage vessel, and a module fluidly connected to the first and second cuttings storage vessels, the module having a valve configured to fluidly connect the first and second cuttings storage vessels. The module further includes a filter system configured to fluidly connect to at least the second cuttings storage vessel, and at least one pump to facilitate the flow of a fluid between the first and second cuttings storage vessels. Also, a module for use at a drilling location that includes a valve for directing drilling fluid between at least a first cuttings storage vessel disposed outside the module and a second cuttings storage vessel disposed outside the module. The module further includes a filter system for filtering the drilling fluid and at least one pump for facilitating the flow of the fluid between at least the first and second cuttings storage vessels.
US08083922B2 Tin electrolytic plating solution for electronic parts, method for tin electrolytic plating of electronic parts, and tin electroplated electronic parts
A tin electrolytic plating solution comprises a suitably selected nonionic surfactant having a branched alkyl group. The nonionic surfactant is contained either alone, or with a suitably selected cationic surfactant and/or a suitably selected alkyl imidazole. The invention also provides a tin electrolytic plating method using such a tin electrolytic plating solution, and a tin electroplated electronic part obtained by such a method.
US08083921B2 Anode for oxygen evolution
An electrode for high overvoltage oxygen anodic evolution is described comprising a substrate of titanium or other valve metal, a first protective interlayer containing valve metal oxides, a second interlayer containing platinum or other noble metal, and an outer layer comprising tin, copper and antimony oxides. The electrode of the invention may be employed as anode in waste water treatment.
US08083919B2 Membrane electrode assemblies and electropaint systems incorporating same
Described are novel systems for electrodeposition of paint on counter-electrodes, and membrane electrode assemblies for incorporation into such systems. In certain embodiments of the invention, electrode enclosures such as C-shaped or box-shaped enclosures include membranes sealed to secondary structural members by bonding. In other embodiments, membrane electrode cells having bumpers are mounted within paint baths in a manner wherein the bumpers are forcibly biased against the exterior wall of the bath, thereby stabilizing the position of the cells. In still further embodiments, tubular electrode cells are provided with internal valves allowing the release of liquid trapped within the tubular electrodes into the membrane shell. In this manner, removal of the electrodes for maintenance, replacement or other purposes is facilitated.
US08083917B2 Methods and apparatus for the location and concentration of polar analytes using an alternating electric field
A method is disclosed for effecting the concentration of a polar analyte in an alternating electric field. In the method, a relative translation of the polar analyte and an alternating electric field along a translation path is effected. A portion of the polar analyte is then trapped and concentrated in a concentration zone formed by the intersection of the translation path and the alternating electric field. Also disclosed are various devices for carrying out the forgoing method.
US08083915B2 Methods for forming small-volume electrical contacts and material manipulations with fluid microchannels
A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microchannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.
US08083913B2 Electrochemical cell for testing the electrocatalytic behavior of multiple materials
An electrochemical cell for testing the electrochemical behavior of a plurality of materials comprises: a first electrode; a counter-electrode bearing an electrochromic material having a visual or measurable property which changes in a manner proportional to the total charge passed through it; and an electrolyte between and in electrical contact with the first electrode and the counter-electrode; wherein one of the first electrode and the electrolyte comprises a plurality of regions, each region comprising a sample of material to be tested, the regions being, in the case of the first electrode, electrically connected to a common terminal. Such a cell can be used for a “combinatorial chemistry” approach to testing the properties of possible cell components.
US08083908B2 High strength vacuum deposited nitinol alloy films and method of making same
A vacuum deposition method for fabricating high-strength nitinol films by sputter depositing nickel and titanium from a heated sputtering target, and controlling the sputter deposition process parameters in order to create high-strength nitinol films that exhibit shape memory and/or superelastic properties without the need for precipitation annealing to attenuate the transition conditions of the deposited material. A vacuum deposited nitinol film having high-strength properties equal to or better than wrought nitinol films and which are characterized by having non-columnar crystal grain structures.
US08083902B2 Evaporative desalination system
The evaporative desalination system removes salt and contaminants from brine or salt water to produce purified potable water. The evaporative desalination system includes an inclined housing having a raised upper end and a lower end. An upper wall of the inclined housing is formed from an optically transparent material, such as glass. A plurality of stepped evaporator trays are mounted within the inclined housing, and a water collection tray is disposed within the inclined housing adjacent the lower end. Ambient light is transmitted through the optically transparent upper wall, causing the salt water contained within the plurality of stepped evaporator trays to evaporate. Evaporated water vapor rises from each evaporator tray to form a layer of condensed pure water on the inner surface of the upper wall. The condensed pure water drips toward the lower end of the inclined housing to collect in the water collection tray.
US08083864B2 Cleaning device
A cleaning device for cleaning any enclosure having at least one drainage capable of enclosing one liquid. The enclosure including but, not limited to a toilet bowl, a bidet, a bathtub, a sink, a reservoir, a tank and, a shower stall. The cleaning device comprising an elongated member having a sidewall, an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end, and a substantially hollow cavity. The first end and the second end of the elongated member can either be integral or be connected by a connecting means. The cleaning device also includes a stopper disposed on the first end and a gripping member removably attached to the second end of the elongated member. A liquid level regulator is provided on the cleaning device in order to control and regulate the amount of liquid disposed in an enclosure to be cleaned in order to maximize cleaning without causing overflowing. Cleaning is accomplished by a controlling means-controlling at least one agitating means operating at an optimal frequency. The cleaning device also has a safety circuit to ensure the cleaning device is positioned at an optimal angle with sufficient liquid present in the enclosure to be cleaned.
US08083859B2 Arrangement and method for removing alkali- or alkaline earth-metals from a vacuum coating chamber
The invention relates to a cleaning method in which from a vacuum coating chamber (3) of a coating installation (1) for the coating of substrates (2) with alkali- or alkaline earth-metals, residues of alkali- or alkaline earth-metals are removed. For this purpose into the chamber (3) a gas from the group of N2, O2 or air is introduced, which reacts with the alkali- or alkaline earth-metals to form the corresponding solid compounds. Water can additionally be introduced into the vacuum coating chamber (3).After the alkali- or alkaline earth-metals have reacted with the gas, the corresponding solid compound is removed from the vacuum coating chamber.
US08083856B2 Ultrasonic cleaning apparatus and ultrasonic cleaning method
An ultrasonic cleaning apparatus having at least a cleaning tank; an ultrasonic wave transmitting tank; a vibrating plate placed at a bottom portion of the ultrasonic wave transmitting tank, the vibrating plate superposing the ultrasonic waves on the transmitting water with a transducer; and a holding jig for holding the object to be cleaned in the cleaning tank, the apparatus in which the object to be cleaned is ultrasonically cleaned by immersing the object to be cleaned held with the holding jig in the cleaning liquid accommodated in the cleaning tank, putting the cleaning tank into the transmitting water accommodated in the ultrasonic wave transmitting tank, and transmitting the ultrasonic waves superposed with the vibrating plate to the cleaning tank through the transmitting water, the apparatus comprising a transmitting tank oscillating mechanism for oscillating the ultrasonic wave transmitting tank in a horizontal plane.
US08083852B2 Single crystal growth method and single crystal pulling apparatus
A silicon single crystal growth method of pulling up and growing a single crystal from a melt of a silicon raw material melted in a quartz crucible based on a Czochralski method, the method comprising the steps of: applying a direct current voltage in such a manner that an outer wall of the quartz crucible acts as a positive electrode and an electrode immersed into the melt of the silicon raw material acts as a negative electrode, the immersed electrode being placed separately from a pulling member for pulling the single crystal; and growing the single crystal with the pulling member while passing an electric current through the electrode, and a pulling apparatus thereof.
US08083850B2 Method of brake fluid disposal and grinding aid for cement material
Provided is a method of brake fluid disposal which is characterized in that glycol-based brake fluid is recovered from vehicles, and the recovered glycol-based brake fluid is added to a grinding step of a cement material production facility. Furthermore, a method of brake fluid disposal is characterized in that the recovered glycol-based brake fluid is mixed with diethylene glycol. With these methods, it is possible to reduce troublesome works and effectively utilize the resources in cement material production facilities.
US08083848B2 Compositions comprising fine sedimentary kaolin and methods for preparing same
Disclosed herein are kaolin compositions, such as beneficiated fine sedimentary kaolin compositions. The beneficiated fine sedimentary kaolins may be obtained from the upper bed of the Rio Capim Kaolin deposit. The compositions may have at least one property chosen from a low iron content and low Hinckley crystallinity index, such as Fe2O3 in an amount less than about 0.8% by weight relative to the total weight of the solids content and wherein the Hinckley crystallinity index of the kaolin is less than about 0.5. Also disclosed are products obtained therefrom, such as paint and paper coating compositions.
US08083846B2 Color effect materials and production thereof
A color effect material is described as composed of a plurality of encapsulated substrate platelets in which each platelet is encapsulated with a highly reflective layer which acts as a reflector to light directed thereon and a spacer pigment layer which is selectively transparent to light directed thereon.
US08083840B2 High cleaning efficiency room air cleaner with slim profile
A high cleaning efficiency room air cleaner with a slim profile providing a clean air delivery rate sufficient to clean any ordinary size room includes a flat-panel housing having an internal chamber sized to receive conventional large area flat-panel furnace filters of standard size and a fan array preferably of high efficiency, low power axial computer fans mounted to the flat-panel housing. The room air cleaner may include a scent cartridge and a UV lamp assembly.
US08083839B2 Radiant zone heated particulate filter
A system includes a particulate matter (PM) filter including an upstream end for receiving exhaust gas and a downstream end. A radiant zoned heater includes N zones, where N is an integer greater than one, wherein each of the N zones includes M sub-zones, where M is an integer greater than or equal to one. A control module selectively activates at least a selected one of the N zones to initiate regeneration in downstream portions of the PM filter from the one of the N zones, restricts exhaust gas flow in a portion of the PM filter that corresponds to the selected one of the N zones, and deactivates non-selected ones of the N zones.
US08083834B2 High permeability membrane operated at elevated temperature for upgrading natural gas
The present invention discloses a new process of treating natural gas using high gas permeability polybenzoxazole polymer membranes operated at high temperatures that can provide sufficient dew point margin for the product gas. The high gas permeability polybenzoxazole polymer membranes can be used for a single stage membrane system or for the first stage membrane in a two stage membrane system for natural gas upgrading. Simulation study has demonstrated that a costly membrane pretreatment system such as a MemGuard™ system will not be required in the present new process. The new process can achieve significant capital cost saving and reduce the existing membrane footprint greater than 50%.
US08083820B2 Structured fixed abrasive articles including surface treated nano-ceria filler, and method for making and using the same
Structured fixed abrasive articles including a multiplicity of three-dimensional abrasive composites fixed to the abrasive article, the abrasive composites further including a multiplicity of ceria abrasive particles having a volume mean diameter from 100 to 500 nanometers (nm) in a matrix material, the matrix material further including a polymeric binder and a multiplicity of surface treated ceria filler particles having a volume mean diameter less than 100 nm. Also provided are methods of making and using structured fixed abrasive articles according to the disclosure.
US08083799B2 Spinal implant
A spinal implant for insertion in the intervertebral space is formed as a hollow cage, wedge shaped in profile, with a lesser height leading end for a low profile entry. The cage has two open sides with a plurality of angled teeth along opposite longitudinal edges for engaging the end plates of adjacent vertebrae when the cage is rotated into position. One portion of the angled teeth is angled toward an end of the cage and another portion of the angled teeth is angled away from that end to provide a lock preventing the cage from migrating ventrally or dorsally from the spine. Upon rotation, the leading end has a greater height than the trailing end. Opposing side walls of the cage include recesses to facilitate rotation of the cage and minimize stress on adjacent vertebrae.
US08083789B2 Securement assembly and method for expandable endovascular device
A securement assembly for releasably securing an expandable stent or stent-graft relative to a delivery tube. The securement assembly comprises a belt base configured for securement relative to the delivery tube. The belt base defines a release member passage and a receiving portion. A first end of a belt is fixed relative to the belt base. The opposite end of the belt includes a retainment portion configured to releasably engage the receiving portion of the belt base. A release member is removably positioned through the release member passage and aligned with the belt retainment portion such that the retainment portion is maintained engaged with the receiving portion until the release member is moved to a non-aligned position. A method of releasably securing a portion of an expandable stent or stent-graft relative to a delivery tube is also provided.
US08083783B2 Surgical fixation pin
A surgical fixation pin for use in fractures of bones in arms or other body parts to achieve support of the bone while the fracture heals. The pin is formed of a spring material and includes at opposite ends an angled, rounded front section and a double bent, extracortical section equipped with a fixation eye for receiving a fixation screw for securing the pin to a bone at a fracture site.
US08083778B2 Vertebral osteosynthesis equipment
Equipment includes bony anchoring members one or two linking rods, intended to be connected to the anchoring members, and parts for connecting the linking rod(s) to the anchoring members, at least one anchoring member including a proximal threaded stud and a clamping element for assembling a connecting part thereon, the connecting part including a clamping element for immobilizing the linking rod with respect thereto. The connecting part includes a rounded section for hugging a linking rod and two parallel branches having holes enabling engagement on the proximal threaded stud of the anchoring member; and the clamping elements may be engaged coaxially on the proximal threaded stud of the anchoring member, a first clamping element enabling the assembly of the connecting part on this proximal threaded stud and the second clamping element enabling to clamp both branches of this connecting part.
US08083764B2 Tourniquet padding
A constructed padding for use with a tourniquet, kits, and methods of its use are provided. In use, the tourniquet padding is wrapped about and secured to an extremity, and a tourniquet is positioned onto the tourniquet padding. The construction of the tourniquet padding prevents a tourniquet, blood pressure cuff, etc., from slipping out of position during use.
US08083759B2 Apparatuses and methods for forming incisions in ocular tissue
A surgical tool includes a surgical blade configured to be moved to form an incision. The surgical tool also includes a wire configured to cause movement of the surgical blade. The surgical tool further includes an actuator configured to shorten a length of the wire to cause the movement of the surgical blade. The surgical tool could be configured to move the surgical blade in a first direction and then in a second direction in response to a single shortening of the wire. Also, the wire could represent a first wire, the surgical tool could include a second wire, and the surgical tool could be configured to move the surgical blade in a first direction in response to shortening the first wire and to move the surgical blade in a second direction in response to shortening the second wire.
US08083756B2 Methods and devices for maintaining a space occupying device in a relatively fixed location within a stomach
Methods and devices for maintaining a space-occupying device in a fixed relationship relative to a patient's stomach by manipulation of the stomach. In one variation, two or more regions of the stomach wall are brought into approximation with one another and secured together in a manner that secures a space-occupying device within the stomach of the patient. In another variation, two or more regions of the stomach wall are wrapped around a space-occupying device to maintain the position of the space-occupying device relative to the stomach wall. In another variation, a system having a space-occupying member and a locking member capable holding the space-occupying member against the inner wall of the stomach are provided. In a further variation, a pouch is created within the stomach that receives and retains a space-occupying device.
US08083751B2 Scleral depressor
A remotely controllable system and method for positioning and operating a scleral depressor. A track is positioned to encircle at least a portion of the eye. One or more independent thrusters, or actuators, are radially positionable about the eye. An actuator is selectively deployable and selectively retractable by remote control. Thrusters may be mechanically operated and include pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, chemical or other power supply forces. Remote control is provided by hand-operated controls, foot-operated switches or voice-operated control. A light source is positioned about at least a portion of the eye to provide transcleral illumination.
US08083750B2 Systems and methods for compressing and distracting vertebrae of the spinal column
Spinal surgical systems include a compressor mountable to a first vertebra and positionable relative to a fulcrum mountable to a second vertebra. The compressor and fulcrum are manipulated relative to one another to compress the first and second vertebrae. The systems further include a distractor mountable to a first vertebra and positionable relative to a fulcrum mountable to a second vertebra. The distractor and fulcrum are manipulated relative to one another to distract the first and second vertebrae.
US08083745B2 Surgical tools for arthroplasty
A patellar 3-D guidance tool includes a template. The template includes at least one contact surface for engaging a surface of the patella. The at least one contact surface substantially conforms with the surface associated with the patellar. At least one guide aperture directs movement of a surgical instrument, wherein the shape and/or position of the guide aperture is based, at least in part, on three or more anatomic reference points associated with the patellar.
US08083743B2 Craniospinal fusion method and apparatus
A method for effecting reduction, stabilization and enhancement of fusion of the human cranio-cervical junction, which may be performed in order to relieve mechanical stresses imparted to the spinal cord and brainstem as a result of an abnormal clivo-axial angle, includes steps of achieving the correct craniocervical relationship, of effecting a fusion of a first portion of a bone forming material based structural member to a human cranium, and effecting fusion of a second portion of the bone forming material based structural member to a least one portion of a human cervical spine. Fusion of the bone forming material based structural member to the human cranium may be promoted through the use of plate member that is shaped to define a graft accommodation space between the plate member and the cranium.
US08083741B2 Orthopaedic implant with sensors
The present invention relates to an orthopaedic implant, such as a bone plate, for the fixation of bone where the implant also has at least one microchip and at least one sensor connected to the microchip. The sensor or sensors are configured to receive physical stimulus from a portion of the implant or the patient's tissue such as temperature, pressure, and strain. The information received from the sensor or sensors is gathered by the microchip and transmitted to a receiver, such as a personal computer, outside the patient. This information enables doctors to diagnose the useful life of the implant, the load sharing of the bone plate, and possible complications typically associated with orthopaedic implants such as infection, fracture non-union, and fatigue. The implant may also have one or more electrodes located on its surface which emit an electric current to stimulate healing of the broken or fractured bone.
US08083737B2 Gas-enhanced surgical instrument with mechanism for cylinder puncture
A surgical instrument for providing an ionized gas to a surgical site includes a receptacle for a cylinder of pressurized surgical gas and a frame having a port near the distal end for emitting the surgical gas. A passageway extending between the receptacle and the port delivers the surgical gas to an electrode that is adapted for connection to a source of electrosurgical energy. A puncture assembly for rupturing a seal on the cylinder to release the surgical gas into the passageway includes a spring movable between a first state for storing mechanical energy and a relaxed state. An actuator is operable to move the spring to the relaxed state. A puncture pin is operatively coupled to the spring such that energy released by movement of the spring to the relaxed state is effective to move the puncture pin relative to the cylinder to rupture the seal.
US08083721B2 Power injection valve
A device for transferring fluids between an internal structure in a living body and an exterior thereof, comprises a housing including a pressure activated lumen extending to a distal end opening to a power injection lumen that extends to a distal port configured for connection to a fluid conduit extending to a target structure within the body and a pressure activated valve extending across the pressure activated lumen and controlling fluid flow therethrough, the pressure activated valve opening to permit fluid flow therethrough into the power injection lumen when a fluid pressure differential thereacross is at least a first predetermined threshold level and remaining sealed when the fluid pressure differential thereacross is less than the first threshold level in combination with a proximal port coupled to the housing for movement between a first position in which a proximal end of the power injection lumen opens to the proximal port and a second position in which a proximal end of the pressure activated lumen opens to the proximal port.
US08083717B2 Two part fluid dispenser with twin reservoir
A dispensing device for dispensing medicaments to a patient that includes first, second and third stand-alone, inter-connectable assemblies. The first of these assemblies comprises a fluid delivery and control assembly that includes a novel flow control assembly that functions to control the flow of medicinal fluid from the fluid reservoirs of the first and second assemblies of the invention toward the patient via a plurality of fluid flow control passageways. The second and third stand-alone reservoir defining components, which are interconnected with the fluid and delivery control component, each include an integrally formed, hermetically sealed collapsible container and a spring for controllably collapsing the container.
US08083709B2 Dialysis method having supply container autoconnection
A method for connecting a plurality of solution line connectors to a plurality of supply line connectors of a dialysis system includes: translating a tip protector remover in a first direction towards the plurality of supply line connectors to remove a plurality of solution line tip protectors from the plurality of solution line connectors; locking the tip protector remover to each of a plurality of supply line tip protectors connected to the plurality of supply line connectors; translating the tip protector remover in a second direction towards the plurality of solution line connectors to remove the plurality of supply line tip protectors from the supply line connectors; translating the tip protector remover in a third direction different from the first and second directions; translating one of the plurality of solution line connectors and the plurality of supply line connectors the other of the solution line connectors and the supply line connectors to connect each of the solution line connectors to one of the supply line connectors.
US08083702B2 Walking assistance device
A walking assistance device has a leg link formed by connecting a first link member and a second link member through a third joint assembly. A force generated at the leg link by driving the third joint assembly is transmitted to the body of a user. The walking assistance device enables the user to deeply squat by making the third joint assembly highly bendable. The third joint assembly has with a joint link member, a first joint which connects the joint link member and a first link member, and a second joint which connects the joint link member and the second link member. The walking assistance device is further equipped with a drive source which imparts a torque in a stretching direction to the first joint, and an elastic member which elastically holds the second joint in a predetermined stretched state until a predetermined value or more acts thereon.
US08083691B2 Apparatus and method for sensing force
A medical system comprises a medical probe including an elongated probe body, a lumen extending within the probe body, an axially flexible section, and a push-pull rod slidably disposed within the lumen. The system comprises a ditherer mechanically coupled to the rod for cyclically displacing it axially back and forth within the lumen, such that the ends of the probe body are axially displaced relative to each other via the axially flexible section. The system further comprises a sensor for sensing a force axially applied to the distal end of the probe body. A method comprises introducing a medical probe into a patient, axially dithering the distal end of the medical probe back and forth relative to the proximal end of the medical probe, and sensing a force applied between tissue of the patient and the distal end of the medical probe while the distal end is axially dithered.
US08083687B2 Tissue biopsy device with rotatably linked thumbwheel and tissue sample holder
A biopsy device comprises a probe operably coupled with a holster. The probe comprises a needle portion, a body portion, a rotatable thumbwheel, a cutter, and a rotatable tissue sample holder. The needle portion has a tissue receiving aperture. The needle portion extends distally from the body portion. The thumbwheel is fixedly secured relative to the needle portion such that the thumbwheel is operable to rotate the needle portion about its longitudinal axis. The cutter is longitudinally movable within the needle portion and is configured to cut tissue protruding into the aperture. The rotatable tissue sample holder is configured to receive tissue samples severed by the cutter and communicated through the cutter lumen. The holster comprises a linking mechanism. The thumbwheel is coupled with the tissue sample holder via the linking mechanism such that the thumbwheel is manually rotatable to rotate the tissue sample holder via the linking mechanism.
US08083678B2 System, method and medium for acquiring and generating standardized operator independent ultrasound images of fetal, neonatal and adult organs
A system, method and medium for standardizing a manner of acquisition and display of ultrasound images. In one embodiment of the invention, a volumetric image of an organ is acquired in a standardized manner. Relationships such as formulas are utilized to automatically generate anatomical planes of interest within the volume that can be displayed independent of the user.
US08083676B2 Apparatus and system for collection and storage of vital signs medical information and methods related thereto
Featured is an apparatus for the collection and storage of patient vital sign information as well as systems and methods related thereto. Such a collection and storage apparatus of the present invention forms a workstation that is configured and arranged so as to be capable of acquiring one or more pieces of patient vital sign information and/or data. Such an apparatus includes a re-configurable chair that can adapted to support one or more diagnostic devices, such as a scales and one or more vital sign monitors that are configured and arranged with circuitry and devices to measure and/or monitor any one or more of blood pressure, pulse O2 saturation, body temperature, or blood sugar.
US08083669B2 Medical device for maintaining state of treatment portion
A medical device of the invention includes: a treatment instrument including a treatment portion which is used extended from a distal end of an endoscope insertion portion having a treatment instrument channel, an operation portion for operation of advancing/retreating an operation wire coupled to the treatment portion, and a treatment instrument insertion portion in which the operation wire is advanceably/retreatably inserted, the treatment instrument insertion portion having a predetermined flexibility and inserted into the treatment instrument channel; a detecting portion for detecting advancing/retreating moving amount of the treatment instrument insertion portion; a treatment portion operating device to which the operation portion is installed, the treatment portion operating device advancing/retreating the operation wire to operate the treatment portion; an operation instructing portion for instructing operation of the treatment portion; and a control device for judging a state of the treatment instrument insertion portion and driving the treatment portion operating device by a moving amount obtained by correcting an advancing/retreating amount of the operation wire, based on a detection result from the detecting portion according to an instruction from the operation instructing portion.
US08083664B2 Surgical stabilizers and methods for use in reduced-access surgical sites
Devices and methods for stabilizing tissue within a patient's body. Such a device is adapted to assume a reduced configuration and an operating configuration. The device assumes the reduced configuration for passage through a small opening to deliver a working end of the device to a site of the tissue to be stabilized. Such a device may include first and second contact members that are mounted for rotation, with each having a contact surface adapted to contact a surface of the tissue. When the device is in the operating configuration, a largest cross-sectional dimension of the contact members may be greater than a largest dimension of an opening through which the contact members were passed. However, when in the reduced configuration, largest cross-sectional dimension of the contact members is less than the largest dimension of the opening.
US08083663B2 Pelvic disorder treatment
In a method of treating urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, constipation and/or pathological retention of urine, at least one electrode of a lead is implanted in contact with a pelvic muscle of the patient. A proximal end of the lead is connected to a hermetically sealed implantable stimulator device configured to apply an electrical waveform through the at least one electrode. The electrical waveform is delivered from the stimulator device to the pelvic muscle through the lead and the at least one electrode. The electrical waveform provides at least partial relief from at least one of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, constipation and pathological urine retention.
US08083654B1 Apparatus for rehabilitation
A method and apparatus for exercising and rehabilitating muscles, muscle groups, ligaments and soft tissue connecting limbs and limb extremities wherein the limb extremity is suspended by tension means in an environment that stabilizes the limb position while facilitating the movement of the extremity in space. The apparatus includes tension members to develop and provide desired counter forces in opposition to those created by strain of the selected muscles, muscle groups, ligaments and soft tissue.
US08083653B2 Exercise device having a door anchor
An exercise device having a door anchor is described. The anchor is fixed to a pair of elongated members each having a grip. The anchor stands off from the door by 1 to 18 inches before attaching to the elongated members. In one embodiment, the exercise device is sewn together. In another embodiment, a ring holds the various components together.
US08083640B2 Apparatus and method for controlling continuously variable transmission and program for performing the control method
An apparatus and method for controlling a CVT (continuously variable transmission), and a program for executing the control method that reduces a transmission shock during a braking operation. When a foot brake switch is turned on and a vehicle speed is less than or equal to a threshold speed, the ECU increases a clamping pressure applied to a transmission belt to a pressure level higher than a normal pressure. When the vehicle speed falls to or below the threshold speed when the foot brake switch is turned on, the ECU prohibits an increase in the clamping pressure applied to the transmission belt.
US08083637B2 Toroidal continuously variable transmission
The support beam 34 having the cylindrical convex surface 33 is provided at the intermediate portion of the trunnion 9b. The recess 38 of the partial cylindrical surface formed on the outside of the outer ring 37 on the thrust ball bearing 36 supporting the power rollers 8b and the cylindrical convex surface 33 of the support beam are engaged. The outer ring and the power rollers 8b are supported swingably in the axial direction of the input and output discs in respect to the trunnions 9b.
US08083628B2 Differential carrier assembly for a vehicle
A differential carrier assembly for use in an axle of a vehicle includes a differential carrier that extends along a central axis. The differential carrier defines a chamber. A first stub shaft extends along a first rotational axis, transverse to the central axis. The first stub shaft is disposed within the chamber and is supported by the differential carrier. A first pair of gears is disposed in spaced relationship on the first stub shaft for rotation about the first rotational axis. A second stub shaft extends along a second rotational axis, transverse to the central axis and the first rotational axis. The second stub shaft is disposed within the chamber and supported by the differential carrier. A second pair of gears is disposed in spaced relationship on the second stub shaft for rotation about the second rotational axis.
US08083623B2 Shoe tensioner for a synchronous belt drive for use with oil
A shoe tensioner for a synchronous belt drive, having a guide member adapted to cooperate with a drive belt and hinged at one end about a first axis; elastic means cooperating with the guide member to tension the belt; and connecting means for connecting the tensioner to a supporting wall. More specifically, the elastic means include a coil spring.
US08083621B1 Variable speed transmission
A multiple-ratio drive transmission comprises first and second spaced disc systems, each system of which is composed of three separate discs: (1) a retention disc located at an outermost side; a pin receiving disc located at an innermost side; and, (3) a pin holding disc sandwiched between. Each disc comprises concentric rings of proportionally spaced holes through which corresponding pins are maintained, inserted, retracted, or traversed. As the disc system rotates, each pin on a ring associated for a selected gear passes through a shifting zone in which a ramp mechanism is inserted. A plurality of selection cams rotates to urge a sequential outward deflection of cams. By rotating the selection cam, sequential deflection cams extend into the drive position; they urge a pivoting of a select deflection ramp. The ramp for the pre-selected gear ratio causes the ring to extend to the drive position. As the pins lift, the chain impinges and the gear ratio completely changes during one revolution. All other pins not engaged in the chain slot are held in a neutral or a retracted position by the retention disc.
US08083614B2 Golf ball and method for designing same
A golf ball includes noncircular dimples having smooth bottom surfaces; a method for designing the golf ball is disclosed. A noncircular dimple DNC has a border line which is a boundary line on the surface, the boundary line formed by connecting segments at some connecting points. The segments include at least one type of line segments LS and smoothly curved segments CS. A bottom surface BS of the noncircular dimple DNC includes at least five facets formed of at least five curved reference lines RC, each connecting a reference point A and one of at least five border points B, and each being tangential, at the reference point A, to a reference plane RP inside a virtual sphere having the radius of the ball, the reference point A set on the reference plane RP, the border points B set respectively at positions on the boundary line excluding the connecting points.
US08083613B2 Golf ball
The invention provides a golf ball with a surface having a plurality of dimples formed thereon. The number of dimples is at least 250 and not more than 400, the dimples have a surface coverage (SR) of at least 70% and a volume ratio (VR) of at least 1.1%, are of at least three types and have an average depth of at least about 0.18 mm and a diameter (DM) to depth (DP) ratio (DM/DP) of not more than about 22. The (total number of Db)/(total number of Da) ratio, where Da represents dimples having a diameter of at least 3.7 mm and Db represents dimples having a diameter of less than 3.7 mm, is at least about 0.005 and not more than about 1. The ball has a coefficient of lift CL at a Reynolds number of 70,000 and a spin rate of 2,000 rpm which is maintained at 60% or more of the coefficient of lift CL at a Reynolds number of 80,000 and a spin rate of 2,000 rpm. The golf ball of the invention lowers fluctuations in lift and drag at high and low spin rates, enabling a stable trajectory to be achieved.
US08083599B2 Rotating rides with interactive water features
A rotating ride for use in water parks and other settings to provide ride passengers or park guests with an interactive water experience. The ride includes a structural system with a drive that rotates a support structure such as a wheel frame about a central axis or hub. The ride includes a plurality of vehicles that each includes a body with seating for passengers and that is connected to the support structure and rotates with it. The vehicle assembly includes a water release mechanism that is passenger operable to release water from the vehicle as it is moved through the ride path. The vehicle body may include a water storage reservoir storing a volume of water that then can be selectively released by the passenger. The stored water may be caught as it pours over the vehicle or the vehicle may pass through a pool to scoop up the water.
US08083595B2 Propshaft assembly with center bearing shield
A propshaft assembly that includes first and second shaft members, a joint, a center bearing assembly and a deflector. The joint couples the first and second shaft members to one another. The center bearing assembly includes a bearing that supports the joint. The deflector is coupled to the joint and shields an axial side of the bearing.
US08083579B2 Slot machine and control method of game
A slot machine of the present invention comprises: a mechanical reel device provided with a plurality of reels each having a plurality of symbols drawn on its peripheral face; an image display device which is provided at a front of the mechanical reel device and is capable of changing the state of the backside thereof from visible to invisible by displaying an image; and a controller, the controller programmed to execute the processing of: (A) executing a game in which the plurality of symbols are variably displayed and then stop-displayed to the mechanical reel device after game media are BET in number equal to or less than a previously set maximum number of BETs, and game media are paid out in number according to the plurality of symbols stop-displayed or a combination thereof; (B) shifting a mode from a non-insurance mode to an insurance mode on condition that a predetermined number of game media is inserted; (C) counting the number of games played after shifting to the insurance mode, in the insurance mode; (D) paying out a predetermined number of game media when the number of games counted in the processing (C) reaches a specific number; and (E) displaying a specific effect image at a position in front of the reels in the image display device during a period when game media are being paid out in the processing (D).
US08083578B2 Multiplay poker wagering game with payout differentiating display of probabilities
A method of playing a poker event wagering game includes: a player placing an underlying wager of X credits in the wagering game where Z partial hands are provided in a display step in the wagering game; displaying Z partial hands in the display step; the player wagering Y credits on one of the Z partial hands as a wager that the one of the Z partial hands will be a best hand from among all Z hands at the conclusion of the poker wagering game when the final hands will comprise N cards, wherein Y
US08083569B2 Remotely controlled vehicle
A remotely-controlled vehicle is disclosed. According to various embodiments, the vehicle includes components that may be added to an existing vehicle or added at the time of manufacture. The components include at least one of a pneumatic projectile launcher and a water cannon, a rocket launcher having one or more rockets launchable from the vehicle, at least one video camera system for capturing and transmitting video images, and a controller for controlling the projectile launcher, water cannon, rocket launcher, and video camera system. Each of the one or more rockets may include at least one solid-propellant rocket motor, and each of the one or more video camera systems may include at least one video camera mounted for selective orientation in at least one plane.
US08083568B2 Child-inducted, electrically powered toy
The present invention is a totally new children‘s’ toy unlike any of its predecessors; and is based on a novel structural relationship and unique pairing of a replenishable power supply cache of direct electric current in the toy construct with an independent supporting assembly having a hand-operable mechanical dynamo and commutator structure. This relationship and pairing is able to provide newly generated electrical energy at will mechanically, by electrical induction; convert the newly generated electrical energy into direct current; and then transfer the newly generated direct current of the supporting assembly on-demand as replenishment energy to the power supply cache of the toy construct for storage. The replenishment direct current stored within the power supply cache is the immediate and sole reservoir of electric energy for powering and operating the functional component(s) of the toy.
US08083563B2 Methods of fabricating display panel and flexible color filter thereof
A method of fabricating a display panel comprises the steps of: forming a controlling elements array substrate and a flexible color filter, respectively; forming a displaying medium on the controlling elements array substrate; and assembling the flexible color filter to the controlling elements array substrate for disposing it on the displaying medium layer. A method of fabricating a flexible color filter comprises the steps of: forming a flexible substrate on a rigidly substrate; forming a color filter film comprising a plurality of color filter patterns; and separating the flexible substrate from the rigidly substrate. Since the color filter film are formed before separating the flexible substrate from the rigid substrate, the flexible color filter may have good resolution and process yield.
US08083562B2 Method of manufacturing image display apparatus using sputtering
A manufacturing method of an image display apparatus having a substrate and a conductive supporting frame formed at a periphery of the substrate includes steps of forming a wiring on the substrate, and forming an insulating layer on the wiring. The insulating layer includes a silicon nitride or a silicon oxide deposited by a sputtering technique. The insulating layer is seal-bonded with the conductive supporting frame.
US08083556B2 Single terminal
The disclosed technology relates to a single terminal (10, 110) with a terminal body (20, 120) designed in the shape of a frame and made of an electrically conductive material, with at least one connection pin (27, 127) being arranged on one exterior side (20, 120) and a clamping spring (30, 130) being inserted in the terminal body (20, 120).
US08083555B2 Jumper cable clamp
One aspect of the present invention is a jumper cable clamp that is biased to a position with its jaws open. Another aspect of the present invention is a jumper cable clamp that uses biases open its jaws using torsional tension in a helical spring. Another aspect of the present invention is a jumper cable clamp that includes a set of jaws, a jaw-biasing hardware set and a ratchet hardware set where: (i) the jaw-biasing hardware set biases the jaws towards an open position; and (ii) the ratchet hardware set holds the position of the jaws at regular positional increments as the jaws are moved, against the bias provided by the jaw-biasing hardware set, towards a closed position. Preferably, the ratchet hardware set further includes a quick release mechanism structured, located, sized, shaped and/or mechanically connected to release a ratcheted engagement of the ratchet hardware set upon activation of the quick release mechanism.
US08083550B2 Electrical connector with cover
An electrical connector assembly includes a male connector and a female connector. The male connector includes a body having a male mating face, a first abutment face and a first mounting face and a number of first contacts each of which has a first male engaging section, a first median portion, and the first tail portion. A female connector includes a body having a female mating face, a second abutment face, and a second mounting face and a number of second contacts each of which has a first female engaging section, and a second male engaging section. A protective cover disposed on a top region between the female connector and the male connector has a projection, which abuts against the first median section of at least one of the first contact.
US08083545B2 Shield structural body, connector assembly and connector structural body having shield structural body, casing assembly, and electric compressor
Disclosed are a shield structural body, a connector assembly and connector structural body using the shield structural body, a casing assembly having the connector assembly, and an electric compressor having the casing assembly. The shield structural body is formed of an electrically conductive material and has a tube section, a ground electrode terminal formed electrically integrally with the tube section, claw sections integrally formed with the tube section, projected at least either radially outward or inward from the tube section, and engageable with a shield structural body holding member. The shield structural body can be produced at low cost, the connector assembly can provide high productivity and can be produced at low cost, the connector structural body is highly reliable, the casing assembly using the connector assembly is highly versatile, and the electric compressor having the casing assembly can easily cope with model changes.
US08083544B2 Coaxial connector with resilient pin for providing continued reliable contact
A connector for use in attaching a coaxial cable includes a conducting body having a pair of insulators mounted at the ends of the conducting body. The insulators support the ends of a center pin formed from a conducting material. The ends of the center pin can include contact structures having pairs of front and back contact leaves defining pin-shaped connectors that each provide an area of increased surface contact with a center conducting wire of the coaxial cable to enable larger and more consistent current flows and enhanced radio frequency return loss for the connector.
US08083541B2 Flat cable connection wire assembly applicable for signal transmission interface
The present invention discloses a flat cable connection wire assembly including a flexible flat cable and a connector, and the flexible flat cable includes a plurality of core wires, and the connector includes a plastic body and a plurality of terminals for an electric connection. The plastic body includes a plurality of slots arranged with a specific interval apart from one another and disposed at an end of the flexible flat cable for positioning each terminal, such that a specific interval is formed between terminals and provided for soldering each core wire with each terminal in the slot, while coupling with the connector. The invention provides a more secured and reliable structure of the flat cable connection wire assembly.
US08083535B2 USB connector capable of extraction proof
A USB connector with extraction-proof structure includes an insulation seat and a metallic shell. The insulation seat has a base, one side of which is extended a tongue, on which a plurality of conductive legs are disposed, another side of each of which passes through the base and extends out of the base. The metallic shell shown as a hollow configuration is assembled to the base and fitted onto the tongue to form a connection opening. In the meantime, a fastening piece is arranged on the top face of the metallic shell. After the USB metallic plug of an external device is plugged in the USB connector, the fastening piece fastens the perforations of the USB metallic plug for preventing the external device from being extracted and stolen.
US08083531B1 Power connector
A connector group is disclosed including at least a substantially hollow body; an electrically conductive connector disposed on the surface of the body; wherein the connector is capable of receiving and retaining a plug therewithin and is configured to couple that plug to an electrical network; wherein each plug has at least one electrical conductor protruding from a plug face disposed at an end of a flexible electrical conductor; a lever pivotably coupled to the body with the lever being a member having at least a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a hinge disposed therebetween.
US08083530B2 Circuit board connector
A circuit board connector with no delay (skew) of signals and no crosstalk of signals. In a circuit board connector, a plurality of terminals having horizontal portions to be connected to ends of electric wires and vertical portions extending downward from one ends of the horizontal portions and arranged to be connected to a signal pattern of a printed circuit board are included, vertical portions of upper terminals are located on the back side of vertical portions of lower terminals, are bent in the width directions, and the path lengths of the upper terminals and of the lower terminals are equal. A tip portion of the lower terminal is received by a receiving groove of an inner housing housing a base portion of the vertical portion of the adjacent terminal.
US08083525B2 Steering column module with a transport securing element
An electrical device such as a steering column module for a vehicle includes a connector, a movable element, and a transport securing element movable to a position in which the transport securing element blocks the movable element from moving. When the transport securing element is in the position blocking the movable element from moving the transport securing element also blocks the connector from connecting with an external connection element. The transport securing element is movable to a position in which the transport securing element does not block the movable element from moving. When the transport securing element is in the position not blocking the movable element from moving the transport securing element also does not block the connector from connecting with an external connection element.
US08083524B2 Interventional simulator system
The present invention relates to an interventional procedure simulation system and method, comprising a control unit and an interface unit, said control unit communicating with said interface unit to simulate handling of at least one instrument interfaced by said interface unit. The control unit comprises a database of vessels having hierarchy structure, each vessel having a diameter and a stiffness, and said instrument being a tool expendable in a simulated vessel. When the tool is expanded, a geometry of said vessel changes resulting in a fluid flow change.
US08083523B2 Method for developing cognitive skills using spelling and word building on a computing device
Methodologies for improving a student's phonemic awareness, decoding, spelling, oral and written comprehension are described herein. The method is embodied in a suite of twelve exercises operable on a computing device. The exercises are geared towards training of 1st and 2nd grade students but are not limited to that. The methods present an entertaining screen environment, with target stimulus, and foil or distracter stimulus presented visually, textually, and aurally. The student is required to identify the target stimulus from the distracter stimulus within the context of each exercise. Progress from easier trials to more difficult trials is made as the student successfully completes particular difficulty levels.
US08083519B2 Burner nozzle
A burner comprises a body, a nozzle, and at least one attachment element for removably attaching the nozzle to the body. The body defines an oxidant inlet, a feedstock inlet, a body outlet, and one or more passages for conveying the oxidant from the oxidant inlet to the body outlet and for conveying the gasification feedstock from the feedstock inlet to the body outlet. The nozzle defines a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet, wherein the nozzle inlet is configured to receive the oxidant and the gasification feedstock from the body outlet and the nozzle outlet is configured to discharge the oxidant and the gasification feedstock into the reaction chamber. The at least one attachment element removably attaches the nozzle to the body such that the nozzle inlet is in fluid flow communication with the body outlet when the nozzle is attached to the body.
US08083518B2 Combustion method and combustion apparatus
A combustion method applied to a water-tube boiler and a regenerator of an absorption-type refrigerator includes a concentration ratio adjusting step of adjusting a concentration ratio of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and oxygen in a gas from a gas generation source to a predetermined reference concentration ratio, and a hazardous-substance decreasing step of decreasing nitrogen oxides, using an oxidation catalyst having characteristics of decreasing the concentrations of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide on a secondary side to substantially zero when the concentration ratio on a primary side is set to be a reference concentration ratio, in which the concentration ratio adjusting step detects the concentration of oxygen on the secondary side of the oxidation catalyst to control the concentration ratio so that a detected oxygen concentration becomes a set oxygen concentration substantially close to zero. According to the combustion method, the emission amount of nitrogen oxides can be decreased to close to zero as much as possible, and the emission amount of carbon monoxide can be decreased to a permissible range. Further, the control of a concentration ratio can be performed stably by detecting the concentration of oxygen.
US08083517B2 Method of operating a furnace
A method of firing a burner into a furnace process chamber supplies the burner with fuel and combustion air at a ratio that provides a level of excess air. The method includes the steps of reducing the flow rate of combustion air, and maintaining the level of excess air when the flow rate of combustion air is being reduced. Other steps include withdrawing exhaust gas from the process chamber, and supplying the burner with the exhaust gas at an increasing flow rate when the flow rate of combustion air is being reduced.
US08083511B2 Systems and methods involving pattern molds
System and methods involving pattern molds are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes a mold assembly unit having a movable fixture holder operative to engage a portion of a pattern mold and position the pattern mold for assembly.
US08083498B2 System and method for position control of a mechanical piston in a pump
Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein utilize a brushless DC motor (BLDCM) to drive a single-stage or a multi-stage pump in a pumping system for real time, smooth motion, and extremely precise and repeatable position control over fluid movements and dispense amounts, useful in semiconductor manufacturing. The BLDCM may employ a position sensor for real time position feedback to a processor executing a custom field-oriented control scheme. Embodiments of the invention can reduce heat generation without undesirably compromising the precise position control of the dispense pump by increasing and decreasing, via a custom control scheme, the operating frequency of the BLDCM according to the criticality of the underlying function(s). The control scheme can run the BLDCM at very low speeds while maintaining a constant velocity, which enables the pumping system to operate in a wide range of speeds with minimal variation, substantially increasing dispense performance and operation capabilities.
US08083495B2 Ejectors with separably secured nozzles, adjustable size nozzles, or adjustable size mixing tubes
An ejector comprising a motive inlet, a motive nozzle separably secured to the motive inlet, a suction chamber about the motive nozzle, a suction fluid inlet to the suction chamber, a mixing tube in fluid communication with the suction chamber and the motive nozzle, a diffuser in fluid communication with the mixing tube and distal the suction chamber and the motive nozzle, and an outlet from the diffuser is provided. A nozzle comprising at least two concentric arc nozzle portions is also provided. An ejector comprising a mixing tube including a flexible layer adapted to compress or stretch, thereby allowing a mixing tube diameter to change is further provided.
US08083494B2 Pulse jet engine having an acoustically enhanced ejector system
Improvements to combustors such as burners and engines are provided. In one aspect, the specification presents an acoustically enhanced ejector system which can be used as part of an intake system for a combustor. In another aspect, the specification teaches the use of a combustor combustion chamber as an oscillator to magnify a harmonic frequency of a pulsating frequency of the combustor. In still other aspects, the specification presents a combustion chamber having an inlet with a plurality of tangentially spaced apertures, and an in-line intake system connected to the apertures.
US08083486B1 Turbine blade with cooling flow modulation
A turbine rotor blade with a 3-pass serpentine flow cooling channel having a first leg located at the leading edge of the airfoil and a third leg located adjacent to the trailing edge of the airfoil and connected to a row of exit slots, and in which a second leg includes three separate channels in parallel with inlet metering holes to regulate a cooling air flow and pressure in each separate channel. The blade includes a blade tip channel connected to the first leg of the serpentine and which supplies the cooling air to the second leg channels through the separate metering holes. Because the metering holes can be sized individually, the hottest part of the mid-chord region of the airfoil can be supplied with more cooling air flow and the pressure ratio across the trailing edge can be reduced so that the exit slots can be larger or more numerous.
US08083483B1 Water wheel barrage energy converter
A wheel-type of moving water energy conversion device consists of a limited number of paddles or blades attached to struts, which are secured to a central axis or geared drive shaft. The paddles or blades are hinged to the struts in a unique underneath forward position, allowing the paddle or blade to enter water in an energy conversion, flat plane and exit from water in vertical non-water lifting position. The utilization of extension arms securing paddles, the limitation of engineered positioning of paddles and the design of free paddle exit from water, provide a uniquely efficient energy conversion device for use in moving waters, such as rivers, streams, tidal flows or lake and ocean waves and currents. The device may be engineered as a low profile, rotary barrage type, with paddles or blades positioned on struts with or without telescopic arms.
US08083482B2 Method and system for limiting blade pitch
A method for limiting blade pitch is provided. The method includes providing a brake assembly that is actuatable to limit blade pitch, providing a limit stop assembly including a stop wheel and a traveler movable relative to the stop wheel, and coupling the limit stop assembly to the brake assembly such that the limit stop assembly actuates the brake assembly when the traveler engages the stop wheel.
US08083476B2 Method of designing a multistage turbine for a turbomachine
A method of designing a multistage turbine for a turbomachine in which each turbine stage comprises a stator row and a rotor row each made up of an annular row of airfoils, wherein, for all of the stator or rotor rows, it consists in simultaneously modifying the shapes of the airfoils of said rows to straighten out the wakes from the trailing edges of said airfoils, then in angularly positioning the rows in such a manner that the wakes from the airfoils of the stator (or rotor) airfoils impact against the leading edges of the stator (or rotor, respectively) airfoils of the rows situated downstream, in order to achieve multistage aerodynamic coupling simultaneously over the turbine as a whole.
US08083468B2 Turbomachine
A high-speed turbomachine includes a magnetic bearing (22, 23) and a retainer bearing for mounting the rotor. The retainer bearing is embodied as a sliding bearing (26, 27) and encompasses a bearing shell (28) at the stator end, a bearing shaft (20) at the rotor end, and an intermediate bushing (30) between the bearing shell (28) and the bearing shaft (20). The intermediate bushing (30) is spaced apart from both the bearing shaft (20) and the bearing shell (28) by a circular gap (33, 34). The intermediate bushing (30) is rotatable relative to the bearing shell (28) and the bearing shaft (20). As a result of this design, the sliding bearing (26) is provided with two pairs of sliding surfaces, onto which all occurring dynamic forces are distributed such that wear is significantly reduced, thus allowing sliding bearings to be used as retainer bearings in a magnetically mounted high-speed turbomachine.