Document Document Title
US08369784B2 High speed data transmission utilizing a high frequency physical layer for a wireless personal area network device
Wireless devices may utilize a Bluetooth stack to setup a data transmission session with other devices. The data transmission session may include a Bluetooth physical layer or a medium access control/physical layer that permits wireless devices to perform discovery, pairing, and security setup operations. When a radio interface of a wireless device is insufficient to enable performing a required data communication, such as a high data rate communication, a data transmission session may be established with at least one medium access control/physical layer of a plurality of other medium access control/physical layers to accommodate the required data communication.
US08369780B2 Hybrid transmitter for non-contact energy and data transmission
A system is provided for non-contacting energy and data transmission from a first vehicle part to a second vehicle part. In this arrangement apart from a first inductive part in a hybrid transmitter for transmission of first data and energy an additional, second, data channel is installed in the first hybrid transmitter in such a manner that the second data channel is influenced as little as possible by the electromagnetic fields of the inductive part of the transmitter. To this effect a magnetic void can be created in the hybrid transmitters used. For the purpose of reception of not only the first data but also the energy and the second data a corresponding second hybrid transmitter is stated.
US08369771B2 Method and apparatus for synchronizing digital multimedia broadcasting between terminals
A method and apparatus for synchronizing Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) are provided. An operation method of a first Mobile Station (MS) for synchronizing DMB includes sending a broadcast channel synchronization request message to a second MS, receiving a broadcast channel synchronization request grant message from the second MS, after broadcast channel synchronization, receiving information on a broadcast channel viewed by the second MS, tuning to the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS based on the broadcast channel information received from the second MS, and displaying the broadcast channel viewed by the second MS.
US08369765B2 Rotational heating member, and image heating apparatus having rotational heating member
An image heating rotatable member for heating an image on a recording material, includes a base layer, a heat generation layer, provided on the base layer, for generating heat by being supplied with electric power, an electrode layer, provided outside of the heat generation layer with respect to a widthwise direction and having an electric resistance which is smaller than that of the heat generation layer, for supplying the electric power to heat generation layer, an elastic layer provided on the electrode layer and having a length longer than that of the electrode layer measured in the widthwise direction, and a parting layer provided on the elastic layer.
US08369758B2 Image forming apparatus including a rear-end holding member
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a transfer member that transfers an image onto a recording medium; a leading-end holding member that holds a leading-end side of the recording medium, which is fed to the transfer member, between the leading-end holding member and an outer circumferential surface of the transfer member, in such a way to restrict displacement of the recording medium and to restrict movement of the recording medium in a direction away from the transfer member; and a rear-end holding member that holds a rear-end side of the recording medium, in the transporting direction thereof, between the rear-end holding member and the outer circumferential surface of the transfer member, in such a way to allow displacement of the recording medium in the transporting direction and to restrict movement of the recording medium in the direction away from the transfer member.
US08369757B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image bearing members; a rotatable intermediary transfer member for carrying toner images transferred from the plurality of image bearing members in contact with the plurality of image bearing members; a transfer member for press-contacting to the intermediary transfer member to form a transfer portion, at which the toner images on the intermediary transfer member are to be transferred onto a recording material; and a control portion for controlling an image forming operation so that, during execution of a continuous image forming mode in which images are formed on a plurality of recording materials conveyed with a preset minimum interval, a recording material passes through the transfer portion and thereafter transfer of a toner image to be formed on a subsequent recording material from an image bearing member, located upstream of the transfer portion and most downstream of the plurality of image bearing members with respect to a rotational direction of the intermediary transfer member, onto the intermediary transfer member is started.
US08369755B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus using the developing device
The developing device includes a developer charging member configured to charge a toner serving as a one developer; and a developer bearing member configured to bear and feed the charged toner while forming an electric field so that the toner hops. The developer bearing member includes an insulating substrate; plural electrodes arranged on the insulating substrate in a developer feeding direction to form the electric field; and an outermost layer covering the plural electrodes. The toner has a softening point of from 115 to 130° C.
US08369749B2 Developing device and image forming device
A developing device includes a developing member for developing an electrostatic latent image by adhering developer on an image carrier; a feeding member for feeding the developer to the developing member; and an interposing member that is interposed between the developing member and the feeding member during a period of when the developing device is not being used.
US08369747B2 Charging device and image forming apparatus
A charging device is provided. A charging device includes a charging section and a discharge product adsorption removal section. The charging section includes a shield case having a shield opening, a discharge electrode, and a rotation shaft which is parallel to a rotation axis of a photoreceptor. The discharge product adsorption removal section has an adsorption layer that adsorbs a discharge product and is disposed downward in a vertical direction of the photoreceptor. The charging section is displaceable about an axial line of the rotation shaft from a position where the shield opening opposes to the photoreceptor to a position where the shield opening opposes to the discharge product adsorption removal section.
US08369744B2 Process cartridge including a photosensitive drum for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A process cartridge comprises a photosensitive drum, a developing roller, and a coupling member. The coupling member is capable of inclining relative to the photosensitive drum such that the coupling axis inclines relative to the drum axis. A regulating portion surrounds the coupling member so as to confine the range of inclination of the coupling member. The regulating portion is provided with a recess that recesses in a direction away from the drum axis and away from the developing roller. An angle between the coupling axis and the drum axis is larger when at least a part of the coupling member is in the recess than when the coupling member contacts another portion of the regulating portion.
US08369736B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes: a developer holding member that faces an image carrier on which a latent image is formed and rotating while holding developer; a developing housing with a holding member mount that mounts developer holding member, and accommodates developer; a developer container connected to the developing housing and containing developer that flows into the developing housing; a partition member disposed in the developer container and partitioning an inner space of the developer container; and a loosening member having a loosening portion disposed in the developer container and extending along one side surface and another side surface of the partition member to partition the developer container, and a drawing portion that is connected to the loosening portion and extends from a port formed in the developer container to the outside of the developer container. When the drawing portion is drawn out, the loosening portion moves to loosen the developer.
US08369735B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit having a plurality of photoconductor drums arranged in tandem; an intermediate transfer belt arranged opposite to the photoconductor drums and configured to receive developer images formed on the photoconductor drums and to transfer the developer images onto a recording sheet; a cleaning unit comprising a cleaning member positioned in contact with the intermediate transfer belt and configured to collect substance adhering to the intermediate transfer belt, and a receptacle configured to store the substance collected by the cleaning member, wherein the cleaning unit is arranged on the same side as the image forming unit with respect to the intermediate transfer belt; and a support member configured to support the image forming unit and the cleaning unit and to be pulled out from a main body.
US08369724B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of forming devices, a measuring device and a correcting device. In execution of a steady-deviation detection, the correcting device controls the forming devices to form a first pattern and detects a steady deviation amount of the image forming position on a basis of a measurement result of the first pattern. In execution of a varying-deviation detection, the correcting device controls at least one of the forming devices to form a second pattern and detects a varying deviation amount of the image forming position having a cycle on a basis of a measurement result of the second pattern. The correcting device determines necessity of executing the other one of the steady-deviation detection and the varying-deviation detection on the basis of the measurement result in the one of the steady-deviation detection and the varying-deviation detection.
US08369708B2 Data center with free-space optical communications
A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
US08369705B2 System and method for channel-adaptive error-resilient transmission to multiple transceivers
In a passive optical network, a downstream transmission rate from an OLT to multiple ONTs can be optimized by matching a transmission scheme for frames addressed to a channel to the downstream transmission characteristics of the channel. An FEC coding can be made channel dependent so that channels with low error rates can use minimal protection, and therefore minimal overhead, while channels with high input bit error rates can use the level of FEC coding required to produce a desired output bit error rate.
US08369704B2 Optical network computation engine
An apparatus for computing optical network characteristics may comprise: a plurality of network elements arranged into two or more domains; two or more optical computation engines, each of the two or more optical computation engine associated with a respective one of the two or more domains; and a centralized path computation engine configured to interface with the two or more optical computation engines to calculate one or more characteristics of the optical path. Each of the two or more domains may comprise one or more network elements sharing a common operational characteristic. The plurality of network elements may be in optical communication along an optical path, the optical path including a first network element at an origin of the optical path and a final network element at a terminus of the optical path. The two or more optical computation engines may be configured to perform calculations related to the optical performance of the network elements associated with the same domain as the optical computation engine.
US08369694B2 Portable vaporizing dispenser
A vaporizing dispenser comprising a user-activatable chemical reaction heat source and a volatile compound inside a container such that convection currents from the activated heat source volatilize the volatile compound and carry it out of the container.
US08369692B2 Disk reproducing apparatus and reproducing method thereof
A video and sound signal recorded on an optical disk is reproduced and when a read error of the video and sound signal occurs during the reproduction of the optical disk, reading of the video and sound signal is retried and when a read error of the video and sound signal occurs during the retry of the reading of the video and sound signal, a rotational speed of the optical disk is increased to retry reading of the video and sound signal and when the video and sound signal can be read by the retry of the reading of the video and sound signal, the rotational speed of the optical disk is returned to the original rotational speed and the video and sound signal recorded on the optical disk is reproduced.
US08369684B2 Data processing apparatus and data processing method
Disclosed is a data processing apparatus that includes a plurality of ports inputting and outputting a clip including a plurality of types of essence, a memory storing the clip when recording or playing back of the clip from a recording medium, and a generator storing types of essence in separate regions of the memory, and generate identification information identifying the types of essence, while generating linking information indicating an association between regions of the memory storing one of the types of essence as a master essence and regions of the memory storing the remaining types of essence. The apparatus further includes a control unit outputting the master essence in the regions and the remaining essence in the regions associated therewith via linking information from the designated ports when the master essence in the clip of the video data subjected to playback request designating the ports is stored in the memory.
US08369679B2 Switched grounding assemblies
An assembly including a ground bar for coupling to a ground, a conductive contact for electrically connecting a wire to the ground bar, and a switch for selectively disconnecting the conductive contact from the ground bar to thereby selectively disconnect the wire from the ground bar when the wire is electrically connected to the conductive contact. The assembly may include a plurality of conductive contacts and a plurality of switches for selectively disconnecting an associated conductive contact from the ground bar. A method of using an assembly having a ground bar, a conductive contact, and a switch includes electrically connecting a wire to the conductive contact, and actuating the switch to selectively disconnect the conductive contact from the ground bar to thereby selectively disconnect the wire from the ground bar without electrically disconnecting the wire from the conductive contact.
US08369676B2 Printed circuit board for optical waveguide and method of manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein is a printed circuit board for an optical waveguide, including: a substrate; an insulation layer having a through hole and formed on the substrate; a lower clad layer formed on a bottom of the through hole; core part formed on the lower clad layer; and an upper clad layer formed on the lower clad layer and the core part and thus covering an exposed surface of the core part.
US08369669B2 Imaging system and related techniques
A method and apparatus for imaging using a double-clad fiber is described.
US08369662B2 Fiber optic rotary joint with extended temperature range
A fiber optic rotary joint has at least one fiber optic collimator. The fiber optic collimator has a plurality of lenses on a micro lens array. Furthermore a plurality of optical fibers are attached to the micro lens array. The fibers are further fixed by a fiber support. A spacer is provided between the micro lens array and the fiber support, setting the micro lens array and the fiber support apart from each other. The optical fibers have between the micro lens array and the fiber support a excess length greater than the distance between the micro lens array and the fiber support. This results in a slight bending of the fibers between the micro lens array and the fiber support. A temperature related extension of parts of the fiber optic rotary joint can be compensated by the excess length and does not lead to mechanical tension on the fibers.
US08369654B2 Developing apparatus, developing method and computer program for developing processing for an undeveloped image
To facilitate setting of development condition an image developing apparatus is provided. The image developing apparatus performs a development process to first image data generated by a digital camera, each pixel of which lacks a part of color information, the image developing apparatus carries out a first type of development process on the first image data to generate developed image data; and a second type of development process on the first undeveloped image data to generate for-display image data with lower resolution. The first type of development process includes: a first specific process performed on the first image data to generate second image data; and a first interpolation process performed on the second image data, the second type of development process includes: a process to generate third image data through a second interpolation process performed on the first image data and a resolution converting process; and a second specific process performed on the third image data.
US08369650B2 Image defect map creation using batches of digital images
A method of automatically determining a need to service a digital image acquisition system including a digital camera with a lens assembly includes analyzing pixels within one or more acquired digital images according to probability determinations that such pixels correspond to blemish artifacts. It is automatically determined whether a threshold distribution of blemish artifacts is present within one or more of the digital images. A need for service is indicated when at least the threshold distribution is determined to be present.
US08369649B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer program for performing super-resolution process
An image processing apparatus includes an image correction processing unit configured to correct an input image so as to generate a corrected image and a super-resolution processing unit configured to receive the corrected image generated by the image correction processing unit and increase a resolution of the corrected image through super-resolution processing so as to generate a high-resolution image. The image correction processing unit performs at least one of a time-direction noise removal process, a space-direction noise removal process, a compression noise removal process, and an aperture control correction process.
US08369643B2 Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and image processing program
The amount of time spent extracting linear noise components is reduced, when removing linear noise components from an image. A reduced image is generated, by reducing a radiation image in at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions. A linear noise image that represents linear noise components in the Y direction is generated, by extracting linear noise components from the reduced image. Thereafter, the generated linear noise image is enlarged to the image size of the original image; the linear noise components are removed from the radiation image, employing the enlarged linear noise image.
US08369638B2 Reducing DC leakage in HD photo transform
In certain embodiments, to eliminate DC leakage into surrounding AC values, scaling stage within a photo overlap transform operator is modified such that the off-diagonal elements of the associated scaling matrix have the values of 0. In certain embodiments, the on-diagonal scaling matrix are given the values (0.5, 2). In some embodiments, the scaling is performed using a combination of reversible modulo arithmetic and lifting steps. In yet other embodiments, amount of DC leakage is estimated at the encoder, and preprocessing occurs to mitigate amount of leakage, with the bitstream signaling that preprocessing has occurred. A decoder may then read the signal and use the information to mitigate DC leakage.
US08369631B2 Methods and devices for coding and decoding, a telecommunication system and computer program implementing them
The method of coding a multidimensional digital signal, said signal comprising a plurality of samples denoted “initial”, characterized in that it comprises: —a step of determining at least one secondary signal representing said multidimensional digital signal, each secondary signal having a lower number of samples than the number of samples of the multidimensional digital signal; —a step of determining filtering orientations on the basis of at least one secondary signal and—a step of determining at least one tertiary signal representing the signal to code, each tertiary signal having a lower number of samples than the number of initial samples, by implementing, on said multidimensional digital signal, filtering that is oriented on the basis of said filtering orientations.
US08369626B2 Image processing device and image processing method in image processing device for identifying features in an image
A plurality of images inputted in an image signal input portion are divided into a plurality of regions by an image dividing portion, and a feature value in each of the plurality of regions is calculated by a feature value calculation portion and divided into a plurality of subsets by a subset generation portion. On the other hand, a cluster classifying portion classifies a plurality of clusters generated in a feature space into any one of a plurality of classes on the basis of the feature value and occurrence frequency of the feature value. And a classification criterion calculation portion calculates a criterion of classification for classifying images included in one subset on the basis of a distribution state of the feature value in the feature space of each of the images included in the one subset.
US08369625B2 Method for grouping 3D models to classify constitution
Provided is a three-dimensional model classification method of classifying constitutions. The method includes correcting color values of a frontal image and one or more profile images to allow a color value of a reference color table in the images to equal a predetermined reference color value, through obtaining the frontal image and one or more profile images of a subject including the reference color table by a camera, the reference color table including one or more sub color regions, generating a three-dimensional geometric model of the subject by extracting feature point information from the frontal image and the profile image, matching the corresponding feature point information to extract spatial depth information, after removing the reference color table region from the frontal image and the profile image, and classifying a group of the three-dimensional geometric model of the subject by selecting a reference three-dimensional geometric model having a smallest sum of spatial displacements from the three-dimensional geometric model of the subject from a plurality of reference three-dimensional geometric models stored in the database and setting the group which the selected reference three-dimensional geometric model represents as the group where the three-dimensional geometric model of the subject belongs.
US08369622B1 Multi-figure system for object feature extraction tracking and recognition
The invention features a system wherein a recognition environment utilizes comparative advantages of automated feature signature analysis and human perception to form a synergistic data and information processing system for scene structure modeling and testing, object extraction, object linking, and event/activity detection using multi-source sensor data and imagery in both static and time-varying formats. The scene structure and modeling and testing utilizes quantifiable and implementable human language key words. The invention implements real-time terrain categorization and situational awareness plus a dynamic ground control point selection and evaluation system in a Virtual Transverse Mercator (VTM) geogridded Equi-Distance system (ES) environment. The system can be applied to video imagery to define and detect objects/features, events and activity. By adapting the video imagery analysis technology to multi-source data, the invention performs multi-source data fusion without registering them using geospatial ground control points.
US08369620B2 Object detection device and system
Provided are an object detection device and system. The object detection device includes an outline image extraction unit, a feature vector calculation unit, and an object judgment unit. The outline image extraction unit extracts an outline image from an input image. The feature vector calculation unit calculates a feature vector from the outline image by using histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) representing a frequency distribution of gradient vectors with respect to pixels of the outline image, and pixel coordinate information varying according to a spatial distribution of the gradient vectors. The object judgment unit judges a target object corresponding to the feature vector with reference to pre-learned data.
US08369609B2 Reduced-complexity disparity map estimation
Image processing herein reduces the computational complexity required to estimate a disparity map of a scene from a plurality of monoscopic images. Image processing includes calculating a disparity and associated matching cost for at least one pixel block in a reference image, and then predicting, based on this disparity and associated matching cost, a disparity and associated matching cost for a pixel block that neighbors the at least one pixel block. Image processing continues with calculating a tentative disparity and associated matching cost for the neighboring pixel block, by searching for a corresponding pixel block in a different monoscopic image over a reduced range of candidate pixel blocks focused around the disparity predicted. Searching over a reduced range avoids significant computational complexity. Image processing concludes with determining the disparity for the neighboring pixel block based on comparing the matching costs associated with the tentative disparity and the disparity predicted.
US08369604B2 Position detector, position detection method, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
A position detector, which detects the position of a mark formed on a substrate (W), comprises a creating unit (9), a search unit (13), and a correction unit (14). The creating unit (9) creates a template used for identifying a mark to be detected (WM) based on an image including the mark (WM). The search unit (13) searches an image by using the template created by the creating unit (9), and determines whether there is a pseudo pattern, other than the pattern of the mark (WM), whose degree of matching with the template is higher than a reference value. The correction unit (14) corrects the template based on the information of the pseudo pattern when it is determined that there is the pseudo pattern, and creates a corrected template whose degree of matching with the pseudo pattern is lower than the reference value.
US08369594B2 Dynamic motion contrast and transverse flow estimation using optical coherence tomography
The methods described herein are methods to ascertain motion contrast within optical coherence tomography data based upon phase variance. The phase variance contrast observes the nanometer scale motion of scatterers associated with Brownian motion and other non-flow motion. The inventive method of calculating motion contrast from the phase variance can differentiate regions of different mobility based on the motion contrast differences, and can use the phase information to characterize mobility properties of the scatterers. In flow regions, the inventive method for acquiring and analyzing motion contrast can identify the regions as well as characterize the motion. Furthermore, the inventive method can determine quantitative flow estimation, the index of refraction variations, and absorption variations within flow regions.
US08369592B2 System and method for imaging and locating punctures under prostatic echography
The present disclosure relates to a prostatic imaging system including steps of recording and processing images acquired by the ultrasonographic head of a rectal probe equipped with an active puncture guide, characterized in that it includes steps of processing at least a part of the images acquired by the probe for calculating transformations to a “reference image” repository relative to the initial position of the prostate, at least a part of the images acquired during the successive punctures including the location of the various positions of the needle being recorded with a view to visualising representations thereof on a single image including at least a part of the prostate. The present disclosure also relates to a system for the prostatic imaging implementing said prostatic imaging method.
US08369580B2 Method for transforming a feature vector
The present invention relates to a method for transforming a feature vector comprising a first and a second feature represented by a first and a second feature value, respectively, into a feature code using an encoder, said feature code usable in an algorithm and having a predetermined number of bits, said method comprising the steps of determining for each of the first and the second features the performance as a function of the length of the feature code, and using the dependency between the performance and the feature code length for each of the individual features derived in the step of determining to find feature code lengths for the first and the second features in such a way that the sum of the bit length of the first and the second feature codes has a length equaling said predetermined bit length. An advantage with the present invention is that it solves the problem in the case of template protection systems which only accept binary templates and where the resulting classification quality of the biometric system to a very large extend depends on the quality of the binary strings. Another advantage with the present invention is that it also solves the problem of matching time in an identification setting because binary strings can easily be compared. The present invention also relates to a similar arrangement for transforming a feature vector into a feature code.
US08369574B2 Person tracking method, person tracking apparatus, and person tracking program storage medium
A person tracking method capable of tracking movements of a person captured by a camera through lighter processing in comparison with tracking processing that employs a Kalman filter or the like is provided. The method includes: detecting a head on each frame image; calculating a feature quantity that features a person whose head is detected on the frame images; calculating a relevance ratio that represents a degree of agreement between a feature quantity on a past frame image and a feature quantity on a current frame image, which belong to each person whose head is detected on the current frame image; and determining that, a head, which is a basis for calculation of a relevance ratio that represents a degree of agreement being a first threshold as well as being a maximum degree of agreement, is a head of the same person as the person having the head.
US08369567B1 Method for detecting and mapping fires using features extracted from overhead imagery
A method for automatically detecting and mapping fires based on information extracted from commercial overhead EO/IR imagery, creating geo-referenced files which can be opened in most common geographic information system (GIS) software packages. The method creates a shapefile (*.shp & *.shx) and a Google Earth file (*.kmz) which contain the outlines of the areas from the image being processed with active fire in them, which types of files are typically very small compared to the size of the image file being processed. The method utilizes algorithms designed to process information contained in multi-spectral electro-optical imagery to classify pixels as ‘fire’ or ‘non-fire’. The method also has the ability to identify the approximate length, width, and area of the fires detected.
US08369566B2 Remote contactless stereoscopic mass estimation system
A contactless system and method for estimating the mass or weight of a target object is provided. The target object is imaged and a spatial representation of the target animal is derived from the images. A virtual spatial model is provided of a characteristic object of a class of object to which the target object belongs. The virtual spatial model is reshape to optimally fit the spatial representation of the individual animal. Finally, the mass or weight of the target object is estimated as a function of shape variables characterizing the reshaped virtual object.
US08369565B2 Information hiding with similar structures
In some aspects, message data is generated from a first representation of a message and a reference image. The message data is generated to hide the message such that generating a second representation of the message from the message data requires processing of a second image that is perceptually similar to the first image. In some examples, a degree to which the second representation of the message is perceptually similar to the first representation of the message is related to a degree to which the second image is perceptually similar to the first image.
US08369564B2 Automatic generation and use of region of interest and domain of definition functions
An automated method of generating sets of image processing instructions that identifies a region of picture elements for processing and a region of picture elements to be produced is described. The method receives a first set of image processing instructions for performing a transform operation, and, for the first set of image processing instructions, produces a second set of image processing instructions that identify a region of picture elements for processing from an input image and a third set of image processing instructions that identify a region of picture elements to be produced in an output image. The method associates the second and third sets of image processing instructions with the first set of image processing instructions, the association allowing the execution of the second and third sets of image processing instructions at run-time to facilitate the execution of the first set of image processing instructions.
US08369562B2 Encryption methods for patterned media watermarking
Watermarks for patterned magnetic media. The watermarks are used to demonstrate the unauthorized replication of a patterned magnetic media. The watermarks include a dibit, a pattern in an open region, shifting of data, shifting of a sync mark and large length scale perturbations. Also described are methods to determine if a watermark appears on a patterned media.
US08369560B2 Damper and loudspeaker using the same
The present disclosure provides a damper. The damper has alternating ridges and furrows thereon and has a through hole defined at a center of the damper. The ridges and furrows are concentric. The damper includes a matrix and at least one carbon nanotube structure disposed in the matrix. The present disclosure also provides a loudspeaker using the damper.
US08369555B2 Piezoelectric microphones
Electronic devices and microphone devices are described.
US08369550B2 Artificial ear and method for detecting the direction of a sound source using the same
Disclosed herein are an artificial ear and a method for detecting the direction of a sound source using the same. The artificial ear includes a plurality of microphones; and one or more structures disposed between the plurality of microphones. In the artificial ear, the amplitudes of output signals respectively inputted to the plurality of microphones are designed to be different based on the direction of a sound source. The method for detecting the direction of a sound source includes receiving output signals with different amplitudes from a plurality of microphones; determining front-back discrimination of the sound source from a difference between the amplitudes of the output signals of the microphones; and determining an angle corresponding to the position of the sound source from a difference between delay times of the output signals of the microphones.
US08369549B2 Hearing aid system adapted to selectively amplify audio signals
A hearing aid includes a microphone to convert sounds into electrical signals and a memory to store a plurality of voice prints and a plurality of sound-shaping instructions. Each of the plurality of sound-shaping instructions is associated with one of the plurality of voice prints. The hearing aid further includes a processor coupled to the microphone and the memory. The processor is configured to compare at least one sample from the electrical signals to the plurality of voice prints to identify a voice print. The processor selects sound-shaping instructions associated with the voice print and applies the sound-shaping instructions to selectively shape a portion of the electrical signals corresponding to the voice print to produce a shaped signal. The hearing aid further includes a speaker coupled to the processor and configured to reproduce the shaped signal as an audible output.
US08369548B2 Wireless headset device capable of providing balanced stereo and method thereof
A wireless earphone device capable of providing balanced stereo. The wireless headset includes a Bluetooth earphone device, an audio adaptor, and a stereo earphone device for giving balanced sounds on both left and right channels. When the Bluetooth earphone device and the stereo earphone device are connected with the audio adaptor respectively, an audio switching module of the Bluetooth earphone device determines to transmit stereo audio signal with first channel signal and second channel signal to the stereo earphone device through the audio adaptor. Otherwise, only one channel of the stereo audio signal is transmitted from the audio switching module to a mono speaker unit on the Bluetooth earphone device.
US08369528B2 Method and apparatus for providing encrypted key based on DRM type of host device
A method and apparatus for providing an encrypted key based on a DRM type of a host device are provided. The method includes receiving available DRM type information of a host device, making a request for generation of a key object based on the received available DRM type information, and transmitting the generated key object to the host device.
US08369525B2 Dynamic password update for wireless encryption system
A method and system for dynamically changing password-keys in a secured wireless communication system includes initiating a password key change, generating a new password key, embedding the new password key and a password key indicator in a first message, encrypting the first message using an old password key, storing the new password key, sending the formatted encrypted first message over a wireless communication system, receiving a subsequent second message, and decrypting the subsequent second message using the new password key.
US08369518B2 Electronic data encryption and encrypted data decryption system, and its method
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic data encryption and decryption system allowing a privileged user to decrypt all encrypted data without using a plurality of secret keys but only by using a single secret key that the privileged user himself has. An electronic data encryption and decryption system includes: a privileged user device, a user device, and an encrypted data generation device. The privileged user device has: a privileged user key generation means for generating a privileged user secret key x and a privileged user public key x·P (P is a generator); a first session key generation means for generating a session key K; and a first decryption means for decrypting the encrypted data by using the session key K generated by the first session key generation means. The user device has: a user key generation means for generating a user secret key r, a user public key r·P, and a public key rx·P; a second session key generation means for generating the session key K; and a second decryption means for decrypting the encrypted data by using the session key K generated by the second session key generation means. The encrypted data generation device has: a third session key generation means for generating the session key K by using the public key rx·P, session key generation information s, and a random point Q; and a means for encrypting the input electronic data by using the session key K generated by the third session key generation means.
US08369510B2 Method and apparatus for ringing
A method and apparatus is provided for ring-trip detection in a line card having an analog-to-digital converter for processing voice signals. The method includes receiving a ringing control signal, transmitting a ringing signal to a subscriber line in response to the ringing control signal, and receiving a portion of the ringing signal from the subscriber line. The method includes converting the portion of the ringing signal to a digital signal using the analog-to-digital converter, and providing a ring-trip indication in response to the digital signal. The apparatus includes first circuitry capable of processing a voice signal, the circuitry including a analog-to-digital converter for processing the voice signal. The apparatus includes a ringing generator, second circuitry, and ring-trip detection logic. The generator is capable providing a ringing signal to a subscriber line in response to receiving a ringing control signal. The second circuitry is capable of delivering the portion of the ringing signal to the analog-to-digital converter of the first circuitry, wherein the analog-to-digital converts the portion of the ringing signal to a digital signal. The ring-trip detection logic is capable of providing a ring-trip indication in response to the digital signal.
US08369509B2 System and method for search-based work assignments in a contact center
Provided herein is a system and method for assigning a service contact from a customer to a service agent. The method may include: generating a customer information record from the service contact; producing a result set of eligible service agents by use of the customer information record; sorting the result set of eligible service agents based upon a predetermined criterion, to produce a sorted result set of eligible service agents; assigning a service agent from the sorted result set of eligible service agents, to produce an assigned service agent; and monitoring a communication channel for a refusal message from the assigned service agent. If a refusal message is received from the assigned service agent, then the method may further include: classifying the assigned service agent as ineligible; and assigning another service agent from the sorted result set of eligible service agents, to produce an assigned service agent.
US08369507B2 Ringback update system
A ringback replacement update system for creating or modifying ringback associations is disclosed. Communications devices activate and interact with the ringback update system to allow for modifications of the network service.
US08369500B2 Revenue management systems and methods with sponsored top-up options
A revenue management system for telecommunication systems is disclosed. The revenue management system can have multiple integrated modules. The modules can include a revenue generation module, a revenue capture module, a revenue collection module, a revenue intelligence module, and others. The revenue management system can also be configured to simultaneously manage revenue for prepaid, postpaid, now-paid payment models.
US08369491B2 Automated answering party identification by a voice over internet protocol network
A server device transmits a call to a user device; receives a signal in response to the call; receives speech when the call is answered; performs an operation to determine a signal factor and another signal factor based on a signal duration; performs another operation to determine a speech factor and another speech factor based on a speech duration; determines whether the speech contains key words; performs an action to determine a confidence factor and another confidence factor based on the speech; computes a factor based on the signal factor, the speech factor, and the confidence factor; computes another factor based on the other signal factor, the other speech factor, and the other confidence factor; determines that the party is the user device when the total factor is less than the other total factor; and outputs a non-interactive message based on the determination that the party is the user device.
US08369488B2 Triggering a 911 voice call from a non-voice message
A voice based emergency call, such as a call to 911, is provided to a public safety answering point (PSAP) triggered from a non-voice based emergency call. When a non-voice based call is sent to a PSAP that does not accept non-voice based calls, upon determining that the PSAP can not handle non-voice based calls, the communication network is utilized to establish a voice based call with the PSAP.
US08369482B2 Electrode inspection device for battery and method of the same
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for inspecting the electrodes of a battery, which inspects the arrangement state of anodes and cathodes in the battery in a non-destructive manner (using X-rays). The apparatus radiates X-ray beams onto a battery in which a plurality of plate-shaped anodes and a plurality of plate-shaped cathodes are alternately stacked and inspects an arrangement state of the anodes and the cathodes. The apparatus includes a first X-ray source part for radiating a first X-ray beam onto the battery. A first detector detects the first X-ray beam having transmitted through the battery. A control unit receives an image of the battery output from the first detector, calculates a step difference between each anode and each cathode, and then inspects an arrangement state of the anode and the cathode.
US08369481B2 X-ray inspection device
An X-ray inspection device includes an X-ray detecting unit, a determining unit, and an output unit. The X-ray detecting unit is configured and arranged to detect a level of X-rays passing through an article. The determining unit is configured to determine a state of the article based on a detection level of the X-rays detected by the X-ray detecting unit using a plurality of thresholds including a first threshold and a second threshold for a single determination criterion. The output unit is configured and arranged to output a result of determination made by the determining unit.
US08369480B2 Dual isotope notch observer for isotope identification, assay and imaging with mono-energetic gamma-ray sources
A dual isotope notch observer for isotope identification, assay and imaging with mono-energetic gamma-ray sources includes a detector arrangement consists of three detectors downstream from the object under observation. The latter detector, which operates as a beam monitor, is an integrating detector that monitors the total beam power arriving at its surface. The first detector and the middle detector each include an integrating detector surrounding a foil. The foils of these two detectors are made of the same atomic material, but each foil is a different isotope, e.g., the first foil may comprise U235 and second foil may comprise U238. The integrating detectors surrounding these pieces of foil measure the total power scattered from the foil and can be similar in composition to the final beam monitor. Non-resonant photons will, after calibration, scatter equally from both foils.
US08369474B2 Nuclear fission reactor, flow control assembly, methods therefor and a flow control assembly system
A nuclear fission reactor, flow control assembly, methods therefor and a flow control assembly system. The flow control assembly is coupled to a nuclear fission module capable of producing a traveling burn wave at a location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly controls flow of a fluid in response to the location relative to the nuclear fission module. The flow control assembly comprises a flow regulator subassembly configured to be operated according to an operating parameter associated with the nuclear fission module. In addition, the flow regulator subassembly is reconfigurable according to a predetermined input to the flow regulator subassembly. Moreover, the flow control assembly comprises a carriage subassembly coupled to the flow regulator subassembly for adjusting the flow regulator subassembly to vary fluid flow into the nuclear fission module.
US08369463B2 Receiver apparatus in multi-user communication system and control method thereof
A receiver apparatus in a multi-user communication system and a control method are provided. The receiver apparatus includes a multi-user detector for creating a soft decision value by using multiple received signals and priori information output from a prior iteration, and a channel decoder for performing local iterative decoding on the soft decision value created by the multi-user detector, and updating the soft decision value. The receiver apparatus also includes a global decoding controller for checking the soft decision value updated by the channel decoder, and controlling whether or not to perform global iterative decoding. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize a processing time delay and to reduce the complexity through an interference cancellation processing for multiple user signals and an iterative decoding processing, and also it is possible to minimize the decoding delays of user signals by processing soft decision values for multiple user signals as many as a predetermined number of decoding iterations before terminating.
US08369454B2 Data receiving apparatus and data receiving method
A data receiving apparatus includes a measuring section configured to measure a first pulse width of a first pulse, a second pulse width of a second pulse, and a third pulse width of a third pulse. The first pulse, the second pulse, and the third pulse are sequentially and continuously received by putting a portion of a second signal level different from the first signal level between the first and second pulse and the second and third pulse. A first comparing section performs a first determination based on a measured value of the first pulse width and a measured value of the second pulse width, and a second comparing section configured to perform a second determination based on the measured value of the second pulse width and the measured value of the third pulse width, based on the first determination and the second determination.
US08369445B2 System and method for improved communication utilizing velocity related information
According to one embodiment, a method for communication includes receiving, by a receiver, a first modulated signal. The first modulated signal includes at least one error. The method also includes demodulating the first modulated signal. The demodulation includes compensating for the at least one error utilizing information related to a velocity of the receiver.
US08369443B2 Single-wire asynchronous serial interface
The present invention discloses a single-wire asynchronous serial interface, and a method for transmitting commands and data through one transmission wire, wherein the transmission wire is capable of transmitting signals of three level states. The disclosed interface comprises a signal level extraction circuit receiving signals transmitted through the wire and outputting logic or functional bits according to the received signals; a clock extraction circuit generating clock signals according to the functional bits, and a memory circuit controlled by the clock signals and storing the logic bits. The disclosed method comprises: using two of the level states to represent logic 0 and logic 1, and the third of the states as a functional bit; and determining whether a group of signals is a command or data by the existence of a functional bit within the group.
US08369442B2 Communicating a signal according to ASK modulation and PSK modulation
A transmitter modulator that is operable to modulate signals according to multiple modulation formats includes a first modulator, a second modulator, and a polarization beam combiner. The first modulator encodes a first signal according to a first modulation format. The second modulator encodes a second signal according to a second modulation format, the first signal orthogonally polarized with respect to the second signal. The polarization beam combiner combines the first signal and the second signal for transmission.
US08369439B2 Transmission of precoding codebook over an air interface
Embodiments of the present invention include a system for transmitting a precoding codebook over an air interface. The system includes a first station configured to signal a set of indicators via at least one antenna to a second station from which the precoding codebook is derived at the second station based on the signaled set of indicators. The set of indicators includes less information than the precoding codebook.
US08369438B2 Iterative tree search-based precoding technique for multiuser MIMO communication system
An iterative tree search-based preceding method for a multi-user Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) communication system includes determining a reference value of a cumulative branch metric of a candidate symbol, eliminating candidates having values that exceed the determined reference value of the cumulative branch metric of the candidate symbol, and registering values, which do not exceed the determined reference value of the cumulative branch metric of the candidate symbol, as entries, and selecting the least value from the values registered as the entries. Thereby, the method has low complexity and similar performance compared to an existing Sphere Encoding (SE) technique.
US08369428B2 Method of synchronizing multi-carrier systems and multi-carrier system
A method of synchronizing multi-carrier systems is provided, wherein the method comprises inserting a predefined frequency domain signal into a signal on a transmitter side of a multi-carrier system and multi-carrier modulating the signal. Furthermore, the method comprises transmitting the multi-carrier modulated signal via a carrier channel to a receiving side of the multi-carrier system, and synchronizing the multi-carrier modulated signal by using the predefined frequency domain signal portion of the multi-carrier modulated signal.
US08369425B2 Robust channel estimation in communication systems
An apparatus for archiving robust channel estimation in a communication system includes a training sequence generator to generate a training sequence. A formatter inserts the training sequence to a frame. A transmitting module is employed to transmit the frame. The training sequence generator further includes a symbol generator to generate a plurality of training symbols satisfying a predetermined constraint such that the training symbols are insensitive to synchronization error and a training sequence forming unit that forms the training sequence from the training symbols generated by the training symbol generator.
US08369419B2 Systems and methods of video compression deblocking
An exemplary video decoder comprises: an entropy decoder; a spatial decoder; combining logic; and an inloop deblocking filter. The entropy decoder receives an incoming coded bit stream. The spatial decoder receives the output of the entropy encoder and produces an encoded picture comprising a plurality of pixels. The combining logic combines a current picture with a prediction picture to produce a combined picture. The inloop deblocking filter receives the combined picture. The inloop deblocking filter comprises: logic configured to filter a predefined pixel group; and logic configured to filter each of the remaining pixel groups in the plurality after the predefined pixel group, according to a corresponding set of taps in a plurality of sets of taps, if the predefined pixel group meets a criteria.
US08369412B2 Method and system to improve the transport of compressed video data
A method comprises determining a plurality of time intervals Tp and Tn within a variable bit rate (VBR) representation of an image sequence. The time intervals Tp are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is greater than a baseline value. The time intervals Tn are those in which a number of blocks of information per unit time is less than the baseline value. A second representation of the image sequence is created in which some blocks of information Bp are removed from the time intervals Tp and interlaced with blocks of information Bn in the time intervals Tn to reduce a variation in a number of blocks of information per unit time between the time intervals Tp and Tn.
US08369409B2 Motion vector detection apparatus and method, moving picture encoding apparatus and method, and moving picture decoding apparatus and method
A motion vector detection apparatus that obtains, for each of the blocks of a predetermined size into which one frame is divided, motion vector information in units of a plurality of partitions of differing rectangular shapes and differing sizes, up to the size of the blocks, has a partition connector means (23) that, when motion vectors for a plurality of partitions are obtained for one of the blocks, decides whether or not to connect a plurality of the partitions for which the motion vectors are obtained, and if the partitions are connected, includes motion vector information about the resulting connected partition in the motion vector information output from the motion vector detection apparatus. The motion vector encoding rate can be reduced.
US08369406B2 Apparatus of predictive coding/decoding using view-temporal reference picture buffers and method using the same
Provided are an apparatus and method for predictive coding/decoding for improving a compression rate of multiview video using one or two additional reference frame buffers. The predictive encoding apparatus includes: a multiview reference picture providing unit for providing a reference picture for a predictive encoding according to temporal and spatial GOP structure information; a prediction unit for creating a vector by predicting which part of the reference picture inputted from the multiview reference picture providing unit is referred by a picture to currently encode; a transforming and quantizing unit for obtaining a difference signal between the predicted signal inputted from the prediction unit and a picture signal to currently encode, transforming the obtained difference signal, quantizing the transformed signal, and compressing the quantized signal; and an entropy encoding unit for encoding the quantized signal and the vectors according to a predetermined scheme and outputting the encoded signal.
US08369405B2 Method and apparatus for motion compensated frame rate up conversion for block-based low bit rate video
A method and apparatus for video frame interpolation using a current video frame, at least one previous video frame, and a set of transmitted motion vectors is described. A first set of motion vectors is created as a function of the set of transmitted motion vectors. An intermediated video frame is identified, where the intermediate video frame having a plurality of non-overlapping blocks. Each non-overlapping block is assigned with at least one motion vector chosen from the first set of motion vectors to create a set of assigned motion vectors. Then, a second set of motion vectors is created as a function of the assigned set of motion vectors. A video frame is generated using the second set of motion vectors.
US08369404B2 Moving image decoding device and moving image decoding method
Encoding and decoding are uniformly carried out for a plurality of chroma formats. Based on a control signal for providing a chroma format type of an input moving image signal, in the case of a chroma format of 4:2:0 or 4:2:2, a first intra prediction mode deciding unit and a first intra prediction image generation unit are applied to a luminance component of the input moving image signal, and a second intra prediction mode deciding unit and a second intra prediction image generation unit are applied to a chrominance component. In the case of a chroma format of 4:4:4, the first intra prediction mode deciding unit and the first intra prediction image generation unit are applied to all color components to carry out encoding, and a variable length encoding unit multiplexes the control signal as encoding data to be applied to a moving image sequence unit on a bit stream.
US08369402B2 Apparatus and method for prediction modes selection based on image formation
An image coding apparatus determines an image pattern of image data and, based on the determined image pattern, selects a prediction mode for generating predicted pixel values by predicting pixel values in a frame using pixel values in the same frame. Alternatively, based on photographing information concerning input image data, an image coding apparatus selects a prediction mode for generating predicted pixel values by predicting pixel values in a frame using pixel values in the same frame.
US08369396B2 Communication signal receiver and signal processing method thereof
A communication signal receiver includes an adder, a slicer, and an infinite impulse response (IIR) filter. The adder performs an addition on a first signal and a filtered signal to generate an output signal. The slicer performs a hard decision on the output signal to generate a detecting result. The IIR filter is coupled to the slicer and the adder for processing the output signal to generate the filtered signal. The communication signal receiver further includes a decoder. The decoder receives and decodes the output signal to generate a decoded output signal, wherein the decoder is a Viterbi decoder.
US08369394B2 Systems and methods for loop length and bridged tap length determination of a transmission line
Through the use of a least squares minimization concept, the loop length, the number of bridged taps and length of the bridged taps on a transmission line can be determined from readily available modem data. In particular, the loop length, the number of bridge taps and the length of bridged taps can be estimated by comparing a measured frequency domain channel impulse response of the transmission line to a model of a loop that is comprised of multiple sections and multiple bridge taps.
US08369384B2 Method and system for processing signals utilizing a programmable interference suppression module
Aspects of a method and system for processing signals utilizing a programmable interference suppression module are provided. In this regard, a received signal may be iteratively processed to generate an interference suppressed representation of the received signal. The iterative processing may comprise a weighting iteration; an addback weighting and un-addback iteration, and an addback iteration. The weighting iteration may comprise generating one or more first estimate signals that estimate user signals present in the received signal. The addback, weighting, and un-addback iteration may comprise generating one or more incremental estimate signals based on the one or more first estimate signals and the one or more second estimate signals. The addback iteration may comprise generating an interference suppressed representation of the received signal based on at least the one or more second estimate signals.
US08369376B2 Bit error rate reduction in chaotic communications
A system for chaotic sequence spread spectrum communications includes a transmitter (402) for transmitting information symbols using a chaotic sequence of chips generated at the transmitter, the information symbols having a duration of transmission based on a threshold symbol energy value and the chips. The system also includes a receiver (404) for extracting the information symbols from the transmitted signal using a chaotic sequence of chips generated at the receiver and the threshold symbol energy value. In the system, the chips generated at the transmitter and the receiver are identical and synchronized in time, where the duration of transmission of the information symbols in the carrier is a total duration of a selected number of the chips used for transmitting, and where the number of the chips is selected for the information symbols to provide a total chip energy greater than or equal to the threshold symbol energy value.
US08369372B1 Laser device
A laser device includes a substrate, a lower cladding layer on the substrate, an active layer on the lower cladding layer, an upper cladding layer on the active layer, and a second order diffraction grating in a layer above the active layer and having dimensions of at least 100 μm by 100 μm. The second order diffraction grating diffracts and directs light generated in the active layer in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the upper cladding layer. A laser device further includes a first reflective film on a first end face of a resonator, and a second reflective film on a second end face of the resonator, the second end face being located at the opposite end of the resonator to the first end face.
US08369357B2 System and method for providing simultaneous handling of layer-2 and layer-3 mobility in an internet protocol network environment
An apparatus for providing mobility in an Internet protocol (IP) network environment is provided that includes a cell site element operable to receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) signal from a base station. The ARP signal is associated with a selected mobile station that can roam between networks. In response to the signal, the cell site element evaluates a table that identifies a plurality of mobile stations and if the selected mobile station is not present in the table, then a mobility registration request is generated and communicated to a next destination.
US08369355B2 Communication control device, communication control method, program and communication system
There is provided a communication control device comprising: a wired connection unit that makes a wired connection with a mobile terminal; a setting unit that sets a frequency of a communication signal transmitted to or received from the mobile terminal through the wired connection unit; and a protocol conversion unit capable of converting a protocol of the communication signal from a mobile communication protocol to an IP (Internet Protocol).
US08369344B1 Customer isolation using a common forwarding database with hardware learning support
A network switch includes a plurality of isolated ports, each associated with a private domain. The switch also includes a network port associated with the private domain. A memory in the switch maintains a hardware-based forwarding table for the private domain. Processing logic in the network switch prevents forwarding of packets between isolated ports within the private domain based at least in part on a privacy level associated with each entry in the hardware-based forwarding table for the private domain.
US08369343B2 Device virtualization
Methods and apparatus for device virtualization and for communication between network devices are described. In one example, all devices on a first Local Area Network (LAN1) which are to communicate with devices on a second Local Area Network (LAN2) have a virtual presence on LAN2, and all the devices on LAN2 which are to communicate with devices on LAN1 have a virtual presence on LAN1, enabling these devices to communicate as if they were located in the same LAN. In another example, a device which uses different networking protocols to other devices on a network is virtualized on its own network, along with all the devices with which it communicates. In either example, the proposed virtualization technique may ensure that virtualized devices appear like physical devices to the other devices such that no modifications of the networking protocol is necessary to interact with a virtualized device.
US08369340B2 Tracking fragmented data flows
A device may receive a fragment of a fragmented data unit, determine a flow identifier that identifies a data flow with which the fragment is associated, and create a flow entry, based on the flow identifier, to store information associated with the data flow. The device may also determine a fragment key associated with the fragment, store a pointer to the flow entry based on the fragment key, correlate the fragment and another fragment, associated with the data flow, based on the fragment key and the pointer to the flow entry, and accumulate statistics associated with the fragment and the other fragment after correlating the fragment and the other fragment.
US08369337B1 Methods and devices for assigning a wireless communication device to a wireless coverage area based on early termination gain
Methods and systems for assigning a wireless communication device (WCD) to a wireless coverage are a based on early termination gain (ETG) are presented. In particular, a RAN may receive a request, from a WCD, for an assignment to one of a plurality of wireless coverage areas. In response to receiving the request, the RAN may select a wireless coverage area of the plurality that has a highest ETG, and assign the WCD to the selected wireless coverage area. Prior to selecting this wireless coverage area, the RAN may optionally remove one or more wireless coverage areas with high utilization from consideration.
US08369335B2 Method and system for extending routing domain to non-routing end stations
A system is provided for facilitating assignment of a virtual routing node identifier to a non-routing node. During operation, the system assigns to a non-routing node coupled to a switch a virtual routing node identifier unique to the non-routing node. In addition, the system communicates reachability information corresponding to the virtual routing node identifier to other switches in the network.
US08369331B2 Layer 1 frame construction
A layer 1 network frame is disclosed that includes data of a layer 2 frame. A header of the layer 1 frame header includes: a packet length field to indicate a size of a payload portion of the layer 1 frame, a priority field to indicate a priority of the layer 1 frame, a protocol field to identify a protocol of the data in the layer 2 frame, a frame mode field to indicate a correspondence between the layer 1 frame and the layer 2 frame included within the payload, a stuff field to indicate whether stuff data is contained in the layer 1 frame, and a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field to indicate a CRC result.
US08369329B2 Dynamic hierarchical address resource management architecture, method and apparatus
A Dynamic Hierarchical Address Resource Management Architecture (DHARMA) coordinates a logical hierarchy of address spaces with a virtual topology of network elements using a manageable database environment. Address spaces are apportioned into hierarchical levels in accordance with a network policy. Network elements may be represented as objects, coupled via the logical address space. Both address space hierarchy definition and virtual topology modelling may occur independent from actual network deployment. As a result, multiple address space hierarchy definitions and virtual topologies can be pre-generated and stored for selective use during network deployment. With such an arrangement, a flexible addressing architecture is provided which may advantageously be used in any network that desires dynamic network configuration. The connection between the logical address hierarchy and the virtual network topology may advantageously be implemented through the use of a logical tag that links a virtual network element to a logical address hierarchy level.
US08369328B2 System and method for efficient delivery of multi-unicast communication traffic
Disclosed is a system and method for the delivery of multi-unicast communication traffic. A multimedia router is adapted to analyze and identify contents which it handles and one or more access nodes are adapted to receive one or more of the identified contents, cache contents based on said identification; and use cached contents as substitutes for redundant traffic, received by the same access node.
US08369323B1 Managing voice-based data communications within a clustered network environment
This disclosure relates to managing voice-based data communications within a clustered network environment using application-layer functionality, and more particularly to a primary network device within a cluster that manages transmissions related to a communication and synchronizes state information associated with the communication to other network devices within the cluster. One exemplary method includes receiving, by a network device in a cluster, information associated with a data communication between a first user device and a second user device, and analyzing, by the network device, the received information using application-layer functionality to identify a primary network device that manages the data communication. When the network device is not the primary network device, the network device forwards the received information to the primary network device. Upon receipt of the information, the primary network device provides updated state information for the communication with other network devices within the cluster for synchronization purposes.
US08369322B2 Tandem call admission control by proxy for use with non-hop-by-hop VoIP signaling protocols
Described are a method and system for determining whether to establish a call over an internet protocol (IP)-based network. A network device inspects an IP packet to determine that the IP packet conveys a message to initiate a call. The network device determines a shortest path through a link-state network to be taken by traffic associated with the call if the call is admitted. The network device also determines whether each link in the shortest path through the link-state network is available for supporting the traffic associated with the call and issues a message that rejects admission of the call if at least one link in the shortest path through the link-state network is unavailable for supporting the traffic associated with the call.
US08369316B2 Wireless emergency services protocols translator between ANSI-41 and VoIP emergency services protocols
A protocol converter or translator between ANSI-41 ORREQs and VoIP V2 messaging. The protocol converter may alternatively (or also) provide conversion between GMS MAP and VoIP V2 messaging. Interaction of VSPs with a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) or a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) is permitted, as is interaction of wireless carriers with a Voice Positioning Center (VPC). In this way existing GMLCs or MPCs may be used to service VoIP 9-1-1 calls. Moreover, operators of Voice Positioning Centers (VPCs) who implement wireless offerings can re-use their existing VPCs to service wireless 9-1-1 calls.
US08369315B2 Call connection method, equipment, and system in IP multimedia subsystem
A call connection method in an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) is provided. The method includes the following steps. An entrance network element (NE) of a called network receives a session request carrying called user identification (ID) information from a calling network. When determining that the called user ID information is incomplete, the entrance NE of the called network sends a response message indicating that the called user ID information is incomplete to the calling network. The calling network updates the called user ID information according to the response message, and sends the updated called user ID information to the entrance NE of the called network. An interface NE, a called network system, a call connection system, and a method of informing a call connection failure are also provided.
US08369310B2 Method for reliable detection of the status of an RTP packet stream
In a method for determining the status of a real-time transfer protocol (RTP) packet stream, several steps are performed. A time period elapsed since reception of the last RTP packet is determined, the content of the last received RTP packet is determined, and the status of the RTP packet stream based on the elapsed time period and the content of the last received RTP packet is categorized. The method is advantageous in that the risk of false detection of dead RTP packet streams is reduced.
US08369301B2 OFDM/OFDMA frame structure for communication systems
An OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology for communication systems is disclosed. The OFDM/OFDMA frame structure technology comprises a variable length sub-frame structure with efficiently sized cyclic prefixes and efficient transition gap durations operable to effectively utilize OFDM/OFDMA bandwidth. Furthermore, the frame structure provides compatibility with multiple wireless communication systems. An uplink frame structure and a downlink frame structure are provided.
US08369298B2 Method for establishing network connections between stationary terminals and remote devices through mobile devices
A technique is provided for a seamless and transparent handoff from a user's mobile device to the user's stationary terminal of a network address of a remote device for the purpose of establishing a direct communication channel between the stationary terminal and a remote device, where the remote device first contacted the user's mobile device to initiate communications with the user.
US08369296B2 Distributed link aggregation
Systems and methods to forward data frames are described. A particular method may include generating a plurality of management frames at a controlling bridge. The management frames may include routing information. The plurality of management frames may be communicated to a plurality of bridge elements coupled to a plurality of server computers. The plurality of bridge elements are each configured to selectively forward a plurality of data frames according to the routing information.
US08369289B2 Reuse of training sequence between frequency-adjacent radio signals
Methods and apparatus for processing received signals in a multi-carrier system are disclosed. An exemplary method includes estimating one or more first propagation channel coefficients based on a training sequence in each of one or more first slots received over a first radio channel, equalizing signal samples from one or more second slots received over a second radio channel immediately frequency-adjacent to the first radio channel, using the first propagation channel coefficients, and demodulating user data bits from the equalized signal samples. In some embodiments, the training sequence is located at a fixed position in each of the one or more first slots and user data bits are demodulated from a directly corresponding position in each of the second slots. Improved data rates are thus achieved by constraining radio carriers in a multi-carrier system to frequency-adjacent channels and eliminating training symbols from one of the signals.
US08369288B2 Method and apparatus for bearer processing
A bearer processing method is disclosed. The method includes these steps: a system border node receives a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context Request initiated by a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS); the system border node adjusts a Request Bearer Resource Allocation message of a system architecture evolution (SAE) system or the PDP Context Request of the UMTS according to the received PDP Context Request to map the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the SAE system and the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the UMTS. The present invention can map the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the SAE system and the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the UMTS.
US08369286B2 Radio communication system and method
A mobile station determines, in accordance with reception quality of a radio signal from a base station, a measurement cycle of a predetermined measurement on a link status and/or on/off of the predetermined measurement and controls execution of the predetermined measurement based on the determination.
US08369278B2 Method and apparatus for sending control signaling
A method for sending control signaling, including: a transmitter using different states of one field in the control signaling to indicate the payload size or RV; and sends the control signaling indicative of the payload size or RV in the field. It is appropriate that some states of one field indicate different payload sizes, and the remaining states of the field indicate different RVs. An apparatus for sending control signaling is disclosed. The apparatus may be integrated in a base station, and may include a control signaling generating unit and a control signaling sending unit.
US08369272B2 Apparatus and method for implementing configurable resource management policies
A resource management apparatus adapted to implement resource management policies for the management of resources of a system, being susceptible of being assigned to entities requesting services to the system. The resource management apparatus includes: a configuration interface adapted to receive resource management configuration data from a user, the configuration data including a resource management decision logic adapted to specify a resource management policy; a resource management policy implementation unit responsive to service requests from the requesting entities and adapted to manage the assignment of the resources of the system to the requesting entities based on the resource management decision logic. The configuration interface is adapted to receive, and the resource management policy implementation unit is adapted to manage resource management decision logic structured as a set of one or more decision rules, each decision rule including: a description of at least one service request intended to be governed by the decision rule; a description of a state of the system in respect of which the decision rule is intended to apply; and action to be taken by the apparatus in case the decision rule applies.
US08369271B2 Method of configuring a cell of a wireless communication system for improved resource utilization
At least one base station of a wireless network adjusts its access area so as to drive at least one measure of utilization of a resource or resources of that cell toward, but not to exceed, a specified maximum level. The adjustment is dynamic in that it responds in real time to traffic fluctuations. The adjustment is autonomous in that it is not directed from outside the cell. The access area of the cell is determined by the received strength, at the respective users, of a beacon channel transmitted from the base station. In specific implementations, the access area may be adjusted by adjusting the effective signal transmit strength of the beacon signal, or by adjusting the tilt of the antenna that transmits to the cell.
US08369269B2 Radio communication system, base station device, mobile station device, and random access method
A radio communication system includes a base station device and a plurality of mobile station devices which radio-communicate with the base station device. The base station device allocates random access signal identifiers for identifying random access signals to the mobile station devices and decides an allocation period for each of the random access signal identifiers used by the mobile base stations. During the allocation period, each of the mobile station devices transmits a random access signal corresponding to the allocated random access signal identifier. Thus, it is possible to suppress a delay until the random access procedure using a dedicated preamble is complete.
US08369259B2 Network handover method, communications system, and relevant devices
A network handover method, a communications system, and relevant devices are provided, so as to implement handover between a Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) network and a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) network. The method specifically includes the following steps. A user terminal determines a target network access point (AP) and acquires a tunnel destination address. A signaling transmission tunnel between the user terminal and the target network AP is established through a current network according to the tunnel destination address. The user terminal executes a network access operation with the target network AP through the signaling transmission tunnel. The communications system and the relevant devices are further provided. Thus, the handover between the WiFi network and the WiMAX network can be implemented.
US08369257B2 Reliable and deterministic communication protocol
A reliable and deterministic video communication protocol is provided. In one aspect, a method of transmitting data, audio or video frames in a basic service set having a plurality of stations in a wireless local area network transmits a transmit opportunity information element to reserve a transmit opportunity time interval. The method further transmits the data, audio or video frames to a number of the stations in the basic service set during the reserved transmit opportunity time interval. In another aspect, a method of transmitting data, audio or video frames in a basic service set having a plurality of stations in a wireless local area network first transmits protection frames to reserve a time interval, then transmits frames during the reserved time interval or during a non-reserved time interval. In yet another aspect, a method of transmitting data, audio or video frames in a basic service set having a plurality of stations in a wireless local area network utilizes acknowledgement frames from the plurality of stations to acknowledge the transmission. A wireless communication device is also provided.
US08369252B2 Method and system for time division duplex hum noise cancellation
Methods and systems for TDD hum noise cancellation are disclosed and may include correlating a received audio signal to a time division duplexed (TDD) envelope signal, controlling a feedback signal based on the correlating, and cancelling a TDD noise signal via the feedback signal. The amplitude and delay of the feedback signal may be configured for controlling. A least mean square (LMS) filter may be utilized for the correlating and may include a finite impulse response filter. The TDD envelope signal may be generated on the chip or may be received from a source external to the chip. The feedback signal may be added to the received audio signal for the cancelling.
US08369248B2 Information transmitting and receiving system, information transmitting device, and information receiving device
An information transmitting and receiving system having an information transmitting device including: an information reading section; an information processing section which divides the information into a plurality of information segments, and gives an identifier uniquely to each divided information segment; and an information transmitting section which repeatedly transmits a bundle of identifiers in a first period of time, and an information receiving device including: an information receiving section which receives the identifiers; an information selecting section which selects an information segment desired to read; a display section which displays the information segment desired to read; and a display control section which controls the information display section such that if the information receiving section does not receive the identifier given to the information segment desired to read within a second period of time, stops displaying the information segment.
US08369247B2 Method and system for facilitating multi-point communications
A conferencing system, method and communication device for facilitating a conference call between a plurality of terminal devices is presented. The conference system comprises: a conference server for establishing the conference call; and re-connection means adapted to detect if a terminal device is disconnected from the conference call and to re-connect a terminal device to the conference call if it is detected that the terminal device is disconnected from the conference call.
US08369238B2 Method, network, and computer product for flow based quality of service
A method, network, and computer program product are provided for traffic flow quality of service. A quality of service priority table is received for services defined by a user at the network, and the quality of service priority table includes quality of service levels for the services. Traffic flows are determined to correspond to packets being communicated over the network for the user. The traffic flows are mapped to services. The traffic flows are mapped to the quality of service levels for the services. The quality of service levels are assigned to the traffic flows as assigned quality of service levels corresponding to the services. Each of the traffic flows is routed over the network according to its assigned quality of service levels, respectively.
US08369237B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving packet in dual modem mobile communication terminal
An apparatus and a method for transmitting/receiving a packet in a dual modem mobile communication terminal support data communication using both a host modem and a slave modem by additionally driving the slave modem when packet traffic is heavy. In the method for transmitting/receiving, at a host modem, a packet in a mobile communication terminal that includes the host modem and a slave modem, when a packet is received under a state where only the host modem is driven, it is determined whether a buffer count of the host modem is greater than a reference value. When the buffer count of the host modem is greater than the reference value, the slave modem is additionally driven and the received packet is provided to the slave modem.
US08369219B2 System and method for managing bandwidth
A system for managing bandwidth use in a device. In a specific embodiment, the device is a network device that includes a first data scheduler that is adapted to initially share available device bandwidth among a first type of traffic and a second type of traffic on an as-needed basis. A traffic monitor communicates with the first scheduler and causes the first data scheduler to guarantee predetermined transmission characteristics for the second type of traffic. The first data scheduler includes one or more routines for prioritizing first type of traffic above the second type of traffic when the network device is in a first operational mode, and prioritizing the second type of traffic above the first type of traffic when the network device is in a second operation al mode. The minimum transmission characteristics include a minimum service rate and a minimum latency for the second type of traffic.
US08369213B2 Optimization of distributed tunnel rerouting in a computer network with path computation at an intermediate node
In one embodiment, an intermediate node computes paths for a set of tunnels that do not include a particular link (e.g., and possibly a scaled-down bandwidth for each tunnel), considering all of the tunnels of the set. The intermediate node informs head-end nodes of the tunnels of the computed paths (e.g., and scaled bandwidth) and/or a time to reroute the tunnels.
US08369210B2 Retry for telematics packet data connection failures in CDMA 1xRTT network
A technique and system are provided for executing retry procedures to resolve a packet connection failure during a CDMA 1xRTT packet session. In particular, the DTE is configured and controlled to retry based on either failure signals from the NAD or the Application Service Timer. Moreover, in one aspect, the DIE is configured and controlled to retry the packet connection selectively for traffic channel assignment failure, PPP connection failure, TCP/IP connection failure and Application service failure. In this way, the end user will experience a shorter service delivery time for packet-based telematics services.
US08369195B2 Information storage medium and method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data on/from the same
An information storage medium and a method and apparatus for recording/reproducing data on/from the information storage medium. The information storage medium includes a plurality of recording layers, each having a user data area, on which data can be recorded by a pickup. Data is recorded in the order of recording layers from closest to farthest from the pickup, and a recordable region in a user data area of a recording layer on which data is to be recorded is smaller than that in a recording layer between the pickup and the recording layer on which data is to be recorded. Each recording layer contains a recordable region in a user data area and a optimum power control (OPC) area in order to maintain the same recording/reproducing characteristics between the plurality of recording layers.
US08369194B2 Optical disc device, optical disc recording method, and reproduction method
Even when recording data which is continuously inputted at a high speed, it is possible to correct a recording error and reproduce preferable AV data without a noise upon reproduction. A recording error detection circuit (14) detects an error generation upon recording according to the fluctuation of amplitude of a tracking error signal or a focus error signal. A recording signal processing circuit (6) again records (performs skip recording) the same data in a region subsequently adjacent to a region where a recording error has occurred. When performing the skip recording, address information contained in the recording data is rewritten into address information on a new recording region. Moreover, an identifier (skip mark) indicating that a recording error has occurred is added to the pattern of the link region of the recording data.
US08369193B2 Optical pickup apparatus and manufacturing method of optical pickup apparatus
An optical-pickup apparatus includes: a first-objective lens; a second-objective lens; a lens holder including a first-lens barrel having the first-objective lens mounted on an end face thereof and a second-lens barrel having the second-objective lens mounted on an end face thereof; an actuator unit having the lens holder mounted thereon; and a housing having the actuator unit mounted thereon, the first and second objective lenses each being mounted on the lens holder such that a direction, in which wavefront of coma aberration on each lens face is most advanced in phase, is aligned with a radial direction of an information-recording medium, the actuator unit being mounted on the housing such that an optical axis of the first-objective lens is inclined in the radial direction at an inclination angle of the axis toward a recording surface of the medium required to cancel coma aberration of the first-objective lens to the surface.
US08369186B2 System and method of increasing battery life of a timekeeping device
Methods and systems of extending battery life of remote battery-operated timekeeping devices by minimizing the number of required synchronizations per unit of time needed to maintain a predetermined accuracy of the devices. The number of synchronizations are minimized by first calculating a time error rate between the remote timekeeping device and a master device over a sample period. Then, a synchronization is delayed and the remote timekeeping device is compensated based on the time error rate. The compensation delays the need for a synchronization yet maintains the predetermined accuracy of the remote timekeeping device. In some embodiments, the remote timekeeping device is compensated and multiple synchronizations are delayed before a new synchronization is necessary to maintain the predetermined accuracy.
US08369181B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device for controlling a sense amplifier
A semiconductor IC device includes a command decoder that provides internal read and internal write command signals in response to external command signals, and a delay control unit that is connected with the command decoder and provides an internal read command delay signal by controlling an activation timing of the internal read command signal in response to a test mode signal in a read mode.
US08369174B2 Power up signal generation circuit
A power-up signal generation circuit includes a fixed level transition voltage generation unit, a variable level transition voltage generation unit, a comparison unit, and a selective output unit. The fixed level transition voltage generation unit is configured to generate a fixed level transition voltage changing at a constant level of an external voltage. The variable level transition voltage generation unit is configured to generate a variable level transition voltage changing at a level of an external voltage which varies depending on temperature. The comparison unit is configured to compare the level of the fixed level transition voltage with the level of the variable level transition voltage, and generate a selection signal. The selective output unit is configured to output the fixed level transition voltage or the variable level transition voltage as a power-up signal in response to the selection signal.
US08369173B2 Semiconductor devices and methods for changing operating characteristics and semiconductor systems including the same
A method of changing a parameter in a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes receiving and storing data in a storage region; and changing at least one between a DC characteristic and an AC timing characteristic of a parameter, used to access a non-volatile memory cell included in a memory core of the semiconductor device, according to the data stored in the storage.
US08369169B2 Sense amplifier and semiconductor memory device including the same
A sense amplifier includes a first inverter having an input terminal connected to a first line and an output terminal connected to a second line, and a second inverter having an input terminal connected to the second line and an output terminal connected to the first line, wherein an NMOS transistor of the first inverter and an NMOS transistor of the second inverter have well biases different from each other.
US08369156B2 Fast random access to non-volatile storage
Techniques are disclosed herein for efficiently operating memory arrays of non-volatile storage devices. In one embodiment, when reading data from an MLC block, reading is sped up by not discharging bit lines between successive sensing operations. For example, all even bit lines are charged up and odd bit lines are grounded to set up sensing of memory cells that are associated with a first word line and the even bit lines. Then, memory cells associated with the first word line and the even bit lines are read by, for example, sensing the even bit lines. Then, while the even bit lines are still charged, memory cells associated with another word line and the even bit lines are read. Because the even bit lines remain charged between the two sensing operations, time is saved in not having to re-charge the bit lines to an appropriate level for sensing.
US08369153B2 Semiconductor memory device including stacked gate having charge accumulation layer and control gate and method of writing data to semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, word lines, a driver circuit, and a control circuit. The driver circuit repeats a programming operation of selecting any one of the word lines, of applying a first voltage to selected one of the word lines, and of applying a second voltage to unselected one of the word lines, to write data to selected one of the memory cells connected to the selected one of the word lines. The control circuit, while the driver circuit is repeating the programming operation, steps up the first voltage and keeps the second voltage constant until the first voltage reaches a first threshold. The control circuit steps up the second voltage after the first voltage has reached the first threshold.
US08369152B2 Semiconductor memory device including charge accumulation layer
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, memory cells without a source region and a drain region, and a first insulating film. The memory cells are arranged adjacent to one another on the semiconductor substrate and include a first gate electrode including a charge accumulation layer. A current path functioning as a source region or a drain region of a selected memory cell is formed in the semiconductor substrate when a voltage is applied to the first gate electrode of one of unselected memory cells. The first insulating film is formed on the semiconductor substrate to fill a region between the first gate electrodes of the memory cells adjacent to each other.
US08369150B2 Relaxed metal pitch memory architectures
A relaxed metal pitch architecture may include a bit line and a first active area string and a second active area string. The bit line may be directly coupled to the first active area string and to the second active area string. The relaxed metal pitch architecture may be applied to a non-volatile memory structure.
US08369148B2 Operation methods for memory cell and array thereof immune to punchthrough leakage
An integrated circuit includes a memory cell structure including a first cell and a second cell. The first cell includes a first storage structure and a first gate over a substrate. The first gate is over the first storage structure. The second cell includes a second storage structure and a second gate over the substrate. The second gate is over the second storage structure. The first gate is separated from the second gate. A first doped region is adjacent to the first cell and is coupled to a first source. A second doped region is configured within the substrate and adjacent to the second cell. The second doped region is coupled to a second source. At least one third doped region is between the first cell and the second cell, wherein the third doped region is floating.
US08369140B2 Systems and methods for programming a memory device
A multi-Level Cell (MLC) can be used to store, for example, 4 bits per cell by storing two bits on each of two sides. Each side can store, e.g., four different current level states that can be determined by the number of holes injected into, e.g., nitride layer, during programming. As more holes are injected the current decreases for a given voltage. The current can be low, therefore, it can be advantageous in one embodiment to use a current amplifier. The current amplifier can be a BJT, MOS or other type of device.
US08369132B1 Methods of programming and erasing programmable metallization cells (PMCs)
A method can include programming a selected programmable metallization cell (PMC) by coupling the anodes of a group of PMCs to a first power supply voltage and connecting a cathode of one of PMCs of the group to a second power supply voltage with a select device; and erasing a selected PMC by coupling the anodes of a group of PMCs to the second power supply voltage and connecting the cathode of one of PMCs of the group to the first supply voltage with the select device.
US08369125B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of securing gate performance and channel length
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of word lines extending parallel to one another on the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of bit lines extending parallel to one another on the semiconductor substrate, arranged to cross with the word lines, and delimiting a plurality of crossing regions where the word lines intersect the bit lines and a plurality of unit memory cell regions with each cell region bounded by an adjacent pair of the word lines and an adjacent pair of the bit lines; and gate electrodes for the respective unit memory cell regions, each gate electrode electrically connected with any one of a pair of word lines which delimit a corresponding unit memory cell, and formed such that at least a portion of the gate electrode is bent toward a bit line direction.
US08369123B2 Stacked memory module and system
A three dimensional memory module and system are formed with at least one slave chip stacked over a master chip. Through semiconductor vias (TSVs) are formed through at least one of the master and slave chips. The master chip includes a memory core for increased capacity of the memory module/system. In addition, capacity organizations of the three dimensional memory module/system resulting in efficient wiring is disclosed for forming multiple memory banks, multiple bank groups, and/or multiple ranks of the three dimensional memory module/system.
US08369119B2 Inverter drive power supply circuit for driving a plurality of inverter switching devices that form an inverter circuit
An inverter drive power supply circuit for driving a plurality of inverter switching devices that form an inverter circuit, includes a number N of transformers (N is an integer equal to or larger than 2) adapted to a push-pull method, each having a first winding and a second winding for a primary winding and a first winding and a second winding for a secondary winding, and supplying an output voltage of the secondary winding to the inverter switching devices.
US08369117B2 Power conversion system for eliminating low frequency ripple current and control method thereof
There is provided an integrated control method for eliminating a low frequency ripple in a power conversion system for a fuel cell, more particularly, a control method of a power conversion system capable of eliminating a low frequency ripple, controlling a DC link voltage, and controlling an output power and a system using the same control method. A power conversion system (PCS) that converts an output of a DC power supply received from an external power supply includes a converter that converts a voltage of the input power supply; an inverter that converts an output voltage of the converter into an AC voltage; and a converter control module that outputs a PWM signal for controlling a switch of the converter, and after receiving a power instruction value, the converter control module generates the PWM signal for controlling the converter based on the power instruction value.
US08369104B2 Cradling apparatus for portable communication device
A cradling apparatus for a portable communication device which sets a cradling angle and provides a sense of click engagement to cradle a housing at a plurality of angles. The cradling apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing cradled at a slant angle while facing the first housing, and a cradling portion provided between the first housing and the second housing such that the cradling portion sets a cradling angle to cradle the second housing at a selected one of a plurality of cradling angles with respect to the first housing and further provides a sense of click engagement.
US08369100B2 Power converter
A power converter is disclosed in which the structure of a connecting portion is highly resistant against vibration and has a low inductance. The power converter includes a plurality of capacitors and a laminate made up of a first wide conductor and a second wide conductor joined in a layered form with an insulation sheet interposed between the first and second wide conductors. The laminate comprises a first flat portion including the plurality of capacitors, which are supported thereon and electrically connected thereto, a second flat portion continuously extending from the first flat portion while being bent, and connecting portions formed at ends of the first flat portion and the second flat portion and electrically connected to the exterior.
US08369087B2 Computer server system
A computer server system includes a server cabinet, and at least one server accommodated in the server cabinet. The server forms a fixing structure at each of four corners thereof. In addition, the server cabinet includes fixing structures which are correspondingly matched with the fixing structures of the server. The fixing structure of the server cabinet can be in the form of protrusions, mounting holes, and engagement holes. The fixing structure of the server can be in the form of ears and mounting grooves. The server is mounted in the server cabinet by means of the fixing structures thereof.
US08369078B2 Locking apparatus
A locking apparatus of a CD-ROM drive includes a support and a transmitting wheel. The support includes a shaft and a clasp formed thereon. The support is arranged in a chassis of the locking apparatus. The shaft and the clasp are received in the transmitting wheel. The clasp is configured for clasping the transmitting wheel.
US08369075B2 Foldable electronic device
A foldable electronic device includes a foldable casing and a flexible display. The flexible display is disposed in the foldable casing, and is connected to the foldable casing through an elastic member, and the elastic member provides the flexible display the extending flexibility when being unfolded or folded together with the foldable casing, such that the flexible display is capable of being used as a display screen of the foldable electronic device.
US08369072B1 Screen protector applicator
A screen protector applicator includes a cradle having a bottom surface, a plurality of upstanding peripheral walls and an open top in communication with an interior chamber. The interior chamber is dimensioned and configured to tightly conform to the periphery of both an adhesive screen protector and a corresponding portable electronic device, such as a wireless phone. The protector includes an earpiece slit adjacent a top edge and a control button aperture proximal a lower edge that respectively align with a protrusion and a mound on the bottom surface of the cradle. To apply the screen protector, a user positions the protector within the cradle such that the protrusion is seated in the slit and the mound is received within the aperture. A protective layer on the film is removed to expose an adhesive, and the electronic device is superimposed, face-down, on the anchored film to adhesively bond the device thereto.
US08369066B2 Lamellar stacked solid electrolytic capacitor
A lamellar stacked solid electrolytic capacitor includes a plurality of capacitor units, a substrate unit and a package unit. Each capacitor unit is composed of a negative foil, an isolation paper with conductive polymer substance, a positive foil, an isolation paper with conductive polymer substance and a negative foil that are stacked onto each other in sequence, the positive foils of the capacitor units are electrically connected to each other, the negative foils of the capacitor units are electrically connected to each other, and the positive foils and the negative foils are insulated from each other. The substrate unit has a positive guiding substrate electrically connected to the positive foils of the capacitor units and a negative guiding substrate electrically connected to the negative foils of the capacitor units. The package unit covers the capacitor units and one part of the substrate unit.
US08369065B2 Electric double layer capacitor
An electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) includes an electric double layer cell and first and second external electrodes. The electric double layer cell includes a separator and at least one first polarizable electrode and at least one second polarizable electrode. The first and second external electrodes are formed at first and second side surfaces of the electric double layer cell facing each other, respectively. The first polarizable electrode includes a first current collection layer and a first active material layer formed on either surface of the first current collection layer facing the separator and the second polarizable electrode includes a second current collection layer and a second active material layer formed on either surface of the second current collection layer facing the separator.
US08369060B2 Relay connection
A relay connection with at least two relays (K1, K2) connected in series or in parallel to a supply voltage (UV). In order to achieve a defined relay cut-out sequence should there be a dip in the supply voltage and consequently to increase safety, it is provided that the relays (K1, K2) have different minimum holding voltages (UHalt,min1; UHalt,min2) and/or inductive resistances (Rsp1; Rsp2).
US08369057B2 Remote locking roof access hatch
An electronically-activated roof access hatch is described that allows an operator to unlock the roof access hatch safely from the ground before ascending to the roof access hatch. The opening of the roof access hatch is controlled by a control panel that unlocks the roof access hatch and causes the roof access hatch to open.
US08369052B2 Modular circuit breaker
The present invention relates generally to a circuit breaker. More particularly, the invention encompasses a modular circuit breaker. The present invention is also directed to a novel a modular circuit breaker with a trip bar. The inventive two pole residential circuit breaker includes an Arc Fault and Ground Fault electronic detection system. The modular breaker design includes an electronic system used for tripping a designated mechanism pole which in turn trips the secondary mechanism pole. Electronic components are included that sense the continuous current flow through each mechanism pole simultaneously to determine when a trip event is needed. The electronic system of this invention includes a self diagnostic system with electronic visual indicators that display the method of which trip condition occurred.
US08369047B2 Magnetic head suspension and manufacturing method thereof with pair of piezoelectric adjusters
A flexure metal plate includes distal and proximal end side-center-support plate forming regions that are positioned on distal and proximal sides within an open section. To a distal end section of a supporting part that is positioned on a distal side of the open section, first and second-distal side-metal plates are fixed so as to be positioned on an outer side of the distal end side-center-support plate forming region in a width direction, and to a proximal end section of the supporting part that is positioned on a proximal side of the open section, first and second-proximal side-metal plates are fixed so as to be positioned on an outer side of the proximal end side-center-support plate forming region in the width direction. The first and second-distal side-metal plates form a distal end side-support plate in cooperation with the distal end side-center-support plate forming region.
US08369036B2 Lens apparatus
A lens apparatus is capable of adjusting only the inclination of an optical axis in a desired direction. A focus lens frame is movably supported by a first guide shaft and a second guide shaft. The first guide shaft is provided in a lens barrel with both end parts of the first guide shaft being fixed. A front end part of the second guide shaft is swingably supported, a rear end part thereof is fitted into a horizontal elongate hole, and the second guide shaft is movably supported only in a horizontal direction. The second guide shaft is inserted through a first elongate hole formed in a swinging frame, and when the swinging frame is swung, the second guide shaft is horizontally swung. Then, when the second guide shaft is horizontally swung, the focus lens frame is horizontally swung, whereby the horizontal inclination of the optical axis is adjusted.
US08369031B2 Single focus wide-angle lens module
A single focus wide-angle lens module includes a fixed aperture diaphragm, a first, a second, a third and a forth lens arranged from an object side to an image side in the following sequence: the first lens, the fixed aperture diaphragm, the second lens, the third lens and the forth lens. The first lens has a negative refractive power, a concave surface toward the image side, and at least one aspheric surface. The second lens has a positive refractive power and a concave surface toward the object side, and said second lens is made of glass. Further, the third lens has a meniscus shape, a positive refractive power, a concave surface toward the object side, and at least one aspheric surface. The fourth lens has a positive refractive power, a convex surface toward the object side, and at least one aspheric surface.
US08369029B2 Image capturing lens assembly
This invention provides an image capturing lens assembly in order from an object side to an image side comprising: a first lens group has only one first lens element with a positive refractive power, and a second lens group in order from the object side to the image side comprising: a second lens element with a negative refractive power, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element; while a distance between an imaged object and the image capturing lens assembly changes from far to near, focusing is performed by moving the first lens group along the optical axis and a distance between the first lens group and an image plane changes from near to far. By such arrangement and focusing adjustment method, good image quality is achieved and less power is consumed.
US08369022B2 Variable magnification optical system, image pickup device and digital apparatus
A variable magnification optical system of the present invention and an image pickup device and a digital apparatus including this are provided with a four-component optical system of negative-negative-positive-negative arrangement, wherein a first lens group thereof includes only one negative lens as a lens having an optical power, and a third lens group thereof satisfies a conditional expression of 1.4<β3t/β3w<4 when β3t and β3w respectively denote image magnifications of the third lens group at a telephoto end and at a wide-angle end. The variable magnification optical system, the image pickup device and the digital apparatus having such a construction can be further downsized.
US08369018B2 Spatial image display device
Provided is a spatial image display device capable of forming spatial images having a superior reality and high definition. A spatial image display device 10A is provided with: a display section 2 including a plurality of pixels 22, and generating a two-dimensional display image corresponding to a video signal; a first lens array 1 including a plurality of first lenses 11 provided in correspondence with the respective pixels 22, and allowing light passing through the respective pixels 22 to converge; and a second lens array 3 converting the converging light, which has passed through the first lens array 1, into parallel light or converging light, and allowing the converted light to pass therethrough. The light transmitting through the respective pixels 22 in the display section 2 is directed to the second lens array 3 after being converged by the first lens array 1. Accordingly, the light entering the second lens array 3 from the respective pixels 22 behaves like light emitted from a point source, and is converted easily into the parallel light or the converting light in the second lens array 3.
US08369014B2 Polarization independent birefringent tunable filters
Novel, polarization-insensitive, birefringent, broadband tunable filter arrangements that allow high throughput, based on a combination of tunable birefringent layers or polarization dependent filters, in combination with one or more of the following components (i) thin film achromatic quarter waveplates based on the form birefringence of dielectric subwavelength grating structures, (ii) nano wire-grid polarizers made of metallic wire grids; (iii) omnidirectional dielectric mirrors, (iv) polarization conversion mirrors, (v) reflective polarized beam splitters for circularly polarized light, (vi) metallic subwavelength gratings with lines having Gaussian profile, and (vii) Faraday mirror. All of these components may be implemented in thin film form on one or more substrates, such that a compact and cost effective filter can be produced. The birefringent layers can be any birefringent or magneto-optic layer but especially liquid crystals. The use of novel polarization conversion disposition of the components of the filter results in a filter having high throughput.
US08369005B2 Fiber light source
A fiber light source includes an exciting light source to emit exciting light and an optical fiber to guide the exciting light. The optical fiber contains, in a portion in the longitudinal direction, phosphors that emit fluorescence in accordance with the application of exciting light. The optical fiber includes a high reflection film covering the outer surface of a portion through which fluorescence emitted from the phosphor travels.
US08369002B2 Terahertz wave generating method and apparatus
First and second laser beams are incident on a difference frequency mixing unit, and the two laser beams overlap in the difference frequency mixing unit, thereby generating a terahertz wave whose frequency is a frequency difference between the two laser beams. Each laser beam has a spatial spread in a frequency gradient direction, and a spatial frequency distribution of each laser beam is a distribution in which a magnitude of a frequency gradually increases in the frequency gradient direction. A frequency difference between the two laser beams is equal in each position in an overlapping region of the two laser beams. A terahertz wave of a single frequency is generated from this overlapping region. By spatially shifting the first laser beam and the second laser beam with respect to each other in the frequency gradient direction, the frequency difference in the overlapping region is changed, which changes the single frequency.
US08368983B2 MEMS device with independent rotation in two axes of rotation
A MEMS arrangement is provided that has a top plane containing a rotatable element such as a mirror. There is a middle support frame plane, and a lower electrical substrate plane. The rotatable element is supported by a support frame formed in the middle support frame plane so as to be rotatable with respect to the frame in a first axis of rotation. The frame is mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to a second axis of rotation. Rotation in the first axis of rotation is substantially independent of rotation in the second axis of rotation.
US08368982B2 Scanning optical apparatus
A scanning optical apparatus includes a deflection element configured to deflect a laser beam emitted from a light source for scanning, a mirror member configured to directly reflect the laser beam deflected by the deflection element toward a surface to be scanned, and an optical box configured to house the deflection element and the mirror member. The optical box includes a bottom plate portion and a sidewall portion that encloses the bottom plate portion. The scanning optical apparatus further includes a plate-shaped connection portion configured to connect an opening surface of the optical box that faces the bottom plate portion from one side to the other side of the sidewall portion. The connection portion is provided at a position where it does not overlap with the mirror member in a direction orthogonal to the bottom plate portion.
US08368978B2 Linear processing in color conversion
Methods and systems herein provide for color conversion of image data to another color space, such as that of a printer. Such color conversion includes linearly processing the color conversions when using radial basis functions for the conversions. One color conversion system herein includes a modeling module operable to generate a numerical model according to a radial basis function for converting the color values in the image data to the color space. The numerical model includes error approximations operable to form the radial basis function into a linear process. The system also includes a color converter operable to convert the color values in the image data to the color space based on the numerical model.
US08368974B2 Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus capable of suppressing deterioration of image quality
A light source lights up at luminance associated with supplied electric current. An electric-current supplying section supplies the light source with electric current. A control section controls the electric-current supplying section. A reading section reads at least one sheet of an original document on which light from the light source is irradiated and generates image data. A determining section determines whether a change in the electric current flowing through the light source is large, based on a predetermined criterion, during a period when the reading section reads the at least one sheet of the original document. When the reading section reads the at least one sheet of the original document, the control section increases electric current supplied to the light source if the determining section determines that the change is large relative to electric current supplied to the light source when the determining section determines that the change is small.
US08368973B2 Image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a sheet feeding unit configured to sequentially feed a plurality of documents loaded on a document positioning plate, a reading sensor arranged in a conveyance path configured to read a document of the plurality of documents fed by the sheet feeding unit, an acquisition unit configured to acquire an interval of the document between a trailing edge of a preceding document and a leading edge of a next document conveyed through the conveyance path, and a reading unit configured to execute a first reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a first conveyance speed, and a second reading mode using the reading sensor to read the document conveyed at a second conveyance speed that is lower than the first conveyance speed, wherein the reading unit executes the second reading mode after the first reading mode when the interval of the document is less than a predetermined interval.
US08368972B2 Surface-emitting semiconductor laser, surface-emitting semiconductor laser device, optical transmission apparatus, and information processing apparatus
A surface-emitting semiconductor laser includes a substrate, a first semiconductor multi-layered reflector of a first conductivity type, an active region, a second semiconductor multi-layered reflector of a second conductivity type, a columnar structure, a current-confining layer including a conductive area surrounded with an oxidized area, a first electrode defining a light-emitting window, a first dielectric film covering the light-emitting window, and a second dielectric film formed on the first dielectric film. The second dielectric film has an asymmetrical shape having a long axis and a short axis, the second dielectric film is located at a position overlapping with the conductive area, the second refractive index n2 is greater than the first refractive index n1, the thickness of the first dielectric film is an odd multiple of λ/4·n1 (λ: oscillation wavelength), and the thickness of the second dielectric film is an odd multiple of λ/4·n2.
US08368970B2 Image reader
Disclosed herein is an image reader. The image reader can include a reading unit receiving light reflected from a document to thereby read image of the document and an automatic document feeder configured to supply the document to the reading unit. The automatic document feeder can include a channel defined within the automatic document feeder along which the document is supplied to the reading unit such that the reading unit is able to read the image of the document as the document moves along the channel. The channel can include a component having a surface tension that is less than or equal to about 40 dyne-per-centimeter.
US08368962B2 Color look up table adjusting apparatus, recording medium on which a color look up table adjusting program is recorded and color look up table adjusting system
A color look up table adjusting apparatus includes: a color gamut acquisition unit that determines a color gamut from an image output by an image forming apparatus, and determines, from an image output by another image forming apparatus, a position of input color values in a color space as a target point; an interpolation process unit that calculates a point corresponding to the target point within the color gamut of the image forming apparatus as an adjustment point; a color value adjustment table generating unit that generates a color value adjustment table for converting the input color values into input color values corresponding to a position of the adjustment point; and a table organization unit that converts arbitrary input color values based on the color value adjustment table, and inputs input color values obtained after the conversion as input color values based on a color look up table.
US08368960B2 Image processing apparatus, computer readable medium, and printing apparatus
An image processing apparatus is provided, the image processing apparatus including: an interpreting section that interprets instructions of a print control contained in print information, the instructions including a resolution instruction, a monochrome designation instruction indicating whether a monochrome designation is applied, and a page description language designation instruction; a selecting section that selects a binary-processing threshold matrix in response to at least the resolution instruction, the monochrome designation instruction, and the page description language designation instruction by any of ways including selecting and eliminating; and a binary-processing section that binary-processes a page description language contained in the print information by employing the binary-processing threshold matrix selected by the selecting section.
US08368955B2 Method for assessing synchronized print defects
As set forth herein, a computer implemented method is used to detect synchronized defects in documents. Profiles of single separation test targets are characterized for one or more toner colors. A spatially varying toner reproduction curve (TRC) is constructed for each profile on terms of an area coverage in versus area coverage out. A profile is extrapolated for each color of interest and a CMYK profile is applied to obtain a correlating L*a*b* profile for each color of interest.
US08368949B2 Hybrid printer and scan image copying method
When using image scanners to capture images of originals and using printers to print same, four-sided borderless copying is enabled such that margins do not appear on printouts. An image scanner might capture an image corresponding to scan region 263 which might be somewhat larger than original 262. Image processing circuitry might then enlarge an image corresponding to scan region 266 (arrow 279), converting it into enlarged image 271. Within enlarged image 271, the image of original 262 might have been enlarged so as to become image 273, which might be somewhat larger than printing paper 274. This enlarged original image 273 which would be present within enlarged image 271 might then be printed by a printer.
US08368947B2 Technique for creating print data
A print data creation apparatus may include an obtaining device, a decompressed data creation device, a band determination device, a deletion device, a data range storage device, a data range specifying device, and a print data creation device. The obtaining device obtains compressed data of one or more image objects. The decompressed data creation device decompresses the compressed data in partial units. The band determination device determines for which band the decompressed data is necessary. The deletion device deletes the decompressed data for which the band has been determined. The data range storage device stores an association of the band and a data range of the compressed data necessary for creating print data corresponding to the band. The data range specifying device specifies a data range of compressed data associated with a band. The print data creation device creates print data from compressed data within the data range specified.
US08368925B2 Image transmission system, image storage device, and recording medium
An image transmission system 1 includes a digital camera 10, a PC 40, and a Web server 50. This digital camera 10 stores therein a plurality of image data, print request information, and transmission request information. Further, the digital cameral 10 determines whether the connection destination is a printing device or an external apparatus different from the printing device, when a connection with the external unit is detected. The digital camera 10 transmits image data which is associated with the print request information to the print device, when it is determined that the connection destination is the print device, and transmits image data which is associated with the transmission request information to the external apparatus, when it is determined that the connection destination is the external apparatus. PC 40 receives the transmitted image data through a communication network connection 51 and transmits it to the Web server 50.
US08368913B2 Image processing system, image forming apparatus, control method of the same, program, and storage medium
In an image processing system, a charging process for an executed print process is executed using one of a first charging method and a second charging method. Especially, when executing a print process of an image including a plurality of pages, it is determined before the start of the print process of the image including the plurality of pages on the basis of balance information managed in advance whether execution of the print process of the image including the plurality of pages is possible. When the first charging method is selected, execution of the print process is controlled on the basis of the result of determination. When the second charging method is selected, the print process is executed without determination.
US08368911B2 Image forming apparatus and method of controlling same, and information processing apparatus and method
Provided are an image forming apparatus and a method of controlling the same, an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, and a program for implementing these methods, in which the fact that a setting is to be changed can be reported to a host apparatus through a simple arrangement. The image forming apparatus for attaining this object includes storage unit for storing the latest set value of the apparatus, transmitting unit for transmitting the latest set value, which has been stored in the storage unit, to the host apparatus in response to a request from the host apparatus, and updating unit for receiving a print setting from the host apparatus and updating the latest set value stored in the storage unit.
US08368910B2 Printing apparatus and method
A printing system comprises a host computer, a laser printer of a paper ejecting type and another laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type, all connected to one another via a system bus. The host computer functions as the supply source of image information and as the data processor, and controls the laser printer of a paper ejecting type and the other laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type. A printing apparatus and method that can contribute to increasing the speed and convenience of secured print in this printing system are to be provided. To accomplish this, the laser printer of a paper ejecting type and the other laser printer of a non-paper ejecting type will execute interrupt print processing when the received job is a secured print job and there is any other job being processed if there are a plurality of paper discharging ports or execute promote print processing if there is only one paper discharging port.
US08368902B2 Lithographic apparatus and method for calibrating the same
A method for calibrating an encoder in a lithographic apparatus, the encoder including a sensor and a grating, the encoder configured to measure a position of a moveable support of the lithographic apparatus, the method including measuring a position of the moveable support using an interferometer; and calibrating the encoder based on the position of the moveable support measured by the interferometer.
US08368894B2 Full-flow sensor for contamination in fluids
A sensing system includes a housing having an inlet for receiving a fluid flow from a source and an outlet with for directing a fluid flow from the housing, wherein a longitudinal axis transverses a center of the inlet and the outlet; a flow conduit disposed in the housing and in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet, the flow conduit having a cross-sectional area that is substantially the same as a cross-sectional area of the inlet and the outlet, wherein a first length of the flow conduit along a second axis, and wherein the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a light source for illuminating the fluid in the flow conduit along the first axis; and a sensor for detecting contaminants in the fluid.
US08368893B2 Optical assembly and method
An optical apparatus and method comprising a light source, an array detector for area imaging and an optical cell assembly. The optical cell assembly comprises a chamber which is arranged to receive a sample of a material including an analyte, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet coupled to the chamber. A fluid dissolution medium stream passes through the chamber such that the sample can dissolve into the dissolution medium. The chamber is in at least one light path created between the light source and the array detector. The array detector comprises a two dimensional array of detector locations arranged to provide an output signal indicative of the light absorbance of the analyte within the chamber such that the output of the array detector is indicative of the concentration profile of the analyte near the surface of the sample.
US08368887B2 Rotation detection kit
A rotation detection kit, comprising: a beam source; a receiver comprising at least one beam intensity sensor; a polarizer device for location in the path of a beam emitted from the beam source and received by the beam sensor; and a modulator. The modulator is configured to modulate at least one of i) the beam source and ii) a beam emitted by the beam source to create a discretely varying polarization orientation thereby defining first and at least second temporally spaced beam portions. The temporally spaced beam portions are incident on the polarizer device and the beam sensor and have substantially identical profiles and at least an initial common propagation axis toward the polarizer device.
US08368883B2 System and method for detection of analytes in exhaled breath
A sensor for detecting a drug substance (15) from exhaled breath of a subject in-situ. Its collecting surface has a Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-active layer (14) of a SERS-active material. The collecting surface is arranged as an outer surface of a waveguide (12) for contact with exhaled breath, such that at least traces of said drug substance (15) in said exhaled breath can contact said SERS-active layer for read-out of a Raman shift spectrum.
US08368877B2 Measuring apparatus
An apparatus comprising at least one measuring cell (10) is disclosed. The measuring cell comprises a first cavity (16 and a second cavity (18) perpendicular to the first cavity, the first cavity and the second cavity comprising an overlap at first respective ends and a reflective surface (20) at the opposite respective ends. A beam splitter (15) is located in the overlap and an electromagnetic radiation source (12) is arranged to project a beam of electromagnetic radiation onto the beam splitter (15) such that the beam is projected into each of the cavities. A phase detector (22) for detecting a phase difference between the respective electromagnetic radiation reflected by the first and second cavity (16; 18) is also provided. In addition, the apparatus has a fluid channel (26), at least a part of which runs parallel to the first cavity (16) such that the electromagnetic radiation projected into the first cavity extends into said part of the fluid channel. This allows for the interferometric detection of particles in the fluid channel.
US08368876B1 Calibration system and method for imaging flash LIDAR systems
Systems and methods for calibrating a LIDAR unit. In one embodiment, a system includes a light pulse detection unit, a delay unit and a two-dimensional target. The light pulse detection unit receives a light pulse from the LIDAR unit. The delay unit produces one or more delayed light pulses which are delayed by a known interval from the light pulse received from the LIDAR unit. The delayed light pulses are used to illuminate the target. Target illumination from each of the delayed light pulses returns to the LIDAR unit with a corresponding known delay. The delay of each delayed light pulse simulates a range that is greater than the actual physical distance from the LIDAR unit to the target. The delay of the light pulses from different parts of the target may be different to simulate different ranges for the different parts of the target.
US08368872B1 Method for determining planting ball number of camera module
A method for determining the planting ball number of a camera module is provided. The camera module includes a substrate and a chip. The substrate includes an opening and a plurality of contact pads. The opening of the substrate has four rims. The method includes the following steps. Firstly, an image pickup device is used to detect an average contact pad distance of the distances from four specified contact pads of the substrate to the image pickup device. Then, a smallest opening distance among four opening distances from the four rims to the image pickup device is acquired. Then, plural actual contact pad distances from all contact pads to the image pickup device are acquired. The planting ball number for each contact pad is calculated according to these distances. Consequently, the quality of assembling the camera module is enhanced.
US08368866B2 Liquid crystal display device having heat generating electrode
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates, liquid crystal molecules positioned between the first and second substrates, a heat generating electrode for generating heat in response to a direct current being supplied to the heating electrode, and a backlight unit for irradiating light onto the first and second substrates.
US08368860B2 Liquid crystal display panel and method of manufacturing the same
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel capable of reducing or eliminating metal erosion in an area in which a conductive dot is formed. In some embodiments, a display panel comprises a common electrode formed on an upper substrate, a first electrode formed on a lower substrate opposing the upper substrate and configured to receive a common voltage, a conductive dot formed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate and positioned to supply the common electrode with the common voltage, an insulating layer having a contact hole exposing the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the insulating layer to connect the conductive dot and the first electrode, wherein a cross sectional area of the conductive dot between the upper substrate and the lower substrate is greater than a cross sectional area of an opening of the contact hole.
US08368849B2 Polarizing plate with built-in viewing angle compensation film and IPS-LCD comprising same
There is provided a polarizer integrally containing view angle compensating film used in an in-plane switching liquid crystal display (IPS-LCD) filled with liquid crystal (Δ∈>0) having positive dielectric anisotropy and an in-plane switching liquid crystal display comprising the same. More particularly, there is provided an integrated polarizer capable of being used to manufacture a thin polarizer and securing a good view angle by employing a view angle compensating film as a protective film of a polarizing film forming the polarizer and an IPS-LCD comprising the same. The integrated polarizer comprises a polarizing film; a protective film attached to one surface of the polarizing film; and a +A plate coated with a +C plate attached to the other surface of the polarizing film. The +C plate is coated in the form of liquid crystals.
US08368840B2 Backlight assembly and liquid crystal display having the same
A backlight assembly includes an optical member that diffuses light generated from lamps. The optical member includes first and second diffusion members that are designed to have light transmittance that complementarily vary according to areas. Thus, an optical member capable of supplying light having uniform brightness onto the whole display area of the LCD is easily designed.
US08368838B2 Planar light-emitting device and liquid crystal display apparatus
A planar light-emitting device enabling more precise local dimming has a plurality of light-emitting units each including a lightguide plate and a plurality of light sources disposed successively in the lateral width direction of the light-entrance surface and adjacently facing a light-entrance surface of the lightguide plate to emit light into the lightguide plate through the light-entrance surface. The light sources are divided into a plurality of groups successively arranged in the width direction, each group including at least one light source. The lightguide plates of the light-emitting units are mutually adjacently disposed with their light-exiting surfaces being flush with each other. The planar light-emitting device has a light source output control unit that controls the outputs of the light sources for each group.
US08368834B2 Display device with composite backlight module
The present invention discloses a display device comprising a bezel, a cell, at least one film, a light bar and a composite backlight module. The composite backlight module comprises a plurality of connecting structures coupled with the bezel for fixing and protecting the cell, a containing space for containing the cell and the film, and a light guide portion for guiding light emitted by the light bar to a light exit surface of the composite backlight module. The composite backlight module is made of a same material by injection molding.
US08368824B2 Liquid crystal display apparatus and projector
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal device; a first dust-proof plate made of a birefringent material, and disposed on one of a light entrance side and a light exit side of the liquid crystal device; and a second dust-proof plate made of an isotropic refractive material, and is disposed on the other of the light entrance side and the light exit side of the liquid crystal device.
US08368819B2 Remote control system and method of television control
A remote control method controls a television (TV) set to perform functions using an electronic device. The method controls a camera connected with the electronic device to capture an image in front of the TV set when the TV set is turned on. The method analyzes the captured image to determine whether a hand image of a user exists in the captured image, and extracts the hand image from the captured image upon the condition that the hand image exists in the captured image to determine a hand sign of the user according to the extracted hand image. The method generates a remote control signal for controlling the TV set according to the determined hand sign, and controls the TV set to perform a function according to the remote control signal.
US08368804B2 Imaging control apparatus, imaging control method, and computer-readable storage medium
An imaging control apparatus inputs an image signal from an image sensing unit, controls, based on a first image signal from the image sensing unit for a first region, a mechanical component which controls an aperture for image sensing by the image sensing unit, and electronically controls, based on the first image signal and a second image signal from the image sensing unit for a second region, the image luminance represented by an output from the image sensing unit for the second region.
US08368798B2 Vibrating device and image equipment having the same
A dust-screening member is shaped like a plate as a whole. A vibrating member is adjacent to one side of the dust-screening member and arranged on the surface along the one side. A drive unit is configured to drive the vibrating member to produce a vibration having a vibrational amplitude perpendicular to the surface, on the surface, such that peak ridges of the vibration form a closed loop and an area including a center of the closed loop surrounded by a node area having almost no vibrational amplitude. When a length of a side in a dust-screening member virtual rectangle corresponding to a short side of a vibrating member virtual rectangle is assumed to be LFw, and a length of short side of the vibrating member virtual rectangle is assumed to be WE, WF/LFw has a dimension of 0.095 or greater and 0.105 or less.
US08368791B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes: a pixel signal read out unit for reading out a pixel signal and a reference signal, and for holding the read out pixel signal or the reference signal in a holding capacitor; a selection switch for successively selecting signals stored row by row in the holding capacitor of pixel signal read out unit, and for outputting the selected signal to any one of a plurality of signal lines; reset switches for resetting the plurality of signal lines to a reset voltage; a multiplexer for selectively outputting the signals of the signal lines; and a control unit for controlling the multiplexer and the selection switch. The control unit performs control based on the reference signal read out according to a period longer than a period according to which the pixel signal is read out.
US08368789B2 Systems and methods to provide reference current with negative temperature coefficient
Systems and methods for providing one or more reference currents with respective negative temperature coefficients are provided. A first voltage is divided to provide a divided voltage, which is compared to a reference voltage (e.g., a bandgap reference voltage) to provide a control voltage. The first voltage and the one or more reference currents are based on the control voltage.
US08368778B2 Image-signal processor capable of supporting a plurality of CCD image sensors and method for processing image signals using the image-signal processor
An image-signal processor may be provided to support CCD image sensors. A timing generator may provide timing signals to CCD image sensors, to enable each of the CCD image sensors to output captured-image data in form of an analog signal that a corresponding A/D converter converts into a CYMG signal. Image-processing parts may receive the CYMG image signal from the A/D converter and convert the CYMG image signal into an YCbCr signal. An image-combination part may combine horizontally or vertically images in form of the YCbCr signal into a combination image and store the combination image in an internal memory, and scale down horizontally or vertically the combination image while reading out the combination image from the internal memory, storing the scaled-down combination image in an external memory, and outputting the scaled-down combination image in form of an YCbCr signal.
US08368773B1 Metadata-driven method and apparatus for automatically aligning distorted images
A method for aligning and unwarping distorted images in which lens profiles for a variety of lens and camera combinations are precomputed. Metadata stored with images is used to automatically determine if a set of component images include an excessive amount of distortion, and if so the metadata is used to determine an appropriate lens profile and initial unwarping function. The initial unwarping function is applied to the coordinates of feature points of the component images to generate substantially rectilinear feature points, which are used to estimate focal lengths, centers, and relative rotations for pairs of the images. A global nonlinear optimization is applied to the initial unwarping function(s) and the relative rotations to generate optimized unwarping functions and rotations for the component images. The optimized unwarping functions and rotations may be used to render a panoramic image.
US08368772B2 Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, wherein a frame of an image is divided into 3 or more fields, the fields are output one by one, and each field contains full color information, a drive circuit for driving the imaging device at predetermined timing, a timing generating circuit for generating the timing, and a signal processing unit for processing an output of the imaging device to generate a brightness signal and a color signal. With the imaging apparatus, an image that is signal-processed only with a first field of the imaging frame is stored in addition to an ordinarily signal-processed image.
US08368760B1 System and method to generate and display target patterns
According to one embodiment, a target system includes a display module comprising a plurality of pixel elements operable to display target patterns. Each pixel element includes a display segment, a plurality of first charged pigments housed within the display segment each having a first charge, a plurality of second charged pigments housed within the display segment each having a second charge, wherein the first charge is opposite the second charge, and an electrical contact coupled to the display segment and operable to receive signals which cause an electric field to be present in the display segment. The system also includes at least one computer-readable tangible storage medium comprising executable code that, when executed by at least one processor, is operable to transmit signals to the display module that cause an electric field to be present in at least one pixel element of the plurality of pixel elements. In addition, the system includes a heating element coupled to the display module and operable to emit an infrared pattern that is modified by the plurality of pixel elements.
US08368752B2 Document camera with size-estimating function and size estimation method
A size estimation method is used with a document camera to estimate an object size. The document camera includes a lens and an image sensor. The size estimation method includes the following steps. Firstly, an object distance between the lens and the object is detected. According to the object distance and a viewable angle of the lens, a shooting zone size is estimated. Then, the object is shot by the lens and the image sensor, thereby acquiring a digital image including an image of the object. Then, an effective pixel number corresponding to the object image is counted. Afterward, the size of the object is estimated according to the effective pixel number, a total pixel number of the image sensor and the shooting zone size.
US08368749B2 Article inspection apparatus
An inspection apparatus can be operated to collect files during performance of an inspection. An inspection apparatus can associate metadata to a collected file. In one embodiment metadata associated with a collected file can include an article identifier. In one embodiment metadata that is associated with a collected file can include data input into an inspection apparatus by an inspector. In one embodiment metadata that is associated with a collected media file can include sensor output data. An inspection apparatus in one embodiment can include an application guiding an inspector in the performance of an inspection.
US08368743B2 Interface and circuit arrangement, in particular for holographic encoding units or holographic reproduction devices
The invention relates to an interface and circuit arrangement, in particular for transmitting digital image data to at least one holographic encoding unit (HEU), which generates complex hologram values from image data containing depth information and/or encodes the pixel values for controlling at least one light modulator element of a holographic reproduction device. The invention is characterized in that the interface transmits the depth map of the image data and the color map of said image data separately via transmission means (L1, L2) and communication protocols, said depth map comprising the depth information and the color map the color information of scanned images in an image sequence.
US08368742B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a display unit that displays predetermined information, an imaging unit that is installed on a right side or left side of a central portion of an upper frame of an outer frame enclosing the display unit to obtain a pickup image of a user, and a control unit that detects a face area of the user from the pickup image obtained by the imaging unit to cut out the face area containing the detected face area.
US08368722B1 Cartographic display of content through dynamic, interactive user interface elements
An interactive user interface element makes content (e.g., images, news, standard indexed Web content) available to a user of online map services (e.g., virtual globe program). In some implementations, when zoomed out on a feature displayed in map imagery (e.g., virtual globe imagery), the user sees a non-interactive user interface element (e.g., a feature label). As the user expresses greater interest in the feature by, for example, flying (“zooming”) toward the feature, the non-interactive user interface element is replaced by (or morphs into) an interactive user interface element (e.g., a feature label including a clickable icon). In some implementations, a user's interaction with the interactive user interface element (or navigation actions in the imagery) launches a content access portal (e.g., a balloon) for presenting content (e.g., text, digital photos, video, audio) and/or providing access (e.g., links) to related content.
US08368718B2 Display device, image forming apparatus, display method, and storage medium storing program therefor
A display device capable of informing a user of a plurality of condition information items correctly even if a display area is restricted. A determination unit determines whether a plurality of conditions should be displayed on a display unit. A first display unit displays the condition information items showing the respective conditions to be displayed in turn in contracted messages, which are created by contracting the respective condition information items so as to be fitted within a display area of the display unit, when the determination unit determines that the plurality of conditions should be displayed. A second display unit displays the condition information item showing the condition to be displayed in a detailed message, which does not contract the condition information item, when the determination unit determines that one condition should be displayed.
US08368717B2 Methods and apparatuses for comparing CAD drawings
Methods, apparatuses/systems, and software for comparing two drawings to create a compare drawing that includes options for highlighting added and deleted graphic objects, as well as unchanged graphic objects, and comparing one drawing to many or many drawings to many drawings, whether or not the drawings are similar. The invention includes a filtered zoom feature that enables the user to zoom in on a filtered set of graphic objects and to continue to zoom in until a single graphic object is depicted. Detailed information from selected graphic objects can be captured and placed in a list for generating schedule changes, bill of materials, and for other purposes. The invention further includes the ability to detect and report any variances between the drawings, including area differences between drawings depicting physical objects.
US08368715B2 Audio signal processing apparatus, audio signal processing method, and audio signal processing program
An audio signal processing apparatus includes an examining unit and a generating unit. The examining unit examines, in each frequency band and at each localization angle, volume of an audio signal of two or more channels. The generating unit generates, on the basis of the examination result supplied from the examining unit, display data for showing the volume value in each frequency band and at each localization angle on an area that displays a frequency and a localization angle.
US08368714B2 Curved surface rendering system and method
A curved surface rendering method grids a curved surface to a plurality of triangles, and further divides the plurality of triangles to sub-triangles. Furthermore, the method determines surface triangles and inner triangles from all triangles of the curved surface, and displays the surface triangles on a display device.
US08368713B2 Figure drawing device and method
A figure drawing device includes; a device 2 for increasing/decreasing the number of pixels on a scanning line up to the final painting pixel by one pixel; a device 3 for increasing/decreasing the number of scanning lines for drawing by one line; a device 4 for outputting drawing pixel data based on the control by the devices 1 and 2; a stencil buffer 5 for holding figure data in an intermediate stage of sequentially drawing a figure; a device 6 for holding pixel data read from the buffer 5 and consecutive as plural pieces of pixel data; a device 7 for detecting the transit state of the data value in the device 6; and a device 8 for inverting/non-inverting the logical operation result of the output data of the device 4 and the data in the device 6 and writing a result to the buffer 5.
US08368712B2 Mesh transfer in n-D space
Systems and methods are disclosed allowing data and other information from one model to be transferred to another model. A surface correspondence between meshes of the models can be created that provides a transfer or sharing of information to include all points of one mesh and all points of the other mesh. Additionally, a volume correspondence between the models can be created to transfer information found within corresponding volumes or other n-D spaces associated with the models. Mesh information and other data at, near, or otherwise within a volume or other n-D space associated with one model can be “pushed through” the volume correspondences to transfer the data to its designated location on, at, near, or otherwise within a corresponding volume or other n-D space associated with the other model.
US08368704B2 Graphic processor and information processing device
This invention provides a command system for efficiently performing information processing.An information processing apparatus 1000 includes a main processor 200 which exercises centralized control on the entire apparatus, a graphic processor 100 which performs image processing operations, and a main memory 50. The graphic processor 100 includes a control unit 20 which exercises centralized control on the graphic processor, and a graphic operation unit 40 which performs graphic processing in accordance with a command given through the control unit. The control unit 20 includes: an interface part 22 which exchanges data with the main processor 200; a command analysis part 24 which analyzes a command system included in data received from the main processor, the command system including a set of non-graphic processing type commands; and an execution part 26 which executes analyzed commands.
US08368701B2 Metaprocessor for GPU control and synchronization in a multiprocessor environment
Included are embodiments of systems and methods for processing metacommands. In at least one exemplary embodiment a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) includes a metaprocessor configured to process at least one context register, the metaprocessor including context management logic and a metaprocessor control register block coupled to the metaprocessor, the metaprocessor control register block configured to receive metaprocessor configuration data, the metaprocessor control register block further configured to define metacommand execution logic block behavior. Some embodiments include a Bus Interface Unit (BIU) configured to provide the access from a system processor to the metaprocessor and a GPU command stream processor configured to fetch a current context command stream and send commands for execution to a GPU pipeline and metaprocessor.
US08368696B2 Temporal parallax induced display
A temporal parallax induced display includes the presentation of different views of a scene. The system likewise uses a model of the human visual system to modify the image to reduce the rocking artifacts.
US08368687B2 Image generating apparatus and image generating method
An image generating apparatus, which generates monitor image data from camera image data through a viewpoint transformation, includes a rear camera 1, an image processing controller 2, and a monitor 3. The image processing controller 2 sets a first virtual camera by viewpoint shift to have a downward viewpoint from a higher position than that of the rear camera 1, and sets a second virtual camera by rotating a viewpoint thereof upward or downward from the viewpoint of the rear camera 1, and generates the monitor image data of a close view viewed from the first virtual camera, and of an intermediate-to-distant view viewed from the second virtual camera, from the single camera image data captured by the rear camera 1. The monitor 3 displays a synthesis image in which a downward view of the close view and a perspective image of the intermediate-to-distant view are synthesized.
US08368683B2 Power-off control circuit and liquid crystal display panel comprising the same
A power-off control circuit adapted in a LCD panel comprising a gate pulse modulator and a level shifter is provided. The power-off control circuit comprises a logic gate and a control switch. The logic gate comprises a first input to receive an internal power supply, a second input to receive a power state signal and a logic output to generate a control signal. When the power supply is on, the internal power supply is on and the power state signal is in a first state to make the control signal turn off the control switch. When the power supply is off, the internal power supply is on and the power state signal is in a second state to make the control signal turn on the control switch to make the gate pulse modulator makes pixels of a pixel array to perform a discharge activity.
US08368678B2 Pixel circuit, display apparatus, and pixel circuit drive control method
A pixel circuit including a light emitting element, a driving transistor, connected to the light emitting element, that applies a drive current to the light emitting element, a holding circuit connected to a gate terminal of the driving transistor, and a switching transistor connected between the holding circuit and a data line through which a data signal to be held by the holding circuit flows, in which the driving transistor and the switching transistor are inorganic oxide thin film transistors whose OFF-operation threshold voltage is a negative voltage, and the holding circuit includes a first capacitor element connected between the switching transistor and the gate terminal of the driving transistor, and a second capacitor element connected between a point located between the first capacitor element and the gate terminal of the driving transistor and a voltage source that supplies a negative voltage.
US08368676B2 Display device with light shield
A light shield (204) for blocking light traveling toward a PIN photodiode (413) from a glass substrate (314) side is formed of a conductive material, and a reference electric potential (Vr−nVoc) equal to that of a cathode of the PIN photodiode (413) is applied to the light shield (204) from a power supply circuit (266). Thus, inductive noise for a photoelectric conversion device used for an ambient light sensor is further reduced in a display device.
US08368675B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device comprising: a data driver supplying data signals to data output lines; a scan driver supplying scan signals sequentially to scan output lines; a light emitting control line driver supplying light emitting control signals to light emitting control output lines; and a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels connected to the output lines of each driver, at least one driver having a buffer circuit disposed at each output line. Each buffer circuit comprises a transistor having a gate layer, source and drain layers and a metal layer for shielding Electro-Static Discharge (ESD), wherein the metal layer is formed over the gate layer when the gate layer is overlapped by one of the source or a drain electrodes, or the metal layer is formed to not overlap the gate layer when the gate layer is not overlapped by the source or a drain electrodes.
US08368663B2 Touch sensing using shadow and reflective modes
A touch panel is described which uses at least one infrared source and an array of infrared sensors to detect objects which are in contact with, or close to, the touchable surface of the panel. The panel may be operated in both reflective and shadow modes, in arbitrary per-pixel combinations which change over time. For example, if the level of ambient infrared is detected and if that level exceeds a threshold, shadow mode is used for detection of touch events over some or all of the display. If the threshold is not exceeded, reflective mode is used to detect touch events. The touch panel includes an infrared source and an array of infrared sensors.
US08368661B2 Method for fabricating touch sensor panels
A method for manufacturing a patterned thin film layer on an uneven substrate is provided. The substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface. The method includes creating a cavity on the inner surface of the substrate, the cavity creating a cavity surface on a different plane as compared to the inner surface and a step between the cavity surface and the inner surface; forming a thin film layer on the inner surface of the substrate covering at least a part of the cavity surface, the step and the inner surface; performing laser ablation on the thin film layer to create patterns, at least some of which are created on the cavity surface, the step and the inner surface.
US08368658B2 Automatic soft key adaptation with left-right hand edge sensing
Systems and methodologies for adapting input/output operation of an electronic device for left-handed and/or right-handed scenarios are provided herein. As described herein, sensors (e.g., capacitive, resistive, touch-sensitive, etc.) are applied to respective outer edges of a device to determine whether a device is in a user's left hand and/or right hand. Based on this determination, respective points along the sensors can be mapped to soft keys to automatically optimize input for left-handed and/or right-handed operation. As further described herein, points of contact with an input device such as a touch-screen can be corrected based on whether a user's left hand and/or right hand is holding an associated electronic device. For example, upon identifying contact between a touch-screen and a thumb of a hand being used to hold an associated device, the point of contact can be shifted to compensate for the angle of the thumb with respect to the touch-screen.
US08368654B2 Integrated touch sensor and solar assembly
Integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations that may be used on portable devices, particularly handheld portable devices such as a media player or phone are disclosed. The integrated touch sensor array and solar cell stack-ups may include electrodes that are used both for collecting solar energy and for sensing on a touch sensor array. By integrating both the touch sensors and the solar cell layers into the same stack-up, surface area on the portable device may be conserved. In addition to being used for capacitive sensing, the integrated touch sensor and solar panel configurations may also be used for optical sensing.
US08368652B2 Optical touch device and keyboard thereof
The invention provides an optical touch device, including a main body, a keyboard and a light emitting member. The keyboard, placed on the main body and having a first end portion and a second end portion, includes a supporting frame, a keycap and a stopping member. The keycap is connected to the supporting frame and moves between a first position and a second position. The stopping member is connected to the keycap and moves simultaneously with the keycap. The light emitting member generates a light beam to the keyboard. When the keycap is in the first position, the light beam passes through the first end portion to the second end portion, and when the keycap is in the second position, the light beam is terminated by the stopping member, such that the light does not reach the second end portion.
US08368649B2 Control system for use within a sterile environment
A system for controlling multiple computerized medical devices includes a passive sterile mouse and an active mouse-sensing base for sensing a position of the passive sterile mouse and generating a control signal for controlling at least one computerized medical device. A sterile mouse pad is selectively positioned over the active mouse sensing base for sealing the active mouse-sensing base thereunder. A multiplexer is coupled to the active mouse-sensing base for receiving the control signal and providing the control signal to the at least one computerized medical device enabling control of the at least one computerized medical device, within a sterile field during an interventional procedure.
US08368646B2 User interface devices
A method and apparatus of user interface having multiple motion dots capable of detecting user inputs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user interface (“UI”) device includes a first motion dot and a second motion dot. The first motion dot is capable of attaching to a first finger and the second motion dot is configured to attach to a second finger. The first finger, in one example, is a thumb and the second finger is an index finger. The first motion dot includes multiple accelerometers used for identifying the physical location of the first motion dot. The second motion dot, which is logically coupled to the first motion dot via a wireless communications network, is capable of detecting a user input in response to a relative physical position between the first and the second motion dots.
US08368640B2 Process control configuration system with connection validation and configuration
Connection objects or other such data structures facilitate establishing and configuring connections between objects that model components in a process control system. A first set of data structures (e.g., the object connection type structures) identify valid types for component-to-component pairings and the respective roles of each component in the pairing (e.g., parent or child, source or sink). A second set of data structures (e.g., the parameter connection type structures) supply similar information for parameter-to-parameter connections. Together, these data structures can be used, for example, to validate component-to-component connections suggested by the user and to automatically configure parameter-to-parameter connections. Actual connections, both at the component or parameter level, are reflected using parameter overrides within the parameterized object model—with which the connection objects are constructed.
US08368639B2 Planar light source device, display device, terminal device, and method for driving planar light source device
A display device is provided including an optical waveguide, and a light source, and also a louver, a transparent/scattering state switching element, and a transmissive liquid crystal display panel, provided in order on the side of a light-emitting surface of the optical waveguide. The transparent/scattering state switching element switches between a state for scattering the incident light and a state for transmitting the light without scattering. The light source drive circuit causes the transparent/scattering state switching element to transfer from the transparent state to the scattering state, and when the viewing angle range of the display is switched from narrow to wide, the intensity of the light source is gradually increased in conjunction with the transition state of the transparent/scattering state switching element.
US08368635B2 Source driver for liquid crystal display panel
A source driver for a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel in which during a first predetermined period immediately after polarity of a voltage according to image data is inverted, each column terminal of the LCD panel is shorted to a common line through an output terminal and a second switch element, a first output amplifying portion is set to a high impedance state, and an output signal of a second output amplifying portion is fed back to a differential amplifying portion through a third switch element. During a period after the first predetermined period and before inversion of polarity of a voltage according to the image data, an output signal of the first output amplifying portion is supplied to the output terminal without passing though a switch element, and is fed back to the differential amplifying portion through a fourth switch element. The output signal of the second output amplifying portion is fed back to the differential amplifying portion through the first and fourth switch elements.
US08368626B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device with multiple pixels includes a first sub-pixel including, a first liquid crystal capacitance between a common electrode and a first pixel electrode, and a first auxiliary capacitance between the first pixel electrode and a first auxiliary capacitance electrode; a second sub-pixel including, a second liquid crystal capacitance between the common electrode and a second pixel electrode, a second auxiliary capacitance between the second pixel electrode and a second auxiliary capacitance electrode, and a step-down capacitance between the second pixel electrode and a step-down capacitance electrode; a first voltage application unit for applying a common first voltage to the common electrode, the first auxiliary capacitance electrode, and the second auxiliary capacitance electrode; and a second voltage application unit for applying a second voltage, which is different from the first voltage, to the step-down capacitance electrode.
US08368622B2 Display apparatus and driving method for display apparatus
The present invention provides a display apparatus, including: a display section including a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines and a plurality of scanning lines; and a horizontal driving circuit and a vertical driving circuit configured to drive the signal lines and the scanning lines of the display section to display an image on the display section; each of the pixels including a light emitting device; a signal level storage capacitor, a writing transistor, and a driving transistor.
US08368620B2 Organic electroluminescence display panel and method of driving the same
An organic EL display panel includes: a P-type drive transistor having a gate connected to a capacitor and a drain connected to an organic EL element; an N-type drive transistor having a gate connected to the capacitor and a source connected to the organic EL element; a first power source line for applying a first voltage to the P-type drive transistor; a second power source line for applying, to the N-type drive transistor, a second voltage higher than the first voltage. The P-type drive transistor has characteristics such that a first gate voltage value corresponding to a predetermined current value in current-voltage characteristics of the organic EL element is a minimum voltage of the data voltage, and the N-type drive transistor has characteristics such that a second gate voltage value corresponding to the predetermined current value is greater than a third gate voltage value corresponding to a minimum current value of the organic EL element.
US08368619B2 Pixel circuit, active matrix organic light emitting diode display and driving method for pixel circuit
An exemplary pixel circuit includes an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a storage capacitance, a driving transistor and first through fourth switching transistors. The driving transistor is for generating a pixel current according to a charge amount stored on the storage capacitance to drive the OLED at a predetermined luminance. The on/off states of the first through fourth transistors are controlled by the same control signal. By means of particular electrical connection relationships of the first through fourth transistors in the pixel circuit, the pixel current flowing through the OLED is irrelevant to the power supply voltage and the threshold voltage of the driving transistor but is increased along with the increase of a cross-voltage of the OLED resulting from long-term use. The present invention also provides an active matrix OLED display using the above-mentioned pixel circuit and a driving method for the pixel circuit.
US08368618B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display (OLED) device capable of compensating for threshold voltage of a driving transistor in which this OLED device uses a scan driver to sequentially supply scan signals to scan lines. A data driver supplies data signals to data lines when the scan signals are supplied with pixels positioned at the intersections of the scan lines and the data lines. A common circuit unit formed in every horizontal line, receiving one or more external power sources required in driving the pixels and transferring the received external power to pixels positioned in the same horizontal lines.
US08368616B1 Automatic configuration of multiple monitor systems
Control of multiple display screens associated with a computer, wherein the auxiliary screen display content that depends on conditions of the computer. During some times the auxiliary screen displays content associated with the presently executing program, and during other times the auxiliary screen displays history information. The rules can be automatically changed or manually changed.
US08368607B2 Antenna assemblies with antenna elements and reflectors
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of antenna assemblies. In one exemplary embodiment, an antenna assembly generally includes at least one antenna element having first and second electrical paths. The antenna assembly may also include at least one reflector element spaced-apart from the antenna element for reflecting electromagnetic waves generally towards the antenna element.
US08368605B1 Electrolytic fluid antenna with signal enhancer
An antenna comprising a first current probe having an aperture; a first transceiver operatively coupled to the current probe; a signal enhancer disposed approximately inside the aperture, wherein the signal enhancer comprises an inlet, a first outlet, and a housing having an internal volume, and wherein the outer dimensions of the housing are nearly equivalent to the dimensions of the aperture; a pump configured to pump electrolytic fluid through the internal volume via the inlet and the first outlet; and a first nozzle hydraulically coupled to the first outlet so that when electrolytic fluid is pumped through the internal volume the electrolytic fluid exits the first nozzle in a stream.
US08368604B2 Apparatus and method for measuring radiated power of terminal
An apparatus for measuring radiated power of a terminal includes: an enclosure including a pair of couplers configured to couple an electromagnetic field radiated from the terminal or a substitution antenna and a measurement jig configured to rotate the terminal or the substitution antenna, the terminal or the substitution antenna being supposed to be arranged between the pair of couplers, with reference to at least one of X, Y, and Z axes; a driver installed outside the enclosure to drive the measurement jig; a signal generator configured to generate a feed signal transferred to the substitution antenna when the substitution antenna is arranged on the measurement jig; a feed signal transmitter configured to transfer the feed signal generated by the signal generator to the substitution antenna; and a spectrum analyzer configured to measure power of a radiated signal radiated from the terminal or the substitution antenna.
US08368599B2 Simply fabricable small zeroth-order resonant antenna with extended bandwidth and high efficiency
Provided is a simply fabricable small zeroth-order resonant antenna with extended bandwidth and high efficiency. The zeroth-order resonant antenna includes a feeding patch, a transmission line, and a pair of ground patches. The feeding patch is disposed on a top surface of a substrate having a mono-layer structure, and is configured to receive a signal from the outside. The transmission line includes a unit cell disposed on the top surface of the substrate and is configured to transmit a signal delivered from the feeding patch. The pair of ground patches is longitudinally disposed on the top surface of the substrate in the same direction as a longitudinal direction of the transmission line around the transmission line. The unit cell includes an upper patch and an inductor unit. The upper patch is disposed on the top surface of the substrate and is configured to receive a signal.
US08368592B2 Differentially coherent strobe correlator
A GPS receiver for tracking a GPS signal. The receiver generates a mixed GPS signal by mixing the GPS signal with an oscillator signal, generates a first correlation signal by correlating the mixed GPS signal with a reference signal, and generates a filtered GPS signal from the GPS signal. The receiver also generates a filtered reference signal from the reference signal, generates a second correlation signal by correlating the filtered GPS signal with the filtered reference signal, and a generates a combined correlation signal by combining the first correlation signal with the second correlation signal. The receiver tracks the GPS signal by adjusting the phase of the oscillator signal based on the combined correlation signal.
US08368588B2 Method and apparatus for updating transformation information parameters used in global navigation satellite system
A method for updating a set of transformation information parameters used in a global navigation satellite system includes: obtaining at least one satellite navigation information for a satellite; and updating the set of transformation information parameters according to the obtained satellite navigation information. The method can extend the life time of the set of transformation information parameters, and used to generate better predictions of the satellite trajectory therefore the TTFF can be reduced while the positioning accuracy can also be improved.
US08368586B2 Person-borne improvised explosive device detection
A system includes a multi-system approach to detecting concealed weapons and person borne improvised explosive devices (PBIED). A first and second radar system operate at different center frequencies to provide, respectively, isolation of a target of interest from clutter and fine detail information on the target, such as whether the target is a living person, whether a concealed object may be present, material composition of the object, and shape, size, and position of the target relative to the system. Circular polarized radar beam may be used to distinguish a suspect object from within a crowd of people. Radar image of the object may be overlaid on visual image of a person carrying the object. Radar tracking of the object is coordinated with visual tracking of the target provided by a camera system, with visual display and tracking of the target overlaid with the radar information.
US08368580B2 Electronic counter measure system
A tactical electronic counter measure system comprising a first retro-directional transceiver sub-system, receiving signals at a first frequency band, and first retro-directional transceiver re-transmitting a signal at least substantially toward the direction from which the sources signal was received, and first retro-directional transceiver sub-system including a plurality of blade antennas and a controller, coupled with and first retro-directional transceiver, and controller controlling the activity of and first retro-directional transceiver sub-system, and controller further managing the missions of and first retro-directional transceiver sub-system.
US08368575B2 Pipeline type A/D converter
A pipeline type A/D converter is capable of expanding an input range and increasing the number of bits of digital output signals, without increasing thermal noises or an open loop gain needed for an operational amplifier. The number of sample-hold capacitors is divided from M into N and the reference voltage is multiplied by N to increase the number of capacitors available to add to and subtract from the reference voltage. The input range is expanded and the number of bits of the digital output signals is increased. Because the analog signal is sampled by all the capacitors, thermal noise does not deteriorate. The open loop gain needed for the operational amplifier does not increase, since the ratio of the capacitors each used as a feedback element for amplifying the analog signal to the remaining capacitors is unchanged before and after the division of the capacitors.
US08368574B1 Dynamic range ADC's
A Sigma-Delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having a direct time filter (DTF) in the feed-back path of the Sigma-Delta loop of the ADC. A Sigma-Delta ADC having a modified DTF in the feed-back path of the Sigma-Delta loop of the ADC is also disclosed. The ADC may also include a noise reduction block that splits an incoming RF signal, samples one of the split signals with a primary ADC, corrects for gain and delay inaccuracies and inverts the signal, applies the inverted signal to a primary digital-to-analog converter (DAC), combines the output of the DAC with the second split signal, which is then applied to a difference ADC.
US08368573B2 Analog-to-digital converter and digital-to-analog converter
An A/D converter includes an adjusting circuit to adjust a total of an amount of change of ΣΔ modulated data output from a ΣΔ modulator and an amount of change of dummy data to be constant, and a level converting part supplied with the ΣΔ modulated data. The level converting part includes a first level converter to output the ΣΔ modulated data by converting a level of the ΣΔ modulated data, and a second level converter to receive the dummy data from the adjusting circuit and interpolate dummy noise, in order to cancel a frequency dependence of noise with respect to the ΣΔ modulated data.
US08368569B2 Data converting device, program and method
A data conversion device is provided with a data converting means that sequentially converts first data into second data of the number of second bits, wherein an analog signal is quantized into the first data by the number of first bits, and the first and second data can be first and second maximum values, respectively. The data converting means is comprised of a first conversion means (steps 21 and 23) that, when a value of the fast data is not the first maximum value, converts the first data to the second data by adding 0 to a lower bit side of the first data and a second conversion means (steps 21 and 24-26) that converts the first data to the second data so that, when a value of the first data is the fast maximum value, a value can be made larger, in accordance with a value be-fore or after the first data, than the data of the number of second bits obtained by adding 0 to the lower bit side of the first data. With the structure, when the data obtained by quantizing an analog signal is converted to data with the number of more bits, a rounding error by quantizing is improved as much as possible.
US08368552B2 Manhole security device and methods thereof
A security device for detecting the position of a manhole cover includes a pinger device, such as an acoustic pinger, that transmits a signal in the direction of the expected position of the manhole cover. The device takes energy samples to determine if the signal has been reflected back by the manhole cover. If the device determines the signal has not been reflected, it determines that the manhole cover has been moved from the expected position. In response, the device captures an image of an area around the expected position of the manhole cover. In addition, the device can notify a remote security station via a network that the manhole cover has been moved.
US08368550B2 Fault detection system with redundant product teach verification
Some embodiments for a fault detection apparatus may include one or more monitors to detect at least three operating states of a sensor, such as pass, fail, and inoperative so as to enable a manufacturing facility to differentiate between situations in which a container does not have the appropriate machine readable label and situations wherein the sensor is actually inoperative. The fail state may be indicative of an object on a conveyor system not matching a predetermined description, identity or characteristic. The pass state may be indicative of an object on a conveyor system matching the predetermined description, identity or characteristic. The inoperative state may be indicative of a sensor output associated with a malfunction in the sensor itself. The fault detection apparatus may also include a fail-to-safe controller configured to detect these operating states.
US08368547B2 System and method for visually indicating unsafe handling temperature of an information handling system component
Systems and methods for indicating the unsafe service handling temperature of an information handling system component are disclosed. A method may include sensing a surface temperature of the component and comparing the surface temperature to a first and second threshold temperatures. The method may further include displaying various temperature warning by multiple temperature indicators if the surface temperature is above or below the threshold temperatures.
US08368545B2 Hospital bed computer system with pharmacy interaction
A point-of-care computer system is provided, including a display positioned in a point-of-care location. The point-of-care computer includes hardware coupled to a frame of a hospital bed.
US08368543B2 EAS tag with wrapping tethers and cover
An electronic article surveillance (EAS) system is comprised of a first EAS housing and a second EAS housing, each having electrically conducting tethers and a cover to hold the housing in place on an object to be protected. The covers have a surface with adhesive on it. Each housing is placed in a cover with the tethers extending through the cover, and the adhesive surface is pressed to the object. Switches on the bottom of the housing indicate contact with an object. The housings have apertures for receiving the ends of the tethers which are extended from the housings and inserted into the apertures of the other housing to complete circuits between the housings. Electronics within the housings monitor the circuits and switches for tampering and can generate alarms. External devices may arm and disarm the housings via wireless communication. A magnet releases a blocking mechanism to remove the housings.
US08368538B2 Method of making an RFID label
The invention relates to method for producing an RFID label. According to said method, a coupling antenna (2) arranged on a web-shaped support material (1) comprising an RFID chip (4) arranged thereon is glued onto a secondary antenna (10). The aim of the invention is to provide an RFID label that can be produced from few recyclable materials with little complication and in an environmentally friendly manner. The invention is characterized in that first the coupling antenna (2) comprising the chip (4) is glued onto a self-adhesive secondary antenna (10) in one step, the secondary antenna having a backing adhesive layer (12).
US08368530B1 Network directed cell broadcasts for emergency alert system
Systems and methods for providing alerts to end users of networked enabled portable devices are provided so that the end users are made aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. The systems and methods provide a way for a portable device to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. A flag provides an indication the EAS should be on and the systems and method override the settings made by a user to a portable device to enable EAS reception. The user may then be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, or the user may optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, or the user may otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data (e.g., a link to the information).
US08368520B2 Notification system for timed power supply
The present invention is to provide a notification system for timed power supply, which includes a timed power supply device and a wireless notification device. The timed power supply device is able to receive a set time inputted by a user and stores the set time into a memory module, and then starts timing, providing power supply and generating an elapsed time, respectively. When the timed power supply device determines that the difference between the elapsed time and the set time reaches a threshold value, the timed power supply device issues a notification signal through a wireless transmitter module to the wireless notification device carried by the user, so as to ensure that the user will be notified, via an alert signal generated by the wireless notification device according to the notification signal, that the set time is coming to an end.
US08368517B2 RFID privacy-preserving authentication system and method
A system and method for RFID privacy-preserving authentication is disclosed. The method first has a reader sending a request and a first random number to a tag. The tag then generates a second random number. A plurality of hash values are then computed at the tag. Each hash value uses the first random number, the second random number and at least one part of a key of the tag as inputs. The second random number and the computed hash values are then sent to the reader. Lastly, the reader identifies a validity of the tag from the received values. The hash values are all generated in parallel and are independent to each other.
US08368516B2 Secure data exchange with a transponder
A method includes transmitting, from a base station, a first request and receiving, from a transponder, a first code transmitted responsive to the first request. The method includes transmitting, from the base station, first encoded transmission information comprising a base station code encoded using the first code and a first identification. The base station transmits a second request, and a second code, transmitted by the transponder responsive to receiving the second request and encoded using a base station code extracted from the first encoded transmission information using the first code and the first identification, is received. Second encoded transmission information, including a second identification encoded using the second code, is transmitted from the base station. The second identification information may be extracted using the second code, access to a transponder memory region provided based on comparing the extracted second identification information to a stored version of the second identification.
US08368514B2 Device for wireless operation and method for operating the device
An electronic device and a method of operating the device. The device receives a first signal having a first frequency and a predetermined signal strength and retransmits a signal after a latency period and during a time period. The device comprises an oscillation circuit operating in a sub-threshold area in a meta-stable, first mode of operation. When the first signal is received, the oscillation circuit is trigged and passes to an active mode in a second mode of operation, wherein the circuit oscillates. Finally, the device is reset to the first mode of operation. The device may have an identity, which is used for the purpose of the system, which may be an RFID system.
US08368513B2 Data separation in high density environments
Systems and methods for data separation, which may be employed to receive and process RFID tag data in RF signal environments where multiple RFID tags are tracked, localized and/or employed to transmit information. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented for data separation in a high density aRFID environment using RFID tags in combination with spatial and/or frequency separation.
US08368507B2 Communicating electronic key for secure access to a mecatronic cylinder
The invention relates to electronic keys. The invention relates more particularly to an electronic key for secure access to an electronic cylinder. The invention relates to an electronic key (1) enabling control of access to a mecatronic cylinder, wherein said key comprises at least one memory (3) for storing access information, and a microprocessor. The invention is characterized in that said key comprises at least one means of wireless communication with a server (7), comprising an access profile data base, wherein said access information can be remotely modified according to the access profile associated with said key.
US08368506B2 Sensing device and system, controlling method and control program
A sensing device includes a situation acquisition unit acquiring information on situation of a site of interest sensed; a sensing range change unit changing sensing range of the situation acquisition unit; a position identification unit identifying position of the situation acquisition unit; and a sensing operation controlling unit which detects inhibited content, a subject of inhibition of transmission, from the information on the situation of the site of interest. If the inhibited content has been detected, the sensing operation controlling unit calculates position of the inhibited content based on the position identification information from the position identification unit. The sensing operation controlling unit controls the sensing range change unit, based on the position identification information including the position of inhibited content calculated, so that the position of inhibited content is not contained in the sensing range. An inhibited content detection unit outputs information on the site of interest to an operation terminal upon non-detection of inhibited content.
US08368502B2 Surface-mount current fuse
A surface mount current fuse of the present invention includes a first base which has a recess and is smaller in width at the other end than at one end in the longitudinal direction, and a second base which has the same shape as the first base. The first base and the second base are combined to form a box-shaped body by joining the lower surface of the second base to the upper surface of the upper surface of the first base in such a manner that one end of the first base and the other end of the second base are in contact with each other. The recess of the first base and the recess of the second base form a space portion in which to dispose an element portion. The borderline between the first base and the second base passes through the center point on a side surface of the body. As a result, the surface mount current fuse has high production efficiency.
US08368498B2 Coil and method for manufacturing the same
[Task] There are provided a coil that is simple in structure and excellent in high frequency characteristics and a method for manufacturing the same.[Means for Resolution] The coil includes a plurality of conductor patterns 11 formed at an interval from each other on a substrate 21, and metal wires 12 that electrically connect an end of one conductor pattern of conductor patterns adjacent to each other with an end of the other conductor pattern that is an end opposite to the end of the one conductor pattern. One or more spiral shapes are formed by two or more conductor patterns 11 and one or more metal wires 12. The coil includes a core material 13 that is arranged at least in a portion inside a space surrounded by one or more spiral shapes to cover the outer peripheries of the metal wires 12 at least over a predetermined range.
US08368494B2 Magnetic coupling device
A hand-actuated magnetic coupling or closing device, consisting of elements that are integrally connected either to the objects that are to be coupled or applied to the objects. The coupling device comprises the following characteristics: Elements are coupled together by means of a coupling element; the coupling element can be displaced in two degrees of freedom; in the first degree of freedom, the coupling element can be displaced about the play between a coupling position and a decoupling position; in the second degree of freedom, the coupling element can be moved in a sliding manner by means of an input actuation. A magnetic element is arranged and a magnetic system is arranged in the coupling element. In the second degree of freedom and by means of the input actuation, the coupling element is displaced from the coupling position, in which the coupling element is attracted into the decoupling position, in which the coupling element is repelled and displaced about the play in the first degree of freedom.
US08368493B2 Linear solenoid
A plunger main body is fixed to a shaft to reciprocate together with the shaft in an axial direction within a predetermined range. An axial overlapped surface area between a rear stator main body and the plunger main body is reduced when the plunger main body is moved from a rear stator main body side toward a front stator main body side. A plunger projection radially outwardly projects from an outer peripheral wall of an end portion of the plunger main body, which is axially located on the rear stator main body side.
US08368492B1 Bidirectional direct current electrical switching apparatus
A direct current electrical switching apparatus includes a first contact in electrical communication with first and third arc runners, a second contact in electrical communication with second and fourth arc runners, a movable contact, a first arc chamber including first arc plates having a first width, a second arc chamber including second arc plates having a greater second width, an operating mechanism, and a magnet assembly cooperating with the arc chambers to establish generally oppositely directed magnetic fields. The magnetic fields cause one of a first arc and a second arc to enter one of the arc chambers depending upon a direction of current flow between the contacts. The electrical switching apparatus is rated for a first magnitude of current flowing from the first contact to the second contact and for a greater second magnitude of opposite second current flowing from the second contact to the first contact.
US08368491B2 Systems and methods for providing high-capacitance RF MEMS switches
Systems and methods for providing high-capacitive RF MEMS switches are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a micro-electro-mechanical switch assembly including a substrate, an electrode disposed on a portion of the substrate, a dielectric layer disposed on at least a portion of the electrode, a metal layer disposed on at least a portion of the dielectric layer, and a flexible membrane having first and second ends supported at spaced locations on the substrate base, where the flexible membrane is configured to move from a default position to an actuated position in response to a preselected switching voltage applied between the flexible membrane and the electrode, and where, in the actuated position, the flexible membrane is in electrical contact with the metal layer.
US08368482B2 Dielectric waveguide-microstrip transition including a cavity coupling structure
In a dielectric waveguide-microstrip transition structure for mounting a dielectric waveguide on a printed-wiring board, one object of the present invention is directed to providing a further downsized structure as compared with a conventional structure, while maintaining an influence of displacement between the dielectric waveguide and the microstrip at a low level by means of non-contact coupling. The dielectric waveguide-microstrip transition structure has a dielectric waveguide containing a dielectric block and a conductor film covering an entire surface of the dielectric block, except a signal input/output portion, wherein a slot is formed in a bottom surface of the dielectric waveguide to expose the dielectric; a microstrip having an end which is openly terminated and disposed with opposing to and spaced apart from the slot of the dielectric waveguide; and a cavity containing a conductive wall surrounding the end of the microstrip and the slot of the dielectric waveguide, except a part of the microstrip being led out to connect to an external circuit.
US08368478B2 Integrated circuit frequency generator
An integrated circuit frequency generator is disclosed. In some embodiments, the frequency generator comprises an electronic oscillator configured to generate an oscillator frequency, calibration circuitry configured to periodically calibrate the electronic oscillator with respect to a reference frequency at a first calibration frequency when at a steady state temperature and at a second calibration frequency when at a transient temperature, and circuitry configured to generate an output frequency from the oscillator frequency.
US08368472B2 Oscillation circuit
A high-accuracy clock signal is generated even when the settings of the clock frequency are changed or there is a variation in power supply, temperature, or the like. A frequency-voltage conversion circuit includes a switch portion including switches, electrostatic capacitive elements, and other switches. The electrostatic capacitive elements have different absolute capacitance values, and are provided so as to cover a frequency range intended by a designer. For example, based on 4-bit frequency adjustment control signals, the other switches select the electrostatic capacitive elements having the electrostatic capacitance values thereof each weighted with 2 to perform the switching of a frequency.
US08368470B2 RF power amplifiers with linearization
Designs and techniques associated with power amplifiers for amplifying RF signals to provide variable power amplification and improved linearity in various RF amplification circuits, including power amplifiers operated under the power back-off conditions.
US08368464B2 Balanced output signal generator
The balanced output signal generator uses four interconnected plus-type second-generation current conveyors, a couple of load resistors and a single input resistor that can provide both current- and voltage-mode outputs. No matching conditions are required.
US08368460B2 Internal voltage generation circuit and integrated circuit including the same
An internal voltage generation circuit includes an internal reference voltage generation unit configured to generate first and second reference voltages, a core voltage generation unit configured to receive the first reference voltage and to generate a core voltage based on the first reference voltage, and a bit line pre-charge voltage generation unit configured to receive the second reference voltage and to generate a bit-line pre-charge voltage based on the second reference voltage.
US08368459B2 Constant-voltage circuit
A constant-voltage circuit includes: first and second field-effect transistors; a first node connected to the drains of the first and second field-effect transistors; a second node connected to the gates of the first and second field-effect transistors; a bipolar transistor whose collector is connected to the second node; a resistor connected to the source of the second field-effect transistor and the collector of the bipolar transistor; and a bias circuit that is connected to the source of the second field-effect transistor and supplies a bias voltage to the base of the bipolar transistor, wherein a power supply is connected to the first node and a constant voltage is outputted from the source of the first field-effect transistor.
US08368458B2 Impedance tuning apparatus
An impendence tuning apparatus is disclosed. The impendence tuning apparatus includes an operation amplifier, a reference resistor, a tuned resistor, a switching module, a current generator, a current detector and a controller. A first input terminal of the operation amplifier receives a basic voltage and the second terminal of the operation amplifier coupled to a first end. The switching module receives a control and coupled the first end to the tuned resistor or the reference resistor accordingly for generating a tuned current or a reference current separately. The current generator receives and mirrors the reference current or the tuned current to generate a first current and a second current. The current detector receives the first and the second currents and outputs current values the first and the second currents to the controller. The controller tunes an impendence of the tuned resistor according to the first and the second currents.
US08368442B1 Charge pump
A charge pump exhibiting a voltage compensation function is provided. The charge pump includes: a first current generator, a first semiconductor device, a second current generator, a second semiconductor device, and a voltage regulator. The voltage regulator dynamically adjusts a voltage level at the gate of the first or second semiconductor device so as to adjust a first current or a second current outputted to a current output node. In addition, the voltage regulator provides a bias voltage at the current output node when both the first and second semiconductor devices are turned off.
US08368441B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit having an on-chip PLL and operating method thereof
An on-chip phase-locked loop circuit has reduced power consumption in a semiconductor integrated circuit. The phase locked loop circuit is equipped with a phase frequency comparator, a loop attenuator, a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage controlled oscillator and a divider. The attenuator includes a sampling circuit and a counter. A sampling pulse and first and second output signals both outputted from the phase frequency comparator are supplied to the sampling circuit. The sampling circuit outputs a sampling output signal. When the counter completes a countup of a predetermined number of sampling pulses outputted from the sampling circuit, the counter outputs a countup completion output signal. The charge pump outputs a charging current or a discharging current to the loop filter in response to the countup completion output signal.
US08368433B2 Transistor module and transistor driving module
The present invention discloses a transistor driving module, coupling to a converting controller, to driving a high side transistor and a low side transistor connected in series, wherein one end of the high side transistor is coupled to an input voltage and one end of the low side transistor is grounded. The transistor driving module comprises a high side driving unit, a low side driving unit, a current limiting unit and an anti-short through unit. The high side driving unit generates a high side driving signal to turn the high side transistor on according to a duty cycle signal, and the low side driving unit generates a low side driving signal turn the low side transistor on according to the high side driving signal. The current limiting unit is coupled to the high side transistor and the high side driving unit, and generates a current limiting signal when a current flowing through the high side transistor higher than a current limiting value. The high side driving unit is stopped to generate the high side driving signal when receiving the current limiting value. The anti-short through unit is coupled to the high side driving unit and the low side driving unit to control the generations of the high side driving signal and the low side driving signal to have the timings of the high side driving signal and the low side driving signal non-overlapped.
US08368431B2 Pulse edge selection circuit, and pulse generation circuit, sample-hold circuit, and solid-state image sensor using the same
A pulse edge selection circuit includes an input stage which selects and passes one clock from among a plurality of clocks and an output stage which outputs the clock to an edge detection circuit. The output stage has a combination of a plurality of NOR gates and a plurality of NAND gates, which are connected alternately, both the NOR gates and NAND gates having a plurality of input terminals. If the edge detection circuit is a type which detects falling edges of clocks and generates a pulse which rises on the falling edge of a first clock and falls on the falling edge of a second clock, a NOR gate is used as an output gate which outputs the first clock and the second clock. On the other hand, if a pulse is generated on rising edges, a NAND gate is used as an output gate.
US08368421B2 Micromagnetic elements, logic devices and related methods
Micromagnetic elements, logic devices and methods of fabricating and using them to store data and perform logic operations are disclosed. Micromagnetic elements for data storage, as well as those providing output from a logic device, are at least partially covered with an optical coating that facilitates determination of the magnetic state. The disclosed logic devices perform one or more of AND, OR, NAND and NOR operations.
US08368411B2 Method for determining diffusion and/or transfer coefficients of a material
The invention relates to a method for the determination of diffusion coefficients and/or exchange coefficient of a material having electronic and ionic conductivity. The material is permeable to at least one gas. It is the object of the invention to provide a cost-effective, accurate method for the determination of the diffusion coefficient and of the surface exchange coefficient which can be carried out in a short time and can thus be used for a screening of materials, in particular for application in the field of permeation membranes. The procedure is followed in accordance with the invention such that a sample of the material is arranged in a measurement chamber and has an electric current passed through it for a determination of the electric resistance. In this respect, a gas mixture in which the respective gas is contained is conducted through the measurement chamber as a gas flow and the partial pressure of the respective gas in the gas mixture is changed periodically at regular intervals. The change in the electric resistance of the sample is measured and a diffusion coefficient and/or exchange coefficient of the material can be determined for the respective gas from the determined change in the electric resistance.
US08368410B2 Transmission line for dielectric measurement and dielectric measuring device having the transmission line
A transmission line substrate includes at least an insulating layer of a predetermined thickness, a pair of conductor layers arranged in a state of being opposed to each other such that the insulating layer is interposed between the conductor layers, the pair of conductor layers functioning as a high-frequency transmission line, and a fault part formed so as to make the conductor layer on one side disconnected, into which a sample to be measured can be introduced.
US08368405B2 Remote test point for electrical connector
A voltage indicating assembly for medium and high voltage systems includes a semiconductive cap configured for mounting on a test point, the test point including a test point terminal element configured to capacitively receive a voltage associated with a electrical component, where the electrical component is mounted in a first location. The semiconductive cap includes a contact element mounted therein configured to electrically communicate with the test point terminal element when the semiconductive cap is mounted on the test point. A cable is electrically coupled to the contact element. A remote test point assembly is electrically coupled to the cable in a second location remote from the first location, and the remote test point assembly includes a remote test point terminal element.
US08368397B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has a storage unit and a processing unit. The storage unit stores correction data of a position coordinate, in which the position coordinate in the reconstruction FOV is caused to correspond to a position coordinate in a display FOV included in the reconstruction FOV based on an intensity of a gradient magnetic field. If both of a first position coordinate and a second position coordinate, which is further from the center of the reconstruction FOV, correspond to same position coordinate in the display FOV, the correction data is data for causing only the first position coordinate to correspond to the position coordinate in the display FOV. The processing unit corrects a reconstructed image based on the correction data and obtains an image of the display FOV.
US08368395B2 Magnetic inspection device and method for detecting loss in metallic cross section
A magnetic inspection device for nondestructively inspecting elongated objects, such as wire cables, pipes, and the like, for loss of metallic cross-section due to abrasion, corrosion, and external and internal discontinuities, having a magnet for inducing in sections of the object between the stations, magnetic flux at the saturation level. A magnetic flux detector having magnetic sensors positioned between the poles and laterally of the elongated object utilizes shields and flux decompressors to render the flux detector more sensitive to leakage flux caused by discontinuities in the objects.
US08368391B2 Stroke sensor and rotation angle sensor
A stroke sensor has two magnets, which are magnetized in a cross-section direction and are displaced in a longitudinal direction, and two magnetism sensitive sections arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction. The magnets have circular-arc-shaped swelling end edges respectively and are magnetized such that the swelling end edges have opposite polarities. Thus, a distribution of a magnetic flux density on an arrangement axis substantially coincides with a sine curve. The magnetic flux having such the distribution is displaced in the longitudinal direction together with the magnets. The magnetism sensitive sections are arranged on the arrangement axis to be distant from each other by a distance of one fourth of a cycle of the sine curve. Thus, the stroke sensor that is not affected by temperature and that has high sensing accuracy can be provided.
US08368389B2 Sensor unit
In a sensor of a sensor unit in which working voltage or calibration voltage is supplied through a single input end, working voltage can be stably supplied to the sensor after initial calibration. The sensor unit includes a voltage stabilizing circuit for stabilizing a voltage value of a supply power source to said working voltage, and a wiring for supplying said calibration voltage to the sensor, which are provided parallel to each other between the input end of the sensor and a power source connecting end for the sensor on the circuit board, and a switching portion which can disconnect the wiring, wherein an access hole is formed in the housing through which the switching portion is accessible to disconnect the wiring.
US08368388B2 Arrangement for wheel rotational speed detection with increased intrinsic safety
Disclosed is an arrangement for the intrinsically safe detection of movements of a body, such as a wheel. The arrangement includes a magnetic encoder (5, 25) and a sensor (26), the magnetic encoder (5, 25) moving with the body and is magnetically coupled to at least two sensor elements (S1, S2) of the sensor (26) via a magnetic air gap. The sensor (26) has at least two mutually separate signal paths (S1, fl; S2, f2) which have at least one of the sensor elements (S1, S2) and a signal conditioning stage (28, 29). A primary measuring signal path (S1, f1) is constructed so that during normal operation represents an output signal the basic frequency of the encoder movement or the temporal profile of the output signal have patterns. The temporal occurrence of the patterns correspond to the basic relative speed between the sensor (26) and the pole pairs of the encoder (5, 25) which are detected by the sensor.
US08368385B2 Methods and systems to detect voltage changes within integrated circuits
Methods and systems to detect droop events on-chip, which may include a sensor circuit located adjacent to a voltage node to convert a corresponding voltage to a digital count or value indicative of the voltage. The sensor circuit may include an n-stage ring oscillator and an asynchronous counter. The sensor circuit may include circuitry to capture and convert a phase associated with a count to a binary fractional value to increase voltage resolution. Multiple counts associated with the node may be evaluated at the node to identify minimum and maximum counts and corresponding time stamps. More complex evaluation and control circuitry may be shared amongst a plurality of sensor circuits and may include circuitry to generate and compare counts to one or more variable thresholds, circuitry to average counts over time, and memory to store state values associated with the sensors.
US08368384B2 Reduction of semiconductor stresses
A method of reducing thermal stresses of a semiconductor component in a frequency converter, an arrangement in a frequency converter, and a frequency converter, wherein the semiconductor component is attached to a cooling element for cooling the semiconductor component and one or more resistive elements are attached to the cooling element. In the method, the cooling element is heated by the one or more resistive elements attached thereto by supplying current from the frequency converter through the one or more resistive elements for obtaining an elevated lowest temperature for the semiconductor component and thereby reducing the amount of temperature change between the highest and the lowest temperatures in the semiconductor component during use of the frequency converter.
US08368375B2 Switching regulator with transient control function and control circuit and method therefor
The present invention discloses a switching regulator with transient control function, and a control circuit and a method for controlling the switching regulator. The switching regulator with transient control function includes: a power conversion circuit for receiving an input voltage and converting the input voltage to an output voltage; a feedback circuit for detecting the output voltage and generating a feedback signal representing the output voltage; an output capacitor coupled to an output terminal of the power conversion circuit; and a control circuit for receiving the feedback signal and generating a control signal to control the conversion operation by the power conversion circuit accordingly, wherein the control circuit includes a voltage balancing circuit which discharges the output capacitor when the output voltage is higher than a first predetermined threshold, and charges the output capacitor when the output voltage is lower than a second predetermined threshold.
US08368373B2 Control circuit of power supply unit, power supply unit and control method thereof
To provide a control circuit of power supply unit, power supply unit and control method thereof capable of setting and adjusting a voltage value of output voltage flexibly corresponding to an instruction from outside, a voltage adjusting portion AD for adjusting first voltage setting information inputted from outside to real voltage information is provided and the voltage value of the output voltage of the power supply unit is controlled based on real voltage information outputted from the voltage adjusting portion AD. The first voltage setting information inputted from outside enables a desired output voltage to be set up by adjusting the real voltage information flexibly even if information relating to the setting of voltage set as output voltage to an external device which is a supply destination is different from actually necessary voltage value.
US08368372B2 Switch mode regulator
A switch mode regulator includes a first switch for controlling a current supply to an output inductor of the regulator; a second switch for selectively providing a conductive path to ground for current flowing through the output inductor; and an inverting amplifier having an input connected to an output of the first switch and an output connected to a control input of the second switch. The switch mode regulator may alternatively include a first switch for controlling a current supply to an input inductor of the regulator; a second switch for selectively providing a conductive path to a load for current flowing through the input inductor; and an inverting amplifier having an input connected to an output of the first switch and an output connected to a control input of the second switch.
US08368371B2 Method for controlling an interleaving multiphase converter and corresponding controller
A method is provided for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type. According to the method, there is detected when a change of a load applied to an output terminal of the converter occurs. When detected, all of the phases of the converter are simultaneously turned off by the generation of suitable PWM driving signals. The PWM driving signals are controlled so as to force the turn-on of the phases at the same time and to zero a time phase shift of driving of the interleaving type of the PWM driving signals. The interleaving of the driving time phase shift is recovered and a normal operation of the converter is restarted. A controller for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type is also provided.
US08368370B2 Controller compensation for frequency jitter
An example controller for use in a power supply in accordance with the present teachings includes a drive signal generator, a jitter signal generator and a compensator signal generator. The drive signal generator is coupled to output a drive signal having a switching period and a duty ratio to control switching of a switch that is to be coupled to the controller. The jitter signal generator is coupled to provide a jitter signal, where the switching period of the drive signal varies in response to the jitter signal. The compensator signal generator is coupled to provide a compensator signal responsive to the jitter signal, where the duty ratio of the drive signal is varied in response to the compensator signal.
US08368364B2 DC-DC converter with snubber circuit
In order to achieve an object to reduce a surge voltage and suppress noise generation, the present invention provides a DC-DC converter with a snubber circuit, which boosts a voltage Vi of a DC power supply. The snubber circuit includes: a series circuit connected to both ends of a smoothing capacitor Co and including a snubber capacitor Cs and a snubber resistor Rs; a snubber diode Ds1 connected to a node at which the snubber capacitor Cs and the snubber resistor Rs are connected, and to a node at which a reactor Lr1 and an additional winding 1b of a transformer T1 are connected; and a snubber diode Ds2 connected to the node at which the snubber capacitor Cs and the snubber resistor Rs are connected, and to a node at which a reactor Lr2 and an additional winding 2b of a transformer T2 are connected.
US08368363B2 Current sensing circuit and switching regulator including the same
A current sensing circuit configured to sense current flowing through a switching transistor of a non-insulated switching regulator, the current sensing circuit includes a voltage divider circuit portion; a first transistor; a first impedance element; a second transistor; a third transistor; and a first voltage comparing circuit portion, wherein control terminals of the first transistor, the second transistor, and the third transistor are connected to each other and a connecting portion of the control terminals is connected to a connecting portion between the third transistor and the first constant current source.
US08368354B2 Charge control device for vehicle and electric powered vehicle provided with same
A monitoring unit outputs a first current detection value having a relatively wide measurement range and a relatively short detection cycle and a second current detection value having a relatively high resolution, to a charging ECU. When charging power calculated using the first current detection value exceeds a predetermined limit value, the charging ECU controls a charger to reduce charging power (protection control). Further, the charging ECU controls the charger such that a power storage device attains a predetermined fully charged state based on charging power calculated using the second current detection value (full charge control).
US08368351B2 Transmission line directional awareness for a charging station
An apparatus and method for coupling a charging station to a power line segment that is terminated at a first end by a charging terminal are disclosed. The apparatus includes multiple taps coupled to the power line segment and circuitry coupled to the charging station and coupled to the multiple taps. The circuitry is configured to differentiate between communication signals propagating on the power line segment in the direction from the first end to a second end of the power line segment and communication signals propagating on the power line segment in the direction from the second end to the first end based at least in part on multiple measurements of respective phase shifts associated with different portions of a communication signal, each portion received over at least a first tap and a second tap.
US08368346B2 Portable energy storage and charging device
Disclosed is a portable charger device that includes a chamber to hold at least one rechargeable charging battery, and at least one controller. The controller is configured to determine a first charging current level to apply to the at least one rechargeable charging battery such that the at least one rechargeable charging battery achieves a first predetermined charge that is reached within a first period of time of 15 minutes or less, apply to the at least one rechargeable charging battery a first charging current substantially equal to the determined first charging current level, determine a second charging current to apply to the one or more external rechargeable batteries, and apply to the one or more external rechargeable batteries a second charging current substantially equal to the determined second charging current level, the second charging current being drawn from the at least one rechargeable charging battery.
US08368339B2 Robot confinement
A method of confining a robot in a work space includes providing a portable barrier signal transmitting device including a primary emitter emitting a confinement beam primarily along an axis defining a directed barrier. A mobile robot including a detector, a drive motor and a control unit controlling the drive motor is caused to avoid the directed barrier upon detection by the detector on the robot. The detector on the robot has an omnidirectional field of view parallel to the plane of movement of the robot. The detector receives confinement light beams substantially in a plane at the height of the field of view while blocking or rejecting confinement light beams substantially above or substantially below the plane at the height of the field of view.
US08368328B2 Method for operating a motorized roller shade
The present invention advantageously provides methods for manually and/or remotely controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube and a microcontroller. One method includes detecting a manual movement of the shade using a sensor, determining a displacement associated with the manual movement, and, if the displacement is less than a maximum displacement, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube. Another method includes receiving a command from a remote control, and moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube.
US08368326B2 Shakable lighting element
A shakable lighting element includes a main unit, an inner seat, a conductive rod, a spring, a swing block, an LED and an outer shade. The inner seat is latched into the main unit and is installed with the spring and the LED. The spring is connected with the swing block, an end of the conductive rod penetrates the inner seat to be in contact with a battery and the other end is transfixed in the spring. When the main unit shakes, the swing block drives the spring to swing and when the spring touches the conductive rod, the LED illuminates.
US08368306B2 Short arc dimmable HID lamp with constant colour during dimming
The present disclosure relates to a short arc metal halide lamp without outer jacket, whose arc tube has a specified aspect ratio and chemical filling, characterized in that it delivers a low color temperature and very high color rendering index, which are maintained during dimming.
US08368301B2 Light-emitting device, method for manufacturing the same, and electronic apparatus
The present invention provides a light-emitting device including a light-emitting element over a substrate, the light-emitting element is partitioned from an adjacent light-emitting element by a partition wall, the light-emitting element comprising a first electrode, a layer formed over the first electrode, a light-emitting layer formed over the layer and a second electrode formed over the light-emitting layer, the layer contains an inorganic compound, an organic compound and a halogen atom, the partition wall contains the inorganic compound and the organic compound, and the layer. The light-emitting device provides higher reliability and fewer defects.
US08368300B2 Light emitting device, light emitting device package, and lighting system
Provided are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes a substrate, a light emitting structure on the substrate, the light emitting structure comprising a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first and second conductive type semiconductor layers; a first electrode on the light emitting structure; and a patterned phosphor layer on the light emitting structure, wherein the patterned phosphor layer converts light generated from the light emitting structure into light having a wavelength longer than that of the light generated from the light emitting structure, and wherein the pattern of the phosphor layer exposes the first electrode.
US08368299B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display including a substrate, a thin film transistor (TFT) formed on the substrate, an OLED, a colored polarizing member on the OLED, and a colored material on the OLED and having a color that is different from that of the polarizing member. The OLED includes a pixel electrode, an organic emission layer on the pixel electrode, and a common electrode on the organic emission layer, wherein the pixel electrode is coupled to the TFT.
US08368297B2 Organic light emitting device
An organic light emitting device, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, includes a thin film transistor array panel including a pixel electrode, an organic light emitting member formed on the pixel electrode, a common electrode formed on the organic light emitting member, and a storage capacitor including a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer overlapping each other via the organic light emitting member. The first conductive layer may be formed with the same layer as the pixel electrode, and the second conductive layer may be formed with the same layer as the common electrode.
US08368288B2 Actuator unit for an injection system of an internal combustion engine
In an actuator unit for an injection system of an internal combustion engine, the difference in the longitudinal extension when a change of temperature of the piezoelectric actuator element occurs affecting the actuator unit is equalized compared to the actuator housing due to different thermal expansion coefficient values in that a fastening element is arranged on the actuator housing. The fastening element is made of a different material than the actuator housing and thus affects a force acting counter to the change of length of the actuator housing.
US08368281B2 Multilayer brush having a composite
A multilayer brush, which essentially contains a composite having a graphite component and having a copper component, and a layered structure, a first layer being furnished with a high copper component and a further layer being furnished with a comparatively low copper component. It is provided that the copper component of the first layer in comparison with the copper component of the second layer corresponds to a ratio of ≦3/2.
US08368280B2 Case lid assembly of DC motor with brush
A case lid assembly is formed by integrally fitting a brush holder formed of resin and a terminal holder formed of resin to opposite sides of a metal plate which supports a bearing. The brush holder supports a pair of brush bases. The terminal holder supports a PTC element and a pair of electrically conductive members. The electrically conductive members have receptacle terminals and brush base connection portions. Tip ends of the brush bases pass through the metal plate, and come into contact with the brush base connection portions of the electrically conductive members to thereby be electrically connected thereto. The PTC element is accommodated within a PTC element insertion portion of the brush holder which extends through the metal plate in a thrust direction.
US08368278B2 Motor and electronic device comprising the same
A motor comprising a stator having a plurality of magnetic poles disposed in a circumferential direction along an outer periphery thereof, a rotor disposed rotatably around the outer periphery of the stator, and a magnet disposed in a circumferential direction along an inner periphery of the rotor. The stator is formed by laminating sheet-like plates. A plurality of the sheet-like plates including an outermost layer of this laminated body comprises a flat portion substantially perpendicular to the magnet, and an extended portion bent to a direction substantially parallel to the magnet. A part of the sheet-like plate having the extended portion disposed to the outermost side is formed into a thickness smaller than thicknesses of the other parts.
US08368273B2 Rotary electric machine with air gaps configured to cancel torque pulsations
A rotary electric machine includes a stator having stator windings; and a rotor rotatably disposed in the stator, said rotor having a rotor core provided with a plurality of magnets and a plurality of magnetic auxiliary salient poles formed between poles of the magnets. In this rotary electric machine: a magnetic air gap is provided in an axial direction of the rotor in a position shifted in a circumferential direction from a q axis passing through a center of the magnetic auxiliary salient pole within the magnetic auxiliary salient pole; and an amount of shifting the magnetic air gap from the q axis in the circumferential direction differs according to a position of the magnetic air gap in the axial direction so as to cancel torque pulsation in energization caused due to the magnetic air gap.
US08368264B2 Electric cutting tool
An electric cutting tool including a housing (1) and a motor (2). The motor (2) is removably mounted in a cavity arranged at the back end of the housing (2), and the outer diameter of the motor (2) is matched with the diameter of the cavity. A turnover opening back cover (3) is hinged at the opening at the back end of the cavity. The back cover (3) is locked with the housing (1) by means of a locking structure arranged on its side, and presses against the back end of the motor (2) after closing. A pair of electrode posts (21) are provided at the front end of the motor (2), and a pair of electrode sockets (18) corresponding one-to-one with the pair of electrode posts (21) are provided in the bottom surface of the cavity. A circumferential stop structure is provided between the radial outer surface of the motor (2) and the inner wall of the cavity. The motor (2) is circumferentially fastened by the circumferential stop structure, causing the polarities of the electrode posts (21) and those of the electrode sockets (18) matching.
US08368261B2 Motor
The present invention provides a motor (M) including a rotor (1), a stator (S) having a winding wire (2) wound thereon, and an outer cylinder (3) for holding the stator (S) fitted into the inner circumference thereof. The stator (S), the outer cylinder (3), and a terminal (4) having one end (4a) connected to the winding wire (2) are integrated together by a mold resin (12) by insert molding while closing one end side of the outer cylinder (3) by the mold resin (12), and protruding the other end (4b) of the terminal (4) out of the motor (M) through the mold resin (12).
US08368259B2 Linear motor component mounting apparatus and component inspecting apparatus
The invention relates to a linear motor equipped with a field element and an armature and adapted to produce a force causing the field element and the armature to be relatively displaced along a given axial direction by interaction of magnetic fluxes generated between the field element and the armature during an operation of supplying electric power to the armature. In one typical aspect of the invention, the linear motor is provided with: a stator which is formed as one of the field element and the armature; a mover which is formed as the other of the field element and the armature; a frame member which defines the axial direction; a rail which is adapted to guide the mover allowing only to reciprocate in a linear direction; a first positioning portion which is provided on the frame member to set a fixing position of the stator with respect to the frame member; and a second positioning portion which is provided on the frame member to set a fixing position of the rail with respect to the frame member in such a manner as to allow the mover to reciprocate along the axial direction with a given gap formed between the mover and the stator positioned by the first positioning portion.
US08368256B2 Voice coil motor
A voice coil motor (VCM) is disclosed. The VCM includes a base formed with an opening; a movable body including a bobbin arranged on the base and formed with a hollow hole and a coil arranged along a periphery of the bobbin; a stator including a frame-shaped magnet arranged on the base, the magnet being discrete from the coil and wrapping a periphery of the coil; and a case covering an upper surface and an outer surface of the magnet, the case being coupled to the base.
US08368248B2 Active low-pass current filter
An active low-pass current filter apparatus and method reduces conducted emissions above a predefined cutoff frequency at high power levels. The apparatus and method use a bidirectional DC-DC converter to minimize current fluctuations on a power lead that may result in conducted emissions above the predefined cutoff frequency. The bidirectional DC-DC converter absorbs current from the power lead and feeds current to the load lead as needed to compensate for the current fluctuations on the power lead. Power to the DC-DC converter is provided by a separate auxiliary power source. A monitoring circuit compares the voltage level of the auxiliary power source to a reference voltage and compensates for variations in the voltage level of the auxiliary power source without interfering with the suppression of the conducted emissions.
US08368242B2 Immersible energy generation installation
A submersible power generation plant includes a water turbine standing freely on a support structure in an ambient flow; an electric generator which is driven at least indirectly by the water turbine; at least one generator component of the electric generator is enclosed by at least one corrosion protection element which seals against ambient water, with cavities within the corrosion protection element each being filled with a heat-conductive medium; at least one pass-through duct being provided for dissipating waste heat from the electric generator, which the pass-through duct conducts the ambient water and leads through the corrosion protection element without entering into any material exchange with a region encapsulated by the corrosion protection element, and a growth protection system arranged on a flow input of the pass-through duct on an upstream side.
US08368241B2 Wind driven power generator
A power generator using a floating object and exhibiting further improved power generation efficiency includes a floating object including a floating body arranged to catch wind, a plurality of posture control strings, and a posture control instrument, at least one first control string connected to the posture control instrument, a first control string take-in device arranged to take the at least one first control string into a first base body, a forward/backward movement control device arranged to control forward/backward movements of the posture control strings, a first winding device arranged to wind a proximal send of the at least one first control string, a second control string connected to the posture control instrument, a second control string take-in device arranged to take the second control string into a second base body installed apart from the first base body, and a second winding device around which a proximal end of the second control string is wound. The at least one first control string or the posture control instrument that mounts a communication device is arranged to control a front/rear inclination angle θ of the floating object, and the second control string is reeled out/taken up in accordance with the front/rear inclination to generate electric power.
US08368238B2 Wind turbine generator system
It is an object to provide a wind turbine generator system that can promptly restore the system voltage in the event of, for example, a low voltage phenomenon. A controller 21 detects the power factor state of a generator when a normal operation mode is switched to a low-voltage control mode and sets a condition for switching from the low-voltage control mode to the normal operation mode depending on the detected power factor state.
US08368231B2 Chipstack package and manufacturing method thereof
A method for manufacturing chip stack packages may include: providing at least two wafers, each wafer having a plurality of chips, and scribe lanes formed between and separating adjacent chips; forming a plurality of via holes in peripheral portions of the scribe lanes; forming connection vias by filling the via holes; establishing electrical connections between the chip pads and corresponding connection vias; removing material from the back sides of the wafers to form thinned wafers; separating the thinned wafers into individual chips by removing a central portion of each scribe lane; attaching a first plurality of individual chips to a test wafer; attaching a second plurality of individual chips to the first plurality of individual chips to form a plurality of chip stack structures; encapsulating the plurality of chip stack structures; and separating the plurality of chip stack structures to form individual chip stack packages.
US08368227B2 Semiconductor element and package having semiconductor element
The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor process, a semiconductor element and a package having a semiconductor element. The semiconductor element includes a base material and at least one through via structure. The base material has a first surface, a second surface, at least one groove and at least one foundation. The groove opens at the first surface, and the foundation is disposed on the first surface. The through via structure is disposed in the groove of the base material, and protrudes from the first surface of the base material. The foundation surrounds the through via structure. Whereby, the foundation increases the strength of the through via structure, and prevents the through via structure from cracking.
US08368220B2 Anchored damascene structures
An anchored conductive damascene buried in a multi-density dielectric layer and method for forming the same, the anchored conductive damascene including a dielectric layer with an opening extending through a thickness of the dielectric layer; wherein the dielectric layer comprises at least one relatively higher density portion and a relatively lower density portion, the relatively lower density portion forming a contiguous major portion of the dielectric layer; and, wherein the opening in the relatively lower density portion has a lateral dimension relatively larger compared to the relatively higher density portion to form anchoring steps.
US08368219B2 Buried silicide local interconnect with sidewall spacers and method for making the same
A buried local interconnect and method of forming the same counterdopes a region of a doped substrate to form a counterdoped isolation region. A hardmask is formed and patterned on the doped substrate, with a recess being etched through the patterned hardmask into the counterdoped region. Dielectric spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the recess, with a portion of the bottom of the recess being exposed. A metal is then deposited in the recess and reacted to form silicide at the bottom of the recess. The recess is filled with fill material, which is polished. The hardmask is then removed to form a silicide buried local interconnect.
US08368217B2 Integrated circuit package with segregated Tx and Rx data channels
A chip layout isolates Rx terminals and Rx ports from Tx terminals and Tx ports. Tx terminals are grouped contiguously to each other, and are segregated as a group to a given edge of the package, Rx terminals are similarly grouped and segregated to a different edge of the package. Tx and Rx data channels are disposed in a respective single layer of the package, or both are disposed in a same single layer of the package. Rx ports and Tx ports are located at an approximate center of the package, with Tx and Rx ports disposed on respective opposite sides of an axis bisecting the package. Data signals received by, and transmitted from, the chip flow in a same direction, from a first edge of the package to the center of the package and from the center of the package to a second edge of the package, respectively.
US08368212B1 Semiconductor package with under bump metallization routing
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor substrate a semiconductor substrate having source and drain regions formed therein, an intermediate routing structure to provide electrical interconnects to the source and drain regions, a dielectric layer formed over the intermediate routing structure, and an under-bump-metallization (UBM) stack. The intermediate routing structure includes an outermost conductive layer, and the dielectric layer has an opening positioned over a portion of the intermediate layer routing structure. The UBM stack includes a conductive base layer formed over the dielectric layer and electrically connected to the outermost conductive layer through the opening, and a thick conductive layer formed on the base layer. A conductive bump is positioned on the UBM stack and laterally spaced from the opening.
US08368210B2 Wafer scale package for high power devices
A semiconductor device package is formed of DBC in which thinned MOSgated and/or diode die are soldered to the bottom of an etched depression in the upper conductive layer. A via in the insulation layer of the DBC is filled with a conductive material to form a resistive shunt. Plural packages may be formed in a DBC card and may be separated individually or in clusters. The individual packages are mounted in various arrays on a support DBC board and heat sink. Integrated circuits may be mounted on the assembly and connected to the die for control of the die conduction.
US08368208B2 Semiconductor cooling apparatus
In some embodiments, a semiconductor cooling apparatus includes a monolithic array of cooling elements. Each cooling element of the monolithic array of cooling elements is configured to thermally couple to a respective semiconductor element of an array of semiconductor elements. At least two of the semiconductor elements have a different height and each cooling element independently flexes to conform to the height of the respective semiconductor element.
US08368198B2 Stacked package of semiconductor device
Provided is a stacked package of a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. The stacked package of a semiconductor device may include at least one first semiconductor chip, at least one second semiconductor chip, at least one interposer between the at least one first semiconductor chip and the at least one second semiconductor chip, and a third semiconductor chip on the at least one first semiconductor chip. The at least one first semiconductor chip and the at least one second semiconductor chip may be configured to perform a first function and a second function and each may include a plurality of bonding pads. The third semiconductor chip may be configured to perform a third function which is different from the first and the second functions. The package may further include external connection leads may be configured to electrically connect the third semiconductor chip to the outside.
US08368194B1 Exposed die overmolded flip chip package
An exposed die overmolded flip chip package includes a substrate. A die is flip chip mounted to an upper surface of the substrate. The package further includes a mold cap filling a space between an active surface of the die and the upper surface of the substrate. The mold cap includes a principal surface, sidewalls extending from the upper surface of the substrate to the principal surface, an annular surface coplanar with the inactive surface of the die and extending outward from a peripheral edge of the inactive surface of the die, and protruding surfaces extending between the principal surface and the annular surface. The mold cap does not cover the inactive surface of the die such that heat transfer from the die to the ambient environment is maximized and the package thickness is minimized.
US08368193B2 Chip package
A chip package includes a bump connecting said semiconductor chip and said circuitry component, wherein the semiconductor chip has a photosensitive area used to sense light. The chip package may include a ring-shaped protrusion connecting a transparent substrate and the semiconductor chip.
US08368190B2 LED package having an array of light emitting cells coupled in series
Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) package having an array of light emitting cells coupled in series. The LED package comprises a package body and an LED chip mounted on the package body. The LED chip has an array of light emitting cells coupled in series. Since the LED chip having the array of light emitting cells coupled in series is mounted on the LED package, it can be driven directly using an AC power source.
US08368186B2 Device and methods for electrostatic discharge protection
An ESD device includes a first and second well regions disposed in a semiconductor substrate. The first well region comprises a plurality of N wells spaced at a predetermined length. A heavily doped P+ region and a heavily doped N+ region are disposed in each of the N wells. The heavily doped N+ region is coupled to Vdd and a heavily doped P+ region in an N well is electrically coupled to the heavily doped N+ region in an adjacent N well. The second well region comprises a P well abutting an N well. A heavily doped P+ region and a heavily doped N+ region are disposed in the P well. The heavily doped N+ region in the P well is electrically coupled to the heavily doped P+ region of the adjacent N well in common with an I/O circuit, and the heavily doped P+ region is coupled to Vss.
US08368184B2 Silicon device structure, and sputtering target used for forming the same
There is provided a silicon device structure, comprising: a P-doped n+ type amorphous silicon film formed on a silicon semiconductor, and a wiring formed on the P doped n+ type amorphous silicon film, wherein the wiring is formed of a silicon oxide film which is formed on a surface of the P doped n+ type amorphous silicon film and is also formed of a copper alloy film, and the copper alloy film is a film obtained by forming a copper alloy containing Mn of 1 atom % or more and 5 atom % or less and P of 0.05 atom % or more and 1.0 atom % or less by sputtering.
US08368175B2 Capacitor, semiconductor device having the same, and method of producing them
Provided is a capacitor that realizes a capacitance insulation film having a large relative permittivity and has sufficient capacitance even if an occupied space is small with a reduced amount of leakage current. A capacitor includes: a capacitance insulation film; and an upper electrode and lower electrode each formed on both sides of the capacitance insulation film. The capacitance insulation film is a complex oxide whose main ingredients are Zr, Al and O with the composition ratio of Zr to Al being set at (1−x): x (0.01≦x≦0.15) and is composed of a dielectric substance having a crystal structure. The lower electrode is composed of a conductor whose surface contiguous to at least the dielectric film has an amorphous structure.
US08368173B2 Semiconductor package and method for making the same
The present invention relates to a semiconductor package and a method for making the same. The semiconductor package includes a base material, a first metal layer, a first dielectric layer, a first upper electrode and a first protective layer. The first metal layer is disposed on a first surface of the base material, and includes a first inductor and a first lower electrode. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the first lower electrode. The first upper electrode is disposed on the first dielectric layer, and the first upper electrode, the first dielectric layer and the first lower electrode form a first capacitor. The first protective layer encapsulates the first inductor and the first capacitor. Whereby, the first inductor and the first lower electrode of the first capacitor are disposed on the same layer, so that the thickness of the product is reduced.
US08368168B2 III-V-group compound semiconductor device
A III-V-group compound semiconductor device includes a substrate, a channel layer provided over the substrate, a barrier layer provided on the channel layer so as to form a hetero-interface, a plurality of electrodes provided on the barrier layer, an insulator layer provided to cover an entire upper surface of the barrier layer except for at least partial regions of the electrodes, and a hydrogen-absorbing layer stacked on the insulator layer or an integrated layer in which an hydrogen-absorbing layer is integrated with the insulator layer.
US08368163B2 Semiconductor component with contacts made of alloyed-in metal wires
A semiconductor component, especially a solar cell comprises a semiconductor substrate of a planar design having a first side and a second side lying opposite thereto, at least one contact structure arranged on at least one side of the semiconductor substrate, the at least one contact structure exhibiting a diffusion barrier to prevent the diffusion of ions from the contact structure into the semiconductor substrate.
US08368159B2 Photon counting UV-APD
An avalanche photodiode (APD) has a first semiconductor substrate having a first doping type. A first semiconductor layer is on top of the first semiconductor substrate. The first semiconductor layer is doped with the first doping type. A second epitaxial layer is on top of the first semiconductor layer. The second epitaxial layer is in-situ doped with the first doping type at a concentration higher than a concentration of the first doping type in the first semiconductor layer. A third epitaxial layer is on top of the second epitaxial layer. The third epitaxial layer is in-situ doped with a second doping type. The doping of the third epitaxial region forms a first p-n junction with the doping of the second epitaxial layer, wherein a carrier multiplication region includes the first p-n junction, and wherein the third epitaxial layer forms an absorption region for photons. A first implanted region is within the third epitaxial layer. The implanted region is doped with the second doping type.
US08368146B2 FinFET devices
A finFET structure and method of manufacture such structure is provided with lowered Ceff and enhanced stress. The finFET structure includes a plurality of finFET structures and a stress material forming part of a gate stack and in a space between adjacent ones of the plurality of finFET structures.
US08368143B2 Strained thin body semiconductor-on-insulator substrate and device
A method of forming a strained, semiconductor-on-insulator substrate includes forming a second semiconductor layer on a first semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor is lattice matched to the first semiconductor substrate such that the second semiconductor layer is subjected to a first directional stress. An active device semiconductor layer is formed over the second semiconductor layer such that the active device semiconductor layer is initially in a relaxed state. One or more trench isolation structures are formed through the active device layer and through the second semiconductor layer so as to relax the second semiconductor layer below the active device layer and impart a second directional stress on the active device layer opposite the first directional stress.
US08368134B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A nonvolatile memory device and method for fabricating the same are provided. The method for fabricating the nonvolatile memory device comprises providing a substrate. A tunnel insulating layer and a first conductive layer are formed in the substrate. A trench is formed through the first conductive layer and the tunnel insulating layer, wherein a portion of the substrate is exposed from the trench. A first insulating layer is formed in the trench. A second insulating layer is formed on sidewalls of the first insulating layer. A third insulating layer is conformably formed in the trench, covering the first insulating layer on a bottom portion of the trench and the second insulating layer on the sidewalls of the trench, wherein thickness of the third insulating layer on the sidewalls is thinner than that on the bottom of the trench. A control gate is formed on the third insulating layer in the trench.
US08368133B2 Memory constructions comprising magnetic materials
The invention includes a method of forming a semiconductor construction, such as an MRAM construction. A block is formed over a semiconductor substrate. First and second layers are formed over the block, and over a region of the substrate proximate the block. The first and second layers are removed from over the block while leaving portions of the first and second layers over the region proximate the block. At least some of the first layer is removed from under the second layer to form a channel over the region proximate the block. A material, such as a soft magnetic material, is provided within the channel. The invention also includes semiconductor constructions.
US08368126B2 Trench metal oxide semiconductor with recessed trench material and remote contacts
Remote contacts to the polysilicon regions of a trench metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) barrier Schottky (TMBS) device, as well as to the polysilicon regions of a MOS field effect transistor (MOSFET) section and of a TMBS section in a monolithically integrated TMBS and MOSFET (SKYFET) device, are employed. The polysilicon is recessed relative to adjacent mesas. Contact of the source metal to the polysilicon regions of the TMBS section is made through an extension of the polysilicon to outside the active region of the TMBS section. This change in the device architecture relieves the need to remove all of the oxides from both the polysilicon and silicon mesa regions of the TMBS section prior to the contact step. As a consequence, encroachment of contact metal into the sidewalls of the trenches in a TMBS device, or in a SKYFET device, is avoided.
US08368124B2 Electromechanical devices having etch barrier layers
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for fabricating a microelectromechanical systems device. The method comprises fabricating a first layer comprising a film having a characteristic electromechanical response, and a characteristic optical response, wherein the characteristic optical response is desirable and the characteristic electromechanical response is undesirable; and modifying the characteristic electromechanical response of the first layer by at least reducing charge build up thereon during activation of the micro electromechanical systems device.
US08368113B2 Light emitting device and lighting apparatus
According to one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a ceramics substrate, a metallic thermally-conductive layer formed on the substrate in which the substrate involves no electric connection, a light emitting element mounted on the metallic thermally-conductive layer, and a metallic bonding layer interposed between the metallic thermally-conductive layer and the light emitting element to bond the light emitting element to the metallic thermally-conductive layer.
US08368106B2 Gradient composite material and method of manufacturing the same
Method of manufacturing gradient composite material comprises steps of providing plural surface modified inorganic nanoparticles with functional groups or oligomers with functional groups; transferring the surface modified inorganic nanoparticles or oligomers with functional groups into an organic matrix to form a mixture; performing a photo polymerization step or a thermo-polymerization step for polymerizing and generating a gradient distribution of the surface modified inorganic nanoparticles or oligomers with functional groups in the mixture; and curing the mixture to solidify the organic matrix and form a structure with gradient composite, wherein the organic matrix is transferred into an organic polymer after curing.
US08368099B2 Light emitting device and fabricating method thereof
A light emitting device and a fabricating method thereof are described. The light emitting device includes a substrate, a light emitting chip, a tubular structure, and a fluorescent conversion layer. The tubular structure is formed on a surface of the substrate. The light emitting chip is disposed on the surface of the substrate and is surrounded by the tubular structure. The fluorescent conversion layer is disposed in the tubular structure and covers the light emitting chip. A ratio of a maximal vertical thickness and a maximal horizontal thickness of the fluorescent conversion layer at the light emitting chip is between 0.1 and 10. A distance for the light ray to pass through the fluorescent conversion layer is controlled by using the tubular structure, so as to solve a problem of the conventional art that fluorescent powder coating package technique results in non-uniform color temperature of the emitted light.
US08368090B2 Organic light emitting diode display device
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device includes: a base substrate on which OLEDs are formed; an encapsulation substrate disposed on the base substrate to cover the OLEDs; and a bonding member connecting the base substrate and the encapsulating substrate. The base substrate and/or the encapsulation substrate include bonding grooves in which the bonding member is disposed.
US08368071B2 Semiconductor device including a thin film transistor and capacitor
A semiconductor device and a method for preparing the same that can solve crack of a semiconductor film, capacitance electrodes and the like due to stress when forming a source electrode and a drain electrode in a semiconductor device having a thin film transistor and a holding capacitance with three or more capacitance electrodes is provided. Before forming the source electrode and the drain electrode, a crystalline silicon film for relaxing the stress is formed, then a contact hole connecting to the semiconductor film of the thin film transistor is opened, and a metal film to be the source electrode and the drain electrode is formed.
US08368060B2 Light emitting element and light emitting device using the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting element having slight increase in driving voltage with accumulation of light emitting time. Another object of the invention is to provide a light emitting element having slight increase in resistance value with increase in film thickness. A light emitting element of the invention includes a first layer for generating holes, a second layer for generating electrons and a third layer comprising a light emitting substance between first and second electrodes. The first and third layers are in contact with the first and second electrodes, respectively. The second and third layers are connected to each other so as to inject electrons generated in the second layer into the third layer when applying the voltage to the light emitting element such that a potential of the second electrode is higher than that of the first electrode.
US08368059B2 Light emitting element and light emitting device using the same
An object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting element having slight increase in driving voltage with accumulation of light emitting time. Another object of the invention is to provide a light emitting element having slight increase in resistance value with increase in film thickness. A light emitting element of the invention includes a first layer for generating holes, a second layer for generating electrons and a third layer comprising a light emitting substance between first and second electrodes. The first and third layers are in contact with the first and second electrodes, respectively. The second and third layers are connected to each other so as to inject electrons generated in the second layer into the third layer when applying the voltage to the light emitting element such that a potential of the second electrode is higher than that of the first electrode.
US08368058B2 Photoelectric conversion element and imaging device
A photoelectric conversion element includes, in the following order: a substrate; a lower electrode containing titanium nitride; an organic layer including a photoelectric conversion layer; and an upper electrode containing a transparent electrode material.
US08368049B2 Nanowire transistor and method for fabricating the same
A nanowire transistor according to the present invention includes: at least one nanowire 13 including a core portion 13a that functions as a channel region and an insulating shell portion 13b that covers the surface of the core portion 13a; source and drain electrodes 14 and 15, which are connected to the nanowire 13; and a gate electrode 21 for controlling conductivity in at least a part of the core portion 13a of the nanowire 13. The core portion 13a is made of semiconductor single crystals including Si and has a cross section with a curved profile on a plane that intersects with the longitudinal axis thereof. The insulating shell portion 13b is made of an insulator including Si and functions as at least a portion of a gate insulating film.
US08368039B2 EUV light source glint reduction system
An apparatus includes a light source having a gain medium for producing an amplified light beam of a source wavelength along a beam path to irradiate a target material in a chamber and to generate extreme ultraviolet light; and a subsystem overlying at least a portion of an internal surface of the chamber and configured to reduce a flow of light at the source wavelength from the internal surface back along the beam path.
US08368030B2 Charged particle beam exposure system and beam manipulating arrangement
A beam manipulating arrangement for a multi beam application using charged particles comprises a multi-aperture plate having plural apertures traversed by beams of charged particles. A frame portion of the multi-aperture plate is heated to reduce temperature gradients within the multi-aperture plate. Further, a heat emissivity of a surface of the multi-aperture plate may be higher in some regions as compared to other regions in view of also reducing temperature gradients.
US08368029B2 Methods and systems of combining magnetic resonance and nuclear imaging
A multi-modality imaging system for imaging of an object under study, e.g., a whole body or parts of the body of animals such as humans, other primates, swine, dogs, or rodents, that includes a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a cadmium zinc telluride (CZT)-family semiconductor, single-photon imaging apparatus within a magnetic field produced by the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus such that sequential or simultaneous imaging can be done with the two modalities using the same support bed of the object under study in the same, uninterrupted imaging session.
US08368028B2 Solid-state image pickup device
A solid-state image pickup device 1 includes a semiconductor substrate 3A having a pixel array 10A with pixels arrayed in M rows and NA columns, a semiconductor substrate 3B having a pixel array 10B with pixels arrayed in M rows and NB columns, and a first column of which is arranged along an NA-th column of the pixel array 10A, and a signal output section 20. The signal output section 20 outputs digital values corresponding to the respective columns from the first column to the n-th column (2≦n
US08368027B2 Radiation detection apparatus and radiographic imaging system
A radiation detection apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels each including a conversion element which converts incident radiation into a charge, a switching element which transfers the charge, and an interlayer insulation film disposed between the conversion element and the switching element, a gate line to drive the switching element, and a signal line located to intersect with the gate line and configured to read out the charge transferred from the switching element, wherein Ca≧∈0×∈×S/d and 7d≦P/2 is satisfied, where P is a pixel pitch, Ca is a sum total of coupling capacitances between the signal line and the gate line, S is an overlapping area of the signal line and the conversion element, d is a thickness of the interlayer insulation film, ∈ is a relative dielectric constant of the interlayer insulation film, and ∈0 is a vacuum dielectric constant.
US08368026B2 Scintillator for an imaging device, scintillator module, imaging device with such a scintillator and method of manufacturing a scintillator
A scintillator for an imaging device includes a plate made of a material capable of emitting photons according to an incident radiation. The scintillator further includes at least one block of a second material capable of emitting photons according to the incident radiation. The plate and the block are assembled via the edge of the plate by connecting means that absorbs all or some of the photons emitted by the plate and the block. A scintillator module and an imaging device with such a scintillator, and a method of manufacturing a scintillator are also disclosed.
US08368014B2 Ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer
A technique for improving the mass-resolving power of an ion trap time-of-flight mass spectrometer is provided. At the final stage of a cooling process before the ejection of ions from an ion trap, the frequency of a rectangular-wave voltage applied to a ring electrode of the ion trap is increased for a few to several cycles. This operation reduces the confining potential depth of the ion trap and decelerates the captured ions. The turn-around time of the ions is shortened when the rectangular-wave voltage is halted and an accelerating electric field is created. Thus, the variation in the time of flight of the ions with the same mass-to-charge ratio is reduced. The time for increasing the frequency is determined so that a spread of the ions because of the depth reduction of the confining potential will fall within the range that can be corrected in the time-of-flight mass spectrometer.
US08368011B2 Ion detector
By detecting water clusters in expiration with high sensitivity, prevention of drink-driving and prevention of drowsy driving are performed. Also, device operation is performed in a non-contact manner. Problem: an effective method for prevention of drink-driving and prevention of drowsy driving for drivers has not been present. Effect: expiration can be sensed in a spatially-restricted place.
US08368008B2 Optical trapping methods and apparatus employing one or more Fresnel zone plates
Methods and apparatus (1100) for trapping fluid-borne object(s) (212) using one or more Fresnel zone plates (202) located in proximity to a fluid medium (208). Optical tweezers based on one or more Fresnel zone plates may be integrated with a microfluidic structure (e.g., chambers, channels) (1104) of various geometries so as to form one or more optical traps (215) within a fluid medium contained by the microfluidic structure(s). Three-dimensional trapping of objects can be obtained with stiffness comparable to that of conventional optical tweezers based on a microscope objective. In one example, a single Fresnel zone plate is particularly configured to form multiple optical traps upon irradiation, so as to trap multiple objects simultaneously. Exemplary applications of the methods and apparatus disclosed herein include determination of various fluid medium properties (e.g., velocity, refractive index, viscosity, temperature, pH) and object sorting.
US08368007B2 Component for and method of sealing an internal optical compartment, and shock mounting a window, of an imaging reader
An imaging reader for electro-optically reading a target by image capture includes a window supported by a housing, a chassis mounted in the housing and having chassis walls bounding an optical compartment, and an imaging module in the optical compartment for capturing return light from the target through the window. A component seals the optical compartment and protects the window from shock forces. The component is mounted between the window and the chassis walls bounding an opening into the optical compartment, and surrounds a periphery of the window. The component is constituted of a compressible material that is compressed between the window and the chassis walls to isolate and seal the optical compartment from the housing.
US08368003B2 Image-capturing module for simplifying optical component and reducing assembly time
An image-capturing module for simplifying optical component and reducing assembly time includes a substrate unit, an image-capturing unit, a cover unit, a light-emitting unit and an optical imaging unit. The image-capturing unit has at least one image-capturing element electrically disposed on the substrate unit. The cover unit has at least one cover element disposed on the substrate unit and covering the image-capturing element, and the cover element has an opening for exposing the image-capturing element. The light-emitting unit has at least one light-emitting element electrically disposed on the substrate unit. The optical imaging unit has a light-guiding element disposed on the cover element for receiving light beams generated by the light-emitting element and an imaging element connected with the light-guiding element and disposed in the opening of the covering element. The light-guiding element and the imaging element are integrated with each other to form one piece.
US08367987B2 Flexible PTC heating element and method of manufacturing the heating element
The flexible PTC heating element according to the invention has one of the following constitutions. A portion of an electrodes and a PTC resistor is impregnated into a flexible substrate. A flexible substrate is made of resin foam or rubber material having a concave/convex shape formed on the surface. The flexible PTC heating element has an elongation deformation portion disposed to at least one of an electrode and a PTC resistor. A flexible substrate has adhesiveness and either a flexible substrate or a flexible cover material has an elongation control portion. Therefore, the flexible PTC heating element is highly flexible and excellent in vibration durability.
US08367986B2 Heating element
A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) superimposed impedance polymeric (SIP) compound including an electrically insulating matrix essentially consisting of a siloxane polymer in addition to first and second electrically conductive particles having different properties with respect to surface energies and electrical conductivities. A multi-layered, ZPZ, foil including a PTC SIP compound of the invention present between two metal foils, thereby forming a conductive composite body. A multi-layered device, including an essentially flat composite body made up from a PTC SIP compound according to the invention, two electrode layers adhering to the surfaces of the composite body, the electrode layers being metal foils prepared to connect to electrodes.
US08367975B2 Temperature adjustment method
A temperature adjustment method is provided to improve operating efficiency and reduce costs. Control of a heating unit in a thermal processing system including a heating control section is performed based on a first output control pattern obtained by subjecting a detection temperature provided by a first temperature detecting unit to an integral operation, a differential operation, and a proportional operation under a condition of a first set of temperature-setting conditions, a second output control pattern obtained by determining a first heat quantity in a period from the start of an increase in temperature detected by a second temperature detecting unit until the temperature inside the processing chamber reaches a maximum temperature, and using a second heat quantity obtained by subtracting the part of the output provided by the proportional operation from the first heat quantity.
US08367970B2 Laser machining with laser power controlled as a function of laser motion
A method and device (1) for laser machining vehicle bodies or body parts (2) uses a laser beam (14) that is guided from a laser source (13) to a remote laser tool (15) on a robot hand by a guiding device (16). The robot (4) maintains the laser tool (15) in a suspended manner over the tool (2), at a focal length (F) and at a contact free distance and guides it along a machining path (30). The laser beam (14) is deviated, by movement of the hand axis (IV, V, VI), about a variable deviation angle (α), and the laser source (13), whose power is variable, is controlled according to the movement of the laser beam. The beam deviation of the hand axis (IV, V, VI) can be superimposed on an offset movement of the robot (4).
US08367966B2 Ceramic plasma reactor and reaction apparatus
The ceramic plasma reactor includes: a plurality of unit electrodes each of which comprises a plate-shaped ceramic dielectric body 4 and a conductive film 3 embedded in the ceramic dielectric body superimposing them each other with a gap which works as a discharge portion 11, and preferably being formed by sandwiching one unit electrode 2b having no through holes 15 by two unit electrodes having plural through holes 2a there between. A partition wall plate 9 is provided by facing one of unit electrodes on a side opposite to the gap and being held by a holding member 7 at a predetermined distance so as to form there between a gas introducing-circulating portion 21 for introducing and circulating gas in the through-holes 15 so as to send gas introduced to the gap between the unit electrodes as a discharge portion by applying a voltage thereto to generate plasma.
US08367961B2 Ground peg, and device and method for the production thereof
The invention relates to a ground peg (10) which is made from a steel tube (11) and comprises an upper cylindrical section (12), a lower section (16) that tapers towards the bottom to form a tip (14), and an external thread (26) that extends along at least part of the lower section (16) and is formed from a continuous sheet metal strip (28) welded onto an external surface (32) of the ground peg (10) by means of a continuous or regularly interrupted fillet weld (34). The external thread (26) has a nearly constant pitch (S) and slope (a) relative to a longitudinal axis (40) of the ground peg (10) along the entire length of the external thread (26). The invention further relates to a method or producing such a ground peg (10). In said method, the external thread (26) is laterally fed to the external surface (32) of the rotating steel tube as an elongate sheet metal strip (28) and is welded onto said external surface (32), the steel tube (11) being moved relative to the feeding point of the sheet metal strip (28) at a regular advance (V) in the longitudinal direction of the steel tube (11). The invention finally relates to a device for producing such a ground peg (10). Said device comprises a mechanism for clamping and rotating the steel tube as well as a mechanism (44) for feeding the sheet metal strip (28) to the external surface (32) of the steel tube (11) such that the sheet metal strip (28) tangentially rests there against.
US08367943B2 Multilayered printed wiring board
A multilayered printed wiring board has a core substrate having a through hole opening with a radius R, a through hole structure formed at the through hole opening and including a lid-shaped conductive structure, a first interlaminar resin insulation layer formed over the core substrate and having a first via hole structure with a bottom radius r, and a second interlaminar resin insulation layer formed over the first interlaminar resin insulation layer and having a second via hole structure. The lid-shaped conductive structure is formed over the core substrate at an end portion of the through-hole opening and covering the end portion of the through-hole opening. The first via hole structure is formed on the lid-shaped conductive structure and has an electroless plated film and an electrolytic plated film. The second via hole structure has an electroless plated film and an electrolytic plated film. The first via hole has a gravity center at or beyond a radius D, where D=(R−r/3) and the radius D is measured from a gravity center of the through-hole opening, and the bottom radius r of the first via hole is larger than a bottom radius of the second via hole.
US08367939B2 Interconnect substrate, method of manufacturing interconnect substrate and semiconductor device
Embodiments of the invention provide an interconnect substrate capable of improving the connection reliability and yield of a semiconductor device, a method of manufacturing the interconnect substrate, and a semiconductor device using the interconnect substrate. An interconnect substrate according to an embodiment of the invention includes: a substrate; an electrode pad formed over the substrate; an insulating film (solder resist film) formed over the substrate; an opening formed in the insulating film, in which the upper surface of the electrode pad is exposed on the bottom surface of the opening and a metal film formed over the upper surface of the electrode pad and side surface of the insulating film in the opening. At least a portion of the edge of an upper surface of the metal film is higher than the other portions of the upper surface of the metal film.
US08367938B2 Method of bonding core wires to electrodes and electronic unit formed by bonding electrodes and core wires
A method of bonding electrodes and core wires capable of shortening the operation time and improving the bonding strength and an electronic unit formed by bonding the electrodes and the core wires are intended to be provided.After supplying a thermosetting resin 8a incorporated with solider particles 7a so as to cover a plurality of electrodes 3 on a substrate 2, arranging each of core wires 6 while opposing vertically to each of the electrodes 3 above the substrate 2, locating a sheet member 11 above the core wires 6, hot pressing each of the core wires 6 and the thermosetting resin 8a by way of the sheet member 11 by hot press bonding tool 12 from above the sheet member 11 to thermally cure the thermosetting resin 8a and melt the solder particles 7a contained in the thermosetting resin 8a, detaching the hot press bonding tool 12 from the thermally cured product 8 of the thermosetting resin 8a, bonding the core wires 6 and the electrodes 3 by the solidification product 7 of solder formed by solidification of a molten product of the solder particles (molten solder 7b) and, finally, peeling the sheet member 11 from the thermally cured product 8.
US08367928B2 Waterproof mechanism and electronic device having the same
A waterproof mechanism includes a housing having a base wall, at least one door plate, a first waterproof seal, and at least one return spring. The base wall is formed with an opening. The door plate is connected movably to the base wall for closing the opening in the base wall. The door plate is pushable to perform a motion relative to the base wall to thereby open the opening. The first waterproof seal is disposed between the base wall and the door plate and around the opening so as to establish a water-tight seal between the base wall and the door plate. The return spring is disposed between the base wall and the door plate for biasing the door plate to close the opening.
US08367925B2 Light-electricity conversion device
Light-electricity conversion devices based on II-VI semiconductor materials are provided. The light-electricity conversion devices are able to cover a wide spectrum range.
US08367921B2 Method and system for assessing a musical performance
The invention relates to a method and system for assessing a performance of a musical composition in relation to a model performance of the same composition. In particular, as even a model performance does not follow a score of a composition precisely, the present invention initially correlates the model performance to a score of the performed composition. This allows for an accurate assessment of the timing of the assessable performance, relative to the timing of the model performance. The invention is of particular use where the assessable performance is performed along with the model performance, but the two performances are remote from each other.
US08367918B2 TRSeries drum rack system-acoustic and/or electronic drum mounting rack with eight-sided piping and interlocking clamps
One embodiment of a drum rack system device of the type having an octagonal rail member (1), has internal muffling or foam (2), attached to a clamping body (3), and is secured with a screw (4). The clamping body (3) is secured to a clamping arm (6) with a pin (5). The clamping body (3) contains housing for a swiveling t-nut (8). A tension rod (9) will pass through a concave washer (10). In addition, a cylinder (11) will pass through a hole in an easy locking lever (12) and the tension rod (9) will pass through and screw into the swiveling hardware (8). The completed assembly will clamp on to a round tube leg rack, allow height adjustability, and fold up with a flip of an easy locking lever. There is a raised-geared teeth (13) design on the top and bottom face of the clamp portions that will interlock at various and precise angles with other geared clamps. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US08367916B2 Marching percussionist practice pad with structure that emulates a drum
Improvements in a drum practice pad are disclosed. The practice pad is intended for use with a mobile or shoulder mounted percussion instrument carrier or with a stand configured for use with a percussion instrument. The practice pad incorporates most or all of the geometry of a drum that is addressed by a player. This geometry includes a portion of the striking surface, and a portion of the drum rim. The sticking surface is adjustable within the portion of the drum rim to match the central playing area and the height of the playing surface to the rim of the drum. The assembly allows for attachment or mounting and use of a practice pad from a third party. The strike location of the practice pad is adjustable to simulate different diameter drums. The incorporation of the drum rim allows players to practice rim shots.
US08367914B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH694532
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH694532. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH694532, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH694532 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH694532.
US08367910B1 Maize variety hybrid X05A931
A novel maize variety designated X05A931 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X05A931 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05A931 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05A931, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05A931. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05A931.
US08367907B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH572389
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH572389. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH572389, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH572389 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH572389.
US08367906B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV774864
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV774864. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV774864, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV774864 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV774864 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV774864.
US08367905B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH226366
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH226366. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH226366, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH226366 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH226366.
US08367901B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV242790
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV242790. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV242790, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV242790 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV242790 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV242790.
US08367894B2 Transgenic plants with increased stress tolerance and yield
Polynucleotides are disclosed which are capable of enhancing a growth, yield under water-limited conditions, and/or increased tolerance to an environmental stress of a plant transformed to contain such polynucleotides. Also provided are methods of using such polynucleotides and transgenic plants and agricultural products, including seeds, containing such polynucleotides as transgenes.
US08367891B2 N-terminal XA27 signal anchor and its use for localization of fusion proteins
The present application is directed to a functional signal anchor that localizes a fusion protein to the apoplast of vascular elements in plants. The signal anchor is useful for engineering secretory proteins to the cell wall and or/apoplast of plant cells. The signal anchor is also useful for producing secretory proteins in transgenic plant cells in a bioreactor.
US08367889B2 Plants and seeds of corn variety CV352638
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV352638. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV352638, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV352638 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV352638 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV352638.
US08367882B2 Synthesis of liquid fuels and chemicals from oxygenated hydrocarbons
Processes and reactor systems are provided for the conversion of oxygenated hydrocarbons to hydrocarbons, ketones, cyclic ethers and alcohols useful as liquid fuels, such as gasoline, jet fuel or diesel fuel, and industrial chemicals. The process involves the conversion of oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, furans, carboxylic acids, diols, triols, and/or other polyols, to C4+ hydrocarbons, cyclic ethers, alcohols and/or ketones, by condensation and/or deoxygenation. The oxygenated hydrocarbons may originate from any source, but are preferably derived from biomass.
US08367876B2 Method for producing polyether
A method wherein the separability between a polyether phase and a water phase is improved when a water-soluble compound is extracted and removed from a polyether containing the water-soluble compound with water is provided. The method comprises producing a polyether including a step of extracting and removing a water-soluble compound from a polyether containing the water-soluble compound with water, wherein the step includes at least an operation of separating a water phase from a polyether phase at a temperature of 50° C.
US08367873B2 Phenyl-substituted bicyclooctane-1,3-dione derivatives
The invention relates to novel compounds of the formula (I) in which X, Y, Z, A, B and G have the meanings given above, to a plurality of processes and intermediates for their preparation and to their use as pesticides and/or herbicides. Moreover, the invention relates to selective herbicidal compositions comprising, firstly, the phenyl-substituted bicyclooctane-1,3-dione derivates 33 and, secondly, a crop plant compatibility-improving compound.The present invention furthermore relates to increasing the activity of crop protection compositions comprising in particular phenyl-substituted bicyclooctane-1,3-dione derivates by adding ammonium salts or phosphonium salts and, if appropriate, penetrants, to the corresponding compositions, to processes for their preparation and to their use in crop protection as insecticides and/or acaricides and/or for preventing unwanted plant growth.
US08367872B2 Close-bonded diffractive optical element, optical material used therefor, resin precursor, and resin precursor composition
To obtain a close-contact multi-layer type diffractive optical element having a homogeneous high-refractive-index and low-dispersion resin layer, an acrylate-terminated oligomer, obtained by allowing excess bifunctional acrylate to react with bifunctional thiol, is used as a resin precursor for the high-refractive-index and low-dispersion resin layer.
US08367870B2 Autocatalytic polyols
The present invention provides polymeric polyol compositions employing polyol compounds having multiple tertiary amine groups. Methods of making these compositions are also disclosed. Polyol formulations containing these polymeric polyol compositions and methods of making polyurethane gel and foam employing such polymeric polyol compositions are also provided.
US08367866B2 Single-source precursor and methods therefor
A single-source precursor composition includes R3B.NX3, where B is boron, N is nitrogen, and the R groups and the X groups are selected from hydrogen, alkyl groups, and aryl groups. At least one of the R groups is an alkyl group or an aryl group.
US08367836B2 Pyridinone antagonists of alpha-4 integrins
The present invention provides compounds that are alpha4 integrin antagonists having a structure according to the following formula: or a tautomer, mixture of tautomers, salt or solvate thereof, wherein Cy, ring A, m, n, p, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are defined in the specification. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds of the invention as well as methods of making and using the compounds and compositions of the invention, e.g., in the treatment and prevention of various conditions and disorders, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
US08367834B2 Process for preparing Montelukast and salts thereof
A method for the preparation of montelukast and salts thereof has been described. The method comprises of following steps: (a) (S)-1-(3-((E)-2-(7-chloroquinolin-2-yl)vinyl)phenyl)-3-(2-isopropenylphenyljpropyl methane sulphonate (styrene mesylate salt) (b) coupling with 1-(mercaptomethyl)cyclopropane acetic acid followed by salification with an amine gives styrene amine salt (c) Converting styrene amine salt to Montelukast amine salt (d) Converting Montelukast amine salt to Montelukast free acid and or its required alkali/alkaline salt.
US08367829B2 Bi-functional pyrazolopyridine compounds
This invention provides compounds of the formula: wherein X is wherein R1 and R2 together with the phenyl to which they are bound may form a bicyclic, fused heterocyclic ring and all other variables are as defined herein, their use in pulmonary inflammation or bronchoconstriction therapy and compositions comprising and processes for preparing the same are provided.
US08367819B2 Synthesis of caprolactam from lysine
In various embodiments, the present invention can involve a method of synthesizing α-amino-ε-caprolactam. The method can comprise heating a salt of L-lysine in a solvent comprising an alcohol. In other embodiments, the present invention can involve methods for synthesizing ε-caprolactam. The methods can comprise heating a salt of L-lysine in a solvent comprising an alcohol and deaminating the reaction product. In various embodiments, the invention can include methods of converting biomass into nylon 6. The methods can comprise heating L-lysine in a solvent comprising an alcohol to produce α-amino-εcaprolactam, deaminating to produce ε-caprolactam and polymerizing into nylon 6, wherein the L-lysine is derived from the biomass. In other embodiments, the present invention can include methods of making nylon 6. The methods can comprise synthesizing ε-caprolactam and then polymerizing, wherein the ε-caprolactam is derived from L-lysine.
US08367816B2 Compositions and methods for the treatment of sepsis and other disorders involving phospholipase A2 induction
The present invention provides antisense oligomers to PLA2 to inhibit PLA2 protein expression and enzyme activity, and to treat diseases and disorders associated with induced expression of PLA2. In particular, the invention provides for the simultaneous inhibition of cPLA2 and sPLA2.
US08367815B2 Modular polynucleotides for ligand-controlled regulatory systems
The invention provides an improved design for the construction of extensible nucleic acid-based, ligand-controlled regulatory systems, and the nucleic acid regulatory systems resulting therefrom. The invention contemplates improving the design of the switches (ligand-controlled regulatory systems) through the design of an information transmission domain (ITD). The improved ITD eliminates free-floating ends of the switching and the competing strands, and localizes competitive hybridization events to a contiguous strand of competing and switching strands in a strand-displacement mechanism-based switch, thereby improving the kinetics of strand-displacement. The improved regulatory systems have many uses in various biological systems, including gene expression control or ligand-concentration sensing.
US08367810B2 Purified plasmodium and vaccine compositions
Disclosed are substantially purified Plasmodium sporozoites and preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites substantially separated from attendant non-sporozoite material, where the preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites have increasing levels of purity. Vaccines and pharmaceutical compositions comprising purified Plasmodium sporozoites are likewise provided. Methods of purifying preparations of Plasmodium sporozoites are also provided.
US08367808B2 Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting whipworm
Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting the presence or absence of whipworm in a fecal sample are disclosed herein. The methods, devices, kits and compositions of the present invention may be used to confirm the presence or absence of whipworm in a fecal sample from a mammal that may also be infected with one or more of hookworm, roundworm, and heartworm. Confirmation of the presence or absence of whipworm in the mammal may be made, for example, for the purpose of selecting an optimal course of treating the mammal and/or for the purpose of determining whether the mammal has been rid of the infection after treatment has been initiated.
US08367807B2 Compositions and methods for diagnosis, prognosis and management of malaria
Biomarkers for predicting the severity of malaria and methods for their detection are disclosed. In one aspect, the present application discloses CXCL4, CXCL10, VEGF, PGDF, IL-1Ra, IL-8, MIP-1β, sFas, Fas-L, sTNF-R2, and sTNF-R1 as biomarkers for the severity of malaria. In another aspect, the present application discloses a method for determining the severity of malaria and predicting mortality due to cerebral malaria. The method comprises the detection of the biomarkers CXCL4 and/or CXCL10 and at least one more biomarker and determining the severity of malaria and predicting mortality due to cerebral malaria based upon the ratio of expression of the biomarkers in the subject versus the expression of the biomarkers in a control.
US08367805B2 Fc variants with altered binding to FcRn
The present application relates to a variant Fc region comprising at least one modification relative to a wild-type human Fc region, where the modification selected from the group consisting of 434S, 252Y/428L, 252Y/434S, and 428L/434S, and the numbering is according to the EU index.
US08367796B2 Catalytic polymerization of polymers containing electrophilic linkages using nucleophilic reagents
The disclosure relates to methods and materials useful for polymerizing a monomer. In one embodiment, for example, the disclosure provides a method for polymerizing a monomer containing a plurality of electrophilic groups, wherein the method comprises contacting the monomer with a nucleophilic reagent in the presence of a guanidine-containing catalyst. The methods and materials of the disclosure find utility, for example, in the field of materials science.
US08367784B2 Continuous dosing of extremely fast initiators during polymerization reactions
The invention pertains to a process wherein initiators having a half-life from 0.0001 hour to 0.05 hour at the polymerization temperature are dosed to a polymerization mixture. The dosing of such initiator allows improved control of the polymerization rate and faster polymerization rates, and the process will render a polymer with very low residual initiator levels.
US08367780B2 Aliphatic polyester copolymer, method for preparing the same and polylactic acid resin composition using the same
A block or graft copolymer including a thermoplastic resin segment and as an aliphatic polyester segment is provided. The copolymer can be used as a compatibilizer for a resin alloy comprising polylactic acid, which can reduce the consumption of petroleum raw materials.
US08367778B2 Process for the elimination of residual mercaptans from nitrile rubbers
Process for the elimination of residual mercaptans from nitrile rubbers, comprising: a. adding a colloidal emulsion of sulfur to a nitrile latex emulsion (NBR rubber latex) containing free mercaptan and with a pH of between 7 and 14, at a temperature ranging from 30 to 120° C.; b. coagulating the nitrile latex c. washing with demineralized water and drying the NBR rubber recovered after coagulation.
US08367777B2 Adhesive block ethylenic copolymers, cosmetic compositions containing them and cosmetic use of these copolymers
A linear, block copolymer, which is useful in cosmetics and improves the styling power and hold of hair laquer, adhesion of nail varnish and hold/adhesion of makeup, includes at least two blocks having different glass transition temperatures, Tg; where at least one of said blocks has a glass transition temperature of 20° C. to −100° C., and wherein the at least one block having a Tg of 20° C. to −100° C. is a copolymer B having a first monomer wherein the Tg of the corresponding homopolymer is in the range from more than 20° C. to 200° C., and a second monomer wherein the Tg of the corresponding homopolymer is in the range from 20° C. to −100° C.
US08367775B2 Modified conjugated diene-vinyl aromatic copolymer and method for manufacturing the same
A modified conjugated diene-vinyl aromatic copolymer and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The modified conjugated diene-vinyl aromatic copolymer is formed by modifying a conjugated diene-vinyl aromatic copolymer by reacting with a first modifier in a solvent and then reacting with a second modifier. The solvent includes an organic alkali metal initiator.
US08367771B2 Composition for producing organic insulator comprising an organic-inorganic metal hybrid material
A composition for producing an organic insulator is provided which comprises an organic-inorganic hybrid material (as defined). The hybrid material shows high solubility in organic solvents and monomers, and superior adhesion to substrates. In addition, the hybrid material displays a high dielectric constant and a high degree of crosslinking. Based on these advantages, the composition comprising the organic-inorganic hybrid material can be utilized during the fabrication of various electronic devices by a wet process. A method for producing the organic insulator while utilizing the composition also is provided, as well as the resulting organic insulator, and an organic thin film transistor which incorporates the resulting insulating layer.
US08367770B2 Acrylate-vinyl aromatic-unsaturated nitrile graft copolymer with excellent impact strength, colorability, and weatherability, and thermoplastic resin composition containing the same
One aspect of the invention relates to an acrylate-vinyl aromatic-unsaturated nitrile graft copolymer. The acrylate-vinyl aromatic-unsaturated nitrile graft copolymer can include: a double layered rubbery polymer comprising an inner core layer of alkylacrylate-vinyl aromatic copolymer and an outer core layer of alkylacrylate polymer; and a vinyl aromatic-unsaturated nitrile copolymer shell layer grafted onto the double layered rubbery polymer. Another aspect of the invention relates to a weatherable thermoplastic resin composition including the foregoing acrylate-vinyl aromatic-unsaturated nitrile graft copolymer.
US08367769B2 Silicon-based nanosilicon composites and fabrication methods
Embodiments of the invention provide silicon-based nanoparticle composites, where the silicon nanoparticles are highly luminescent. Preferred embodiments of the invention are Si—O solid composite networks, e.g., glass, having a homogenous distribution of luminescent hydrogen terminated silicon nanoparticles in a homogenous distribution throughout the solid. Embodiments of the invention also provide fabrication processes for silicon-based silicon nanoparticle composites. A preferred method for forming a silicon-based nanoparticle composite disperses hydrogen terminated silicon nanoparticles and an inorganic precursor of an organosilicon gel in an aprotic solvent to form a sol. A catalyst is mixed into the sol. The sol is then permitted to dry into a gel of the silicon-based nanoparticle composite.
US08367765B2 Conjugated diene-based polymer, conjugated diene-based polymer composition, and process for producing conjugated diene-based polymer
Disclosed are a conjugated diene-based polymer from which a polymer composition excellent in fuel cost-saving properties and elongation at break can be obtained, a polymer composition containing the conjugated diene-based polymer and a reinforcing agent, and a process for producing the conjugated diene-based polymer. There is provided a conjugated diene-based polymer having a conjugated diene unit, a monomer unit based on a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a monomer unit based on a compound represented by the following formula (2). wherein R11 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group, m is 0 or 1, R12 represents a hydrocarbylene group, and X1, X2 and X3 each independently represent a substituted amino group, or a hydrocarbyl group optionally having a substituent, provided that at least one of X1, X2 and X3 is a substituted amino group. wherein R21 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group, n is 0 or 1, R22 represents a hydrocarbylene group, and A represents a substituted amino group, or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group.
US08367756B2 Stabilized coating dispersions for porous inkjet recording media
The invention relates to an inkjet-recording element comprising a support and at least one coated ink-receiving layer, wherein the ink-receiving layer comprises silica particles, optional hydrophilic polymeric binder, and a combination of surfactants, including a fluorosurfactant and a non-fluorine-containing non-ionic surfactant. Also disclosed is a coating composition for such an inkjet recording element. The invention can provide improved image quality (reduced coalescence) of the inkjet recording element or increased stability of the coating composition.
US08367743B2 Adhesion promoting photoinitiators for UV cured coatings over metal surfaces
Compounds containing both photoinitiator moieties and adhesion promoting moieties and coating formulations containing them are disclosed, in particular, durable UV cured primer layers for coil coatings. One embodiment includes a coated metal surface which comprises a metal substrate with at least one surface immediately adjacent to a coating layer comprising a photoinitiator chemically bound to an adhesion promoter is disclosed.
US08367741B2 Biomass high efficiency hydrothermal reformer
A method of producing synthesis gas by mixing a carbonaceous feed comprising at least one carbonaceous material with superheated steam to produce a reformer feedstock and reforming the reformer feedstock to produce a first synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide by introducing the reformer feedstock into a plurality of coiled tubes within a reformer at a reformer temperature and a reformer pressure at which at least a portion of the reformer feedstock is converted to synthesis gas.
US08367736B2 Anticancer composition comprising obovatol or obovatal
Disclosed herein is an anticancer composition, comprising obovatol, represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, obovatal, represented by the following Chemical Formula 2, and/or pharmaceutical salts thereof. The composition exhibits the activity of inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and suppressing the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and thus can be useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of cancer as well as for the inhibition of cancer metastasis.
US08367733B2 Infiltration of capsaicin into surgical sites and open wounds
The present invention is directed to methods for attenuating pain associated with a surgical site or an open wound by administration of single doses of a capsaicinoid formulation in proximity to a surgical site or wound opening.
US08367731B2 Peritoneal dialysis fluid
The present invention concerns a peritoneal dialysis fluid with enhanced ultrafiltration during the dialysis dwell period. According to the present invention this is achieved by a peritoneal dialysis fluid comprising sodium ions, osmotic agent and a buffer, characterised in that it comprises citrate at a level of 4 to 10 mM in a final solution ready for use.
US08367728B2 Production of peracids using an enzyme having perhydrolysis activity
A process is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters. More specifically, carboxylic acid esters are reacted with an inorganic peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolysis activity. The present perhydrolase catalysts are classified as members of the carbohydrate esterase family 7 (CE-7) based on the conserved structural features. Further, disinfectant formulations comprising the peracids produced by the processes described herein are provided.
US08367725B2 Composition and/or method for preventing onset and/or recurrence of cardiovascular events
Provided are composition and/or methods useful in preventing onset and/or recurrence of cardiovascular events, especially in patients who have escaped the unstable period after cardiovascular angioplasty or in hyperlipidemia patients who have been treated with HMG-CoA RI.
US08367719B2 Aryl-substituted bridged or fused diamines as modulators of leukotriene A4 hydrolase
Aryl-substituted bridged or fused diamine compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods of using the compounds and the pharmaceutical compositions for leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H or LTA4H) modulation and for the treatment of disease states, disorders, and conditions mediated by LTA4H activity, such as allergy, asthma, autoimmune diseases, pruritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis and prevention of myocardial infarction.
US08367714B2 Cannabinoid receptor targeted agent
Compounds of the following formula: wherein X is H or substituted with with at least one X being substituted; and halo is fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine; and stereoisomers and conjugable analogs thereof.
US08367711B2 Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
A compound having the structure wherein R is, for example, Y is selected from the group consisting of 1) R5, 2) —C(R1R2) (C(R3R4))0-1Y1R5, and 3) —C(R1R2)—O—Y1R5; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-4 alkyl; R5 is; Y1 is selected from the group consisting of C(O)—O— and P(O)(OR6)—O—; and R6 is hydrogen or CH3, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and methods of using the compounds for treating hypertension.
US08367709B2 Dipeptide analogs as coagulation factor inhibitors
Disclosed are novel dipeptide analogs compounds of Formula (I), (II) or (III): or a stereoisomer, a tautomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a solvate, or a prodrug thereof, which are inhibitors of factor XIa and/or plasma kallikrein, compositions containing them, and methods of using them, for example, for the treatment or prophylaxis of thrombotic diseases.
US08367708B2 Phenyl-isoxazol-3-ol derivative
The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I), which has a GPR120 agonist action and thus is useful for treatment of diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. In the formula, (AA) represents a phenyl or the like, which may be substituted with a lower alkoxy group or the like; (BB) represents a divalent group or the like, derived by removal of two hydrogen atoms from a benzene which may be substituted with a halogen atom or the like; X represents a spacer having a main chain composed of 1-8 carbon atoms wherein 1-3 carbon atoms in the main chain may be substituted with an oxygen atom or the like; and Y represents a hydrogen atom or the like.
US08367705B2 Iminosugars and methods of treating bunyaviral and togaviral diseases
Provided are novel methods of treating and/or preventing a disease or condition caused by or associated with a virus belonging to the Bunyaviridae or Togaviridae family using iminosugars, such as DNJ derivatives.
US08367703B2 Method of treating a sore throat
A composition comprising an antacid, and a local, topical anesthetic. The composition is used to relieve pain or discomfort associated with a sore throat, and therefore, the invention is also directed to a method of alleviating the pain or discomfort associated with a sore throat comprising instructing a human to orally administer the composition.
US08367702B2 Quinolone derivative
As a result of extensive studies on NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitors, the present inventors found that a quinolone derivative having, at the 2-position, an alkyl group substituted with a heteroatom or the like has an excellent NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitory activity, and accomplished the present invention. The compound of the present invention has a reactive oxygen species production inhibitory activity based on the NAD(P)H oxidase inhibitory activity, and therefore can be used as an agent for preventing and/or treating diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver, diabetic complications and the like.
US08367701B2 Crystalline pharmaceutical and methods of preparation and use thereof
Novel crystalline polymorphic forms, Forms A, B, C, D, and E of a compound of Formula I, which has been found to be a potent inhibitor of LFA-1, are disclosed. Methods of preparation and uses thereof in the treatment of LFA-1 mediated diseases are also disclosed in this invention.
US08367700B2 Substituted 4-(1.2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-2-yl)-4-oxobutyric acid amide as KCNQ2/3 modulators
The invention relates to substituted tetrahydroisoquinolinyl-4-oxobutyric acid amides, methods for the preparation thereof, medicinal products containing these compounds and the use of these compounds for the preparation of medicinal products.
US08367698B2 3-substituted sulfonyl piperidine derivative
[Problem] There is provided a compound useful as a preventive or remedy for cardiovascular disease, neurologic disease, metabolic disease, reproductive disease, and digestive disease.[Means for Resolution] A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof represented by the following Formula (I) wherein Z represents wherein n1, n2, and n3 are 0, 1, or 2, respectively; R1 represents C1-6 alkyl, C3-8 cycloalkyl, or the like; R2 represents aryl or heteroaryl; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl, or the like; and M1, M2, M3, and M4 independently represent a hydrogen atom, C1-6 alkyl, or the like, or M1, together with M2, M3, or M4, forms —CH2— or the like.
US08367674B2 Piperazine derivatives
This invention relates to novel compounds that are piperazine derivatives, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to novel piperazine compounds that are derivatives of the chemokine CCR5 receptor antagonist, vicriviroc. This invention also provides pyrogen-free compositions comprising one or more compounds of the invention and a carrier and the use of the disclosed compounds and compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are treated by administering chemokine CCR5 receptor antagonists, such as vicriviroc. The invention also relates to the use of one or more of the disclosed compounds as reagents in analytical studies involving vicriviroc.
US08367666B2 3-carbamoyl-2-pyridone derivatives
The present invention provides compounds having an agonistic activity to the cannabinoid receptor, which is represented by the formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and G are defined as herein, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions, atopic dermatitis treating agents, and anti-pruritus agents, especially anti-pruritus agents for oral used and for external application, which each contains the said compound as an active ingredient.
US08367664B2 Substituted 3-(5-membered unsaturated heterocyclyl-1, 3-dihydro-indol-2-one's and derivatives thereof as kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to organic molecules capable of modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction in order to regulate, modulate and/or inhibit abnormal cell proliferation.
US08367663B2 Phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors with a zinc binding moiety
The instant application relates to deazapurines, thienopyrimidines and furopyrimidines with zinc-binding moiety based derivatives and their use in the treatment of phosphoinositide 3-kinase related diseases and disorders such as cancer. The instant application further relates to the the treatment of histone deacetylase related disorders and diseases related to both histone deacetylase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase.
US08367662B2 Organic compounds
Compounds of formula I: in free or salt or solvate form, where R1, R2, R3 and R20 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating diseases mediated by the ALK-5 and/or ALK-4 receptor. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds are also described. These compounds are useful for the treatment of inflammatory or obstructive airways diseases such as pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, liver fibrosis, cancer, muscle diseases such as muscle atrophies and muscle dystrophies, and systemic skeletal disorders such as osteoporosis.
US08367660B2 Modulators of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator
The present invention relates to modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diseases using such CFTR modulators.
US08367656B2 Polymorphs of 7-[(3-chloro-6,11-dihydro-6-methyldibenzo[c,f][1,2]thiazepin-11-yl)amino]heptanoic acid S,S dioxide and methods of making and using the same
Disclosed herein are novel polymorphs of 7-[(3-chloro-6,11-dihydro-6-methyldibenzo[c,f][1,2]thiazepin-11-yl)amino]heptanoic acid S,S-dioxide. Also described herein are novel pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more 7-[(3-chloro-6,11-dihydro-6-methyldibenzo[c,f][1,2]thiazepin-11-yl)amino]heptanoic acid S,S-dioxide polymorphs, methods of making, and related methods of treatment.
US08367642B2 Methods of preventing or treating diseases and conditions using complex carbohydrates
The invention relates to a method of preventing and treating diseases and conditions associated with allergies, autoimmunity, the adhesion cascade, the metastatic cascade or the coronary cascade comprising administering (i) at least one complex carbohydrate as the sole active ingredient, or (ii) at least one pharmaceutical composition which comprises as an active ingredient a pharmacologically effective amount of at least one low purity or cosmetic grade complex carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of oligosaccharides, sialylated oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and glycosaminoglycans, and an effective amount of at least one transdermal or transmucosal carrier in an amount effective to deliver the complex carbohydrate into the blood stream.
US08367638B2 Galactose-pronged polysaccharides in a formulation for antifibrotic therapies
Methods and compositions for reducing fibrosis and cirrhosis are provided in which an effective dose of an admixture of a polysaccharide compound and, for example, a compound selected from the group consisting of antibodies specific to intracellular or cell-surface: (i) beta-PDGF receptors; (ii) synaptophysin; (iii) zvegf3; (iv) CCR1 receptors; (v) connective tissue growth factor; (vi) alpha 1-smooth muscle actin; (vii) matrix metalloproteinases MMP 2 and MMP9; (viii) matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors TIMP1 and TMP2; (ix) integrins; (x) TFG-β1; (xi) endothelin receptor antagonists; and (xii) collagen synthesis and degradation modulating compounds; (xiii) actin synthesis and degradation modulating compounds; and (xiv) tyrosine kinases is administered to an animal in order to treat fibrosis.
US08367630B2 Method for inhibiting expression of a protein in a hepatocyte
A method of screening a candidate compound for susceptibility to biliary excretion by a hepatocyte transport protein. In some embodiments the method can comprise inhibiting expression of the transport protein. Expression of the transport protein can be inhibited through introduction of a RNA having a sequence corresponding to a coding strand of the gene encoding the transport protein into the hepatocyte.
US08367627B2 Focused libraries, functional profiling, laser SELEX, and DESELEX
Focused aptamer libraries are constructed in accordance with a proteome (i.e., complex mixture of native biomolecules). The libraries may be screened to identify one or more candidate aptamers with desired biological activities other than specific binding to a target. Aptamers which are selected or derivatives thereof may be used for those specific activities in biological systems. Any combination of deconvoluting a focused library (functional profiling), increasing frequencies of particular aptamers in a focused library (Laser SELEX), and decreasing frequencies of particular aptamers in a focused library (DeSELEX) may be performed prior to assaying biological activity.
US08367624B2 Treatment of plants, fruits and vegetables to increase growth, eliminate insects and increase shelf-life with aloe vera gel
The present invention includes compositions and methods for the treatment of plants against pathogens, elimination of insects and to increase the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables that includes coating the plant with undiluted aloe vera gel.
US08367609B2 Methods of reducing skin damage and edema
This application features methods of treating (e.g., reducing, ameliorating, or preventing) skin damage (e.g., induced by UVB) by decreasing the level or activity of VEGF-A, e.g., in the skin, of a subject.
US08367608B2 Method for promoting secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 by administering κ-casein
The invention relates to a GLP-1 secretagogue and an inhibitor of postprandial rise in blood glucose, containing κ-casein as an active ingredient, and a food or drink for promoting GLP-1 secretion and an inhibitory food or drink of postprandial rise in blood glucose, containing a milk-derived casein protein wherein κ-casein accounts for 60% by mass or more of the milk-derived casein.
US08367607B2 Oxyntomodulin peptide analogue
The present invention provides an Oxyntomodulin peptide analogue useful in the treatment of diabetes and/or obesity.
US08367606B2 Method and compositions for prevention and treatment of diabetic and aged skin
Method and compositions are provided for treating or preventing a skin pathology or disorder associated with diabetes and/or aging, by topical administration of at least one agent capable of restoring an impaired physiological condition of the skin associated with said skin pathology or disorder. Examples of such agents include PKC modulating agents, various adipokines and insulin signaling related molecules. In particular, restoration of the subcutaneous adipose tissue can overcome many of the diabetic skin pathologies and aging skin disorders and conditions.
US08367605B2 Copolymer-1 improvements in compositions of copolymers
The present invention relates to an improved composition of copolymer-1 comprising copolymer-1 substantially free of species having a molecular weight of over 40 kilodaltons.
US08367602B2 Consensus peptides and a method for inducing biomineralization
The present invention relates to artificial peptides optimized for the induction and/or stimulation of mineralization and/or biomineralization. The invention also relates to the use of these artificial peptides for the induction and/or stimulation of mineralization and/or biomineralization in vivo and in vitro.
US08367595B2 Solid treatment blocks for sanitary appliances
Improved treatment blocks useful in the treatment of lavatory appliances, particularly toilets are provided. The improved treatment blocks are solid block compositions which comprise at least one detersive surfactant, a film forming constituent, optionally a bleach constituent and one or more further optional constituents. The improved treatment blocks provide good detersive characteristics and further provide a film forming material which contacts the surfaces of the lavatory appliance, e.g., toilet, in which the block compositions are used. Methods of producing the solid block composition and treatment blocks therefrom, as well as methods of use are also disclosed.
US08367591B2 Lubricating oil composition
Provided is a lubricating oil composition of an environmental regulation compliant type, comprising (A) a base oil for a lubricating oil, (B) sulfated oxymolybdenum dithiocarbamate, (C) an acid amide compound, (D) (d1) a fatty acid partial ester compound and/or (d2) an aliphatic amine compound and (E) a specific benzotriazole derivative, wherein a content of the component (B) is 0.02 to 0.1% by mass in terms of molybdenum; a content of the component (C) is 0.2 to 1.0 % by mass; a content of the component (D) is 0.2 to 1.0% by mass; and a content of the component (E) is 0.02 to 0.1% by mass each based on the whole amount of the composition, and it has an excellent friction reducing effect in combination with a high corrosion preventing effect to copper and lead.
US08367586B2 Collection and methods for its use
The present disclosure enables collections of variable heavy chain and variable light chain pairs comprising, in part, germline protein sequences that are pre-selected for functional properties relevant to developability, wherein the collections may be used to select against any antigen using, for example, phage display.
US08367577B2 Thin film of aluminum nitride and process for producing the thin film of aluminum nitride
Flat, thin AlN membranes and methods of their manufacture are made available. An AlN thin film (2) contains between 0.001 wt. % and 10 wt. % additive atomic element of one or more type selected from Group-III atoms, Group-IV atoms and Group-V atoms. Onto a base material (1), the AlN thin film (2) is formable utilizing a plasma generated by setting inside a vacuum chamber a sintered AlN ceramic containing between 0.001 wt. % and 10 wt. % additive atomic element of one or more type selected from Group-III atoms, Group-IV atoms and Group-V atoms, and with the base material having been set within the vacuum chamber, irradiating the sintered AlN ceramic with a laser.
US08367566B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device and method for processing substrate
A substrate processing apparatus having a processing chamber for processing a substrate; a processing gas feeding line for feeding a processing gas into the processing chamber; an inert gas feeding line for feeding an inert gas into the processing chamber; an inert gas vent line provided in the inert gas feeding line, for exhausting the inert gas fed into the inert gas feeding line without feeding the inert gas into the processing chamber; a first valve provided in the inert gas feeding line, on a downstream side of a part where the inert gas vent line is provided in the inert gas feeding line; a second valve provided in the inert gas vent line; and an exhaust line that exhausts an inside of the processing chamber.
US08367546B2 Methods for forming all tungsten contacts and lines
Novel low-resistivity tungsten film stack schemes and methods for depositing them are provided. The film stacks include a mixed tungsten/tungsten-containing compound (e.g., WC) layer as a base for deposition of tungsten nucleation and/or bulk layers. According to various embodiments, these tungsten rich layers may be used as barrier and/or adhesion layers in tungsten contact metallization and bitlines. Deposition of the tungsten-rich layers involves exposing the substrate to a halogen-free organometallic tungsten precursor. The mixed tungsten/tungsten carbide layer is a thin, low resistivity film with excellent adhesion and a good base for subsequent tungsten plug or line formation.
US08367540B2 Interconnect structure including a modified photoresist as a permanent interconnect dielectric and method of fabricating same
A photoresist conversion that changes a patterned photoresist into a permanent patterned interconnect dielectric is described. The photoresist conversion process includes adding a dielectric enabling element into a patterned photoresist. The dielectric enabling element-containing photoresist is converted into a permanent patterned dielectric material by performing a curing step. In one embodiment, a method is described that includes providing at least one photoresist to an upper surface of a substrate. At least one interconnect pattern is formed into the at least one photoresist. A dielectric enabling element is added to the patterned photoresist and thereafter the patterned photoresist including the dielectric enabling element is cured into a cured permanent patterned dielectric material. The cured permanent patterned dielectric material includes the dielectric enabling therein.
US08367539B2 Semiconductor device and semiconductor device manufacturing method
The semiconductor device manufacturing method includes the steps of attaching two or more solder particles on at least one electrode among a plurality of electrodes of an electronic component, arranging the electrode of the electronic component and an electrode of a circuit board so as to oppose each other, abutting the solder particles attached on a surface of the electrode of the electronic component to the electrode of the circuit board and heating the solder particles, and connecting electrically the electrode of the electronic component and the electrode of the circuit board via two or more solder joint bodies made by melting the solder particles.
US08367536B2 Method for manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device
The present invention includes steps below: (a) forming, on a drift layer, a first ion implantation mask and a second ion implantation mask individually by photolithography to form a third ion implantation mask, the first ion implantation mask having a mask region corresponding to a channel region and having a first opening corresponding to a source region, the second ion implantation mask being positioned in contact with an outer edge of the first ion implantation mask and configured to form a base region; (b) implanting impurities of a first conductivity type from the first opening with an ion beam using the third ion implantation mask to form a source region in an upper layer part of the silicon carbide drift layer; (c) removing the first ion implantation mask after the formation of the source region; and (d) implanting impurities of a second conductivity type with an ion beam from a second opening formed in the second ion implantation mask after the removal of the first ion implantation mask to form a base region deeper than the source region in the upper layer part of the drift layer.
US08367532B2 Semiconductor device and fabrication method
A semiconductor device in one embodiment has a first connection region, a second connection region and a semiconductor volume arranged between the first and second connection regions. Provision is made, within the semiconductor volume, in the vicinity of the second connection region, of a field stop zone for spatially delimiting a space charge zone that can be formed in the semiconductor volume, and of an anode region adjoining the first connection region. The dopant concentration profile within the semiconductor volume is configured such that the integral of the ionized dopant charge over the semiconductor volume, proceeding from an interface of the anode region which faces the second connection region, in the direction of the second connection region, reaches a quantity of charge corresponding to the breakdown charge of the semiconductor device only near the interface of the field stop zone which faces the second connection region.
US08367529B2 Method for preparing a semiconductor
The invention concerns a method for preparing a NIII-V semiconductor. According to the invention, the method includes at least one step of doping a semiconductor of general formula AlxGa1-xN, wherein the atomic number x represents the number between 0 and 1 with a p-type electron-accepting dopant, as well as a co-doping step with a codopant capable of modifying the structure of the valency band. The invention also concerns a semiconductor as well as its use in electronics or optoelectronics. The invention further concerns a device as well as a diode using such a semiconductor.
US08367527B2 Method of fabricating polycrystalline silicon thin film
A method of fabricating a polycrystalline silicon thin that includes a metal layer forming operation of forming a metal layer on an insulating substrate, a first silicon layer forming operation of stacking a silicon layer on the metal layer formed in the metal layer forming operation, a first annealing operation of forming a silicide layer using by moving catalyst metal atoms from the metal layer to the silicon layer using an annealing process, a second silicon layer forming operation of stacking an amorphous silicon layer on the silicide layer, and a crystallization operation of crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer into crystalline silicon through the medium of particles of the silicide layer.
US08367519B2 Method for the preparation of a multi-layered crystalline structure
This invention generally relates to a process for making a multi-layered crystalline structure. The process includes implanting ions into a donor structure, bonding the implanted donor structure to a second structure to form a bonded structure, cleaving the bonded structure, and removing any residual portion of the donor structure from the finished multi-layered crystalline structure.
US08367518B2 Epitaxial lift off stack having a multi-layered handle and methods thereof
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to epitaxial lift off (ELO) thin films and devices and methods for forming such films and devices. In one embodiment, a method for forming an ELO thin film includes depositing an epitaxial material over a sacrificial layer on a substrate, adhering a multi-layered support handle onto the epitaxial material, and removing the sacrificial layer during an etching process. The etching process further includes peeling the epitaxial material from the substrate and forming an etch crevice therebetween while maintaining compression in the epitaxial material. The method further provides that the multi-layered support handle contains a stiff support layer adhered to the epitaxial material, a soft support layer adhered to the stiff support layer, and a handle plate adhered to the soft support layer. In one example, the stiff support layer may contain multiple inorganic layers, such as metal layers, dielectric layers, or combinations thereof.
US08367515B2 Hybrid shallow trench isolation for high-k metal gate device improvement
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device with improved performance is disclosed. The method comprises providing a substrate including a first region and a second region; forming at least one isolation region having a first aspect ratio in the first region and at least one isolation region having a second aspect ratio in the second region; performing a high aspect ratio deposition process to form a first layer over the first and second regions of the substrate; removing the first layer from the second region; and performing a high density plasma deposition process to form a second layer over the first and second regions of the substrate.
US08367514B2 Integrated circuit with capacitor and method for the production thereof
An integrated circuit and fabrication method are presented. The integrated circuit includes a capacitor containing a base electrode, a covering electrode, and a dielectric between the base and covering electrodes. The dielectric contains an oxide of a material contained in the base electrode, which may be produced by anodic oxidation. A peripheral edge of the dielectric is uncovered by the covering electrode. A base layer on the capacitor includes a cutout adjacent to the dielectric. During fabrication, the base layer protects the material of the base electrode that is to be anodically oxidized from chemicals, and also protects the surrounding regions from anodic oxidation. A precision resistor may be fabricated simultaneously with the capacitor.
US08367509B1 Self-aligned method for forming contact of device with reduced step height
A method for forming a contact of a semiconductor device with reduced step height is disclosed, comprising forming a plurality of gates, forming a buffer layer on each of the gates, forming an insulating layer to fill spaces between the gates, forming strip-shaped photoresist patterns which cross the gates, etching the insulating layer to form first openings using a self-aligning process with the gates and the strip-shaped photoresist patterns as a mask, forming a conductive contact layer to fill the first openings, performing a first chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process to the conductive contact layer, removing the buffer layer, and forming a second chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process to the conductive contact layer.
US08367500B1 Method of forming self aligned contacts for a power MOSFET
A method for providing self aligned contacts for a trench power MOSFET is disclosed. The method includes, etching trenches in a substrate through a mask of silicon nitride deposited on an oxide layer, forming a gate oxide layer on the walls of the trenches, applying polysilicon to fill the trenches and to cover the surface of the mask of silicon nitride, removing the polysilicon from the surface of the mask of silicon nitride and applying a photoresist mask to cover a location of a gate bus. The method further includes recessing polysilicon plugs formed in trenches that are located in the active area to form recesses above the polysilicon plugs, filling recesses formed above the polysilicon plugs formed in trenches that are located in the active area with an insulator, applying a fourth photo resist mask to define contact windows that are opened in the nitride layer, and selectively etching the silicon nitride film and leaving flat surfaced oxide buttons covering the trenches that are located in the active area. Moreover, electric contact trenches are defined using self-aligned spacer operations, and a fifth photo resist mask is applied to pattern metal contacts that reach the semiconductor device active areas.
US08367496B2 Scavanging metal stack for a high-k gate dielectric
A stack of a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate structure includes a lower metal layer, a scavenging metal layer, and an upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meets the following two criteria 1) a metal (M) for which the Gibbs free energy change of the reaction Si+2/y MxOy→2x/y M+SiO2 is positive 2) a metal that has a more negative Gibbs free energy per oxygen atom for formation of oxide than the material of the lower metal layer and the material of the upper metal layer. The scavenging metal layer meeting these criteria captures oxygen atoms as the oxygen atoms diffuse through the gate electrode toward the high-k gate dielectric. In addition, the scavenging metal layer remotely reduces the thickness of a silicon oxide interfacial layer underneath the high-k dielectric. As a result, the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the total gate dielectric is reduced and the field effect transistor maintains a constant threshold voltage even after high temperature processes during CMOS integration.
US08367481B2 Four MOSFET full bridge module
A molded, leadless packaged semiconductor multichip module includes 100 has four mosfets 10, 12, 14, 16 for a full bridge circuit. The mosfets may include two N-channel and two P-channel devices or four mosfets of the same type, but four N-channel are preferred. In module 100 there are two leadframes 30, 40 for assembling the mosfets. In particular, the two N-channel and two P-channel devices are disposed between two leadframes and encapsulated in an electrically insulating molding compound 84. The resulting package has four upper heat sinks 44.1-44.4 that are exposed in the molding compound 84 for transferring heat from the mosfets to the ambient environment. No wire bonds are required. This can significantly reduce the on resistance, RDSON. The top or source-drain lead frame 30 may be soldered to the sources and gates of the bridge mosfets.
US08367469B2 Chip-scale semiconductor die packaging method
A method of packaging one or more semiconductor dies is provided. The method includes: providing a first die having a circuit surface and a connecting surface; providing a chip-scale frame having an inside surface and an outside surface, the chip-scale frame having a well region having an opening in the inside surface; coupling the first die to a wall of the well region using a first coupling mechanism for electrical and mechanical coupling; providing a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; coupling the inside surface of the chip-scale frame with the top surface of the substrate by a second coupling mechanism, wherein a gap is provided between the circuit surface of the first die and the top surface of the substrate; coupling a heat sink to the outside surface of the chip-scale frame using a third coupling mechanism.
US08367466B2 Manufacturing stacked semiconductor device
A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can include forming fan-out wirings on an insulating layer formed on a wafer. Additionally, electrodes of a plurality of semiconductor chips stacked on the fan-out wirings can be electrically coupled with the fan-out wirings. The wafer can be removed.
US08367462B2 Large-scale fabrication of vertically aligned ZnO nanowire arrays
In a method for growing a nanowire array, a photoresist layer is placed onto a nanowire growth layer configured for growing nanowires therefrom. The photoresist layer is exposed to a coherent light interference pattern that includes periodically alternately spaced dark bands and light bands along a first orientation. The photoresist layer exposed to the coherent light interference pattern along a second orientation, transverse to the first orientation. The photoresist layer developed so as to remove photoresist from areas corresponding to areas of intersection of the dark bands of the interference pattern along the first orientation and the dark bands of the interference pattern along the second orientation, thereby leaving an ordered array of holes passing through the photoresist layer. The photoresist layer and the nanowire growth layer are placed into a nanowire growth environment, thereby growing nanowires from the nanowire growth layer through the array of holes.
US08367460B2 Horizontally oriented and vertically stacked memory cells
Horizontally oriented and vertically stacked memory cells are described herein. One or more method embodiments include forming a vertical stack having a first insulator material, a first memory cell material on the first insulator material, a second insulator material on the first memory cell material, a second memory cell material on the second insulator material, and a third insulator material on the second memory cell material, forming an electrode adjacent a first side of the first memory cell material and a first side of the second memory cell material, and forming an electrode adjacent a second side of the first memory cell material and a second side of the second memory cell material.
US08367441B2 Nitride semiconductor light emitting device, method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor light emitting device, and nitride semiconductor transistor device
Example embodiments herein relate to a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including a coat film formed at a light emitting portion and including an aluminum nitride crystal or an aluminum oxynitride crystal, and a method of manufacturing the nitride semiconductor light emitting device. Also provided is a nitride semiconductor transistor device including a nitride semiconductor layer and a gate insulating film which is in contact with the nitride semiconductor layer and includes an aluminum nitride crystal or an aluminum oxynitride crystal.
US08367438B2 Method for producing an optoelectronic semiconductor component and optoelectronic semiconductor component
An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a semiconductor body connected to a main area of a carrier body by a solder layer, wherein sidewalls of the semiconductor body are provided with a dielectric layer, and a mirror layer applied to the dielectric layer.
US08367436B2 Organic light emitting diode display and manufacturing method therefor
A manufacturing method of an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device includes forming a thin film transistor and an organic light emitting diode in a display area of a first substrate, forming a thin film encapsulation layer that has a layering structure of an organic film and an inorganic film on one substrate of the first substrate and a second substrate, forming a sealing member by coating a sealing material that includes an inorganic sealant and an organic compound on an edge of the second substrate, removing the organic compound of the sealing member by baking the sealing member, layering the second substrate on the first substrate so that the sealing member contacts the first substrate, dissolving the sealing member by using a laser beam, solidifying the sealing member, attaching the sealing member to the first substrate, and removing the second substrate from the sealing member.
US08367434B2 Method for fabricating a nanostructured substrate for OLED and method for fabricating an OLED
Method for fabricating a substrate comprising a nanostructured surface for an organic light emitting diode OLED, in which a layer of an organic resin or of a mineral material having a first nanostructuration is prepared by nano-imprint; the organic resin or mineral material is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than its glass transition temperature Tg or its melting point, and the organic resin or the mineral material is maintained at this temperature for a time tR called annealing time, whereby the organic resin or the mineral material flows and the first nanostructuration of the layer of organic resin or of mineral material is modified to produce a second nanostructuration; the organic resin or the mineral material is cooled.
US08367429B2 Adaptive endpoint method for pad life effect on chemical mechanical polishing
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor manufacturing method. The method includes defining a plurality of time regions of pad life for a polishing pad in a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) system; assigning a ladder coefficient to the polishing pad according to the plurality of time regions of pad life; defining a plurality of endpoint windows to the plurality of time regions, respectively, according to pad life effect; applying a CMP process to a wafer positioned on the polishing pad; determining a time region of a polishing signal of the wafer based on the ladder coefficient; associating one of the endpoint windows to the polishing signal according to the time region; and ending the CMP process at an endpoint determined by the endpoint window.
US08367422B2 Biochemical analyzer and method of controlling internal temperature of the biochemical analyzer
Provided is a biochemical analyzer including: a microfluidic device loading space including a microfluidic device supporting unit detachably supporting a microfluidic device including an electromagnetic radiation application region in which electromagnetic energy is applied; an energy source loading space including an energy source applying the electromagnetic energy to the electromagnetic radiation application region; and an isolation wall isolating the microfluidic device loading space and the energy source loading space to prevent heat transfer between the microfluidic device loading space and the energy source loading space and including a transparent window through which the electromagnetic energy can be transmitted. A method of controlling an internal temperature of the biochemical analyzer is also provided.
US08367410B2 Application of electrical stimulation for functional tissue engineering in vitro and in vivo
The present invention provides new methods for the in vitro preparation of bioartificial tissue equivalents and their enhanced integration after implantation in vivo. These methods include submitting a tissue construct to a biomimetic electrical stimulation during cultivation in vitro to improve its structural and functional properties, and/or in vivo, after implantation of the construct, to enhance its integration with host tissue and increase cell survival and functionality. The inventive methods are particularly useful for the production of bioartificial equivalents and/or the repair and replacement of native tissues that contain electrically excitable cells and are subject to electrical stimulation in vivo, such as, for example, cardiac muscle tissue, striated skeletal muscle tissue, smooth muscle tissue, bone, vasculature, and nerve tissue.
US08367399B2 Method for measuring molecular interactions by measurement of light reflected by planar surfaces
A procedure for the quantitative determination of interactions of ligands with receptors adsorbed or immobilized on the surface of a solid material which can be functionalized, transparent and with low refractive index, by direct measure of the reflection of light. The procedure includes utilizing a planar surface, flat or rough, of a transparent solid material formed from a hydrophobic amorphous polymer, having a refractive index between 1.3200 and 1.3500, which is brought into a solution of a mixture containing from 1 nanogram/ml to 10 milligrams/ml in concentration of molecules with a function of receptor or reagent.
US08367395B2 Production of sterols in oleaginous yeast and fungi
The present invention provides methods for production of one or more sterol compounds. Further provided are methods and systems for producing engineered oleaginous yeast or fungi that are capable of production of one or more sterol compounds, and compositions which utilize the produced sterol compound(s).
US08367392B2 Genetic transformation of algal and cyanobacteria cells by microporation
A method for transforming algal or cyanobacterial cells, comprising mixing a polynucleotide for transforming the cells with the polynucleotide; performing microporation by applying a plurality of electrical pulses to the cells with a microporation apparatus; and incubating said polynucleotide with the cells after said applying said electrical pulses.
US08367391B2 Method for detecting or determining abnormal prion protein associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in blood-derived specimen or body fluid-derived specimen
A pretreatment method of a specimen used for detecting or determining abnormal prion protein (PrPres) associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), wherein (1) a specimen which had been treated with proteinase K is heated in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to dissolve proteins and inactivate infectious activity in the specimen at the same time; (2) the specimen processed in the above (1) is cooled under a neutral condition to make abnormal prion protein (PrPres) associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) aggregated; (3) the aggregate formed in the above (2) is separated from a solution; and (4) the separated PrPres aggregate is detected by the ultrasensitive chemiluminescence method.
US08367390B2 Galactanase variants
The present invention relates to variants of Glycoside Hydrolase family 53 galactanases, e.g., variants of the galactanases from strains of Yersinia, Aspergillus, Humicola, Meripilus, Myceliophthora, Thermomyces, Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Cellvibrio, Clostridium, Pseudomonas, Thermotoga, or Xanthomonas.
US08367380B2 Compositions and methods for amino acid biosynthesis
The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods useful for, inter alia, production of commercial biologic products such as amino acids. More specifically, the present invention relates to genetically modified strains of microorganisms and the use thereof for the production of commercial products. The present invention also provides, inter alia, novel isolated DNA, nucleic acid, vectors and reduced genome bacteria.
US08367379B2 Transgenic photosynthetic microorganisms and photobioreactor
Provided herein is a transgenic bacteria engineered to accumulate carbohydrates, for example disaccharides. Also provided is a photobioreactor for cultivating photosynthetic microorganisms comprising a non-gelatinous, solid cultivation support suitable for providing nutrients and moisture to photosynthetic microorganisms and a physical barrier covering at least a portion of the surface of the cultivation support. Devices for the large scale and continuous cultivation of photosynthetic microorganisms incorporating photobioreactors and methods of use are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of producing fermentable sugar from photosynthetic microorganisms using a photobioreactor of the invention.
US08367377B2 Methods and devices for nucleic acid sequence determination
Methods of the invention comprise methods and devices for nucleic acid sequence determination. Generally, the invention relates to preparing a substrate for sequencing a target nucleic acid.
US08367376B2 Compositions with polymerase activity
The invention provides novel compositions with polymerase activity and methods of using the compositions.
US08367374B2 Fusion constructs and use of same to produce antibodies with increased Fc receptor binding affinity and effector function
The present invention relates to the field of glycosylation engineering of proteins. More particularly, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules, including fusion constructs, having catalytic activity and the use of same in glycosylation engineering of host cells to generate polypeptides with improved therapeutic properties, including antibodies with increased Fc receptor binding and increased effector function.
US08367362B2 Aminoacylase 1 assay method for the in vitro diagnosis of colorectal cancer
A method for the in vitro diagnosis of colorectal cancer by determining the presence of Aminoacylase 1 tumor marker in a biological sample taken from a patient suspected of having colorectal cancer. Said method can be used for early diagnosis, screening, therapeutic follow-up and prognosis, and also for relapse diagnosis in relation to colorectal cancer.
US08367360B2 Method of screening for inhibitors of tau protein phosphororylation by tyrosine kinase c-Abl
The present invention provides methods of screening for candidate compounds useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related conditions by inhibiting specific phosphorylation of tau protein by tyrosine kinase c-Abl.
US08367359B1 Metabolic biomarkers for diabetes and insulin resistance
Disclosed are small molecule metabolites useful as biomarkers for the evaluation and treatment of pre diabetes, diabetes and insulin resistance.
US08367358B2 Reagent, kit and method for differentiating and counting leukocytes
The present disclosure discloses a reagent for differentiating and counting leukocytes which includes: (1) cationic cyanine compounds selected from those having the following general formulae I and II; (2) cationic surfactants selected from those having the following general formulae III, IV and/or V; (3) at least one nonionic surfactant; and (4) optionally, at least one anionic compound selected from those having one or more carboxyl or sulphonyl groups; and optionally includes alcohol compounds. Also disclosed is a kit comprising the reagent for differentiating and counting leukocytes. Further disclosed is a method for differentiating and counting leukocytes using the reagent and kit. Use of the reagent, kit and method disclosed enables the identification of leukocytes in blood samples into five subtypes in a very short time, or at least achieves the differentiation and counting of four leukocyte groupings. Moreover, immature and abnormal cells can be identified.
US08367343B2 High-throughput cell transfection device and methods of using thereof
Transfecting biology cells with nucleic acid molecules (DNA, siRNA) is an essential prerequisite in elucidating how genes function in complex cellular context and how their activities could be modulated for therapeutic intervention. Traditionally studies are carried out on a low throughput gene-by-gene scale, which has created a huge bottleneck in functional genomic study and drug discovery. Development of high-throughput cell transfection technology will permit functional analysis of massive number of genes and how their activities could be modulated by chemical or biological entities inside cells. This invention describes design, construction of device and apparatus for high throughput effective cell transfection. Procedures and protocols for using the device and apparatus are also described in the application. Novel methods of using the device in cell-based assays are also disclosed.
US08367341B2 Method for detection of genetically modified maize BT11
The invention discloses a method for detection of genetically modified maize BT11. The principle of the method is that the DNA template of the sample is amplified at a temperature of 63° C.˜65° C. for 45˜60 min by using 4 specific primers and a DNA polymerase with strand displacement activity. The identification thereof is to make a judgment on whether BT11 component is contained in the sample by directly observing the turbidity in the reaction tube or the color change after the addition of SYBR Green with naked eyes or by agarose gel electrophoresis. The detection method of the invention has the advantages of high specificity, quickness, simplicity and convenience and the like, which provides a convenient method for detection of genetically modified maize BT11 with an extensive application prospect.
US08367340B2 Prognostic tools to predict the efficacy of drug treatment targeting chromatin DNA or enzymes acting on DNA
Disclosed are methods of predicting cell response to drug-based therapy using both PCR-Stop assays and real time PCR assays. Methods herein may be used for assessment of drug effect, evaluation of regimen suitability for a given patient, and/or for determination of an optimal drug dose. Also provided are isolated oligonucleotide primers such as primers capable of annealing under PCR conditions to a segment of a c-myc locus, where the primers may be used in the disclosed methods. Further disclosed are kits and systems that may be used for predicting a cell response to drug-based therapy.
US08367337B2 Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
The present invention provides improved tests for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The tests are particularly useful for eliminating false positive results due to the presence of a mixed bacterial population in patient samples.
US08367331B2 Method for enriching methylated CpG sequences
Compositions and methods are provided for facilitating the enrichment of single-stranded DNA containing methylated CpG in a mixture containing methylated and unmethylated DNA. The compositions relate to methylation-binding protein domains that selectively bind to methylated single strand DNA. In embodiments of the invention, the methylated DNA is eluted in 0.4M-0.6M NaCl while the unmethylated single strand DNA is eluted in less than 0.4M salt. The ability to readily enrich for methylated DNA permits high throughput sequencing of the methylated DNA and identification of abnormal methylation patterns associated with disease.
US08367323B2 Analytical method involving detection of an exciplex
The invention relates to the use of an organic solvent selected from 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, ethylene glycol or ethylene glycol dimethyl ether for enhancing formation, potential formation, fluorescence and/or detection of an exciplex. The invention is applicable particularly to nucleic acid hybridisation assay using two polynucleotide probes that will hybridise to a target nucleic acid. Each probe is labelled with one of two partners capable of forming an exciplex such that, on photoirradiation, the exciplex is formed when the probes are hybridised to the target nucleic acid.