| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08792832B2 |
Methods and apparatus for wireless device coexistence
Methods and apparatus for compensating for the effects of interference between multiple wireless communication apparatus. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a first wireless communication apparatus operating in a first band and a second wireless communication apparatus operating at least partly in the first band, where the second wireless communication apparatus operates according to a different communication protocol than the first wireless communication apparatus. Interference is compensated for between the first wireless communication apparatus and the second wireless communication apparatus by selecting and operating according to one of a plurality of operational protocols. In another embodiment, the first wireless communication apparatus and the second wireless communication apparatus operate in a closed-loop relationship to cooperatively compensate for communication interference. |
| US08792827B2 |
Short range wireless communication apparatus
A short range wireless communication apparatus includes: a connection device that connects with an external apparatus via a short range wireless communication line according to a data communication protocol for defining data communication, wherein the external apparatus switches to a normal mode from a power-saving mode under a condition that the external apparatus receives a power-saving mode release signal from the short range wireless communication apparatus while the external apparatus operates in the power-saving mode; a transmission device that transmits the power-saving mode release signal to the external apparatus; and a control device that controls the transmission device to transmit the power-saving mode release signal to the external apparatus when the control device determines that the connection device connects with the external apparatus according to the data communication protocol. |
| US08792823B2 |
Approach for quality of service control on un-wanted services (e.g. voice over internet protocol or multimedia) over wireline and wireless IP network
An apparatus in one example has: at least one access network operatively coupled to an access and data network; and a controller in the access and packet data network, the controller determining access of data flow from the access network through the access and data network. Embodiments allow access or packet data service providers to control which types of services are allowed over their respective access and packet data networks. |
| US08792822B2 |
Power management scheme for protecting components on board a spacecraft
A system for protecting a power unit on a spacecraft may include a ground station. The ground station may include a power unit loading estimation and monitoring module for estimating a power loading level on a power unit of the spacecraft power unit. The ground station may also include a ground station power limiter to regulate a power of a signal for transmission from the ground station to the spacecraft to prevent overloading the spacecraft power unit. The power of the signal for transmission to the spacecraft may be regulated based at least in part on an estimated power loading level on the power unit of the spacecraft. |
| US08792821B2 |
Gateway rollout
A method for providing satellite communications coverage for a geographical area includes operating a plurality of gateways including a first gateway and a second gateway. The first gateway is configured to utilize at least one first spot beam associated with at least one first coverage area, and the second gateway is configured to utilize at least one second spot beam associated with at least one second coverage area. As part of a phased deployment, the at least one second coverage area is expanded to include at least one third coverage area, and the second gateway is configured to provide relayed satellite communications to the plurality of second subscriber terminals located in the at least one second coverage area and to a plurality of third subscriber terminals located in the at least one third coverage area. |
| US08792816B2 |
Image-forming device having photosensitive drums and endless belt
In an image-forming device, photosensitive drums are held by the holding member. Developer material accommodating units are held by the holding member so as to form a row of developer material accommodating units along an alignment direction, the developer material accommodating units including one end developer material accommodating unit that is located at one end of the row of developer material accommodating units. An endless belt extends in the alignment direction. A waste developer material accommodating part is provided integrally with the one end developer material accommodating part. A waste developer material conveying mechanism conveys waste developer material from a recovering unit to the waste developer material accommodating part. The holding member includes: a first side plate and a second side plate; and a first beam and a second beam, at least part of a waste developer material conveying mechanism being provided on the first beam. |
| US08792814B2 |
Releasing device, fixing device and image forming apparatus
A releasing device includes: a releasing unit that is made of a resin and disposed on a downstream side in a conveying direction of a recording medium from a fixing portion of a fixing unit which fixes a toner image on the recording medium, the releasing unit releasing the recording medium from the fixing unit; a supporting unit that supports the releasing unit on a supporting face and maintains the releasing unit and the fixing unit in a non-contact state; a screw that is advanced in a direction along the supporting face to secure the releasing unit; and a protruding portion provided between the releasing unit and the supporting unit and disposed at a position in a range extending from a first region between the screw and the supporting face to a second region shifted from the first region in a tightening direction side of the screw. |
| US08792808B2 |
Developer container, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus
The developer container includes a rotator that is rotated in the container body, a sequence of gears disposed outside the developer container that transmits a torque to the rotator, and a container guiding portion that fits with a main body side guiding portion and guides the developer container in a direction in which the developer container is attached to a mounting portion of an image forming device main body. A first gear included in the sequence of the gears is movable between an operating position where the first gear engages with a second gear and a retracted position where the first gear is retracted. On a surface on which the container guiding portion is disposed, a part of the container guiding portion is disposed within a projected area of the first gear being disposed at the operating position. |
| US08792805B2 |
Color electrophotographic image forming apparatus
A color electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material includes a cartridge supporting member movable between an inside position inside a main assembly of the apparatus while supporting cartridges and an outside position outside the main assembly of the apparatus. The apparatus includes a plurality of positioning urging devices that urge the cartridges to positioning portions, and a plurality of spacing urging devices that urge the cartridges in directions of spacing from the positioning portions. The urging forces of the plurality of spacing urging devices are smaller than a combination of an urging force of the plurality of positioning urging devices and forces applied to the plurality of spacing urging devices by weights of the cartridges. |
| US08792801B2 |
Cleaning device and image forming apparatus
A cleaning device includes a residual-toner accommodation housing having an opening facing toward a post-transfer area of a toner-image bearing member and surrounded by first and second edges and two connecting edges; a residual-toner removing member that overlies the first and connecting edges, has an edge protruding above the opening and abutting on the bearing member, and scrapes off toner from the bearing member toward the housing; a thermoplastic seal member intervening the housing and removing member, having terminal end portions extending along the connecting edges and protruding from the edge, and extending along the first and connecting edges to prevent the toner from leaking through a gap between the housing and removing member; and a sheet-like seal member that covers the second edge, is in contact with the bearing member, and intervenes the bearing member and terminal end portions to prevent the scraped-off toner from leaking from the housing. |
| US08792799B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
The present invention is directed to an image forming apparatus which can reduce power supply to a first control unit when the image forming apparatus operates in a power saving mode and cause an image forming unit to perform a specific operation without using the first control unit, and a control method thereof. |
| US08792794B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus having jam detection unit
A fixing device includes a fixing unit with a nip, two rollers, a guide member, a detection unit and an urging unit. The detection unit is disposed substantially parallel to the guide member opposite to the guide member across a recording medium conveyed between the nip and the two rollers. The detection unit detects jamming of the recording medium on the basis of a pressure greater than a predetermined value applied by the recording medium between the nip and the two rollers. The distance between the guide member and the detection unit is greater than the distance between the guide member and the recording medium passing between the nip and the two rollers while being urged by the urging unit. |
| US08792791B2 |
Multiplexed quantum key distribution
The present invention relates to an improved quantum signal transmitter, which has a plurality of quantum output channels having at least one optical source and at least one optical splitter acting on the output of said at least one source. Such a transmitter can easily be used with existing passive optical network (PON) systems and can be a compact piece of equipment. |
| US08792789B1 |
Optimized chromatic dispersion filter
A method is provided for performing chromatic dispersion (CD) compensation. A zero-forcing filter is calculated with a number of taps (n) required to nullify a chromatic dispersion frequency response of an optical channel. The number of taps in the zero-forcing filter is truncated to a number equal to (n−x), where x is an integer greater than 0. In one aspect, the chromatic dispersion frequency response of the optical channel is partitioned into a plurality of constituent chromatic dispersion responses, and a zero-forcing filter is calculated for each of the plurality of constituent chromatic dispersion responses. The number of taps in each of the plurality of zero-forcing filters is truncated, and the CD compensation filter is formed for each of the plurality of truncated tap zero-forcing filters. In another aspect, the tap values of the zero-forcing filter are quantized to a finite quantization set. |
| US08792781B1 |
Personal fluid warming device and associated methods
A temperature-regulating device for a personal fluid includes a housing having an exterior wall defining an inner space and having an opening therethrough. A dividing wall within the inner space defines a reservoir sector and a heating system sector on opposite sides. A cap portion is affixable adjacent the opening, has a closable aperture therethrough, and is movable between a storing position in covering relation to the opening and a dispensing and filling position wherein the opening is exposed, for enabling a fluid to be placed within and removed from the reservoir sector. A heating system within the heating system sector includes a heating element adjacent the dividing wall, for enabling heat transfer to the wall and then to the reservoir sector. An activator affixed adjacent the exterior wall is in signal communication with the heating system. An illumination element is provided for facilitating visualization in low-light conditions. |
| US08792778B2 |
Video data display apparatus and method thereof
A video data display apparatus for reproducing and displaying video data calculates an operation speed based on an input user operation, determines a reproduction speed according to the calculated operation speed, and reproduces video data at the determined reproduction speed. Here, the video data display apparatus acquires section information indicating a section selected from the video data, and, in a case where the calculated operation speed exceeds a prescribed operation speed, determines the reproduction speed for performing reproduction, such that a reproduction speed of video data belonging to the selected section indicated by the section information is slower than a reproduction speed of video data not belonging to the selected section. |
| US08792777B2 |
Accurate fast forward rate when performing trick play with variable distance between frames
The present invention is directed to system(s), method(s), and apparatus for accurate fast forward rate when performing trick play with variable distance between frames. In one embodiment, there is presented a circuit for providing a fast forward video sequence. The circuit comprises a system time clock for providing a time reference, said time reference incremented at a predetermined fast forward rate; a comparator for comparing the time reference with timing information associated with a picture; and a controller for determining whether to display the picture based at least in part on the comparison between the timing information and the time reference. |
| US08792772B2 |
Playback control device, method and program
A playback control device includes a selection means for selecting a moving picture of a moving picture file having a file name satisfying prescribed conditions or a moving picture of a moving picture file having a prescribed file format and a still picture in still pictures and moving pictures, and a playback control means for controlling playback of the still pictures and the moving pictures so that still pictures and the moving pictures selected by the selection means are played back sequentially in the prescribed order. |
| US08792766B2 |
Tool for routing an optical fiber or cable at a living unit of customer premises
A tool for routing an optical fiber or a cable over a desired span on a visible supporting surface at a given premises. The tool includes a rod with a handle, and a reel or spool is mounted on the rod for storing a length of an optical fiber or a cable to be routed. An adhesive coating assembly is fixed on the rod for providing an adhesive on the fiber when the fiber is unwound from the spool during use of the tool. A fiber routing applicator is disposed at the distal end of the rod. The routing applicator is dimensioned and arranged to travel over the supporting surface at the premises to route the fiber with the adhesive thereon over the desired span, while urging the fiber against the surface so that the fiber adheres to the surface. |
| US08792759B2 |
Gigabit wet mate active cable
A combination of a wet mate electrical connector and a gigabit miniature transceiver in a pressure resistant cable plug connector assembly. The cable plug connector assembly includes a wet mate connector, a miniature gigabit transceiver, and electrical and optical connections necessary to convert transmitted electrical data signals to optical data signals and vice versa. |
| US08792755B2 |
Light transmission path package, light transmission module, electronic device and method for manufacturing light transmission module
A light transmission path package includes first and sealing surface adjustment members, which are arranged with facing each other by way of a light emitting/receiving element on a lead frame substrate, having a length in a normal direction of the substrate surface from the substrate surface of H2; wherein a relational expression H3 |
| US08792753B2 |
Method and system for a fiber optic sensor
A system and method for assembling a fiber optic sensor assembly are provided. The fiber optic sensor system includes a fiber optic cable and a carrier including a first connection end and a second connection end joined together by one or more breakaway tabs, the first connection end including a first fiber attach point configured to secure a distal end of the fiber optic cable to the first connection end, the second connection end including a second fiber attach point configured to secure the fiber optic cable to the second connection end, the one or more breakaway tabs joined to the first connection end and the second connection end using a break area that is structurally weaker than the carrier and the breakaway tabs. |
| US08792750B2 |
Object information derived from object images
Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image. |
| US08792746B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes an edge strength calculating unit that sets, as an input image, a pixel number reduced image obtained by reducing the total number of pixels of an image captured by an imaging element and calculates edge strengths of a plurality of directions in a unit of a pixel block; an interpolated-pixel value calculating unit that calculates interpolated-pixel values as smoothing components of the plurality of directions in the pixel block; a weight calculating unit that calculates weights for the interpolated-pixel values as the smoothing components of the plurality of directions based on the edge strengths; and a blending processing unit that calculates a pixel value of the correction object pixel which is the center pixel of the pixel block by performing a blending process by weighted addition of the interpolated-pixel values, which are the smoothing components of the plurality of directions, and the calculated weights. |
| US08792745B2 |
Encoder optimization of adaptive loop filters in HEVC
An optimized adaptive loop filter does not redesign filters inside the optimization loop of signaling depth which saves computations. Additionally, the Sum of Squared Errors (SSE) (distortion) of blocks is computed for the smallest blocks, thus, allowing for the distortion of larger blocks to be computed efficiently by adding block SSEs together which saves computations by removing redundant operations to calculate SSE of a block each time. |
| US08792744B2 |
Generalized multiscale seam carving framework
A computer-implemented method for resizing an image using a seam carving algorithm. The method may include measuring energy levels of pixels in an original image to derive an original energy map; applying a filter to an original energy map to derive a first energy map having a scale less than the original energy map; iteratively applying the filter N times, starting with the first energy map, to an energy map from an immediately preceding iteration; upsampling each of the energy maps to a resolution that matches the original energy map; combining the upsampled energy maps with the original energy map to form a composite image; identifying a seam by finding a path in the composite image having lowest energy quantities from one end of the composite image to an opposing end of the composite image; and selectively deleting the identified seam from the original image, thereby yielding a resized image. |
| US08792743B2 |
Image processing apparatus and program
An image processing apparatus that can be applied to a wide range of general images and that is capable of improving shitsukan of materials depicted in an image by interactively adjusting multiple physical image characteristics of an image based on human latent sensations. Physical image-characteristic parameters are extracted from an input image. The image-characteristic parameters are processed using a first numerical conversion equation, and various low-order-sensitivity parameters quantifying general latent sensations are calculated. The low-order-sensitivity parameters are processed using a second numerical conversion equation, and high-order-sensitivity parameters quantifying shitsukan for different materials are calculated. An output image of which the shitsukan in the input image are improved by combining various types of image processing for changing the image characteristics so that the high-order-sensitivity parameters approach predetermined values is generated. |
| US08792742B2 |
Method and device for down-sampling a DCT image in the DCT domain
A method and device that uses transform matrices to down-sample a DCT image directly in the DCT domain. The transform matrices have been selected to minimize an optimization problem which is a function of the visual quality of down-sampled images obtained using the matrices and the computational complexity associated with using the transform matrices. The transform matrices comprise a row transform matrix and a column transform matrix. A down-sampled image is produced by determining an intermediary matrix as the product of the DCT image and one of either the row transform matrix or the column transform matrix and then determining the down-sampled image as the product of the intermediary matrix and the transform matrix not already used to determine the intermediary matrix. |
| US08792722B2 |
Hand gesture detection
A method for detecting presence of a hand gesture in video frames includes receiving video frames having an original resolution, downscaling the received video frames into video frames having a lower resolution, and detecting a motion corresponding to the predefined hand gesture in the downscaled video frames based on temporal motion information in the downscaled video frames. The method also includes detecting a hand shape corresponding to the predefined hand gesture in a candidate search window within one of the downscaled video frames using a binary classifier. The candidate search window corresponds to a motion region containing the detected motion. The method further includes determining whether the received video frames contain the predefined hand gesture based on the hand shape detection. |
| US08792720B2 |
Moving image extracting apparatus, program and moving image extracting method
There is provided a moving image extracting apparatus including a blur value obtaining unit to obtain a blur value which indicates a blur degree of each frame constituting a moving image, a segment determining unit to discriminate the moving image between a stable segment of which variance of the blur values obtained by the blur value obtaining unit is lower than a first value and an unstable segment which is not the stable segment, and an extracting unit to perform segment extraction from the moving image based on the stable segment or the unstable segment obtained by the segment determining unit. |
| US08792716B2 |
Image processing apparatus for region segmentation of an obtained image
An image processing apparatus for region segmentation of an obtained image is provided. The image processing apparatus may include a detecting unit detecting, among plural fundamental regions set to an image, a fundamental region satisfying a predetermined condition as an appropriate region. The image processing apparatus may further include a specifying unit specifying adjacent states of fundamental regions excluding the appropriate region among the plural fundamental regions. The image processing apparatus may also include a region segmentation unit performing region segmentation on each component included in the image based on the adjacent states of the fundamental regions excluding the appropriate region specified by the specifying unit. |
| US08792714B2 |
Detecting anti-aliased text in digital images
A method, including automatically identifying, by a processor, a region of a digital image containing first pixels, each situated on a positive horizontal gradient, and second pixels in proximity to the first pixels, each situated on a negative horizontal gradient. A distribution of intensities of a color channel is then calculated for the pixels in the region, and the distribution is analyzed in order to detect whether the region contains anti-aliased text. |
| US08792706B2 |
Determining an orientation direction of a color edge at a pixel location in a color image
What is disclosed is a system and method for determining an orientation direction of a color edge at a given pixel location in a binary color image. The orientation direction of the color edge is determined from eight pixel counts with each pixel count being a total number of pixels in each of eight regions of a window centered about a candidate pixel which resides along the color edge. The eight regions are associated with 8 compass points. The orientation of the edge is determined by a 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier control bits which are based upon the pixel counts of each region. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier control bits collectively form a 3-bit word. The 3-bit word defines the orientation direction. The teachings hereof provide an efficient way of performing binary edge orientation detection by making uses of intermediate results to simultaneously encode the edge orientation. |
| US08792686B2 |
Biometric authentication device, method of controlling biometric authentication device and non-transitory, computer readable storage medium
A biometric authentication device includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of pieces of reference biometric data, an identification control unit that extracts reference biometric data where a coefficient for determining a similarity to acquired biometric data is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, a similar region extraction unit that obtains coefficients for determining similarities between the plural pieces of extracted reference biometric data, in units of predetermined regions, and extracts a similar region where the coefficient for similarity determination is greater than or equal to a second threshold value when a plurality of pieces of reference biometric data are extracted by the identification control unit, and a judgment unit that weights a coefficient for determining a similarity to a dissimilar region, compared with the coefficient for determining a similarity to the extracted similar region, and judging the degree of similarity. |
| US08792676B1 |
Inferring locations from an image
Systems and methods are disclosed for determining the location where an image was captured. In general, a device such as a smartphone may capture one or more images from a location, such as images of buildings, street signs and the like, and a central system may compare the submitted images to images in an image library to identify matches. The location of the match may then be provided back to the smartphone. |
| US08792672B2 |
Moving armature receiver assemblies with vibration suppression
Moving armature receiver assemblies wherein a first U-shaped armature and a second U-shaped armature are configured for suppression of vibration of a housing structure along a longitudinal housing plane. The first armature has a fixed leg and a deflectable leg both extending parallelly to a first longitudinal armature plane and mechanically and magnetically interconnected through a first curved linkage portion. Likewise, the second armature has a fixed leg and a deflectable leg both extending parallelly to a second longitudinal armature plane and mechanically and magnetically interconnected through a second curved linkage portion. In some configurations, the deflectable legs of the first and second U-shaped armatures are configured for oppositely directed displacement along an orthogonal plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal housing plane so as suppress vibration of the housing structure in the orthogonal plane. |
| US08792671B2 |
Shaker-type transducer with centering device
A shaker transducer is disclosed, which comprises a magnetic unit (1) composed of a magnet (3) disposed between a first polar plate (2) and a second polar plate (4) in such a way to generate a toroidal air gap (5). A sound coil (6) is disposed in the air gap (5) to move axially and a centering element (100) is fixed to the coil to maintain it centered with respect to the magnetic unit (1). A rigid element (10) comprising a shank (12) fixed to said cylindrical support (61) of the sound coil and adapted to be anchored to a surface to transfer the sound vibrations generated by the magnetic unit (1). The centering element (100) comprises a central cylindrical shank (101) fixed to the coil, a peripheral shank (102) fixed to the second polar plate (4) and a plurality of elastic spokes (103, 103′) disposed between said central shank (101) and said peripheral shank (102). |
| US08792661B2 |
Hearing aids, computing devices, and methods for hearing aid profile update
A method includes receiving a data at a hearing aid during operation of the hearing aid and selectively updating a hearing aid profile in response to receiving the data to produce a modified hearing aid profile. The method further includes applying the modified hearing aid profile using a processor of the hearing aid to shape an audio output. |
| US08792658B2 |
Techniques for protection of acoustic devices
An exemplary embodiment of an acoustic sensor system includes a housing structure, and a miniaturized acoustic transducer mounted in the housing structure. A flame arrestor structure is mounted on or within the housing structure between the acoustic transducer and the external environment, so that ambient acoustic energy passes through the flame arrestor structure before reaching the acoustic transducer. |
| US08792653B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and method
A signal processing apparatus includes a first audio output unit configured to output audio of a first audio signal input from a first signal input line, a first pickup unit connected to the first signal input line, a second audio output unit configured to output audio of a second audio signal input from a second signal input line, a second pickup unit connected to the second signal input line, a connecting line that connects the above units to ground, and a first reducing unit configured to at least reduce a first sound leakage signal, being the first audio signal leaking into the second signal input line from the first audio output unit, by using the first audio signal, or reducing a second sound leakage signal, being the second audio signal leaking into the second signal input line from the second audio output unit, by using the second audio signal. |
| US08792650B2 |
CM amplifier divided output supplying first, second, CM amplifier inputs
A driver circuit includes a first driver amplifier that is configured to generate a first output in response to a first reference voltage input and a first audio input; a second driver amplifier that is configured to generate a second output in response to the first reference voltage and a second audio input; and a common mode (CM) amplifier, coupled to the first driver amplifier and the second driver amplifier. The CM amplifier is configured to generate an output in response to a second reference voltage input, the first reference voltage input being a divided version of the output. Gains of the first driver amplifier, second driver amplifier and the CM amplifier are equal. Noise at the output appears across a plurality of resistors coupled at the outputs of the first driver amplifier, second driver amplifier and the CM amplifier and cancels with respect to the output of the CM amplifier. |
| US08792644B2 |
Communication apparatus for performing communication parameter setting and authentication process, control method thereof and storage medium storing program
When a wireless network is constructed, a wireless communication apparatus in the wireless network constructed of a plurality of communication apparatuses decides whether to function as a providing source of communication parameters or as a provision destination that receives communication parameters. In a case where it has been decided that this apparatus is to function as the provision destination that receives communication parameters, the apparatus requests authentication when it participates in the wireless network using communication parameters. In a case where it has been decided that this apparatus is to function as the providing source of communication parameters, the apparatus execute authentication processing in response to an authentication request. |
| US08792642B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for detecting a loss of key stream system synchronization in a communication system
An apparatus, system and method provides an out-of-synchronization detection by using a network layer checksum. A process operating at an upper layer verifies that a checksum embedded in a network layer header is correct before encrypting and transmitting a data packet containing the header and a payload. The data packet is received through a wireless communication channel at a receiver and decrypted. A calculated checksum is calculated on the received payload at the receiver and compared to the received checksum embedded in the header. A key stream used at the receiver for decrypting the received encrypted data packets is determined to be out of synchronization with a key stream used at the transmitter to encrypt the data packets if the calculated checksum is not equal to the network layer checksum. |
| US08792632B2 |
System and methods for scheduling and optimizing inbound call flow to a call center
A method for providing inbound call reservations to a communication center has steps for monitoring service access points into the communication center by reservation software executing from a machine-readable medium, evaluating communicators and potential communicators, and issuing invitations for reserved communication sessions to qualified communicators and potential communicators, the reserved times coordinated according to data pertaining to predicted communication load and resource availability statistics. |
| US08792627B2 |
Method and apparatus for delivering relevant content
A method and apparatus for providing a relevant content delivery service on networks such as packet networks, e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks are disclosed. For example, the present method receives a request to initiate a call from a calling party to a called party. The method then establishes a communication connection between the calling party and the called party and a communication connection to a speech recognizer. The method monitors a conversation between the calling party and the called party using the speech recognizer for detecting one or more verbal triggers. Finally, the method delivers relevant content that is associated with any detected verbal triggers to the calling party and/or the called party. |
| US08792625B2 |
Call server selection
In a click-to-call communication environment, the present invention is employed to select an appropriate call server to use when establishing a call between two endpoints. A computing terminal provides a request to initiate a call between the two endpoints. The request is passed to a service node directly or through any number of intermediate nodes, such as a web server. The request may identify a source and a destination for the call. The service node will select a call server to use for establishing the call between the two endpoints based on the destination for the call, and send instructions to the call server to initiate the call. In response, the call server will initiate the call between the two endpoints. |
| US08792620B2 |
Non-invasive diagnostic transmission line testing
A probing signal transmitted on a twisted pair telephone line in a DSL system is reflected and received at a DSL device. An estimate of one of a DSL data transmission signal or DSL synch symbol transmission signal is removed from the received probing signal to recover the reflected probing signal. The recovered reflected probing signal is processed to determine characteristics information of the twisted pair telephone line. |
| US08792618B2 |
Radiographic detector including block address pixel architecture, imaging apparatus and methods using the same
Embodiments of radiographic imaging systems; digital radiography detectors and methods for using the same can include radiographic imaging pixel unit cells that can include a plurality of N pixel elements that each include a photoelectric thin-film conversion element connected in-series to a conversion thin-film switching element, a conductor connected to the plurality of N pixel elements and an output switching element connected between the conductor and an imaging array output. Scan lines or row lines can extend in a first direction coupled to more than one pixel unit cell and data lines or column lines can extend in a second direction coupled to more than one pixel unit cell. |
| US08792616B2 |
X-ray image diagnosis apparatus and X-ray image processing method
An X-ray image diagnosis apparatus includes: an imaging unit supporting an X-ray generation unit and an X-ray detection unit to face each other to take an image of a subject placed on a bed top panel; a control unit to execute a step movement process of at least one of the imaging unit and top panel and take images of the subject at plural stages; and an image processing unit that processes image data taken at the plural stages. The control unit sets plural regions of interest (ROI) in an imaging area of the subject when an image is taken after a contrast medium is injected into the subject, measures a change of an image level in the ROI to detect a flow of the contrast medium, and makes at least one of the imaging unit and top panel move to the next imaging stage based on the detection result. |
| US08792612B2 |
Radiation imaging system, control method for the same, and program
A radiation imaging system includes a radiation sensor unit and a main control unit. The radiation sensor unit includes, a radiation sensor that detects a radiation image based on radiation that passes through an object, a sensor characteristics correction unit that performs sensor characteristics correction on the radiation image based on image reception characteristics of the radiation sensor, an image analysis unit that analyzes the radiation image in which the sensor characteristics correction has been performed and calculates an analysis parameter, and a transmission unit that transmits the analysis parameter as a gradation conversion parameter and the radiation image which has been subjected to the sensor characteristics correction to the main control unit. The main control unit includes a gradation conversion processing unit that performs gradation conversion processing on the radiation image which has been subjected to the sensor characteristics correction using the gradation conversion parameter. |
| US08792601B2 |
Non-coherent combining detection with reduced buffering requirements
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for reducing the amount of storage needed for detecting a primary synchronization signal (PSS). According to certain aspects, a user equipment may store a limited number of samples corresponding to the strongest peaks per PSS index and perform PSS detection based on an analysis of the limited number of stored samples. |
| US08792595B2 |
Wireless communications device and method
A wireless communications device and method carries out a process including estimating channel information based on a received signal; generating pseudo-transmission signal point candidates based on the channel information and/or transmission signal point candidates; and generating a replica of the received signal based on the pseudo-transmission signal point candidates and the estimated channel information. The process further includes performing matrix operations on the basis of the received signal and the replica thereof; selecting pseudo-transmission signal point candidates which have a greater effect on likelihood calculations; reverting the selected pseudo-transmission signal point candidates to original transmission signal point candidates and calculating final likelihoods; and restoring the received signal on the basis of the calculated likelihoods. |
| US08792590B2 |
Communications device with in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) DC offset, gain and phase imbalance compensation and related method
A DC offset estimator and removal circuit removes the DC offsets for each of the I and Q signal components in a received signal. A gain imbalance estimator and compensator circuit estimates and compensates for gain imbalances within the I and Q signal components. A phase imbalance estimator and compensator circuit estimates and compensates for phase imbalances within the I and Q signal components to produce a communications signal that is compensated for received DC offsets and gain and phase imbalances within the I and Q signal components. |
| US08792588B2 |
Method for operating a software radio receiver and software radio receiver
The present invention disclosed a method for operating a software radio receiver. Said method comprises receiving a radio signal, determining a signal quality of said radio signal, selecting a suitable algorithm for a function in the receiver in accordance with said determined signal quality and applying said selected algorithm to the radio signal. |
| US08792586B2 |
Signal transmission method and apparatus using codebook in wireless communication system supporting multiple antennas
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting, by a base station, a downlink signal using a plurality of transmission antennas comprises the steps of: applying a precoding matrix indicated by the PMI, received from a terminal, in a codebook to a plurality of layers, and transmitting the precoded signal to the terminal through a plurality of transmission antennas. Among precoding matrices included in the codebook, a precoding matrix for even number transmission layers can be a 2×2 matrix containing four matrices (W1s), the matrix (W1) having rows of a number of transmission antennas and columns of half the number of transmission layers, the first and second columns of the first row in the 2×2 matrix being multiplied by 1, the first column of the second row being multiplied by coefficient “a” of a phase, and the first column of the second row being multiplied by “−a”. |
| US08792582B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device having auxiliary receiver to determine transmit impairment and generate transmit impairment compensation signal, and associated methods
A communications device includes a baseband input to receive a baseband signal. A transmitter is coupled to the baseband input and generates a transmit signal based upon the baseband signal, the transmit signal having an initial transmit impairment. An auxiliary receiver is coupled to the transmitter and generates a receive signal having a receive impairment therein resulting from the initial transmit impairment. A controller determines a power of the baseband signal by integrating a product of the receive signal and a complex conjugate of the baseband signal, and determines a power of the receive signal by integrating a product of the baseband signal and the receive signal. The controller also determines the initial transmit impairment based upon the power of the baseband signal and the receive signal, and generates a transmit impairment compensation signal based upon the initial transmit impairment. |
| US08792581B2 |
RF clock generator with spurious tone cancellation
A clock generator circuit may generate a target clock signal and may include a pattern generator to generate a pre-distorted version of a modulation signal from patterns stored by the pattern generator. An up-converter may up-convert the pre-distorted version of the modulation signal and a radio frequency lock oscillator signal to obtain an RF clock signal having a desired frequency tone. A tone detection circuit may receive the RF clock signal and detect a presence of unwanted tones. A controller may write the patterns corresponding to the pre-distorted version of the modulation signal to the pattern generator based on the detected unwanted tones in the RF clock signal. |
| US08792578B2 |
Method and apparatus of switched amplification having improved efficiency
A signal coding technique for switching amplifiers includes quantizing the amplitude A(t) of an input signal to produce a time series Â(t) having M levels; modulating a clock signal in response to Â(t), thereby to produce a control signal; switching among at least three different power supply output levels in response to the control signal, thereby to generate an output pulse stream; and filtering the output pulse stream to produce an output signal for transmission. |
| US08792575B2 |
Power saving apparatus and method of multiple-antenna receiver with variable rate
A multiple-antenna receiver can enable and disable receive radio frequency front-end and analog front-end circuits of specific antenna receiving routes according to a predetermined scheme during the receive data phase. The predetermined scheme calculates signal quality indices of the receiving route antennas according to a preamble sequence, and derives the modulation and coding scheme and the number of spatial streams via the information provided by a header sequence. Indications of the signal quality indices are compared with threshold values to determine which receiving routes are to be turned on and which receiving routes are to be turned off. |
| US08792567B2 |
Preamble sequence extension
A method of powerline communications between a plurality of nodes on a powerline communications (PLC) channel including a first node and a second node. At least one communication quality measure is determined for the PLC channel. Based on the communication quality measure, a preamble of a data frame is dynamically switched between a reference preamble having a reference symbol length including a reference number of syncP symbols and a reference number of syncM symbols and at least a first extended preamble having an extended symbol length that is greater than (>) the reference symbol length. The data frame is then transmitted on the PLC channel. |
| US08792559B2 |
Method to improve accuracy and reliability of motion estimated with phase correlation
A method of improving accuracy and reliability of motion estimation is described herein. In one aspect, a 2D neighborhood of phase correlation peak is approximated with an outer-product of two 1D vectors to eliminate the sub-pixel error. In another aspect, estimation of reliability is improved. In yet another aspect, two-pass phase correlation is implemented to eliminate sub-pel motion bias. |
| US08792555B2 |
Methods and systems for resizing multimedia content
This disclosure describes techniques for resizing multimedia content for efficient statistical multiplexing. In response to a request to resize a current segment of data, an encoding module associated with the selected segment adjusts the amount of motion information to be encoded to resize the segment of data. For example, the encoding module associated with the selected segment of data may merge two or more motion vectors to reduce the amount of motion information to be encoded. As another example, the encoding module reselects encoding modes for one or more blocks of pixels of at least one frame within the segment of data. |
| US08792545B2 |
Balancing amplitude and phase
A system for balancing a signal having I and Q components includes means for cross correlating the I and Q components to produce a cross correlation product; means for adjusting the gain of each I and Q signal component in accordance with said cross correlation product; and means for adding one component with the adjustable gain of the other component to produce a phase-balanced signal. |
| US08792539B2 |
Multiplicative network coding
Network coding may be performed with encoding and/or decoding that involves a multiplication operation. A communication node is adapted to perform multiplicative network coding. The communication node includes an encoder and a decoder. The encoder is arranged to perform an encoding operation by multiplying two or more signals that bear information to form a composite signal. The decoder is arranged to perform a decoding operation by multiplying a received composite signal with one or more complex-conjugated signals, with the decoder yielding a decoded signal that bears information. With the encoding operation, the communication node is adapted to at least partially perform multiplicative-network-coding encoding for a sending communication mode. With the decoding operation, the communication node is adapted to at least partially perform multiplicative-network-coding decoding for a receiving communication mode. |
| US08792534B2 |
Terminal and communication method thereof
A terminal and a communication method thereof whereby, even in a case of employing the asymmetric carrier aggregation system and further employing the MIMO transmission method for upstream channels, the error characteristic of control information can be prevented from being degraded. In the terminal (200), a transport signal forming unit (212) forms transport signals by arranging, based on a arrangement rule, ACK/NACK and CQI in a plurality of layers. According to the arrangement rule, an error detection result is arranged, on a priority basis, in a layer that is different from a layer in which the channel quality information is arranged. In this way, the puncturing of CQI using ACK/NACK can be minimized, with the result that the error characteristic of control information can be prevented from being degraded. |
| US08792522B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronized starting of soft x-ray lasers
The invention can be used for setting up high energy and high average power soft x-ray laser equipments. The apparatus of the present invention is provided with a capillary discharge, wherein the spark gap (3) is disposed in water and breakdown of the spark gap (3) is triggered and synchronized by a laser source (16). In order to complete the synchronizing step the apparatus comprises a transformer (12) for monitoring and controlling the decrease of the charging current of the generator, preferably a Marx generator (7), and a triggering circuit (14). The time dependent control of the laser source (16) generating the breakdown of the spark gap (3) is achieved by the triggering circuit (14). |
| US08792514B2 |
Packet switching system and method
A packet switching system includes a plurality of switch fabrics connected in cascade and a plurality of buffers respectively connected to the plurality of switch fabrics. In the event of packet competition, the plurality of switch fabrics buffer the competing packets to the corresponding buffers through buffer connection ports, and forward the competing packets in excess of the number of buffer connection ports to an adjacent switch fabric through switch connection ports. |
| US08792513B2 |
Wireless sensor network information swarming
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for information swarming in a wireless sensor network (WSN). In an embodiment of the invention, a method for information swarming in a WSN can include receiving in an overhearing node of the WSN, relay data sensed by a sensor at an originating node of the WSN and transmitted along a relay path exclusive of the overhearing node from the originating node to an aggregation point in the WSN. The method also can include determining a relevance of the relay data in reference to at least one relevance rule. Finally, the method can include forwarding additional data acquired at the overhearing node by a sensor at the overhearing node to the aggregation point over the WSN in response to determining the relay data to be relevant. |
| US08792512B2 |
Reliable message transport network
A multiprocessor computer system comprises a sending processor node and a receiving processor node. The sending processor node is operable to send packets comprising part of a message to a receiver, to maintain a message buffer entry in the sender comprising the sent packets, to track acknowledgment from the receiver that sent packets have been received; to maintain a timer indicating the time since message data has been sent, and to resend packets not acknowledged upon the timer reaching a timeout state. The receiving processor node is operable to send acknowledgement to the sender that received packets have been received, to track packets using a received message table to track which packets comprising part of the message have been received and whether all packets in the message have been received, and to process packets once all packets in a message are received to reassemble the received message. |
| US08792511B2 |
System and method for split ring first in first out buffer memory with priority
A system and method for allocating memory locations in a buffer memory system is described. The system includes a plurality of memory locations for storage and a controller. The controller controls the storage and retrieval of data from the plurality of memory locations and allocate a first portion of the memory locations to a first buffer, wherein the remaining portion of the memory locations defines a second portion. The controller allocates a portion of the second portion to a second buffer and the remaining portion of the second portion defines a third portion. The controller reserves a portion of the third portion for assignment to the second buffer, wherein, the second buffer is assigned a higher priority over the first buffer. The controller selectively allocates one or more memory locations of the third portion to the first buffer or to the second buffer. |
| US08792505B2 |
Lawful interception for targets in a proxy mobile internet protocol network
A method for providing Law Enforcement Agencies in a telecommunications network with interception and/or retention data related to a target mobile node in a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol domain connected to the telecommunications network through a Mobile Access Gateway, comprises the steps of configuring at least one of said Mobile Access Gateway and a Local Mobility Anchor to operate as Intercepting Control Elements or Data Retention sources. |
| US08792494B2 |
Facilitating insertion of device MAC addresses into a forwarding database
Techniques are disclosed for hash-based routing table management in a distributed network switch having multiple switch modules. Upon determining that an attempt to insert a first routing entry into a first hash table of the routing table has failed, a second routing entry, which exists in the first hash table, is attempted to be moved to a second hash table of the routing table. If the move attempt is successful, then the first routing entry is added to the location previously occupied by the second routing entry. If the move attempt is unsuccessful, then a third routing entry, which exists in the first hash table, is attempted to be moved. |
| US08792489B2 |
Communication transport protocol for distributed information technology architectures
A communication protocol in a layer two (L2) network switch comprises, in response to a service request by a source node, registering the source node for packet communication service. The protocol further comprises forwarding one or more packets from the registered source node to one or more destination nodes. The protocol further comprises receiving packets from one or more destination nodes and forwarding each received packet to a corresponding registered node. |
| US08792487B2 |
Communication path selection
In an example embodiment, a method for selecting a communication path is provided. The method may comprise receiving data encapsulated in a transport protocol. In addition, a classification type and exit path information associated with the classification type may be received. The data is associated with the classification type and then is encapsulated in Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) based on the exit path information. This exit path information is associated with the classification type that is associated with the data. |
| US08792479B2 |
System and methods to route calls over a voice and data network
Provided herein are systems and methods to route a call over a voice and data network VDN. A particular method includes receiving a call from a calling device at a telecommunications gateway (TCG). Authentication data is received via the call. A determination is made whether a user account associated with the authentication data is authorized to route calls via the TCG to a VDN. When the user account is authorized to route calls via the TCG to the VDN, call data received at the TCG via the call is converted into a format compatible with the VDN. The converted call data is sent via the VDN to a destination device. |
| US08792474B2 |
Multipath effectuation within singly contiguous network fabric via switching device routing logic programming
Each of a network fabric controller device and a network fabric forwarder devices includes network connecting hardware and network managing logic. The network connecting hardware of the devices connects them to a singly contiguous network fabric including switching devices that route data between initiator nodes and target nodes and that have routing logic programmable by the controller device. The controller device does not directly route the data themselves. The network managing logic of the devices effects multipaths for transmission of the data through the singly contiguous network fabric from the initiator node to the target nodes via programming of the routing logic of the switching devices. |
| US08792465B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting a gigabit-ethernet signal by a high capacity point-to-point radio system
A method and apparatus are described for transmitting/receiving a Gigabit-Ethernet signal by a high capacity point-to-point radio system. The basic idea consists in transmitting a Gigabit Ethernet interface using a single frequency in a channel plan of about 56 MHz bandwidth. The invention is based on a technology that combines forward error correction, cross polarization interference cancellation (XPIC), base-band signal processing, adaptive equalization and antenna's interconnection. In the best configuration, two carrier frequencies, H and V polarized, are selected in order to have the required bandwidth for easily transporting a Gigabit Ethernet. A proper compression rate can be selected according to the available resources; in case of radio channel failure, the compression rate can be changed. Ethernet frames are mapped by a Generic Framing Procedure encapsulation protocol. |
| US08792454B2 |
Secure and seamless WAN-LAN roaming
Systems and methods are described for secure and seamless roaming between internal and external networks. Double and triple tunnels may be used to connect a mobile node to a correspondent host. A mobile node may include the ability to connect to two networks simultaneously to enable seamless roaming between networks. |
| US08792453B2 |
Secure tunnel establishment upon attachment or handover to an access network
The invention relates to a method, mobile node and computer-readable medium for establishing (or pre-establishing) a secure tunnel to an ePDG to prepare for a mobile node attachment or handover to another access network. To reduce the delay of a handover or upon attachment of a mobile node to an access network implied by mechanisms to discover a ePDG, the mobile node maintains a reachability list that can be consulted to identify an ePDG or ePDGs that are reachable in the target access network, i.e. to which the mobile node may establish a secure tunnel. If the mobile node can identify a reachable ePDG for a given access network from the reachability list, the mobile node (pre-)establishes a secure tunnel to the ePDG upon attaching to the given access network. In alternative solutions DNS, DHCP or other mechanism can be used to provide the mobile node with information on ePDGs in its vicinity. |
| US08792442B2 |
Mobile communication method and radio base station
A mobile communication method includes step for transmitting a first scheduling grant information to a first mobile station UE scheduled in a current scheduling assignment slot, and transmitting a second scheduling grant information to a second mobile station UE to be scheduled in a next TTI by the radio base station Node B at a time of switching between mobile stations UE to be scheduled, the first scheduling grant information instructing to stop transmission of a MAC-e PDU in a next transmission time interval, the first scheduling grant information corresponding to a minimum size of the MAC-e PDU which can contain only one MAC-d PDU. |
| US08792440B2 |
Buffer status reporting in a mobile communication system
The invention relates to methods for transmitting a buffer status report (BSR) in a mobile communication system, more particularly to the definition of rules for triggering, generating and transmitting buffer status reports. The invention also relates to a data transmission method utilizing new rules to decide data of which radio bearers is transmitted within a given transmission time interval. Moreover, the invention relates to scheduling method for radio resources that is taking into account additional scheduling—relevant information from the buffer status reporting and/or data transmission method. To avoid unnecessary grants from the network and to suggest an advanced handling of data transmissions the invention suggests a buffer status reporting and data transmission schemes that take into account the scheduling mode of data of radio bearers pending for transmission to decide whether to report on it in a buffer status report, respectively, whether to multiplex the data to a transport block for transmission. |
| US08792437B2 |
Synchronized use of a wireless channel by multiple applications
A method includes allocating a first channel of a wireless communication device. The first channel is allocated in response to a request for a channel to be used by a first application executing at the wireless communication device. The method also includes preventing establishment of a second channel for a second application executing at the wireless communication device by indicating to the second application, from a modem of the wireless communication device, that the allocated first channel is to be used by or is available for use by the second application. For example, the second channel may not be established for the second application at a later point in time because the second application may instead complete data transfer operations via the allocated first channel at an earlier point in time. |
| US08792430B2 |
Retransmission grant handling in a wireless communications system
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided that may help account for scenarios in which a transport block size (TBS) for a retransmission may be determined based on a first grant, while a number of resource blocks (RBs) assigned for the retransmission may be determined from a second grant. |
| US08792427B2 |
Transmission of feedback information for data transmissions on multiple carriers
Techniques for sending feedback information for multi-carrier operation are described. In an aspect, feedback information for data transmissions on multiple downlink carriers may be sent on at least one uplink resource determined based on at least one downlink resource used to send at least one downlink grant for the data transmissions. In another aspect, feedback information for data transmissions on multiple downlink carriers may be sent with reduced or no orthogonal spreading to enable more feedback information to be sent. In yet another aspect, feedback information for data transmissions on multiple downlink carriers may be sent with channel selection. A UE may send a transmission of at least one signal value on at least one resource to convey acknowledgement (ACK) information for data transmissions on multiple downlink carriers. The signal value(s) and resource(s) may be determined based on the content of the ACK information. |
| US08792420B2 |
Multimedia communication using co-located care of address for bearer traffic
In a wireless communications system in which a mobile node seeks a communication session with a correspondent node by first signaling for initialization of the communication session through a first data path via an intermediate node. Thereafter, contents of the communication is established through a second data path in which the mobile node and the correspondent node communicate straightforwardly without going through the intermediate node. |
| US08792407B2 |
Wireless communication device power reduction method and apparatus
A wireless communications power saving method and apparatus is provided. The method includes, when no reverse link traffic exists and no forward link traffic has been received for a predetermined amount of time, establishing, at a terminal, a reverse link transmission pilot signal duty cycle, and boosting overhead channel signal transmission power during ON slots and gating overhead channel and pilot signal transmission power during OFF slots. The design further includes estimating, at the terminal, an available data transmission rate, determining an actual data transmission rate, setting a terminal transmission duty cycle for a next period based on the estimated available data transmission rate, the actual data transmission rate, and a margin of error, and transmitting data from the terminal according to the terminal transmission duty cycle. |
| US08792383B2 |
Digital communications system for residential and custodial-care environments, office and the like
The system is based on the arrangement of a plurality of terminals (1), (I′) . . . (In), which are interconnected with one another to form a digital network by means of two databuses, one write and one read, by means of differential transmission, with a hybrid connection topology based inter alia on UTP-type cables (4). Each terminal is constituted by a DLP-type card (7), which contains a programmable logic device for the management of a series of cards associated with the card (7), said cards being a main card (8) and a user-interface card (9), which enable the user to configure the various system options, it being possible, also, to incorporate one or more extension cards (H-H′) for the input and output of audio/video signals, the Internet, a telephone line or an automatic-door-entry line, and also a remote-control and alarm card (10) for activating external loads, activating alarms and receiving signals originating from sensors. |
| US08792378B2 |
Apparatus and method for broadband wireless local area communication
Provided is an apparatus and method for wideband short-range wireless communication using a directional antenna in a millimeter wave band, and the method for wideband short-range wireless communication according to an embodiment may determine a first time interval and a second time interval for a cooperated data frame transfer based on a packet transmission time at each transmission from a source node to a destination node, transmit a frame to a relay node through an antenna pattern directed towards the relay node at a start point of the first time interval, and transmit the frame to the destination node through an antenna pattern directed towards the destination node after a predetermined period of time from a start point of the second time interval. |
| US08792371B2 |
Method for determining a group owner in a wireless network
A method for a device to determine a group owner that functions as an access point in a wireless network is provided. In the method, a first device acquires first intention information indicating the first device's intention to become a group owner and receives, from a second device, second intention information indicating the second device's intention to become a group owner, and compares the first intention information and the second intention information to determine that one of the first and second devices is a group owner. This method enables smooth communication between devices in a wireless network since a device which has more available power or can operate for a longer time can become a group owner. |
| US08792370B2 |
Carrier preconfiguration for PDCCH monitoring in multi-carrier systems
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for carrier preconfiguration for monitoring for transmissions of downlink control information (DCI), for example, conveyed in physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmissions utilizing multiple carriers. The methods and apparatuses described herein may be applied in both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) systems. |
| US08792366B2 |
Network packet latency measurement
A solution for network packet latency measurement includes, at a network device having a memory, storing a first time value indicating when an ingress port of the network device received a packet. The solution also includes storing a second time value indicating when an egress port of the network device received the packet for transmission towards another network device. The solution also includes storing a difference between the first time value and the second time value. |
| US08792365B2 |
Service-based inter-radio access technology (inter-RAT) handover
In geographical areas with incomplete Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) coverage, it may be beneficial for a multimode User Equipment (UE) to handover to a GSM network, a WCDMA network, a CDMA 1x RTT network, or an LTE network. When multiple networks are available to the UE and a poor signal quality is detected in the TD-SCDMA network, one of the available networks may be selected for inter-RAT handover based on a service type of the active call on the UE. For example, when a circuit-switched call, such as a voice call, is in progress on the UE, an inter-RAT handover to a GSM network occurs. In another example, when a packet-switched call, such as a data call, is in progress on the UE, an inter-RAT handover to a WCDMA network occurs. Selecting a network for inter-RAT handover based on an active call service type improves the service provided to the UE. |
| US08792363B2 |
Matching DSL data link layer protocol detection
An arrangement is provided for detecting a matching DSL data link layer protocol. A matching-protocol detection mechanism is triggered under certain condition. The matching-protocol detection mechanism, once triggered, detects a matching protocol from at least one initiating protocol. The matching protocol is supported by both a customer premise equipment and a digital subscriber line access module and is used by both to establish a DSL connection. When the matching protocol is successfully identified, it is activated. When the matching protocol is not found, a failure is reported. |
| US08792361B2 |
Dynamic line management of digital subscriber line connections
A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexor (DSLAM) for operation within an access network includes a plurality of digital subscriber line modems for terminating a plurality of corresponding digital subscriber lines and aggregating them for onward connection through the access network. The DSLAM is operable, each time a data connection is established or re-established over one of the digital subscriber lines, to generate line data about the data connection at the DSLAM, to store the line data, to wait a predetermined period of time, to determine if the data connection is still operating successfully since the establishment of the connection without having suffered loss of connection during the predetermined period and then to transmit the line data to a management device which performs dynamic line management based on the data. |
| US08792358B2 |
Content aware transport layer multicast
A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a request for a content from a first node, determining whether a second node is associated with the content, and facilitating the transfer of the content from the second node to the first node when the second node is associated with the content, wherein the second node is an interior node. Also disclosed is a method comprising receiving a request for a content from a first node in a network, determining whether the content is being distributed to a second node in the network, calculating a path between the second node and the first node when the content is being distributed to the second node, and establishing a connection along the path such that the content is distributed from the second node to the first node. |
| US08792353B1 |
Preserving sequencing during selective packet acceleration in a network environment
A first set of frames is received in a data flow and tagged with respective serial numbers identifying an ordering of frames in the first set. The tagged first set is forwarded to a general processor for processing prior to being sent to a remote network element. A data flow policy is received from the general processor based on processing of the first set. A second set of frames of the data flow are received subsequent to forwarding the first set to the general processor. It can be verified, based on the assigned serial numbers, that each frame in the first set has been sent to the remote network element prior to sending frames in the second set. The second set is processed and sent to the remote network element by the network processor, bypassing the general processor, based on the data flow policy. |
| US08792345B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing access to public packet networks from a local environment
One or more mobile devices capable of establishing wireless communication a public packet network independently of a network access device in a local environment is used to provide additional bandwidth for the local environment. Some traffic that would normally be routed over the backhaul connected to the network access device, such as a fixed wireless terminal, is sent to the mobile device and after address translation sent to the public network over the backhaul connection associated with the mobile device. |
| US08792341B2 |
System and method for machine-to-machine application based congestion control
A method and apparatus for reporting events in a machine-to-machine environment are provided. Upon detection of an event, a determination is made whether to report the event with or without a delay. If the event is to be reported with a delay, then reporting is delayed for a period of time. If an event notification is received prior to the expiration of the delay period, then the reporting of the event may be canceled as event has already been reported by another element. If not, then another determination is made whether to report the event with or without another delay. This process continues until either the event has been reported or an event notification corresponding to the event has been received from another element. |
| US08792340B2 |
Admission control for shared LTE network
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a method and system for call admission control for a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network shared between a plurality of user classes, such as, for example, a public safety user class and a consumer user class. An admission control module oversees the call admission process based on a specified policy profile. When there are insufficient resources in the network to support an incoming call, the admission control module will consult with a preemption module to determine whether, by preemption of lower priority calls, enough resources can be recovered to support the incoming call. |
| US08792337B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing an uplink over an access ring
A method for providing an uplink over an access ring comprising access devices and at least one aggregation device, wherein each device of said access ring has ring interfaces connecting said device to neighboring devices in said access ring, wherein one access device of said access ring is configured as a ring master device which sends connectivity check messages on both its ring interfaces around said access ring to itself to detect a connectivity failure in said access ring, and wherein said ring master device changes a state of one of its ring interfaces depending on the detection result. |
| US08792334B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for organizing, managing, and selectively distributing routing information in a signaling message routing node
Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing and selectively distributing routing information in a routing node are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for selectively distributing routing information in a routing node includes organizing internal signaling resources are organized so as to facilitate the efficient mapping of signaling system 7 (SS7) message transfer part (MTP) signaling protocol attributes to Internet protocol (IP)-based signaling resources. A routing status information sharing hierarchy is defined, which enables routing status information to be efficiently shared among members of a signaling mateset group. Members of a signaling mateset replicate and distribute SS7 MTP network management information across non-MTP signaling connections, such as IP connections. |
| US08792325B1 |
Apparatuses and method for mapping bits of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing symbols to subcarriers and compensating for an imbalance between in-phase and quadrature-phase signals
A system includes a mapping device. The mapping device groups encoded bits of OFDM symbols into first groups. For each of the first groups, the mapping device maps adjacent bits onto non-adjacent subcarriers of multiple subcarriers and in an alternating manner onto bits of a signal constellation such that: every other one of the adjacent bits are mapped to first bits on the signal constellation; and bits other than the every other one of the adjacent bits are mapped to second bits on the signal constellation. Each of the first groups has a corresponding complex number. The mapping device: groups predetermined numbers of the first groups into second groups, where each of the second groups corresponds to one of the OFDM symbols; and maps each of the second groups to one of the multiple subcarriers such that the multiple subcarriers are modulated based on the complex numbers. |
| US08792310B2 |
Multitrack recorder
A multitrack recorder can allocate an input source in a simple manner without regard to whether a track is a monaural type or a stereo type. The multitrack recorder can set tracks 3 and 4, among a plurality of tracks 1 through 4, to either a monaural type or a stereotype. Track types are stored in memory. On occasion of allocation of an input source to each of the tracks, available input source alternatives are displayed in a display section while being changed according to whether the track is a monaural type or a stereo type. |
| US08792305B2 |
Ultrasound detectors
A method of receiving data coded on an ultrasonic signal comprising: detecting said ultrasonic signal using a microphone (4) having its greatest response below 20 kilohertz or a microphone (4) adapted for human speech reception; and decoding said signal to determine said data. |
| US08792304B2 |
Downlinking communication system and method using signal transition detection
A downlinking signal is transmitted downhole from the surface using drilling fluid as the communications medium. The downlinking signal includes at least a synchronization phase and a command phase. The downlinking signal is differentiated upon reception such that attributes of the synchronization phase may be used to determine corresponding attributes of the command phase. Commands may be transmitted downhole while drilling and simultaneously while using mud-pulse telemetry uplinking techniques. |
| US08792303B2 |
Methods and systems for performing azimuthal simultaneous elastic inversion
An improved method for analyzing seismic data to obtain elastic attributes is disclosed. In one embodiment, a reflectivity series is determined for at least one seismic trace of seismic data obtained for a subterranean formation, where the reflectivity series includes anisotropy properties of a formation. One or more synthetic seismic traces are obtained by convolving the reflectivity series with a source wavelet. The one or more synthetic seismic traces are inverted to obtain elastic parameters estimates. According to one aspect, the data inputs are angle-azimuth stacks. According to another aspect, the data inputs are azimuthal Fourier coefficients, un, vn. |
| US08792301B2 |
System and method for displaying seismic horizons with attributes
A system and method may, based on a 3D seismic data set seed point, execute a seed picking algorithm, using the first point for picking a set of second points from the data set, setting each of the points in the set of second points as the first point and repeating the algorithm. An iteration number or other attribute may be assigned to the points, the iteration number corresponding to the number of times the algorithm repeated to process the point. The attribute or a number of attributes may be displayed as a visual characteristic for each point. An iterative process may be applied to a set of seismic data points, starting at a seed data point and finding a set of next iteration seed points from among the set of points neighboring the seed point, continuing only with next iteration seed points, and recording for each of a set of data points the number of points that are found by the process when the point is used as a seed data point. Attributes may include, for example, the total number of descendants of a seed point, the direction, for example, the azimuth, of propagation of the horizon picking process, or information that relates to the order in which points are picked such as an iteration number. |
| US08792297B2 |
Methods for gathering marine geophysical data
In a first embodiment the invention comprises a method for gathering geophysical data, including towing geophysical data gathering equipment behind a survey vessel in a body of water, said equipment including an array of sensor streamers extending behind said vessel, and determining a geodetic location of a streamer steering reference point at a forward end of the sensor streamers and a reference direction. At least one sensor streamer included in said array of sensor streamers is laterally deflected in response to the determined geodetic location of said streamer steering reference point and the determined reference direction. |
| US08792294B2 |
DRAM and access and operating method thereof
An access method for a DRAM is provided. A row address is partitioned into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the row address via an address bus and a first active command via a command bus are provided to the DRAM. The second portion of the row address via the address bus and a second active command via the command bus are provided to the DRAM after the first active command is provided. A column address via the address bus and an access command via the command bus are provided to the DRAM after the second active command is provided. The address bus is formed by a plurality of address lines, and a quantity of the address lines is smaller than the number of bits of the row address, and the access command is a read command or a write command. |
| US08792293B2 |
Single-ended sense amplifier for solid-state memories
Described embodiments provide a memory having at least one sense amplifier. The sense amplifier has a first capacitor, an inverting amplifier, a switch, an amplifier, and a second capacitor. The first capacitor is coupled between the input of the sense amplifier and a first node. The inverting amplifier has an input coupled to the first node and an output coupled to an internal node and the switch is coupled between the input and output of the inverting amplifier. The amplifier has an input coupled to the internal node and an output coupled to an output of the sense amplifier and the second capacitor is coupled between the internal node and a control node. When data is to be read from the memory, the second capacitor forces a small voltage reduction onto the intermediate node, helping the sense amplifier resolve the data value stored in the memory cell. |
| US08792285B2 |
Page buffer circuit
A page buffer circuit is coupled to a bit line of a memory array. The page buffer circuit includes a latch storing different data during different phases of a multi-phase program operation. A preparation phase is after the program phase and after the program verify phase of the present multi-phase program operation. For the preparation phase, the control circuitry causes the latch to store the preparation data indicating whether to program the memory cell in a subsequent multi-phase program operation following the present multi-phase program operation. Results of the program verify phase, and contents of the latch at a start of the present multi-phase program operation, are sufficient to determine the preparation data. |
| US08792273B2 |
Data storage system with power cycle management and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a data storage system includes: providing a power monitor module for detecting a loss of host power; interrupting a unit controller by the power monitor module; configuring a memory controller by the unit controller; and writing a non-volatile memory array for storing in-flight data and contents of a system control random access memory in a multi-level cell NAND flash device in response to detecting the loss of the host power. |
| US08792272B2 |
Implementing enhanced data partial-erase for multi-level cell (MLC) memory using threshold voltage-drift or resistance drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced data partial erase for multi-level cell (MLC) memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A data partial erase for data written to the MLC memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding is performed, and a data re-write after the partial erase to the MLC memory is performed using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A data partial erase cycle includes a duration and voltage level based upon a degradation of the MLC memory cells. |
| US08792270B2 |
Programmable resistance memory
A memory includes an interface through which it provides access to memory cells, such as phase change memory cells. Such access permits circuitry located on a separate integrated circuit to provide access signals, including read and write signals suitable for binary or multi-level accesses. |
| US08792268B2 |
Nonvolatile latch circuit, nonvolatile flip-flop circuit, and nonvolatile signal processing device
A nonvolatile latch circuit according to the present invention includes: a latch operating unit in which outputs of cross-coupled connected inverter circuit and inverter circuit are connected via a series circuit which includes a transistor, a variable resistance element, and a transistor in this order, and store and restore in a latch state are controlled by control terminals of the transistors; and a comparator circuit which compares a signal obtained by amplifying the value of the sum of potentials at both ends of the variable resistance element with the logic state of the latch operating unit, wherein writing to and reading from the variable resistance element are repeated until an output of the comparator circuit indicates that normal write operation has been performed. |
| US08792262B2 |
Nonvolatile memory with bitline capacitive coupling compensation
A method of programming memory cells in a nonvolatile memory, includes applying a programming voltage to a first bitline and setting a second bitline in a floating state. The method further includes applying a compensation voltage to a shield conductive line coupled to the bitline set in the floating state, and setting in the floating state a shield conductive line coupled to the bitline receiving the programming voltage. The method is applicable to the reduction of the parasitic programming phenomena of memory cells by capacitive coupling between bitlines. |
| US08792257B2 |
Power converter with reduced power dissipation
A power converter with reduced power dissipation at light loads and method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the power converter includes an opto-isolator circuit configured to produce an output signal dependent on an output characteristic of the power converter. The power converter also includes a controller configured to control the output characteristic to a first regulated value when the output signal is greater than or equal to a threshold level, and control the output characteristic to a second regulated value less than the first regulated value when the output signal is less than the threshold level. |
| US08792253B2 |
System and methods for high power DC/DC converter
A voltage conversion system and methods are disclosed. Phase-shift modulation signals are generated and interleaved to provide interleaved phase-shift modulation signals. A plurality of voltage converters are controlled using the interleaved phase-shift modulation signals to convert an input electrical current at an input voltage to an output electrical current at an output voltage. |
| US08792250B2 |
Apparatus for flexible mounting and electrical connection
A connector for connecting surface mount devices, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), to printed circuit boards (PCBs). The connector may be prepackage with an LED assembly or on a PCB to which the LED assembly will be mounted. Connection complexity can be moved from the PCB to the connector, and LED assemblies may be customized differently for different customers. One to many and many to one connections are readily supported with variations on the connector. |
| US08792249B2 |
Waterproofing structure of mobile terminal and mobile terminal including the same
A waterproofing structure for a mobile terminal, includes an annular groove that surrounds an outer edge of a predetermined waterproof area of a mobile terminal. A waterproof lid covers an entire surface of the waterproof area, and includes an annular protrusion that fits into the annular groove in the waterproof area, and an elastic resin portion that covers the annular protrusion. The elastic resin portion press-contacts and adheres to only one of two side wall surfaces of the annular groove when the annular protrusion is fitted into the annular groove. |
| US08792246B2 |
Electromagnetic interference shield
A device for protecting a circuit board from electromagnetic interference, and which includes shield to be attached to the circuit board. The device includes a metal plate and a plurality of tangs. The metal plate has a perimeter portion. The plurality of tangs are spaced about and extend transversely away from at least a portion of the perimeter portion of the metal plate. Each tang includes a bridge portion and a finger portion. The bridge portion has a first end attached to the perimeter portion and a second end spaced away from the perimeter portion and attached to the finger portion. The finger portion extends away from the second end of the bridge potion and is disposed at an obtuse angle relative to the bridge portion such that the plurality of tangs, in combination, are adapted to receive the circuit board. |
| US08792242B2 |
Control unit housing
A control unit housing, especially for a transmission control module of a transmission of a motor vehicle. The control unit housing includes a first housing part and a second, cover-shaped housing part. A circuit carrier having at least one electronic component is accommodated in the first housing part. The first housing part is designed in the shape of a tub, whose floor is designed as a heat dissipation surface to an additional housing. |
| US08792241B2 |
Assembly of an electronic device casing, a heat-dissipating module and a waterproofing module, and the waterproofing module
An assembly includes an electronic device casing, a heat-dissipating module and a waterproofing module. The electronic device casing is formed with an encircling wall. The encircling wall has a wall body and an apertured portion formed in the wall body. The heat-dissipating module is coupled to the electronic device casing, is surrounded by the encircling wall, and includes a heat pipe extending through the apertured portion. The waterproofing module includes a waterproofing element that has a ring portion disposed on a top rim of the wall body, and a sleeve portion having a first sleeve segment that is connected to the ring portion, that is sleeved on the heat pipe and that engages the apertured portion so as to establish water tightness between the heat pipe and the apertured portion. |
| US08792239B2 |
Power module package and method for manufacturing the same
Disclosed herein are a power module package and a method for manufacturing the same. The power module package includes: a base substrate made of a metal material; cooling channels formed to allow a cooling material to flow in an inner portion of the base substrate; an anodized layer formed on an outer surface of the base substrate; a metal layer formed on a first surface of the base substrate having the anodized layer and including circuits and connection pads; and semiconductor devices mounted on the metal layer. |
| US08792232B2 |
Protective enclosure for electronic device
A chemically resistant protective cover for an electronic device that has an interactive control panel includes a protective shell having a first member and a second member. The second member is configured to join with the first case. An aperture defined by the protective shell aligns with the interactive control panel. A chemically resistant protective membrane for an electronic device includes a sheet of engineered thermoplastic having dimensions corresponding to features of a surface of the electronic device, and has a combination of sufficient thinness and a dielectric constant that together permit capacitive inputs on a front side of the protective membrane to be transmitted to the capacitance sensing interactive control panel. |
| US08792230B2 |
Laptop with home office capabilities
A laptop with home office capabilities comprising a base to house a plurality of internal components, where the base includes a keyboard and mouse pad attached on a top surface; a cover attached on a hinge to a back portion of the base, where the cover includes a display screen, a camera and a light; a plurality of computing accessories attached around the base, where the plurality of computing accessories provide greater functions for a user during use; and a printer/copier/scanner/fax device built within the base, wherein the printer/copier/scanner/fax device includes a paper tray attached to a side of the base and a paper receiving tray attached to an opposing side of the tray to enable the user to print, copy, scan and fax as desired when using the laptop with home office capabilities. |
| US08792227B2 |
Mobile power system
A mobile power system includes a plurality of energy sources including a solar powered generating source and a plurality of electronic and telecommunications components configured to receive the power generated by the plurality of energy sources and convert the power generated to direct current power. The system also includes a plurality of batteries configured to store the direct current power and a main distribution panel including one or more short circuit ground fault protection devices configured to isolate a short circuit ground fault in less than approximately two hundred milliseconds. The system also includes one or more transportable housings configured to hold the plurality of energy sources, the plurality of electronic and telecommunications, the main distribution panel and the plurality of batteries during transport of the housing. |
| US08792226B2 |
Heat transfer system for use with electrical devices and method of operating the same
A heat transfer system includes an electrical distribution cabinet extending about at least one current-carrying conductor. The heat transfer system also includes at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device coupled to the at least one current-carrying conductor. The heat transfer system further includes at least one heat pipe coupled to the at least one electrically-insulating and thermally-conducting device. The heat pipe is also thermally coupled to at least a portion of the electrical distribution cabinet. |
| US08792225B2 |
Partitioned reaction container for manufacturing capacitor element including openable and closable passage
A reaction container for manufacturing a capacitor element includes a container which accommodates electrolytic solution therein, a partitioning frame which can partition the inside of the container into a plurality of individual chambers, negative electrode members individually arranged in each of the individual chambers, and a constant-current source electrically connected to the cathode members. A passage, which enables movement of the electrolytic solution between each individual chamber and at least one individual chamber of the individual chambers adjacent to each individual chamber, is provided in a manner such that the passage can be opened and closed. |
| US08792222B2 |
Driver circuit for an electric vehicle and a diagnostic method
A driver circuit and a diagnostic method are provided. The circuit includes a first voltage driver having a first output line electrically coupled to a main contactor coil of a main contactor. The circuit further includes a microprocessor that measures a first voltage on a first voltage feedback line if the main contactor coil is not energized. The microprocessor measures a second voltage on a second voltage feedback line if the main contactor coil is not energized. The microprocessor sets a status flag equal to a fault condition value if the first voltage is greater than a threshold voltage value. Also, the microprocessor sets the status flag equal to the fault condition value if the second voltage is greater than the threshold voltage value. |
| US08792217B2 |
Systems and methods for protection of components in electrical power delivery systems
Various embodiments disclosed herein provide protection to monitored equipment at both a local level and a system level, in order to offer more comprehensive protection. In one particular embodiment, the protected equipment may include one or more generators. The protection system may utilize time-synchronized data in order to analyze data provided by systems having disparate sampling rates, that are monitored by different equipment, and/or equipment that is geographically separated. Various embodiments may be configured to utilize a variety of sampling rates. |
| US08792213B1 |
Tethered gimbal on suspension for improved flyability
A suspension assembly used in magnetic disk drives includes a load beam and a gimbal assembly coupled to an end of the load beam. The gimbal assembly includes a support having a left outrigger and a right outrigger, first tethers or connectors disposed along the left outrigger, second tethers or connectors disposed along the right outrigger, and a flexible circuit assembly that includes a left electrical trace and a right electrical trace. The flexible circuit assembly is coupled to the support through the first tethers or connectors that couple the left electrical trace to the left outrigger and the second tethers or connectors that couple the right electrical trace to the right outrigger. The first and second tethers or connectors are made of stainless steel with a polyimide coating and there are three first tethers or connectors and three second tethers or connectors. |
| US08792208B1 |
Method for providing side shields having non-conformal regions for a magnetic recording transducer
A method and system provide a magnetic recording transducer having air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic recording transducer includes a pole, a side shield, a nonmagnetic gap between the side shield and the pole and at least one coil for energizing the pole. The pole has a pole tip proximate to the ABS. The side shield includes at least one nonconformal portion that extends from a throat height in a stripe height direction perpendicular to the ABS and is nonconformal with the pole. The spacing between the nonconformal portion(s) of the side shield and the pole varies based on a distance from the ABS. |
| US08792205B1 |
Disk drive with a housing hole seal including a conductive layer with an exposed planar surface region
A disk drive includes a disk drive housing having a hole therethrough. A disk is enclosed within the disk drive housing, and is rotatably attached to the disk drive housing. A seal covers the hole through the disk drive housing. The seal includes a conductive layer, a primary dielectric layer, and a gasket layer. The conductive layer has a covered surface region and an exposed planar surface region. The exposed planar surface region is lacking a dielectric coating disposed thereon. The primary dielectric layer includes an adhesive coating disposed between the primary dielectric layer and the covered surface region. The gasket layer includes first and second adhesive gasket layer sides and a gasket opening disposed through the gasket layer. The gasket opening is disposed about the hole in the disk drive housing, with the first adhesive gasket layer attached to the disk drive housing. |
| US08792204B2 |
Base plate of motor including flange portion and plastic deforming portion and disk drive apparatus
A base plate of a disk drive apparatus includes a motor base disposed around a central axis and a base body portion extending radially outward of the motor base. The motor base is made of a metallic material of a first type. The base body portion is made of a metallic material of a second type. Thus, the axial thickness of a portion of the base plate close to the central axis can be significantly reduced and a reduction in the stiffness of the portion can be prevented. Further, the motor base includes a flange portion and a plastic deforming portion. The flange portion and the plastic deforming portion are respectively in contact with at least a portion of both axial end surfaces of an inner end portion of the base body portion. Thus, extraction of the motor base in the axial direction is prevented. |
| US08792196B1 |
Disk drive estimating noise in a read signal based on an identified response at the input of an equalizer
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and control circuitry comprising a read channel comprising an analog filter and an equalizer. Data is read from the disk to generate a read signal, and the analog filter filters the read signal. The filtered read signal is sampled, and the read signal samples are input into the equalizer in order to equalize the read signal samples according to a target response. A response of the read channel based on the read signal samples input into the equalizer is identified to generate an identified response. Expected samples are generated based on the identified response, wherein the expected samples correspond to the data written to the disk, and an estimated noise sequence is estimated based on the expected samples and the read signal samples. |
| US08792193B2 |
Magnetic media tester and a method of magnetic media testing
A magnetic media tester comprising a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) head; and a magnetic read head; the LDV head and the magnetic read head being configured for obtaining correlatable data of a region on a magnetic disk. |
| US08792182B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus having zoom lens
A zoom lens including a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative reflective power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a rear lens group including one or more lens units in this order from an object side to an image side, wherein distances between the respective lens units vary during the zooming operation, wherein the first lens unit consists of three lenses including one negative lens, and a partial dispersion ratio of a material for the negative lens of the first lens unit, an Abbe number of the same, a focal length of the entire system at a wide angle end and a focal length of the first lens unit are set individually and adequately. |
| US08792181B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, first to fifth lens units respectively having positive, negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive powers. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, each of the lens units moves in such a way that a distance between the first and second lens units increases, a distance between the second and third lens units decreases, a distance between the third and fourth lens units increases, and a distance between the fourth and fifth lens units increases. The distances D34w and D34t between the third and fourth lens units, the distances D45w and D45t between the fourth and fifth lens units, focal lengths fw and ft of the entire zoom lens, and focal lengths f1 and f4 of the first and fourth lens units are appropriately set. |
| US08792173B2 |
Changeable liquid lens array and method of manufacturing the same
A changeable liquid lens array and a method of manufacturing the same. The changeable liquid lens array includes a substrate, a plurality of partition walls arrayed on the substrate and having a fluid travel path, cells defined by the plurality of partition walls, a first fluid comprised in the cells, a second fluid arranged on the first fluid, a first electrode arranged on at least one side surface of each of the partition walls, and a second electrode disposed to be separate from the partition walls. A shape of shape of an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid changes based on a voltage that is applied to the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08792161B2 |
Optical polarizer with nanotube array
An optical polarizer positioned before a light source for use in semiconductor wafer lithography including an array of aligned nanotubes. The array of aligned nanotubes cause light emitted from the light source and incident on the array of aligned nanotubes to be converted into polarized light for use in the semiconductor wafer lithography. The amount of polarization can be controlled by a voltage source coupled to the array of aligned nanotubes. Chromogenic material of a light filtering layer can vary the wavelength of the polarized light transmitted through the array of aligned nanotubes. |
| US08792156B1 |
Laser illumination systems and methods for dual-excitation wavelength non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy systems
An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual-excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system, an optical splitting means, a frequency shifting system, and a picosecond amplifier system. The laser system includes a laser for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ω1. The optical splitting means divides the first train of pulses at the center optical frequency ω1 into two trains of pulses. The frequency shifting system shifts the optical frequency of one of the two trains of pulses to provide a frequency shifted train of pulses. The picosecond amplifier system amplifies the frequency shifted train of pulses to provide an amplified frequency-shifted train of pulses having a pulse duration of at least 0.5 picoseconds. |
| US08792155B2 |
Athermal DQPSK and/or DPSK demodulator
In some example embodiments, a demodulator may include an input polarization beam splitter (IPBS), input half waveplate (IHWP), cubical polarization beam splitter (CPBS), first reflector (R1), second reflector (R2), first quarter waveplate (QWP1), second quarter waveplate (QWP2), beam displacer (BD), output half waveplate (OHWP), and output polarization beam splitter (OPBS). The CPBS may be positioned to receive an output from IPBS. The IHWP may be positioned between IPBS and CPBS. The R1 may be positioned to receive and return a first output from CPBS. The QWP1 may be positioned between CPBS and R1. The R2 may be positioned to receive and return a second output from CPBS. The QWP2 may be positioned between CPBS and R2. The BD may be positioned to receive a third output from CPBS. The OPBS may be positioned to receive an output from BD. The OHWP may be positioned between BD and OPBS. |
| US08792151B2 |
Optical reflection element
An optical reflection element includes a frame, a meandrous vibrating part having an outer end connected with an inside of the frame, and a mirror part supported by an inner end of the meandrous vibrating part. The meandrous vibrating part has a meandrous shape that includes curved portions and vibrating beams alternately connected with the curved portions. A curvature of respective one of the curved portions is smaller than a curvature of at least one of the curved portions which is located closer to the inner end than the respective one of the curved portions. This optical reflection element has a large deflection angle of the mirror part. |
| US08792150B2 |
Method for storing a profile set, a computer readable recording medium stored with a profile set storage program, a profile set storage system, and a color conversion process device
The method of storing profile set storage method according to the present invention comprising (a) selecting as reconstruction data that enables to reconstruct a profile set, either size prioritized data, which is smaller than said profile set, or reconstruction speed prioritized data, which enables to be reconstructed within a shorter time period than is required for reconstructing the size prioritized data, and which is smaller than the profile set but is larger than the size prioritized data; (b) for generating the selected reconstruction data based on the profile set; and (c) storing the reconstruction data generated in the step (b) in a storage device. |
| US08792143B2 |
Operation device and image reading apparatus with a touch panel
A touch panel includes a ring-like shaped light-transmissive portion. A ring-shaped diffusion surface is formed on the bottom surface of a light guide element. The ring-like shape includes a second region provided at a location corresponding to two light sources adjacent to a first region corresponding to one light source. A distance from a location of the ring-shaped light-transmissive portion to a periphery of the ring close to the light source is greater in the second region than in the first region. Light emitted from the light source and incident to the light guide element is diffusion-reflected on the diffusion surface and a part of the diffusion-reflected light illuminates the light-transmissive portion. |
| US08792139B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method of controlling same
An image correcting method for an image processing apparatus that reads a bound document and corrects a shadow in a bound portion in obtained document image data includes extracting shadow image data from the document image data, generating a grid with which a ratio of changes in luminance between the grid lines in directions perpendicular to each other is smaller than in a square grid and which has grid points within a capacity of a memory for correction values, calculating first correction values that corrects luminance of pixels in the shadow image data corresponding to grid points, storing the first correction values in the memory, calculating second correction values for luminance of the pixels in the shadow image data based on first correction values of grid points close to each pixel, and correcting luminance of the document image data using the first and second correction values. |
| US08792135B2 |
Image processing device, computer program product including image processing program embodied on computer readable medium, and image forming apparatus
An image processing device include a memory, a rasterizer and a color space converter. The rasterizer is configured to generate raster data expressed in a first color space by rendering an object in the memory. The color space converter is configured to convert the raster data from the first color space to a second color space capable of being set so as to reproduce gray of gray pixels in the object by any one of a black coloring material and mixture of multiple color materials. The rasterizer determines whether the gray is reproduced by the black coloring material or the mixture of multiple color materials based on an attribute of the object and adds the gray reproduction information that is obtained from the determination to the raster data. The color space converter sets pixel levels in the second color space based on the gray reproduction information. |
| US08792132B2 |
Image forming apparatus for performing image adjustment that reduces time to print when mark formation and printing are required at the same time
An image forming apparatus which may include a forming unit configured to form a mark for image adjustment, a conveyor member configured to convey the mark formed by the forming unit and a detecting unit configured to detect the mark conveyed by the conveyor member. Further, the image forming apparatus may include a removing unit configured to remove the mark conveyed by the conveyor member, from the conveyor member; and a control device. According to aspects of the disclosure, after the forming unit has formed a mark for image adjustment, the control device may be configured to determine whether the mark has been removed from the conveyor member and based on the determination of whether the mark has been removed from the conveyor member, begin printing of print data even when the mark has not been completely removed from the conveyor member. |
| US08792131B2 |
Image processing system, information processing system, control method, and program
In printing the same image data as image data printed by a printing unit of an image forming apparatus from another image forming apparatus, an image information processing system and an information processing system are capable of executing arbitrary high-quality printing, which can be implemented by acquiring image data received from an image processing server stored on the image forming apparatus, based on a reference location of a shortcut transmitted from the image processing server. The image information processing system and the information processing system can be controlled by a control method, which can be implemented by a program. |
| US08792129B2 |
Printing apparatus to control images to be laid out side by side
A printing apparatus wherein first image data corresponding to a first document is generated, second partial data corresponding to a partial range of a second document is generated in a state in which the first image data is stored in a storage portion, joint data in which first partial data and the second partial data are joined is generated, the first partial data being included in the first image data and corresponding to a partial range of the first document which is laid out side by side with respect to the partial range of the second document based on the second partial data in a state in which a first image based on the first image data and a second image based on second image data are laid out side by side in a scanning direction of a head, and an image based on the joint data is printed. |
| US08792123B2 |
Mechanism for generating personalized mailpieces in a manufacturing system
A manufacturing system is disclosed. The manufacturing system may include a personalization mechanism to evaluate personalization information relating to mailpieces, wherein the mailpieces include mail containers and mail content components. The manufacturing system may further include a matching mechanism to compare the containers with their corresponding content components using unique verification codes assigned to each of the containers and content components, wherein the unique verification codes are assigned based on the evaluated personalization information, and a production machine to produce personalized containers and their corresponding content components based on comparison results of the comparison. |
| US08792119B2 |
Printing device and printing control method
A printing device includes data transfer control units that store an image data transferred from un upper level device into a storage unit and reads out the image data from the storage unit in response to an instruction to start a printing, printing units that print the data onto a recording medium, an output control unit that outputs each image data to a predetermined printing unit, and a printing control unit that instructs the data transfer units to transfer the stored image data corresponding to one page to the output control unit, when a storage report of the image data corresponding to one page is sent from any of the data transfer control units, and stops a conveyance of the recording medium after any of the printing units completes the printing onto the recording medium under the printing in a case that a predetermined specific trouble occurs. |
| US08792105B2 |
Interferometer with variable optical path length reference mirror using overlapping depth scan signals
An interferometer includes a variable optical path length reference mirror to produce a final interferogram from a combination of interferograms. Each of the interferograms is generated at a different optical path length of the reference mirror. |
| US08792097B2 |
Systems for applying pigment to a substrate with a spectrophotometer integral to the system
Systems for applying pigment to a substrate has a spectrophotometer integral to the system and supplies light to the substrate and receives light from the substrate. One or more pigment dischargers integral to the system apply one or more pigments to the substrate. A spectrometer spectrally analyzes the one or more pigments applied to the substrate. The spectrometer includes an optical sensing circuit having plurality of optical sensors and one or more processing elements and a plurality of filter elements fixedly positioned with respect to at least a first group of the optical sensors. An optical implement is fixedly positioned with respect to the plurality of filter elements and has a plurality of outputs and at least one entrance. The spectrometer is fabricated in a unitary manner. |
| US08792093B2 |
Apparatus for inspecting film
A film inspection apparatus for inspecting the state of a film includes a transfer unit that fixes the film in a flat state and that transfers the film, and includes an inspection unit that inspects the film transferred through the transfer unit. The transfer unit includes a carrier that is movable to a direction of the inspection unit, a tray in the carrier and for mounting the film thereto, and an adsorption unit that is coupled to the carrier and that adsorbs the film to maintain the film mounted to the tray in the flat state. |
| US08792088B2 |
Distance-measuring system
A distance-measuring system includes a light source, a light detector, and measuring optics for projecting light emitted by the light source to a target and for guiding light reflected from said target towards the light detector. The distance-measuring system also includes reference optics for guiding light emitted by the light source within the system towards the light detector as internal reference light and a variable attenuator for adjusting intensity of light incident on the light detector. The variable attenuator includes an attenuating filter arranged in a beam path between the measuring optics and the light detector and an actuator coupled to the attenuating filter for moving the attenuating filter. The distance-measuring system further includes an optical selector coupled to at least one of the actuator or the attenuating filter and moved by the actuator together with the attenuating filter. |
| US08792087B2 |
Concept for optical distance measurement
The present invention relates to a concept for optical distance measurement, wherein a radiation pulse is emitted in the direction of an object of measurement. At least two different transfer gates which couple a photoactive region to at least two different evaluating capacities are driven during different drive intervals so that charge carriers generated during the drive intervals by a radiation pulse reflected from the object of measurement and/or by ambient radiation can be transported from the photoactive region to the evaluating capacities each coupled to the at least two transfer gates. Another transfer gate is driven during a time outside the drive intervals of the at least two transfer gates to connect the photoactive region to a reference potential terminal acting as a charge carrier sink during the time outside the drive intervals of the at least two transfer gates. |
| US08792086B2 |
Movable body drive method and movable body drive system, and pattern formation method and pattern formation apparatus
A first positional information of a wafer stage is measured using an interferometer system such as, for example, a Z interferometer. At the same time, a second positional information of the wafer stage is measured using a surface position measurement system such as, for example, two Z heads. Moving average is applied to a difference between the first positional information and the second positional information for a predetermined measurement time to set a coordinate offset, which is used to inspect the reliability of output signals of the surface position measurement system. When the output signals are confirmed to be normal, servo control of the wafer stage is performed using a sum of the first positional information and the coordinate offset. According to this hybrid method, drive control of the wafer stage which has the stability of the interferometer and the precision of the Z heads becomes possible. |
| US08792080B2 |
Method and system to predict lithography focus error using simulated or measured topography
A method and system to predict lithography focus error using chip topography data is disclosed. The chip topography data may be measured or simulated topography data. A plane is best fitted to the topography data, and residuals are computed. The residuals are then used to make a prediction regarding the focus error. The density ratio of metal to dielectric may also be used as a factor in determining the predicted focus error. |
| US08792071B2 |
Cellulose acylate film, its production method, polarizer and liquid crystal display device
A cellulose acylate film containing a cellulose acylate having a total degree of substitution of from 1.5 to 2.6 and a polycondensate ester, satisfying 3.4≦Rth(550)/d, 40 nm≦Re(550)≦60 nm and 100 nm≦Rth(550)≦300 nm, having a film thickness of from 20 to 45 μm and having an internal haze of from 0.005 to 0.07% (d means the film thickness (μm)). |
| US08792068B2 |
Lighting device and electronic device
A lighting device at least has: a plurality of light emitting elements that emit light by a forward direction current; a direct-current power supply; a first wiring and a second wiring for supplying electrical power to the plurality of light emitting elements from the direct-current power supply; and a switch for switching the polarity of the electrical power to be supplied to the first wiring and the second wiring; in which the plurality of light emitting elements include forward direction connection in which the forward direction current flows when the electrical power having a positive polarity is applied to the first wiring and reverse direction connection in which the forward direction current flows when the electrical power having a positive polarity is applied to the second wiring and being connected between the first wiring and the second wiring. |
| US08792061B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display device includes a substrate; gate and data lines disposed on the substrate crossing each other to define a plurality of pixel regions; a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed in the pixel regions; a common electrode which is patterned to have common electrode pattern portions, each common electrode pattern portion corresponding to a respective pixel region; a plurality of sensing lines disposed on the common electrode and electrically connected with the common electrode; and at least one an electric field shield layer disposed over a region between adjacent common electrode pattern portions. |
| US08792060B2 |
Liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device with a built-in touch screen, which uses a common electrode as a touch-sensing electrode including an intersection of a gate line and a data line to define a pixel region, a bridge line disposed in a central portion of the pixel, an insulating layer formed on the bridge line, a first contact hole disposed through the insulating layer to expose a predetermined portion of an upper surface of the bridge line, a contact metal on the insulating layer and inside the first contact hole, the contact metal electrically connected with the bridge line, a first passivation layer on the contact metal, a second contact hole disposed through the first passivation layer to expose a predetermined portion of an upper surface of the contact metal, a common electrode on the first passivation layer and inside the second contact hole, a conductive line electrically connected with the common electrode, and a second passivation layer on the first passivation layer and the conductive line, wherein the bridge line and the common electrode are electrically connected via the contact metal. |
| US08792054B2 |
Automatic subtitle resizing
A method, apparatus and computer program for displaying video and accompanying text data on a display are provided. The method includes receiving media content that includes video and determining whether text data associated with the video is to be presented on the display alongside the video. If associated text data is not to be presented, then the video content is output as normal, with the video content occupying a first area of the display (such as the entire display). If associated text data is to be presented, then the video output is automatically resized such that the video occupies a smaller area of the display, and the associated text data is automatically displayed alongside the video. By allowing for dynamic resizing it is possible to display subtitles or closed captions alongside portions of video content without obscuring the video. |
| US08792051B2 |
Driving device, lens barrel, and optical apparatus including the lens barrel
In a driving device, a distance from a guide member to a vibrator is less than that from the guide member to a permanent magnet in a plane perpendicular to a guiding direction of a guide member. An attraction force between the permanent magnet and a magnetic body acts as a force to rotate (i.e., a rotating force) a holding member about an axis of the guide member, and the vibrator is pressed against a contact member by the rotating force. |
| US08792050B2 |
Camera body, imaging unit mounted/removed on/from the camera body and imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus comprising an imaging unit in which an optical system and an imaging device are provided, a camera body formed with a concave portion on/from which the imaging unit is mounted/removed, the imaging apparatus photographing the subject image by mounting the imaging unit on the camera body, wherein the concave portion includes three walls of a back wall portion, a side wall portion, and an upper wall portion, viewed from the subject side in a direction of an optical axis of the optical system, wherein the apparatus includes a locking member and a locking member to be locked, wherein an unlocking member for unlocking a lock of the camera body and the imaging unit by means of the locking member is disposed in an intersection portion of the side and upper wall portions, and wherein at least three wall portions which compose the concave portion, are opened. |
| US08792049B2 |
Exposure control for an imaging system
A device that analyzes an image. The device includes a circuit that receives an image that includes a plurality of pixels. The circuit creates a histogram of the image and analyzes the histogram to determine an acceptable exposure of the image. The histogram may include a plurality of bins versus a population of pixels associated with each bin. By way of example, the bins may be associated with an intensity of light. The images and histograms may include data defined by low dynamic range number of bits and/or an extended dynamic range number of bits. Certain features and criteria of the image may be determined and analyzed to determine whether the image has an acceptable exposure. If the image is unacceptable, an exposure characteristic can be changed and the process can be repeated until an acceptable image is obtained. |
| US08792048B2 |
Focus detection device and image capturing apparatus provided with the same
The focus detection accuracy of a focus detection device that employs an external AF sensor unit having a pair of line sensors that are each comprised of multiple unit line sensors is improved. The individual line sensors are arranged so that the center of the field of view of an imaging optical system at a predetermined subject distance, at which field-of-view adjustment for causing the field of view of the imaging optical system and the field of view of a focus-detection optical system to match has been carried out, corresponds to the center of one of the multiple unit line sensors included in the individual line sensors. |
| US08792045B2 |
Video surveillance camera refocus
A method of refocusing a video surveillance camera includes performing a first focusing operation of a camera at a first time, sensing a first temperature of the camera at the first time, sensing a second temperature of the camera at a second time, determining if a change in temperature between the first temperature and the second temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature change, sensing a level of light in a field of view of the camera at the second time, determining if the level of light sensed in the field of view of the camera at the second time is within a predetermined light level range, determining if a period of time between the first time and second time is greater than a predetermined period of time, and performing a focus operation if the change in temperature between the first temperature and the second temperature is greater than the predetermined temperature change, the level of light sensed in the field of view of the camera at the second time is within the predetermined light level range, and the period of time between the first and second time is greater than a predetermined period of time. |
| US08792044B2 |
Image pickup device and method for manufacturing the image pickup device
Disclosed is an image pickup device, by which cut resistance at the time of cutting a wafer lens is reduced, high production efficiency is maintained, and excellent optical characteristics are obtained. The image pickup device has a first lens block, a second lens block, a spacer, and a sensor unit. The side surface section of the first lens block, the side surface section of the second lens block, and the side surface section of the spacer are formed on the same plane. A lens cover that covers the first and the second lens blocks is provided in a step formed by respective side surface sections of the first lens block, the second lens block and the spacer, and the side surface section of the sensor unit. |
| US08792042B2 |
Vibrating device and image equipment having the same
A vibrating device includes a dust-screening member and a vibrating member. The dust-screening member is disposed in front of an image surface of an image forming element having the image surface in which an optical image is generated. The dust-screening member has a box shape with about the same small plate thickness as a whole, and includes, in a bottom surface portion of the box shape, a transparent part which spreads from the center of the bottom surface portion. The vibrating member is disposed outside the transparent part of the dust-screening member. The vibrating member is configured to generate, in the bottom surface portion of the dust-screening member, vibration having a vibrational amplitude which is vertical to the bottom surface portion thereof. |
| US08792034B2 |
Solid-state imaging device with charge transfer transistor on different substrates
A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a photoelectric converter section formed on a first substrate to generate and accumulate signal charges corresponding to incident light, a charge accumulation capacitor section formed on the first substrate or a second substrate to temporarily hold the signal charges transferred from the photoelectric converter section, and a plurality of MOS transistors formed on the second substrate to transfer the signal charges accumulated in the charge accumulation capacitor section, connection electrodes formed on the first substrate, and connection electrodes formed on the second substrate and electrically connected to the connection electrodes formed on the first substrate. |
| US08792033B2 |
Image pickup apparatus capable of changing operation condition of image sensing device and control method therefor
An image pickup apparatus capable of ensuring a dynamic range suitable for an image shooting condition and capable of reducing noise. The image pickup apparatus includes an image sensing device having floating diffusion units that are provided corresponding to pixels and that convert electrical charges accumulated in the pixels into voltage signals, which are output as pixel signals from pixel amplifiers. At that time, according to an image shooting condition, at least parts of connection switches corresponding to the floating diffusion units are sequentially turned on or all the connection switches are turned off, whereby the connection switches are connected to or disconnected from connection lines to thereby change capacity components connected to pixel amplifiers. This contributes to dynamic range expansion or noise reduction. |
| US08792030B2 |
Solid-state imaging apparatus, image processing apparatus, and camera system
An imaging section outputs n pixel signals every pixel row of n×m pixels, and n AD conversion sections, corresponding to n pixel columns of the n×m pixels, convert the n pixel signals to n pixel values. A resolution control section controls the n AD conversion sections so that the AD conversion resolution of the n AD conversion sections become a first resolution, or a second resolution rougher than the first resolution, based on the AD conversion resolution of the n AD conversion sections and the n pixel values. |
| US08792015B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image pickup apparatus, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
An image processing apparatus that performs an image restoration processing of an image includes an optical transfer function obtaining portion configured to obtain an optical transfer function depending on an image pickup condition of the image, a threshold frequency obtaining portion configured to obtain a threshold frequency at which an absolute value of the optical transfer function is under a predetermined threshold value, a generating portion configured to generate an image restoration filter that has gain characteristics depending on the threshold frequency using the optical transfer function, and a processing portion configured to perform the image restoration processing of the image using the image restoration filter. |
| US08791996B2 |
Image processing system and position measurement system
An image processing system inputs a captured image of a scene viewed from a vehicle, extracts image feature points from the captured image, and obtains image-capturing situation information indicating a possibility that a specific subject is included in the captured image. The system determines importance degrees of the extracted image feature points based on the image-capturing situation information and generates image feature point data using the extracted image feature points based on the importance degrees. The system generates reference data by associating the image feature point data with image-capturing attribute information and creates a reference data database. The image-capturing attribute information includes an image-capturing position at which the image is captured to obtain the captured image corresponding to the image feature point data. |
| US08791995B2 |
Stereo video microscope system
A stereo video microscope system (10), comprising: a stereo video microscope (11) having two output channels for providing stereo image data and including an internal lighting; a display unit (14) having two input channels for receiving and displaying stereo image data; and a control unit operably connected to the stereo video microscope (11) and the display unit (14) such that the control unit can control the operation of the stereo video microscope (11) and the display unit (14) and the flow of stereo image data between the two output channels of the stereo video microscope (11) and the two input channels of the display unit (14). In one embodiment the control unit is configured for performing an image rotation and/or exchanging the output channels such that the stereo image is always upright. |
| US08791985B2 |
Tracking and characterizing particles with holographic video microscopy
In-line holography to create images of a specimen, such as one or more particles dispersed in a transparent medium. Analyzing these images with results from light scattering theory yields the particles' sizes with nanometer resolution, their refractive indexes to within one part in a thousand, and their three dimensional positions with nanometer resolution. This procedure can rapidly and directly characterize mechanical, optical and chemical properties of the specimen and its medium. |
| US08791982B1 |
Video multicast engine
Introduction of one or more multicast engines to a video conferencing system permits an improvement of overall network bandwidth used for a video conference. A video stream is received at a multicast engine connected to a participant of a plurality of participants in the conference where the video stream is supplied by the participant. The multicast engine selectively transmits the video stream to a server station based on determining whether the video stream is a candidate for a conference video stream to be transmitted to at least some of the plurality of participants. The conference video stream is received at the multicast engine from the server station, and the stream is transmitted from the multicast engine to any participants in the video conference that are connected to the multicast engine. |
| US08791979B2 |
Access method for video call and video call apparatus
Disclosed in the present invention are an access method for performing a video call and a video call apparatus, wherein the method comprises the steps of: presetting an access password for a video call; after answering the video call, closing audio and video channels, and transmitting a command to a calling terminal for providing an access password for the video call so as to prompt said calling terminal to input an access password associated with the video call; determining if the access password associated with the video call and inputted by said calling terminal matches the preset access password; if so, performing the video call, and if not, refusing said calling terminal's request to perform the video call. According to the technical solution provided by the present invention, the function of automatically selecting whether to answer the video call according to the other party's identity is enabled. |
| US08791977B2 |
Method and system for presenting metadata during a videoconference
A method for presenting metadata during a video conference includes receiving a first video conferencing stream from a first site. Metadata associated with the first video conferencing stream is identified. A second video conferencing stream incorporating the identified metadata is created using a processor. The second video conferencing stream is presented at a second site. |
| US08791969B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a first display panel facing a second display panel with a liquid crystal layer between them. The first display panel has a first gate line, a second gate line spaced apart from the first gate line, a first and second storage lines both spaced apart from the first gate line, first and second switching elements controlled by a first gate signal applied through the first gate line, a first sub-pixel electrode connected to the first switching element, a second sub-pixel electrode connected to the second switching element, a third switching element controlled by a second gate signal applied through the second gate line, and a coupling electrode connected to the third switching element and having a portion overlapping the second storage line. Different voltages are applied to the first storage line and the second storage line. |
| US08791949B1 |
Investment management marketing tool
Various embodiments are directed to methods for marketing investment services. The methods may comprise receiving at least one signal from a position detector indicating a position of a viewer relative to a display screen in a first axis and a perpendicular distance of the viewer from the display screen. The display screen may be aligned along the first axis and a second axis. The methods may also comprise displaying with the display screen a user interface. The user interface may comprise an age scale aligned with the first axis, an asset scale aligned with a second axis and a chart of assets versus age. Upon determining that the perpendicular distance of the viewer from the display screen is less than a predetermined value, the methods may comprise modifying the interface to display an element at a first position on the age scale corresponding to a position of the viewer relative to the display screen in the first axis. The element may comprise information describing at least one of an investment-related event occurring at the first position on the age scale and an investment-related service related to the first position on the age scale. |
| US08791948B2 |
Methods and systems to generate graphical representations of relationships between persons based on transactions
In one example embodiment, a system and method is shown as including identifying a context set data defining a context within which a person resides. Next, an operation is executed so as to retrieve the context set data that includes person data and relationship between persons data, the relationship between persons data including certain characteristics that define the person in the context set. An operation may be executed so as to perform a set operation on the person in the context set so as to generate a graph set. Further, an operation may be executed to render a graphical representation of the context set. |
| US08791940B2 |
Apparatus and method for compensating for black level
An apparatus and method for compensating for a black level in order to solve a screen flickering phenomenon and a problem of convergence speed of a black level value. The apparatus for compensating for a black level includes: a black pixel average value extraction unit averaging black pixel values of a current frame to determine a black pixel average value; a luminance value extraction unit extracting a luminance value from an analog gain and concentration time information of an image sensor; a black level extraction unit calculating a frame weight by using the luminance value and acquiring a black level value of a current frame by using the frame weight, the black pixel average value, and a black level value of a previous frame; and a black level compensation unit compensating for valid pixel values of the current frame by using the black level value of the current frame. |
| US08791939B2 |
Display device, electronic device, and driving method
A display device is described. The device includes an active-matrix luminescence panel that has data lines and pixels for determining luminescence of the pixels. Each pixel includes a driving transistor that converts a signal voltage from a data line into a signal current, and a first switch between the data line and the gate of the driving transistor. The device includes a test current generator to supply a test current to one of the data lines, a voltage detector to detect the voltage of one of the data lines, and a controller to control switches, the test current generator and the voltage detector. |
| US08791934B2 |
Driving of electro-optic displays
The invention relates to a method of driving of an electro-optic display having image regions. Each image region has: a first driving state in which a zero voltage, substantially equal to zero, is applied across the image region; and a second driving state in which a non-zero voltage, substantially different from the zero voltage, is applied across the image region. The method of the invention comprises applying: a common voltage signal to a plurality of the image regions; and an actuating voltage signal to one or more selected ones of the plurality of image regions. The method comprises varying both the common voltage signal and the actuating voltage signal when switching the selected regions between the first driving state and the second driving state. The invention further relates to electro-optic display apparatus having image regions and comprising driving circuitry adapted to perform the method of the invention. |
| US08791932B2 |
Display device and display control method
A display device includes: an LED control section (4) for carrying out control in which (i) an output luminance of an LED (10) whose measured luminance is deviated from a reference luminance or (ii) output luminances of peripheral LEDs (10) which are provided around the LED (10) is or are corrected, respectively, by using control information of the plurality of LEDs, which control information contains (a) information on measured luminances of the plurality of LEDs, the information being obtained by the plurality of photosensors (11) and (b) positional information of the plurality of LEDs, the positional information being obtained by the plurality of photosensors (11), and a liquid crystal display control section (3) for controlling, based on (i) video signals which have been subjected to the video signal process and are supplied from a video signal processing section (2) and (ii) the control information supplied from the LED control section (4), (a) levels of video signals to be supplied to pixels corresponding to the LED (10), whose output luminance is corrected or (b) levels of video signals to be supplied to pixels corresponding to the peripheral LEDs, whose output luminances are corrected, the reference luminance being a luminance which is originally expected to be outputted from each of the plurality of LEDs. |
| US08791929B2 |
Driving method of semiconductor device
The semiconductor device includes a transistor and a capacitor element which is electrically connected to a gate of the transistor. Charge held in the capacitor element according to total voltage of voltage corresponding to the threshold voltage of the transistor and image signal voltage is once discharged through the transistor, so that variation in current flowing in the transistor or mobility of the transistor can be reduced. |
| US08791922B2 |
Resistive touch panel
A resistive touch panel is provided. The resistive touch panel includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer, and a plurality of electrodes is disposed on the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. A detection area of the resistive touch panel is separated into at least two sub-detection areas through configuration of the electrodes. Thus, the resistive touch panel can calculate coordinates of a contact point corresponding to each sub-detection area at the same time, so as to achieve functions of detecting multiple touch points at the same time and detecting touch point sliding. |
| US08791911B2 |
Multichannel controller
Multichannel device controllers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a multichannel device controller includes a plurality of user selectable control modes for controlling a multichannel device and a plurality of user configurable settings for adjusting parameters associated with the plurality of user selectable control modes. A touchscreen displays a user interface corresponding to a selected one of plurality of user selectable control modes and receives user input indicative of a command to send to the multichannel device. A processor generates the command to send to the multichannel device based at least in part on the user input and the plurality of user configurable settings. |
| US08791899B1 |
Method and apparatus of position tracking and detection of user input information
A method and apparatus of detecting user initiated movement by an input element handled by a user is disclosed. The method may include performing a calibration procedure that is initiated by the user via a physical movement performed by the user. The method may also include positioning at least one sensor to dynamically adjust a size of an effective workspace range capable of detecting the user's movement of the input element. |
| US08791887B2 |
Method of compensating for capacitance of a programming line of an OLED display
This invention relates to active matrix OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays, in particular to display panels with integrated negative capacitance circuits and to active capacitance compensation. We describe an active matrix OLED display comprising a glass panel bearing a plurality of lines of OLED pixels, each with an associated active matrix driver circuit having a programming connection for programming a brightness of the associated OLED, programming connections of a line of pixels being connected to a programming line of said display, and wherein said active matrix OLED display further comprises a plurality of capacitors on said glass panel, each having a first plate connected to an end of a respective said programming line and having a second plate for connecting to a negative capacitor circuit to compensate for a capacitance of said programming line. |
| US08791886B2 |
DC-DC converter and organic light emitting display device including the same
An organic light emitting display device includes a DC-DC converter that is capable of reducing power consumption by increasing efficiency. The DC-DC converter includes: a variable resistor; an oscillator configured to output a frequency control signal having a frequency corresponding to a resistance value of the variable resistor; a booster configured to receive the control signal and to output a first power by switching an input voltage in accordance with the control signal; and an inverter configured to receive the control signal and to generate a second power by switching and inverting the input voltage in accordance with the control signal. |
| US08791881B2 |
Display device and manufacturing method therefor
A display device includes: a substrate; a pair of partition walls above the substrate; a light-emitting portion above the substrate that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a light-emitting layer located between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode and the light-emitting layer located between the pair of partition walls; and a pixel circuit for applying a voltage to the first electrode. Each of the pair of partition walls includes a conductive portion and an insulating portion that covers side surfaces of the conductive portion for insulating the first electrode and the light-emitting layer from the conductive portion. The second electrode covers an upper surface of the conductive portion of each of the pair of partition walls and is electrically connected to the pixel circuit via the conductive portion. |
| US08791879B2 |
Apparatus and method for driving display optical device
In order to prevent a burn-in phenomenon from occurring in a liquid crystal, the present invention provides a display apparatus including a liquid-crystal display device employing the liquid crystal and a driving circuit. In an operation to drive the liquid-crystal display device, the driving circuit inverts the polarity of a signal voltage applied between pixel electrodes and a facing electrode, which are employed in the liquid-crystal display device, every frame period of a moving-image signal. In the operation to drive the liquid-crystal display device, the driving circuit also changes the phase of a control signal for inverting the polarity. |
| US08791874B2 |
Near field coupling devices and associated systems and methods
A near-field coupling device that may facilitate communications with a transponder is provided. The near-field coupling device may include a ground plane, a dielectric substrate, one or more conductive strips and a terminating load. The conductive strips together with the ground planes form coupling elements. The near-field coupling device further includes one or more switching elements for selectively connecting and disconnecting the coupling elements with a transceiver. The connected coupling elements define a total characteristic impedance. Using the switching element, the ratio between the total characteristic impedance of the connected coupling elements and the terminating load may be changed in order to adjust the distribution of an electromagnetic field along the coupling elements according to the type and position of the transponder to be processed. |
| US08791871B2 |
Open slot trap for a dipole antenna
A dipole antenna includes a circuit board with a first side and a second side, at least one dipole disposed on the circuit board comprising an upper half and a lower half, a microstrip transmission line disposed on the circuit board coupled to at least one of the upper half and lower half of the at least one dipole, and a choke element disposed on the circuit board. The choke element and the lower half of the at least one dipole form an open slot trap with a high impedance point. |
| US08791870B2 |
Portable electronic device
Provided is a portable electronic device which can be changed between a first state and a second state and comprises an antenna that forms a loop in the first state and does not form the loop in the second state. A mobile telephone comprises: an operation unit-side casing; a display unit-side casing; a linking part which links the operation unit-side casing and the display unit-side casing in such a way that it is possible to change between the first state and the second state; and a loop antenna which is disposed at the operation unit-side casing and the display unit-side casing and is changed to form a loop in the first state and not to form the loop in the second state. |
| US08791863B2 |
Built-in printed circuit board antenna of mobile terminal
A built-in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) antenna of a mobile terminal is erected to guarantee a sufficient distance from a human body. The built-in PCB antenna includes a main PCB having a power feeding line and a first antenna pattern having a power feeding antenna line having an end electrically connected to the power feeding line, through-holes formed at an end of the main PCB and having a conduction hole electrically connected to the first antenna pattern, an erected PCB fixed on the main PCB orthogonally and having a second antenna pattern formed thereon, and protrusions formed at a lateral side of the erected PCB and having a conduction protrusion, inserted into the conduction hole, electrically connected to an end of the second antenna pattern. The built-in PCB antenna may reduce deterioration of radiation performance caused by a body of a user. |
| US08791861B2 |
Determination of state vector, timing, and navigation quality metrics from reception of ADS-B transmissions
A technique for determining the position of a mobile device includes receiving messages from respective mobile reference devices. Each of the messages is broadcast beginning at one of several predetermined message start opportunity (MSO) times that have known timings relative to a reference time. Each of the messages contains a MSO value identifying the MSO time at which transmission of the message started. The MSO value is used to determine the time of transmission of each of the messages received at the mobile device, and the position of the mobile device is determined via multi-lateration. According to another approach, the mobile device receives a set of ADS-B messages from a respective set of mobile reference devices. The time of transmission of each of the ADS-B messages is supplied in the ADS-B message itself or in a subsequent message and used to determine the position of the mobile device. |
| US08791857B2 |
System and method for indoor location tracking using pseudo GPS signal transmitter
To track the location of a terminal in an indoor space by using a pseudo GPS signal transmitter, a GPS signal sent from an artificial satellite is received, and a clock signal of the artificial satellite is extracted from the received GPS signal to perform synchronization with the artificial satellite. Once synchronization with the artificial satellite is performed, a pseudo GPS signal is generated, and the transmission time of the pseudo GPS signal is controlled. The GPS signal is sent to the terminal located in the indoor space by a plurality of transmitting antennas based on the controlled transmission time, thereby enabling the terminal located in the indoor space to track its location. |
| US08791849B1 |
Digital clock update methodology for multi-Nyquist constructive interference to boost signal power in radio frequency transmission
A system for converting a digital signal to an analog signal, the digital signal having a center frequency, includes: a multi-Nyquist DAC; a clock; and a controller configured to: control the clock to generate a clock signal such that the center frequency of the digital signal is an integer multiple of half the frequency of the clock signal, the clock being configured to supply the clock signal to the multi-Nyquist DAC and to the controller; and supply the digital signal to the multi-Nyquist DAC to generate an output signal. |
| US08791848B2 |
Sigma-delta modulators with excess loop delay compensation
A sigma-delta modulator is provided for generating a digital output signal. The sigma-delta modulator includes a multi-stage loop filter, a quantizer, and a digital-to-analog converter. The multi-stage loop filter receives an analog input signal and generates an integrated output signal according to the analog input signal. Each stage of the multi-stage loop filter includes a feedback network. The quantizer receives the integrated output signal and quantizes the integrated output signal to generate the digital output signal. The digital-to-analog converter receives the digital output signal and converts the digital output signal to a compensation signal. The digital-to-analog converter provides the compensation signal to a plurality of internal nodes in the feedback network of the last stage of the multi-stage loop filter. |
| US08791843B2 |
Optimized bitstream encoding for compression
An apparatus includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate (i) a compressed representation of an input sequence of characters and (ii) statistics regarding one or more types of information in the compressed representation of the input sequence of characters. The second circuit may be configured to generate a compressed bitstream representation of the input sequence of characters in response to the compressed representation of the input sequence of characters and one or more of the statistics regarding the one or more types of information in the compressed representation of the input sequence of characters. The bitstream values encoding the one or more types of information are generally determined based upon a frequency of occurrence of the one or more types of information in the compressed representation of the input sequence of characters. |
| US08791835B2 |
Methods for road safety enhancement using mobile communication device
Methods for road safety enhancement use mobile communication device (MCD) onboard vehicle to share traveling data through inter-vehicle communication broadcasting, perform road hazard warning, enhance road navigation, and provide autonomous road assistance. The methods have a variety of vehicle status data, such as moving data, steering data, or indicator data, obtained through GPS or image capturing and recognition of instrument cluster of vehicle. The image capturing and recognition allows to get speed data from indication of speedometer, indication of left or right turn signal, steering action data corresponding to steering wheel rotation, and light-on indication of system status indicators. To facilitate that, the MCD may be placed in front of steering wheel, and, if applicable, also in coupling with movement of steering wheel. The MCD may perform relative positioning map-matching lane correlation and GPS-update-interval speed positioning to improve data quality regarding vehicle moving status. |
| US08791833B2 |
Housings for automatic meter reading devices
Preferred embodiments of housings for an automatic meter reading device permit the automatic meter reading device to be mounted on a meter such as a water meter, or on a wall remote from the meter. A removable portion of the housing can be separated from a body of the housing when the housing is used to mount the automatic meter reading device on the meter. |
| US08791830B2 |
Device for current measuring in power supply networks
The present invention relates to a device for current measuring in power supply networks comprising transformers for measuring current, a signal processing apparatus arranged on a printed circuit board and screw fastenings for mounting the device. The cable ducts of the transformers are orientated parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board, which has openings flush to the cable ducts, and the screw fastenings are fastening tabs with mounting holes, spaced so standards-compliant mounting is possible. In an alternate embodiment, the cable ducts are orientated perpendicularly to the plane of the printed circuit board, the screw fastenings are constructed as an angle rail with cable outlets and standards-compliant mounting holes, and the printed circuit board is internally fastened on one side of the angle rail. In another alternate embodiment the transformers are installed with the printed circuit board in a common housing with fastening tabs and standards-compliant mounting holes. |
| US08791828B2 |
Carbon monoxide detector, system and method for signaling a carbon monoxide sensor end-of-life condition
A CO detector includes a sensor configured to detect a presence of CO and generate a signal indicative of the presence of CO, and a controller in signal communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to measure a level of detected CO in response to receiving the signal generated by the sensor. The controller is further configured to detect a first trouble condition representative of an end-of-life condition of the sensor, and a second trouble condition different from the first trouble condition. |
| US08791824B2 |
Method for reading RFID tags using directional antennas
A method and system for reading RFID tags in a high-density environment using a directional scanning antenna system is provided. The directional scanning antenna system consists of transmit and receive antennas having highly directional antenna patterns which work together to read and locate the tags. In operation both types of antennas are stepped in a circular fashion with respect to each other wherein the transmit antenna's antenna pattern pauses during rotation while the receive antenna pattern sweeps across the radiating antenna's path produced by the transmit antenna such that the antenna patterns produced from each isolate and determine the location of the tags. |
| US08791816B2 |
Situational awareness for an electrical distribution system
A method and apparatus for managing events in an electrical distribution system. A number of events in the electrical distribution system are identified for an operator based on a profile for the operator. A wireless mobile device is assigned to the operator and the profile includes a role of the operator. The number of events is sent to the wireless mobile device assigned to the operator. |
| US08791810B2 |
Optimal electric vehicle battery recommendation system
An optimal vehicle battery recommendation system includes at least one sensor to detect a manipulation of the vehicle. A driver behavior module determines a driving behavior of a driver of the vehicle. A vehicle consumption module determines battery information of an on-board battery currently connected to the vehicle, and determines energy consumption of the vehicle. A battery capacity advisor module is in electrical communication with the driver behavior module and the vehicle consumption module. The battery capacity module determines a replacement battery option that changes at least one battery characteristic of the on-board battery based on the driver behavior model and the vehicle consumption model. |
| US08791809B2 |
Optimal electric vehicle battery recommendation system
An optimal vehicle battery recommendation system includes at least one sensor to detect a manipulation of the vehicle. A driver behavior module determines a driving behavior of a driver of the vehicle. A vehicle consumption module determines battery information of an on-board battery currently connected to the vehicle, and determines energy consumption of the vehicle. A battery capacity advisor module is in electrical communication with the driver behavior module and the vehicle consumption module. The battery capacity module determines a replacement battery option that changes at least one battery characteristic of the on-board battery based on the driver behavior model and the vehicle consumption model. |
| US08791806B2 |
Real-time detection of hazardous driving
A system is disclosed which provides real-time detection of hazardous driving behavior. The system collects information about the motion of a vehicle along a path, for example, using a global positioning satellite system receiver. Roadside signs along the path are detected and their content determined. That information is compared with information about the motion of the vehicle to provide information with regard to potentially hazardous driving behavior. |
| US08791793B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying process molded parts
A system and method are provided for reading and identifying molded products based on detecting intentionally introduced defects in the molded products that were included to identify and authenticate the molded products, or to confirm compatibility of the molded products in devices in which the molded products are installed for use. Process conditions in the fabrication or formation of melt processed parts are modified to deliberately introduce surface, detectable defects into the melt processed parts. A Quality Review (QR) code that specifies a compilation of at least some of the actual defects that are present in the molded part is provided, potentially encrypted, for comparison purposes. |
| US08791792B2 |
Electronic imager using an impedance sensor grid array mounted on or about a switch and method of making
An novel impedance sensor for use together with a switch is provided having a plurality of substantially parallel drive lines configured to transmit a signal into a surface of a proximally located object, and also a plurality of substantially parallel pickup lines oriented substantially perpendicular to the drive lines and separated from the pickup lines by a dielectric to form intrinsic electrode pairs that are impedance sensitive at each of the drive and pickup crossover locations. |
| US08791788B2 |
Electronic book security features
A method and system for fingerprinting a content item is described, the content item including a set of content item elements E, providing information uniquely associated with a single user including a string of bits S0, parsing S0 into a plurality of substrings which are functions of S0, providing a matrix of content item replacement elements, each row of which includes, for each member of E, an array of content item replacement elements for Ei, uniquely associating each substring of S0 so that for every substring there exists a corresponding element of E, for every substring, replacing at least one instance of the corresponding element E in the content item with one substitute matrix element for the corresponding substring, and outputting a replacement content item including the result of the replacing, the substitute matrix elements being chosen according to at least one similarity criterion. |
| US08791784B2 |
Vertically oriented semiconductor device and shielding structure thereof
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a substrate that spans in an X-direction and a Y-direction that is orthogonal to the X-direction. The semiconductor device includes an interconnect structure formed over the substrate in a Z-direction that is orthogonal to both the X-direction and the Y-direction. The interconnect structure includes a plurality of metal lines interconnected together in the Z-direction by a plurality of vias. The interconnect structure contains a transformer device that includes a primary coil and a secondary coil. The primary coil and the secondary coil are each wound at least partially in the Z-direction. |
| US08791782B2 |
AC power conditioning circuit
A multi-coil choke for an AC power conditioner includes a magnetic core having first, second and third parallel legs. A first coil wrapped around the first leg terminates in first and second leads at respective ends. A second coil wrapped around the second leg terminates in first and second leads at respective ends. A third coil wrapped around the third leg terminates in first and second leads at respective ends. A fourth coil is formed from a proximal portion of the second lead of said first coil. The fourth coil is wrapped around a distal portion of the second lead of the third coil. A fifth coil is formed from a proximal portion of the second lead of the third coil. The fifth coil is wrapped around a distal portion of the second lead of the first coil. AC power conditioners using one or more such chokes are also disclosed. |
| US08791781B2 |
Spherical magnet
A spherical magnet is formed as a hollow sphere having a fluid tight outer surface of a first magnetic pole and an inner surface having a second magnetic pole that is magnetically opposite the first pole. A plurality of individual thin flexible rectangular plate magnets are arranged as a continuous outer layer of the spherical magnet. Each individual plate magnet has four sides, an inner magnetic portion and an outer non-magnetic portion that extends around all four sides of the magnetic portion. Each inner magnetic portion includes a first face disposed on the outer surface and having the first pole and a second face opposite the first face, disposed on the inner surface and having the second pole. |
| US08791761B2 |
Electronic system, RF power amplifier and output power compensation method thereof
A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier is disclosed. The power amplifier includes an output stage circuit, an exponential type bias circuit and a voltage-current transformation circuit. The output stage circuit receives a first system voltage and outputs an output current. The exponential type bias circuit receives a bias current, wherein a relationship between the bias current and output current is exponential, and when the bias current is zero current, and the output current is zero current. The voltage-current transformation circuit transforms the first system voltage into a second current so that the bias current is in proportion to the first system voltage, and thus the relationship between the output current and the first system voltage is exponential. The bias current is equal to times of the sum of the first current and the second current. |
| US08791759B2 |
Bipolar stacked transistor architecture
An amplifier for an integrated circuit has a plurality of ratioed current mirrors connected to each other in a stacked configuration. Each ratio mirror has at least two resistors and at least two bipolar transistors connected to each other via said at least two resistors. Each amplifying transistor, contains a capacitor, and potentially and inductor, to internally match the transistors that make up the amplifying stack. DC, harmonic and s-parameter simulations are performed to provide an optimal impedance for each of the stacked transistors to maximize the RF power output of each stacked layer and the amplifier. |
| US08791740B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing average current consumption in a local oscillator path
A method for reducing average current consumption in a local oscillator (LO) path is disclosed. An LO signal is received at a master frequency divider and a slave frequency divider. Output from the master frequency divider is mixed with an input signal to produce a first mixed output. Output from the slave frequency divider is mixed with the input signal to produce a second mixed output. The second mixed output is forced to be in phase with the first mixed output. |
| US08791736B2 |
Adjustable pole and zero location for a second order low pass filter used in a phase lock loop circuit
This invention provides a loop filter device and a method for IC designers to adjust the pole or zero location of a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit. The pole and zero location are controlled by an amplifier and some on-chip resistor and capacitor components. The effective capacitance is magnified by the gain of the amplifier. The advantage of the loop filter device and the method according to embodiments of the present invention provides a feasible way to achieve a very low bandwidth in the PLL circuit without a huge external surface-mount capacitor. |
| US08791728B2 |
High frequency CMOS programmable divider with large divide ratio
A dynamic latch has a pair of parallel pass gates (a first parallel pass gate that receives a seed signal, and a second parallel pass gate that receives a data signal). A first latch logic circuit performs logic operations using signals output by the parallel pass gates to produce an updated data signal. An additional pass gate is operatively connected to the first latch logic circuit. An additional pass gate controls passage of the updated data signal. An inverter receives the updated data signal from the pass gate, and inverts and outputs the updated data signal as an output data signal. Thus, the dynamic latch comprises two inputs into the pair of parallel pass gates and performs only one of four logical operations on a received data signal. The four logical operations are performed using the signals applied to the two inputs. |
| US08791711B2 |
Testing of electronic devices through capacitive interface
An embodiment of a test apparatus for executing a test of a set of electronic devices having a plurality of electrically conductive terminals, the test apparatus including a plurality of electrically conductive test probes for exchanging electrical signals with the terminals, and coupling means for mechanically coupling the test probes with the electronic devices. In an embodiment, the coupling means includes insulating means for keeping each one of at least part of the test probes electrically insulated from at least one corresponding terminal during the execution of the test. Each test probe and the corresponding terminal form a capacitor for electro-magnetically coupling the test probe with the terminal. |
| US08791705B2 |
Measurement arrangement having a calibration substrate and electronic circuit
A calibration substrate having at least one calibration standard with at least two electrical connection points, each for one measurement gate of a vector network analyzer. At least one electrical connection point is formed of at least one calibration standard having a switch, wherein the switch has a first electrical contact electrically connected to an electrical connection point of the calibration standard, a second electrical contact designed for electrically connecting to a measurement gate of the vector network analyzer, and a third electrical contact, wherein the switch is designed such that an electrical contact is established either between the first and third electrical contact or between the first and second electrical contact. |
| US08791703B2 |
Electrostatic probes for mapping conductive web bagginess
A method for testing a conductive web includes moving a conductive web past at least one electrostatic probe, providing an alternating current or voltage which generates an alternating current to the at least one electrostatic probe, measuring a current or voltage in the at least one electrostatic probe induced by a capacitance between the conductive web and the at least one electrostatic probe, comparing the measured current or voltage to a reference value, and determining a level of bagginess of the conductive web based on the step of comparing. |
| US08791697B2 |
Method and magnetic resonance system for MR spectroscopy
A method for MR spectroscopy includes the steps of (a) switching at least one phase coding gradient for spatial coding of a spectral information to be detected, and (b) detection of the spectral information, and repeating (a) and (b) until a predetermined raw data space has been scanned. Specific spectral information is detected in (b) when the at least one phase coding gradient respectively has a value of 0. This specific spectral information is evaluated in order to determine a property of the spectral information already detected in (b), or still to be detected in (b). |
| US08791693B2 |
Method and apparatus for defined magnetizing of permanently magnetizable elements and magnetoresistive sensor structures
An apparatus includes a sensor arrangement with a sensor chip. A magnetic field generator is configured to generate a secondary magnetic field opposing an external primary magnetic field at the sensor chip. The magnetic field generator protects the sensor arrangement against the external primary magnetic field. |
| US08791689B2 |
Oscilloscope probe
Disclosed is a probe for an oscilloscope comprising a multi-stage transistor amplifier that acts as an impedance transformer. Said amplifier is a d.c.-coupled emitter follower circuit that is composed of bipolar transistors or a d.c.-coupled source follower circuit which is composed of field effect transistors and the successive amplifier elements of which are dimensioned and tuned to each other in such a way that the resulting offset direct voltage between the input and the output is minimal. |
| US08791686B2 |
Constant output reference voltage circuit
The voltage reference circuit includes: a first MOS transistor; a second MOS transistor including a gate terminal connected to a gate terminal of the first MOS transistor and having an absolute value of a threshold value and a K value higher than an absolute value of a threshold value and a K value of the first MOS transistor; a current mirror circuit flowing a current based on a difference between the absolute values of the threshold values of the first MOS transistor and the second MOS transistor; a third MOS transistor flowing the current; and a fourth MOS transistor having an absolute value of a threshold value and a K value higher than an absolute value of a threshold value of the third MOS transistor and flowing the current. |
| US08791666B2 |
Charging cable, vehicle, and vehicle charging system
A charging cable for use in charging a vehicle includes a power line, an input section, an oscillator, and a pulse-width adjusting device. The power line is used to carry power from an external power supply to the vehicle. The external power supply and the vehicle are connected to each other with the power line disposed therebetween. A set charging current value in charging the vehicle is input to the input section. The oscillator is configured to generate an oscillation signal having a pulse width within a range of a rated current of the external power supply. The rated current is capable of being supplied to the vehicle. The pulse-width adjusting device is configured to adjust the pulse width of the oscillation signal generated by the oscillator to correspond to the set charging current value input from the input section. |
| US08791657B2 |
Disk drive
To provide a disk drive capable of inhibiting the occurrence of acoustic noise caused by a voltage pulse when the head is retracted using a speed control method using voltage obtained by rectifying a back electromotive force after the power source has been cut off from the rotation of a spindle motor. Retraction control circuit is used to control the on and off modes of transistors in accordance with the speed of VCM. The voltage across VCM becomes a voltage that can be regulated with VCM voltage control circuit. At this time, voltage is supplied to the terminals based on the voltage of ISO5V that is the rectified voltage of the back electromotive force of the spindle motor and the pulsating voltage is synchronized and produced at both terminals. As a result, the potential difference across VCM is such that the pulsating voltage is negated and acoustic noise is inhibited. |
| US08791648B2 |
LED driver circuits with current envelope control
A light emitting diode (LED) driver circuit controls switching of an output transistor. The LED driver circuit monitors inductor current flowing through an output inductor that is coupled to one or more LEDs. In response to detecting that the inductor current has reached a peak value, the LED driver circuit switches OFF the output transistor. The LED driver circuit switches ON the output transistor in response to detecting zero crossing of the inductor current. The LED driver circuit may detect zero crossing of the inductor current from a gate voltage of the output transistor by detecting for a negative spike. |
| US08791642B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting devices having selectable and/or adjustable color points and related methods
Light emitting devices include a first string of LEDs that emit light having a color point that is within at least eight MacAdam ellipses of a first blue-shifted-yellow region on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, a second string of LEDs that emit light having color point that is within at least eight MacAdam ellipses of a second blue-shifted-green region on the 1931 CIE Chromaticity Diagram, and a third light source that emits radiation having a dominant wavelength between 600 and 720 nm. A drive circuit supplies respective drive currents to the first string of LEDs, the second string of LEDs and the third light source, at least two of which are independently controllable. |
| US08791636B2 |
Flashtube and strobe apparatus
A flashtube of the present invention includes a glass tube, an anode-side electrode disposed at one end of the glass tube, and a cathode-side electrode disposed at the other end of the glass tube. The glass tube includes a first glass tube, and second glass tubes coupled to respective ends of the first glass tube via stage joint glass tubes. Each of the stage joint glass tube has a thermal expansion coefficient between the thermal expansion coefficient of the first glass tube and that of each of the second glass tube. A ratio of the outer diameter of the anode-side electrode to the inner diameter of the glass tube is 43.5% or higher. |
| US08791630B2 |
Light emitting element, light emitting device, vehicular headlamp, illumination device, and method for producing the light emitting element
A light emitting section emits fluorescence upon receiving exciting light emitted from a laser element. The light emitting section includes a plurality of fluorescent material particles made from a single type of fluorescent material or several types of fluorescent materials, the plurality of fluorescent material particles being accumulated on a metal substrate to form a layer of the plurality of fluorescent material particles. Each of the plurality of fluorescent material particles has a surface coated with a coating layer. The coating layer forms an uneven shape of a surface of the light emitting section. |
| US08791627B2 |
Spark plug configured to reduce the occurance of flashover
A spark plug includes an insulator, and a metal shell disposed at an outer periphery of the insulator and including a shoulder. The insulator includes a trunk portion, and a leg formed at the tip end side of the trunk portion. The shoulder of the metal shell includes a first shoulder, and a second shoulder formed at the tip end side of the first shoulder. A distance Da between the tip end of the second shoulder and the leg and a distance Db between the tip end of the trunk portion and the second shoulder satisfy a relationship of Da/Db≧1.1. A distance T between the rear end of the first shoulder and the tip end of the second shoulder and a distance L between the rear end of the first shoulder and a tip end face of the metal shell satisfy a relationship of T/L≦0.5. |
| US08791625B2 |
Ceramic material, method for producing said ceramic material and component comprising said ceramic material
The invention relates to a ceramic material of the formula [(Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3)(1-y)(BaTiO3)y](1-x) (K0.5Na0.5NbO3)x, and also to a method for producing the same and to a component comprising said material. |
| US08791618B2 |
Squirrel-cage rotor for induction motor
A squirrel-cage rotor includes a rotor core formed having a plurality of slots, a plurality of conductor bars inserted into the slots respectively and made of copper or copper alloy, two conductor end rings joined to the plurality of conductor bars on both end faces of the rotor core and made of copper or copper alloy and a reinforcing-member end ring attached to at least one of the conductor end rings and made of material having a specific strength greater than that of either copper or copper alloy. The plurality of conductor bars are arranged so as to extend through the conductor end rings and the reinforcing-member end ring. Consequently, the rotor can be manufactured by any manufacturing method but die-casting. Further, the conductor end rings can be reinforced with an easily-obtainable material and additionally, the junction of conductor end rings can be easily viewed from an outside. |
| US08791617B2 |
Arrangement to ensure an air gap in an electric machine
An arrangement to ensure an air gap in an electrical machine is provided. The electrical machine has a stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement, wherein an air gap is defined by a distance between parts of the rotor arrangement and parts of the stator arrangement. A cross section of the air gap changes along the certain length. The stator arrangement includes a stator support structure and a lamination stack, wherein the stator support structure has support elements for a two-sided support of the lamination stack, the support elements being ring-shaped and connected via a single main bearing to the rotor arrangement. Elements of the ring-shaped support element show different diameters in reference to the longitudinal axis. A first diameter of a first element of the ring-shaped support element is greater than a second diameter of a second element of the ring-shaped support-element. |
| US08791615B2 |
Electric generating device having a gearbox having flywheels
An electric generating device includes a motor having a spindle and a bevel gear, an electric generating mechanism having a pivot axle and another bevel gear, and a speed increasing device includes a flywheel and a bevel gear attached to a secondary shaft and engaged with the bevel gear of the motor spindle, another flywheel and two further bevel gears attached to a primary shaft and engaged with the bevel gears of the secondary shaft and the electric generating mechanism for increasing a momentum of the shafts and for increasing the driving speed of the electric generating mechanism and for decreasing the noise of the electric generating mechanism. |
| US08791611B2 |
Device for the contact and attachment of an electric component in a motor vehicle
A device is provided for contact and attachment of an electrical component, such as in a motor vehicle. The contact and attachment are in a substantially flat region of a support element. The device comprises a plurality of clips. One side of the clips being configured to be at least partially inserted into at least one recess in the support element. |
| US08791608B2 |
Primary for linear drive motor with solid steel stacks
A primary for a linear drive motor has a stage with stacks made from solid steel. Each stack has inner and outer teeth made that form a generally u-shaped cross-section for the stack. A magnet is disposed between the first and second stacks and a a coil wrapped between the first and second stacks. The stacks may be placed in a housing or may be formed as a housingless stage. The stacks and/or housing may be modified to selectively skew motor alignment to reduce motor cogging. The stacks may be contoured to follow various secondary forms. The stack inner and outer teeth lengths may be adjusted to help balance or optimize the magnetic circuit, to increase tooth surface area for increasing force, to allow more motor windings in the coil of the stack assembly, and to help locate the magnet and coil near the tooth surface. |
| US08791599B2 |
Wireless energy transfer to a moving device between high-Q resonators
Described herein are embodiments of a first resonator with a quality factor, Q1, greater than 100, coupled to an energy source, generating an oscillating near field region, and a second resonator, with a quality factor, Q2, greater than 100, optionally coupled to an energy drain, and moving freely within the near field region of the first resonator. The first resonator and the second resonator may be coupled to transfer electromagnetic energy from said first resonator to said second resonator as the second resonator moves freely within the near field region. |
| US08791591B1 |
Zero-current switching multi-output power converter with improved cross-regulation
A zero-current switching multiple-output-regulator (“ZCS MOR”) converts power from an input source via a transformer to a main output and one or more auxiliary outputs. Each output is coupled to a respective winding of a transformer preferably by switches controlled as synchronous rectifiers. The synchronous rectifier for each auxiliary output preferably turns on at the start of current flow in its respective winding and off as its respective current returns to zero, independently of the other outputs. The synchronous rectifier for the main output may be held ON until the synchronous rectifiers for each of the auxiliary outputs stop conducting. In the event energy stored in the transformer is insufficient to supply one or more heavily loaded auxiliary outputs, the current in the winding for the main output is allowed to reverse thereby transferring energy from the main output capacitance to the heavily loaded auxiliary outputs. A feed back loop is preferably closed around the main output for regulation. The ZCS MOR may use Fly-back, Buck, and Buck-Boost topologies. |
| US08791589B2 |
System and method for transporting energy
A method for shifting energy in space and time includes charging an energy store from an energy source at a first location, transporting the energy store to a second location, and discharging the energy store at the second location to deliver energy to an energy consumer. A method for providing energy security to an energy consumer includes charging an energy store from an energy source at a first location, transporting the energy store to a second location, and when a primary energy source at the second location is unavailable, discharging the energy store at the second location to deliver energy to the energy consumer. A vehicle for wirelessly transmitting electric power from a first location to a second location includes a battery, at least one power converter, a controller, and power coupling electrically coupled to the at least one power converter. |
| US08791585B2 |
Power systems
A power system comprises a tension harnessing arrangement to harness tension in a tether connected between a tensioning arrangement and storage means. The tension harnessing arrangement of the system comprises at least one first capstan roller arranged in a predetermined configuration. The tether tensioningly abuts at least a portion of the periphery of the first capstan rollers such that there is substantial contact between the tether and the first capstan rollers, thereby engaging the first capstan rollers to generate rotational energy. Alternatively, second capstan rollers engage with the first capstan rollers. At least one converter functionally co-operates with the first capstan rollers, either directly or via the second capstan rollers, for converting the rotational energy to energy in a transmissible form, storage form dissipative form, or a combination thereof. |
| US08791575B2 |
Microelectronic elements having metallic pads overlying vias
A microelectronic unit, an interconnection substrate, and a method of fabricating a microelectronic unit are disclosed. A microelectronic unit can include a semiconductor element having a plurality of active semiconductor devices therein, the semiconductor element having a first opening extending from a rear surface partially through the semiconductor element towards a front surface and at least one second opening, and a dielectric region overlying a surface of the semiconductor element in the first opening. The microelectronic unit can include at least one conductive interconnect electrically connected to a respective conductive via and extending away therefrom within the aperture. In a particular embodiment, at least one conductive interconnect can extend within the first opening and at least one second opening, the conductive interconnect being electrically connected with a conductive pad having a top surface exposed at the front surface of the semiconductor element. |
| US08791573B1 |
Skewed partial column input/output floorplan
Techniques and mechanisms for providing embedded Input/Output (IO) blocks in a floor plan of a semiconductor device are provided, where the embedded IO blocks constitute partial columns (i.e., they do not extend from the bottom through to the top of the semiconductor device). In some embodiments, the partial column IO banks are skewed away from one another. In some embodiments, the partial column IO banks are located away from the center of the semiconductor device. Techniques and mechanisms for implementing symmetrical package routing using skewed partial column IO banks are also provided. |
| US08791571B1 |
System and method for preventing etch arcing during semiconductor processing
A method for preventing arcing during processing of a back side of a semiconductor wafer is provided herein. The method comprising includes steps of depositing a dielectric layer over the back side and depositing an anti-arcing layer over the dielectric layer. The anti-arcing layer is a conductive layer, but it not suitable for conducting signals or power. The method further includes etching an opening through a plurality of material layers of the semiconductor wafer. The opening exposes a conductive layer located on a front side of the semiconductor wafer. Additionally, the method includes depositing a conductive layer in the opening to form a through-wafer interconnect. A semiconductor wafer fabricated according to the method is also disclosed. |
| US08791564B2 |
Method of Manufacturing a semiconductor module and device for the same
In the disclosed method for manufacturing a semiconductor module, a metal layer and a cooler, which have different coefficients of thermal expansion from each other, are joined into a single unit via an insulating resin sheet. A work, comprising a semiconductor element placed on the metal layer with solder interposed therebetween, is fed into a reflow furnace. The work, in that state, is heated in the reflow furnace, thereby mounting the semiconductor element to the metal layer. The heating is carried out such that the temperature of the cooler and the temperature of the metal layer differ by an amount that make the cooler and the metal layer undergo the same amount of thermal expansion as each other. |
| US08791560B2 |
Interdigitated conductive support for GaN semiconductor die
A GaN die having a plurality of parallel alternating and closely spaced source and drain strips is contacted by parallel coplanar comb-shaped fingers of source and drain pads. A plurality of enlarged area coplanar spaced gate pads having respective fingers contacting the gate contact of the die. The pads may be elements of a lead frame, or conductive areas on an insulation substrate. Other semiconductor die can be mounted on the pads and connected in predetermined circuit arrangements with the GaN die. |
| US08791558B2 |
Stacked semiconductor package
A stacked semiconductor chip includes a main substrate supporting a semiconductor chip module, wherein the semiconductor module comprises at least two sub semiconductor chip modules each having a sub substrate in which a first semiconductor chip is embedded and at least two second semiconductor chips are stacked on the sub substrate. |
| US08791548B2 |
Optoelectronic semiconductor chip, optoelectronic component and a method for producing an optoelectronic component
A semiconductor chip is specified that has a contact layer that is not optimum for many common applications. For example, the contact layer is too thin to tolerate an operating current intended for the semiconductor chip without considerable degradation. Also specified is an optoelectronic component in which the semiconductor chip can be integrated so that the suboptimal quality of the contact layer is compensated for. In the component the semiconductor chip is applied to a carrier body so that the contact layer is arranged on a side of the semiconductor body that is remote from the carrier body. The semiconductor chip and the carrier body are at least partly covered with an electrically isolating layer, and an electrical conductor applied to the isolating layer extends laterally away from the semiconductor body and contacts at least a partial surface of the contact layer. In addition, an advantageous process for producing the component is specified. |
| US08791546B2 |
Bipolar transistors having emitter-base junctions of varying depths and/or doping concentrations
A bipolar transistor comprises at least first and second connected emitter-base (EB) junctions having, respectively, different first and second EB junction depths, and a buried layer (BL) collector having a greater third depth. The emitters and bases corresponding to the different EB junctions are provided during a chain implant. An isolation region overlies the second EB junction location thereby providing its shallower EB junction depth. The BL collector does not underlie the first EB junction and is laterally spaced therefrom by a variable amount to facilitate adjusting the transistor's properties. In other embodiments, the BL collector can underlie at least a portion of the second EB junction. Regions of opposite conductivity type over-lie and under-lie the BL collector, which is relatively lightly doped, thereby preserving the breakdown voltage. The transistor can be readily “tuned” by mask adjustments alone to meet various device requirements. |
| US08791543B2 |
Composite reconstituted wafer structures
A reconstituted electronic device comprising at least one die and at least one passive component. A functional material is incorporated in the substrate of the device to modify the electrical behavior of the passive component. The passive component may be formed in redistribution layers of the device. Composite functional materials may be used in the substrate to forms part of or all of the passive component. A metal carrier may form part of the substrate and part of the at least one passive component. |
| US08791529B2 |
Semiconductor device including gate and conductor electrodes
An object is to provide a field effect transistor (FET) having a conductor-semiconductor junction, which has excellent characteristics, which can be manufactured through an easy process, or which enables high integration. Owing to the junction between a semiconductor layer and a conductor having a work function lower than the electron affinity of the semiconductor layer, a region into which carriers are injected from the conductor is formed in the semiconductor layer. Such a region is used as an offset region of the FET or a resistor of a semiconductor circuit such as an inverter. Further, in the case of setting up such an offset region and a resistor in one semiconductor layer, an integrated semiconductor device can be manufactured. |
| US08791526B2 |
Vertical type integrated circuit devices and memory devices including conductive lines supported by Mesa structures and methods of fabricating the same
A vertical type integrated circuit device includes a substrate and a pillar vertically protruding from the substrate. The pillar includes a lower impurity region and an upper impurity region therein and a vertical channel region therebetween. A portion of the pillar including the lower impurity region therein includes a mesa laterally extending therefrom. The device further includes a first conductive line extending on a first sidewall of the pillar and electrically contacting the lower impurity region, and a second conductive line extending on a second sidewall of the pillar adjacent the vertical channel region. The second conductive line extends in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive line and is spaced apart from the mesa. Related devices and methods of fabrication are also discussed. |
| US08791522B2 |
Non-volatile memory
A non-volatile memory and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. A first oxide layer having a protrusion is formed on a substrate. A pair of doped regions is formed in the substrate at two sides of the protrusion. A pair of charge storage spacers is formed on the sidewalls of the protrusion. A second oxide layer is formed on the first oxide layer and the charge storage spacers. A conductive layer is formed on the second oxide layer. |
| US08791511B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device is disclosed which has a high voltage isolation structure that is a RESURF structure, wherein it is possible to reduce a displacement current generated by dV/dt noise, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device. It is possible to increase a lateral resistance without changing the total amount of electric charges in the uppermost surface p-type diffusion layer by using an uppermost surface p-type diffusion layer configuring a double-RESURF structure being formed so that high concentration regions with a deep diffusion depth and low concentration regions with a shallow diffusion depth are alternately arranged adjacent to each other. As a result, it is possible to reduce a displacement current generated by dV/dt noise. |
| US08791503B2 |
III-nitride semiconductor device with reduced electric field between gate and drain and process for its manufacture
A conductive field plate is formed between the drain electrode and gate of each cell of a III-Nitride semiconductor and is connected to the source electrode to reduce the electric field between the gate and the drain. The electrodes may be supported on N+ III-Nitride pad layers and the gate may be a Schottky gate or an insulated gate. |
| US08791497B2 |
Mold for light-emitting device package
A light-emitting device package mold and a method of manufacturing a lens of a light-emitting device package. The light-emitting device package mold includes a convex unit, an inner circumference of which has a hemispherical shape; a flat panel unit that forms a flat panel by extending from an edge of the convex unit; a cylindrical unit extending in a vertical direction with respect to an upper surface of the flat panel unit; and an injection hole and a discharge hole that penetrate through the convex unit, wherein the discharge hole is formed in a horizontal direction with respect to the flat panel unit. |
| US08791495B2 |
Light emitting device package and lighting system
Disclosed is a light emitting device package. The light emitting device package includes a body; first and second electrode layers on the body; a light emitting device electrically connected to the first and second electrode layers on the body; a luminescent layer on the light emitting device; and an encapsulant layer including particles on the luminescent layer, wherein an effective refractive index of the encapsulant layer has a deviation of 10% or less with respect to an effective refractive index of the luminescent layer. |
| US08791487B2 |
Zinc oxide-containing transparent conductive electrode
A transparent conductive electrode stack containing a work function adjusted zinc oxide is provided. Specifically, the transparent conductive electrode stack includes a layer of zinc oxide and a layer of a work function modifying material. The presence of the work function modifying material in the transparent conductive electrode stack shifts the work function of the layer of zinc oxide to a higher value for better hole injection into the OLED device as compared to a transparent conductive electrode that includes only a layer of zinc oxide and no work function modifying material. |
| US08791486B2 |
Light emitting device package
A light emitting device package is provided. The light emitting device package may include a main body having a cavity including side surfaces and a bottom, and a first reflective cup and a second reflective cup provided in the bottom of the cavity of the main body and separated from each other. A first light emitting device may be provided in the first reflective cup, and a second light emitting device may be provided in the second reflective cup. |
| US08791484B2 |
LED lamp
A LED lamp is disclosed which has a plurality of light unit, each of the light unit has at least one flat metal lead for heat dissipation and the lower part of the metal lead is mounted on a heat sink for a further heat dissipation. |
| US08791468B2 |
GaN film structure, method of fabricating the same, and semiconductor device including the same
A method of fabricating a gallium nitride (GaN) thin layer, by which a high-quality GaN layer may be grown on a large-area substrate using an electrode layer suspended above a substrate, a GaN film structure fabricated using the method, and a semiconductor device including the GaN film structure. The method includes forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate, forming a first buffer layer on the sacrificial layer, forming an electrode layer on the first buffer layer, forming a second buffer layer on the electrode layer, partially etching the sacrificial layer to form at least two support members configured to support the first buffer layer and form at least one air cavity between the substrate and the first buffer layer, and forming a GaN thin layer on the second buffer layer. |
| US08791466B2 |
Light emitting element and method of making same
A light emitting element has a substrate of gallium oxides and a pn-junction formed on the substrate. The substrate is of gallium oxides represented by: (AlXInYGa(1-X-Y))2O3 where 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1 and 0≦x+y≦1. The pn-junction has first conductivity type substrate, and GaN system compound semiconductor thin film of second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. |
| US08791458B2 |
Semiconductor device
Disclosed is a semiconductor device which consumes low power and has high reliability and tolerance for electrostatic discharge. The semiconductor device includes, over a first substrate, a pixel portion and a driver circuit portion both of which have a thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor layer. The semiconductor device further possesses a second substrate to which a first counter electrode layer and a second counter electrode layer are provided, and a liquid crystal layer is interposed between the first and second substrates. The first and second counter electrode layers are provided over the pixel portion and the driver circuit portion, respectively, and the second counter electrode layer has the same potential as the first counter electrode layer. |
| US08791455B2 |
Flexible display apparatus
A flexible display apparatus includes a flexible substrate having a bending area, and a non-bending area adjacent the bending area, and having a display area for realizing a visible image, a plurality of wirings at the bending area, and a plurality of insulating patterns between the flexible substrate and the plurality of wirings, wherein respective ones of the plurality of insulating patterns are separated by separate areas. |
| US08791453B2 |
Thin-film semiconductor device for display apparatus, method for manufacturing thin-film semiconductor device for display apparatus, EL display panel, and EL display apparatus
A thin-film semiconductor device for a display apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a gate electrode above a substrate; a gate insulating film above the gate electrode; a semiconductor layer above the gate electrode; a first electrode above the semiconductor layer; a second electrode in a same layer as the first electrode; an interlayer insulating film covering the first electrode and the second electrode; a gate line above the interlayer insulating film; a first power supply line electrically connected to the second electrode and in a same layer as the second electrode; and a second power supply line in a same layer as the gate line. Furthermore, the gate electrode and the gate line are electrically connected via a first conductive portion, and the first power supply line and the second power supply line are electrically connected via a second conductive portion. |
| US08791448B2 |
Semiconductor memory devices having strapping contacts
Semiconductor memory devices having strapping contacts are provided, the devices include cell regions and strapping regions between adjacent cell regions in a first direction. Active patterns, extending in the first direction throughout the cell regions and strapping regions, are spaced apart from one another in a second direction intersecting the first direction. First interconnection lines, extending in the first direction throughout the cell regions and strapping regions, are spaced apart from one another in the second direction while overlapping with the active patterns. Second interconnection lines, extending in the second direction, intersect the active patterns and first interconnection lines in the cell regions. The second interconnection lines are spaced apart from one another in the first direction. Memory cells are positioned at intersection portions of the first and second interconnection lines in the cell regions. The active patterns contact the first interconnection lines through strapping contacts in the strapping regions. |
| US08791445B2 |
Interfacial oxide used as switching layer in a nonvolatile resistive memory element
A nonvolatile resistive memory element includes a host oxide formed from an interfacial oxide layer. The interfacial oxide layer is formed on the surface of a deposited electrode layer via in situ or post-deposition surface oxidation treatments. |
| US08791444B2 |
Resistive random access memory (RRAM) using stacked dielectrics and method for manufacturing the same
Resistive random access memory (RRAM) using stacked dielectrics and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, where a setting power of only 4 μW, an ultra-low reset power of 2 nW, good switching uniformity and excellent cycling endurance up to 5×109 cycles were achieved simultaneously. Such record high performances were reached in a Ni/GeOx/nano-crystal-TiO2/TaON/TaN RRAM device, where the excellent endurance is 4˜6 orders of magnitude larger than existing Flash memory. The very long endurance and low switching energy RRAM is not only satisfactory for portable SSD in a computer, but may also create new applications such as being used for a Data Center to replace high power consumption hard discs. |
| US08791441B1 |
Ultraviolet radiation system
The present invention provides an ultraviolet radiation system which generates UVC radiation with maximal radiation output and little or no degradation in radiation output during operation of the lamps. The system provides UVC radiation at a wavelength of 253.7 nm, which is effective to kill or deactivate pathogens on surfaces irradiated by the emitted UVC radiation and is simultaneously effective to decontaminate air which passes uniformly over the entire length of the UVC lamps. Uniformly flowing air cools the lamps to maximize the conversion efficiency of power input to the lamps to UVC radiation from the lamps, and at the same time decontaminates the flowing air such that air in the room is also decontaminated. |
| US08791439B2 |
Particulate compositions having plural responses to excitation radiation
A particulate composition comprises a plurality of particles wherein at least one of the particles comprises at least two different crystalline and/or glass phases, each phase comprising a host lattice and a dopant sensitive to electromagnetic radiation. The different phases simultaneously produce different responses on exposure to photons of the same energy, whereby the output from the particulate composition when exposed to said photons is the sum of the responses from the different phases. |
| US08791436B1 |
Circuit tracing using a focused ion beam
Methods and systems for tracing circuitry on integrated circuits using focused ion beam based imaging techniques. A first component or node on an integrated circuit is coupled to a second component or node on the same integrated circuit. After an external bias is applied to the first component or node, a focused ion beam is applied to the integrated circuit and an image is taken using an electron detector. The features or components on the integrated circuit which are coupled to the second component or node will show up in high contrast on the resulting image. The method may also involve applying a bias to a node or component and then using focused ion beam imaging techniques (through an electron detector) to arrive at an image of the integrated circuit. Components coupled to the node will appear in high contrast in the resulting image. |
| US08791433B2 |
Ion implanting apparatus
An ion implanting apparatus is provided, which can accurately measure a quantity of atoms that are implanted. The ion implanting apparatus according to the present invention has an object to be measured, and the object to be measured is arranged in an irradiating range in which ions are irradiated. When atoms are implanted into an object to be processed by irradiating ions of a processing gas and neutralized particles thereof, the object to be measured is heated through the irradiation with the processing gas ions and the neutralized particles. A control unit determines a quantity of the atoms that are implanted into the object to be processed from the temperature of the object to be measured. |
| US08791430B2 |
Scanner for GCIB system
Disclosed are an apparatus, system, and method for scanning a substrate or other workpiece through a gas-cluster ion beam (GCIB), or any other type of ion beam. The workpiece scanning apparatus is configured to receive and hold a substrate for irradiation by the GCIB and to scan it through the GCIB in two directions using two movements: a reciprocating fast-scan movement, and a slow-scan movement. The slow-scan movement is actuated using a servo motor and a belt drive system, the belt drive system being configured to reduce the failure rate of the workpiece scanning apparatus. |
| US08791426B2 |
Electron beam diagnostic system using computed tomography and an annular sensor
A system for analyzing an electron beam including a circular electron beam diagnostic sensor adapted to receive the electron beam, the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor having a central axis; an annular sensor structure operatively connected to the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor, wherein the sensor structure receives the electron beam; a system for sweeping the electron beam radially outward from the central axis of the circular electron beam diagnostic sensor to the annular sensor structure wherein the electron beam is intercepted by the annular sensor structure; and a device for measuring the electron beam that is intercepted by the annular sensor structure. |
| US08791422B2 |
Charged particle beam writing apparatus and charged particle beam writing method
Provided is a charged particle beam writing apparatus including a stage which a sample can be mounted thereon, an irradiation unit which emits a charged particle beam to be irradiated on the sample, and an aperture plate which includes a first opening portion to shape the charged particle beam. The aperture plate has a stacked structure of a first member and a second member, and a position of an end portion of the first opening portion in the second member is recessed from the position of the end portion of the first opening portion in the first member. |
| US08791401B2 |
Matrix imaging device comprising at least one set of photosites with multiple integration times
A method for controlling a pixel may include first and second photosites, each having a photodiode and a charge-transfer transistor, a read node, and an electronic read element, all of which are common to all the photosites. The method may include an accumulation of photogenerated charges in the photodiode of the first photosite during a first period, an accumulation of photogenerated charges in the photodiode of the second photosite during a second period shorter than the first period, a selection of the signal corresponding to the quantity of charges accumulated in the photodiode of a photosite having the highest unsaturated intensity or else a saturation signal, and a digitization of the selected signal. |
| US08791398B2 |
Hob having at least one cooking zone and method for operating a hob
An induction cooktop includes a cooking zone, and a circuit arrangement for operating the cooking zone. The circuit arrangement has a parallel circuit, in which two inductors are connected in parallel manner. An apparatus is configured to detect occupancy of at least one cooking sub-zone of the cooking zone by a food preparation vessel and includes a current measuring element which is connected in series to the parallel circuit. |
| US08791389B2 |
Electric arc welding wire
An electric arc welding wire having an outer cylindrical surface and an electrically conductive layer on the surface wherein the layer comprises an alloy of copper with the copper content being about 60% to about 90% by weight of said alloy. Furthermore, the layer can be made thin with a thickness of less than about 0.50 microns while using essentially pure copper. |
| US08791378B2 |
Keyboard preventable keycaps from breaking off
The present invention provides a keyboard preventable keycaps from breaking off, which comprises a keyboard main body, and a limit board fixed to the keyboard main body. The keyboard main body comprises a base board, a thin film circuit board mounted on the base board, an elastic body mounted above the thin film circuit board, a scissors structure, and a keycap. The center of the scissors structure is provided with a hollow part. The elastic body is located above the thin film circuit board and in the hollow part at the center of the scissors structure. The keycap is located on the elastic body. The scissors structure is mounted to the keycap and passes through the thin film circuit board to be moveably mounted to the base board. The keycap comprises a top surface and side surfaces connected with the top surface, and the side surface is provided with a locking part extending outwards therefrom. The limit board is provided with a plurality of openings corresponding to keycaps, the keycaps pass through the openings, and the limit board covers the locking parts. The present invention can effectively prevent the keycap from breaking off under an external force. Furthermore, the present invention has a certain dustproof function, has more stable keycaps, is efficient and durable to use, and facilitates miniaturization of the keyboard. |
| US08791369B2 |
Electronic component
An electronic component that can be mounted with good balance includes a substrate, a plurality of first terminals located on a peripheral portion of one main surface of the substrate, a ground electrode located in a center of the one main surface of the substrate and including openings, and at least two second terminals located on the one main surface of the substrate and within the openings of the ground electrode and that are electrically isolated from the ground electrode. The second terminals are arranged at positions that are point symmetrical about a center of the ground electrode. |
| US08791361B2 |
Arc-resistant switchgear enclosure with vent prop and latch
An arc-resistant switchgear enclosure has interior compartments with outlet vent openings that are selectively closed by vent flaps. The vent flaps are propped in an open position by props that extend from the vent flaps and contact supports. The props have a latch portion that latches the vent flap when the vent flap is in the closed position. |
| US08791359B2 |
High efficiency photovoltaic cells
Novel structures of photovoltaic cells (also called as solar cells) are provided. The cells are based on nanoparticles or nanometer-scaled wires, tubes, and/or rods, which are made of electronic materials covering semiconductors, insulators, and may be metallic in structure. These photovoltaic cells have large power generation capability per unit physical area over the conventional cells. These cells will have enormous applications such as in space, commercial, residential and industrial applications. |
| US08791356B2 |
Photovoltaic (PV) module with improved bus tape to foil ribbon contact
A photovoltaic a substrate having a plurality of individual serially connected solar cells defined thereon. A bus tape is applied along respective ones of said cells at generally opposite longitudinal ends of the substrate for collecting the charge generated by the plurality of solar cells. A conductive member is interconnected between the bus tapes and is disposed beneath the bus tapes and in direct conductive contact with the respective cells. A junction box is configured for delivering the generated charge to an external load or other component, with the conductive member connected to the junction box. |
| US08791354B2 |
Photoelectrochemical cell
A photoelectrochemical cell (1) includes an electrolyte container (3) containing an ionic liquid (2), and a partitioning membrane (4) dividing an interior of the electrolyte container (3) into two being a CO2 capturing chamber (7) and a CO2 releasing chamber (8), having side walls opposing each other, with the partitioning membrane (4) in between, either as a carbon electrode (5) and the other as a photoelectrode (6). A redox mediator (B) has different bonding forces to carbon dioxide, as it appears as an oxidant Box and a reductant Bred, of which that one which has a greater bonding force serves as an intermediary chemical species carrying carbon dioxide to one of the paired electrodes (5, 6). Over the CO2 releasing chamber (10), an upper wall portion (10) is formed, which has a CO2 take-out port (10A) formed therein, for making use of oxidation and reduction of the redox mediator to achieve separation and concentration of carbon dioxide, converting photo energy of sunlight into electric power. |
| US08791353B2 |
Alumina paste sublimation suppression barrier for thermoelectric device
Alumina as a sublimation suppression barrier for a Zintl thermoelectric material in a thermoelectric power generation device operating at high temperature, e.g. at or above 1000K, is disclosed. The Zintl thermoelectric material may comprise Yb14MnSb11. The alumina may be applied as an adhesive paste dried and cured on a substantially oxide free surface of the Zintl thermoelectric material and polished to a final thickness. The sublimation suppression barrier may be finalized by baking out the alumina layer on the Zintl thermoelectric material until it becomes substantially clogged with ytterbia. |
| US08791352B2 |
Electrostatic speaker unit for musical instrument
A speaker unit used for a musical instrument and configured to generate music sounds based on a performance operation in a main body of the musical instrument, including: an electrostatic speaker; and a stationary portion which is a portion fixed to the main body of the musical instrument or which is a member attachable to the main body of the musical instrument, wherein the electrostatic speaker is supported by the stationary portion such that at least one of a position and a posture of the electrostatic speaker with respect to the stationary portion is variable. |
| US08791351B2 |
Magnetic flux concentrator for increasing the efficiency of an electromagnetic pickup
An electromagnetic pickup adapted to be secured to a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar or bass or the like, of the type having a plurality of magnetic strings of ferromagnetic composition such as steel tensioned to provide musical notes under mechanical stimulation such as picking is disclosed. The electromagnetic pickup comprises at least one magnetized core having a length and a width. An electrically conductive material is wound into at least one coil around the magnetized core, and a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, cobalt or alloys thereof is positioned on at least one side of the length and internally of at least a portion of the electrically conductive material. The electromagnetic pickup is mounted proximate the strings in such a manner that magnetic field of the pickup extends to the strings for the purpose of generating an output electrical signal analogous to the musical notes. |
| US08791340B1 |
Soybean cultivar 76983
Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean cultivar, designated 76983, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-120858. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the cultivar, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 76983 cultivar, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program. |
| US08791335B2 |
Soybean cultivar WN0913535
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety WN0913535 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety WN0913535 and it progeny, and methods of making WN0913535. |
| US08791333B1 |
Soybean variety 20872NNR2Y
Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated 20872NNR2Y, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-120554. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the 20872NNR2Y variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program. |
| US08791330B2 |
Expression regulatory elements
The present invention relates generally to an expression regulatory element operable in plants which includes oil palm, and in particular to an expression regulatory element operable selectively in the endosperm tissue of the plants. Said expression regulatory element comprises a sequence of nucleotides which specifically modulates the expression of a second nucleic acid molecule operably coupled to said expression regulatory element. |
| US08791314B2 |
Additive for reducing coking and/or carbon monoxide in cracking reactors and heat exhangers and use of same
The present invention concerns an additive for reducing the formation of coke and/or carbon monoxide in thermal hydrocarbon cracking units and/or of other organic compounds in heat exchangers. The additive according to the invention is essentially composed of diethyl disulphide (DEDS) or dipropyl disulphide(s) (DPDS) or dibutyl disulphide(s) (DBDS) and can be used on the metal walls of a cracking reactor and on the metal walls of a heat exchanger placed downstream from the cracking reactor, and during the process of cracking hydrocarbons and/or other organic compounds. |
| US08791309B2 |
Synthesis of 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne
In accordance with the present invention, processes of synthesizing 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne from 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, and/or 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane are provided. |
| US08791302B2 |
Process for preparing an N,N-dialky-ethanolamine having high color stability
A process for preparing an N,N-dialkylethanolamine of the formula I having high color stability where R1 and R2 are each independently a C1- to C8-alkyl group, by reacting ethylene oxide (EO) with a corresponding dialkylamine (R1R2NH) in the presence of water, wherein the reaction is effected continuously in a reactor, the reaction temperature is in the range from 90 to 180° C. and the residence time (RT) in the reactor is in the range from 1 to 7 min, the reactor output is treated thermally at a temperature in the range from 80 to 160° C. over a period in the range from 20 to 1000 min, and then the N,N-dialkylethanolamine is removed by distillation. |
| US08791298B2 |
Use of metal hydrazide complex compounds as oxidation catalysts
The present invention relates to the use of selected metal complex compounds and ligands as oxidation catalysts as well as to a process for removing stains and soil on textiles and hard surfaces. The metal complex compounds have hydrazide ligands, preferably with electron withdrawing groups in the phenyl ring adjacent to the acyl group. Further aspects of the invention are formulations comprising such metal complex compounds, novel metal complex compounds and novel ligands. |
| US08791289B2 |
Preparation method of copolymerizable photoinitiators
An intermediate for preparing (meth)acrylated photoinitiators according to Formula (I): wherein: R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a methyl group; A represents a group including at least one photoinitiating moiety; L represents a n+o-valent linking group including at least one carbon atom; n and o each independently represent an integer from 1 to 4; p is equal to 0 or 1; X represents a group selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, I, and R2SO3; and R2 represents an optionally substituted group selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an alkaryl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group and a heteroaryl group. Also, a method for the preparation of (meth)acrylated photoinitiators by β-elimination of HX from the intermediate according to Formula (I). |
| US08791271B2 |
Process for preparing polymeric, ionic imidazolium compounds
Process for preparing polymeric, ionic compounds comprising imidazolium groups, wherein an α-dicarbonyl compound, an aldehyde, at least one amino compound having at least two primary amino groups, if appropriate an amino compound having only one primary amino group and a protic acid, where the carbonyl groups of the α-dicarbonyl compound and of the aldehyde may, if appropriate, also be present as hemiacetal, acetal or hemiketal or ketal, are reacted with one another. |
| US08791267B2 |
Biaryl PDE4 inhibitors for treating inflammatory, cardiovascular and CNS disorders
The present invention relates to a genus of biaryl compounds containing at least one further ring. The compounds are PDE4 inhibitors useful for the treatment and prevention of stroke, myocardial infarct and cardiovascular inflammatory diseases and disorders. The compounds have general formula I: A particular embodiment is |
| US08791266B2 |
Thyroid hormone β receptor agonist
Provided is a heterocyclic derivative showing a thyroid hormone β receptor agonist action, which is effective for the prophylaxis or treatment of the diseases relating to the action. A compound represented by the formula [I]: wherein each symbol is as defined in the specification, a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, and a medicament containing the compound as an active ingredient. |
| US08791258B2 |
Pro-fluorescent probes
The present invention provides a novel class of pro-fluorescent probes for reactive oxygen species (ROS). One exemplary probe is mitochondria peroxy yellow 1 (MitoPY1), a new type of flurophore for imaging mitochondrial H2O2 in living cells with ROS and spatial specificity. The invention also provides methods of using pro-fluorescent probes to detect analytes. One exemplary method comprises using a pro-fluorescent probe of the invention to detect an explosive. |
| US08791242B2 |
Canine thymic stromal lymphopoietin protein and uses thereof to treat allergic symptoms
The present invention discloses a canine TSLP protein and a nucleic acid that encodes that protein. Peptide fragments of the protein that comprise specific epitopes of the canine TSLP protein are also disclosed. The canine TSLP protein and related peptide fragments may be used as an antigen for immunological assays, as well as for vaccines that induce anti-TSLP antibodies. The present invention further discloses methods of making and using the canine TSLP gene, the canine TSLP protein, and the related peptide fragments. |
| US08791240B2 |
Auto-developing and regularly-weighted protein molecular weight marker kit and method for preparing the same
The present invention provides an auto-developing and regularly-weighted protein molecular weight marker kit, comprising: (a) a plurality of recombinant proteins having formula (I), (B)m-A-(C)n (I), wherein A is a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, B and C are independently any mutually identical or different polypeptides with the value of molecular weight being a multiple of 5, and m and n is independently 0 or any integer larger than 0; and (b) one or more solvents for stabilizing the recombinant proteins. The present invention also provides a method for preparing the auto-developing and regularly-weighted protein molecular weight marker kit. |
| US08791236B2 |
Method of acylating a peptide or protein
A method for selectively acylating an amino group in a peptide or protein which has two or more reactive nucleophilic functional groups is described. |
| US08791232B2 |
Proteins
An amino acid sequence is described. The amino acid may comprise a signal sequence that is SEQ ID NO. 1a (or a variant or homologue or derivative or fragment thereof) that is expressed as a fusion protein that comprises a protein of interest. The signal sequence directs secretion of the protein of interest. The protein of interest may be a heterologous protein. Secretion of the fusion protein aids purification. |
| US08791210B2 |
Polyacrylic water-absorbent resin powder and method for producing the same
A method for producing a polyacrylic water-absorbent resin powder includes the steps of: producing an acrylic monomer solution in which gas is dissolved and/or dispersed; polymerizing the monomer solution in the absence of a surface active agent or in the presence of not more than 300 ppm of a surface active agent; during or after polymerizing, fragmenting the resulting hydrated gel crosslinked polymer; and drying the fragmented hydrated gel crosslinked polymer, the gas being dissolved and/or dispersed in the monomer solution by (a) applying pressure to the acrylic monomer solution and the gas; (b) creating swirling flows of the acrylic monomer solution and the gas; or (c) introducing the gas with the acrylic monomer solution via fine holes. The production method efficiently produces a water-absorbent resin having an excellent water-absorption rate without deteriorating a liquid-absorbent property of a sanitary product or the like. |
| US08791204B2 |
Polymer dispersions of narrow particle size distribution
A process for the manufacture of a polymer dispersion from a mixture of a first polypropylene polymer having sufficient carboxylic acid and/or carboxylic acid anhydride groups equivalent to an acid value of from 2 to 50 mg KOH/g nv polymer and a second polymer having a molar excess of functional groups capable of reacting with the carboxylic acid and/or carboxylic acid anhydride groups of the polypropylene is provided. Also provided herein are polypropylene dispersions in organic carrier liquid prepared by such method, as well as coating compositions comprising the dispersion and articles coated with the coating composition. |
| US08791200B2 |
TCD based hydrophilic polyurethane dispersions
The present invention relates to a polyurethaneurea solution having a polyurethaneurea having a structural unit of the formula (I) and terminated with at least one copolymer unit of the group consisting of a polyethylene oxide, a polypropylene oxide, and mixtures thereof. |
| US08791195B2 |
Compositions useful for non-cellulose fiber sizing, coating or binding compositions, and composites incorporating same
Disclosed is a toughened film forming agent for use in a fiber sizing, a finish coating or a binder composition, where the toughened film forming agent includes a film forming polymer and a toughening agent both dispersed in water. The toughening agent may be core shell polymers, rubber, thermoplastic materials, nanomaterials, nanofibers, including any combination or subset thereof. The film forming polymer may be epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, epoxy-polyurethane resins, polyester resins, epoxy-polyester resins, polyvinylacetate resins, polypropylene resins, including any combination or subset thereof. |
| US08791190B2 |
Stabilized aqueous compositions comprising cationic polymers that deliver paint and primer properties in a coating
The present invention provides one component aqueous compositions comprising (i) a cationic stain blocking polymer chosen from (a) 0.01 to 7 wt. % of anion exchange resin copolymer gelular or dual morphology beads that have a weight average particle size of from 0.1 to 20 μm and a low copolymerized crosslinker content of from 0.5 to 2.0 wt. %, (b) from 1 to 30 wt. % a crosslinked cationic addition polymer and (c) mixtures thereof, (ii) one or more emulsion copolymer having a copolymerized residue of at least one phosphorus acid monomer, and (iii) a stabilizer of from 0.1 to 2 wt. % of an inorganic phosphorus containing dispersant, and from 0.2 to 5.0 wt. % of a mixture of a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant, both wt. % s based on the total weight of emulsion copolymer solids. The compositions provide stabilized binders for in a single coat primer plus topcoat coatings and paints. |
| US08791189B2 |
Moldable polyester compositions, processes of manufacture, and articles thereof
A thermoplastic composition comprises, based on the total weight of the composition: 51-90 wt % polyester, 10-49 wt % ABS impact modifier; 0-20 wt % of multifunctional epoxy compound; 0-40 wt % filler; 0-2 wt % fibrillated fluoropolymer; and more than 0 to 5 wt % of a stabilizer composition. An article blow molded or injection molded from the composition has a multi-axial impact total energy from 30-100 Joules at −30° C. and a ductility of more than 90%; a permeability of more than 0 and less than or equal to 1.5 g/m2-day to ASTM D 471-98 Fuel C, measured after exposure to ASTM D 471-98 Fuel C vapor for 20 weeks at 40° C.; an MVR of 1-20 cc/10 min., measured at 265° C.; a flexural modulus of greater than 1300 MPa; and retains at least 75% of its initial tensile elongation at break, after exposure to Fuel E85 for 28 days at 70° C. |
| US08791187B2 |
Aluminum/alkyline or alkali/titanium containing polyesters having improved reheat, color and clarity
A polyester composition containing: a) aluminum atoms; and b) alkaline earth atoms or alkali metal atoms or alkali compound residues such as lithium atoms; and c) particles comprising titanium, zirconium, vanadium, niobium, hafnium, tantalum, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, iron, or nickel atoms or combinations thereof, where the particles improve the reheat rate of the polyester composition. The polyester polymer compositions may also contain phosphorus catalyst deactivators/stabilizers. The polyester compositions and the articles made from the compositions such as bottle preforms and stretch blow molded bottles have improved reheat rate while maintaining low haze, high L*, a b* below 3, and have low levels of acetaldehyde. In the process for making the polyester polymer, the polymer melt is polycondensed in the presence of a) and b), with the particles c) added in a melt phase process or added to the polymer in an injection molding machine or extruder. The polyester polymer composition can be made to high IV from the melt phase while avoiding solid state polymerization. |
| US08791184B2 |
Two-component polyurethane adhesives with thixotropic effect
A two-component polyurethane adhesive is provided, which comprises a component A comprising at least one polyol with a molecular weight of more than 500 g/mol, a component B comprising at least one polyisocyanate with a molecular weight of less than 1000 g/mol, and additional additives. The component A contains 0.1 to 10 wt. % sterically hindered amines having primary amino groups. |
| US08791180B2 |
Process for production of a heat-stabilized acrylate polymer
Polyamide-reinforced polyacrylate polymer compositions comprising a continuous polyacrylate polymer phase and a discontinuous polyamide phase are produced by a melt mixing process. When crosslinked with peroxide curatives the polyamide-reinforced polyacrylate polymer compositions exhibit enhanced resistance to heat aging compared to carbon black-reinforced polyacrylate polymer compositions. |
| US08791176B2 |
Process and apparatus for carrying out multi-phase reactions
The invention is directed to a process and apparatus for carrying out reactions with reaction mixtures comprising different physical phases. In a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a process for carrying out chemical reactions comprising a step wherein a reaction mixture comprising at least two different physical phases, wherein at least one of these phases being liquid, is subjected to the action of Dean vortices, which Dean vortices result from said liquid flowing through a channel having at least two curvatures, wherein the channel comprises for at least a fraction of its total length a smooth inner surface. |
| US08791164B2 |
Device and method for increasing the effectiveness processes of catalytic chemical processes
The present invention relates to a monolithic solid catalyst for carrying out a heterogeneous catalytic chemical reaction in a reaction fluid which flows through the catalyst and comprises at least one educt, wherein the catalyst has at least one passage opening for the reaction fluid to flow through the catalyst.In order to obtain a larger and targeted yield and selectivity of the sought reaction products with a smaller design of the reactors, smaller energy feed and smaller reaction pressures and/or lower reaction temperatures, it is proposed according to the invention that, to increase the effectiveness of the chemical reaction, the catalyst has at least one mechanical oscillator by which, while carrying out the chemical reaction, the catalyst can be subjected to a mechanical frequency in the range of from 20 kHz to 2 GHz. |
| US08791163B2 |
Melatonin ligands having antidepressant activity as well as sleep inducing properties
Novel melatonin ligands of Formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein: n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1 or 2; p is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8; v is 2 or 3; A is aryl or heteroaryl; Z is O, S or NR8; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, heteroaryl, C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, and R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl, —OCF3, CF3, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 alkyloxy, C1-C8 alkylthio, halogen and —Z—(CH2)p-A; R1 is selected from the group consisting of C1-C4 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, CF3, hydroxy-substituted C1-C4 alkyl, hydroxy-substituted C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and NHR5, wherein R5 is C1-C3 alkyl or C3-C6 cycloalkyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; R and R3 may be connected together to form an —O—(CH2)v bridge representing with the carbon atoms to which they are attached a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring system; R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; R6 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C6 alkyl; R7 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyloxy, OCF3, CF3, hydroxyl, and halogen; and R8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C1-C4 alkyl. |
| US08791153B2 |
Topical avermectin formulations and methods for elimination and prophylaxis of susceptible and treatment-resistant strains of head lice
An avermectin-based topical formulation is disclosed which is useful for prevention and treatment of head lice (Pediculus humanus capitis). This topical formulation may be formulated as a shampoo-condition which comprises an effective amount of avermectin, solubilizers, suspending agents, preservatives, non-ionic surfactants, humectants, a silicone compound, and water. Also disclosed are methods of using the topical formulations disclosed within this specification to treat either a susceptible or treatment-resistant strain of lice, as well as uses in the manufacture of a medicament for treating or preventing a lice infestation from a susceptible or treatment-resistant strain in a human patient. |
| US08791148B2 |
Substituted benzimidazolone derivatives, medicaments comprising them and their use
The present invention relates to novel benzimidazolone derivatives of the general formula (I) in which the substituents R1, R2, R3, A1, A2, and B are as defined in claim 1, medicaments comprising these, and the use thereof for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of vasopressin-dependent diseases. |
| US08791138B2 |
Compositions and methods for alleviating depression or improving cognition
This application describes compositions of receptor inhibitors, including antipsychotic agents, for example haloperidol, and methods of use for alleviating clinical depression, improving cognition and/or treating other syndromes, conditions or diseases for which anti-depressant agents are prescribed. Furthermore, this application describes compositions and methods to induce supersensitivity in dopamine D2 and other receptors involved in depression and/or cognition as a means of alleviating clinical depression or improving cognition. |
| US08791137B2 |
Therapeutic compounds
The invention provides a compound of formula I: wherein R1-R6, X, Y, and B have any of the values described herein, as well as salts of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and therapeutic methods that comprise the administration of such compounds. The compounds are inhibitors of MAO-B enzyme function and are useful for improving cognitive function and for treating psychiatric disorders in animals. |
| US08791136B2 |
Substituted pyridine, pyridazine, pyrazine and pyrimidine compounds and methods for using the same
Disclosed are substituted pyridine compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use. One embodiment is a compound having the structure wherein E, J, T, the ring system denoted by “B”, T, R3, R4, w and x are as described herein. In certain embodiments, a compound disclosed herein activates the AMPK pathway, and can be used to treat metabolism-related disorders and conditions. |
| US08791131B2 |
Imidazo[1,5]naphthyridine compounds, their pharmaceutical use and compositions
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula (I), and to salts thereof, their synthesis, and their use as PI3-Kα inhibitors and/or PI3-Kα/mTOR dual inhibitors. |
| US08791129B2 |
Phenylquinazoline derivatives
Novel quinazolinamide derivatives of the formula (I), in which R1-R43 and X have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are HSP90 inhibitors and can be used for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases in which the inhibition, regulation and/or modulation of HSP90 plays a role. |
| US08791127B2 |
Mucosal bioadhesive slow release carrier for delivering active principles
A mucosal bioadhesive slow release carrier comprising an active principle and devoid of starch, lactose, which can release the active principal for a duration of longer than 20 hours. This bioadhesive carrier contains a diluent, an alkali metal alkylsulfate, a binding agent, at least one bioadhesive polymer and at least one sustained release polymer, as well as a method for its preparation. |
| US08791121B2 |
Oligooxopiperazines and methods of making and using them
The present invention relates to oligooxopiperazines and their use. Methods for preparing oligooxopiperazines are also disclosed. |
| US08791112B2 |
Substituted 5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo [3, 4-B] pyridine and pyrazolo [3, 4-B] pyridine derivatives as protein kinase inhibitors
Substituted 5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine, 5-(pyrazin-2-yl)-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine and pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives according to formula I, II and VII, and methods for making same, which are inhibitors of constitutively activated Tyrosine Kinase-Like (TKL), CMGC protein kinases family members and can be useful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Down's Syndrome, Huntington's disease, other neurodegenerative and central nervous system disorders, cancer, metabolic disorders and inflammatory diseases. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds and methods of inhibiting wild type and/or mutated protein kinase activities of these families and the treatment of disorders associated therewith using compounds and pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds. |
| US08791106B2 |
Fused ring pyridine compound
[Problem] To provide a compound useful as a novel agent which is excellent in preventing and/or treating cannabinoid receptor type 2-related diseases, based on agonist action on a cannabinoid receptor type 2[Means for Solution] The present inventors conducted thorough investigation regarding compounds having agonist action on a cannabinoid receptor type 2. They confirmed that the fused ring pyridine compound of the present invention has excellent agonist action on the cannabinoid receptor type 2, thereby completing the present invention. The fused ring pyridine compound of the present invention has agonist action on the cannabinoid receptor type 2, and can be used as an agent for preventing and/or treating cannabinoid receptor type 2-related diseases, for example, inflammatory diseases and pain. |
| US08791098B2 |
Bioactive pre-tubulysins and use thereof
The invention relates to bioactive pre-tubulysin derivatives, their preparation and pharmacological use. |
| US08791092B2 |
Molecular tweezers for the treatment of amyloid-related diseases
This invention provides novel compositions to inhibit the aggregation of amyloid proteins. In various embodiments the compositions comprise a molecular tweezers that binds lysine and/or arginine and thereby inhibits the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins. |
| US08791079B2 |
Methods for treating heart failure by inhibiting the mitochondrial sodium-calcium exchanger (mNCE)
Methods and compounds for preventing or reducing the toxic side effects of cardiac glycosides by inhibiting the mitochondrial sodium-calcium exchanger (mNCE) are provided. Methods and compositions for preventing or reducing the occurrence of conditions associated with heart failure, including, but not limited to, sudden cardiac death and contractile decompensation, by inhibiting the mNCE also are provided. |
| US08791075B2 |
Methods and compositions for inhibition of BCL6 repression
The invention is directed to a compound that binds to a BCL6 lateral groove and prevents binding of a corepressor to the lateral groove. The present invention is further directed to methods for blocking corepressor binding to a BCL6 lateral groove, methods for inhibiting BCL6 repression in a mammalian cell, and methods for treating a mammal with cancer, wherein the cancer requires BCL6 repression. The present invention is further directed to polypeptides comprising a portion of the corepressor binding site for BCL6 and related polynucleotides and vectors. |
| US08791072B2 |
Modulating neuromuscular junction density changes in botulinum-toxin treated tissue
A method may include administering botulinum toxin to a tissue of a patient and administering a neuropeptide of the CRF family to the tissue of the patient. In some examples, the botulinum toxin is periodically administered to the tissue of the patient and/or the neuropeptide of the CRF family is periodically administered to the tissue of the patient. The periods with which the botulinum toxin and the neuropeptide of the CRF family are administered may be the same or may be different. In some examples, the botulinum toxin and the neuropeptide of the CRF family are administered to the tissue at substantially the same time, while in other embodiments, the botulinum toxin and the neuropeptide of the CRF family are administered to the tissue at different times. |
| US08791071B1 |
Cartilage material
Cartilage materials such as cartilage fluff and a cartilage composition comprising a particulate material are disclosed. These are suitable for stimulating chondrogenesis and/or producing cartilage regeneration. Also disclosed are processes for their preparation. Methods for regenerating articular cartilage are also disclosed, which involve, for example, placing the cartilage fluff or cartilage composition into a cartilage defect. |
| US08791069B1 |
Pharmaceutical composition of nanoparticles
The invention discloses use of a pharmaceutical composition for slow-release delivery of a bioactive agent, comprising mixing the bioactive agent with a partially hydrophobic chitosan solution at a low pH and delivering the hydrogel at a physiological pH to transform the hydrogel to a solid complex for releasing the bioactive agent. The partially hydrophobic chitosan is characterized by presence of alternating charges of protonated amine groups and hydrophobic side groups. |
| US08791068B2 |
Control of growth and repair of gastro-intestinal tissues by gastrokines and inhibitors
A novel group of gastrokines called Gastric Antrum Mucosal Protein is characterized. A member of the group is designated AMP-18. AMP-18 genomic DNA, cDNA and the AMP-18 protein are sequenced for human, mouse and pig. The AMP-18 protein and active peptides derived from it are cellular growth factors. Surprisingly, peptides capable of inhibiting the effects of the complete protein, are also derived from the AMP-18 protein. Cytoprotection and control of mammalian gastro-intestinal tissue growth and repair (restitution) is facilitated by the use of the proteins, making the proteins candidates for therapies in inflammatory bowel disease and gastric ulcers. |
| US08791061B2 |
Peptides for treating and preventing immune-related disorders, including treating and preventing infection by modulating innate immunity
In one aspect, the present invention provides isolated novel peptides that can be used to modulate innate immunity in a subject and/or for the treatment of an immune-related disorder, including treating and preventing infection by modulating innate immunity. Also provided are an agent reactive with the peptide, a pharmaceutical composition that includes the peptide, an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding the peptide, a recombinant nucleic acid construct that includes the nucleic acid molecule, at least one host cell comprising the recombinant nucleic acid construct, and a method of producing the peptide using the host cell. The present invention further provides a method for treating and/or preventing infection in a subject by administering the peptide of the invention to the subject, thereby modulating innate immunity in the subject. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for predicting whether a subject would be responsive to treatment with a peptide of the invention. |
| US08791060B2 |
Composition and use of phyto-percolate for treatment of disease
This invention relates generally to a method of preparation of a phyto-percolate that is derived from fresh water mixture including algae. The phyto-percolate is believed to contain an enzyme having proteolytic activity. The invention further relates to the use of the phyto-percolate in a variety of disease state. |
| US08791052B2 |
Wide electrical conductor having high C-axis strength
A rotating machine includes a stator and a rotor configured to rotate within the stator. Rotor windings are supported in the rotor and are formed of a laminated electrical conductor in a single-layer saddle coil configuration. The conductor includes a first support lamina, a second support lamina, an insert including a high temperature superconductor disposed between the first and second support lamina, and a filler material surrounding the insert that bonds the insert to each of the first and second support lamina. At the location between the first support lamina and second support lamina corresponding to the location of the insert, the width dimension of the filler material on each side of the insert is at least 10 percent of a width of the conductor. The conductor is configured to carry at least 600 Amperes per turn and have a C-axis tensile strength of at least 21 MPa. |
| US08791048B2 |
Herbicidal compositions comprising 4-amino-3-chloro-5-fluoro-6-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-methoxyphenyl) pyridine-2-carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof and clomazone
Provided herein are synergistic herbicidal compositions containing (a) a compound of formula (I): or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) clomazone. The compositions and methods provided herein control undesirable vegetation, e.g., in direct-seeded, water-seeded and transplanted rice, cereals, wheat, barley, oats, rye, sorghum, corn/maize, sugarcane, sunflower, oilseed rape, canola, sugar beet, soybean, cotton, pineapple, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallowland, turf, tree and vine orchards, aquatics, plantation crops, vegetables, industrial vegetation management (IVM) and rights of way (ROW). |
| US08791042B2 |
Process for the preparation of an unsupported, solid metallocene catalyst system and its use in polymerization of olefins
Process for the preparation of an unsupported, heterogeneous olefin polymerization catalyst system, comprising an organometallic compound of a transition metal of Group 3 to 10 of the Periodic Table (IUPAC 2007) in the form of solid particles comprising the steps of a) preparing a solution (A) comprising ai) an organometallic compound of a transition metal of Group 3 to 10 of the Periodic Table (IUPAC 2007) or of an actinide or lanthanide, a2) a cocatalyst comprising an element of group 13 of the Periodic Table (IUPAC 2007) and a3) a solvent (A-1), b) preparing a liquid/liquid emulsion system by dispersing the solution (A) in a solvent (B) essentially immiscible with said solution (A) in the presence of a polystyrene-b-fluoro polystyrene copolymer of the formula (I) in which n is a number from 10 to 100, m is a number from 1 to 40, x is a number from 5 to 16, y is a number from 11 to 33, provided that m, n, x and y are selected in a way that the block copolymer is soluble in the solvent B or the solution A in such an extent that a stable emulsion is formed by adding the block copolymer, b1) the solvent (B) constitutes the continuous phase of the emulsion, b2) the solution (A) constitutes in the form of droplets the dispersed phase and b3) the organometallic compound and the cocatalyst are present in the droplets, c) solidifying said dispersed phase to convert said droplets to solid particles and optionally recovering said particles to obtain said catalyst system; an unsupported, heterogeneous olefin polymerization catalyst, obtainable by the process and the use of the catalyst in olefin polymerization. |
| US08791020B2 |
Silicon-containing film, resin composition, and pattern formation method
A pattern-forming method includes forming a silicon-containing film on a substrate, the silicon-containing film having a mass ratio of silicon atoms to carbon atoms of 2 to 12. A shape transfer target layer is formed on the silicon-containing film. A fine pattern is transferred to the shape transfer target layer using a stamper that has a fine pattern to form a resist pattern. The silicon-containing film and the substrate are dry-etched using the resist pattern as a mask to form a pattern on the substrate in nanoimprint lithography. According to another aspect of the invention, a silicon-containing film includes silicon atoms and carbon atoms. A mass ratio of silicon atoms to carbon atoms is 2 to 12. The silicon-containing film is used for a pattern-forming method employed in nanoimprint lithography. |
| US08791018B2 |
Method of depositing copper using physical vapor deposition
The present method of forming an electronic structure includes providing a tantalum base layer and depositing a layer of copper on the tantalum layer, the deposition being undertaken by physical vapor deposition with the temperature of the base layer at 50° C. or less, with the deposition taking place at a power level of 300 W or less. |
| US08791017B2 |
Methods of forming conductive structures using a spacer erosion technique
Disclosed herein are various methods of forming conductive structures, such as conductive lines and via, on an integrated circuit device using a spacer erosion technique. In one example, the method includes forming a patterned hard mask layer above a layer of insulating material, the patterned hard mask having a hard mask opening, forming an erodible spacer in the hard mask opening to thereby define a spacer opening and performing at least one etching process through the spacer opening on the layer of insulating material to define a trench therein for a conductive structure, wherein the erodible spacer is substantially eroded away during the at least one etching process. |
| US08791016B2 |
Through silicon via wafer, contacts and design structures
Disclosed herein are through silicon vias (TSVs) and contacts formed on a semiconductor material, methods of manufacturing, and design structures. The method includes forming a contact hole in a dielectric material formed on a substrate. The method further includes forming a via in the substrate and through the dielectric material. The method further includes lining the contact hole and the dielectric material with a metal liner using a deposition technique that will avoid formation of the liner in the via formed in the substrate. The method further includes filling the contact hole and the via with a metal such that the metal is formed on the liner in the contact hole and directly on the substrate in the via. |
| US08791013B2 |
Pattern forming method
A pattern forming method is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: forming a dielectric layer on a substrate; forming a first patterned mask on the dielectric layer, wherein the first patterned mask comprises an opening; forming a material layer on the dielectric layer and covering the first patterned mask; forming a second patterned mask on the material layer, wherein the second patterned mask comprises a first aperture; forming a second aperture in the second patterned mask after forming the first aperture, wherein the second aperture and the first aperture comprise a gap therebetween and overlap the opening; and utilizing the second patterned mask as an etching mask for partially removing the material layer and the dielectric layer through the first aperture and the second aperture. |
| US08791011B2 |
Through-silicon via structure formation process
In a process, an opening is formed to extend from a front surface of a semiconductor substrate through a part of the semiconductor substrate. A metal seed layer is formed on a sidewall of the opening. A block layer is formed on only a portion of the metal seed layer. A metal layer is formed on the block layer and the metal seed layer to fill the opening. |
| US08791009B2 |
Method of forming a through-silicon via utilizing a metal contact pad in a back-end-of-line wiring level to fill the through-silicon via
A method for fabricating through-silicon vias (TSVs) for semiconductor devices is provided. Specifically, the method involves utilizing copper contact pads in a back-end-of-line wiring level, wherein the copper contact pads act as cathodes for performing an electroplating technique to fill TSVs with plated-conductive material (e.g., copper) from an electroplating solution. Moreover, the method provides a way to fill high aspect ratio TSVs with minimal additional semiconductor fabrication process steps, which can increase the silicon area that is available for forming additional electronic components on integrated circuits. |
| US08791003B2 |
Methods for fabricating integrated circuits with fluorine passivation
Methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate and forming a gate structure on the semiconductor substrate. The gate includes a high-k dielectric material. In the method, a fluorine-containing liquid is contacted with the high-k dielectric material and fluorine is incorporated into the high-k dielectric material. |
| US08791002B2 |
Semiconductor device and fabrication method for the same
A fabrication method for a semiconductor device includes the step of forming a gate insulating film on the side of a trench, the bottom thereof, and the periphery thereof. The step of forming a gate insulating film includes a step of forming a first insulating film on the side of the trench and a step of forming a second insulating film on the bottom and periphery of the trench using a high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition method. The thickness of the portions of the gate insulating film formed on the bottom and periphery of the trench is made larger than that of the portion of the gate insulating film formed on the side of the trench. |
| US08790997B2 |
Laser machining method and chip
While reliably cutting an object to be processed, the strength of the resulting chips is improved. An object to be processed 1 is irradiated with laser light L, so as to form modified regions 17, 27, 37, 47 extending along lines to cut 5 and aligning in the thickness direction in the object 1. Here, modified regions 17 are formed such that modified region formed parts 17a and modified region unformed parts 17b alternate along the lines, and modified regions 47 are formed such that modified region formed parts 47a and modified region unformed parts 47b alternate along the lines. This can inhibit formed modified regions 7 from lowering the strengths on the rear face 21 side and front face 3 side of chips obtained by cutting. On the other hand, modified regions 27, 37 located between the modified regions 17, 47 are formed continuously from one end side of the lines 5 to the other end side thereof, whereby the cuttability of the object 1 can be secured reliably. |
| US08790990B2 |
Silica-based film forming material for formation of air gaps, and method for forming air gaps
Provided is a silica-based film forming material for formation of air gaps, the material being capable of forming air gaps without employing a CVD method. A silica-based film forming material for formation of air gaps including (a) a certain siloxane polymer, (b) an alkanolamine, and (c) an organic solvent is used when a silica-based film is formed with a spin coating method. According to this silica-based film forming material for formation of air gaps, air gaps with a great degree of opening can be formed even when coated with a spin coating method, without filling the recessed parts. |
| US08790988B2 |
Semiconductor devices having passive element in recessed portion of device isolation pattern and methods of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a device isolation pattern and a passive circuit element. The device isolation pattern is located on the substrate, delimits an active region of the substrate, and includes a recessed portion having a bottom surface located below a plane coincident with a surface of the active region. The passive circuit element is situated in the recess so as to be disposed on the bottom surface of the recessed portion of the device isolation pattern. |
| US08790987B2 |
Methods of forming electrical components and memory cells
Some embodiments include methods of forming electrical components. First and second exposed surface configurations are formed over a first structure, and material is then formed across the surface configurations. The material is sub-divided amongst two or more domains, with a first of the domains being induced by the first surface configuration, and with a second of the domains being induced by the second surface configuration. A second structure is then formed over the material. The first domains of the material are incorporated into electrical components. The second domains may be replaced with dielectric material to provide isolation between adjacent electrical components, or may be utilized as intervening regions between adjacent electrical components. |
| US08790981B2 |
Low cost high voltage power FET and fabrication
A power field effect transistor (FET) is disclosed which is fabricated in as few as six photolithographic steps and which is capable of switching current with a high voltage drain potential (e.g., up to about 50 volts). In a described n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) embodiment, a drain node includes an n-well region with a shallow junction gradient, such that the depletion region between the n-well and the substrate is wider than 1 micron. Extra photolithographic steps are avoided using blanket ion implantation for threshold adjust and lightly doped drain (LDD) implants. A modified embodiment provides an extension of the LDD region partially under the gate for a longer operating life. |
| US08790970B2 |
Doping of semiconductor fin devices
A semiconductor structure includes of a plurality of semiconductor fins overlying an insulator layer, a gate dielectric overlying a portion of said semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric. Each of the semiconductor fins has a top surface, a first sidewall surface, and a second sidewall surface. Dopant ions are implanted at a first angle (e.g., greater than about 7°) with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the first sidewall surface and the top surface. Further dopant ions are implanted with respect to the normal of the top surface of the semiconductor fin to dope the second sidewall surface and the top surface. |
| US08790969B2 |
Effecting selectivity of silicon or silicon-germanium deposition on a silicon or silicon-germanium substrate by doping
A method for selective deposition of Si or SiGe on a Si or SiGe surface exploits differences in physico-chemical surface behavior according to a difference in doping of first and second surface regions. By providing at least one first surface region with a Boron doping of a suitable concentration range and exposing the substrate surface to a cleaning and passivating ambient atmosphere in a prebake step at a temperature lower or equal than 800° C., a subsequent deposition step of Si or SiGe will not lead to a layer deposition in the first surface region. This effect is used for selective deposition of Si or SiGe in the second surface region, which is not doped with Boron in the suitable concentration range, or doped with another dopant, or not doped. Several devices are, thus, provided. The method thus saves a usual photolithography sequence required for selective deposition of Si or SiGe in the second surface region according to the prior art. |
| US08790967B2 |
Method of fabricating polycrystalline silicon layer, TFT fabricated using the same, method of fabricating TFT, and organic light emitting diode display device having the same
A method of fabricating a polycrystalline silicon layer includes: forming an amorphous silicon layer on a substrate; crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer into a polycrystalline silicon layer using a crystallization-inducing metal; forming a metal layer pattern or metal silicide layer pattern in contact with an upper or lower region of the polycrystalline silicon layer corresponding to a region excluding a channel region in the polycrystalline silicon layer; and annealing the substrate to getter the crystallization-inducing metal existing in the channel region of the polycrystalline silicon layer to the region in the polycrystalline silicon layer having the metal layer pattern or metal silicide layer pattern. Accordingly, the crystallization-inducing metal existing in the channel region of the polycrystalline silicon layer can be effectively removed, and thus a thin film transistor having an improved leakage current characteristic and an OLED display device including the same can be fabricated. |
| US08790964B2 |
Power transistor with heat dissipation and method therefor
A device comprising a substrate, an integrated circuit (IC) die attached to the substrate on one side, a plurality of contact pads on an active side of the IC die, a plurality of thermally and electrically conductive legs, each of the legs attached to a respective one of the contact pads, and an encapsulating material formed around the substrate, the IC die, and a portion of the legs. A contact end of each of the legs is exposed, and one of the contact ends conducts a signal from a transistor in the IC die. |
| US08790958B2 |
Quantum dot organic light emitting device and method of fabricating the same
A quantum dot organic light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. A first electrode layer is formed on a substrate. A block copolymer film which can cause phase separation on the first electrode layer is formed. The block copolymer film is phase-separated into a plurality of first domains, each having a nano size column shape, and a second domain which surrounds the first domains. A quantum dot template film of the second domain, which comprises a plurality of nano size through holes, is formed by selectively removing the first domains. Quantum dot structures, each of which comprises an organic light emitting layer in the through hole of the quantum dot template film, is formed. |
| US08790954B2 |
Method of making wafer structure for backside illuminated color image sensor
An integrated circuit device is provided. The integrated circuit device can include a substrate; a first radiation-sensing element disposed over a first portion of the substrate; and a second radiation-sensing element disposed over a second portion of the substrate. The first portion comprises a first radiation absorption characteristic, and the second portion comprises a second radiation absorption characteristic different from the first radiation absorption characteristic. |
| US08790953B2 |
Method for texturing silicon surface to create black silicon for photovoltaic applications
The surface of silicon is textured to create black silicon on a nano-micro scale by electrochemical reduction of a silica layer on silicon in molten salts. The silica layer can be a coating, or a layer caused by the oxidation of the silicon. |
| US08790947B2 |
Three-dimensional solar cell having increased efficiency
A nano-scale tower structure array having increased surface area on each tower for gathering incident light is provided for use in three-dimensional solar cells. Embodiments enhance surface roughness of each tower structure to increase the surface area available for light gathering. Enhanced roughness can be provided by manipulating passivation layer etching parameters used during a formation process of the nano-scale tower structures, in order to affect surface roughness of a photoresist layer used for the etch. Manipulable etching parameters can include power, gas pressure, and etching compound chemistry. |
| US08790946B2 |
Methods of bonding caps for MEMS devices
A method includes bonding a first bond layer to a second bond layer through eutectic bonding. The step of bonding includes heating the first bond layer and the second bond layer to a temperature higher than a eutectic temperature of the first bond layer and the second bond layer, and performing a pumping cycle. The pumping cycle includes applying a first force to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other. After the step of applying the first force, a second force lower than the first force is applied to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other. After the step of applying the second force, a third force higher than the second force is applied to press the first bond layer and the second bond layer against each other. |
| US08790945B2 |
Method of manufacturing nitride semiconductor device having metal electrode formed on silicon substrate
A nitride semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, a nitride semiconductor layer formed on the silicon substrate, and metal electrodes formed in contact with the silicon substrate. The metal electrodes has first metal layers which are formed in a shape of discrete islands and in contact with the silicon substrate, and second metal layers which are in contact with the silicon substrate exposed among the islands of the first metal layers and are formed to cover the first metal layers. Further, the second metal layers are made of a metal capable of forming ohmic contact with silicon, and the first metal layers are made of an alloy containing a metal and silicon, in which the metal is different than that in the second metal layer. |
| US08790940B2 |
Method for making light emitting diode
A method for making light emitting diode includes the following steps. A substrate is provided. A first semiconductor layer is grown on a surface of the substrate. A patterned mask layer is located on a surface of the first semiconductor layer, and the patterned mask layer includes a number of bar-shaped protruding structures, a slot is defined between each two adjacent protruding structures to expose a portion of the first semiconductor layer. The exposed first semiconductor layer is etched to form a protruding pair. A number of three-dimensional nano-structures are formed. An active layer and a second semiconductor layers are grown on the number of three-dimensional nano-structures in that order. The substrate is removed and a surface of the first semiconductor layer is exposed. A first electrode is applied to cover the exposed surface. A second electrode is electrically connected with the second semiconductor layer. |
| US08790937B2 |
Zinc oxide-containing transparent conductive electrode
A transparent conductive electrode stack containing a work function adjusted zinc oxide is provided. Specifically, the transparent conductive electrode stack includes a layer of zinc oxide and a layer of a work function modifying material. The presence of the work function modifying material in the transparent conductive electrode stack shifts the work function of the layer of zinc oxide to a higher value for better hole injection into the OLED device as compared to a transparent conductive electrode that includes only a layer of zinc oxide and no work function modifying material. |
| US08790936B2 |
Method for manufacturing optical deflector for forming dicing street with double etching
A wafer-level optical deflector assembly is formed on a front surface side of a wafer. Then, the front surface side of the wafer is etched by using elements of the wafer-level optical deflector assembly, to form a front-side dicing street. Then, a transparent substrate with an inside cavity is adhered to the front surface side of the wafer. Then, a second etching mask is formed on a back surface side of the wafer. Then, the back surface side of the wafer is etched to create a back-side dicing street. Then, an adhesive sheet with a ring-shaped rim is adhered to the back surface side of the wafer. Then, the transparent substrate is removed. Finally, the ring-shaped rim is expanded to widen the front-side dicing street and the back-side dicing street to pick up optical deflectors one by one from the wafer. |
| US08790933B2 |
Screening
A method of producing a conformational specific binding partner of a GPCR, the method comprising: a) providing a mutant GPCR of a parent GPCR, wherein the mutant GPCR has increased stability in a particular conformation relative to the parent GPCR; b) providing a test compound; c) determining whether the test compound binds to the mutant GPCR when residing in a particular conformation; and d) isolating a test compound that binds to the mutant GPCR when residing in the particular conformation. Methods of producing GPCRs with increased stability relative to a parent GPCR are also disclosed. |
| US08790932B2 |
Method for providing a dried reagent in a microfluidic system and microfluidic system
A method for providing a dried reagent in a microfluidic system is provided, the method comprising the following steps: providing a microfluidic system having a microfluidic structure, introducing a flowable carrier medium containing a reagent in the microfluidic structure, and drying the reagent in the microfluidic structure by lyophilization. |
| US08790930B2 |
Intelligent pigments and plastics
A chemical indicator having a particulate inorganic substrate, and at least one reactive dye or ink coated on and/or impregnated within the particulate inorganic substrate. Coating and/or impregnating at least one reactive dye or ink on or within a particulate inorganic substrate improves the storage stability and/or thermal stability of the at least one reactive dye or ink, which typically includes relatively unstable compounds. This allows the present indicators to be incorporated into thermoplastic polymer materials and processed conventionally while maintaining the efficacy and stability of the new indicators. The indicators provide simple, reliable, and cost effective detection means for detecting analytes such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, and may find use in applications such as food packaging and medical applications. |
| US08790927B2 |
Anticancer method comprising plant stem cell line derived from Taxus cambium or procambium
The present invention relates to a composition for preventing or treating cancer, which contains, as an active ingredient, a Taxus cambium- or procambium-derived cell line; a lysate thereof; an extract thereof; or a culture medium thereof. The cell line, the lysate, the extract, and the culture medium has minimized side effects compared to the conventional therapeutic drugs, is safe to the human body, is involved directly in the growth of cancer to induce cancer cell death, and shows anticancer activity of inhibiting angiogenesis occurring in carcinogenesis. Accordingly, the cell line, the lysate, the extract and the culture medium is useful for the prevention, treatment and alleviation of cancer. |
| US08790922B2 |
RNA sequence-specific mediators of RNA interference
The present invention relates to a Drosophila in vitro system which was used to demonstrate that dsRNA is processed to RNA segments 21-23 nucleotides (nt) in length. Furthermore, when these 21-23 nt fragments are purified and added back to Drosophila extracts, they mediate RNA interference in the absence of long dsRNA. Thus, these 21-23 nt fragments are the sequence-specific mediators of RNA degradation. A molecular signal, which may be their specific length, must be present in these 21-23 nt fragments to recruit cellular factors involved in RNAi. This present invention encompasses these 21-23 nt fragments and their use for specifically inactivating gene function. The use of these fragments (or chemically synthesized oligonucleotides of the same or similar nature) enables the targeting of specific mRNAs for degradation in mammalian cells, where the use of long dsRNAs to elicit RNAi is usually not practical, presumably because of the deleterious effects of the interferon response. This specific targeting of a particular gene function is useful in functional genomic and therapeutic applications. |
| US08790920B2 |
Decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix
The invention is directed to compositions comprising decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix and uses thereof. Methods for repairing or regenerating defective, diseased, damaged or ischemic tissues or organs in a subject, preferably a human, using the decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix of the invention are also provided. The invention is further directed to a medical device, preferably a stent or an artificial heart, and biocompatible materials, preferably a tissue regeneration scaffold, comprising decellularized bone marrow extracellular matrix for implantation into a subject. |
| US08790915B2 |
Isolation of a protein responsible for uranium (VI) reduction
The present invention relates to the isolation and characterization of a protein responsible for the reduction of uranium (VI) to uranium (IV). The present invention extends to the use of the isolated protein in the reduction of uranium (VI) to uranium (IV) and further extends to a process for the bioremediation, or at least partial remediation, of a site contaminated with a source of U (VI). According to a first aspect thereof, the present invention provides an isolated polypeptide derived from Thermus scotoductus strain SA-01 that is responsible for the reduction of uranium (VI), in a source of uranium (VI), to uranium (IV), wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No: 1. |
| US08790908B2 |
Use of a carbonaceous substitute for the production of yeast
The present invention relates to novel strains of Saccharomyces that can be produced on a carbonaceous substrate which makes it possible to completely and/or partially replace the use of sugar, and to the use thereof for the production of yeast, in particular on the industrial scale. The invention also relates to a method for producing yeast of the Saccharomyces genus on a carbonaceous substrate which makes it possible to completely or partially replace the use of sugar. |
| US08790889B2 |
Neuronal stimulation
A method of activating a latent neural precursor cell population, comprising: (1) providing a neural cell population derived from the hippocampus; (2) introducing the neural cell population to a neurosphere-forming culture medium; and (3) activating the latent precursor cell population by treatment with a β3 adrenergic receptor agonist. |
| US08790880B2 |
Cysteine protease Cwp84 (CD2787) as a diagnostic marker for Clostridium difficile
Accurate and fast detection of the presence of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) disease is crucial for the proper treatment of patients with C. difficile infection. Present tests detecting the presence of C. difficile disease are fast and cost effective, but are not very sensitive. Using an ELISA including Cell Wall Protein 84 (Cwp84) increases the sensitivity of the ELISA. Cwp84 may be used alone or in combination with other markers to support a diagnosis of C. difficile-associated disease. |
| US08790879B2 |
Probes for detecting the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis in a sample
Oligonucleotides useful for determining the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis in a test sample. |
| US08790871B2 |
Detecting diastolic heart failure by protease and protease inhibitor plasma profiling
Disclosed herein are methods of detecting and predicting diastolic heart failure and predicting congestive heart failure comprise protease and protease inhibitor profiling. |
| US08790867B2 |
Methods of forming photolithographic patterns by negative tone development
Provided are methods of forming photolithographic patterns by negative tone development. The methods employ a photoresist composition that includes a polymer having a unit of the following general formula (I): wherein: R1 represents hydrogen or a C1 to C3 alkyl group; a represents an integer from 1 to 3; and b represents 0 or 1. The methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of semiconductor devices. |
| US08790866B2 |
Patterning process and resist composition
A negative pattern is formed by coating a resist composition comprising a methylol-substituted urea, amide or urethane compound, a polymer comprising recurring units having an acid labile group-substituted hydroxyl group, and an acid generator onto a substrate, prebaking, exposing to high-energy radiation, and developing in an organic solvent developer such that the unexposed region of resist film is dissolved away and the exposed region of resist film is not dissolved. In image formation via positive/negative reversal by organic solvent development, the resist film is characterized by a high dissolution contrast between the unexposed and exposed regions. |
| US08790864B2 |
Method of improving print performance in flexographic printing plates
A method of tailoring the shape of a plurality of relief printing dots created in a photosensitive printing blank during a platemaking process is provided. The photocurable layer is exposed to actinic radiation using an array of UV LED light assemblies and the use of the array of UV LED light assemblies produces relief printing dots having at least one geometric characteristic selected from the group consisting of a desired planarity of a top surface of the relief printing dots, a desired shoulder angle of the relief printing dots and a desired edge sharpness of the relief printing dots. |
| US08790860B2 |
Actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, and resist film, pattern forming method, method for preparing electronic device, and electronic device, each using the same
An actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition capable of forming a hole pattern which has an ultrafine pore diameter (for example, 60 nm or less) and has an excellent cross-sectional shape with excellent local pattern dimensional uniformity; and a resist film, a pattern forming method, a method for preparing an electronic device, and an electronic device, each using the same, are provided.The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (P) a resin containing 30 mol % or more of a repeating unit (a) represented by the following general formula (I) based on all the repeating units; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation of actinic rays or radiation; and (G) a compound having at least one of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom, and further having basicity or being capable of increasing the basicity by an action of an acid: |
| US08790857B2 |
Toner and process for production thereof
Disclosed is a toner obtained by coating surfaces of core particles including at least a binder resin having a carboxyl group and a coloring agent with successive coatings of a water-soluble crosslinking agent capable of crosslinking with a carboxyl group and a water-soluble polymer having a carboxyl group, which have been successively applied on the core particles and crosslinked with each other. The thus-formed toner is provided with a good harmony of favorable fixability represented by a low lowest fixable temperature and favorable storage stability represented by little aggregation after standing at 50° C. for 8 hours. |
| US08790856B2 |
Low dielectric additives for toner
The present disclosure describes toner compositions containing an additive package including one or more additives that exhibit low dielectric loss, which toners exhibit improved tribo charging, 2nd transfer efficiency and IQ without affecting color. |
| US08790855B2 |
Charge control agent and toner using same
The present invention provides a charge control agent containing, as an active substance(s), one or two or more thiazolidinedione derivatives represented by the following formula (1), where R1 represents a hydrogen atom, etc.; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, etc.; R3 to R7, which may be identical to or different from each other, represent a hydrogen atom, a chlorine atom, a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, etc., and may be joined to each other to form a ring; and V, W, X, Y and Z represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, and 0 to 3 of any of V, W, X, Y and Z are nitrogen atoms which do not have the substituents of R3 to R7. |
| US08790853B2 |
Charge generating composition
The present disclosure is directed to charge generating compositions and methods of making the charge generating compositions. The composition may comprise one or more polymers comprising styrene units and allyl alcohol units, and one or more photoconductive particles. Electrophotographic devices employing the compositions, including methods of making the devices, are also disclosed. |
| US08790848B2 |
Process for producing separator and separator
In fuel cell separator, the periphery of manifold through which fuel gas, reaction water, etc., pass and the seal line being a site of bonding with an adjacent separator are provided with a resin layer. Within the surface of the separator, the resin application site on which the resin layer is formed undergoes subbing treatment in advance to thereby increase the capability of bonding with the resin. When the resin layer consists of a resin having an NH group, as the subbing treatment, hydroxide deposition treatment is carried out on the surface of the separator. |
| US08790847B2 |
Method for the manufacture of reversible solid oxide cells
A method of producing a reversible solid oxide cell. The method includes the steps of tape casting an anode support layer on a support (1); tape casting an anode layer on a support (2); tape casting an electrolyte layer on a support (3); and either laminating said anode layer on top of said anode support layer; removing said support (2) from said anode layer; laminating said electrolyte layer on top of said anode layer; and sintering the multilayer structure; or laminating said anode layer on top of said electrolyte layer; removing said support (2) from said anode layer; laminating said anode support layer on top of said anode layer; and sintering the multilayer structure. |
| US08790833B2 |
Floating-type microbial fuel cell
Provided is a floating-type microbial fuel cell capable of effectively generating energy from organic contaminants of contaminated waters. The floating-type microbial fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode electrically connected to the cathode, and a floating unit connected to the cathode and/or the anode and floatable in a substrate solution, wherein the cathode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having a dissolved oxygen concentration higher than that of a region at which the anode is positioned, and the anode is positioned at a region in the substrate solution having an amount of electrons generated by microorganisms larger than that of a region at which the cathode is positioned. |
| US08790827B2 |
Positive electrode active material, nonaqueous electrolyte battery and method for manufacturing positive electrode active material
A positive electrode active material includes: a secondary particle obtained upon aggregation of a primary particle that is a lithium complex oxide particle in which at least nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) are solid-solved as transition metals, wherein an average composition of the whole of the secondary particle is represented by the following formula (1): LixCoyNizM1-y-zOb-aXa Formula (1) wherein an existent amount of cobalt (Co) becomes large from a center of the primary particle toward the surface thereof; and an existent amount of cobalt (Co) in the primary particle existing in the vicinity of the surface of the secondary particle is larger than an existent amount of cobalt (Co) in the primary particle existing in the vicinity of the center of the secondary particle. |
| US08790825B2 |
Negative active material for rechargeable lithium battery, method of preparing the same, and rechargeable lithium battery including the same
Disclosed are a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a core including silicon oxide represented by the following Chemical Formula 1; and a surface-treatment layer surrounding the core and including metal oxide represented by the following Chemical Formula 2, a method of preparing the negative active material, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the negative active material. The metal of the metal oxide is included in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 20 wt % based on the total weight of the negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. SiOx [Chemical Formula 1] MyOz [Chemical Formula 2] In the above Chemical Formula 1 and 2, M, x, y, and z are the same as defined in the specification. |
| US08790818B2 |
Multifunctional composite
A multi-functional, laminated composite comprises a plurality of cloth layers (3) penetrated by an infused matrix, wherein at least one cell (1) for energy storage is supported by and integrally built up from at least one of the cloth layers (3), the cell (1) being embedded in the matrix. The cell may comprise first and second electrodes (6,7) separated by a porous, separator layer (2) that has a liquid electrolyte-permeable, matrix-free intra-electrode region to which the electrolyte (2′) may be added before or after resin infusion to activate the cell. The structural composite may have integrated energy storage comprising a lithium-ion rechargeable cell, optionally of printed construction. |
| US08790817B2 |
Pouch-type lithium secondary battery
A pouch-type lithium secondary battery including: an electrode assembly; and a case to house the electrode assembly, including first and second case portions. The first case portion includes a receiving part to receive the electrode assembly, and a wing part extending from the receiving part. The second case portion includes an outer part that is sealed to the wing part, and an extension part that extends from the outer part and is folded toward the wing part. |
| US08790815B2 |
Nickel coated aluminum battery cell tabs
A battery cell tab is described. The battery cell tab is anodized on one end and has a metal coating on the other end. Battery cells and methods of making battery cell tabs are also described. |
| US08790813B2 |
Electric storage apparatus
An electric storage apparatus includes a plurality of electric storage components, and a holder holding each of the electric storage components at both end portions of each of the electric storage components in a longitudinal direction. The holder includes a plurality of guide portions provided within an orthogonal plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the electric storage component and configured to move both end portions of each of the electric storage components toward a predetermined holding position, and an opening portion formed at one end of each of the guide portions and configured to insert the end portion of the electric storage component into the guide portion. |
| US08790810B2 |
Battery cell module with sliding repeating elements
A battery cell module includes a battery cell, a sliding repeating element, and a guide rail. The repeating element is disposed adjacent the battery cell. A gap is defined between the battery cell and the repeating element. The repeating element has a main body with at least one spacer coupled thereto. The guide rail cooperates with the at least one spacer and permits the repeating element to move with an expansion of the battery cell. The cooperation of the guide rail with the at least one spacer thereby militates against an overcompression of the battery cell. |
| US08790802B2 |
Air battery system and methods for using and controlling air battery system
An air battery system has a sealed air battery cell (10) having: an air electrode having an air electrode layer (4) containing a conductive material and an air electrode power collector (6) for collecting electric power from the air electrode layer; a negative electrode having a negative electrode layer (3) containing an negative electrode active material that adsorbs and releases metal ions and a negative electrode power collector (2) for collecting electric power from the negative electrode layer; a separator (7) provided between the air electrode layer and the negative electrode layer; and a sealed air battery case (1a, 1b). The air battery system also has a depressurization portion (20) that reduces the internal pressure of the sealed air battery cell to below the atmospheric pressure. |
| US08790793B2 |
Organic electroluminescent element with electron transport layer containing condensed aromatic heterocyclic compound, display device and lighting device
Provided is an organic electroluminescent element comprising a substrate having thereon an anode, a cathode, and a plurality of organic layers sandwiched between the anode and the cathode, wherein the plurality of organic layers comprise: a light emitting layer containing a phosphorescence emitting compound; and an electron transport layer containing a compound represented by Formula (1), (Ar1)n1-Y1 Formula (1) wherein n1 is an integer of 1 or more; Y1 is a substituent when n1 is 1, and Y1 is a single bond or a linking group of n1 valences when n1 is two or more; Ar1 is a group represented by Formula (A), a plurality of Ar1 may be the same or different with each other when n1 is two or more; and the compound represented by Formula (1) contains at least two condensed aromatic heterocyclic rings each comprising 3 or more rings condensed with each other. |
| US08790788B2 |
Self-adhesive composite reinforcement, in particular for tires, and associated manufacturing method
Composite reinforcement (R-2) that is self-adhesive by curing to a diene rubber matrix, which can be used as reinforcing element for a tire, having one or more reinforcing thread(s) (20), for example a carbon steel cord; a first layer (21) of a thermoplastic polymer, the glass transition temperature of which is positive, for example 6,6 polyamide, covering the thread or the threads; and a second layer (22) having a functionalized unsaturated thermoplastic styrene elastomer, the glass transition temperature of which is negative, for example an epoxidized SBS elastomer, covering the first layer (21), the elastomer containing functional groups selected from epoxide, carboxyl and acid anhydride or ester groups. Process for manufacturing such a composite reinforcement and rubber article or semi-finished product, especially a tire, incorporating such a composite reinforcement. |
| US08790786B2 |
Simultaneously drawn opaque film made of PLA
The present invention relates to simultaneously drawn opaque biaxially oriented film made of at least one cycloolefin copolymer (COC) containing layer. The COC is preferably at a concentration of 0.5 to 30% by weight, based on the layer. The invention further relates to an opaque, biaxially oriented polyhydroxycarboxylic acid film containing at least one layer containing a polymer based on hydroxycarboxylic acids and a cycloolefin copolymer (COC). The invention further relates to a process for producing the PHC film and the use thereof. |
| US08790785B2 |
Method of forming a porous insulation film
A method of forming a porous insulation film uses an organic silica material gas having a 3-membered SiO cyclic structure and a 4-membered SiO cyclic structure, or an organic silica material gas having a 3-membered SiO cyclic structure and a straight-chain organic silica structure, and uses a plasma reaction in the filming process. A porous interlevel dielectric film having a higher strength and a higher adhesive property can be obtained. |
| US08790783B2 |
Barrier layers comprising Ni and/or Ti, coated articles including barrier layers, and methods of making the same
Certain example embodiments relate to a coated article including at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver or the like in a low-E coating, and methods of making the same. In certain cases, at least one layer of the coating is of or includes nickel and/or titanium (e.g., NixTiyOz). The provision of a layer including nickel titanium and/or an oxide thereof may permit a layer to be used that has good adhesion to the IR reflecting layer, and reduced absorption of visible light (resulting in a coated article with a higher visible transmission). When a layer including nickel titanium oxide is provided directly over and/or under the IR reflecting layer (e.g., as a barrier layer), this may result in improved chemical and mechanical durability. Thus, visible transmission may be improved if desired, without compromising durability; or, durability may simply be increased. |
| US08790772B2 |
Impregnating method for the production of wound coupling coatings
A wound friction coating and a method for the production thereof. |
| US08790766B2 |
Polymer film
The present invention can provide a polymer film having an Ra (arithmetic average roughness) of 0.5 μm to 2.5 μm, an Ry (maximum height) of 3 μm to 11 μm, an Rz (ten-point average height) of 3 μm to 8 μm, and a light transmittance of 85% or higher. A preferable embodiment of the present invention can provide, at the same time, an optical diffusion function, an improved luminance, a transmittance and the like which are of a sufficient level not realized conventionally. In a still preferable embodiment, Sm (average concave-concave/convex-convex interval) of 90 μm to 160 μm and the average inter-local peak interval (S) is 5 μm to 15 μm. |
| US08790756B2 |
Thermal-transfer laminate film, thermal-transfer sheet, and image forming apparatus
A thermal-transfer laminate film includes a base film and an image protection layer. The image protection layer is provided an the base film and contains a thermoplastic resin and a pearl pigment, a content ratio of the pearl pigment with respect to 100 parts by mass of the thermoplastic resin being 0.5 parts by mass or more and 10 parts by mass or less. |
| US08790753B2 |
Rubber material with barrier material made of cycloolefin copolymers
A rubber material is described, modified with a barrier material in the form of a copolymer which can be produced via ring-opening metathesis polymerization of a) at least one olefin monomer selected from the group consisting of monocyclic olefin monomers having one or two endocyclic C—C double bonds and bicyclic olefin monomers having one endocyclic C—C double bond and b) at least one polycyclic olefin monomer having at least two C—C double bonds. The barrier material can be used to reduce the gas permeability of the rubber material. |
| US08790751B2 |
Method of improving adhesion of dielectric cap to copper
In a method of promoting adhesion between a copper body and a dielectric layer in contact therewith, the copper body and dielectric layer are placed in a vacuum chamber, in a chamber, the copper body and dielectric layer within the chamber are heated, and SiH4 is provided in the chamber. |
| US08790749B2 |
Method for providing a grinding surface on glass implements used in personal care
Manufacturing method of grinding surface on glass cosmetics, in particular the nail and skin file, from flat glass of FLOAT type, is carried out by marking at least one abrasive surface on one or two sides of a glass pane or intermediate product. This surface is then coated with fusing glue, powdered with clean quartz sand with grain size between 1 and 500 μm using a sieve, and the surplus sand is knocked-down. The intermediate product with fixed sand is inserted into the fusing furnace where it is baked at the temperature of up to 900° C. The abrasive surface may be roughened by sand blasting before the fusing glue application; the intermediate product coated with fusing glue can be decorated with glass fritte. |
| US08790748B2 |
Polymer modified bitumen cap sheets and methods
According to one embodiment, a method for pressing roofing granules into a roofing membrane may include providing a roofing membrane and applying roofing granules atop a surface of the membrane. The method may also include adjusting a position of a second roller relative to a first roller so as to vary an amount of contact between the membrane and the first roller and pressing the roofing granules into the membrane via the first roller. In some embodiments, a line speed of the membrane may be determined and a contact value may be calculated based on the line speed of the membrane. The contact value may represent an effective amount of contact between the membrane and the first roller. The position of the second roller may be adjusted so that the amount of contact between the membrane and the first roller corresponds to the effective amount of contact. |
| US08790745B2 |
Manufacturing method for electroluminescence display apparatus
A method of manufacturing an electroluminescent display apparatus includes: discharging first droplets of the fluid luminescent material from the first nozzles to the target discharge areas when the first nozzles are positioned in an area above the target discharge areas so that all of the first droplets are arranged in the target discharge areas on different X-axis direction positions so as not to overlap each other when viewed in the Y-axis direction; and discharging second droplets of fluid luminescent material from the second nozzles to the target discharge areas to which the first droplets have been discharged when the second nozzles are positioned in the area above the target discharge areas after a predetermined period of time passed since the discharge of the first droplets to the target discharge areas. |
| US08790743B1 |
Method for controlling cyclic plasma-assisted process
A method for processing a substrate in a reactor by pulsing RF power, includes: applying RF power in pulses in the reactor to process the substrate; monitoring data from the reactor indicative of anomalous pulses of RF power, including data from a photo sensor equipped in the reactor; counting the number of anomalous pulses of RF power in the monitored data; determining whether or not the number of anomalous pulses of RF power is acceptable; and initiating a pre-designated sequence if the number of anomalous pulses of RF power is determined to be unacceptable. |
| US08790742B2 |
Method for manufacturing 3D circuits from bare die or packaged IC chips by microdispensed interconnections
A method for manufacturing an electronic circuit in three-dimensional space provides for interconnecting electronic components within the circuit by directly writing conducting lines. The method may include observing a direct writing tool of a direct write system using a vision system, determining proper placement of the direct writing tool at least partially based on the step of observing, and directly writing conducting lines in three dimensions using the proper placement. The direct writing may be on a surface or in free space. The method may include stacking a plurality of chips to provide a stack having a top surface and edges extending away from the top and interconnecting connections of the chips by directly writing conducting lines along one of the edges. |
| US08790735B2 |
Method of preferentially reducing absorption of saturated fat and compositions
Methods and food product compositions are provided for preferentially reducing absorption of saturated fat whereby the effective caloric content of a fat-containing food product is reduced by about 25% of the effective caloric content contributed by a saturated fat. This food product is prepared with a major portion of the saturated fat present in the food product being complexed with a solubilized alpha and/or beta cyclodextrin. Food products comprising a fat component comprising mixtures of saturated and unsaturated fat fractions are provided wherein the saturated fat fraction is desirably selectively more complexed to reduce its relative metabolic availability. |
| US08790725B2 |
Methods and compositions for treating pollution
This invention relates to compositions and methods for improving water quality by enhancing natural bacterial processes and altering environmental conditions in situ. This is achieved by the manufacture and use of granules or tablets composed of the inventive formulations. |
| US08790712B2 |
Constitutional function-improving agents
The present invention is drawn to a method of inducing thymocyte proliferation in a vertebrate animal with an impaired immune system comprising administering δ-aminolevulinic acid or a salt thereof every day in succession. The method further comprises administering at least one mineral. |
| US08790709B2 |
Polymer Carrier
Compositions and methods for delivering bioactive agents, such as vitamins, hormones, nutrients and drugs, by stabilizing and or solubilizing these agents in a polymer matrix. The carrier polymers can be used in drug delivery and are useful for delivery of small molecules. The carrier polymers also can be used in scaffolds for regenerative medicine. |
| US08790707B2 |
Surface-treated calcium phosphate particles suitable for oral care and dental compositions
Calcium phosphate particles are described comprising a surface treatment wherein the surface treatment comprises at least one sugar alcohol, at least one glycerophosphoric acid compound, or mixture thereof. Also described are various oral care compositions comprising surface treated calcium phosphate particles and methods of surface treating calcium phosphate particles. |
| US08790702B2 |
Modified hyaluronic acid polymer compositions and related methods
The present application provides compositions comprising hyaluronic acid having low levels of functional group modification, mixtures formed by controlled reaction of such lightly modified hyaluronic acid with suitable difunctional or multi-functional crosslinkers, and hydrogel precursor compositions and the resulting hydrogels. The compositions are lightly cross-linked and possess low pro-inflammatory properties when injected in vivo, and can be used as, for example, medical devices, biomedical adhesives and sealants, and for localized delivery of bioactive agents, among other uses. |
| US08790696B2 |
Cyclooxygenase inhibitor and calcium channel antagonist compositions and methods for use in urological procedures
Compositions of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor and a calcium channel antagonist in a liquid carrier. The composition may be administered the the urinary tract during urological diagnostic, interventional, surgical and other medical procedures. One disclosed composition comprises ketoprofen and nifedipine in a liquid irrigation carrier, and includes a solubilizing agent, stabilizing agents and a buffering agent. |
| US08790695B2 |
Medicinal carriers, and preparation method and uses thereof
A medicinal carrier is provided. The medicinal carrier comprises a first component, which is a biocompatible polymer with an amino group (—NH2); a saccharide; and a second component which is a biocompatible material. The saccharide grafts to the first component via the amino group (—NH2) of the first component, and the first component bonds to the second component via an ionic bond. The medicinal carrier can protect the medicine from gastric acid and swell or decompose to release the medicine under a specific pH condition, thus, showing a good applicability. |
| US08790694B2 |
Gastric retentive extended release pharmaceutical compositions
The present disclosure provides extended release pharmaceutical compositions comprising an opioid and an additional active pharmaceutical ingredient, wherein the composition exhibits gastric retentive properties which are achieved by a combination of a physical property of the composition and release of the opioid, wherein upon administration to a subject, the composition has at least one pharmacokinetic parameter that differs by less than about 30% when the subject is in a fasted state as compared to a fed state. |
| US08790691B2 |
Modified drugs for use in liposomal nanoparticles
Drag derivatives are provided herein which are suitable for loading into liposomal nanoparticle carriers. In some preferred aspects, the derivatives comprise a poorly water-soluble drag derivatized with a weak-base moiety that facilitates active loading of the drag through a LN transmembrane pH or ion gradient into the aqueous interior of the LN. The weak-base moiety can optionally comprise a lipophilic domain that facilitates active loading of the drag to the inner monolayer of the liposomal membrane. Advantageously, LN formulations of the drag derivatives exhibit improved solubility, reduced toxicity, enhanced efficacy, and/or other benefits relative to the corresponding free drags. |
| US08790688B2 |
Wound care device for local treatment of pain in a wound
A wound care device for local treatment of pain in a wound is provided. The device comprises an active pain relieving composition, which can also be an anti-inflammatory agent. The wound care device is suitable for treatment of pain in open wounds. The device can include small amounts of pain relieving compositions that are effective in relieving pain at the wound while not resulting in any systemic effects. The device may be in the form of a wound dressing, and the pain relieving composition may be delivered to the wound through a controlled release system. |
| US08790686B2 |
Method and composition for treating hemorrhoids
A hemorrhoid-treating composition comprising gentian violet and a lubricant or suppository base. A method of treating hemorrhoids by topically applying a composition comprising gentian violet and a lubricant or suppository base. |
| US08790684B2 |
Vascular closure device
A biocompatible material may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including a vascular closure device. The vascular closure device includes a fibrous structure formed from at least one randomly oriented fiber, the randomly oriented fiber comprising at least one polymer, and at least one agent, in therapeutic dosage, incorporated into at least one of the fibrous structure and the at least one randomly oriented fiber. |
| US08790681B2 |
Solid forms for tissue repair
This invention provides aragonite- and calcite-based scaffolds for the repair, regeneration, enhancement of formation or a combination thereof of cartilage and/or bone, which scaffolds comprise at least two phases, wherein each phase differs in terms of its chemical content, or structure, kits comprising the same, processes for producing solid aragonite or calcite scaffolds and methods of use thereof. |
| US08790678B2 |
Biomaterials having nanoscale layers and coatings
The invention generally relates to substrates and surfaces having substrates. Generally speaking, the substrates may be thinly layered substrates, and the surfaces may comprise thinly layered substrates. Additionally, the substrates may comprise a multifunctional water soluble polymer and a lipoprotein and the surfaces may comprise a multifunctional water soluble polymer and a lipoprotein. |
| US08790669B2 |
Cosmetic compositions comprising latex film formers
Disclosed are cosmetic compositions comprising at least one latex-film former chosen from at least one random styrene acrylate copolymer and derivatives thereof, and at least one coalescent and/or plasticizer. |
| US08790643B2 |
Methods for treating disease using an anti-IL-21 receptor antibody
Monoclonal antibodies to the IL-21 receptor and multimeric complexes comprising the IL-21 receptor; including monoclonal antibodies to the heterodimeric receptor, IL-21/IL-2Rγ; have been prepared. The invention also describes a method of producing said antibodies. And, the invention also describes a method of treatment comprising using said antibodies to suppress an immune response. |
| US08790634B2 |
MetAP-2 inhibitor polymersomes for therapeutic administration
The present invention provides methods to treating inflammation related disease and disorders such as an autoimmune disease and autoimmune related uveitis by administering compositions and formulations comprising MetAP-2 inhibitors as disclosed herein. The composition comprises a formulation of a fumagillol derivative that retains anti-inflammation activity and is associated with a block copolymer comprising a hydrophilic polymer moiety and a hydrophobic polymer moiety. |
| US08790631B2 |
Use of biocompatible polymers for the preparation of a composition or a medical device
The invention relates to a biocompatible polymer having general formula (I) AaXxYy, wherein: A denotes a monomer; X denotes an RCOOR′ group; Y denotes an O or N-sulphonate group which is fixed to A and which has either formula —ROS03R′ or —RNS03R′ in which R denotes an optionally branched and/or unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon chain which can contain one or more aromatic rings and R′ denotes a hydrogen atom or a cation; a denotes the number of monomers; x denotes the rate of substitution of the A monomers by the X groups; and y denotes the rate of substitution of the A monomers by the Y groups. More specifically, the invention relates to the use of said biocompatible polymers for the preparation of a pharmaceutical, dermatological or cosmetic composition or a medical device, which are intended to prevent, relieve and/or treat discomfort, distress, itches, irritations and/or pain and/or to protect tissues against same. In addition, in certain cases, the use of said biocompatible polymers for pain treatment can impact on the actual curing of certain diseases. Significant improvements and even cures have been observed in relation to chronic and painful diseases that are associated with alterations in the extracellular matrix regardless of the origin thereof. |
| US08790629B2 |
High viscosity heat-treated xanthan gum
The present invention is directed to heat treated xanthan gums, which have improved solution viscosity over other xanthan gums heat-treated under the same processing conditions while maintaining the improved ease of use and the short, non-stringy gel texture of heat treated xanthan gums. Such high solution viscosity xanthan gums are suitable in a variety of applications, including cosmetic and personal care compositions. |
| US08790621B2 |
Nanoparticles and nanoparticle compositions
The invention provides multivalent surface-crosslinked micelle (SCM) particles, crosslinked reverse micelle (CRM) particles, and methods of making and using them. The SCM particles can be used, for example, to inhibit a virus or bacteria from binding to a host cell. The inhibition can be used in therapy for the flu, cancer, or AIDS. The CRM particles can be used, for example, to prepare metal nanoparticles or metal alloy nanoparticles, or they can be used in catalytic reactions. |
| US08790611B2 |
Reactor for carrying out an exothermic reaction in the gas phase
The invention relates to a reactor for carrying out an exothermic reaction in the gas phase, which comprises a vessel having an outer wall (13) composed of a metallic material, wherein an inner shell (17) is accommodated in the interior of the reactor (1) and the inner shell (17) has a spacing of at least 50 mm to the inside of the outer wall (13). |
| US08790607B2 |
Method for purifying elemental boron
Elemental boron with a boron content of at least 96.8% by weight, an oxygen content of at most 1.6% by weight, a nitrogen content of at most 0.2% by weight, a crystallinity of 30% by weight or less, and a particle size distribution with a d100 value of 9 μm or less. |
| US08790602B2 |
Furnace coil with protuberances on the external surface
The efficiency of heat transfer to a furnace tube or coil in a furnace for cracking ethane, propane or naphtha feedstocks, or a mixture thereof may be improved by providing protuberances on the surface of the tube or coil having i) a maximum height from 3 to 15% of the coil outer diameter, ii) a contact surface with a coil, or a base, which area is 0.1%-10% of the coil external cross section area, and iii) a geometrical shape which has a relatively large external surface containing a relatively small volume. |
| US08790599B2 |
Microtiter plate system and method
A system for analyzing, manipulating, and recording data associated with a microtiter plate is provided. The system provides a touch screen element provided proximal to the microtiter plate such that data pertaining to events and conditions observed within one or more wells of the microtiter plate may be easily and accurately recorded. Data display, storage, and manipulation features are also provided. |
| US08790598B2 |
Reaction cuvette for automatic analyzer and method of surface treatment for reaction cuvette
The present invention provides reaction cells capable of maintaining stable analytical performance by preventing bubble adhesion and reducing sample carryover even if the amount of sample liquid for a single test is further reduced in the future. The invention further provides an automatic analyzer that uses the reaction cells and a method for enhancing the hydrophilicity of the inner surfaces of the reaction cells. According to the invention, a reaction cell has a first electrode inserted thereinto and a second electrode disposed on the bottom side of the reaction cell. A voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode to cause electric discharge between the electrodes. This allows for enhancing only the hydrophilicity of the bottom inner surface and the four bottom corners of the reaction cell to which large bubbles adhere easily. |
| US08790593B2 |
Contamination control for liquid handling
A structure for holding sample-containing receptacles includes a cover with holes formed therein through which the receptacles can be accessed with a substance transfer mechanism, such as a robotic pipettor. When the transfer mechanism is inserted into and then withdrawn from a receptacle, a string of viscous material may be suspended from the mechanism. A viscous string removal element adjacent each opening engages the string of viscous material and dislodges the string from the mechanism when the mechanism moves in a prescribed path with respect to the removal element. A sample rack configured to hold receptacles and to be inserted into the structure below the cover includes a sample rack having receptacle-receiving pockets, each with a resilient element and a positioning feature for holding receptacles of varying sizes in a predetermined position within the receptacle receiving pocket, and a cover including features for preventing a receptacle from being pulled out of its receptacle-receiving pocket when the transfer mechanism is withdrawn from the receptacle. |
| US08790590B1 |
Air treatment substance delivery apparatus for air conditioning systems
An air treatment substance delivery apparatus includes a pressurized aerosol can of air treatment substance such as a fragrance or sanitizer with a spray nozzle mounted on a conventional nozzle displacement valve, a nozzle depression mechanism actuated by a solenoid, an electric power circuit delivering power from the power source to the solenoid, the power circuit including a spray activation switch connected to air movement detection means so that activation of the air unit fan is detected by the air movement detection means which operates the spray activation switch to activate the solenoid which causes the nozzle depression mechanism to depress the spray nozzle on the can and release atomized air treatment substance into the air stream. |
| US08790586B2 |
Molecular exchange device
The present application relates to a molecular exchange device (1) for use with an analysis and control apparatus and a method of manufacturing a molecular exchange device. The molecular exchange device comprises a casing (2), extending from a proximal end (3) to a distal end (4), supporting at least two fluid passageways (7a, 7b) extending from the proximal end to the distal end; the casing comprising at least one exchange aperture (9a, 9b) between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein a portion of the fluid passageway exposed by the exchange aperture is porous |
| US08790585B2 |
Countercurrent tank type supercritical water reactor with a sacrificial lining
A countercurrent tank type supercritical water reactor with a sacrificial lining, comprising a cylinder body and a catalyst tank arranged inside, the upper part of the cylinder body is connected with a top cover, and the lower part of the cylinder body is connected with a spherical head, the inner side of the cylinder body, the inner side of the spherical head and the inner side of the top cover constitute the inner wall of the reactor, wherein the inner wall of the reactor is provided with a high temperature resistance and thermal insulation coating layer, the inner wall of the high temperature resistance and thermal insulation coating layer is provided with a sealing coating layer, and the inner wall of the sealing coating layer is provided with the sacrificial lining. The reactor is of a countercurrent tank type, which can prevent the reactor blockage caused by salt deposition. |
| US08790584B2 |
System for refining UMG Si using steam plasma torch
Disclosed is a system for refining UMG Si including a vacuum chamber, a cold crucible disposed within the vacuum chamber, a device disposed within the vacuum chamber to supply Si to the cold crucible, a steam plasma torch disposed above the cold crucible to apply steam plasma formed by introducing a reactive gas into plasma flame by an inert gas to the Si supplied to the cold crucible, and an impurity collector disposed above the cold crucible within the vacuum chamber to collect impurity gas generated in the cold crucible and discharge the collected impurity gas to the outside of the vacuum chamber. |
| US08790572B2 |
Titanium flat product production
Titanium flat product is produced by passing a titanium powder green flat material through a pre-heating station and heated under a protective atmosphere to a temperature at least sufficient for hot rolling. The pre-heated flat material then is passed through a rolling station while still under a protective atmosphere and hot rolled to produce a hot rolled flat product of a required level of hot densification. The hot rolled flat product is passed through a cooling station while still under a protective atmosphere, and cooled to a temperature at which it can be passed out of a protective atmosphere. In the process, the hot rolling provides the predominant hot densification mechanism involved. |
| US08790568B1 |
Method for producing a plastic bottle, and preform and blowing mold suited therefor
Method for producing a plastic bottle, and preform and blowing mold suited therefore are disclosed. An exemplary process can produce a plastic bottle, for example, a PET bottle. Such a bottle can be produced from a preform which has a body which is closed on one side, which is connected to a neck section with a pour opening, in which the preform which has been produced in a plastic injection process or an extrusion process is placed in the mold cavity of a blow mold and inflated using the blow nozzle by overpressure according to the mold cavity. Sealing can take place between the blow nozzle and the preform within the preform. |
| US08790564B2 |
Fabrication method of composite components and thus obtained components
During the cooking of a composite component including layers of fibers embedded into a matrix, a superficial pressure is exerted. This superficial pressure generates a deformation that causes local contacts of fibers of at least two layers without damaging these fibers. As a result, when an electrical current is applied on a side of the composite component, such as during a lightning strike or a short circuit, the added local contacts enable the electric current to flow along multiple fibers in the composite component, thereby avoiding significant spikes in temperature. |
| US08790561B2 |
Methods for manufacturing an embosser drum for use in pre-formatting optical tape media
Various embodiments herein include utilities for generating embosser drums that are used to pre-format optical media such as optical tape with a pattern of nanostructures such as wobbled grooves. One utility includes generating a plurality of replicas from an embossing master and bonding the replicas together to form a bonded replica structure having a surface with the nanostructure pattern imprinted therein and a surface area that is approximately the same as an outer embossing surface of the embosser drum to be formed. Advantageously, a single, one-piece metallic shim can subsequently be generated, appropriately shaped and welded at a single seam to form the embosser drum outer embossing surface. |
| US08790559B2 |
Method for preparing microporous polyolefin film with improved productivity and easy control of physical properties
Provided is a method of manufacturing a microporous polyolefin film useable as a battery separator, which is easy to control strength, permeability and shrinking properties of the microporous film and embodies excellent quality uniformity and production stability in fabricating the microporous film. |
| US08790547B2 |
Anisotropic conductive adhesive
An anisotropic conductive adhesive including conductive particles dispersed in an epoxy-based adhesive containing an epoxy compound and a curing agent gives a cured product having the elastic modulus satisfying the expressions (1) to (5), in which EM35, EM55, EM95, and EM150 are values of the elastic modulus of the cured product at 35° C., 55° C., 95° C., and 150° C., respectively, ΔEM55-95 is the rate of change in the elastic modulus between 55° C. and 95° C., and ΔEM95-150 is the rate of change in the elastic modulus between 95° C. and 150° C., 700 MPa≦EM35≦3000 MPa (1) EM150 |
| US08790540B2 |
Phase change material pack
A transportable PCM (phase change material) module comprises a number of PCM packs; a housing for thermally insulting said number of PCM packs from a module's surrounding medium; spaces separating said packs and forming one or more channels for the flow of a fluid; said housing incorporating a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; whereby, in use, fluid flows through said channels from said inlet to said outlet. A PCM (phase change material) pack comprises a laminate of a first conducting panel and a second conducting panel enclosing a portion formed primarily of PCM; wherein said portion of PCM incorporates thermal conductors. A PCM (phase change material pack) comprises an envelope of relatively highly thermally conductive material enclosing a portion formed primarily of PCM; wherein said PCM portion incorporates a conductive compound mixed into said PCM which comprises carbon black particles. |
| US08790539B2 |
Azeotrope-like composition of 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-methoxypropane and 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene
Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoro-3-methoxy propane and E-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (K-1233zd) and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, solvent, and aerosol propellants. |
| US08790529B2 |
Gas supply system, substrate processing apparatus and gas supply method
A gas supply system for supplying a gas into a processing chamber for processing a substrate to be processed includes: a processing gas supply unit; a processing gas supply line; a first and a second branch line; a branch flow control unit; an additional gas supply unit; an additional gas supply line; and a control unit. The control unit performs, before processing the substrate to be processed, a processing gas supply control and an additional gas supply control by using the processing gas supply unit and the additional gas supply unit, respectively, wherein the additional gas supply control includes a control that supplies the additional gas at an initial flow rate greater than a set flow rate and then at the set flow rate after a lapse of a period of time. |
| US08790516B2 |
Method for removing arsenic as scorodite
The invention relates to a method for removing arsenic as scorodite from solutions that contain iron and arsenic. In accordance with the method, arsenic is first precipitated as ferric arsenate and subsequently processed hydrothermally into crystalline scorodite. |
| US08790499B2 |
Process kit components for titanium sputtering chamber
A process kit for a sputtering chamber comprises a deposition ring, cover ring, and a shield assembly, for placement about a substrate support in a sputtering chamber. The deposition ring comprising an annular band with an inner lip extending transversely, a raised ridge substantially parallel to the substrate support, an inner open channel, and a ledge radially outward of the raised ridge. A cover ring at least partially covers the deposition ring, the cover ring comprising an annular plate comprising a footing which rests on a surface about the substrate support, and downwardly extending first and second cylindrical walls. |
| US08790494B2 |
Paper with improved stiffness and bulk and method for making same
The invention provides a three layered reprographic paper having improved strength, stiffness and curl resistance properties, and a method for making same. The paper has a central core layer made largely of cellulose and bulked with a bulking agent such as a diamide salt. A starch-based metered size press coating is pressed on both sides of the core layer, wherein the starch has a high solid content. The coating forms a three layered paper having an I-beam arrangement with high strength outer layers surrounding a low density core. |
| US08790493B2 |
Process for the production of paper
The present invention relates to a process for producing paper which comprises: (vii) providing an aqueous suspension comprising cellulosic fibers, (viii) adding to the suspension after all points of high shear a first polymer being a cationic polymer having a charge density above 2.5 meq/g; a second polymer, and a third polymer being an organic or inorganic anionic polymer; and (ix) dewatering the obtained suspension to form paper. |
| US08790488B2 |
Biocompatible surgical compositions
Biocompatible macromer compositions are provided including an isocyanate-functional polyalkylene oxide combined with at least one multi-functional isocyanate as a first component, and a multi-amino functional compound possessing multiple primary amines as a second component. The isocyanate-functional polyalkylene oxide has pendant polyalkylene oxide groups. The resulting biocompatible macromer composition can be employed as an adhesive or sealant for medical/surgical uses. |
| US08790480B2 |
System and method for manufacturing liquid crystal display device
Provided are a system and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising a panel turning mechanism that has: a long side-supporting part for supporting the liquid crystal panel by coming into contact with an end face along at least one long side of the liquid crystal panel; and a short side-supporting part for supporting the liquid crystal panel by coming into contact with an end face along at least one short side of the liquid crystal panel and is configured to turn over the liquid crystal panel about an axis not parallel to any of the long and short sides of the liquid crystal panel in such a manner that the positional relationship between the long and short sides is reversed while both the long and short sides are supported. |
| US08790476B2 |
Mold-free resin-insulated coil windings
Mold-free resin-insulated coil windings are obtained by applying continuous fibers embedded in a quasi-solid-state epoxy-resin matrix, e.g. in the form of a tape, to the coil windings. The tape is locally heated up to the melting point of its polymer matrix, and is subsequently pressed against the winding body. The heated and fused resin of the tape, which is pressed onto the coil, flows under pressure into the voids and gaps between the coil windings and fills them up, thereby hermetically insulating the coil windings. After leaving the heating and pressing apparatus the fused epoxy resin becomes solid again. The resulting curing process is thus considerably simplified and shortened, compared to the state of the art. |
| US08790472B2 |
Process for producing a solder preform having high-melting metal particles dispersed therein
[Problems] A conventional process for producing a solder preform in which a predetermined amount of high-melting metal particles are directly put into molten solder and stirred, requires a long time for dispersing the high-melting metal particles by stirring. Therefore, in the conventional method for producing a solder preform, dissolution of the high-melting metal particles into the molten solder occurred during stirring, and their particle diameters became small. If a semiconductor chip and a substrate are soldered with a solder preform containing metal particles having such decreased diameters, the space between portions being soldered becomes narrow, and a sufficient bonding strength is not obtained.[Means for Solving the Problems] In the present invention, a premixed master alloy having a higher proportion of the high-melting metal particles in solder is first prepared, then the premixed master alloy is put into molten solder to disperse the high-melting metal particles. As a result, the high-melting metal particles can be uniformly dispersed in solder in a short length of time. Accordingly, a solder preform which is obtained by the process for producing a solder preform according to the present invention can maintain a predetermined clearance between portions being soldered, and a sufficient bonding strength is obtained. |
| US08790469B2 |
Treating apparatus, treating method and recording medium
Disclosed is a treating apparatus capable of improving the throughput during successive processing of target objects without a bad influence on the target objects. The disclosed treating apparatus includes an extendable liquid treating mechanism, and a common handling unit for handling one target object and another target object in order. The treating apparatus includes a recipe producing unit for producing a recipe having a rinsing liquid treatment and a common handling. When one common handling for handling one target object by the common handling unit and another common handling for handling another target object by the common handling unit are temporally overlapped with each other, the recipe producing unit extends the extendable liquid treatment for another target object, and shifts another common handling to an extent that the extendable liquid treatment is extended, thereby avoiding the temporal overlapping of one common handling with another common handling. |
| US08790467B2 |
Vacuum steam cleaning apparatus and method
An apparatus for cleaning an article may include a cleaning head. The cleaning head may have a lower edge and may include an annular steam chamber and a steam nozzle. The annular steam chamber may define a vacuum chamber that may be configured to receive the article therewithin. The annular steam chamber may have a plurality of discrete apertures positioned in vertically spaced relation to the lower edge. The steam nozzle may be configured to provide steam to the annular steam chamber for discharge through the apertures into the vacuum chamber. |
| US08790461B2 |
Silicon carbide single crystal wafer and method for manufacturing the same
The invention provides a method for manufacturing the silicon carbide single crystal wafer capable of improving the utilization ratio of the bulk silicon carbide single crystal, capable of improving characteristics of the element and capable of improving cleavability, and the silicon carbide single crystal wafer obtained by the manufacturing method. An α(hexagonal)-silicon carbide single crystal wafer which has a flat homoepitaxial growth surface with a surface roughness of 2 nm or less and which has an off-angle from the (0001)c plane of 0.4° or less. |
| US08790454B2 |
Heat exchanger having dehumidifying liquid and dehumidifier having the same
A heat exchanger having an extended surface plate includes a plurality of heat exchanging bodies having therein flow paths along which a heat transfer medium flows, and extended surface plates each disposed between the heat exchanging bodies and having inclined surfaces in horizontal and vertical directions. Also disclosed is a dehumidifier having the heat exchanger. Moisture in the air may be effectively absorbed by a dehumidifying liquid, and the heat exchanger may have enhanced structural strength. |
| US08790449B2 |
Electret webs with charge-enhancing additives
Electret webs are presented which include a blend of a thermoplastic resin and a charge-enhancing additive. The charge-enhancing additives include a heterocyclic imide material which is free of fluorinated groups. The webs prepared from the blends may be in the form of films or non-woven fibrous webs. Non-woven microfiber webs are useful as filtration media. |
| US08790446B2 |
Removal device for micro-bubbles and dirt
A removal device for removing gas bubbles and/or dirt particles from a liquid in a conduit system includes a housing (12) with an entry (14) and an exit (16) and a inter space (18) which is defined by the housing (12), wherein in the inter space a number of plates (20) are provided which extend substantially transversally to a main flow direction (58), wherein the plates (20) define a main ongoing flow channel (22), and wherein the plate define branch flow channels (21) which end in at least one quiet zone (44;48), and wherein at least one plate (50) defines a merge flow channel for a merge flow which merges with the main flow (22) at a merge point which is located downstream. |
| US08790442B2 |
System and method for producing metallic iron
A method of production of metallic iron nodules comprises assembling a hearth furnace having a moveable hearth comprising refractory material and having a conversion zone and a fusion zone, providing a hearth material layer comprising carbonaceous material on the refractory material, providing a layer of reducible material comprising and iron bearing material arranged in discrete portions over at least a portion of the hearth material layer, delivering oxygen gas into the hearth furnace to a ratio of at least 0.8:1 ponds of oxygen to pounds of iron in the reducible material to heat the conversion zone to a temperature sufficient to at least partially reduce the reducible material and to heat the fusion zone to a temperature sufficient to at least partially reduce the reducible material, and heating the reducible material to form one or more metallic iron nodules and slag. |
| US08790435B2 |
Method to improve mushroom cultivation
A method to improve the function and performance of the mushroom bed which comprises nutritionally supplementing the mushroom bed by mixing very small amounts of carboxylic acid salts into the casing layer or on the surface of the compost in close proximity to the casing layer of chalk and peat soils as commercially utilized. The salt may be derived from an aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic or aromatic carboxylic acid and mixtures thereof. The cations may include potassium magnesium and preferably calcium and mixtures thereof for both casing additions and compost surface application. For compost surface additions only, ammonia and organic amines may also be used as cations. The carboxylic salts may be mixed with other nutrient substances to further improve performance. |
| US08790434B1 |
Particulate capture from a high energy discharge device
A particulate capture module for a high energy discharge device includes a particulate capture shell having an inlet and an outlet. The shell inlet can receive a high energy material discharged from the high energy discharge device. The particulate capture module can further include a self-healing particulate capture material arranged within the particulate capture shell to enable the high energy material to pass through the self-healing particulate capture material. The self-healing particulate capture material can capture particulates associated with discharge of the high energy material from the high energy discharge device. |
| US08790424B2 |
Copolymer and use thereof for improving the cold flow properties of middle distillate fuels
A copolymer obtainable by free-radical copolymerization of (i) monomer units of the structure M1 in which the variables are each hydrogen, alkyl groups, carboxyl groups or carboxyl derivative moieties, and (ii) monomer units of the structure M2 in which R5 is the radical of a carboxylic ester of the formula -A-CO—O—R10 where A is an alkylene group and R10 is a hydrocarbyl radical, and in which R6, R7 and R8 are each hydrogen or alkyl radicals, and subsequent polymer-analogous reaction of the product formed with a long-chain hydrocarbyl alcohol. This copolymer is suitable for improving the cold flow properties of middle distillate fuels, especially those which consist of or comprise biofuel oils. |
| US08790422B2 |
Fuel formulations
Gasoline fuel formulation having a laminar burning velocity SL which is equal to or below that of isooctane at a pressure of 1 bar, a temperature of 300 K and stoichiometric air/fuel mixture strength. The formulation can be used to reduce pre-ignition in a turbocharged spark ignition engine, in particular when operating with an inlet pressure above 1.5 bar absolute. The formulation can thus also be used to reduce engine damage. The invention also provides a method of preparing a gasoline fuel, by mixing gasoline fuel components to achieve a laminar burning velocity SL for the resultant mixture which is equal to or below that of isooctane at a pressure of 1 bar, a temperature of 300 K and stoichiometric air/fuel mixture strength. It further provides a method for selecting a gasoline fuel for use in a turbocharged spark ignition engine, based on its laminar burning velocity SL. |
| US08790420B2 |
Method for producing reduced metal and slag containing oxidized nonferrous metal using an upgraded coal
The present invention provides a method for producing a high-quality reduced metal using an upgraded coal as a carbonaceous material to be incorporated. In the method, coal is first aged by heating in an organic solvent to produce upgraded coal for metallurgy having higher thermal plasticity than that of the coal. Then, a mixture of the upgraded coal for metallurgy and a metal oxide-containing raw material is agglomerated by an agglomerator, and the resultant agglomerates are reduced by heating in a furnace and then melted by further heating to produce a reduced melt. The reduced melt is cooled and solidified in the furnace to produce a reduced solid. The reduced solid is discharged to the outside of the furnace and slag is removed using a screen to recover a metal as a reduced metal. |
| US08790417B2 |
Gentle hair color pretreatment with silicone and oily oxidants
Methods and compounds are provided for oxidative coloring of keratinic fibers, in particular hair. The method includes applying a pretreatment agent onto the hair, where the pretreatment agent includes at least one 4-morpholinomethyl-substituted silicone. A hair coloring agent is applied to the hair subsequent to the pretreatment agent within a time span from about 1 second to about 24 hours. The hair coloring agent is obtained by mixing a composition (A), which contains at least one oxidation dye precursor of the developer type and at least one oxidation dye precursor of the coupler type, with a composition (B) that contains at least one oxidizing agent. Composition (B) contains at least one cosmetic oil in a total quantity from 10 to 80 wt %, based on the weight of composition (B). |
| US08790413B2 |
Orthopaedic implant sleeve and method
A protective sleeve is provided that is useful during minimally invasive surgery to facilitate assembly of modular components. The sleeve prevents contamination of a second component as it is engaged with a previously inserted component. The sleeve may also serve to guide insertion of the second component to facilitate aligning it with the previously inserted component. |
| US08790411B2 |
Femoral component of an artificial knee joint
A femoral component of an artificial knee joint is configured with multiple different facets which are similar in size and shape for many different sizes, to simplify an associated method for forming a distal end of the femur to receive the femoral component. Jig embodiments are provided to form surfaces on a distal end of a femur to correspond with facets of the femoral component, with the same jig usable for femoral components of differing size. The femoral component includes medial and lateral condylar legs with a posterior facet of the femoral component exhibiting a negative angle relative to a central axis of the femur, to maximize contact and increase flexion of the artificial knee joint. |
| US08790410B2 |
Tibial tuberosity advancement implant
A tibial tuberosity advancement implant and method includes a spacer body made of biocompatible, biodegradable material and having a main section with at least one bony growth orifice therethrough and a proximal slot and at least one fin extending from the main section by at least one connector. A metal clip is slideable into the proximal slot of the spacer body main section and includes spaced screw holes for securing the spacer body to the advanced tibial tuberosity and the tibia when the implant is placed in the space between the advanced tibial tuberosity and the tibia. |
| US08790404B2 |
Intervertebral disk prostheses
Intervertebral disc prosthesis includes an upper plateau (16) with an outer surface (16a) bearing on an upper vertebra and with a surface (16b) directed towards the inside of the prosthesis, a lower plateau (18) with an outer surface (18a) bearing on a lower vertebra and with a surface (18b) directed towards the inside of the prosthesis, and a ball-type joint between the upper plateau and the lower plateau, having a bulged convex element (27), cooperating with a complementary recess of the bulged convex element (27) and coming into contact with the bulged convex element (27), the bulged convex element (27) including at least one slot (24, 25, 26, 28) that allows it to deform. |
| US08790402B2 |
Composite device that combines porous metal and bone stimuli
An orthopaedic implant for filling voids in bones, and methods of using the same. The orthopaedic implant comprises an open porous metal component, having pores for promoting bone regeneration, and a resorbable bone growth promoting component which is resorbed into new bone. The orthopaedic implant and methods of the present disclosure provide structural support for the bone as well as osteoconductive and/or osteoinductive matrix for promoting bone re-growth within bone void. Advantageously, the orthopaedic implants and methods disclosed herein are useful in filling critically sized bone voids. |
| US08790393B2 |
Heat-treated tantalum-alloy products, implantable medical devices incorporating same, and methods of processing tantalum-alloy products
The present disclosure is directed to tantalum-alloy products, implantable medical devices that incorporate tantalum-alloy products such as stents or other implantable medical devices, methods of making and/or processing the tantalum-alloy products and implantable medical devices, and methods of using the implantable medical devices. In an embodiment, a stent includes a stent body having a plurality of struts. At least a portion of the stent body is made from a tantalum alloy. The tantalum alloy includes a tantalum content of about 77 weight % (“wt %”) to about 92 wt %, a niobium content of about 7 wt % to about 13 wt %, and a tungsten content of about 1 wt % to about 10 wt %. The tantalum alloy exhibits at least one mechanical property modified by heat treatment thereof, such as yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, or ductility. |
| US08790384B2 |
Skin patch laminate body
The present invention provides a skin patch laminate body, comprising a skin patch body including a base layer and a skin adhesive layer being formed on one surface of the base layer for being directly applied to the skin and a heat imparting body including an exothermic agent and an exothermic agent-accommodating layer that accommodates the exothermic agent therein, wherein the exothermic agent-accommodating layer on one surface of the heat imparting body, and the other surface of the base layer of the skin patch body are attached to each other via a peelable adhesive layer. |
| US08790380B2 |
Segmental orthopaedic device for spinal elongation and for treatment of scoliosis
An orthopaedic device to realign bone segments comprises first and second attachment members and a spacer member. The first attachment member is attached to a first rib bone or first transverse process of a vertebra. The second attachment member is attached to a second rib bone or second transverse process of a vertebra adjacent to the first rib bone or the first transverse process. The spacer member is positioned between the first and second attachment members. The spacer member provides distraction between the first and second rib bones or transverse processes to realign the rib bones. The spacer member is releasably connected to the first and second attachment members. The attachment members comprise a clamp and screw combination. |
| US08790379B2 |
Flexible plate fixation of bone fractures
Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for fixation of a fractured bone with a bone plate. In various embodiments, the systems and plates provide elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to an osteosynthesis plate. This elastic suspension can promote load distribution between the screws that connect a bone segment to the plate, thereby reducing stress risers and load shielding effect. In addition, stress at the screw holes, and within the construct as a whole, is reduced by incorporation of these elastic elements in the plate. Additionally, in some embodiments where fracture healing by callus formation is desired, elastic suspension of the receiving holes relative to the osteosynthesis plate can enable small, controlled amounts of relative motion between bone fragments connected by the plate. This relative motion can promote fracture healing by callus formation. |
| US08790369B2 |
Apparatus and method for repairing tissue
Assemblies and methods suitable for knotless arthroscopic repair of tissue defects include two fixation members coupled by two limbs of suture comprising a continuous loop. A unidirectional restriction element that can be a preformed locking, sliding suture knot proximate to one of the fixation members, provides tensioning of the repair. |
| US08790363B2 |
Three dimensional, low friction vasoocclusive coil, and method of manufacture
The three dimensional, low friction vasoocclusive coil has a portion that is three dimensionally box or cubed shaped. The three dimensional box or cubed shaped portion will form a basket for filling the anatomical cavity at the site in the vasculature to be treated. The vasoocclusive device is formed from at least one strand of a flexible material formed to have a first inoperable, substantially linear configuration for insertion into and through a catheter or cannula to a desired portion of the vasculature to be treated, and a second operable, three dimensional configuration for occluding the desired portion of the vasculature to be treated. The vasoocclusive coil may optionally include a portion that is substantially J-shaped or helically shaped, for filling and reinforcing the three dimensional portion. |
| US08790362B1 |
Catheter for positioning a lead in the vasculature
A novel catheter is described. The catheter comprises a handle, an inner sheath providing an inner sheath lumen extending along a first length from a proximal inner sheath portion supported by the handle to a distal inner sheath portion connected to a cage gripper, and an outer sheath having a second length extending from a proximal outer sheath portion supported by the handle to a distal outer sheath portion connected to a cage housing. The inner sheath rotatably resides inside the outer sheath with the cage gripper rotatably housed inside cage housing. During a surgical procedure, a distal bridge portion of the inner sheath is connected to an opening in the lead sidewall with the lead received inside the cage housing. A gear knob is manipulated to cause the inner sheath to rotate with respect to the outer sheath so that the cage gripper is moved from an un-deployed position housed inside the cage gripper to a deployed position completely surrounding the lead connected to the distal bride. The catheter connected to the lead is moved into and to a desired location in a vasculature. Then, a screw driver is inserted through the housing and inner sheath lumens and into the lead and manipulated to screw the distal electrode into body tissue. Manipulating the gear knob causes the inner sheath to rotate the cage gripper from the deployed to the un-deployed position and then the catheter is separated from the lead and removed from the vasculature, leaving the lead behind. |
| US08790360B2 |
Methods and devices for dissecting tissue
Methods and devices are provided for dissecting tissue. In one embodiment, a surgical device can include an elongate shaft configured to be introduced into a body of a patient. A transducer coupled to the elongate shaft can be configured to deliver mechanical energy to the elongate shaft, e.g., axially along the elongate shaft, to rotate, vibrate, and/or flex the elongate shaft to facilitate dissection of tissue adjacent at least a leading end or a distal end of the elongate shaft. In some embodiments the elongate shaft can include at least two coaxial coils, and the transducer can be configured to move at least one of the coaxial coils to facilitate tissue dissection using the elongate shaft. |
| US08790359B2 |
Medical systems and related methods
A medical system includes a sheath and an acoustic reflective element that is capable of amplifying acoustic energy. Methods of using a medical system are also provided herein. |
| US08790356B2 |
Instruments for delivering transfascial sutures, transfascial suture assemblies, and methods of transfascial suturing
An instrument for delivering a suture transfascially may include a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a pair of needles that are moveable to an extended position beyond the end of the shaft. One or more sutures are carried by the instrument and may be delivered transfascially. A transfascial suture assembly includes a suture having first and second segments and an intermediate segment therebetween. A force distributing member is locatable at the intermediate segment. Suture retainers may be provided at the end of each suture segment, and may have a connection that is moveable relative to the suture segment. A method of delivering transfascial sutures includes inserting a twin-needle instrument loaded with one or more sutures into an abdominal cavity and deploying, from within the abdominal cavity, the suture carrying needles through a soft tissue repair patch and then through at least part of the abdominal wall. |
| US08790351B2 |
Hip replacement in computer-assisted surgery
A system for calculating a position and orientation of an acetabular cup in computer-assisted surgery comprises a first trackable reference secured to a pelvis, with a frame of reference being associated with the first trackable reference. A device is positionable between a femoral neck and the acetabulum of the pelvis in a known relation, the device having a second trackable reference. Sensors track the trackable references for position and orientation. A position/orientation calculator calculates a position and orientation of the frame of reference and of the device and for determining an orientation of the neck axis with respect to the frame of reference from the known relation at a desired position of the femur. An implant position/orientation calculator provides cup implanting information with respect to the orientation of said neck axis as a function of the tracking for position and orientation of at least the first trackable reference. |
| US08790349B2 |
Autologous bone collection device having enhanced suction efficiency
A bone piece collector wherein a blade (4) coming into tight contact with the surface of a filter (2) under an appropriate pressure is provided in order to prevent lowering in the efficiency of suction work due to sampled bone chips adhering to the surface of the filter (2) in the bone piece collector provided in a suction line in order to sample a bone, i.e. a transplantation material in autologous bone transplantation, the blade (4) is rotated while being pressed against the surface of the filter (2) with a finger pressure or a motor drive force, and the sampled bone chips are moved in a certain direction so that clogging of the filter (2) is eliminated and the suction efficiency can be recovered at any time. |