Document Document Title
US08483152B1 Method and apparatus for use of OFDMA in a communication network
A method is disclosed in which a first data transmission is received at a first network node from a second network node in a coordinated network. The first data transmission is received in a first bandwidth of a coordinated network and includes a first plurality of subcarriers. A second data transmission is received at the first network node from a third network node. The second data transmission is received in a second bandwidth of the coordinated network and includes a second plurality of subcarriers. A first transmission schedule is transmitted from the first network node to the second and third network nodes. The first transmission schedule includes modified first and second bandwidths in which the modified first bandwidth includes a subcarrier reallocated from the second bandwidth. The first network node receives data in accordance with the first transmission schedule.
US08483147B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting feedback information
Disclosed are methods for transmitting feedback information, comprising receiving channel allocation information (S100) that includes classification information, information on a plurality of transmission periods, and information on the number of a plurality of tiles, in accordance with the channel allocation information (S110), multiplexing a plurality of payloads (S130) so as to create a plurality of tile groups, then, multiplexing the plurality of tile groups on the basis of the information on the number of the plurality of tiles so as to create a multiplexed tile group.
US08483145B2 Method for channel quality measures in a multiple antenna system
The present disclosure relates to method for link adaptation in a first network unit of a wireless communication system. The first network unit comprises one or multiple antennas adapted for data transmission to and data reception from at least one second network unit in said system. The method adapts, in response to interference experienced at the site of the first network unit, transmission parameters for data transmissions from said second network unit to said first network unit. The method comprises determining values equivalent to the Hermitian inner products between whitened vector channels associated with the individual combinations of antennas of said second network unit transmitting to said first network unit. The method further comprises steps of mapping the determined values into a data element and providing the data element as feedback information to said second network unit.
US08483141B2 Expanded signalling capability for network element, user equipment and system
Several mobile station identifiers are allocated to one mobile station, one for each of a plurality of possible signalling channel structures, parameters, or both. When receiving the signalling channels, the mobile station searches for all identifiers allocated for it in the received signalling channels. When it finds one that matches, it may for instance check a mapping table (agreed at the connection setup between mobile station and the network by RRC signalling) to determine what this identifier means. The signalling channel structure, parameters, or both, used in the transmission may be implicitly or explicitly indicated by the identifier. The mobile station (User Equipment) should monitor the signalling channels in the normal way. Instead of looking for only one identifier, however, the mobile station should monitor several identifiers belonging to it.
US08483118B2 Method for transmitting a signal using a relay station in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting a signal using a relay station is disclosed. In a wireless communication system, the present invention includes the steps of enabling the relay station to receive the signal via a relay interval in a downlink interval using a first wireless communication scheme and a second wireless communication scheme in common from a base station and enabling the relay station to transmit the received signal to a first terminal using the first wireless communications scheme via a first downlink interval in the downlink interval or to a second terminal using the second wireless communication scheme via a second downlink interval.
US08483117B2 Wireless communication apparatus
A packet is transmitted from a source node to a destination node via a relay path in a multi-hop network. The packet is transmitted by cache routing or source routing, depending on the presence or absence of information identifying the destination node in a history table maintained at the source node. In source routing, relay path information is included in the packet. In cache routing, relay nodes obtain routing information from entries in their own cache routing tables. Each entry indicates only the destination node and the next relay node, and each cache routing table has a limited size. When a series of packets are transmitted to the second node, cache routing can be used for all but the first packet, thereby reducing packet overhead.
US08483114B2 Method and system for peer-to-peer communication among sites
A method and system is provided for peer-to-peer communication among a plurality of sites in a land mobile radio (LMR) system. The sites are interconnected by a data network, such as an IP network. When a site, referred to as the initiating site, intends to communicate with other sites, the initiating site transmits a call request message. The call request message is multicast over the data network to the intended recipients. The initiating site receives an acknowledgement message from the other sites confirming their willingness to communicate with the initiating site. The initiating site then sends a voice message, via multicasting, to the other sites interested in the call.
US08483109B2 Establishing radio link control in wireless communication networks
A wireless communication terminal and a corresponding method therein includes initiating a first radio link control reset procedure, and receiving a message after initiating the first radio link control reset procedure and before the first radio link reset procedure is complete, wherein the message contains an instruction to set a protocol data unit size. A second radio link control reset procedure is initiated after setting the protocol data unit size.
US08483108B2 Apparatus and methods for de-emphasis training on a point-to-point connection
Methods and apparatus for achieving adaptive de-emphasis on a data network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a high-speed serialized bus network, and the invention is adapted to correct for inter-symbol interference (ISI) associated with data transmissions between two nodes communicating over the network. In one variant, a first device transmits a plurality of symbols to a second device. If the second device detects that these symbols have unacceptably degraded during transmission, it generates an interrupt during a designated interval that is subsequently transmitted to the first device, and used to either attenuate the signal strength associated with data transmissions to the second device, or undertake one or more remedial measures. In another embodiment, sequential calibration of nodes is achieved by executing a process adapted to identify an optimal de-emphasis level associated with data transmissions.
US08483107B2 Method and apparatus for acquiring resource allocation of control channel
A method of acquiring a resource allocation of a control channel includes acquiring a resource region of the control channel in a second subframe based on a first resource allocation of the control channel, acquiring a resource region of a second downlink channel in the second subframe based on the resource region of the control channel, and receiving a second resource allocation of the control channel on a third downlink channel in the second subframe. The third downlink channel is indicated by the second downlink channel.
US08483106B2 Apparatus and method for compensating for phase error in wireless communication system
An apparatus and method for compensating for a phase error in a wireless communication system are provided. The apparatus includes a reception modem, a transmission modem, a Common Phase Error (CPE) compensator, a first channel estimator, a phase compensator, and a second channel estimator. The reception modem demodulates and decodes a signal received. The transmission modem encodes and modulates a signal for transmission. The CPE compensator compensates for phase errors of at least two symbols constituting a signal. The first channel estimator estimates channels for respective bursts. The phase compensator compares phases for the channels for the respective bursts with each other and compensates for a phase difference between at least two bursts. The second channel estimator estimates an interference channel.
US08483101B2 System and method for cascaded teleconferencing
A system and method for forming a cascaded teleconference between digital telephony devices is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a plurality of digital telephony devices for a teleconference. Each digital telephony device includes a microphone, a speaker, an input port, and at least one output port. A cascaded peer to peer network is formed between the selected digital telephony devices. A sum of the local microphone signal and at least one conference microphone signal is transmitted at the output of each of the plurality of digital telephony devices. The at least one conference microphone signal is broadcast over the speaker at each of the plurality of digital telephony devices to provide the cascaded teleconference.
US08483099B2 Microphone expansion unit for teleconference phone calls
A portable teleconference phone system includes a plurality of portable computers each having a microphone disposed therein, the microphone configured to receive a plurality of analog audio signals from a plurality of users at a first location, the analog audio signals being converted into one of a plurality of digital audio signals at the portable computers; and a portable teleconference unit located at the first location configured to receive the digital audio signals from the portable computers over a wireless link using a Bluetooth communication protocol, the portable teleconference unit configured to multiplex the digital audio signals into a single digital audio signal, convert the single digital audio signal into a single analog audio signal representative of the analog audio signals, and send the single analog audio signal over a communication wire to a remote communication device operated by a plurality of users at a second location forming a teleconference.
US08483096B2 Scalable commodity data center network architecture
Systems and methods for routing packets within a network are provided. A packet is received at a switch coupled to a plurality of switches. The switch determines, from a first level table comprising a plurality of prefixes, a prefix matching a first portion of a destination address of the received packet. The switch also determines, from a second level table comprising a plurality of suffixes, a suffix matching a second portion of a destination address of the received packet, when the matching prefix of the first level table is associated with the second level table. The switch forwards, based on the first level table and the second level table, the received packet to an output port of the switch. The switches are configured as a fat-tree network.
US08483093B2 Energy efficient network forwarding based on performance and energy
Includes a method that determines utilization of a link and determines a weight for the link based on an energy metric for the determined utilization. The method also includes transmitting the determined weight to at least one node adjacent in the network to the network forwarding device, and determining forwarding based on the transmitted weight.
US08483087B2 Port pooling
In one embodiment, methods and systems for port pooling are described. An interface may communicate with at least one physical server. The at least one physical server may host a plurality of virtual servers and be connectable via a plurality of gateway ports to a storage area network (SAN). A virtual server manager configured to arrange the plurality of gateway ports in a plurality of port pools, define a virtual server group including a plurality of virtual servers, associate each virtual server with one or more port pools, the one or more port pools defining available gateway ports for access by the particular virtual server; and provide configuration instructions to allow the particular virtual server to communicate with the SAN through the available gateway ports.
US08483078B2 Digital program management
An apparatus and methods are disclosed for managing an incoming transport stream. The system can include controls configured for modifying program content as well as for remapping the packet identifiers. These controls thus can be employed for adapting incoming stream information to facilitate the specified actions on the incoming content that is to be managed.
US08483076B2 A-periodic PUCCH transmission on PUSCH
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate decoding of a sub-frame related to a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission. In particular, a Rank Indicator (RI) can be decoded and identified without error which can result in an error-free decoding and identification of Channel Quality Indicator (CQI), a starting point for a portion of data within the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission, and an acknowledgement (ACK). Additionally, systems and methodologies are described related to packaging information within a sub-frame of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmission such that decoding can be employed without error.
US08483073B2 Test apparatus and test method
There is provided a test apparatus for testing a device under test, including a receiving section that receives a packet from the device under test, a packet data sequence storing section that stores a data sequence included in each type of packet and received data included in the packet received by the receiving section, a transmission data processing section that reads data from the packet data sequence storing section and generates a test data sequence by adjusting a predetermined portion of a data sequence of a packet to be transmitted to the device under test to have a value corresponding to the received data, and a transmitting section that transmits the test data sequence generated by the transmission data processing section to the device under test.
US08483070B2 Millimeter wave probing of components via a probe device and methods for use therewith
Probe data is directly communicating between a probe device and a component of an external device via a wireless millimeter wave communication path. A probe application is executed in accordance with the probe data, for diagnostics and testing, to update component software, and to upload other files and applications to the component.
US08483062B2 Apparatus and method for flow control in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for flow control in a wireless communication system is provided. The relay node receives from a base station flow control information for a Un interface between the relay node and the base station and determines whether to request to suspend transmission based on the flow control information. The relay node transmits a transmission suspend command to the base station when it is determined to request the transmission suspension.
US08483061B2 Technique for performing layer 2 processing using a distributed memory architecture
A distributed memory architecture for a layer 2 processing circuit chip (50) is described. In one implementation, the layer 2 processing circuit chip (50) comprises an external memory interface configured to provide access to data packets stored in an external memory (52), a layer 2 processor (54) coupled to the external memory interface (56) and configured to process data packets retrieved from the external memory (56) to generate RLC SDUs, and an on-chip memory (58) coupled to the layer 2 processor (54) and configured to store the RLC PDUs generated by the layer 2 processor (54) prior to their transmission. Upon a request to retransmit an RLC PDU, the layer 2 processor (54) is configured to selectively read the RLC PDU to be retransmitted from the on-chip memory (58) or a data packet comprising the RLC PDU to be retransmitted from the external memory (52). In the latter case, the layer 2 processor (54) is further configured to re-generate the RLC PDU to be retransmitted from the data packet read from the external memory (52). The selectivity of the read operation depends on whether or not the RLC PDU to be retransmitted belongs to a data packet that has been completely transmitted in a single layer 1 transport unit.
US08483054B2 Communication path estimation method, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and monitoring apparatus
A communication path estimation method for estimating a communication path in a network in which communication is performed by forwarding packets from a plurality of transmission source nodes to a plurality of transmission destination nodes through a plurality of nodes, the method has obtaining, by a computer, path information of a plurality of paths, extracting a path in which a number of lost packets out of packets flowing in the extracted path is a predetermined value or more on the basis of the path information, choosing a pair of adjacent nodes included in the extracted path, and outputting a hypothesis that a static path is set from a first downstream node to a second downstream node when the first downstream node being included in a plurality of paths connected to a plurality of destination nodes and a first upstream node is the same with a second upstream node.
US08483053B2 Information processing device, information processing method, program, and data structure
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, a program, and a data structure for processing a stream including a base stream and extension streams at a plurality of levels. A transmitter encodes an audio stream into a base stream BS and first to n-th extension streams Ext1 to ExtN. The transmitter refers to tables 90 and 91, generates TS packets 92 and 93-1 to 93-n having PIDs for the corresponding types of streams and the TS packets 90 and 91 of the tables, and outputs the generated TS packets to a receiver. The receiver refers to the TS packets 90 and 91 of the tables and determines the type(s) of stream(s) that it can process. The receiver selects the TS packets having the PID(s) associated with the stream(s) that it can process and decodes the TS packets. The present invention is applicable to a transmitter and a receiver that perform encoding and decoding.
US08483045B2 User activated bypass for IP media
A system and method for falling back to a secondary network when there is insufficient quality on a primary network is disclosed. In one embodiment, a call manager has a media monitoring module, a bypass module, a PSTN control module and a GUI module. Once a call has been established between endpoints using a primary IP network, the media monitoring module monitors for degradation in call quality. If degradation in call quality is detected, the GUI module presents an interface to the user that allows selection of the secondary network or the primary IP network for continuation of the call. If the user selected the secondary network, the bypass module is activated to transfer the data communication to a secondary network such as a PSTN while the call control continues to be over the primary network.
US08483042B2 Mobile communication system, base station device and channel allocation method
A base station sends to a target base station a switching request which contains a time slot used in communication with a mobile station. The base station allocates to the mobile station at least one idle communication channel included in time slots different from the time slot contained in the switching request received from the base station.
US08483032B2 Optical pickup device
An optical pickup device is provided with: a light source; an objective lens focusing light from the light source on an information recording surface of an optical recording medium; a lens holder holding the objective lens; and a collision prevention member provided on the lens holder, and preventing collision between the optical recording medium and the objective lens. The collision prevention member is formed with a sheet member, and is disposed on the lens holder so that a side surface, substantially parallel to a thickness direction, of the sheet member faces the information recording surface.
US08483031B2 Optical head device, optical information device and information processing device
An optical head device includes a light blocking region disposed on a light flux of a reflected light beam resulting from reflection by a recording layer on which a blue light beam is focused, and blocks, when there are at least two recording layers on a blue light beam incident side of the recording layer on which the blue light beam is focused or on a side thereof opposite to the blue light beam incident side, reflected light beams resulting from reflection by the at least two recording layers which are incident on a region in a photodetector where the reflected light beams resulting from the reflection by the at least two recording layers interfere with each other. The light blocking region is not formed on an optical axis of the reflected light beam resulting from the reflection by the recording layer on which the blue light beam is focused.
US08483025B2 Data recording and reproducing apparatus and data library device
A data recording and reproducing apparatus relative to a data library device includes a plurality of setup units for recording and reproducing data in a record and reproduction condition appropriate to a recording medium, and a storage unit for storing identification information and medium information of the recording medium, in this way, a setup processing is performed to reproduce the identification information from the recording medium when loading the recording medium, the medium information corresponding to the identification information is read out from the storage unit to perform the setup processing by a second setup unit when the medium information corresponding to the identification information is present in the storage unit, and the setup processing is performed by a third setup unit to reproduce the medium information from the recording medium and store in the storage unit together with the identification information, shortening a time period of the setup processing.
US08483021B2 Medium delivery control apparatus, medium delivery control method and program
Provided is a medium delivery control apparatus that can prevent the wear of a means relating to the delivery of a recording medium and extend the life of the delivery means. The medium delivery control device controls a medium delivery means for connecting, disconnecting and delivering the recording medium with respect to a deep cell, and includes a first detection recording means for detecting and recording the storage or non-storage of the recording media and the identity of the recording media being stored for each deep cell, a second detection recording means for detecting and recording the number of insertions and removals of the recording medium for each deep cell, a storage point candidate searching means for searching for a storage point candidate cell on the basis of the recording of the first detection recording means, a number-retrieval determining means for retrieving the number of insertions and removals of the recording media at the retrieved storage point candidate cell and determining whether the number exceeds a threshold on the basis of the recording of the second detection recording means, and a medium-delivery control means for controlling the medium delivery means such that the recording medium is delivered to the retrieved storage point candidate cell if the threshold is not exceeded.
US08483020B2 Path mechanism and an information processing device having the path mechanism
A path mechanism and an information processing device having the path mechanism can guide disc media to a predetermined position without the data recording area of the disc being affected. The path mechanism has a stacker tray 101 that forms a guide path 130 through which media M having an annular data recording area can move by sliding. The stacker tray 101 has a pair of guide surfaces 125c and 126c that support an outside circumference part of the media M slidably in the direction of media M travel. The guide surfaces 125c and 126c are formed to a width W that is less than the width A of the non-data-recording area Y rendered on the outside circumference side of the annular data recording area on the data recording surface of the media M.
US08483019B2 Magneto-optical device with an optically induced magnetization
A magneto-optical device (MOD) with optically induced magnetization for use in magnetic field sensors as a magnetic element pinning a magnetization in a preferred direction of a ferromagnetic layer as well as a magnetic memory cell for magneto-optical recording. The MOD comprises the Mg—Mg—Co ferrite film deposited on a magnesium oxide (MgO) substrate. The ferrite film is illuminated at room temperature with a circularly polarized light (CPL) in a static magnetic H-field (about of 3 kOe) normal to the illuminated ferrite film surface. At certain (“writing”) combinations of H, sigma (CPL helicity), the long-lived optically induced magnetization with a unidirectional anisotropy, stable to a conventional demagnetization occurs. For readout of information, conventional magnetoresistive sensors and MFM can be used. To erase information, the ferrite film should be illuminated with two field-light combinations, other than “writing”, or annealed at temperature higher than 530 degrees C.
US08483017B2 Electrostatic motor including an actuator
The electrostatic motor includes an electrostatic actuator (10) and a pulse generator (7, 8) for actuating said actuator with sufficient energy to drive the motor, the pulse generator is adapted to determine a pulse voltage level (UD) and a shortened pulse duration that is a function of the determined voltage level (UD) and the electric energy necessary for driving the motor and a function of parasitic capacitances (CP) and the maximum capacitance (Cact—m) of the actuator in order to reduce electrostatic losses in the actuator.
US08483010B2 Providing communications redundancy using one or more loop connections in a subterranean survey system
A subterranean survey system includes a sensor string having a communications link and a plurality of survey sensors connected to the communications link. The sensor string has a loop connection to provide communications redundancy, and the survey sensors are used to detect signals affected by a subterranean structure. A first router is connected to the sensor string, and a transport network is connected to the first router. The first router communicates data from the survey sensors over the transport network.
US08483008B2 Coil shooting mode
The technique disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for controlling streamer steering devices to maintain a coil streamer shape that gives coverage for a coil shooting plan. The technique uses solved positions and a target coil streamer shape identified in the shooting plan to determine steering instructions to the streamer steering devices along the streamer.
US08483006B1 Programmable addressing circuitry for increasing memory yield
Integrated circuits with memory elements are provided. A memory element may include a storage circuit coupled to data lines through access transistors. The access transistors may have gates that are controlled by an address signal. The address signal may be asserted during read/write operations to turn on the access transistors so that read/write data can be passed through the access transistors. The voltage level to which the address signal is raised during read/write operations may be adjusted using programmable voltage biasing circuitry. A number of integrated circuits may be tested during device characterization procedures to determine the amount by which the address signal should be adjusted using the programmable voltage biasing circuit so that the memory elements in the integrated circuits satisfy design criteria.
US08483004B2 Semiconductor device with transistor storing data by change in level of threshold voltage
To provide a semiconductor device that can suppress deterioration in transistors and has a small layout area. In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to the present invention, a control voltage (4 V) between a write voltage (10 V) and a reference voltage (0 V) is applied to a gate of a P-channel MOS transistor of a memory gate drive circuit corresponding to a selected memory gate line and also the reference voltage (0 V) is applied to a gate of an N-channel MOS transistor, and the write voltage is applied to the memory gate line. Since the transistors are turned on with a gate-source voltage lower than the conventional one, deterioration in the transistors can be suppressed.
US08482997B2 Method of manufacturing non-volatile memory module
A highly reliable large capacity phase change memory module is realized. A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a memory array having a structure in which a storage layer using a chalcogenide material and a memory cell constituted of a diode are stacked, and an initialization condition and a rewriting condition are changed in accordance with the layer where a selected memory cell is located. A current mirror circuit is selected in accordance with an operation, and at the same time, the initialization condition and the rewriting condition (here, reset condition) are changed in accordance with the operation by a control mechanism of the reset current in a voltage selection circuit and a current mirror circuit.
US08482989B2 Semiconductor device including fuse array and method of operation the same
Provided are a semiconductor device including a fuse and a method of operating the same. The semiconductor device includes a fuse array, a first register unit, and a second register unit. The fuse array includes a plurality of rows and columns. The first register unit receives at least one row of fuse data from the fuse array. Fuse data of the at least one row of fuse data is received in parallel by the first register unit. The second register unit receives the fuse data at least one bit at a time from the first register unit.
US08482988B2 Method of operating a flash EEPROM memory
The invention is a new method for operating a flash EEPROM memory device and in particular for programming and erasing the device. The memory device has a first semiconductor region within a second semiconductor region, source and drain regions in the first semiconductor region, a well terminal inside the first semiconductor region, a charge storing layer electrically isolated from the first semiconductor region by a dielectric layer, and a control terminal electrically isolated from the charge storing layer by a inter layer dielectric. The method comprises the steps of: applying a first voltage bias of first polarity to the well terminal; allowing a first time period to elapse; resetting the first voltage bias to zero; while during the either the ramp up or the ramp down phase of said first voltage; applying a second voltage bias of second polarity opposite to the first polarity to the control terminal; allowing a second time period to elapse; and resetting the second voltage bias to zero.
US08482980B2 Memory array and method of operating the same
A memory device comprises at least one memory array on a semiconductor substrate. Each said memory array comprises a page control line and a plurality of pages, each said page is arranged in a row comprising a plurality of bytes which couple to a page control transistor with its drain terminal connected to the page control line. Each said byte includes at least one memory cell. Said memory array further comprises a plurality of source control devices which are configured to provide either predetermined biases or floating potentials to source lines, each said source line couples to all the bytes on the same byte segment of the memory array. Read, erase, and program methods are provided to operate said memory devices in byte addressable fashion.
US08482975B2 Memory kink checking
This disclosure concerns memory kink checking. One embodiment includes selectively applying one of a plurality of voltages to a first data line according to a programming status of a first memory cell, wherein the first memory cell is coupled to the first data line and to a selected access line. An effect on a second data line is determined, due at least in part to the voltage applied to the first data line and a capacitive coupling between at least the first data line and the second data line, wherein the second data line is coupled to a second memory cell, the second memory cell is adjacent to the first memory cell, and the second memory cell is coupled to the selected access line. A kink correction is applied to the second data line, responsive to the determined effect, during a subsequent programming pulse applied to the second memory cell.
US08482972B2 Memory devices using a plurality of diodes as program selectors with at least one being a polysilicon diode
Embodiments of programmable memory cells using a plurality of diodes as program selectors are disclosed for memory cells that can be programmed based on direction of current flow. These memory cells are MRAM, RRAM, CBRAM, or other memory cells that have a programmable resistive element coupled to the P-terminal of a first diode and to the N-terminal of a second diode. At least one of the diodes can be a polysilicon diode fabricated using standard CMOS processes. The polysilicon diode can be constructed by P+/N+ implants on a polysilicon substrate as a program selector.
US08482967B2 Magnetic memory element with multi-domain storage layer
An apparatus and method for enhancing data writing and retention to a magnetic memory element, such as in a non-volatile data storage array. In accordance with various embodiments, a programmable memory element has a reference layer and a storage layer. The reference layer is provided with a fixed magnetic orientation. The storage layer is programmed to have a first region with a magnetic orientation antiparallel to said fixed magnetic orientation, and a second region with a magnetic orientation parallel to said fixed magnetic orientation. A thermal assist layer may be incorporated into the memory element to enhance localized heating of the storage layer to aid in the transition of the first region from parallel to antiparallel magnetic orientation during a write operation.
US08482966B2 Magnetic element utilizing protective sidewall passivation
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are directed to magnetic elements including a passivation layer for isolation from other on-chip elements. One embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) element. The MTJ element comprises: a first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer; an insulating layer disposed between the first and second ferromagnetic layers; and an MTJ passivation layer forming protective sidewalls disposed adjacent to the first ferromagnetic layer, the second ferromagnetic layer, and the insulating layer.
US08482963B1 Integrated circuits with asymmetric and stacked transistors
Asymmetric transistors may be formed by creating pocket implants on one source-drain terminal of a transistor and not the other. Asymmetric transistors may also be formed using dual-gate structures having first and second gate conductors of different work functions. Stacked transistors may be formed by stacking two transistors of the same channel type in series. One of the source-drain terminals of each of the two transistors is connected to a common node. The gates of the two transistors are also connected together. The two transistors may have different threshold voltages. The threshold voltage of the transistor that is located higher in the stacked transistor may be provided with a lower threshold voltage than the other transistor in the stacked transistor. Stacked transistors may be used to reduce leakage currents in circuits such as memory cells. Asymmetric transistors may also be used in memory cells to reduce leakage.
US08482962B2 Low noise memory array
A memory array compatible with dynamic random access memories (DRAM) and static random access memories (SRAM) is disclosed. The memory array includes a first sense amplifier (700) having a signal bit line (710) extending in a first direction and having a memory cell (714) suitable for a read operation. A second sense amplifier (704) has a second bit line (706) adjacent and parallel to the signal bit line. The second bit line receives a precharge voltage during the read operation. A third sense amplifier (704) has a third bit line (706) adjacent and parallel to the signal bit line. The third bit line receives the precharge voltage during the read operation.
US08482936B2 Method of and apparatus for connecting a photovoltaic device to an AC power grid
A method of connecting a photovoltaic device to an AC power grid through an inverter includes monitoring a DC voltage at an input of an inverter, and activating the inverter when the monitored DC voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method further includes synchronizing an output voltage of the inverter with a grid voltage, connecting an output of the inverter to the AC power grid upon synchronization if the monitored DC voltage exceeds second predetermined threshold, and deactivating the inverter if a detected power being fed through the inverter falls below a predetermined power threshold while maintaining the connection between the output of the inverter and the AC power grid. Lastly, the method includes disconnecting the output of the deactivated inverter from the grid if the monitored DC voltage falls below a third predetermined threshold. Further, an apparatus that performs such functionality is also provided.
US08482929B2 Systems for circuit board heat transfer and method of assembling same
A printed circuit board assembly is provided. The assembly includes a chassis, a heatframe coupled to the chassis, a printed circuit board (PCB), a thermal interface material (TIM) coupled between the PCB and the heatframe, and at least one thermal via extending through the PCB and coupled to the TIM, wherein the assembly is configured to transfer heat from the PCB to the chassis through the TIM and the at least one thermal via.
US08482928B2 Method of connecting printed circuit boards and corresponding arrangement
Connecting a first (12) and a second (14) printed circuit board or PCB carrying a LED lighting source (10) and the associated drive circuitry involves providing board connection pads (12a, 14a) at said first (12) and second (14) PCBs, and arranging a flex PCB (16) in a bridge-like fashion between the first (12) and second (14) PCBs. The flex PCB (16) has connection pads (16a) for bonding with the board connection pads (12a, 14a) of the PCBs (12, 14). The connection pads (16a) in the flex PCB (16) arranged in a bridge-like fashion between the first (12) and second (14) PCBs are bonded with the connection pads (12a, 14a) of the first (12) and second (14) PCBs, so that the first (12) and second (14) PCBs are connected.
US08482927B2 Backplane electronic circuit board of an electronic apparatus, in particular for an aircraft
A backplane electronic circuit board of an electronic apparatus (10) comprises an interface connector with an external system and two interface boards (22, 23) connected to one another, a first interface board (22) being connected to the said interface connector and a second interface board (23) being intended for the connection of a set of electronic circuit boards of the said electronic apparatus (10).The backplane electronic circuit board (20) comprises reinforcement means (30, 40) installed between the said two interface boards (22, 23).Use in particular in an electronic apparatus on board an aircraft.
US08482918B2 Server system with heat dissipating device
An exemplary server system includes a server cabinet, two rows of racks arranged in the server cabinet, a number of servers mounted in the racks and a heat dissipating device. The server cabinet includes two side plates parallel to each other. The servers of each row are evenly distributed between the side plates. A channel is defined between the two rows of racks. The heat dissipating device includes an air conditioner arranged over the racks for generating cooling air and an air guiding mechanism. The air conditioner defines a number of apertures facing the passage. The guiding mechanism includes a number of tubes received in the passage and respectively coupled to the apertures of the air conditioner. Each of the tubes defines a number of air outlets for exhausting the cooling air towards the servers.
US08482916B2 Mobile computing apparatus
A mobile computing apparatus includes a shell, a circuit board, a first heat-dissipation module, a centrifugal fan for exhaust, and a centrifugal fan for convection. The shell has a first through hole. The circuit board is disposed on the shell, and has a first heat-generation device. The first heat-dissipation module has a first heat-absorption end and a first heat-dissipation end, and the first heat-absorption end thermally contacts with the first heat-generation device. The centrifugal fan for exhaust has a first gas outlet, and the first heat-dissipation end is located between the first gas outlet and the first through hole, so that the centrifugal fan for exhaust exhausts to an outside of the shell. The centrifugal fan for convection is configured in the shell, and exhausts to an inside of the shell. Therefore, gas flow circulation occurs in the shell, so that the mobile computing apparatus has a desirable heat-dissipation effect.
US08482913B2 Panel door and panel with the same
A panel includes a front panel, a door, and a linking-up member. An opening is defined on the front panel to access an optical drive. The door is for covering and uncovering the opening. The linking-up member is slidably received in a first passage of the front panel and pivotally engaged with the door. A first resilient member is restricted between a rear side of the front plate and the linking-up member, wherein the first resilient member pulls the linking-up member inward. A second resilient member is positioned between the door and the linking-up member to pull the door inward to cover the opening. The door is pushed outward to uncover the opening when a tray of the optical drive is ejected.
US08482911B2 Notebook computer and casings for changing the appearance of the computer
A notebook computer includes a data processing unit, and a display unit pivotally connected with one side of the data processing unit. The display unit has a first casing member, a second casing member, and a third casing member. The first casing member is immovably disposed on the third casing member. The second casing member is separably combined upon the first casing member, which includes a plurality of first through slots, second through slots and a plurality of protrusions. The second casing member includes a plurality of first baffles and second baffles. The first casing member and second casing member can be easily combined with or separated from each other.
US08482904B2 Power module with current sensing
A power module operable to sense current, such as but not limited to a power module operable within a vehicle to sense current while rectifying an AC input to a DC output. The power module may include a shunt disposed relative an output of the power module to facilitate the current measurement.
US08482899B2 Electronic component including protruding mounting surface regions and method for manufacturing the same
A laminate includes ceramic layers laminated to each other. Internal conductors are embedded in the laminate and include exposed portions that are exposed between the ceramic layers at a lower surface and an upper surface of the laminate. External electrodes are directly plated on the lower surface and the upper surface so as to cover the respective exposed portions. Regions of the lower surface at which the exposed portions are provided are arranged to protrude from the other regions of the lower surface, and regions of the upper surface at which the exposed portions are provided are arranged to protrude from the other regions of the upper surface.
US08482895B2 Electronic circuit board, magnetic sensor, and method for protecting power supply of electronic circuit
An electronic circuit board includes a TMR element having two terminals connected to a power supply and a ground, respectively, at least through a lead. After a breakdown of a tunnel barrier film of the TMR element, at least a part of the lead breaks by an overcurrent due to a short circuit between the two terminals.
US08482891B2 Electrostatic discharge protection circuit
An ESD (Electrostatic Discharge, ESD) protection circuit includes a voltage-divider generating circuit, a decision circuit, and a switching circuit. The voltage-divider generating circuit outputs a first voltage and a second voltage according to an input voltage. The decision circuit is coupled to the voltage-divider generating circuit and receives the first voltage and the second voltage. The decision circuit outputs an output voltage according to the first voltage and the second voltage. The switching circuit is coupled to the decision circuit and is either turned on or turned off according to the output voltage. The transient voltages of the first and the second voltage are different.
US08482889B2 Band-pass structure electrostatic discharge protection circuit
The present invention relates to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit, and more particularly to a band-pass structure electrostatic discharge protection circuit. An ESD protection circuit is disposed at the input of a radio frequency (RF) core circuit. The ESD protection circuit comprises a plurality of diodes and inductors constructing a plurality of discharging paths, wherein the diodes and inductors forms a band-pass filter structure. Such that, the RF core circuit with the ESD protection circuit of the present invention feature much higher ESD robustness and better RF performance than the conventional design.
US08482886B2 Protection circuit, resonant converter including the protection circuit, and protecting method of the resonant converter
The present invention relates to a protection circuit, a resonance converter having the same, and a protection method thereof. A resonance converter having high-side and low-side switches senses a current flowing through the low-side switch and determines a zero voltage switching failure by using a width of a current flowing to a negative direction of the low-side switch.
US08482884B2 Emergency utility interruption system
A device is provided for the prevention of damage due to the continued supply of a utility to an appliance, the device comprising: 1) a detector which detects circumstances of present or impending emergency and responds by sending a detector signal to 2) a receiver which receives a signal from the detector and in response emits a receiver signal; 3) a transmitter which receives the receiver signal and in response signals a 4) restrictor to attenuate or quench a utility supply to an appliance.
US08482882B2 Mounting assembly
A tolerance ring is disclosed and can include a strip of material having a length, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of radially extending projections between the first and second ends. The strip of material can be curved into a ring having a gap. The radially extending projections are configured to be compressible between a bore and a shaft. A width and/or a height of a radially extending projection closest to the first end is different from a width and/or a height of a radially extending projection closest to a line extending perpendicular to the length and bisecting the strip of material within a circumferential row of the radially extending projections.
US08482851B2 Projection optical system and projection display device using the same
A projection optical system and a projection display device using the same is provided, wherein the projection optical system has a sufficiently small size to be provided in a front-projection-type projector and can effectively correct various aberrations. An original image on an image display surface is enlarged and projected onto a screen by a first optical system that includes a plurality of lenses and a second optical system that includes a reflecting mirror having a concave surface with an aspheric shape. All of the optical surfaces of the first optical system and the second optical system are rotationally symmetric surfaces each having the optical axis common to all of the optical surfaces as its center. A first lens surface, which is a reduction-side surface, and a second lens surface, which is a magnification-side surface, of a lens (fourteenth lens) closest to a magnification side in the first optical system satisfy predetermined conditional expressions.
US08482845B2 Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method
A lithographic projection apparatus is disclosed in which a space between the projection system and a sensor is filled with a liquid.
US08482831B2 Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
The present invention provides an optical scanning device that can suppress irregularity of the rotation of a polygon mirror and an image forming apparatus that is disposed with this optical scanning device. The optical scanning device includes: a rotating polygon mirror that rotates and deflects light that has been emitted from a light source; and a plate member that covers one surface of surfaces intersecting an axial direction of a rotating shaft of the rotating polygon mirror, wherein a projecting portion that projects in the axial direction of the rotating shaft away from the rotating polygon mirror is disposed in the plate member.
US08482829B2 Laser processing apparatus and laser processing method
A laser processing apparatus 1 includes a laser light source 10, a phase modulation type spatial light modulator 20, a driving unit 21, a control unit 22, and an imaging optical system 30. The imaging optical system 30 may be a telecentric optical system. A storage unit 21A included in the driving unit stores a plurality of basic holograms corresponding to a plurality of basic processing patterns and a focusing hologram corresponding to a Fresnel lens pattern. The control unit 22 arranges in parallel two or more basic holograms selected from the plurality of basic holograms stored in the storage unit 21A, overlaps the focusing hologram with each of the basic holograms arranged in parallel to form the whole hologram, and presents the formed whole hologram to the spatial light modulator 20.
US08482827B2 Annotation on media sheet indicating functionality to be performed in relation to image on media sheet
A media sheet is scanned. The media sheet has an image and an annotation. The annotation indicates a functionality to be performed in relation to the image. The annotation on the media sheet as scanned is detected. The functionality to be performed in relation to the image is determined in correspondence to the annotation detected on the media sheet. The functionality to which the annotation corresponds is performed in relation to the image.
US08482824B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes: a sheet table including a placement surface on which a sheet is placed; a light emitting device including light sources; a light emitting unit including a plurality of light emitting devices for emitting light to the placement surface; a light receiving unit; a read image conversion unit converting the received light into read image information; a pulse signal output unit that outputs a pulse signal; a plurality of drive current supply units supplying drive currents to the plurality of light emitting devices; a light emission control unit; a first light emission parameter determination unit; and a second light emission parameter determination unit. The light emission control unit controls the light sources to emit the same color light in sequence based on a drive current value of a first and second light emitting devices and a light emission time of the light sources.
US08482815B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading device includes: an original table having a stationary original reading area and a moving original reading area on its top surface; an image reading unit provided inside the original table and moving the reading line in the direction of the width of the stationary original reading area and to the moving original reading area with the direction of the length of the stationary original reading area as the reading line; an original cover openably and closably provided on the original table so as to cover at least the stationary original reading area; and an ADF having an original conveyance path leading from an original tray by way of the moving original reading area to an original output tray. The image reading device reads originals of sizes larger than the readable stationary original size without any size increase of the device.
US08482810B2 System and method for facsimile communication of non-facsimile-communication-protocol/non-facsimile-image data
A system and method transmit and receive information through a telephony based communication channel by scanning a hardcopy image to convert the hardcopy image into an electronic image and adding non-facsimile-communication-protocol/non-facsimile-image digital data to an electronic image to be transmitted by a telephony based communication circuit. Non-facsimile-communication-protocol/non-facsimile-image digital data is detected within an electronic image received from another facsimile system transmitting the electronic image based upon a telephony based communication protocol. Data received from another facsimile system transmitting the data based upon a telephony based communication protocol is directed, through a network based communication circuit, to a network based processing system, in response to detection of non-facsimile-communication-protocol/non-facsimile-image digital data within the data received from another facsimile system transmitting the data based upon a telephony based communication protocol.
US08482807B2 Embedding information using modulated periodic line patterns
A method and system is provided providing a variable data guilloché pattern comprised of variable data differential line pattern fonts comprising decodable template symbols which are capable of being selectively assembled into a predetermined variable data code. The differential line pattern fonts are further spatially modulated for imposition of a second data channel on a printed document. The representation can be decoded with a digital scanner capable of identifying the embedded patterns and spatially modulated transform function and communicate it to a user for verifying a document containing the code.
US08482804B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
A pixel in a photograph region image to be subjected to blacking is subjected to a brightness modulation processing so that the pixel is modulated to any of “a pixel having the brightness to be subject to blacking” and “a pixel having the brightness not to be subject to blacking”. Specifically, the modulation by noise addition converts some pixels for which original pixel values are to be subjected to blacking to a pixel having the brightness not subjected to blacking. Thereby, “a pixel having the brightness not to be subject to blacking” thus converted has no change in brightness in the blacking processing. Consequently, a pixel at which the blacking processing is not generated can be caused to exist in the photograph image. As a result, even when the blacking processing set for character/line region is similarly set for the photograph region, the effect of the blacking can be reduced.
US08482802B2 Screened hardcopy reproduction apparatus with compensation
Screened hardcopy reproduction apparatus for applying toner to a receiver using a print engine that may not apply toner uniformly, so the toner applied to the receiver has a non-uniformity. A controller receives an input pixel level and a corresponding input pixel location; a tone-reproduction unit calculates an output pixel level from the input pixel level and a corresponding output pixel location from the input pixel location; a compensator calculates a compensated pixel level from the output pixel level and the output pixel location; and a screening unit calculates a screened pixel level and a screened pixel location from the compensated pixel level, the output pixel location, and a selected screening pattern. The print engine applies an amount of the toner corresponding to the screened pixel level and the non-uniformity to the receiver at a toner location corresponding to the screened pixel location to compensate for the non-uniformity.
US08482801B2 Storage of stamp information for error diffusion
A method and system for processing image data in an image processing device for a plurality of pixel positions within a plurality of scanlines. The method and system includes storing a starting stamp value and a plurality of delta stamp values for the scanline. The stored values being used to generate a pixel stamp value for an input pixel in the scanline, by adding a starting value or previous pixel stamp value and the stored delta stamp value for the input pixel. Further includes receiving an input pixel intensity value for the input pixel and determining an output pixel intensity value. Subsequently, if the output pixel intensity value for the input pixel is equal to a value for a dot or hole the delta stamp values for at least one pixel having a location previous or subsequent to the input pixel can be updated.
US08482800B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
In image processing it is possible to adequately reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating 2-pass multi-pass printing data, in addition to the divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is also generated. Moreover, the quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data of each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, the division ratio when generating common data in the division of multi-valued data is set according to the duty (gradation value) of the multi-valued data. By doing so it becomes possible to adequately reduce the density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data.
US08482799B2 Color processing using temperature and light source
A first color value of a printing medium under a first light source which emits first light including light in an ultraviolet region and at a first temperature is obtained from either a measured data table or a measurement section. A second color value of the printing medium under the first light source and at a second temperature different from the first temperature is obtained from either the measured data table or the measurement section. A color value of the printing medium at a viewing temperature, which is different from the first and second temperatures, is estimated from the obtained first and second color values.
US08482798B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method to suppress color nonuniformity
A plurality of color data respectively undergo quantization processing, and a logical multiplication of the plurality of quantized color data is calculated. A product of the plurality of color data is calculated. A first low frequency component is extracted from the logical multiplication, and a second low frequency component is extracted from the product. The first low frequency component is subtracted from each of the plurality of color data, and the second low frequency component is added to the subtraction results to generate a plurality of corrected color data. The plurality of corrected color data respectively undergo the quantization processing.
US08482793B2 Memory efficient electronic registration method that compensates image content and prevents halftone moiré
Systems and methods are described that facilitate compensating for slow scan direction displacement (e.g., skew and/or bow) defects in a raster line using slow-scan electronic registration. Input image data is buffered at low-resolution (e.g., 600 spi or the like). Displacement compensation is performed as the low-resolution contone image data is converted to high-resolution (e.g., 2400 spi or the like), and a displaced (e.g., staggered) halftoning threshold array is indexed to account for detected displacement. Displacement compensation is again performed during conversion of the high-resolution contone image data to high-resolution binary image data that is used to generate an output image.
US08482790B2 Image forming apparatus and image processing method
When both of a trapping and a resolution converting process are executed, a deterioration in picture quality occurs. In order to solve this problem, an image forming apparatus is provided which performs a trapping process to expand outlines of objects whose boundaries are in contact with each other, performs a resolution conversion process to change density of edges of an image, and restricts processing so that the trapping process and the resolution conversion process are not executed to a same pixel.
US08482789B2 Image reading apparatus and image reading control method for performing pre-scanning process before reading process
An image reading apparatus includes a feeder, a first reading unit, a first memory which stores image data of the surface of the document read by the first reading unit, a second reading unit located at an upstream side of the first reading position, a second memory which stores image data of the document read by the second reading unit and a controller configured to control the feeder, the first reading unit and the second reading unit. The controller controls to execute pre-scanning the document by the second reading unit over a predetermined range shorter than a separation distance between the first reading position and the second reading position in a transporting direction from a leading edge of the document when the document reaches the second reading position. The controller further controls to execute storing obtained pre-scanned image data into the second memory and measuring the size of the document based on the pre-scanned image data stored in the second memory. The controller still further controls to execute reading the surface of the document by the first reading unit when the document reaches the first reading position, and storing obtained first image data into the first memory. The controller controls to execute processing the first image data stored in the first memory based on the size of the document obtained in the measuring.
US08482788B2 Image processing apparatus, terminal, printer apparatus and image processing method, having image restoring function
An image processing apparatus, a terminal, a printer apparatus and an image processing method for restoring, when document image obtained from an original image is read and turned to electronic data, the image data in the form of electronic data to the state of original image, are provided. An image processing apparatus reading a document image formed from an original image includes a print condition recognizing unit recognizing a mark on the read image and confirming contents represented by the mark; and an image restoring unit restoring, if the print condition recognizing unit confirms that conditions for forming a document are included in the mark, the read image to the state of original image based on the conditions for forming the document represented by the mark.
US08482783B2 Network scanning system
A network scanning system has a control apparatus connected to a connection device via a network and includes a scanning application for remotely controlling a scanner, where the scanning application receives a command from the connection device and automatically transmits to a display unit of the connection device via the network without a user operation of the scanning application, a selection screen information, the connection device displays a selection menu and transmits, to the scanning application in the control apparatus, a selection item information specifying an item selected by a user of the display unit, and the scanning application automatically transmits, to the connection device without a user operation of the scanning application in the control apparatus, a control signal based on the selection item, and the scanning application in the control apparatus automatically controls the scanner remotely in accordance with the control signal via the network.
US08482781B2 System and method for proximity-based printing
A system and method for proximity-based printing are disclosed. A method may include communicating access point proximity information from an information handling system to a print server, the access point proximity information including information regarding the proximity of the information handling system to one or more network access points. The method may also include receiving printer proximity information from the print server, the printer proximity information based at least on the access point proximity information and including information regarding the proximity of the information handling system to one or more printers. The method may additionally include displaying the printer proximity information to a user interface. The method may further include receiving from the user interface a user selection of a printer and communicating the user selection to the print server.
US08482779B2 Reducing redundancy of processing by acquiring image correction or a parameter that has been already performed at another apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive an image and a correction instruction with respect to the image; an acquisition unit configured to acquire a history of image processing performed to the image from the image; an update unit configured to update the correction instruction based on the history; and an image processing unit configured to perform processing indicated by the correction instruction updated by the update unit to the image.
US08482774B2 Image forming apparatus displaying function-related information
A CPU of an MFP executes a program including: a step of receiving combination information collecting combinations of functions set by a user from a server computer and storing the information in a function combination management table; a step of reading the function combination management table, when a user logged in to a certain MFP selects a function; a step of reading not-to-be-displayed recommended function for the user from a not-to-be-displayed function management table; a step of displaying a function or functions combined with high frequency with the established function and not set to be not-to-be-displayed, as recommendations on a touch panel display; and a step of storing, when a recommended menu setting button is pressed and a function set as not-to-be-displayed function is established, storing the selected function as the not-to-be-displayed recommended function, in the not-to-be-displayed function management table.
US08482766B2 Automatic adjustment print job submission mechanism
A method disclosed. The method includes a print application determining if capacity is available at a print server to receive print jobs in a print job queue, analyzing the characteristics of the print jobs in the print job queue if there is no capacity available at the print server to receive the print jobs and automatically prioritizing the print jobs in the print job queue based upon the characteristics.
US08482758B2 Method and device for processing a sequence of digital images with a scalable format
The method of processing a sequence of digital images, in the context of coding according to a bit stream comprising compressed output images organized according to at least two temporal hierarchy levels in accordance with a predetermined scalable format, comprises the following steps: obtaining and storing original images, and generating output images, by the transformation of original images and/or intermediate images, and/or output images, in a first chosen order so that the number of images to be stored, simultaneously necessary for the transformation of the original images into output images, is minimal.
US08482751B2 Radio frequency identification printing device
This disclosure relates to a system, apparatus and method for incorporating radio frequency identification (RFID) technology into a printing device that may provide an assortment of functional performance capabilities. This may include the ability to scan media information such as text and/or images along with RFID identifier information and process, copy and/or forward such text media and/or identifier information to a remote location.
US08482750B2 Processing apparatus and control method for the processing apparatus
A processing apparatus which is capable of releasing priority use of apparatuses that are reserved for priority use but are not actually used, even when a plurality of apparatuses are used by priority during a particular time period. Reservation records about reservations for priority use of apparatuses are stored in a master machine. In the master machine, it is determined whether or not all the apparatuses on a reservation cooperation list are exclusively reserved during the same time period, by referring to the reservation records. When all the apparatuses which are reserved for priority use during the same time period, the master machine sends an exclusive release permission command to each subordinate machine reserved for priority use during the same time period among all the apparatuses.
US08482747B2 Information processing device for printing images of a webpage, and recording medium having program for printing images of a web page
An information processing device prints a link source webpage and a link target webpage so that (i) it is easy to grasp, from a printout of these webpages, that these webpages are associated with each other, and (ii) the printout can be easily organized. MFP displays a webpage using a web browser, stores image data of the webpage currently displayed, and detects whether this webpage has been switched to another webpage upon a user operation (e.g., a click operation). Upon this page switch, MFP stores image data of the other webpage, which is now currently displayed. When a print instruction is issued, MFP enlarges/reduces images of the webpages previously and currently displayed so they can be printed on the same sheet in proper sizes, generates a print image showing the enlarged/reduced images of these webpages, and prints the generated print image.
US08482746B2 Multifunction image processing apparatus and method of controlling the multifunction image processing apparatus
A multifunction image processing apparatus having a plurality of functions including at least an image transmission function includes a job execution unit executing a job for any of the functions; an output unit outputting result information after execution of a job for the image transmission function, the result information containing information indicating a result of the execution; a macro execution unit causing the job execution unit to execute a job on the basis of macro data indicating the at least one of the plurality of functions and order of executing the at least one of the plurality of functions; and a control unit causing the output unit not to output the result information after the job is executed if the job is for executing the image transmission function and the macro data indicates that there is a function to be executed after the execution of the image transmission function.
US08482744B2 Thin-film inspection apparatus and method therefor
A thin-film inspection apparatus calculates a film thickness of a first transparent thin film and a second transparent thin film of an inspection-target substrate including the first and second transparent thin films and a transparent conductive film on a transparent glass substrate. The apparatus has a storage section storing at least two feature-value characteristics in which at least two feature values selected from feature values in a spectral reflectance spectrum; a light irradiation section irradiating the inspection-target substrate with white light through the transparent glass substrate; a light receiving section receiving light reflected from the inspection-target substrate; and an arithmetic section obtaining measurement values of the feature values stored in the storage section from the spectral reflectance spectrum based on the reflected light received by the light receiving section, and calculating the film thickness of each of the first transparent thin film and the second transparent thin film.
US08482737B2 Variable spectral element
A variable spectroscopic element in which a placed position of first sensor and a placed position of the third sensor are symmetrical and a placed position of second sensor and a placed position of fourth sensor are symmetrical with respect to a line connecting the centers of mass of the surfaces of a pair of optical substrates opposite to each other respectively and first to fourth actuators are arranged includes a control unit which calculates a distance between the centers of mass, a first angle that is made between the moved optical substrate and the other optical substrate and a second angle that is made between the other optical substrate and the moved optical substrate, with signals from the first to fourth sensors, and drives the first to fourth actuators on the basis of the distance between the centers of mass, the first angle, and the second angle.
US08482730B2 Signal noise reduction for imaging in biological analysis
A system and method for characterizing contributions to signal noise associated with charge-coupled devices adapted for use in biological analysis. Dark current contribution, readout offset contribution, photo response non-uniformity, and spurious charge contribution can be determined by the methods of the present teachings and used for signal correction by systems of the present teachings.
US08482725B2 Method and apparatus for identification of multiple fibers using an OTDR
In order to simplify and expedite identification of fibers (DF1/1, . . . , DF2/4) in multi-fiber cables (DF1, DF2), a method of identifying each of a plurality of fibers includes the steps of launching light into each of the fibers using an OTDR and applying a unique signature to each resulting OTDR trace by means of an event feature box comprising signature-applying means (EB) connected to a distal end of the fibers. The resulting plurality of OTDR traces have different signatures, enabling identification of each of the fibers by detecting its signature in the corresponding OTDR trace.
US08482717B2 Polarization-modulating optical element
The invention relates to a projection system, comprising a radiation source, an illumination system operable to illuminate a structured mask, and a projection objective for projecting an image of the mask structure onto a light-sensitive substrate, wherein said projection system comprises an optical system comprising an optical axis or a preferred direction given by the direction of a light beam propagating through the optical system; the optical system comprising a temperature compensated polarization-modulating optical element described by coordinates of a coordinate system, wherein one preferred coordinate of the coordinate system is parallel to the optical axis or parallel to said preferred direction; said temperature compensated polarization-modulating optical element comprising a first and a second polarization-modulating optical element, the first and/or the second polarization-modulating optical element comprising solid and/or liquid optically active material and a profile of effective optical thickness, wherein the effective optical thickness varies at least as a function of one coordinate different from the preferred coordinate of the coordinate system, in addition or alternative the first and/or the second polarization-modulating optical element comprises solid and/or liquid optically active material, wherein the effective optical thickness is constant as a function of at least one coordinate different from the preferred coordinate of the coordinate system; wherein the first polarization-modulating optical element comprises optically active material with a specific rotation of opposite sign compared to the optically active material of the second polarization-modulating optical element.
US08482708B2 Multi-domain liquid crystal display and manufacturing method of the same
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a liquid crystal layer may be aligned by using an alignment layer including an alignment base layer having a horizontal alignment base layer and a vertical alignment base layer, and an alignment control agent. Accordingly, a multi-domain liquid crystal display having an excellent viewing angle for all grays may be provided. Also, a multi-domain liquid crystal display having a fast response speed as well as an excellent viewing angle for all grays may be provided.
US08482692B2 LCD apparatus with edge-engaging assembly and method of fabricating such edge-engaging assembly
The invention provides an LCD apparatus including a backlight assembly, an LCD panel assembly and an edge-engaging assembly. In particular, the edge-engaging assembly comprises N edge-engaging members, wherein N is an integer ranging from 1 to 4. Each of the N edge-engaging members has a respective inner wall adapted to engage the corresponding edge portions of the backlight assembly and the LCD assembly.
US08482686B2 Displays with minimized crosstalk
Display ground plane structures may contain slits. Image pixel electrodes in the display may be arranged in rows and columns. Image pixels in the display may be controlled using gate lines that are associated with the rows and data lines that are associated with the columns. An electric field may be produced by each image pixel electrode that extends through a liquid crystal layer to an associated portion of the ground plane. The slits in the ground plane may have a slit width. Data lines may be located sufficiently below the ground plane and sufficiently out of alignment with the slits to minimize crosstalk from parasitic electric fields. A three-column inversion scheme may be used when driving data line signals into the display, so that pairs of pixels that straddle the slits are each driven with a common polarity. Gate line scanning patterns may be used that enhance display uniformity.
US08482685B2 Liquid crystal display panel
In a liquid crystal display panel, an array substrate includes a plurality of pixels that each having a switching device, a first pixel electrode, a coupling electrode, and a second pixel electrode. The switching device outputs a data voltage in response to a gate signal, and the first pixel electrode and the coupling electrode are connected to an output electrode of the switching device to receive the data voltage. The second pixel electrode faces the coupling electrode and receives a voltage lower than the data voltage. The resistance between the second pixel electrode and the coupling electrode is less than the resistance between the second pixel electrode and the common electrode.
US08482676B2 Differential antenna and associated control system applied to digital TV
A differential antenna and associated control system applied to a digital television (TV). The control system includes a differential antenna receiving a broadcasting signal and generating a differential radio frequency (RF) signal including a positive signal and a negative signal; a control unit generating a selecting signal according to a selected channel; a switch circuit including a switch control circuit and a plurality of matching circuits. Each of the matching circuits optimizes part of the digital TV bandwidth, and the switch control circuit receives the selecting signal to control that an optimized positive signal is generated to the control unit after the positive signal passes through a first matching circuit of the matching circuits, and an optimized negative signal is generated to the control unit after the negative signal passes through a second matching circuit of the matching circuits. The first matching circuit and the second matching circuit optimize the same frequency band, and a differential optimizing signal includes the optimized positive signal and the optimized negative signal. Thus, the control unit generates a selected channel signal accordingly.
US08482661B2 Power transmission mechanism having cam-incorporated gear, and power transmission mechanism of imaging apparatus
A power transmission mechanism includes a rotational drive member which rotates to drive a driven member, a drive switcher for switching between a transmission-ON state in which a driving force of a drive source is transmitted to the rotational drive member to rotate the rotational drive member and a transmission-OFF state in which the transmission of the driving force to the rotational drive member is canceled, and a rotation restrictor which allows the rotational drive member to rotate when the drive switcher is in the transmission-ON state and is engaged with the rotational drive member to restrict rotation of the rotational drive member when the drive switcher is in the transmission-OFF state.
US08482653B2 Vibrating device and image equipment having the same
A dust-screening member includes a plate-like light transmitting portion having a polygonal shape, and at least one plate-like side wall portion which tilts as much as a predetermined angle and extends from at least one side of the light transmitting portion so that they do not come in contact with each other. A vibrating member is fixed to one plate-like side wall portion and apples a vertical vibrational amplitude to the surface of the light transmitting portion. The light transmitting portion and the at least one side wall portion are formed to have a substantially uniform thickness by use of the same material. The light transmitting portion is positioned in front of an image forming element held by a holding member. The one side wall portion is fixed to the holding member at a position other than a position to which the vibrating member is fixed.
US08482641B2 Image sensor devices having peripheral circuits therein that use light guide materials as electrical insulators
An image sensor includes an array of image sensor cells, on a substrate, and a peripheral circuit region extending adjacent the array of image sensor cells. The array of image sensor cells includes a plurality of lens elements and a plurality of color filters extending adjacent the plurality of lens elements. A plurality of photodiodes is provided in the substrate. The plurality of photodiodes are aligned to corresponding ones of the plurality of lens elements. An interconnection structure is also provided, which extends between the plurality of photodiodes and the plurality of color filters. The interconnection structure has an array of cavities therein that are aligned to corresponding ones of the plurality of photodiodes and are filled with a light guide material. The peripheral circuit region includes a metal interconnect pattern and an electrically conductive pad on the metal interconnect pattern. An electrically insulating layer extends on the electrically conductive pad. The electrically insulating layer is formed of the light guide material.
US08482637B2 Imaging device and imaging method having zoom optical system including a light wavefront modulation element
An imaging device includes a zoom optical system including a light wavefront modulation element which has a light wavefront modulation function and is able to adjust a light wavefront modulation pattern, an imaging element capturing an image of an object passed through the zoom optical system, a modulation pattern control part controlling the light wavefront modulation pattern of the light wavefront modulation element, and an image processing part applying predetermined processing to an image signal of the object from the imaging element.
US08482633B2 Apparatus and method for image processing using security function
An image processing apparatus includes: a user input unit that converts input manipulation of a user into an input signal; a security setting unit that sets a security mode and a password based on the input signal; an imaging unit that captures an image and converts the image into image data; an encoding processor that encodes the image data in such a way that the image data is combined with the password and the image corresponding to image data is deformed when the image processing apparatus is set in the security mode by the security setting unit; and a storage unit that stores the image data.
US08482632B2 Imaging apparatus having temporary recording mode and direct recording mode
An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device acquiring a captured image on a subject; a display section; setting means for setting whether to make effective a temporary recording mode in which the captured image is temporarily recorded in a first storage section; if the temporary recording mode is effective, display control means for playback displaying the captured image recorded in the first storage section from when the temporary recording mode has been effective on the display section in response to an instruction operation of a user; and recording control means for recording an image specified by the user from the playback-displayed captured images in a second storage section as an image to be saved.
US08482628B1 Early radial distortion correction
An apparatus includes an input module and a color synthesis module. The input module is configured to receive mosaic image data representing an image. The mosaic image data includes radial distortion. The color synthesis module, implemented in digital electronic circuitry, includes a radial distortion correction module and a synthesis module. The radial distortion correction module is configured to receive the mosaic image data and generate correction data to correct the radial distortion in the mosaic image data. The synthesis module is configured to receive the mosaic image data and the correction data, wherein the mosaic image data includes a plurality of input pixel values and respective input pixel locations prior to being corrected, and generate demosaiced image data using the mosaic image data and the correction data.
US08482615B2 Method for controlling display for initial setting and display device using the same
When a user uses a display device for the first time in a factory mode, whether or not there are defective pixels is examined, and a guide message for setting initial settings is provided, so the user can use the display device in an optimal environment. As a result, if the display device has defective pixels, the user can be provided with after-sales service at an appropriate time, and use the display device at its full potential in an environment most suitable for the display device is set.
US08482614B2 Content presentation optimizer
The present disclosure provides a technique for controlling the presentation of content in a venue to provide an optimal presentation, as well as one or more standard and or user defined presentations. The present disclosure includes optimal setup data along with content to permit devices operating according to the present disclosure to decode the setup data and configure themselves to provide an optimal presentation of the content. A content presentation optimizer according to the present disclosure provides the necessary mechanism for any compliant device to understand a basic set of control commands, so that any one device within a connected network of compliant devices can initiate these control commands toward a destination device.
US08482612B2 System and method for location tracking
It is provided a system for embedment within a sport playing object, a ball for example. The system is associated with continuous determination of a state of the object, its location and pose. The system includes an inertial navigation system (INS) module first state module adapted for measuring parameters associated with the object state, a wireless transmitter, a battery for providing electric power, and a mounting module connecting the object with the first state module, the wireless transmitter and the battery. Independent data relating to the object state is provided by a second state module, a camera system for example. The object state is calculated in accordance with the parameters measured by the first state module and in accordance with the independent provided data. The camera system capturing the object includes at least two mutually displaced camera clusters, and each camera cluster includes one or more cameras for providing a predetermined spatial resolution. The system may include a global positioning system (GPS) module which provides the independent data relating to the object state.
US08482610B2 Integrated antenna system for imaging microsatellites
Examples of imaging microsatellites are described that have an imaging system and antenna system disposed within the microsatellite body when the microsatellite is in a non-deployed state. The properties of the antenna system can be adjusted such that the antenna system does not impact, contact, or displace the imaging system when the microsatellite is in the non-deployed state. The properties of the antenna system can be adjusted such that the antenna system does not contact or impact the body of the microsatellite or any other structure when the microsatellite transitions to a deployed state. The antenna system can be configured to achieve a desired gain and/or data transmission rate by adjusting properties of the antenna system based on the radiation pattern of an antenna feed and geometric constraints imposed by the imaging system. Examples of methods for designing such imaging microsatellites are provided.
US08482601B2 Method and apparatus for 3-D electron holographic visual and audio scene propagation in a video or cinematic arena, digitally processed, auto language tracking
A system and method for displaying images in three dimensions. The system may include a dual axis four lens system, four LCD switching elements, a pair of LCD switched dual filtered dichroic mirrors, and a pair of half silvered dichroic color filter elements, and two charge coupled device pickups. The system may process light through a number of axis to produce optical disparity for presenting three dimensional video.
US08482574B2 System, method, and computer program product for calculating statistics associated with a surface to be rendered utilizing a graphics processor
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for calculating statistics associated with a surface to be rendered utilizing a graphics processor. In use, w-values are identified using a graphics processor. Additionally, the graphics processor is utilized for calculating statistics associated with at least one surface to be rendered using the w-values. Furthermore, the statistics are stored.
US08482573B2 Apparatus and method for processing data
Incoming video data is processed. According to an example embodiment, video data as presented in rows of pixels is stored in terms of blocks of pixels of corresponding images making up the video. When a particular pixel is read from memory, the block of pixels is retrieved (e.g., with a single read), facilitating (simultaneous) access to pixels in adjacent rows or columns, without necessarily accessing entire rows and columns to do so.
US08482568B2 Systems and methods for specifying arbitrary animation controls for model objects
Systems and methods for defining or specifying an arbitrary set of one or more animation control elements or variables (i.e., “avars”), and for associating the set with a model object or part of a model object. Once a set of avars (“avarset”) is associated with an object model, a user is able to select that model or part of the model, and the avarset associated with that part of the model is made available to, or enabled for, any animation tool that affords avar editing capabilities or allows manipulation of the model using animation control elements. This enables users to create and save sets of avars to share between characters, or other objects, and shots. In certain embodiments, the user can associate multiple avarsets with a model part and can designate one of those sets as “primary” so that when that model part is selected, the designated primary avarset is broadcast to the available editing tools. Additionally, the user can override the primary designation set and select one of the other sets of avars, or the user can cycle through the various associated avarsets.
US08482559B2 Method and apparatus for triangle tessellation
Tessellation triangles, which are used to model three-dimensional surfaces in computer-generated graphics, can be more efficiently calculated by retrieving tessellation triangle vertices and Bezier-function coefficients using a single, two-part address.
US08482554B2 Device and method for driving liquid crystal display device
A device for driving a liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having a plurality pixel regions formed thereon, a data driver to drive data lines on the liquid crystal panel, a gate driver to drive gate lines on the liquid crystal panel, a driving voltage generating unit to generate a common voltage wherein a level of the common voltage swings every frame, and a timing controller to control the driving voltage generating unit and the gate driver to generate a gate driving voltage wherein a level of the gate driving voltage varies in accordance with the common voltage swinging level.
US08482547B2 Determining the location of one or more objects on a touch surface
A device operates on output signals from a light sensor arrangement in a touch-sensing apparatus to determine a position of an object on a touch surface. The apparatus includes a light transmissive panel that defines the touch surface and an opposite surface. A light source arrangement provides sheets of light inside the panel, wherein each sheet comprises light that propagates by internal reflection between the touch surface and the opposite surface from one or more incoupling points to a set of outcoupling points. The light sensor arrangement generates the output signals, which represent light reaching the outcoupling points. The apparatus is configured such that an object touching the touch surface locally attenuates at least two sheets of light. To determine the position, the device identifies, in the output signals, a set of signal profiles originating from said object. The device determines at least part of an attenuated light path across the panel based on each signal profile, and identifies the position of the object on the touch surface based on the thus-determined attenuated light paths. In determining the attenuated light path, the device applies a predetermined width function which is representative of a dependence of signal profile width on distance to the incoupling point due to light scattering caused by at least one of the touch surface and the opposite surface.
US08482544B2 Negative pixel compensation
Negative pixel compensation in a touch sensitive device is disclosed. The device can compensate for a negative pixel effect in touch signal outputs due to poor grounding of an object touching the device. To do so, the device can switch to a configuration to measure the grounding condition of the touching object and use the measurement to compensate the touch output values from the device accordingly. In the switched configuration, a first set of lines of the device can be switched between a coupling to a stimulation signal input to drive the device, a coupling to a capacitance signal output to output a signal indicative of the object's grounding condition, and a coupling to ground. A second set of lines of the device can be coupled to a touch signal output to output a signal indicative of the object's touch at the device. In addition or alternatively, in the switched configuration, the first set of lines of the device can be switched to function as the second set of lines and vice versa. The grounding signal can be applied to the touch signal to compensate for the negative pixel effect.
US08482541B2 Touch panel and portable device using the same
A gap between an upper transparent electrode base member and a lower transparent electrode base member is filled with a transparent adhesive layer as a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, to eliminate an air layer.
US08482538B2 Information input device, information input method, information input-output device, storage medium, and electronic unit
An information input device includes an input panel and one or more circuits. The one or more circuits are configured to determine first, second and third representations of possible proximity of an object to an input panel from first, second and third input frames, respectively. The second input frame is generated after the first input frame, and the third input frame is generated after the second input frame. The one or more circuits are configured to determine whether proximity of the object to the input panel is detected for the second input frame, based on the third representation, if the first and second representations are not similar.
US08482536B1 Compensation of signal values for a touch sensor
An apparatus includes a data conditioning module configured to translate each of a plurality of signal strength values to a compensated signal value, where the compensated signal value is a function of its corresponding signal strength value.
US08482533B2 Contact tracking and identification module for touch sensing
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.
US08482531B2 Electronic calculator and method of controlling the calculator
An electronic calculator is very useful for learning manipulation procedure to perform a predetermined process by designating a position on a display screen of the calculator. Manipulation is executed on a touch screen 16a of the display screen with a touch pen. When a function expression is entered to execute a process for displaying a graphic, a position and content of manipulation in each manipulating process are previously recorded in an external recording medium 13 in association with the order of manipulation. Thereafter, the position and content of manipulation are read from the external recording medium 13 every manipulation to display the position of manipulation and a mark indicating the content of the manipulation, thereby instructing manipulation to be executed. When touch manipulation is executed as instructed, a process is performed to enter the function expression and display a graphic, and manipulation to be executed in the following order of manipulation is displayed on the display screen.
US08482525B2 Knee operated computer mouse
The present invention teaches an improved method of controlling a cursor on a computer screen, without using the hand, by strapping the mouse around the patella section of the leg with a patella strap and utilizing leg muscle movement, while sitting down, to control the direction of the cursor. After manipulating the cursor by using body movement and keeping both hands on the keyboard, the programmable function keys or another hands free or appendage attached push button, motion, or voice device are used to execute a command. By eliminating the need of hand movement to move the cursor, the user is helped to prevent the development of carpal tunnel, DeQuervains tendonitis, debilitating muscle cramps, fatigue and other repeated motion related conditions.
US08482522B2 Method and system for navigating within an image
The present invention relates to at least one image section which is represented according to a zoom factor selected from a number of different zoom factors. Either the represented image section is changed when the zoom factor is lower than a zoom threshold value, or a marker representation superimposing the image section is displaced when the zoom factor is higher than a zoom threshold value, via input elements.
US08482518B2 Input apparatus and image forming apparatus
An input apparatus for a user to input an instruction into a body apparatus is disclosed. The input apparatus includes: a projection unit configured to project images of a plurality of virtual keys onto a projection area on a floor surface; a position detection unit configured to detect position information of a foot of the user put on the projection area; and a key detection unit configured to detect a virtual key corresponding to a position of the foot of the user from among the virtual keys based on information on the images of the virtual keys and a result of detection by the position detection unit.
US08482513B2 Liquid crystal display device having a plurality of first and second scanning lines and a plurality of first and second video lines
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having first and second scanning lines, first and second video lines, a first scanning line driving circuit, a second scanning line driving circuit, at least one first video line driving circuit, at least one second video line driving circuit, a backlight having a number of light sources, and a light controlling circuit for controlling the turning on and off of the backlight. The first scanning lines are divided into M groups where M is an integer of 2 or more (M≧2), the second scanning lines are divided into N groups where N is an integer of 2 or more (N≧2), the region of the backlight which corresponds to the first scanning lines is divided into M regions, and the region which corresponds to the second scanning lines is divided into N regions.
US08482485B2 Barrier device and electronic display device
A barrier device and a display device including the barrier device, include a plurality of column barrier electrodes and a plurality of row barrier electrodes. In the barrier unit, the column barrier electrodes are divided as a plurality of first column barrier electrodes and a plurality of second column barrier electrodes. Crossing regions of the first column barrier electrode and the plurality of row barrier electrodes are different from crossing regions of the second column barrier electrode and the plurality of row barrier electrodes. The barrier device improves image quality of stereoscopic images displayed by the display device.
US08482483B2 Display control device, display, display system and computer-readable medium
A display control device includes a position specifying unit, an image specifying unit and a controller. The position specifying unit specifies a position of a second apparatus on a display screen of a first apparatus. The image specifying unit specifies one of an image displayed on a display screen of the second apparatus and an image that is designated from among two or more images displayed on the display screen of the second apparatus. The controller controls such that a certain image according to the image specified by the image specifying unit is displayed at a certain position on the display screen of the first apparatus according to the position of the second apparatus specified by the position specifying unit.
US08482481B2 Dual-screen electronic reading apparatus and display method thereof
A dual-screen electronic reading apparatus includes a memory storing files, a non-volatile display unit, a volatile display unit, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor includes a file determining module configured for determining whether text and at least one image exist in one opened file, and for generating a text file and an image file if both text and at least one image exist in the opened file. The microprocessor also includes a display controlling module configured for displaying the text file on the non-volatile display unit and displaying the image file on the volatile display unit.
US08482478B2 MIMO antenna system
A wireless local area network (“WLAN”) antenna array (“WLANAA”) includes a circular housing having a plurality of radial sectors and a plurality of primary antenna elements configured as Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) antennas. Each primary antenna element, which includes multiple antennas connected to a single radio, being positioned within a radial sector of the plurality of radial sectors.
US08482475B2 Method and apparatus for a compact modular phased array element
In an exemplary embodiment, a modular phased array comprises a ground plane with a first side and a second side, where the ground plane has a slot. The modular phased array also comprises a patch antenna located on the first side of the ground plane, and a feed network located on the second side of the ground plane. In an exemplary embodiment, the ground plane isolates the patch antenna from the feed network. The feed network includes a compacted hybrid with two output ports. In an exemplary embodiment, the ground plane comprises slots that are nonorthogonal and nonparallel to the two output ports of the feed network. In another exemplary embodiment, the distance from the center of the patch antenna to the farthest output port of the two output ports of the compacted hybrid is ½ wavelengths or less.
US08482473B2 Planar reconfigurable antenna
A planar reconfigurable antenna including a substrate, a metal layer, a master antenna, an auxiliary antenna and a switch set is provided. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The metal layer is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and the upper edge of the metal layer is in a convex arc shape. The master antenna is disposed on the substrate and partially overlaps the metal layer on a vertical plane of projection. The auxiliary antenna is disposed on the substrate and is placed opposite to the master antenna. The switch set is also disposed on the substrate and changes a connection relation of a plurality of directional devices in the auxiliary antenna to switch scanning directions of main beams generated from the planar reconfigurable antenna.
US08482472B2 Planar antenna
The present invention relates to antenna systems. Technical result of the invention is providing operation of two-polarization antenna manufactured on the basis of planar metal-dielectric waveguide in wide range of frequencies. The technical result is achieved by the fact that the antenna comprises a planar metal-plated, at least on one side, dielectric waveguide to the side walls of which two metal waveguides joined with the planar waveguide via periodical array of slots are connected, wherein the array comprises two slots shifted or inclined with respect to each other, and wherein radiating elements having two symmetry planes are placed in nodes of a rhombic mesh on a surface of the planar waveguide.
US08482468B2 Antenna connection device
An antenna connection device is provided, which includes: a flat plate-shaped fixing part; a first tension portion extending from an end of the fixing part and bent around; a free part including a long oblique portion extending from an end of the first tension portion and bent and extended so as to oppose the fixing part, and a short oblique portion bent and extended from an end of the long oblique portion; a second tension portion extending from the other end of the fixing part and bent around; and a supporting part including a flat portion flatly extending from an end of the second tension portion, and a curved surface portion bent and extended from an end of the flat portion so as to oppose the fixing part and bent around and extended toward the first tension portion, the curved surface portion being disposed under the free part.
US08482464B2 Mobile communication device
A mobile communication device includes a ground plane, a dielectric substrate, and an antenna. The antenna is disposed on one surface of the dielectric substrate and includes a radiating portion, a feeding portion, and a shorting portion. The radiating portion includes a first radiating portion and a second radiating portion. The first radiating portion has at least one bending. One end of the first radiating portion is left open. The second radiating portion is a shunt metal strip. Both ends of the second radiating portion are electrically connected to the first radiating portion such that the second radiating portion forms a closed loop with a segment of the first radiating portion. The feeding portion couples the electromagnetic energy to the radiating portion through a coupling gap, and one end of the feeding portion is the antenna's feeding point. One end of the shorting portion is electrically connected to the radiating portion, and the other end of the shorting portion is electrically connected to the ground plane.
US08482460B2 Wireless communication device and associated method including control of positioning-system receiver and shared oscillator
The wireless communication device includes a wireless communication transceiver to generate an oscillator control signal and an activation signal, a positioning-system receiver (e.g. a GPS receiver) to process received positioning signals, and a shared oscillator (e.g. a temperature compensated and voltage controlled crystal oscillator TCVCXO) responsive to the oscillator control signal and to generate a reference frequency signal for the wireless communication transceiver and the positioning-system receiver. The positioning-system receiver may control processing of the received positioning signals based upon the activation signal to reduce a noise contribution (e.g. phase noise) due to frequency control of the shared oscillator based upon the oscillator control signal. The activation signal may indicate that the oscillator control signal is being varied to provide frequency control or adjustment of the shared oscillator.
US08482457B2 Radar apparatus
Provided is a radar apparatus capable of accurately calculating the presence direction of an object. The radar apparatus radiates an electromagnetic wave, receives a reflected wave caused by the electromagnetic wave reflected from the object, and detects the presence direction of the object. The radar apparatus includes: an electromagnetic wave radiating section configured to radiate the electromagnetic wave; a reflected wave reception section configured to receive the reflected wave and detect information about the received reflected wave; and a reflected wave type estimation section configured to determine which the type of the received reflected wave received by the reflected wave reception section is, a single reflected wave which is just reflected from an object, or a composite reflected wave which is composed of a plurality of reflected waves, reflected from different objects, that have interfered with each other, based on the information about the received reflected wave.
US08482455B2 Radar with high angular accuracy, notably for the obstacle sensing and avoidance function
The present invention relates to a radar device with high angular accuracy. The solution provided by the invention simultaneously combines an interferometer that is accurate but, for example, ambiguous when receiving; and a space coloring mode when transmitting. The coloring of the space consists notably in transmitting on N transmitting antennas N orthogonal signals. These signals are then separated by filtering on reception using the orthogonality properties of the transmission signals. It is, for example, possible, with two contiguous antennas in transmission associated with two orthogonal codes to produce a single-pulse type system when transmitting. The invention applies notably to the obstacle sensing and avoidance function, also called “Sense & Avoid”.
US08482451B2 Resonant reflector assembly and method
A resonant radar reflector assembly comprising first and second reflector members (110A, 110B), the first and second and reflector members each being configured to resonate at their respective resonant frequency when irradiated by radio frequency (RF) radiation of a corresponding frequency, wherein the first member has a portion (114A) responsive to an electric field applied parallel to an electric polarization axis of the first member, the second member having a corresponding portion (114B) responsive to an electric field applied parallel to a corresponding electric polarization axis of the second member, the first member also having a portion (112A) responsive to a magnetic field applied parallel to a magnetic polarization axis of the first member, the second member having a corresponding portion (112B) responsive to a magnetic field applied parallel to a corresponding magnetic polarization axis of the second member, the first and second members being arranged such that at least one electric or magnetic polarization axis of the first member is substantially not parallel to the corresponding electric or magnetic polarization axis of the second member.
US08482450B2 Method for controlling external device and remote controller thereof
A method for controlling devices connected together, and which includes determining a type of a first device when the first device is connected to a transmitting device, determining what key buttons on a remote controller are needed to operate the determined type of the first device, activating the key buttons on the remote controller that are needed to operate the determined type of the first device, receiving an input signal indicating a selection of at least one key button needed to operate the determined type of the first device, transmitting the received input signal to a second device that is different than the first device, generating, by the second device, a remote control signal corresponding to the received input signal, transmitting, by the second device, the generated remote control signal to the first device, and performing a function on the first device corresponding the input signal indicating the selection of said at least one key button on the remote controller.
US08482446B2 A/D converter circuit, electronic apparatus and A/D conversion method
An A/D converter circuit includes a comparison circuit that performs a process to compare an added signal of a sampled signal of an input signal and a code signal with a D/A output signal, or a process to compare the sampled signal with an added signal of the D/A output signal and the code signal, a control circuit that outputs output data obtained based on successive approximation result data and the code data as A/D conversion data of the input signal, a first D/A converter circuit that D/A converts the data for successive approximation, a second D/A converter circuit that D/A converts code data that changes over time, and a correction section that performs a correction process, to correct the successive approximation result data so as not to overflow due to code shifting using the code data.
US08482435B2 Wind turbine comprising approach lighting
The invention concerns a wind power installation comprising a flight warning light arrangement. In accordance with the invention it is proposed that the flight warning light arrangement is switched on only when a vehicle or craft, preferably an aircraft, approaches the wind power installation to a predetermined spacing.
US08482434B2 Wireless sensor for an aircraft propulsion system
A method is provided for wirelessly monitoring an aircraft propulsion system having a plurality of rotor blades, at least some of which rotor blades have an internal compartment. The method includes: providing a primary transducer having a primary coil, and one or more secondary transducers, each secondary transducer having a secondary coil connected to a sensor, wherein the secondary transducers are respectively disposed within the internal compartments; wirelessly powering the secondary transducers using a magnetic field generated by the primary transducer; monitoring at least one operational parameter from within each internal compartment using a respective sensor; and transmitting output signals from the secondary transducers to the primary transducer through the magnetic field, wherein the output signals are indicative of the monitored parameters.
US08482416B2 Interactive baby feeding bottle
An interactive baby bottle has an electronic unit that includes a sensor unit configured to sense the heart beat of a person bottle feeding a baby and an actuator unit configured to transmit the sensed heart beat to the baby.
US08482410B2 Method of detecting the operation of a voice signal wireless transmission device
Method of detecting the operation of a device for transmitting voice signals between two equipment items so that at least one of the equipment items can send a voice signal and the other equipment item can receive this voice signal, the equipment items being linked by a wireless transmission chain, the method comprising, during a voice signal transmission phase, the steps of: detecting on the sending equipment item a presence of a voice signal on transmission, and generating in response a voice presence on transmission signal; detecting on the receiving equipment item a presence or an absence of a voice signal on reception, and generating in response a signal indicating voice on reception; transmitting the signal indicating voice on reception from the receiving equipment item to the sending equipment item; comparing in the sending equipment item the voice presence on transmission signal and the signal indicating voice on reception, and triggering an alarm if the compared signals are not consistent.
US08482409B2 System and method for conveying status information regarding an electronic faucet
An electronic faucet has controller is configured to selectively open and close a valve to provide fluid flow through the valve and a passageway of the faucet. The controller is programmed to monitor a maintenance condition of the electronic faucet and to selectively open and close the valve to generate a fluid flow pattern through the passageway to provide an indication to a user of an existing maintenance condition.
US08482402B2 Master communication device in a power line communication system and slave communication device in a power line communication system
A communication system includes communication protocols that allow a single network or multiple neighboring networks to increase resource sharing and reduce mutual interference and increase their overall throughput. Various protocols apply to homogenous networks in which all power line communication (PLC) devices of multiple networks are interoperable with respect to full power line communication in a common PHY and to heterogeneous networks having non-interoperable PLC networks which do not employ a common PHY. As to heterogeneous networks, a protocol herein enables coexistence via a special signaling scheme. In homogeneous networks, all nodes can communicate with each other using a common PHY, so that information about one PLC network can be transferred to another PLC network. In heterogeneous networks, not all PLC networks can exchange information using their own native PHY.
US08482401B2 Safety belt and system for checking a usage status of the safety belt
A safety belt includes a connecting member including a rope, an attaching portion connected to a first end of the rope and arranged to be attached to a body belt worn around a body of a worker, a hook connected to a second end of the rope, and a load detection portion arranged to detect whether or not a load is applied to the connecting member and to output a load detection signal. The safety belt also includes a control device that includes a receiver unit arranged to receive the load detection signal, a control unit arranged to determine a status of the worker or a status of the safety belt based on the load detection signal, and a notification unit arranged to provide a notification in accordance with control by the control unit corresponding to the determined status.
US08482397B1 Deceleration-activated brake lights
A deceleration-activated brake light system for a vehicle featuring a speed sensor, a brake sensor, a throttle sensor, and an engine brake switch; and a microcontroller operatively connected to a standard relay switch functioning to activate a standard brake light system of the vehicle, the microcontroller is configured to receive input signals from the sensors when the sensors detect deceleration of the vehicle more than a predetermined percent, coasting of the vehicle more than a predetermined amount of time, application of the brake pedal; or engagement of the auxiliary brake whereupon the microcontroller generates an output command to the relay to cause activation of the standard brake light system of the vehicle.
US08482383B2 Method and system of determining and preventing relay attack for passive entry system
A system and method for preventing relay attack on a passive entry system (PES) or other passive system (PS) included within a vehicle or other entity. The relay attack prevention may be based in part on an assessment of whether the fob is able to distinguish signal strength relative to messages communicated form different antennas within the vehicle and/or amongst different signal amplitude communicated from the same antenna.
US08482382B2 Systems and methods for controlling a smart communication system for a vehicle
A smart communication system and method for a vehicle includes a master switch for toggling smart functionality on and off. An actuation signal is received by a control unit corresponding to a particular vehicle function. The actuation signal indicates that a corresponding actuating operation is occurring. The control unit determines whether the master switch is in an ON position. A key fob of the vehicle is confirmed to be within a search field of the vehicle when the master switch is determined to be in the ON position. The particular vehicle function is actuated when the key fob is confirmed to be within the search field; otherwise, manual actuation of the particular vehicle function is required.
US08482375B2 Sputter deposition of cermet resistor films with low temperature coefficient of resistance
A solution for producing nanoscale thickness resistor films with sheet resistances above 1000Ω/□ (ohm per square) and low temperature coefficients of resistance (TCR) from −50 ppm/° C. to near zero is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a silicon-chromium based compound material (cermet) is sputter deposited onto a substrate at elevated temperature with applied rf substrate bias. The substrate is then exposed to a process including exposure to a first in-situ anneal under vacuum, followed by exposure to air, and followed then by exposure to a second anneal under vacuum. This approach results in films that have thermally stable resistance properties and desirable TCR characteristics.
US08482366B2 Laminated balance filter
A laminated balance filter includes a first capacitor electrode and a ground electrode that are disposed opposite to each other to define a capacitor at an unbalanced side. An unbalanced side coil is provided in a dielectric layer. Three balanced side coils are provided in three dielectric layers. The three balanced side coils preferably have a substantially helical shape and are wound in the same winding directions. The coil located in the center of the three balanced side coils is disposed near the unbalanced side coil so as to be electromagnetic-field-coupled to the unbalanced side coil.
US08482363B2 Surface acoustic wave filter device, duplexer including the same, and electronic apparatus including the same
A surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter device includes an input port for receiving an unbalanced signal, a pair of input/output ports, a first SAW filter for receiving the unbalanced signal from the input port and outputting balanced signals to the pair of input/output ports, a second SAW filter for receiving the balanced signals output from the pair of input/output ports and outputting balanced signals, and a pair of output ports for outputting the balanced signals output from the second SAW filter. The first SAW filter includes a first longitudinally-coupled SAW resonator having a first unbalanced signal input port and first and second balanced signal output ports, and a second longitudinally-coupled SAW resonator having a second unbalanced signal input port and third and fourth balanced signal output port. The first and second unbalanced signal input ports are electrically connected to the input port. The first and third balanced signal output ports both are electrically connected to one of the pair of input/output ports. The second and fourth balanced signal output ports both are electrically connected to another of the pair of input/output ports. This SAW filter device can suppress spurious and has a small insertion loss.
US08482357B2 Transverse acoustic wave resonator, oscillator having the resonator and method for making the resonator
A transverse acoustic wave resonator includes a base, a resonator component, a number of driving electrodes fixed to the base and a number of fixing portions connecting the base and the resonator component. The resonator component is suspended above a top surface of the base and is perpendicular to the base. The driving electrodes are coupling to side surfaces of the resonator component. The resonator component is formed in a shape of an essential regular polygon. The driving electrodes and the resonator component jointly form an electromechanical coupling system for converting capacitance into electrostatic force. Besides, a capacitive-type transverse extension acoustic wave silicon oscillator includes the transverse acoustic wave resonator and a method of fabricating the transverse acoustic wave resonator are also disclosed.
US08482356B2 Constant-temperature piezoelectric oscillator and method of manufacturing the same
A constant-temperature piezoelectric oscillator includes: a piezoelectric vibrator; an oscillation circuit; a frequency voltage control circuit; a temperature control section; and an arithmetic circuit, wherein the temperature control section includes a temperature-sensitive element, a heating element, and a temperature control circuit, the frequency voltage control circuit includes a voltage-controlled capacitance circuit capable of varying the capacitance value in accordance with the voltage, and a compensation voltage generation circuit, and the arithmetic circuit makes the compensation voltage generation circuit generate a voltage for compensating a frequency deviation due to a temperature difference between zero temperature coefficient temperature Tp of the piezoelectric vibrator and setting temperature Tov of the temperature control section based on a frequency-temperature characteristic compensation amount approximate formula adapted to compensate the frequency deviation, and then applies the voltage to the voltage-controlled capacitance circuit to compensate the frequency.
US08482353B2 Doherty amplifier
A combination amplifier, in particular a Doherty amplifier allowing dynamic biasing, is provided, the combination amplifier comprising a first amplifier (3,3a,3b) having a first input terminal (11,11a,11b) and a first output terminal (25,25a,25b); a second amplifier (5,5a,5b) having a second input terminal (27,27a,27b) and a second output terminal (29,29a,29b); a first impedance inverter (Li, 43b) connected between the first input terminal and the second input terminal; and an envelope detector (33,33a,33b) comprising a detector output terminal and a detector input terminal which is connected to the first output terminal.
US08482351B2 Power amplifier and method for amplifying signal based on power amplifier
A power amplifier for amplifying a signal includes: an operation amplifier stage, at least one buffer stage and an output stage which are consecutively connected with each other; a first feedback unit connected between an output end of the output stage and a negative input end of the operation amplifier stage; a second feedback unit connected between an input end of the output stage and the negative input end of the operation amplifier stage; a third feedback unit connected between an input end of the at least one buffer stage and the negative input end of the operation amplifier stage; and feedback signals provided by the first feedback unit, the second feedback unit and the third feedback unit being superposed at the negative input end of the operation amplifier stage.
US08482348B2 Class of power amplifiers for improved back off operation
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a power amplifier comprising a plurality of amplifying elements connected in a serial-parallel matrix configuration, containing parallel columns having amplifying elements connected in series. The parallel columns are connected to a common output path coupled to a supply voltage source configured to provide an equal supply voltage to each of the columns. One or more input signals (e.g., RF input signals) are connected to the power amplifier by way of input terminals on a first row of amplifying elements. The remaining amplifying elements have control terminals that are connected to independent control signals, which allow each amplifying element to be operated independent of the other amplifying elements in the matrix. This selective operation of amplifying elements allows for improved efficiency over a wide range of power amplifier output powers.
US08482345B2 Semiconductor device
A non-insulated DC-DC converter has a power MOS•FET for a highside switch and a power MOS•FET for a lowside switch. In the non-insulated DC-DC converter, the power MOS•FET for the highside switch and the power MOS•FET for the lowside switch, driver circuits that control operations of these elements, respectively, and a Schottky barrier diode connected in parallel with the power MOS•FET for the lowside switch are respectively formed in four different semiconductor chips. These four semiconductor chips are housed in one package. The semiconductor chips are mounted over the same die pad. The semiconductor chips are disposed so as to approach each other.
US08482340B2 Master-slave low-noise charge pump circuit and method
Charge pump circuitry (1) includes a master charge pump (2) including a voltage multiplier (5) and charge pump (30) which operate to produce a boosted, unregulated voltage (Vunreg), and also includes a slave charge pump (3) including a voltage multiplier (36) and charge pump (50) which operate to produce a boosted control voltage (Vctl) which then is filtered. The boosted, unregulated voltage (Vunreg) is regulated in response to the filtered, boosted control voltage (Vctl) to produce a boosted, regulated, low-noise voltage (Vreg). The boosted control voltage (Vctl), relative to a reference voltage (Vref_SH), is controlled by feedback circuitry (61,62,65) in response to the boosted, regulated, low-noise voltage (Vreg).
US08482333B2 Reduced voltage swing clock distribution
A system and method for reducing power consumption within clock distribution on a semiconductor chip. A 4-phase clock generator within a clock distribution network provides 4 non-overlapping clock signals dependent upon a received input clock. A reduced voltage swing clock generator receives the non-overlapping clock signals and charges and discharges a second set of clock lines in a manner sequenced by the non-overlapping clock signals. The sequencing prevents a voltage range from reaching a magnitude equal to a power supply voltage for each of the second set of clock lines. In one embodiment, the magnitude reaches half of the power supply voltage. The reduced voltage swing latch receives the second set of clock lines. The reduced voltage swing latch updates and maintains logical state based at least upon the received second set of clock lines.
US08482332B2 Multi-phase clock generator and data transmission lines
An embodiment is an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit comprises a clock generator and data transmission lines. The clock generator generates clock signals. At least some of the clock signals have a phase difference from an input clock signal input into the clock generator, and at least some of the clock signals have a different phase difference with respect to at least another of the clock signals. Each of the data transmission lines is triggered at least in part by at least one of the clock signals.
US08482331B2 Open loop type delay locked loop and method for operating the same
An open loop type delay locked loop includes a delay amount pulse generation unit configured to generate a delay amount pulse having a pulse width corresponding to a delay amount for delay locking a clock signal, a delay amount coding unit configured to output a code value by coding the delay amount in response to the delay amount pulse, a clock control unit configured to adjust a toggling period of the clock signal in response to a control signal, and a delay line configured to delay an adjusted clock signal outputted from the clock control unit in response to the code value.
US08482326B2 DLL circuit, semiconductor device including the same, and data processing system
To provide a DLL circuit including: a first phase determination circuit that compares phases of rising edges of an external clock and a first internal clock; a second phase determination circuit that compares phases of falling edges of the external clock and the first internal clock; an adjusting unit that adjusts positions of active edges of internal clocks based on determination results; and a control circuit that sets one of adjustment amounts of the second and third internal clocks to a larger value than the other, in response to a fact that adjustment directions of the active edges of the second and third internal clocks are mutually the same. With this arrangement, a duty can be set nearer to 50% while performing phase adjustment. Accordingly, the time required to lock the DLL circuit can be shortened.
US08482324B2 Circuit for controlling PSON signal
A circuit includes an ATX power connector with a PSON pin, a time delay circuit, and a stabilizer circuit. The time delay circuit receives an input PSON# signal and then sends an output PSON# signal to the PSON pin of the power connector after a time delay has elapsed. The stabilizer circuit is coupled to the PSON pin of the power connector for stabilizing the output PSON# signal.
US08482322B2 Control of cross-over point
There is provided an output stage comprising: a phase splitter for receiving an input signal and for generating first and second drive signals of opposite phase in dependence thereon; a DC offset signal generator for generating a DC offset signal; an adder for adding the DC offset signal to the first drive signal to provide a first modified drive signal; a subtractor for subtracting the DC offset signal from the second drive signal to provide a second modified drive signal; a first drive transistor associated with a first power supply voltage, for generating a first output signal in dependence on the first modified drive signal; a second drive transistor associated with a second power supply voltage, for generating a second output signal in dependence on the second modified drive signal; and a combiner for combining the first and second output signals to generate a phase combined output signal.
US08482319B1 Current switch for high voltage process
In a current switch, a bias generation circuit electrically connected to a high voltage power supply generates a bias current. The bias current is mirrored by a current mirror containing a first plurality of transistors to a first one of a second plurality of transistors. The first one of the second plurality of transistors amplifies the mirrored bias current and transmits the amplified bias current to a second one of the second plurality of transistors. The second one of the second plurality of transistors sinks the amplified bias current into a node shared by an internal reference voltage, thereby putting the node in a first logic state. A third one of the second plurality of transistors receives the amplified bias current from the second one of the second plurality of transistors and sinks the amplified bias current into a node shared by a gate of a high voltage p-type transistor, thereby putting the node in the first logic state. Putting both nodes in the first logic state turns off the high voltage transistor.
US08482307B2 Method and apparatus for the prevention of untested or improperly tested printed circuit boards from being used in a fire pump control system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preventing untested or improperly tested printed circuit boards from being used in a fire pump control system by interrogating each printed circuit board to ensure post-assembly fitness. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise retrieving test status information stored on non-volatile memory of a printed circuit board, verifying the test status information stored on the non-volatile memory of the PCB, determining if all tests performed on the PCB have passed, outputting a message regarding the status of the PCB, and continuing to interrogate each additional PCB in the fire pump controller. A pass flag is set and recorded on the non-volatile memory of a respective PCB if all tests on the respective PCB have passed. Whereas, an error flag is set and recorded on the non-volatile memory if at least one test on a respective PCB has failed.
US08482298B2 Liquid level and composition sensing systems and methods using EMF wave propagation
An automotive urea solution monitoring device is deployed in conjunction with the urea tank of a selective catalytic reduction vehicle. An RF signal of a constant frequency may be generated across a resonant circuit, which may be comprised of an inductor and a PCB trace capacitor, or the like. Electromagnetic radiation is propagated into the automotive urea solution in the urea tank. The conductivity and dielectric properties of the liquid change the impedance of the discrete/trace capacitor and or the discrete/trace inductor. These changes are proportional to ammonia content, temperature, and/or level of the automotive urea solution in the urea tank and are preferably detected by a microcontroller, or the like, and then transmitted to a selective catalytic reduction vehicle engine management system, or the like.
US08482294B2 Determination of at least one value associated with the electromagnetic radiation of an object under test
A device (300) for the relative positioning of an electromagnetic probe network (100) and of an object being tested (200). The device includes at least a sliding element (301) to provide for the relative sliding of the object being tested (200) or of the electromagnetic probe network (100), to move the object being tested (200) or the probe network (100) along at least one sliding direction included in a plane of the probe network (100), and on which is provided a rotation device (320) for the relative rotation of the object being tested (200) and of the probe network (100) about a main rotation axis perpendicular to the sliding direction.
US08482290B2 System for intelligent automated response to line frequency and voltage disturbances by a central control point communication with a plurality of load control devices
Systems for intelligent automated response to line frequency and voltage disturbances by a central control point communication with a plurality of load control devices. The systems may include a load control device adapted to communicate with one or more energy consuming devices. The load control device may have a load control device firmware adapted to receive and process control directives to change the load of at least one energy consuming device. A central control point may be associated with the building and may be connected to the line power. The central control point may include a circuit adapted to monitor the line power and a central control point firmware adapted to detect the line disturbance. The central control point firmware may be in communication with the load control device firmware and may be adapted to transmit the control directives to the load control device firmware.
US08482288B2 Particulate matter detection device and inspection method of the particulate matter detection device
The particulate matter detection device of the present invention is a particulate matter detection device 100 including an electrode portion 21 and detection means 23 for detecting an electrical characteristic of the electrode portion 21, whereby a particulate matter 36 contained in an exhaust gas 32 is detected on the basis of a change of the electrical characteristic due to the particulate matter 36 attached to the electrode portion 21. The particulate matter detection device i00 further includes removal means 25 and abnormality judgment means 26 for comparing an initial electrical characteristic in a use initial state of the device with the electrical characteristic measured in a state where the particulate matter 36 attached to the surface of the electrode portion 21 is removed by the removal means 25, to judge whether or not the particulate matter detection device i00 has an abnormality.
US08482280B2 System and method for propeller magnetic resonance imaging with non-parallel bladelets
A system and method include a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to apply a first plurality of radio frequency (RF) pulses during a first repetition time (TR) interval of a magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequence. The instructions also cause the computer to apply a first plurality of gradient pulses and acquire the MR data during application of each gradient pulse of the first plurality of gradient pulses between an adjacent pair of RF pulses of the first plurality of RF pulses. Each gradient pulse of the first plurality of gradient pulses is configured to allow acquisition of MR data for a respective first bladelet passing through a center of k-space, wherein the first bladelets are non-parallel with each other. The instructions also cause the computer to reconstruct the acquired MR data into an image.
US08482273B2 Apparatus and method for monitoring and controlling detection of stray voltage anomalies
Apparatus and methods for detecting stray voltage anomalies in electric fields are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for detecting an electrical field may comprise: at least one sensor probe for generating data corresponding to an electrical field detected by the at least one sensor probe, wherein the at least one sensor probe comprises at least one electrode; a processor, coupled to the at least one sensor probe, for analyzing the data to identify a voltage anomaly in the electric field; and an indicator, coupled to the processor, for alerting a user to a presence of the voltage anomaly in the electric field.
US08482272B2 DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter operates as a step-down chopper using a main switch element, a sub switch element, an inductor and a capacitor. A sub switch control signal generating circuit discharges a capacitor with a voltage that is proportional to a difference between a voltage of a power supply input unit and a voltage of a power supply output unit when a PGATE signal is at an “L” level, and charges the capacitor with a voltage that is proportional to the voltage of the power supply output unit when an NGATE signal is at an “H” level. The sub switch element is forcibly turned off and reverse flow of an inductor current is prevented even at the time of a light load as a result of the voltage of the capacitor being generated as an NCTL signal. Thus, reverse flow of an inductor current is prevented and a high-efficiency DC-DC converter is provided without the use of a high-speed comparator or any other kind of comparator.
US08482271B2 Switching power supply with inductor current detection storage
A switching power supply apparatus has a power circuit unit, the power circuit unit including a first switching element connected at a first end to a first end of a power supply, an inductor connected at a first end thereof to a second end of the first switching element, a second output terminal connected to a second end of the inductor, a capacitor connected between a first output terminal and the second output terminal, and a second switching element connected between a second end of the power supply and a second end of the first switching element. The switching power supply apparatus has an optimal response multi-mode digital current program mode control unit, the optimal response multi-mode digital current program mode control unit including an error signal generator which generates an error signal according to a potential difference between an output voltage and a preset voltage, and an inductor current detector which detects and amplifies an inductor current.
US08482267B2 Variable voltage DC-DC converter
A DC-DC converter configured to vary an output voltage includes an oscillator circuit configured to output a first clock signal; a digital-to-analog converter controlled based on the first clock signal input thereto and configured to output a voltage according to a voltage setting signal; a delay circuit configured to output a second clock signal delayed by a predetermined delay time with respect to the first clock signal input thereto; an error amplifier circuit having the output voltage of the digital-to-analog converter input thereto as a reference voltage; a pulse width modulation comparator provided with an output of the error amplifier circuit and a voltage into which a current flowing through an inductor is converted; and a control part configured to control a switching transistor of the DC-DC converter based on the second clock signal output by the delay circuit and an output of the pulse width modulation comparator.
US08482262B2 Storage battery system and automobile
A storage battery system includes a battery module including nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. The storage battery system further includes a temperature sensor which measures a temperature of the battery module, a voltmeter which measures a voltage of each of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries and a charge control unit which controls a maximum end-of-charge voltage V1 (V) of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries to fall within the range defined in formula (1) given below when the temperature of the battery module is not lower than 45° C. and is not higher than 90° C.: 0.85×V0≦V1≦0.96×V0  (1)
US08482261B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device which can operate normally even when the communication distance is extremely short, and which stores excess electric power which is not needed for circuit operation of the semiconductor device when a large amount of electric power is supplied thereto. The following are included: an antenna; a first AC/DC converter circuit which is connected to the antenna; a second AC/DC converter circuit which is connected to the antenna through a switching element; a detecting circuit which controls operation of the switching element in accordance with the value of a voltage output from the first AC/DC converter circuit; and a battery which stores electric power supplied from the antenna through the second AC/DC converter circuit. When the switching element is operated, electric power supplied from outside is at least partly supplied to the battery through the second AC/DC converter circuit.
US08482255B2 Method and system for charging an auxilary battery in a plug-in electric vehicle
A system and method is provided for charging an auxiliary battery in a plug-in electric vehicle with an onboard charging system. The auxiliary battery has a predetermined operating range of charge levels. The auxiliary battery is charged to an upper charge level using an external power source thereby reducing energy used from the onboard charging system to charge the auxiliary battery during a drive mode of the vehicle. The upper charge level may be substantially similar to an upper level of the predetermined operating range of charge levels or greater than the predetermined operating range of charge levels. The auxiliary battery may be allowed to discharge to a lower charge level, which may be substantially similar to a lower level of the predetermined operating range of charge levels or less than the predetermined operating range of charge levels.
US08482254B2 Battery capacity estimation by DCIR
A method of battery capacity measurement is actualized by battery internal resistance. This method establishes a controlled discharge path inside the battery module. The battery discharge current is a constant value despite of the variation of system loading current. The internal resistance measured by establishing this constant battery current can be used to obtain the battery capacity precisely.
US08482240B2 Motor drive having integral programmable logic controller
A system, in one embodiment, includes a drive having a housing, a stator disposed in the housing, a rotor disposed in the stator, and a programmable logic controller disposed inside, mounted on, or in general proximity to the housing. In another embodiment, a system includes a network, a first motor having a first integral programmable logic controller coupled to the network, and a second motor having a second integral programmable logic controller coupled to the network. In a further embodiment, a system includes a rotary machine having a rotor and a stator disposed concentric with one another, a microprocessor, memory coupled to the microprocessor, a power supply coupled to the microprocessor and the memory, and a machine sensor coupled to the microprocessor.
US08482232B2 Motor drive circuit
A motor drive circuit configured to supply drive currents to drive coils with a plurality of phases of a motor to drive the motor, includes: a trapezoidal wave signal generation circuit configured to output a trapezoidal wave signal whose inclination is changed with a rotation speed of the motor or a target rotation speed of the motor; and a plurality of output transistors configured to output the drive current to the drive coils, respectively, in accordance with the trapezoidal wave signal.
US08482229B2 Controlling method of switches of switching arms, notably for charging accumulation means, and corresponding charging device
The present invention relates to a method for charging accumulation means via an external electrical network via at least a first (A) and a second (B) switching arm respectively comprising two switches (12), said method comprising a step for controlling the switches (12) of the switching arms (A, B) by transmission of pulse width modulation control signals, characterized in that the switches (12) of the second switching arm (B) are controlled by adapting the pulse width of the control signals so as to generate an alternating voltage (Vx) in phase opposition relative to the voltage at the terminals of a compensation inductance (7′) connected on the one hand to the second arm (B) and on the other hand to the neutral (N) of said network, so that the voltage (VN) between the neutral (N) of said network and ground is a direct voltage.The invention also relates to a charging device for implementing such a charging method.
US08482224B2 Light emitting apparatus
A light emitting apparatus comprises a light source array, a diffuser, and a control module. The diffuser is located below the light source for providing the simulated solar light to a test plane. The control module is configured for controlling driving voltages of the light source array. The emission spectrum of the light emitting apparatus complies with a predetermined standard, and the light source array is divided into a plurality of light groups with different wavelength bands according to the predetermined standard. The light groups in the light source array are composed of a plurality of light rows connected in parallel, and each light row of the light group is composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a resistor connected in series.
US08482222B2 Lighting device and light fixture using lighting device
A lighting device reliably detects a status (i.e., existence or absence) of a load connection, and enables or disables power output based on the detected load connection status. The device includes a DC-DC converter having input and output terminals, and a DC current conducting element coupled across the output terminals. A load terminal is also coupled across the output terminals and configured to receive an LED unit. A load detection circuit coupled between an input terminal and the load terminal detects the connection status of an LED unit via a DC current passing through the load terminal, and controls a switching operation of the DC-DC converter based on the detected connection status. A diode coupled between the load terminal and the DC current conducting element blocks a DC current path from the input terminals to the load detection circuit through the DC current conducting element.
US08482218B2 Dimming input suitable for multiple dimming signal types
A lighting circuit constituted of: a single dimming input; a pulse width modulation acceptance circuit arranged to convert a pulse width modulated dimming signal received at the single dimming input into a local dimming signal, the local dimming signal exhibiting a predetermined format; an analog voltage level acceptance circuit arranged to convert an analog voltage dimming signal received at the single dimming input into the local dimming signal exhibiting the predetermined format; and a luminaire driving circuit responsive to the local dimming signal.
US08482216B1 System and method for uniform control of current regulated outputs over wide voltage ranges
A digital control mechanism is provided to maintain current matching of a plurality of LED devices where the conventional supply voltage may be insufficient to achieve the threshold working current.
US08482215B2 Light emitting apparatus and control method thereof
A light emitting apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The light emitting apparatus has a semiconductor device capable of emitting light, and the control method includes the following descriptions. A driving power of the semiconductor device is reduced to an ideal power stepwise and gradually. After every time the driving power of the semiconductor device is reduced, the semiconductor device continually emits the light by the reduced driving power within a predetermined time.
US08482204B2 Vehicle lamp
A vehicle lamp includes: an infrared light semiconductor light source which emits infrared light; a white light semiconductor light source which emits white light; and a control unit including: a current supply circuit which supplies a light source driving current to each of the infrared light semiconductor light source and the white light semiconductor light source; and a light source abnormality detecting unit which detects abnormality of the white light semiconductor light source and stops a driving operation of the infrared light semiconductor light source when the abnormality is detected.
US08482202B2 Thallium iodide-free ceramic metal halide lamp
The present disclosure relates to a discharge lamp able to be operated at less than full rated power without suffering undesirable color shift, loss of lumen maintenance or loss of lamp efficacy. It finds particular application in connection with ceramic metal halide lamps having no thallium iodide in the dose thereof.
US08482198B1 High intensity discharge lamp with improved startability and performance
A lamp includes a discharge vessel; electrodes spaced apart in the discharge vessel comprising tungsten or tungsten alloy; and a fill sealed within the vessel having a pressure between 50-200 mbar. The fill includes: a starting gas which comprises: xenon, krypton, argon or combinations thereof with the exception of pure argon; optionally radioactive Kr85 with a maximum activity level of 0.124 MBq/l as part of the starting gas; and a metal halide component. The lamp includes an active tungsten regeneration cycle wherein the fill comprises a species of the tungsten or tungsten alloy of material of the electrodes during lamp operation, wherein the solubility of tungsten or components of tungsten alloy in the tungsten or tungsten alloy species is lower in a gas phase adjacent to the electrodes than at close proximity of the wall of the discharge vessel.
US08482196B2 Display, method for producing display, and electronic apparatus
A display includes a first substrate including elements arranged on a main surface of the first substrate, a second substrate arranged so as to face the main surface of the first substrate on which the elements are arranged, a first sealing layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate so as to cover the elements, and a second sealing layer arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate so as to surround the first sealing layer. The second substrate has a peripheral projection, the entirety of which projects toward the side on which the elements are arranged, and the peripheral projection surrounds the first sealing layer. The second sealing layer is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate so as to extend from the periphery of the first sealing layer to the peripheral projection.
US08482190B2 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 a first metal oxide and a second metal oxide. In X-ray diffraction analysis, a peak of a base layer lies between a first peak of the first metal oxide and a second peak of the second metal oxide. The first and second metal oxides are two selected from the group consisting of MgO, CaO, SrO, and BaO. A peak desorption temperature of CO2 gas from protective layer (9) is less than 480° C.
US08482189B2 Display device
A display device is provided with a Cu alloy film having high adhesiveness to a transparent substrate and a low electrical resistivity. The Cu alloy film for the display device is directly brought into contact with the transparent substrate, and the Cu alloy film has the multilayer structure, which includes a first layer (Y) composed of a Cu alloy containing, in total, 2-20 atm % of at least one element selected from among a group composed of Zn, Ni, Ti, Al, Mg, Ca, W, Nb, and Mn, and a second layer (X) which is composed of pure Cu or substantially a Cu alloy having Cu as the main component and has an electrical resistivity lower than that of the first layer (Y). The first layer (Y) is brought into contact with the transparent substrate.
US08482188B1 Spark plug electrode with nanocarbon enhanced copper core
A spark plug 20 includes a center electrode 22 and a ground electrode 24 providing a spark gap 26 therebetween. At least one of the electrodes 22, 24, but preferably both electrodes 22, 24 include a clad surrounding a core. The clad includes at least one metal, such as nickel, iron, or cobalt. The core includes nanocarbon material embedded in a copper matrix 40 to increase the thermal conductivity and reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion of the core. The nanocarbon material includes a plurality of fibers 42, also referred to as particles, whisks, or tubes, each having a diameter of 1.0 to 150.0 nanometers and a length of 1 μm to 100 μm. The core includes the nanocarbon material in an amount of 0.1 to 10.0 wt. %.
US08482182B2 Driving apparatus, optical apparatus, and driving signal control circuit
A driving apparatus includes a piezoelectric element which undergoes expansion/contraction motion by a driving signal; a driving shaft which is mounted on the piezoelectric element, and undergoes reciprocating movement according to the expansion/contraction motion of the piezoelectric element; a first movement member which is friction-engaged with the driving shaft, and moves due to the reciprocating movement of the driving shaft; and a first control portion which applies driving signals to the piezoelectric element; the first control portion applies driving control pulse signals when the first movement member is to be moved, and applies stop control pulse signals when the stopped first movement member is not to be moved to put the first movement member into a vibration-arrested state. By this means, the stopped first movement member can be smoothly moved, and the first movement member in motion can be smoothly stopped.
US08482181B2 Three phase synchronous reluctance motor with constant air gap and recovery of inductive field energy
A synchronous reluctance motor system is disclosed. The system may generally comprise an input power source that provides alternating phase current and voltage (e.g., AC current). The input power may be further conditioned through a variable voltage conditioner. The system may also include capacitive elements connected in series with the motor windings.
US08482175B2 Permanent-magnet synchronous machine and a method for manufacturing and installing it
An exemplary permanent-magnet synchronous machine is disclosed with a stator and a rotor located at the distance of the air gap (δ1) from the stator. The rotor is supported on the shaft in a rotating arrangement, and a maximum value has been determined for the eccentricity between the stator and the rotor. The value is higher than one-tenth of the air gap. The magnetization of the synchronous machine is arranged with permanent magnets fitted in the rotor for creating a magnetic flux (φ) which is closed via the stator, the air gap (δ1), and the rotor. A relation H≧(10*ε−δ)*μr applies between the thickness of the permanent magnet and the maximum value of eccentricity ε, wherein δ is the dimensioning value of the air gap and μr is the relative permeability of the permanent magnet.
US08482174B2 Electromagnetic actuator
A body is equipped with magnetically connected radial and axial actuator targets. The radial actuator target features a cylindrical lateral surface. The axial actuator target features the first and the second end-facing surfaces. A radial pole is adapted to communicate a magnetic flux with the cylindrical lateral surface. Magnetically connected first and second axial poles are located axially on one side of the radial pole and adapted to communicate magnetic fluxes with the first and the second end-facing surfaces. The first axial pole, the second axial pole and the axial actuator target form a magnetic axial control circuit. The radial pole, the radial actuator target, the axial actuator target, the first axial pole and the second axial pole form the magnetic bias circuit. Superposition of magnetic fluxes in the axial control circuit and in the bias circuit results in an axial force acting on the axial actuator target.
US08482164B2 Buoyant harbor power supply
At least one embodiment of the invention relates to supplying ships in a harbor with external energy in order to prevent the formation of soot and CO2. For this purpose it is already known to supply ships with power from the wharfage. One problem in such a power supply provided from the wharf is that differences in the harbor's water level must be balanced for the power supply of a ship in the harbor. Furthermore, the operational readiness of such a power supply on land may be adversely affected, such as in the case of high water. At least one embodiment of the invention proposes a buoyant harbor power supply, e.g. the components of the harbor power supply are disposed on or in a buoyant device, particularly a barge.
US08482162B2 Two lead electronic switch system adapted to replace a mechanical switch system
A system adapted to replace a mechanical switch with an electronic switch, without the need of additional wiring. The electronic switch includes a bridge array for sensing a characteristic, e.g., temperature or pressure, and an electronic circuit having a switch. As the characteristic of the bridge array varies a switch changes states.
US08482159B2 Wireless power apparatus and wireless power-receiving method
A wireless power apparatus includes: a power receiver coil which receives power, as magnetic field energy, from a power transmitter coil by magnetic field resonance produced between the power transmitter coil and the power receiver coil; a power pickup coil which derives power from the power receiver coil by electromagnetic induction; a detector which detects current flowing through the power pickup coil; and a controller which controls a coupling strength between the power pickup coil and the power receiver coil based on the current detected by the detector.
US08482153B2 Systems for optimized solar power inversion
The DC-AC inversion of solar power in systems having high voltage, highly varying photovoltaic power sources may be provided to optimize input into a high voltage, high power photovoltaic DC-AC inverter. The inverter may coordinate the conversion of solar power in photovoltaic DC-DC power converters to achieve a desired inverter operating condition. Desired inverter operating conditions may include singular voltage inputs, optimal voltage inputs, inverter sweet spot voltage inputs, and the like. The converters may be coordinated to convert output to optimal input characteristics of the inverter, to control a posterior photovoltaic operating condition, to control the converter for inverter operating conditions, and the like. Output from the inverter may be transferred to a power grid at high power levels with coordinated control possible for various elements.
US08482151B2 Auxiliary power systems and methods thereof
An auxiliary power supply system includes a passive ultra-capacitor buffer module and an auxiliary power unit coupled to the passive ultra-capacitor. The auxiliary power unit is configured to receive a current supply from the passive ultra-capacitor buffer module. The auxiliary power unit is configured to power one or more auxiliary devices of a railcar over one or more gaps in a power rail. Also disclosed is an exemplary method of making an auxiliary power supply system.
US08482148B2 Solar thermal power generation apparatus
A solar thermal power generation apparatus including: a turbine rotatable around a vertical axis, a power generator driven by turbine; a funnel disposed along vertical axis so as to house turbine and having an intake port at the lower end of funnel; and a transparent box body disposed so as to surround a lower portion of the funnel and having the air intake port at a position being lower than the intake port and a heat collector disposed in a standing manner at a distance between the box body and the funnel. An upper end of the heat collector is at a position being higher than the intake port. By using an updraft occurred by heating air having flown from the air intake port into the inside of the box body by the heat collector, the turbine is rotated, which causes the power generator to generate power.
US08482147B2 Wind turbine with powered synchronization system
A wind turbine system is provided to generate electricity from wind energy. The system locates generator at a bottom portion of the tower. The system rotates either the entire tower, or the nacelle and the generator simultaneously. A flexible power transfer member inside the tower connects a top rotation transfer member and the bottom rotation transfer member to transfer wind energy captured by the turbine rotor from the top rotation transfer member to the bottom rotation transfer member. A pitch mechanism to rotate the rotor blades in a desired angular position about the rotor blades longitudinal axis is also provided.
US08482145B2 Ocean energy system and method
A wave energy system and method are provided that have a main body that floats on the surface of the ocean and generates energy due to the motion of the crests and troughs of the ocean.
US08482143B2 Method for controlling the rotational speed of a wind turbine
A method controls the rotational speed of a wind turbine having a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower and a drive train which includes a rotor having at least one rotor blade. The rotor is rotatably mounted about a rotor axis in the nacelle. The drive train further includes a generator configured to be driven by the rotor. In a nacelle-fixed reference system, the rotational speed (ωG*) of a component of the drive train which rotates with the rotor in correspondence to a transmission ratio (Ue) is measured. A movement of the nacelle relative to the ground is measured and the rotational speed is controlled to a rotational speed setpoint with a speed controller which outputs a generator torque (MG) and/or a blade pitch angle (θ). The measured rotational speed (ωG*) is converted into a corrected rotational speed (ωGC) which corresponds to the rotational speed of the rotor in a ground-fixed reference system multiplied by the transmission ratio (Ue). The corrected rotational speed (ωGC) is used as the input quantity for the speed controller.
US08482139B2 Methods of promoting adhesion between transfer molded IC packages and injection molded plastics for creating over-molded memory cards
A flash memory card and methods of manufacturing same are disclosed. The card includes a semiconductor package fabricated to receive a single-sided or double-sided lid. A surface of the semiconductor package may be formed with holes, trenches and/or pockmarks. After the holes, trenches and/or pockmarks are formed, a lid may be attached to the package surface in an injection molding process. During the injection molding process, the molten plastic flows into the holes, trenches and/or pockmarks to interconnect with the surface of the semiconductor package. Thus, when the molten plastic hardens, the holes, trenches and/or pockmarks ensure that the lid remains firmly attached to semiconductor package.
US08482131B2 Via structure
A via structure includes at least a first via set and a second via set electrically connected to the first via set. There is at least one via in the first via set and at least one via in the second via set. The via in the first via set has a cross-sectional area which is larger than that of the via in the second via set.
US08482129B2 Wafer-level stack package and method of fabricating the same
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming an integrated circuit region on a semiconductor wafer. A first metal layer pattern is formed over the integrated circuit region. A via hole is formed to extend through the first metal layer pattern and the integrated circuit region. A final metal layer pattern is formed over the first metal layer pattern and within the via hole. A plug is formed within the via hole. Thereafter, a passivation layer is formed to overlie the final metal layer pattern.
US08482121B2 Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing thereof, circuit board and electronic apparatus
A semiconductor device is provided comprising: a semiconductor element including a plurality of electrodes; first wirings coupled to the electrodes and directed toward a center of the semiconductor element from a portion coupled to the electrodes; second wirings coupled between the first wirings and external terminals, the second wirings being directed to an outer area of the semiconductor element relative to the center; and at least one resin layer formed between the first wirings and the second wirings.
US08482120B2 Combined heat sink multi-configuration processor memory substrate device
A Multi-configuration Processor-Memory device for coupling to a PCB (printed circuit board) interface. The device comprises a substrate that supports multiple configurations of memory components and a processor while having a single, common interface with a PCB interface of a printed circuit board. In a first configuration, the substrate supports a processor and a first number of memory components. In a second configuration, the substrate supports a processor and an additional number of memory components. The memory components can be pre-tested, packaged memory components mounted on the substrate. The processor can be a surface mounted processor die. Additionally, the processor can be mounted in a flip chip configuration, side-opposite the memory components. In the first configuration, a heat spreader can be mounted on the memory components and the processor to dissipate heat. In the second, flip chip, configuration, the processor face can be soldered onto a non-functional area of the PCB interface of the printed circuit board to dissipate heat.
US08482115B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with dual side connection and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: mounting an integrated circuit over a package carrier; pressing an encapsulation onto the package carrier and with the integrated circuit therein; mounting a conductive frame, having a vertical pillar integral with a horizontal cover, through the encapsulation, over the integrated circuit, and the vertical pillar on the package carrier and the horizontal cover on the encapsulation; and forming a contact from the horizontal cover.
US08482110B2 Electronic assemblies without solder and methods for their manufacture
The present invention provides an electronic assembly 400 and a method for its manufacture 800, 900, 1000 1200, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700. The assembly 400 uses no solder. Components 406, or component packages 402, 802, 804, 806 with I/O leads 412 are placed 800 onto a planar substrate 808. The assembly is encapsulated 900 with electrically insulating material 908 with vias 420, 1002 formed or drilled 1000 through the substrate 808 to the components' leads 412. Then the assembly is plated 1200 and the encapsulation and drilling process 1500 repeated to build up desired layers 422, 1502, 1702. Assemblies may be mated 1800. Within the mated assemblies, items may be inserted including pins 2202a, 2202b, and 2202c, mezzanine interconnection devices 2204, heat spreaders 2402, and combination heat spreaders and heat sinks 2602. Edge card connectors 2802 may be attached to the mated assemblies.
US08482106B2 Method for producing ceramic passivation layers on silicon for solar cell manufacture
The invention relates to a method for producing passivation layers on crystalline silicon by a) coating the silicon with a solution containing at least one polysilazane of the general formula (1): —(SiR′R″—NR′″)-n, wherein R′, R″, R′″ are the same or different and stand independently of each other for hydrogen or a possibly substituted alkyl, aryl, vinyl, or (trialkoxysilyl)alkyl group, wherein n is an integer and n is chosen such that the polysilazane has a number average molecular weight of 150 to 150,000 g/mol, b) subsequently removing the solvent by evaporation, whereby polysilazane layers of 50-500 nm thickness remain on the silicon wafer, and c) heating the polysilazane layer at normal pressure to 200-1000° C. in the presence of air or nitrogen, wherein upon tempering the ceramic layers release hydrogen for bulk passivation of the silicon.
US08482105B2 Semiconductor substrate, laminated chip package, semiconductor plate and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor substrate has a plurality of groove portions formed along scribe lines. The semiconductor substrate includes: a unit region in contact with at least any one of the plurality of groove portions; and a wiring electrode with a portion thereof arranged within the unit region. Further, the plurality of groove portions have a wide-port structure in which a wide width portion wider in width than a groove lower portion including a bottom portion is formed at an inlet port thereof.
US08482104B2 Method for growth of indium-containing nitride films
A method for growth of indium-containing nitride films is described, particularly a method for fabricating a gallium, indium, and nitrogen containing material. On a substrate having a surface region a material having a first indium-rich concentration is formed, followed by a second thickness of material having a first indium-poor concentration. Then a third thickness of material having a second indium-rich concentration is added to form a sandwiched structure which is thermally processed to cause formation of well-crystallized, relaxed material within a vicinity of a surface region of the sandwich structure.
US08482100B2 Resistor array and semiconductor device including the same
A resistor array includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of isolation regions, a plurality of dummy active regions and a plurality of unit resistors. The plurality of isolation regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of dummy active regions are formed in the semiconductor substrate between the plurality of isolation regions. The plurality of unit resistors are formed on the plurality of dummy active regions.
US08482097B2 Semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a plurality of capacitors each of which has bottom electrode, dielectric layer, and top electrode includes stacking a bottom electrode layer, a dielectric layer and an top electrode layer, patterning the top electrode layer to form a plurality of top electrodes arranged in a column, forming a mask pattern that covers the plurality of top electrodes and leaves an end part of the outermost top electrode of the arrangement of the plurality of top electrodes exposed, and patterning the dielectric layer using the mask pattern.
US08482087B2 Nanoelectromechanical tunneling current switch systems
A nanoelectromechanical tunneling current switch includes a cantilevered nanofilament including a secured end and an unsecured end and a conductor with a surface substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nanofilament when the nanofilament is undeflected. The nanofilament is positioned with respect to the conductor to define a gap between the unsecured end of the nanofilament and the surface of the conductor substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nanofilament. The nanofilament and the conductor are electrically connected by a circuit, and a tunneling current is configured to flow from the nanofilament to the surface of the conductor substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nanofilament. In other embodiments of the nanoelectromechanical tunneling current switch, an electrically conductive membrane can be utilized in place of, or in addition to, the cantilevered nanofilament.
US08482083B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit device including SRAM memory cells having two P-channel MOS transistors and four N-channel MOS transistors and with four wiring layers serving as their gate electrodes
Prior known static random access memory (SRAM) cells required that a diffusion layer be bent into a key-like shape in order to make electrical contact with a substrate with a P-type well region formed therein, which would result in a decrease in asymmetry leading to occurrence of a problem as to the difficulty in micro-patterning. To avoid this problem, the P-type well region in which an inverter making up an SRAM cell is formed is subdivided into two portions, which are disposed on the opposite sides of an N-type well region NW1 and are formed so that a diffusion layer forming a transistor has no curvature while causing the layout direction to run in a direction parallel to well boundary lines and bit lines. At intermediate locations of an array, regions for use in supply power to the substrate are formed in parallel to word lines in such a manner that one region is provided per group of thirty two memory cell rows or sixty four cell rows.
US08482073B2 Integrated circuit including FINFETs and methods for forming the same
An integrated circuit including a plurality of Fin field effect transistors (FINFETs) is provided. The integrated circuit includes a plurality of fin-channel bodies over a substrate. The fin-channel bodies include a first fin-channel body and a second fin-channel body. A gate structure is disposed over the fin-channel bodies. At least one first source/drain (S/D) region of a first FINFET is adjacent the first fin-channel body. At least one second source/drain (S/D) region of a second FINFET is adjacent the second fin-channel body. The at least one first S/D region is electrically coupled with the at least one second S/D region. The at least one first and second S/D regions are substantially free from including any fin structure.
US08482070B1 Silicon-on-insulator CMOS integrated circuit with multiple threshold voltages and a method for designing the same
An IC has cells placed in a cell row having a UTBOX-FDSOI pMOSFET including a ground beneath the pMOS, and an n-doped well beneath it and configured to apply a potential thereto, and a UTBOX-FDSOI nMOSFET including a ground beneath the nMOS, and a p-doped well beneath the ground and configured to apply a potential thereto, and cells, each including a UTBOX-FDSOI pMOSFET including a ground beneath the pMOS, and a p-doped well beneath the ground and configured to apply an electrical potential to the ground, and a UTBOX-FDSOI nMOSFET including a ground beneath the nMOS, and an n-doped well beneath the ground and configured to apply a potential thereto. The cells are placed so that pMOS's of standard cells belonging to a row align along it and a transition cell including a another well and contiguous with first row standard cells thus ensuring continuity with wells of those cells.
US08482069B2 Nonvolatile memory and electronic apparatus
An active region, a source region, and a drain region are formed on a single crystal semiconductor substrate or a single crystal semiconductor thin film. Impurity regions called pinning regions are formed in striped form in the active region so as to reach both of the source region and the drain region. Regions interposed between the pinning regions serve as channel forming regions. A tunnel oxide film, a floating gate, a control gate, etc. are formed on the above structure. The impurity regions prevent a depletion layer from expanding from the source region toward the drain region.
US08482066B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for the same are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a first doped region, a second doped region, a dielectric structure and a gate structure. The first doped region has a first type conductivity. The second doped region has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity and is adjacent to the first doped region. The dielectric structure comprises a first dielectric portion and a second dielectric portion separated from each other. The dielectric structure is formed on the first doped region. The gate structure is on a part of the first doped region or second doped region adjacent to the first dielectric portion.
US08482064B2 Termination for superjunction VDMOSFET
A termination for silicon superjunction VDMOSFET comprises heavily doped N-type silicon substrate which also works as drain region; drain metal is disposed on the back surface of the heavily doped N-type silicon substrate; an N-type silicon epitaxial layer is disposed on the heavily doped N-type silicon substrate; P-type silicon columns and N-type silicon columns are formed in the N-type silicon epitaxial layer, alternately arranged; a continuous silicon oxide layer is disposed on a part of silicon surface in the termination; structures that block the drift of mobile ions (several discontinuous silicon oxide layers arranged at intervals) are disposed on the other part of silicon surface in the termination. The structures that block the drift of mobile ions disposed in the termination region are able to effectively prevent movement of the mobile ions and improve the capability of the power device against the contamination induced by the mobile ions.
US08482063B2 High voltage semiconductor device
A high voltage semiconductor device is provided. A first-polarity buried layer is formed in the substrate. A first high voltage second-polarity well region is located over the first-polarity buried layer. A second-polarity base region is disposed within the first high voltage second-polarity well region. A source region is disposed within the second-polarity base region. A high voltage deep first-polarity well region is located over the first-polarity buried layer and closely around the first high voltage second-polarity well region. A first-polarity drift region is disposed within the high voltage deep first-polarity well region. A gate structure is disposed over the substrate. A second high voltage second-polarity well region is located over the first-polarity buried layer and closely around the high voltage deep first-polarity well region. A deep first-polarity well region is located over the first-polarity buried layer and closely around the second high voltage second-polarity well region.
US08482046B2 Concentric or nested container capacitor structure for integrated circuits
Disclosed are embodiments for a container capacitor structure in which at least two container capacitors, e.g., an inner and outer container capacitor, are made concentric and nested with respect to one another. The nested capacitors are formed in one embodiment by defining a hole in a dielectric layer for the nested container capacitors in the vicinity of two capacitor contact plugs. An outer capacitor plate is formed by etching back poly 1 to leave it substantially on the vertical edges of the hole and in contact with one of the plugs. At least one sacrificial sidewall is formed on the poly 1, and poly 2 is deposited over the sidewalls to form an inner capacitor plate in contact with the other plug. The structure is planarized, the sacrificial sidewalls are removed, a capacitor dielectric is formed, and is topped with poly 3. Additional structures such as a protective layer (to prevent poly 1-to-poly 2 shorting) and a conductive layer (to strap the plugs to their respective poly layers) can also be used.
US08482045B2 Semiconductor memory device having vertical channel transistor and method for fabricating the same
Channels of two transistors are vertically formed on portions of two opposite side surfaces of one active region, and gate electrodes are vertically formed on a device isolation layer contacting the channels of the active region. A common bit line contact plug is formed in the central portions of the active region, two storage node contact plugs are formed on both sides of the bit line contact plug, and an insulating spacer is formed on a side surface of the bit line contact plug. A word line, a bit line, and a capacitor are sequentially stacked on the semiconductor substrate, like a conventional semiconductor memory device. Thus, effective space arrangement of a memory cell is possible such that a 4F2 structure is constituted, and a conventional line and contact forming process can be applied such that highly integrated semiconductor memory device is readily fabricated.
US08482041B2 Semiconductor structure and method of fabricating the semiconductor structure
In contrast to a conventional planar CMOS technique in design and fabrication for a field-effect transistor (FET), the present invention provides an SGT CMOS device formed on a conventional substrate using various crystal planes in association with a channel type and a pillar shape of an FET, without a need for a complicated device fabrication process. Further, differently from a design technique of changing a surface orientation in each planar FET, the present invention is designed to change a surface orientation in each SGT to achieve improvement in carrier mobility. Thus, a plurality of SGTs having various crystal planes can be formed on a common substrate to achieve a plurality of different carrier mobilities so as to obtain desired performance.
US08482040B2 Solid-state image capturing device, method of manufacturing solid-state image capturing device, method of driving solid-state image capturing device, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state image capturing device includes: a substrate; a substrate voltage source which applies a first potential to the substrate during a light reception period and applies a second potential to the substrate during a non-light reception period; and a plurality of pixels which each includes a light receiver which is formed on a front surface of the substrate and generates signal charges in accordance with received light, a storage capacitor which is formed adjacent to the light receiver and accumulates and stores signal charges generated by the light receiver, dark-current suppressors which are formed in the light receiver and the storage capacitor, an electronic shutter adjusting layer which is formed in an area facing the light receiver in the substrate and distant from the storage capacitor and which adjusts potential distribution, and a floating diffusion portion to which the signal charges accumulated in the storage capacitor are transmitted.
US08482036B2 Lateral high electron mobility transistor
A lateral HEMT includes a substrate, a first semiconductor layer above the substrate and a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer. The lateral HEMT further includes a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a rectifying Schottky junction. A first terminal of the rectifying Schottky junction is electrically coupled to the source electrode and a second terminal of the rectifying Schottky junction is electrically coupled to the second semiconductor layer.
US08482029B2 Semiconductor device and integrated circuit including the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a source metallization and a semiconductor body. The semiconductor body includes a first field-effect structure including a source region of a first conductivity type electrically coupled to the source metallization. The semiconductor body also includes a second field-effect structure including a source region of the first conductivity type electrically coupled to the source metallization. A voltage tap including a semiconductor region within the semiconductor body is electrically coupled to a first gate electrode of the first field-effect structure by an intermediate inverter structure.
US08482026B2 Optoelectronic component
An optoelectronic component includes a semiconductor body and a carrier substrate connected to the semiconductor body with a solder joint, wherein the carrier substrate includes first and second apertures, through which first and second electrically conductive connecting layers are guided from a first primary surface of the carrier substrate facing away from the semiconductor body to a second primary surface of the carrier substrate facing away from the semiconductor body, the carrier substrate made of a semiconductor material and having side flanks, which run obliquely to the primary surfaces at least in a first partial region, wherein the side flanks are provided with an electrically insulating layer in the first partial region.
US08482023B2 Leadframe having a heat sink supporting part, fabricating method of a light emitting diode package using the same, and light emitting diode package fabricated by the method
Disclosed are a leadframe having heat sink supporting parts, a light emitting diode package in which the leadframe is employed, and a fabricating method of a light emitting diode package using the leadframe. The leadframe includes an outer frame surrounding a predetermined region. The heat sink supporting parts extend inward to face each other from the outer frame. Each of the supporting parts has an end portion coupled to a heat sink. Further, lead terminals extend inward to face each other from the outer frame. The lead terminals are spaced apart from the supporting parts. Accordingly, a package main body can be formed by an insert molding technique after the heat sink is coupled to the end portions of the supporting parts, and the heat sink and the lead terminals can be easily aligned.
US08482017B2 Organic light emitting diode device
An organic light emitting diode device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, a first light emitting unit and a second light emitting unit positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, a charge generation layer positioned between the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit, and a charge balance layer positioned adjacent to charge generation layer and including a lithium-containing compound.
US08482012B2 Chip module package structure
A chip module package structure applied to an optical input device includes a cover body, a first chip module, and a second chip module. The first chip module and the second chip module are respectively combined with the cover body, the first chip module has an optical source, and the second chip module has an optical sensor. Further, the optical source and the optical sensor form a preset relative spatial position relation, such that a part of light emitted by the optical source is received by the optical sensor after at least one reflection.
US08482005B2 Display device comprising an oxide semiconductor layer
The time taken to write a signal to a pixel is shortened in a display device. Further, a signal is written at high speed even when high voltage is applied. The display device includes a pixel including a transistor and a liquid crystal element electrically connected to a source or a drain of the transistor. The transistor includes an intrinsic or substantially intrinsic oxide semiconductor as a semiconductor material and has an off-state current of 1×10−17 A/μm or less. The pixel does not include a capacitor. Since it is not necessary to provide a capacitor, the time taken to write a signal can be shortened.
US08482002B2 Semiconductor device including bonding pads and semiconductor package including the semiconductor device
Provided is a semiconductor device that may prevent a test pad planned not to be wire bonded from being wire bonded. The semiconductor device may include a bonding pad planned to be wire bonded and a test pad planned not to be wire bonded, and a passivation layer including a first opening portion exposing part of the bonding pad and a second opening portion exposing part of the test pad, wherein the diameter of the first opening portion is greater than the diameter of a tip of a bonding wire, and the diameter of the second opening portion is less than the diameter of the tip of the bonding wire.
US08481994B2 Organic thin film transistors and methods of making the same
An organic thin film transistor, and a method of making the same, comprising a source and drain electrode and organic semi-conductive material disposed therebetween in a channel region, in which the source and drain electrodes have disposed on them a thin self-assembled layer of a material comprising a dopant moiety for chemically doping the organic semi-conductive material by accepting electrons, the dopant moiety having a redox potential of at least 0.3 eV relative to a saturated calomel electrode in acetonitrile.
US08481991B2 Anisotropic strain control in semipolar nitride quantum wells by partially or fully relaxed aluminum indium gallium nitride layers with misfit dislocations
An epitaxial structure for a III-Nitride based optical device, comprising an active layer with anisotropic strain on an underlying layer, where a lattice constant and strain in the underlying layer are partially or fully relaxed in at least one direction due to a presence of misfit dislocations, so that the anisotropic strain in the active layer is modulated by the underlying layer.
US08481989B2 Semiconductor resistive random access memory device suitable for bipolar action
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a word line interconnect layer, a bit line interconnect layer and a pillar. The word line interconnect layer includes a plurality of word lines extending in a first direction. The bit line interconnect layer includes a plurality of bit lines extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The pillar is disposed between each of the word lines and each of the bit lines. The pillar has a selector stacked film containing silicon, and a variable resistance film disposed on a side of the word lines or the bit lines. The selector stacked film has a different component-containing layer. The different component-containing layer is formed at one position in a region excluding ends on the sides of the word and bit lines, and contains a 14 group element having a larger atomic radius than an atomic radius of silicon.
US08481982B2 Energy emitting treatment device
In one aspect, the present application is directed to a radiant energy emitting device. The radiant energy emitting device comprises (A) an outer housing including at least one aperture there through, the housing being operationally configured to (1) receive and contain radiant energy therein, and (2) emit radiant energy out through the aperture to a target surface; (B) an energy emission means; and (C) a sensor means disposed about the aperture of the housing, the sensor means being in communication with the energy emission means and operationally configured to detect the spatial relationship between the sensor means and the target surface, said spatial relationship determining activation of the energy emission means.
US08481977B2 LED light source with thermally conductive luminescent matrix
A wavelength conversion chip is formed by depositing a wavelength conversion material on a substrate to form a layer, removing the resulting wavelength conversion layer from the substrate and then segmenting the wavelength conversion layer into a plurality of wavelength conversion chips. The wavelength conversion material can be annealed by thermal annealing or radiation annealing to increase the wavelength conversion efficiency of the chips or to sinter the wavelength conversion material to form a ceramic material. Optical coatings, vias, light extraction elements, electrical connections or electrical bond pads can be fabricated on the wavelength conversion chips.
US08481973B2 Fluorescent estimating apparatus, fluorescent estimating method, and fluorescent measuring apparatus
This invention provides a technique for efficiently estimating spectral radiance factors of fluorescence of a sample. To this end, for a sample which contains a fluorescent substance, first spectral reflectance data and second spectral reflectance data are obtained by making two different variable-angle measurements using a general colorimeter under a white light source. Ratios n of the first spectral reflectance data to the second spectral reflectance data in a long-wavelength spectrum range outside a fluorescent spectrum range of the sample are calculated. Then, difference data between spectral reflectance data as results of multiplying the second spectral reflectance data by the ratios n, and the first spectral reflectance data are calculated. The difference data are divided by values obtained by subtracting 1 from the ratios n, thereby calculating spectral reflectances of fluorescence of the sample, that is, spectral radiance factors.
US08481969B2 Effective algorithm for warming a twist axis for cold ion implantations
A method for warming a rotational interface in an ion implantation environment provides a scan arm configured to rotate about a first axis and an end effector coupled to the scan arm via a motor to selectively secure a workpiece. The end effector is configured to rotate about a second axis having a bearing and a seal associated with the second axis and motor. The motor is activated, and the rotation of motor is reversed after a predetermined time or when the motor faults due to a rotation the end effector about the second axis. A determination is made as to whether the rotation of the end effector about the second axis is acceptable, and the scan arm is reciprocated about the first axis when the rotation of the end effector is unacceptable, wherein inertia of the end effector causes a rotation of the end effector about the second axis.
US08481965B1 Process for the production of electric energy by the extraction of electrons from atoms and molecules
The process of the present application facilitates the production of electric energy by the deliberate extraction of electrons from atoms and molecules of a gas, vapor, liquid, particulate solid, or any other form of matter that can be passed along the surface or through the electron extraction unit. The extracted electrons are captured, collected and controlled or regulated for distribution as electric energy. It is an energy efficient process for the extraction and capture of electrons for the production of electric energy with positive atomic or molecular ions as byproducts. The product ions can then be confined in a coherent beam or restricted to a magnetic enclosure or by other confinement methods, expelled to the atmosphere, another environment or to ground, or modified into useful molecules. These results are accomplished by the forcible extraction and capture of electrons from the object particles by electrically charged particles in a strong electric field. It is an extremely efficient process, in that, once the primary components are sufficiently charged, thereafter it requires only an occasional replenishment of energy to sustain operation.
US08481963B2 Ion slicer with accelleration and decelleration optics
Described herein is an ion slicer that: a) accelerates an ion beam towards a first electrode comprising an ion entrance slit, where the first electrode blocks a portion of ions with high displacement from the axis of the ion beam, thereby slicing the ion beam; and then b) decelerates the ion beam after it is sliced.
US08481962B2 Distributed potential charged particle detector
A charged particle beam system for imaging and processing targets is disclosed, comprising a charged particle column, a secondary particle detector, and a secondary particle detection grid assembly between the target and detector. In one embodiment, the grid assembly comprises a multiplicity of grids, each with a separate bias voltage, wherein the electric field between the target and the grids may be adjusted using the grid voltages to optimize the spatial distribution of secondary particles reaching the detector. Since detector lifetime is determined by the total dose accumulated at the area on the detector receiving the largest dose, detector lifetime can be increased by making the dose into the detector more spatially uniform. A single resistive grid assembly with a radial voltage gradient may replace the separate grids. A multiplicity of deflector electrodes may be located between the target and grid to enhance shaping of the electric field.
US08481958B2 Multi-axis lens, beam system making use of the compound lens, and method of manufacturing the compound lens
A lens system for a plurality of charged particle beams comprises a lens body with a first pole piece, a second pole piece and a plurality of lens openings for the respective charged particle beams; a common excitation coil arranged around the plurality of lens openings for providing a respective first magnetic flux to the lens openings; and a compensation coil arranged between the lens openings for providing a respective second magnetic flux to at least some of the lens openings so as to compensate for an asymmetry of the first magnetic flux.
US08481953B2 Methods and systems of isolating segmented radiation detectors using alumina
Radiation detectors can be made of n-type or p-type silicon. All segmented detectors on p-type silicon and double-sided detectors on n-type silicon require an “inter-segment isolation” to separate the n-type strips from each other; an alumina layer for isolating the strip detectors is applied, and forms negative charges at the silicon interface with appropriate densities. When alumina dielectric is deposited on silicon, the negative interface charge acts like an effective p-stop or p-spray barrier because electrons are “pushed” away from the interface due to the negative interface charge.
US08481944B2 IR spectrometer with non-contact temperature measurement
An infrared (IR) spectrometer (20) for IR spectroscopic investigation of a test sample (1) in a first wavenumber range WB1, comprising a sample container (1a) for the test sample (1), wherein the sample container (1a) is transparent to IR radiation in the first wavenumber range WB1, and wherein the IR spectrometer (20) comprises a measuring device for determining the temperature of the test sample (1), is characterized in that the measuring device comprises an IR sensor (2) which measures, without contact, the intensity of the IR radiation emitted by the sample container (1a), and the sample container (1a) is opaque to IR radiation in the second wavenumber range WB2. A simple and reliable measurement of the temperature of a test sample in an IR spectrometer is thereby enabled.
US08481939B2 Photoconductive device, and terahertz wave generation and detection apparatuses each using the photoconductive device
A photoconductive device includes: a photoconductive layer configured to generate carriers upon irradiation with excitation light, a first electrode arranged on the photoconductive layer, a second electrode arranged on the photoconductive layer with a gap between the first and second electrodes, and a third electrode arranged in a region over which an electric field caused by voltages applied to the first and second electrodes or an electric field caused by irradiation with a terahertz wave extends. A depletion layer of the photoconductive layer is controllable by a voltage applied to the third electrode.
US08481932B2 Charged particle beam analyzer and analysis method
In a charged particle beam analyzer irradiating a charged particle beam to a sample in a vacuum container and detecting an X-ray generated from the sample to analyze the sample, two or more X-ray lenses configured in different manners are provided in the vacuum container. This no longer requires air opening in the vacuum container following X-ray lens replacement and also no longer requires vacuuming, making it possible to perform analysis with high efficiency and high sensitivity.
US08481930B2 Apparatus and method for replicating liquid blends and identifying the ratios of their liquid ingredients
Described herein are methods and an apparatus to determine and replicate unknown ratios of original target liquid blends, such as hydrocarbon fuel blends or contaminants, by using an in-process fluorescence-monitored procedure. The method relies on trial-and-error mixing of the liquid ingredients into a single container. At the end of the trial-and-error procedure the formed blend becomes an exact replica of the target blend. The method can also be used to build calibration curves without employing sets of previously prepared standard solutions.
US08481920B2 Apparatus and method for determining formation density from nuclear density measurements made using sensors at more than one location
In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for determining formation density. One embodiment of the apparatus includes a bottomhole assembly having a drill bit attached to end thereof for drilling through a formation, a first sensor in the drill bit configured to provide first signals for determining a first density of the formation proximate to the drill, a second sensor distal from the first sensor configured to provide signals for determining density of a second density of the formation, and a processor configured to determine the formation density from the first density and the second density.
US08481913B2 Beam power with receiver impingement detection
A beam power source transmits a signal indicating power availability, receives a request for power in response, and beams power in response to the request.
US08481912B2 Robust spectral analyzer for one-dimensional and multi-dimensional data analysis
A method of analyzing a spectrum of one-dimensional or multi-dimensional signal X(t) requires a number of steps including deriving coefficients [AN(ω), BN(ω)] of an Lp-norm harmonic regression of the signal with 0
US08481910B2 Vehicular image sensing system
An image sensing system for a vehicle includes an imager disposed at or proximate to an in-cabin portion of a vehicle windshield and having a forward field of view to the exterior of the vehicle through the vehicle windshield. The photosensor array of the imager is operable to capture image data. The image sensing system identifies objects in the forward field of view of the imager via processing of captured image data by an image processor. The photosensor array may be operable to capture frames of image data and the image sensing system may include an exposure control which determines an accumulation period of time that the photosensor array senses light when capturing a frame of image data. Identification of objects may be based at least in part on at least one of (i) shape, (ii) luminance, (iii) geometry, (iv) spatial location, (v) motion and (vi) spectral characteristic.
US08481909B2 Detection apparatus and radiation detection system
A detection apparatus includes conversion elements and switch elements disposed below the conversion elements; insulating layers are disposed between the conversion elements and switch elements. Each conversion element includes a first electrode corresponding to a switch element. A second electrode extends over the plurality of conversion elements; and a semiconductor layer formed between the first electrodes and the second electrode extends over the plurality of conversion elements. Insulating layers include first regions located immediately below the first electrodes and a second region located between the first regions. A third electrode is disposed in the second region and between the insulating layers. The third electrode is supplied with a potential that sets a potential of a part where the second region is in contact with the semiconductor layer to a value between a potential of the second electrode and a potential of the first electrode.
US08481900B2 Methods for drying ceramic materials
Methods for drying ceramic materials are provided. In one embodiment, a first power set-point of a first microwave applicator of a drying apparatus is determined Power set-points for at least two additional microwave applicators in the drying apparatus are determined such that a power distribution among the microwave applicators provides an energy per unit of water profile for the additional microwave applicators that is substantially uniform. The microwave applicators may be operated at the determined power set-points as the ceramic material is passed through the drying apparatus.
US08481897B2 Printed circuit board or card comprising a heating wire
A printed circuit board or card (1) has an electric circuit (1a) and at least one electrically insulated conductive heating wire (2), the heating wire (2) being wire-printed on or in the printed circuit board or card. Heating wire (2) can be connected at connection points (4) to a voltage source (not shown) to be provided on or in the printed circuit board or card (1).
US08481893B2 Portable food heater
In one aspect, the present invention provides a consumer appliance that uses RF energy to heat foods stored in a container that is suitable for RF heating.
US08481889B2 Hand grip member with electric heater
A handle grip member with electric heater can be produced in high yield through simple processing not using any core of synthetic resin and avoiding molding operation. Depressed groove (4) is spirally provided on an external surface of inner part (1) of rubber, and multiple ribs (5) are provided on an internal surface thereof along the direction of length. Electric heater (7) of tape-shaped metal conductor is implanted in the depressed groove (4), and fixed. Electric wires (8a,8b) are connected to two ends of the electric heater (7) and drawn out. The inner part (1) is inserted in outer part (9) of rubber tube, and the outer part (9) is fixed to the inner part (1) with the use of an adhesive, etc.
US08481888B2 Aircraft heating arrangement
A heater for heating air passing through a conduit to an aircraft cabin includes a first support ring in the conduit, defining an air passage there through. A plurality of serpentine heating elements is provided, with each heating element extending across the air passage and being supported at both sides of the air passage by the support ring. The serpentine heating elements are generally parallel to each other and evenly spaced in the air passage. A power supply supplies electrical current to the heating elements such that air passing through the air passage is heated by the heating elements. The heating elements may are non-planar, wavy, corrugated in shape, permitting them to be supported only at their side edges.
US08481881B2 Electric circuit breaker and switchgear panel with circuit breaker
A polyphase (e.g., three-phase) metal-enclosed, gas-insulated high-voltage circuit breaker and a switchgear including the circuit breaker is provided. For each phase, the circuit breaker includes one power arcing chamber pole per phase which are accommodated together in a common circuit breaker housing, and which have at least two connecting outputs per phase. The circuit breaker housing has a number, corresponding to the number of arcing chamber poles of chambers open at their front ends, in which the arcing chamber poles are arranged. The open front ends of the chambers are each respectively closed by means a corresponding dome-like lid covering the corresponding front ends so that a gas link between the individual chambers is provided for via the connection spaces created by the lids.
US08481875B2 Plug interlock device for vacuum circuit breaker
Disclosed is a plug interlock device for a vacuum circuit breaker. Only after a plug is completely mounted to a connector, an insertion or withdrawal operation by a vacuum circuit breaker is performed. Accordingly, while a breaker body is moved to a ‘RUN’ position from a ‘TEST’ position, or when an operation is performed at a ‘RUN’ position, the plug may be prevented from being separated from the connector. This may prevent an accident.
US08481872B2 Digitizer, stylus and method of synchronization therewith
A method for operating a digitizer with an autonomous asynchronous stylus includes sampling outputs from a digitizer, detecting from the outputs at least one pulsed signal transmitted from an autonomous asynchronous stylus at a defined rate, determining a location of the stylus interaction with respect to the digitizer, and tracking stylus interaction with the digitizer over subsequent pulsed signals transmitted from the stylus.
US08481870B2 Active electronic damping for an in-line scale
Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed, for example along a transport of a sorter machine. An article (900) is received from an intake transport (1200), and gripped in a weighing station (1310), in between a capstan roller and a pinch roller (1316), which are synchronized to minimize slipping. A first precision servo system (1252, 1250) alters the speed of the article, and in the process acquires torque data for storage and analysis (1212, 1282). A second precision servo system (1260,1330) applies a constant force, via a tension arm (1320), urging the pinch roller (1316) against the capstan roller, independently of the thickness of the mail piece. Active electronic damping (FIG. 19) preferably is applied in the second servo system minimize vibration of the tension arm, but only while gripping the article.
US08481851B2 Variable length lightning strike down-conductor
A variable-length lightning strike down-conductor is provided that allows for optimized ground path length, where excess down-conductor (grounding) cable is tightly coiled (e.g., as a mono-spiral coil) on a cable reel. Specifically, a primary down-conductor cable from an adjustable-length air terminal is clamped between the air terminal and the cable reel at any intermediate length, and the clamp is shunted to the ground plane (e.g., earth ground) through a second low-impedance down-conductor cable, as opposed to the high-impedance coiled down-conductor cable, thus increasing down-conductor effectiveness by reducing the impedance seen by a lightning strike to reach the ground plane.
US08481849B2 Electrolyte for photovoltaic device as well as photovoltaic device and dye-sensitized solar cell including that electrolyte
An electrolyte for a photovoltaic device including (i) a layered clay mineral and/or an organically modified layered clay mineral and (ii) an ionic liquid as well as a photovoltaic device including a photoelectrode including a transparent conducting layer and a metal oxide semiconductor mesoporous film using, as an electrolyte layer, the same, a counter electrode facing this photoelectrode and an electrolyte layer arranged between the photoelectrode and the counter electrode as well as a dye-sensitized solar cell composed of a photovoltaic device and a photosensitizer carried on a metal oxide semiconductor mesoporous film of the photovoltaic device, wherein the conductive substrate is obtained by coating, on a conductive substrate, a conductive polyaniline dispersion stably dispersed in an organic solvent including (A) a polyaniline obtained by polymerization of aniline or an aniline derivative, (B) a sulfonic acid compound and/or (C) an organic polymer having a protonic acid group, (D) a molecular weight modifier, and (E) an organic solvent capable of dissolving the sulfonic acid compound (B), the organic polymer having a protonic acid group (C), and the molecular weight modifier (D).
US08481844B2 Solar cell and solar cell module
In the solar cell module 1, one finger electrode 30 is branched into multiple branched portions 30a in an intersecting region α where the one finger electrode 30 intersects a conductive body including a wiring member 40 configured to collect photo-generated carriers from the finger electrode 30.
US08481841B2 Musical tone control system for electronic keyboard instrument
A musical tone control system for an electronic keyboard instrument, which is capable of calculating a key depression velocity of a key with high accuracy without being adversely affected by a large rotational resistance of the key during a let-off, and stopping sounding of a musical tone in appropriate timing. The system detects first key depression information on a key at a first position corresponding to a key depression depth obtained before start of a let-off, second key depression information on the key at a second position which corresponds to a larger key depression depth than the first position does, and third key depression information, obtained after termination of the let-off, on the key at a third position which corresponds to a larger key depression depth than the second position does. The tone volume of a musical tone is set based on a key depression velocity of the key.
US08481837B2 Device for providing and analyzing musical data
A device includes a rectangular base A engaging with two cursors B and C, the base and the cursors having musical data thereon that relate to notes, scales, tonalities, intervals and chords, and that analytically provides said data with regard to the fundamental rules of harmony. The rectangular base A includes a central longitudinal slot in which the first cursor B slides and the second cursor C slides over the base A and the first cursor B. The device is suitable for use by musicians in general and, more particularly, for instructional use.
US08481828B1 Maize variety inbred PH187J
A novel maize variety designated PH187J and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH187J with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH187J through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH187J or a locus conversion of PH187J with another maize variety.
US08481824B1 Inbred maize variety PH17P5
A novel maize variety designated PH17P5 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH17P5 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH17P5 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH17P5 or a locus conversion of PH17P5 with another maize variety.
US08481821B1 Inbred maize variety PH17CP
A novel maize variety designated PH17CP and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH17CP with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH17CP through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH17CP or a locus conversion of PH17CP with another maize variety.
US08481815B2 Processes for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenic organisms
The present invention relates to polynucleotides from Ostreococcus lucimarinus which code for desaturases and elongases and which can be employed for the recombinant production of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to vectors, host cells and transgenic nonhuman organisms which comprise the polynucleotides, and to the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides. Finally, the invention also relates to production processes for the polyunsaturated fatty acids and for oil, lipid and fatty acid compositions.
US08481813B2 Transformation and regeneration of allium plants
This invention relates to methods for the transformation of plants from the genus Allium, and transformed plants produced according to the method. Specifically, this invention relates to direct transformation of Allium leaf tissue using Agrobacterium mediated transformation, and plants regenerated from the transformed leaf tissue. In various aspects, the invention relates to a method of obtaining a transformed Allium leaf tissue and methods of obtaining a transformed Allium plant by regenerating the transformed leaf tissue.
US08481810B2 Transgenic plants expressing a cellulase
The instant disclosure describes the application of genetic engineering techniques to produce cellulase in plants. Cellulase coding sequences operably linked to promoters active in plants may be transformed into the nuclear genome and/or the plastid genome of a plant. As cellulases may be toxic to plants, chemically-inducible or wound-inducible promoters may be employed. Additionally, the expressed cellulases may be targeted to vacuoles or other cellular organelles.
US08481791B2 Homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation process
Provide that a useful catalyst for homogeneous hydrogenation, particularly a catalyst for homogeneous asymmetric hydrogenation for hydrogenation, particularly asymmetric hydrogenation, which is obtainable with comparative ease and is excellent in economically and workability, and a process for producing a hydrogenated compound of an unsaturated compound, particularly an optically active compound using said catalyst with a high yield and optical purity.
US08481788B2 Process for producing polyalkylene oxide
The present invention aims to provide a method for producing a polyalkylene oxide, which is capable of improving reduction in reactivity of a double metal cyanide complex catalyst in the case that a low molecular weight initiator is used, and producing the polyalkylene oxide with high productivity at low cost. The method for producing a polyalkylene oxide comprises carrying out a ring-opening addition reaction of an alkylene oxide with an initiator having at least one hydroxy group and having a molecular weight of not more than 300 per hydroxy group in the presence of a double metal cyanide complex catalyst in an organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent is used in an amount of 500 to 1,500 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the alkylene oxide used at the start of the reaction.
US08481779B2 Method for producing N-substituted-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic acid
Provided is a method for producing a compound expressed by the following formula (3): [where R1 represents a hydrogen atom or C1-4 alkyl group, and R2 represents C1-4 alkyl group, C1-4 alkoxy group, aryl group, aryloxy group or benzyloxy group], the method comprising a reaction of dehydro-condensing a compound expressed by the following formula (1) and a compound expressed by the following formula (2): while being converted to a desired geometric isomer in the presence or absence of an acid catalyst, under a condition that an organic solvent to be used for the reaction is a mixed solvent of acetic acid and a solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene and chlorobenzene.
US08481778B2 Process for the preparation of esters of 4-fluorosubstituted 3-oxo-alcanoic acids
Esters of 4-fluorosubstituted 3-oxo-alcanoic acids can be prepared by addition reaction of ketene with the respective acid chloride, subsequent esterification and hydrodechlorination. Preferred reaction products are esters of 4,4-difluoro-3-oxo-butanoic acid.
US08481773B2 Volatile cyclic siloxanes
This application relates to cyclic siloxane compounds comprising the structural formula where a≧2 and b≧2, R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R1 is independently hydrogen or methyl, compositions comprising any of the above cyclic siloxanes and an additional silicone, emulsion compositions comprising any of the above cyclic siloxanes or the above composition, and a process for preparing the above cyclic siloxane compounds comprising reacting a chloro end-blocked polydimethylsiloxane with a diol functional compound containing at least 3 carbon atoms.
US08481771B2 Biodiesel process
Processes for producing biodiesel compositions are disclosed. FFAs present in the triglycerides can be removed by reaction with isobutylene, or by Kolbe electrolysis. The Kolbe electrolysis can be performed on the starting material, or on the crude glycerol. The triglycerides are transesterified to form alkyl esters of the fatty acids and glycerol. The transesterification reaction can be catalyzed by an alkoxide, rather than a hydroxide, to help keep the glycerol by-product dry. The alkoxide salt can be neutralized by reaction with a dry acid, such as gaseous hydrogen chloride or sulfuric acid, and the resulting alcohol removed by distillation, and at least a portion of the neutralized salt can be removed by filtration or decantation. The process can provide improved biodiesel yields, and glycerol pure enough for use directly in glycerol ether manufacture.
US08481759B2 Process for producing wine lactone
The present invention relates to a method comprising (A) reacting a β-keto ester with a 2-halo ester under basic conditions to obtain a 2-aceto-3-methyl-succinic acid ester; (B) reacting the resulting 2-aceto-3-methyl-succinic acid ester with methyl vinyl ketone under basic conditions, optionally followed by a decarboxylation reaction and hydrolysis, etc., to obtain an α-methyl-γ-keto acid; and (C) reducing the resulting α-methyl-γ-keto acid to obtain wine lactone or a stereoisomer thereof or a mixture thereof. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a method comprising step (A) as recited above; (B) reacting the resulting 2-aceto-3-methyl-succinic acid ester with methyl vinyl ketone under basic conditions, followed by decarboxylation reaction to obtain an α-methyl-γ-keto acid ester; and (E) reducing the resulting α-methyl-γ-keto acid ester in the presence of a ruthenium complex having a specific structure and in the presence of a hydrogen donor to obtain wine lactone or a stereoisomer thereof or a mixture thereof.
US08481758B2 Process for the production of prostaglandins and prostaglandin analogs
The present invention relates to an improved process for the production of prostaglandins and prostaglandin analogs. In particular, this invention relates to the production of prostaglandins of the PGF2α-series, including latanoprost, travoprost, and bimatoprost, which are active pharmaceutical ingredients used for the reduction of elevated intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
US08481753B2 Method for producing isoindole
A method for manufacturing isoindolic compound, which can adopt a condition capable of being put to industrially practical use, which can produce stable isoindolic compound, and which can further produce the isoindolic compound with a high yield. The method for manufacturing isoindolic compound includes a thermal treatment step where a compound of which molecule includes a structure of pyrrole fused with bicyclo [2.2.2] octadiene skeleton, and includes a formula (I): is subjected to a supercritical carbon dioxide atmosphere. The thermal treatment step is preferably performed at a temperature of not less than 50° C. and not more than 300° C.
US08481741B2 Preparation methods of 6 substituted amino-3 cyanoquinoline compounds and the intermediates thereof
The present invention relates to a method for preparing 6-substituted amino-3-cyanoquinoline compounds (compound A for short) and the intermediates thereof, more particularly, to a compound of the following formula (I), the preparation method thereof, the intermediates thereof and use thereof for preparing the compound A. The compound of the formula (I) is cyclized in the presence of an alkali to give a compound of formula A, wherein W is OH; or the compound of the formula (I) is cyclized in the presence of an alkali, and then chlorinated to give a compound of the formula A, wherein W is Cl. Compared with the known methods in the literature, the method for preparing the compound A from the compound of formula (I) according to the present invention can avoid using high-temperature condition and high boiling point solvents, and is safe and environment-friendly, mild in reaction condition, easy in operation with a high yield and high product purity.
US08481738B2 Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonists and methods relating thereto
GnRH receptor antagonists are disclosed which have utility in the treatment of a variety of sex-hormone related conditions in both men and women. The compounds of this invention have the structure: wherein R1a, R1b, R1c, R1d, R2, R2a, and A are as defined herein, including stereoisomers, esters, solvates and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also disclosed are compositions containing a compound of this invention in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as methods relating to the use thereof for antagonizing gonadotropin-releasing hormone in a subject in need thereof.
US08481729B2 Processes for the preparation of paliperidone
The present invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of paliperidone and its intermediates and also relates to an improved process for the preparation of paliperidone compound of formula (I).
US08481728B2 Process for preparing entecavir and its intermediates
A process of making entecavir comprising converting a compound of formula (M5) to entecavir, wherein the two PGs on the formula (M5) are taken together to form an optionally substituted six- or seven-member cyclic ring.
US08481725B2 Cycloalkylcarbonylamino acid derivative and process for producing the same
Cycloalkylcarbonylamino acid derivatives, which are raw material intermediates of a novel cycloalkane carboxamide derivative that selectively inhibits cathepsin K, and a production process thereof, are provided.A cycloalkylcarbonylamino acid derivative represented by the following general formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: (wherein, R1 and R2 represent alkyl groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, aromatic hydrocarbon groups, heterocyclic groups or the like, and ring A represents a cyclic alkylidene group having 5, 6 or 7 carbon atoms).
US08481724B2 Synthesis of 2,4-pyrimidinediamines
Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing 2,4-pyrimidinediamines as well as intermediates used therein.
US08481716B2 Process for preparing an alpha-lipoic acid/cyclodextrin complex and product prepared
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a cyclodextrin/alpha-lipoic acid complex, wherein in a first step, an alpha-lipoic acid and a cyclodextrin are dissolved in an aqueous alkaline solution having a pH above pH 7, and in a second step an acid is added to lower the pH of the solution to a pH below pH 7.
US08481697B2 Nucleic acid base pairs
The invention relates to non-natural bases and base pairs that expand the normal DNA-based encoding system. Compositions herein may comprise at least one non-natural base that may interact with another base via a Watson Crick-type hydrogen bonding geometry and/or a Hoogsteen-type hydrogen bonding geometry. The bases may be used in a molecular entity, such as an oligomer or any other entity wherein the bases are attached to a backbone. For example, they may be comprised in DNA, RNA, or PNA, or a variety of other nucleic acid-type systems.
US08481691B2 Method for selectively extracting membrane proteins using calixarenes
The present invention relates to a method for selectively extracting membrane proteins using at least one calixarene of formula (I). The use of calixarenes in the method according to the invention enables the selective solubilization of the membrane proteins while preserving the three-dimensional structure that is essential to the enzymatic activity thereof.
US08481686B2 Antibodies that bind stresscopin peptides
The invention provides novel nucleic acids and polypeptides, referred to herein as stresscopin 1 and stresscopin 2, which preferentially activate the CRH-R2 receptor over the R1 receptor. Stresscopins, analogs and mimetics, and related CRH-R2 agonists suppress food intake and heat-induced edema; but do not induce substantial release of ACTH. Stresscopin also finds use in the recovery phase of stress responses, as an anti-inflammatory agent, as a hypotensive agent, as a cardioprotective agent, and in the treatment of psychiatric and anxiolytic disorders. Stresscopin nucleic acid compositions find use in identifying homologous or related proteins and the DNA sequences encoding such proteins; in producing compositions that modulate the expression or function of the protein; and in studying associated physiological pathways.
US08481680B2 Mutant smoothened and methods of using the same
The emergence of mutations in tyrosine kinases following treatment of cancer patients with molecular-targeted therapy represents a major mechanism of acquired drug resistance. Here, we describe a mutation in the serpentine receptor, Smoothened (SMO), which results in resistance to a Hedgehog (Hh) pathway inhibitor in medulloblastoma. A single amino acid substitution in a conserved glutamic acid residue of SMO maintains Hh signaling, but results in the inability of the Hh pathway inhibitor, GDC-0449, to bind SMO and suppress the pathway. The invention provides screening methods to detect SMO mutations and methods to screen for drugs that specifically modulate mutant SMO exhibiting drug resistance.
US08481679B2 Immobilizing an entity in a desired orientation on a support material
The present invention relates to the identification and selection of attachment molecules that attach/immobilize an entity having a detectable activity or property on a support in an orientation that provides a detectable activity or property, and to surfaces made of the attachment molecules.
US08481671B2 Oxymethylene polymers and process for the preparation thereof
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of oxymethylene polymers as well as oxymethylene polymers obtainable therefrom. The process includes polymerization of a monomer, which forms —CH2—O— units in the presence of an acetal of formaldehyde or a polyhydric alcohol and an initiator for cationic polymerization. The initiator may be a heteropoly acid or an acid salt thereof which is dissolved in an alkyl ester of a polybasic carboxylic acid.
US08481669B2 Molding material comprising polysilsesquioxane compound, sealing material, and sealed optical element
A molding material which can produce cured products with long-lasting excellent transparency and heat resistance, a sealing material in which the molding material is used, and a sealed optical element are provided. The molding material comprises a polysilsesquioxane compound with a ladder structure having a repeating unit of the following formula (I) in the molecule as a major component. wherein R1 represents a group shown by the formula AO—(CH2)r— (wherein A indicates a protective group for a hydroxyl group and r is an integer of 1 to 10), R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted (excluding substitution with OA in the above formula) alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and l, m, and n individually represent 0 or an arbitrary integer, provided that l and n are not 0 at the same time.
US08481666B2 Polyethylene compositions, method of producing the same, articles made therefrom, and method of making the same
The instant invention is a polyethylene composition, method of producing the same, articles made therefrom, and method of making the same. The polyethylene composition according to the instant invention comprises (1) less than or equal to 100 percent by weight of the units derived from ethylene; and (2) less than 15 percent by weight of units derived from one or more α-olefin comonomers. The polyethylene composition according the instant invention has a density of equal to D g/cm3, wherein D=[(0.0034(Ln(I2))+0.9553], wherein I2 is melt index expressed in g/10 min, a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) in the range of 1.70 to 3.62, a melt index (I2) in the range of 2 to 1000 g/10 minutes, a molecular weight distribution (Mz/Mw) in the range of less than 2.5, and a vinyl unsaturation of less than 0.06 vinyls per one thousand carbon atoms present in the backbone of the composition.
US08481664B2 Particulate water absorbing agent including polyacrylic acid (polyacrylate) based water absorbing resin as a principal component, method for production thereof, water-absorbent core and absorbing article in which the particulate water absorbing agent is used
As a characteristic that had not been known conventionally at all, “permeability potential under pressure (PPUP)” of a particulate water absorbing agent is regulated, and further, “range of particle size distribution” and “coloring” are concomitantly regulated. The present invention is directed to a particulate water absorbing agent having the following (a) to (c): (a) permeability potential under pressure (PPUP) being 50 to 100%; (b) yellowness index (YI) being 0 to 10, and rate of change of yellowness index (ΔYI) being 100 to 150% following a coloring acceleration test for 14 days at 70±1° C. and the relative humidity of 95±1%; and (c) particles of smaller than 150 μm specified by standard sieve classification accounting for 0 to 5% by weight, weight average particle diameter (D50) being 200 to 550 μm, and logarithmic standard deviation (σζ) of particle size distribution being 0.20 to 0.40.
US08481654B2 Aqueous silane nanocomposites
The present invention provides a composition based on the reaction at least of the following components: (i) a glycidyloxypropylalkoxysilane, (ii) an aqueous silica sol having an SiO2 content of >20% by weight, (iii) an organic acid hydrolysis catalyst, and (iv) n-propyl zirconate, butyl titanate or titanium acetylacetonate as crosslinker, a process for its preparation, and the use thereof, particularly as a composition for scratch resistant coatings, and also provides articles thus coated.
US08481647B2 Thermoplastic elastomer polyolefin in-reactor blends and molded articles therefrom
This invention relates to an in-reactor polymer blend comprising: (a) a first ethylene-containing polymer having a density of greater than 0.90 g/cm3 and a Mw of more than 20,000 g/mol and (b) a second ethylene-containing polymer having a density of less than 0.90 g/cm3 wherein the polymer blend has a Tm of at least 90° C. (DSC second melt), a density of less than 0.92 g/cm3, and the densities of the first and second polymers differ by at least 1%.
US08481645B2 Stabilizer polymer and coating compositions thereof
A stabilizer polymer and coating compositions containing the stabilizer polymer are provided. The stabilizer polymer preferably includes a polyester backbone and a plurality of carbon-carbon double bonds. A coating composition is provided that preferably includes the stabilizer polymer, an acrylic component, and a thermoplastic dispersion. In a preferred embodiment, the acrylic component is included in the stabilizer polymer.
US08481630B2 Process for the production of moldings with reduced formation of deposit
The invention relates to processes for the production of moldings via shaping of thermoplastic molding compositions F with reduced formation of deposit on the shaping mold, and it is essential to the invention that the thermoplastic molding compositions F comprise an amount of from 0 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg (calculated as the total of the mg of Mg and the mg of Ca per kg of thermoplastic molding composition F and determined by means of atomic emission spectrometry using inductively coupled plasma (ICPAES)) of magnesium compounds and/or calcium compounds; the invention further relates to the use of molding compositions F in the inventive processes, and also to moldings which can be produced by the inventive processes.
US08481628B2 Polymer composition
Polymer composition comprising a) 10-99.99% by weight of at least one polyolefin, b) 0-50% by weight of a thermoplastic that is not a polyolefin, c) 0.005-1% by weight of per se known polymer additives, as well as an additional component chosen among d) at least one polybranched organic/inorganic hybrid polymer which has an inorganic core carrying organic branches, the core and branches forming a particulate structure, or/and e) a fat-soluble metal compound prepared by reacting a metal salt and an acidic, organic compound in a process in which a suitable oxidation agent ensures that all the metal in the end product is present in its highest stable oxidation state at standard conditions (25° C. and maximum 98% humidity).
US08481627B2 Thioethers, methods for their preparation, and compositions including such thioethers
Disclosed are thioethers, methods for preparing such thioethers, and curable compositions, such as coating and sealant compositions, that include such thioethers. The thioethers can be the reaction product of (a) an alpha, omega dihalo organic compound, (b) a metal hydrosulfide, and (c) a metal hydroxide.
US08481626B1 Wax-based encapsulant/moisture barrier for use with electronics received in water meter pits
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to an encapsulant for electronic components such as those utilized in AMR technology. The encapsulant comprises a wax, a tackifier, a polymer, a plasticizer, a thixotropic agent, and an antioxidant and is designed to protect electronic components from harsh environments such as those where high levels of humidity or corrosive liquids may be present. For example, the encapsulant exhibits minimal percent weight gain due to moisture vapor when subjected to temperatures ranging from about −40° C. to about 70° C. and relative humidities ranging from 0% to 85% over a period of 200 days.
US08481622B2 Soybean based epoxy resin and methods of making and use
An improved soybean oil ester based epoxy resin and method of making the same is disclosed. A transesterification step is employed to liberate glycerol and to form new fatty acid esters with additional double bonds. The resulting fatty acid esters containing one or more double bonds are epoxidized by reacting with epoxidation reagent. The epoxidized esters serve as monomers in an epoxy resin system, which may be used to manufacture composite materials with improved mechanical properties as compared to materials obtained from epoxidized triglycerides. The soybean based epoxy resin may be used as low-cost and biocompatible coating materials for food and beverage cans.
US08481617B2 Adjuvant system for prefabricated concrete
The present invention relates to a system of adjuvants for concrete comprising a superplasticizer, such as a polyalkoxylated polycarboxylate comb polymer; an accelerator selected from calcium salts; and a rheology extender, which is a polyalkoxylated polyphosphonate. The system of adjuvants is particularly useful for prefabricated concrete, which is used for producing concrete building elements in series such as slabs, walls, beams, frontage panels. Methods for preparing prefabricated concrete using this system of adjuvants are also provided.
US08481608B2 Silicone monomer
The invention provides a silicone monomer having high purity and suitable for use in the manufacture of ophthalmic devices, and a contact lens produced from the silicone monomer as a polymerizable component. The silicone monomer is represented by the formula (1): wherein Y1 to Y9 each independently stands for an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n is an integer of 0 to 3, a and b each independently denotes an integer of 0 or 1, and R stands for a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
US08481602B2 How to produce synthetic gasolines or synthetic diesels using only natural gas as raw material
My process does not convert natural gas into compressed natural gas, does not convert natural gas into liquified natural gas but uses 2 new chemical formulas to convert natural gas into synthetic gasolines or into synthetic diesels. After producing CO through a technology of partial combustion , my process improves Fischer-Tropsch process using CH4 instead of H2, following 2 new chemical equations and adding salt, NaCl, to an iron, FeO, catalyst or to any other catalyst capable of generating hydrocarbons. Instead of producing a large variety of synthetic hydrocarbons like other processes do, my process delivers only synthetic gasolines following 5 CH4+2 CO=C7H16+2 H2O or only synthetic diesels following 11 CH4+5 CO=C16H34+5 H2O thanks to the addition of salt to an iron catalyst or to any other catalyst. No oil refining needed. Because natural gas is the cleanest hydrocarbon, my process produces clean synthetic gasolines or clean synthetic diesels. Because the prices of natural gas are very low, my process produces clean synthetic gasolines or clean synthetic diesels at very low costs.
US08481594B2 Compositions comprising jasmonic acid derivatives and use of these derivatives
Cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) and the corresponding salts thereof: wherein: R1 is a radical chosen from —COOR′, —CONR′R″, —CH2OR′, —COR′, —CH2R′, —SO2OR′, —PO3R′R″ and —NHR′, wherein R′ and R″, which may be identical or different, are defined herein;R2 is chosen from saturated and unsaturated, linear, branched and cyclic hydrocarbon radicals comprising from 1 to 18 carbon atoms which are optionally substituted by from 1 to 5 identical or different entities chosen from —OR′″, —OCOR′″, —SCOR′″, NR′″R″″, —NHCOR′″, halogen, —CN, —COOR′″ and —COR′″, wherein R′″ and R″″, which may be identical or different, are defined herein;as well as the use of these compounds, for example, to promote skin desquamation, to stimulate epidermal renewal and/or to combat the signs of skin ageing.
US08481585B2 Substituted pyrrolo-pyrazole derivatives as kinase inhibitors
Compounds represented by formula (Ia) or (Ib) and wherein R and R1 are as defined in the description, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are disclosed; the said compounds are useful in the treatment of cell cycle proliferative disorders, e.g. cancer, associated with an altered cell cycle dependent kinase activity.
US08481578B2 Thiophene-carboxamides useful as inhibitors of protein kinases
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also relates to processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US08481575B2 Synthesis of epothilones, intermediates thereto, analogues and uses thereof
The present invention provides convergent processes for preparing epothilone A and B, desoxyepothilones A and B, and analogues thereof. Also provided are analogues related to epothilone A and B and intermediates useful for preparing same. The present invention further provides novel compositions based on analogues of the epothilones and methods for the treatment of cancer and cancer which has developed a multidrug-resistant phenotype.
US08481574B2 Compounds as cannabinoid receptor ligands
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) wherein A, E, L2, R1, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the herein, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions.
US08481571B2 Anti-coronavirus compounds
A method of treating coronavirus infection. The method includes administering to a subject suffering from or being at risk of suffering from such infection an effective amount of a compound of formula (I). Each variable in this formula is defined in the specification.
US08481568B2 Isoindole-imide compounds and compositions comprising and methods of using the same
This invention relates to isoindole-imide compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, stereoisomers, and prodrugs thereof. Methods of use, and pharmaceutical compositions of these compounds are disclosed.
US08481567B2 Sigma receptor compounds
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), methods for their preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds as well their use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of humans and animals.
US08481549B2 Dual-acting thiophene, pyrrole, thiazole and furan antihypertensive agents
In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having the formula: wherein: Ar, Z, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. In another aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US08481544B2 Antibacterial compositions
Compounds of formula (I) have antibacterial activity: wherein: m is 0 or 1; Q is hydrogen or cyclopropyl; Alk is an optionally substituted, divalent C1-C6 alkylene, alkenylene or alkynylene radical which may contain an ether (—O—), thioether (—S—) or amino (—NR)— link, wherein R is hydrogen, —CN or C1-C3 alkyl; X is —C(═O)NR6—, —S(O)NR6—, —C(═O)O— or —S(═O)O— wherein R6 is hydrogen, optionally substituted C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, C2-C6 alkynyl, -Cyc, or —(C1-C3 alkyl)-Cyc wherein Cyc is optionally substituted monocyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic having 3-7 ring atoms; Z is N; R2 and R3 are as defined in the description.
US08481536B2 Benzotriazine inhibitors of kinases
The invention provides benzotriazine compounds having formula (I). The benzotriazine compounds of the invention are capable of inhibiting kinases, such members of the Src kinase family, and various other specific receptor and non-receptor kinases.
US08481535B2 Crystalline forms and processes for the preparation of phenyl-pyrazoles useful as modulators of the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor
The present invention relates to processes for preparing phenyl-pyrazoles of Formula (I) and salts and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, useful as modulators of 5-HT2A serotonin receptor activity. The present invention also relates to intermediates used in the processes, and their preparation. The present invention also relates to crystalline forms of 5-HT2A serotonin receptor modulators, compositions thereof and methods of using the same.
US08481528B2 Heterobiaryl-cyclohexyl-tetraazabenzo[e]azulenes
The present invention relates to heterobiaryl-cyclohexyl-tetraazabenzo[e]azulenes of formula I wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as described herein. The compounds according to the invention act as V1a receptor modulators, and in particular as V1a receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments. The active compounds of the present invention are useful as therapeutics acting peripherally and centrally in the conditions of dysmenorrhea, male or female sexual dysfunction, hypertension, chronic heart failure, inappropriate secretion of vasopressin, liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, anxiety, depressive disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, autistic spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and aggressive behavior.
US08481527B2 Benzamide derivatives as bradykinin antagonists
The present invention relates to new phenylsulfamoyl benzamide derivatives of formula (I) wherein R1-R5 and Z are as defined in the claims, and optical antipodes or racemates and/or salts and/or hydrates and/or solvates thereof, which are selective antagonists of bradykinin B1, to processes for producing these compounds, to pharmacological compositions containing them and to their use in therapy or prevention of painful and inflammatory conditions.
US08481524B2 c-MET protein kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to compounds of formula I useful in the inhibition of c-Met protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of proliferative disorders.
US08481518B2 Quaternary antimuscarinic compounds for the treatment of bladder diseases
The present invention relates to a method for treating bladder disease, including urinary incontinence, which involves intravesical administration of quaternary antimuscarinic compounds having longer duration of effect and fewer side effects than standard treatments.
US08481516B2 Ciclesonide containing sterile aqueous suspension
The present invention relates to a sterile aqueous suspension containing ciclesonide, a microgel and a water soluble ionic polymer. The present invention provides a sterile aqueous suspension in which ciclesonide is dispersed homogeneously over a long period of time.
US08481489B2 GH secretagogues and uses thereof
The invention relates to use of a GH secretagogue (e.g. GRF or an analog thereof) for (1) altering a lipid parameter in a subject; (2) altering a body composition parameter in a subject, (3) treating a condition characterized by deficient or decreased bone formation in a subject (4) improving daytime vigilance and/or cognitive function in a subject, (5) improving a metabolic condition in a subject, (6) improving anabolism in a catabolic condition in a subject, and/or (7) improving and/or reconstituting immune function in a subject.
US08481488B2 Compositions and methods for reducing the risk of preterm labor
The present invention provides compositions, kits and methods for the prevention of spontaneous abortion or implantation failure during assisted reproduction. The compositions, kits and methods provide an effective amount of granulocyte colony stimulating factor to prevent spontaneous abortion or implantation failure of an embryo. The present invention also provides compositions, kits and methods for the treatment or prevention of preeclampsia and preterm labor.
US08481479B1 Formulations of factor VIIa inhibitors and utility
A nanoparticle, a chemical structure, and a treatment method for treating a patient having a disorder. The nanoparticle includes a poly L-arginine polymer and a Factor VIIa inhibitor conjugated to or encapsulated in the poly L-arginine polymer. The chemical structure includes a Factor VIIa inhibitor that includes at least one nitric oxide (NO) donor. The treatment method administers a therapeutic effective amount of the nanoparticle or chemical structure to the patient to treat the disorder. The disorder may be a vascular disorder, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac insufficiency, a neurological disorder, and combinations thereof.
US08481477B2 Methods, agents and peptides for inducing an immune response to matrix metalloproteinase-2 expressing tumors
The present invention relates to enhancing, modulating or stimulating the immune response to MMP-2 expressing tumors, including melanoma, and to the modulation and application of immune modulators and MMP-2 peptides for melanoma or other MMP-2 expressing tumor vaccines. The invention provides methods and means to activate an effective response to MMP-2 expressing tumors and modulate the ability of MMP-2 to skew CD4+ T cell responses toward that of TH2 cells, which are less effective mediators of tumor cell clearance than TH1 cells. Methods and assays are provided for screening for compounds, agents, or peptides capable of enhancing or activating immune responses, particularly to melanoma.
US08481465B2 Synthesis of biolubricant esters from unsaturated fatty acid derivatives
The present invention is generally directed to diester-based lubricant compositions comprising one or more isomeric mixtures of diester species. The present invention is also directed to methods of making these and other similar lubricant compositions. In some embodiments, the methods for making such diester-based lubricants utilize a biomass precursor material from which mono-unsaturated free lipid species can be provided or otherwise generated, wherein such mono-unsaturated free lipid species are converted to isomeric diol species en route to the synthesis of diester species for use as/in the diester-based lubricant compositions.
US08481460B2 Faceted ceramic fibers, tapes or ribbons and epitaxial devices therefrom
A crystalline article includes a single-crystal ceramic fiber, tape or ribbon. The fiber, tape or ribbon has at least one crystallographic facet along its length, which is generally at least one meter long. In the case of sapphire, the facets are R-plane, M-plane, C-plane or A-plane facets. Epitaxial articles, including superconducting articles, can be formed on the fiber, tape or ribbon.
US08481458B2 Adjuvant for pesticides
The invention relates to compositions useful in the field of agricultural chemistry and methods for making and using the compositions. The compositions include (i) a permeabilizing agent, and (ii) a active component, for example, a pesticide or plant growth regulator, and can include additional components as well, for example, flow agents. The permeabilizing agent, or a mixture of permeabilizing agents, acts as an adjuvant to the active component or chemicals to improve the degree of efficacy of the active component or speed of action of the active component. The permeabilizing agents are typically one or more chelating agents, cationic materials, anionic materials, and zwitterionic materials, and include polyphosphate salts. Examples of cationic materials include polyamines such as ethylenediamine and quaternary ammonium salts. The active components can be pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, virucides, bacteriocides, and acaricides. Examples of suitable active components include plant growth regulators, defoliators, dessicants, transfection agents, wood treatments (CCA or other chemicals that are effective against termites), traps, disinfectants, marine paints and the like. The compositions can be prepared by mixing the components in a suitable manner, and the compositions can be used by applying the compositions to a plant in need of treatment thereof in an amount effective for the desired use, employing conventional application techniques. In one embodiment, the active components are defoliants, and the composition is used for plant defoliation, for example, with respect to cotton plants.
US08481455B1 SO3 resistant sorbents for removing mercury from flue gas
Surface functionalized sorbent particles for vapor-phase mercury removal, especially in the presence of SO3 in, for example, flue gas. The sorbent surface is modified to increase the SO3 resistance of vapor-phase mercury sorbents. The mercury removal efficiency is immune to the presence of SO3, which is not the case with conventional activated carbon as well as brominated activated carbons. The sorbent is based on carbon particles with a metal oxide coating on the surface. The thin metal oxide layer acts as an amenable surface to introduce functional groups. The metal oxide coated carbon was further modified with amine molecules, to increase its resistance towards SO3 poisoning.
US08481433B2 Methods and apparatus for forming nitrogen-containing layers
Methods and apparatus for forming nitrogen-containing layers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes placing a substrate having a first layer disposed thereon on a substrate support of a process chamber; heating the substrate to a temperature of at least about 250 degrees Celsius; and exposing the first layer to a radio frequency (RF) plasma formed from a process gas comprising nitrogen while maintaining the process chamber at a pressure of about 10 mTorr to about 40 mTorr to transform at least an upper portion of the first layer into a nitrogen-containing layer. In some embodiments, the process gas includes ammonia (NH3).
US08481430B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes stacking a SiO2 film, a N-containing stopper film, and a resist pattern in this order on a semiconductor substrate, performing etching on the stopper film and the SiO2 film with a F-containing etching gas, with the resist pattern serving as a mask to form an opening, and performing ashing on the resist pattern to remove the resist pattern, using a gas containing an oxygen gas and an inert gas under the condition that the ratio of the oxygen radical to the inert-gas radical becomes equal to or lower than 5.
US08481425B2 Method for fabricating through-silicon via structure
A method for fabricating through-silicon via structure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a through-silicon via in the semiconductor substrate; covering a liner in the through-silicon via; performing a baking process on the liner; forming a barrier layer on the liner; and forming a through-silicon via electrode in the through-silicon via.
US08481423B2 Methods to mitigate plasma damage in organosilicate dielectrics
Methods of minimizing or eliminating plasma damage to low k and ultra low k organosilicate intermetal dielectric layers are provided. The reduction of the plasma damage is effected by interrupting the etch and strip process flow at a suitable point to add an inventive treatment which protects the intermetal dielectric layer from plasma damage during the plasma strip process. Reduction or elimination of a plasma damaged region in this manner also enables reduction of the line bias between a line pattern in a photoresist and a metal line formed therefrom, and changes in the line width of the line trench due to a wet clean after the reactive ion etch employed for formation of the line trench and a via cavity. The reduced line bias has a beneficial effect on electrical yields of a metal interconnect structure.
US08481422B2 Prevention and reduction of solvent and solution penetration into porous dielectrics using a thin barrier layer
A method and apparatus for treating a substrate is provided. A porous dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. In some embodiments, the dielectric may be capped by a dense dielectric layer. The dielectric layers are patterned, and a dense dielectric layer deposited conformally over the substrate. The dense conformal dielectric layer seals the pores of the porous dielectric layer against contact with species that may infiltrate the pores. The portion of the dense conformal pore-sealing dielectric layer covering the field region and bottom portions of the pattern openings is removed by directional selective etch.
US08481420B2 Integrated circuit packaging system with lead frame stacking module and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an integrated circuit die having an active side and a passive side; providing a contact pad having a top side oriented in a same direction as the passive side; connecting an inner bond wire to the contact pad and the integrated circuit die; and molding a stacking structure around the contact pad, the inner bond wire, and the integrated circuit die with the passive side and the top side exposed, and the stacking structure having a top structure surface on top and adjacent to or below the integrated circuit die, and a horizontal member under the integrated circuit die and forming a cavity.
US08481400B2 Semiconductor manufacturing and semiconductor device with semiconductor structure
Embodiments related to semiconductor manufacturing and semiconductor devices with semiconductor structure are described and depicted.
US08481393B2 Semiconductor substrate and method for manufacturing the same, and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor substrate is irradiated with accelerated hydrogen ions, thereby forming a damaged region including a large amount of hydrogen. After a single crystal semiconductor substrate and a supporting substrate are bonded to each other, the semiconductor substrate is heated, so that the single crystal semiconductor substrate is separated in the damaged region. A single crystal semiconductor layer which is separated from the single crystal semiconductor substrate is irradiated with a laser beam. The single crystal semiconductor layer is melted by laser beam irradiation, whereby the single crystal semiconductor layer is recrystallized to recover its crystallinity and to planarized a surface of the single crystal semiconductor layer. After the laser beam irradiation, the single crystal semiconductor layer is heated at a temperature at which the single crystal semiconductor layer is not melted, so that the lifetime of the single crystal semiconductor layer is improved.
US08481390B2 Method for forming impurity region of vertical transistor and method for fabricating vertical transistor using the same
A method for forming an impurity region of a vertical transistor includes forming an impurity ion junction region within a semiconductor substrate, and forming a trench by etching the semiconductor substrate in which the impurity ion junction region is formed. The etching process is performed to remove a portion of the impurity ion junction region, so that a remaining portion of the impurity ion junction region is exposed to a lower side wall of the trench to serve as a buried bit line junction region.
US08481388B2 Non-volatile memory device having a nitride-oxide dielectric layer
A non-volatile memory cell may include a semiconductor substrate; a source region in a portion of the substrate; a drain region within a portion of the substrate; a well region within a portion of the substrate. The memory cell may further include a first carrier tunneling layer over the substrate; a charge storage layer over the first carrier tunneling layer; a second carrier tunneling layer over the charge storage layer; and a conductive control gate over the second carrier tunneling layer. Specifically, the drain region is spaced apart from the source region, and the well region may surround at least a portion of the source and drain regions. In one example, the second carrier tunneling layer provides hole tunneling during an erasing operation and may include at least one dielectric layer.
US08481382B2 Method and apparatus for manufacturing semiconductor device
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device using a PVD method and enabling achievement of a desired effective work function and reduction in leak current without increasing an equivalent oxide thickness. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device in an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of: preparing a substrate on which an insulating film having a relative permittivity higher than that of a silicon oxide film is formed; and depositing a metal nitride film on the insulating film. The metal nitride depositing step is a step of sputtering deposition in an evacuatable chamber using a metal target and a cusp magnetic field formed over a surface of the metal target by a magnet mechanism in which magnet pieces are arranged as grid points in such a grid form that the adjacent magnet pieces have their polarities reversed from each other.
US08481377B2 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with impurity doped oxide semiconductor
It is an object to provide a semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, in which miniaturization of a transistor is achieved and the concentration of an electric field is relieved. The width of a gate electrode is reduced and a space between a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer is shortened. By adding a rare gas in a self-alignment manner with the use of a gate electrode as a mask, a low-resistance region in contact with a channel formation region can be provided in an oxide semiconductor layer. Accordingly, even when the width of the gate electrode, that is, the line width of a gate wiring is small, the low-resistance region can be provided with high positional accuracy, so that miniaturization of a transistor can be realized.
US08481372B2 JFET device structures and methods for fabricating the same
In accordance with the present techniques, there is provided a JFET device structures and methods for fabricating the same. Specifically, there is provided a transistor including a semiconductor substrate having a source and a drain. The transistor also includes a doped channel formed in the semiconductor substrate between the source and the drain, the channel configured to pass current between the source and the drain. Additionally, the transistor has a gate comprising a semiconductor material formed over the channel and dielectric spacers on each side of the gate. The source and the drain are spatially separated from the gate so that the gate is not over the drain and source.
US08481371B2 Thin package system with external terminals and method of manufacture thereof
A method of manufacture of a thin package system with external terminals includes: providing a leadframe; providing a template for defining an external bond finger; forming external bond fingers in the template on the leadframe; forming land pad terminals by a first multi-layer plating; providing a die; attaching the die to the land pad terminals above the leadframe with an adhesive on the leadframe; covering an encapsulant over at least portions of the die and the external bond fingers; and removing the leadframe leaving a surface of the adhesive coplanar with a surface of the encapsulant.
US08481368B2 Semiconductor package of a flipped MOSFET and its manufacturing method
The invention relates to a semiconductor package of a flip chip and a method for making the semiconductor package. The semiconductor chip comprises a metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor. On a die paddle including a first base, a second base and a third base, half-etching or punching is performed on the top surfaces of the first base and the second base to obtain plurality of grooves that divide the top surface of the first base into a plurality of areas comprising multiple first connecting areas, and divide the top surface of the second base into a plurality of areas comprising at least a second connecting area. The semiconductor chip is connected to the die paddle at the first connecting areas and the second connecting area.
US08481359B2 Methods of forming a phase change material
Methods of forming a phase change material are disclosed. The method includes forming a chalcogenide compound on a substrate and simultaneously applying a bias voltage to the substrate to alter the stoichiometry of the chalcogenide compound. In another embodiment, the method includes positioning a substrate and a deposition target having a first stoichiometry in a deposition chamber. A plasma is generated in the deposition chamber to form a phase change material on the substrate. The phase change material has a stoichiometry similar to the first stoichiometry. A bias voltage is applied to the substrate to convert the stoichiometry of the phase change material to a second stoichiometry. A phase change material, a phase change random access memory device, and a semiconductor structure are also disclosed.
US08481358B2 CCD sensors with multiple contact patterns
A pixel array in an image sensor includes multiple pixels. The pixel array includes vertical shift registers for shifting charge out of the pixel array. The vertical shift registers can be interspersed between the pixels, such as in an interline image sensor, or the photosensitive areas in the pixels can operate as vertical shift registers. The pixels are divided into blocks of pixels. One or more electrodes are disposed over each pixel. Conductive strips are disposed over the electrodes. Contacts are used to connect selected electrodes to respective conductive strips. The contacts in at least one block of pixels are positioned according to one contact pattern while the contacts in one or more other blocks are positioned according to a different contact pattern. The different contact patterns reduce or eliminate visible patterns in the contact locations.
US08481356B2 Method for manufacturing a back contact solar cell
A method for manufacturing a back contact solar cell according to the present invention comprises the following steps: preparing a p-type silicon substrate having a via hole; performing a diffusion process to form an emitter layer all over the surface of the substrate; forming an etching mask on the front surface and back surface of the substrate so as to selectively expose a portion of the substrate; etching a portion of the thickness of the substrate in the region exposed to the etching mask so as to remove an emitter layer in the relevant region; forming an anti-reflection film on the front surface of the substrate; and forming a grid electrode on the front surface of the substrate, and forming an n-electrode and a p-electrode on the back surface of the substrate.
US08481353B2 Method of separating nitride films from the growth substrates by selective photo-enhanced wet oxidation
Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to separating nitride films from growth substrates by selective photo-enhanced wet oxidation. In one aspect, a method may transform a portion of a III-nitride structure that bonds with a first substrate structure into a III-oxide layer by selective photo-enhanced wet oxidation. The method may further separate the first substrate structure from the III-nitride structure.
US08481325B2 Device for studying individual cells
A device for studying individual cells including a picowell array (such as an array of microwells, dimples, depressions, tubes or enclosures) and a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the picowells through channels is disclosed. Preferably, the device has a moveable lid that in one rest location allows loading of cells in the picowell array. Preferably the channels of the device are capillary channels.Also disclosed is a device for the automated study of cells including a picowell-bearing device having a picowell array with a moveable lid, a lid-moving component, at least one solution dispensing component and a control system functionally associated with the lid-moving component as well as with the solution dispensing component.
US08481318B2 Nestin-expressing hair follicle stem cells
Hair follicle stem cells are isolated in a method which relies on the identification of stem cells as being small, spindle, oval or round shaped nestin-expressing cells that are located in the permanent upper part of telogen hair follicles below the sebaceous glands and in the bulge area.
US08481313B2 Retinal pigment epithelial stem cells
The present invention relates to a retinal pigment epithelial stem cell isolated from a posterior region of the retinal pigment epithelium of an adult mammal. The invention also relates to a method of inducing differentiation of retinal epithelial stem and progenitor cells in vitro, wherein the cells of the invention are highly plastic, multipotential stem cells. The invention also includes methods for the treatment of retinal diseases and vision loss involving the transplantation of retinal pigment epithelial stem cells or cells differentiated from retinal pigment epithelial stem cells to the retina of a patient in need of treatment.
US08481303B2 Microfluidic device for cell culture
A microfluidic cell culture apparatus includes a cell retention chamber and a perfusion channel. The cell retention chamber has a structured surface. The structured surface includes a major surface from which a plurality of projections extends into the chamber. The plurality of projections are arranged to suspend cells cultured in the chamber above the major surface. The first perfusion channel is configured to provide laminar flow of a fluid through the channel and forms a plurality of openings in communication with the cell retention chamber. The openings are configured to prevent cells from the retention chamber from entering the perfusion channel.
US08481297B2 Compositions and methods of use of an oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus
Oncolytic VSV viruses have been developed as a strategy for combating cancer. The present invention includes mutant VSV that have one or more mutations in the nucleic acid sequence encoding the viral genome that increase the oncolytic potential of the virus. Pharmaceutical compositions including oncolytic virus disclosed herein are also provided. Pharmaceutical compositions containing virus and one or more excipients may be for systemic or local administration. Methods of administering an effective amount of the compositions for treating cancer are disclosed. Preferred routes of administration include intratumeral and intravenous injection, and intranasal delivery. Administration of the disclosed compositions containing oncolytic viruses may be coupled with surgical, radiologic, other therapeutic approaches to treatment of cancer. Methods of manufacturing mutant VSV viruses exhibiting desired properties include applying selective pressure, and through directed or random mutagenesis.
US08481292B2 Increasing confidence of allele calls with molecular counting
Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions for determining the number of individual polynucleotide molecules originating from the same genomic region of the same original sample that have been sequenced in a particular sequence analysis configuration or process. In these aspects of the invention, a degenerate base region (DBR) is attached to the starting polynucleotide molecules that are subsequently sequenced (e.g., after certain process steps are performed, e.g., amplification and/or enrichment). The number of different DBR sequences present in a sequencing run can be used to determine/estimate the number of different starting polynucleotides that have been sequenced. DBRs can be used to enhance numerous different nucleic acid sequence analysis applications, including allowing higher confidence allele call determinations in genotyping applications.
US08481285B2 Methods and compositions for the recombinant biosynthesis of n-alkanes
The present disclosure identifies methods and compositions for modifying photoautotrophic organisms as hosts, such that the organisms efficiently convert carbon dioxide and light into n-alkanes, and in particular the use of such organisms for the commercial production of n-alkanes and related molecules.
US08481278B2 Apparatus and methods for analyzing fluid variables
Methods and devices for analyzing fluid variables such as viscosity, surface tension, analyte concentration, and the presence of particulates or aggregates are provided. The devices analyze fluid variables by measuring cessation of fluid flow through the medium or a change in flow rate due to an inherent property of the fluid variable, or due to a modification of the fluid variable as the fluid migrates through the medium. The lateral flow devices measure relative rates of capillary flow down converging arms of a common element of porous media in which at least one of the arms has been modified by the addition of flow-modifying agents which affect the flow rate in response to the concentration of the analyte. The fluid fronts will converge at a position determined by their relative flow rates, which is thus indicative of a fluid variable, such as analyte concentration, in the sample fluid.
US08481275B2 Method of detecting pancreatic cancer
To provide a method of accurately detecting pathological haptoglobin using a lectin having strong affinity and high specificity for fucose. The method of the present invention for detecting pancreatic cancer is characterized in that a fucose α1→6 specific lectin is allowed to act on pathological haptoglobin contained in a sample obtained from a living body, said lectin: (1) being extractede from basidiomycetes, (2) having a molecular weight of 4,000 to 40,000 as determined by the SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and (3) having affinity for a fucose α1→6 sugar chain with a binding constant of 1.0×104 M−1 or more at 25° C.
US08481272B2 Enzyme sensors, methods for preparing and using such sensors, and methods of detecting protease activity
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for enzyme sensors, protease sensors, methods for producing and using the enzyme and protease sensors, methods of detecting and/or measuring protease activity, methods for characterizing protease cellular activity, fusion proteins, polynucleotides, and vectors corresponding to the enzyme and protease sensors, kits, and the like.
US08481267B2 Genetic fingerprinting and identification method
The present disclosure provides methods for molecular fingerprinting for the characterization and identification of organisms. More specifically, in one aspect the present invention provides a method of identifying an organism in a sample by embedding fingerprint bands from any amplification based fingerprinting method within a DNA sequence so that small differences in size are resolvable. Fingerprint output is provided in a text file format that can then be analyzed by bioinformatics tools.
US08481266B2 DNA sequencing method and system
The present invention relates to the field of gene engineering, provides a DNA sequencing method and system. Said DNA sequencing method includes following steps: A. said DNA is processed into multiple DNA segments, and then constructed into multiple DNA tags; B. amplification of every single DNA tag, and then processed into single stranded DNA; C. Utilize the anchor which can ligate to DNA tags and possesses at least one degenerated base to sequence every single DNA tag and thus produce sequencing signal; D. Obtain sequences of every single DNA segment by sequencing signal. Said DNA sequencing system, includes: unit of short tags construction, unit of amplification, unit of sequencing reaction and unit of signal processing. In this invention, since DNA tags are sequenced by using sequencing anchor with at least one degenerative abase, length of DNA tags that can be directly sequenced is extended. Both short and long DNA tags can be sequenced. Thus application of DNA sequencing is expanded.
US08481263B2 Bead-ligand-nascent protein complexes
Bead-ligand-nascent protein complexes, and method of creating and detecting a bead-ligand-nascent protein complexes, are described. PCR-amplified product which is attached to a surface, e.g. of a bead, is used to generate nascent protein, which in turn is captured on the bead and detected, e.g. by fluorescence.
US08481246B2 Method of forming pattern
According to one embodiment, a method of forming a pattern includes applying a block copolymer to a substrate, the block copolymer including a first block and a second block, the first block including polyacrylate or polymethacrylate having a side chain to which an alicyclic hydrocarbon group or a hydrocarbon group including a tertiary carbon is introduced, and the second block including polystyrene substituted with hydrocarbon or halogen at an α-position, causing the block copolymer to be phase-separated, irradiating the block copolymer with an energy beam to decompose the second block, and removing the second block with a developer to form a pattern of the first block.
US08481242B2 Salt and photoresist composition containing the same
A salt represented by the formula (X): wherein Q1 and Q2, L1 and L2, ring W1, R5, w, v, Z+ and W10 are defined in the specification.
US08481224B2 Direct methanol fuel cell and anode used therein
According to one embodiment, an anode for a direct methanol fuel cell includes an anode catalyst layer containing a noble metal catalyst and a proton-conductive polyelectrolyte. A log differential pore volume distribution curve measured by a mercury intrusion porosimetry of the anode catalyst layer has a peak within a pore diameter range of 0.06 to 0.3 μm and satisfies the following relationship: 0.5≦(V1/V0)≦0.9 wherein V0 is a cumulative pore volume of pores having a diameter of from 0.02 to 1 μm, as measured by a mercury intrusion porosimetry, and V1 is a cumulative pore volume of pores having a diameter of from 0.02 to 0.2 μm, as measured by a mercury intrusion porosimetry.
US08481215B2 Electrolyte having eutectic mixture and electrochemical device containing the same
An electrolyte includes (a) a eutectic mixture of an alkoxy alkyl group-containing amide compound and an ionizable lithium salt; and (b) a carbonate-based compound. The electrolyte has excellent thermal and chemical stability and exhibits a low lowest limit of electrochemical window. Also, the electrolyte shows low viscosity and high ion conductivity, so it may be usefully applied as an electrolyte of electrochemical devices using various anode materials.
US08481211B2 Ferrous phosphate (II) powders, lithium iron phosphate powders for Li-ion battery, and methods for manufacturing the same
Ferrous phosphate (II) (Fe3(PO4)2) powders, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) powders for a Li-ion battery and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The ferrous phosphate (II) powders are represented by the following formula (I): Fe(3-x)Mx(PO4)2.yH2O  (I) wherein, M, x, and y are defined in the specification, the ferrous phosphate (II) powders are composed of plural flake powders, and the length of each of the flake powders is 0.5-10 μm.
US08481201B2 Case for secondary battery and lithium secondary battery using the same
A case for secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the case, the case including: opposing main walls; opposing side walls connected to the main walls; and a bottom wall connected ends of the main and side walls. The bottom wall has a first notch extending between the main walls. The thickness of the bottom wall decreases from the side walls to a central portion thereof.
US08481198B2 Wound electrochemical device and method of manufacturing same
A wound electrochemical device has a wound body formed by winding a multilayer member including a multilayer structure composed of a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode; wherein each of the positive and negative electrodes, includes a structure having an active material layer formed on both sides of a current collector; wherein the wound body has a space at a center portion thereof; and wherein the smallest radius of curvature R of a curved part in an innermost circumferential portion of the wound body satisfies the following expression (1): R=α×(T1+2T2)  (1) where R is the smallest radius of curvature of the curved part in the innermost circumferential portion of the wound body (unit: μm), α is a value within the range of 3.33 to 7.12, T1 is a thickness of the current collector of the electrode positioned at the innermost circumference of the wound body (unit: μm), and T2 is a thickness of the active material layer of the electrode positioned at the innermost circumference of the wound body (unit: μm), T2 being a value within the range of 8 to 30 (unit: μm).
US08481197B2 Bipolar secondary battery, method for manufacturing the bipolar secondary battery, bipolar electrode, method for manufacturing the bipolar electrode and assembled battery
A bipolar secondary battery includes a plurality of bipolar electrodes, each including a current collector that has a positive electrode layer on one surface thereof and a negative electrode layer on the opposite surface thereof. A separator is disposed between adjacent two bipolar electrodes such that the positive electrode layer of one bipolar electrode and the negative electrode layer of the adjacent bipolar electrode adjacent are opposed to each other along the length of the separator. The positive electrode layer and the negative electrode layer are formed with protrudent portions disposed at positions offset from each other along a length of the current collector.
US08481190B2 Method, apparatus, and system for mounting an electronic device
A battery cover for an electronic device including a battery receptacle. The battery cover generally comprises a base and a cover mating element. The base is operable to couple with a portion of the electronic device and at least partially cover the battery receptacle. The cover mating element is operable to couple with the base and interchangeably mate with a reciprocal mating element associated with a mount to couple the electronic device to the mount.
US08481188B2 Rechargeable battery
A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a case housing the electrode assembly; a heat dissipating member including a heat collecting portion inserted in the electrode assembly and a heat dissipating portion protruding outside of the case; and a sealing member between the heat dissipating member and the case, the sealing member including a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer having a melting point that is lower than a melting point of the first polymer layer.
US08481186B2 Battery management for optimizing battery and service life
The provision of a mode in silver zinc batteries where a user can access extra capacity as an emergency reserve for times when extra capacity is needed. While this temporarily increases capacity, it does not detrimentally affect cycle life over the longer term, and it permits a silver zinc battery to essentially mimic the long term capacity and cycle life characteristics of a lithium ion battery while still affording inherent advantages associated with silver zinc batteries. In a variant embodiment, this ability to temporarily increase capacity is optimally employed at the end of a battery life cycle in a controlled “roll-off” that accords additional cycles of battery service life. In another variant embodiment, the general capability to control capacity is employed to gradually decrease the available capacity of a battery over the life of the battery, to thereby extend the battery service life.
US08481185B2 Catalyst layers to enhance uniformity of current density in membrane electrode assemblies
Components that include catalyst layers used in membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), and methods of making such components are described. The catalyst layers yield more uniform current distributions across the active area of the MEA during operation. The catalyst layers may have a uniform catalyst activity profile of a less active catalyst to achieve more uniform current density over the MEA active area. The catalyst layers may have a variable activity profile, such as an activity profile with a varying slope, to compensate for the inherent nonlinearities of catalyst utilization during operation of an electrochemical fuel cell. Desired variable catalyst activity profiles may be achieved, for example, by varying the catalyst loading across the MEA from inlet to outlet ports or by varying the surface area of the catalyst loading or by varying the surface area of the catalyst support elements.
US08481179B2 Rare earth magnet having high strength and high electrical resistance
This rare earth magnet having high strength and high electrical resistance has a structure including an R—Fe—B-based rare earth magnet particles 18 which are enclosed with a high strength and high electrical resistance composite layer 12. The high strength and high electrical resistance composite layer 12 is constituted from a glass-based layer 16 that has a structure comprising a glass phase or R oxide particles 13 dispersed in glass phase, and R oxide particle-based mixture layers 17 that are formed on both sides of the glass-based layer 16 and contain an R-rich alloy phase 14 which contains 50 atomic % or more of R in the grain boundary of the R oxide particles.
US08481176B2 Oxadiazole derivative, and light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device using oxadiazole derivative
An object is to provide a novel oxadiazole derivative represented by General Formula (G1) as a substance having a high electron-transport property. In the formula, Ar1 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms in a ring. When Ar1 has a substituent, the substituent is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms in a ring. Ar2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms in a ring or a substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl group having 4 to 9 carbon atoms. When Ar2 has a substituent, the substituent is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms in a ring. R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US08481172B2 Steel sheet product provided with an anticorrosion coating and process for producing it
A flat steel product, and a method for its production, which is formed from a steel substrate, such as strip or sheet steel, and a zinc-based corrosion protection coating, applied to at least one side of the steel substrate, which contains (in wt. %) Mg: 0.25 to 2.5%, Al: 0.2 to 3.0%, Fe: ≦4.0%, and optionally in total up to 0.8% of one or more elements of the group Pb, Bi, Cd, Ti, B, Si, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Mn, Sn and rare earths, remainder zinc and unavoidable impurities are described. The corrosion protection coating has an Al content of maximum 0.5 wt. % in an intermediate layer extending between a surface layer directly adjacent to the surface of the flat steel product and a border layer adjacent to the steel substrate and with a thickness amounting to at least 20% of the total thickness of the corrosion protection coating.
US08481170B2 Composite manufacture
A composite manufacture includes a first steel substrate, a second steel substrate disposed in contact with the first steel substrate to define a faying interface therebetween, and a spot weld joint penetrating the first steel substrate and the second steel substrate at the faying interface to thereby join the second steel substrate to the first steel substrate. The first steel substrate has a heat-affected zone adjacent the spot weld joint having a boundary, wherein the boundary and the faying interface define an angle therebetween of greater than about 75°.
US08481168B2 Alginate-based building materials
The present disclosure describes various building materials used in the building and construction industry, and to buildings or objects constructed therefrom, and to methods of making these building materials. The building materials comprise a polymeric material, such as sodium alginate and/or calcium alginate which confers significant flame-, fire- and heat-resistance or imperviousness to the materials. Other substances can be added to the materials to improve cross-linking and/or to produce resistance to fungal degradation. The building materials which can be produced, processed, or treated using the alginate polymers of the invention include, but are not limited to, wood products; masonry products; wall, roofing, flooring and siding products; and paint products. Further, sodium alginate in the form of a gel may be used as a firebreak to effectively stop the advance of grass fires, wildfires, and forest fires.
US08481166B2 Hydrogenated norbornene-based ring-opening polymerization polymer, resin composition, and molded object
A hydrogenated norbornene ring-open polymer obtained by hydrogenating 80% or more of main-chain carbon-carbon double bonds of a ring-open polymer obtained by ring-opening polymerization of 2-norbornene. The hydrogenated norbornene ring-open polymer has a weight average molecular weight determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of 50,000 to 200,000, a molecular weight distribution of 1.5 to 10.0, and a melting point of 110 to 145° C. A hydrogenated norbornene ring-open polymer obtained by hydrogenating 80% or more of carbon-carbon double bonds of a ring-open polymer obtained by ring-opening copolymerization of 2-norbornene and a substituent-containing norbornene monomer, wherein the proportion of a repeating unit (A) derived from the 2-norbornene with respect to all repeating units is 90 to 99 wt % and the proportion of a repeating unit (B) derived from the substituent-containing norbornene monomer with respect to all repeating units is 1 to 10 wt %. A resin composition and a molding material.
US08481165B2 Agent for providing substrates based on cellulose and/or starch with water repellent and simultaneously antifungal, antibacterial insect-repellent and antialgal properties
The invention relates to an agent for providing substrates based on cellulose and/or starch with water-repellent and simultaneously antifungal, antibacterial, insect-repellent and antialgal properties, which contains water and, as active substance, at least one linear, cyclic, branched or crosslinked co-oligomer or mixtures of co-oligomers from the series consisting of the alkyl-/aminoalkyl-/alkoxy- or hydroxy-siloxanes, the use of such agents and a special treatment process using such agents.
US08481161B2 Functionalized metal nanoparticle and method for formation of conductive pattern using the same
A printable metal nanoparticle having a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) composed of a compound containing a thiol (—SH), isocyanide (—CN), amino (—NH2), carboxylate (—COO) or phosphate group, as a linker, formed on the surface thereof, and a method for formation of a conductive pattern using the same are provided. The metal nanoparticles of an exemplary embodiment can be easily formed into a conductive film or pattern by a printing method, and the resulting film or pattern exhibits excellent conductivity which optimally may be adjusted if desired. Therefore, the resulting metal nanoparticles of can be used to advantage in the fields such as antistatic washable sticky mats, antistatic shoes, conductive polyurethane printer rollers, electromagnetic interference shielding materials, etc.
US08481159B2 Water-absorbent porous polymer particles having specific sphericity and high bulk density
The present invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbent polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution in a surrounding heated gas phase and flowing the gas cocurrent through the polymerization chamber, wherein the temperature of the gas leaving the polymerization chamber is 130° C. or less, the gas velocity inside the polymerization chamber is at least 0.5 m/s, and the droplets are generated by using a droplet plate having a multitude of bores.
US08481154B2 Backsheet for rigid photovoltaic modules
The backsheet comprises a coextruded multilayer sheet that comprises: i) an inner layer comprising a polyolefin resin; ii) a core layer comprising a polypropylene resin, a blend of a polypropylene resin and a maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAH-g-PP), or a polypropylene resin/MAH-g-PP multilayer structure; iii) an outer layer comprising a maleic anhydride grafted polyvinylidene fluoride (MAH-g-PVDF), a blend of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and a MAH-g-PVDF, or a PVDF/MAH-g-PVDF multilayer structure; iv) a first tie layer between the core layer and the outer layer; and v) an optional second tie layer between the core layer and the inner layer.
US08481153B1 Apparatus and method for imparting wide angle low reflection on conductive surfaces
An apparatus and method for imparting wide angle low reflection on any high reflective surfaces through resonant excitation of plasmonic leaky mode of a nanocavity.
US08481147B2 Abrasion resistant decorative sheet, especially overlay, having a particular optical effect
The invention relates to an abrasion-resistant decorative sheet (1), in particular an overlay for the production of a laminate floor or of an abrasion-resistant furniture surface, comprising a paper layer (3) provided on one side with a print layer (2), comprising an impregnation (3a) formed from a first plastic mixture and comprising a layer (4) which is formed from a second plastic mixture and contains particulate abrasion-reducing material. In order to provide such a decorative sheet (1) which meets the high requirements in line with standards with regard to its abrasion resistance and permits a high-quality and clear printed image and has an appealing optical impression or an optical special effect, such as a metallic or nacreous appearance, it is proposed to apply the layer (4) formed from the second plastic mixture and containing particulate abrasion-reducing material to that side of the paper layer (3) which is opposite the print layer (2). A production process for the decorative sheet (1), a laminate formed from the decorative sheet (1) and a use for the production of laminate floors or abrasion-resistant furniture surfaces are likewise claimed.
US08481146B2 Inkjettable polymerizable liquid crystalline mixture
A polymerizable mixture for ink jetting, having liquid crystalline phases comprising the following components:a) 50-80 wt % mono-functional LCP's,b) 10-50 wt % of a higher functional LCP's,f) 0.01-5 wt % initiators, preferably below 1%g) 0.01-5 wt % inhibitors, preferably below 1%h) 0-20 wt % additives, preferably below 10 wt %,with the provision that the total amount of the components is 100 wt %, characterized in that the polymerizable mixtures has a viscosity smaller than 0.015 Pa s at 100° C. and yet remaining thermally stable.
US08481142B1 System and method for monitoring chloride content and concentration induced by a metal etch process
A system and method for monitoring chloride content and concentration induced by a metal etch process is disclosed. A blank metal film is deposited on a semiconductor wafer. A metal etch process is then applied to partially etch the blank metal film on the wafer. The metal etch process exposes the metal film to chlorine. The wafer is then scanned using surface profiling total X-ray reflection fluorescence. A chlorine concentration map is generated that shows quantitative and spatial information about the chlorine on the wafer. Information from the chlorine concentration map is then used to select a value of chlorine concentration for a metal etch process that will not create metal chloride corrosion on a semiconductor wafer.
US08481139B2 High performance balloon catheter/component
Composite fiber reinforced balloons for medical devices prepared by applying a web of fibers to the exterior of a preformed underlying balloon and encasing the web with a matrix material to form a composite balloon. The fiber web is applied to at least the cone portion of the underlying balloon form. Either the cone portion of the underlying balloon form, or the web fibers applied to said cone portion, or both, have a friction-enhancing material coated thereon.
US08481132B2 Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods
Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods are disclosed. These compositions and methods can impart excellent adhesion properties between film layers and the transparent support. These films are useful for medical imaging.
US08481130B2 Alignment layer with reactive mesogens for aligning liquid crystal molecules
The invention relates to an alignment layer with improved adhesion to liquid crystal (LC) films, to a precursor material used for the preparation of such a layer, to a laminate comprising such a layer and at least one LC polymer film, and to the use of the alignment layer and the laminate for optical, electrooptical, decorative or security uses and devices, wherein the alignment layer and the precursor material comprise at least one reactive mesogen in monomeric, oligomeric or polymeric form.
US08481121B2 Methods of forming thin metal-containing films by chemical phase deposition
Methods of forming thin metal-containing films by chemical phase deposition, particularly atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), are provided. The methods comprise delivering at least one organometallic precursor to a substrate, wherein the at least one precursor corresponds in structure to Formula (II); wherein: M is Ru, Fe or Os; R is Q-C10-alkyl; X is C1-C10-alkyl; and n is zero, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. Further provided are methods of making precursors disclosed herein.
US08481119B2 Bisamineazaallylic ligands and their use in atomic layer deposition methods
Methods for deposition of elemental metal films on surfaces using metal coordination complexes comprising bisamineazaallylic ligands are provided. Also provided are bisamineazaallylic ligands useful in the methods of the invention and metal coordination complexes comprising these ligands.
US08481115B2 Coated, fine metal particles comprising titanium oxide and silicon oxide coating, and their production method
A method for producing coated, fine metal particles each having a Ti oxide coating and a silicon oxide coating formed in this order on a metal core particle by mixing powder comprising TiC and TiN with oxide powder of a metal M meeting the relation of ΔGM-O>ΔGTiO2, wherein ΔGM-O represents the standard free energy of forming an oxide of the metal M; heat-treating the resultant mixed powder in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to reduce the oxide of the metal M with the powder comprising TiC and TiN, while coating the resultant metal M particles with Ti oxide; coating the Ti-oxide-coated surface with silicon oxide; and classifying the resultant particles such that they have a median diameter d50 of 0.4-0.7 μm, and a variation coefficient (=standard deviation/average particle size) of 35% or less, which indicates a particle size distribution range. Coated, fine metal particles each having a Ti oxide coating and a silicon oxide coating formed in this order on a metal core particle, which has a median diameter d50 of 0.4-0.7 μm, and a variation coefficient (=standard deviation/average particle size) of 35% or less, which indicates a particle size distribution range.
US08481114B2 Water dispersible polymer compositions
The water dispersibility of water-soluble polymer particles can be improved by a method which comprises the following step: i) foaming a fluid composition comprising a compound A) having a weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 or a water-insoluble polymer B) having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000; ii) contacting the produced foam with water-soluble polymer particles having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000; and iii) drying the particles, whereby the foam collapses during the contacting and/or drying step and the water-soluble polymer particles are encrusted with the compound having a weight average molecular weight of less than 10,000 or the water-insoluble polymer having a weight average molecular weight of at least 10,000.
US08481111B2 Bright coloured surface layer
A method to produce a pale and/or plain colored wear resistant surface layer by using a dry powder layer comprising a mix of refined fibers binder, pigment and wear resistant particles.
US08481109B2 Dichroic filters formed using silicon carbide based layers
The present invention provides a method of forming a flexible dichroic optical filter. The method comprises depositing a plurality of pairs of layers adjacent a substrate. Each of the plurality of pairs of layers includes a first layer formed of a silicon-and-carbon containing material having a first index of refraction and a second layer formed of a silicon-and-carbon containing material having a second index of refraction that is different than the first index of refraction.
US08481101B2 Mate beverage
A process for preparing a maté extract, a maté beverage base formulation and a maté beverage are disclosed. The maté extract is rich in natural caffeine, theobromine, theophylline and antioxidant compounds without the addition of preservatives and synthetic materials and is used to make a maté beverage base formulation. The maté beverage base formulation may be used to make maté beverages, such as carbonated maté beverages.
US08481091B2 Pharmaceutical compositions
The present invention relates to an improved mode of administration for cannabis and its natural and synthetic derivatives. A pharmaceutical composition suitable for sublingual aerosol or spray delivery of cannabis is provided. The formulation may be dispensed using a pump spray or the formulation may include a propellant, such as butane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane (HFC-227). The term cannabis is used herein to refer to all physiologically active substances derived from the cannabis family of plants and synthetic cannabis analogues and derivatives, precursors, metabolites etc., or related substances having cannabis-like physiological effects.
US08481088B2 Extract of Euodia suaveolens Scheff, repellent compositions and use thereof
The invention relates to an extract of Euodia suaveolens Scheff. The invention is characterized in that the extract is obtained from the airborne portions of the plant by means of at least one extraction step using an organic or hydro-alcoholic solvent, and in that it comprises evodone at a concentration of between 0.1 and 35% by weight of the total weight of the extract, and in that it has an insect repellent activity. The invention also relates to a repellent composition, characterized in that it comprises, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, evodone at a concentration of between 0.1 and 25% by weight of the total weight of the composition, and to the use of evodone as an active agent for repelling insects, in particular mosquitoes and more particularly the European/Mediterranean mosquitoes of the Aedes aegypti species.
US08481073B2 Compositions and systems for forming crosslinked biomaterials and associated methods of preparation and use
Methods of preventing adhesion between issues are provided that utilizes in situ crosslinked biomaterials. The biomaterial contains at least the crosslinked product of two biocompatible, non-immunogenic components having reactive groups thereon, with the functional groups selected so as to enable inter-reaction between the components, i.e., crosslinking. Exemplary uses for the crosslinked compositions include preventing adhesions following surgery or injury, and preventing scar tissue formation.
US08481066B2 Scaffold for tissue regeneration in mammals
A three-dimensional scaffold with interconnected pores for repair of tissue comprising a scaffold body for structural support of the tissue scaffold, where the scaffold body comprises scaffold body components bonded to each other and made from component materials comprising about 40 to about 90 wt % B2O3, and two or more other oxides, wherein the scaffold body has a porosity between about 15 and about 90 vol %.
US08481063B2 Insect repellent
The present invention relates to a hydrated compound of an unsaturated monoterpenoid as well as its use as insect repellent.
US08481060B2 Melt-coated pharmaceutical composition with fast release
The present invention relates to a process for producing a solid, coated pharmaceutical composition by a melt coating process. The process is adapted to provide a solid, coated pharmaceutical composition by melt coating, which has a fast release.
US08481059B2 Hydrogel compositions
Hydrogel compositions are provided (a) that have a continuous hydrophobic phase and a discontinuous hydrophilic phase, (b) that have a discontinuous hydrophilic phase and a continuous hydrophilic phase, or (c) that are entirely composed of a continuous hydrophilic phase. The hydrophobic phase, if present, is composed of a hydrophobic polymer, particularly a hydrophobic pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), a plasticizing elastomer, a tackifying resin, and an optional antioxidant. The discontinuous hydrophilic phase, if present, is composed of a crosslinked hydrophilic polymer, particularly a crosslinked cellulosic polymer such as crosslinked sodium carboxymethylcellulose. For those hydrogel compositions containing a continuous hydrophilic phase, the components of the phase include a cellulose ester composition or an acrylate polymer or copolymer, and a blend of a hydrophilic polymer and a complementary oligomer capable of hydrogen bonding thereto. Films prepared from hydrogel compositions containing or entirely composed of the aforementioned continuous hydrophilic phase can be made translucent, and may be prepared using either melt extrusion or solution casting. A preferred use of the hydrogel compositions is in wound dressings, although numerous other uses are possible as well.
US08481058B2 Topical composition, topical composition precursor, and methods for manufacturing and using
A tropical composition is provided. The topical composition can be prepared by diluting a topical composition precursor with water and adding additional components, if desired. The topical composition precursor can be prepared by melt processing a hydrophobic polymer composition that includes repeating pyrrolidone/alkylene groups wherein the alkylene groups contain at least 10 carbon atoms, and a hydrophilic polymer composition including repeating carboxylic groups and/or repeating hydroxyl groups. A topical composition precursor and methods for manufacturing and using a topical composition are provided by the invention.
US08481049B2 Methods for treating a wound using epidermal growth factor formulation
A composition for treating a wound, wherein the composition can comprise therapeutically effective amount of an epidermal growth factor and a physiologically acceptable agent, wherein the physiologically acceptable agent comprises at least one of a stabilizer, a preservative, a thickening agent, carrier/diluent, and optionally pH regulating agent and humectant.
US08481043B2 Nasal immunization
Compositions and methods for intranasal delivery of antigens for immunization of a mammal are disclosed. Antigens include peptides, proteins, peptidomimetics, DNA, RNA, carbohydrates and phospholipids. The compositions contain at least one antigen and a permeation enhancer. The permeation enhancer can be a macrocyclic permeation enhancer, such as a Hsieh enhancer.
US08481042B2 Conjugates of pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine dimers as anticancer agents
The present invention relates to pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) dimer conjugates, to the compositions comprising them and to their therapeutic application, in particular as anticancer agents. The invention also relates to the process for the preparation of the conjugates, to their application as anticancer agents and to the dimers themselves.
US08481041B2 Dock-and-lock (DNL) constructs for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy
The present invention concerns methods and compositions for treatment of HIV infection in a subject, utilizing a DNL complex comprising at least one anti-HIV therapeutic agent, attached to an antibody, antibody fragment or PEG. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody or fragment binds to an antigen selected from gp120, gp41, CD4 and CCR5. In a more preferred embodiment the antibody is P4/D10 or 2G12, although other anti-HIV antibodies are known and may be utilized. In a most preferred embodiment, the anti-HIV therapeutic agent is a fusion inhibitor, such as T20, T61, T651, T1249, T2635, CP32M or T-1444, although other anti-HIV therapeutic agents are known and may be utilized. The DNL complex may be administered alone or may be co-administered with one or more additional anti-HIV therapeutic agents.
US08481030B2 Optimized monoclonal antibodies against tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI)
Isolated monoclonal antibodies that bind human tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) are provided. Isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding monoclonal antibodies that bind TFPI are also contemplated. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the anti-TFPI monoclonal antibodies and methods of treating deficiencies or defects in coagulation by administration of the antibodies are also provided. Methods of producing the antibodies are also provided.
US08481023B2 Oncolytic rhabdovirus
Embodiments of the invention include compositions and methods related to non-VSV rhabdoviruses and their use as anti-cancer therapeutics. Such rhabdoviruses possess tumor cell killing properties in vitro and in vivo.
US08481022B2 Method of treating autoimmune disease with mesenchymal stem cells
Methods and compositions for treating an autoimmune disease, such as new onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a subject using autologous or allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells administered to the subject prior to autoimmune-induced complete depletion of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, e.g., within six months of new onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) diagnosis or prior to the onset of disease in a subject determined to be at high risk for T1D.
US08481009B2 Protection against sunburn and skin problems with orally-ingested high-dosage zeaxanthin
A carotenoid substance called zeaxanthin, when ingested orally at suitable dosages such as 30 to 100 mg/day for a span of 1 to 2 weeks, can provide effective protection against sunburns, and can give skin a darker tint that emulates a healthy suntan. In tests involving adults, it was found that zeaxanthin dosages of 30 to about 80 mg per day were sufficient to induce: (i) a mild but noticeable tinting, shading, or darkening of skin color, comparable to a mild suntan; (ii) a substantial increase in the person's ability to withstand elevated levels of sun or UV exposure; and, (iii) an increased ability of reddened and sunburned skin to convert into intact skin that looks browned and healthily tanned. Oral ingestion of dosages of zeaxanthin after a noticeable darkening of the skin has been achieved further enhances a tanned appearance and/or protects against sun damage.
US08481003B2 Anti-CD74 immunoconjugates and methods
Disclosed are compositions that include anti-CD74 immunoconjugates and a therapeutic and/or diagnostic agent. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the immunoconjugates and using the immunoconjugates in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The compositions may be part of a kit for administering the anti-CD74 immunoconjugate compositions in therapeutic and/or diagnostic methods.
US08481002B2 Method of preparation of uranium nitride
Method for producing terminal uranium nitride complexes comprising providing a suitable starting material comprising uranium; oxidizing the starting material with a suitable oxidant to produce one or more uranium(IV)-azide complexes; and, sufficiently irradiating the uranium(IV)-azide complexes to produce the terminal uranium nitride complexes.
US08481001B2 Combination therapies comprising quinoxaline inhibitors of P13K-alpha for use in the treatment of cancer
The present invention provides methods of treating cancer by administering a compound of Formula I, optionally as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate and/or hydrate thereof, in combination with other cancer treatments.
US08480999B2 Method for manufacturing titanium dioxide
The manufacture of titanium dioxide by oxidation of titanium tetrachloride in a plug flow reactor, wherein the titanium tetrachloride is introduced into the reactor in at least two stages and is used exclusively in liquid form. The total quantity of liquid TiCl4 used is split up in several stages. A small quantity is added in the first stage in order to start combustion despite using the liquid phase. In the first phase, the activation energy required is provided solely via the preheated oxygen. In all other stages, the activation energy is provided by the preheated oxygen and the reaction enthalpy of TiCl4 oxidation released in the upstream stages.
US08480990B2 Silica powder, process for its production, and composition employing it
A silica powder containing an ultrafine powder in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 mass % and having an average sphericity of at least 0.85, wherein the ultrafine powder has, as the particle size measured by a dynamic light scattering particle size distribution measuring apparatus, an average particle size of from 150 to 250 nm, less than 10 mass % of the ultrafine powder having a particle size of at most 100 nm being less than 10 mass % (not including 0 mass %) and from 10 to 50 mass % of the ultrafine powder having a particle size exceeding 100 nm and not exceeding 150 nm.
US08480980B2 Thin film bio valve device and its controlling apparatus
A thin film bio valve device and an apparatus for controlling the thin film bio valve device are effectively applied in a valve structure of a thin film device, such as a lab-on-a-chip, a protein chip, or a DNA chip, for diagnosing and/or detecting a small amount of material in a fluid.
US08480977B2 Automatic analyzer using a sample container having an information recording member
A sample is contained in a sample container and a physical relationship between the sample and a sample ID thereof is established. However, after the sample ID is read by a bar code reader and the sample is transferred to an analysis-dedicated small sample container, the sample ID and the sample are separated from each other. Following the end of analysis, therefore, the sample ID must be merged with a corresponding analysis result. A read/write-enable ID carrier is provided on an analysis-dedicated sample container into which the sample is pipetted or on a tank for holding the analysis-dedicated sample container. When the sample is pipetted or when the analysis-dedicated sample container is moved, the sample ID and other information are transferred to the read/write-enable ID carrier.
US08480976B2 Instruments and methods for mixing the contents of a detection chamber
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
US08480974B2 Device for controlling the flow of fluids through microfluidic channels
A device for controlling a flow of fluids through n=2m microfluidic channels, m being a natural number>0 includes a substrate having the microfluidic channels therein. Each channel includes m contact points. A respective heating element corresponds to each contact point. Each of a plurality of m pairs of conductor paths corresponds to a respective contact point of each of the microfluidic channels. Each pair includes a first conductor path that is in contact with a respective first half of the heating elements that correspond to the respective contact points of each microfluidic channel and a second conductor path that is in contact with a respective second half of the heating elements that correspond to the respective contact points of each microfluidic channel. A respective control line corresponds to each of the m pairs of conductor paths, where each control line is operable to actuate the corresponding pair of conductor paths with a switching status TRUE or a switching status FALSE. A cooling element is configured to control fluid received in the microfluidic channels.
US08480968B2 Luer valve disinfectant swab-pouch
A disinfectant swab is disclosed which comprises a pouch sized for protecting a luer valve. The pouch preferably has shape memory for grasping the luer valve after the pouch as been advanced over the luer valve. The pouch includes a disinfectant along at least one of a inner surface and an outer surface. In one example, the shape memory can be providing by at least one elastic portion. In one embodiment the pouch has at least one disinfectant along the outer surfaces so that the outer surface of the swab can be used to prep skin, drug vials and the like. The pouch can be sized to elastically grasp on a plurality of types of luer valves and/or to elastically grasp on a tube having the approximate outer diameter of a luer lock connector or another portion of a luer lock connector. The pouch can be comprised of elastic foam and/or can have a flattened configuration when stored and/or can be stored in a flat tear able sealed package.
US08480965B2 Devices for injection of gaseous streams into a bed of fluidized solids
Injection nozzles for use in a gas distribution device are disclosed. In one aspect, the injection nozzle may include: a tube having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; wherein the inlet comprises a plurality of flow restriction orifices. In another aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to an injection nozzle for use in a gas distribution device, the injection nozzle including: a tube having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; wherein the fluid inlet comprises an annular orifice surrounding a flow restriction device. Injection nozzles according to embodiments disclosed herein may be disposed in a gas distribution manifold used in a vessel, for example, for conducting polymerization reactions, spent catalyst regeneration, and coal gasification, among others.
US08480964B2 Plate reactor
The plate reactor includes a rotatable plate coated with a thin film containing an active photocatalytic nanocomposite. In use, the plate is partially submerged in polluted water so that a portion thereof is exposed to air and light. The exposed areas of the plate gains oxygen from the air, which reacts with the photo-promoted electrons from the coating. This results in the formation of very reactive superoxide radical ions (O2−) and/or the generation of hydroxyl radicals (.OH), either of which can oxidize targeted organic matter and pollutants in wastewater when the exposed area is submerged during rotation of the plate, thus purifying the water. A plurality of paddles radially extend from the edge of the plate to mix the water during rotation.
US08480960B2 Air freshener clip with head
An air freshener has a head with a face. A clip is coupled to the head opposite the face and extends from the head perpendicularly, and includes a pair of vent rods. A pair of bodies is each coupled to a different one of the vent rods. A scent material is interspersed within the bodies, and is capable of diffusing out of the bodies to surrounding air.
US08480951B2 Tuyere structure of melting furnace
A tuyere structure of a melting furnace includes: a tuyere main body which is covered on an outer periphery thereof with a ring member baked in advance, and is disposed in a hole portion provided in a tuyere brick; and a ramming material which fills a periphery of the ring member so as to fix the ring member.
US08480943B2 Apparatus and method for producing structures with multiple undercut stems
A method is disclosed for producing structures having a plurality of stems extending away from a fenestrated base to undercut islands projecting over fenestrations in the base. Such structures include slidingly-engaging fastener portions, self-engaging fasteners, uni-directional stepped fasteners, fastening segments integral with larger product components, and other structures with similar aspects. The method includes providing a set of partially bypassing dies to define a fenestrated common cavity contiguous with pluralities of undercut stem chambers and a terminal chamber, filling the cavity with a ductile moldable material, engaging the dies, and releasing the resultant product.
US08480939B2 Methods for applying images to resin materials
A process for printing an image on a surface of a resin member includes (a) providing a transfer medium with an image on one side of the transfer medium, (b) providing a liquid resin, (c) placing the one side of the transfer medium with the image and the liquid resin in contact with each other, and (d) partially curing the liquid resin to form the resin member while maintaining the image on the transfer medium in contact with an image side of the resin member. The process may include placing the liquid resin and/or the transfer medium in a mold for shaping the liquid resin into the resin member during curing of the liquid resin.
US08480938B2 Method for producing a storage element in textile and plastic material
A method for producing a storage element having a plurality of faces in which a portion of the faces is made in textile material. The method includes the steps of: producing a pattern in textile material, the pattern comprising several panels, placing the pattern in an unfolded condition in an injection mold, injecting a plastic material into the injection mold around the panels so as to overmold at least one portion of each of the panels so as to obtain a pattern comprising the faces in textile and plastic materials of the storage element in the unfolded condition, folding the pattern and attaching the faces to each other.
US08480929B2 Corrosion protection coatings and methods of making the same
A corrosion protection composition includes a mixture of three different silanes selected to interact and form a coating on metal substrates that has improved adhesion and durability as well as UV protection properties. Methods of manufacturing the corrosion protection composition include mixing the silanes together and further combining the silane mixture with other mixtures to arrive at the corrosion protection composition. Sonication may be a preferred manner of mixing together the various components of the mixtures.
US08480928B2 Inorganic-organic composite luminophore
The present invention relates to a composite luminophore comprising an inorganic matrix and an organic fluorescent dye, wherein the inorganic matrix is formed from an inorganic compound, and wherein the organic fluorescent dye has one or more functional groups by means of which the fluorescent dye is incorporated into the inorganic matrix, or is bound chemically thereto. The present invention further relates to a process for preparing such a composite luminophore and to the use thereof.
US08480923B2 Thermochemical synthesis of fuels for storing thermal energy
The present invention provides a method for storing thermal energy, such as solar energy, as a fuel, by heating a reactive oxide substrate to a first temperature, such that the reactive oxide substrate is reduced, wherein the reactive oxide substrate includes a cerium oxide. The method also includes contacting the reduced reactive oxide substrate at a second temperature with a gas mixture including carbon dioxide, wherein the first temperature is greater than the second temperature, thereby preparing the fuel. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the reactive oxide substrates by heating a mixture including a doped cerium oxide and a pore-forming agent, such that pores are formed in the doped cerium oxide, thereby forming the reactive oxide substrate.
US08480922B2 Solid solution lithium alloy cermet anodes
A metal-ceramic composite (“cermet”) has been produced by a chemical reaction between a lithium compound and another metal. The cermet has advantageous physical properties, high surface area relative to lithium metal or its alloys, and is easily formed into a desired shape. An example is the formation of a lithium-magnesium nitride cermet by reaction of lithium nitride with magnesium. The reaction results in magnesium nitride grains coated with a layer of lithium. The nitride is inert when used in a battery. It supports the metal in a high surface area form, while stabilizing the electrode with respect to dendrite formation. By using an excess of magnesium metal in the reaction process, a cermet of magnesium nitride is produced, coated with a lithium-magnesium alloy of any desired composition. This alloy inhibits dendrite formation by causing lithium deposited on its surface to diffuse under a chemical potential into the bulk of the alloy.
US08480907B2 Method for the floatation-clarification of difficult water and facility for implementing same
The invention relates to a method for the floatation-clarification of difficult water, in particular heavily polluted surface water, urban or industrial wastewater, rainwater or any type of water that floats with difficulty, particularly water which contains a high percentage of mineral matter or requires the injection of a flocculation aid and which originates from filters or membrane technologies such as ultrafiltration, said method comprising: a coagulation step (A1) in which a dose of coagulant (1) is injected into the water to be treated; a flocculation step (B) in which flocculant (2) is injected (B1) into the water after the coagulation step, in order to agglomerate the suspended particles in the form of flocs; and subsequently a floatation step (C) in which the flocculated water is mixed with an emulsion of air micro-bubbles in a floatation apparatus. A second coagulant injection step (A2) is performed downstream of the flocculant injection (B1) and upstream of the floatation (C).
US08480904B2 Extraction and winterization of lipids from oilseed and microbial sources
A process for purifying a lipid composition having predominantly neutral lipid components having at least one long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid is disclosed. The process employs contacting the lipid composition with a polar solvent, such as acetone, wherein the solvent is selected such that contaminants are less soluble in the solvent than is the long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid. The process is typically conducted at cooler temperatures, including about 0° C. Upon precipitation of the contaminants from the lipid composition, a separation is conducted to remove the precipitated material from the lipid composition. The long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids can include ARA, DPA, EPA, and/or DHA. The process of the present invention effectively winterizes lipid compositions, thereby reducing the tendency of such compositions to become hazy.
US08480895B2 Vacuum base and related methods and apparatus for vacuum filtration
Liquid filter assemblies including an upper sample reservoir, a sample filter and a lower storage bottle are supported by a vacuum base. The base has a vacuum inlet port and, for connection to the liquid filter assembly, a vacuum outlet port. A vacuum is provided through the base to below the sample filter to draw sample liquid through the sample filter into the storage bottle. The base may include an auxiliary vacuum outlet port for connection with additional devices. The bases may be connected from one to another through auxiliary vacuum outlets and the vacuum inlets to make a chain of liquid filter assemblies supplied from one vacuum source. Alternatively, one base may include multiple vacuum outlet ports so that it may support and supply vacuum to a plurality of liquid filter assemblies.
US08480888B2 Immediate cleaning and recirculation of cleaning fluid and method of using same
A system and process for continuously and immediately removing contaminants from wastewater and treating wastewater, where the wastewater is treated to supply fluid that can be reused in the cleaning system or discharged safely into the environment is disclosed. The system and method comprises one or more pumping means for circulating and recirculating fluids captured or collected by the system to one or more of the processes in the system, such as wash water applications or further treatment cycles. According to one embodiment, the wastewater is transported through purification sections of the device. Depending on the system used, these sections could include several of the following: pretreatment to remove debris and certain heavy solids; treatment by methods such as a conductivity solution injection system and/or electrolytic coagulation system, a polymer injection system, and a inline mixer for mixing the polymer in the wastewater stream; and an ozone treatment system. In a preferred embodiment, each of the treatment sections are contained within an enclosure cabinet that includes a controller and feed containers for conductivity fluid and polymers.
US08480882B2 Water filter pitcher meter
The present invention is a water filter pitcher equipped with a removable, replaceable filter cartridge and means to count the number of times the pitcher is filled with water, and also means to notify the user when the pitcher has filtered enough water to exhaust the filtering capacity of the filter cartridge so that the user can replace the filter cartridge when necessary but does not have to remember to change the cartridge at a specific interval or count the number of gallons filtered manually, and instead can rely on the water filter pitcher to track the amount of water filtered and inform the user when to change the filter cartridge.
US08480863B2 Cathode for electrolytic processes
The invention relates to an electrode for electrolytic applications, optionally an oxygen-evolving anode, obtained on a titanium substrate and having a highly compact dual barrier layer comprising titanium and tantalum oxides and a catalytic layer. A method for forming the dual barrier layer comprises the thermal decomposition of a precursor solution applied to the substrate optionally followed by a quenching step and a lengthy thermal treatment at elevated temperature.
US08480861B2 Method of treating gas
In a method of treating a gas exhausted from a process chamber, the exhaust gas is conveyed to a vacuum pump (20) and a nitrogen purge gas is added to the exhaust gas for pumping with the exhaust gas. Gas exhaust from the pump is conveyed to an abatement device (28) for abating the exhaust gas. The amount of purge gas added to the exhaust gas is adjusted in response to a variation of the composition of the exhaust gas, or the composition of the gas supplied to the process chamber, to optimise the abatement of the exhaust gas.
US08480855B2 Method and apparatus for pre-treatment of fibre material to be used in the manufacture of paper, board or the like
A method and apparatus for pretreating fibre material to be used in manufacturing paper or the like, for example, by precipitating mineral substances to the fibres. During precipitation, fibre material, which is advantageously pretreated in a through-flow mixer operating on the principle of an impact mill, is fed to the precipitation reactor. Gas is led to the precipitation reactor in order to generate a gas space in the reactor. The gas contains a substance, which precipitates the mineral substance such as carbon dioxide (CO2). The fibre material is fed to the gas space of to the precipitation reactor as small liquid and solid substance fractions such as drops and/or particles.
US08480854B2 Method for crystallizing a filler in connection with a fiber web process, and an approach system for a fiber web machine
The method of the present invention for crystallizing a filler, especially in order to precipitate calcium carbonate on the surfaces of solids in the short circulation of a fiber web machine by feeding carbon dioxide and lime milk to the liquid flow of the short circulation and allowing them to react with one another, is characterized in that the feed system, the mixing method and/or mixing rate of the chemicals are selected such that a size distribution of the calcium carbonate crystals suitable for the purpose is obtained. Moreover, the invention relates to an approach system for a fiber web machine applying this method, characterized in that it is provided with devices for feeding and mixing carbon dioxide and lime milk into the liquid flow at such a rate that the applicable size distribution of the calcium carbonate crystals is obtained.
US08480853B2 Papermaking and products made thereby with ionic crosslinked polymeric microparticle
Enhancement of papermaking drainage and retention properties of aqueous cellulosic suspensions used for production of paper or paper board with a retention/drainage additive system including ionic crosslinked acrylic acid-acrylate copolymer microparticles is described. Paper and paperboard products made with these copolymer microparticles are also described.
US08480852B2 Cooling substrates with hydrophilic containment layer and method of making
Wiping products, such as facial tissues, contain an interior temperature change composition and an exterior hydrophilic lotion composition that can provide a cooling sensation when contacted with the skin of a user. The temperature change composition, for instance, can contain one or more phase change agents that undergo a phase change at slightly elevated temperatures. The phase change agents, in one embodiment, can have a relatively high heat of fusion. When undergoing a phase change, the phase change agents absorb heat and thereby provide a cooling feeling to the skin of a user. The hydrophilic lotion composition may contain a carrier and a thermo-reversible gelling agent. The hydrophilic lotion composition maintains the temperature change composition within the tissue and helps to prevent skin irritation.
US08480845B2 Thermosetting solvent-free single-component compositions and their use
We propose a thermosetting solvent-free single-component composition having a storage stability at room temperature of at least 2 weeks, consisting of (A) 5-90 parts by weight of one at least difunctional (iso)cyanate component, (B) 5-50 parts by weight of a latent curing agent solid up to a temperature of at least 40° C. based on nitrogen compounds suitable for addition crosslinking, (C) 0-50 parts by weight of an epoxy-containing compound and (D) 0-50 parts by weight of modifiers, with the sum of all parts by weight being 100, and its use for bonding, casting, sealing and coating of substrates, in particular electronic parts. The composition is cured at 120° C. to 150° C. within seconds.
US08480839B2 Method for manufacturing composite systems made of metal and polymer shaped parts
A method for manufacturing composite systems including metal and polymer shaped parts in the form of stabilizers, bushings, axle bearings, especially in the chassis area, stops, buffers, especially for supporting arms for aggregate bearings, or sleeve bearings, especially torsion-bar shoulder bearings, is provided. With the method, at least one completely vulcanized or partially vulcanized elastomer shaped part, especially a rubber shaped part, as the polymer shaped part and at least one metal part are first prepared. The metal part and the polymer shaped part are then brought into abutment against one another, at least in parts. And, finally the metal part or at least one region of the surface on which the metal part and the polymer shaped part abut against one another, is at least temporarily exposed to at least one induction field or at least one inductive heating unit.
US08480835B2 Apparatus and method to manufacture shaped counter top edges for custom counter tops
An apparatus and method to manufacture shaped counter top edges for custom counter tops. Sheet laminate is heated, clamped to a post form mold with clamping screws, and then formed around the post form mold into formed laminate. The formed laminate is then bonded to a substrate using adhesive and a bonding fixture having a plurality of bonding presses. Each bonding press has a pair of mutually opposed bonding press molds, each bonding press mold having a bonding press mold groove sized to admit a formed laminate around an edge of the substrate. Clamps hold the bonding press molds together, thereby urging the formed laminate into intimate contact with the substrate until the adhesive cures. A counter top edge is cut from the resulting substrate/laminate assembly at an edge first cut angle and an edge second cut angle to provide a neat and aesthetically pleasing installation on a counter.
US08480828B1 Method for repairing and/or strengthening pipes
A method for effecting a repair and/or strengthening of a pipe. The method comprises cleaning an affected area of a surface of the pipe to provide a cleaned surface of the pipe surface for an area requiring repair; applying a continuous strip around the pipe from a portion prior to the affected area and allowing the continuous strip to extend to a portion after the affected area. The continuous strip forms a spiral sleeve spaced from the pipe surface to provide an annular chamber between the pipe surface and the spiral sleeve.
US08480822B2 Aluminum alloy
The invention relates to an aluminum alloy having good electrical conductivity and good thermal conductivity for producing die-cast components, containing: 8.0 to 9.0 wt % silicon, 0.5 to 0.7 wt % iron, max. 0.010 wt % copper, max. 0.010 wt % magnesium, max. 0.010 wt % manganese, max. 0.001 wt % chromium, max. 0.020 wt % titanium, max. 0.020 wt % vanadium, max. 0.05 wt % zinc, 0.010 to 0.030 wt % strontium, and aluminum as the rest, with further elements and manufacturing-caused impurities individually max. 0.05 wt %, in total max. 0.2 wt %. The alloy is suited in particular for producing components having good electrical conductivity and good thermal conductivity in the die casting process.
US08480810B2 Method and apparatus for particle removal
A method and system for cleaning a surface, having particulate matter thereon, of a substrate features impinging upon the surface a jet of a liquid having coupling elements entrained therein. A sufficient drag force is imparted upon the coupling elements to have the same move with respect to the liquid and cause the particulate matter to move with respect to the substrate.
US08480806B2 Bonding structure and semiconductor device manufacturing apparatus
A bonding structure according to the present invention includes: a ceramic member including a hole; a terminal embedded in the ceramic member and including an exposed surface exposed to a bottom portion of the hole; a brazed bond layer formed in contact with the exposed surface of the terminal; and a connecting member inserted in the hole, and bonded to the terminal via the brazed bond layer. An inner diameter of the hole is larger than an outer diameter of the connecting member. A clearance is formed between the hole and the connecting member when the connecting member is inserted in the hole. A braze pool space is formed in a surface of the hole and has a substantially semicircular shape in a cross-sectional plane. The braze pool space is partially filled with a braze material.
US08480802B2 Cementitious composition incorporating high levels of glass aggregate for producing solid surfaces
A cementitious compostion for high density, low porosity sheet-form building materials having solid surfaces is comprised of cement, pozzolans, and a high percentage of fine and/or coarse glass aggregate.
US08480801B2 Solidification method of ceramic powder and solidified ceramics
[Object] Providing a solidified ceramic body with an improved mechanical strength, wherein the solidified ceramic body is fabricated by activating ceramic powder through mechanochemical treatment and solidifying the activated ceramic powder through alkali treatment.[Method of Solution] Activated ceramic powder having mechanochemically amorphized surfaces is obtained by grinding ceramic powder which is composed of silicic acid and/or silicate at least at surfaces thereof (grinding process). Inorganic fibers and/or plastic fibers are added to the activated ceramic powder and are mixed with the activated ceramic powder (mixing process), and a solidified ceramic body is obtained by adding alkali water solution containing alkaline metal hydroxide and/or alkaline earth metal hydroxide to the powder (alkali treatment process).
US08480798B1 Vehicle system to separate and store carbon dioxide from engine exhaust
A system for separating and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) in exhaust produced by an internal combustion engine. The system uses a scrubber tank containing a carbon dioxide absorbent fluid to capture CO2 in the exhaust. The system also includes a carbon dioxide storage means configured to temporarily store the captured CO2, and a CO2 recovery facility to refine the captured CO2 for future use or prepare the CO2 for permanent storage. The system is intended for installation on vehicles such as automobiles to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by automobiles into the environment, but could also be used for other applications such as stationary power generators.
US08480795B2 Absorbent composition containing molecules with a hindered amine and a metal sulfonate, phosphonate or carboxylate structure for acid gas scrubbing process
An acid gas absorbent comprising a metal sulfonate, phosphonate or carboxylate of a hindered amine and a process for the selective removal Of H2S as well as other acidic components such as carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide and oxygen and sulfur derivatives of C1 to C4 hydrocarbons from mixtures containing such acidic components and CO2 using said absorbent.
US08480788B2 Method of bypassing a pipeline in a multiple pipeline system
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of producing gaseous and liquid component streams from at least two multi-phase streams in at least two pipelines, the method comprising at least the steps of: (a) passing a first multi-phase stream along a first pipeline and through a first slugcatcher system; (b) passing a second multi-phase stream through a second pipeline and a second slugcatcher system; (c) passing a first pig down the first pipeline to create a first pig-slug mass in the first pipeline; and (d) passing at least a fraction of the first multi-phase stream upstream of the first pig-slug mass to the second pipeline along a crossover line.
US08480784B2 Method of producing high purity silver nanoparticles
The various embodiments herein provide a method of producing silver nanoparticles using an electromagnetic levitation melting process. The method comprises levitating and melting a silver sample using a suitable levitation coil and stabilizing a droplet of molten silver. The silver droplet is heated and levitated simultaneously by an induction furnace as a generator. Argon gas is used to provide the inert atmosphere and also applied to cool and condense the silver vapor into a silver nano powder to obtain a silver nano particle. The synthesized silver nanoparticles are collected by brushing them off the brass cylinder using inert gas and are kept in pure Hexane. The size of the nanoparticles is controlled by rate of cooling and heating temperature. The electromagnetic levitation melting method is applied to provide the high purity of silver nano particles with no vacuum equipments.
US08480783B2 Sintered porous metal body and a method of manufacturing the same
A sintered porous metal body, which has a sintered structure having a volumetric porosity of 10 to 90%, wherein there are at least one powder particles selected from the group consisting of dielectric material powders and semiconductor material powders that absorb energy of electromagnetic wave having a frequency of 300 MHz to 300 GHz among the metal crystalline particles constituting the sintered body, wherein the particles are substantially homogeneously dispersed in the sintered body, and wherein the metal particles are sintered to bond each other to be united to constitute pores. The invention discloses a method of manufacturing the sintered porous metal body.
US08480776B2 Air filtration device for compressor
An air filtration device for a compressor is disclosed. A sealing head is fixed onto an opening of the compressor and has a first-end opening, a second-end opening and a screw hole; the first-end opening has a first thread; a sealing cap is coupled to the second-end opening and includes a cover plate, a screw and a first positioning portion; the screw is screwed into the screw hole; an air filter is coupled to the first-end opening and includes a filter core and a filter cover; the filter cover has a second thread and a second positioning portion, and the second threads are engaged with the first threads, and the second positioning portion is positioned on the first positioning portion. When the air filter is rotated, the cover plate is moved with the filter cover to seal or leave the second-end opening.
US08480775B2 Self cleaning fan assembly
This patent pertains to self-cleaning fan assemblies. One implementation includes electronic components positioned in an enclosure. This implementation also includes a fan assembly that is configured to impart rotational force on air to move the air from outside the enclosure to inside the enclosure and around the electronic components. The fan assembly is further configured to separate contaminants from the air based upon differences in density between the contaminants and the air.
US08480762B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
A solid electrolytic capacitor excellent in adhesion to a solid electrolyte with excellent ESR and heat resistance can be provided without reducing the material characteristics of a separator. This solid electrolytic capacitor comprises a capacitor element formed by winding an anodic foil prepared from a chemical conversion foil obtained by anodizing a metal having a valve action and a counter cathodic foil through a separator and a solid electrolyte employed as an electrolyte, while the separator is prepared from aramid fiber, and a silane coupling agent adheres to voids of the aramid fiber.
US08480759B2 Adjustable prosthesis
A prosthesis system includes a reconfigurable socket. The socket changes configurations to adjust the socket fit. The socket includes a socket main body with a window and a panel positioned in the window. The panel and the socket main body cooperate to define a cavity for receiving a residual limb. A lacing system is coupled to both the socket main body and the panel and moves the panel with respect to the socket main body to adjust a volume of the cavity. A tensioning mechanism holds the lacing system to position the adjustment panel. The prosthesis system also allows for the escape of moisture from within the cavity.
US08480735B2 Inflatable breast implant that induces tissue growth through tensile stress
A tissue expansion device implanted in a non-activated state over a region of desired tissue growth. Once implanted and positioned the device is activated creating a supporting structure that creates a convex shaped dome over the underlying tissue. The convex shaped dome formed by the tissue expansion device places a tensile stress against the underlying tissue that promotes tissue growth. Alone or with the introduction of tissue enhancing agents and/or adipose tissue, new tissue within the convex shaped void grows until a balance is achieved eliminating the induced stress. Periodically the tissue expansion devices is again activated and enlarged creating an even larger void. Again, the newly enlarged void places additional tensile stress on the underlying tissue thus repeating the cycle of new tissue growth. Once the desired amount of tissue growth has been achieved the device is deactivated and removed.
US08480725B2 Introducer for deploying a stent graft in a curved lumen
An introducer (10) includes release wires (42′) that constrain at least one stent (4′) while the remainder of a stent graft (18) is expanded during deployment. By allowing the constrained stent (4′) to expand after an adjacent stent (4), the constrained stent (4′) overlaps with the interior of the adjacent stent (4) where the stent graft (18) is deployed within a curved body lumen (70).
US08480723B2 Methods and devices for non-invasive cerebral and systemic cooling
A method for cerebral and systemic cooling by providing a nebulized liquid having a boiling point of 38-300° C. The nebulized liquid is delivered as a mist or a spray via the nasal and/or oral cavities of a patient. The mist causes cooling by direct heat transfer through the nasopharynx and hematogenous cooling through the carotids and the Circle of Willis. Compositions and medical devices for cerebral and systemic cooling are also provided. Cooling assemblies, and methods of use, are also provided that include flexible balloon assemblies that are inserted to various locations in a patient's body. The flexible balloons are then infused with a liquid having a temperature between about −20° C. and about 37° C. The flexible balloon assemblies can be inserted into the nasal cavity, oral cavity, throat, stomach, and other locations to effect cerebral cooling.
US08480721B2 Power supply for light-based dermatologic treatment device
Switching power supplies made in accordance with the disclosed technology drive flash lamps of dermatologic treatment devices to emit a sequence of relatively small light pulses that are aligned with particular locations within the waveform of the AC line source. Such power supplies not only enable sufficient light energy in aggregate to therapeutically heat target chromophores in a skin region without causing undesired damage to surrounding tissue, but also provide the added benefit that the corresponding electrical energy need not be substantially drawn from any charged capacitor. The disclosed power supply further compensates for performance degradation of the flash lamps during their usable life, by modifying its operation based on predetermined values that are indicative of flash lamp aging/efficiency characteristics. The flash lamps and their associated stored values are preferably incorporated into a replaceable cartridge that facilitates user maintenance of the dermatologic treatment device.
US08480718B2 Curable orthopedic implant devices configured to be hardened after placement in vivo
Orthopedic implants include a device that is non-rigid, i.e., flexible and/or malleable, in a first form for insertion into a desired in vivo site, and then transformable into a rigid, or hardened, form for providing a load-bearing function or providing other structural and/or mechanical function after implant. The device includes a biocompatible sheath and a curable material sealed within the sheath. The curable material is provided in a first form that provides flexibility to the device and is structured to rigidize in a second form after application of a quantity of an initiating energy to the material. Related methods and kits are also provided.
US08480714B2 Offset multiaxial or polyaxial screw, system and assembly
A capless multiaxial screw fixation assembly, including: a screw having a threaded portion and a screw head portion positioned at one end thereof; and, a retainer having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a bore for receiving the screw threaded portion so that the screw head portion is seated therein. At least one of the screw and the retainer is configured such that the retainer is able to pivot about the screw head portion in a non-symmetrical manner.
US08480713B2 Adjustable spinal connector assembly
A spinal connector assembly including a connector body defining first and second passages arranged transverse to one another and configured to receive respective portions of an implant and an elongate rod. A collet receives a portion of the implant therein and extends through the first passage with an upper portion extending axially beyond an upper side of the connector body and a lower portion extending axially beyond a lower side of the connector body. A washer is positioned annularly about the lower portion of the collet and beneath the connector body with a top side of the washer facing a lower side of the connector body and with one of the top and lower sides defining a convex surface and the other defining a concave surface. A lock member is engaged with the upper portion of the collet and exerts an upward force thereon to pull the collet and the washer in an upward direction to draw the convex and concave surfaces into compressed engagement with one another, and the upward force also drawing an outer surface of the collet against an inner engagement surface to inwardly displace a portion of the collet into clamped engagement with the implant member.
US08480711B2 Pedicle screw assembly with inclined surface seat
A bone stabilizer assembly includes a fixation element, a coupling element, and a compression nut. The fixation element is adapted to engage a bone and having a head portion and shank portion. The coupling element has an internal bore sized to receive the shank portion of the fixation element and a pyramid-shaped seat for supporting the head portion of the fixation element. The coupling element is adapted to receive a stabilizer rod. The compression nut is engagable with the coupling element and is adapted to rotatingly move distally into the coupling element to translate a force to the head portion through the rod and the saddle such that the head portion is forced against the seat of the coupling element to prevent relative movement between the fixation element and the coupling element.
US08480704B2 Surgical dilator, retractor and mounting pad
A retractor having an elongate body that provides access to a surgical location within a patient. The elongate body is generally ovoid in cross section and includes a plurality of segments that are connected to one another through a plurality of ratcheting mechanisms. The ratcheting mechanisms permit relative movement of the segments with respect to one another when expander dilators are inserted within the retractor. The segments are surrounded and retained by a resilient elastomeric sleeve or bands. The distal end surfaces of the segments include thin edges that are configured to mobilize, dissect, split and retract the terminal tissues in the surgical area. The retractor is used in conjunction with a resilient elastomeric pad that is affixed to the patient and firmly engages the outer surface of the elongate body to thereby anchor the retractor to the patient. A separate anchoring device can be used to connect the retractor to the pad.
US08480693B2 Method and device for temporary emergency vessel anastomoses
A device and method for achieving hemostasis and leakage control in vascular structures and other body ducts or vessels in an emergency room or trauma situation. The device has at least one shunt that contains an obturator on an end of the shunt. The shunt is inserted into a damaged vessel or lumen for sealing the leak or hemorrhage. Two shunts that both contain obturators on one of their ends can be inserted into two different vessels or lumens when the vessel or lumen has been severed. The obturators allow for the improved ease of insertion into the vessel or lumen. The two shunts are then releasably attached to restore fluid communication through the vessel or lumen. The shunt is placed temporarily within the patient and then removed when definitive repair can be achieved by a qualified physician.
US08480690B2 Suture organizer
A suture organizer to maintain a plurality of sutures attached to a patient during a surgical procedure or operation in position relative to each other during the surgical procedure or operation comprising a hemostat retainer including a hemostat retainer member to receive and retain the finger hole or thumb hole of a corresponding hemostat connected to a corresponding suture and a clasp including a pair of clasp members to cooperatively clamp a surgical drape or the like therebetween to hold the suture organizer in position during the surgical procedure or operation.
US08480689B2 Suturing device
A surgical suturing device has a grasper device that is translatable within an outer lumen where a first end of a needle is grasped with the grasper device. The needle may be resilient to a curved resting state. The grasper device translates proximally relative to the outer lumen such that the needle is translated into the outer lumen, wherein the outer lumen tends to straighten the needle from the curved resting state. The grasper device may be translated distally relative to the outer lumen such that a second end of the needle extends distally from the outer lumen and pierces the tissue. The needle may return to the curved resting state as it exits the outer lumen. When a second end of the needle emerges from the tissue, the second end of the needle may be grasped with the grasper device.
US08480683B2 Foam introduction system including modified port geometry
A surgical apparatus for positioning within a tissue tract accessing an underlying body cavity includes a seal anchor member including leading portion, a trailing portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the leading and trailing portions. The leading portion of the seal anchor member is configured and adapted to ease insertion of the seal anchor member into the tissue tract. Subsequent to insertion of the seal anchor member, the leading portion of the seal anchor member is also configured and adapted to facilitate securing and/or anchoring of the seal anchor member within the tissue tract.
US08480670B2 Bipolar high-frequency treatment tool for endoscope
A bipolar high-frequency treatment tool for an endoscope comprising a flexible sheath having a multi-lumen tube which is rotatable about an axis of the flexible sheath and is formed to have a pair of guide lumens, a pair of high-frequency electrodes which are arranged to be movable at a tip end of the flexible sheath and are adapted to be electrically insulated from each other, a pair of operating wires which are made of an electrically conductive material but are adapted to be electrically insulated from each other, wherein each of the pair of operating wires is respectively arranged in each of the guide lumens, and wherein the pair of high-frequency electrodes is rotated as the pair of operating wires is rotated and as the multi-lumen tube is rotated about the axis of the flexible sheath accordingly, is provided.
US08480655B2 Drug infusion system programmable in flex mode
A drug infusion system capable of delivering a fluid medication to a patient under direction of a medical professional continually at a basal rate and at an interval rate in each of a plurality of time slots over a specified period of time. The total dose of the fluid medication to be delivered to the patient over the period of time based on the basal rate and the interval rate for each of the plurality of time slots is determined, compared the total dose against a maximum dose. The basal rate is adjusted, if necessary, so that the total dose does not exceed the maximum dose.
US08480642B2 Merchandise display systems for baby care articles
A merchandise system for disposable absorbent articles is provided. The merchandise display system includes a first line-up and second line-up of disposable absorbent articles designed to match a wearer's stage of development. The system also includes various color schemes associated with the first and second line-ups in order to facilitate consumers' identification and selection of the appropriate absorbent article configuration for a particular wearer. A merchandise system for baby care articles is also provided.
US08480639B2 Eye dropper with mirror
A container containing a fluid for depositing the fluid drop-by-drop into a user's eye, includes a mirror element for reflecting the eye to assist in accurately dispensing the eye drops into the eye. The mirror element may be hingedly attached and rotatable from a closed position to a predetermined open position. Alternatively, the mirror may be detachably attached at a first position adjacent the container and relocatable to a second angularly displaced position to provide a reflection of the eye receiving the eye drops.
US08480637B2 Nanochanneled device and related methods
A nanochannel delivery device and method of manufacturing and use. The nanochannel delivery device comprises an inlet, an outlet, and a nanochannel. The nanochannel may be oriented parallel to the primary plane of the nanochannel delivery device. The inlet and outlet may be in direct fluid communication with the nanochannel.