Document	Document Title
US08406322B2	OFDM demodulation device and method An orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) demodulation device for demodulating an OFDM signal is disclosed. The device includes a means that demodulates the OFDM signal to produce a baseband OFDM signal. The device also includes a means that detects a carrier frequency offset amount that is a shift amount of a center frequency of the baseband OFDM signal, based on correlation of subcarriers to which a predetermined signal is inserted. Additionally, the device includes a means that controls a frequency of the carrier signal depending on the carrier frequency offset amount. The means that detects the carrier frequency offset amount divides subcarriers into a plurality of groups, calculates a correlation value with respect to an adjacent transmission symbol for each of the groups, adds the correlation values to each other for all the groups, and defines an offset amount assumed when a maximum addition-result value is obtained as the carrier frequency offset amount.
US08406319B2	Channel estimator with high noise suppression and low interpolation error for OFDM systems A receiver with DFT based channel estimation having good noise suppression for both high and low signal-to-noise ratios providing advantages over conventional DFT estimators and Minimum-Mean-Square-Error (MMSE) estimators. The use of MMSE may be incorporated for estimation at the band edges providing further improvements. The received signal in the time domain, is transformed to the frequency-domain received signal via an N-point FFT (501). The frequency-domain received signal at the pilot locations is then used to obtain a “noisy” channel estimates at the pilot subcarriers by dividing the known pilot symbols in (503). Uniformly spaced pilots are assumed over a window of usable subcarriers. Padding is applied to the initial channel estimates at both sides of the band to account for unused subcarriers such as guard spacing. Weighting factors during power estimation may take into account various noise characteristics such as combinations of known and time-limited noise power characteristics.
US08406316B2	Information processing apparatus and mode switching method Provided is an information processing apparatus which includes a first-module including a first narrow-band communicator for performing narrow band communication with a second-module, a first broadband-communicator for performing broadband communication with the second-module, and a first controller for controlling an operation state of the first broadband-communicator according to an operation mode, and a second-module including a second narrow-band communicator for performing narrow-band communication with the first-module, a second broadband-communicator for performing broadband communication with the first-module, and a second controller for controlling an operation state of the second broadband-communicator according to an operation mode. The first controller places the first broadband-communicator in an operation state in a first mode, and places the first broadband-communicator in a standby state in a second mode. The second controller places the second broadband-communicator in an operation state in the first mode, and places the second broadband-communicator in a standby state in the second mode.
US08406315B2	Signal transmission apparatus, transmission method and computer storage medium thereof A signal transmission apparatus, a transmission method and a computer storage medium thereof are provided. The signal transmission apparatus may generate reference signals which are antipodal to each other and transmit the reference signals by subcarriers which are adjacent to each other. Thereby, the communication channel of the wireless network may be estimated accurately to improve the reliability of the following signal transmission.
US08406314B2	Two-dimensional DPCM with PCM escape mode Methods of, and devices, and systems for differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) having predictions and quantization parameters based on proximate lines of buffered quanta of information where pulse code modulation (PCM) is employed as a backup means.
US08406312B2	Broadcasting processing apparatus and control method thereof A broadcasting processing apparatus, includes: a receiver which receives an image signal; a storage unit; a decoder which decodes the image signal; a channel selection unit which is provided to select a channel; and a controller which determines whether sequence header information exists in the image signal received through the receiver and stores the sequence header information in the storage unit if the sequence header information exists in the image signal, and controls the decoder to decode the image signal by using sequence header information of the selected channel prestored in the storage unit if the sequence header information does not exist, if a selection signal to select the channel is inputted through the channel selection unit.
US08406310B2	Water ring encoding method A water ring encoding method of processing an initial data set, such as an image frame, is disclosed having a writing step and an encoding step. The initial data set is organized with at least one initial origin enveloped by a plurality of nested initial environs successively surrounding each other in the initial data set. The writing step includes writing a portion of data from the initial data set into a scanned data string, by starting the writing of the portion of the data from the initial data set into the scanned data string at the RC grouping corresponding to the initial origin (initial water ring (0)) and by sequentially progressing the writing outwardly from the family of RC groupings corresponding to the nearest nested initial environ (initial water ring (1)) towards the family of RC groupings corresponding to a furthest nested initial environ (initial water ring (n)). The encoding step includes encoding the scanned data string into an encoded data string.
US08406301B2	Adaptive weighting of reference pictures in video encoding A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video signal data for an image block and a particular reference picture index to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize adaptive weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes a reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; an encoder includes a reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving a reference picture index with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining a weighting factor for each received reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference picture, and multiplying the motion compensated reference picture by the corresponding weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture.
US08406297B2	System and method for bit-allocation in video coding A system and method for region-of-interest-based bit-allocation scheme for video coding is provided. A method for encoding an image sequence of inter-frames and intra-frames includes grouping the inter-frames and the intra-frames in at least one group of pictures (GOP), and performing a frame-level bit-allocation to inter-frames and the intra-frames in the GOP. For each frame of the inter-frames and the intra-frames in the GOP, the method also includes partitioning the frame into a plurality of macroblocks, identifying macroblocks in the plurality of macroblocks as having regions of interest (ROI), and performing a macroblock level bit-allocation for the frame based on macroblocks identified as having ROI. The method further includes encoding the image sequence based on the bit-allocations, thereby producing an encoded image sequence, and outputting the encoded image sequence.
US08406291B2	Method, medium, and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding video A method, medium, and apparatus for encoding and/or decoding video by generating a scalable bitstream formed with a base layer bitstream and an enhancement layer bitstream in order to provide forward compatibility, the scalable bitstream comprising a base layer bitstream including a base quantized level and a base quantization parameter corresponding to a base bit-depth, and an enhancement layer bitstream including a residue between an extended quantized level and a compensated quantized level that is predicted from the base quantized level, and additional quantization information for refining the difference between an extended bit-depth and the base bit-depth, wherein a process for improving image quality is applied to at least one of the base layer and the enhancement layer.
US08406290B2	User sensitive information adaptive video transcoding framework A video system includes a sensitive-information generator to generate a definition of sensitive information parts (SIP) areas. The video system also includes a transcoder to transcode the SIP areas at a higher bit rate than non-SIP areas in the frames based on bandwidth available for transmitting the transcoded frames. The SIP areas are generated statically or dynamically. The video system adapts to various network conditions and utilizes the bandwidth efficiently to deliver the sensitive information of high quality and to enhance the user experience.
US08406286B2	Method and device for selecting best mode of intra predictive coding for video coding A method for selecting the best mode of intra prediction coding for video coding applied in video coding and decoding field is provided. The method includes: constructing a rate distortion cost function based on an estimated rate to be encoded; computing the rate distortion costs for all predictive modes by using the constructed function, and selecting the predictive mode with the minimum rate distortion cost as the best mode of intra prediction coding according to the computing result. Accordingly, a device for selecting the best mode of intra prediction coding for video coding is provided. By the method, the selected mode is closer to the best mode selected by original rate distortion optimization model, thereby the need to code every block actually in the process of rate distortion optimization is effectively avoided.
US08406284B2	Receiver with adaptive equalizer Receivers and methods for receiving a signal may result in improved performance by resolving specific impairments at particular levels. For example, bit error ratio (BER) in the downstream signal of an HFC network may be improved by resolving up to 6% AM hum. Thus, the receivers and methods described herein may function with dramatically improved error rates and continuous FEC lock, in relation to conventional receivers, in the presence of SCTE 40 impairments and full channel loading over the receivers entire input dynamic range.
US08406279B2	System and method for pilot design for data transmitted in wireless networks A method for pilot design for data to be transmitted by an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) based communication system, the data being represented by a plurality of OFDM symbols. The method includes allocating pilot symbols for a data stream to be included in ones of the OFDM symbols; and performing a frequency shift on at least one of the OFDM symbols, to reduce frequency distance disparities among the pilot symbols.
US08406277B2	Signal processor and signal processing method Radiolocalization receiver for a satellite radiolocalization system like GPs, Galileo or the like, including a staged correlation and accumulation unit, in which the correlation data is biased in order to be to always non-negative. Thanks to this feature, the accumulated data grow monotonically during the accumulation. Overflow rate of a first correlation stage (100, 150-153) is scaled down respect to the rate of the input data. Thus the higher correlation stages (200, 154-158) can be used in multiplex. The bit-flip rate in memories is very low, with an effective reduction of dynamic power consumption. The logic structure of the accumulator is also simplified by the invention, thus further savings in silicon space and power are possible.
US08406275B2	Communications system A communications system includes a modulator for generating a chirp signal aimed at spreading the frequency spectrum of an information signal over a specified spectral bandwidth of a communications channel. The chirp signal has initial and final instantaneous frequency. The chirp signal is controlled from an in-phase control signal and a quadrature-phase control signal to have, in a complex plane, constant amplitude and instantaneous phase. The instantaneous frequency is defined by the speed the instantaneous phase is changed in the complex plane by the in-phase and quadrature-phase control signals; the instantaneous frequency is linearly changed between initial and instantaneous frequencies over the whole duration of the chirp signal; the initial and final instantaneous phases of the chirp signal are identical. The communications system also described an adapted demodulator capable of working even in presence of a significant frequency and/or timing offset between the transmitting and receiving clocking systems.
US08406266B2	Three-terminal vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) and a method for operating a three-terminal VCSEL A three-terminal VCSEL is provided that has a reduced fall time that allows the VCSEL to be operated at higher speeds. Methods of operating the three-terminal VCSEL are also provided. The VCSEL can be operated at higher speeds without decreasing the optical output of the VCSEL when it is in the logical HIGH state.
US08406264B2	Nitride semiconductor laser element A nitride semiconductor laser element includes a laminate. The laminate includes on a substrate a first conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer, and constitutes a cavity resonator. The laminate includes an element region, an exposed region and an island layer. The element region is a region in which the laser element is formed. The exposed region is a region in which at least the first conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer is exposed on both sides of the element region in the cavity direction, and which is provided continuously in a cavity resonating direction of the laser element. The island layer is separated from the element region by the exposed region, and that is disposed in a corner of the nitride semiconductor laser element.
US08406254B2	Network optimized distribution A content server is configured to buffer and transmit numerous live media streams to individual devices. The content server analyzes characteristics associated with the live media streams to determine timing and sequence number information. Other characteristics such as network congestion metrics, device buffer usage metrics, etc., can also be evaluated. Combined peak transmission times are determined to allow packets designated for transmission at a bandwidth usage peak to be transmitted earlier in time. Earlier packets are shifted even earlier as sequence numbers allow. This evens out bandwidth usage rates and allows improved live media stream transmission.
US08406252B1	Presence-based network service availability announcements Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting the availability of common features (e.g. device functions and/or subscription plan features) associated with two or more communication devices, and indicating commonly supported features to at least one of the two communication devices. Disclosed systems can include components that can audit communication devices and communication networks to determine features supported by a communication, and components that can selectively mask unsupported features and/or reveal supported features.
US08406249B2	Communication device comprising a carrier sense function and communication method A communication device of an example of the present invention comprises a first unit determining that whether a state is a first state indicating that a transmission medium is in use, a second state indicating that the transmission medium is not in use, or a third state indicating that whether or not the transmission medium is in use is being determined, and a second unit prohibiting a data transmission in the first and third states, and permitting the data transmission in the second state.
US08406244B2	Base station apparatus and data retransmission method of the same A base station apparatus includes a buffer for temporarily storing data to be transmitted to a mobile station in a data queue corresponding to the mobile station, and a controller for performing control of retransmitting data whose retransmission is requested by a mobile station by selecting the data from a data queue corresponding to the mobile station. When retransmitting data to a mobile station, if the data storage amount in a data queue corresponding to the mobile station is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value, the controller performs control of making the error resistance on wireless propagation higher than that of the last data transmission to the mobile station. This makes it possible to increase the retransmission data reception success probability of a mobile station, and suppress the occurrence of retransmission control by an upper layer.
US08406238B2	Portable electronic device and image data communication method thereof A portable electronic device and an image communication method thereof are provided. The portable electronic device includes a display, a processing module and a memory. The processing module provides frame data of a corresponding frame for the display to show, enables the portable electronic device to emulate a virtual storage device under a communication link, and produces image data compliant with a file format according to the frame data of the frame. The memory stores the image data, which can be read through the communication link. The processing module provides a frame data update for the display to show and updates the image data according to the frame data update.
US08406235B2	Quality of service scheduler for a wireless network In one aspect of the invention, a communication device, operable with a plurality of remote devices, and operable with an admission profile comprising a capacity reservation for zero or more remote devices, comprises a scheduler for determining if a remote device corresponding to the data transmission indicator has a capacity reservation in the admission profile and for allocating capacity in accordance with the data transmission indicator. In another aspect, data indicators correspond to one or more service levels. Remaining capacity may be allocated in priority of increasing size of data transmission requirement. In yet another aspect, an admission profile is updated to accept a new flow, characterized by flow parameters, in accordance with available system capacity. Various other aspects are also presented.
US08406233B2	Predictive synchronization for clustered devices A method and system is provided for a scalable clustered system. The method and system may handle asynchronous traffic as well as session backup. In the method and system, a home cluster member having ownership of a local session predicts designation of a an other cluster member to receive a packet associated with the local session and sends appropriate state information or forwarding instruction to the other network member.
US08406224B2	Internet telephony with interactive information A subscriber (12, 14, 16) initiating an Internet telephony call may receive specific content targeted to that subscriber in accordance with a match between at least one of the dialed number and the calling party number. Upon receipt of the subscriber's Internet telephony call, an Internet Telephony Service Provider server (18) searches each of a dialed number database, a calling party number database and a default database to establish a match between the calling party number, the dialed number or a range of either numbers. Upon finding a match, the Internet Telephony Service Provider server retrieves corresponding content, typically in the form of a URL that links to an associated web site, to provide to the subscriber who may elect to retrieve that information at the subscriber's discretion.
US08406216B2	Method of transmitting receiving a data in a wireless communication system A method of transmitting and receiving data in a wireless communication system is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a base station (BS) transmits downlink data to a first mobile station supporting a first system via a first zone of a frame and transmitting downlink data to a second mobile station supporting a second system via a second zone located behind the first zone by a frame offset on a time axis, wherein the first zone includes the odd number of OFDM symbols and wherein the frame offset is an offset between a start point of a frame for the first system and a start point of a frame for the second system.
US08406213B2	Wireless communication system, wireless communication device and wireless communication method, and computer program Access control based on CSMA is favorably carried out with the RTS/CTS method used together.If the RTS/CTS procedure is used together, CTS information is transmitted in response to the reception of RTS information, and data is transmitted in response to the reception of CTS. The CTS transmitting station measures the quality of RTS receive signal, and thereby determines a transmission rate at which it can receive and notifies a station as the destination of CTS. The station as the destination of CTS transmits data in response to CTS information. As the transmission rate for this data, the transmission rate indicated in the RATE field in CTS is applied.
US08406207B2	Digital surveillance In one or more embodiments, one or more methods and/or systems described can perform establishing communication with a wireless access point via a mobile device coupled to a first network; receiving at least one message via the mobile device; determining at least one issue using the at least one message; isolating the at least one issue; and determining at least one resolution to the at least one issue. In one or more embodiments, isolating the at least one issue includes determining a side of a demarcation point that is associated with the at least one issue and/or determining at least one device associated with the at least one issue. For example, the at least one device can include the wireless access point, a network device used in providing communication to the wireless access point via a second network, or a device coupled to the wireless access point.
US08406205B2	Apparatus and method for channel reservation in wireless communication systems An exemplary method for reserving medium access in an ad hoc network comprises transmitting a reservation request by a reservation owner, the reservation request identifying a reservation allocation, a reservation target, and a reservation type. The reservation type identifies exclusive use of the reservation allocation by the reservation owner and the reservation target during a reservation period. The reservation target may employ a prioritized contention access (PCA) scheme to access the reservation allocation. Alternatively, an idle portion of the reservation allocation may be subdivided into a plurality of slots including even slots and odd slots, and the reservation owner gains access to the idle portion by starting to transmit during an even slot, while the reservation target gains access to the idle portion by starting to transmit during an odd slot. In yet another embodiment, the reservation owner transmits an outgoing clear to send (CTS) communication to the reservation target to transfer ownership of the reservation allocation to the reservation target, and receives an incoming clear to send (CTS) communication from the reservation target to regain ownership of the reservation allocation.
US08406199B2	Data flow amount control device and data flow amount control method A data flow amount control device in a mobile communication system which includes a plurality of mobile stations, a control station relaying packets addressed to each of the plurality of mobile stations, and a base station temporarily storing the packets transmitted from the control station in a buffer and transmitting the packets to each of the plurality of mobile stations. The data flow amount control device comprises a determination unit configured to determine an initial value of an amount of packets which are addressed to a mobile station newly starting a communication in the mobile communication system and are transmitted from the control station to the base station, according to the number of mobile stations which are performing the communication in the mobile communication system.
US08406194B2	Communication system, network handover processing method and apparatus A communication system, a network handover processing method and a network handover processing apparatus are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: receiving, by a target evolution NodeB (T-eNB), identity information sent from a user equipment (UE), the identity information being allocated to the UE by a source evolution NodeB (S-eNB); and sending, by the T-eNB, parameters to the UE if identity information, matching the received identity information sent from the UE, is available in the T-eNB, wherein the parameters are allocated to the UE. The apparatus includes a receiving module and a sending module. The communication system, network handover processing method and network handover processing apparatus can reduce the state change times of the UE in the network handover process and save the system resources.
US08406184B2	User apparatus, base station apparatus and method in mobile communications system A user apparatus in a mobile communications system is disclosed. The user apparatus includes a unit which receives, from a base station apparatus, a downlink control signal including information for allocating a radio resource; a unit which determines, depending on a channel status, a pre-encoding matrix indicator (PMI) which indicates a pre-encoding matrix to be applied to multiple antennas of the base station apparatus; and a unit which transmits, to the base station apparatus, an uplink signal including the PMI, wherein, if the radio resource is allocated to a physical uplink shared channel of the user apparatus, the PMI is transmitted using a part of the radio resource, and, wherein, if the radio resource is not allocated to the physical uplink shared channel of the user apparatus, the PMI is transmitted in a physical uplink control channel which is allocated, in a fixed manner, to the user apparatus.
US08406182B2	Deployment of LTE UL system for arbitrary system bandwidths via PUCCH configuration In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, there is at least a method, apparatus, and computer program product to perform an over-provisioning of a radio resource including a periodic channel quality indicator resource in a predetermined way, and an allocating of the radio resource in such a manner that at least one of an effective system bandwidth is reduced and out-of-band emissions related to the allocated radio resource are taken into account.
US08406176B2	Transmission method and device in long term evolution time division duplex system A transmission method in a Long Term Evolution time division duplex system can carry out reconfiguration for half-frame structures. According to the coverage range requirements of the system, it performs flexible configuration of the number of special time slot areas and the downlink pilot time slots, guard intervals or uplink pilot time slots included therein, and so can support different coverage ranges. A base station and user terminal using above method in the Long Term Evolution time division duplex system.
US08406171B2	Network MIMO reporting, control signaling and transmission A coordinated multipoint transmitter is for use with a network MIMO super-cell and includes a coordination unit configured to provide joint link processing to coordinate a multipoint transmission corresponding to a set of transmission points. Additionally, the coordinated multipoint transmitter also includes a transmission unit configured to transmit the multipoint transmission using the set of transmission points. Additionally, a coordinated transmission receiver is for use with a network MIMO super-cell and includes a reception unit configured to receive a multipoint transmission corresponding to a set of transmission points. The coordinated transmission receiver also includes a processing unit configured to process the multipoint transmission from the set of transmission points.
US08406166B2	Location estimation of wireless terminals through pattern matching of signal-strength differentials A method of estimating the location of a wireless terminal is disclosed that is ideally suited for use with legacy systems. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is based on the observation that the signal strength of a signal from a transmitter is different at some locations, and, therefore, the location of a wireless terminal can be estimated by comparing the signal strength it currently observes against a map or database that correlates locations to signal strengths. For example, if a particular radio station is known to be received well at a first location and poorly at a second location, and a given wireless terminal at an unknown location is receiving the radio station poorly, it is more likely that the wireless terminal is at the second location than it is at the first location.
US08406160B2	Time-sliced search of radio access technologies during connected-mode radio link failure Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate apportioning a radio link failure (RLF) recovery timer among a plurality of radio access technologies (RAT). Once RLF is determined, a RLF recovery timer can be obtained and split according to a timer allocation. The timer allocation can include equal or weighted percentages related to the plurality of RATs, and a timer can be split according to the percentages to attempt connection using a RAT during a corresponding portion of the timer. In addition, the timer allocation can be defined according to a type of communication. In this regard, for voice calls, the timer can be split among circuit-switched networks regardless of a network from which connection is lost, and/or the like. Moreover, the timer allocation can be defined based on RAT deployment characteristics.
US08406154B2	Method and apparatus for topology aggregation and routing controller The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for topology aggregation and a routing controller. The method comprises: obtaining a link-diversity path number c(i,j,λk) between each pair of border nodes in a real topology GR; and obtaining a connectivity matrix C by utilizing said link-diversity path number c(i,j,λk) and constructing a corresponding full-mesh topology GB. Moreover, the method further comprises compressing the resulting full-mesh topology into a bi-directional shuffle-net topology using the genetic algorithm. Therefore, according the present invention, more link information can be provided for routing decision and more accurate topology can be provided.
US08406148B2	Method and device for transmitting uplink signal including data and control information via uplink channel A method and device for transmitting a first and second uplink signal, each having data and control information is provided. The method includes channel encoding the control information of the second uplink signal based on a number of symbols of control information to produce. The channel encoding includes determining the number of symbols in accordance with a payload size of the data of the first uplink signal and a total number of transmissible symbols of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) of the first uplink signal.
US08406144B2	Circuit, system and method for communication between two nodes of a radio network A circuit, system, and method for range finding between two nodes of a radio network, in particular in conformance with the industry standard IEEE 802.15.4. A mode for finding the range to a second node is initiated by the first node. A command for range finding with the address of the second node is transmitted from the first node to the second node in the mode for range finding. The second node is switched into the range finding mode by the command. A sequence is controlled by the command in the range finding mode. As a result of the control by the command, a first signal is transmitted by the first node in a transmission time window of the sequence and the first signal is received by the second node in an associated reception time window of the sequence, and a first phase value of the first signal is measured. As a result of the control by the command, a second signal is transmitted by the second node in a transmission time window of the sequence and the second signal is received by the first node in an associated reception time window of the sequence, and a second phase value of the second signal is measured. As a result of the control by the command, the first frequency of the first signal is changed by a frequency difference and the second frequency of the second signal is changed by the frequency difference in a subsequent time window of the sequence.
US08406140B2	Network device inventory system A network device identification process and system where a centralized global master is coupled to multiple local masters that locally retain a portion of the data from the global master, and that coordinate the dynamic performance of discovery and identification processes within the domains assigned to those local masters. The processes identify and validate devices on the network.
US08406136B2	Systems and methods for hybrid rate limiting based on data bit count and data packet count A networked computing system employing a hybrid rate-limiting scheme, including one or more service provider device(s) (SPD) and one or more subscriber computing device(s) (SCD), and a data communications network facilitating data communications amongst the networked SPD and SCD devices. A SPD may apply the hybrid rate-limiting scheme to data communications provided to a SCD, based on both data bit count and data packet count information. The rate-limiting scheme may include a dual token bucket algorithm that facilitates rate-limiting PDUs in a data transfer queue utilizing one token bucket for metering data bits and another token bucket for metering data packets. The hybrid rate-limiting scheme may also employ a triple token bucket algorithm that includes one token bucket for metering data bits related to payload only data, a separate token bucket for metering data bits related to total PDU data, and another token bucket for metering data packets.
US08406128B1	Efficient highly connected data centers Efficient and highly-scalable network solutions are provided that each utilize deployment units based on Clos networks, but in an environment such as a data center of Internet Protocol-based network. Each of the deployment units can include multiple stages of devices, where connections between devices are only made between stages and the deployment units are highly connected. In some embodiments, the level of connectivity between two stages can be reduced, providing available connections to add edge switches and additional host connections while keeping the same number of between-tier connections. In some embodiments, where deployment units (or other network groups) can be used at different levels to connect other deployment units, the edges of the deployment units can be fused to reduce the number of devices per host connection.
US08406120B1	Remedial measures for wireless communication device access request failure Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods that allow a wireless device to reinitialize operating software of the wireless device due to a quantity of failed communication network access requests. In a particular embodiment, a wireless device transfers a plurality of access requests to a communication network during a period of time. The wireless device monitors responses to the plurality of access requests to determine a quantity of failed access requests during the period of time. Then, the wireless device determines whether the quantity of failed access requests is greater than a threshold value. If the quantity of failed access requests is greater than the threshold value, then wireless device reinitializes the operating software of the wireless device.
US08406119B2	Adaptive device-initiated polling A method includes periodically sending a polling call to an enterprise system outside the firewall at a first polling rate during normal operating conditions, monitoring for a fault condition, periodically sending polling calls to the device outside the firewall at a second polling rate when a fault condition is detected, the second polling rate being higher than the first polling rate. The second polling rate is used as result of a fault condition. The method also includes sending a problem report with the polling calls when the fault condition is detected.
US08406118B2	Scattered pilot pattern and channel estimation method for MIMO-OFDM systems A method and apparatus are provided for reducing the number of pilot symbols within a MIMO-OFDM communication system, and for improving channel estimation within such a system. For each transmitting antenna in an OFDM transmitter, pilot symbols are encoded so as to be unique to the transmitting antenna. The encoded pilot symbols are then inserted into an OFDM frame to form a diamond lattice, the diamond lattices for the different transmitting antennae using the same frequencies but being offset from each other by a single symbol in the time domain. At the OFDM receiver, a channel response is estimated for a symbol central to each diamond of the diamond lattice using a two-dimensional interpolation. The estimated channel responses are smoothed in the frequency domain. The channel responses of remaining symbols are then estimated by interpolation in the frequency domain.
US08406112B2	Turntable An improved turntable is described with inherent properties for reducing noise generated by external sources or by the parts of the turntable. The plinth of the turntable is comprised of an elastomeric layer and at least one stiffening layer that adds rigidity to the plinth. The support feet, spindle bearing, and armboard only come into contact with the elastomeric layer, which dampens energy, allowing the turntable produce the audio on the record without excessive noise.
US08406106B2	Record carrier of the optical type and a device for recording and/or playback for use with such a record carrier The invention relates to a record carrier of a disc-like optically inscribable type, having a preformed track in which an auxiliarily signal comprising a sequence of codes is recorded by means of a preformed track modulation. The codes comprise a sequence of address codes (AC) specifying the addresses of the track portions in which said address codes (AC) are recorded and special codes (SC). The special codes (SC) can be distinguished from said address codes (AC) and specify control data for controlling a recording by a recording device. The sequence can be obtained by replacing in a sequence of address codes (AC) with consecutive address values a plurality of said address by special codes (SC). The periodic pattern of address codes and special codes has a predetermined positional relationship with respect to a predetermined reference address. Such as for example a positional shift with respect to the start of a Lead-in area. The presence and or amount of such a shift may be used to represent additional control information or indicate the presence of area on a disc provided with such additional control information.
US08406100B2	Optical disc device and tracking servo control circuit therefor In an optical disc device, a way of canceling a lens shift due to an electric offset of an output of a tracking actuator driving circuit is desired. A tracking servo control circuit contains a first operation mode for setting an output current of the tracking actuator driving circuit to generally zero and a second operation mode for supplying a predetermined potential to the input. An average potential of a push-pull signal detected in the first operation mode is acquired. An object lens is moved by a predetermined amount in both radial directions by changing a potential supplied in the second mode to acquire correlative relationship between average potential of a push-pull signal relative to a lens movement amount and the supplied potential. An offset amount is acquired from the potential and the correlative relationship to cancel the offset.
US08406098B2	Device for recording, erasing and reading data on a multi-layer optical disc The invention relates to three-dimensional optical memory devices and can be used in all areas of computing in which it is necessary to record large data files on compact carriers, and also for recording, erasing and reading video data, for example, in independent video viewing systems. The device comprises an optical disc positioning system, a source of radiation with two different wavelengths that is optically coupled to a focusing system, focusing system positioning means, and an optical sensor that is optically coupled to the focusing system via a spectrum splitter and an controlled spectrum selector placed between the source of radiation with two different wavelengths and the spectrum splitter, wherein the focusing system is designed with longitudinal chromatic aberration at the given wavelengths.
US08406091B2	Thermal assisted magnetic recording head having integral mounted of photo-detector and laser diode Provided is a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head in which a slider including an optical system is joined with a light source unit. The light source unit comprises: a unit substrate including a joining surface joined with the slider and a source-installation surface adjacent to the joining surface; a light source provided in the source-installation surface and emits light for thermal assist; and a photodetector section formed inside the unit substrate, a light-receiving portion of the photodetector section for receiving light emitted from a rear light-emission center being located on the source-installation surface side. The light source unit includes the photodetector section that enables constant monitoring of light output from the light source. Accordingly, feedback adjustment of the light output can be accomplished. Further, since the rear light-emission center and the light-receiving portion can be located sufficiently close to each other, the light output can be monitored with a higher efficiency.
US08406088B2	Torque measuring device for stopping a striking work The invention concerns a torque measuring device (10) for stopping the strike of a striking mechanism. The torque measuring device (10) includes a torque measuring lever (1), whose trajectory interferes with that of a strike wheel (11) and which is arranged to be pivoted by the strike wheel, and the torque measuring lever (1) is subject to a resistant force of determined value against a drive force exerted by the strike wheel (11) during the rotation thereof, and the torque measuring lever (1) blocks the rotation of the strike wheel if the drive force is less than the resistant force, and if the torque measuring lever does not allow the strike wheel to rotate. The invention also concerns a striking mechanism including a torque measuring device (10) of this type. The invention further concerns a timepiece incorporating a striking mechanism of this type.
US08406087B2	Watch A watch with a drive by which a gear train of a digital display having one or more number disks driven in rotation in cyclical steps and a manually actuatable disk adjusting mechanism. A drive wheel is advanced rotationally in steps by the drive of the watch and rotationally blocked between the steps. A unit wheel of a unit number disk can be rotationally advanced at ten steps per revolution. A stepping device, driven by the unit wheel drives a tens number disk rotationally at six steps per revolution. An hours number disk, is rotationally advanced directly or indirectly by the tens number disk at twelve steps per revolution during one revolution of the tens number disk.
US08406083B2	Flasher sonar device with interleaved zoom A flasher sonar device includes a flasher that produces light output pulses along a flasher ring display based upon sonar returns. A user interface selects between a normal mode and a zoom mode. When the normal mode is selected, a controller drives the flasher to display a normal range. When the zoom mode is selected, the controller divides the normal range into a first range and a second range, compresses the first range into a compressed range, enlarges the second range into an enlarged range, and drives the flasher to display the enlarged range interleaved with the compressed range.
US08406080B2	Data output control circuit of a double data rate (DDR) synchronous semiconductor memory device responsive to a delay locked loop (DLL) clock and method thereof A semiconductor memory device using system clock with a high frequency can maintain a constant operation margin even in the change of operation environments including voltage level, temperature, and process. The semiconductor memory device includes an output control signal generator configured to be responsive to a read pulse that is activated in response to a read command, to generate an odd number of first output source signals corresponding to a rising edge of a system clock and a even number of second output source signals corresponding to a falling edge of the system clock, and an output enable signal generator configured to generate a first rising enable signal and a falling enable signal on the basis of the first output source signal and generate a second rising enable signal on the basis of the second output source signal, according to column address strobe (CAS) latencies, the first rising enable signal being activated earlier than the second rising enable signal by a half cycle of the system clock.
US08406073B1	Hierarchical DRAM sensing A hierarchical DRAM sensing apparatus and method which employs local bit line pairs and global bit lines. A word line selects the cells in a cluster of sense amplifiers, each of the amplifiers being associated with a pair of bit lines. One of the local bit lines is selected for coupling to global bit lines and a global sense amplifier. Clusters are located in a plurality of subarrays forming a bank with the global bit lines extending from each of the banks to the global sense amplifier.
US08406065B2	Memory interface circuit and semiconductor device There is a need to provide a small-sized memory interface circuit capable of adjusting timing between a strobe signal and a data signal without interrupting a normal memory access.An expected value acquisition latch latches write data in synchronization with a clock signal. A WDLL outputs a write strobe signal WDQS. An RDLL outputs a delayed write strobe signal WDQS_d. A read data latch latches looped-back write data in synchronization with the delayed write strobe signal WDQS_d. A comparator compares the read data latch with an output from the expected value acquisition latch. A register portion stores a delay value to be placed in the RDLL. A register control portion updates a delay value in the register portion in accordance with a comparison result. A delay selection portion places a delay value read from the register portion in the RDLL.
US08406064B2	Latching circuit A non-volatile latch circuit includes a pair of cross-coupled inverters, a pair of resistance-based memory elements, and write circuitry configured to write data to the pair of resistance-based memory elements. The pair of resistance-based memory elements is isolated from the pair of cross-coupled inverters during a latching operation. A sensing circuit includes a first current path that includes a first resistance-based memory element and an output of the sensing circuit. The sensing circuit includes a second current path to reduce current flow through the first resistance-based memory element at a first operating point of the sensing circuit. The sensing circuit may also include an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor to provide a step down supply voltage to the first current path.
US08406060B2	Memory instruction including parameter to affect operating condition of memory Subject matter disclosed herein relates to techniques to operate memory.
US08406052B2	High voltage generation and control in source-side injection programming of non-volatile memory Non-volatile memory is programmed using source side hot electron injection. To generate a high voltage bit line for programming, the bit line corresponding to a selected memory cell is charged to a first level using a first low voltage. A second low voltage is applied to unselected bit lines adjacent to the selected bit line after charging. Because of capacitive coupling between the adjacent bit lines and the selected bit line, the selected bit line is boosted above the first voltage level by application of the second low voltage to the unselected bit lines. The column control circuitry for such a memory array does not directly apply the high voltage and thus, can be designed to withstand lower operating voltages, permitting low operating voltage circuitry to be used.
US08406050B2	Current sensing for flash A current sensing data read/verify process and sense amplifier is described that senses memory cells of a non-volatile memory array utilizing a current sensing process that places a current source to provide current to the bit line. The voltage level of the bit line is then set by the current provided by the current source and the current sunk from the bit line through the selected memory cell to the source line, which is dependent on the threshold voltage of its programmed or erased state. If the selected memory cell is erased, current flows through the memory cell to the source line and the bit line voltage falls. If the selected memory cell is programmed, little or no current flows through the cell, and the bit line voltage rises and is sensed by the sense amplifier.
US08406041B2	Scalable magnetic memory cell with reduced write current One embodiment of a magnetic memory cell comprises a magnetoresistive element including a free layer comprising a reversible magnetization direction directed substantially perpendicular to a film plane, a pinned layer comprising a fixed magnetization direction directed substantially perpendicular to the film plane, and a tunnel barrier layer disposed between the free and pinned layers; means for providing a bias magnetic field pulse along magnetic hard axis of both the free and pinned layers, means for providing a spin-polarized current pulse through the magnetoresistive element along magnetic easy axis of both the free layer and the pinned layer, wherein the magnetization direction in the free layer is reversed by a collective effect of the bias magnetic field pulse and the spin-polarizing current pulse. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US08406039B2	Low-leakage power supply architecture for an SRAM array A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a chip; forming a static random access memory (SRAM) cell including a transistor on the chip; and forming a bias transistor configured to gate a power supply voltage provided to the SRAM cell on the chip. The bias transistor and the transistor of the SRAM cell are formed simultaneously.
US08406026B2	Power conversion apparatus The power conversion apparatus includes a power conversion circuit including parallel-connected pairs of a high-side switching element and a low-side switching element connected in series, high-side driver circuits to drive the high-side switching elements, low-side driver circuits to drive the low-side switching elements, and a transformer to supply voltages to drive the high-side switching and low-side switching elements to the high-side and low-side driver circuits. The high-side switching elements are mounted in a row along a first direction on a wiring board, and the low-side switching elements are mounted in a row along the first direction on the wiring board side by side with the row of the high-side switching elements. The transformer is mounted on the wiring board on the side of the row of the high-side switching elements opposite to the row of the low-side switching elements.
US08406022B2	Apparatus and method for controling power quality of power generation system There are provided an apparatus and a method for controlling the power quality of a power generation system. According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for controlling the power quality of a power generation system including a DC/AC inverter converting DC voltage into AC voltage and supplying inverter current to a grid, including: a grid voltage phase follower generating a grid signal; a fundamental extractor extracting a magnitude of a fundamental wave of a load current introduced into a non-linear load connected between the DC/AC inverter and the grid; a first calculator subtracting a preset current compensation value from the magnitude of the fundamental wave from the fundamental extractor; and a second calculator generating an inverter current instruction value for the DC/AC inverter by using the output value of the first calculator and the grid signal and the load current from the grid voltage phase follower.
US08406016B2	Power supply circuit and information processing apparatus for power factor correction and stable power supply A power supply circuit includes a rectifying unit for outputting a rectified input voltage, a transformer for receiving the voltage and outputting an induced voltage based on the input voltage, a first smoothing unit for smoothing the induced voltage to output a first output voltage, a detecting unit for outputting an error signal corresponding to the difference between the first output voltage and a reference voltage, and an insulating unit for receiving the error signal and outputting a signal corresponding to the error signal. The input and output terminals of the insulating unit are insulated. The circuit also includes a controlling unit for outputting a control signal for selectively inputting the input voltage into the transformer on basis of the signal from the insulating unit, and also includes a switching unit connected to the transformer for selectively inputting the input voltage into the transformer, based on the control signal.
US08406014B2	Circuit for adjusting the output voltage for a resonant DC/DC converter A method and circuit for controlling a resonant DC/DC converter which adjusts an output voltage by changing a turn-on frequency of input switch devices of a resonant circuit of the converter. The method extends the range of the output voltage of the resonant circuit by adjusting the duty ratio of the switch devices based on the feedback signal of the load circuit. The method and circuit uses two modes to control resonance of the DC/DC converter-frequency modulation and frequency modulation plus pulse width modulation. Frequency modulation is used when the operating frequency of the power supply is low. Frequency modulation plus pulse width modulation is used when the operating frequency of the power supply is too high.
US08406009B2	Printed circuit board (PCB) flexibly connected to a device chassis An electronic device is provided, the electronic device includes a printed circuit board (PCB) having a mounting point. The computer system also includes a chassis having a mounting post. The mounting point and the mounting post are flexibly connected.
US08406008B2	Portable electronic device with grounding mechanism A portable electronic device includes a main housing, a metal frame, and at least one metal elastic member. The main housing includes a peripheral wall. The peripheral wall defines a recessed portion and includes at least one latching portion at the recessed portion. The metal frame clips the peripheral wall in the recessed portion. The at least one elastic member is detachably attached to the at least one latching portion. The at least one elastic member electronically connects the metal frame to the housing.
US08406004B2	Integrated circuit packaging system and method of manufacture thereof A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes providing an integrated circuit having an active side and a non-active side; forming an indent, having a flange and an indent side, from a peripheral region of the active side; and forming a conformal interconnect, having an elevated segment, a slope segment, and a flange segment, over the indent.
US08405987B2	Cooling system for electronic device and electronic device having same A cooling system includes a fan and an air conducting cover. The air conducting cover includes a first airflow channel and an opposite second airflow channel. The first airflow channel includes a first air inlet and an opposite first air outlet, the second airflow channel includes a second air inlet and an opposite second air outlet. The first air inlet and the second air inlet are both aligned with the fan.
US08405985B1	Chassis system with front cooling intake A line card includes a metal frame that includes a front section, and a bottom section connected to the front section via an angled section, where the angled section results in an opening between the line card and a second line card, when the line card is installed above the second line card in a rack, and where the opening allows directed air to enter the rack from a front direction; a printed circuit board attached to the metal frame; and a group of front panel connectors attached to the front section of the metal frame.
US08405981B2	Holding device for information processing device A notebook computer body is formed of a front casing and a rear casing having a keyboard. The computer body is provided on its rear surface with a protrusion having a substantially spherical surface and with a hand strap. The hand strap covers the protrusion and has an through hole, thereby allowing the user to securely hold the computer body in one hand.
US08405968B2	Mounting apparatus for storage device A mounting apparatus for a storage device includes a chassis, a carrier and a bracket configured to secure the storage device to the chassis. The carrier includes a handle and a first extending arm, the handle is configured to secure the carrier to the chassis, and a positioning slot is defined in the first extending arm. The bracket includes a first side plate. An elastic securing piece is disposed on the first side plate, and a latch is formed on the securing piece. The latch is engaged in the positioning slot of the first extending arm to mount the bracket to the carrier.
US08405966B2	Memory carrier and IHS coupling system A memory carrier system includes a carrier chassis that includes a board having a board connector. The board is operable to couple to a plurality of memory modules. A pair of pinion cams are rotatably mounted to the carrier chassis. A handle is moveably coupled to the carrier chassis and includes a pair of rack arms. Each rack arm engages a respective pinion cam. The carrier chassis is operable to be positioned in an information handling system (IHS) chassis that includes an IHS connector, and the handle is operable to be moved relative to the carrier chassis in order to rotate the pinion cams into an engagement with the IHS chassis that provides a cam force that mates the board connector to the IHS connector.
US08405963B2	Display and damping member attached to display A display wherein a damping member (50) disposed between the front surface of the periphery of a display panel and the rear surface of a bezel has elastic body parts (52) each made of an elastic body and a conductive covering part (54) that covers the elastic body parts (52) and that has conductivity. Openings (56) from which the elastic body parts (52) are exposed are formed in a part of the surface (54b) of the damping member (50) that faces the rear surface of the bezel and/or in a part of the surface (54a) thereof that faces the front surface of the periphery of the display panel. The elastic body parts (52) exposed from the openings (56) are configured in such a manner as to be brought into contact with the rear surface of the bezel and/or the front surface of the periphery of the display panel.
US08405961B2	Keypad assembly and electronic device using the same A keypad assembly includes a keypad, a fixing bracket, and at least one fixing member. The fixing member fixes the keypad to the fixing bracket, and the fixing bracket includes two support portions, a fixing portion, two connecting portions and at least two resilient portions. The resilient portions interconnect the support portions and the fixing portions. Opposite ends of each connecting portion interconnect the two support portions, such that the two connecting portions and the two support portions cooperatively form a frame. The fixing portion is located on a middle portion of the frame. The keycap is fixed on the fixing portion. The resilient portions elastically deform to provide elastic restoring force to the keycap.
US08405955B2	High performance electrodes for EDLCS An electric double layer capacitor composite electrode includes a current collector having opposing major surfaces, first and second conductive layers formed over respective ones of the major surfaces, and first and second carbon-based layers formed over the first and second conductive layers.
US08405948B2	EMI noise shielding device An EMI noise shielding device applied to a power supply control system includes a first resistor with a terminal electrically coupled to a terminal of a second resistor to form an input terminal, a differential amplifier for receiving a feedback voltage (Vfb) signal containing a noise from the input terminal to perform a first filter process to generate a first node voltage (VA) signal, a signal converter for receiving the first node voltage (VA) signal to perform an analog-to-digital signal conversion process and a second filter process to generate a second node voltage (VB) signal, and a digital control circuit for receiving the second node voltage (VB) signal to perform a determination process and a third filter process to generate a third node voltage (VC) signal. Therefore, the noise signal contained in the feedback voltage (Vfb) signal can be filtered to maintain the normal operation of the power supply control system.
US08405946B2	Wire protection method and wire protection device With a wire protection method in accordance with the present invention, the method being used for supplying electric power from a power source to a load, an applied-current to the load is detected every predetermined time, A wire rise temperature is calculated using the detected applied-current I(n) and by a relational expression concerning heat radiation and heat generation of the wire. The calculated rise in temperature is added to a reference temperature so that a wire temperature is estimated. When the estimated wire temperature is lower than a predetermined upper limit temperature, the calculation of the rise in temperature is repeated. When the estimated wire temperature has become equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit temperature, the electric power supply from the power source to the load is stopped so that the wire is protected.
US08405944B2	Distributed bus differential protection using time-stamped data A distributed busbar protection system using time-stamped data gathered from measurement devices in an electrical power system bus arrangement by respective intelligent electronic devices (IEDs). The IEDs may derive the timestamp information from a clock or other time source, which may be synchronized to a common time source and/or an absolute time. The time-stamped measurement data may be used by a protection device to monitor and/or protect the electrical power system. The protection device may include a real-time vector processor, which may time-align the time-stamped data, determine one or more bus differential protection zones, and implement a differential protection function within each of the protection zones. One or more protective control signals may be transmitted to the IEDs to trip the corresponding breakers and clear the bus fault.
US08405934B2	Electronic apparatus and disk drive suspension A microactuator element as an example of an electrical component is disposed on a metallic, electrically conductive plate member. A conductive resin member is disposed on a current-carrying part of the conductive plate member and a conduction part of the microactuator element. A thin porous plating layer of thickness 100 nm or less includes a large number of gold particles is formed in a region of a surface of the conductive plate member which covers the current-carrying part. The conductive resin member is secured to the conductive plate member through the thin porous gold plating layer and electrically connected to the conductive plate member.
US08405910B2	Optical sheet, image source unit, display device, process for producing optical sheet, and method for manufacturing display device There is provided: an optical sheet, which has excellent productivity while maintaining an optical performance and can reduce a manufacturing cost; an image source unit; a display device; a method for producing an optical sheet; and a method for manufacturing a display device.An optical sheet 10 is disposed on an observer side relative to an image source and comprises a plurality of layers that control light emitted from the image source to emit the light on the observer side, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers is a base material layer 16; one layer disposed on one side of the base material layer is an optical functional sheet layer 11, which comprises prisms 12 being arranged in parallel along the sheet surface of the optical sheet whereby light can be transmitted and light-absorbing parts 13 being arranged in parallel between the prisms whereby light can be absorbed; one layer disposed on the other side of the base material layer is an adhesive layer 17; and an adhesive layer is not provided on a side surface of the optical functional sheet layer facing the side disposed with the base material layer.
US08405906B2	Zoom lens system, optical apparatus, and method for manufacturing zoom lens system Providing a zoom lens system having a vibration reduction function capable of performing quick focusing with excellent optical performance even upon vibration reduction. The system including, in order from an object, a first lens group G1 having positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having negative refractive power, a third lens group G3 having positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group G4 having positive refractive power. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 varies, and a distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 varies. The third lens group G3 carries out focusing from an infinity object to a close object. At least a portion of the fourth lens group G4 moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
US08405901B2	Switchable glazings A switchable film assembly having remote electrical connections comprises an active layer between first and second electrically conductive layers. The active layer has an optical transmission which changes upon projecting an electric field therethrough. An electrical connection connects the film to a power supply and can comprise a remote electrical connector region provided remote to the first and second electrically conductive layers, such upon connecting the film assembly to the power supply, an electrical field may be projected through at least a portion of the switchable film assembly thereby changing the optical transmission of the active layer.
US08405898B2	Device for correcting the wavelength dependence in diffraction-based optical systems A device for correcting the wavelength dependence in diffraction-based optical systems in which certain orders of diffraction are filtered is disclosed, comprising at least one diffractive optical spatial light modulator that has controllable structures, and at least one light source for illuminating the spatial light modulator. Associated orders of diffraction are created which, depending on the wavelength, have a lateral chromatic offset relative to the position of the different extensions thereof on a filter plane defined by the focal length of a downstream optically focusing system, the lateral chromatic offset being in relation to the normal line to the surface of the spatial light modulator. The equinumerous orders of diffraction of different wavelengths overlap to an sufficient extent on a predefined filter plane in relation to both the direction and the extension thereof.
US08405890B2	System, apparatus and method for extracting image cross-sections of an object from received electromagnetic radiation An Apparatus and method to produce a hologram of a cross-section of an object includes an electromagnetic radiation assembly configured to receive a received electromagnetic radiation, such as light, from the object. The electromagnetic radiation assembly is further configured to diffract the received electromagnetic radiation and transmit a diffracted electromagnetic radiation An image capture assembly is configure to capture an image of the diffracted electromagnetic radiation and produce the hologram of the cross-section of the object from the captured image. The hologram of the cross-section includes information regarding a single cross-section of the object.
US08405883B2	Dynamic transfer field control for variations in substrate and environment This invention relates to modifying built-in software in printing and copier machines. In particular, the modification will be to software relating to the transfer system control algorithms. This modification can take place when different paper, substrate, toner or environment changes. The purpose of this modification is to provide an optimum image quality when any of these conditions change.
US08405877B2	Laser print apparatus with dual half tones A printing system comprises a memory configured to store image data representing an image. The printing system comprises a processor configured to perform a first digital halftone process on a first portion of the image and a second digital halftone process on a second portion of the image.
US08405866B2	Printer and method of printing A printer equipped with a display panel and configured to perform printing on a label surface of a disc based on an image displayed on the display panel, including: a displaying portion configured to display, on the display panel, (a) a subject image that is based on stored image data and (b) a disc frame representing a printable region of the label surface of the disc, such that the disc frame is superimposed on the subject image; a modifying portion configured to modify the subject image on the basis of an input operation by a user, such that the subject image is moved, enlarged, or reduced relative to the disc frame; and a printing portion configured to print, on the label surface of the disc, a part of the subject image existing within the disc frame.
US08405856B2	Image forming apparatus and job performing method A job performing method of an image forming apparatus which includes a touch screen making a handwriting input available, the method including displaying a handwriting input window in a part of an initial screen displayed on the touch screen and making a user's handwriting input available; inputting a handwriting by the user in the displayed handwriting input window; comparing the input handwriting with a prestored job; and performing the prestored job by the image forming apparatus according to the comparison result. With this, the image forming apparatus provides the shortcut of a function frequently used by a user in an initial screen and enables a user to easily select and perform a particular function or a job.
US08405850B2	Image forming apparatus with supply unit verification, print control method thereof and print control program An image forming apparatus comprises an image former that prints target data on a sheet, a first judger that judges a supply unit that is replaceably loaded thereon and has a memory storing identification information uniquely given to the supply unit and information about a plurality of vendors providing the supply unit, is whether or not a reproduced product, an accessor that accesses a server owned by a vendor supplying the supply unit according to the information about the vendors providing the supply unit, which is stored in the memory of the supply unit, if the first judger judges that the supply unit is a reproduced product, a second judger that judges whether or not the identification information stored in the memory of the supply unit is registered in the server owned by the vendor supplying the supply unit, which is accessed by the accessor. Print operations performed by the image former are limited if the second judger judges that the identification information is not registered in the server, meanwhile, print operations performed by the image former are permitted if the second judger judges that the identification information is registered in the server.
US08405847B2	System and method for providing security data and image forming device therefor A system implementing a method of providing a security data has a requesting image forming device receiving an authorization information from a user to authorize the user, and when the user is authorized, requesting a transmission of a list of security data, and at least one responding image forming device, when the transmission of the list of security data is requested, generating the list of security data based on the authorization information to transmit to the requesting image forming device. Therefore, the security data of image forming device from a remote place can be easily obtained.
US08405843B2	Printer control method for error-detection-based reprinting A printer and reprinting control method do not reprint when an error accompanied by no damage to the actual printing area or print image on paper occurs so that consumables are not wasted. The printer reprints the label on which the print image was being formed when a specific error occurs if the error occurred while the inkjet head was forming the print image in the actual printing area of the label. When the non-printing area of the label is passing the printing position of the inkjet head, the print image in the actual printing area that was printed immediately before an error occurs is reprinted only if a specific error is detected, such as a paper jam error or mechanical error with the possibility of damage to the paper or label.
US08405827B2	Time-resolved spectroscopy system and methods for multiple-species analysis in fluorescence and cavity-ringdown applications A time-resolved spectroscopy system employing a time-division multiplexing optical device with no dispersive optical elements to perform lifetime and concentration measurements in multi-species samples, is disclosed. Some examples include fluorescence and cavity ring-down spectroscopy. The system is unique in its compactness and simplicity of operation. In one embodiment, the system makes use of only one photo-detector and an efficient linear regression algorithm. The system offers a measurement time for multiple species measurements of less than 1 s. The system can also be used to perform fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy. Four methods to de-convolve a multi-component, exponentially decaying optical signal such as obtained with the system disclosed here, are presented. These methods may be applied to the measurement of fluorescence decay lifetimes and cavity ring-down times, the latter used extensively for the measurement of gas and trace-gas concentrations in complex mixtures, via absorption spectroscopy.
US08405822B2	Optical strain gauge comprising a fiber Bragg grating The invention relates to an optical strain gauge using a glass fiber (1) comprising a Bragg grating (2). The glass fiber is coated with a sheath (3) of polyether ether ketone with an admixture of at least 10 weight percent and a maximum of 40 weight percent of an inorganic filler, with a particle size of between 0.08 μm and 12 μm. The outer diameter of the sheath (3) is between 0.2 mm and 1.2 mm. The ratio D/d between the outer diameter D of the sheath (3) and the diameter d of the glass fiber (1) is between 2 and 6. A pressure of the sheath (3) on the glass fiber (1) is such that essentially no relative movement can occur between the glass fiber (1) and the sheath (3).
US08405821B2	Method and device for determining the distance to a retroreflective object The invention relates to a method and a device for determining a modification at one object or a modification caused by an object (1.26), wherein a measurement of the light propagation time is also possible. According to the invention, an amplitude control (1.6) regulates a transmitter light source (1.8) and a reference light source (1.9) on the basis of a control value (1.29) in such a way that the signals from the corresponding associated light paths have approximatively the same value at the input of a comparator (1.19). As a result, an alternative detection of extraneous light is possible. In addition, a phase regulation for measuring the light propagation time can be provided.
US08405820B2	Ranging device and ranging module and image-capturing device using the ranging device or the ranging module A ranging device including: a lens array member which has first and second ranging lenses, optical axes of the pair of ranging lenses being parallel to each other, and first and second optical images of a subject being formed by the first and the second ranging lenses respectively; a mirror array member which has first and second reflecting members, each of the pair of reflecting members being provided with a reflecting plane; a medium mirror member which has first and second reflecting planes, the medium mirror member being arranged between the pair of reflecting members; an imaging element which is configured to convert the first and the second optical images to electronic signals; and an electronic circuit which is configured to calculate a distance to the subject based on the electronic signals output from the imaging element.
US08405817B2	Lithographic apparatus, a method of controlling the apparatus and a device manufacturing method A method of operating a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The method includes moving a substrate table supporting a substrate relative to a projection system and adjusting the scanning speed between the substrate table and the projection system during imaging of a target within a predefined area at or near an edge of the substrate, or adjusting the stepping speed between adjacent target positions in a predefined area at or near the edge of the substrate, or both. The adjusting the scanning and/or stepping speed may comprise lowering the speed. The projection system is configured to project a patterned beam of radiation on to a target portion of the substrate.
US08405815B2	Fluid handling structure, lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method A fluid handling structure configured to supply and confine immersion liquid to a space defined between a projection system and a facing surface facing the fluid handling structure is disclosed. A first portion of an undersurface of the fluid handling structure, in use, is a different distance from the facing surface than a second portion of the undersurface. Further, the first portion has defined in it a supply opening configured to supply liquid toward the facing surface, and an extraction opening configured to remove fluid from between the fluid handling structure and the facing surface.
US08405813B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device with a pair of substrates which are arranged to face each other with liquid crystal therebetween, columnar spacers having the substantially equal height formed on a liquid-crystal-side surface of one substrate, and the columnar spacers include the columnar spacer which is contact with a liquid-crystal-side surface of another substrate and the columnar spacer which is not contact with the liquid-crystal-side surface of another substrate.
US08405811B2	Liquid crystal display and method of manufacturing the same An LCD is manufactured to provide a wide viewing angle device and may reduce manufacturing costs according to an embodiment. The LCD includes a substrate, a gate line disposed on the substrate, a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate line, a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer, a data line contacting the semiconductor layer, a drain electrode contacting the semiconductor layer and separated from the data line, a pixel electrode contacting the drain electrode, a passivation layer disposed on the pixel electrode, and a common electrode disposed on the passivation layer and including a branch electrode overlapping the pixel electrode. In one embodiment, the pixel electrode contacts an end portion of a thin film transistor. The LCD manufacturing process may be shortened and may save manufacturing costs because the LCD process need not make contact holes to connect the pixel electrode and the TFT.
US08405807B2	Liquid crystal display A liquid crystal display including an active device array substrate, an opposite substrate disposed above the active device array substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the active device array substrate and the opposite substrate, and spacers is provided. The active device array substrate includes a substrate, pixels, a first dielectric layer and color filter patterns. Each pixel includes a first active device, a first pixel electrode and a capacitor electrode. The capacitor electrode and the first pixel electrode constitute a storage capacitor. The first dielectric layer covers the first active device. The color filter patterns are disposed on the first dielectric layer. Each of the color filter patterns has a first opening disposed above the capacitor electrode to expose the first dielectric layer above the capacitor electrode. Each first pixel electrode is respectively disposed on one of the color filters and within the corresponding first opening.
US08405800B2	Display device with stacked polarizers An object of the present invention is to provide a display device having a high contrast ratio by a simple and easy method. Another object of the present invention is to manufacture such a display device having a high contrast ratio at low cost. The present invention relates to a display device including a first substrate; a second substrate; a layer including a display element, wherein the layer including the display element is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and stacked polarizers on the outer side of the first substrate or the second substrate. The stacked polarizers are arranged to be in a parallel Nicols state and the wavelength distributions of the extinction coefficients of the stacked polarizers are different from each other.
US08405799B2	Polymer-stabilized liquid crystal composition, liquid crystal display device, method for producing liquid crystal display device An object of the present invention is to obtain a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal composition which can suppress dependency of a driving voltage on a temperature by decreasing the driving voltage. To a low-molecular liquid crystal compound, a chiral compound, and a specific acrylate and a polymerizable liquid crystal compound as polymerizable acrylate compounds are added, to prepare a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal composition. By subjecting the polymer-stabilized liquid crystal composition to ultraviolet exposure while maintaining a desired alignment state to form a polymer chain in a liquid crystal phase, a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal display device containing a low-molecular liquid crystal in a stabilized alignment state is obtained.
US08405795B2	Light emitting device assembly, surface light source device, liquid crystal display device assembly, and light output member A light emitting device assembly includes: a light emitting device; and a light output member provided on the light emitting element and having an upper surface on which a curved part that outputs light from the light emitting device is provided, wherein a value of a x coordinate of a curved part center axis is a positive value, a locus of an edge of a curved part forms a circle or oval around the curved part center axis, light on a Z-axis output from an origin is output from the curved part at an angle θ0 (θ0>0) formed with the Z-axis within a XZ-plane, and function F(φ,Δφ) expressed by F(φ,Δφ)=(Δθ+−Δθ− (1) monotonously increases, takes the maximum value at φ=φ0 (<0), and then, monotonously decreases as a value of φ increases from the minimum value.
US08405792B2	Protective plate integrated display apparatus A protective plate integrated display apparatus includes a display panel, a protective plate to protect the observation side surface of the panel, a resin layer charged into a gap between the panel and plate to join them, and a plate-like support member having an opening corresponding to a screen area of the panel. The panel is disposed on one surface side of the support member so that the screen area faces the opening and a peripheral portion of the observation side surface is continuously fixed to the support member over the whole periphery through a frame-like adhesive layer continuously surrounding the whole periphery of the opening. The plate is arranged on the other surface side of the support member with its peripheral portion being fixed to the support member. The resin layer is charged into the opening of the support member and a region surrounded by the adhesive layer.
US08405787B2	Pixel structure of a display panel A tri-gate pixel structure includes three sub-pixel regions, three gate lines, a data line, three thin film transistors (TFTs), three pixel electrodes, and a common line. The gate lines are disposed along a first direction, and the data line is disposed along a second direction. The TFTs are disposed in the sub-pixel regions respectively, wherein each TFT has a gate electrode electrically connected to a corresponding gate line, a source electrode electrically connected to the data line, and a drain electrode. The three pixel electrodes are disposed in the three sub-pixel regions respectively, and each pixel electrode is electrically connected to the drain electrode of one TFT respectively. The common line crosses the gate lines and partially overlaps the three gate lines, and the common line and the three pixel electrodes are partially overlapped to respectively form three storage capacitors.
US08405783B2	Electronic device, remote control device, and remote control system An electronic device includes a wireless receiving circuit for receiving signals transmitted from a remote control unit, a core circuit having a digital signal processing circuit for processing input signals and configured to perform at least one of display processing and record processing based on signals processed in the digital signal processing circuit in accordance with a control signal transmitted from the remote control unit and received by the wireless receiving circuit, and a preliminary activation circuit for starting electric power supply to the digital signal processing circuit to thereby activate the digital signal processing circuit when a pre-operation state where the remote control unit is expected to be operated during stoppage of electric power supply to the core circuit has occurred.
US08405782B2	Television The present invention discloses a television that includes: a power circuit; a tuner for receiving television broadcasting signals; a display for displaying an image according to image signals based on the television broadcasting signals; a speaker for outputting a sound according to audio signals based on the television broadcasting signals; a connecting terminal for connecting to a player device that is capable of playing a media file; a connection detecting unit for detecting that the player device is connected to the connecting terminal; a charging unit for charging a battery of the player device in case the player device is connected to the connecting terminal; and a charge preventing unit for preventing the charging unit from charging the battery according to a user's operation.
US08405781B2	Analog television receiver for processing intermediate frequency TV signal An analog television (TV) receiver converts a received analog TV signal to a digital TV signal and performs digital demodulation to increase demodulation efficiency. The analog TV receiver includes a radio frequency (RF) turner and an intermediate frequency (IF) circuit. The RF tuner converts the received analog RF TV signal to an analog IF TV signal. The IF circuit includes a converting circuit and a digital demodulator. The converting circuit converts the analog IF TV signal to a digital TV signal. The digital demodulator demodulates the digital TV signal to generate a digital demodulated video signal and a digital demodulated audio signal.
US08405775B2	Video output apparatus, display system, and video output method for outputting video signal to display apparatus A video output apparatus includes an attribute information acquisition unit that acquires attribute information of a display apparatus through a communication unit, a determination unit that determines whether to superimpose additional information on a video signal based on the attribute information of the display apparatus acquired by the attribute information acquisition unit, an output unit that superimposes the additional information extracted by an additional information extraction unit on the video signal output from a video decoding unit and outputs the additional information superimposed on the video signal to the communication unit if the determination unit determines to superimpose the additional information on the video signal, and outputs the video signal output from the video decoding unit to the communication unit without superimposing the additional information on the video signal if the determination unit determines not to superimpose the additional information on the video signal.
US08405766B2	Camera device and method for adjusting the orientation of the window of a camera cover A camera device (1) includes a camera (2) having a shooting direction which is set at a predetermined direction; a table (3) that supports the camera (2) so as to be rotatable in a horizontal direction; and a cover (4) that is mounted on the table (3) and covers the camera (2). The table (3) includes a first slope portion (9) at a position corresponding to the direction of the camera (2), and the cover (4) includes a window (8) for ensuring a shooting field of view of the camera (2), and a second slope portion (10) having a shape in accordance with that of the first slope portion (9) at a position corresponding to an direction of the window (8). The direction of the window (8) is adjusted to align with the direction of the camera (2) in the horizontal direction when the first slope portion (9) and the second slope portion (10) are brought into contact with each other. Thus, a camera device which makes it possible to easily align the direction of the window of the cover with the direction of the camera is provided.
US08405765B2	Portable electronic device with rotatable camera module A portable electronic device includes a main body, a number of ball bearings, a spherical retaining member and a camera module. The main body includes a cavity formed therein, and a number of recesses formed in inner walls of the cavity and in communication with the cavity. The ball bearings are received in the respective recesses. The spherical retaining member is located in the cavity and is in contact with the ball bearings. The spherical retaining member defines a receiving space therein and an opening in communication with the receiving space. The camera module is received in the receiving space and facing the opening, the camera module is retained by the spherical retaining member in a manner such that the camera module is rotated by rotating the spherical retaining member relative to the ball bearings.
US08405751B2	Image sensor pixel structure employing a shared floating diffusion A pixel structure for an image sensor includes a semiconductor material portion having a coplanar and contiguous semiconductor surface and including four photodiodes, four channel regions, and a common floating diffusion region. Each of the four channel regions is directly adjoined to one of the four photodiodes and the common floating diffusion region. The four photodiodes are located within four different quadrants as defined employing a vertical line passing through a point within the common floating diffusion region as a center axis. The common floating diffusion region, a reset gate transistor, a source follower transistor, and a row select transistor are located within four different quadrants as defined employing a vertical line passing through a point within one of the photodiodes as an axis.
US08405748B2	CMOS image sensor with improved photodiode area allocation Embodiments of an apparatus comprising a pixel array comprising a plurality of macropixels. Each macropixel includes a pair of first pixels each including a color filter for a first color, the first color being one to which pixels are most sensitive, a second pixel including a color filter for a second color, the second color being one to which the pixels are least sensitive and a third pixel including a color filter for a third color, the third color being one to which pixels have a sensitivity between the least sensitive and the most sensitive, wherein the first pixels each occupy a greater proportion of the light-collection area of the macropixel than either the second pixel or the third pixel. Corresponding process and system embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08405747B2	Analog row black level calibration for CMOS image sensor A CMOS image sensor includes an image pixel array, a dark pixel array, data bit liens, reference bit lines, a driver, comparators, and analog-to-digital converter (“ADC”) circuits. The image pixel array generates analog image signals in response to incident light. The dark pixel array generates analog black reference signals for analog black level calibration of the analog image signals. In one embodiment, the data bit lines each coupled to a different column of image pixels of the image pixel array and the reference bit lines each coupled to a different column of black reference pixels within the dark pixel array. The driver is coupled to the reference bit lines to drive an analog black reference signal. The comparators each couple to one of the data bit lines and each coupled to an output of the driver and offset the analog image signals with the analog black reference signals in an analog domain. The ADC circuits each coupled to an output of a comparator.
US08405739B2	Imaging system and pixel signal readout method An imaging system including a frame rate setter and an exposure evaluator. The frame rate setter sets a frame rate used in a focusing operation. The frame rate is set faster than a normal frame rate. The exposure evaluator evaluates the exposure of a focusing image based on pixel signals read out from a focusing image area at the frame rate. The frame rate is reduced when the exposure is evaluated as an underexposure and the focusing operation is carried out at a reduced frame rate.
US08405730B2	Method for monitoring and controlling photographs taken in a proprietary area Method for avoiding unauthorized images of a proprietor's information from being transmitted outside the proprietor's control. A photographic image captured with a camera incorporated upon the wireless handheld communication device is wirelessly transmitted to a proprietor's server. The image is stored on the server after capture and transmission, preferably while the device is still in the photography-restricted geographical area that is under the control of the proprietor of the server. Once at the server, the photographic image is analyzed to determine whether or not the image is authorized for dissemination outside the proprietor's control. Local storage of the photographic image can be prevented on the device which assures that the transmission and storage of the photographic image on the proprietor's server is exclusive.
US08405727B2	Apparatus and method for calibrating image capture devices An apparatus and method are disclosed for calibrating image capture devices, such as the type used in electronic devices. In some embodiments, the electronic device may include at least one array of pixels and a memory coupled to the at least one array of pixels. The electronic device may further include a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the memory and at least one color filter optically coupled to the at least one array of pixels. The memory may further include one or more storage locations that include a response of the at least one color filter to one or more predetermined wavelengths from a target test source, as well as, one or more storage locations that include a response of one or more baseline color filters.
US08405726B2	Vehicle accessory system An accessory system for a vehicle includes a mounting element and a module. The mounting element includes an attachment portion that is configured for attachment of the mounting element at a vehicle windshield. The mounting element may be configured for attachment of an interior rearview mirror assembly thereto. The mounting element may be configured for accommodating an accessory at least when the mounting element is attached at the vehicle windshield. The module is configured for attachment to the mounting element when the mounting element is attached at the vehicle windshield. The module accommodates a camera, and the module includes structure that orients the field of view of the camera with respect to the vehicle windshield when the module is attached to the mounting element.
US08405725B2	Vehicular video processor module A video processor module suitable for use in a vehicle includes a video processor and a plurality of imaging sensor interfaces having at least a first imaging sensor interface configured for communication with a first imaging sensor of the equipped vehicle and a second imaging sensor interface configured for communication with a second imaging sensor of the equipped vehicle, with the first and second imaging sensor interfaces receiving image data captured by the first and second imaging sensors of the equipped vehicle, respectively. The video processor may include an object detection section, a camera selection section, a camera control section and/or a memory section. The video processor module may include a vehicle interface section.
US08405720B2	Automatic calibration of PTZ camera system In one exemplary embodiment a method calibrates a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera system. The PTZ camera system may include a PTZ camera. The method may perform at least one of the following steps: determining a radial distortion of the PTZ camera; determining a base focal length of the PTZ camera; determining a zoom and magnification profile of the PTZ camera; determining an actuation delay of the PTZ camera system; determining a pan position mode speed and/or a tilt position mode speed of the PTZ camera; determining a pan velocity profile and/or a tilt velocity profile of the PTZ camera; determining a zoom position profile and/or a zoom duration profile of the PTZ camera; determining a query delay of the PTZ camera system; and determining a minimum query interval of the PTZ camera system.
US08405702B1	Multiparty communications systems and methods that utilize multiple modes of communication Improved methods, systems, and devices for managing communications are provided. A user device may display all ongoing communications so that a user can visualize the communications network or some subset thereof (e.g., a subgroup or group of users). A system may maintain the user device in an instant ready-on mode of communication with the other user devices. A user may then initiate communications with a subgroup (e.g., a pair) or group without initiating a new connection. Accordingly, a user can simultaneously and fluidly communicate at the subgroup level, at the group level, or at the inter-group level. Moreover, users can function as independent actors that can freely form and leave subgroups as well as groups.
US08405698B2	Printer and printing method A clamper clamps an edge of a lenticular sheet and moves in a sub-scanning direction to transport the lenticular sheet. While the lenticular sheet is transported so as to form an image receptor layer on a rear side of the lenticular sheet, a sensor unit is moved in a main-scanning direction, such that the sensor unit is moved relative to the lenticular sheet in a direction which has a predetermined measurement scanning angle from the main-scanning direction. The sensor unit receives an inspection light projected toward and passed through the lenticular sheet, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to a received amount of the inspection light. Based on a variation of the inspection light, an oblique transportation angle of the lenticular sheet is calculated and the clamper is rotated in a direction to cancel the oblique transportation angle of the lenticular sheet.
US08405687B2	Multi-primary color display device A multi-primary color display device according to the present invention includes pixels, each having a plurality of sub-pixels. The plurality of sub-pixels include first, second, third and fourth sub-pixels for displaying first, second, third and fourth colors having first, second, third and fourth hues. The second and third hues are adjacent to the first hue on both sides thereof on an ab plane of an Lab* colorimetric system. When a color displayed by each pixel changes from black to an optimal color of the first hue, luminance values of the plurality of sub-pixels are set such that the luminance value of the first sub-pixel starts to be increased and also the luminance values of the second and third sub-pixels start to be increased at a rate of increase lower than the rate of increase of the first sub-pixel.
US08405685B2	Flat panel display device A flat panel display device includes an image processing circuit, a power supply, and a gamma voltage generator. The image processing circuit receives grayscale data, identifies a range in which a gray level of the grayscale data is located, and generates a reference signal based on the range. The power supply supplies a drive voltage based on the reference signal. The gamma voltage generator generates a set of gamma voltages based on the drive voltage.
US08405677B2	Method of improving the accuracy of selecting a soft button displayed on a touch-sensitive screen and related portable electronic device A method of inputting commands through a touch-sensitive screen of a portable electronic device includes displaying a plurality of soft buttons on the touch-sensitive screen, detecting touch input on the touch-sensitive screen at a touch location, identifying a closest soft button that is nearest to the touch location, magnifying the closest soft button and one or more other soft buttons in the immediate vicinity of the closest soft button that are located in a same row or in a same column as the closest soft button, reducing the size of other soft buttons, detecting release of the touch input on the touch-sensitive screen at a release location after the soft buttons have been magnified, identifying a selected soft button located at the release location upon detecting release of the touch input, and executing a command corresponding to the selected soft button.
US08405675B2	Device and method for converting three color values to four color values A device and a method for converting three color values to four color values are provided. In the method, a first to a third color values of a pixel are obtained. Further, a first to a third difference values between every two of the first to the third color values are respectively computed. If all of the first to the third difference values are lower than a threshold, a first to a fourth color converting values are generated according to the first to the third color values, and the fourth color converting value is higher than zero. On the contrary, the fourth color converting value is zero, and the first to the third color converting values are equal to the first to the third color values, respectively. Thereby, a color break-up can be suppressed, and color saturation can be maintained.
US08405674B2	Color calibration system A color calibration system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a display device provided with a color sensor for detecting a color temperature and illuminance of ambient light, a microcomputer, and a colorimeter for performing colorimetry on a display screen of the display device from the outside. The microcomputer calculates a target value by using a preset calculation equation and a detection result on the ambient light detected by the color sensor. Then, the microcomputer automatically performs color calibration of the display device so that a colorimetry result obtained by the colorimeter may agree with the target value.
US08405667B2	Framework for graphics animation and compositing operations A graphics animation and compositing operations framework has a layer tree for interfacing with the application and a render tree for interfacing with a render engine. Layers in the layer tree can be content, windows, views, video, images, text, media, or other types of objects for an application's user interface. The application commits state changes to the layers of the layer tree. The application does not need to include explicit code for animating the changes to the layers. Instead, an animation is determined for animating the change in state by the framework which can define a set of predetermined animations based on motion, visibility, and transition. The determined animation is explicitly applied to the affected layers in the render tree. A render engine renders from the render tree into a frame buffer. Portions of the render tree changing relative to prior versions can be tracked to improve resource management.
US08405657B2	Animatable graphics lighting analysis One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for displaying lighting values associated with a 3-D graphics model by superimposing an overlay grid with lighting values on the 3-D graphics model. A software rendering engine computes lighting values for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model, where each frame may have different lighting settings. An overlay grid with lighting values may be superimposed on an area defined by a light meter on the 3-D graphics model. The lighting values on the overlay grid are associated with the light meter and may vary frame-over-frame. In another embodiment, a JPEG image with a superimposed overlay grid with per-pixel lighting values covering a 3-D graphics model is generated for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model. These JPEG images may be displayed on the screen and stored to an external memory.
US08405649B2	Low voltage driver scheme for interferometric modulators A method of driving electromechanical devices such as interferometric modulators includes applying a voltage along a common line to release the electromechanical devices along the common line, followed by applying an address voltage along the common line to actuate selected electromechanical devices along the common line based on voltages applied along segment lines. Hold voltages may be applied along common lines between applications of release and address voltages, and the segment voltages may be selected to be sufficiently small that the segment voltages will not affect the state of the electromechanical devices along other common lines not being written to.
US08405635B2	Touch screen panel and fabricating method thereof A touch screen panel includes a transparent substrate; first detection cells and second detection cells alternately disposed on an active touch area of one surface of the transparent substrate in such a manner that the first detection cells are connected to each other along a first direction and second detection cells are connected to each other along a second direction; a driving/shield electrode formed throughout the other surface of the transparent substrate in such a manner that ends of the driving/shield electrode are located at an inner side of the transparent substrate while being spaced apart from a boundary line of the transparent substrate by a predetermined interval; and a first insulation layer formed throughout the other surface of the transparent substrate, on which the driving/shield electrode is formed, to cover an exposed surface of the driving/shield electrode, inclusive of sides of the driving/shield electrode.
US08405623B2	Directional audio viewport for the sight impaired in virtual worlds Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for presenting a virtual world to sight-impaired users. In one embodiment, the user may indicate an area of focus within the virtual world. The user may then be provided with audio descriptions of objects or avatars included within the area of focus. The descriptions may be provided at varying levels of detail, enabling the user to “zoom in” on particular items of interest. Further, the user may select an audio description to navigate an avatar to the location of the corresponding object.
US08405620B2	Touch sensitive display having different adhesives and method for fabricating same An exemplary touch sensitive display (200) includes a display device (220) and a touch panel (210). The touch panel is attached on the display device through two adhesives (231, 232). The two adhesives have different adhesive capabilities.
US08405611B2	Orientation calculation apparatus, storage medium having orientation calculation program stored therein, game apparatus, and storage medium having game program stored therein An orientation calculation apparatus obtains data from an input device including at least a gyroscope and an acceleration sensor, and calculates an orientation of the input device in a three-dimensional space. Orientation calculation means calculates the orientation of the input device in accordance with an angular rate detected by the gyroscope. Acceleration vector calculation means calculates an acceleration vector representing an acceleration of the input device in accordance with acceleration data from the acceleration sensor. Correction means corrects the orientation of the input device such that a direction of the acceleration vector in the space approaches a vertically downward direction in the space. Also, the correction means corrects the orientation of the input device such that a directional change before and after the correction is minimized regarding a predetermined axis representing the orientation of the input device.
US08405610B1	Electrooculographical control for a mobile device A device and computer-readable media are provided for controlling a mobile device by eye movement. Namely, embodiments of the present invention rely on electrooculographical and blink-sensing techniques to detect eye movement, where the eye movement can indicate that a user wishes to perform an action on a mobile device. The mobile device may be a cell phone, a portable digital assistant, or some other communications device. This invention is primarily directed for use by people who have physical impairments preventing them from operating mobile devices in a traditional way.
US08405607B2	Optical navigation device and associated methods A sensor for an optical device includes an array of pixels in rows and columns which detect and process illumination falling thereon so as to identify inputs generated by a user on a surface of the optical device. A second reset period of variable length between a black calibration phase and an integration phase occurs in a processing cycle of a frame for each pixel, wherein the length of the second reset period is adjusted based on the ambient light conditions.
US08405599B2	Image display medium, drive device for image display medium and image display device An image display medium comprising a pair of substrates, at least one of which is light-transmissive; two or more kinds of particles having different colors and charge polarities, the particles being positioned between the pair of substrates such that the particles can move in response to an electric field generated between the pair of substrates; and an electric charge-retention layer provided at a side of at least one of the pair of substrates.
US08405597B2	Liquid crystal display panel and display apparatus having the same A liquid crystal display panel includes n-number of gate lines, (m+1)-number of data lines and (m×n)-number of pixels, wherein the ‘n’ and ‘m’ are natural numbers. The gate lines are extended in a first direction. The data lines are extended in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The first and last data lines are electrically connected to each other. The pixels are arranged in a matrix shape. M-number of the pixels is arranged along the first direction, and n-number of the pixels is arranged along the second direction. A pixel electrode of the pixels arranged in the second direction are electrically connected to left and right data lines alternately to enhance a display quality and reduce power consumption.
US08405584B2	Display and thin-film-transistor discharge method therefor A display and the thin-film-transistor discharge method therefore are used for providing a dual-gate thin film transistor to drive the electroluminescent element to emit light. While the thin film transistor (TFT) is discharged, an electric field is formed between the top-gate and the bottom-gate. The electric field is for improving the electric discharge effect at the channel of the TFT, and the magnitude of the applied electric field corresponds to the magnitude of the pixel voltage.
US08405582B2	Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof An organic light emitting display includes: scan lines for applying scan signals; control lines for applying control signals; and data lines for applying data signals. The organic light emitting display further includes: pixels coupled to the scan, control and data lines for displaying an image; power supply lines coupled to the pixels; and a data driver for supplying the data signals of the image to the data lines. The organic light emitting display also includes: a power supply driver for swinging a voltage at the power supply lines between a first level and a second level; a sensing unit including a current sink for sinking a first current from the pixels and a current source for supplying a second current to the pixels; and a switching unit for selectively electrically coupling the pixels to at least one of the data driver, the current source or the current sink.
US08405578B2	Plasma display device and driving apparatus thereof In a plasma display device, a secondary coil of a transformer is connected across a panel capacitor formed by a scan electrode and a sustain electrode performing a sustain discharge. The plasma display device uses resonance between a secondary coil of a transformer and a panel capacitor to apply a sustain discharge pulse to a scan electrode and a sustain electrode in a sustain period.
US08405575B2	Plasma display device and driving method thereof A driving method of a plasma display device, the plasma display device having a plurality of first and second electrodes disposed adjacent to each other and a plurality of third electrodes disposed so as to intersect with the first and second electrodes, the driving method includes providing a reset period, an address period and a sustain discharge period for driving of the plasma display device, applying to the second electrode in the reset period a voltage with a waveform in which an applied voltage value increases with time, shortening a sustain time of achieved potential of the voltage with the waveform when a first display ratio of an input video signal is low as compared with a second display ratio which is higher than the first display ratio.
US08405562B2	Photoconductive semiconductor fiber antenna An antenna system including at least one fiber antenna element having a semiconductor core and an outer cladding layer, where the core has a higher index of refraction than the cladding layer. A pump source provides pump light to the cladding layer in a manner that allows the pump light to propagate down the cladding layer to be absorbed by the core to generate photo-carriers in the core. An antenna circuit is electrically coupled to the core and provides one or both of an RF signal to the core for transmission purposes or receiving an RF signal from the core for reception purposes.
US08405544B2	Method and device for processing signal, radar apparatus, and program for processing signal This disclosure provides a signal processing device, which includes an echo signal input module for being inputted with echo signals caused by electromagnetic waves emitted from an antenna being reflected on one of more target objects, an echo signal level detecting module for detecting a level of each of the echo signals in association with a distance and an azimuth direction from the antenna, a level change detecting module for detecting a level change between the echo signals from locations which are close to each other where the distances from the antenna are substantially the same but the azimuth directions from the antenna are different, a pattern output module for comparing the level change with a pattern determined in advance to output a level change pattern, and an interference determining module for determining interference based on at least two of the level change patterns.
US08405543B2	Circuit and method for distance measurement between two nodes of a radio network A circuit of a node of a radio network, and a method for distance measurement with a transceiver for receiving a first signal with a first frequency by downmixing to an intermediate frequency, with a phase measurement unit, which is set up to determine a first value of a first phase for a first frequency value of the first frequency. The transceiver is formed to transmit a second signal with a first frequency value of a second frequency for determining a first value of a second phase. The control circuit is set up to change the first frequency and the second frequency, in that a second frequency value of the first frequency and the first frequency value of the first frequency have a frequency difference, and whereby a second frequency value of the second frequency and the first frequency value of the second frequency have the frequency difference. The phase measurement unit is set up to determine a second value of the first phase for the second frequency value of the first frequency. The first frequency of the first signal and the second frequency of the second signal are spaced apart by an amount of the intermediate frequency.
US08405532B1	Asynchronous sample rate converter Systems and methods for asynchronous sample rate conversion are provided that allow time-varying arbitrary sample ratios. An uncorrected ratio between two arbitrary sample rates is corrected and subsequently used to perform an efficient sample rate conversion on the samples in a data stream. Coefficients of a (polyphase) finite impulse response filter are interpolated based on a current time register value. Additional computational efficiency (and a smaller finite impulse response filter) may be used due to oversampling the input signal to the finite impulse response filter.
US08405526B2	Apparatus for inputting a character Provided is an apparatus for inputting a character which enables users to input characters more conveniently by arranging input keys having 3 or 4 input interfaces appropriately in a keypad. If the present invention is applied to small sized electronic equipment such as a mobile phone and PDA, much more various types of characters can be arranged as compared with the space the input keys take, and thereby it becomes possible to input characters faster with the minimum amount of effort.
US08405522B2	Lane departure haptic warning with compensation for road-caused vibration A method of alerting the driver of a vehicle to a lane departure condition. The method includes operating a lane detection system to detect that the vehicle is experiencing a lane departure condition, operating a sensor to detect background vibration experienced by the vehicle, determining a characteristic making a haptic signal likely to be distinguishable from the background vibration, and operating a haptic signal generator in response to the lane departure condition to deliver to a driver the haptic signal having the characteristic.
US08405518B2	Universal personal emergency medical information retrieval system A universal personal emergency medical information retrieval system, wherein information is written onto an RFID tag that is affixed to a carrier element, such as the back of the user's driver's license, passport, national identity card, school identification card, other form of identification, or cell phone. Medical personnel are alerted to the presence of the RFID tag by a universally accepted system identifier affixed to the carrier element, by scanning the patient with a handheld scanner, or by an RFID scanning portal. The emergency medical personnel can then download the user's information and identification photo using an RFID scanner. This information can then be used appropriately for proper emergency diagnosis and treatment. The RFID scanner can also be connected to a computer or computer network to retrieve additional information from a central database or to further disseminate the information contained on the RFID tag.
US08405516B2	Portable electronic device and unlocking method thereof A method executes a gyroscope function to unlock a portable electronic device. A user can rotate the portable electronic device to set a predetermined rotation direction and a predetermined rotation angle for unlocking the portable electronic device. In an unlock procedure, the gyroscope detects the rotated portable electronic device and outputs detected information of the portable electronic device. If the rotation direction and the rotation angle are the same as the predetermined rotation direction and the predetermined rotation angle, the locked portable electronic device is unlocked.
US08405514B2	Power supply detection and indication A power detection and indication circuit device includes a processor, a signal conditioning circuit coupled to the processor and an indicator coupled to the signal conditioning circuit. The power detection and indication circuit performs a test to determine the presence of a switch coupled to the processor through the conditioning circuit. In response to determining that the switch is coupled to the processor through the conditioning circuit, the power detection and indication circuit performs a test to determine a status of the switch and provides an indication of the status of the switch using the indicator.
US08405513B2	Connection confirmation system and main body device An electrical connection confirmation system includes a cartridge type HDD 200 and a storage device main body 100 into which the cartridge type HDD 200 is inserted. The cartridge type HDD 200 includes a HDD connector 230 configured to comply with SATA standard, and having pins 210a to 210j and 210l to 210o that are internally shorted. The storage device main body 100 includes a main body connector 130 configured to comply with SATA standard, and having pins 110a to 110j and 110l to 110o provided in positions respectively opposite to the pins 210a to 210j and 210l to 210o. The electrical connection of the cartridge type HDD 200 to the storage device main body 100 is detected based on voltage states or electric current states of the specified pins 110d, 110g, and 110m.
US08405511B2	Optical signal quality monitoring An optical signal quality monitoring apparatus includes a trajectory length acquirer measuring a Stokes vector of an optical transmission signal over an optical signal modulation frequency band and acquiring the length of a trajectory in the optical signal modulation frequency band traced out on a Poincare sphere by the measured Stokes vector as the measurement value; a DGD acquirer acquiring a DGD value of the optical transmission signal the Stokes vector of which is measured by the trajectory length acquirer; and a quality value estimator estimating a quality value by using the length of the trajectory acquired by the trajectory length acquirer and the DGD value acquired by the DGD acquirer.
US08405504B2	Brand mapping A user uses a portable electronic device to select an image representative of a brand. In response to the user's selection of the image representative of the brand, the device automatically presents the user with an image of a map that indicates a current location of the device and shows one or more images representative of brand purchase sites where the selected brand may be accessed by the user.
US08405500B2	System and method for power and data delivery on a machine A power and data delivery system for a machine. The system includes a power and data conductor located throughout at least a portion of the machine, a plurality of processing nodes, each connected to the conductor at various locations, and a plurality of devices, each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of processing nodes and controlled by the processing node, wherein each processing node may be connected at any location of the conductor.
US08405499B2	Methods, systems, and products for security services Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for notification of alarms in security systems. A packetized alarm message is received from a security system associated with a network address. The network address is associated to a notification address. A Voice-over Internet Protocol call to the notification address is initiated over a data network to alert of an alarm from a security system.
US08405494B2	Apparatus for identifying threats using multiple sensors in a graphical user interface A system of imaging and non-imaging sensors are used in combination with a graphical user interface (GUI) system on a vehicle to detect items of interest. In particular, a GUI has been developed that seamlessly integrates high magnification, Narrow Field of View (NFOV) imaging sensors and Wide Field of View (WFOV) imaging sensors. The GUI is capable of displaying both WFOV and NFOV images, gimbal controls, and allow NFOV sensor to be pointed to any location within the wide field of view efficiently by a single touch of a touch screen display. The overall goal is to allow an operator to select which imagery from multiple WFOV sensors to display in order to prescreen regions of interest that require further investigation using sensors with more magnification.
US08405491B2	Detection system for assisting a driver when driving a vehicle using a plurality of image capturing devices A detection system (5) for assisting a driver when driving a vehicle, the system (5) comprising: a plurality of image capturing devices (98) mounted to the vehicle to capture images of the external environment of the vehicle; an image processing module (95) to identify potential hazards in real-time from the captured images and to superimpose information of the external environment relating to the identified potential hazards; and at least one display device (92) to display images processed by the image processing module in real-time; wherein the superimposed information is provided in an area of the display device (92) to ensure visual clarity of the images of the external environment.
US08405489B1	Master subservient light operation A hands-free dental or surgical light system (150) is disclosed which includes a master unit (152) worn by the doctor and one or more subservient units (154) to be worn by an assistant or assistants. Each of the units (152, 154) has a light (12) which can be at full brightness, dimmed or off. The master unit (152) has a transmitter (156) that communicates with a receiver (158) on the subservient unit (154) so that the light (12) on the subservient unit (154) does not accidentally cure a light sensitive material. For example, when in range the master unit (152) can control the subservient unit (154) to turn the light on the subservient unit (154) dim or off when the light 12 on the master unit (152) is dimmed, and dim the light on the subservient unit (154) when the light 12 on the master unit (152) is off. When the master unit (152) is out of range of the subservient unit (154), the subservient unit (154) can be operated without restriction. Also, a hands-free dental or surgical light system (200) is disclosed which includes a single receiver (202) and spaced apart sources (204, 206). Pointing the receiver (202) at the source (204) toggles the light source (12) dim and bright and pointing the receiver (202) at the source (206) toggles the light source (12) off and bright.
US08405485B2	Apparatus, method, and system for identification of multiple points located throughout an area Apparatus, methods, and systems for determining point locations with respect to an origin point. Aspects provide for a cost-effective and easy to use way in which a limited number of persons may map out point locations over a relatively large area with a high degree of accuracy.
US08405468B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus for electrical filters and input/output systems An electronic filtering device includes continuous trace on a dielectric substrate and a dissipation layer communicatively coupled to the trace. The dissipation layer may include disconnected metal particles, which may be embedded in a substrate, for example in an epoxy. The continuous trace may be meandering, for example crenulated, coil or spiral signal path. At least a second continuous trace may be spaced from the first by the substrate, and conductively coupled by a via. The electronic filtering device may be used in one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs) that form stages of an input/output system.
US08405465B2	Duty cycle translator methods and apparatus Methods and apparatus for translating duty cycle information in duty-cycle-modulated signals to higher frequencies or higher data rates. An exemplary duty cycle translator includes a duty cycle evaluator, a high-speed digital counter, and a comparator. The duty cycle evaluator generates a first digital number representing a duty cycle of a low-frequency input duty-cycle-modulated (DCM) signal. The comparator compares the first digital number to a second digital number generated by the high-speed digital counter, and generates, based on the comparison, an output DCM signal having a higher frequency or data rate than the frequency or data rate of the low-frequency input DCM signal but a duty cycle that is substantially the same as the duty cycle of the low-frequency input DCM signal.
US08405459B2	Folded cascode differential amplifier and semiconductor device A folded cascode differential amplifier includes a high-voltage input stage and a low-voltage output stage. The input stage is formed from high-voltage MOS transistors, two of which constitute a differential pair. The output stage is formed from low-voltage MOS transistors, some of which constitute a current mirror circuit connected to the differential pair. The output stage also includes at least one transistor that amplifies a voltage produced in the current mirror circuit to generate an output voltage signal. The high-voltage MOS transistors have higher breakdown voltages than the low-voltage MOS transistors. Incorporation of both types of transistors into a single amplifier reduces the necessary number of transistors and the necessary number of bias voltages.
US08405454B2	Output circuit of semiconductor apparatus having two different types of decoupling capacitors An output circuit of a semiconductor apparatus having two different types of decoupling capacitors is presented. The output circuit includes a first pad, a second pad, a main output unit and a decoupling capacitor region. The first and second pads are configured to respectively provide a power supply voltage and a ground voltage. The main output unit is coupled to the first and second pads. One end of the decoupling capacitor region is coupled to the first pad and the other end is coupled to the second pad. The decoupling capacitor region includes a first decoupling capacitor region spaced apart from a portion of the main output unit by a first distance, and a second decoupling capacitor region spaced apart from the main output unit by a second distance which is greater than the first distance.
US08405453B2	Millimeter-wave on-chip switch employing frequency-dependent inductance for cancellation of off-state capacitance A semiconductor switching device includes a field effect transistor and an inductor structure that provides a frequency dependent inductance in a parallel connection. During the off-state of the semiconductor switching device, the frequency dependent impedance component due to the off-state parasitic capacitance of the switching device is cancelled by the frequency dependent inductance component of the inductor structure, which provides a non-linear impedance as a function of frequency. The inductor structure provides less inductance at a higher operating frequency than at a lower operating frequency to provide more effective cancellation of two impedance components of the parasitic capacitance and the inductance. Thus, the semiconductor switching device can provide low parasitic coupling at multiple operating frequencies. The operating frequencies of the semiconductor switching device can be at gigahertz ranges for millimeter wave applications.
US08405440B2	Signal transmission device and signal transmission method A signal transmission device for transmitting a signal along a transmission path including a sinusoidal-signal transmitting unit configured to generate a sinusoidal signal that has a period the same as a period of a square-wave digital signal whose voltage level changes in correspondence with a logical value and that has a phase which differs based on change in the logical value of the square-wave digital signal, and configured to transmit the sinusoidal signal. The signal transmission device includes a sinusoidal-signal receiving unit configured to receive the sinusoidal signal, and configured to reproduce the square-wave digital signal from the sinusoidal signal based on change in the phase of the sinusoidal signal.
US08405432B2	Output buffer circuit, input buffer circuit, and input/output buffer circuit An output buffer circuit in accordance with an embodiment comprises a plurality of buffer circuits, each of the buffer circuits including a transistor operative to change an output signal of an output terminal in response to a change in an input signal, the output buffer circuit being configured to enable the plurality of buffer circuits to be driven selectively. Each of the plurality of buffer circuits includes a plurality of output transistors having respective current paths formed in parallel to one another between a fixed voltage terminal supplying a certain fixed voltage and an output terminal, and being selectively rendered in an operable state in accordance with a control signal provided from external. The plurality of output transistors included in each of the plurality of buffer circuits are formed having a certain size ratio.
US08405430B2	Circuit configuration for protecting a circuit element having overcurrent and overtemperature detection A circuit configuration having a detection unit designed to generate an output signal that is representative of a load current of a transistor switch, depending on an input signal that is representative of the load current of the transistor switch. The detection unit includes a temperature compensation unit that is designed to take into account the temperature of the transistor switch. The detection unit further includes a delay unit that is designed to delay the detection of the input signal until a prescribed switch-on time period, relative to a switch-on procedure of the transistor switch, has passed. The detection unit is designed in an application-specific integrated circuit.
US08405427B2	Multilevel slicer A circuit design configured to process a differential input signal is provided. A first floating capacitor ladder is configured to receive the positive of the differential input signal and is connected to a first switched capacitor network through phase one controlled switches. A second floating capacitor ladder configured to receive the negative of the differential input signal and is connected to a second switched capacitor network through other phase one controlled switches. A reference resistor ladder is connected to the first switched capacitor network through phase two controlled switches to provide voltage references and connected to the second switched capacitor network through other phase two controlled switches to provide the voltage references. Response to controlling the switches, the first floating capacitor ladder is configured to output first voltage thresholds to a comparator array and the second floating capacitor ladder is configured to output second voltage thresholds to the comparator array.
US08405424B2	Output buffer with adjustable feedback A system according to one embodiment includes input stage circuitry configured to receive input data; output stage circuitry configured to generate buffered output data based on said received input data, said output stage circuitry comprising a first switch and a second switch, wherein said first switch comprises a first gate configured to control said first switch through an inverted gate signal and said second switch comprises a second gate configured to control said second switch through a non-inverted gate signal; first feedback inverter circuitry configured to enable pull-up of said second gate based on an input to said first gate, said first feedback inverter circuitry is further configured to provide an adjustable transition threshold for generation of said pull-up enable; and second feedback inverter circuitry configured to enable pull-down of said first gate based on an input to said second gate, said second feedback inverter circuitry is further configured to provide an adjustable transition threshold for generation of said pull-down enable.
US08405421B2	Nonvolatile full adder circuit A nonvolatile full adder circuit comprising a full adder electrical circuitry comprising three input terminals for receiving two input and carry-in signals, a sum output terminal, and an carry-out output terminal; first and second nonvolatile memory elements electrically coupled to the first and second output terminal, respectively at their first ends and to an intermediate voltage source at their second ends. The nonvolatile memory elements comprise two stable logic states. A logic state each of the of the nonvolatile memory elements is controlled by a bidirectional electrical current running between its first and second ends. The full adder circuitry is electrically coupled to a high voltage source at its first source terminal and to a low voltage source at its second source terminal, wherein an electrical potential of the intermediate voltage source is lower than that of the high voltage source but higher than that of the low voltage source.
US08405419B1	Digital test system and method for value based data Embodiments of the present invention provide an inequality indication system (IIS). The IIS provides built in test support which enables evaluation, in an on-chip digital logic circuit, of digital values as inequalities, with either a single pass/fail bit expressed on a device I/O or a readable register containing inequality evaluation results. The IIS enables the movement of value evaluation onto the device (chip) using a common simple method, well suited to address/data type structures or scan based structures, instead of off-chip, which then requires tester dependent custom code. The IIS, when enabled, overrides the TDO signal to allow it to function as an inequality indicator instead of a standard test data out signal.
US08405418B1	High-bandwidth interconnect network for an integrated circuit A bus structure providing pipelined busing of data between logic circuits and special-purpose circuits of an integrated circuit, the bus structure including a network of pipelined conductors, and connectors selectively joining the pipelined conductors between the special-purpose circuits, other pipelined connectors, and the logic circuits.
US08405408B2	Capacitive occupant detection apparatus A capacitive occupant detecting apparatus includes a voltage applying portion, a capacitance sensor, a capacitor, a storing portion, a measuring portion, and a calculating portion. The voltage applying portion applies an alternating-current voltage signal to the capacitance sensor and the capacitor. The storing portion stores a reference voltage. The measuring portion detects a first voltage in accordance with an electric current that flows between the voltage applying portion and the capacitor when the alternating-current voltage signal is applied to the capacitor. The measuring portion detects a second voltage in accordance with an electric current output from the capacitance sensor when the alternating-current voltage is applied to the capacitance sensor. The calculating portion detects an abnormality of the voltage applying portion based on the first voltage and the reference voltage, and determines an object disposed on the seat based on the second voltage.
US08405405B2	Wideband I-V probe and method Low loss current and voltage probes are integrated in parallel plate airlines (slablines) to be used either as separate modules inserted between tuner and DUT in load pull test setups, or integrated in the impedance tuners themselves. The probes are inserted orthogonally at exactly the same reference plane relative to the DUT, maximizing bandwidth and the minimizing deformation of the detected electric and magnetic fields. The probes are used to detect the actual voltage and current waveforms and feed into an amplitude-and-phase calibrated high speed oscilloscope, including several harmonic frequencies. The actual real time voltage and current time domain waves are transformed into the frequency domain using fast Fourier transformation (FFT), de-embedded to the DUT reference plane and inverse transformed into the time domain using inverse Fourier transformation (FFT−1). The result of this real-time operation is the actual dynamic load line of the DUT at its terminals.
US08405403B2	Determining solenoid health A health monitoring arrangement for a solenoid includes an armature for coupling to the solenoid, the armature being displaceable proportional to a driving current applied to the solenoid. A monitoring coil is wound around the armature such that the armature is displaceable relative to the monitoring coil. A voltage monitor coupled to the monitoring coil generates a voltage signature in respect of the solenoid that is proportional to the armature displacement. An analyzer analyzes the voltage signature to determine the health of the solenoid. Also a method of monitoring the health of a solenoid is provided.
US08405401B2	Operation status diagnosing device for external control means A device for diagnosing operation status of an external control unit includes an insulation transformer, a signal generating unit, a first switch circuit constituting the external control unit connected to the secondary side of the insulation transformer, a second switch circuit connected to the intermediate tap of the primary winding of the insulation transformer, and a second switch circuit including a switch and a resistance, a detection circuit for detecting operation status of the external control unit, and a current measuring unit connected to the second switch circuit. The detection circuit includes a diode and a resistance and is connected to the secondary side of the insulation transformer. The current measuring unit measures a current flowing through the switch and/or the resistance and uses the measured current to diagnose the operation status of the external control unit.
US08405389B2	Atomic magnetometer and magnetic sensing method An atomic magnetometer includes a light source for a probe beam and a medium in which the probe beam is to be propagated. The medium is a substance which changes a polarization rotation angle of the probe beam depending on a magnetic field intensity at a first measurement position and a magnetic field intensity at a second measurement position different from the first measurement position. The atomic magnetometer directly measures a difference between the magnetic field intensity at the first measurement position and the magnetic field intensity at the second measurement position as a difference in polarization rotation angle, along a propagation path of the probe beam.
US08405385B2	Temperature and drift compensation in magnetoresistive sensors Double modulation of a magnetoresistive sensor entails modulating both an excitation (e.g., voltage or current) applied to the sensor and a tickling magnetic field applied to the sensor. The excitation and magnetic field are modulated at different frequencies fc and ff, respectively. As a result of the double modulation, the sensor output spectrum includes a carrier tone (CT) at frequency fc and side tones (STs) at frequencies fc±ff. A baseline relation between CT amplitude and ST amplitude is determined (e.g., by measuring CT and ST amplitude while drift occurs in the absence of a sample). During sensor operation, raw ST measurements are corrected using corresponding raw CT measurements to provide corrected ST measurements as the sensor output.
US08405383B2	Three-phase selectable energy meter A three-phase selection energy meter is disclosed. In one embodiment, an energy meter includes a base; a phase A terminal barrel, a phase B terminal barrel and a phase C terminal barrel; and a phase selection member movably engaged with the base, the phase selection member permitting individual selection of each of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel, wherein the individual selection of the one of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel or the phase C terminal barrel prohibits selection of the other two of the phase A terminal barrel, the phase B terminal barrel and the phase C terminal barrel.
US08405381B2	Power sensor for a current carrying conductor A power sensor is disclosed for a current carrying conductor. In at least one embodiment, the sensor includes at least one ferromagnetic core, a secondary winding, and at least one of connecting elements for a load or a load. The secondary winding is designed as an injection molded part on an insulating layer that is injection molded onto the ferromagnetic core.
US08405377B2	Programmable current mirror A programmable current mirror a reference transistor, first and second mirror transistors, and a first current bypass. The reference transistor has a source and a gate coupled to a reference current node. The first and second mirror transistors are coupled together in series at a first node. Each of the first and second mirror transistors having gates coupled to each other and to the gate of the reference transistor. The first current bypass including a switch disposed in parallel with the second mirror transistor. The first current bypass is coupled to a source and a drain of the second mirror transistor and to the first node.
US08405376B2	Low noise reference circuit of improving frequency variation of ring oscillator A low noise reference voltage circuit without using an amplifier inside is capable of transforming a current IPTAT in positive proportion to absolute temperature into a voltage VPTAT in positive proportion to absolute temperature, and outputting it to a ring oscillator. The low noise reference voltage circuit improves a degradation of noise performance compared with a conventional band-gap reference voltage circuit and is in characteristic of low noise and higher PSRR.
US08405372B2	Method and apparatus for providing a power factor correction (PFC) compatible solution for nonsinusoidal uninterruptible power supply (UPS) Methods and apparatuses for providing a solution for incompatibility between nonsinusoidal waveform uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems and active power factor correction (PFC) loads are disclosed. An embodiment of the invention includes generating a nonsinusoidal signal waveform (e.g., a voltage waveform), to be delivered to the load, with a pulse width modulation (PWM) duty width, sampling the nonsinusoidal signal waveform to collect output signal samples, and adjusting the duty width to control the nonsinusoidal signal waveform as a function of the output signal samples to deliver a desired signal characteristic (e.g., RMS signal level) to the load. In embodiments of the invention, the output duty width is adjusted differently in cases of rising and falling power consumption, respectively, by the load. Techniques disclosed herein find broad applicability in UPS systems and inverters and improve efficiency and reliability for end users and utility providers.
US08405370B2	Power regulation for large transient loads Methods and circuits for power supply arrangement and control are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a power supply can include: (i) an input capacitor coupled to an input terminal that is coupled to a power source, where the power source provides power that is constrained by a predetermined limit; (ii) an output capacitor coupled to an output terminal that is coupled to a load, where the load has a first load condition or a second load condition; (iii) a first regulator to convert an input voltage at the input terminal to an output voltage at the output terminal to power the load; (iv) a second regulator coupled to the first regulator; and (v) an energy storage element coupled to the second regulator, where the second regulator delivers energy from the energy storage element to the first regulator to maintain regulation of an output voltage at the output terminal when in the second load condition.
US08405365B2	Output voltage control apparatus of generator When a distortion of an output waveform of an alternating-current generator is improved, an output voltage control apparatus of a generator, which has versatility, is obtained. An output voltage control apparatus of a generator (1), including a generator winding (2) and an excitation winding (3) wound around a stator side, a field winding (5) wound around a rotor (4), and a rectifier (12) for rectifying a current generated by the excitation winding (3) and supplying the rectified current to the field winding (5), the output voltage control apparatus includes a field current drive means (20) for comparing an output voltage generated to the generator winding (2) with a reference wave whose distortion ratio is 0% and flowing a field current to the field winding (5) by adjusting a drive timing of a PWM signal output by a drive unit (24) based on a result of the comparison.
US08405358B2	Battery charging systems with controllable charging currents A charging path includes a charging switch for transferring a charging current from an input terminal to an output terminal. The charging path further includes a first enable terminal coupled to the charging switch. The first enable terminal receives a first enable signal to control the charging switch to operate in either a first mode, a second mode, or a third mode, based on a status of the output terminal. More specifically, in the first mode, the charging switch is fully turned off. In the second mode, an equivalent resistance of the charging switch is determined by a control terminal of the charging switch. In the third mode, the charging switch is turned off.
US08405357B2	Battery unit, battery system, electronic device, charging control method of battery, and discharging control method of battery A battery unit includes: a battery having cell units connected in parallel, in which one or a plurality of battery cells is connected in series; an external terminal provided for the battery; a switching element provided between each internal terminal and the external terminal of the cell unit; a protection circuit monitoring whether or not a fault occurs in each of the plurality of cell units and cutting off, through the switching element, a connection between the internal terminal and the external terminal of the cell unit with the fault detected; and an informing signal output terminal notifying an external device that the connection with the external terminal with respect to at least one of the cell units is cut off.
US08405352B2	Battery management system and battery management method A battery management system and method, the method including balancing cells and measuring the cell voltages of cells that are not directly adjacent to the cells being balanced.
US08405351B2	System and method for charging and discharging a Li-ion battery An electrochemical battery system in one embodiment includes a first electrochemical cell, a second electrochemical cell, a memory in which command instructions are stored, and a processor configured to execute the command instructions to (i) selectively charge or discharge the first electrochemical cell based upon an evaluation of first criteria associated with the first electrochemical cell, and (ii) selectively charge or discharge the second electrochemical cell based upon an evaluation of second criteria associated with the first electrochemical cell.
US08405350B2	Assigning addresses to multiple cascade battery modules in electric or electric hybrid vehicles According to one aspect there is disclosed an apparatus. The apparatus may include a first battery module. The first battery module may include a switch configured to open or close a first current path from a first terminal of a battery to a second terminal of the battery when a second battery module is coupled to the first battery module; a current sensor configured to sense a current in a second current path, the second current path different from the first current path; and a local controller configured to control a state of the switch to open or close the switch, wherein closing the switch is configured to close the first current path, the local controller is further configured to detect the sensed current in the second current path, and the local controller is further configured to receive and store an identifier based at least in part on the current detected in the second current path.
US08405349B2	Enhanced battery storage and recovery energy systems Systems and methods are herein disclosed for efficiently and cost-effectively balancing the voltages across batteries and/or cells in an energy storage system. A controller monitors the battery voltages and instructs regulator circuits to balance voltages between any batteries or sets of batteries having imbalanced voltages. Regulator circuits implementing a modified Ćuk converter can be utilized. Regulator circuits can have two capacitive circuits, one inductive circuit, and two switches. Two capacitors, an inductor, and two field effect transistors can be used in each regulator circuit.
US08405345B2	Vehicle battery charging site registration device and method A site registering device that registers a site allowing charging where a vehicle battery can be charged, the device including: a position acquisition unit that acquires position information on a charging site where charging of the battery has been conducted; and a registering unit that specifies, on the basis of an actual charging result in the charging site, a category to which the charging site belongs among a plurality of categories, associates the charging site with the specified category and the position information, and registers the thus associated charging site as the site allowing charging.
US08405335B2	Rotary electric machine control system A rotary electric machine control system includes a battery electric power calculation unit for calculating battery electric power that is supplied from the battery; a torque limitation unit for limiting an output torque of the rotary electric machine; and a battery electric power abrupt variation estimation unit for estimating that the battery electric power is in an abrupt variation state in which the battery electric power is varying abruptly on the basis of at least one of a variation rate of the battery electric power and a variation rate of a rotational speed of the rotary electric machine.
US08405330B2	Determining stuck conditions for electric motors using inductive sensing A control system includes a position control module, a power control module, and a diagnostic module. The position control module applies a driving current for positioning a rotor of a motor at one of first and second positions. The power control module applies a first voltage to one of first and second phases of the motor to generate a first current after the position control module applies the driving current to position the rotor at the first position. The power control module applies a second voltage to one of the first and second phases to generate a second current after the position control module applies the driving current to position the rotor at the second position. The diagnostic module determines when the rotor is restricted from rotating based on the first and second currents.
US08405327B2	Passive converter for drive device of switched reluctance motor Disclosed is a passive converter for a drive device of a switched reluctance motor (SRM), in which high demagnetization voltage for the SRM is provided. The converter includes a rectifier which smoothes input voltage to supply DC voltage, a boost circuit connected with the rectifier, and an asymmetric converter connected with the boost circuit, and the boost circuit includes first to third diodes and first and second capacitors. The high demagnetization voltage is generated at current duration of a single phase or poly-phase SRM by using the passive converter for the drive device of the SRM, so that the driving efficiency and the output power of the SRM can be increased.
US08405326B2	Method and apparatus for generating ion beam A device for replenishing ionizable material in a field ionization apparatus is disclosed. The device comprises a heatable reservoir containing the ionizable material, a field ionization electrode structure, and a channel being in fluid communication with said heatable reservoir. The heatable reservoir and the channel are designed and constructed such that when the heatable reservoir is heated to an evaporation temperature of the ionizable material, a flux of vaporized ionizable material is directed along the channel to a tip of the field ionization electrode structure.
US08405324B2	Hospital lighting with solid state emitters A solid state light emitting-based illumination system which, when energized, exhibits a correlated color temperature (CCT) in the range of between about 3300° K and about 5300° K, and exhibits a COI of less than 3.3 is provided. The system comprises two or more solid state elements, and is configured to provide a total light that appears white when energized, the combined light having preselected spectral fraction values such that when combined the emission meets the specified CCT and COI standards. A method for combining individual solid-state light emitters is also provided.
US08405323B2	Method and apparatus for signal presentation A method and apparatus for presenting an information signal such as an image signal or a sound signal using a plurality of signal sources. The plurality of signal sources are located within a predetermined space, and the method comprises receiving a respective positioning signals from each of said signal sources, generating location data indicative of locations of said plurality of signal sources, based upon said positioning signals, generating output data for each of said plurality of signal sources based upon said information signal and said location data, and transmitting said output data to said signal sources to present said information signal.
US08405313B2	Light emitting diode lamp An LED lamp includes a first LED string and a second LED string connected in parallel to each other and a variable resistor connected in series with one of the first and second LED strings. The first LED string provides a first color temperature. The LED string provides a second color temperature difference from the first color temperature. The variable resistor includes a resistance track with resistance coils wound thereon and a slider moveable along the resistance track. When a position of the slider of the variable resistor is changed, an electric current flowing through the one of the first and second strings is changed accordingly to adjust the color temperature of the LED lamp.
US08405303B2	Organic electroluminescent device with isolation region for improved light emission and systems including same An electroluminescent device includes at least first and second radiation emitter devices arranged on a common substrate. Each radiation emitter devise includes a first active layer and a second layer of organic material for generating the radiation, respectively. This device includes isolation means of dielectric material which are at least partially interposed between the first and second active layers to electrically isolate the first layer from the second active layer.
US08405301B2	Organic electroluminescence element, display device and lighting device In an organic electroluminescence element which incorporates a substrate having thereon an anode and a cathode and which incorporates a plurality of organic layers between the aforesaid anode and cathode, wherein at least one of the aforesaid organic layers is a first organic layer incorporating a compound having at most 10 repeating units, the first organic layer being prepared by coating the compound having at least one polymerizable group, followed by polymerization.
US08405299B2	Light source apparatus A light source apparatus includes a first light emitter, a second light emitter, and a third light emitter. The first light emitter has a peak wavelength within the range from 600 nm to 660 nm and a wavelength range at half peak intensity wider than the range from 600 nm to 660 nm, the second light emitter has a peak wavelength within the range from 530 nm to 570 nm and a wavelength range at half peak intensity wider than the range from 530 nm to 570 nm, and the third light emitter which a peak wavelength is 420 nm-470 nm in a spectral power distribution thereof.
US08405296B2	Plasma display panel PDP (1) includes front plate (2) and rear plate (10). Front plate (2) has protective layer (9). Rear plate (10) has phosphor layers (15). Protective layer (9) includes protective layer magnesium oxide and calcium oxide, and exhibits three peaks in a range from not less than 340 eV to not greater than 355 eV of a binding energy spectrum in a binding energy analysis of protective layer (9) by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy.
US08405294B2	Field emission electron source A field emission electron source for emitting electrons under applied electric field includes a cold cathode having molecules of an aromatic compound vapor-deposited thereon at a pointed end of said cold cathode.
US08405291B2	Microwave light source with solid dielectric waveguide A light source comprising a lucent waveguide of solid dielectric material having: an at least partially light transmitting Faraday cage surrounding the waveguide, a bulb cavity within the waveguide and the Faraday cage and an antenna re-entrant within the waveguide and the Faraday cage and a bulb having a microwave excitable fill, the bulb being received in the bulb cavity.
US08405290B2	Light source for microwave powered lamp A lamp 1 comprises an oscillator and amplifier source 2 of microwave energy, typically operating at 2.45 or 5.8 GHz or other frequencies within an ISM band. The source passes the microwaves via a matching circuit 3 to an antenna 4 extending into a re -entrant 5 in a lucent waveguide 6. This is of quartz and has a central cavity 7 accommodating a bulb 8. The bulb is a sealed tube 9 of quartz and contains a fill of noble gas and a microwave excitable material, which radiates visible light when excited by microwaves. The bulb has a stem 10 received in a stem bore 11 extending from the central cavity. The waveguide is transparent and light from the bulb can leave it in any direction, subject to any reflective surfaces. Microwaves cannot leave the waveguide, which is limited at its surfaces by a Faraday cage. Typically this comprises an ITO coating 12 on a front face of the waveguide, a light reflective coating 10, typically of silver with silicon monoxide coating 13 on a rear face and a wire mesh 14, which contacts both the ITO and light reflective coatings and is grounded, the wire mesh extending around sides of the waveguide between the front and back surfaces. Light can pass through the wire mesh for collection and use.
US08405286B2	Mesa-type at-cut quartz-crystal vibrating piece and the quartz-crystal device The present disclosure provides a mesa-type AT-cut quartz-crystal vibrating piece, in which amount of the vibrating unit is adjusted to appropriate amount, in order to inhibit unnecessary vibration and to prevent degradation. The mesa-type AT-cut quartz-crystal vibrating piece (30) for vibrating piece vibrates at 38.400 MHz comprises a rectangular excitation unit (31), a peripheral region (32) formed in periphery of the excitation unit and thinner than the excitation unit. The thickness difference h (μm) between one principal surface of the excitation unit and the adjacent peripheral region is obtained by the following equation: h=(0.2×Mx)−143 The length of the x-axis direction of the crystallographic X-axis is Mx (μm).
US08405285B2	Piezoelectric device, piezoelectric actuator having the same, liquid discharge apparatus, and power generating apparatus A piezoelectric device which includes a piezoelectric body having piezoelectricity and a pair of electrodes for applying an electric field to the piezoelectric body in a predetermined direction in which a piezoelectric strain constant d33 (pm/V) and a relative pemittivity ε33 of the piezoelectric body satisfy Formulae (1) and (2) below. This makes the piezoelectric device excellent both in transmission and reception capabilities and appropriate for use as a piezoelectric actuator, a sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a power generating device. 100<ε33<1500 (1) d33(pm/V)>12√ε33 (2).
US08405282B2	Piezoelectric devices exhibiting enhanced resistance to physical impacts and moisture incursion An exemplary piezoelectric vibrating device includes a piezoelectric vibrating piece that vibrates when electrically energized, a first package plate, and a second package plate. The first package plate has a respective inner main surface defining a recess. The recess has volume and dimensions sufficient to contain at least a portion of the piezoelectric vibrating piece. The inner main surface includes a peripheral main surface that peripherally extends around the recess. The second package plate has respective inner and outer main surfaces. The inner main surface is bonded to the peripheral main surface of the first package plate using a sealing material that thus seals the piezoelectric vibrating piece inside a package formed of the first and second package plates. The sealing material includes multiple concentric bands of sealing glass and multiple concentric bands of adhesive. The sealing-glass bands and the adhesive bands circumscribe the recess and desirably are in alternating order from in to out to provide durable seals.
US08405278B2	Multi-layer piezoelectric element, ejection device having the element, and fuel ejection system Provided is a multi-layer piezoelectric element in which the amount of the positional displacement can be suppressed even when continuous driving is performed for a long time under high electrical field and high pressure, and which may have a good durability. The laminated piezoelectric element comprises a stacked body in which piezoelectric layers and metal layers are stacked alternately one on another. The metal layers comprise internal electrodes and a low-rigidity metal layer which has rigidity lower than those of the piezoelectric layer and the internal electrode. The low-rigidity metal layer comprises a plurality of metal parts isolated from each other via voids, and a covering layer which covers at least a part of the metal parts.
US08405273B2	Electric motor A universal motor has a stator and a rotor. The stator has stator core and a stator winding. The stator core has a yoke with two ends and two equivalent salient poles formed at the ends of the yoke respectively. The stator winding is wound on the yoke.
US08405268B2	Stator with monolithic mounting bosses and assembly comprising the same A stator comprises a ferromagnetic core having teeth. The stator also comprises first and second insulator members. The first and second insulating members collectively encircle each of the teeth of the core. The first insulating member comprising a plurality of mounting bosses spaced circumferentially from each other about the axis. Each of the mounting bosses has first and second retaining surfaces. The first and second retaining surfaces face axially opposite directions from each other and are exposed and are unobstructed by the second insulating member.
US08405250B2	Electronic device control system and method There is provided a system and method for controlling an electronic device. An exemplary method comprises employing a look-up table to derive waveform value data for a multi-phase reference waveform. The exemplary method also comprises employing the look-up table to derive waveform value data corresponding to harmonic data for the multi-phase reference waveform. Harmonic data is injected into the multi-phase reference waveform to produce a harmonic reference waveform. The exemplary method additionally comprises generating a plurality of control signals from the harmonic reference waveform.
US08405249B2	Multi-voltage power supply for a universal airplane ground support equipment cart An airplane ground support system includes a multi-voltage power supply. A control system within the power conversion module receives measurements to regulate the power module's output to a predetermined preset voltage level as mandated by the power output selection signal. In an alternate embodiment a multi-voltage or upgradable power supply has A.C. and D.C. capability, A.C. only capability with an upgrade kit available to add D.C. capability in addition to the A.C. capability, D.C. only capability with an upgrade kit available to add A.C. capability in addition to the D.C. capability.
US08405246B2	Power supply circuit for motherboard A power supply circuit for providing power and detecting a plurality of loads' input voltages on a motherboard includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, a voltage output circuit and a voltage feedback circuit electrically connected to the PWM controller and the plurality of loads. The PWM controller outputs PWM control signals. The voltage output circuit receives the PWM control signals and outputs working voltage to the plurality of loads according to the received PWM control signals. The voltage feedback circuit detects the plurality of loads' input voltages and outputs feedback signals to the PWM controller according to the detected input voltages. The PWM controller adjusts its PWM control signal outputs, according to the received feedback signals, and adjusting working voltages to the plurality of loads.
US08405244B2	System and method for umbrella power generation There is provided a mechanism for opening and closing a working umbrella of a kite-guided umbrella ladder system. The umbrella ascends when in an open state and descends when in a closed state. Huge pulling power is introduced by the working umbrella when it is ascending, which can be used for power generation. A system with a common rail tether and multiple working umbrellas is provided for efficient and large scale power generation.
US08405240B2	Augmented velocity hydro-electric turbine generator This invention provides an augmented velocity hydraulic power generator comprised of an induced vortex in combination with other fluid velocity enhancement techniques to maximize power output enabling a minimal apparatus size and minimal or no environmental impact.
US08405237B2	Energy supply for a blade adjustment device pertaining to a wind energy installation A wind energy installation includes a tower provided with rotor blades that are adjusted using a servomotor connected to a pitch circuit and an emergency circuit. During normal operation the rotor blades are actuated by the pitch circuit and during emergency operation are actuated by the emergency circuit. The emergency circuit has an electric energy store, a switching device, connection lines to the servomotor and a protection device which includes comprises a power flow detector module (60) designed for determining whether electric power flows into or from the servomotor and a discharge module designed to limit the voltage and/or current in the emergency circuit in the case of a power flow from the servomotor.
US08405234B2	Thin film transistor array substrate and manufacturing method thereof A thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate includes a substrate having a plurality of normal alignment regions, a plurality of abnormal alignment regions, and a device region defined thereon, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of storage electrode lines, and a plurality of switch devices positioned in the device region, a plurality of alignment structures positioned in the abnormal alignment regions, and an alignment layer formed on the substrate and the alignment structures. The alignment layer further includes a plurality of first alignment slits covering the alignment structures in the abnormal alignment regions and a plurality of second alignment slits in the normal alignment regions. A depth and a width of the second alignment slits are identical to a depth and a width of the first alignment slits.
US08405224B2	Semiconductor device comprising multilayer interconnect structure with overlapping vias A semiconductor device having a multilayer interconnect structure allowing heat in an interconnect layer at an intermediate level to be effectively dissipated is provided. A lower-layer interconnect (13), an intermediate interconnect (23), an upper-layer interconnect (33), a first contact via (15) formed to electrically connect the lower-layer interconnect (13) to the intermediate interconnect (23), and a second contact via (25) formed to electrically connect the intermediate interconnect (23) to the upper-layer interconnect (33) are provided. When viewed from above, the first and second contact vias (15, 25) both have a rectangular shape with their long sides extending in the same direction, and overlap with each other.
US08405222B2	Integrated circuit system with via and method of manufacture thereof A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit system includes: forming an etch stop layer over a bulk substrate; forming a buffer layer on the etch stop layer; forming a hard mask on the buffer layer; forming a through silicon via through the etch stop layer with the hard mask detected and the buffer layer removed with a low down force; and forming a passivation layer on the through silicon via and the etch stop layer.
US08405218B2	Semiconductor device and method of patterning resin insulation layer on substrate of the same In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, an electrode layer is formed on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a resin insulation layer is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate so that the electrode layer can be covered with the resin insulation layer. A tapered hole is formed in the insulation layer by using a tool bit having a rake angle of zero or a negative value. The tapered hole has an opening defined by the insulation layer, a bottom defined by the electrode layer, and a side wall connecting the opening to the bottom.
US08405212B2	Semiconductor package The present invention relates to a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a substrate, at least one chip, a plurality of conductive elements, a plurality of first conductors and a molding compound. The substrate has a plurality of first pads and a solder mask. The first pads are exposed to a first surface of the substrate, and the material of the first pads is copper. The solder mask is disposed on the first surface, contacts the first pads directly, and has at least one opening so as to expose part of the first pads. The chip is mounted on the first surface of the substrate. The conductive elements electrically connect the chip and the substrate. The first conductors are disposed on the first pads. The molding compound is disposed on the first surface of the substrate, and encapsulates the chip, the conductive elements and part of the first conductors. Whereby, the solder mask contacts the first pads directly, and thus results in higher bonding strength, so as to avoid the bridge between the first conductors caused by the first conductors permeating into the interface between the solder mask and the first pads.
US08405207B1	Stub minimization for wirebond assemblies without windows A microelectronic package can include a substrate and a microelectronic element having a rear face facing a first surface of the substrate, a front face, and a column of element contacts extending in a first direction. Edges of the microelectronic element can define an axial plane extending in the first direction and a third direction normal to the rear face. The package can include columns of terminals extending in the first direction at a second surface of the substrate. The terminals can include first terminals exposed in a central region of the second surface and configured to carry address information usable by circuitry within the package to determine an addressable memory location within the microelectronic element. The central region may have a width not more than three and one-half times a minimum pitch between any two adjacent columns of the terminals. The axial plane can intersect the central region.
US08405205B2	Power semiconductor module A power semiconductor module includes a plurality of sets of semiconductor switching elements, a molded resin casing containing the semiconductor switching elements, screw holders for receiving mounting screws formed at bottom regions of four corners of the molded resin casing, first terminal blocks having main circuit terminals, and arranged on a central region of a top surface of the molded resin casing, and second terminal blocks having control terminals arranged at a side edge of the molded resin casing apart. Insulating separation walls having a configuration of a rib erect from a surface of the second terminal blocks, and are interposed between groups of the control terminals corresponding to the sets of semiconductor switching elements, and between the screw holder including the mounting screw therein on the molded resin casing and the control terminal at a high voltage side adjacent to the screw holder.
US08405204B2	Semiconductor package with package main body cooling structure using coolant, and semiconductor package assembly with the semiconductor package and coolant circulating structure A semiconductor package includes a main body having a semiconductor device accommodating portion accommodating a basic circuit including a semiconductor device, external connection terminal members protruding outside the main body, and a cooling structure reducing heat generated by the device from the main body. The cooling structure includes a coolant flowing portion including a coolant supply port to which coolant is supplied, a coolant moving space which is positioned adjacent to the accommodating portion and in which the coolant moves in a back side of the basic circuit of the accommodating portion, and a coolant discharge port which discharges the coolant from the moving space. The semiconductor package assembly includes a package support body which supports the package and which includes a coolant circulation structure supplying coolant to the flowing portion of the main body through the supply port and collecting the supplied coolant through the discharge port.
US08405202B2	MEMS packaging scheme using dielectric fence A packaging scheme for MEMS device is provided. A method of packaging MEMS device in a semiconductor structure includes forming an insulation fence that surrounds the MEMS device on the semiconductor structure. The method further includes attaching a wafer of dielectric material to the insulation fence. The lid wafer, the insulation fence, and the semiconductor structure enclose the MEMS device.
US08405201B2	Through-silicon via structure A semiconductor substrate has a front surface and a back surface, and a TSV structure is formed to extend through the semiconductor substrate. The TSV structure includes a metal layer, a metal seed layer surrounding the metal layer, a barrier layer surrounding the metal seed layer, and a block layer formed in a portion sandwiched between the metal layer and the metal seed layer. The block layer includes magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), cadmium (Cd), or combinations thereof.
US08405196B2	Chips having rear contacts connected by through vias to front contacts A microelectronic unit is provided in which front and rear surfaces of a semiconductor element may define a thin region which has a first thickness and a thicker region having a thickness at least about twice the first thickness. A semiconductor device may be present at the front surface, with a plurality of first conductive contacts at the front surface connected to the device. A plurality of conductive vias may extend from the rear surface through the thin region of the semiconductor element to the first conductive contacts. A plurality of second conductive contacts can be exposed at an exterior of the semiconductor element. A plurality of conductive traces may connect the second conductive contacts to the conductive vias.
US08405190B2	Component having a silicon carbide coated via A component including a via for electrical connection between a first and a second plane of a substrate is provided. The substrate has a borehole having an inner wall that is coated with a conductive layer made of an electrically conductive material, an intermediate layer being disposed between the inner wall and the conductive layer. The intermediate layer includes electrically insulating SiC.
US08405181B2	High brightness and high contrast plastic leaded chip carrier LED A Plastic Leaded Chip Carrier (PLCC) package is disclosed. The PLCC package provides a light source that is both high contrast and high brightness. Specifically, the PLCC package includes a reflector cup whose surface area is partially inclusive of a lead frame and partially inclusive of a plastic housing that surrounds the lead frame.
US08405174B2	Non-volatile magnetic memory with low switching current and high thermal stability A non-volatile current-switching magnetic memory element includes a bottom electrode, a pinning layer formed on top of the bottom electrode, and a fixed layer formed on top of the pinning layer. The memory element further includes a tunnel layer formed on top of the pinning layer, a first free layer formed on top of the tunnel layer, a granular film layer formed on top of the free layer, a second free layer formed on top of the granular film layer, a cap layer formed on top of the second layer and a top electrode formed on top of the cap layer.
US08405167B2	Hafnium tantalum titanium oxide films Embodiments of a dielectric layer containing a hafnium tantalum titanium oxide film structured as one or more monolayers include the dielectric layer disposed in an integrated circuit. Embodiments of methods of fabricating such a dielectric layer provide a dielectric layer for use in a variety of electronic devices. An embodiment may include forming hafnium tantalum titanium oxide film using a monolayer or partial monolayer sequencing process such as atomic layer deposition.
US08405165B2	Field effect transistor having multiple conduction states An FET including a gate conductor overlying a channel has first and second threshold voltages, respectively of a first and a second magnitude. When the second magnitude exceeds the first magnitude, both threshold voltages become effective concurrently. The FET operates responsive to a gate-source voltage between the gate conductor and source in states that include a non-conductive state. When the magnitude of the gate-source voltage is lower than the first and second magnitudes, the source-drain current is negligible. The first conductive state when the magnitude of the gate-source voltage exceeds the first magnitude and is lower than the second magnitude, the source-drain current operates at ten or more times exceeding the negligible value. When the second conductive state exceeds the magnitude of the gate-source voltage and exceeds the first and second magnitude, the state the source-drain current has a second operating value ten or more times higher than the first.
US08405162B2	Integrated circuit including gate electrode level region including cross-coupled transistors having at least one gate contact located over outer portion of gate electrode level region A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a plurality of diffusion regions defined therein to form first and second p-type diffusion regions, and first and second n-type diffusion regions, with each of these diffusion regions electrically connected to a common node. The first p-type active area and the second p-type active area are contiguously formed together. The first n-type active area and the second n-type active area are contiguously formed together. Each of a number of conductive features within a gate electrode level region of the semiconductor device is fabricated from a respective originating rectangular-shaped layout feature. A centerline of each originating rectangular-shaped layout feature is aligned in a parallel manner. A first PMOS transistor gate electrode is electrically connected to a second NMOS transistor gate electrode, and a second PMOS transistor gate electrode is electrically connected to a first NMOS transistor gate electrode.
US08405159B2	Semiconductor device In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an SRAM cell on a substrate. The SRAM cell includes: first and second load transistors each having an n-type source region and a p-type drain region, first and second driver transistors each having a p-type source region and an n-type drain region, and first and second transfer transistors each having an n-type source region and a n-type drain region. The n-type source regions of the first and second load transistors, the n-type drain regions of the first and second driver transistors, and the n-type source regions and the n-type drain regions of the first and second transfer transistors are located in a region other than a region present between any two of the p-type drain regions of the first and second load transistors and the p-type source regions of the first and second driver transistors.
US08405156B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device includes a substrate (e.g., a P-type semiconductor substrate), and an isolation region formed in the substrate to isolate an element formation region from the other region. The semiconductor device also includes a gate electrode formed over the element formation region. The gate electrode extends over each of first and second regions of the isolation region opposing each other with the element formation region interposed therebetween. The semiconductor device further includes a pair of diffusion regions (e.g., N-type diffusion regions) formed in the element formation region so as to be spaced apart from each other in a channel length direction with reference to the gate electrode. At least a portion of each of upper surfaces of the first and second regions is depressed to a depth of not less than 5% of a channel width to be located under an upper surface of the element formation region. In each of resultant depressions also, a portion of the gate electrode is present.
US08405154B2	Low cost transistors using gate orientation and optimized implants An integrated circuit is disclosed having symmetric and asymmetric MOS transistors of the same polarity, oriented perpendicularly to each other, formed by concurrent halo ion, LDD ion and/or S/D ion implant processes using angled, rotated sub-implants which vary the tilt angle, dose and/or energy between rotations. Implanted halo, LDD and/or S/D source and drain regions formed by angled subimplants may have different extents of overlap with, or lateral separation from, gates of the two types of transistors, producing transistors with two different sets of electrical properties. A process for concurrently fabricating the two types of transistors is also disclosed. Specific embodiments of processes for concurrently forming symmetric and asymmetric transistors are disclosed.
US08405147B2	Method and apparatus for use in improving linearity of MOSFETs using an accumulated charge sink A method and apparatus for use in improving the linearity characteristics of MOSFET devices using an accumulated charge sink (ACS) are disclosed. The method and apparatus are adapted to remove, reduce, or otherwise control accumulated charge in SOI MOSFETs, thereby yielding improvements in FET performance characteristics. In one exemplary embodiment, a circuit having at least one SOI MOSFET is configured to operate in an accumulated charge regime. An accumulated charge sink, operatively coupled to the body of the SOI MOSFET, eliminates, removes or otherwise controls accumulated charge when the FET is operated in the accumulated charge regime, thereby reducing the nonlinearity of the parasitic off-state source-to-drain capacitance of the SOT MOSFET. In RF switch circuits implemented with the improved SOI MOSFET devices, harmonic and intermodulation distortion is reduced by removing or otherwise controlling the accumulated charge when the SOI MOSFET operates in an accumulated charge regime.
US08405133B2	Semiconductor device including graphene and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device In a semiconductor device including graphene, a gate insulating layer may be formed between a gate electrode and a graphene layer, and an interlayer insulating layer may be formed under a portion of the graphene layer under which the gate insulating layer is not formed. The gate insulating layer may include a material that has higher dielectric permittivity than the interlayer insulating layer.
US08405123B2	Split-gate ESD diodes with elevated voltage tolerance In a gated diode ESD protection structure, the gate is split into two parts to divide the total reverse voltage between two gate regions.
US08405113B2	Semiconductor light-emitting device A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a reflective electrode on a support; a first cladding layer; a light-emitting layer; a second cladding layer having a terrace structure formed of recesses and protrusions, a light-extracting structure having projections and depressions being formed on top surfaces of the protrusions and bottom surfaces of the recesses; and surface electrodes on the top surfaces of the protrusions. The second cladding layer has a stacked structure, which includes a first current-spreading layer, a first light-extracting layer on the first current-spreading layer and having the light-extracting structure on the bottom surfaces of the recesses, a second current-spreading layer on the first light-extracting layer, and a second light-extracting layer on the second current-spreading layer and having the light-extracting structure on the top surfaces of the protrusions, and the first and second light-extracting layer have lower light absorptance and higher resistance than the first and second current-spreading layer.
US08405099B2	Light-emitting diode die package and method for producing same The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode die package having an LED die and an accommodating housing. The LED die has a first doped layer doped with a p- or n-type dopant and a second doped layer doped with a different dopant from that doped in the first doped layer. Each of the first and second doped layers has an electrode-forming surface formed with an electrode, on which an insulation layer is formed. The insulation layer is formed with exposure holes for exposing the electrodes corresponding thereto. Each of the exposure holes is formed inside with an electrically conductive linker. The accommodating housing has an open end through which an accommodating space is accessible. The LED die is positioned within the accommodating space in such a manner that the electrically conductive linker protrudes outwardly from the accommodating space.
US08405097B2	Optical sensor An optical sensor and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The optical sensor includes a first photosensitive layer, a first charge carrier collecting element, a second photosensitive layer and a second charge carrier collecting element. The first photosensitive layer has a first light incident surface. The first charge carrier collecting element is disposed on a surface of the first photosensitive layer opposite to the first light incident surface of the first photosensitive layer. The second photosensitive layer is adjacent to the first photosensitive layer and has a second light incident surface. The second charge carrier collecting element is disposed on a surface of the second photosensitive layer opposite to the second light incident surface of the second photosensitive layer.
US08405091B2	Display device and method of manufacturing the same A display device includes a metal conductive layer formed on a substrate, a transparent electrode film formed on the substrate and joined to the metal conductive layer and an interlayer insulating film isolating the metal conductive layer and the transparent conductive film. The metal conductive layer has a lower aluminum layer made of aluminum or aluminum alloy, an intermediate impurity containing layer made of aluminum or aluminum alloy containing impurities and formed on a substantially entire upper surface of the lower aluminum layer and an upper aluminum layer made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and formed on the intermediate impurity containing layer. In the interlayer insulating film and the upper aluminum layer, a contact hole penetrates therethrough and locally exposes the intermediate impurity containing layer, and the transparent electrode film is joined to the metal conductive layer in the intermediate impurity containing layer exposed from the contact hole.
US08405087B2	Pixel structure A pixel structure disposed on a substrate having an array of pixel areas is provided. The common electrode wire is positioned only in a portion of the pixel area. A first capacitance storage electrode is disposed in each of the pixel areas and electrically connected between two adjacent common electrode wires. A gate insulation layer covers the scan line, the gate electrode, the common electrode wire and the first capacitance storage electrode. A semiconductor layer is disposed on the gate insulation layer above the gate electrode. The source and the drain are disposed on two sides of the semiconductor layer. A passivation layer is disposed on the substrate to cover the data line, the source and the drain. The passivation layer above the drain has a contact window. A pixel electrode is electrically connected with the drain through the contact window.
US08405078B2	Test device and a semiconductor integrated circuit device A test device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first test region and a second test region defined thereon, wherein a layout of the first test region includes first active regions separated from each other by isolation regions in the semiconductor substrate, second active regions formed between the first active regions, first gate lines formed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the first gate lines has a first end adjacent to one of the first active regions and a second end adjacent to an end of one of the second active regions, respectively, first shared contacts each formed over a respective one of the second ends of the first gate lines and an upper part of one of the first active regions, and first nodes formed on the first shared contacts to be electrically connected to the first shared contacts, respectively.
US08405067B2	Nitride semiconductor element A nitride semiconductor element includes: a strain suppression layer formed on a silicon substrate via an initial layer; and an operation layer formed on the strain suppression layer. The strain suppression layer includes a first spacer layer, a second spacer layer formed on and in contact with the first spacer layer, and a superlattice layer formed on and in contact with the second spacer layer. The first spacer layer is larger in lattice constant than the second spacer layer. The superlattice layer has first layers and second layers smaller in lattice constant than the first layers stacked alternately on top of one another. The average lattice constant of the superlattice layer is smaller than the lattice constant of the first spacer layer and larger than the lattice constant of the second spacer layer.
US08405055B2	Source module, radiation source and lithographic apparatus A radiation source is configured to generate extreme ultraviolet radiation. The radiation source includes a fuel supply configured to supply a fuel to a plasma formation site; a laser configured to emit a beam of radiation to the plasma formation site so that a plasma that emits extreme ultraviolet radiation is generated when the beam of radiation impacts the fuel; a fuel particulate interceptor constructed and arranged to shield at least part of the radiation source from fuel particulates that are emitted by the plasma, the fuel particulate interceptor comprising a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being positioned closer to the plasma formation site than the first portion, and the first portion being rotatable; and a fuel particulate remover constructed and arranged to remove fuel particulates from a surface of the fuel particulate interceptor and to direct the fuel particulates towards a collection location.
US08405044B2	Achromatically bending a beam of charged particles by about ninety degrees Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for achromatically bending beam of charged particles by about 90° during radiation treatment. A system may include first, second, third, and fourth bending magnets serially arranged along the particle beam path. The first and fourth bending magnets are configured to generate a positive field gradient that defocuses the particle beam in the bend plane. The second and third bending magnets are configured to generate a negative field gradient that focuses the particle beam in the bend plane. The first, second, third, and fourth bending magnets collectively bend the particle beam by about 90°, e.g., by about 22.5° each.
US08405040B2	Imaging detector thermal control An imaging detector includes a radiation sensitive region having first and second opposing sides. One of the first or second sides senses impinging radiation. The detector further includes electronics located on the other of the first or second sides of the radiation sensitive region. The electronics includes a thermal controller that regulates a temperature of the imaging detector.
US08405039B2	Detection apparatus and radiation detection system A stacked-type detection apparatus includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix having row and column directions. Each pixel includes a conversion element configured to convert radiation or light into an electric charge, and a switch element configured to output an electric signal corresponding to the electric charge. A driving line is connected to switch elements arranged in the row direction, and a signal line is connected to switch elements arranged in the column direction. In each pixel, the conversion element is disposed above the switch element. The signal line is formed by a conductive layer embedded in an insulating layer located below an uppermost surface portion of a main electrode of the switch element located below an uppermost surface portion of the driving line located below the conversion element.
US08405025B2	Scanning electron microscope and method for detecting an image using the same A scanning electron microscope includes an electron beam source which emits an electron beam, a beam current controller which controls a beam current of the electron beam, an electron beam converger which converges the electron beam on a surface of a sample, an electron beam scanner which scans the electron beam on the surface of the sample, a table which mounts the sample and moves at least in one direction, a detector which detects a secondary electron or a reflected electron emanated from the sample by the scan of the electron beam, an image former which forms an image of the sample based on a detection value of the detector, an image processor which processes the image formed by the image former. The beam current controller controls the beam current of the electron beam by changing transmittance of the electron beam in an irradiation path of the electron beam.
US08405023B2	Spectrometer apparatus An ion mobility spectrometer has several electrodes spaced along its ion source region. Voltages are applied to the electrodes to produce a voltage gradient along the length of the ion source region. By varying the voltage gradient, the residence time of ions in the ion source region can be selectively varied. Typically, the spectrometer is arranged to reduce the residence time in response to a decrease in the amplitude, of an ion peak detected at the far end of the drift region.
US08405016B2	Solid-state image pickup element, method of manufacturing the same, and image pickup apparatus including the same A solid-state image pickup element 1 is structured so as to include: a semiconductor layer 2 having a photodiode formed therein, photoelectric conversion being carried out in the photodiode; a first film 21 having negative fixed charges and formed on the semiconductor layer 2 in a region in which at least the photodiode is formed; and a second film 22 having the negative fixed charges, made of a material different from that of the first film 21 having the negative fixed charges, and formed on the first film 21 having the negative fixed charges.
US08405013B2	Solar tracking device and tracking method thereof A solar tracking device including a solar panel, an orientation control device, and an inclination sensing device is provided. The solar panel is suitable for converting solar energy into electric energy. The orientation control device controls an orientation of the solar panel according to the position and time of the solar panel. The inclination sensing device is disposed on the solar panel for detecting an inclination direction of the solar panel. The inclination sensing device is suitable for outputting a feedback signal to the orientation control device to adjust the orientation of the solar panel. The solar tracking device has a simple tracking mechanism because of a simple feedback mechanism of the inclination sensing device.
US08405011B2	Target tracking device and method A target tracking device incorporating a Position Sensitive Detector (PSD) 1 is described. A target is illuminated by a laser of a suitable wavelength. The target reflects the laser radiation and the reflected radiation is incident on a flying vehicle carrying a target tracking device. The PSD in the device outputs a signal representative of the position of the incident laser spot. The output signal is input into control electronics, the control electronics incorporating a resistive transimpedance amplifier. A higher than usual bias voltage is applied to the PSD yielding improved pulse response of the target tracking device. Therefore, the tracking device is particularly suited for use with a target marking laser having a short pulse duration.
US08405007B2	Device for producing a temperature gradient Device for creating a temperature gradient, especially in gaseous media, comprising at least one ohmic resistor and at least two non-conducting insulators and at least one casing and at least one elastic element positioned between the non-conducting insulator and the casing.
US08405004B2	Intelligent electric kettle An intelligent electric kettle includes a heating element for heating water contained in the intelligent electric kettle, a sensor for sensing the temperature of the water, and a control unit being configured to collect data during the operation of the intelligent electric kettle. The control unit is also configured to execute a predetermined program and calculate a cut-off temperature based on the data and a predetermined target temperature. The control unit is further configured to turn off the electric power provided to the heating element when the temperature of the water sensed by the sensor is equal to or greater than the calculated cut-off temperature.
US08405000B2	Method for producing a series of through holes in a layer of material by means of a laser beam The present invention relates to the production of a series of holes in a layer of material, in particular to the production of a target rupture line in a first layer of an airbag cover. The radiation of a plasma that forms during the production of each hole is detected from the surface that is being machined. From the signal pattern derived, the time of the beginning of the signal and the time of the appearance of a falling edge that meets a predetermined edge criterion are detected and stored. The point in time at which the falling edge appears is a switching criterion for switching off the laser. The difference between the two points in time stored for each hole constitutes a quality criterion for the respective hole.
US08404999B2	Laser processing apparatus A laser processing apparatus including a laser applying unit. The laser applying unit includes a first laser oscillating unit, a second laser oscillating unit, a first laser branching unit for branching a laser beam oscillated from the first laser oscillating unit into three optical paths, a second laser branching unit for branching a laser beam oscillated from the second laser oscillating unit into three optical paths, three first focusing units for respectively focusing the laser beams through the three optical paths obtained by the first laser branching unit toward a glass substrate, and three second focusing units for respectively focusing the laser beams through the three optical paths obtained by the second laser branching unit. The first focusing units and the second focusing units are alternately arranged in a line in an indexing direction.
US08404998B2	Acousto-optic deflector applications in laser processing of dielectric or other materials A laser processing system for micromachining a workpiece includes a laser source to generate laser pulses for processing a feature in a workpiece, a galvanometer-driven (galvo) subsystem to impart a first relative movement of a laser beam spot position along a processing trajectory with respect to the surface of the workpiece, and an acousto-optic deflector (AOD) subsystem to effectively widen a laser beam spot along a direction perpendicular to the processing trajectory. The AOD subsystem may include a combination of AODs and electro-optic deflectors. The AOD subsystem may vary an intensity profile of laser pulses as a function of deflection position along a dither direction to selectively shape the feature in the dither direction. The shaping may be used to intersect features on the workpiece. The AOD subsystem may also provide rastering, galvo error position correction, power modulation, and/or through-the-lens viewing of and alignment to the workpiece.
US08404996B2	System for producing thin-layer solar cell modules A system for deleting the edges from coated substrates (6) and for separating said substrates into individual modules along the edge-deleted strips, wherein a laser scanner (2) for edge deletion and a laser head (9) for separating the substrate are disposed on opposite surfaces of the substrate (6) and, depending on the machine direction, can be positioned relative to each other, and their movement can be jointly controlled in such a manner that the laser scanner (2), in the machine direction, is always disposed at a fixed distance in front of the laser head (9), with two directions that are perpendicular to each other, preferably each with alternating directions of movement being available as machine directions.
US08404995B2	Tool machine for laser cutting of sheet and pipe materials A tool machine for laser cutting of materials (25), comprising a support table for the materials (10), a main cutting unit (11), a control panel (12) integrated on the machine, remote controlled and managed by a PC, and a laser cutting head (13) connected to a cooling unit, and moveable on the table by means of a numerical control system, wherein the laser cutting head (13) is connected to an optical fiber laser generator (20); the laser cutting head (13) is also equipped with a system that automatically controls the height of the material surface (25) to be cut, as well as an optical fiber motion and protection system (20) which moves the laser beam (23) on the machine.
US08404992B2	Method of welding metallic glass with crystalline metal by high-energy beam To provide a method of welding a metallic glass and a crystalline metal by shifting a high-energy beam scan area from a butting face thereof to the metallic glass side, to fall within a composition range required for glass phase formation of a metallic glass base material in a simplified assured manner. In a welding method for weldingly joining a metallic glass and a crystalline metal together by scanning a high-energy beam in a position shifted from a butt interface between the metallic glass and the crystalline metal toward the metallic glass, it is intended to provide a technique for allowing a composition of a melt zone formed around a welding interface to fall within a composition range required for forming a glass phase in the metallic glass to be joined, in a simple and more reliable manner. A metallic glass (1) and a crystalline metal (2) are butted against each other to define a groove space (Y) over a groove formed on the side of the crystalline metal (2). Then, electron beam welding is performed in a position shifted from the butt interface toward the metallic glass (1) to form a melt zone (4) which has a composition for forming an amorphous metallic glass, and comprises a top fused sub-region (41) and a lower fused sub-region (42), wherein the top fused sub-region has a relatively wide area including the groove space (Y) defined adjacent to an upper end of the butt interface and on the side of the crystalline metal, and the lower fused sub-region extends from the top fused sub-region to reach bottom surfaces of the metallic glass and the crystalline metal, while being narrowingly tapered in a downward direction.
US08404991B2	Wire-cut electric discharge machine having function for automatic switching between fixed temperature control and differential temperature control A wire-cut electric discharge machine has a cooling device for cooling the machining fluid. A controller for controlling the cooling operation of the cooling device controls the machining fluid temperature by automatically switching, depending on the relationship between the ambient temperature of the wire-cut electric discharge machine and the temperature of the machining fluid, between a fixed temperature control mode in which the machining fluid temperature is maintained at a preset value and a differential temperature control mode in which the machining fluid temperature follows the ambient temperature to limit the difference between the machining fluid temperature and the ambient temperature to a preset range.
US08404984B2	Lighted keyboard A lighted keyboard includes transparent, rectangular keys each comprising a bottom stem; scissors shaped structures disposed under the keys, each scissors shaped structure being aligned with the stem and comprising a first frame and a second frame pivotally secured together; an OLED sheet disposed under the scissors shaped structures and comprising units each including a hole; an optically transmissive rubber plate disposed under the OLED sheet and comprising units each including a resilient dome passing through the hole of the unit of the OLED sheet, the resilient dome having a conductive shaft aligned with the stem; a membrane circuit board disposed under the rubber plate and comprising a plurality of contacts each aligned with the conductive shaft; and a rectangular aluminum plate disposed under the membrane circuit board and comprising units each including snapping grooves and a slide guide groove secured to the scissors shaped structure.
US08404981B2	Process for making stubless printed circuit boards A process of copper plating a through-hole in a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board made from such process. The process comprises: providing a printed circuit board with at least two copper interconnect lines separated by an insulator in the vertical direction; providing a through-hole in the printed circuit board in the vertical direction such that the interconnect lines provide a copper land in the through-hole; applying a seed layer to an interior surface of the through-hole; removing an outermost portion of the seed layer from the interior surface of the through-hole with a laser; applying copper on the seed layer.
US08404965B2	Three dimensional photo voltaic modules in an energy reception panel An apparatus for receiving energy is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a support base and a plurality of cells. The support base comprises an electric terminal. The plurality of cells are mounted to the support base. Further, each of the plurality of cells is electrically connected to the electric terminal disposed on the support base. In an embodiment each cell may be in the shape of a rhombus. Further, each of the plurality of cells may be oriented in a non-parallel relationship with each neighboring cell.
US08404960B2	Method for heat dissipation on semiconductor device A device and method wherein a thermo electric generator device is disposed between stacks of a multiple level device, or is provided on or under a die of a package and is conductively connected to the package. The thermo electric generator device is configured to generate a voltage by converting heat into electric power. The voltage which is generated by the thermo electric generator can be recycled back into the die itself, or to a higher-level unit in the system, even to a cooling fan.
US08404959B2	Thermoelectric device A thermoelectric device includes a plurality of thin-film thermoelectric elements. Each thin-film thermoelectric element is a Seebeck-Peltier device. The thin-film thermoelectric elements are electrically coupled in parallel with each other. The thermoelectric device may be fabricated using conventional semiconductor processing technologies and may be a thin-film type device.
US08404946B2	Soybean variety A1023840 The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023840. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023840. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023840 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023840 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08404939B2	Soybean variety A1023485 The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1023485. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1023485. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1023485 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1023485 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08404936B2	Lettuce cultivar Refugio A lettuce cultivar, designated Refugio, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar Refugio, to the plants of lettuce cultivar Refugio and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Refugio with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Refugio, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Refugio and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Refugio with another lettuce cultivar.
US08404930B2	Methods for improving monocot transformation The invention provides improved plant transformation methods. In particular the method provides increased transformation frequency, especially in recalcitrant plants. The method includes various transformation protocols for monocots, such as maize and sorghum, using a combination of media and light conditions to achieve increased efficiency of monocot transformation and increased callus initiation frequencies.
US08404904B2	Process for reducing color of a polyglycerol The present invention relates to a process for reducing color of a polyglycerol. The process includes the steps of treating said polyglycerol with a first bleaching agent such as bleaching earth and treating said treated polyglycerol with a second bleaching agent such as hydrogen peroxide.
US08404889B2	Process for producing acrolein and acrylic acid The invention offers an improvement in a process for start-up in the occasion of producing acrolein and acrylic acid by catalytically oxidizing propylene at vapor phase under high load conditions, the start-up meaning the step of increasing the propylene supply rate (loading) from the non-reacting condition to the prescribed reaction conditions. This process is characterized in that the propylene supply rate is increased in the start-up stage of the reaction until the prescribed composition of starting reactant gas and the flow rate of the starting reactant gas are obtained, while adjusting at least one of the reaction temperature, the composition of the starting reactant gas and flow rate of the starting reactant gas, so as to maintain the propylene conversion at not lower than 90 mol %, the maximum peak temperature of the catalyst layer in each reaction zone at no higher than 450° C., and the sum of each ΔT (maximum peak temperature of a catalyst layer—reaction temperature) at the catalyst layer in each of the reaction zones to be no more than 180° C., respectively. According to this process, the reaction speedily reaches the steady state (standard operating conditions) and a high acrolein and acrylic acid yield is stably achieved from the start of the reaction.
US08404886B2	Purification of 5-sulfoisophthalic acid by the use of an acetic acid wash on a crude cake A method for the purification of 5-sulfoisophthalic acid wherein via the application of an acetic acid wash while said crude cake of 5-sulfoisophthalic acid is filtered.
US08404885B2	High adhesive acrylate monomer and method for preparing the same A high adhesive acrylate monomer has a specific chemistry figure. This monomer may be easily prepared in a simplified way, and various linkers may be used between L-DOPA and an acrylate group attached to a tail of L-DOPA, so molecular weight and size of the entire material may be easily controlled. Also, various kinds of acrylate to be combined to a isocyanate compound used as a linker may be selected, so various molecules may be easily composed.
US08404881B2	White particles for display, particle dispersion for display, display medium and display device White particles for display including at least one of a chain or cyclic polysilane compound having a polysilane structure represented by the following Formula (I) or a halogen-substituted compound thereof: wherein in Formula (I), A represents a phenyl group, B represents an alkyl group or a phenyl group, and n represents an integer of from 5 to 1000.
US08404877B2	Metal oxide coatings Compounds of formula I may be hydrolyzed to produce metal oxides wherein M is Mg, Al, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, La, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Th, U, or Pu; X is O1/2 or OR; R is alkyl; R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are independently H, alkoxy, C1-C10 alkyl, phenyl or R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, and R15 are independently C1-C10 alkyl or phenyl; n is equal to the value of the oxidation state of M minus q; m and p are independently 0 or an integer from 1 to 5; and q is 0, 1, 2, or 4; with the proviso that when q is 1, X is OR; and when q is 2, X is O1/2, and M is V, Cr, Mn, Fe, As, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Sb, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Bi, Th, U, or Pu; and when q is 4, X is O1/2, and M is Cr, Mo, W, Ru, Re, Os, U, or Pu. Articles comprising at least one metal oxide are fabricated by coating a substrate with at least one compounds of formula I before hydrolyzing, and/or heating the compound at a temperature ranging from about 50° C. to about 450° C.
US08404873B2	Ambient temperature purification of alkylene oxides A new purification technique for alkylene oxides is described. The technique is safer than previously reported methods and does not require cooling of the purification vessel. In a solution of a high-boiling point solvent and butyllithium, an alkylene oxide is added and allowed to react at ambient temperature. The impurities readily react with the butyllithium while the alkylene oxide does not. The low-boiling alkylene oxide is then easily distilled out of the high-boiling point solvent as a pure material ready for use in controlled polymerization reactions.
US08404866B2	Substituted heterocyclic mercaptosulfonamide metalloprotease inhibitors The present invention generally relates to substituted heterocyclic mercaptosulfonamide compounds, precursors, and derivatives as well as methods for the preparation of and pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. These compounds are designed to be potent selective inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including, for example, gelatinases, collagenases, matrilysins, metalloelastase, stromelysin, and membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase. These inhibitors may be used for the control of physiological and pathological processes and disease conditions in which MMPs are believed to play significant functions.
US08404852B2	Gyrase inhibitors and uses thereof The present invention relates to methods of treating, preventing, or lessening the severity of resistant bacterial infections in mammals, utilizing compounds of formula I or formula VII or pharmaceutically salts thereof. The present invention also relates to methods of using compounds of formula I or formula VII in combination with one or more additional antibacterial agents and/or one or more additional therapeutic agents that increase the susceptibility of bacterial organisms to antibiotics.
US08404846B2	Inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase activity This invention relates to compounds that inhibit protein tyrosine kinase activity. In particular the invention relates to compounds that inhibit the protein tyrosine kinase activity of growth factor receptors, resulting in the inhibition of receptor signaling, for example, the inhibition of VEGF receptor signaling and HGF receptor signaling. More particularly, the invention relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the inhibition of VEGF receptor signaling and HGF receptor signaling. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions.
US08404844B2	Perylene semiconductors and methods of preparation and use thereof The present invention relates to semiconducting compounds, materials prepared from such compounds, methods of preparing such compounds and semiconductor materials, as well as various compositions, composites, and devices that incorporate the compounds and semiconductor materials. The semiconducting compounds can have higher electron-transport efficiency and higher solubility in common solvents compared to related representative compounds.
US08404840B2	Process for the preparation of endothelin receptor antagonists The present invention relates to improved processes for the preparation of endolthelin receptor antagonists darusentan and ambrisentan, their salts and intermediates. Processes for the preparation of darusentan and ambrisentan comprise reacting benzophenone with a compound of Formula-3 to provide a compound of Formula-4, which on in-situ treatment with methanol and a suitable acid provides a compound of Formula-5; hydrolyzing the compound of Formula-5 to provide a compound of Formula-6; resolving the compound of Formula-6 to provide a compound of Formula-7; esterifying the compound of Formula-7 to provide a compound of Formula-8; reacting the compound of Formula-8 with a compound of Formula-9 to provide a compound of Formula-10; hydrolyzing the compound of Formula-10 to provide darusentan or ambrisentan; and purifiying darusentan or ambrisentan to provide darusentan or ambrisentan having purity greater than 99.00% by HPLC.
US08404831B2	Short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) for oral administration Short interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) for oral administration, said siRNA comprising two separate RNA strands that are complementary to each other over at least 15 nucleotides, wherein each strand is 49 nucleotides or less, and wherein at least one of which strands contains at least one chemical modification.
US08404827B2	Environmental stress-inducible 996 promoter isolated from rice and uses thereof The present invention relates to environmental stress-inducible 996 promoter isolated from rice, a recombinant plant expression vector comprising said promoter, a method of producing a target protein by using said recombinant plant expression vector, a method of producing a transgenic plant using said recombinant plant expression vector, a transgenic plant produced by said method, a method of improving resistance of a plant to environmental stress by using said promoter, and a primer set for amplification of said promoter.
US08404826B2	Mycobacterial antigens expressed under low oxygen tension A method is provided for identifying mycobacterial genes that are induced or up-regulated under continuous culture conditions defined by a dissolved oxygen tension of up to 10% air saturation measured at 37° C. when compared with a dissolved oxygen tension of at least 40% air saturation measured at 37° C. Said induced or up-regulated genes form the basis of nucleic acid vaccines, or provide targets to allow preparation of attenuated mycobacteria for vaccines against mycobacterial infections. Similarly, peptides encoded by said induced or up-regulated genes are employed in vaccines. In a further embodiment, the identified genes/peptides provide the means for identifying the presence of a mycobacterial infection in a clinical sample by nucleic acid probe or antibody detection.
US08404825B2	Method for producing monoterpene and monoterpinoid compounds and use thereof In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method and enzyme for forming various compounds, such as monoterpenes and monoterpenoid compounds. In a specific example, the present disclosure provides a method for producing one or more of (−)-ipsdienol, (−)-ipsenol, ipsenone, and ipsdienone. The present disclosure also provides methods of using compounds formed from the disclosed method and enzyme.
US08404801B1	CO2 cleaning An apparatus and methods for removing contaminants from substances are provided. The apparatus includes a treatment vessel, a pump, and a means to suspend a contaminated substance within a flow of a low surface tension solvent. Circuitous piping is provided to cycle the flow of the solvent through the treatment vessel. The methods include exposing a contaminated substance to a flow of low surface tension solvent that removes the contaminant from the substance and transports it away from the substance. In further examples, the pressure and temperature within the processing system can be increased to put the solvent into a supercritical phase.
US08404800B2	Black soluble conjugated polymers with highly transmissive oxidized state A soluble donor-acceptor electrochromic polymer (DA-ECP) is prepared that absorbs light throughout at least the majority of the visible range and is essentially black to the human eye when in the neutral state, but is highly transmissive when electrochemically doped. The conjugated polymer has acceptor units separated by sequences of a plurality of donor units. The sequences can be monodispersed or polydispersed. The DA-ECP is prepared by the polycondensation of a plurality of at least one donor-acceptor oligomer (DA-oligomer) that has at least one internal acceptor repeating unit and at least one donor repeating unit on all termini of the oligomer, and optionally, a plurality of at least one donor monomer and/or donor oligomer.
US08404795B2	Photolytic acid-generating polymers and monomers for their construction Polymers for photoresists and monomers for incorporation into those polymers are disclosed. The polymers comprise a photoacid generator (PAG) component and at least a second component that is photolytically stable and acid-stable. The polymers may also contain a third, acid-labile component. The photoacid generator is based on N-sulfoxyimides and related moieties that contain photolabile oxygen-heteroatom and oxygen-aromatic carbon bonds.
US08404787B2	Toughened epoxy adhesive composition The invention is an epoxy resin based adhesive composition comprising an epoxy resin and a compound comprising an elastomeric prepolymer residue selected from the group of a polyurethane, a polyurea and a polyurea polyurethane having isocyanate end groups, the isocyanate end groups of said prepolymer residue being capped by a capping compound selected from the group consisting of a primary aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, heteroaromatic and araliphatic amine, a secondary aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatic and araliphatic amine, a thiol and an alkyl amide, said capping compound being bound to the end of the polymer chain of the elastomeric prepolymer in a manner such that the end to which it is bonded no longer has a reactive group.In addition to the capping compound defined above above, a capping compound selected from the group consisting of a phenol and a polyphenol can be used for capping the isocyanate end groups of the prepolymer residue.
US08404785B2	Method for producing modified conjugated diene polymer, modified conjugated diene polymer, and rubber composition A method for producing a modified conjugated diene polymer includes a step (A) carrying out a primary modification reaction that reacts a heterocumulene compound having two or more specific functional groups with a conjugated diene polymer having a vinyl content of below 10% and a cis-1,4-bond content of 75% or more and possessing an active end to obtain a primary-modified conjugated diene polymer, and a step (B) carrying out a secondary modification reaction that reacts an active hydrogen-containing compound that includes one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of an amino group, an imino group, a mercapto group, and a hydroxyl group with the primary-modified conjugated diene polymer to obtain a secondary-modified conjugated diene polymer. The method can produce a modified conjugated diene polymer that exhibits low heat build-up (low fuel consumption) and excellent wear resistance.
US08404784B2	Manufacturing process of making polymeric amine salts A novel process of manufacturing sevelamer carbonate from a polyallylamine carbonate or bicarbonate chloride salt. Process for manufacture of carbonate and/or bicarbonate salts of water insoluble polymers containing amino groups that are useful as anion binders in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. The process arranges the polyallylamine chain in a solution in such a way that the cross-linking reaction with epichlorohydrin can be controlled at a desired reaction rate.
US08404782B2	Fluorine-containing polymer powder, method for producing the same and coated article A stabilized fluorine-containing polymer powder having an average particle size of 5 to 100 μm is prepared by contacting a fluorine-containing polymer powder, which is prepared by milling the fluorine-containing polymer and removing fine particles, fibrous particles and coarse particles by classification, with a fluorinating agent so that the total number of unstable terminal groups is decreased to 7 to 50 per 106 carbon atoms. This is a fluorine-containing polymer powder achieved a high coating efficiency in an electrostatic coating method and provides a film having good properties such as heat resistance, non-tackiness, low frictional property, chemical resistance, etc.
US08404777B2	Thermoplastic-toughened cyanate ester resin composites with low heat release properties Composite materials that contain thermoplastic-toughened cyanate ester resins as the resin matrix. The composite materials exhibit low levels of heat release when burned. The matrix resins are composed of from 50 to 80 weight percent of a cyanate ester resin component. The matrix resin composition also includes from 10 to 40 weight percent of a thermoplastic blend that is composed of polyetherimide and polyamideimide. The epoxy resin composition further includes from 1 to 10 weight percent of a curative agent. The composite materials may be used for primary structures in aircraft and other load-bearing structures.
US08404772B2	Polymer compositions, method of manufacture, and articles formed therefrom A thermoplastic composition comprises, based on the total weight of the composition, (a) from 10 to 80 wt. % of a polybutylene terephthalate; (b) from 10 to 80 wt. % of a copolyestercarbonate having a number average molecular weight of more than 21,500 Daltons; (c) from 7 to 30 wt. % of a particulate filler; (d) from 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a fluoropolymer; and (e) from 3 to 25 wt. % of a polymeric impact modifier. The thermoplastic composition can be prepared by melt blending components, and the thermoplastic composition can be used for making automotive body panels or enclosures.
US08404766B2	Rubber composition for tread and tire having tread comprising the rubber composition An object of the present invention is to satisfy both of the low heat build-up property and strength at break. The present invention provides a rubber composition for tread comprising 0.5 to 10 parts by mass of (B) an alkylphenol-sulfur chloride condensate indicated by the formula (B1): (wherein R1 to R3 are same or different, either is an alkyl group having 5 to 12 carbons; x and y are same or different, and either is an integer of 2 to 4; n is an integer of 0 to 10), 0.5 to 6 parts by mass of (C) sulfur, and 10 to 100 parts by mass of (D) silica, based on 100 parts by mass of the specific (A) rubber component comprising, and a tire having tread using thereof.
US08404765B2	Sterically hindered amines and use thereof as polymer stabilizers The present invention relates to polypiperidine compounds capable of conferring to polymeric materials, particularly polyolefins, a high stability against photodegradation and oxidative action of air, which belong to the HALS category and have the following general formula (I) in which x can be zero or 1; y is between 1 and 10; m and n, which may be different or equal to each other, range from 2 to 8; A represents a NPiR1 group or a NR2R3 group; and Pi represents the group of formula (II) wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C4 straight-chain and branched-chain alkyl groups; R2 and R3 can be the same or different and are selected in the group consisting of H, C1-C8 straight-chain and branched-chain alkyl groups, cyclic alkyl groups having from 5 to 12 carbon atoms, or form together with the nitrogen atom a heterocyclic ring having from 5 to 7 members, comprising other heteroatoms such as O, R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C4 straight-chain and branched-chain alkyl group, and OR5 group, wherein R5 is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-C8 straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl groups. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds according to the invention.
US08404749B2	Method of inhibiting inflammatory pain A method of treating or inhibiting, in particular, pain caused by inflammation in a mammal by administering to the mammal an effective inflammatory pain alleviating amount of a (1R,2R)-3-(2-dimethylaminomethyl-cyclohexyl)-phenol compound or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, such as the hydrochloride or citrate salt.
US08404748B2	Storage-stable formulation of paracetamol in aqueous solution The present invention concerns a liquid formulation that is stable to oxidation and that is based on paracetamol in an aqueous solvent obtainable by the following steps: (i) dissolving in a reaction vessel paracetamol in an aqueous solvent having a temperature between 65° C. and 95° C., and having pH between 5.0 and 6.0; (ii) cooling the solution so formed to a temperature equal to or above 35° C. and below 40° C. under an atmosphere of nitrogen; (iii) adding cysteine hydrochloride and sodium hydroxide simultaneously to the solution without stirring; (iv) closing the reaction vessel, and stirring the solution of step iii) in a nitrogen atmosphere. It further relates to a method for preparing the formulation.
US08404740B2	Spirocyclic cyclohexane compounds Spirocyclic cyclohexane compounds corresponding to formula I In which R1, R2, R3 and R5 through R10 and X have defined meanings, a process for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and the use of such spirocyclic cyclohexane compounds in the treatment and/or inhibition of pain and other conditions mediated by the ORL-1 or the μ-opioid receptor.
US08404735B2	Parasiticidal formulation The present invention provides a parasiticidal formulation comprising: Fipronil, or a veterinarily acceptable derivative thereof; at least one C1-C6 alcohol co-solvent, wherein the total amount of C1-C6 alcohol is up to 8% by weight of the formulation; at least one organic solvent which is not the C1-C6 alcohol co-solvent; and at least one crystallization inhibitor, wherein the total amount of crystallization inhibitor is from 2 to 20% by weight of the formulation. The formulations of the invention have higher flash points than known parasiticidal formulations comprising Fipronil and therefore provide safer formulations for use in the home, storage, manufacture and distribution.
US08404734B2	Crystalline modifications of pyraclostrobin The present invention relates to novel crystalline modifications of pyraclostrobin, to processes for their preparation and to the use of the novel modifications for preparing crop protection compositions.
US08404728B2	Small-molecule botulinum toxin inhibitors This disclosure relates to materials and methods for inhibiting Botulinum neurotoxin, and more particularly to materials and methods for inhibiting the zinc endopeptidase of Botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, D and/or E (BoNTA, BoNTD and/or BoNTE).
US08404725B2	Phenylamino isonicotinamide compounds The invention provides novel substituted phenylamino isonicotinamide compounds (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or prodrugs thereof, wherein X, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined in the specification. Said compounds are MEK inhibitors useful in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases related to the hyperactivity of MEK, such as restenosis, as well as diseases modulated by the MEK cascade, such as cancer and inflammation. Also disclosed is the use of such compounds in the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases in mammals, especially humans, and pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds.
US08404706B2	Opioid and opioid-like compounds and uses thereof The present invention relates to opioid and opioid-like compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations containing the same and methods of use thereof. Uses of the present invention include, but are not limited to, use for the prevention and treatment of septic shock and other disorders. The compounds described herein can be water soluble and can act through mechanisms mediated through pathways other than opiate receptors.
US08404701B2	Use and composition for treating dementia There is described a method for increasing the maximal tolerated dose and thus the efficacy of an acetyl choline esterase inhibitor (AChEI) in a patient suffering from an Alzheimer type dementia by decreasing concomitant adverse effects by administration of said AChEI in combination with a non-selective, peripheral anticholinergic agent, whereby an enhanced acetyl choline esterase inhibition in the CNS of said patient is achieved and alleviation of the symptoms of Alzheimer type dementia in said patient is thereby improved to a greater extent. The use of a non-selective, peripheral anticholinergic agent (nsPAChA) for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for increasing the maximal tolerated dose and thus the efficacy of an acetyl choline esterase inhibitor (AChEI) in a patient suffering from an Alzheimer type dementia and pharmaceutical compositions comprising a non-selective peripheral anticholinergic agent of formula II as illustrated in the description and an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor are also described.
US08404700B2	Compounds modulating c-fms and/or c-kit activity and uses therefor Compounds active on the receptor protein tyrosine kinases c-kit and/or c-fms are provided herewith. Also provided herewith are compositions useful for treatment of c-kit mediated diseases or conditions and/or c-fms-mediated diseases or conditions, and methods for the use thereof.
US08404698B2	Quinazoline derivatives and therapeutic use thereof Quinazoline derivatives represented by the general formula pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, and compositions containing such compounds are described. Methods for using the compounds for treatment of hyperproliferative disorders are also disclosed.
US08404692B2	Pyrimidin-4-yl-3, 4-dihydro-2H-pyrrolo [1,2A] pyrazin-1-one compounds The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Z is NR11, NHCO, NHSO2, NHCH2, CH2, CH2CH2, or CH═CH; X is a hydrocarbyl group optionally substituted by one or more R12 groups; R10 and R11 are each independently II or alkyl; R1-R4 are each independently II or (CII2)mR12, where m is O, 1, 2, or 3; each R12 is independently (CH2)aR16, where each R16 is independently selected from O(CH2)bR13, R13, COR13, COOR13, CN, CONR13R14, NR13R14, NR13COR14, SR13, SOR13, SO2R13, NR13SO2R14, SO2OR13, SO2NR13R14, halogen, CF3, and NO2, and wherein each a is 0, 1, 2, or 3 and b is 0, 1, 2, or 3; R13 and R14 are each independently H or (CH2)aR15, where n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; and each R15 is independently selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, aryl and heterocycloalkyl, each of which may be optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from halogen, OH, CN, COO-alkyl, aralkyl, SO2-alkyl, SO2-aryl, COOH, CO-alkyl, CO-aryl, NH2, NH-alkyl, N(alkyl)2, CF3, alkyl and alkoxy, wherein said alkyl and alkoxy groups may be further substituted by one or more OH groups. Further aspects of the invention relate to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula I, and the use of compounds of formula (I) in the preparation of a medicament for treating a variety of disorders, including proliferative disorders, viral disorders, stroke, etc.
US08404690B2	Piperazine-2-carboxamide derivatives The present invention is related to piperazine-2-carboxamide derivatives of formula (I) for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of preterm labor, premature birth, dysmenorrhea and for stopping labor prior to cesarean delivery. Wherein A, X, Y, R1 and R2 are as defined in the description.
US08404688B2	Nitrone compounds, process of preparation thereof, and use thereof in medicament manufacture The present invention provides novel nitrones, their preparation and use. The novel compounds have the following formula: I The compounds of the present invention have strong antioxidative activity, and are thrombolytic. These compounds can be used to treat and/or prevent diseases caused by overproduction of free radicals and/or formation of thrombus.
US08404686B2	Method of treatment or prophylaxis The present invention is directed to methods and agents that are useful in the prevention and amelioration of signs and symptoms associated with neuropathic conditions. More particularly, the present invention discloses the use of angiotensin II receptor 2 (AT2 receptor) antagonists for the treatment, prophylaxis, reversal and/or symptomatic relief of neuropathic pain, including mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal or mechanical allodynia, diabetic pain and entrapment pain, in vertebrate animals and particularly in human subjects. The AT2 receptor antagonists may be provided alone or in combination with other compounds such as those that are useful in the control of neuropathic conditions.
US08404681B2	Xanthones, thioxanthones and acridinones as DNA-PK inhibitors Compound that inhibit DNA-dependent protein kinase, compositions comprising the compounds, methods of inhibiting the DNA-PK biological activity, methods of sensitizing cells the agents that cause DNA lesions, and methods of potentiating cancer treatment are disclosed.
US08404677B2	Kinase inhibitors The present invention provides a new group of protein kinase inhibitors, pyrido[4,3,-d]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are useful for intreating cell proliferative disease and disorder such as cancer, autoimmune diseases, infection, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disease and disorder. The present invention provides methods for synthesizing and administering the protein kinase inhibitor compounds. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical formulations comprising at least one of the protein kinase inhibitor compounds together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient therefor. The invention also provides useful intermediates generated during the syntheses of the pyrido[4,3,-d]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives.
US08404676B2	Oxadiazole diaryl compounds The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R1, R2, Ra, Rb, Rc and W, have the meanings given in claim 16. The compounds are useful e.g. in the treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.
US08404673B2	Carbocyclic GlyT1 receptor antagonists The present invention relates to the use of a compound of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, X and n are as defined herein or to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, to a racemic mixture, or to its corresponding enantiomers and/or optical isomers for the treatment of psychoses, pain, dysfunction in memory and learning, attention deficit, schizophrenia, dementia disorders or Alzheimer's disease.
US08404672B2	Substituted heterocyclic compounds Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Q is R1 is cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl, each optionally substituted with one to five substituents independently selected from C1 to C6 alkyl, C1 to C4 haloalkyl, —OR4, and/or halogen; and R2, R3, R4, and n are defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds as selective agonists for G protein-coupled receptor S1P1, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds. These compounds are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases or disorders in a variety of therapeutic areas, such as vascular disease and autoimmune diseases.
US08404663B2	Alkyne and alkene derivatives as sphingosine 1-phosphate-1 receptor modulators The present invention relates to novel alkyne and alkene derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08404654B2	Treatment or prevention of oto-pathologies by inhibition of pro-apoptotic genes The invention relates to one or more inhibitors, in particular siRNAs, which down-regulate the expression of human pro-apoptotic genes. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compound, or a vector capable of expressing the compound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also contemplates a method of treating or preventing the incidence or severity of hearing impairment (or balance impairment), particularly hearing impairment associated with cell death of the inner ear hair cells or outer ear hair cells, comprising administering to the patient the pharmaceutical composition in a therapeutically effective dose so as to thereby treat the patient.
US08404651B2	Compositions and methods for treating viral infections The present invention provides compositions methods for treating susceptible viral infections, especially hepatitis C viral (HCV) infections as well as co infections of HCV with other viruses such as HBV and/or HIV. In one embodiment, the present invention provides compositions having the formula (I) and their use in treating viral infections: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester, stereoisomer, tautomers, solvate, prodrug, or combination thereof.
US08404646B2	Methods for preventing or treating mitochondrial permeability transition The invention provides a method of reducing or preventing mitochondrial permeability transitioning. The method comprises administering an effective amount of an aromatic-cationic peptide having at least one net positive charge; a minimum of four amino acids; a maximum of about twenty amino acids; a relationship between the minimum number of net positive charges (pm) and the total number of amino acid residues (r) wherein 3pm is the largest number that is less than or equal to r+1; and a relationship between the minimum number of aromatic groups (a) and the total number of net positive charges (pt) wherein 2 a is the largest number that is less than or equal to pt+1, except that when a is 1, pt may also be 1.
US08404645B2	Stable formulations of amylin and its analogues The invention relates to a soluble pharmaceutical composition for parenteral administration, which comprises an amylin peptide and an anionic surfactant, and methods for treatment of hyperglycemia.
US08404632B2	Compositions and methods for the delivery of nitric oxide H-NOX proteins are mutated to exhibit improved or optimal kinetic and thermodynamic properties for blood gas NO delivery. The engineered H-NOX proteins comprise mutations that impart altered NO or O2 ligand-binding relative to the corresponding wild-type H-NOX domain, and are operative as physiologically compatible mammalian blood NO gas carriers. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, kits, and methods that use wild-type or mutant H-NOX proteins for the treatment of any condition for which delivery of NO is beneficial.
US08404630B2	Fragrance compositions that reduce or eliminate malodor, related methods and related cleaning compositions A fragrance composition for control of kitchen malodor, kitchen cleaning and deodorizing products comprising them, and methods for the reduction of malodor utilizing them, the fragrance composition comprising a decyl aldehyde; an allyl amyl glycolate; cis-3-hexenyl acetate; a rose oxide; a terpinolene; and 2,4-dimethyl-3-cyclohexene-1-carbaldehyde.
US08404618B2	Herbicidal composition Herbicidal composition comprising a compound of the formula (I) wherein the substituents have the meanings given in claim 1, and a safener.
US08404616B2	Photocatalyst and method for producing same A photocatalyst produced from an easily available, relatively low-cost silicon oxide material is disclosed which is capable of decomposing environmental pollutants with improved efficiency. The photocatalyst is produced by pulverizing an artificial crystal, specifically machining waste thereof, into powder particles having a particle diameter of not more than 3.0 mm and then immersing the particles into a solution containing a hydrogen fluoride for activation. Environmental pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and harmful organic compounds can be efficiently decomposed by coming into contact with this photocatalyst while being irradiated with activation light under oxidizing conditions.
US08404615B2	Catalyst for a cathode of a mixed reactant fuel cell, membrane-electrode assembly for a mixed reactant fuel cell including the same, and mixed reactant fuel cell system including the same The cathode catalyst for a mixed reactant fuel cell includes a mixed catalyst that includes a first catalyst including a Ru—Ch1 compound where Ch1 is a chalcogens selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and combinations thereof, and a second catalyst including a Pt—Ch2 compound where Ch2 is a chalcogens selected from the group consisting of S, Se, Te, and combinations thereof. The cathode catalyst can improve excellent power characteristics of a fuel cell due to excellent catalyst activity and selectivity.
US08404611B2	Exhaust gas purifying catalyst and production method thereof An object is to maintain an effect of enhancing activity of noble metal particles by transition metal without increasing production cost and an environmental load. An exhaust gas purifying catalyst 1 is composed of: noble metal particles 2; first compounds 3 which contact the noble metal particles 2 and suppress movement of the noble metal particles 2; and second compounds 4 which contain the noble metal particles 2 and the first compounds 3, suppress the movement of the noble metal particles 2, and suppress coagulation of the first compounds 3 following mutual contact of the first compounds 3, wherein the first compounds 3 support the noble metal particles 2, and simplexes or aggregates of the first compounds 3 supporting the noble metal particles 2 are included in section partitioned by the second compounds 4.
US08404608B2	RF non-thermal plasma techniques for catalyst development to improve process efficiencies Plasma modifications of catalyst supports before and after impregnation of metal precursors improve the activity, selectivity and stability of catalysts, e.g. Ni catalysts for benzene hydrogenation and Pd catalysts for selective hydrogenation of acetylene. Plasma modification of the support before impregnation is slightly more effective than the plasma modification after impregnation. However, plasma modifications after impregnation increase the stability and selectivity of catalysts more effectively. The economic benefit of much improved stability of Ni catalysts for hydrogenation of benzene and the enhanced activity and selectivity of Pd catalysts for acetylene hydrogenation, e.g., is significant. Similar benefits for various catalysts and other industrial processes via RF plasma techniques are expected.
US08404606B2	Optical glass, optical elements made therefrom, method of making the optical elements from the glass, and optical components comprising one or more optical elements The lead-free and arsenic-free optical glasses have a refractive index of 1.83≦nd≦1.95 and an Abbé number of 24≦νd≦35, good chemical resistance, excellent crystallization stability and a composition, in wt. % based on oxide content, of SiO2, 2-8; B2O3, 15-22; La2O3, 35-42; ZnO, 10-18; TiO2, 9-15; ZrO2, 3-10; Nb2O5, 4-10; and WO3, >0.5-3. Besides containing at most 5 wt. % of each of GeO2, Ag2O and BaO and conventional fining agents, they may also contain at most in total 5 wt. % of Al2O3, MgO, CaO, SrO, P2O5 and up to at most in total 5 wt. % of the components F, Ta2O5. The glasses are preferably free of alkali metal oxides, Bi2O3, Y2O3, Gd2O3 and/or Yb2O3. Optical elements made from the optical glass are also described.
US08404602B2	Plasma oxidation method and plasma oxidation apparatus A plasma oxidation method includes the steps of: generating oxygen-containing plasma with a process gas containing oxygen; applying a bias voltage to a substrate placed on a stage; and radiating positive ions and negative ions in the oxygen-containing plasma onto the substrate so as to perform plasma oxidation of the substrate while controlling a bias potential of the substrate in such a manner that a maximum value Vmax and a minimum value Vmin of the bias potential and a plasma potential Vp satisfy a following relationship: Vmin
US08404597B2	Device and method for stopping an etching process A method for etching a layer assembly, the layer assembly including an intermediate layer sandwiched between an etch layer and a stop layer, the method including a step of etching the etch layer using a first etchant and a step of etching the intermediate layer using a second etchant. The first etchant includes a first etch selectivity of at least 5:1 with respect to the etch layer and the intermediate layer. The second etchant includes a second etch selectivity of at least 5:1 with respect to the intermediate layer and the stop layer. The first etchant being different from the second etchant.
US08404596B2	Plasma ashing method A plasma ashing method is used for removing a patterned resist film in a processing chamber after etching a portion of a low-k film from an object to be processed in the processing chamber by using the patterned resist film as a mask. The method includes a first step of supplying a reaction product removal gas including at least CO2 gas into the processing chamber, generating plasma of the reaction product removal gas by applying a high frequency power for the plasma generation, and removing reaction products deposited on an inner wall of the processing chamber; and a second step of supplying an ashing gas into the processing chamber, generating plasma of the ashing gas by applying a high frequency power for the plasma generation, and removing the resist film.
US08404590B2	Plasma processing method and storage medium There is provided a plasma processing method performing a plasma etching process on an oxide film of a target substrate through one or more steps by using a processing gas including a CF-based gas and a COS gas. The plasma processing method includes: performing a plasma etching process on the oxide film of the target substrate according to a processing recipe; measuring a concentration of sulfur (S) remaining on the target substrate (residual S concentration) after the plasma etching process is performed according to the processing recipe; adjusting a ratio of a COS gas flow rate with respect to a CF-based gas flow rate (COS/CF ratio) so as to allow the residual S concentration to become equal to or smaller than a predetermined value; and performing an actual plasma etching process according to a modified processing recipe storing the adjusted COS/CF ratio.
US08404587B2	Semiconductor with through-substrate interconnect Semiconductor devices are described that have a metal interconnect extending vertically through a portion of the device to the back side of a semiconductor substrate. A top region of the metal interconnect is located vertically below a horizontal plane containing a metal routing layer. Method of fabricating the semiconductor device can include etching a via into a semiconductor substrate, filling the via with a metal material, forming a metal routing layer subsequent to filling the via, and removing a portion of a bottom of the semiconductor substrate to expose a bottom region of the metal filled via.
US08404583B2	Conformality of oxide layers along sidewalls of deep vias A method for improving conformality of oxide layers along sidewalls of vias in semiconductor substrates includes forming a nitride layer over an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate and forming a via extending through the nitride layer and into the semiconductor substrate. The via may have a depth of at least about 50 μm from a top surface of the nitride layer and an opening of less than about 10 μm at the top surface of the nitride layer. The method also includes forming an oxide layer over the nitride layer and along sidewalls and bottom of the via. The oxide layer may be formed using a thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process at a temperature of less than about 450° C., where a thickness of the oxide layer at the bottom of the via is at least about 50% of a thickness of the oxide layer at the top surface of the nitride layer.
US08404574B2	Method for manufacturing silicon carbide semiconductor device Provided is a method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device which is capable of obtaining the silicon carbide semiconductor device having a high forward current and a low reverse leakage current by a simple method. The method for manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device includes the steps of: forming a film made of a first electrode material on one surface of a silicon carbide substrate, and forming an ohmic electrode by performing heat treatment at a temperature range of 930 to 950° C.; and forming a film made of a second electrode material on the other surface of the silicon carbide substrate, and forming a Schottky electrode by performing heat treatment.
US08404572B2	Multi-zone temperature control for semiconductor wafer An apparatus includes a process chamber configured to perform an ion implantation process. A cooling platen or electrostatic chuck is provided within the process chamber. The cooling platen or electrostatic chuck is configured to support a semiconductor wafer. The cooling platen or electrostatic chuck has a plurality of temperature zones. Each temperature zone includes at least one fluid conduit within or adjacent to the cooling platen or electrostatic chuck. At least two coolant sources are provided, each fluidly coupled to a respective one of the fluid conduits and configured to supply a respectively different coolant to a respective one of the plurality of temperature zones during the ion implantation process. The coolant sources include respectively different chilling or refrigeration units.
US08404571B2	Film deposition method Provided is a film deposition method capable of improving the crystal characteristic near an interface according to the lattice constant of a material that will constitute a thin film to be deposited. Specifically, a substrate is curved relative to the direction along one main surface on which the thin film is to be deposited, according to the lattice constant the material that will constitute the thin film to be deposited and the lattice constant of a material constituting the one main surface. The thin film is deposited on the one main surface of the substrate with the substrate curved.
US08404568B2	Systems and methods for fabricating an out-of-plane MEMS structure System and methods offset mechanism elements during fabrication of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices. An exemplary embodiment applies a voltage across an offset mechanism element and a bonding layer of a MEMS device to generate an electrostatic charge between the offset mechanism element and the bonding layer, wherein the electrostatic charge draws the offset mechanism element to the bonding layer. The offset mechanism element and the bonding layer are then bonded.
US08404567B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device, includes: forming grooves from a first surface side of a semiconductor wafer; separating plural chip areas into pieces by grinding a second surface of the semiconductor wafer after a protection sheet is attached to the first surface of the semiconductor wafer; attaching a laminated film in which a dicing film and an adhesive film are sequentially laminated on a supporting film composed of a resin film with high modulus of elasticity to the second surface of the semiconductor wafer; and cutting the adhesive film.
US08404561B2	Method for fabricating an isolation structure The invention relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to an electronic device with an isolation structure made having almost no void. An exemplary method for fabricating an isolation structure, comprising: providing a substrate; forming a trench in the substrate; partially filling the trench with a first silicon oxide; exposing a surface of the first silicon oxide to a vapor mixture comprising NH3 and a fluorine-containing compound; heating the substrate to a temperature between 100° C. to 200° C.; and filling the trench with a second silicon oxide, whereby the isolation structure made has almost no void.
US08404543B2	Method for fabricating semiconductor device with buried gate A method for fabricating a semiconductor device with a buried gate includes: etching a substrate to form a plurality of trenches; forming a plurality of buried gates that fill lower portions of the trenches; forming a plurality of sealing layers that gap-fill upper portions of the trenches and have protrusions higher than a top surface of the substrate; forming an inter-layer insulation layer over the whole surface of the substrate including the sealing layers; and etching the inter-layer insulation layer to form a contact hole that is aligned with a space between the protrusions of the sealing layers.
US08404532B2	Transferred thin film transistor and method for manufacturing the same Provided are a transferred thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes: forming a source region and a drain region that extend in a first direction in a first substrate and a channel region between the source region and the drain region; forming trenches that extend in a second direction in the first substrate to define an active layer between the trenches, the second direction intersecting the first direction; separating the active layer between the trenches from the first substrate by performing an anisotropic etching process on the first substrate inside the trenches; attaching the active layer on a second substrate; and forming a gate electrode in the first direction on the channel region of the active layer.
US08404520B1	Package-on-package assembly with wire bond vias A microelectronic package can include wire bonds having bases bonded to respective ones of conductive elements exposed at a surface of a substrate. The wire bonds may have exterior edge surfaces disposed at an angle between 25° and 92° relative to the bases, and ends remote, e.g., opposite, from the bases, and remote from the ends which are connected to the bases. A dielectric encapsulation layer extends from the substrate and covers portions of the wire bonds such that covered portions of the wire bonds are separated from one another by the encapsulation layer, wherein unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds are defined by portions of the wire bonds that are uncovered by the encapsulation layer, the unencapsulated portions including the ends of the wire bonds.
US08404514B2	Fabricating current-confining structures in phase change memory switch cells In one or more embodiments, methods of fabricating current-confining stack structures in a phase-change memory switch (PCMS) cell are provided. One embodiment shows a method of fabricating a PCMS cell with current in an upper chalcogenide confined in the row and column directions. In one embodiment, methods of fabricating a PCMS cell with sub-lithographic critical dimension memory chalcogenide are shown. In another embodiment, methods of fabricating a PCMS cell with sub-lithographic critical dimension middle electrode heaters are disclosed.
US08404509B2	Organic electroluminescent display device and method for fabricating the same A method for fabricating an organic electroluminescent display device is provided. The organic electroluminescent display device includes a light-emitting cell having a cathode electrode, an anode electrode and an organic layer interposed therebetween; wherein the cathode electrode is electrically connected to a contact electrode via a contact hole; wherein the contact electrode has acid-resistance with respect to an etchant used in patterning the cathode electrode.
US08404504B1	Method for making light emitting diode A method for making light emitting diode is provided. The method includes following steps. A light emitting diode chip is provided, the light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layers stacked on a surface of a substrate in that order. A patterned mask layer is located on the second semiconductor layer, and the patterned mask layer includes a number of bar-shaped protruding structures aligned side by side. The second semiconductor layer is etched to form a number of three-dimensional nano-structures preform. The mask layer is removed to form a number of M-shaped three-dimensional nano-structures. The second semiconductor layer and the active layer are etched to expose a portion of the first semiconductor layer. A first electrode is electrically connected with the first semiconductor layer. A second electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer.
US08404502B2	Water-barrier encapsulation method The present invention generally relates to organic light emitting diode (OLED) structures and methods for their manufacture. To increase the lifetime of an OLED structure, an encapsulating layer may be deposited over the OLED structure. The encapsulating layer may fully enclose or “encapsulate” the OLED structure. The encapsulating layer may have a substantially planar surface opposite to the interface between the OLED structure and the encapsulating layer. The planar surface permits successive layers to be evenly deposited over the OLED structure. The encapsulating layer reduces any oxygen penetration into the OLED structure and may increase the lifetime of the OLED structure.
US08404501B2	Semiconductor package structure and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor package structure includes a package substrate, at least a chip, solder balls, a light emitting/receiving device, a optical intermediary device and an optical transmission device. The package substrate has a first surface, a second surface, a circuit and solder ball pads, wherein each solder ball pad is electrically connected to the circuit. The chip is disposed on the first surface and electrically connected to the circuit. The solder balls are respectively disposed on the solder ball pads. The light emitting/receiving device is disposed on the package substrate and electrically connected to the circuit. The optical intermediary device is disposed above the light emitting/receiving device. The optical transmission device is inserted in the optical intermediary device, wherein a light emitting by the light emitting/receiving device is emitted to the optical transmission device via the optical intermediary device so that an optical signal is transmitted through the optical transmission device.
US08404499B2	LED substrate processing Embodiments of the present invention pertain to substrate processing equipment and methods incorporating light emitting diodes (LEDs) for thermally processing substrates. Such light sources offer a variety of advantages including higher efficiency and more rapid response times. Pulse widths are selectable down to under a millisecond but can be for long pulses up to and exceeding a second. LEDs are preferable to tungsten-halogen lamps even in circumstances that allow longer processing times, since LEDs produce light with greater than 50% efficiency and tungsten-halogen lamps operate with less than 5% efficiency.
US08404498B2	Method of inspecting semiconductor thin film by transmission imaging and inspection device for the same A method of forming a semiconductor thin film includes: a step of forming an amorphous semiconductor thin film over a transparent substrate; a step of forming a crystalline semiconductor thin film by irradiating the amorphous semiconductor thin film with laser light to provide heat treatment and thereby crystallizing the amorphous semiconductor thin film; and an inspection step of inspecting the crystalline semiconductor thin film. The inspection step includes a step of obtaining a transmission image of the crystalline semiconductor thin film by irradiating the crystalline semiconductor thin film with light from a rear side of the transparent substrate and taking an image, and a screening step of performing screening of the crystalline semiconductor thin film based on the obtained transmission image.
US08404495B2	Device and method for analyte sensing In one aspect, the present invention is a system, a device and a method for sensing the concentration of an analyte in a fluid or matrix. The analyte may be glucose or any other chemical of interest. The fluid or matrix may be, for example, the fluid in a bioreactor, a food or agricultural product, any fluid or matrix in the body of an animal, or any other fluid or matrix whose concentration of an analyte is under investigation. In one embodiment, the analyte sensing device includes a housing having an interior space. Contained within the housing and in the interior space is one or more analyte sensing component(s). The analyte sensing component, in one embodiment, includes one or more radiation converting element(s), for example, converting chromophores. The radiation converting element(s) are capable of converting or modifying radiation of one or more wavelengths into radiation of one or more different wavelengths. The conversion efficiency of the radiation converting element(s) is at least partially dependent on the local concentration of an analyte within the analyte sensing component.
US08404493B2	Multiple analyte immunoassay Methods for measuring the amount of two or more analytes of interest in a fluid sample, and kits useful in the methods, are disclosed. The methods involve determining a ratio of a detected amount of a single analyte of interest, to the sum of a detected amount of each of the analytes of interest plus a detected amount of a control, wherein the amount of each analyte of interest is directly or inversely related to the ratio for each analyte of interest.
US08404490B1	Detecting nerve agents and determining the types thereof An embodiment of a chemical detector has at least one detection window and at least first and second ampoules selectively communicatively coupled to the at least one detection window. The first ampoule contains a first substance that can hydrolyze a nerve agent. The second ampoule contains a second substance that can react with a hydrolyzed nerve agent to produce a color change.
US08404487B2	Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of breast biopsy to determine pathology, vascularization and nodal involvement Robust classification methods analyse magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data (spectra) of fine needle aspirates taken from breast tumors. The resultant data when compared with the histopathology and clinical criteria provide computerized classification-based diagnosis and prognosis with a very high degree of accuracy and reliability. Diagnostic correlation performed between the spectra and standard synoptic pathology findings contain detail regarding the pathology (malignant versus benign), vascular invasion by the primary cancer and lymph node involvement of the excised axillary lymph nodes. The classification strategy consisted of three stages: pre-processing of MR magnitude spectra to identify optimal spectral regions, cross-validated Linear Discriminant Analysis, and classification aggregation via Computerised Consensus Diagnosis. Malignant tissue was distinguished from benign lesions with an overall accuracy of 93%. From the same spectrum, lymph node involvement was predicted with an accuracy of 95% and tumor vascularization with an overall accuracy of 92%.
US08404484B2	Active cell culture via shape memory Substrates for cell culture and tissue engineering bioreactors consisting of polymers that change their shape over time under stimulation by temperature change, hydration, degradation, or other means. A method of controlling cell culture using a biodegradable shape memory polymer, wherein shape changes can transfer stresses, strains, or both to adherent or otherwise connected cells such that the mechanical stimulus impacts cell development and the resulting properties of tissues.
US08404483B2	Paracrine signals from mesenchymal feeder cells and regulating expansion and differentiation of hepatic progenitors using same A method is provided for controlling the survival, proliferation, and/or differentiation of hepatic progenitors in vitro by using specific types of mesenchymal feeder cells or one of more of the paracrine signals produced by those feeders.
US08404480B2	Microorganism testing device and microorganism testing chip Provided are a microorganism testing chip capable of suppressing self-fluorescence and enhancing mass productivity, and a microorganism testing device using the same. The microorganism testing chip includes a main body and a fungus body detection unit mounted on the main body. The main body has a detection window frame portion which is a through-hole or a pass-through groove. The fungus body detection unit is disposed to cover the detection window frame portion and has a fungus body detection flow path connected to flow paths provided in the main body. The fungus body detection unit includes a cover member and a flow path member, and is formed by attaching these two members to each other. The flow path member has a groove. By attaching the two members to each other, the groove of the flow path member serves as the fungus body detection flow path.
US08404467B2	Process for producing antiaging agent, vulcanization accelerator or modified natural rubber by means of microorganism The object of the present invention is to provide processes for producing an antiaging agent, a vulcanization accelerator and a modified natural rubber, which are environmentally friendly and allow to make provision against a decrease of petroleum resources in the future. According to the present invention, glucose is used as carbon neutral resources and is converted into aniline or an aniline derivative by a microorganism. An antiaging agent, a vulcanization accelerator or a modified natural rubber is produced from thus obtained aniline or aniline derivative.
US08404465B2	Biological synthesis of 6-aminocaproic acid from carbohydrate feedstocks Provided herein are methods for the production of difunctional alkanes in microorganisms. Also provided are enzymes and nucleic acids encoding such enzymes, associated with the difunctional alkane production from carbohydrates feedstocks in microorganisms. The invention also provides recombinant microorganisms and metabolic pathways for the production of difunctional alkanes.
US08404460B2	Method for detecting and/or identifying Clostridium difficile The invention relates to a method for detecting and/or identifying Clostridium difficile, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) providing a reaction medium comprising at least one beta-glucosidase substrate capable of identifying C. difficile, b) inoculating the medium with a biological sample to be tested, c) allowing for incubation, and d) detecting the hydrolysis of the beta-glucosidase substrate, indicative of the presence of Clostridium difficile. The invention also relates to a reaction medium for the detection and/or the identification of Clostridium difficile, that comprises at least one beta-glucosidase substrate capable of identifying C. difficile.
US08404453B2	High affinity binding site of HGFR and methods for identification of antagonists thereof Use of a polynucleotide encoding or a polypeptide comprising at least the extracellular IPT-3 and IPT-4 domains of hepatocyte growth factor receptor for the screening and/or development of pharmacologically active agents useful in the treatment of cancer, preferably a cancer with dysregulation of hepatocyte growth factor receptor.
US08404445B2	Antibody libraries The present invention features improved in vitro RNA display libraries to allow reliable expression and selection of scFv antibody molecules from expression libraries. The scFv antibody libraries of the invention contain an optimized, shortened inter-domain linker that improves expression scFv antibody expression. The scFv antibody libraries also include short nucleic acid barcodes that allow for identification of individual library clones, libraries or subsets thereof. Primers for generating, amplifying and spectratyping the scFv antibody libraries of the invention are also provided.
US08404435B2	Enigma-Mdm2 interaction and uses thereof The present invention relates to Enigma (PDLIM7)-Mdm2 interaction and use thereof. More particularly, it may induce an effective apoptosis of cancer cells by inhibition of an Enigma expression or an Enigma activity which induces Mdm2 destabilization and p53 activity; it may assess the prognosis of anti-cancer therapy by determining that Enigma, which is induced by SRF, is overexpressed in cancer tissues with Mdm2; it may screen anti-cancer activity substances by selecting a factor to inhibit specific binding between Enigma and Mdm2. Enigma-Mdm2 interaction and Enigma expression regulation may be utilized usefully for preventing cancers and developing therapeutic methods and anti-cancer agents.
US08404432B2	Lithography process A lithography process for manufacturing bit-island storage mediums that results in improved resolution and uniformity between bit-islands. The lithography process includes applying a resist coating polymer to a surface of a substrate. Selected areas of the resist coating polymer are then exposed to an energy source, wherein each selected area is exposed to the energy source multiple times to provide a time-averaged exposure of the selected areas that reduces errors caused by noise associated with the energy source. After exposure of the resist coating to the energy source, a selective developer solution is applied to the resist coating to develop the fully exposed regions of the resist coating while leaving undeveloped the partially exposed regions of the resist coating. A polymer reflow material is applied to the developed resist pattern and heated to a selected temperature. The polymer reflow material and selected temperature induce reflow of the developed resist coating such that such that a circumferential diameter associated with the holes formed in the resist pattern is reduced to a desired value distance. The process of inducing reflow of the resist coating can be repeated as desired to achieve a resist pattern wherein the holes formed in the resist pattern are reduced to a desired size. The resist pattern formed on the substrate is then transferred to a magnetic medium to form the desired pattern of bit-islands.
US08404430B2	Multi-chip reticle photomasks A multi-chip reticle, methods of designing and fabricating multi-chip reticles, a system for designing a multi-chip reticle, and a method of fabricating integrated circuit chips using the multi-chip reticle. The multi-chip reticle includes a transparent substrate having two or more separate chip images arranged in an array, each chip image of said two or more chip images having only one type of reticle image, wherein at least two of said two more chip images have different types of reticle images.
US08404428B2	Positive resist composition, method of forming resist pattern using the same, and fluorine-containing polymeric compound A fluorine-containing polymeric compound which contains a structural unit (f1) that is decomposable in an alkali developing solution as a block copolymer portion, a base component (A) that exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under the action of acid, and an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure.
US08404412B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor, and image forming apparatus The present invention relates to an electrophotographic photoreceptor having an electroconductive substrate, and a charge transport layer and a charge generation layer formed on the substrate, characterized in that the charge transport layer contains a charge transport material represented by formula (1) and a binder resin, and the mass ratio of the charge transport material to the binder resin is from 5/100 to 45/100: wherein Ar1 is an arylene group which may have a substituent; each of Ar2, Ar3, Ar4 and Ar5 is an aryl group which may have a substituent; and n is an integer of from 3 to 6.
US08404408B2	Mask for sequential lateral solidification and sequential lateral solidification apparatus having the same A mask for sequential lateral solidification (SLS) which is capable of preventing an overlapping region and a diagonal stain based on a crystallization pattern of an active layer. The mask for SLS, which moves in a first direction and selectively transmits a laser beam emitted by a laser emitting device, includes slits which are formed such that the width of a slit in the first direction is smaller than the width of the slit in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the slits is tilted by a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction.
US08404405B2	Pellicle frame, pellicle, lithography apparatus, and method of fabricating the pellicle frame A pellicle frame, including aluminum, aluminum oxide, and a transition metal.
US08404399B2	Fuel cell The present invention relates to a fuel cell including: a membrane electrode assembly (2) having a fuel electrode (13), an air electrode (16), and an electrolyte membrane (17) sandwiched therebetween; and a fuel storage unit (4) storing a liquid fuel. The fuel cell is capable of continuously generating electricity for long hours only by being replenished with a fuel, and therefore, attempts have been made to miniaturize the fuel cell to use it as a power source of portable electronic devices. When the membrane electrode assembly and the fuel storage unit in the fuel cell are connected via a flow path, a fuel supply state becomes uneven depending on the shape and the like of the flow path even though a supply amount of the fuel can be adjusted, which causes a problem such as a decrease in an output of the fuel cell. The present invention solves the aforethe problem by providing, in the fuel cell, a fuel distributing mechanism (3) which supplies the fuel to a plurality of places of the fuel electrode, and connecting the fuel distributing mechanism and the fuel storage unit via the flow path (5).
US08404398B2	Hermetic high temperature dielectric with groove and thermal expansion compensator According to an embodiment, a gas delivery device for a fuel cell system includes a hollow ceramic element comprising a dielectric material having at least one groove in one end face of the ceramic element and a first metal tube, wherein an end of the first metal tube is inserted into the groove of the hollow ceramic element. According to an embodiment, a fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack or column, a gas delivery line fluidly connected to the stack or column, and a coefficient of thermal expansion compensator/isolator located in the gas delivery line, where the coefficient of thermal expansion compensator/isolator includes a hollow ceramic element made of a dielectric material having at least one groove in one end face of the ceramic element, a first metal tube, where an end of the first metal tube is inserted into the groove of the hollow ceramic element, and a hollow flexible element which compensates for differences in coefficients of thermal expansion between components of the fuel cell system.
US08404393B2	Liquid fuel cell system and boosting unit of the same A liquid fuel cell unit which outputs a first voltage, a boosting circuit which boosts the first voltage output from the liquid fuel cell unit, and outputs a boosted second voltage to an electronic apparatus, and a first control circuit are included. The first control circuit compares the first voltage output from the liquid fuel cell unit with a preset first threshold voltage, and controls the boosting circuit in accordance with the comparison result such that the first voltage does not fall below the first threshold voltage, or the first voltage holds the first threshold voltage or more.
US08404378B2	Battery separator for a storage battery A battery separator for a lead acid (storage) battery is made from a thermoplastic sheet material. The sheet material has a central region flanked by peripheral regions. The central region includes a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs that are integrally formed from the sheet material. The peripheral regions are free of ribs and may include a densified structure. Also disclosed are a method of producing the foregoing separator, an envelope separator made from the sheet material, and a method of making the envelope separator.
US08404377B2	Separator for use in non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery A separator for use in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a first porous layer (layer A) having a shutdown function which becomes substantially a non-porous layer at a high temperature, and a second porous layer (layer B) including an aramid resin and an inorganic material, wherein a ratio (TA/TB) of a thickness (TA) of the layer A relative to a thickness (TB) of the layer B is 2.5 or more and 13 or less.
US08404375B2	Electrical battery comprising flexible generating elements and a system for the mechanical and thermal conditioning of said elements An electrical battery includes a plurality of electrical energy generating elements formed by at least one electrochemical cell that is packaged in a flexible sealed envelope, and a system for the mechanical and thermal conditioning of the elements. The conditioning system forms a structural body made from thermally conductive material. The body has two longitudinal members and a plurality of cross-members connecting the longitudinal members so as to form between the cross-members housings in which respectively a generating element is disposed. The body includes a circulation path for a thermal conditioning fluid. The path has two channels, respectively upstream and downstream, that are formed respectively in a longitudinal member and passages formed in each of the cross-members. The passages are in fluid communication on each side with respectively the upstream channel and the downstream channel.
US08404360B2	Side material and method for producing the same and method for producing clad member for heat exchanger Provided are a side member from which a clad member for heat exchanger exhibiting excellent productivity and corrosion resistance while preventing poor adhesion can be produced in production of a clad member for heat exchanger by controlling the surface state and flatness, a method for producing the side member, and a method for producing a clad member for a heat exchanger by using the side member. A side member (A) consists of a core material and one or more layers of side member (A) applied onto one side or both sides thereof and being used in a clad member for a heat exchanger, wherein a plurality of periodic forms (B) of fine groove which become arcuate toward one direction of the side member (A) is formed on the surface of the side member (A). The periodic form (B) of fine groove extends up to the outer circumferential edge of the side member (A) with a radius of curvature of 800-1500 mm and has a period (D) of 1-8 mm in the above-mentioned direction of the side member (A) and surface roughness of the side member (A) in the above-mentioned direction of 1-15 μm 10-point average roughness (Rz).
US08404358B2	Galvannealed steel sheet and producing method therefor A galvannealed steel sheet includes: a steel sheet; a galvannealed layer; and a Mn—P based oxide film. A Zn—Fe alloy phase in the galvannealed layer is measured by X-ray diffractometry. The value of a diffraction intensity Γ(2.59 Å) of Γ phase divided by a diffraction intensity δ1(2.13 Å) of δ1 phase is less than or equal to 0.1. The value of a diffraction intensity ζ(1.26 Å) of ζ phase divided by a diffraction intensity δ1(2.13 Å) of δ1 phase is greater than or equal to 0.1 and less than or equal to 0.4. The Mn—P based oxide film is formed using 5 to 100 mg/m2 of Mn and 3 to 500 mg/m2 of P on a surface of the galvannealed layer.
US08404343B2	Edge coatings for tapes Disclosed is a tape including a substrate having an adhesive layer applied thereto and an edge coating. The substrate and the adhesive together provide at least one masking edge where the edge coating is applied. The edge coating includes a lipophilic agent, a flocculating agent, or combinations thereof. The edge coating provides the tape with enhanced masking ability by preventing paints, varnishes, paint strippers, and other coating compositions from infiltrating the tape substrate or the interface between the tape and an adherend.
US08404342B2	Chitosan films with reduced shrinkage and laminates made therefrom Inclusion of a needle structured sepiolite clay in a chitosan film in an amount of about 0.5 weight percent to about 8 weight percent was found to reduce shrinkage of the film. The clay is processed into a substantially dispersed form. Laminates fabricated from this chitosan film including dispersed sepiolite clay can be used in making a variety of finished articles that can be used to provide protection from hazardous chemical and biological agents.
US08404340B2	Permeable films A permeable film or container for use in extending the storage life of a foodstuff or produce is provided. The film or container is formed from a plastics component, a porous component having a particle size smaller than the thickness of the film, and an acid component selected from at least one carboxylic acid compound in free or salt form. The permeable film is adapted for controlling the environment surrounding the foodstuff to reduce its respiration rate or senescence by controlling the transfer of gases, particularly oxygen and carbon dioxide, and build up of moisture. In one preferred embodiment the present invention provides a permeable film for use in the storage of a foodstuff, formed from a polymer component, a clay activated base component, and sorbic acid in free or salt form.
US08404334B2	Continuous web of optical film laminate with predefined slit lines, and method and system for manufacturing the same An optical film laminate that has predefined slit lines for enhancing both product accuracy and manufacturing speed in liquid-crystal display element manufacturing to radically improve manufacturing yield. The optical film laminate formed as a continuous web with the predefined slit lines for use in a continuous manufacturing system by laminating optically functional film sheets to liquid-crystal panels. The optical film laminate having defect-free regions having a predefined length corresponding to the dimension of a liquid-crystal panel and defective regions having a predefined length different from the defect-free region, based on the detected position of defects. The optical film laminate having a carrier film releasably laminated to an adhesive layer, wherein defect-free normal polarizing sheets and a defective polarizing sheets are formed on the carrier film by forming slit lines corresponding to above regions along the transverse direction of the optical film laminate.
US08404326B2	Panel made of expanded foam with hooks or loops A panel-forming assembly which is intended to be fixed to a surface of a vehicle or an aircraft, for example the floor of the trunk or a surface of the hatch of the spare-wheel compartment, and comprising, on the one hand, a panel of foam of expanded thermoplastic material, in particular expanded polypropylene or expanded polystyrene, which is constituted of an agglomeration of balls made of thermoplastic material and, on the other hand, hooks and/or loops issuing from the panel and intended to cooperate with loops and/or hooks issuing from the said one surface of a vehicle, characterized in that the assembly comprises an intermediate element (4) comprising a plate (5) from a face of which project the hooks (6) and/or the loops issuing from the panel that cooperate with the loops and/or the hooks (3) issuing from the surface of the vehicle, while from a face opposite the said one face of the plate there projects at least one piece (7) in the form of a fir tree comprising elements in the form of fir-tree branches (9) defining between them intermediate spaces or interstices (d), which piece is inserted into the panel (2).
US08404316B2	Polymerizable liquid crystal compound and its polymer A polymerizable liquid crystal compound represented by formula (1): wherein Al and A2 are each a cyclic-structure group; Z1 is a bonding group; m is an integer from 0 to 5; P1 is a polymerizable group represented by formula (2-1); Q1 is alkylene having 1 to 20 carbons; P2 is a polymerizable group represented by any one of formula (2-1) to formula (2-4), hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, —CN, —CF3, —OCF3, alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons or alkoxy having 1 to 20 carbons; Q2 is a group defined in Q1 when P2 is a polymerizable group and, and Q2 is a single bond when P2 is not a polymerizable group; and in formula (2-2) to formula (2-4), Ra is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl having 1 to 5 carbons.
US08404314B2	Plasma CVD apparatus, method for forming thin film and semiconductor device A plasma CVD apparatus including a reaction chamber including an inlet for supplying a compound including a borazine skeleton, a feeding electrode, arranged within the reaction chamber, for supporting a substrate and being applied with a negative charge, and a plasma generating mechanism, arranged opposite to the feeding electrode via the substrate, for generating a plasma within the reaction chamber. A method forms a thin film wherein a thin film is formed by using a compound including a borazine skeleton as a raw material, and a semiconductor device includes a thin film formed by such a method as an insulating film. The apparatus and method enable to produce a thin film wherein low dielectric constant and high mechanical strength are stably maintained for a long time and insulating characteristics are secured.
US08404311B2	Gelator-stabilized crystalline resins A resin composition that is storable at ambient temperatures. The resin composition forms a cured resin when exposed to a curing agent and heated to a curing temperature that is relatively close to ambient temperature. The resin composition includes a resin component that is composed of a liquid part that is made up of one or more liquid thermosetting resins and a solid part that includes particles of one or more solid thermosetting resins. The liquid part further includes a gelation agent that is present in a sufficient amount to maintain the particles in suspension within the liquid part at ambient temperatures. The viscosity of the resin component changes from a high viscosity state to a low viscosity state when the temperature is increased from ambient temperature to the curing temperature. The high viscosity state is substantially more viscous than the low viscosity state.
US08404310B2	Thermoset dampener material Thermoset compositions useful for dampening vibrations at elevated temperatures are disclosed. The thermoset compositions may have a glass transition temperature of 1500 C. or greater, a tan δ peak of 0.2 or greater, and a tan δ peak width measured at half-height larger than about 400 C., each as measured by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) at a frequency of 1 Hz. The thermoset compositions may be used to dampen vibrations at temperatures in excess of 100° C.
US08404305B2	Synthesis of a LiMPO4 compound and use as electrode material in a lithium storage battery The LiMPO4 compound is synthesized by reacting a compound of general formula XMPO4, nH2O where X represents a radical selected from —NH4 and —H and M is a transition metal selected from Co, Ni and Mn, with a lithium source such as lithium nitrate, at a temperature lower than or equal to 350° C. The XMPO4, nH2O compound further exhibits a particular morphology in the form of platelets that is preserved during the reaction between the two precursors. The LiMPO4 compound thus synthesized is advantageously used as active material of an electrode for a lithium storage battery.
US08404304B2	Aqueous one-component dispersion primer for the adhesion of plastic films by means of dispersion adhesives The invention relates to the use of a one-component aqueous polyurethane dispersion composition (PD) as a primer for the adhesion of plastic films (KF) by means of an aqueous one-component polyurethane dispersion adhesive (DK). The aqueous polyurethane dispersion composition (PD) comprises a polyurethane (P1) and carbodiimide groups and/or carboxyl groups, and the polyurethane dispersion adhesive (DK) comprises a polyurethane (P2) and carbodiimide groups, and carboxyl groups such that the aqueous polyurethane dispersion composition (PD) and the aqueous polyurethane dispersion adhesive (DK) react with one another in a polyaddition reaction when heated to a temperature of 50° C. or more. The invention also relates to primer-coated plastic films, to composite bodies produced therefrom and to methods for the production thereof.
US08404301B2	Control method for producing ground markings, and reference beam generator The invention relates to a control method for producing ground markings (M), with a reference beam generator (4) for determining a reference plane, a reception of the reference beams by means of an optical detector (3), wherein the position of an application unit (2) for the marking substance can be derived relative to the reference plane by using the received reference beams, a derivation of the orientation relative to the reference plane, and a control of an application of the marking substance to produce ground markings (M) according to the orientation. According to the method, the intensity in the solid angle covered by the reference beam is varied in time during the production of the marking.
US08404297B2	Process for co-crystallizing sucrose and a natural sweetener and the product thereof The invention relates to a preparation process of a co-crystal made of sugar and a natural sweetener and, eventually, another aggregate and with said product. The process is further related with co-crystallizing sucrose and a natural sweetener in a vacuum pan under controlled pressure and temperature conditions and separating the crystal from the sugar juice.At the end of the process, the co-crystallized sub-products are used for producing a low calorie content liquid sweetener such that in a high percentage all the stock material is used.
US08404295B2	Method and device for processing fermented milk products The invention concerns a method for processing fermented milk products, in which the milk product passes through processing equipment executed with a plurality of openings from a retentate side toward a permeate side, in which the milk product is forced through the processing equipment with an insert feature preferably moved in a rotating arrangement along a retentate-side boundary surface of the processing equipment.
US08404283B2	Standardized plant extract, process for obtaining the same and uses thereof The present invention refers to a process for obtaining a standardized extract having antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties, from at least one part of a plant of genus Aleurites. Furthermore, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising an active ingredient of a pharmaceutically efficient quantity of standardized extract from at least one part of the plant of genus Aleurites. Finally, the present invention describes a method of treatment and use of the said extract, isolated or in a pharmaceutical composition, for the prevention, control or treatment of painful, inflammatory or febrile affections.
US08404280B2	Template free and polymer free metal, nanosponge and a process thereof The present invention provides solution to the problem involved in preparation of metal nanosponges using templates and polymers. The instant invention is successful in providing a simple, template free single step process for the preparation of metal nanosponges having porous low density and high surface area. These metal nanosponges were found to be good self-supported substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and have shown significant anti-bacterial activity.
US08404278B2	Polyimide microparticles The invention relates to a polyimide microparticles which can be obtained by means of the following steps: a) a polymer solution consisting of at least one polyimide polymer and a solvent or a solvent mixture is produced according to methods known per se, b) microparticles are formed from the polymer solution by spraying or by thermal phase inversion, c) the microparticles obtained in step b) are treated with an aqueous functionalization solution containing an amine-containing modifier at a high temperature, with or without stirring, and d) the modified obtained are washed and optionally dried, according to methods known per se.
US08404276B2	Pulmonary delivery for levodopa In one aspect, the invention is related to a method of treating a patient with Parkinson's disease, the method including administering to the respiratory tract of the patient particles that include more than about 90 weight percent (wt %) of levodopa. The particles are delivered to the patient's pulmonary system, preferably to the alveoli or the deep lung.
US08404270B2	Method of reducing incidence of intraocular pressure associated with intraocular use of corticosteroids A method of treating an ocular disease in a subject using a corticosteroid with reduced incidence of intraocular pressure lowering surgery comprises injecting an intravitreal insert capable of providing a therapeutic effect for an extended period of time. The intravitreal insert delivers sustained sub-microgram levels of corticosteroid.
US08404268B2	Locally targeted anti-fibrotic agents and methods of use Effective devices and methods using an antifibrotic agent are provided for treating fibrosis or treating normal fibrous tissue. The devices and methods comprise an antifibrotic agent to degrade shrink, relax or stretch at least a portion of the fibrotic tissue. In some embodiments, the methods and devices are configured to immediately release an effective amount of the antifibrotic agent within 24 hours. In some embodiments, when the device comes in contact directly or indirectly with an activator, the antifibrotic agent will be immediately released from the depot. In some embodiments, the depot provides sustained release of the antifibrotic agent over a period of up to one year to treat fibrous tissue.
US08404263B2	Agrochemical formulations comprising a pesticide, an organic UV-photoprotective filter and coated metal-oxide nanoparticles The resent invention relates to an agrochemical formulation comprising a pesticide, an organic UV photoprotective filter and coated metal oxide nanoparticles. It also relates to a method for preparing said formulation. Further on, it also relates to the use of a mixture of an organic UV photoprotective filter and coated metal oxide nanoparticles in agrochemical formulations and the use of a agrochemical formulation according to the invention for stabilizing a pesticide against UV irradiation. Further on, it relates to a method of combating harmful insects and/or phytopathogenic fungi, which comprises contacting plants, soil or habitat of plants in or on which the harmful insects and/or phytopathogenic fungi are growing or may grow, plants or soil to be protected from attack or infestation by said harmful insects and/or phytopathogenic fungi with an effective amount of the formulation according to the invention, to a method of controlling undesired vegetation, which comprises allowing a herbicidal effective amount of said formulation to act on plants, their habitat.
US08404262B2	Compositions for control of malicious marine anemones The present invention relates to improved compositions for controlling marine pest anemones, to methods of application of same, and to kits for the convenient dispensing of such compositions.
US08404257B1	Stabilisation of body-care and household products A description is given of the use of phenolic antioxidants of formulae (1) and/or (2) and/or (3) for stabilizing body-care and household products.
US08404241B2	Anti-rhesus D monoclonal antibody The invention relates to an anti-RhD monoclonal antibody, which is a tetrameric IgG1 immunoglobulin composed of two heavy chains and two light chains, the heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 2, harboring a phenylalanine residue at position 68, and the light chain comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID No. 4.
US08404238B2	huTNFR1 selective antagonists The present invention relates to a ligand, which specifically binds to human tumor necrosis factor type 1 receptor (huTNFR1). The ligand includes one or more amino acid sequences of human origin capable of reducing the immunogenic response of the ligand in humans and one or more amino acid sequences capable of selectively binding to huTNFR1. The present invention also relates to a nucleic acid sequence encoding the ligand and to a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of disorders related to huTNFR1.
US08404236B2	Method of identifying membrane Ig specific antibodies and use thereof for targeting immunoglobulin-producing precursor cells The present invention relates to the discovery of antibodies that bind to novel epitopes present on membrane-anchored immunoglobulins and which bind to these novel epitopes on the surface of B cells and plasma cells. In addition, the antibodies of the present invention can mediate ADCC and can be useful to deplete those B cells and plasma cells expressing the novel epitopes of the invention. The antibodies of the present invention can be useful for the treatment of B cell-mediated diseases and diseases caused by monoclonal expansion of B cells. Accordingly the present invention also provides compositions and methods for the prevention, management, treatment or amelioration of B cell-mediated diseases and diseases caused by monoclonal expansion of B cells.
US08404232B2	Compositions and methods of using chondroitinase ABCI mutants The present invention relates to protein and nucleic acid mutants of chondroitinase ABCI. Such chondroitinase ABCI mutant enzymes exhibit altered chondroitin lyase activity or increased resistance to inactivation from stressors including UV light or heat. Methods of using chondroitinase ABCI mutant enzymes are also provided.
US08404229B2	Methods of using adipose derived stem cells to treat acute tubular necrosis Cells present in processed lipoaspirate tissue are used to treat patients, including patients with renal conditions, diseases or disorders. Methods of treating patients include processing adipose tissue to deliver a concentrated amount of stem cells obtained from the adipose tissue to a patient. The methods may be practiced in a closed system so that the stem cells are not exposed to an external environment prior to being administered to a patient. Accordingly, in a preferred method, cells present in processed lipoaspirate are placed directly into a recipient along with such additives necessary to promote, engender or support a therapeutic renal benefit.
US08404223B2	Polymer The invention provides compositions comprising a polyamidoamine (PAA) polymer comprising a pendant disulphide, sulphydryl, or activated sulphydryl moiety, and methods for their manufacture. The invention extends to the use of such polyamidoamine polymers to form cross-linked compositions, and hydrogels comprising the same, and the use of such compositions in various biological and non-biological applications, such as the delivery of biomolecules to target sites, and for tracking fluid flows. The invention also provides carrier particles, which may be used to deliver biomolecules, and to methods of treatment. The invention also provides a fluid tracking system for monitoring fluid flow.
US08404219B2	Composition for hair care A hair care composition that includes a combination of chemical mixture that includes a perfluororoalkylethyl acrylate/hema copolymer, butyl acetate, and an aliphatic isoparaffin; and further includes an added amount of an aliphatic isoparrafin. Most preferred is 15 wt % to 35 wt % of the chemical mixture that includes the C6-C14 perfluororoalkylethyl acrylate/hema copolymer, and 65 wt % to 85 wt % of added C10-C14 aliphatic isoparaffin.
US08404217B2	Formulation for pulmonary administration of antifungal agents, and associated methods of manufacture and use Formulations are provided for pulmonary administration of an antifungal agent to a patient. Methods of using the formulations in the treatment of antifungal infections are also provided, including treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis with amphotericin B-containing formulations. Methods of manufacturing the formulations to achieve optimum properties are provided as well.
US08404214B2	PMMA binding peptides Peptides are provided that have binding affinity for polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The polymethyl methacrylate-binding peptides may be used to prepare peptide-based reagents suitable for use in a variety of applications. The peptide-based reagents may be used to couple benefit agents to a PMMA polymer surface or may be used to couple a benefit agent comprising a PMMA polymer surface to a target surface, such as a body surface.
US08404205B2	Apparatus and method for producing polycrystalline silicon having a reduced amount of boron compounds by forming phosphorus-boron compounds The invention concerns an apparatus and a method for manufacturing polycrystalline silicon having a reduced amount of boron compounds. The invention provides an apparatus and a method which mix an unpurified trichlorosilane with purified hydrogen gas from an activated carbon tower. The mixture is sent to a distillation apparatus for purifying trichlorosilane.
US08404196B2	Multi-well rotary synthesizer An apparatus for synthesizing polymer chains includes a controller, a plurality of precision fit vials circularly arranged in multiple banks on a cartridge, a drain corresponding to each bank of vials, a chamber bowl, a plurality of valves for delivering reagents to selective vials, and a waste tube system for purging material from the vials. A purging operation can be selectively performed on one or more of the banks of vials. The plurality of vials are stored in the cartridge and are divided among individual banks wherein each bank of vials has a corresponding drain. There is at least one waste tube system for expelling the reagent solution from vials within a particular bank of vials when the waste tube system is coupled to the corresponding drain. The cartridge holding the plurality of vials rotates relative to the stationary banks of valves and the waste tube system.
US08404194B2	Blood separation media Disclosed is a separation media, comprising an upstream layer, comprising fibers, wherein the upstream layer has a mean flow pore size of 8 microns or less; and a downstream layer, comprising fibers. The separation media is designed to separate red blood cells from liquid specimens such as blood and allow a filtrate, such as blood plasma, to flow from said downstream layer. Also provided is a diagnostic test device incorporating the separation media. Further disclosed is a method for separating red blood cells from a liquid specimen.
US08404180B1	Method of descenting hunter's clothing A method for removing the human scent and any other scent that is not advantageous to the environment you are in from clothing and equipment used by sportsmen by the use of gaseous ozone or hydroxyl and hydroperoxide ions. The gas is applied directly or indirectly to the clothing, equipment and body while the hunter is in the field and/or prior to or after the hunt. The method can also be used by fishermen to eliminate fish odor. The method of delivering a gas in compressed/generated form from a container.
US08404176B2	Hybrid method manufacturing apparatus for torsion beam A hybrid method manufacturing apparatus for a torsion beam according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of side punch molds where a semi-finished product material heated to approximately 880 to 800° C. is molded and a press mold where a cooling water circulation line decreasing the temperature of the processed finished product to approximately 750 to 450° C. while the semi-finished product material is molded to a processed finished product is installed, an advantage of high-temperature molding having high dimensional accuracy is maintained at the time of manufacturing the torsion beam and additional heat treatment such as tempering is selectively performed only when additional heat treatment such as tempering increases toughness because only a martensite structure is not formed in quenching treatment.
US08404175B2	Method and device for the production of plastic packaging containers A method and a device for the manufacture of plastic packagings, the same being manufactured by stretch blowing a bottle-like preliminary packaging which is, after completion, treated by means of a laser and thus reshaped to the final packaging. Also, a plastic container manufactured according to this method and with this device.
US08404166B2	Method for the production of integrated sealing elements on plastic articles by overmoulding with silicone films Method for the production of sealing elements on plastics articles. Said method includes the step of producing a film of silicone rubber on the sealing surface of the article. Advantageously, this film is formed by co-moulding or co-extrusion with the plastics article itself. The thickness of the said film may vary from a few tenths of a millimeter to a few millimeters. In the case of cylindrical elements, such as the pistons of the delivery cocks of ice cream machines, this film preferably covers only the side wall or the sealing part of the side wall of the cylindrical element, while in the case of flat elements, this film covers only the sealing surface of this element.
US08404164B2	Composition for pelletized bitumen and method for preparing the same A composition for pelletized bitumen and a method for preparing the same is disclosed. The composition is comprised of: between approximately 30% to approximately 40% by weight of bitumen; between approximately 15% to approximately 30% by weight of stiffening compound; between approximately 35% to approximately 45% by weight of setting compound; and approximately 0.05% by weight of water. The stiffening compound is comprised of between approximately 10% to approximately 20% by weight of ground asphalt shingles; between approximately 5% to approximately 10% by weight of vulcanized rubber; between approximately 1% to approximately 2% by weight of uintahite; and up to approximately 0.5% by weight of zeolite. And the stiffening compound may be Type II Portland cement.
US08404163B2	Method for producing molded article The present invention provides a method for producing a molded article which enables dissolution of a desired amount of a subject material in a molten resin without any limitation by the solubility of a high-pressure carbon dioxide in the molten resin and which is therefore suitable for commercial production of molded articles. The present invention pertains to a method for producing a molded article by molding a molten resin, and this method is characterized by including steps of supplying a high-pressure carbon dioxide and a subject material dissolved therein, into the molten resin; kneading the molten resin into which the high-pressure carbon dioxide and the subject material have been supplied; and exhausting the high-pressure carbon dioxide from the kneaded molten resin.
US08404162B2	Composite materials and methods for selective placement of nano-particulates within composites Composite materials and methods for making composites are provided. The method includes providing a nano-particulate-depletable material that includes a plurality of nano-particulates on or within a depletable material; positioning the nano-particulate-depletable material on or within a structural material; and depleting the depletable material such that the nano-particulates are selectively placed on or within the structural material. Depletion may include infusion of a resin into the structural material. The depletable material may be a polymeric foam, and the nano-particulates may be carbon nanotubes.
US08404156B2	Process for operating HTS reactor Process for enriching a synthesis gas in hydrogen by conversion of carbon monoxide and steam over a catalyst containing oxides of zinc and aluminum together with one or more promoters.
US08404147B2	Process for producing lithium iron phosphate particles and method for producing secondary cell The present invention relates to a process for producing lithium iron phosphate particles, wherein the process has a step of obtaining a melt containing, as represented by mol % based on oxides, from 1 to 50% of Li2O, from 20 to 50% of Fe2O3 and from 30 to 60% of P2O5; a step of cooling and solidifying the melt; a step of pulverizing the solidified product into a desired particle shape; and a step of heating the pulverized product in the air or under oxidizing conditions (0.21
US08404144B2	Compositions including polymerizable bisphosphonic acids and methods The present invention is directed to compositions containing one or more polymerizable bisphosphonic acids and optionally one or more additional polymerizable components.
US08404141B2	Rare earth bonded magnet A rare earth bonded magnet is provided which is produced such that a mixture which comprises: a rare earth magnet powder; a resin binder comprising a thermosetting resin; an organic phosphorus compound; and a coupling agent is compress-molded, heated and cured, wherein the organic phosphorus compound and the coupling agent are represented by the following respective chemical formulas (structural formulas):
US08404132B2	Forming a membrane having curved features Processes for making a membrane having a curved feature are disclosed. A profile-transferring substrate surface having a curved feature is created by vacuum bonding a membrane to a top surface of a substrate, where the top surface has a cavity formed therein. The surface of the membrane is exposed to a fluid pressure such that the membrane deforms and the undersurface of the membrane touches the bottom of the cavity. The curved feature formed in the deformed membrane can be made permanent by annealing the bonding areas between membrane and substrate. A uniform layer of material deposited over the exposed surface of the membrane will include a curved feature at the location where the membrane has bent into the cavity. After at least one layer of material has been uniformed deposited on the membrane, the cavity can be etched open from the bottom to remove the membrane from the underside.
US08404124B2	Alternating self-assembling morphologies of diblock copolymers controlled by variations in surfaces Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microstructures arrays including openings and linear microchannels utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. In some embodiments, the films can be used as a template or mask to etch openings in an underlying material layer.
US08404123B2	Fabrication of enclosed nanochannels using silica nanoparticles In accordance with the invention, there is a method of forming a nanochannel including depositing a photosensitive film stack over a substrate and forming a pattern on the film stack using interferometric lithography. The method can further include depositing a plurality of silica nanoparticles to form a structure over the pattern and removing the pattern while retaining the structure formed by the plurality of silica nanoparticles, wherein the structure comprises an enclosed nanochannel.
US08404117B1	System for controlling water in an aquatic facility A system for controlling water within an aquatic facility includes a water chemistry controller, a variable rate water pump adapted to move water in the facility, and a variable rate motor driver operationally coupled to the water pump for variably energizing the water pump. The variable rate motor driver is coupled to the water chemistry controller to allow the water chemistry controller to manage the operation of the water pump.
US08404112B2	Filter media for use in pool filters A sand filter for use with swimming pools includes a tank that has a hollow interior space and a top diffuser for allowing spent pool water to enter the tank and for distributing the pool water inside the tank. The sand filter also includes filter media formed as a bed of material on a bottom of the tank and also includes laterals that are located under the filter media and allow filtered pool water to exit the tank and flow back to the pool. The filter media includes a bed of sand that is disposed on the bottom of the tank and a layer of perlite material that is disposed on a top surface of the bed of sand. The perlite material is a high flow rate, low density perlite material that only contains a trace amount of floaters.
US08404100B2	Gated voltammetry A sensor system, device, and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample is described. Gated voltammetric pulse sequences including multiple duty cycles of sequential excitations and relaxations may provide a shorter analysis time and/or improve the accuracy and/or precision of the analysis. The disclosed pulse sequences may reduce analysis errors arising from the hematocrit effect, variance in cap-gap volumes, non-steady-state conditions, mediator background, a single set of calibration constants, under-fill, and changes in the active ionizing agent content of the sensor strip.
US08404094B2	Method and apparatus for electrodeionization utilizing layered chambers The present invention relates generally to the deionization of liquids through the use of electrodeionization methods and apparatuses. The apparatuses may be configured to produce purified liquids for use in analytical techniques such as ion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and atomic absorption spectroscopy, among others, and to provide continuous regeneration of the ion exchange materials. The apparatuses may be configured according to the desired levels of deionization for anions, cations, or both. Finally, methods are presented for various uses of the apparatus specifically claimed.
US08404091B2	Dialysis treatment devices for removing urea Dialysis treatment devices and methods for removing urea from dialysis waste streams are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a dialysis treatment device including a first cell having a first electrodialysis unit, a second cell having at least one of a urease compartment and a sorbent compartment and in fluid communication with the first cell, and a third cell having a second electrodialysis unit and in fluid communication with the second cell.
US08404077B2	Polyurethane composition that contains organomethoxysilane and has anisotropic material properties A single-component, moisture-curing composition, including at least one polyisocyanate, a polyaldimine, an organomethoxysilane, an acid as well as a tin catalyst in special proportions that can be matched to one another. An exemplary composition cures by moisture as much as possible without forming bubbles. In the curing of the composition by atmospheric humidity, an anisotropic material is produced with a predominantly elastic sheath that is virtually tack-free on the surface and a predominantly plastic core. An exemplary composition can be especially well suited as a flexible sealant.
US08404069B2	Method and apparatus for automated stacking of sheet material bundles A method and apparatus for preparing a bundle of sheet material for transport. The automated apparatus includes a cutting assembly for cutting slats, or spacers, from scrap sheet material, a pick and place assembly for positioning and securing the slats to the underside of a bundle, and a stacking assembly for stacking bundles prior to removal for shipping or storage. The slats, once cut, are automatically placed in guide channels and then positioned beneath the bundle while glue is applied thereto. The glued edges are then automatically pressed against the bundle to secure the slats to the bundle, thereby creating space beneath the bundle to allow a forklift to manipulate the bundles.
US08404063B2	Process for production of inorganic fiber mats Provided is a method of producing an inorganic fiber mat, the method enabling efficient adhesion of an aldehyde scavenger to an inorganic fiber mat while preventing the aldehyde scavenger from scattering around. The method of producing an inorganic fiber mat includes a fiber collection step of applying a binder to inorganic fibers and accumulating in a mat-like shape on a conveyor line to form an inorganic fiber web, a binder-curing step of heat-curing the binder applied to the inorganic fiber web to form an inorganic fiber mat, and an aldehyde scavenger application step of applying an aldehyde scavenger to the inorganic fiber mat, in which the aldehyde scavenger application step involves spraying the aldehyde scavenger in a form of droplets having an average diameter of 1 to 50 μm on a front side of the inorganic fiber mat and sucking from a back side of the inorganic fiber mat.
US08404056B1	Process control for a sonication cleaning tank A disk is placed into a sonication cleaning tank containing a liquid. A first flow rate and a first sonication power are applied to the liquid to clean the disk. An opacity count is generated indicative of contaminants and/or bubbles in the liquid. Based at least in part on the opacity count, a second flow rate and a second sonication power are then applied to the liquid.
US08404055B2	Method and apparatus for touchless cleaning of a chandelier A chandelier cleaning apparatus includes a tent-like enclosure made of a transparent plastic. In a first embodiment, the enclosure includes a main body having a flat top panel and a flat, imperforate bottom panel. A central aperture is formed in the top panel and a zipper extends from the central aperture to an outer periphery of the top panel so that the central opening is enlarged when the zipper is open. The chandelier passes through the central aperture when the zipper is open and is enclosed within the enclosure when the zipper is closed. A mist of hot water is sprayed onto the chandelier with a wand that extends though a small opening in the enclosure. The time required to clean a typical chandelier drops from hours to minutes, no chemicals are used, and the chandelier is touched only by the hot mist.
US08404051B2	Lignin production from lignocellulosic biomass Methods are disclosed for providing lignin product of a small particle size for improving burning efficiency and for avoiding typical equipment fouling problems while maximizing energy recovery.
US08404050B2	Plasma processing apparatus and method There is provided a plasma processing apparatus including a plasma generating unit for generating a plasma in a processing chamber in which a set processing is performed on a substrate serving as an object to be processed. The plasma processing apparatus further includes a particle moving unit for electrostatically driving particles in a region above the substrate to be removed out of the region above the substrate in the processing chamber while the processing on the substrate is performed by using the plasma. In addition, there is provided a plasma processing method of a plasma processing apparatus including the steps of generating plasma in a processing chamber in which a set processing is performed on a substrate serving as an object to be processed; and performing the processing on the substrate by the plasma.
US08404048B2	Off-angled heating of the underside of a substrate using a lamp assembly Disclosed are method and apparatus for treating a substrate. The apparatus is a dual-function process chamber that may perform both a material process and a thermal process on a substrate. The chamber has an annular radiant source disposed between a processing location and a transportation location of the chamber. Lift pins have length sufficient to maintain the substrate at the processing location while the substrate support is lowered below the radiant source plane to afford radiant heating of the substrate. A method of processing a substrate having apertures formed in a first surface thereof includes depositing material on the first surface in the apertures and reflowing the material by heating a second surface of the substrate opposite the first surface. A second material can then be deposited, filling the apertures partly or completely. Alternately, a cyclical deposition/reflow process may be performed.
US08404047B2	Electron beam vapor deposition apparatus and method An electron beam vapor deposition apparatus includes a coating chamber having a first chamber section with a first coating zone for depositing a first coating and a second chamber section with a second coating zone for depositing a second coating. At least one electron beam source is associated with the first chamber section and the second chamber section. A first crucible is adjacent to the first coating zone for presenting a first source coating material, and a second crucible is adjacent to the second coating zone for presenting a second source coating material. A transport is operative to move a work piece between the first coating zone of the first chamber section and the second coating zone of the second chamber section.
US08404046B2	Single crystal silicon pulling apparatus, method for preventing contamination of silicon melt, and device for preventing contamination of silicon melt A velocity of Ar gas flow passing through between a lower end of a cylindrical body and a thermal shielding body is influenced by arrangement of a pulling path of single crystal silicon, a cylindrical body, and a thermal shielding body. Accordingly, the velocity of the Ar gas flow passing through between a lower end of the cylindrical body and the thermal shielding body is controlled by adjusting a relative position of the pulling path of the single crystal silicon, the cylindrical body, and the thermal shielding body. As described above, dust falling off to silicon melt can be reduced, thereby preventing deterioration in quality of the single crystal silicon.
US08404043B2	Process for producing polycrystalline bulk semiconductor A high-quality polycrystalline bulk semiconductor having a large crystal grain size is produced by the casting method in which growth is regulated so as to proceed in the same plane direction, i.e., the {110}; plane or {112} plane is disclosed. The process, which is for producing a polycrystalline bulk semiconductor, comprises: a step in which a melt of a semiconductor selected among Si, Ge, and SiGe is held in a crucible; a step in which a bottom part of the crucible is cooled to give a temperature gradient and that part of the melt which is located directly on the crucible bottom is rapidly cooled in the beginning of growth to supercool the melt around the crucible bottom; a step in which the crucible is cooled to grow nuclei on the crucible bottom due to the supercooled state of the melt around the crucible bottom and thereby grow dendritic crystals along the crucible bottom; and a step in which a polycrystalline bulk of the semiconductor is then grown on the upper side of the dendritic crystals.
US08404042B2	Group-III nitride crystal composite III-nitride crystal composites are made up of especially processed crystal slices cut from III-nitride bulk crystal having, ordinarily, a {0001} major surface and disposed adjoining each other sideways, and of III-nitride crystal epitaxially on the bulk-crystal slices. The slices are arranged in such a way that their major surfaces parallel each other, but are not necessarily flush with each other, and so that the [0001] directions in the slices are oriented in the same way.
US08404041B2	Controlled release of chemical admixtures A method of controlling release of an admixture in a cement-based composition involves intercalating an admixture (e.g. an accelerator, a set retarder, a superplasticizer) for the cement-based composition into a layered double hydroxide or mixture thereof. A cement-based composition prepared in such a manner and containing a cement-based material (e.g. cement, mortar or concrete) has better workability, especially in respect of slump-loss characteristics.
US08404030B2	Propeller driven self-renewing air filter A method for renewing a sheet-type filtering material to a flowing gas stream inside a conduit by converting some of the energy of a flowing gas stream traversing the filter assembly to rotate a propeller and the propeller shaft. The rotational energy from the propeller shaft is operably coupled to a gear that causes a supply of unused sheet-type filter material on a first side of the filter assembly top move across the filter assembly to a second side of the filter assembly, so that the portion of the sheet-type filtering material in a position to filter a flowing gas stream changes over time as the flowing gas stream rotates the propeller.
US08404029B2	Crankcase ventilation filter arrangments; components; and, methods A crankcase ventilation filter assembly and components therefor, are described. In an example arrangement, the crankcase ventilation filter assembly is configured to be serviced from either the top or the bottom. A rotational indexing arrangement is to ensure appropriate orientation of an internally received filter cartridge, and other components of the arrangement are provided. Methods of assembly, servicing and use are described.
US08404028B2	Vacuum trap labyrinth Embodiments of the present invention provide a vacuum trap labyrinth with improved trapping characteristics. The vacuum trap labyrinth comprised of an inner part and an outer part that fit together while in use, and come apart for easy cleaning during maintenance. The vacuum trap labyrinth is installed in a catchpot. In one embodiment, an O-ring is used to seal off an area of the catchpot to facilitate a visual inspection.
US08404026B2	Flow-through substrates and methods for making and using them Flow-through substrates, such as honeycombs, comprising certain zeolites. The flow-through substrates may be used, for example, in the removal of a heavy metal from a fluid such as a gas stream.
US08404023B1	Air handling filtration equipment with adjustable media bed and method of use A method of transferring filter media between a media bed of a dry scrubber and a filter media container, comprising placing the media bed in flow communication with the filter media container, obstructing a majority of an airflow path of the media bed, the airflow path extending from an unfiltered air input opening of the dry scrubber, through the media bed of the dry bed scrubber, to a filtered air output opening of said dry bed scrubber, powering a blower in the airflow path of the media bed when the airflow path is obstructed and the media bed is in flow communication with the filter media container, whereby the filter media is transferred between the media bed and the filter media container.
US08404020B2	Systems and methods for monitoring a rapping process A method for monitoring operation of a rapper in an electrostatic precipitator using a rapper control system is described. The method includes determining model electrical characteristics of the rapper. The model electrical characteristics of the rapper correspond to model mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper. The method also includes storing data corresponding to the model electrical characteristics and the model mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper, determining actual electrical characteristics of the rapper, and comparing the actual electrical characteristics of the rapper to the stored model electrical characteristics to determine actual mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper.
US08404019B2	Chemical agents for recovery of leached materials The disclosure provides to a PDC element protective system including a mask configured to protect a non-leached portion of a leached polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) element during a leaching process. The mask may be formed from or coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The disclosure also provides a leaching system containing such a mask and a leaching vessel as well as methods of using the protective and leaching systems. The disclosure further provides a Lewis acid-based leaching agent and methods of its use. Finally, the disclosure provides a method of recycling a PDC or carbide element using a Lewis acid-based leaching agent.
US08404017B2	Hot briquette iron and method for producing the same Hot briquette iron includes a plurality of reduced iron particles which are bonded to each other by hot forming, wherein the reduced iron particles each have a surface region having an average carbon content of 0.1 to 2.5% by mass and a central region positioned inside the surface region and having an average carbon content higher than that of the surface region.
US08404012B1	Air filter for a vehicle engine An improved vehicle air filter includes a cylindrical housing having a continuous outer wall, a releasable bottom wall and an open top in communication with an interior air-delivery chamber. Circumferentially disposed about the outer wall are a plurality of conical air-intake tubes, each having an inlet opening in fluid communication with a hollow interior. The lower end of each tube is positioned immediately above a collection pan formed on the releasable bottom wall. An arcuate air conduit extends from the upper end of each tube to the air-delivery chamber. As air enters each tube, it flows along a cyclonic path to force entrained particles against the interior surface of the tube and downwardly into the collection pan. Meanwhile, the purified air flows upwardly through the air conduits and into the air-delivery chamber for distribution to the vehicle engine.
US08404002B2	Bipolar battery and method of manufacturing same An apparatus and a method for manufacturing a bipolar battery are disclosed, which are capable of restraining the introduction of a bubble, resulting in superior battery performance. A bipolar battery is disclosed for preparing an electrolyte layer, which includes permeable separators such that the electrolytes can penetrate therein and a bipolar electrode wherein a cathode is formed at one side of a collector and an anode is formed at another side of the collector. Then, the electrolyte layers are stacked upon one another. When the electrolyte layer is provided to the bipolar electrode, bubbles within the electrolyte layer are exhausted from one side to another side of the separator via the separator.
US08404001B2	Method for manufacturing positive electrode and power storage device To suppress decomposition of lithium cobalt oxide and formation of a decomposition product. To suppress the reaction between oxygen in lithium cobalt oxide and a current collector. To obtain a power storage device having high charge and discharge capacity. In a method for manufacturing a power storage device, in forming a lithium cobalt oxide layer over a positive electrode current collector by a sputtering method using a target containing lithium cobalt oxide and a sputtering gas containing Ar, the positive electrode current collector is heated at a temperature at which c-axes of crystals of lithium cobalt oxide are aligned and cobalt oxide is not formed. The heating temperature of the positive electrode current collector is higher than or equal to 400° C. and lower than 600° C.
US08403999B2	Dyeing and/or bleaching composition comprising a polycondensate of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide Disclosed herein is a device having one or more compartments, for dyeing keratin fibers, wherein a first compartment contains a dye composition free of oxidizing agent, comprising at least one hair dye and at least one polycondensate of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, and optionally a second compartment contains an oxidizing composition. Also disclosed is an agent for dyeing and/or bleaching keratin fibers, obtained by mixing a composition A comprising at least one alkaline agent with a composition B comprising at least one oxidizing agent, compositions A and/or B comprising at least one fatty substance free of carboxylic acid groups, at least one polycondensate of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, and a system of nonionic surfactants, with a weighted HLB of greater than or equal to 8, the amount of fatty substance being greater than 20% of the total weight of the dyeing and/or bleaching agent.
US08403997B2	Lower limb prosthesis and control unit A self-teaching lower limb prosthesis, for an above-knee amputee, including a dynamically adjustable joint movement control unit arranged to control operation of the joint automatically. A control unit electrically stores a target relationship between a kinetic or kinematic parameter of locomotion and walking speed. The relationship defines a number of values of the parameter associated with different walking speeds. The control unit generates monitoring signals representative of walking speed values and values of the parameter occurring at different walking speeds. An adjustment system adjusts the control unit automatically when the monitoring signals indicate deviation from the target relationship so as to bring the parameters close to that defined by the target relationship.
US08403987B2	Prosthetic intervertebral discs having compressible core elements bounded by fiber-containing membranes This description deals with a medical device, specifically a prosthetic intervertebral disc having a compressible core bounded by a fiber-containing or fiber-reinforced membrane.
US08403986B2	Push-in interbody spinal fusion implant with multi-lock for locking opposed screws and method for use thereof An apparatus including an interbody spinal fusion implant having a leading end, a trailing end, and a length therebetween, and opposed upper and lower portions adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies. Each of the upper and lower portions having at least one opening adapted to communicate with one each of the adjacent vertebral bodies and to communicate with one another to permit for the growth of bone from vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through the implant. Each of the upper and lower portions has at least one screw hole passing therethrough proximate the trailing end. The apparatus further includes bone screws adapted for placement through the screw holes of the upper and lower portions and into each of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space to be fused and into which the implant is adapted to be positioned. At least one lock may be used to prevent the bone screws from backing out of the vertebral bodies and implant.
US08403985B2	Joint spacer implant A spacer implant designed for placement between the bones of a joint, which includes soft tissue components. The spacer includes a spacer body positionable between the bones and defined by an outer periphery. The spacer also includes at least one tether. Each of the tethers has a first end fixed to the spacer body and a second end extending outwardly from the outer periphery of the spacer body. The second end of each of the tethers is adapted to be fastened to any of the bones or the soft tissue components of the joint.
US08403982B2	Device for the in situ delivery of heart valves A device for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis includes at least one constraint member for radially constraining radially expandable annular portions of the valve. The constraint member is actuatable to release the annular formations constrained thereby and permit radial expansion of these annular formations. The constraint member has associated a first, slow-acting actuating mechanism and a second, fast-acting mechanism, adapted to produce relatively slow and fast release of the annular formations constrained thereby. The device may include a first constraint member and second constraint member in the form of telescoping sleeves. The slow-acting actuating mechanism will thus act on the outer sleeve, while the fast-acting mechanism will act on the inner sleeve to produce, respectively, slow and fast release of the annular formations.
US08403981B2	Methods and devices for delivery of prosthetic heart valves and other prosthetics Prosthetic valves and their component parts are described, as are prosthetic valve delivery devices and methods for their use. The prosthetic valves are particularly adapted for use in percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. The delivery devices are particularly adapted for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures. The preferred delivery device includes a catheter having a deployment mechanism attached to its distal end, and a handle mechanism attached to its proximal end. A plurality of tethers are provided to selectively restrain the valve during deployment. A number of mechanisms for active deployment of partially expanded prosthetic valves are also described.
US08403951B2	Phacoemulsification tip A phacoemulsification tip having a crimped or swaged distal tip. Swaging of the distal end of a phacoemulsification tip produces more efficient cutting during torsional vibration of the tip by increasing the cutting surface area.
US08403944B2	Apparatus for placing stitch turns resulting from a shape-memory metal thread The device comes in the form of a gun with a body, a grip handle and a control component. The body has coaxially a hollow protruding aiming rod equipped, at its free end, with a cylinder containing the threads. The rod is capable, under the action of the control component, of allowing a thread ejection needle to move so that a loop is formed on emergence from the cylinder. The cylinder is mounted at the end of a fixed translation axis and engaged inside the rod; the other end of said axis engaging with a mechanism capable of partially rotating it and the cylinder, when said control component is released, in order to position another thread opposite said ejection needle.
US08403941B2	Intraocular lens and cartridge packaging with lens-loading function A lens and cartridge packaging system and method of use which simplify the removal and transfer of an IOL to an IOL insertion device is disclosed. The packaging system enables a user to easily load an IOL into a cartridge without the use of forceps. In addition, the packaging system also allows a user to fold and insert the IOL into a cartridge without damaging the IOL and/or compromising IOL sterility. In addition, the related methods of use minimize and/or eliminate damage to the IOL during unpackaging, folding, transfer and loading procedures.
US08403927B1	Vasectomy devices and methods Devices and methods for cauterizing a tubular vessel are disclosed. A device for cauterizing a tubular vessel can include a hand piece, a tip portion provided at an operative end of the hand piece, one or more probes extending from the tip portion, one or more grasping arms extending beyond the tip portion and movable to grasp a target tissue positioned at or near the tip portion, and a power supply configured to supply energy to the one or more probes.
US08403915B2	Multi-opening reservoir devices for controlled release or exposure of reservoir contents Devices, such as medical devices, are provided which include a body portion having at least one reservoir which has two or more openings, the two or more openings being defined in part by a reservoir cap support; reservoir contents, such as a drug formulation or sensor, disposed inside the reservoir; and a reservoir cap which closes off the two or more reservoir openings. The reservoir cap, which can be ruptured, controls release or exposure of the reservoir contents. In one embodiment, the device is an implantable medical device and provides for the controlled release of drug or exposure of a sensor.
US08403912B2	Catheter with a pre-shaped distal tip Catheters having a pre-shaped tip configuration are disclosed. A catheter in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention can include an elongated tubular shaft equipped with a distal tip section having a pre-shaped tip configuration that can be used to facilitate tracking of the device through particular locations of the vasculature. The catheter may include a number of features that transition the stiffness and flexibility characteristics of the device and provide a means to radiographically visualize the catheter within the body.
US08403911B2	Systems and methods for improving catheter hole array efficiency A peripheral catheter having a catheter tip diffuser for reducing an exit velocity of an infusant within the catheter. Pluralities of diffusion side holes are provided on the tip portion of the catheter. Some examples further include pluralities of annularly arranged, staggered diffusion holes provided on the tip portion of an intravenous catheter to streamline infusant issued from the diffusion holes. An inner surface of each diffusion hole is further angled relative to the inner surface of the catheter lumen such that an infusant within the lumen exits the catheter though the diffusion holes at an angle less than 90°.
US08403909B2	Methods for capacitance volume correction in fluid delivery systems Methods for capacitance volume correction in fluid-containing expandable bodies and associated fluid pathways are disclosed. The methods may be applied in fluid delivery systems used to supply fluids to patients during radiographic imaging procedures, including angiography. The methods control delivery of fluid to a downstream process, including providing a fluid-delivery expandable body and a pressurizing element in fluid communication with the downstream process, pressurizing the expandable body by moving the pressurizing element in the expandable body to reduce volume therein, determining an over-travel distance for the pressurizing element, and ceasing movement of the pressurizing element after allowing the pressurizing element to over-travel the over-travel distance to compensate for expansion of the expandable body under pressure. The expandable body may be a syringe and the pressurizing element may be a plunger disposed within the syringe. Movement of the pressurizing element may be controlled by an algorithm associated with a computer.
US08403903B2	Individual, expandable wrapper for a hygiene product An article (20) has a longitudinal length (22), an article width (24) and an article thickness (26). The article (20) comprises a fresh personal care product (28) in a substantially unsoiled condition, and a pouch (30) having a pouch volume which operatively encloses the fresh product (28). The pouch (30) includes a front panel region (32), a back panel region (34) which is operatively connected to the front panel region (32), and at least one expansion section (48) which is operatively connected between the front panel region (32) and the back panel region (34). The expansion section (48) is operatively held in a substantially unexpanded, closed position when the fresh product (28) is enclosed in the pouch (30). The expansion section 48 is movable to an open position after a removal of the fresh product (28) from the pouch (30). The open position of the expansion section (48) is configured to provide an expanded disposal volume which can operatively contain a product (28) when the product (28) is in a used and soiled condition.
US08403897B2	Biodegradable back and body strap A unitary biodegradable, absorbent flexible back and body strap for selectively applying a protective substance and a skin-protective agent to a user's body, the strap having an elongated thin parallelepiped midportion, a biconcave first gripping end, and an opposite biconcave second gripping end, each end having a tip narrower in width than the midportion. The midportion is impregnated with a protective substance, which may be a body lotion, sunscreen, insect repellant, or a combination of sunscreen and insect repellant. At least one protective agent layer may be disposed on a midportion top side, which contains a skin-protective agent. The user alternatingly pulls the first gripping end and the second end from side to side across the desired body portion to selectively apply the protective substance and the skin-protective agent discards the strap whereinafter the strap biodegrades.
US08403891B2	Method for centering a valve A vascular guidewire introducer device (10) having a needle (52), a bulb (16), and a valve subassembly (100) through which a guidewire (14) is insertable for vascular guidewire insertion into a blood vessel (12) of a patient. The valve subassembly (100) includes a proximal fitting (102), a proximal cap (106), and a valve arrangement (104) disposed within a valve seat (118) defined by one of the fitting and the cap. The valve arrangement includes distal and proximal disc-shaped valve members (122,126) having centered slits (124,128) therethrough, and a spacer (130) disposed between the valve members. A method is disclosed for precisely centering the slits of the valve members during assembly and for retaining the valve members in their precisely centered positions in the valve seat. The valve arrangement permits use with a wide range of guidewire diameters.
US08403888B2	Device and electronic controller for syringe piston control A device for controlling displacement of a syringe piston comprises a handheld casing, first and second engagement means. The first engagement means is formed exteriorly of the casing to engage the syringe's finger flange. The second engagement means slides on a first axis relative to the casing and engages the thumb rest. The device comprises means within the casing to cause the second engagement means to move along the first axis, causing the piston to move outwardly. An electronic controller module for controlling outward movement of the piston comprises an input/output port and a processor module. The processor module determines a prescribed movement speed and sends a motor command via the port at an initial motor speed. The motor causes the outward movement. The port receives speed measurements. The processor module attempts to match the measurements to a prescribed speed by sending successive motor commands via the port.
US08403879B2	Tampon for feminine hygiene and process and apparatus for manufacturing the same The invention relates to a tampon for feminine hygiene, with a tapered introductory end, a withdrawal end provided with a withdrawal means and a longitudinal axis, comprising a longitudinally extending absorbent body made from compressed fiber material, the absorbent body being densified more intensely in the region of the longitudinal axis and forming a fiber column, from which longitudinal ribs extend radially outward and flank longitudinal ribs in pairs. The tapered introductory end being formed by the fiber column, the longitudinal grooves and longitudinal ribs is provided with collecting grooves and collecting ribs to collect menstrual secretions, wherein the collecting grooves are open axially to the front and radially outward and wherein the collecting ribs flank the collecting grooves in pairs. The invention provides for an increased absorption capacity of the tampon in relation to the weight of the fiber material per tampon.
US08403878B2	Subdural drainage catheter with flow restoration mechanism A subdural drainage system includes (a) a subdural drainage device having an opening formed therethrough, said subdural drainage device having an upper portion, a body portion, and a lower portion; (b) a housing having an upper portion and lower portion, with said housing connected to said subdural drainage device; said housing movable between (i) a first configuration and (ii) a second configuration; and (c) a stylet positioned inside said housing, said stylet having an upper portion and a lower portion and configured such that said stylet is moved between (i) a withdrawn position with said stylet withdrawn from a portion of said subdural evacuation port device, and (ii) an extended position with said stylet extending through said subdural drainage device such that blockages are disrupted in the subdural drainage device when said housing is moved between said first and second housing configurations; and (e) an external drain opening formed on either said subdural drainage device or said housing.
US08403869B2	Side-deployed medical guidewire torquer A side-deployable medical guidewire or guide wire torquer, torque device or wire manipulator. The torquer comprises an elongate body comprising first and second halves having an outer surface and inner surfaces, wherein the first and second halves are coupled to one another such that the inner surfaces to mate with one another, and wherein the mated surfaces are substantially parallel to the longitudinally axis of the body; a plurality of wire retainers disposed on the inner surfaces of one or more of the first and second halves configured to engage a guidewire positioned between the halves; and a releasable lock mechanism configured to mechanical secure the first and second halves in the mated configuration.
US08403867B2	Concentric guidewire assembly A concentric guidewire assembly includes a unitary first coil spring, a second coil spring joined to the first coil spring, and a core wire extending through the first and second coil springs. The first coil spring has a longitudinal axis, a first spring portion, a second diameter spring portion adjacent the first spring portion, and a third spring portion adjacent the second spring portion, the inner diameter of the second spring portion being smaller than the inner diameters of the first and third spring portions to fit with the core wire and maintain concentricity between the first coil spring and the core wire. The second coil spring has an inner diameter sized to receive the third spring portion.
US08403863B2	Modified biopsy device A biopsy device for excising tissue from skin and hair comprising a syringe for numbing the area to be excised coupled to a sleeve mounted on the exterior of the syringe with a blade attached to the distal edge of the sleeve. The sleeve is manually slidable from an extended position where the needle is retracted within to a retracted position where the needle is exposed.
US08403860B2	Method and apparatus for detecting atrial filling pressure A cardiac rhythm management system provides for ambulatory monitoring of hemodynamic performance based on quantitative measurements of heart sound related parameters for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Monitoring of such heart sound related parameters allows the cardiac rhythm management system to determine a need for delivering a therapy and/or therapy parameter adjustments based on conditions of a heart. This monitoring also allows a physician to observe or assess the hemodynamic performance for diagnosing and making therapeutic decisions. Because the conditions of the heart may fluctuate and may deteriorate significantly between physician visits, the ambulatory monitoring, performed on a continuous or periodic basis, ensures a prompt response by the cardiac rhythm management system that may save a life, prevent hospitalization, or prevent further deterioration of the heart.
US08403851B2	Method of controlling a surgical system based on a load on the cutting tip of a handpiece A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines an approximate temperature of the eye using an irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power to the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.
US08403847B2	Systems and methods for providing a health score for a patient A system and method for providing an indicator of a patient's health. The system may include a data module receiving data relating to a patient's health, the data including subjective data, a conversion module generating an output from the data, the output representing the patient's health, and a display module displaying the output and a standard output for a user to compare with the output. A method of providing a customizable system for generating an indicator of a patient's health, the method including providing a system including a data module, a conversion module generating an output via a first algorithm, and a display module displaying the output and a standard output generated by a second algorithm, and customizing at least one of the first and second algorithms according to preferences of a user.
US08403845B2	Wearable human physiological and environmental data sensors and reporting system therefor A method and apparatus is provided to detect the physiological and environmental status of an individual. The apparatus comprises a pod which is worn within a proximity zone of the body such that the mobility and flexibility of the body are not deleteriously affected by the presence of the apparatus. The system permits the dynamic monitoring of human physiological and environmental status data without substantial interference in human motion and flexibility. Sensors and processors are mounted within said pod.
US08403822B2	Passive vent for brachytherapy balloon catheters Embodiments of passive vent valve devices are disclosed. One of the novel aspects of the invention is its ability to transform from a packaging configuration to a use configuration. The packaging configuration allows sterilization gases to penetrate into the device through standard valve openings as well as through vented mesh openings. Passage of gas into the device, in turn, provides a means of sterilizing all surface areas in the device. Alternatively, when the valve is placed in a use configuration, the passage of gas through the vented mesh is inhibited providing a sealed environment that functions as a valve. The invention is useful in manufacturing sterile medical devices by allowing all surfaces to communicate with the sterilizing agent when the valve is in a packaging configuration or when it is in a use configuration.
US08403811B2	Method and system for cabin heating Methods and systems are provided for selectively increasing an amount of waste heat generated by an idling engine. An engine output is increased while a transmission output is locked to generate waste heat that may be used to heat the cabin of a stopped vehicle.
US08403809B2	Continuously variable transmission and control method thereof The transmission controller changes the gear position of the subtransmission mechanism and varies the speed ratio of the variator in an opposite direction to a speed ratio variation direction of the subtransmission mechanism when the actual through speed ratio passes a predetermined mode switch line. When the improvement in the shift response of the continuously variable transmission is determined to be required and the actual through speed ratio passes the mode switch line from a Low side to the High side, the transmission controller increases a shift speed of the subtransmission mechanism compared with a normal coordinated shift.
US08403806B2	Oil pump for an automatic transmission and control method thereto A transmission oil pump for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle. The speed of the oil pump can be shifted by a transmission (2), that is arranged between the drive motor of the motor vehicle and the transmission oil pump, to a fast-running mode or a slow-running mode so that the oil pump can be operated at two different speed levels.
US08403796B2	Drive force adjustment apparatus A drive force adjustment apparatus includes a differential gear, a motor, a first gear mechanism and a second gear mechanism. The input element, the first output element, the second output element, the motor input element, the fixed element, and the connecting element are expressed as points I, R, L, M, F and C on a graph, an ordinate of which shows the number of revolutions and a abscissa of which shows relative ratios of the number of revolutions of the elements. In one example, length of L-I is equal to length of R-I, I is located between L and R on a straight line L-R, C is located between L and M on a straight line L-M, and C is located between F and I on a straight line F-I.

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