US07684258B2
To perform mask control of data signals without increasing the number of external terminals even when the number of bits in a data mask signal is large, an address input circuit sequentially receives a first address signal, a second address signal, and a first data mask signal supplied to an address terminal in synchronization with transition edges of a clock signal. Namely, the first data mask signal is supplied to the address terminal at a different timing from timing at which the first and second address signals are received. The first address signal, second address signal, and first data mask signal are output, for example, from a controller accessing a semiconductor memory. A data input/output circuit inputs/outputs data via a data terminal and masks at least either of write data to memory cells and read data from the memory cells in accordance with logic of the first data mask signal.
US07684255B2
A method of operating a non-volatile memory device changes a read voltage by determining a degree that threshold voltages of memory cells are changed and overlap each other. The method of operating the non-volatile memory device includes performing a least significant bit (LSB) program of memory cells and determining a first error rate, performing a most significant bit (MSB) program of the memory cells and determining a second error rate, and setting a read voltage corresponding to a value at which the first and second error rates are minimum values.
US07684249B2
A method is provided for programming a memory cell. The memory cell is fabricated on a substrate and comprises a source region, a drain region, a floating gate, and a control gate. The memory cell has a threshold voltage selectively configurable into one of at least three programming states. The method includes generating a drain current between the drain region and the source region by applying a drain-to-source bias voltage between the drain region and the source region. The method further includes injecting hot electrons from the drain current to the floating gate by applying a gate voltage to the control gate. A selected threshold voltage for the memory cell corresponding to a selected one of the programming states is generated by applying a different selected gate voltage.
US07684247B2
Shifts in the apparent charge stored by a charge storage region such as a floating gate in a non-volatile memory cell can occur because of electrical field coupling based on charge stored in adjacent (or other) charge storage regions. Although not exclusively, the effects are most pronounced in situations where adjacent memory cells are programmed after a selected memory cell. To account for the shift in apparent charge, one or more compensations are applied when reading storage elements of a selected word line based on the charge stored by storage elements of other word lines. Efficient compensation techniques are provided by reverse reading blocks (or portions thereof) of memory cells. By reading in the opposite direction of programming, the information needed to apply (or select the results of) an appropriate compensation when reading a selected cell is determined during the actual read operation for the adjacent word line rather than dedicating a read operation to determine the information.
US07684246B2
A flash memory device may include a pump, a regulator to control the pump so that an output voltage of the pump is substantially maintained at a target voltage, and a control circuit to control the regulator so that the pump selectively generates a program voltage or an erase voltage. In some embodiments, the output voltage of the pump may be stepped in response to program loop iterations during a program operation, or set to a target voltage during an erase operation.
US07684238B2
Methods of programming a multi-bit non-volatile memory device are provided. The multi-bit non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells and a storage unit electrically coupled to the memory cell array. A first bit (FB) of multi-bit data is programmed from the storage unit into one of the plurality of memory cells in the memory cell array. A second bit (SB) of multi-bit data is programmed from the storage unit into one of the plurality of memory cells in the memory cell array using data inversion. Related memory devices are also provided.
US07684234B2
A magnetic memory device comprises a magnetic memory cell that includes a pinned layer and a free layer separated from the pinned layer by an insulating layer. The magnetic memory device also comprises a thermal plate in contact with the free layer. The magnetic memory device can be configured so that a first current flows through the thermal plate heating the thermal plate. The magnetic behavior of the free layer can be altered due to the heating caused by the first current, making it easier to switch the orientation and magnetization of the free layer. A second current can then flow through a bit line near the free layer generating a magnetic field sufficient to switch the orientation of magnetization of the free layer.
US07684231B2
Methods and apparatus provide for controlling an SRAM memory, the SRAM memory including a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows (word lines) and columns (bit lines), comprising: inverting a state of data for input to one or more columns of the array; and storing the inverted data in one or more memory cells of the one or more columns.
US07684217B2
Capacitors act as bootstrap capacitors of a high side control circuits. The capacitors are charged in a period in which all of high arm switching devices are non-conductive, so-called in a precharge period. When any of U-phase current, V-phase current and W-phase current is smaller than a negative predetermined value (when an absolute value is larger), it is judged which is the largest value. The low arm switching device is turned on only for a phase corresponding to the current of the largest value and the low arm switching devices of other phases are turned off.
US07684216B2
A switching mode power supply (SMPS) and a driving method thereof are provided. The SMPS includes a power supply block that includes a first switch coupled to a first coil of a primary side of a transformer for converting an input voltage, wherein the power supply block supplies power to a second coil and a third coil of a secondary side of the transformer according to operation of the first switch; and a PWM signal generator determines a turn-on time of the first switch according to the input voltage, and the turn-on time is determined regardless of a power magnitude of an output terminal connected to the second coil. Accordingly, screen noise due to a ripple can be eliminated and stress on the switch breakdown due to excessive power input can be reduced to enable an SMPS with stable driving.
US07684208B2
A system chassis includes multiple chassis bays configured for receiving either of a single, conventional server blade or an adapter blade. The adapter blade can selectively secure a plurality of compact blades, such as a blade PC. The adapter blade includes a blade latch for selectively releasing the adapter blade from the chassis bay, wherein the presence of a compact blade enclosure within any of the plurality of adapter bays of the adapter blade prevents the latch from being operable to release the adapter blade. The compact blade preferably includes a latch disposed along an upper or lower edge of the blade for selectively releasing the compact blade enclosure from the adapter bay. The adapter blade preferably also includes an interposer disposed for electronically communicating each compact blade with a server interface a separate node upon securing a compact blade within any of the adapter bays.
US07684206B2
The invention provides an electronic circuit module capable of reliably mounting a chip to a multi-layer wiring plate in a flip chip manner.In an electronic circuit module according to an embodiment of the invention, a chip including bumps with a height of d is mounted to a multi-layer wiring plate including surface electrodes and internal electrodes in a flip chip manner. In the multi-layer wiring plate, when the minimum thickness of the surface electrode and the internal electrodes overlapping each other below each of the bumps is TD and the maximum thickness of the surface electrode and the internal electrodes overlapping each other in a space surrounded by the bumps is TI, the surface electrodes and the internal electrodes are arranged so as to satisfy TI
US07684205B2
The present invention relates to a compliant leaded interposer for resiliently attaching and electrically connecting a ball grid array package to a circuit board. The interposer may include a substrate, a plurality of pads, and a plurality of pins. The plurality of pads may be positioned substantially on the top surface of the substrate and arranged in a predetermined pattern substantially corresponding to the solder ball pattern on the ball grid array package. The plurality of pins may be positioned substantially perpendicular to the substrate and may extend through the substrate and the plurality of pads. The interposer may be configured to attach the ball grid array package to the circuit board such that each of the solder balls on the ball grid array package contacts at least a portion the plurality of pins and at least a portion of the plurality of pads and such that the each of the plurality of pins also connects to a contact on the circuit board.
US07684204B2
A circuit board including: a substrate having a mounting area for mounting a vertical multilayer chip capacitor having first and second external electrodes of a first polarity and a third external electrode of a second polarity; first to third pads arranged on the mounting area, the first and second pads having the first polarity and disposed separately from each other on the mounting area, the third pad having the second polarity and disposed between the first and second pads to be connected to the third external electrode; at least one first via formed in the substrate and connected to the first pad; at least one second via formed in the substrate and connected to the second pad; and a plurality of third vias formed in the substrate and connected to the third pad. The first via is disposed adjacent to the third pad relative to a central line of the first pad, the second via is disposed adjacent to the third pad relative to a central line of the second pad, one or more of the third vias are disposed adjacent to the first via relative to a central line of the third pad, and the rest of the third vias are disposed adjacent to the second via relative to the central line of the third pad.
US07684201B2
An alignment guidepin comprises a pre-alignment portion, an alignment portion, and a release portion. The pre-alignment portion provides gross alignment for a connection between a connecting module of a server and a connector of a computer server chassis. The alignment portion is connected to the pre-alignment portion having a first diameter to allow a high precision alignment for the connection between the connecting module and the connector. The release portion is connected to the alignment portion having a second diameter different than the first diameter to allow the connecting module and the connector to guide the connection.
US07684193B2
A system for restricting mixing of air in a data center includes a plurality of racks, each of the racks having a front face and a back face. The system includes an enclosure for collecting air released from the back faces of the plurality of racks, the enclosure configured to substantially contain the air in an area between the first row and the second row and having a roof panel coupled to the first row of racks and the second row of racks configured to span a distance between the first row of racks and the second row of racks. The enclosure is configured to maintain a first air pressure inside of the enclosure that is substantially equal to a second air pressure outside the enclosure.
US07684185B2
A docking station is disclosed. The docking station includes a display and a housing configured to hold the display in a manner that exposes a viewing surface of the display to view. The housing defines a docking area configured to receive a portable computer. The docking area is at least partly obscured by the display when viewed from the viewing surface side of the display at an angle substantially orthogonal to the viewing surface.
US07684182B2
A fixing apparatus for fixing a data storage device with a plurality of mounting holes defined in sidewalls thereof includes a first bracket, a second bracket, and a latch member. The first bracket includes a side sheet and a base sheet perpendicularly connected thereto. The second bracket includes a side sheet, and a base sheet perpendicularly connected thereto. The base sheet of the second bracket is pivotally attached to the base sheet of the first bracket. The latch member is slidably attached to the base sheet of the first bracket and engages with the base sheet of the second bracket. A plurality of fixing pins extends from the side sheets of the first bracket and the second bracket, corresponding to the mounting holes of the data storage device.
US07684180B2
An exemplary computer system includes an enclosure, a cage, a plurality of floppy disk drives, hard disk drives, and optical disk drives received, a system power supply, and a plurality of vibration absorbers. The enclosure includes a bottom wall. The cage is attached to the bottom wall of the enclosure and receives the disk drives, the hard disk drives, the optical disk drives and the system power supply therein. The vibration absorbers are disposed between the bottom wall of the enclosure and the cage.
US07684179B1
An electronic device includes a bay for a removable component with a vertical axis of insertion and removal. The component is inserted upwardly in the electronic device with aid of an actuation mechanism. For example, the actuation mechanism may include a lever and a horizontal support member sized to hold the bottom side of the component. Rotation of the lever translates the support member in the vertical direction to smoothly lift the component into a seated position in which connectors in the component and the electronic device are coupled. The actuation mechanism may include a latch to hold the component securely in the seated position. Rotation of the lever in the opposite direction lowers the support member. The actuation mechanism may include one or more tabs on the horizontal support member or elsewhere that pull the component during removal to overcome the unmating force of the connectors.
US07684177B2
A portable computer as an example of an electronic apparatus has a main unit, and a cover member placed on the upper surface of the main unit. The main unit has a housing. A component mounting part is formed on the upper surface of the housing. The component mounting part is covered with the cover member. The cover member has a sliding-type first cover, and a fitting-type second cover. The first cover is placed on a first area of the component mounting part. The first cover has a lock portion, which is slid in the width direction of the housing, and engages with the housing. The second cover is placed on a second area of the component mounting part not covered with the first cover. The second cover is fit to the housing from the upper side of the component mounting part.
US07684174B2
A flat-panel display unit is provided which includes: a PDP; an aluminum chassis that is attached to the PDP; an upper data driver substrate and a signal processing substrate that are attached to the aluminum chassis; and a flexible cable that connects the substrates electrically. Between the substrates, a pressing plate fixes at least one part of the flexible cable, so that the space between the flexible cable and the aluminum chassis remains unchanged. Thereby, a stray capacitor can be stably formed using the insulating material of the flexible cable, and a high-frequency noise can be effectively reduced.
US07684157B2
A HGA of the present invention includes a slider; a micro-actuator comprising two thin film PZT pieces to define a notch; a suspension to load the slider and the micro-actuator. The suspension comprises: a flexure having an actuator loading portion with a slot corresponding to the notch of the micro-actuator, and a slider-loading portion to partially hold the slider; and a load beam having a first dimple to support the flexure at a position thereof corresponding to a central area of the slider, and a second dimple extending through both the slot of the flexure and the notch defined by the micro-actuator and toward an leading edge end portion of the slider to form a gap between the slider and the second dimple. The invention also discloses a disk drive unit having the improved HGA.
US07684147B2
The present invention is directed to the use of perovskite manganite thin films and other magnetic films that exhibit both planar Hall effect and biaxial magnetic anisotropy to form the active area in magnetic sensor devices and in magnetic bit cells used in magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) devices. The manganite thin films of the invention are ferromagnetic manganites of the formula R1-xAxMnO3, wherein R is a rare-earth metal, A is an alkaline earth metal, and x is generally between about 0.15 and about 0.5.
US07684145B2
A metrology system for measuring the magnetic properties of a magnetic recording medium layer on a device used for perpendicular recording.
US07684139B2
A read channel and method using that read channel are disclosed. The read channel comprises an analog to digital converter which asynchronously samples at a fixed rate an analog signal formed by reading a data track, where that data track was written to a data storage medium at a symbol rate and an interpolator interconnected with the analog to digital converter. The read channel further comprises a fractionally-spaced equalizer, where the interpolator provides an interpolated signal to the fractionally-spaced equalizer at an interpolation rate, where that interpolation rate is greater than the symbol rate. The fractionally-spaced equalizer forms a synchronous equalized signal. The read channel further comprises a gain control module interconnected with the fractionally-spaced equalizer, and a sequence detector interconnected with the gain control module.
US07684133B2
A thermal contraction stress and a residual contraction stress caused by a difference between the linear expansion coefficients of an optical element unit and a carrier are reduced as much as possible. An optical module includes an optical element unit including optical elements requiring a stress control, and a carrier which supports the optical element unit. As the carrier is made of a material having the same property as that of the substrate material of the optical element, the thermal contraction stress is reduced.
US07684127B2
It is provided that an imaging lens having satisfactory optical performances and being reduced in size and cost. The imaging lens includes in order from an object side, a negative first lens, a negative second lens, a positive third lens, a stop, a positive fourth lens and a negative fifth lens L5. And the focal length f3 of the third lens at d-line, the focal length f of the whole system at d-line satisfy 3.0
US07684125B2
The invention relates to an optical imaging device, in particular an objective 1 for microlithography in the field of EUVL for producing semiconductor components, having a beam path 2, a plurality of optical elements 3 and a diaphragm device 7 with an adjustable diaphragm opening shape. The diaphragm device has a diaphragm store 7a, 7b with a plurality of different diaphragm openings 6 with fixed shapes in each case, which can be introduced into the beam path 2.
US07684114B2
Various embodiments described herein include a scope for a firearm having a large range of zoom. The scope comprising a movable zoom selector for adjusting magnification of an image viewed through the scope. The scope further includes an objective, an ocular, and an erector assembly positioned between the objective and ocular. The erector assembly includes at least three optical elements movable relative to one another in response to operation of the zoom selector.
US07684111B2
A Raman pump module for generating pump radiation having a pump wavelength (λp) for coupling into a transmission fiber of an optical wavelength division multiplex (WDM) communication system to provide Raman amplification of WDM radiation counter propagating therethrough is disclosed. The pump module is for use in a communications system in which the WDM radiation has a transmission waveband (λs) and wherein the transmission fiber has a zero dispersion wavelength (λm) lying midway between the transmission waveband and the pump wavelength. The module comprises a Raman pump laser for generating the pump radiation and a de-correlator for de-correlating the longitudinal modes of the pump radiation before it is coupled into the transmission fiber.
US07684110B2
An acousto-optic (AO) frequency shifter includes an anisotropic crystal having an optical axis and an input face, and an acoustic transducer having electrodes affixed to the face for receiving an electrical signal and projecting an acoustic wave into the crystal. The anisotropic crystal is cut relative to the face so that the transducer is at an acoustic angle (θa) corresponding to a predetermined angle of incidence (θi) of an optical beam to be directed relative to the optic axis of the anisotropic crystal to substantially satisfy the parallel tangents phase matching condition.
US07684093B2
An image reading apparatus for reading images on original documents, including: a first reading section to read the images on the original documents; a second reading section to read the images on the original documents at a position downstream of a reading position of the first reading section, in a transporting direction of the original documents; and a controller; wherein, the controller controls in such a way that: the first reading section and the second reading section alternately read images on multiple original documents sequentially from document to document; and when an original document is transported to the reading position of the second reading section without an image on the original document being read by the first reading section, a transporting speed of the original document is higher than a transporting speed while the image on the original document being read.
US07684090B2
In one aspect of the invention, a printer is provided for use with a display device having images stored in a memory therein, a display device controller, and an image display for displaying the stored images. The printer has an external structure housing a print engine and receiver medium transport adapted to cooperate to cause donor materials to be transferred to a receiver medium in an imagewise fashion; a display device interface being adapted to receive the display device and to position the display device so that a display device electrical connector can form an electrical connection with the electrical interface; and a printer processor adapted to transmit signals to the display device controller influencing what is presented on the image display; wherein the display device interface is adjustably mounted to the external structure.
US07684074B2
Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods and devices for imaging device file metadata management.
US07684073B2
After a first copy request is received and copy operation from a copy source area to a copy destination area is activated, information indicating an update section is recorded when a data update of at least one of either the copy source area or the copy destination area is generated. When a second copy request is received, data in the copy source area corresponding to the update section is copied to the copy destination area, in accordance with the recorded information.
US07684071B2
A data communication device capable of facilitating file management compared to conventional methods is provided. The data communication device includes an image file storage portion for memorizing an image file to be sent to a user at the other end, a transmission information setting portion for setting transmission information necessary for sending the image file to the user at the other end, a file combining portion for generating a composite file by adding the transmission information to the image file and an e-mail message transmission portion for sending the generated composite file to the user at the other end.
US07684066B2
The print schedules of a plurality of printers are managed. Status data of the plurality of printers are monitored. When any failure has occurred in a printer that serves as an output destination of print data as a result of monitoring, an alternative printer that executes alternative print processing of the print data is selected with reference to the managed print schedules. It is determined based on printer information of the selected alternative printer and the print schedule of the print data in the printer that has caused the failure whether or not the alternative print processing by the selected alternative printer is to be executed. The alternative print processing is executed based on the determination result.
US07684062B2
To provide a print set picture plane which can be easily used and understood by the user, in order to realize a technique for enabling a print setup in another set picture plane to be easily recognized, there is provided an information processing apparatus which is connected to an external device and performs a setup to control the external device by using a plurality of set sheets. In an arbitrary set sheet, various set items are set and a window to visually express the set contents which were set is switched to a window of another set sheet.
US07684043B2
A system and method for free space, optical remote sensing of a potential threat agent using spectrally responsive sensor material. In one example the sensor material is formed by particles, which in one particular form are porous photonic crystals. The particles are dispersed into an area being monitored for the presence of the potential threat agent. A pair of lasers is used to generate optical light beams that are directed at the sensor particles after the particles have been dispersed. The light reflected by the sensor particles is then analyzed. The presence of the potential threat agent causes a shift in the spectral peak of light reflected from the sensor particles that can be sensed using photo detectors and a processing subsystem. The system can be tuned to remotely detect for specific chemical, biological or environmental agents that may be present within a given area.
US07684024B2
A swept-angle SPR measurement system deflects an optical beam over a range of deflection angles according to a control signal and maps the deflected beam to a target within a range of incidence angles that corresponds to the range of deflection angles.
US07684020B1
A relatively low-cost sensor can accurately detect, identify and track rapidly moving objects such as missiles, rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), mortars, explosive-driven fragments, bullets, shells, sports projectiles (baseballs, golf balls, tennis balls, arrows, etc.), and other types of objects. Systems that would incorporate such a sensor include military devices such as Active Protection System (APS), warning sensor systems, counter-fire systems; commercial devices such as an accurate baseball strike zone monitor, tennis ball line monitors, and arrow speed and flight characteristics monitors. The optical sensing system detects, identifies and tracks rapidly moving objects. The system is designed to be low-cost, rugged, highly reliable, and have a low False Alarm Rate (FAR). The system can accurately record signals from rapidly moving targets and then process this information with sufficient time to send a firing signal or take other action as appropriate.
US07684012B2
A lithographic apparatus is configured to project a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate. The apparatus includes a gas purged sealing aperture extending between at least two different zones of the apparatus, and a gas supplier configured to supply the sealing aperture one or more gases selected from a group including hydrogen, deuterium, heavy hydrogen, deuterated hydrogen, and a mixture of argon and hydrogen.
US07683995B2
There is provided a CPA-type liquid crystal display device in which deterioration in display quality due to application of stress to a liquid crystal panel is suppressed.A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first substrate; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer of a vertical-alignment type provided therebetween. In each picture element region, a first electrode provided on a side of the first substrate facing the liquid crystal layer includes a solid portion formed of an electrically-conductive film and a non-solid portion in which no electrically-conductive film is formed. The solid portion includes a plurality of unit solid portions each of which is substantially surrounded by the non-solid portion, the plurality of unit solid portions being arranged at least along a first direction. When a voltage is applied, with an oblique electric field generated at an edge of the non-solid portion, the liquid crystal layer within the picture element region forms a liquid crystal domain on each unit solid portion, the liquid crystal domain taking a radially-inclined orientation. The length of the unit solid portion along the first direction is 70 μm or less.
US07683990B2
An MVA LCD including an active device array substrate, an opposite substrate and a liquid crystal layer is provided. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the active device array substrate and the opposite substrate, the active device array substrate has pixel units, and the liquid crystal layer above each pixel unit is divided into several domain sets. Each domain set includes at least four domains having the same size, and at least the size of one of the domains in a domain set is different from the size of one of the domains in another domain set.
US07683985B2
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and corresponding LCD device are disclosed. An ink-jet apparatus is provided with a solution containing a black matrix resin and ball spacers. The solution is then coated on a predetermined portion of a substrate by the ink-jet apparatus. This permits formation of both a black matrix layer and ball spacers at the same time, with the ball spacers provided in only a non-pixel area of the substrate.
US07683981B2
A luminance control circuit for controlling the luminance levels of different colored light sources that lends itself to easy incorporation into display devices is presented. A light emitting diode (LED) substrate includes a plurality of driving thin film transistors (TFTs) including a semiconductor layer deposited on a substrate. A plurality of LEDs for generating lights of different wavelengths is mounted respectively on the plurality of driving TFTs. A plurality of thin film sensors for sensing the luminous intensities of the plurality of LEDs is formed between the plurality of LEDs and the substrate. A luminance control circuit for controlling the driving TFTs has of a plurality of controlling TFTs including a semiconductor layer deposited on the substrate and is connected to the plurality of thin film sensors.
US07683980B2
An optical element covering member includes: at least one optical element; a support medium supporting the at least one optical element; and a shrinkable covering member covering the at least one optical element and the support medium. In the optical element covering member, among sides forming primary surfaces of the support medium, at least one set of sides facing each other is covered with the covering member, and the following equation (1) is satisfied under conditions at a temperature of 70° C., 0≦F≦1.65×104×t/L (1) where t indicates the thickness of the support medium, L indicates the length of the side of the support medium covered with the covering member, F indicates a tensile force of the covering member, which acts in a direction parallel to the side having the length L.
US07683974B2
A detection device and method commonly used for a video interface outlet and earphone line outlet is used to allow the detection device to detect whether a three- or four-terminals plug is inserted in the outlet. The detection device detects whether the impedance value of the video output terminal of the plug is larger than the preset value. If yes, the detection device control a video signal output terminal to output a video signal. If the impedance is not larger than the preset value, the detection device then controls the video signal output not to output a video signal and only to output an audio signal.
US07683972B2
A video signal processing apparatus is provided with a first clock generation circuit for generating a first clock synchronized with an input signal; a second clock generation circuit for receiving a set value to be a reference of an output frequency, adding the set value for every reference clock, extracting data according to the cumulative value, converting the data into an analog signal, reducing quantization noise, and multiplying the analog signal, thereby to obtain a second clock; and a clock switch circuit for generating a sync signal that is switched to the second clock, by using a sync signal generated with the first clock; and video signal processing is carried out using the second clock that is generated according to the resolution of a pixel display.
US07683967B2
In a digital camera including an electronic flash device using a light-emitting diode as a flash light source, white balance correction is performed by using a white balance correction value corresponding to a color temperature of light actually emitted from the electronic flash device.
US07683966B2
In a digital camera including an electronic flash device using a light-emitting diode as a flash light source, white balance correction is performed by using a white balance correction value corresponding to a color temperature of light actually emitted from the electronic flash device.
US07683946B2
A method automatically corrects dust artifact within images acquired by a system including a digital acquisition device including a lens assembly and a translucent lens cap. Multiple original digital images are acquired with the digital acquisition device. Probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within the images are determined based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of the images. Probable dust artifact regions are associated with extracted parameter values relating to the lens assembly when the images were acquired. A statistical dust map is formed including mapped dust regions based on the determining and associating. Pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions are corrected within further digitally-acquired images based on the associated statistical dust map.
US07683936B2
An angular-velocity detector includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a controller. The first sensor is used for detecting motion around an axis of a second direction perpendicular to a first direction. The second sensor is used for detecting motion around an axis of the first direction. The controller performs an operation that corrects an output error caused by an angle of inclination of the second sensor by using a first correction coefficient that is a ratio of a second amplitude to a first amplitude. The first amplitude is amplitude of output value from the first sensor when the angular-velocity detector is in first motion around an axis of the second direction without second motion around an axis of the first direction. The second amplitude is amplitude of output value from the second sensor when the angular-velocity detector is in the first motion without the second motion.
US07683935B2
The invention relates to an imaging device. An imaging device includes an image sensor for producing an image data related an object image; an optical system for forming on the image sensor the object image in which a predetermined region having as center a position that is different from a center position of the image sensor is expanded and a peripheral region thereof is compressed with distortion; and a distortion correction circuit for correcting the compressed distortion with respect to image data related to the object image from the image sensor.
US07683926B2
Stereoscopic device including an image directing assembly, an image differentiator and an image detector, the image directing assembly having a first light inlet for receiving a first image and a second light inlet for receiving a second image, the first light inlet being spaced apart from the second light inlet, the image differentiator differentiating between the first image and the second image, wherein the image directing assembly directs the first image to the image detector via a common path, and wherein the image directing assembly directs the second image to the image detector via the common path.
US07683919B2
In a projection-type display device 1, a display control device 2 that controls a first DMD 50 and a second DMD 70 is composed by comprising an interface circuit 2a, a mirror device drive circuit 2b for controlling the driving of the micromirrors of second DMD 50, a mirror device drive circuit 2c for controlling the driving of the micromirrors of second DMD 70, a CPU 2d that controls computations and the entire system based on a control program, a ROM 2e that contains the control program of CPU 2d and so forth in a predefined area, and a RAM 2f for containing data read from ROM 2e and so forth and computation results required for the computation process of CPU 2d.
US07683914B1
A method of smoothing a triangulated raster image includes the steps of: triangulating the image to create triangles having vertices, each of which is centered on a pixel of the image; comparing the costs of a first and a second orientation of an edge of each pair of adjacent triangles that forms a quadrilateral; swapping the edge of the pair of triangles to the lower cost orientation; and iterating the comparing and swapping until a stopping point is reached. The cost function used may include a cost factor that causes a triangle edge orientation that aligns with a both a color and an intensity of a color intensity contour line of the image to have a lower cost than a triangle edge orientation that does not so align.
US07683899B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having plural pixels, a lighting device having at least one light source and projecting light generated by the light source on the liquid crystal display panel, and a circuit supplying a first current during a first period and a second current smaller than the first current during a second period to the light source alternately. The circuit includes a current monitoring circuit which measures the first current and the second current, and a light control circuit which adjusts a ratio of the first period to the second period based upon a signal from the current monitoring circuit.
US07683893B2
The present invention relates to controlling a display in a mobile terminal including a touch screen having a display area that operates as a touch input area. The present invention includes displaying data information on the display area, wherein the data information is distinguished with graphic icons, and displaying a frame on the display area to at least partially overlap the data information and defining a first area within the frame and a second area outside of the frame to define the data information into at least two parts, wherein when at least one of the first area and a frame boundary is touched, a predetermined function associated with the data information displayed in the first area is performed.
US07683875B2
A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes: a liquid crystal panel, when both of transmittance at the front and transmittance at an oblique viewing angle are 1 in white display, having such display characteristics that transmission intensity at the oblique viewing angle is larger than transmission intensity at the front; and a drive voltage setting section (LUT and drive voltage generation section) which sets a drive voltage to activate the liquid crystal panel and supplies the set drive voltage to the liquid crystal panel. The drive voltage setting section (LUT and drive voltage generation section) sets a drive voltage in accordance with viewing angle characteristics of the liquid crystal panel, thereby controlling viewing angle characteristics. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide a simply-structured liquid crystal display device capable of displays with high definition without decrease in aperture ratios.
US07683871B2
A display control device of the present invention includes a gamma circuit producing and outputting a gray scale voltage and a selection drive circuit selecting the gray scale voltage on the basis of a pixel data displayed on a display device and outputting the selected gray scale voltage as a pixel driving signal to the display device. The selection drive circuit includes an analog memory and holds the selected gray scale voltage in the analog memory.
US07683862B2
A display includes a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of pixel circuits, a source driver, a gate driver, a timing controller and a gray scale circuit. The source driver includes a data line driving circuit for generating driving current corresponding to an image to be displayed by a pixel circuit, a current source for pre-charging the pixel circuit and a switch for electrically connecting the current source to the pixel circuit or electrically isolating the current source from the pixel circuit. The timing controller controls the source driver and the gate driver. The gray scale circuit controls the switch of the source driver based on gray scales of images to be displayed by the pixel circuits of a scan line.
US07683847B2
This invention relates to a radiating element 20 for use in array antennas. The radiating element 20 is of simplified design and comprises a front region 26 and a rearward region 28 that are preferably substantially rectangular, which permit higher frequency limits than more conventional Vivaldi elements while maintaining the lower frequency limit. Additionally, by deployment of an array of a plurality of such elements 20 such that no gaps are formed between adjacent elements 20 along the array antenna, very wide bandwidth can be obtained using the array.
US07683846B2
An ultra wide band receiver system comprising a ultra wide band antenna and an active circuit. The ultra wide band antenna including a power feed operable to receive electromagnetic energy. The ultra wide band antenna further includes a radiator operable to be excited by the electromagnetic energy fed through the power feed to radiate an electromagnetic wave. The radiator has a metal layer. The active circuit includes a pair of parallel coupled lines arranged on a first side of the radiator. The pair of parallel coupled lines is operable to block DC current. The active circuit further includes at least one defected ground structure formed on a second side of the radiator. The defected ground structure is formed on an etched out part of the metal layer.
US07683842B1
A distributed test system for implementing enhanced BIT (Built-In-Test) within an ESM (Electronic Surveillance Monitoring) or RF receiver system. The distributed test system includes a system processor, a programmable RF source element or other comparable test signal generating arrangement, and switched path coupled elements and various measurement elements, each embedded at strategic locations within the ESM system so as to effect maximum path coverage and test benefit.
US07683841B2
An antenna device including a circuit board; a pair of first antenna elements disposed symmetrically to each other about both wide surfaces of the circuit board and a pair of second antenna elements disposed symmetrically to each other about the both wide surfaces of the circuit board; a feeding terminal installed on each of the first antenna elements and each of the second antenna elements; and; and a feeding controller which feeds power selectively to at least one of the first and second antenna elements.
US07683834B2
A communications system includes multiple mobile wireless communications devices transmitting at a same time to a fixed receiver assembly. Each mobile wireless communications device transmits a source signal defined by a respective character set comprising a plurality of symbols. At least one of the symbols in the respective character sets is transmitted at a different power level so that the transmitted source signal from each mobile wireless communications device appears with linearly independent power level time periods. The linearly independent power level time periods are used by the fixed receiver assembly to populate a mixing matrix for signal separation processing.
US07683832B2
A method of calculating position data for an airborne aircraft using a GPS-based airborne navigation system includes the processing of a position component of a relative state function by fusing a plurality of different types of measurement data available in the GPS-based system into a weighted least squares algorithm to determine an appropriate covariance matrix for the plurality of different types of measurement data.
US07683828B2
A device and method for measuring phase and power shifts in a simultaneous dual polarization radar system comprises an access port, a quadrature mixer, and a power detector. The access port is configured to couple to the simultaneous dual polarization radar system near the antenna of the simultaneous dual polarization radar system. The quadrature mixer is configured to mix a first signal from a first polarization and a second signal from a second polarization. The first signal and the second signal are sampled through the access port. The first power detector is configured to measure the power level of the first signal.
US07683821B1
An apparatus and method for detecting surface and subsurface objects is provided. A sweeping mechanism comprising a sensor is connected to a mounting frame. The mounting frame is connected to a motorized host platform. The sweeping mechanism sweeps the sensor according to a predetermined footprint when the motorized host platform either pulls or pushes the mounting frame. A signaling mechanism connected to the sensor produces a signal when the sensor senses an object beneath the surface.
US07683816B2
A system for displaying images is provided. A capacitor type digital-to-analog converter is coupled between a first node and a second node and generates a first analog signal according to a digital signal with N bit data. An analogue buffer is coupled between the second node and a third node and generates a second analog signal according to the first analog signal and a bias voltage. A first switch is coupled between a predetermined voltage and the second node. A second switch is coupled between the first node and the third node. A third switch is coupled between the third node and an analog output signal. The second switch is turned on and the third switch is turned off when the first switch is turned on, and the first and second switches are turned off when the third switch is turned on.
US07683813B2
A current cell matrix type of digital-to-analog (D/A) converter to prevent deterioration of a.c. characteristics on a current path for digital-to-analog conversion includes a array of current source cells arranged in a matrix configuration. Each current source cell includes a current source transistor to generate the cell current. During the regular operation, the cell current is flowed on output lines via a first transistor connected in cascode to the current source transistor. During the calibration operation, the cell current is flowed into a current comparator via a second transistor connected in cascode to the current source transistor. This prevents parasitic capacitance from being additively caused in switches for the first transistor and in another switch for the second transistor to prevent deterioration of a.c. characteristics on the current path.
US07683808B2
For providing a user a plural number of trans-coding services with using a plural number of trans-coding services, at high speed, within a home network environment, an information processing apparatus is provided with a function of providing a list of formats, on which format conversion can be made, to a home server, and a function of managing the format conversion processes with using process identifiers, which are shared in common with the server and the information processing apparatus, each of the process identifiers being tied with information of a format conversion method, wherein the format conversion is executed upon a part of contents divided within the home server, following the process identifier designated by the home server, to grasp performances of the information processing apparatuses by measuring throughput per a unit time in the format conversion, and an adjustment is made on an amount of data to be transferred from the home server to the information processing apparatus in the next time, thereby enabling high speed processing of the format conversions.
US07683807B2
A variable-length-code decoding device decodes bit streams encoded in conformity with a plurality of coding systems. The device includes a decoding unit (100) decoding variable length codes encoded by the plurality of coding systems, a stream input unit (10) inputting the variable length codes, and an interface (30) interfacing the decoding unit with the stream input unit. The stream input unit and the interface are shared in the plurality of coding systems. The necessity of providing stream input units for every coding systems is removed, thereby an increase in circuit area can be suppressed. Since the interface connects the stream input unit and the decoding unit, application of this invention to other coding systems or to other combinations of coding systems is easily realized.
US07683804B2
Methods for determining need for treating a vehicle travel surface include sensing, at a first time, a characteristic of a vehicle travel surface from a mobile sensor. Sensed characteristics include temperature, friction coefficient, material volumetric buildup, e.g., composition, such as an amount or percentage of ice or snow, density, depth, freeze point and chemical concentrations. The sensed characteristic is recorded as a first measurement in a database, and GIS information correlating a location with the first measurement is attached. The characteristic of the vehicle travel surface is sensed at a second time, at the location, and recorded in the database, for example as a second measurement. GIS information correlating the location with the second measurement may be attached, and the first and second measurements compared.
US07683803B2
Signal transmission device for a measuring probe, as well as transmission method and measuring probe
A signal transmission device is disclosed, which serves to connect a measuring probe, in particular a pH measuring probe or an oxygen measuring probe, to a signal-processing unit. The signal transmission device includes a differential amplifier at whose non-inverting input an input signal can be applied which is provided by an electrode of the measuring probe, and from which a corresponding low-impedance output signal can be delivered to a transmission line, by which the output signal can be transmitted to the signal-processing unit. The output of the differential amplifier can be connected via a first resistor to the transmission line and to the inverting input of the differential amplifier, and can be connected to the input of a first control unit by which signals can be registered, such as clock signals and/or data, which are applied to the transmission line by the signal-processing unit.
US07683802B2
A wired drill pipe segment includes a tubular body having an axial bore, a box end disposed at a first end of the tubular body having a first core material disposed in the box end, a pin end disposed at a second end of the tubular body having a second core material disposed in the pin end, a first coil winding wound around at least a portion of the first core material and a second coil winding wound around at least a portion of the first core material, a third coil winding wound around at least a portion of the second core material and a fourth coil winding wound around at least a portion of the second core material, a first conductor connected to the first coil winding and the third coil winding and extending through the tubular body, and a second conductor connected to the second coil winding and the fourth coil winding and extending through the tubular body.
US07683801B2
An improved portable storage device is disclosed having an interface, a controller in communication with this interface, a memory in communication with the controller, and a light-emitting-diode assembly in communication with the controller. The light-emitting-diode assembly has a first and a second light-emitting-diode element, the first and second light-emitting-diode elements emitting a first and a second color of light, respectively. The first light-emitting-diode element and said second light-emitting-diode element each independently controlled by the controller via pulse-width-modulation, to produce a third color which appears to be in between the first and second colors in wavelength, this third color indicative of the percent completion of an I/O task or the usage of the memory.
US07683800B2
A door bell notification and personal protection system includes a warning notification module adapted to recognize at least one of a door bell notification from a door bell ringer or emergency transmission signal from a wireless transmitter and thereafter provide a recognition signal to a microprocessor. The microprocessor is adapted to retrieve dog barking sounds stored in a memory and provide the dog barking sounds to at least one of an amplifier or radio frequency transmitter after the microprocessor receives the recognition signal from the warning notification module. Dog barking sounds can be broadcasted using the wireless transmitter. A delay module can enable processing with a delay time after first receipt of the recognition signal. A random module can enable random retrieval of various dog barking sounds from memory for processing. A time out module can disable operation of the microprocessor at a set time after recognition signal receipt.
US07683795B2
A monitoring system for detecting earth faults in an electrical power supply grid providing a power signal includes a plurality of monitoring devices, each of the monitoring devices including a detector for detecting the level of harmonics in the power signal, wherein the level of harmonics is detected in a specific frequency range. Each of the monitoring devices further includes a memory for storing a harmonics reference value, a processor for comparing the detected level of harmonics with the reference level, and a communication device for transmitting an alarm if the detected level of harmonics is above the reference level for a specific period of time. Each of the detectors includes an optical sensor for detecting the harmonics by use of the Faraday effect.
US07683784B2
A radio-frequency communication system including a plurality of apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag, and at least one radio-frequency relay tag, wherein each of the apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag includes a transmitter portion configured to transmit to the relay tag a message writing command for writing on the relay tag a desired message to be transmitted to another apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag via the relay tag, and each relay tag includes a plurality of message storage portions provided to store the messages transmitted from the respective apparatus for communication with a radio-frequency tag.
US07683781B2
A system for verifying patient identity is detailed which allows hospital personnel to reduce error in patient care due to misidentification of a patient. Broadly, an inventive system for verifying patient identity includes a machine readable wireless identification tag containing identification information, the tag attached to an identification badge worn by a patient, a device having data input and output capacity, processing circuitry, memory circuitry and an executable program for analysis of data transmitted from the tag, and a machine wireless reader in data communication with the tag and the device. Also included is a signal display element for displaying a signal to a user, the signal display element disposed on the device or the reader. Further, an alert system is provided for alerting hospital personnel to presence of an object or person having a machine readable wireless tag not associated with a first patient in proximity to the first patient.
US07683780B2
Systems and methods for placing RFID tags on objects are shown and described. The method includes scanning an object and analyzing one or more reflected signals from the to determine a suggested location for placement of an RFID tag. The scan can be accomplished using a scanning device having an antenna that operates in the near field of the object to measure at least one RF property of the reflected signal from the object.
US07683778B2
An apparatus for detecting information on an object includes an irradiating unit, a detecting unit, and an information-obtaining unit. The irradiating unit irradiates the object with electromagnetic waves as a rectangular shaped beam. The electromagnetic waves include a frequency component in (or range of) at least part of a frequency region of 30 GHz to 30 THz, and have variations in magnitude at intervals of 10−11 seconds or more or a temporally constant magnitude. The detecting unit detects the electromagnetic waves transmitted or reflected by the object through interaction therebetween. The information-obtaining unit obtains information on the object from information on the electromagnetic waves detected by the detecting unit.
US07683773B1
Telemetry data may be included in packet exchanges of authentication protocols. In one example, a tag, associated with shipped goods, authenticates with a local area network that is associated with a destination of the goods. An identification is received from the tag and the authentication and the identification are sent to a remote location as an indication of the goods being at the destination.
US07683769B2
A batteryless tire inflation pressure detecting apparatus includes, on the body of a vehicle, antennas and a transmitter transmitting radio waves through the antennas. The apparatus also includes, on each wheel of the vehicle, a pressure sensor sensing the pressure of a tire, a transceiver, and a charging unit powering the pressure sensor and the transceiver. The charging unit is charged with electric power induced by a corresponding one of the radio waves received by the transceiver. The apparatus further includes, on the body of the vehicle, a receiver receiving pressure signals transmitted by the transceivers, a pressure determiner determining the pressures of the tires based on the pressure signals, and a controller. To minimize influence of the radio waves on neighboring devices, the controller controls the transmitter so that least two of the radio waves are transmitted at different times, or at the same with a phase difference therebetween.
US07683761B2
Methods to autonomously establish and utilize a network of active RF tags can include the steps of providing a plurality of active RF tags within a volume of interest, providing at least one data collection node, registering the active RF tags, populating a routing index stored in each tag's data storage device, and communicating data between the active RF tags and the data collection node according to the routing indices. The method can be implemented on a computer-readable medium.
US07683754B2
A method for defining a group from among a plurality of bidirectional objects, comprising the following stages: a) synchronous application to the objects in a group of an initiator event, b) sending of a message containing a group identifier, and c) recording by the objects that have been subjected to the initiator event of the group identifier.
US07683753B2
As for the voltage non-linear resistance element layer 2, sintered body (ceramics) having ZnO as main component is used. Said sintered body comprises Pr, Co, Ca and Na are added. Therefore, the ranges are 0.05 to 5.0 atm % of Pr, 0.1 to 20 atm % of Co, 0.01 to 5.0 atm % of Ca and 0.0001 to 0.0008 atm % of Na. When it is within the range, the capacitance changing rate at 85° C. with standard being 25° C. can be made to equal or less than 10%.
US07683751B2
A fuse mounting assembly includes an epoxy-bonded glass-fiber core that is surrounded by a resilient sleeve having a number of radially extending members. Attached to an end of the core is a first mounting bracket and attached to another end of the core is another mounting bracket. Each of the mounting brackets is connected to a fuse which is structured to protect a power circuit.
US07683747B2
A MEMS RF-switch is provided for controlling switching on/off of transmission of AC signals. The MEMS RF-switch of the present invention includes: a first electrode coupled to one terminal of the power source; a semiconductor layer combined with an upper surface of the first electrode, and forming a potential barrier to become insulated when a bias signal is applied from the power source; and a second electrode disposed at a predetermined distance away from the semiconductor layer, and being coupled to the other terminal of the power source, wherein the second electrode contacts the semiconductor layer when a bias signal is applied from the power source. Therefore, although the bias signal may not be cut off, free electrons and holes are recombined in the semiconductor layer, whereby charge buildup and sticking can be prevented.
US07683741B2
Disclosed is a package having a thin film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR). The package may be utilized for suppressing spurious resonance occurred during operation of the FBAR. The package includes a negative impedance converter (NIC) operatively coupled to the FBAR through at least one interconnect. The at least one interconnect includes transmission lines and bonding wires. The package further includes a filter operatively coupled to the NIC. The filter exhibits a parallel resonance at a predefined frequency. The parallel resonance exhibited by the filter is converted to a series resonance by the NIC such that the series resonance of the NIC is responsible for suppressing the spurious resonance occurring during the operation of the FBAR.
US07683736B2
There is provided a resonant circuit includes a resonator, an inductor connected in parallel with the resonator, and a capacitor connected in parallel with the resonator. There are also provided a filter and an antenna duplexer having the above-described resonant circuit.
US07683732B1
There is disclosed a continuously variable equalizer. The continuously variable equalizer may include a series-tuned circuit connected between an RF signal input terminal and an RF signal output terminal. An adjustable T-pad may have an input terminal coupled to the RF signal input terminal, an output terminal coupled to the RF signal output terminal, and a common terminal. A parallel-tuned circuit may be coupled between the T-pad common terminal and a signal return.
US07683727B2
Methods and apparatus for controlling frequency in a crystal oscillator are provided that allows for continued reception of GPS signal solution in a continuous high G environment. One method comprises measuring G-forces asserted on the crystal oscillator, determining a shift in frequency of the crystal oscillator due to the measured G-forces, determining a temperature that would shift the crystal oscillator's frequency back to a rate that would occur without the measured G-forces, and changing the temperature of the crystal oscillator based on the determined temperature to shift the crystal oscillator's frequency back to a rate that would occur if the G-forces were not present.
US07683722B2
Aspects of a method and system for signal generation via a PLL with a DDFS feedback path are provided. In this regard, a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal may be utilized to control a VCO, wherein the feedback signal is generated by a DDFS. Voltage, current and/or power levels of the generated feedback signal may be limited to a determined range of values. Moreover, the feedback signal may be based on an output of the VCO and a digital control word input to the DDFS. The digital control word may be programmatically controlled by, for example, a processor. Additionally, the control word may be determined based on a desired frequency of the generated feedback signal and a desired output frequency of the VCO. Accordingly, the DDFS may be clocked by the output of the VCO, or by a divided down version of the VCO output.
US07683715B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, a stage of an amplifier contains a positive feedback loop in addition to a negative feedback loop to maintain the bias currents at a desired level in the active components providing the output of the amplifier. The positive feedback loop senses the finite gain (i.e., less than the ideal infinite gain) of the negative feedback loop and compensates for the finite gain. Due to the use of the positive feedback, the duration and extent of deviation of the bias currents from the desired level is reduced, thereby minimizing the distortions in the output of the amplifier. In an embodiment, the stage corresponds to a class AB stage.
US07683710B2
An electronic signal processor for processing signals includes a complex first filter, one or more gain stages and a second filter. The first filter is characterized by a frequency response curve that includes multiple corner frequencies, with some corner frequencies being user selectable. The first filter also has at least two user-preset gain levels which may be alternately selected by a switch. Lower frequency signals are processed by the first filter with at least 12 db/octave slope, and preferably with 18 db/octave slope to minimize intermodulation distortion products by subsequent amplification in the gain stages. A second filter provides further filtering and amplitude control. The signal processor is particularly suited for processing audio frequency signals. Related methods include filtering the input signal with an input filter of the second or third order high pass type, amplifying the filtered signal and further filtering the amplified signal with a low pass filter, which may be of the second order type.
US07683703B2
An active filter comprising a first stage (10), a second stage (20) and a third stage (30), each of them being provided with a respective operational amplifier (11, 21, 31); a feedback branch (50) defined by a resistor (51) connects the output (31c) of the third operational amplifier (31) to the inverting input (11a) of the first operational amplifier (11). A main resistor (60) is connected between the inverting input (11a) of the first operational amplifier (11) and a fixed-potential node, and in particular a grounded node.
US07683698B2
A charge pump circuit is provided which includes at least two charge pump stages connected in series with a front charge pump stage having a first transistor for receiving an input voltage and a last charge pump stage having a second transistor for providing an output voltage. The first transistor is configured to operate at a first threshold voltage and the second transistor is configured to operate at a second threshold voltage different than the first threshold voltage.
US07683697B2
A circuit has an input for receiving a power mode control signal to indicate a low power mode. A plurality of non-inverting buffers forms a fanout signal distribution network and provides buffering of the power mode control signal for gated power domain functional circuitry. Each non-inverting buffer has an even number of serially-connected inverting gates, at least a portion providing respective outputs having a valid logic state in the low power mode. Two voltages are used, one of which is disconnected during the low power mode. The non-inverting buffers have a first inverting gate connected to a continuous voltage terminal and a second inverting gate, collectively sized larger than the first inverting gate and connected to a voltage terminal which is selectively disconnected during the low power mode from the continuous voltage terminal.
US07683694B2
A logarithmic detector circuit including a drive circuit to receive a modulated input signal and generate a buffered modulated signal, a signal shaping circuit coupled to the drive circuit and configured to shape a voltage range of the buffered modulated signal to generate a shaped modulated signal, and a detecting circuit to detect the shaped modulated signal to generate an output signal substantially proportional to a logarithm of an amplitude of the modulated input signal.
US07683693B2
The present invention includes a pass transistor that limits current drawn from a circuit without using a series resistor and while drawing minimal current from an external supply. A current mirror of the output current is formed and compared to a reference current. When the output current increases, the mirror current increases proportionally, and when a threshold is crossed, the pass transistor is turned off. The pass transistor is biased from a charge pump that provides a voltage, a current from which a current mirror is drawn that controls the pass transistor.
US07683689B1
A delay circuit that includes a first delay cell oriented in a first orientation and a second delay cell oriented in a second orientation is described. In one embodiment, the first orientation is perpendicular to the second orientation. More specifically, in one embodiment, the first orientation is vertical and the second orientation is horizontal.
US07683684B2
A power-down mode control apparatus includes an internal power-down control block configured to receive a locking completion signal and to generate an internal power-down signal, which is toggled for a predetermined time; a noise check block configured to check occurrence/non-occurrence of noise on the basis of a phase detection signal and to generate a plurality of power-down selection signals in response to the locking completion signal and the internal power-down signal; and a power-down enter control block configured to generate a plurality of power-down enter signals, which instruct individual circuits to enter a power-down mode in response to a reference clock signal, the plurality of power-down selection signals, a power-down mode signal, and the internal power-down signal.
US07683678B2
An inverter circuit includes an IGBT (3) and an IGBT (4) connected in series between a power supply potential (Vcc) and a GND potential, and an HVIC (1) and an LVIC (2) for respectively controlling actuation of the IGBTs (3) and (4). The inverter circuit also includes a capacitor (5), a diode (6), and a resistor (7). The capacitor (5) is connected between a terminal (VS) and the GND potential. The diode (6) has a series connection to the capacitor (5) between the terminal (VS) and the GND potential, with such a polarity that a forward current flows from the GND potential to the terminal (VS). The resistor (7) is connected in parallel to the capacitor (5).
US07683676B2
An amplifying unit performs a differential amplification with a highest level or a lowest level of an input signal and a previous input signal. A semiconductor element transfers a signal level output from the amplifying unit from a second terminal to a third terminal by using a current conducted from the second terminal to the third terminal in response to a voltage applied to a first terminal. A control unit controls the voltage applied to the first terminal of the semiconductor element based on a voltage or a current related to a reference semiconductor element. A holding unit holds a signal level output from the third terminal of the semiconductor element.
US07683672B2
Disclosed is a dynamically controlled, output slew rate pad driver that generates a controlled voltage on an interface node of an interface circuit, such as an input circuit, an output circuit, or a combined input/output circuit, to control the process of slewing the controlled voltage on the interface node. The slewing occurs substantially independently of capacitive loads connected to the interface node. Prior to initiation of the slewing process, an initial charge is generated on a storage capacitor. The storage capacitor is then connected to the gate of a driver transistor to charge the input parasitic gate capacitance of the driver transistor to approximately a gate threshold voltage of the driver transistor. A constant current source is also provided that is applied to the input of an integrating amplifier and an integrating capacitor that is connected to the interface node. The constant current is integrated to provide a controlled, slewed voltage on the interface node by charging the integrating capacitor with a constant current from the constant current source.
US07683661B2
A method and associated apparatus for enabling a plurality of functions of an integrated circuit to be controlled on a single pin of the circuit. The method includes the steps of providing each of the functions with a designated periodically recurring sampling instance during which time the status of a signal on the single pin will be considered to relate to the function designated to that sampling instance, and controlling each of the functions according to the status of the signal on the single pin during each of the plurality of functions' corresponding designated sampling instance.
US07683660B1
A computer program product in a computer-readable medium for use in a microcontroller-based control system in a programmable logic integrated circuit device is disclosed. The computer program product comprises first instructions for initializing the device, second instructions for reading programming data from a data source external to the programmable logic integrated circuit device, third instructions for transferring the programming data into control elements internal to the programmable logic integrated circuit device. Provision is made for fourth instructions for saving at least a part of the internal logic state of the user logic programmed into the programmable logic integrated circuit device into a non-volatile memory block and for fifth instructions for restoring at least a part of the internal logic state of the user logic programmed into the programmable logic integrated circuit device from a non-volatile memory block. The programmable logic integrated circuit device, comprises a microcontroller block and a programmable logic block with programming circuitry, and has a sub-bus which couples the microcontroller block to the programming circuitry.
US07683654B2
A logic signal isolator comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding; a transmitter circuit which drives said primary winding in response to a received logic signal, such that in response to a first type of edge in the logic signal, a signal of a first predetermined type is supplied to the primary winding and in response to a second type of edge in the logic signal, a signal of a second predetermined type is supplied to said primary winding, the primary winding and the transmitter being referenced to a first ground; and the secondary winding being referenced to a second ground which is galvanically isolated from the first ground and said secondary winding supplying to a receiver circuit signals received in correspondence to the signals provided to the primary winding, the receiver reconstructing the received logic signal from the received signals.
US07683650B1
An instrument for measuring electrical parameters includes a measurement section having a measurement aperture; and a support section providing at least one of power and digital control for the measurement section. The support section has an interference signal frequency, wherein the interference frequency is an integer multiple of the reciprocal of the measurement aperture and the measurement aperture and the interference signal are phase-locked. As a result, the effect of the interference signal on electrical parameters measured is minimized.
US07683647B1
A test head for testing a DUT includes a probe card having a plurality of DUT probes, the probes being in contact with the DUT during the testing; an instrument carrier, the instrument carrier being located above the DUT during the testing; and a SMU mounted on the carrier for each of the probes, each SMU being operably connectable to a respective probe, wherein the carrier is moved with respect to the probe card to permit replacement of the probe card.
US07683645B2
A high-frequency probe card includes a circuit board having signal circuits and grounding circuits, transmission lines each having a bi-wire structure including a first lead wire for transmitting high-frequency signal and a second lead wire connected to the grounding circuits, and signal probes. High-frequency test signal provided by a test machine to the signal circuits can be transmitted to the signal probes through the first lead wires. Since the grounding circuits and second lead wires are provided adjacent to the signal circuits and first lead wires respectively, the high-frequency signal can be efficiently transmitted and the characteristic impedance matching can be maintained during high-frequency signal transmission. The bi-wire structure of the transmission lines has a diameter equal to or less than 1 millimeter, thereby allowing installation of a big number of the transmission lines such that the high-frequency test for a big number of electronic elements can be realized.
US07683641B2
Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a measurable capacitance using sigma-delta measurement techniques. According to various embodiments, a voltage is applied to the measurable capacitance using a first switch. The measurable capacitance is allowed to share charge with a passive network. If the charge on the passive network is past a threshold value, then the charge on the passive network is changed by a known amount for a sufficient number of repetitions until the measurable capacitance can be detected. Such a detection scheme may be readily implemented using conventional components, and can be particularly useful in sensing the position of a finger, stylus or other object with respect to a button, slider, touchpad or other input sensor.
US07683634B2
In accordance with the invention, a surface capacitive sensor is mechanically coupled to a conventional macrostructure actuator to measure the displacement of the actuator along a measurement axis with high accuracy.
US07683630B2
A rotary capacitor electrical test system for providing a power source to a capacitor under electrical test can include at least one programmable voltage source, at least one programmable current source, and a controller for programming the voltage and current sources. Random access, non-volatile, memory can be provided for storing information and for providing read/write capability for the controller. At least one digital/analog converter can communicate between the controller and the programmable voltage and current sources. A diagnostic program is operable through the controller for testing internal integrity of basic input/output functions of at least some subsystems. A circuit health monitoring program can operate through the controller for periodically testing and determining internal integrity of at least some subsystems. A self test program can operate through the controller for determining if at least some internal subsystems are working properly on a test/fail basis.
US07683627B2
A resistance wiring and a judgement circuit for judging a potential in a middle of a path of the resistance wiring are provided on a periphery of a semiconductor chip. One end of the resistance wiring is connected to a power supply and the other end thereof is grounded. Connection points of the resistance wiring to the power supply and the ground are disposed at a corner on the periphery of the semiconductor chip, while a connection point of the resistance wiring to the judgement circuit is disposed at a corner diagonal to the corner on the periphery. When breakages such as chipping and peeling of an interlayer insulating film is caused on the periphery, resistance of the resistance wiring changes.
US07683626B2
A circuit arrangement includes a first and a second supply terminal for application of a supply voltage and an output terminal for providing an output signal. The circuit arrangement additionally includes at least one programmable switch arrangement includes a normally off MOS transistor, which has a load path between a first and second load terminal and a control electrode. A capacitive component, has a first and a second terminal, the first terminal of which is connected to the control electrode of the MOS transistor and the second terminal of which is connected to a control and programming terminal. In this case, the load path of the MOS transistor is connected between the output terminal and one of the supply terminals.
US07683614B2
The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) method, specifically to a magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging method with up to three spatial dimensions and one spectral dimension. Interleaving dynamically switched magnetic field gradients into the spectroscopic encoding scheme enables multi-region shimming in a single shot to compensate the spatially varying spectral line broadening resulting from local magnetic field gradients. The method also employs sparse spectral sampling with controlled spectral aliasing and nonlinear sampling density to maximize encoding speed, data sampling efficiency and sensitivity.
US07683611B2
The present disclosure relates to a device and method for pipeline inspection, The inspection device may include an exciter coil capable of providing an alternating current magnetic field and producing eddy currents. A plurality of sensors may then be provided which are capable of sensing a magnetic field produced by the eddy currents and the sensors may be engaged with a sensor shoe. The sensors may then be capable of being positioned at a first distance D1 with respect to an inner pipe wall surface and capable of providing coupling to the magnetic field produced by the eddy currents. The sensor shoe may also be capable of retracting to a second distance D2, wherein D1
US07683599B2
A voltage control circuit is provided. The voltage control circuit comprises a control voltage source, a current generating unit, and an output voltage generating unit. The control voltage source inputs a single end control voltage. The current generating unit coupled to the control voltage source and a ground generates a first current according to the single end control voltage. The output voltage generating unit coupled to the current generating unit, receives a reference voltage, and generates a first output voltage and a second output voltage according to the first current and the reference voltage. A value of the first output voltage is greater than a value of the second output voltage.
US07683595B2
The document describes a method and an actuating circuit for actuating a switch regulating the power consumption in a power factor correction circuit which has input terminals for applying an input voltage and output terminals for providing an output voltage. In this case, the switch is cyclically turned on for an on-time and turned off for an off-time, respectively, with the on-time having a first on-time period and a second on-time period which is directly adjacent to the first on-time period. A length for the first on-time period is in this case dependent on the control signal, and a length for the second on-time period is proportional, at least for a prescribed range of values for an instantaneous value of the input voltage, to a quotient with a first first-degree function for this instantaneous value in the denominator and a second first-degree function for the instantaneous value in the numerator, with function values for the first function increasing as the instantaneous value rises.
US07683587B2
A generation device, having a magneto generator, in which an AC control voltage is applied from a battery charged with a rectified output of the magneto generator to an armature winding of the generator through an inverter to control a battery voltage to a limit value or less, comprising: fixed point detection means for detecting a fixed point on a waveform of a phase current of the generator; phase current phase detection means for detecting a phase angle of the fixed point in relation to a reference phase; arithmetical operation means for arithmetically operating timing for generating the AC control voltage with reference to the phase of the fixed point; and inverter control means for controlling switch elements of the inverter so as to generate the AC control voltage at the timing arithmetically operated by the arithmetical operation means.
US07683585B1
A trailer battery charge system for an electrical connection device between a vehicle and a trailer. The trailer battery charge system generally includes a first switching device that allows current to flow to an electrical terminal associated with a trailer battery of the trailer. A voltage sensor generates a voltage signal based on a voltage at the electrical terminal associated with the trailer battery. A control module controls the first switching device to charge the trailer battery based on the voltage signal.
US07683578B2
An energy saving system used in an electronic device is provided. The energy saving system includes a battery for supplying the electronic device with energy; a energy detector for measuring a energy level of the battery, and transmitting a battery energy saving control signal when the measured energy level is equal to or less than a predetermined energy level; and a control unit for changing a predetermined first time period into a predetermined second time period which is shorter than the predetermined first time period according to the battery energy saving control signal, and controlling the electronic device to enter a sleep mode state when an elapsed time of not receiving any operations on the electronic device reaches the predetermined second time period.
US07683570B2
An apparatus including a rechargeable battery pack installed in an electric vehicle, the rechargeable battery pack coupled to a power supply, the power supply operable to provide a charge voltage to perform charging operations on the battery pack, a heating element to heat a fluid to be circulated through the rechargeable battery pack, a comparator circuit to compare a battery voltage of the rechargeable battery pack to a line source voltage, the comparator circuit operable to compare the battery voltage to the line source voltage and to provide an output signal when the battery voltage is less than a line voltage offset value, and a control circuit coupled to receive the output signal of the comparator, and to couple the line source voltage to the power supply, an to bypass the heating element if the comparator is not providing the output signal.
US07683566B2
A fan rotation speed control circuit of a power supply system is provided, which is applicable for controlling the rotation speed of the fan according to a loading state outputted by the power supply system. The fan rotation speed control circuit of the power supply system includes a waveform generating module, for generating an oscillating waveform signal; a current retrieving module, for retrieving a current signal corresponding to the loading state; a rotation speed control signal generating module, for comparing the oscillating waveform signal with the current signal, and generating a rotation speed control signal; a signal amplifying module, for amplifying an amplitude of the rotation speed control signal and outputting the amplified rotation speed control signal to the fan, so as to control the rotation speed of the fan.
US07683565B2
A method and apparatus for controlling a haptic device. In one embodiment, the haptic device includes an actuator; an actuator sensor, producing an actuator signal indicative of the actuator velocity; a load; a load output sensor producing a load output signal indicative of the load position; and a controller in electrical communication with the load output sensor, actuator sensor and actuator. The controller controls the actuator in response to the actuator signal and the load output signal to provide a haptic response to a user. In one embodiment, the method for controlling an actuator of a haptic device includes the steps of producing an actuator signal indicative of the velocity of an actuator; producing a position signal indicative of the position of a load; and controlling the actuator in response to the actuator signal and the load output position signal to produce a haptic response to a user.
US07683564B2
A mobile lift device having a load moving device capable of engaging a load is provided. The mobile lift device includes one or more systems for stabilizing the mobile lift device during operation of the load moving device. According to one exemplary embodiment, the mobile lift device is a heavy duty wrecker having a rotatable boom assembly. The heavy duty wrecker comprises a monitoring system for stabilizing the wrecker during operation of the boom assembly. The monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors and a monitoring circuit coupled to the sensors to generate a force signal representative of at least one force being applied to the wrecker based upon the transmitted signals.
US07683557B2
An interlocking device for controlling clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of a motor is connected with a clockwise rotation module and a counterclockwise rotation module at both ends thereof to form a loop by cooperating with a power-supply terminal and an earth terminal. The clockwise rotation module includes a clockwise rotation trigger switch and a clockwise rotation relay. The counterclockwise rotation module includes a counterclockwise rotation trigger switch and a counterclockwise rotation relay. By such arrangements, the loop collision caused by mis-touch can be avoided by a cross connection of the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation relays with the clockwise and counterclockwise rotation trigger switches, thus preventing the man-made careless mistake and maintaining the smoothness of the operation.
US07683555B2
In a backlight, for example, a pair of U-shaped discharge tubes are connected to connectors of a discharge tube lighting circuit. A secondary output voltage of a first transformer is applied to a first end of one U-shaped discharge tube via a power supply electrode. A secondary output voltage of a second transformer is applied to a first end of the other U-shaped discharge tube via a power supply electrode. A secondary output voltage of a third transformer is applied in common to the other (second) ends of the U-shaped discharge tubes via other power supply electrodes. The secondary output voltages of the first and second transformers are the same in polarity, and are opposite to the secondary output voltage of the third transformer in polarity.
US07683551B2
Discharge factors existing on a surface of an electrode or an insulator forming an electron gun are removed efficiently and effectively, thus simply and easily enhancing the withstand voltage property of the electron gun. A conditioning processing device of an electron gun is provided with a voltage supply section, a voltage adjusting section for adjusting the output voltage of the voltage supply section, and a current detection section for detecting a leakage current flowing between the electrodes of the electron gun. Further, there are attached a vacuum exhaust section for adjusting the inside of the electron gun in a reduced pressure condition and a pressure detection section. Further, it is arranged that a personal computer (PC), for example, performs data processing based on the leakage current detected by the current detection section or comparison with a reference value thereof to control the voltage, which is applied between the electrodes from the voltage supply section via a connection section, via the voltage adjustment section.
US07683548B2
A method of producing an infrared lamp for a vehicle night vision system, where the lamp has a tube which surrounds a radiation source that emits infrared radiation and light radiation. The tube has an infrared-transmitting coating. By setting specific process parameters in the coating process and/or by post-treating the coated tube, holes are formed in an irregular arrangement in the coating. The holes have at least in some areas a defined average size and a defined average surface density.
US07683546B2
A sulfur lamp including a power supply that supplies electrical power includes a transparent bulb having a space inside that contains sulfur. Additionally, a plurality of electrodes may be provided on an outside surface of the transparent bulb. Further, one end of each electrode may be connected to the power supply so that the sulfur is excited by an electric discharge to emit light. Therefore, the changing of sulfur contained in the space of the bulb into a plasma phase using the electrodes (not microwaves) avoids a need to use a magnetron, which has a low energy transfer rate, thereby increasing a system efficacy and saving a cost of replacing the magnetron with a new one.
US07683544B2
A plasma display panel has heights of barrier ribs prevented from abnormally increasing at positions where a phosphor dispensing process starts and ends, improving discharge performance and uniformity of a panel. A front substrate and a rear substrate face each other. Address electrodes and display electrodes extend separately from each other in a first direction and a second direction, respectively, in a space between the front substrate and the rear substrate, the first direction crossing the second direction. Barrier ribs partition a display area including a plurality of discharge cells in the space between the front substrate and the rear substrate. A non-display area is formed along a periphery of the display area. A phosphor layer is formed in each discharge cell. The non-display area includes a buffer area formed of at least a single region outside the display area.
US07683538B2
A dual panel-type organic electroluminescent display device includes a first substrate on which gate and data lines cross each other to define sub-pixels. Array elements are disposed at the sub-pixels on the first substrate. A first electrode is disposed on substantially the entire surface of a second substrate opposing the first substrate. An insulating pattern is disposed on the first electrode, an organic electroluminescent layer is disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode is disposed on the organic electroluminescent layer at each sub-pixel. A connection pattern connects the array element and the second electrode at each sub-pixel. The connection pattern contacts the second electrode under the insulating pattern.
US07683536B2
The present invention relates to OLEDs utilizing direct injection to the triplet state. The present invention also relates to OLEDs utilizing resonant injection and/or stepped energy levels.
US07683523B2
An ultrasonic actuator (3) includes an actuator body (4) performing a plurality of vibrations including a bending vibration, and a driver element (5) which is attached to a long side surface (40b) of the actuator body (4), and outputs a driving force by making an orbit motion in response to the vibrations of the actuator body (4). The driver element (5) is provided with an attachment surface (51), and is attached to the long side surface (40b) with the attachment surface (51) in surface contact with the long side surface (40b). A width of the attachment surface (51) in the longitudinal direction of the long side surface (40b) is smaller than a maximum width of the driver element (5) in the longitudinal direction of the long side surface (40b).
US07683518B2
A motor includes a stator formed of a stator iron-core having salient pole iron-cores and windings, and a rotor having a rotor iron-core in which permanent magnets are buried. A magnetic pole centerline connecting a rotary center of the rotor to a magnetic pole center crosses an external shape of the rotor iron-core at end point X, and the magnetic-pole boundary line connecting the rotary center to a magnetic pole boundary point crosses the external shape of the rotor iron-core at end point Z. A straight line angled at a given angle θa from the magnetic pole centerline has end point A. Then a sectional view of the rotor iron-core shows an arc drawn between the end points X and A, and the arc's center is the rotary center. The end points A and Z are connected by one or more than one straight lines in series.
US07683497B2
A turbomachinery electric generator arrangement includes a rotary compressor, a generator having a rotary armature and a stator, a combustion chamber to which compressed gas is directed from the compressor, a rotary turbine to which combustion product is directed from the combustion chamber and a bearing arrangement supporting in rotation the rotary compressor, rotary armature and rotary turbine. Compressed gas for cooling components of the arrangement is directed from the rotary compressor, typically being tapped off from a subsidiary gas output upstream of a primary gas outlet. Bearing thermal shielding and modular construction of components are also features of the arrangement.
US07683494B1
An insulative substrate includes a plurality of flexible retaining clips and a plurality of alignment and retaining pins. A metal leadframe includes a plurality of leads. Each lead terminates in a spring contact beam portion. The leadframe is attached to the substrate (for example, by fitting a hole in each lead over a corresponding alignment and retaining pin and then thermally deforming the pin to hold the lead in place). An integrated circuit is press-fit down through the retaining clips such that pads on the face side of the integrated circuit contact and compress the spring contact beams of the leads. After the press-fit step, the retaining clips hold the integrated circuit in place. The resulting assembly is encapsulated. In a cutting and bending step, the leads are singulated and formed to have a desired shape. The resulting low-cost package involves no wire-bonding and no flip-chip bond bump forming steps.
US07683492B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device which can realize the mounting of a plurality of chips at a high-speed, with high packaging density and at a low cost. In mounting a memory device chip 103 and an ASIC 104 on a wiring chip 102, connection pads 110, 116 are respectively formed along one opposing sides of the memory device chip 103 and the ASIC 104 on the wiring chip 102, the arrangement positions of the respective connection pads 110, 116 define the shortest distance assumes the shortest distance therebetween and, at the same time wiring lines which are formed on the wiring chip 102 are also shortened. Accordingly, it is possible to mount the memory device chip 103 and the ASIC 104 on the wiring chip 102 with high packaging density and, at the same time, since the wiring distance can be shortened, the high speed operation can be realized.
US07683488B2
A semiconductor device is provided having an insulating layer structure with a low dielectric constant and excellent barrier properties against copper. This semiconductor device has a copper wiring layer and includes at least one layered structure having a copper wiring line, an amorphous carbon film with a density of 2.4 g/cm3 or more, a porous silicon oxide insulating material layer, an amorphous carbon film with a density of 2.4 g/cm3 or more and a copper wiring line in that order.
US07683487B2
A structure applied to a photolithographic process is provided. The structure includes at least a film layer, an optical isolation layer, an anti-reflection coating and a photoresist layer sequentially formed over a substrate. In the photolithographic process, the optical isolation layer stops light from penetrating down to the film layer. Since the optical isolation layer is set up underneath the photoresist layer, light emitted from a light source during photo-exposure is prevented from reflecting from the substrate surface after passing through the film layer. Thus, the critical dimensions of the photolithographic process are unaffected by any change in the thickness of the film layer.
US07683483B2
Flip-chip electronic devices (40, 70, 80, 90) employ bumps (42, 72, 82) for coupling to an external substrate. Device cells (43, 73, 83, 93) and bumps (42, 72, 82) are preferably arranged in clusters (46) where four bumps (42, 72, 82) substantially surround each device cell (43, 73, 83, 93) or form a cross with the device cell (43, 73, 83, 93) at the intersection of the cross. The bumps (42, 72, 82) are desirably spaced apart by the minimum allowable bump (42, 72, 82) pitch (Lm). Typically, each device cell (43, 73, 83, 93) contains one or more active device regions (44, 74, 86, 96) depending on the overall function. Complex devices (40, 70) are formed by an X-Y array of the clusters (46), where adjacent clusters (46) may share bumps (43, 73, 83, 93) and/or device cells (43, 73, 83, 93). In a preferred embodiment, the bumps (42, 82) form the outer perimeter (48) of the device (40, 80, 90). The maximum device temperature and overall noise is reduced.
US07683482B2
A chip is bonded on a circuit board by aligning in position bumps with board electrodes with interposition of an anisotropic conductive layer between the chip and the circuit board. The anisotropic conductive layer is a mixture of an insulating resin, conductive particles and an inorganic filler. The chip is pressed against the board with a pressure force of not smaller than 20 gf per bump by virtue of a tool, while warp of the chip and the board is connected, the bumps are compressed, and the insulating resin is hardened.
US07683479B2
A semiconductor chip 36 is mounted on a package substrate 30 with its circuit side facing to a board 38. Heat is dissipated from an upper side of the semiconductor chip 36 opposite to the circuit side. A sealing resin 32 seals around the periphery of the semiconductor chip 36 so that the upper side of the semiconductor chip 36 is exposed to atmosphere. A fixing member 34 is buried in the sealing resin 32 so that a hook 40 formed on the tip of the fixing member 34 extends above the upper side of the semiconductor chip 36. A spreader 10 dissipates heat emitted from the semiconductor chip 36. A guiding slot 12 is formed on the side facing to the package substrate 30 of the spreader 10. The hooks 40 of the fixing members 34 are inserted into the guiding slots 12 respectively, and then the spreader 10 is rotated by predetermined angle against the package substrate 30. Then, the hooks 40 travel along the slots 12. Through such process, the spreader 10 is pulled to come into contact with the upper side of the semiconductor chip 36.
US07683478B2
A sealed microelectronic structure which provides mechanical stress endurance and includes at least two chips being electrically connected to a semiconductor structure at a plurality of locations. Each chip includes a continuous bonding material along it's perimeter and at least one support column connected to each of the chips positioned within the perimeter of each chip. Each support column extends outwardly such that when the at least two chips are positioned over one another the support columns are in mating relation to each other. A seal between the at least two chips results from the overlapping relation of the chip to one another such that the bonding material and support columns are in mating relation to each other. Thus, the seal is formed when the at least two chips are mated together, and results in a bonded chip structure.
US07683477B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed. One embodiment provides a device including a carrier, an electrically insulating layer arranged over the carrier and a first semiconductor chip arranged over the electrically insulating layer, wherein the first semiconductor chip has a first contact element on a first surface and a second contact element on a second surface.
US07683466B2
A chip packaging overflow proof device includes a chip disposed on a substrate; a circuit connected to the chip being provided to each of both sides of the substrate; both of the substrate and the chip being placed in a packaging base; a socket being each provided on both sides of the packaging base to receive insertion by a lid; a first cable-terminating hole being provided between the socket and the lid to permit the circuit to penetrate through; one or a plurality of retaining wall being disposed on the packaging base at where closer to the socket; a second cable-terminating hole being provided on the retaining hole; an overflow space being defined between the retaining wall and the socket; the overflow space being disposed at a level lower than that of the second cable-terminating hole; and the overflow space accepts any squeeze-out from a chip packaging colloid.
US07683463B2
A leadframe structure is disclosed. The leadframe structure includes a first leadframe structure portion with a first thin portion and a first thick portion, where the first thin portion is defined in part by a first recess. It also includes a second leadframe structure portion with a second thin portion and a second thick portion, where the second thin portion is defined in part by a second recess. The first thin portion faces the second recess, and the second thin portion faces the first recess.
US07683461B2
An integrated circuit leadless package system includes forming a lead, attaching an integrated circuit die to the lead, and applying an encapsulant including a thin encapsulant region with a thinner section over the lead than a section over the integrated circuit die.
US07683460B2
A module (100) comprises a component (10) and a shielding element (11), which is mounted on a main surface (12) of the component (10) and has a welding contact (13).
US07683454B2
A MOS power component in which the active regions extend perpendicularly to the surface of a semiconductor chip substantially across the entire thickness thereof. A MOS power transistor according to the present invention alternately includes a source region of a first conductivity type, an intermediary region, and a drain region of the first conductivity type, each of these regions extending across the entire thickness of the substrate, the source and drain regions being contacted by conductive fingers or plates substantially crossing the substrate, insulated and spaced apart conductive fingers crossing from top to bottom the intermediary region, the horizontal distance between the insulated fingers being such that the intermediary region can be inverted when an appropriate voltage is applied to these insulated fingers.
US07683439B2
A semiconductor device structure is formed over a semiconductor substrate and has a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate and a gate over the gate dielectric. The gate, at an interface with the gate dielectric, comprises a transition metal, carbon, and an electropositive element. The transition metal comprises one of group consisting of tantalum, titanium, hafnium, zirconium, molybdenum, and tungsten. The electropositive element comprises one of a group consisting of a Group IIA element, a Group IIIB element, and lanthanide series element.
US07683427B2
A laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (LDMOS) device as well as a method of making the same is disclosed. A gate is formed on a semiconductor substrate between a source region and a drain region with one side laterally extending onto a part of a field oxide layer and the opposite side beside the source region. A gate dielectric layer is formed between the gate and the semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate dielectric layer comprises two or more portions having different thicknesses arranged laterally in a way that the thicknesses of the portions gradually increase from one side beside the source doping region to the opposite side bordering the field oxide layer. With such structure, the hot carrier impact is minimized and the gate length can be scaled down to gain Idlin.
US07683424B2
A nitride read only memory cell comprising a silicon-germanium layer with a pair of source/drain regions. A strained silicon layer is formed overlying the silicon-germanium layer such that the pair of source/drain regions is linked by a channel that is generated in the strained silicon layer during operation of the cell. A nitride layer is formed overlying the substrate. The nitride layer has at least one charge storage region. The nitride layer may be a planar layer, a planar split gate nitride layer, or a vertical split nitride layer. A control gate is formed overlying the nitride layer. Ballistic direct injection is used to program the memory cell. A first charge storage region of the nitride layer establishes a virtual source/drain region in the channel. The virtual source/drain region has a lower threshold voltage than the remaining portion of the channel.
US07683423B2
A semiconductor device comprises a first transistor having a composite gate structure containing a lamination of a first polycrystalline silicon film, an interlayer insulating film, and a second polycrystalline silicon film; and a second transistor having a single gate structure containing a lamination of a third polycrystalline silicon film and a fourth polycrystalline silicon film, wherein the first polycrystalline silicon film and the third polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same thickness; the first polycrystalline silicon film and the third polycrystalline silicon film have different impurity concentrations controlled independently of each other; the second polycrystalline silicon film and the fourth polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same thickness, and the second polycrystalline silicon film, the fourth polycrystalline silicon film, and the third polycrystalline silicon film have substantially the same impurity concentration. Also, a method for manufacturing the above-described semiconductor device is described.
US07683422B2
Non-volatile memory devices include memory cells therein with reduced cell-to-cell coupling capacitance. These memory cells include floating gate electrodes with open-ended wraparound shapes that operate to reduce the cell-to-cell coupling capacitance in a bit line direction, while still maintaining a high coupling ratio between control and floating gate electrodes within each memory cell.
US07683419B2
A memory cell capacitor (C3) of a DRAM is formed by use of a MIM capacitor which uses as its electrode a metal wiring line of the same layer (M3) as metal wiring lines within a logic circuit (LOGIC), thereby enabling reduction of process costs. Higher integration is achievable by forming the capacitor using a high dielectric constant material and disposing it above a wiring layer in which bit lines (BL) are formed. In addition, using 2T cells makes it possible to provide a sufficient signal amount even when letting them operate with a low voltage. By commonizing the processes for fabricating capacitors in analog (ANALOG) and memory (MEM), it is possible to realize a semiconductor integrated circuit with the logic, analog and memory mounted together on one chip at low costs.
US07683409B2
An image sensor including a second line formed at an upper part of a photodiode region as a transparent electrode for passing light. The second line is composed of a polymeric material having transparency and conductivity.
US07683404B2
A stacked memory includes at least two semiconductor layers each including a memory cell array. A transistor is formed in a peripheral circuit region of an uppermost semiconductor layer of the at least two semiconductor layers. The transistor is used to operate the memory cell array.
US07683403B2
A design method for an integrated circuit adds spare cells in a System-on-Chip to allow for Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) to be performed at a later stage in the design. This method can be used to provide a second version of the chip having minimal alterations performed in a short cycle time. The spare cells can be divided into combinational and sequential cells. There is an optimum spread of combinational cells in the design for post placement repairs of the chip with just metal layer changes. The method takes into account the drive strength of the spare cells as the main factor in their placement on the chip.
US07683402B2
Semiconductor devices whose current characteristics can be prevented from varying even if a phase shift mask is used for patterning gate electrodes of MISFETs, and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device comprising a first transistor including a first gate electrode provided above a semiconductor substrate, and a first source and a first drain provided in the semiconductor substrate, a second transistor arranged to be adjacent to the first transistor, and including a second gate electrode provided above the semiconductor substrate in parallel with the first gate electrode, and a second source and a second drain provided in the semiconductor substrate, and a third gate electrode provided between the first transistor and the second transistor and in parallel with the first and second gate electrodes.
US07683399B2
There is provided a normally-off type transistor made of a nitride semiconductor. The transistor includes; an undoped GaN layer which forms a channel region; an undoped Al0.2Ga0.8N layer which is formed on the undoped GaN layer and has a band gap larger than that of the undoped GaN layer; a p-type Al0.2Ga0.8N control layer which is formed on the undoped Al0.2Ga0.8N layer, has a p-type conductivity and forms a control region; an Ni gate electrode which contacts with the p-type Al0.2Ga0.8N control layer; a Ti/Al source electrode and a Ti/Al drain electrode which are formed beside the p-type Al0.2Ga0.8N control layer; and an Ni ohmic electrode which is connected to the undoped GaN layer and serves as a hole absorbing electrode. With this transistor, it is possible to achieve a large-current operation and a high switching speed.
US07683396B2
A high power light emitting device assembly with electro-static-discharge (ESD) protection ability and the method of manufacturing the same, the assembly comprising: at least two sub-mounts, respectively being electrically connected to an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, each being made of a metal of high electric conductivity and high thermal conductivity; a light emitting device, arranged on the sub-mounts; and an ESD protection die, sandwiched and glued between the sub-mounts, for enabling the high-power operating light emitting device to have good heat dissipating path while preventing the same to be damaged by transient power overload of static surge.
US07683393B2
A wiring substrate for mounting a light emitting element, comprising: a substrate body comprising an insulating material and having a first surface and a back surface; and a cavity being opened into the first surface of said substrate body and having a mounting area for mounting a light emitting element at a bottom face of said cavity, wherein a metalized layer provided along a side face of said cavity and metalized layers provided in said substrate body are provided to continue to each other.
US07683389B2
A nitride-based semiconductor LED comprises an anode; a first p-type clad layer having a second n-type clad layer coming in contact with the anode, the first p-type clad layer being formed under the anode such that a portion of the first p-type clad layer comes in contact with the anode; an active layer formed under the first p-type clad layer; a first n-type clad layer having a second p-type clad layer which does not come in contact with the active layer, the first n-type clad layer being formed on the entire lower surface of the active layer; and a cathode formed under the first n-type clad layer and the second p-type clad layer so as to come in contact with a portion of the first n-type clad layer and the second p-type clad layer.
US07683385B2
A facet extraction LED improved in light extraction efficiency and a manufacturing method thereof. A substrate is provided. A light emitting part includes an n-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a p-type semiconductor layer sequentially stacked on the substrate. A p-electrode and an n-electrode are connected to the p-type semiconductor layer and the n-type semiconductor layer, respectively. The p- and n-electrodes are formed on the same side of the LED. The light emitting part is structured as a ring.
US07683381B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device comprises an N-type semiconductor layer, an active layer formed on the surface of the N-type semiconductor layer, a P-type semiconductor layer formed on the surface of the active layer, and a reflective layer formed on the surface of the P-type semiconductor layer. A plurality of ohmic contact blocks with electrical properties of ohmic contact are on the surface of the reflective layer adjacent to the P-type semiconductor layer, and the remaining part of the surface acts as the reflective regions with higher reflectivity, and the reflective regions can effectively reflect the light generated from the active layer.
US07683377B2
The present invention aims to provide a semiconductor light emitting device (1) that may be firmly attached to a substrate with maintaining excellent light emitting efficiency, and a manufacturing method of the same, and a lighting apparatus and a display apparatus using the same. In order to achieve the above object, the semiconductor light emitting device (1) according to the present invention includes a luminous layer (23), a light transmission layer (10) disposed over a main surface of the luminous layer (23), and having depressions (11) on a surface facing away from the luminous layer (23), and a transmission membrane (70) disposed on the light transmission layer (10) so as to follow contours of the depressions, and light from the luminous layer (23) is irradiated so as to pass through the light transmission layer (10) and the transmission membrane (70).
US07683374B2
A method of fabricating a photodetector device includes preparing a silicon substrate, forming a patterned mesa on the silicon substrate, and forming a patterned conductive layer over the patterned mesa.
US07683370B2
Source/drain electrodes, transistor substrates and manufacture methods, thereof, and display devices
In a thin-film transistor substrate including a substrate, a thin-film transistor semiconductor layer, a source/drain electrode, and a transparent pixel electrode, the source/drain electrode includes a thin film of an aluminum alloy containing 0.1 to 6 atomic percent of nickel as an alloy element, and the aluminum alloy thin film is directly connected to the thin-film transistor semiconductor layer.
US07683363B2
The present invention relates to a composition for photon energy up-conversion, a system comprising said composition and to uses of said composition and said system.
US07683340B2
A radiation counting detector includes a first and a second substrate. A gas is contained within the gap between the substrates. A photocathode layer is coupled to one side of the first substrate and faces the second substrate. A first electrode is coupled to the second substrate and a second electrode is electrically coupled to the first electrode. A first impedance is coupled to the first electrode and a second impedance is coupled to the second electrode. A power supply is coupled to at least one electrode. A first discharge event detector is coupled to the first impedance and a second discharge event detector is coupled to the second impedance. The radiation counting detector further includes a plurality of pixels, each capable of outputting a gas discharge pulse upon interaction with radiation received from the photocathode. Each gas discharge pulse is counted as an individual event having an approximately equal value.
US07683339B2
An optical radiation sensor system having: a housing having a distal portion for receiving radiation from the radiation source and a proximal portion; a sensor element in communication with the proximal portion, the sensor element configured to detect and respond to incident radiation received from the radiation source; and motive structure configured to move the housing with respect to the sensor element between at least a first position and a second position. A radiation pathway is defined between the radiation source and the sensor element when the housing is in at least one of the first position and the second position. Movement of the housing with respect to the sensor element causes a modification of intensity of radiation impinging on the sensor element.
US07683337B2
If image data is input to an image processor (step S1), the image processor generates an integrated image sum (step S2). The image processor extracts a maximum output max from the integrated image sum (step S3). The image processor compares the maximum output max with a preset threshold (step S4). In this case, the threshold is set to 80% of the saturation amount. When the saturation amount is 3 V, the threshold is 2.4 V. If the maximum value max is smaller than the threshold, imaging continues. If the maximum value max is equal to or larger than the threshold, the integrated image sum is cleared to 0 (step S5), and refresh operation is performed.
US07683335B2
Threshold Cerenkov Detector With Radial Segmentation permits correlation between number of photons produced in concentrically arranged radiator tubes and particle momentum that yields a 90% confidence level for e, μ, π, and p identification up to 4-5 GeV/c or four to five times greater than the momentum limit for particle identification in Threshold Cerenkov Detectors, wherein detector has three concentric cylinders with a total of 25 radiator tubes, each cylinder of tubes has different medium; and four scintillators are employed which trigger cosmic particles within a window of 5ns. Radiator designs produce more photons as particles enter improved TCDRS design and fewer photons as they leave. Correlation between the number of photons produced in the tubes and the particle momentum yields about a 90% confidence level for e, μ, π, and p identification up to 4-5 GeV/c times greater than the momentum limit for particle identification using existing Threshold Cerenkov Detectors.
US07683330B2
A method is disclosed for determining positron emission measurement information in the context of positron emission tomography. The method includes carrying out a positron emission measurement, in a body area of a subject to be examined, to record positron emission measurement information with point resolution and determining a time frame of the measurement by, at the same time, generating images of the body area to be examined with a relatively higher time resolution and with point-resolved image data, using a second imaging method. Further, a local shift of points of individual images of the second imaging method is determined, caused by movement processes of the subject to be examined, and as a function thereof, of the positron emission measurement information for at least a part of the measurement period and of the body area to be examined. Finally, the positron emission measurement information is adjusted as a function of the determined shift.
US07683329B2
The system for automatic determination of the density of an object (100) comprises: an apparatus (2) to determine a significant dimension (x) of said object (100), an apparatus (30) to determine the intensity (I) of a photon beam attenuated by passing through said object (100), an acquisition, processing and analysis apparatus (200), means (70, 72, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88) of transporting the object (100), first means (74, 76, 78) of adjusting the position of the object (100), second means (90, 92, 94, 96, 98) of adjusting the position of the object (100). The method for using the system described above includes steps to calibrate components of apparatuses 2 and 30, and steps to actually determine the significant dimension of objects (100), that are done on each object (100) in said set of objects.
US07683328B2
A photographing control apparatus that controls a sensor for accumulating and reading out electric charge in order to obtain an image, includes: a deciding unit adapted to decide a frame period showing an image photographing interval, based on an input of an input unit; a determining unit adapted to determine, based on the frame period decided by the deciding unit, whether accumulation and reading out of electric charge not for use in an image generating process is set in the frame period; and a control unit adapted to control the sensor based on the determination by the determining unit.
US07683326B2
A vehicular vision system is disclosed comprising a high dynamic range. The systems and methods are advantages for rear vision, collision avoidance, obstacle detection, adaptive cruise control, rain sensing, exterior light control, and lane departure warning, as well as other applications where a given scene may comprise objects having widely varying brightness values.
US07683316B2
The number of times of repetition of mass spectrometry analysis for integrating mass profiles is reduced to facilitate reduction in measurement time-period and increase a signal intensity. In a state when ions are trapped by a high-frequency electric field formed within an ion trap, a rectangular-wave high-frequency voltage to be applied from a main voltage generation section to a ring electrode is temporarily stopped, and next ions are introduced from an ion entrance port into the ion trap in a state when only a static electric field exists within the ion trap. The high-frequency voltage application is re-started while at least a part of previously-trapped ions remain within the ion trap, to trap the newly-introduced ions in addition to the previous ions so as to increase an amount of ions to be accumulated, and the accumulated ions are subjected to the mass spectrometry analysis.
US07683314B2
A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an ion beam attenuator which attenuates an ion beam repeatedly switching between a zero transmission mode of operation during a time period ΔT1 and a non-zero transmission mode of operation during a time period ΔT2. The degree of attenuation of the ion beam can be varied by varying the mark space ratio ΔT2/ΔT1. The ion beam attenuator may release ions in packets or pulses but the packets or pulses of ions may be converted into a continuous ion beam by a relatively high pressure ion guide or gas collision cell arranged downstream of the ion beam attenuator.
US07683312B2
A fiber optic interrogator includes a broadband optical source, at least one beam splitter directing output of the optical source to an array of fiber optic gratings, at least one linear transmission or reflection filter, at least one optical receiver and at least one amplifier associated with each receiver. In one aspect of the invention, a pair of opposite-sloped linear transmission filters are utilized to normalize the received and filtered reflections with respect to total optical power.
US07683309B1
A photosensor includes a metal conductive layer, an interface dielectric layer, a silicon-rich dielectric layer and a transparent conductive layer. The interface dielectric layer is formed on the metal conductive layer. The silicon-rich dielectric layer is formed on the interface dielectric layer. The transparent conductive layer is formed on the silicon-rich dielectric layer. A method for fabricating a photosensor is also disclosed herein.
US07683306B2
A pixel cell array architecture having a dual conversion gain. A dual conversion gain element is coupled between a floating diffusion region and a respective storage capacitor. The dual conversion gain element having a control gate switches in the capacitance of the capacitor to change the conversion gain of the floating diffusion region from a first conversion gain to a second conversion gain. In order to increase the efficient use of space, the dual conversion gain element gate also functions as the bottom plate of the capacitor. In one particular embodiment of the invention, a high dynamic range transistor is used in conjunction with a pixel cell having a capacitor-DCG gate combination; in another embodiment, adjacent pixels share pixel components, including the capacitor-DCG combination.
US07683304B2
Provided is a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. The CMOS image sensor includes a pixel array unit having a matrix-type array of unit pixels, each unit pixel including a charge transfer element transferring charge collected in a photoelectric conversion element to a charge detection element. The charge transfer element also receives a boosted voltage signal higher than an external power voltage.
US07683302B2
A solid-state imaging device 1 includes: a semiconductor substrate 11 on which pixels are placed like a matrix; and each of the pixels having a photoelectric conversion element 13 and a color filter layer 21 which is formed on the photoelectric conversion element 13. The solid-state imaging device 1 includes resin parts 20 which are formed at the boundaries of these photoelectric conversion devices 13 which are adjacent to each other, each of the resin parts 20 having an upward convex shape. Each color filter layer 21 of the device is formed so that the color filter layer covers the area ranging from the summit of a resin part to the summit of an adjacent resin part, and each color filter layer 21 is thinner in the peripheral part than in the center part around the summit.
US07683300B2
A system and method provides high speed variable attenuators. The attenuators can be used within a lithographic apparatus to control intensity of radiation in one or more correction pulses used to correct a dose of the radiation following an initial pulse of radiation.
US07683297B2
An electric power supply part supplies electric power to a heat-generating member and a power requiring part. A control part controls electric power supplied to the heat-generating member and the power requiring part. A first mode is to supply electric power to the heat-generating member from only a main electric power supply device and to the power requiring part from both the main electric power supply device and an auxiliary electric power requiring part. A second mode is to supply electric power to the heat-generating member and the power requiring part from only the main electric power supply device and causing electric power supplied to the heat-generating member to be smaller than a rated electric power of the heat-generating member. The electric power supplied to the heat-generating member in the first mode is caused to be larger than the electric power supplied to the heat-generating member in the second mode.
US07683293B2
A domestic appliance, particularly a cooking appliance, having a metallic surface, is provided with a coating based on silicon oxide. Such coating is deposited on the metallic surface by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The coating protects the metallic surface from scratching, staining and thermal yellowing.
US07683288B2
A system and method for computing the parameters of a forge welding machine for the forge welding of one or more materials is provided. A computer program executes a self-tuning routine to compute the operating frequency and operating power setting for the forge welding machine in response to an inputted width of the heat affected zone and an inputted weld temperature.
US07683281B2
The present invention relates to an automatic switch (1) to be used preferably in low-voltage systems. The automatic switch (1) comprises an outer casing (2) containing for each pole at least one fixed contact (10) and at least one mobile contact (20) housed in a corresponding seat (25) provided on a mobile element (50) operatively connected to a control mechanism (60) to enable its movement. The automatic switch (1) according to the invention comprises means for the support of the mobile element (50), which are constrained to a structural part (70) of the control mechanism (60). Said supporting means support the mobile element (50) through hinge connection means to provide a center of rotation for the mobile element itself.
US07683279B2
The present invention provides a light emitting keypad having a very slim light guide film, and a light guide film for a keypad backlight. Particularly, a reflection layer is formed on a lower portion of the light guide film, resulting in more improved luminance. According to the present invention, the introduction of an EL sheet is eliminated, substantial slimness is achieved as compared with a direct illumination type keypad, high luminance is obtained by introducing a reflection layer even though a small number of light sources are used, and a light emitting surface can be provided for intensive light emission onto key regions of a keypad by forming a predetermined pattern on at least one surface of the light guide film.
US07683278B2
A pushbutton switch is provided with: a switch case; a switch body fixed to the switch case; an elastic sealing body that is formed of an elastic material and covers and seals the switch body; a cap member that is formed of a hard material and is detachably mounted at a top portion of the elastic sealing body; a pushbutton portion provided on the cap member and exposing from a switch exposure aperture on a switch mounting apparatus; and a stopper portion provided on the cap member and configured to interfere with a rear surface of the switch mounting apparatus at a peripheral area of the switch exposure aperture and to restrain the cap member from being detached from the switch mounting apparatus, in a state in which the switch case is fixed to the switch mounting apparatus.
US07683276B2
A pole shaft assembly for a circuit breaker includes a receiving portion disposed on the exterior side of the housing, a pole shaft pivotably disposed within the receiving portion and including at least one protrusion, a number of cover members overlaying the pole shaft and the receiving portion, at least one first seal disposed between the receiving portion and a corresponding protrusion, and at least one second seal disposed between such protrusion and a corresponding one of the cover members. The seals resist undesired entry of debris between the receiving portion and the pole shaft, and control the discharge of arc gases from the circuit breaker. The first seal is formed by the interaction between the receiving portion and the corresponding protrusion. The second seal is formed by the interaction between the protrusion and the corresponding one of the cover members.
US07683275B2
A miniature switch module includes a battery harness attached to a circuit board. A diaphragm or pushbutton type switch and a battery are sandwiched between the retainer and circuit board.
US07683272B2
A scale, comprising a body, wherein a supporting panel is disposed on the body; the supporting panel comprises an upper supporting panel and a lower supporting panel that can be folded and unfolded; the lower supporting panel is connected to the body via a rotatable axis disposed on a off-center position of the body, or a pair of slideways. The scale according to the invention is able to safely and effectively measure height and weight in a horizontal state, and the small size thereof is particularly useful in households. The scale is applicable to measuring the weight and height of infants, children, and adults.
US07683269B2
A terminal electrode body on a substrate is exposed relative to a resin layer, protruding out beyond the side of the resin layer. That is, the terminal electrode body is not covered by the resin layer. The electronic element is covered by an insulating layer and the terminal electrode body and the electronic element are electrically connected. Hence, an electric signal applied to the terminal electrode body can be transmitted to the electronic element. A cover layer covers the terminal electrode body and the boundary between the terminal electrode body and the resin layer.
US07683267B2
A method and associated assembly is provided for a collapsible EMC gasket is provided. In one embodiment, the gasket comprises a flexible conductive sheet disposed between corner of a first and a second surface of a computer frame capable of housing electronic components. The sheet is larger in area than the corner area of the frame such that when disposed, said sheet forms a curved structure. The sheet is being fabricated of a material that can be compressed and then decompressed back to its original shape.
US07683258B2
A wire harness for preventing water from contacting capped, connected electrical wires. A lid and a base define an interior chamber. The base has fingers extending vertically upwardly for holding wire caps and connected electrical wires therein. A shelf protrudes from the inner surface of each finger to provide a platform for the bottom edge of the wire cap to seat against, securing the wire cap against downward movement. The sidewalls of the lid extend a predetermined distance below the shelves of the fingers to form a rim that creates a double air trap within the harness for preventing water from contacting the conductive portions of the wires.
US07683254B2
An electrical connection unit includes an electrical junction box that incorporates a capacitor and has (a) a body that has an electronic component accommodating space accommodating the capacitor via an opening; and an electric wire receiving space receiving an electric wire electrically connected to a terminal of the capacitor, and (b) an electrically conductive grounding member that grounds a grounding terminal of the capacitor and integrally includes: a connecting portion electrically connected to the grounding terminal; a cover portion covering the opening of the electronic component accommodating space; a locking to be locked with corresponding locking portions of the body; a bending preventing portion preventing inward bending one of the locking portions of the body which may cause one of the locking portions of the grounding member to be accidentally detached from the corresponding locking portion of the body; and a grounding portion.
US07683244B2
An object of the present invention is to develop a novel Lobelia plant and a breeding method thereof, which allow for first-filial-generation (F1) hybrids exhibiting morphological forms (having the advantages of their two parents and far exceeding the traits of the two parents) desired by their breeder. The present invention thus provides a novel Lobelia plant by crossing Lobelia richardsonii (seed parent) and Lobelia valida (pollen parent), which while being a hybrid in first-filial-generation (F1) population of the genetically stable wild species, nevertheless the F1 population exhibits an even distribution over a range from a hybrid close to the seed parent to a hybrid close to the pollen parent.
US07683241B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH244754. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH244754, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH244754 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH244754.
US07683233B2
In a process for producing a para-xylene enriched product from a gaseous mixture comprising at least para-xylene, meta-xylene and ortho-xylene, the gaseous mixture is contacted with an adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing para-xylene and comprising a crystalline molecular sieve having an average crystal size between about 0.5 micron and about 20 microns. The contacting is conducted at a temperature and pressure such that at least part of the para-xylene in the mixture is adsorbed by the adsorbent to produce a para-xylene-depleted effluent stream. The para-xylene is then desorbed from said adsorbent and collected to form a para-xylene enriched stream. The adsorption and desorption steps are repeated for a plurality of cycles, such that the time between successive contacting steps is no more than 10 seconds.
US07683228B2
A process for producing an cumene product having a purity of at least 99.50 percent based on the weight of cumene present in the product by the propylation of the benzene present in non-extracted hydrocarbon composition feed, e.g., non-extracted reformate. The non-extracted hydrocarbon composition feed is substantially free of both C4− hydrocarbons and the C7+ aromatic hydrocarbons and contains benzene and benzene coboilers. The process is carried out in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acid-active catalyst containing MCM-22 family molecular sieve, and under specified conditions.
US07683227B2
In a process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, a feed containing methane is contacted with a dehydrocyclization catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions effective to convert said methane to aromatic hydrocarbons. A first portion of the catalyst is transferred from the reaction zone to a heating zone, where the first catalyst portion is heated by contacting the catalyst with hot combustion gases generated by burning a supplemental source of fuel. The heated first catalyst portion is then returned to the reaction zone.
US07683225B2
A fluorene-based derivative having a specific structure and an organic electroluminescence device in which an organic thin film layer comprising a single layer or plural layers including at least a light emitting layer is sandwiched between a cathode and an anode, wherein at least one layer of the organic thin film layers described above comprises the above fluorene-based derivative having a specific structure in the form of a single component or a mixed component. The organic electroluminescence device has a high luminous efficiency, and the fluorene-based derivative materializes the same.
US07683222B2
A method of producing a fluorine-containing compound, which contains the step of: fluorinating a substrate in a solvent with fluorine gas, wherein as said substrate, a substrate that cannot substantially undergo fluorinating reaction independently, is allowed to react, in the presence of a substrate that rapidly undergoes fluorinating reaction independently.
US07683210B2
Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
US07683206B2
This invention provides a process for producing of a silicone compound which includes a synthesis reaction of a silicone compound represented by the following formulas (a) and/or (a′), by reacting a carboxylic acid represented by the following formula (a2) to an epoxy silane represented by the following formula (a1) in presence of a metal salt of the carboxylic acid represented by the general formula (a2), characterized in that the reaction is carried out in presence of 0.05 wt % or more water in said reaction system. Here, A denotes siloxanyl group. R1 denotes a substitutent with 1 to 20 carbons having a polymerizable group. R2 to R4 respectively and independently denote hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted substitutent with 1 to 20 carbons, or —X-A. X denotes a substituted or unsubstituted divalent substitutent with 1 to 20 carbons.
US07683205B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for preparation of Rivastigmine of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof comprising a step of N-methylation of compound of formula (III), wherein R1=R2=H or R1=H and R2=CH3 or an acid addition salt thereof, using paraformaldehyde in the presence of Raney Nickel and hydrogen in a suitable solvent to obtain compound of formula (II).
US07683203B2
The polymerizable compound of the present invention is represented by general formula (1) below and can provide a composition that is polymerizable near ambient temperature and exists in a liquid crystal phase at low temperatures. The composition and a (co)polymer of the polymerizable compound of the present invention are liquid crystal substances useful as optically anisotropic materials. (In the formula, each of rings A1 to A3 represents a benzene ring, cyclohexane ring, etc.; each of X to Z represents a C1-8 alkyl or alkoxy group, C2-6 alkenyl group, halogen atom, cyano group, or CH2═CR3—COO—; each of R1 to R3 represents a hydrogen atom, methyl group, or halogen atom; each of L1 to L3 represents —CH2CH2COO—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH2CH2—, —O(CH2)f— (herein, f=1-8), etc.; n represents 0 or 1; and a to c represent such numbers that the polymerizable compound has at least one or more of any of X, Y, and Z).
US07683202B2
The invention relates to novel compounds of the formula I, II; III or IV wherein the general symbols are as defined in claim 1. These compounds are useful as surface modifiers for polymers in order to improve resistance to fog formation or water and oil repellency.
US07683200B2
The present invention provides methods for preparing TLR-4 receptor agonist E6020: and stereoisomers thereof, which compounds are useful as an immunological adjuvants when co-administered with antigens such as vaccines for bacterial and viral diseases. Also provided are synthetic intermediates.
US07683198B2
Mono-hydroxyl-functional organopolysiloxanes are prepared with minimal byproducts and increased storage stability by reaction of cyclotrisiloxanes with sil(ox)anols containing less than 1 weight percent water in the presence of heterogenous alkali metal or alkaline earth metal oxide or carbonate catalysts.
US07683197B2
The invention relates to a method for the regeneration of a reactor and the use of said method for the improved performance of production processes for desired products.
US07683196B2
The invention relates to a primer composition comprising a compound A1 which contains isocyanate-reactive groups. In order to produce said compound A1, a polyisocyanate A that is provided with at least three isocyanate groups, at least one silane B of formula (I), and a crosslinking agent C comprising at least three isocyanate-reactive functional groups are used. Also disclosed is the use of the inventive primer composition as a primer for adhesives, sealing compounds, or floor coverings, especially one-component moisture-hardening polyurethane adhesives or polyurethane sealing compounds based on polyurethanes or polyurethane-silane hybrids. The inventive primer composition is characterized particularly by excellent adhesion to glass and glass ceramics as well as an extended open time.
US07683187B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a lactone. The process comprises the steps of reacting an aldehyde with an organic halide in a carbon chain extension reaction to form an alcohol compound comprising a functional group capable of allowing for carbonylation of said alcohol compound, and then reacting said alcohol compound in a carbonylation reaction to form an hydroxycarboxylic acid; and cyclizing the hydroxycarboxylic acid to produce the lactone.
US07683186B2
A phosphorus compound of formula (1): wherein R1 denotes a hydrogen atom or a hydroxy protective group; R2 denotes a group defined by the following formula (R2-1) or (R2-2); R3, R4, R5, and R6 may be the same or different and independently denote a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, a halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, or a dialkylamino group; two among R3, R4, R5, and R6 may form an aromatic ring optionally having a substituent group, and two among R3, R4, R5, and R6 may form a methylene chain optionally having a substituent group or a (poly)methylenedioxy group optionally having a substituent group: wherein (R2-1) and (R2-2), R7 denotes an alkyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, or an aryloxy group; R8 and R9 independently denote a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group; z denotes a divalent group; and a denotes an integer of 0 or 1.
US07683180B2
The invention pertains to the use of Group 8 transition metal carbene complexes as catalysts for olefin cross-metathesis reactions, and for enantioselective reactions in particular. The synthesis of these complexes and details of their use as catalysts is also provided.
US07683173B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, d, f, W, Q, Y, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US07683169B2
The present invention provides crystals of phenylalanine derivatives of the formula (I): and particularly α-type, γ-type, ε-type, η-type, and θ-type crystals thereof. These crystals are excellent in preservation stability or moisture resistance. They can also be produced on an industrial scale.
US07683168B2
Diarylmethylpiperazine compounds are described, which are useful as mu and/or delta receptor opioid compounds, without central side effects. Pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds are variously useful for peripheral or non-centrally mediated indications, including peripherally mediated and neuropathic pain, urogenital tract disorders, overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, sexual disorders, premature ejaculation, cough, lung edema, cardiac disorders, cardioprotection, gastro-intestinal disorders, diarrhea, irritable bowl syndrome, functional distention, immuno-modulation and anti-tumor activity.
US07683167B2
The present invention provides a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers exhibiting high separation power. That is, the present invention provides a separating agent for enantiomeric isomers including, as an active ingredient, a polysaccharide derivative having at least part of hydrogen atoms of hydroxyl groups of a polysaccharide such as cellulose or amylose substituted by at least one of atomic groups represented by the following general formulae (I) and (II): (in the formulae, R represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, or a linear, branched, or cyclic aliphatic group).
US07683166B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating interleukin and/or interleukin receptor gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of interleukin and/or interleukin receptor gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of interleukin and/or interleukin receptor genes.
US07683165B2
This invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating interleukin and/or interleukin receptor gene expression using short interfering nucleic acid (siNA) molecules. This invention also relates to compounds, compositions, and methods useful for modulating the expression and activity of other genes involved in pathways of interleukin and/or interleukin receptor gene expression and/or activity by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules. In particular, the instant invention features small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules and methods used to modulate the expression of interleukin and/or interleukin receptor genes.
US07683151B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a modified polymer, comprising modifying a polymer having an active site of an organometal type in a molecule by reacting the site thereof with a hydrocarbyloxysilane compound and adding a condensation accelerator to the reaction system in the middle of the above reaction and/or after completion thereof and a rubber composition comprising the modified polymer obtained by the process described above, preferably a rubber composition comprising 100 parts by weight of (A) a rubber component containing at least 30% by weight of the above modified polymer and 10 to 100 parts by weight of (B) silica and/or carbon black.
US07683150B2
A water-absorbing resin has a polymer molecular chain in which 50 mol % or more of repeating units in the chain are carboxy group-containing units, wherein the carboxy group neutralization ratio in the central part of the resin is 60 mol % or more and the carboxy group neutralization ratio on the external surface of the resin is 50 mol % or less. A method for producing the water-absorbing resin comprises polymerizing a monomer solution to form a polymer, drying the resulting polymer, and heat-treating the dried polymer, wherein the monomer solution contains a mixture comprising an alkali metal salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and an ammonium salt thereof, the percentage of the ammonium salt being more than 50 mol % of the mixture, and further contains a condensation crosslinking agent.
US07683140B2
In some embodiments, a method including the steps of monitoring a polymerization reaction which produces a polymer resin in a fluid bed reactor, where a dry melt reference temperature is characteristic of melting behavior of a dry version of the resin, and in response to data indicative of at least one monitored parameter of the reaction, determining a reduced melt reference temperature that is at least substantially equal to the difference between the dry melt reference temperature and a temperature by which the dry melt reference temperature is depressed by the presence of condensable diluent gas with the resin in the reactor. Optionally, the method also includes the step of controlling the reaction in response to the reduced melt reference temperature or a stickiness parameter determined from the reduced melt reference temperature.
US07683139B2
An aqueous composition with a sediment content <5%, comprising a polyurethane dispersion wherein the polyurethane has an acid value in the range of from 25 to 65 mgKOH/g and comprises (i) 36 to 60 wt % of at least one aromatic polyisocyanate and where the polyurethane is prepared in the presence of (a) <5 wt % of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone by weight of the polyurethane, (b) at least one diluent and (c) water.
US07683126B2
The present invention relates to a creping aid composition comprising a film-forming semi-crystalline polymer and a vehicle system comprising a cationic polymer resin, a water soluble anionic film forming polymer, and water, wherein the net Mutek charge of the vehicle system is less than about −200 μeq/g solid and the pH of the creping aid composition is greater than the pH of the vehicle system. The present invention also relates to methods of producing paper products comprising the steps of a) providing a fibrous structure having a first surface and a second surface; b) providing a drying surface; c) applying a creping aid composition whereby the creping aid composition contacts one of the drying surface or the fibrous structure, said creping aid composition comprising i) a film-forming semi-crystalline polymer and ii) a vehicle system comprising a cationic polymer resin, a water-soluble anionic film-forming polymer, and water, wherein the net Mutek charge of the vehicle system is less than about −200 μeq/g solid and the pH of the creping aid composition is greater than the pH of the vehicle system; d) applying the fibrous structure to the drying surface such that the fibrous structure, the creping aid composition and the drying surface are all in contact; e) removing the fibrous structure from the drying surface.
US07683118B2
A process for preparing a fluoropolymer dispersion that is substantially anionic fluorinated surfactant free includes adding to a fluoropolymer dispersion a nonionic surfactant having a cloud point (CP) between 40 and 80° C. in a concentration of 1.5% to 50% by weight of the fluoropolymer, heating the dispersion up to a temperature Tc in a range of CP±10°C., decanting the dispersion in a reactor at Tc until obtaining a lower aqueous phase containing a concentrated fluoropolymer dispersion and an upper aqueous phase substantially not containing the fluoropolymer dispersion, washing the decanted dispersion with a solution of water and nonionic surfactant having a concentration of the nonionic surfactant of 0.5% to 50% by weight of the fluoropolymer, removing the upper aqueous phase from the upper part of the reactor, and discharge and recovery of the fluoropolymer dispersion.
US07683105B2
A UV-A-curable, solvent-containing composition composed of (A) 1% to 50% by weight of a UV-A-curable constituent containing isocyanate-reactive groups; (B) 0.01% to 10% by weight of a colorless photoinitiator having an absorption maximum in the wavelength range of λ=300 to 400 nm; (C) 10% to 70% by weight of an alkyl and/or cycloalkyl acetate having 3 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and/or in the cycloalkyl radical; (D) 10% to 70% by weight of an alkoxyalkyl, alkoxycycloalkyl, cycloalkoxyalkyl and/or cycloalkoxycycloalkyl acetate; (E) 0.01% to 5% by weight of a constituent that lowers the interfacial tension; (F) 0 to 50% by weight of an alkylaromatic having at least two alkyl radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms in the molecule; and (G) 0 to 50% by weight of an additive different from constituents (A) to (F); processes for preparing it, and its use as a spot blender in automotive refinishing, especially in spot repair, or for preparation thereof.
US07683103B2
A dental polymerizable composition comprising (a) a fluorine compound comprising a chain polymer having a main chain comprising a monomer unit having a hydrophilic group, and terminal groups comprising a fluoroalkyl group at each of both ends of the main chain; (b) a polymerizable monomer; and (c) a polymerization initiator. The dental polymerizable composition can be suitably used, for example, for dental composite resins, such as dental composite filler materials, crowning materials, and bonding materials; dental adhesive agents, such as teeth-straightening adhesive agents, cavity-coating adhesive agents, and tooth fissure sealing materials; denture base materials, denture base mucosal adjusting materials, fissure sealants, coating agents applied to tooth surface or dental prosthetic, surface glazes, and the like, and especially for various coating applications, for example, a fissure sealant, a coating agent to tooth surface or dental prosthetic, surface stains or a surface glaze, a hypersensitive inhibitor, a dental manicure, or the like.
US07683099B2
The invention relates to a method for carrying out heterogeneous catalytic exothermic gas phase reactions at a high temperature and high pressure, during which the synthesis gas comprised of a mixture of make-up gas and/or of recycle gas is fed through at least two synthesis stages that are connected in-series to form a synthesis system. The product gases from the synthesis stages, with the exception of the last stage, are separated into at least two partial flows. One partial flow is cooled until the product is condensated out, and the condensate containing the product is separated from the gaseous constituents. Afterwards, the gaseous constituents are combined with the warm portion of the product gas in order to reach the inlet temperature of the next synthesis stage. In addition, the partial flow from which the product was condensated out and removed, can be heated before being remixed with the warm portion of the product gas. After heating, the temperature is less than that of the warm portion of the product gas, and the heat used for heating the partial flow from which the product was condensated out, is extracted, at least in part, from this partial flow during its cooling.
US07683092B2
Novel crystalline forms of two indole compounds connected to phenoxyalkylcarboxylic acid groups are selective PPAR gamma partial agonists that are useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome. The novel crystal forms include a crystalline free acid dihydrate and crystalline free acid anhydrate of one compound and several crystalline forms of the free acid and the sodium salt of the second compound. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these novel crystal forms, processes to prepare the crystal forms and their pharmaceutical compositions, and uses of the crystal forms in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and other PPAR gamma modulated diseases.
US07683090B2
Pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome including non-constipated irritable bowel syndrome such as diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome and alternating constipation/diarrhea irritable bowel syndrome in male and female patients, which may comprise administering a patient with from 0.001 to 0.05 mg of ramosetron hydrochloride as a daily dose or an equivalent molar amount of ramosetron or its pharmaceutically acceptable other salt.
US07683087B2
A series of S-triazolyl α-mercaptoacetanilides having N-(α-mercaptoacetyl) p amino benzoic acid derivatives. are provided, where Q is CO2H, or a salt or ester thereof, or a C(O) N-linked amino acid. The compounds inhibit several variants of the reverse transcriptase of HIV, and are useful in the treatment of HIV infections.
US07683086B2
The invention relates to a fungicidal mixture that comprises (1) 2-[2-(1-chlorocyclopropyl)-3-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxypropyl]-2,4-dihydro-[1,2,4]-triazolo-3-thion (prothioconazole) or the salts or adducts thereof and at least one further fungicidal composition, selected from (2) boscalid or (3) carboxine or (4) metrafenone or (5) a compound of formula (V) or (6) a compound of formula (VI) or (7) quinoxyfen or (8) dithianon or (9) thiram or (10) mepiquat chlorides or (11) cyazofamid or (12) fenoxanil or (13) a compound of formula (XIII) or (14) thiophanate methyl or (15) carbendazim or (16) metalaxyl or (17) fludioxonil or (18) thiabendazole or (19) quintozene or (20) prochloraz or (21) anthraquinone in a synergistically effective amount.
US07683069B2
A pyrimidone derivative represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof, or a solvate thereof or a hydrate thereof useful as a tau protein kinase 1 inhibitor: wherein X represents CH or nitrogen atom; R1 represents a C?1#191-C?12#191 alkyl group which may be substituted; R2 represents a C?1#191-C?8#191 alkyl group which may be substituted, a benzene ring which may be substituted, a naphthalene ring which may be substituted, an indan ring which may be substituted, a tetrahydronaphthalene ring which may be substituted, or an optionally substituted heterocyclic ring having 1 to 4 hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of oxygen atom, sulfur atom, and nitrogen atom, and having 5 to 10 ring-constituting atoms in total.
US07683068B2
The present invention is directed to certain hydroisoindoline compounds which are useful as neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonists, and inhibitors of tachykinin and in particular substance P. The invention is also concerned with pharmaceutical formulations comprising these compounds as active ingredients and the use of the compounds and their formulations in the treatment of certain disorders, including emesis, urinary incontinence, depression, and anxiety.
US07683044B2
Autoimmune disease therapy in a patient treated with apoptosis-inducing agents is enhanced by co-administration of sphingomyelin. The combination most likely enhances an autoimmune disease cell's ability to undergo ceramide-induced apoptosis by increasing the levels of sphingomyelin in all cellular compartments, thereby providing sufficient substrate for activated sphingomyelinase. In alternative embodiments, sphingomyelin may be administered alone, in combination with corticosteroids, and/or in combination with a apoptosis-inducing agent.
US07683042B1
A stabilized glucosamine base composition comprising a glucosamine base having a purity level of at least 99.0 wt. % and a maximum halide content of about 0.01 wt. % coated with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable polymer comprising a water-soluble, water-immiscible and/or water-swellable homopolymer and/or copolymer. The resultant coated glucosamine base composition will be stable at ambient temperatures and upon exposure to the atmosphere. Suitable polymers include carboxypolymethylene homopolymers and copolymers; polyethylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers; polypropylene glycol homopolymers and copolymers; ethylcellulose; povidone homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylic acid homopolymers and copolymers; polyacrylamide homopolymers and copolymers; polysaccharides; and mixtures of two or more of the foregoing polymers.
US07683030B2
Modified exendins and exendin agonists having an exendin or exendin agonist linked to one or more polyethylene glycol polymers, for example, and related formulations and dosages and methods of administration thereof are provided. These modified exendins and exendin agonists, compositions and methods are useful in treating diabetes and conditions that would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying or inhibiting food intake.
US07683029B2
Liquid aerosol formulations for generating aerosolized insulin include insulin and at least one high volatility carrier which protects the insulin from thermal degradation during vaporization of the carrier. The carrier can be a mixture of ethanol and water and the liquid aerosol formulation can be propellant free. An aerosol generating device generates the aerosolized insulin by passing the liquid aerosol formulation through a flow passage heated to convert the liquid into a vapor which entrains insulin particles which mix with air to form an aerosol. The insulin particles can be dry insulin particles produced by a hand held inhaler. By controlling the concentration of the insulin in the formulation, the size of the flow passage and/or the amount of heat which heats the flow passage, the aerosol can be provided with a selected mass median aerodynamic diameter of 1 to 3 μm or less than 1 μm so as to be delivered to a targeted portion of the lung using the inhaler.
US07683028B2
The present invention is directed to new kahalalide antitumoral compounds, in particular to analogs of kahalalide F, useful as antitumoral, antiviral, and antifungal agents.
US07683025B2
The present invention provides for bola amphiphiles compositions which have more than one lyophilic (hydrophilic) head group and a hydrophobic (hydrophobic) moiety capable of hydrogen bonding with other bola amphiphiles. These bola amphiphiles are capable of self assembling into micelles. The advantage of these bola amphiphiles is that they may self-assemble into micelles whose lyophilic head groups are located within the core and on the surface of the micelles. The lyophilic environment at the core and on the surface of the micelles may be different and may be controlled by the choice of head group moieties on the bola amphiphiles. The utility of these compositions is that they can be used to load or encapsulate polar drugs, DNA, mineralizable inorganic salts, or other molecules of interest within the polar interior of the micelle. Such compositions may also provide small water-filled ion-conducting channels within their structure suitable for use in micro electromechanical devices, as templates for nanowires or dielectrics, and as chemical sensors.
US07683018B2
This invention relates to a “high lower alcohol content” (>40% v/v of a C1-4 alcohol) liquid composition able to be either dispensed as a stable foam with the use of non-propellant foam dispensing devices from non-pressurized containers or as an alcohol gel composition which does not use thickener and gelling agents that leave undesirable deposits or a sticky after-feel and that has a final viscosity less than 4,000 cps. The liquid compositions comprise an alcohol, C1-4 (>40% v/v), a fluorosurfactant of at least 0.001% by weight to prepare a foamable composition or from 0-2.0% to prepare a gel-like composition of a final viscosity less than 4,000 cps, 0-10% w/w of additional minor components added to obtain the desired performance (a foamable composition or a gel-like composition with a viscosity less than 4,000 cps), and the balance being purified water. The compositions may include emulsifier-emollients and moisturizers, secondary surfactants, foam stabilizers, fragrances, antimicrobial agents, other type of medicinal ingredients, and the like ingredients or additives or combinations thereof commonly added to alcohol gels or foams, aerosol compositions or to toiletries, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and the like.
US07683014B2
A solid lubricant and composition useful for lubricating the flanges of locomotive wheels, railcar wheels, rail track and in applications where it is desirable to reduce friction when metal contacts metal. The solid lubricant having from about twenty-five percent to about seventy percent by volume of a polymeric carrier, about five to seventy-five percent by volume of organic and inorganic extreme pressure additives, about zero to twenty percent by volume synthetic extreme pressure anti-wear liquid oil, and about zero to one percent by volume optical brightener.
US07683012B2
Lubricant with non-terminal functional groups. The location of the functional groups minimizes free chain length and molecular weight of a lubricant while simultaneously maximizing evaporation temperature. The locations of the functional groups to the backbone of the molecule of the lubricant allows for shorter lengths of free backbone length between functional groups attached to a lubricated surface. The lubricant lubricates mechanical devices including hard disk drives.
US07683010B2
A laminated conductor includes a metallic substrate having a surface, a biaxially textured buffer layer supported by the surface of the substrate, the biaxially textured buffer layer comprising LZO and a dopant for mitigating metal diffusion through the LZO, and a biaxially textured conductor layer supported by the biaxially textured buffer layer.
US07683003B2
A method for identifying a catalyst composition for use in the heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta addition polymerization of an olefin monomer, said catalyst composition comprising a procatalyst comprising a magnesium and titanium containing procatalyst and a cocatalyst said method comprising: a) providing a library comprising at least one procatalyst compound, b) forming a catalyst composition library by contacting the member of said procatalyst library with one or more cocatalysts and contacting the resulting mixture with an olefin monomer under olefin polymerization conditions thereby causing the polymerization reaction to take place, c) measuring at least one variable of interest during the polymerization, and d) selecting the catalyst composition of interest by reference to said measured variable.
US07683001B2
A method of forming (and an apparatus for forming) a metal-doped aluminum oxide layer on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly, using a vapor deposition process.
US07683000B2
A high transmittance fairly clear/neutral colored glass composition is provided. An oxidizing agent(s) such as cerium oxide (e.g., CeO2) or the like is added to the glass batch in order to realize very oxidized conditions (i.e., to significantly lower the redox of the resulting glass). As a result of the oxidizing agent(s) used in the batch, the iron is oxidized to a very low FeO (ferrous state) content. For example, this may result in a glass having a glass redox value of no greater than 0.12 (more preferably <=0.10; even more preferably <=0.08; and most preferably <=0.05) and a % FeO (i.e., ferrous content) of from 0.0001 to 0.05%. In certain example embodiments, in order to compensate for yellow or yellow-green coloration a small amount of cobalt (Co) may be provided in the glass to enable it to realize a more neutral color.
US07682996B2
A screen includes three or four layers of woven metal screen cloth. The coarsest of these layers is a structural layer includes threads which are woven into the cloth with surfaces which are fusible below a temperature at which the other layers of screen cloth are heat affected. These woven threads include each of the threads in the coarse screen cloth with the coated threads being wire with fusible polypropylene or polyethylene coatings. The cloth could alternatively be coated or a fusible grid used between screens instead. A support layer above the structural layer may include a woven metal screen with woven elements which are either coated with fusible material or are solidly of fusible material woven periodically therethrough in at least one direction. A fusible grid could alternatively be employed. Screens are laminated with one or two fine mesh screens heated on the support woven screen cloth with fusible surfaces to locate the fusible material in the finer cloths. The structural layer of woven screen cloth has the fusible surfaces only encapsulating the support layer just above and not the finer screen cloths on the other side of the support layer.
US07682994B2
A fabric comprising a textile layer comprising yarns, wherein said textile layer is permeable to water vapour and impermeable to liquid water; and disposed on at least part of one side of the textile layer is a wicking means.
US07682984B2
A photomask etch chamber, which includes a substrate support member disposed inside the chamber. The substrate support member is configured to support a photomask substrate. The chamber further includes a ceiling disposed on the chamber and an endpoint detection system configured to detect a peripheral region of the photomask substrate.
US07682980B2
A method for etching a polysilicon gate structure in a plasma etch chamber is provided. The method initiates with defining a pattern protecting a polysilicon film to be etched. Then, a plasma is generated. Next, substantially all of the polysilicon film that is unprotected is etched. Then, a silicon containing gas is introduced and a remainder of the polysilicon film is etched while introducing a silicon containing gas. An etch chamber configured to introduce a silicon containing gas during an etch process is also provided.
US07682979B2
A method of forming devices is provided. A phase change layer is provided. The phase change layer is etched by providing an etch gas comprising a bromine containing compound and forming a plasma from the etch gas. The phase change layer is of a material that may be heated by a current and then when cooled, either forms an amorphous material or a crystalline material, depending on how fast the material is cooled. In addition, the amorphous material has a resistance at least several times greater than the crystalline material.
US07682973B2
A method of forming a Carbon NanoTube (CNT) structure and a method of manufacturing a Field Emission Device (FED) using the method of forming a CNT structure includes: forming an electrode on a substrate, forming a buffer layer on the electrode, forming a catalyst layer in a particle shape on the buffer layer, etching the buffer layer exposed through the catalyst layer, and growing CNTs from the catalyst layer formed on the etched buffer layer.
US07682969B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device that includes heating a wafer on which an Al—Cu sputtering thin film is formed before patterning the Al—Cu sputtering thin film. The heating is performed at a temperature no less than a solid solution temperature of copper or at a temperature between 300° C. and 600° C. The process temperature in heating the process wafer is not higher than the flow temperature of aluminum or is the temperature at which a reflow process can be performed.
US07682965B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device. An insulation layer is formed on a bottom structure of a semiconductor substrate. Then, a trench and a via hole are formed by selectively etching the insulation layer, and a copper layer is deposited to fill the via hole and the trench. Next, a copper line is formed by a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) process to planarize the copper layer, and a plasma process is performed to form a plasma-treated surface layer of the semiconductor substrate. The plasma-treated surface layer is then removed.
US07682958B2
A method for producing an integrated circuit including a fuse element, a fuse-memory element or a resistor element is disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one metallization layer is applied onto a substrate. A hard mask is applied onto the at least one metallization layer. The at least one metallization layer is wet chemically etched by using the hard mask and the fuse element. The fuse-memory element or the resistor element is formed in a region in which the at least one metallization layer has been etched.
US07682949B2
A semiconductor film formed on a substrate is crystallized by continuously oscillating type laser. The scanning direction of the continuously oscillating type laser and the crystallization direction are coincident with each other. Adjustment of the crystallization direction and the charge transferring direction of the thin film transistors makes control of the characteristics of the thin film transistors possible. With respect to the laser treatment device for crystallizing the semiconductor film, the beam shape of laser oscillated from the continuously oscillating type laser device is made to be elliptical by a cylindrical lens and said cylindrical lens is made rotatable and said laser beam is scanned on said substrate by a galvanomirror and said laser beam can be focused upon said substrate by f-θlens.
US07682943B2
A resonant tunneling diode, and other one dimensional electronic, photonic structures, and electromechanical MEMS devices, are formed as a heterostructure in a nanowhisker by forming length segments of the whisker with different materials having different band gaps.
US07682939B2
This invention relates to a method for producing group IB-IIA-VIA quaternary or higher alloy semiconductor films wherein the method comprises the steps of (i) providing a metal film comprising a mixture of group IB and group IIIA metals; (ii) heat treating the metal film in the presence of a source of a first group VIA element (said first group VIA element hereinafter being referred to as VIA1) under conditions to form a first film comprising a mixture of at least one binary alloy selected from the group consisting of a group IB-VIA1 alloy and a group IIIA-VIA1 alloy and at least one group IB-IIIA-VIA1 ternary alloy (iii) optionally heat treating the first film in the presence of a source of a second group VIA element (said second group VI element hereinafter being referred to as VIA2) under conditions to convert the first film into a second film comprising at least one alloy selected from the group consisting of a group IB-VIA1-VIA2 alloy and a group IIIA-VIA1-VIA2 alloy; and the at least one group IB-III-VIA1 ternary alloy of step (ii); (iv) heat treating either the first film or second film to form a group IB-IIIA-VIA quaternary or higher alloy semiconductor film.
US07682926B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an ion implanted region on a semiconductor substrate in a cell/core region. The semiconductor substrate is selectively etched to form a recess. The recess exposes a boundary of the ion implanted region. The ion implanted region exposed at the bottom of the recess is removed to form an under-cut space in the semiconductor substrate. An insulating film is formed to form a substrate having a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure in the cell/core region. The insulating film fills the under-cut space and the recess.
US07682924B2
A method of forming a plurality of capacitors includes an insulative material received over a capacitor array area and a circuitry area. The array area comprises a plurality of capacitor electrode openings within the insulative material received over individual capacitor storage node locations. The intervening area comprises a trench. Conductive material is formed within the openings and against a sidewall portion of the trench to less than completely fill the trench. Covering material is formed over an elevationally outer lateral interface of the conductive material within the trench and the insulative material of the circuitry area. The insulative material within the array area is etched with a liquid etching solution effective to expose outer sidewall portions of the conductive material within the array area and to expose the conductive material within the trench. The conductive material within the array area is incorporated into a plurality of capacitors.
US07682919B2
A method in the fabrication of an integrated circuit including a PMOS varactor and an npn transistor, comprises the steps of (i) simultaneously forming buried n+-doped regions (31) for the PMOS varactor and the npn transistor in a p-doped substrate (10, 41); (ii) simultaneously forming n-doped wells (41) above the buried n+-doped regions (31); (iii) simultaneously forming field isolation areas (81) around the n-doped regions (41); (iv) forming a PMOS gate region (111, 194) and a p-doped base each in a respective one of the n-doped wells (41); and (v) simultaneously forming n+-doped contacts to the buried n+-doped regions (31); the contacts being separated from the n-doped wells (41). Source and drain regions may be formed in the PMOS n-well (inversion mode) or the PMOS n+-doped contact may be formed in the PMOS n-well instead of being separated from there (accumulation mode).
US07682918B2
A process for forming a vertical DMOS device with an ESD protection transistor that is configured for carrying a breakdown current includes the steps of masking a substrate of a first polarity type and forming spaced apart surface isolation regions. An insulated gate is formed between the spaced apart surface isolation regions. Selected portions of the surface regions between the gate and the surface isolation regions are heterodoped to form p-n junctions having retrograde doping profiles beneath the substrate surface thereby lowering the breakdown voltage beneath the heterodoped portions in order to direct a substantial portion of the breakdown current below the surface of the substrate and into the body of the substrate between the heterodoped regions. Source and drain regions are formed in the substrate surface on opposite sides of the gate.
US07682914B2
A method is described to form a MOSFET with a fully silicided gate electrode and fully silicided, raised S/D elements that are nearly coplanar to allow a wider process margin when forming contacts to silicided regions. An insulator block layer is formed over STI regions and a conformal silicidation stop layer such as Ti/TiN is disposed on the insulator block layer and active region. A polysilicon layer is deposited on the silicidation stop layer and is planarized by a CMP process to form raised S/D elements. An oxide hardmask on the gate electrode is removed to produce a slight recess between the spacers. A silicidation process yields a gate electrode and raised S/D elements comprised of NiSi. Optionally, a recess is formed in the substrate between an insulator block mask and spacer and a Schottky barrier is used instead of a silicidation stop layer to form a Schottky Barrier MOSFET.
US07682907B2
A nonvolatile memory integrated circuit arrayed in rows and columns is disclosed. Parallel lines of implant N-type regions are formed in a P-well of a semiconductor substrate, with lines of oxide material isolating each pair of the lines. Columns of memory cells straddle respective pairs of the implant region lines, with one line of the pair forming the source region and one line of the pair forming the drain region of each memory cell of the column. Each memory cell has a floating polysilicon storage gate. One of plural wordlines overlies each row of the memory cells. The portion of the wordline overlying each memory cells forms the control gate of the memory cell. Programming and erase operations occur by Fowler-Nordheim tunneling of electrons through a tunnel oxide layer between the floating gate and the source of the cell.
US07682902B2
A memory structure disclosed in the present invention features a control gate and floating gates being positioned in recessed trenches. A method of fabricating the memory structure includes the steps of first providing a substrate having a first recessed trench. Then, a first gate dielectric layer is formed on the first recessed trench. A first conductive layer is formed on the first gate dielectric layer. After that, the first conductive layer is etched to form a spacer which functions as a floating gate on a sidewall of the first recessed trench. A second recessed trench is formed in a bottom of the first recessed trench. An inter-gate dielectric layer is formed on a surface of the spacer, a sidewall and a bottom of the second recessed trench. A second conductive layer formed to fill up the first and the second recessed trench.
US07682901B2
A method for fabricating a nonvolatile memory device includes forming a tunneling insulation layer and a conductive layer for a floating gate over a substrate, partially etching the conductive layer, the tunneling insulation layer, and the substrate to form a trench, forming an isolation layer filling a portion of the trench, forming spacers on both sidewalls of the conductive layer not covered by the isolation layer, recessing a portion of the exposed isolation layer using the spacers as an etch barrier layer to form wing spacers, removing the spacers, performing a primary cleaning process on the resulting substrate using a mixed solution of H2SO4 and H2O2 and a mixed solution of NH4OH, H2O2, and H2O, and performing a secondary cleaning process on the resulting structure using a mixed solution of a HF solution and a deionized water and a mixed solution of NH4OH, H2O2, and H2O.
US07682898B2
A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a plurality of lower electrodes covering the entire surfaces of a plurality of trenches formed in a first interlayer insulating film, a capacitive insulating film covering the entire surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes, and an upper electrode covering the surfaces of the plurality of lower electrodes from above with the capacitive insulating film interposed between the upper electrode and the plurality of lower electrodes. The upper electrode is formed with a stress-relieving part, such as a crack, a notch or a recess.
US07682896B2
The present invention relates to a method of fabrication process which integrates the processing steps for fabricating the trench MIM capacitor with the conventional middle-of-line processing steps for fabricating metal contacts, so that the inner metallic electrode layer of the trench MIM capacitor and the metal contact of the FET or other logic circuitry components are formed by a single middle-of-line processing step and comprise essentially the same metallic material. The semiconductor device contains at least one trench metal-oxide-metal (MIM) capacitor and at least one other logic circuitry component, preferably at least one field effect transistor (FET). The trench MIM capacitor is located in a trench in a substrate and comprises inner and outer metallic electrode layers with a dielectric layer therebetween. The FET comprises a source region, a drain region, a channel region, and at least one metal contact connected with the source or drain region.
US07682887B2
Methods and resulting structure of forming a transistor having a high mobility channel are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a gate electrode including a gate material area and a gate dielectric, the gate electrode being positioned over a channel in a silicon substrate. A dielectric layer is formed about the gate electrode, and the gate material area and the gate dielectric are removed from the gate electrode to form an opening into a portion of the silicon substrate that exposes source/drain extensions. A high mobility semiconductor material, i.e., one having a carrier mobility greater than doped silicon, is then formed in the opening such that it laterally contacts the source/drain extensions. The gate dielectric and the gate material area may then be re-formed. This invention eliminates the high temperature steps after the formation of high mobility channel material used in related art methods.
US07682884B2
A method for fabricating a pixel structure using a laser ablation process is provided. This fabrication method forms a gate, a channel layer, a source, a drain, a passivation layer, and a pixel electrode sequentially by using a laser ablation process. Particularly, the fabrication method is not similar to a photolithography and etching process, so as to reduce the complicated photolithography and etching processes, such as spin coating process, soft-bake, hard-bake, exposure, developing, etching, and stripping. Therefore, the fabrication method simplifies the process and thus reduces the fabrication cost.
US07682881B2
A thin film transistor substrate with good process efficiency and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The thin film transistor substrate includes a first conductive type MOS transistor and a second conductive type MOS transistor. The first conductive type MOS transistor includes a first semiconductor layer formed on a blocking layer and having first conductive type low-concentration doping regions adjacent to both sides of a channel region, first conductive type source/drain regions adjacent to the first conductive type low-concentration doping regions, a first gate insulating layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, a second gate insulating layer formed on the first gate insulating layer and overlapping with the channel region and the low-concentration doping regions of the first semiconductor layer, and a first gate electrode formed on the second gate insulating layer. The second conductive type MOS transistor includes a second semiconductor layer formed on the blocking layer and having second conductive type source/drain regions adjacent to both sides of a channel region, the first gate insulating layer formed on the second semiconductor layer, a third gate insulating layer formed on the first gate insulating layer and overlapping with the second semiconductor layer, and a second gate electrode formed on the third gate insulating layer.
US07682876B2
Embodiments relate to electronic assemblies and methods for forming electronic assemblies. One method includes providing a die and a copper heat spreader that are to be coupled to one another through a thermal interface material. A layer of tin is formed on the copper heat spreader. The heat spreader and the die are clamped together with the tin positioned between the heat spreader and the die. The assembly is heated so that the tin melts and forms at least one intermetallic compound with copper from the heat spreader. The heat spreader is then coupled to the die through the intermetallic compound.
US07682875B2
A method comprises applying a paste comprising metal grains, a solvent, and a sintering inhibitor to one of a die and a metal layer. The method comprises evaporating the solvent in the paste and placing the one of the die and the metal layer on the other of the die and the metal layer such that the paste contacts the die and the metal layer. The method comprises applying a force to the one of the die and the metal layer and decomposing the sintering inhibitors to form a sintered joint joining the die to the metal layer.
US07682866B2
A method for fabrication and a structure of a self-aligned (crosspoint) memory device comprises lines (wires) in a first direction and in a second direction. The wires in the first direction are formed using a hard mask material that is resistant to the pre-selected etch processes used for creation of the lines in both the first and the second direction. Consequently, the hard mask material for the lines in the first direction form part of the memory stack.
US07682862B2
A method for manufacturing an image sensor that can include forming a pad electrode over a semiconductor substrate; forming a protective layer over the pad electrode; forming a via hole through the protective layer to expose a portion of the uppermost surface of the pad electrode; and then forming a gold layer over the exposed portion of the uppermost surface of the pad electrode.
US07682853B2
In a method of manufacturing an optical device, a whole substrate is first prepared which has a plurality of regions corresponding to substrates constituting a plurality of optical devices, respectively. A plurality of chips are then mounted to the plurality of regions, respectively. A whole sealing member having a plurality of sealing members is integrally attached to the whole substrate to form an intermediate body. The intermediate body is divided into the above-described regions. Thus, the optical device having a substrate, a chip as an optical element mounted to the substrate and a sealing member with transparency provided at the substrate for the purpose of sealing the chip is manufactured. This manufacturing method improves the efficiency of manufacturing an optical device.
US07682852B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor laser device having a light shield film comprising: forming a light emission structure by depositing a first clad layer, an active layer and a second clad layer on a substrate; depositing a light shield film and a protection film on the light emission face of the light emission structure; removing the light shield film corresponding to an area of the light emission face of the light emission structure including and above the first clad layer; and removing the protection layer.
US07682845B2
Methods are provided for calibrating a process for growing an epitaxial silicon-comprising film and for growing an epitaxial silicon-comprising film. One method comprises epitaxially growing a first silicon-comprising film on a first silicon substrate that has an adjacent non-crystalline-silicon structure that extends from said first silicon substrate. The step of epitaxially growing uses hydrochloric acid provided at a first hydrochloric acid flow rate for a first time period. A morphology of the first film relevant to the adjacent non-crystalline-silicon structure is analyzed and a thickness of the first film is measured. The first flow rate is adjusted to a second flow rate based on the morphology of the first film. The first time period is adjusted to a second time period based on the second flow rate and the thickness. A second silicon-comprising film on a second silicon substrate is epitaxially grown for the second time period using the second flow rate.
US07682829B2
The present invention relates to a novel transformation system for generating transformed corn plants. In particular, the invention relates to a rapid selection system at an elevated temperature that allows faster and more efficient transformation.
US07682828B2
The invention provides methods for reprogramming somatic cells to generate multipotent or pluripotent cells. Such methods are useful for a variety of purposes, including treating or preventing a medical condition in an individual. The invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reprograms somatic cells to a less differentiated state.
US07682824B2
A holder for PCR sample collection and preparation and method of using which has a buffer container housing removably connected to a plunger housing. A swab attached to an end of a plunger collects a sample of a specimen to be analyzed for biological warfare agents. The swab and plunger are inserted into the plunger housing, a buffer container is positioned inside the buffer container housing and the buffer container housing and plunger housing are attached. A buffer passes through the swab and elutes off the sample and the sample mixes with a reagent. The prepared sample loads into a reaction tube, by a whipping action, for analysis.
US07682816B2
This invention relates to microwell array compositions which are coated with one or more thin film coatings. The invention includes the process of fabricating and using thin film coated microwell arrays.
US07682812B2
A process for producing ethanol including a combination of biochemical and synthetic conversions results in high yield ethanol production with concurrent production of high value coproducts. An acetic acid intermediate is produced from carbohydrates, such as corn, using enzymatic milling and fermentation steps, followed by conversion of the acetic acid into ethanol using esterification and hydrogenation reactions. Coproducts can include corn oil, and high protein animal feed containing the biomass produced in the fermentation.
US07682802B2
Buffered assay solutions for performing 1) binding or 2) functional assays on GPCR arrays, along with methods for their use are described. The buffered assay solution has an underlying composition having: a buffer reagent with a pH in the range of about 6.5 to about 7.9; an inorganic salt of either a monovalent or divalent species, at a concentration from about 1 mM to about 500 mM; and optionally a combination of: c) a blocker reagent at a concentration of about 0.01 wt. % to about 2 wt. % of the composition, or d) protease-inhibitor at a concentration of about 0.001 mM to about 100 mM. In an embodiment for functional assay uses, the composition is modified to also include a GTP-analogue, a guanosine 5′-diphosphate (GDP) salt, and/or an anti-oxidant reagent.
US07682799B2
This application relates to a newly identified animal cell structure, the midbody scar. This structure is a remnant of the midbody that is retained by one daughter cell following cytokinesis and persists through multiple subsequent cell cycles. The midbody scar can be useful as a marker of dividing cells or of a cell's replicative age.
US07682798B2
A method is disclosed for analyzing a biological sample by antibody profiling for identifying forensic samples or for detecting the presence of an analyte. In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the analyte is a drug, such as marijuana, Cocaine (crystalline tropane alkaloid), methamphetamine, methyltestosterone, or mesterolone. The method involves attaching antigens of the surface of a solid support in a preselected pattern to form an array wherein the locations of the antigens are known; contacting the array with the biological sample such that a portion of antibodies in the sample reacts with and binds to antigens in the array, thereby forming immune complexes; washing away antibodies that do not form immune complexes; and detecting the immune complexes, thereby forming an antibody profile. Forensic samples are identified by comparing a sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source. Further, an assay, such as a test for illegal drug use, can be coupled to a test for identity such that the results of the assay can be positively correlated to a subject's identity.
US07682791B2
The invention provides a method of generating nested sets of double stranded DNA (dsDNA) circles that may be used as size ladders in nucleic acid separations and as templates in DNA sequencing operations. In one aspect, the invention provides methods for generating nested sets of double stranded DNA circles in a self-sustaining enzymatic reaction comprising the activities of at least one endonuclease, at least one single stranded exonuclease, and at least one ligase. In another embodiment, such nested sets are generated from linear dsDNA fragments having ligatable terminators that are self-ligated to form corresponding dsDNA circles.
US07682788B2
A method and apparatus for performing electrochemiluminescence assays are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention an apparatus comprises an ECL-inactive electrode surface having a first assay-ligand immobilized thereon and an ECL-active microparticle having a second assay ligand immobilized thereon. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention a method comprises (a) forming a mixture comprising an electrochemiluminescent label and a microparticle having a first assay-ligand immobilized thereon, (b) applying electrochemical energy to an electrode surface in the presence of said mixture, and (c) measuring emitted electrochemiluminescence, where the microparticle is ECL-active and where the electrode surface is ECL-inactive when electrochemical energy is applied to it in the presence of said mixture.
US07682784B2
The small molecule profiles of cells are compared to identify small molecules which are modulated in altered states. Cellular small molecule libraries, methods of identifying tissue sources, methods for treating genetic and non-genetic diseases, and methods for predicting the efficacy of drugs are also discussed.
US07682775B2
A process for preparing a flexographic printing plate comprising providing a photosensitive element comprising a support and at least one photopolymerizable layer, providing a photomask adjacent the photopolymerizable layer opposite the support, exposing the photosensitive element with ultraviolet radiation between 200 and 300 nm through the photomask, exposing the photosensitive element with ultraviolet radiation between 310 and 400 nm through the photomask to photopolymerize areas of the photopolymerizable layer, and treating the exposed photosensitive element to remove unpolymerized areas, thereby forming a relief surface suitable for printing.
US07682772B2
A compound represented by general formula (I); and a compound represented by general formula (b1-1).[Chemical Formula 1] X-Q1-Y1—SO3−M+ (I) X-Q1-Y1—SO3−A+ (b1-1) wherein Q1 represents a divalent linkage group or a single bond; Y1 represents an alkylene group which may have a substituent or a fluorinated alkylene group which may have a substituent; X represents a cyclic group of 3 to 30 carbon atoms which may have a substituent, and has an —SO2— bond in the structure thereof; M+ represents an alkali metal ion; and A+ represents an organic cation.
US07682759B2
A method is provided for determining pitch of lithographic features of a mask. The method includes determining a bias based on an interaction between a plurality of reference features positioned according to a lithographic parameter of the mask, applying the bias to a plurality of lithographic features of the mask, and determining pitch of the plurality of lithographic features based on interactions between the biased plurality of lithographic features of the mask.
US07682754B2
The invention relates to the use of an amine oxide as an additive in a nonaqueous electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution is suitable for use in electrochemical cells such as lithium batteries and lithium ion batteries. Batteries using this electrolyte solution have long life and high capacity retention.
US07682748B2
In a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte, as the positive electrode active material or as the negative electrode active material, a mixture containing molybdenum dioxide and lithium titanate in a weight ratio (molybdenum dioxide:lithium titanate) of 90:10 to 50:50 is used.
US07682747B2
Positive electrode active material and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery containing the same
The present invention provides a high-capacity and low-cost non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising: a negative electrode containing, as a negative electrode active material, a substance capable of absorbing/desorbing lithium ions and/or metal lithium; a separator; a positive electrode; and an electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode active material contained in the positive electrode is composed of crystalline particles of an oxide containing two kinds of transition metal elements, the crystalline particles having a layered crystal structure, and oxygen atoms constituting the oxide forming a cubic closest packing structure.
US07682741B2
A composite particle for a lithium rechargeable battery is contained in at least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the lithium rechargeable battery that includes the positive electrode, the negative electrode, a separator, and non-aqueous electrolytic solution. The composite particle contains a conductive agent and an active material that can reversibly store and emit lithium ions. The composite particle is a hollow body formed of an outer wall including the active material and conductive agent, and a cavity capable of retaining non-aqueous electrolytic solution. At least one opening of the cavity that can pass the electrolytic solution is formed in the surface of the composite particle.
US07682734B2
A rechargeable battery having a compact size and improved strength comprises a case, a battery cell, a circuit board and a covering member. The case has an internal space and an open end. The battery cell is made of a pliable material and is installed within the case, wherein a surface of the battery cell is electrically connected to the circuit board at the open end of the case. The covering member hermetically seals the open end of the case. Accordingly, the battery has a compact size, improved strength and may be manufactured easily.
US07682730B2
A cathode having a groove extending about 10 to about 450 microns into a surface of the cathode. The cathode can also be roughened.
US07682719B2
A method for revising a reference polarization curve of a fuel cell stack that identifies the relationship between the voltage and the current of the stack over time. When the stack is operating at a low load where kinetic voltage losses of the stack dominate, a first adaptation value is revised as the difference between the actual stack voltage and the stack voltage of the reference polarization curve. When the stack is operating at higher loads where ohmic voltage losses of the stack dominate, a second adaptation value is revised as the difference between the actual stack voltage and the stack voltage of the reference polarization curve.
US07682711B2
A magnetic recording medium is provided which includes a recording layer formed in a concavo-convex pattern including recording elements formed as convex portions, provides a good flying performance of a magnetic head, and has high reliability. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus including that magnetic recording medium and a manufacturing method of that magnetic recording medium are also provided. The magnetic recording medium includes: the recording layer formed in a predetermined concavo-convex pattern over a substrate, the recording elements being formed as convex portions of the concavo-convex pattern; filling elements with which concave portions between the recording elements are filled; a conductive film which has a smaller electric resistivity than the filling elements and is formed over the filling elements; and a protective layer which covers the recording elements and the filling elements and is in contact with an upper surface of the conductive film.
US07682710B2
The invention relates to a vapour-deposition material for the production of optical layers of high refractive index which comprises titanium oxide and ytterbium oxide in a molar ratio of from 4:1 to 1:4, to a process for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof.
US07682707B2
The maximum luminous efficiency of organic light-emitting materials is increased through spin-dependent processing. The technique is applicable to all electro-luminescent processes in which light is produced by singlet exciton decay, and all devices which use such effects, including LEDs, super-radiant devices, amplified stimulated emission devices, lasers, other optical microcavity devices, electrically pumped optical amplifiers, and phosphorescence (Ph) based light emitting devices. In preferred embodiments, the emissive material is doped with an impurity, or otherwise modified, to increase the spin-lattice relaxation rate (i.e., decrease the spin-lattice time), and hence raise the efficiency of the device. The material may be a polymer, oligomer, small molecule, single crystal, molecular crystal, or fullerene. The impurity is preferably a magnetic or paramagnetic substance. The invention is applicable to IR, UV, and other electromagnetic radiation generation and is thus not limited to the visible region of the spectrum. The methods of the invention may also be combined with other techniques used to improve device performance.
US07682699B2
The present invention provides a method of making an aqueous coating composition comprising an aqueous dispersion of an epoxy acrylate resin and a polymerized reactive diluent. The aqueous coating composition preferably has a volatile organic compound content of no greater than 0.4 kilogram per liter of solids.
US07682695B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a powder core and method for making the same that is equipped with insulative coating having superior heat resistance, with the coating making it possible to adequately restrict the flow of eddy currents between particles.The powder core is equipped with a plurality of compound magnetic particles bonded to each other. Each of said plurality of composite magnetic particles includes: a metal magnetic particle 10; an insulative lower layer coating 20 surrounding a surface 10a of said metal magnetic particle 10; an upper layer coating 30 surrounding said lower layer coating 20 and containing silicon; and dispersed particles 50 containing a metal oxide compound and disposed in said lower layer coating 20 and/or said upper layer coating 30. A mean particle diameter R of the dispersed particles 50 meets the condition 10 nm
US07682688B2
Described herein are methods for separating one or more analytes present in a fluid sample. The methods involve passing the fluid through a filter having a microporous material, wherein the analytes are localized near the surface of the microporous material. Additional processing steps such as hybridization and amplification can be performed once the analyte is localized. In one method, once the analyte is localized, the analyte can be detected, counted, and correlated in order to determine the concentration of the analyte in the sample. Modified microporous materials and composite materials are also disclosed that can be used in any of the methods and articles described herein. The composite is composed of a microporous material and a pigment, wherein the pigment is incorporated in the microporous material. The pigments alter the optical properties of the microporous material, which enhances the detection of analyte once it is localized. In a further aspect, various kits and articles such as filtration devices containing any of the microporous materials described herein are provided.
US07682686B2
A fibrous web having a first surface and a second surface. The fibrous web has a first region and at least one discrete second region, the second region being a discontinuity on the second surface and being a tuft comprising a plurality of tufted fibers extending from the first surface. The tufted fibers define a distal portion, the distal portion comprising portions of the tufted fibers being bonded together. Bonding can be thermal melt-bonding. In another embodiment the second surface of the web can have non-intersecting or substantially continuous bonded regions, which also can be thermal melt-bonding.
US07682684B2
A stratified-structure laminar covering material, which can be used for example as a flooring for sports facilities, comprises an outermost layer, a bottom layer, and an intermediate layer set between the outermost layer and the bottom layer. The aforesaid layers comprise a matrix constituted by a mixture of polyolefin and thermoplastic elastomer, the matrix being substantially identical for all three layers. The matrix of the outermost layer is substantially free from fillers and has a first value of density. The bottom layer contains fillers so as to have a second value of density greater than said first value of density, and the intermediate layer contains fillers so as to have a third value of density intermediate between the first value of density of the outermost layer and the second value of density of the bottom layer.
US07682680B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for fabricating an anti-fatigue mat that employs a layer of resilient gel material that exhibits a first durometer. The method employs a frame assembly that receives a flexible support sheet. The frame assembly includes an aperture that receives a layer of heated liquid gel which cools to form the layer of resilient gel material exhibiting the first durometer. In one embodiment, a barrier layer exhibiting a second durometer is situated on the gel layer that exhibits the first durometer. In one embodiment, the barrier layer prevents the flow of oils from the gel layer to a flexible base sheet disposed on the barrier layer. In another embodiment, the flexible base sheet may exhibit a second durometer. In either embodiment, the layers exhibiting the first and second durometer cooperate to influence the feel of the mat to the user.
US07682676B2
An optical element irradiated with a light flux having a wavelength of 350 nm to 450 nm, is provided with a synthetic resin base material; and an antireflection film provided on the synthetic resin base material and including a contact layer being in contact with the synthetic resin base material, wherein the contact layer is a film made of a material containing no oxygen atom or a film made of a mixed material or a material containing no oxygen atom and a material containing an oxygen atom in which the mixed material contains the material containing an oxygen atom less than 10%.
US07682672B2
Disclosed are a negative C-type compensation film and a method of preparing the same. The negative C-type compensation film includes a) a base layer, and b) a polymer layer comprising polyarylate prepared by a method comprising the step of copolymerizing divalent phenols, divalent aromatic carboxylic acid halides, and allyl bisphenol derivatives, the base layer and the polymer layer being sequentially layered. The compensation film is capable of being used for the negative C-type compensation film without a stretching process, significantly reduces the thickness of the compensation film, and has significantly improved interlayer adhesion force in a multilayer structure.
US07682668B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of décor paper (7) having an abrasion-resistant surface. The production method includes applying a coating of abrasion resistant particles and resin to the décor paper, followed by applying electrically charged fibers onto the coating. The invention further relates to paper made according to said method.
US07682665B2
A coating composition comprising a binder of a. polyisocyanate crosslinking agent; b. an isocyanate-reactive component having at least one compound having the following formula: wherein X, R1, R2, p, m and n are described in the specification, or isomer or mixture of isomers thereof, two component compositions, articles coated with the novel composition and novel hydroxy amines are also part of the invention.
US07682658B2
A method for making an array of carbon nanotubes includes the steps of: (a) providing a substrate with a film of a first catalyst thereon; (b) disposing the substrate in a quartz boat; (c) disposing a second catalyst adjacent to the substrate in the quartz boat; (d) disposing the quartz boat in a reaction chamber having a gas inlet configured for introducing a carbon source gas and a carrier gas into the reaction chamber and a gas outlet; (e) heating the reaction chamber to a predetermined temperature and introducing the carbon source gas into the reaction chamber along a direction from the second catalyst to the substrate, whereby the second catalyst reacts with the carbon source gas thereby producing a resultant for promoting catalytic activity of the first catalyst; and (f) growing an array of carbon nanotubes on the substrate.
US07682649B2
An endoprosthesis, such as a stent, having a layer that can enhance the biocompatibility of the endoprosthesis, and methods of making the endoprosthesis are disclosed.
US07682647B2
A coating and a method of coating an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed. The method includes subjecting the coating to a thermal condition which can result in reduction of the rate of release of an active agent from the coating subsequent to the implantation of the device.
US07682645B2
The present invention is directed to a process and system for producing scrambled eggs having a homogenous firmness. The process and system maximizes scrambled egg product consistency and minimizes channeling, fouling and equipment wear previously associated with production of scrambled eggs by periodically interrupting the flow of egg through the system of the invention.
US07682642B2
Process for sterilising a resistant starch composition comprising: (a) dispersing said resistant starch composition in oil; (b) heating the starch/oil dispersion obtained in step (a) to a target temperature of 100 to 175° C., preferably about 150° C.; and (c) cooling the starch/oil dispersion; sterilised resistant starch obtained by this process and uses thereof.
US07682641B1
The invention can be summarized as follows. There is provided a method for preserving the quality of a perishable product comprising the step of treating the product with one or more near-infrared lights, wherein preferably at least one near-infrared light is a near-infrared laser (or laser diode). The perishable product may be simultaneously treated with a magnetic field. The invention also pertains to an apparatus that may be used to preserve the quality of a perishable product.
US07682638B2
This invention relates to a use of hederagenin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl((1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→4)]-α-L-arabinopyranoside or a Pulsatillae radix extract containing the same as a therapeutic agent for solid tumors. Also, this invention relates to a method of preparing a therapeutic agent for solid tumors by using hederagenin 3-0-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→4)]-α-L-arabinopyranoside, or a method of treating a subject suffering from solid tumors, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective dose of hederagenin 3-0-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(1→4)]-α-L-arabinopyranoside.
US07682633B2
Provided herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising an antagonist, an agonist, a seal coat, and a sequestering polymer, wherein the antagonist, agonist, seal coat and at least one sequestering polymer are all components of a single unit, and wherein the seal coat forms a layer physically separating the antagonist from the agonist from one another. Methods for manufacturing such a pharmaceutical composition are also provided.
US07682631B2
The present invention is generally directed to compositions useful in preventing and/or treating disease due to infection by any of a variety of biologically active pathogenic microorganisms. The compositions include nanoparticles formed of a hydrophobic polymeric core, hydrophilic linking agents bound to the core, and biofunctional materials bound to the linking agents. The biofunctional materials are functionally identical to receptors on host cell surfaces that can be recognized and bound by adhesins on the surface of the targeted pathogenic adhesin-bearing microorganisms. In one embodiment, the binding action between the nanoparticles and the microorganisms can lead to the formation of large agglomerated complexes, which can then be easily removed from an area, including the digestive tract of an infected individual. The compositions of the present invention can also be utilized in preventing enteric infections via the ability to purge animals of enteropathogens prior to transport and processing for human consumption.
US07682623B2
A pharmaceutical or cosmetic carrier or composition for topical application characterized by rheological properties which render the carrier or composition semi-solid at rest and a liquid upon application of shear forces thereto. The composition or carrier are prepared by mixing 1-25 percent of a solidifying agent and 75-99 percent of a hydrophobic solvent, by weight, wherein at least one of them has therapeutic or cosmetic benefits, in the presence or absence of a biologically active substance.
US07682607B2
The diverse receptor-ligand pairs of the Wnt and frizzled (Fzd) families play important roles during embryonic development, and thus may be overexpressed in cancers that arise from immature cells. The mRNA levels and expression levels of 5 Wnt (Wnt-1, 5a, 7a, 10b, 13) and 2 Fzd (Fzd-2, 5) genes in 10 head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines (HNSCC) were investigated. In addition, anti-Wnt-1 antibodies were used to study the Wnt/Fzd signalling pathway. These results indicate that HNSCC cell lines overexpress one or more Wnt and Fzd genes, and the growth and survival of a subset of HNSCC may depend on the Wnt/Fzd pathway. Therefore, The Wnt and Fzd receptors may be useful targets for immunotherapy of this common cancer.
US07682602B2
A near-infrared fluorescing contrast medium which exhibits superior imaging capability and is also difficult to accumulate in a living body, is disclosed, comprising a cyanine compound containing water-solubilizing groups and represented by the following formula. The imaging method by use thereof is also disclosed.
US07682601B2
The present invention relates to a chelating agent of the general formula: (I), wherein m is 0 or 1; X is NR4 or S; Y is SR5, NHR5 or P(R5)2; R1 and R3 are the same or different and are selected from H, alkyl or aryl; R2 is H, COOH, NHR6 or (CH2)nCOOR6; R4 is H, alkyl, aryl, (CH2)nCOOR6 or (CH2)nOR6; R5 is H, alkyl, aryl, (CH2)nCOOR6 or (CH2)nOR6, R6 is H, alkyl or aryl; n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10; and when R1═R3═CH3, R2, R4 and R5 are not all three H. The invention further relates to a method and kit for the preparation of radiolabeled biomolecules while using the chelating agent.
US07682599B2
The present invention is directed to a process for preparing NES-type zeolites using novel nitrogen-based structure directing agents. The structure directing agents used in preparing NES-type zeolites selected from the group consisting of 1,4-bis(N,N-dimethylcyclohexylammonium) butane dications and 1,5-bis(N,N-dimethylcyclohexylammonium) pentane dications.
US07682597B2
The invention relates to a method for extracting hydrogen from a gas containing methane, especially natural gas. Hydrocarbons contained in the gas are catalytically broken down in a reformer (4) by steam in order to form hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Catalytic conversion of the obtained carbon monoxide with steam occurs in a downstream conversion step in order to form carbon monoxide and water. Carbon dioxide is removed from the converted gas flow (8) by gas washing (7), and the washed hydrogen-rich gas flow (10) is subsequently divided in a pressure-swing adsorption system (11) into a product gas flow (12) made of hydrogen and a waste gas flow (13). The waste gas flow (13) is introduced with hydrogen (14), which is separated from the gas flow (10) after gas washing, into a reformer (4) which is essentially a carbon-free combustible gas, and is combusted there. The invention also relates to a system for carrying out the method.
US07682590B2
In the present invention, a nonionic surfactant is noticed for a function of dispersing a carbon nanotube, and it is found that a mixture solution of an amide-based organic solvent and a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or of the amide-based organic solvent, the nonionic surfactant, and the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) has an excellent function as a dispersant for the carbon nanotube. Ultrasonication is required for dispersing a carbon nanotube in the dispersant. The ultrasonication may be carried out in the step of dispersing the carbon nanotube in the nonionic surfactant and/or the amide-based polar organic solvent, and then the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) may be mixed with the resultant dispersion. Alternatively, a mixture solution of the nonionic surfactant and/or the amide-based polar organic solvent, and the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is prepared, and then the ultrasonication may be carried out in the step of dispersing the carbon nanotube therein.
US07682581B2
The purpose of the invention is to remove copper selectively from a concentrated zinc sulphate solution by ion exchange. The method enables a significant reduction in the use of zinc powder during the solution purification of zinc sulphate solution and makes possible to avoid usage of arsenic or antimony trioxides as a precipitation chemical. The method is to be combined with the chloride removal that occurs as a sub-stage of solution purification.
US07682579B2
The invention relates to a method and device for the injection of oxygen in a reformer reactor, for example, for oxydehydrogenation, with an essentially radial throughflow of the gas mixture through a catalytic packing, whereby the incorporation and mixing of the oxygen before entry into the catalyst is significantly improved, in particular for oxydehydrogenation methods. The above is achieved, whereby the oxygen is introduced in pure form, as air, or mixed with inert gas, or with steam, into an annular distribution system (5) and injected out of a number of outlet openings (6) in the annular distribution system, at an angle to the perpendicular, onto the catalyst surface (3).
US07682561B2
A device for automatically disinfecting a portion of a medical implement, such as a needless hub or injection port. The device includes a body shaped to engage the medical implement with the portion to be disinfected exposed. A disinfectant pad is mounted on the body to permit displacement of the pad relative to the body and is biased such that when the pad is displaced from a rest position, the pad is urged toward the portion to be disinfected to contact and disinfect it.
US07682556B2
An apparatus and method are disclosed in which ultrasonic vibration is used to assist the degassing of molten metals or metal alloys thereby reducing gas content in the molten metals or alloys. High-intensity ultrasonic vibration is applied to a radiator that creates cavitation bubbles, induces acoustic streaming in the melt, and breaks up purge gas (e.g., argon or nitrogen) which is intentionally introduced in a small amount into the melt in order to collect the cavitation bubbles and to make the cavitation bubbles survive in the melt. The molten metal or alloy in one version of the invention is an aluminum alloy. The ultrasonic vibrations create cavitation bubbles and break up the large purge gas bubbles into small bubbles and disperse the bubbles in the molten metal or alloy more uniformly, resulting in a fast and clean degassing.
US07682553B2
A medical balloon having a high burst strength and the ability to return to its preinflation diameter following repeated inflation may be prepared from a first inner layer of material, a second intermediate layer of expanded PTFE and a third outer layer of material.
US07682552B2
The present invention relates to a capacitive measurement method and system for a nanoimprint process, which arranges a plurality of electrode plates on both the backside of the master mold and the surface of the supporting base carrying the wafer substrate to form a plurality of capacitive structures. By monitoring the capacitance variation signal caused by the continuous variations in the thickness and the material properties of the resist during the imprint process, the status of the resist can be monitored and recorded, which is used as the references for determining the timing to demold in the nanoimprint process and for maintaining the flatness of the resist. Accordingly, the nanoimprint process can be automated easier and the quality and the throughput of of the nanometer scaled imprint product can be improved.
US07682541B2
A manufacturing method of a microchemical chip made of a resin and having a micro channel, which comprises forming a photoresist film over the surface of one side of a metal support substratum, stacking a photomask for the formation of a channel pattern over the photoresist film, forming a minute-structure photoresist pattern over the metal support substratum by a photofabrication technology as a flat-sheet mold, disposing the flat-sheet mold or unit mold obtained by separating the flat-sheet mold on the bottom of a contour forming frame for resin molding, pouring a resin into the contour forming frame for resin molding and curing the resin to form a resin structure having a micro channel formed by the mold, and attaching the resin structure having a micro channel to a flat sheet to be a lid of the micro channel; and microchemical chips manufactured by this method.
US07682540B2
Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis.
US07682538B2
A method for extrusion molding a medical tube from a soft thermoplastic resin. The method requires the use of a mold that provides flow paths sandwiching the axial portion. The mold comprises a mold body, a pin, and a land portion. The extrusion method involves three processes.
US07682530B2
A method of producing a radiation diffractive sensor that diffracts radiation according to Bragg's law is disclosed. The sensor is produced by forming an ordered periodic array of particles on a substrate, coating the array of particles with a polymeric matrix, curing the matrix to fix the array of particles within the matrix and contacting the fixed array with an activator, wherein the activator shifts the wavelength of radiation diffracted by the sensor from a first wavelength to a second wavelength.
US07682526B2
A imidazoline concentrate, uses of the concentrate, and methods of increasing a storage stability of solutions containing the concentrate are disclosed. The concentrate may include a reaction product of a fatty acid, an alkylene polyamine, a hydrocarbyl succinic acid or anhydride, and an alkoxylated alkylphenol component. The concentrate may contain from about 2 to about 50 wt. % of the alkyphenol component.
US07682524B2
A phosphor material for producing white light under excitation of UV light and a method for making the same. The phosphor material is an alkaline-earth silicates compound with a chemical formula of (A2-x-yCexEuy)SiO4. A is one or more elements selected from the collection of Ba, Sr and Ca alkaline-earth metals. The range of x and y correspond to 0
US07682523B2
The present invention is directed toward fluorescent inks and markers comprising carbon nanotubes. The present invention is also directed toward methods of making such inks and markers and to methods of using such inks and markers, especially for security applications (e.g., anti-counterfeiting). Such inks and markers rely on the unique fluorescent properties of semiconducting carbon nanotubes.
US07682521B2
The present disclosure includes a method that allows one to obtain high quality alignment of nematic or smectic liquid crystal (LC) polymer glasses in thin films. The present disclosure also includes thin films of aligned smectic or nematic LC main-chain polymer glasses, including aligned chiral smectic C* ferroelectric LC main-chain polymer glasses. The disclosure also includes electro-optical devices, including electro-optical devices comprising aligned chiral smectic C* ferroelectric LC main-chain polymer glasses.
US07682518B2
Method and apparatus for etching a metal layer disposed on a substrate, such as a photolithographic reticle, are provided. In one aspect, a method is provided for processing a substrate including positioning a substrate having a metal layer disposed on an optically transparent material in a processing chamber, introducing a processing gas processing gas comprising an oxygen containing gas, a chlorine containing gas, and a chlorine-free halogen containing gas, and optionally, an inert gas, into the processing chamber, generating a plasma of the processing gas in the processing chamber, and etching exposed portions of the metal layer disposed on the substrate.
US07682517B2
A method of processing a substrate that enables the amount removed of a surface damaged layer to be controlled easily, and enable a decrease in wiring reliability to be prevented. A surface damaged layer having a reduced carbon concentration of a carbon-containing low dielectric constant insulating film on a substrate is exposed to an atmosphere of a mixed gas containing ammonia and hydrogen fluoride under a predetermined pressure. The surface damaged layer that has been exposed to the atmosphere of the mixed gas is heated to a predetermined temperature.
US07682516B2
A method for etching features in an etch layer is provided. A patterned photoresist mask is formed over the etch layer with photoresist features with sidewalls wherein the sidewalls of the photoresist features have irregular profiles along depths of the photoresist features. The irregular profiles along the depths of the photoresist features of the sidewalls of the photoresist features are corrected comprising at least one cycle, where each cycle comprises a sidewall deposition phase and a profile shaping phase. Feature is etched into the etch layer through the photoresist features. The mask is removed.
US07682513B2
A device for water dechlorination that includes a housing containing a water-soluble dechlorination media, one or more fluid transfer media that passes through the housing that allows the transfer of water and water-soluble dechlorination media between the inside of the housing and the outside of the housing, and a mechanism for directing water to flow through the one or more fluid transfer media. The chlorine in the water is removed or neutralized by the water-soluble dechlorination media released through the one or more fluid transfer media.
US07682510B2
The present invention relates to a method of sterilizing a chromatography column which is packed with a separation matrix, which method comprises passing a superheated aqueous liquid through the packing of the column to obtain at least one substantially sterile packed chromatography column. The method may also comprise a preceding heating. In the most advantageous embodiment, the superheated aqueous liquid is passed in a substantially uniform flow through the packing of the column, resulting in a sterility of the packed column.
US07682506B2
An IC system including sample preparation. The system includes a liquid sample injection loop, an ion concentrator, an ion separator, and only a single pump for pumping fluid through the system.
US07682498B1
A work piece is electroplated or electroplanarized using an azimuthally asymmetric electrode. The azimuthally asymmetric electrode is rotated with respect to the work piece (i.e., either or both of the work piece and the electrode may be rotating). The azimuthal asymmetry provides a time-of-exposure correction to the current distribution reaching the work piece. In some embodiments, the total current is distributed among a plurality of electrodes in a reaction cell in order to tailor the current distribution in the electrolyte over time. Focusing elements may be used to create “virtual electrode” in proximity to the surface of the work piece to further control the current distribution in the electrolyte during plating or planarization.
US07682496B2
One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for depositing seed layers over a substrate, said substrate includes at least one opening surrounded by a field, the apparatus includes: (a) a CVD chamber adapted to deposit a CVD seed layer over the substrate; (b) a PVD chamber adapted to deposit a PVD seed layer over the substrate; and (c) a controller which includes recipe information, said recipe information includes deposition sequence and process parameters for operation of the deposition chambers, wherein the controller, in response to the recipe information, causes first the CVD chamber to deposit a CVD seed layer over the substrate and then causes the PVD chamber to deposit a PVD seed layer over the CVD seed layer, wherein (i) at least one of the seed layers comprises a material selected from a group consisting of Cu, Ag, or alloys comprising one or more of these metals, (ii) the CVD seed layer having a thickness of less than about 200 Å over the field, (iii) the PVD seed layer having a thickness from about 100 Å to about 2,000 Å over the field, (iv) the PVD seed layer is thicker than the CVD seed layer over the field, and (v) the controller causes the stopping of the deposition of the CVD and the PVD seed layers prior to filling the at least one opening, thereby leaving enough room for electroplating inside the at least one opening.
US07682494B2
Materials for use in proton transport characterized by several formulas are disclosed. Mixed ion and electron conductors may include metals and/or ceramic electron conductors and a proton conducting material. Hydrogen separation membranes may include porous layers and an electrolyte layer including a proton conducting material and an electron conductor. Hydrogen separation membranes may be formed by thermal spray techniques. Hydrogen separation membranes may include a catalyst layer. A method of separating hydrogen from a mixed gas stream includes passing the mixed gas through a first porous layer to an electrolyte layer, dissociating protons and electrons, diffusing the protons and electrons through the electrolyte layer, recombining them, and passing molecular hydrogen through a second porous layer.
US07682492B2
An electrocoagulation device for removal of contaminants from a treatment stream including an elongated fluid treatment path in contact with a plurality of electrode plates, and a power supply electrically connected to the plates, wherein the device is configured so that it can provide a variety of electric field regimes to the treatment stream as it passes along the treatment path, and so that it can provide a variety of flow regimes along the fluid treatment path.
US07682485B2
The present invention relates to a process for improving the absorption rate for paper products. The process comprises treating a cellulosic fiber web comprising applying to said cellulosic fiber web at least one polymer; and colloidal particles.
US07682482B2
A plasma generation apparatus is provided which includes: an apparatus main body which has a microwave generation section which generates a microwave and a plasma generation nozzle which generates and emits a plasma gas based on the energy of the microwave; a microwave detection unit which detects a microwave leaking from the apparatus main body; and a control section which stops the microwave generation section from generating a microwave if the detection unit detects a microwave.
US07682477B2
The invention relates to a radiation crosslinkable hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive comprised of a radiation crosslinkable polymer as component (A) based on epoxidized polyolefins, wherein the epoxy groups are not consolidated in blocks; a tackifying resin possessing no epoxy groups as component (B); optionally a low molecular weight oligomer as component (C) that possesses reactive groups that can react with the epoxy groups of component (A); and an additive comprising a photo initiator as component (D).
US07682471B2
The method of forming hard facing on an engine valve comprising providing an engine valve, providing an austenitic iron-based alloy, the austenitic iron-based alloy including, by weight, about 0.25% to about 0.9% carbon, about 1.5% to about 3.5% boron, about 1% to about 2% silicon, at least 20% chromium, an amount of manganese effective to provide the iron-based alloy with an austenitic structure, and the balance including iron and incidental impurities, and welding the austenitic iron-based alloy to at least a portion of the engine valve.
US07682469B2
A piston made of aluminum cast alloy having a main body section in an approximately cylindrical shape, atop face section provided and arranged so as to occlude one end of the main body section, and a pin boss section in which a pin hole is provided so as to penetrate through the main body section in a radial direction. The piston comprises an aluminum cast alloy containing Mg (Magnesium): equal to or less than 0.2 mass %, Ti (Titanium) 0.05-0.3 mass %, Si (Silicon): 10-21 mass %, Cu (Copper): 2-3.5 mass %, Fe (Iron): 0.1-0.7 mass %, Ni (Nickel): 1-3 mass %, P (Phosphorus): 0.001-0.02 mass %, Al (Aluminum): the remaining portions, and impurities.
US07682453B2
A system and method for producing carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition includes a catalyst support having first and second surfaces. The catalyst support is capable of hydrogen transport from the first to the second surface. A catalyst is provided on the first surface of the catalyst support. The catalyst is selected to catalyze the chemical vapor deposition formation of carbon nanotubes. A fuel source is provided for supplying fuel to the catalyst.
US07682446B2
In a combustion facility, a portion of the bottom ash (BA) is mixed with substantially all of the fly ash (FA) as necessary to obtain a stabilized material that prevents toxic metals solubility and achieves a desired TCLP extraction pH value, preferably in the range of 8-11. The actual quantities of BA to be mixed with FA will vary depending upon various factors, so embodiments of the present invention include testing the ash to determine the desired distribution to achieve sufficient alkalinity to prevent the leaching of toxic metals in landfills. Because the resulting ash has a desired alkalinity by design, minimal additional alkali reagent amendment is necessary for safe disposal of the waste ash. The remaining BA may be recycled or deposited in a landfill without additional processing. Valuable materials in the waste ash may also be more easily recovered and reused.
US07682442B2
A medical adsorbent which produces minimal side-effects such as constipation, has excellent adsorption for ionic organic compounds such as causative substances of uremia, exhibits adequate adsorption performance at low doses and avoids adsorption of high-molecular compounds necessary for the body, such as enzymes and polysaccharides. The medical adsorbent comprises activated carbon obtained by carbonizing a spherical phenol resin in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature of 400-1000° C., activating the carbonized spherical phenol resin at a temperature of 800-1000° C., washing it with dilute hydrochloric acid, heat treating it at a temperature of 150-1000° C. in a mixed gas comprising oxygen and nitrogen and then sorting it; the activated carbon has an area to weight ratio of 500-2000 m2/g, a pore volume of 0.2-1.0 mL/g and a packing density of 0.5-0.75 g/mL.
US07682427B2
A tubular collector for precipitating electrically loaded aerosols from a gas stream stands vertically in a gas stream duct. The stream flows upwards in the section. The tubular collector includes at least one group of pipe bundle which extends at the most over the internal width of the duct and including at least one dimensionally stable pipe bundle whose lower side or side that faces the flow rests on a grating or perforated metal sheet connected to an electric reference potential. At least the top side or side away from the stream of a group of pipe bundles is uniformly sprayed with rinsing liquid. The pipes of a group of pipe bundles are held apart by spacers so that the stream flows over their outer and inner sides. The pipes of a group of pipe bundles are identical and have different adjustment heights. The pipes have such a length that at least when a turbulent flow enters one pipe, a laminar gas stream is formed downstream.
US07682426B2
Volatile suspended particles are eliminated from an aerosol by heating the aerosol to a temperature at which the volatile suspended particles evaporate and diluting the aerosol with a dilution gas. The sequence heating and diluting may be performed in any order. According to another aspect of the invention, dilution of the raw gas takes place such that raw gas is led to a measurement gas channel through which measurement gas flows, wherein the quantity of raw gas transferred per unit of time is dependent on the volume flow in the raw gas channel. According to a further aspect of the invention, in a condensation nucleus counter the number and intensity of scattered light pulses evaluated in order to be able to draw conclusions on the reliability of the measurement.
US07682420B2
In a method for leaching gold from copper sulfides, the sulfide ores are first subjected to leaching of copper, thereby producing a leaching residue having 7.9% or less of the copper content. This leaching residue is mixed with a leach liquor, which contains the chloride ion and ferric ion and has 1.9 or less of pH. Gold and copper can be effectively leached from the copper sulfide ores. Ordinarily used oxidizing reagents such as hydrogen peroxide or nitric acid are not used. The gold, copper and iron can, therefore, be leached in a single process and by using an identical leaching liquor. The rate of gold leaching reaction can be enhanced by the co-presence of either copper or bromide ion or both together with the chloride and iron ion.
US07682415B2
A device for intermediate storage of condensation water includes a swirl body which causes an inflowing air-water mixture to rotate, and a venturi tube through which the air-water mixture leaves the device. A ring groove in which water accumulates because of the swirl is arranged downstream of the swirl body, and water accumulated in the ring groove is sucked into the venturi tube via one more suction pipes. An expansion zone has an expanded cross-section and a step shaped interior for generating increased surface adhesion. Separating metal sheets in the expansion zone brake the swirl, bind the accumulated gushing water by adhesion forces, and guide it by capillary forces to the interior surface of the expansion zone. Gushing water accumulated at the ends of the separating metal sheets is drained by one or more suction pipes, into the venturi tube.
US07682413B2
An air precleaner arrangement for an internal combustion engine comprises a screen, a shroud, a fan, a first cyclone filter and a second cyclone filter. The screen has air permeable openings sized to retain debris. A fan is cooperating with the screen to provide an air stream from an upstream surface through the openings of the screen to a downstream surface. The shroud encloses the fan and the screen. The first cyclone filter has an air inlet receiving air on the downstream surface of the screen, an air outlet and a scavenge port in communication with interior of the screen and thus with the air stream of the fan. The second cyclone filter has an air inlet connected to the air outlet of the first cyclone filter, an air outlet connected to the air inlet of the internal combustion engine and a scavenge port connected to an exhaust venturi in the exhaust stream of the engine.
US07682409B2
A flow board suited for fuel cell applications. The flow board includes a body substrate formed by injection molding methods, which is resistive to methanol or chemical corrosion and has superior mechanical properties. The flow board further includes a wave-shaped reaction zone having thereon a plurality of independent fuel channels. The body substrate and the wave-shaped reaction zone may be monolithic. Alternatively, a punched electrode plate affixed on the reaction zone may define the plurality of independent fuel channels.
US07682407B2
A textile dyeing method includes a drying step 100 of drying a natural material within a set temperature range in which a coloring component of the natural material is hardly altered, thereby bringing the natural material into an absolutely dried state or a nearby state, a pulverizing step 200 of pulverizing the dried natural material obtained in the drying step 100 into fine powder of not larger than particle size being passable through at least 80 mesh in terms of sieve standards while controlling temperature of the natural material not to exceed the set temperature range, and a dyeing step 300 of mixing and dispersing the fine powdery natural material into a liquid, and immersing a textile in the liquid containing the fine powdery natural material in suspended condition, thus causing the fine powdery natural material suspended in the liquid to be physically attached to the textile.
US07682401B2
A ureteral stent assembly includes an elongate member having a distal end portion for placement within a kidney of a patient and a proximal end portion for placement in at least one of a ureter of the patient and a bladder of the patient. The distal end portion has a retention portion configured to help retain at least a portion of the elongate member in the kidney of the patient. The elongate member is configured to be passed through the ureter of the patient from the kidney to the bladder to remove the elongate member from the patient. In one embodiment, the retention portion is configured such that a distal tip of the distal end portion of the ureteral stent is spaced from a sidewall of the ureter when the elongate member is passed through the ureter of the patient to remove the elongate member from the patient.
US07682399B2
An acetabular cup assembly for a prosthetic hip joint is disclosed. This assembly includes an outer shell having at least one shell extension, an adaptor having at least one adaptor extension, and an insert. The inclusion of an extension on the outer shell and an extension on the adaptor allows for easier manipulation and implantation of the assembly.
US07682387B2
An intravascular stent and method for inhibiting restenosis, following vascular injury, is disclosed. The stent has an expandable, linked-filament body and a drug-release coating formed on the stent-body filaments, for contacting the vessel injury site when the stent is placed in-situ in an expanded condition. The coating releases, for a period of at least 4 weeks, a restenosis-inhibiting amount of the macrocyclic triene immunosuppressive compound everolimus. The stent, when used to treat a vascular injury, gives good protection against clinical restenosis, even when the extent of vascular injury involves vessel overstretching by more than 30% diameter. Also disclosed is a stent having a drug-release coating composed of (i) 10 and 60 weight percent poly-dl-lactide polymer substrate and (ii) 40–90 weight percent of an anti-restenosis compound, and a polymer undercoat having a thickness of between 1–5 microns.
US07682380B2
The invention consists of an endoluminal prosthesis adapted for placement at a bifurcation site within the body. The stent or stent-graft may be constructed to have segments of differing structural properties. A section of the stent-graft may be constructed to have a single-lumen tubular stent member covering a multilumen graft member. The stent-graft may comprise at least two modular components adapted for in situ assembly. An extended cylindrical interference fit may be used to seal the modular components.
US07682374B2
A knotless suture lock and bone anchor wherein a suture, looped through a tissue, is threaded through a plurality of body holes in the anchor to cinch the suture and tissue to the anchor without tying a suture knot on the tissue, and wherein the anchor is adapted for embedding in a bone. The tissue is secured to the anchor by suturing the tissue without a suture knot, fastening the standing leg portion of the suture on a suture leg-anchoring structure, and threading the working leg portion of the suture through the body holes. Pulling on the working leg portion of the suture tightens the suture on the body structure and cinches the loop without a suture knot on the tissue. The bone-embedding structure comprises a plurality of barbs adapted to resist pullout of the anchor from the bone.
US07682372B2
A sequential surgical forceps is adapted to sequentially grasp tissue on opposed sides of a tissue interface and then present the tissue for capture and closure by a surgical fastening apparatus. The sequential tissue forceps comprises a first arm, a second arm and central arm wherein both the first arm and the second arm are sequentially closed with respect to the central arm. The first arm, second arm and central arm preferably comprise tips having a gripping structure to facilitate tissue capture and retention. The central arm includes structure that defines a mating interface to allow for selective positioning of the sequential tissue forceps and any captured tissue with respect to a surgical fastening apparatus. In this way, the tissue forceps is able to consistently manipulate and present wound tissue relative to the surgical fastening apparatus.
US07682370B2
A surgical tool for use in expanding a tubular structure having an inner surface defining a passage through the tubular structure for receiving surgical instruments includes a first leg having a first end engageable with the inner surface of the tubular structure. A second leg has a second end engageable with the inner surface of the tubular structure. The first and second ends are movable away from each other to apply a radially outwardly directed force to the inner surface of the tubular structure and cause expansion of the tubular structure to increase a cross-sectional area of the passage along a portion of the passage.
US07682369B2
The invention comprises a surgical instrument including an external tube (2) and two elongated members (4) positioned in said tube (2), each of which includes a distal end (10a) for capturing one of the two tissue zones (M1, M2) to be attached. The instrument (1) may further comprise a catching member (22, 25) for each tissue (M1, M2) to be attached; a rod (15, 16) linked to each catching member (22, 25) enabling tension to move axially, said rod (15, 16) being separable from said catching member (22, 25) when a tension is exerted on it beyond a certain threshold; and a member (17a) forming a stop for locking axially each catching member (22, 25) during said tension.
US07682367B2
A surgical stapling apparatus, including a frame, an endoscopic portion, a clamp handle, a firing handle, a tool assembly and a drive beam is disclosed. The endoscopic portion extends distally from the frame. The clamp handle is disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with a drive member. The firing handle is disposed on the frame and in mechanical cooperation with at least one firing rod. The tool assembly includes an anvil, a cartridge assembly and a camming surface and is supported adjacent a distal end of the endoscopic portion. Actuation of the clamp handle moves the drive beam into engagement with the camming surface. Actuation of the firing handle moves the firing rod through an opening in the drive beam to eject surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly.
US07682365B2
A catheter device selectively provides additional support to a guidewire for aiding the guidewire in crossing a narrowing in a body lumen. The catheter device includes an elongate outer tubular member having a tapered distal end. An elongate guidewire gripping member is slidably disposed within the outer tubular member. The guidewire gripping member has a lumen for slidably receiving the guidewire and a distal end having a plurality of longitudinal fingers. When the guidewire gripping member is advanced distally against the tapered distal end of the outer tubular member, a the fingers of the guidewire gripping member are forced to engage with the guidewire to thereby prevent movement of the guidewire relative to the catheter device. The catheter device may include a steering mechanism for steering the combined catheter device and guidewire component to an optimum starting point for crossing the lesion.
US07682356B2
An osmotic delivery system is disclosed for delivering an active agent formulation to a fluid environment. The osmotic delivery system typically comprises a reservoir having a lumen that contains the active agent formulation and an osmotic agent formulation and a piston assembly positioned in the lumen to isolate the active agent formulation from the osmotic agent formulation. The piston assembly typically comprises a body constructed and arranged for positioning in the lumen. The body is typically made of a polymeric material that is, for example, resistant to leaching in an organic solvent. In one embodiment, the body is a columnar body having a rim at a distal end thereof for engaging and sealing against a wall of the reservoir and the piston assembly further comprises a spring retained at the distal end of the columnar body for biasing the rim of the columnar body against the wall of the reservoir.
US07682353B2
A kit for preparing a medical catheter from catheter sections comprises a tubular protective member surrounding a first, proximal one of the catheter sections. The kit further comprises a joint for interconnecting the catheter sections, the joint defining a substantially liquid tight seal at one end of a substantially annular and longitudinally extending cavity provided between the proximal end portion of the first catheter section and an inner wall of the tubular protective member. Following removal of the tubular protective member, one of the catheter sections is exposed and ready for insertion into the urethra.
US07682352B2
A catheter having an elongate hollow shaft with a curved distal section having at least one pre-curved reinforcing strip embedded therein. The pre-curved reinforcing strip comprises a relatively stiff material that is unaffected by the process of thermoforming a final curve in the catheter. Methods of making the catheter are also described.
US07682340B2
An indwelling needle for reducing the deterioration of the valve by the pressure force of the elastic member.A connector part is provided so as to be moveable within the outer needle body connected to the basal portion of the cannula and provided with the space communicating with the lumen of the cannula therein. Also, within the outer needle body, the valve including the opening and closing aperture through which the tip end side portion of the connector part is liquid tightly penetrated to communicate the lumen of the cannula with the flow path of the connector part as well as the space of the front side portion and the rear side portion of the outer needle body are occluded by closing when the tip end side portion of the connector part is not penetrated therethrough.
US07682337B2
The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for gaining percutaneous access to body anatomy, for example an organ or a body lumen. According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided comprising a needle and an outer sheath. The needle is receivable within the outer sheath and comprises a plurality of outer diameters. A distal portion of the needle has a lesser diameter than a proximal portion of the needle. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US07682335B2
A non-compliant medical balloon may be changed from a deflated state to an inflated state by increasing pressure within the balloon. The non-compliant medical balloon is composed of a matted fabric layer composed of at least two matted fabric fibers forming an angle. The angle remains substantially unchanged when the balloon changes from a deflated state to an inflated state.
US07682330B2
A gastrointestinal implant device is anchored in the duodenum and extends beyond the ligament of Treitz. All food exiting the stomach is funneled through the device. The gastrointestinal device includes an anchor for attaching the device to the duodenum and an unsupported flexible sleeve. The anchor can include a stent and/or a wave anchor and is collapsible for catheter-based delivery and removal.
US07682327B2
The present invention provides a heart-lung machine which can be carried by one person and can be used independently from an external power supply, consisting of at least three modules (1, 2, 3), wherein a first module (1) contains the blood circulating elements which are necessary for the function of a heart-lung machine, a second module (2) contains a pump drive (9) and an electronic measuring equipment and a control logic (11) and a third module (3) contains the programming unit (14), whereas the second unit is separably connected to the first and the third module.
US07682321B2
A skin massage device having a handset connected to a machine body. The handset in turn has a chamber closed by a deformable membrane which adheres to a patient's skin by virtue of a vacuum generated in the chamber by a vacuum generating device. The device also has an electronic device for producing a variable vacuum in the chamber to deform the membrane and so lift, fold, compress, and smooth the patient's skin as to perform the massage cycle set by the operator.
US07682314B2
A blood pressure meter using a viscoelastic cuff, and a mobile terminal having the blood pressure meter. The blood pressure meter includes a blood pressure sensor for measuring variation in blood pressure, a blood flow sensor for measuring variation in blood flow, a cuff that elastically compresses a body part and decompresses the body part due to its viscoelasticity, and a control unit that analyzes signals measured by the blood pressure sensor and the blood flow sensor and calculates blood pressure. The blood pressure meter is detachably connected to a mobile terminal body, and can be small and portable. It is possible to measure the blood pressure precisely even when the cuff is fitted onto a finger, thereby improving the reliability of the blood pressure measurement. By using the viscoelasticity of the cuff and auxiliary decompressing, it is possible to check the blood pressure at all times.
US07682305B2
Methods for performing minimally invasive heart surgery include accessing a heart of a patient through a first incision on the left thorax of the patient, contacting the heart through the incision with a heart stabilizing device and/or a heart positioning device, introducing at least one coupling device through a second incision on the patient located apart from the first incision, coupling the coupling device with the heart stabilizing device or the heart positioning device, and performing a surgical procedure on the heart. Systems may include a retractor device, a heart stabilizing device, and a coupling device, for enhancing cardiac surgery. Any suitable heart surgery may be performed using methods, devices or systems of the present invention. In one embodiment, a CABG procedure is performed.
US07682301B2
Various “contactless” bearing mechanisms including hydrodynamic, hydrostatic, and magnetic bearings are provided for a rotary pump as alternatives to mechanical contact bearings. These design features may be combined. In one embodiment, a pump housing has a spindle extending from a wall of the pump housing into a pumping chamber defined by the pump housing. The spindle has a stepped portion adjacent the wall. In one embodiment, the stepped portion is defined by a change in spindle diameter. The lack of mechanical contact bearings enables longer life pump operation and less damage to working fluids such as blood.
US07682298B2
A collapsible resistance exercise device for compact storage and quick deployment includes a horizontally disposed base support frame and an upright frame pivotally attached to the base frame. The upright frame includes a resistance bar pivotally mounted thereon. In practice, the device is placed on a level surface with the base support frame resting on the surface. The free end of the upright frame is rotated upwardly to a vertical position where it is releasably locked into position to be free standing. One end of a pair of springs are attached to spring attachment loops disposed on the upright frame. The opposing ends of the springs are attached to spring attachment loops disposed on a resistance bar, strap or similar device. The exercisor exercises a muscle group by contacting a limb with the resistance bar and repetitively moving the resistance bar against the restoring force of the springs.
US07682287B1
A powered strength trainer includes: a motor of a load element being a DC or brushless motor; a controller, provided for users to adjust current and signal of the motor through a microcomputer control panel, and control the torque, vibration frequency and amplitude of the motor, such that the motor can produce a pulling force, a resistance and a vibration force at the same time, and a vibration waveform can be selected as needed, and a movement path sensor is provided for feeding back a position and determining a positive and negative rotation, and a curved load control is used for compensating a load current appropriately, and allowing users to obtain a smooth and real-world setting. A planar spiral spring drives a winch to rewind the steel wire to prevent the steel wire from falling out during a power disconnection or a power failure.
US07682284B2
An automatic transmission includes six forward speeds and a reverse speed and includes first and second clutches, first, second, and third brakes, and first, second, and third planetary gear sets. An oil pressure control system of the transmission includes a first clutch and second brake controller allowing the first clutch to receive a fastening pressure in fourth, fifth, and sixth speeds, allowing the second brake to receive a fastening pressure in first speed and reverse, and allowing an operation state of the first clutch to be sustained upon operation of the first clutch; a second clutch controller allowing the second clutch to receive a fastening pressure in third and fifth speeds and reverse; a first brake controller allowing the first brake to receive a fastening pressure in second and sixth speeds; and a third brake controller allowing the third brake to receive a fastening pressure in first through fourth speeds.
US07682281B2
A dual-clutch planetary transmission comprising a plurality of planetary gearsets, two frictionally engaged gearshifting element for connecting various power trains to a power flux and a plurality of form-fit gearshifting elements for adjusting various gear ratios in the power trains. The frictionally engaged gearshifting elements and the form-fit gearshifting elements are arranged between the shafts of the planetary gearsets, a housing and a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft so that the gear ratio can be changed in a lower gear ratio range, via the frictionally engaged gearshifting elements, without any interruption of tractive force. At least one of the frictionally engaged gearshifting elements is a clutch. The form-fit gearshifting element, the frictionally engaged gearshifting elements and the planetary gearsets are positioned within the housing and can be interlinked so that the form-fit gearshifting elements can be actuated without insertion through rotating parts.
US07682274B2
A reinforcing cord of the present invention is a reinforcing cord for rubber reinforcement. The reinforcing cord includes a carbon fiber strand (11) and a plurality of glass fiber strands (12) arranged around the carbon fiber strand (11). The present invention makes it possible to obtain a reinforcing cord having sufficient tensile strength for reinforcing rubber products as well as high dimensional stability and bending fatigue resistance.
US07682273B2
Power transmission chains (10, 40, 60) which are suitable for automotive uses as well as other uses and which have a reduced susceptibility to wear and corrosion, in which such chains (10, 40, 60) are constructed to include a plurality of sets (12, 14) of links (11, 13) joined at overlapped ends (11a, 13a) thereof by a pivot (16) including at least one ceramic joint component (16), such as a pivot means (16). Such chains (10) also include means (18a, 18b) to drivingly engage sprocket teeth (37) of a sprocket drive (35).
US07682261B1
The finger pad shield, when placed in contact with the bowler's finger pad places a rigid surface between the force against the finger pad and spreads that force, when the bowler's maximum natural force is applied to the bowling ball at the moment of release. It is at this moment when the force of the ball against the finger pad is the greatest and the pressure within the contact area made by the finger pad shield with the finger pad, would be increased if that bowling ball force was not spread over that contact area. The rigid finger pad shield is made sufficiently rigid material to substantially resist the force of the bowling ball so the force against the finger pad shield 14 is spread over the contact area.
US07682259B1
The water park assembly includes a plurality of couplings with fittings for connection with an external water system. A box is matable with a waterline for connecting a thru-wall skimmer thereto, and an outlet is formed within one of the couplings. Fittings are formed within an inner wall of the coupling, and water jet nozzles are anchored thereto. Light illuminating sources are anchored within the fittings. Selected couplings have a handle attached thereto. At least one wheel is connected to an associated one of the couplings. Each of the couplings includes holes for anchoring coupling arches. The ends of the couplings have vertical grooves and attachment holes formed therein for receiving supports, wheels, handles and waterfall decorations. A slot is formed in the couplings for a rupture gate. The gate includes cross bars supporting the gate to an associated one of the couplings.
US07682239B2
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to allow players to wager on video games. The method disclosed herein can allow players to win or lose money while partaking in any video game previously played for entertainment purposes. A player can purchase play time on a game, play the game and earn monetary prizes during the game, and then redeem the monetary prizes for real cash.
US07682228B2
A self-service change redemption machine (10) has a coin hopper area (41) for receiving batches of mixed coinage and a powered mechanism (43) for transporting them to an intake opening (44) into the machine (10) for sorting, counting and directing coins into a plurality of coin receptacles. The transport mechanism has a pivotable cover (46, 46a) for preventing access to a portion of the feed path leading into the machine (10) and, if the cover (46, 46a) is lifted, the powered mechanism (43) will be stopped. The mechanism (43, 46) is designed to prevent jamming of the coins in the hopper area (41) or along the feed path (45).
US07682215B2
The present invention is a candy lollipop device that can be converted to a humanoid or character figure with a wobbling head after consumption of the candy. The device comprises a lower body have a flat base and an upper body with a wobbly head. The lower body further houses a candy or similar confection. Both the upper and lower body portions are modeled to mimic fanciful or commonly known characters and personalities, and may include information imprinted on the flat base and at other suitable locations on the device.
US07682214B2
An accessory for affixmentation to a recreational flying disk is disclosed in the form of a separate apparatus that is readily compatible and adaptable to any flying disk that will greatly enhance the flight distance length and the other flight characteristics of that retrofitted disk because of the centrifugal power, ballast stabilization and lift capability that the disclosed invention apparatus transmutes to the said flying disk. The disclosed apparatus, in conjunction with it being the aforementioned aerodynamic catalyst that it becomes once it is affixed to the said thrown flying disk, also can transform the said disk into a flying disk that can skip across the surface of a body of water not unlike a flat stone used for centuries for the same results—that same body of water that would render an ordinary flying disk as immobile upon contact with it now can be considered as just another obstacle to cross just as easily as flying aerially. The many variations of embodiments that are possible and probable are capable of being manufactured in an inexpensive method or manner such as by plastic molding or injection in and as a lightweight composite, which is a proven material both in the durability and safety factorage in the art of recreational flying disks.
US07682209B2
A safety structure for disassembling and positioning an airbag device comprises an actuating device having an air bottle and pivotally connected to a positioning member. A quick male and female connection means is provided between the airbag device and the corresponding structure, and a safety device is used to engage and disengage with the quick male and female connection means. A check device is disposed at an air tap of the airbag device, such that the airbag device keeps in the inflation state after being disassembled. The positioning member is disposed with an engaging member corresponding to the engaging structure of the actuating device to adjust the tightness between the positioning member and the actuating device. A retaining device comprises a vent rod and an airtight stopper, which allows the airbag device to deflate or inflate, such that the airbag device can be used repeatedly.
US07682205B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having more than one cavity extending along an insertion axis for inserting a connector in each of the more than one cavity. The housing has a slot extending perpendicular to the insertion axis and the housing has a locking chamber therethrough including a first section and a wider second section. A retention lock is inserted into the slot and held within the housing. The retention lock has a split center post with a top latch and the retention lock passes through the locking chamber so that the top latch locks within the wider second section of the locking chamber. The retention lock locks each of the more than one connector within each cavity.
US07682188B1
The present invention relates to a fastening structure of signal connector, comprises: a connector main body, which is a round-column shaped member, an insert orifice is provided on a top end of the connector main body and a signal terminal is provided in the connector main body, a middle portion of the connector main body has a combining ring-shaped surface, a positioning slot is provided on the combining ring-shaped surface, a bottom portion of the connector main body is provided with a positioning section; the connector main body is passed through a through hole preset on a base seat of an electronic equipment and the positioning section thereof is connected to a jointing section provided at a bottom end of the through hole; and a latching ring, an arched connecting sheet is provided between a top ring member and a bottom ring member for connection, and the latching ring is sleeved on the combining ring-shaped surface via the top end of the connector main body, so the bottom end of the bottom ring member is against the base seat and the connecting sheet is positioned in the positioning slot; when the top ring member is punched and downwardly moved, the connecting sheet is compressed and deformed and is latched in the positioning slot, so the connector main body is stably and tightly fastened on the base seat.
US07682186B2
A computer housing is provided. The computer housing includes a front panel with an opening formed thereon. A cable winding assembly is disposed within the computer housing and includes a stop member, a cable winding member, two support members, and an elastic rope. The cable winding member includes a jack receiving hole and at least one stop member receiving means formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof for accommodating a headphone jack and the stop member respectively. The stop member can be inserted through the opening. The two support members are attached to a bottom panel of the computer housing and include bearing holes formed threreon for supporting the cable winding member and allowing a rotation of the cable winding member. The elastic rope includes two ends fastened respectively to the cable winding member and one of the support members and is capable of being wound when the cable winding member rotates.
US07682185B2
A supporting device of a socket is located around a socket for supporting the electronic device and the transmission wire. When the plug located at the end of the transmission wire of the electronic device is plugged into the socket to connect with a power source or transmit data via the Internet, the supporting device of the present invention supports the electronic device to prevent the transmission wire and the plug from being pulled and dragged due to the electronic device being far away from the socket. The problem of the electronic device being damaged due to the electronic device being pulled and dragged is also overcome. The electronic device is protected and continues operating so that it can connect with a power source or transmit data via the Internet.
US07682182B2
An electric connector includes an insulative housing of such a shape as to be engageable on a front side thereof with a mating connector, a contact group including a plurality of contacts, a shield cover for surrounding outer surfaces of the housing, and a metal shield plate for impedance matching. The contacts are arranged in a widthwise direction of the connector so as to correspond to contacts of the mating connector. Proximal ends of the contacts are held and fixed in terminal insertion holes formed in the housing and leading ends of the contacts being exposed from the terminal insertion holes. The metal shield plate has a width thereof corresponding to a lateral length of the contact group and is disposed between the shield cover and the contact group and facing the contact group.
US07682178B2
A surface contact card holder (100) includes a receiving seat (10), a cover (20) and a pivot shaft (30). The receiving seat is configured for carrying a surface contact card (300) therein. The cover covers the receiving seat and releasably latches the receiving seat. The pivot shaft rotatably connects the cover to the receiving seat for allowing insertion and removal of the surface contact card.
US07682176B2
A locking mechanism is provided for locking a removable data carrier in a support structure of an electronic device. The locking mechanism includes a movable locking element, indicating unit and a locking element control unit. The movable locking element is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, where the locking element, in its locked position, prevents the removal of the data carrier from the support structure.
US07682175B2
A burn-in socket includes a base, a sliding plate mounted to the base and having a number of pin holes, a number of contacts secured to the base and an actuator mounted on the base. The contacts each comprise a base portion and a pair of arms received in the pin holes of the sliding plate. The actuator includes a frame and a number of actuating portion for driving the sliding plate to move in a transversal direction. The sliding plate includes a number of projections adjacent to contacts. Each projection and the pair of arms of an adjacent contact together define a receiving space and located at three sides of the receiving space, respectively.
US07682172B2
An electrical connector assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided. The electrical connector assembly comprises an insulative housing in which a plurality of contacts retained. The contacts include a plurality of signal contacts and at least one grounding contact. Furthermore, the electrical connector assembly includes an electrostatic discharge device which electrically interconnected with the contact.
US07682171B2
A connector for an audio system of a vehicle is disclosed. The connector comprises: a connector body, which is to be connected with a connecting terminal of an automotive circuit board of the vehicle; a first rotating shaft, which has a first washer and is fixed on one side of the connector body; a second rotating shaft, which has a second washer, which is to be engaged with the first washer, and is fixed to the audio system; and an elastic member disposed between the first washer and the second washer.
US07682167B2
A grounding mechanism for an electrical appliance is provided. The electrical appliance includes an electrical plug configured for connection to an electrical ground, a chassis, an electrical component, and the grounding mechanism. The chassis is connected to the electrical plug to ground the chassis when the electrical plug is connected to the electrical ground. The grounding mechanism includes a conducting plate mounted to the chassis, a non-conducting fastener, and a grounding element. The conducting plate is in electrical contact with the electrical component to provide a ground to the electrical component. The non-conducting fastener mounts the conducting plate to the chassis such that the conducting plate is not in electrical contact with the chassis. The grounding element is mounted to the chassis from an exterior of the chassis to place the conducting plate in electrical contact with the chassis to provide the electrical ground to the electrical component.
US07682165B2
An electrical contact (10) using for electrically connecting a chip module to a printed circuit board includes a base portion (101), an arm portion (102) extending from side of the base portion (101), a retaining device (104) extending downwardly from the base portion (101) for retaining a soldering ball (20). The retaining device further comprises a plurality of clipping portions, said clipping portions forming a retaining space (1044) for receiving the soldering ball jointly, and at least one of said clipping portions defining a guiding surface (1046) and a recess (1045). By above way, steady attachment between the soldering ball and the contact is achieved.
US07682164B2
An electrical connector (1) for attaching an IC package to a circuit member includes a base (3) defining four side walls, a number of terminals receiving in the base, a cover (4) slidably mounted on the base and a lever (5) slidably moving the cover relative to the base. The base defines a plurality of grooves (31) extending from one side wall of the base to any other side wall of the base and one end of the groove is communicated with exterior space to decline the temperature of the terminals.
US07682163B2
A connector has an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals and a metal shell. Each terminal has a soldering section. The soldering sections of a power terminal and a grounding terminal are the outermost terminals and are located outside remaining terminals instead of being located respectively between the soldering sections of signal transmitting or receiving terminals. The outermost soldering sections of the power and grounding terminals prevent the interference with the signal transmitting and receiving terminals during signal transmission.
US07682153B2
The invention relates to an electric tooth cleaning device and to a method for automatically indicating the cleaning duration when cleaning teeth, whereby a timer signal is emitted using a time element after the termination of a set cleaning duration in a tooth cleaning session. According to the invention, the set cleaning duration, whose termination prompts the emission of a timer signal, is modified. An actual cleaning duration in the tooth cleaning session is registered by a time registration device. The deviation of the actual cleaning duration from a predetermined standard cleaning duration is determined by means of an evaluation device. The set cleaning duration of a subsequent tooth cleaning session is then defined depending on the deviation that has been determined.
US07682147B2
A microlens is affixed in the far field of an optical fiber to spatially transform a beam either entering or exiting the fiber. In a first embodiment, a droplet of photo polymer is placed on the end of an optical fiber and the fiber is spun to create an artificial gravity. The droplet is cured by UV radiation during the spinning. In a second embodiment, nanoparticles are mixed into the droplet to increase the refractive index of the photo polymer. A third embodiment employs artificial gravity to attach a microsphere to the end of the optical fiber. A fourth embodiment chemically treats the surface of the microsphere so that the requirement of artificial gravity is either reduced or eliminated. In a fifth embodiment the droplet is cured under equilibrium or nonequilibrium conditions to obtain different final shapes for the lenslet. A sixth embodiment discloses fabrication of microlens arrays.
US07682146B2
A molding manufacturing method includes: preparing a molding body including a molding main body made of thermoplastic material and a decorative layer higher than the molding main body in hardness and melt temperature; setting the molding body in a fixed die; heating and softening an end portion of the molding body while maintaining the decorative layer softer than the molding main body, by irradiating an infrared ray onto a back surface of the molding main body corresponding to the end portion; and press forming the end portion of the molding body by applying a movable punch onto the fixed die while the end portion of the molding body is in a softened state to bend the end portion of the molding body to obtain an end cover portion having a predetermined shape.
US07682145B2
A folding tool onto which one places a fortune cookie crepe and a fortune ticket, while the crepe is still soft and pliable, which one then bends at hinges of the tool in a specific sequence, to cause the folding of the crepe around the fortune ticket and into a traditional fortune cookie shape before the crepe begins to permanently harden into its thus-formed shape.
US07682144B2
An apparatus comprises an operating device and a die suitable for interacting to form containers from a sheet material, a cutting device for separating said containers from said sheet material, said cutting means being so shaped as to be removably connectable to said operating device.
US07682141B2
An apparatus and method for making plastic molded articles generally having a double-skinned configuration with a foamed interior extending between the two skins. Such an article can be produced with a double beauty finish, and various inserts can be placed within the foamed interior between the two skins. The apparatus of the present invention includes the machinery used in order to make such a plastic article. The heated mold configurations can be made of inexpensive aluminum, compared to the traditional stainless steel production mold, and therefore will help the manufacture of large molded plastic articles.
US07682135B2
In a variable displacement pump, a first groove always connected to a second hydraulic chamber is provided in a slide surface of a cam ring facing to an end surface of a side plate, and a second groove always connected to a suction port is provided in the end surface of the side plate, whereby when the cam ring is moved to a moving end side in which a volumetric capacity of a pump chamber is reduced, the first groove and the second groove are connected, and the second hydraulic chamber can be connected to the suction port by the grooves.
US07682134B2
A Francis pump-turbine includes a runner provided with runner blades arranged around in a circumferential direction of a main shaft of the runner, each of the runner blades being supported by a band at a bottom side thereof in a blade height direction and supported by a crown at a head side in the blade height direction, in which the runner blade is formed, at a trailing edge thereof, with a curved portion expanding to the main shaft when the turbine is in operation, the curved portion has a maximum point with respect to a straight line connecting a crown-side trailing edge connecting end at which the trailing edge and the crown are connected and a band-side trailing edge connecting end at which the trailing edge and the band are connected, and an angle α formed by a straight line connecting the maximum point and the crown-side trailing edge connecting end and a straight line connecting the maximum point and the band-side trailing edge connecting end is set to be within a range of α≦150°.
US07682133B1
A large turbine blade having a large amount of taper and twist, the blade having a internal cooling circuit that includes an axial flow serpentine flow passage in the lower span and a plurality of radial flow channels in the upper span such that the cooling air flow is always passing toward the blade tip. During blade rotation, the cooling air is forced upward and the pressure increases from the centrifugal force to allow for a lower cooling air supply pressure. The axial flow serpentine flow passage includes a series of forward and aft flowing axial channels that extend from the leading edge to the trailing edge such that the cooling air flow in a back and forth direction. The cooling air from the axial flow channels passes into the plurality of radial flow channels formed by radial extending ribs, and then out through blade tip cooling holes. The axial flow channels are formed by axial extending ribs that provide chordwise sectional strength to prevent the blade from un-twisting.
US07682128B2
An axial fan comprising an impeller provided with a supporting ring on which is disposed an adapter. Spindles are rotatably mounted in the supporting ring, and adjustable blades are connected to the spindles. A support is provided for each spindle and is comprised of a roller bearing that rests against an inner side of the supporting ring, and of a bushing that rests against an inner side of the adapter. A tubular nut is threaded onto the outer end of the spindle to fix it in the supporting ring.
US07682127B2
A system and method for orienting first and second reaction turbines relative to an axis of rotation responds to a fluid flow having a flow orientation axis. The fluid flow is received in a casement. The casement has first and second endplates situated parallel and spaced apart along the axis of rotation. A first half of the fluid flow drives the first reaction turbine to rotate with a first spin orientation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation to produce a first torque about the axis of rotation. The second half of the fluid flow drives the second reaction turbine, offset from the casement plane relative to the first reaction turbine, with a second spin orientation opposite the first spin orientation to produce a second torque about the axis of rotation. The casement is oriented about the axis of rotation in response to the first and second torques.
US07682111B2
First and second bore blade portions are provided on the outer periphery of a rotary shaft at intervals in the circumferential direction with a rotation axis as the center. A first bore blade portion has a continuous blade and a second bore blade portion has a discontinuous blade having protruding blade edges and indented blade edges, which are alternately provided. The distance in the radial direction of the protruding blade edges is set so as to be greater than or equal to the distance in the radial direction of a continuous blade, and the distance in the radial direction of indented blade edges is set so as to be smaller than the distance in the radial direction of the continuous blade. Accordingly, the cutting resistance of the bore cutter can be reduced.
US07682100B2
A self-tightening device for fastening two structures together includes a female component and a male component where the female component is capable of receiving the male component. The female component includes a moveable member, an energy storing mechanism and a retaining mechanism. The movable member is movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The energy storing mechanism has stored energy for causing the moveable member to move from the unlocked to locked position when the energy in the energy-storing mechanism is released. The retaining mechanism holds the energy-storing mechanism in the stored-energy state until the retaining mechanism is released. Upon the release of the retaining mechanism, the energy storing mechanism is actuated from the stored-energy state to the released-energy state causing the movable member to move from the unlocked position to the locked position engaging the male component with the female component when the male component is inserted within the female component.
US07682090B2
An integrated reflecting and focusing structure for use in optical transmitters and receivers to redirect optical signals when an optoelectronic device of the transmitter or receiver is positioned in an off-center relationship with respect to an intended light path is disclosed. The integrated reflecting and focusing structure simplifies construction while reducing complexity of the device. In one embodiment, an optical subassembly is disclosed and includes a housing and an optical fiber that is coupled to the housing. An optoelectronic component, such as a laser diode, is positioned in the housing and is configured to produce a light beam. The subassembly further includes an integrated focusing and reflecting prism that serves as a means for simultaneously redirecting and focusing the light beam while in transit between the laser diode and the optical fiber. The focusing feature combined with redirection of the light beam obviates the need for a separate lens assembly.
US07682087B2
A transmission component is incorporated into a transmission in which an input shaft, an output shaft, or a gear is rotatably supported by a rolling bearing. The component has a nitriding layer at a surface layer and an austenite grain with a grain size number falling within a range exceeding 10. This provides a transmission component having an increased anti-crack strength, enhanced dimensional stability, and a long fatigue life. A method of manufacturing such a transmission component and a tapered roller bearing are also provided.
US07682078B2
A method for determining a range of radiation is provided. The method includes defining a target volume to be irradiated using a plurality of voxels; determining, without exposing the target volume to radiation, radiation-attenuating properties that are associated with individual voxels of the plurality of voxels; deriving a range datum from the radiation-attenuating properties; and changing the range datum of a first voxel if the range datum of the first voxel differs from the range datum of two adjacent voxels.
US07682070B2
A wrist-worn timepiece may have a case, a timing element, and a wristband. The case includes a body, a crystal, and a bezel. The body may define a depression and a channel. The timing element is positioned within the depression, and the channel is located to extend at least partially around the depression. The crystal is located within the depression and adjacent to the timing element, and the bezel is at least partially located within the channel. The body may be formed from a polymer material and the bezel may be formed from a metal material.
US07682060B2
An improved formed lighting fixture having a frame, a light source, a cover layer coupled to the frame, and a fibrous layer coupled to the cover layer, in which the frame is formed by gathering a plurality of rods and profiled in a specific contour, the light source is configured to provide light from inside the frame and out through the cover layer onto the fibrous layer. The fibrous layer is configured to provide decorative and functional aspects to the lighting fixture, including, in some embodiments, a contoured or fur-like appearance, or where the fibrous layer has light-diffusive properties, a dazzling glow effect when light from the light source is diffused.
US07682055B2
An LED lamp includes a bracket and a heat sink mounted on a top side of the bracket. The heat sink includes a base. A plurality of LED module assemblies is mounted to a bottom surface of the base of the heat sink. Each of the LED module assemblies includes a heat absorbing plate located below the bottom surface of the base of the heat sink, an LED module mounted on a bottom surface of the heat absorbing plate and a heat pipe interconnecting the bottom surface of the base and a top surface of the heat absorbing plate. The heat pipes are U-shaped and horizontally positioned and have different heights.
US07682053B2
A light-emitting device includes a housing, a light-emitting unit, a cup-shaped reflector, and a plurality of leads. The light-emitting unit is disposed in the housing. The cup-shaped reflector is disposed in the housing, and includes a base wall that is formed with a plurality of holes therethrough, and a surrounding wall that diverges from the base wall thereof and that surrounds the light-emitting unit. Each of the leads extends into the housing and is coupled electrically to the light-emitting unit.
US07682051B2
A lamp assembly includes a lamp and a junction box. The lamp defines a front chamber and a rear chamber. A plurality of LED modules is received in the rear chamber. A receiving member is located at a top of the front chamber. The junction box is mounted on an outside of the receiving member. A junction base is received in the junction box. A mounting tube extends through the junction box and the receiving member of the lamp to mount the junction box on the lamp. A connecting tube is mounted on the junction box. Wires of the LED modules extend through the mounting tube and connecting with the junction base. The connecting tube is adapted to receive wires extending from an outside power sources to the junction base.
US07682050B2
An LED lamp includes a base, a heat sink mounted on the base, a plurality of LED modules attached to a circumference of the heat sink, a plurality of reflecting rings enclosing the heat sink and surrounding the LED modules and a heat dissipating member mounted on a top of the heat sink and making thermally conductive contact with the heat sink.
US07682040B2
An optical system is usable to form an illuminating strip on a surface of a material. The optical system includes an illuminating device which contains several light sources which are located at a distance from the surface of the material. The illuminating device uses its light sources to generate the illuminating strip on the surface of the material, which is displaced in relation to the device. The illuminating device includes a mirror which focuses the light emitted by the light source into the illuminating strip, a diffusion body on the light emission side facing the surface of the material. The light sources feed their light into the reflector module. That module, the diffusion body, and the mirror are configured as a single component.
US07682031B2
In general, in one aspect, the invention features an objective arranged to image radiation from an object plane to an image plane, including a plurality of elements arranged to direct the radiation from the object plane to the image plane, wherein the objective has an image side numerical aperture of more than 0.55 and a maximum image side field dimension of more than 1 mm, and the objective is a catoptric objective.
US07682028B2
An image transmission system enabling a user to recognize a communication status between a PC and a projector, and including a PC (300) as an image generating apparatus and a projector (400) as an image projecting apparatus. The projector (400) monitors a status of communication with the PC (300), and includes a status monitoring unit (402) generating information related to the communication status being monitored, and also a projector communication unit transmitting the generated information related to the communication status to the PC (300). The PC (300) includes a PC communication unit (301) receiving information related to the communication status from the projector (400), a beacon analyzing unit (302) analyzing the received information and a display output unit (303) displaying a result of the analysis by the beacon analyzing unit (302).
US07682025B2
Systems and methods for facilitating gaze tracking based on multiple images are disclosed. A gaze tracking system includes an optical module configured to receive illumination from a target and provide a background and tracking channel outputs, the background channel including ambient illumination and the tracking channel including ambient and controlled added illumination at a targeted range of wavelengths. The background and tracking channel outputs are provided to an imaging module configured to provide an associated set of background and tracking images to a processor module to facilitate gaze tracking. Controlled illumination of the target may be provided by an illumination element, in conjunction with the processor module, to facilitate gaze tracking.
US07682020B2
The present invention provides an orthokeratological contact lens to be worn on a patient's cornea and methods for prescribing the same. The contact lens comprises a parabolic lens having an inner surface configured to face an epithelium of the patient's cornea, wherein the parabolic lens is adapted to reshape the cornea by way of epithelium and/or stromal tissue growth. In a pre-treatment configuration, an outer surface of the epithelium does not conform to the contours of the inner surface of the parabolic lens such that there exits a gap comprising a hypertrophy volume that is disposed between the epithelium and the parabolic lens.
US07682015B2
An ink-jet recording apparatus has ink jetting nozzles through each of which a photocurable ink is jetted for recording an image onto a recording material by an ink jetting method. The apparatus includes a color ink recording head for jetting color ink, a clear ink recording head for jetting clear ink; and an ink amount determining section for determining an amount of the clear ink to be jetted from the clear ink recording head, by causing at least one of the color ink recording head and the clear ink recording head to record a predetermined test pattern on the recording material, and on the basis of a glossiness of the recorded test pattern. A glossiness measuring device measures the glossiness, and the ink amount determining device determines the amount of the clear ink based on the measured glossiness.
US07682014B2
An ink jet imaging system comprises a heated imaging drum that rotates in at least one direction, a print head for ejecting ink onto the heated imaging drum as it rotates past the print head to form an image, a media sheet transport for synchronizing movement of a media sheet with rotation of the heated imaging drum, a transfixing roller that forms a transfixing nip with the heated imaging drum to transfix the image on the rotating heated image drum onto the media sheet synchronized by the media sheet transport, and a media director located between the media sheet transport and the heated imaging drum to direct the media sheet into close proximity with the heated imaging drum at a position sufficiently prior to the transfixing nip that the heated imaging drum heats the media sheet before the media sheet enters the transfixing nip.
US07682007B2
An ink cartridge includes a movable member which includes a sliding member and a float portion. The sliding member includes a signal blocking portion, and the signal blocking portion is configured to move in a first direction from a first position within a translucent portion to a second position based on the amount of ink within the ink chamber. Moreover, the float portion is operationally coupled to the sliding member, and the float portion is disposed within the ink chamber. The float portion is configured to move independent of the first portion in a second direction from a third position to a fourth position based on the amount of ink within the ink chamber. For example, the second direction may be substantially perpendicular to the first direction or may be slanted with respect to the first direction.
US07682006B2
A liquid container detachably mounted on a liquid consuming device, the liquid container includes: a liquid containing portion; a liquid supply portion that is connected to the liquid consuming device; a liquid guide path that guides a liquid stored in the liquid containing portion to the liquid supply portion; and an air communicating hole that introduces air from the outside into the liquid containing portion according to consumption of the liquid in the liquid containing portion, wherein the liquid containing portion includes a first inner wall surface, a second inner wall surface that crosses the first inner wall surface, and a liquid containing portion outlet port that is provided in the first inner wall surface close to the second inner wall surface so as to cause the liquid containing portion to communicate with the liquid guide path.
US07682002B2
A drop generator operable to selectively form a drop having a first size and a drop having a second size from liquid emitted through a nozzle associated with the drop generator. The drop having the first size and the drop having the second size travel along a drop trajectory with the first size being larger than the second size when compared to each other. Each of the drops has a drop velocity. A gas flow deflection system includes a gas flow that is directed at a deflection zone that comprises at least a portion of the drop trajectory. The gas flow in the deflection zone includes a velocity vector having a parallel velocity component and a perpendicular velocity component with the parallel velocity component and the perpendicular velocity component being defined relative to the drop trajectory.
US07681990B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an element substrate having thereon a plurality of heaters for generating energy for ejecting liquid; a plurality of liquid chambers provided on the element substrate and having ejection outlets for ejecting the liquid, wherein a plurality of the heaters are disposed in each of the liquid chambers, and wherein one part of the heaters and the other part of the heaters are switchably operable; and a switching unit for switching between a mode in which the one part of the heaters is actuated as main heaters, and the other part of the heaters stands by as stand-by heaters, and a mode in which the other part of the heaters is actuated as main heaters, and the one part of heaters stands by as stand-by heaters. A center of gravity of the one part of heaters and a center of gravity of the other part of heaters are aligned with each other in a plane of the element substrate, and surfaces of the heaters are protected by an anti-cavitation film comprising metal.
US07681988B2
An inkjet recording head using pigment ink as discharged ink includes a nozzle member having a nozzle for discharging ink. The nozzle member has an ink-repellent layer forming a discharge port face having a discharge port that is an open end of the nozzle. The ink jet recording head further includes a projection portion positioned around the discharge port and protruding along a central axis of the nozzle with respect to the discharge port face. The nozzle, in a cross section passing through the central axis of the nozzle, has an outline shape provided with a curved line having a changing curvature radius. A point at which the curvature radius of the curved line is minimum is included in the projection portion and has a maximum height from the discharge port face in the cross section.
US07681987B2
An inkjet recording head includes a nozzle plate, chamber plate, and a diaphragm plate. The nozzle plate includes a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, a plurality of connecting channels in communication with the nozzles and pressure chambers. The nozzles are formed in a row at a uniform pitch. The connecting channels extend from the nozzles alternately in opposite directions in a staggered formation and are offset a prescribed angle to a direction orthogonal to the row of nozzles. The chamber plate includes the pressure chambers, restrictors, and common ink chambers formed therein. Each pressure chamber has an elongated shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the row of nozzles. The pressure chambers are formed in rows, one on either side of the row of nozzles, so that the pressure chambers in one row oppose the corresponding pressure chambers in the other row. The diaphragm plate has a vibration plate that seals the pressure chambers.
US07681983B2
An image forming apparatus having a print head that reciprocates along a guide rail includes a carriage on which the print head is mounted. The print head is supplied with ink through a tube from an ink cartridge that is arranged outside the carriage. The carriage includes an engaging portion that slidably engages the carriage with the guide rail, an urging portion that presses the guide rail against the engaging portion, and a base portion on which the urging portion is mounted. The urging portion includes an elastic member that is in contact with the base portion at one end thereof, and a wedge-shaped member that is connected to the other end of the elastic member and urged in a direction in which the guide rail is pressed against the engaging portion by the elastic force of the elastic member.
US07681980B2
An ink identification and detection system includes an imaging apparatus. An ink tank is mounted to the imaging apparatus. The ink tank has a transparent portion. An ink is contained in the ink tank. The ink includes a fluorescing material. An ink detection device is communicatively coupled to a controller. The ink detection device is configured to emit light in a non-visible spectrum of light through the transparent portion to the ink, and is configured to detect light in a visible or near-infrared spectrum of light emitted through the transparent portion by the fluorescing material in the ink. The ink detection device supplies a signal representing the detected light to the controller for identifying the ink.
US07681977B2
A recording head performing recording with thermal energy and having a temperature sensor. The sensor measures the temperature of the recording head with minimal susceptibility to common mode noise. The sensor includes a p-n junction of a semiconductor provided inside the recording head. Temperature detection is performed by converting a first voltage value at a P-side portion of the sensor and a second voltage value at a N-side portion of the sensor into respective digital data. A difference data of the respective digital data is calculated. Based on the difference data, the temperature of the recording head can be determined.
US07681975B2
A printing device that prints an image by forming a dot formation pattern on a printing medium in accordance with image data of a printing object using a printing head that includes a plurality of nozzles each being capable of forming dots to the printing medium. The printing device includes: an image data acquisition unit that acquires the image data showing pixel values of M (M≧2) for the image; a dot formation pattern data storage unit that stores banding avoiding dot formation pattern data for forming a dot formation pattern for banding avoidance use that includes the dots each being correlated to information about any of the nozzles relating to a banding problem; a printing data generation unit that generates printing data as a result of converting the image data into dot formation pattern data for use of forming a printing image of the image data on the printing medium; and a printing unit that prints, based on the printing data, the printing image of the image data onto the printing medium using the printing head. In the printing device, based on the image data, and the dot formation pattern data stored in the dot formation pattern data storage unit, the printing data generation unit generates the printing data by replacing data in the image data about the dots taken charge by the nozzle relating to the banding problem with the banding avoiding dot formation pattern data for the nozzle.
US07681964B2
A recording medium processing apparatus is disclosed. The recording medium processing apparatus includes: a head unit which traces a track formed on a recording surface of a recording medium and reads a data signal; a signal processing unit which detects positional information of the recording medium on the basis of the data signal; and a printing unit which prints visible information on a non-recording surface of the recording medium by referring to the positional information.
US07681962B2
A method for estimating master cylinder pressure during brake apply of a brake system of a vehicle, wherein the brake system includes a brake pedal. A first master cylinder pressure is estimated from brake pedal position during brake apply. A second master cylinder pressure is estimated from vehicle deceleration during brake apply. The master cylinder pressure is estimated during brake apply to be equal to the first master cylinder pressure when the vehicle deceleration is below a predetermined deceleration value. The master cylinder pressure is estimated during brake apply to be equal to a value which is less than the first master cylinder pressure and greater than or equal to the second master cylinder pressure when the vehicle deceleration is at or above the predetermined deceleration value. At least the estimated master cylinder pressure during brake apply is used to control the vehicle.
US07681961B2
A brake system for a vehicle includes an electrically operated parking brake drive device which generates an operating force for operating the wheel brakes or dedicated parking brakes in response to energization, and which operates even upon cancellation of the energization while in the operated state. A braking force related amount detector detects a physical quantity related to a braking force exhibited by each of the hydraulic pressure operated wheel brakes. When a detected physical quantity exceeds a reference value in a stopped state of the vehicle, a controller energizes the electrically operated parking brake drive device. Thus, the frequency of operation of the electrically operated parking brake drive device is decreased while eliminating inconvenient operations required to operate the electrically operated parking brake drive device, thereby reducing noise and improving durability.
US07681960B2
A method for a Sensitive Electronic Stability Program (SESP) presents a general approach for the correction of maneuvers of turning into a bend at low speed. It integrates existing methods as well as subsequent extensions. SESP supplements the standard active yaw control (AYC) function. This allows the SESP to use variables and mechanisms of AYC, on the one hand. On the other hand, AYC continues operating unimpeded in the background and will intervene as usual when SESP cannot stabilize the vehicle appropriately. When the standard AYC intervenes, SESP control operations are forbidden, or running SESP control operations are stopped. This stop can take place either abruptly or (which is more comfortable) by way of a moderate decrease of the correcting variables.
US07681959B2
A brake pressure distribution between axles is regulated as a function of a difference in wheel rotational speeds between axles or wheel slip values between axles at the axles. Exceeding a predefined limit value in difference in the wheel rotational speed between axles or the wheel slip values between axles during braking serves to regulate the distribution. On the basis of the dependency between at least the brake pressure at the rear axle and the vehicle deceleration after at least two preceding service braking operations, a critical deceleration value is determined.
US07681944B2
A panel assembly for covering and uncovering an opening in a vehicle includes a guide rail extending longitudinally therealong. A panel extends between front and rear edges and is movable relative to the guide rail. A guide mechanism is slidably coupled to the guide rail. A carrier bracket is fixedly secured to the panel and slidably coupled to the guide mechanism. A latch is operatively coupled to the panel and slidably coupled to the guide rail. The latch is operable between a locked position preventing longitudinal movement of the panel and an unlocked position allowing longitudinal movement of the panel. A motor drives the guide mechanism forward along the guide rail moving the panel from a close position to a venting position, and rearward along the guide rail actuating the latch to the unlocked position and moving the panel from the close position to an open position.
US07681940B2
A rear door assembly for a motor vehicle includes an outer door panel and an inner panel. The inner panel is fixedly secured to the inner surface of the outer door panel. The inner panel has a main frame having a generally transversely extending opening and a frame member fixedly secured to the main frame. The frame member extends between opposite sides of the opening in the main frame and extends along a bottom edge of the window opening. The frame member has a transversely extending upper flange and a lower flange spaced apart from the upper flange. The frame member has a main wall extending between the upper and lower flanges and forming a generally U-shaped cross section therewith. The flanges are directly fixedly secured to the inner surface of the outer panel and forming a transversely extending support beam therewith.
US07681939B2
Provided is an armrest assembly disposed on an inner door panel of a vehicle. The armrest assembly includes an armrest panel shaped to form the body of the armrest, and a support surface made of flexible skin. The armrest panel is fixed to a predetermined location on the inner door panel, and extends upwardly and away from the inner door panel to a proximal end. The proximal end is spaced apart and opposite the inner door panel to define an cavity. The flexible skin is attached to the proximal end and pulled taut over the cavity and fixed to the inner door panel to form the support surface for receiving the load of a passenger arm. The armrest assembly having the flexible skin for a support surface is able to fold into itself when the vehicle door is subject to a predetermined load, thus presenting no rigid structure posing a threat of being pushed into a passenger under said predetermined load.
US07681938B2
The invention relates to a cabriolet vehicle having a roof that can be stored underneath a cover part in an open position, at least two displaceable engagement organs and an associated drive being provided to secure a closed cover part. The drive interacts with the engagement organs to transmit a driving force through a force transmission element having a component that extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle. A driven organ can lie in a transverse direction of the vehicle and generally on the same plane as the force transmission elements. In addition, a gear mechanism can be displaced by a rectilinear coupling organ that is connected to the force transmission element and runs parallel to the drive organ.
US07681930B2
A flange for ductwork is integrally formed at a distal end of a duct surface. A first flange portion is formed perpendicularly outward from the duct surface. A second flange portion is bent at a right angle from the first flange portion and substantially parallel to the duct surface. A third flange portion is bent back to be in substantial touching relationship with the second flange portion and towards the first flange portion. A fourth flange portion is bent at a right angle from the third flange portion to be in substantial touching relationship with the first flange portion. Finally, a fifth flange portion is bent at a right angle from the fourth flange portion to be in substantial touching relationship with the duct surface.
US07681923B2
A fitting and an associated grommet are provided for supporting a conduit penetrating a panel and limiting energy transfer between the conduit and panel. The fitting may include a grommet having annular first and second sections spaced apart from one another and an annular wall extending between the first and second sections such that the wall and first and second sections define a bore. A plurality of ribs protrude from the annular wall, the ribs being distributed circumferentially around the annular wall and spanning between the first and second sections. A tubular liner extends through the bore of the grommet and contacts the first and second sections. The plurality of ribs extend into the bore, and at least some of the ribs contact the liner.
US07681922B2
A union connection between uncooled pipe and cooled double-wall pipe in a heat exchanger comprising a double-wall pipe comprising in turn an internal pipe traveled by a fluid to be cooled and an external pipe defining with the internal pipe an air space traveled by a cooling fluid with one end of the double-wall pipe being connected to an inlet duct of the fluid to be cooled through a connection part also forming a bottom wall of the air space virtually transversal to the double-wall pipe extension and characterized in that the connection part has an annular form with U cross section to define two annular shanks extending longitudinally to the pipe with each shank being welded to one end of one of the two pipes of the double-wall pipe and in that the end of the inlet duct is welded to the connection part at said bottom wall of the air space.
US07681921B2
A system, method, computer program, and business form that may be used to more quickly, accurately, and efficiently label, identify, track, and inventory new and previously-owned vehicles on an auto dealer's lot. Many aspects may also be used to track other objects such as hotel keys. The computer program and method include the steps of: receiving vehicle information for at least one vehicle to be delivered to the auto dealer; storing the vehicle information in a vehicle database accessible by the computer; receiving data obtained from the vehicle when the vehicle is delivered to the auto dealer; comparing the data to the vehicle database to determine if vehicle information has been received for the vehicle; and directing a printer to print at least a portion of the vehicle information on an identifier to be applied to the vehicle if the data corresponds to the vehicle information in the vehicle database.
US07681918B2
A frame and method for forming a frame to mount a slew bearing to an undercarriage of a work machine that eliminates a machining process. The frame is formed of a single metallic plate. The metallic plate includes a vertical support portion having a first support leg and a second support leg. The metallic plate also includes a substantially planar top surface portion that couples the first support leg to the second support leg. A plurality of spaced apart slew bearing receiving apertures are formed in the substantially planar top surface portion.
US07681911B2
A serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly that is removably attached to a vehicle seat includes an integrated deployable cushion, an inflation device, and a lap belt portion. A bracket may be provided that is removably attached to the seat. The lap belt portion is generally removably attached to the seat structure through connection with a bracket or structural member of the seat assembly and secured by a removable fastener. The airbag cushion is attached to, or contained within, a portion of the lap belt portion seatbelt webbing. An end of the lap belt portion fits through an interfacing joint element attached to one end of the primary seatbelt webbing. The airbag inflation device is connected to the electrical system of the vehicle. Removal of the serviceable seatbelt integrated airbag assembly is accomplished by disconnecting the electrical connector from the electrical system of the vehicle and seatbelt integrated airbag lap belt portion. The removable fastener is removed to disengage the lap belt portion from connection with the seat assembly and the lap belt portion is then released from connection with the primary seatbelt assembly by feeding an end of the lap belt portion through the interfacing joint element Attachment of the serviceable assembly is accomplished by reversing the described steps. Removal of the remaining portion of the seatbelt system, including the retractor and upper seatbelt guide may be achieved after decoupling the seatbelt integrated airbag lap belt portion from the seat structure and primary seatbelt system.
US07681909B2
An airbag device according to the invention is applicable to an airbag device having an airbag that is housed in a state of being able to inflate and deploy in front of an occupant. The airbag has a center chamber positioned in the vicinity of the center on the occupant side in a deployed state, and side chambers positioned on both the left and right sides of the center chamber. Moreover the airbag is provided with a gas supply section that supplies inflation gas to inside of the side chambers, and a means for introducing inflation gas to inside of the center chamber after the side chamber. Furthermore, the side chamber has; a gas introduction space into which inflation gas from the gas supply section is introduced, an upper space that extends upward from the gas introduction space, and a lower space that extends downward from the gas introduction space.
US07681908B2
A knee airbag device includes an airbag module and an airbag door. The airbag module includes a gas generation device that is operated when the knee airbag device is operated, and a knee airbag that is stored in a folded state inside a column cover that covers the rear end portion of a steering column. When the knee airbag receives gas from the gas generation device, the knee airbag is inflated and deployed toward the knee of an occupant. The airbag door, provided in the lower portion of the column cover, is made of a flexible material. When the knee airbag is inflated and deployed, the airbag door is opened toward the knee of the occupant due to an airbag inflation pressure.
US07681904B2
A device is disclosed for a configurable snowshoe and ski device. The device includes a base member having a bottom for traversing over snow and ice covered terrain, a positionable axle rotatably coupling a mounting plate with the base member, and the axle positionable to enable one of a plurality of positions including a first position in which the mounting plate pivots above the plane of the base member and a second position in which the mounting plate pivots through the plane of the base member. The device may also include a plurality of wings coupled to the base member, the wings convertible between a skiing configuration in which the wings from a surface for gliding over snow and a snowshoe configuration in which the wings extend to increase the surface area of the base member.
US07681899B2
A bicycle saddle lifter is provided which is safe and simple in structure and which can raise the saddle of a bicycle while a bicycle driver is sitting on the saddle. The biasing force of a stroke spring 10 which biases the saddle upwardly is determined such that when the weight of a bicycle driver directly acts on the saddle, the saddle lowers, and when the driver applies force to pedals of the bicycle while sitting on the saddle, and the load on the saddle decreases, the saddle rises. While the driver is not sitting on the saddle, resistance resulting from the biasing force of the stroke spring prevents a ratchet pawl 13b for checking the ascent of the saddle from being disengaged from the corresponding ratchet gear 14 even by switchover operation. While the driver is sitting on the saddle, the biasing force of the stroke spring 10 is canceled by the load applied to the saddle and the resistance decreases, thereby allowing the ratchet pawl 13b for checking the ascent of the saddle to be disengaged from the ratchet gear 14 by switchover operation.
US07681891B2
There is provided a shopping cart adapted to receive elongated items. The shopping cart includes a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion. A plurality of wheels are connected to the lower portion of the frame. The shopping cart includes an upper basket attached to the upper portion of the frame and a lower basket attached to the lower portion of the frame. The upper basket and lower basket are each open at the top and each is formed from a plurality of vertical and horizontal wire segments which form a plurality of windows. The upper basket has a front wall with a slot therein. The slot has a top portion and a bottom portion with the top portion being open so as to receive and retain an elongated item. The bottom portion of the slot extends down at least a portion of the front wall. The lower basket has a back wall with at least one major open for receiving an elongated item.
US07681890B2
A gasket (201) includes one or more elastomeric sections (301, 305, 307) disposed on a metal substrate (303). An elastomeric ring (307) has an inner diameter (309) that is smaller than an outer diameter of a fastener (205). When the fastener (205) is inserted into the ring (307), the fastener (205) and gasket (201) are retained to each other. When a flange (101) for a device, such as an oil pick-up tube (100), is disposed between the fastener (205) and the gasket (201), the gasket (201) and fastener (205) are retained to the flange (101).
US07681884B2
A lottery ticket has printed thereon a matrix of nine rows and nine columns defining eighty one locations some of which are pre-marked with numbers from 1 to 9 and is arranged such that the player can select and enter the numbers in open locations to provide an arrangement of the numbers in which the marked locations and the open locations contain a number selected from the numbers 1 to 9 where all columns and all rows have the nine locations thereof each containing one of the numbers 1 to 9 with each number appearing once only. Prizes are awarded, according to a set of rules relating to the lottery ticket, depending on the appearance of at least one of the numbers in at least one of the locations or depending on the total number of correct rows or columns or other matrix shape of nine locations.
US07681882B2
A de-skew mechanism, in an image forming device, with a correcting member disposed in a rotatable manner to the rotary shaft and turning with driving roller by a spring between them. A torque spring suppresses the turning of the correcting member to correct the skew of the medium. When conveyed, the medium will butt against the correcting member to be stopped and corrected. The medium conveying force and the force that the spring brings to the driving roller are sufficient for turning the correcting member and passing therethrough. At one time, the force that the correcting member brings to the medium will reduce to zero. As such, the medium will not be damaged by the correcting member while being conveyed.
US07681878B2
A paper feeding unit and an image forming apparatus having the same capable of maintaining a constant paper feeding force regardless of a size of paper. The image forming apparatus includes a main body, a printing unit provided in the main body to form an image on paper, a paper feeding unit to supply the paper into the main body, and a force adjusting unit. The paper feeding unit includes a paper feeding cassette to load paper therein, a knock-up plate to guide the paper loaded in the paper feeding cassette to a pickup device, an elastic member to elastically bias the knock-up plate toward the pickup device, and guide sides provided at both sides of the knock-up plate. The guide sides are adjusted along a distance therebetween according to a width of the paper. The force adjusting unit adjusts an elastic force of the elastic member when the distance between the guide sides is adjusted according to a size of the paper. Accordingly, since the elastic force of the elastic member supporting the knock-up plate is adjusted through the force adjusting unit which interlocks with the guide sides moving corresponding to the change of the size of the paper loaded on the knock-up plate of the paper feeding cassette, the paper feeding force can be maintained constant all of the time.
US07681877B2
An image forming device includes a paper supply apparatus including an adjustable knock-up plate to store a plurality of papers and having a lifter, a pick-up roller and feed roller to pick up each of the plurality of papers and feed each of the plurality of papers into the image forming device respectively, a motor to drive a plurality of units in the image forming device including the knock-up plate, and a brake unit to selectively transmit and disconnect power to the lifter. The lifting operation of the knock-up plate, to smoothly supply papers to the image forming device, is performed by receiving power from an existing arbitrary motor installed within the image forming device, and not from an exclusive motor that is solely used to drive and lift the knock-up plate.
US07681866B2
A fencing connector and fencing system utilizing fencing connectors. The fencing connectors include a swivel mount having a cavity configured to receive a first swivel assembly. The first swivel assembly is rotatable about a first axis within the swivel mount. A second swivel assembly is rotatably attached to the first swivel assembly. The second swivel assembly is rotatable about a second axis. The second swivel assembly further having a pocket configured to receive a structural member.
US07681855B1
Wearable music holders provide a portable lyre. A collar having a curved portion and two collar side supports is joined to a brace having a brace crossmember and two brace side supports by threaded extensions inserted through collar adjustment holes and brace adjustment holes in the collar side supports and brace side supports, respectively. Wing nuts releasably secure the threaded extensions in place. A crossmember joins the threaded extensions and has the bottom edge of a lyre attached to its middle. A fur collar sleeve encircles the curved portion of the collar, and a fur brace sleeve encircles the brace crossmember. The brace crossmember is sinuous, and except for the sleeves, the wearable music holder is fabricated from aluminum bar stock. The collar's curved portion rests around the wearer's neck, and the brace crossmember rests against the wearer's abdomen in use.
US07681850B2
A tree ladder stand tray 10 including a tray area 100 and tray supports 110, 120, 130, 140 on each of four sides with a bottom tray 150 attached to the four tray supports within the area formed by the tray supports, such that the supports form an edge to help prevent articles from falling off the tray area; and a bracket 160 including a forward and rear brace 170, 180 attached to the tray area such that the distance between the forward brace and the rear brace is such that the bracket will fit under a tree ladder stand 102 and the tree ladder stand tray may be attached with the tree ladder stand. The tree ladder stand tray may include a second tray area 200 with the tray areas on each side of the tree ladder stand. The tree ladder stand tray may be in combination with a tree ladder stand.
US07681841B2
A method for spacecraft power acquisition is provided using single-axis slit sun sensors for both wing-stowed and wing-deployed spacecraft configurations. The method for wing-deployed spacecraft includes initializing a solar wing of the spacecraft to search for sun; rotating the spacecraft about a search axis substantially parallel to a slit sun sensor field of view; monitoring the slit sun sensor for a time of arrival signal; and wherein, if the time of arrival signal occurs, the spacecraft is rotated along the search axis to an orientation where the time of arrival signal occurred and the spacecraft is placed in stable rotation about an axis substantially parallel to a solar wing longitudinal axis; and for a non-occurrence of the time of arrival signal, the spacecraft is slewed about a keyhole axis substantially perpendicular to the search axis to move the sun away from a keyhole.
US07681840B1
A transportation node that orbits a celestial body includes a truss having two ends with least at one end of the truss having at least one coupling tether cable with a tether tip at individual ends. The truss, while orbiting the celestial body, rotates around its center of mass in a direction to control the tether tip in relation to a surface of the celestial body and to cancel a relative velocity between the tether tip and the surface for transferring a payload attached to the tether tip to and from the surface. A method of transferring payload to and from a celestial body includes reeling in/out from an orbiting transportation node a coupling tether cable with a tether tip configured to attach to the payload.
US07681837B2
A method and apparatus for aligning a swing tail cargo door. An alignment system comprises an alignment ramp, a set of pull-in hook mechanisms, and a set of lock trains. The alignment ramp may be configured for initial alignment between a swing tail cargo door and an aircraft fuselage during closing of the swing tail cargo door. The set of pull-in hook mechanisms may be disposed along an interface between the swing tail cargo door and the aircraft fuselage and may be capable of a final alignment between the swing tail cargo door and the aircraft fuselage during the closing of the swing tail cargo door. The set of lock trains may be disposed along the interface and may be capable of locking a plurality of latch actuators in the latched position.
US07681835B2
A single piece co-cured composite wing is disclosed. The wing has a flying surface and structural members. In one embodiment the structural members may be a plurality of spars. The spars may have various shapes to increase the buckling strength. The spars may be wave shaped, such as a sinusoidal shape. The flying surface and the structural members are co-cured in order to form a single piece, integral wing structure. A process for manufacturing a single piece co-cured wing is also disclosed. The process may include laying out composite sheets for the flying surface of the wing. Then, the composite material of the spars is arranged around a plurality of pressurizable forms. Finally, the composite material is cured in a clamshell frame. A single piece co-cured composite structure is also disclosed that includes an outer skin, and inner skin, a frame, and a stringer.
US07681827B2
An arranging-line mechanism comprises a cam, an axle connecting to the cam, a sliding element and a transmitting mechanism to drive the cam and the axle. The cam comprises an inclined surface and the sliding element to slide thereon. When the axle revolves, the transmitting mechanism drives the cam to revolve. A power line is wound regularly via the sliding element to slide on the inclined surface.
