US07782853B2
A multi-bit trie network search engine is implemented by a number of pipeline logic units corresponding to the number of longest-prefix strides and a set of memory blocks for holding prefix tables. Each pipeline logic unit is limited to one memory access, and the termination point within the pipeline logic unit chain is variable to handle different length prefixes. The memory blocks are coupled to the pipeline logic units with a meshed crossbar and form a set of virtual memory banks, where memory blocks within any given physical memory bank may be allocated to a virtual memory bank for any particular pipeline logic unit. An embedded programmable processor manages route insertion and deletion in the prefix tables, together with configuration of the virtual memory banks.
US07782852B2
A device and method of high-speed transmission is disclosed. The method includes computing a signal quality of a received signal, the received signal being transmitted with a modulation order required by a default transmission modulation format. The signal quality is compared with a signal quality threshold required of the default transmission modulation format. If the signal quality is below the signal quality threshold, an indication of a level of signal quality failure is provided to a transmitter. The transmitter sets a number of un-coded bits within the transmission signal based upon the level of signal quality failure.
US07782842B2
Methods and apparatus to perform outdial communication services are disclosed. A disclosed method to route an outdial call from a first communication device to a first endpoint comprises receiving an indial call setup from a second endpoint at the first communication device, wherein the call setup contains an access number used to route an indial call associated with the indial call setup from the second endpoint via a second communication device to the first communication device, and selecting, based on the access number, a route for the outdial call that includes the second communication device, wherein the second communication device is configured to communicatively couple the first and the second endpoints.
US07782841B2
A method for data communication across a layer 2 bridged network having two or more edge nodes configured for receiving and transmitting multiprotocol data packets. The method includes creating a pseudowire circuit across the bridged network, receiving data packets at one of the edge nodes, encapsulating data packets into pseudowire frames, encapsulating the pseudowire frames inside MAC frames, and transmitting the encapsulated frames over the carrier bridged network.
US07782840B1
A subscriber (12, 14, 16) initiating an Internet telephony call may receive specific content targeted to that subscriber in accordance with a match between at least one of the dialed number and the calling party number. Upon receipt of the subscriber's Internet telephony call, an Internet Telephony Service Provider server (18) searches each of a dialed number database, a calling party number database and a default database to establish a match between the calling party number, the dialed number or a range of either numbers. Upon finding a match, the Internet Telephony Service Provider server retrieves corresponding content, typically in the form of a URL that links to an associated web site, to provide to the subscriber who may elect to retrieve that information at the subscriber's discretion.
US07782837B2
For ADSL+ deployment between a remote cabinet and customer premises, the upper part of the traditional ADSL downstream frequency band is used whereas the lower part of this trasitional ADSL downstream frequency band is switched off through spectral masking. This way, ADSL+ deployment from the remote cabinet is spectral compatible with ADSL deployment from the central office for a certain service capability wherein the upper part of the traditional ADSL downstream frequency band is switched off.
US07782836B2
A method and system for wireless communication of different information types over a wireless channel, is provided. Information comprising different information types is formed into a composite aggregation of the different information types, and the composite aggregation is transmitted from a sender to a receiver over a wireless channel. A composite acknowledgement (ACK) format is utilized by the receiver to reduce the overhead in low-rate channels.
US07782834B2
Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6) is substantially utilized throughout the entire cellular network and employs routing headers of the packets to ensure that the packets are routed via the gateway router (GR) to the end destination which is accomplished by a user equipment (UE) specifying the IP address of the gateway router as the IP address of an intermediate router in the routing header. Packets may also be routed to UEs from the GR through an intermediate router.
US07782831B1
A method for dynamically implementing a TDMA management cycle for a wireless network is described. The method includes communicating between nodes in the wireless network using a time division multiple access structure, the time division multiple access structure including time divisions having time frames, each time frame having a plurality of time slots, the plurality of time slots including TDMA management slots. The method further includes defining a node partition, the node partition including all of the nodes within the wireless network that are able to route messages to each other, defining a TDMA management cycle, the TDMA management cycle configured to include a TDMA management slot assigned to every node within the partition, storing, at each node, an assignment of the node to a TDMA management slot number, and dynamically adapting the size of the TDMA management cycle based on the number of active nodes in the partition, wherein the size of the TDMA management cycle is a multiple of a base cycle.
US07782826B2
A radio gateway system and method for interfacing one or more radio systems and a packet network. The system comprises a plurality of gateways, each gateway including a radio interface port, a protocol converter and packet interface. The gateways convert audio and signaling from the radio system into packet signals in a generic protocol. The gateways also convert packet signals in the generic protocol into audio and signaling in a protocol understandable by a respective radio system.
US07782821B2
There is provided a multi-carrier communication method capable of preventing lowering of a throughput of another mobile device accompanying allocation of a sub-carrier for a new mobile station device. This multi-carrier communication method can acquire reception quality information for one of the sub-carriers already allocated in an MS (150a) from a BS (100a) and for one of the sub-carriers which can be allocated in the MS (150a) from the BS (100b). According to the reception quality information, a release sub-carrier is selected from the sub-carriers already allocated and a new-allocation sub-carrier is selected from the sub-carriers which can be allocated. The new-allocation sub-carrier has a frequency different from the already-allocated sub-carriers excluding the release sub-carrier. The BS (100a) is instructed to release the selected release sub-carrier and the BS (100b) is instructed to allocate the selected new-allocation sub-carrier in the MS (150a).
US07782818B2
The invention proposes a system and method for providing a connection in a communication network which comprises several network elements and is adapted to route a connection via a first network element such as a radio network controller and one or more of alternatively selectable second network elements such as serving nodes. The network comprises a network element which stores a list of selectable second network elements. The list is accessed using an identifier identifying a routing or location area or a desired second network element. The list can be stored in a DNS server which returns to an inquiring network element such as a radio network controller, e.g. IP addresses of serving nodes capable of serving a routing or location area of a connection originating or terminating network element. The connection originating or terminating network element may also be adapted to send an identifier identifying a specific network element such as an SGSN to which it desires to be connected.
US07782815B2
Method for transmitting an information representative of the number of spreading codes allocated to the mobile stations in communication with a base station of a mobile telecommunication system, wherein it includes the step of: forming a word, said transmitted word, the content of which is representative of the number of spreading codes allocated, including in each transmission burst a general midamble resulting from the sum of selected midambles among all the available midambles, said selection being done by said base station in relation with said transmitted word so that a selected midamble corresponds to a binary element of said transmitted word equal to a first value and a non-selected midamble corresponds to a binary element of said transmitted word equal to second value, considering a received word the elements of which are in one-to-one relationship with the temporal positions of the estimations respectively corresponding to said available midambles.
US07782812B2
A method of efficiently combining data from at least a plurality of a first type of data source and a second type of data source. The method comprises synchronizing the plural first type of data sources to thereby generate a synchronized data rate, providing a frame having plural bit positions, assigning the synchronized first type of data in ones of the bit positions of the frame, and arranging the second type of data in the frame as a function of the synchronized data rate.
US07782810B2
An apparatus and method transmits a packet data symbol in a high-rate packet data (HRPD) mobile communication system for broadcasting service. A transmission processor generates a modulated symbol by encoding, interleaving and modulating a physical layer packet to be transmitted, and arranges the modulated symbol in a data tone. A tone inserter inserts a guard tone and a pilot tone into the data tone. A tone power allocator sets a different pilot-to-data tone power ratio according to a position of a slot, in which the packet data symbol is included, and allocates power according to the pilot-to-data tone power ratio. A transmitter transmits the packet data symbol.
US07782803B2
Direct communication between wireless nodes, which may be mobile or fixed or a mixture of mobile and fixed nodes, is permitted under a limitation that each node, for any given transmission period, is permitted to act in half-duplex mode, meaning that in that period it can act as one of a transmitter or receiver, but it cannot both transmit and receive in the same communication period. The nodes communicate according to a schedule provided to them, for example by a broadcast after a poll of nodes is conducted. The scheduling of transmissions in preferred embodiments is conducted by contention resolution.
US07782801B2
A method and apparatus for processing message is described. In one embodiment, an application programming interface is configured for receiving and sending messages. The application programming interface provides for a flush protocol to force members of a group to send all of their pending messages prior to a predetermined event, and to perform a message exchange phase as part of the flush protocol to allow all members of the group to see a same set of messages in a same view prior to installing a new view.
US07782788B2
A method of charging a subscriber for using GPRS services provided by a mobile communications network. The method is based on including a flag in PDP activation or modification messages sent from a UE used by the subscriber to a GGSN of the network; the flag indicates whether the PDP context is to be used for signaling data or user data. The flag is examined within the network or at a node external to the network; if the flag indicates that the PDP context is to be used for carrying signaling data, a first charging regime is applied to the subscriber for establishing and using the context and, if the flag indicates that the PDP context is to be used for carrying user data, a different charging regime is applied to the subscriber for establishing and/or using the context.
US07782778B2
This invention provides an apparatus and method to aggregate individual fiber channel data streams in their native mode and to extend connectivity of fiber channel storage area networks across wide geographical distances over a high-speed data channel with forward error correction.
US07782776B2
A network device includes a port, a buffer, a flow control module, and a service differentiation module. The port is configured to send and receive a packet, wherein the port is connected to a network entity. The buffer is configured to store the packet. The flow control module is configured to control the transmission of the packet within the network device. The service differentiation module is coupled with the buffer and the flow control module. The service differentiation module is configured to regulate storage of the packet in the buffer and to regulate the transmission of the packet from the network device to the network entity. The service differentiation module is also configured to determine excess bandwidth available within the network device and to allocate the excess bandwidth to transmit the packet to the network entity.
US07782770B1
A system and method of controlling data flow may take into account an egress port flow control configuration as well as an original ingress port flow control configuration. A queue controller may execute a flow control algorithm or a quality of service algorithm responsive to the flow control modes at either or both of the original ingress port and the egress port.
US07782760B2
A Carrier Class Ethernet switch is described herein that has a resilient switch control system (RSCS) which manages redundant switch matrixes that use redundant links to connect to one or more application blades (e.g., switches, end stations). The Ethernet switch has Carrier Class characteristics because a Rapid Link Supervision Protocol (RLSP) is used to detect a fault in anyone of the redundant links between the redundant switch matrixes and the application blades. And, a RLSP distribution policy is used to coordinate and control isolation measures between the redundant switch matrixes and the application blades. Also described herein is a method for providing resilient Ethernet connectivity in a network.
US07782753B2
A method of channel estimation used in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system. Firstly, a plurality of synchronized signals are received respectively from a plurality of sub-channels, and the channel responses of two sub-channels are known. Then, the channel responses of other channels are estimated by the statistical property derived from Jake's model according to two sub-channels whose channel responses are known.
US07782746B2
An optical information recording medium that has a simple structure and with which warpage is kept to a minimum even under environmental changes over a wide range, and a method for manufacturing this medium are provided. The optical information recording medium is an optical information recording medium used for the reproduction of recorded information and for recording and reproduction, including a substrate having an information recording layer, and a light transmitting layer that covers the information recording layer and is composed of a radiation curable resin, wherein a warpage adjusting layer for adjusting warpage of the light transmitting layer caused by temperature changes is disposed on the opposite side of the substrate from the side on which the information recording layer is formed. There is included at least a temperature region that satisfies the relationship that the coefficient of linear expansion CL of the light transmitting layer
US07782745B2
The invention provides an optical disk that enables high-speed reproduction of address signals. A wobble address system for optical disk supports various types of synchronization, such as phase synchronization, bit synchronization, word synchronization, etc., to be established easily with high detection reliability with the use of an self-orthogonal code. Thus, the invention provides a method for easily synchronizing an address signal, i.e., high-speed reproduction of the address signal. Further, by virtue of an efficient modulation system of the address signal and redundancy thereof, it becomes possible to detect address information with high reliability. This capability is particularly effective in optical recording/reproduction with a blue light source whose signal light quantity and reproduction quality are prone to reduce. Moreover, other additional data of the address data is preserved in the wobbles, which provides medium information to a rewritable optical disk without using embossed pits such that a high-reliability disk (with enhanced security) is realized with a low cost and easily.
US07782744B2
A recording method whereby an inorganic resist made of an incomplete oxide of a transition metal is formed as a film onto a substrate and a latent image corresponding to pits is formed onto the inorganic resist by exposure. The exposure is performed by a laser beam whose intensity has been modulated by a pulse signal whose pulse height decreases in a rear portion in a length direction of the pit, thereby forming a format of a track pitch smaller than a recording beam diameter (track pitch/exposure beam diameter=0.333 to 0.833).
US07782742B2
A recording medium, such as a high-density and/or optical recording medium including physical access control (PAC) information recorded thereon, and apparatus and methods for recording to and reproducing from the recording medium, in order to improve data protection, data management and/or reproduction compatibility.
US07782736B2
An optical pickup includes: a frame, having a first face formed with a groove, a second face opposite to the first face, a first hole in which a diffraction grating is disposed, and a second hole communicated with the groove and the second face; a spring plate, attached to the first face; and a spring member, including a ring portion disposed in the first hole and abutting on the diffraction grating, a first arm portion extended from an outer peripheral edge of the ring portion and inserted in the groove, and a second arm portion connected to the first arm portion and inserted in the second hole.
US07782733B2
A hologram recording and reproduction apparatus is disclosed which can raise the degree of freedom in design to achieve miniaturization thereof and can raise the hologram recording density of the shift multiplexing type. Upon recording, recording light specially optically modulated by a spatial optical modulator and reference light having a wave front disturbed at random by a randomizing phase mask are coupled so as to have a common optical axis and introduced to a recording area of a hologram recording medium. As a result, the number of lenses to be moved so as to follow up the variation of the position of a recording area or a reproduction area can be reduced. Further, the random disturbance of the wave front of the reference light makes the shift selectivity sharp in both of the along-track direction and the cross-track direction.
US07782727B2
An optical pickup is opposed to an inner-radius portion of an optical disc that is set, and pits (a modulation signal) are read by applying laser light for a DVD to the inner-radius portion. The read-out modulation signal is decoded by inputting it to a CD decoder. If decoded disc information includes particular verification data, the optical disc is judged to be a legitimate optical disc of a particular type and formation of a visible image on the label surface is permitted.
US07782724B2
The present invention relates to an information reproducing apparatus that includes an objective lens that focuses a light beam toward a rotating optical disc medium and uses the objective lens to focus the light beam onto the optical disc medium and detect the reflected light of the light beam so as to reproduce information stored on the optical disc medium. The present invention allows measurement of surface deflection of the optical disc medium with no risk of collision between the objective lens and the optical disc medium. The objective lens is brought closer to the optical disc medium from a separate position apart from the optical disc medium and immediately moved away from the optical disc medium when the light beam is focused onto the optical disc medium.
US07782723B2
The present invention relates to a method for operating an optical drive system capable of reproducing/recording information from/to an optical carrier (30), wherein a position error and a speed error of a radiation spot (12, 53) on the carrier has been created due to an unreliable error signal which has been generated due to a surface defect (52). The method includes the steps of registering values of e.g. servo signals, determining the occurrence of a defect using a defect detector DEFO (22), generating a first and a second compensation signal and applying these compensation signals to the control system (10) of the optical drive system. The first compensation signal is capable of reducing the speed error and the second compensation signal is capable of reducing the position error. Thus, the application of the compensation signals immediately after the unreliable error signals reduces the position error and the speed error of the focussed radiation spot (12, 53).
US07782720B2
An actuator driver circuit includes a drive signal source and an electrical damping element having a negative resistance connected in series with the drive signal source. A controllable switch is provided for selectively switching the electrical damping element into or put of a signal path from a drive signal source output to a driver circuit output, in order to selectively change the electrical damping of an actuator. For example, the electrical damping of a radial actuator or a focus actuator of an optical disc drive is increased in case of loss of track or loss of focus.
US07782718B2
The invention concerns an electronic watch including analogue display means formed of at least one hand (10) driven by a stepping motor (12), at least one time base (24, 26) for providing time data (h. m) to means (16) for controlling and driving said stepping motor, a main power source (20), means (22) for detecting a lack of sufficient power from said main power source, non-volatile storage means (32) powered by an additional power source (28), for containing said time data when a lack of sufficient power is detected, and characterized in that said non-volatile storage means are further provided for containing the stepping motor position data (μpas) when said lack of sufficient power is detected.
US07782717B2
The display device, which is arranged to display the minutes and hours, includes two cams (14 and 34) driven separately and respectively from the cannon pinion (11) and the hour wheel (31) of a horological movement. A lever (15, 35) held in the idle position by a spring (18, 38), is arranged so as to be actuated on demand by means of a push button (4) placed outside the corresponding timepiece, so as to make a rack (24, 44) pivot until the moment when a sensing finger (25, 45) of each rack abuts against the periphery of the corresponding cam. Each rack during its rotation drives a pinion (26, 46) carrying hands indicating the minutes and the hour.
US07782716B2
A time adjustment device has a reception unit that receives a prescribed signal containing time information transmitted by a base station, a display time information adjustment unit that adjusts the time information displayed by a time information display unit based on the time information, and a time information extraction signal supply unit that supplies only a time information extraction signal, and the time information is extracted from the prescribed signal using the time information extraction signal.
US07782713B2
The invention provides an apparatus for diarizing the performance of janitorial services that includes an electronic display unit for indicating when a service was last completed and an input device for signalling when the display is to be updated. The apparatus can include a chassis mountable on a wall of a facility being maintained by a janitorial service, and at least one electronic display framed by a window on said chassis, said chassis for displaying a time when said facility was last maintained. The apparatus can also include a central processing unit connected to said display and for updating the display based on a user-input received from an input device that is mounted to said chassis and connected to the central processing unit. The input device is actuated at a time that is substantially coterminous when said facility was last maintained.
US07782708B2
A method of filtering seismic signals is described using the steps of obtaining the seismic signals generated by activating a seismic source and recording signals emanating from the source at one or more receivers; defining a source signature deconvolution filter to filter the seismic signal, wherein the filter is scaled by a frequency-dependent term based on an estimate of the signal-to-noise (S/N) based on the spectral power of a signal common to a suite of angle-dependent far-field signatures normalized by the total spectral power of the signatures within the angular suite and performing a source signature deconvolution using the source signature deconvolution filter.
US07782699B2
An auto-refresh control apparatus is provided which includes a counter unit for outputting counter signals in response to an external auto-refresh command signal, and a refresh command signal generating unit for generating internal auto-refresh command signals in response to the counter signals when a test mode signal is activated.
US07782695B2
A sensing circuit with current offset functionality. In one embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a memory circuit having a first offset circuit operative to offset a first current. The sensing circuit also includes a reference circuit coupled to the memory circuit, where the reference circuit includes a second offset circuit operative to offset a second current. The sensing circuit also includes a compare circuit coupled to the memory circuit and the reference circuit, where the compare circuit determines the state of a memory cell based on first current and the second current. According to the system disclosed herein, the first and second offset circuits optimize the performance of the sensing circuit and prevent errors when determining the state of the memory cell.
US07782688B2
Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a test method thereof. The semiconductor memory device includes: a die in which a plurality of internal circuits are integrated; a plurality of first and second channel pads having a first pad size and a first pad pitch, disposed in an alternating manner in a straight line at a center part of the die, and divided into a plurality of parallel rows, wherein the plurality of first and second channel pads are configured to selectively contact test probes in an alternating manner to receive an external wafer test signal and to output a signal generated by the plurality of internal circuits to the exterior. Therefore, it is possible to perform a test using plural channel pads during a wafer test of the semiconductor memory device using a plurality of probes of a probe card without incorrect contacts or non-contact with adjacent pads.
US07782680B2
A flash memory device includes a program data buffer configured to buffer program data to be programmed in a memory cell array, and a verify data buffer configured to compare verify data to confirm whether the program data is accurately programmed in the memory cell array, wherein at least a portion of the verify data buffer is selectively enabled as a verify data buffer or a program data buffer responsive to a buffer control signal.
US07782678B2
A reference current integrator and a sensed current integrator are coupled to form a differential sense amplifier. The differential sense amplifier is coupled to receive a bitline current signal from a flash memory, and the reference current integrator is coupled to receive a current signal from a reference memory cell. Integration continues until a desired voltage or time is reached, resulting in a sufficiently reliable output. The differential current integrating sense amplifier is also used for instrumentation, communication, data storage, sensing, biomedical device, and analog to digital conversion.
US07782673B2
A semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, a source line, a word line, a bit line, and a driver circuit. The memory cells are formed on a semiconductor layer and have a charge accumulation layer and a control gate on the charge accumulation layer. The word line is connected to gate of the memory cell. The bit line is electrically connected to a drain of the memory cell. The source line is electrically connected to a source of the memory cell. The driver circuit varies potential of the semiconductor layer in conjunction with potential of the source line.
US07782670B2
Data storage circuits are connected to the bit lines in a one-to-one correspondence. A write circuit writes the data on a first page into a plurality of first memory cells selected simultaneously by a word line. Thereafter, the write circuit writes the data on a second page into the plurality of first memory cell. Then, the write circuit writes the data on the first and second pages into second memory cells adjoining the first memory cells in the bit line direction.
US07782667B2
A method of operating a flash memory device includes reading a first bit data by employing a first read voltage or a second read voltage higher than the first read voltage according to a program state of a first flag cell. The first flag cell is programmed when the first bit data is programmed into the MLC. A second bit data may be read by employing a third read voltage that is higher than the first read voltage or the second read voltage, or by employing the first read voltage and the third read voltage according to a program state of a second flag cell. The second flag cell is programmed when the second bit data is programmed into the MLC. Alternatively to reading the second bit data, the second bit data is fixed to a set data and the set data is output.
US07782661B2
A gate voltage boosting circuit provides a voltage boost to a gate of a select switching MOS transistor of a spin-torque MRAM cell to prevent a programming current reduction through an MTJ device of the spin-torque MRAM cell. A spin-torque MRAM cell array is composed of spin-torque MRAM cells that include a MTJ element and a select switching device. A local word line is associated with one row of the plurality of spin-torque MRAM cells and is connected to a gate terminal of the select switching devices of the row of MRAM cells to control activation and deactivation. One gate voltage boosting circuit is placed between an associated global word line and an associated local word line. The gate voltage boosting circuits boost a voltage of a gate of the selected switching device during writing of a logical “1” to the MTJ element of a selected spin-torque MRAM cell.
US07782653B2
A pair of memory nodes, a capacitor of which one end is connected to the memory nodes, and a switch part which is connected to the other end of the capacitor, and changes a connection state of the other end of the capacitor when a semiconductor memory device operates at a speed not lower than a predetermined speed are included. By changing the connection state of the other end of the capacitor in accordance with the operation state of the semiconductor memory device like this, the influence which the capacitor connected to the memory node exerts on the operation speed of the semiconductor memory device can be suppressed.
US07782647B2
A semiconductor memory device has a simple layout pattern of a sub hole region. The semiconductor memory device includes a segment input/output line, a first local input/output line and a second local input/output line corresponding to the segment input/output line, an input/output switch configured to selectively connect the segment input/output line and the first local input/output line in response to a first switch control signal, and a dummy input/output switch which is connected to a second local input/output line but is not connected to the segment input/output line.
US07782642B2
A power brick device has a power brick housing. A male electrical plug electrically couples AC power to an interior portion of the power brick housing. A female electrical socket is coupled to the power brick housing and is electrically coupled to and receives AC power from the male electrical plug. An AC to DC converter is electrically coupled to the male electrical plug to receive AC power therefrom and produce a DC output therefrom. A current sensor senses current drawn by one of the AC to DC converter and the female electrical socket. A switch, responsive to the current sensor, selectively removes power from the other one of the female electrical socket and the AC to DC converter when a drop in current is sensed by the current sensor. AC versions without DC conversion are also contemplated. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US07782632B2
When a module is inserted into a bay of an electronic system, an electrical signal connector on the electronic system engages a mating signal connector on the module and an electrical power connector on the electronic system engages one of two mating power connectors on the module. The electrical power connector on the electronic system is on either a first side or a second side of the electrical signal connector. The mating power connectors are on the first and second sides of the mating signal connector on the module.
US07782623B2
A heat dissipation device for dissipating heat generated by an electronic device on a printed circuit board includes a heat sink and a plurality of mounting devices. A plurality of retaining pillars are secured on the printed circuit board at positions around the electronic device. Each of the mounting devices includes a fixing portion connecting with the heat sink, a mounting portion extending from the fixing portion and a locating portion extending from the mounting portion to a position below the mounting portion. The retaining pillars on the printed circuit board extend through the locating portions and abut against bottoms of the mounting portions to accurately position the heat dissipation device on the electronic device on the circuit board before fasteners are brought to extend through the mounting portions to screw in the retaining pillars.
US07782619B2
A heat sink protective cover includes a main body, on which at least one receiving space is defined for receiving a heat sink therein. The receiving space includes at least one positioning section and a dust-proof section. The positioning section is located at two opposite inner wall surfaces of the receiving space. The dust-proof section includes a raised portion and a recess portion, the raised portion is extended along a periphery of the dust-proof section to limit the recess portion on four sides thereof, and the dust-proof section is located on a bottom of the receiving space. The heat sink is stably hold in place in the receiving space by the positioning section and isolated from dust by the dust-proof section, and can therefore be effectively protected against collision, damage, and contamination while being transported.
US07782618B2
In order to ensure waterproofing between a resin enclosure case and a heat sink, a canopy structure is provided in a portion, in which water is likely to penetrate, so as to prevent the water from entering the portion, thereby directing the water flow to the outside of the enclosure. This makes it easy to install and remove an electronic unit, so that an electronic component integrally formed with the heat sink can be easily replaced.
US07782615B1
An electronic device with a cooling system includes an enclosure. A first electronic component and a second electronic component in parallel are received in the enclosure. Air inlets are defined in a front board of the enclosure to receive cool air. A first flow of the cool air passes through a main airflow path to cool the first electronic component and the second electronic component. A second flow of the cool air passes through an auxiliary airflow path to cool the second electronic component. The main airflow path and the auxiliary airflow path are separated by a clapboard. The cool air heated by the first and second electronic components is then exhausted through the air outlets defined in a back board of the enclosure.
US07782607B2
A mobile workstation includes a frame having a wheeled base, a power system resident on the mobile workstation and a battery docking station having a holster which defines a guide. The mobile workstation further includes a removable battery assembly configured to dock with the battery docking station via engagement in the guide, and having a housing with a shape complementary to a shape of the guide and an external contour configured to mate with an internal contour of the guide.
US07782606B2
A hard disk drive carrier having a latch apparatus to facilitate leveraged insertion of a hard disk drive into a receiving drive bay to an interfaced position, securing of the hard disk drive carrier in the drive bay when the hard disk drive secured to the carrier interfaces with a host computer, leveraged dislodgement of the hard disk drive from its interfaced position for removal of the hard disk drive from the drive bay, and proper positioning of the latch apparatus upon insertion of the hard disk drive carrier to ensure proper engagement of the latch apparatus with the drive bay for leveraged insertion and removal.
US07782605B2
A drive bracket assembly includes a drive bracket and a back panel. The drive bracket includes a first side plate and a second side plate with a securing post. The securing post includes a thin shank portion and a thick head portion. The back panel has a first edge and a second edge, and defines a locking hole corresponding to the securing post. The locking hole has an inserting hole and a restricting hole. In assembly, the securing post inserts into the inserting hole of the back panel with the head portion passing through the inserting hole and the shank portion received in the inserting hole. The back panel moves to have the first edge resisting against the first side plate. The shank portion of the securing post moves into the restricting hole to sandwich the back panel between the head portion of the securing post and the second side plate.
US07782604B1
Isolation of an HDD production device such as a servo track writer from external vibration is provided. The isolated device and its nest or support are suspended in a fashion to allow one, two or three degrees of angular or rotational freedom of movement. The points of suspension are above the center of mass of the isolated device, alone or combined with its nest, and gravity will self-align the isolated device in the manner of an unforced pendulum. A relatively large moment of inertia for at least one direction of angular movement is provided, e.g., by positioning at least one suspension point spaced a relatively large distance from the center of mass to provide a large moment arm for such movement.
US07782602B2
A flash memory device includes a bottom shell, a PCB mounted on the bottom shell, a connector interface electrically connecting the PCB, a movable cover covering the PCB and a light-guiding member set on the cover. The PCB includes a LED light. The light-guiding member absorbs the light of the LED light in order to averagely illuminate an area of the cover to be illuminated.
US07782601B2
The present invention relates to a support frame for a display and a support structure for a display having the support frame. A support frame for a display of the present invention comprises a seating portion 42 seated on a bottom surface of a case 36; a connection portion 45 extending perpendicularly from the seating portion 42 and having an insertion hole 47 into which an antenna 60 is inserted; and a fastening portion 48 extending perpendicularly from the connection portion 45 and supported by one side of the case 36. According to the present invention so configured, it is possible to increase the strength of the support frame and thus protect a liquid crystal display panel more effectively by means of the reinforcing rib 50 and the escape portion 49 provided in the support frame, and also to improve a radio wave reception rate of the antenna 60.
US07782595B2
A buffer capacitor having a least one pair of plates and each plate 10 of the pair of plates is in the form of a loop current or charge buffer having, an electric conducting material 21 arranged in parallel and electrically joined 22 to form a closed loop and the inner perimeter 23 of the electric conducting material forming the said closed loop is prevented from any physical contact with itself, by having a dielectric material 11 disposed therein, thereby forming a closed continuous electrical loop and each plate 10 is provided with at least one buffer or conventional connector and are arranged one on top of the other in alignment separated by alternate layers of a dielectric material 12 and tightly wound.
US07782589B2
A lens holding frame for holding lenses, both in front of the projection optics of an HMD device and in front of the eye portion of a wearer of the HMD device, the lens holding frame including a nose bridge, the HMD device including a nose pad arranged to support the nose bridge, and at least one correction lens. The lens holding frame is arranged to be stretched out of its original shape under a manual pressure to at least one transitional shape, and includes connecting elements arranged to connect in a reversible manner the HMD device to the lens holding frame being in a transitional shape and having its nose bridge supported by the nose pad of the HMD device.
US07782584B2
A load drive controller for controlling a heat generating member by a switching element includes a temperature detection portion for detecting a physical quantity of a level corresponding to a temperature of the switching element, a protection function portion for outputting an abnormality signal corresponding to an overheated state of the switching element when the physical quantity detected by the temperature detection portion is larger than a value, a control portion for causing the heat generating member to generate heat by driving the switching element via a driving portion. Furthermore, the control portion causes a temperature adjustment portion to increase the temperature of the heat generating member when the abnormality signal is input from the protection function portion.
US07782580B2
An electronic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting an integrated circuit chip from an ESD event. The ESD protection circuit includes a stack of BigFETs, a BigFET gate driver for driving the gates of the BigFETs and a triggering the BigFET gate driver to drive the gates of the BigFETs in response to an ESD event. The BigFET gate driver includes gate pull-up circuitry for pulling up the gate of a lower one of the BigFETs. The gate pull-up circuitry is configured so as to obviate the need for a diffusion contact between the stacked BigFETs, resulting in a significant savings in terms of the chip area needed to implement the ESD protection circuit.
US07782565B2
Described herein is a mobile data storage magazine for interacting with a docking station. The magazine can include a magazine frame containing a plurality of operatively interconnected disk drives, a first contact element associated with the magazine frame capable of conducting electrical power to at least one of the plurality of disk drives when engaged with a second contact element associated with the docking station wherein the first and second contact elements are adapted to cooperate in a non male/female relationship. The magazine can further comprise a first communication element capable of conducting data between at least one of the plurality of disk drives and the docking station when the first communication element is operatively linked to a second communication element associated with the docking station.
US07782557B2
A lens position adjusting device of a lens barrel includes a stationary ring, and a manual rotating ring which is screw-engaged with the stationary ring to be manually rotatable about an optical axis to move a movable lens group in the optical axis direction, wherein the manual rotating ring includes an operating ring member; and a sub-ring member which is screwed into the stationary ring, wherein the operating ring member and the sub-ring member are coupled to each other so that a relative rotation position therebetween about the optical axis is adjustable.
US07782556B2
A lens actuator includes a lens barrel for accommodating the lens, a coil wrapped around the lens barrel, a plurality of magnets, a bracket for mounting the magnets thereon and accommodating the lens barrel therein, and a resilient plate connected between the bracket and the lens barrel to hold the lens barrel on the bracket. A cutout is defined in the edge of the through hole of the plate shaped body corresponding to the respective fixing portions. The lens barrel includes a plurality of fasteners. Each of the fastener includes a shaft extending through the cutouts and protruded out from the lens barrel and a head extending radially outwardly of the shaft at the distal end thereof. The resilient plate and the lens barrel are gripped together by engagement of the cutouts with the respective fasteners.
US07782555B1
A large optics stand provides a risk free means of safely tilting large optics with ease and a method of safely tilting large optics with ease. The optics are supported in the horizontal position by pads. In the vertical plane the optics are supported by saddles that evenly distribute the optics weight over a large area.
US07782551B2
A wide-angle image pick-up lens system includes a first lens group with negative refracting power and a second lens group with positive refracting power. The first lens group and the second lens group are aligned in order from an object side to an image side. The first lens group and the second lens group satisfy the following conditions: −0.15
US07782548B2
An interchangeable lens unit includes a second lens group unit, a focus lens unit, a fourth lens group unit, a zoom ring unit, a focus motor, and a photosensor. The zoom ring unit is arranged to mechanically transmit operational force inputted to a zoom ring to the second lens group unit and the fourth lens group unit. The focus motor is configured to electrically drive the focus lens unit in the Z axis direction with respect to the second lens group unit. The photosensor is configured to detect whether or not the focus lens unit is disposed at a starting point position with respect to the second lens group unit. The starting point position is disposed within the total movement range E of the focus lens unit.
US07782547B2
An optical element position control mechanism includes an optical element holding member, a lead screw rotatable on a rotational axis parallel to movement direction of the optical element holding member, a linearly moving nut screw-engaged with the lead screw and engaged with the optical element holding member, and a rotation prevention device preventing the linearly moving nut from rotating about the lead screw. Rotations of the lead screw cause the linearly moving nut to move along the lead screw, a position of the optical element holding member being determined by the linearly moving nut. A biasing device is positioned between the linearly moving nut and the optical element holding member and is resiliently deformable in a plane substantially parallel to a plane which includes the rotational axis of the lead screw, and applies a biasing force against the linearly moving nut so as to be prevented from rotating.
US07782545B2
A zoom lens assembly and zoom lens module are provided, including a first lens, a second lens, a plurality of guiding blocks, a sheathing tube, a plurality of linking members and an adjusting tube. The first lens includes a plurality of curved surfaces disposed on a second lens surface toward a first lens surface. The second lens includes a plurality of driving rods disposed on a third lens surface and abutting the curved surfaces. The guiding blocks are respectively fixed on the first lens. The sheathing tube sheathes the first lens and the second lens and comprises a plurality of guiding notches to receive the guiding blocks, and a plurality of slits. The linking members pass through the slits and are fixed on the second lens. The adjusting tube sheathes the sheathing tube and comprises a plurality of driving notches to receive the linking members.
US07782543B2
A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first and third lens units are movable such that they are located closer to the object side at a telephoto end than at a wide-angle end. The fourth lens unit is movable with a locus convex towards the object side. A distance between the first and second lens units at the telephoto end, a distance between the second and third lens units at the telephoto end, a focal length of the first lens unit, a focal length of the second lens unit, and a focal length of the third lens unit, and a focal length of the entire zoom lens at the wide-angle end are appropriately set.
US07782541B2
The present invention relates to a variable focus lens including a fluid chamber containing first and second fluids which are non-miscible and have different refractive indices, the fluid chamber having a plurality of protrusions formed along a circumference of one open end thereof. The variable focus lens also includes a transparent plate attached to the open end of the chamber via a sealing with a predetermined interval from the protrusions. The variable focus lens further includes a first electrode disposed inside the chamber to act on the first fluid and a second electrode disposed inside the chamber and is insulated from the first fluid. The invention allows an easy manufacturing process without bubble formation, and eliminates entry and formation of bubbles due to external changes such as in temperature and pressure, thereby allowing good performance of the lens regardless of external environmental changes.
US07782536B2
The present invention provides half-mirrored parts and methods for creating half-mirrored parts. A half-mirrored part according to one particular embodiment of the present includes: a formable reflective layer and a formable transparent or translucent layer, wherein the formable reflective layer is on one side of the transparent or translucent layer.
US07782534B1
A micro-lens enhanced element comprises a substrate bearing sequences of printed image elements, each sequence containing image elements from more than one image. A transparent spacer layer is coated over the interlaced image strips. Lenticular lenses are fashioned over each sequence of image elements by deposition of a transparent layer of low surface energy polydimethyl siloxane based material and imagewise conversion of the same to create strips of material abhesive to a polymeric lens forming material between consecutive sequences of printed image elements. During deposition of a liquid lens forming material, the liquid withdraws from the liquid abhesive low surface energy strips to form a meniscus, thereby providing lenticular lenses. The transparent low surface energy material comprises a near infrared dye with low absorption in the visible range of the spectrum to render the material both transparent and convertible by infrared laser.
US07782519B2
The present disclosure provides apparatus and methods for multi-color electrochromic devices. In one embodiment, pixels of a first color electrochromic material (i.e. pigment) are arranged in first areas on a substrate with pixels of a second color electrochromic material in second areas to define a two-dimensional pattern of the first and second color on the substrate. When the applied electric field or current supplied to each pixel is changed, the device may produce the respective colors of the electrochromic materials and may produce a blended color because of the arrangement of the pixels. In accordance with further aspects of the disclosure, the electrochromic materials may form a design, pattern, logo, or picture when the electrochromic materials are activated. In yet further aspects of the disclosure, a substrate is masked and unmasked as a plurality of colors are applied to the substrate to produce a multi-color electrochromic display.
US07782514B2
A large micro-mirror, e.g. 3 mm by 4 mm, in accordance with the present invention has sufficient rigidity to ensure a low mirror curvature, e.g. a radius of curvature greater than 5 meters, and a low mass in order to ensure a high oscillation frequency, e.g. greater than 1000 Hz. A method of making the micro-mirror utilizes bulk micro-machining technology, which enables the manufacture of a honeycomb structure sandwiched between two solid and smooth silicon layers without any indentations or holes. The honeycomb sandwich structure provides the rigidity and low mass needed to obtain a micro-mirror with a low mirror curvature and high resonant frequency.
US07782509B2
A security device comprises first zero order diffractive microstructure (1) on a substrate, a second zero order diffractive microstructure (2), and an intermediate light transmissive layer (4) separating the two diffractive microstructures. The spacing (sn,n+1) between the first (1) and second (2) diffractive microstructures is small enough so that optical interferences are produced between the diffractive microstructures. A further light transmissive layer (3) covers the second diffractive microstructure (2).
US07782503B2
An image reading apparatus reads an image from a document being simultaneously fed by the apparatus. A document feeder unit feeds the document on a original plate. A first image reading unit reads an image from the fed document at a first document-read position on the original plate. A second image reading unit reads an image from the fed document at a second document-read position located at a predetermined distance from the first document-read position in a document feeding direction. An abnormal pixel detection unit detects abnormal pixels resulting from rubbish moved between the first document-read position and second document-read position on the original plate together with the document.
US07782496B2
An image signal processing circuit including a gain control circuit capable of performing gain control operation, and an image reading device or an image forming apparatus incorporating the image signal processing circuit.
US07782495B2
A facsimile apparatus is provided with a specific destination name storage section to store destination names of specific destinations, a receiving end identifying section to identify a receiving end by analyzing terminal information received from the receiving end when making a facsimile transmission to the receiving end, a specific destination identifying section to search from the specific destination name storage section a destination name corresponding to the receiving end which is identified by the receiving end identifying section, and a notifying section to output a communication result notification indicative of a result of the facsimile transmission to the receiving end only when the specific destination identifying section finds the corresponding destination name in the specific destination name storage section.
US07782493B2
To generate a threshold matrix which is compared with an original image in creating a halftone dot image for each color component, in a matrix area for one color component, dot centers are arranged almost uniformly in a random fashion at a predetermined density and in a matrix area for another color component, dot centers are arranged almost uniformly in a random fashion at a density about 0.7 times the predetermined density. Then, threshold values are set so that dots should grow around the dot centers in accordance with an increase in gray level of the original image, to generate the threshold matrix for each color component. In creating the halftone dot images by using these threshold matrixes, characteristics of spatial frequency of the halftone dot images of these color components can be represented in a frequency space as areas (75K, 75C) in a shape of concentric rings. As a result, it is possible to create a multicolor halftone dot image with less graininess, with no portions approximate to each other in the characteristics of spatial frequency of these halftone dot images.
US07782491B2
In a color pair selecting section, a color pair which is used for 2-color printing is selectively inputted from a plurality of colors. In a print data separating section, print data is separated into data in different printing forms. In a print data developing section, one of the data in the different printing forms is color converted and developed by using one of the color pair and the other data in the different printing forms is color converted and developed by using the other one of the color pair. In an image drum up/down section, image drums to form images by colors other than the color pair are discriminated and held inoperative. Deterioration of expressing ability in the 2-color printing is prevented and a decrease in lives of the image drums which are not used is prevented.
US07782484B2
An image processing apparatus allowing efficient trapping/overprint is provided. A CPU of a printer serving as the image processing apparatus includes an object extraction unit extracting a component image from image data, a pair extraction unit extracting a pair from a plurality of objects, a calculation unit calculating an overlapping print amount for each of primary colors of color materials of each component image, a rule storing unit storing a plurality of process contents and rules for executing processing, a process content storing unit storing the process contents, a judgment unit judging whether or not a pair of the image components satisfies the rule associated with a priority, and an execution unit for executing the processing of trapping or overprint.
US07782481B2
Dual printhead controller architecture includes a master central processor capable of being interfaced with a first printhead. A slave central processor is capable of being interfaced with a second printhead. Data transfer means is operatively connected between the master central processor and the slave central processor to permit communication between the master and slave central processors. A host link is operatively connected to the master central processor to permit the master central processor to receive page data from a host processor. Ink cartridge quality assurance integrated circuitry is connected to the master central processor.
US07782477B2
An information processing apparatus connected to a printing apparatus via a network encrypts print data if identification information is input, and does not encrypt print data if identification information is not input. If identification information is input and the print data has been encrypted, the information processing apparatus sends a print job including the encrypted print data to the printing apparatus via the network; otherwise, the information processing apparatus sends unencrypted print data to the printing apparatus via the network.
US07782469B2
Provided is a method for determining the optimal resonant length, among a large number of local resonant lengths which satisfy a resonant condition, that maximizes wave intensity in a resonant structure. In the second harmonic generation or the cascaded difference frequency generation device using the resonant structure by which the second harmonic wave of a pump wave resonates, the optimal resonant length is determined so that the intensity of an optical wave is maximized. The intensity distribution of the optical wave is defined, according to the resonant feedback condition or the no-resonant feedback condition, as a function of the resonant lengths to determine the optimal resonant length.
US07782468B2
A method for measuring the heights of patterns of an object, including: a light emission, the light includes a propagation mode of interest for at least one wavelength of interest, an illumination of the surface of the object by the light, a reflection of the light by the surface of the object, a collection of the reflected light, a division of the wavefront of the reflected light into division components, by at least one pattern of the illuminated surface, a filtering of the collected light, including a modal filtering removing all modes other than the propagation mode of interest, for the wavelengths of interest, and from the filtered light, and for the wavelengths of interest, an extraction of information about phase differences between the division components.
US07782460B2
Apparatus and method for downhole formation testing using a spectrometer includes a carrier conveyable into a well borehole that traverses a subterranean formation of interest, a plurality of semiconductor light sources disposed on the carrier, a fluid sample cell that receives light emitted from the plurality of semiconductor light sources, and at least one photodetector that detects light emitted from the plurality of semiconductor light sources and after the light interacts with a fluid in the fluid sample cell.
US07782458B2
Method and device for detecting and analyzing movement in a scattering medium, by: projecting a coherent light towards the scattering medium; performing a spatial and temporal sampling of the electromagnetic field of scattered light, in order to obtain a plurality of images of the electromagnetic field; and analyzing the speckle grains resulting from the images obtained from the spatial and temporal sampling of the electromagnetic field of the scattered light, in order to detect and analyze a movement in the scattering medium, the speckle grain analysis step including a step of analyzing the inter-image distance.
US07782455B2
The invention concerns a spectrograph with a tilted detector window comprising a light source (1), an entrance slit (3), a grating (4), a detector (5) comprising a window through which the light beam diffracted by the grating (4) is transmitted, a part of the diffracted light beam generating reflections on the window or between the window and sensitive surface of the detector (5) and at least a means for inclining able to avoid interference spectra. According to the invention, the at least a means for inclining able to avoid interference spectra comprises the detector window (6, 11) which is an inclined detector window (11).
US07782453B2
A method for obtaining the area of a missing portion of an object under inspection with a borescope includes aligning the borescope with the object under inspection, extrapolating the missing edges of the missing portion and calculating the missing portion area using the extrapolated missing edges and a defined remaining edge of the missing portion.
US07782448B2
A method of analyzing an effect of a first substance on the behavior of a second substance comprises exposing a test material to the first substance, performing a first surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of the test material while it is exposed to the first substance, exposing the test material to the first substance and to the second substance, and performing a second surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis of the test material while it is exposed to the first substance and to the second substance. Results of the first and second analyses are compared to identify a change in the behavior of the first substance.
US07782442B2
An exposure apparatus includes an optical unit which defines a first exposure area and a second exposure area at different positions in a first direction and which radiates exposure light beams onto the first and second exposure areas respectively; and a first movement system which moves the first exposure area and the second exposure area relative to a substrate in the first direction. The exposure light beams are radiated by the optical unit onto the first and second exposure areas respectively while moving the first and second exposure areas relative to a predetermined area on the substrate. Accordingly, the predetermined area on the substrate is subjected to multiple exposure with an image of a first pattern formed by the exposure light beam radiated onto the first exposure area and an image of a second pattern formed by the exposure light beam radiated onto the second exposure area. The deterioration of the throughput can be suppressed, and the substrate can be subjected to the multiple exposure efficiently.
US07782434B2
An in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes a substrate; at least two gate lines disposed on the substrate; at least two data lines disposed on the substrate crossing the gate lines to define a pixel region; a driving device disposed in the pixel region; a plurality of first electrodes disposed in the pixel region; and a plurality of second electrodes disposed in the pixel region parallel with the first electrodes. At least one first electrode is overlapped with at least one second electrode. Further, each one of the first electrodes and a corresponding one of second electrodes defining an electric field in a direction parallel to a surface of the substrate.
US07782431B2
A roll printing device, a roll printing method, and a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using the same. The roll printing device includes a dispenser; an anilox roll to receive a designated material dispensed by the dispenser; a printing roll engaged with the anilox roll to rotate with the printing roll to receive the designated material supplied from the anilox roll; and a substrate stage fixed below the printing roll for mounting a substrate. The printing roll is movable on the substrate stage to deposit the designated material on the substrate.
US07782429B2
Provided are a liquid crystal panel capable of constituting a liquid crystal display apparatus in which a contrast and a display color are unlikely to change depending upon a viewing angle and an azimuth, and a liquid crystal display apparatus using the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal panel of the present invention at least includes a liquid crystal cell, a first polarizer placed on one side of the liquid crystal cell, a second polarizer placed on another side of the liquid crystal cell, a first optical element placed between the liquid crystal cell and the first polarizer, a second optical element placed between the liquid crystal cell and the first optical element, and a third optical element placed between the liquid crystal cell and the second polarizer, in which an absorption axis of the first polarizer is perpendicular to an absorption axis of the second polarizer, the first optical element has a relationship of nz>nx=ny, the second optical element has a relationship of nx>ny=nz and a slow axis thereof parallel to an absorption axis of the first polarizer, and the third optical element has an optical isotropy.
US07782423B2
In a liquid crystal display comprising a liquid crystal layer, a pair of substrates between which the liquid crystal layer is arranged, a pair of polarizing plates arranged between which the substrates are arranged, and a light source arranged at an outside of the polarizing plates, the liquid crystal display further comprises a first transparent resin layer arranged between the liquid crystal layer and the light source and a second transparent resin layer to be arranged between the viewer and the liquid crystal layer, and a linear thermal expansion coefficient of the first transparent resin layer is smaller than that of the second transparent resin layer.
US07782415B2
Disclosed is an active matrix substrate including a substrate, a gate wiring formed on the substrate, a data wiring formed on the substrate so as to cross the gate wiring, a common wiring formed on the substrate extending approximately parallel to the gate wiring, a pixel formed in a region surrounded by the gate wiring and the data wiring, and a switching element formed in a vicinity of an intersection of the gate wiring and the data wiring. The pixel includes a pixel electrode, and a counter electrode arranged alternately with the pixel electrode and connected to the data wiring. The switching element includes a first electrode connected to the common wiring, and a second electrode connected to the pixel electrode.
US07782411B2
An exemplary liquid crystal display (200) includes a liquid crystal panel (210), a driver (280), and a flexible printed circuit board (220). The liquid crystal panel includes an active area (230) and a peripheral non-active area. The driver is configured to drive the liquid crystal panel. The flexible printed circuit board includes at least one the ground line (222) electrically coupled to the ground. The non-active area includes an electrostatic guiding line (240) and a protection line (270). The electrostatic guiding line surrounds the active area, and is electrically coupled to the at least one the ground line via the driver. The protection line surrounds the electrostatic guiding line, and electrically coupled to the at least one the ground line directly.
US07782403B2
Four high-frequency components are extracted from video signals: the first from a blanking interval; the second from an image-carrying period between blanking intervals; and the third and fourth from the video and one-line and -frame delayed signals, respectively. Statistical processing is performed to obtain absolute values of the second to fourth component levels per pixel and the number of pixels of the components per image per absolute level. A noise detecting signal is generated based on the first component level irrespective of the processing when the level is higher than a predetermined level, if not, first to third levels are obtained for the first to third components, respectively, each having the smallest number of pixels among levels other than zero each having a larger number of pixels than zero for the components. The detecting signal is generated based upon the lowest or second lowest level among the first to third levels.
US07782387B2
An image pickup device may include an optical system having a distortion that captures a distortion-containing optical image, a conversion unit that converts the distortion-containing optical image into distortion-containing image data, a storage unit that stores the distortion-containing image data and additional data related to a distortion of the distortion-containing image data, and a distortion correction unit that corrects the distortion of the distortion-containing image data with reference to the additional data.
US07782385B2
The present invention provides an AF-area display apparatus integrated in a lens unit that is interchangeably mounted on a camera and has an automatic focusing device for controlling focusing in such a way that the camera is focused on a photographic subject within an AF area in an imaging area of the camera, or connected as an auxiliary device to the lens unit, the AF-area display apparatus comprising: an AF-area obtaining device that obtains the AF area currently set in the automatic focusing device; a video signal generating device that generates a video signal for displaying the AF area obtained through the AF-area obtaining device; and a video signal outputting device that outputs the video signal generated by the video signal generating device.
US07782382B2
First pixels and second pixels are arranged in an LCD of a digital camera. Image light from the first pixel is diffused by a diffusing filter. Image light from the second pixel is deflected by a prism and directed in an oblique direction. When the LCD is viewed from a forward direction, only a captured image generated by the first pixels is observed. When the LCD is viewed from the oblique direction, the captured image, and camera information generated by the second pixels are observed in a state that they overlap each other.
US07782380B2
Surface generation and positional gain adjustment techniques for an imager are described. Embodiments of the techniques use zones having flexible boundaries which can be reconfigured depending upon the type of lens being used in a given application. Each pixel within each zone is multiplied by a correction factor dependent upon the particular zone while the pixel is being read out from the array. The correction factors comprise coefficients that are different for each color channel and in some instances different for each corner of each color channel.
US07782370B2
According to the present invention, an imaging unit, comprising an imaging device, an imaging device driver, and a signal-processing block, is provided. The imaging device has pixels which are arranged in a first direction. The pixels are alternately and repeatedly covered with N1 kinds of different color filters along the first direction. The imaging device driver drives the imaging device. N1*N2 pixels successively arranged in the first direction are defined as a pixel block. The imaging device driver orders the N1 pixels covered with the different color filters in the pixel block to output pixel signals when a first output method with thinning out is carried out. The signal-processing block averages the pixel signals output from a plurality of the pixel blocks for every color of the color filter
US07782355B2
An electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing the same exposure point on a photosensitive drum to a laser beam having an emission wavelength of 420 nm and a laser beam having an emission wavelength of 780 nm. The exposure is performed in a pulse-height modulation manner by changing a total output of these two laser beams to write the electrostatic latent image while changing an output ratio between the two laser beams depending on the total output.
US07782354B2
An electrophotographic optical writing device equipped with a semiconductor laser includes the semiconductor laser, a collimating lens, an aperture, a cylindrical lens, and a polygon scanner. An additional aperture, a second aperture, is provided in a light path between the semiconductor laser and the collimating lens.
US07782352B2
An optical scanning device that uses a light spot to scan an image surface with a light source, a deflector, and an imaging element includes a housing in which the light source, the deflector, and the imaging element are set. The housing includes at least two sidewalls opposed to each other, a bottom surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface and formed to extend from the two sidewalls, respectively. Discontinuous sections (sections between ribs or notched sections of the ribs) for passing light beams are provided in the ribs. A reinforcing member separate from the ribs are bridged to the discontinuous sections.
US07782351B2
Provided is an exposure head, including: an array substrate having a plurality of organic EL elements arranged in an array on one face; and a plurality of circuit chips having a circuit for driving the organic EL element, and in which the forming face of the circuit is serially arranged along the extending direction of the array substrate so as to face one face of the array substrate; wherein the plurality of circuit chips are mutually serially connected by providing a pair of wiring groups for each mutual boundary location of the circuit chips on one face of the array substrate and outside the arrangement area of the organic EL element, bump-bonding one of the adjacent circuit chips to one end of the pair of wiring groups, and bump-bonding the other adjacent circuit chip to the other end of the pair of wiring groups.
US07782350B2
The apparatus and method can suppress an increase in power consumption and reduce ink density unevenness caused by variations in the amount of ink discharge upon performing printhead temperature retaining control. The printing apparatus, which prints on a print medium by scanning a printhead having a printing element for generating thermal energy, includes a determination unit which predicts a maximum temperature which the printhead reaches in printing, and determines a target temperature based on the predicted maximum temperature, and an adjustment unit which adjusts the temperature of the printhead in printing on the basis of the target temperature.
US07782346B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of pixels that are arranged in matrix so as to form a plurality of rows extending in an X direction and a plurality of columns extending in a Y direction. Each pixel includes a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of electrodes for applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer, and is split into at least one bright subpixel, which has a luminance higher than a certain luminance produced by a display signal voltage supplied, and at least one dark subpixel that has a lower luminance than the certain luminance. The area of the at least one bright subpixel is smaller than that of the at least one dark subpixel. If the at least one bright subpixel and the at least one dark subpixel are arranged in the Y direction in each pixel, two closest pixels that belong to the same row to display the same color have geometric centroids with mutually different Y coordinates. The greatest difference between the Y coordinates of luminance centroids is equal to or smaller than a half of the length RY of the two pixels as measured in the Y direction.
US07782345B2
A flat panel LCD includes electronic circuitry for coupling to a host computer to receive a white-balance adjustment control signal, and electronic circuitry for receiving image data to be rendered on the flat panel LCD. Further, the flat panel LCD of one embodiment is configured for coupling to a color-sensing device to receive optical characteristics data of the flat panel LCD detected by the color-sensing device. The white balance adjustment mechanisms include the provision of two or more light sources of differing color temperature, whose brightness can be independently varied (and distributed through a light distribution mechanism) to adjust color temperature without altering the grayscale resolution of the RGB colors. The flat panel LCD further includes white balance adjustment software and gamma correction software for generating white-balance adjustment control signals and appropriate gamma correction curves.
US07782338B1
Properties of pixels of a digital image are sampled within different subdivisions of an editing tool impression to produce different pixel property distributions. The property distributions from each region may be automatically classified to identify different edit classes within the property space, which are then used to apply an edit effect to the digital image within the tool impression. The edit classes are represented by an edit profile, the generation of which may be completely automated based on selection of a tool impression, or partially automated using the selection of the tool impression and receipt of classification guidance input, such as one or more parameters received from user input or a configuration file. The edit classes may also be generated without reference to the pixel property distributions, such as via user input.
US07782336B2
A system and method for wireless communication among embedded devices using visual images. More specifically, a signal receiving device uses a visual recording device to locate the signal display screen of a signal transmitting device by employing an alternating image detection method. An image decoder embedded in the signal receiving device decodes the signal received by the visual recording device. In addition, a method is employed for automatically controlling the position and orientation of the signal display device and the visual recording device. Advantageously, communication among the embedded devices can be effectuated without the emission of potentially harmful radiation.
US07782330B2
In response to a requirement of transferring a file from a personal computer PC to a projector 10 that is output by dragging and dropping a corresponding file icon onto a projector icon, a CPU 50 requires setting of a password. The CPU 50 maps the preset password to a file and transfers the file with the password to an external storage device of the projector 10. The projector 10 requires input of a password, which is expected to be assigned to the file, and allows reproduction of the file when the input password is coincident with the preset password.
US07782329B2
Presently disclosed are a method and apparatus for generating graphics in a protected manner by establishing a user graphics partition while in an executive context. Once the user context is established, an operating mode is switched to the user context and then executing a user graphics program while in the user context. The operating mode then reverts to the executive context when the user context expires.
US07782328B1
A method and apparatus for combining video graphics processing and audio processing onto the same single chip and/or printed circuit board includes a graphics processing circuit, an audio processing circuit, a local bus, and a bus arbitrator. The local bus couples both the graphics processing circuit and audio processing circuit to the system bus such that each of the circuits may transceive data with the system bus. The bus arbitrator arbitrates access to the local bus between the graphics processing circuit and audio processing circuit. Such arbitration is based on incoming data, which is interpreted and, based on the interpretation, the bus arbitrator routes the incoming data to either the graphics processing circuit or the audio processing circuit. In addition, the bus arbitrator arbitrates outputting data from the graphics processing circuit and the audio processing circuit based on commands received from the CPU.
US07782321B2
In a statistical variable display apparatus, first lengths along a first axis and second lengths along a second axis are determined. The first lengths are respectively allotted to first-type subgroups, and the second lengths are respectively allotted to the second-type subgroups. The apparatus displays the first-type subgroups arranged along the first axis to have the respective first lengths, the second-type subgroups arranged along the second axis to have the respective second lengths, and representations of acquired statistical variables correspondingly to a respective one of the first-type subgroups arranged along the first axis and a respective one of the second-type subgroups arranged along the second axis.
US07782313B2
Included are systems and methods for reducing power consumption in a computer system. At least one embodiment of a method, among others, includes processing data in a normal mode, receiving an indication of a transition into an idle mode, capturing at least one frame of display data, and transmitting the captured frame of display data for display during idle mode.
US07782311B2
Using technology which uses a single shift register and simultaneously generates multiple pulses, this invention is a liquid crystal display device which rapidly drives data lines. It is possible to increase the frequency of the shift register output signal without changing the frequency of the shift register operation clock. If the shift register output signals, by means of analog switches, are used to determine the video signal sampling timing, high speed data line driving can be realized. Additionally, if the output signals of the shift register mentioned above are used to determine the video signal latch timing in a digital driver, high speed latching of the video signal can be realized. Consequently, even if the driving circuits of the liquid crystal display matrix are composed of TFTs, high speed operation of the driving circuits is possible without increasing power consumption. The shift register can also be used to inspect the electrical characteristics of the data lines and analog switches.
US07782303B2
A multi-direction input device for computers includes a directional wheel, a sliding member and a plurality of electrodes. The directional wheel has a rotational degree-of-freedom and two moving degree-of-freedom to be moved downwards, perform forward rolling, backward rolling and sideward moving thereby to connect corresponding electrodes to generate corresponding signals. In regular conditions the sliding member can be in cooperation with a movable contact to support the directional wheel. When the directional wheel is moved downwards the sliding member drives a corresponding electrode to generate a click signal.
US07782297B2
Methods and techniques for use in the operation of a game apparatus or other system for determining an activity level of a user in relation to the game apparatus or other system. A machine-readable medium having embodied thereon instructions for performing such methods and techniques is also included, as well as an example system for implementation.
US07782296B2
Optical tracking systems, method, and devices are described in which optical components detect light within a substantially planar region adjacent to a user device. Tracking logic may receive signals output by the optical components and determine coordinates associated with a movement of a pointing object through the substantially planar region. The tracking logic may then provide for translation of the coordinates into an action on a display, such as, for example, a movement of a cursor or other icon on the display.
US07782291B2
An exemplary driving circuit of a liquid crystal display includes a delay circuit (130), a first transistor (140), a second transistor (160), a first bias resistor (R1), and a second bias resistor (R2). The first transistor includes a source electrode for receiving a first voltage signal, and a drain electrode for providing the first voltage signal to a first external circuit. The second transistor includes an emitter electrode for receiving a second voltage signal, and a collector electrode for providing the second voltage signal to a second external circuit. The delay circuit includes a first control pin (137) connected to the gate electrode of the first transistor, and a second control pin (138) connected to the base electrode of the second transistor. The delay circuit is configured for delaying the first voltage signal for a first predetermined time period and the second voltage signal for a second predetermined time period.
US07782290B2
A source driver circuit includes several sampling-transmitting units each including a first sub-latch unit, a second sub-latch unit and a transmission channel set. In a first period, the first sub-latch unit samples first pixel data. In a second period, the second sub-latch unit samples second pixel data. The transmission channel set electrically couples the first sub-latch unit and the second sub-latch unit to a corresponding digital-to-analog converting unit. In the second period, the first sub-latch unit outputs the first pixel data to the corresponding digital-to-analog converting unit via the transmission channel set. In a third period, the second sub-latch unit outputs the second pixel data to the corresponding digital-to-analog converting unit via the transmission channel set.
US07782286B2
A display device includes a rescue circuit line structure having a first conductive pattern for interconnecting electrically two circuit elements. The first conductive pattern is formed with an open for electrically disconnecting the circuit elements. A dielectric layer is disposed above the first conductive pattern in such a manner to cover the open. A second conductive pattern is disposed on the dielectric layer. A melting process is conducted onto the dielectric layer to interconnect electrically the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern so that signals can be passed between the circuit elements.
US07782284B2
The present invention relates to a video signal line drive circuit of a display device.An object of the present invention is to, when gradation conversion is performed in the display device using an error diffusion method, provide a display with a smooth gradation change even at boundaries of display blocks.In an error diffusion operation circuit (36) of a source driver unit (302), an error diffusion process is performed for each pixel based on, in addition to image data (Da) for a display block of the source driver unit (302), image data (Da) for areas near boundaries between the display block of the source driver unit (302) and display blocks of source driver units (301, 303) in previous and subsequent stages. A video signal is generated based on error-diffused image data (Db) generated by the error diffusion process.
US07782283B2
An apparatus and method for driving an LCD device is provided. The apparatus includes an LCD panel that is comprised of red, green, blue and white sub-pixels. A data converter converts input data of three colors into input data of four colors. A data driver converts the input data of four colors into a video signal, and supplies the video signal to each sub-pixel. A gate driver supplies a scan pulse to each sub-pixel. A timing controller arranges the input data of four colors supplied from the data converter and then supplies the arranged data to the data driver. A backlight unit is comprised of LEDs of at least five colors to emit the light to the LCD panel. A backlight controller controls the backlight unit in accordance with the input data of three colors and the sub-frame control signal.
US07782282B2
A display device includes first and second substrates facing each other, the first substrate having a display region and a non-display region, at least one data line on the first substrate, at least one gate line crossing the data line, the gate line supplied with a gate voltage, at least one pixel in the display region connected to a corresponding gate line and data line, and a first driving circuit including at least a first driving unit connected to a first gate line to output a first gate voltage, and a second driving unit connected to a second gate line to output a second gate voltage, wherein the first driving unit is supplied with at least a start gate voltage and the second gate voltage from the second driving unit to output the first gate voltage to the pixel.
US07782277B2
A display device and a demultiplexer. A display device includes plural pixels for displaying an image corresponding to first data currents, each pixel including plural sub-pixels. The display device also includes plural scan lines for applying scan signals to the pixels; plural first data lines for applying the first data currents to the pixels; a scan driver for outputting the scan signals to the scan lines; a demultiplexer including plural demultiplexing circuits; and a data driver for transmitting second data currents to plural second data lines. The demultiplexing circuits demultiplex second data currents into first data currents, and transmit the first data currents to the first data lines. A pre-charge voltage is applied to the first data lines before the first data currents are transmitted. This way, the data driver is simplified, and the first data lines are pre-charged with a suitable voltage before programming data, thereby reducing programming time.
US07782263B2
An antenna structure for a TPMS (Tire pressure Monitoring System) transmitter is disclosed herein. A TPMS transmitter couples with a valve so that a spiral coil within the TPMS transmitter can be electrically connected to a conduct body of the valve to get a specific resonance frequency. Hence, the length of the antenna structure can be increased effectively and the efficacy can be raised.
US07782257B2
A multi-band internal antenna includes a top patch defining a first loop that defines a space therein and a first opening; a stub provided within the space defined by the first loop; a bottom patch provided below the top patch and having a first section and a second section connected to a feeder part and a shorting part, respectively, the bottom patch defining a second loop and second and third openings, the second and third openings being provided on opposing sides of the second loop so that the first and second sections of the bottom patch are separated from each other; and a first connecting part and a second connecting part connecting a first portion and a second portion of the top patch, respectively, to the first section and the second section of the bottom patch to transmit a signal from the bottom patch to the top patch.
US07782247B1
A method for method of estimating the position of one or more target nodes based on received reflections of a primary signal. The method includes receiving a primary signal from a transmitter node having a known location at a receiver node having a known location and receiving at least one reflected signal at the receiver node, the reflected signal generated by a reflection of the primary signal by a target node having an unknown location. The method further includes applying a target position algorithm to the primary signal and the at least one reflected signal to generate target location information.
US07782243B1
A direct capacitance-to-digital converter is provided, including a plurality of switches, an ADC, a reference voltage circuit and a trigger unit. By using trigger unit to control a plurality of switches, and combining the reference voltages outputted by the reference voltage circuit, the converter can directly sense the external to-be-measured capacitor and related stray capacitor, and directly convert the capacitance of the to-be-measured capacitor into accurate digital signal. The present invention can be integrated with other sensors into a single chip to form an integrated direct capacitance-to-digital converter.
US07782241B2
The first and second time-domain signals are received, and a difference between the pulse width of the first time-domain signal and the pulse width of the second time-domain signal within a unit time for carrying one item of analog signal information is obtained. The obtained difference is treated as positive information if the pulse width of the first time-domain signal is greater than the pulse width of the second time-domain signal, or as negative information if the pulse width of the first time-domain signal is smaller than the pulse width of the second time-domain signal.
US07782239B2
A resettable multi-stage sigma-delta analog-to-digital (A/D) converter enables a sampled analog signal to be resolve with fewer cycles than a resettable single sigma-delta A/D converter. The resettable multi-stage converter includes a cascade of at least two resettable sigma-delta loops having a total number of integrators and an allocation of delays, a digital decimation filter, the digital decimation filter being coupled to the at least two resettable sigma-delta loops and the digital decimation filter includes a cascade of integrators, a number of the integrators in the cascade of integrators for the decimation filter being equal to the total number of integrators in the cascade of at least two resettable sigma-delta loops and an allocation of delays in the cascade of integrators being equal to the allocation of delays in the cascade of at least two resettable sigma-delta loops, a plurality of A/D converters having a resolution that is less than a resolution of the resettable multi-stage sigma-delta A/D converter, a plurality of digital-to-analog (D/A) converters, the plurality of A/D converters and the plurality of D/A converters coupling the cascade of at least two resettable sigma-delta loops to the digital decimation filter, and a reset line coupled to the integrators in the cascade of integrators for the at least two resettable sigma-delta loops and coupled to the integrators in the cascade of integrators for the digital decimation filter.
US07782230B2
A system and method for detecting key actuation in a keyboard assembly, which, in one embodiment, is used as a conductor to electrically communicate with an information appliance. The rows in the keyboard assembly are electrically isolated from one another, and each row contains keys bridging a two-wire bus. Each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a diode to polarize the key, and a resistor to provide a resistive load when the switch is closed and the diode is biased with the current flow. Alternatively, each key has a switch that is closed during key actuation, a timer with an output that goes high after a predetermined time period, and a resistor that provides an identifying load when the switch is closed and the output of the timer is high. Other features of the invention include a linear matrix coupled to a row of keys to allow the row to be scanned by sections and individual keys, and a flexible circuit that provides the electrical pathways for the linear matrix.
US07782227B2
A dynamic ‘vehicle grid’ system provides the ability for drivers to be automatically warned to the conditions of other vehicles in the vicinity. In this grid system, a motor vehicle would be equipped with a transmitter, receiver, computer and a selection of sensors. Other adjacent vehicles are also contain the same of equipment for transmitting and receiving signals. When the sensors in a vehicle detect a change such as hard braking (rapid deceleration) or very slow speed (blockages), it automatically sends this information via the transmitter over a wireless communication channel to any other receivers in the vicinity.
US07782221B2
An emergency shutdown detection device for a gas turbine includes a longish, mechanically severable sensor element (5), in which at least one electric line (1 to 4) is provided, with at least one resistor (R1 to R3) being electrically connected to the electric line such that upon severance of the sensor element (5), the electrically connected resistor is electrically disconnected from the electrical line to alter a resistance value for the electrical line.
US07782219B2
A device for protecting an electronic apparatus includes: a motion-detection device, for supplying at least one alert signal in response to conditions of motion of the protection device; a counter; a first logic circuit, for incrementing the counter in the presence of a first value of the alert signal, in a first operating condition; and a second logic circuit, for generating a protection signal on the basis of a count value of the counter. In addition, the first logic circuit is configured for decrementing the counter in the presence of a second value of the alert signal, in the first operating condition.
US07782218B2
A device and a method for detecting seat occupancy, with the device including first and second sensor elements associated with a respective seat surface. First and second weight-dependent sensor signals are electrically obtainable from the sensor elements. The seat occupancy is determined by taking either the first or the second sensor signals in dependence on an ambient temperature.
US07782214B1
A method and apparatus are disclosed which involve an improved way to coerce use of a soap dispenser (or other hygiene device). A soap dispenser according to at least one embodiment, includes a teaching or entertaining device that is fun and informative that is triggered when the soap dispenser is utilized. The soap dispenser may also be utilized as an advertising tool.
US07782211B2
A RFID label has a multilayer structure including a sheet-like antenna base material, a RFID circuit element embedded in the antenna base material, a cover film having a printing region in which prescribed printing is performed, an adhesive layer for that bonds the antenna base material to the cover film, an adhesive layer for fixing the antenna base materials to a desired object, and a release layer for covering the adhesive layer. The length of the antenna base material in the longitudinal direction of the RFID label is no less than the length of the printing region.
US07782205B1
The present invention relates to an electronic device with an antitheft function consisting of a wireless tag containing information enabling the electronic device to operate, and a control portion accessible to the wireless tag, where the control portion releases a lock of the electronic device when the electronic device is determined to be operable according to the information stored in the wireless tag. Also, the present invention includes a method for preventing theft of an electronic device that includes the steps of writing information enabling the electronic device to operate on a memory of a wireless tag by a wireless tag writer at the time of purchase of the electronic device, and determining if the electronic device is operable according to the information written on the wireless tag.
US07782198B2
The illustrative embodiments described herein provide an apparatus and method for detecting tampering. The apparatus includes a printer and a printer compartment located within the printer. The apparatus also includes a switch capable of being coupled to the printer compartment. The switch is adapted to close when tampering with the printer compartment occurs. The apparatus includes a tamper detection device capable of being in a tamper state and a non-tamper state. The tamper detection device discharges and places the tamper detection device in the tamper state when the switch is closed to indicate that tampering has occurred. The apparatus includes a set of power sources. The set of power sources provides charge to the tamper detection device and places the tamper detection device in the non-tamper state.
US07782194B2
A media enhanced shopping cart system comprises a shopping cart comprising a frame, a basket, a handle, a base tray, a plurality of wheels, a read component for performing a proximity scan of the shopping cart, a locationing component for determining a location of the shopping cart within a store based on the scan, and a display component for displaying at least one advertisement for a product based on the location of the shopping cart within the store, wherein the locationing component is further operable to determine a location of the product within the store relative to the shopping cart based on the scan, and wherein the display component is further operable to display an indication of the location of the advertised product relative to the location of the shopping cart.
US07782188B2
A wireless sensor network includes a controller connected with multiple antennas for sending out a beacon signal at different instants into different directions and for receiving a sensor signal. Furthermore, the wireless sensor network comprises a sensor having a receiver connected with a sensor antenna for receiving the beacon signal, a transmitter connected with the sensor antenna for sending out the sensor signal, and a control unit which takes care that the sensor signal is transmitted after the beacon signal has been received.
US07782179B2
An obstacle detection apparatus more accurately detects a moving obstacle present around a motor vehicle. With this system, desired feature quantities of an obstacle present in a coverage of a first sensor are calculated and then stored into a storage device, and when the obstacle moves from the coverage of the first sensor to a coverage of a second sensor, a relative distance to the obstacle is calculated from the above-stored feature quantities of the obstacle and from the desired feature quantities of the obstacle, obtained by analyzing the recognition results of the second sensor that have been processed by a processor which processes the recognition results.
US07782178B2
In a vehicle anti-theft system, a vehicle-mounted mainframe downloads a sole identification code, serving as a control identification code, and transfers the sole identification code into a part as a part identification code. The vehicle-mounted mainframe determines if the control identification code is obtained when the vehicle is activated. If yes, the vehicle-mounted mainframe sends a request command to the part to obtain the part identification code. The vehicle-mounted mainframe determines if the part identification code meets with the control identification code. If yes, the vehicle-mounted mainframe produces a normal operation signal to enter a normal operational mode and feedbacks the identification code to the customer service center. The customer service center checks with a database for stolen events. If an event of vehicle stolen is found, subsequent procedures are taken; otherwise, the vehicle-mounted mainframe transfers an abnormal signal to the customer service center for proceeding with subsequent procedures.
US07782174B2
Disclosed is a chip resistor 1 that includes a ceramic substrate 2, a pair of bank-raising foundation sections 3 positioned on both longitudinal ends of the lower surface of the ceramic substrate 2, a pair of first electrode layers 4 that cover at least parts of the bank-raising foundation sections 3 and are positioned at a predetermined distance from each other, a resistive element 5 that is made mainly of a copper-nickel alloy to bridge the first electrode layers 4, a pair of second electrode layers 6 that cover the pair of first electrode layers 4, and an insulating protective layer 7 that covers the resistive element 5. Further, end-face electrodes 9 are positioned on both longitudinal end faces of the ceramic substrate 2. The second electrode layers 6 and end-face electrodes 9 are covered with plating layers 10-13. This chip resistor 1 is to be face-down mounted with the first and second electrodes 4, 6 positioned on a wiring pattern 21 of a circuit board 20.
US07782173B2
The chip resistor 10 includes a ceramic substrate 11 that is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped. Mounted on the lower surface of the ceramic substrate 11 are a resistive element 12 that is made mainly of a low-resistance, low-TCR copper-nickel alloy, first and second electrode layers 13, 14 that form a two-layer structure and cover both longitudinal ends of the resistive element 12, and an insulating protective layer 15 for covering the remaining area of the resistive element 12. The resistive element 12 is positioned within a region inside the peripheral border of the lower surface of the ceramic substrate 11. The chip resistor 10 also includes end-face electrodes 17 that are positioned on both longitudinal end faces of the ceramic substrate 11. The second electrode layers 14 and end-face electrodes 17 are covered by plating layers 18-21. This chip resistor 10 is to be face-down mounted with both electrode layers 13, 14 positioned on a wiring pattern 31 of a circuit board 30.
US07782166B2
Cross-coupled first and second helical inductors formed in an IC. The cross-coupled first and second helical inductors comprise a first helical conductor having a first portion and a second portion, and a second helical conductor having a first portion and a second portion. The second helical conductor is in close proximity to the first helical conductor. The first helical inductor is formed by the first portion of the first helical conductor and the second portion of the second helical conductor. The second helical inductor is formed by the second portion of the first helical conductor and the first portion of the second helical conductor.
US07782160B2
The present invention provides a central frequency adjustment device and adjustable inductor layout; wherein, the central frequency adjustment device is applied in an inductor/capacitor tank (LC tank) for adjusting the central frequency of the LC tank. The device comprises a first inductor with a first end and a second end; a second inductor with one end coupled with the second end of the first inductor; and, a first trimmable wire connected to the first inductor in parallel and to the second inductor in series, which adjusts the central frequency by cutting off the first trimmable wire.
US07782154B2
A power amplifier including a loop filter, a frequency generator, a quantizer, and an output stage module is provided. The frequency generator outputs a signal with a reference frequency to the loop filter, and includes a logic circuit, a current array, and a dummy load. The dummy load representing a load circuit in the loop filter is coupled to the current array. An equivalent impedance of the dummy load is proportioned to an equivalent impedance of the load circuit. The current array outputs the signal and a dummy signal to the loop filter and the dummy load, respectively, according to a logic signal. By using the frequency generator to modulate the frequency automatically, an impact on the power amplifier caused by passive devices therein due to process variationscan be reduced.
US07782150B2
An oscillator having improved frequency stability which includes an oscillator circuit and an SC-cut resonator connected with the oscillator circuit. The SC-cut resonator has a first turning point. A temperature compensation circuit is connected with the oscillator circuit. The temperature compensation circuit is adapted to adjust a reference frequency generated by the oscillator circuit according to a frequency response associated with a second turning point of an AT-cut resonator.
US07782144B2
A low pass filter can be built in a chip by reducing the value of circuit element forming a low pass filter in a PLL circuit, especially by reducing the value of a electrostatic capacity. An active filter used in a PLL circuit having two charge pump circuits in a subsequent stage of a phase comparator includes a first circuit component connected between the output of one charge pump circuit and a ground, a second circuit component between the output of another charge pump circuit and the ground, and a voltage adder for adding up voltages between both ends of each of the first and second circuit components.
US07782143B2
A control circuit includes a phase frequency detector that receives a reference phase ΦREF (signal) as an input and a feedback phase ΦFBK (signal) as control feedback. A voltage controlled oscillator is in electrical communication with the phase frequency detector. The VCO provides an output and the feedback phase ΦFBK (signal). An auxiliary feedback loop receives error phase ΦE (signal) from each of the reference phase ΦREF (signal) and the feedback phase ΦFBK (signal). The auxiliary feedback loop provides an adjustment signal to the control circuit to correct for static phase offset.
US07782142B2
A differential to single ended converting circuit includes a transconductance circuit having input terminals for receiving differential input voltages and having a first current output terminal for outputting a first current and a second current output terminal for outputting a second current; an offset cancellation circuit having a first controllable current source connected to the first current output terminal and a second controllable current source connected to the second current output terminal; a first transimpedance circuit having an input terminal connected to the first current output terminal and an output terminal for outputting a first voltage; a second transimpedance circuit having an input terminal connected to the second current output terminal and an output terminal for outputting a second voltage; and a first inverter having an input terminal connected to the output terminal of the first transimpedance circuit and an output terminal for outputting a first single ended output voltage.
US07782138B2
An integrated circuit device includes a variable-gain amplifier, memory circuit and gain control update circuit. The variable-gain amplifier generates an amplified signal having an amplitude according to a gain control value that is stored, at least during a first interval, within the memory circuit. The update circuit generates an updated gain control value based on the amplified signal during the first interval, and outputs the updated gain control value to the memory circuit to be stored therein at a conclusion of the first interval.
US07782127B2
A circuit (e.g., a reconstruction filtering circuit) may include a single operational amplifier (op-amp) that is arranged to receive a voltage input and that is arranged to have a biasing of constant gmR, a first device capacitor that is operatively coupled to an output of the single op-amp, a first resistor that is operatively coupled to the first device capacitor, a second device capacitor that is operatively coupled to the first resistor, and a mirror device that is operatively coupled to the second device capacitor, where the mirror device is arranged to provide a feedback loop as a feedback input to the single op-amp and that is arranged to provide a current output.
US07782125B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a first flip-flop, a combined circuit and a second flip-flop that form a critical path; a first delay circuit and a third flip-flop that are provided in the post-stage of the combined circuit; a second delay circuit and a fourth flip-flop that are provided in the post-stage of the combined circuit; a first comparison circuit that compares the output of the second flip-flop with the output of the third flip-flop; a second comparison circuit that compares the output of the second flip-flop with the output of the fourth flip-flop: and a control circuit that controls a source voltage supplied to the combined circuit in accordance with the outputs of the comparison circuits. A delay time by the first delay circuit is different from a delay time by the second delay circuit.
US07782123B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit provided with: a transistor M7 with a control terminal supplied with a second voltage GND, a first terminal connected to a third node N3, and second terminal connected to a fourth node N4 for introducing current according to the potential at a second voltage supply node N8, the transistor M7 having a specific value for a threshold value representing the size of voltage supplied to the control terminal to conduct a current of a specific amount between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a transistor M5 with a control terminal connected to fourth node N4, first terminal supplied with a first voltage, and a second terminal connected to a second node N2, the threshold value of transistor M5 being smaller than the specific value.
US07782120B2
Disclosed is an internal voltage generating circuit that pumps charge to generate an internal driving voltage. The internal voltage generating circuit includes: a first oscillation signal generating unit that provides a first oscillation signal in response to a detected internal voltage and a predetermined test mode signal; a second oscillation signal generating unit that divides an external clock to provide a second oscillation signal having a variable oscillation period; and a switching unit that selects the first oscillation signal or the second oscillation signal in response to the predetermined test mode signal and provides the selected signal as a pumping period signal.
US07782117B2
A MOSFET switch is disclosed that is driven on by a circuit that provides a constant gate to source voltage, Vgs, that is independent of the input voltage, the power supply and any logic signals. The constant Vgs is derived from a reference voltage and biases the MOSFET switch such that Ron is constant, or Rflatness is minimized. A minimized Rflatness provides a higher fidelity transfer of audio signals compared to prior art switches where Rflatness is greater.
US07782113B2
A level shifter adaptive for use in a power-saving operation mode is disclosed for interfacing two circuit units powered by a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage respectively. The level shifter includes a preliminary level shifting circuit and an output auxiliary circuit. With the aid of the two supply voltages, the preliminary level shifting circuit is employed to receive an input signal having a first operating voltage swing and functions to convert the input signal into a first output signal and a second output signal both having a second operating voltage swing. The first output signal and the second output signal have opposite voltage levels relative to each other. The output auxiliary circuit is utilized for retaining the voltage level of the first output signal based on the second supply voltage regardless of whether the level shifter is still powered by the first supply voltage or not.
US07782106B2
A circuit configured to correct a duty cycle includes a clock dividing unit configured to delay an input clock signal by a specified delay amount and to generate a plurality of delayed clock signals, a clock selection unit configured to output any one among the plurality of delayed clock signals as a selected delayed clock signal in response to duty ratio information of the input clock signal, an edge control unit configured to generate a falling clock signal by controlling a falling edge of the selected delayed clock signal and to generate a rising clock signal by controlling a falling edge of the input clock signal based on information regarding a difference between lengths of a high duration and a low duration of the input clock signal, and a phase mixing unit for mixing phases of the falling clock signal and the rising clock signal and generating an output clock signal.
US07782105B2
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first delay locked loop configured to delay a system clock by a predetermined time to thereby generate a first delay locked clock synchronizing a data output timing with the system clock, a second delay locked loop configured to delay an inverse signal of the system clock by a predetermined time to thereby generate a second delay locked clock synchronizing the data output timing with the system clock, and a clock selection block configured to select one of the first and second delay locked clocks to thereby output as a reference clock for data output.
US07782088B1
In a programmable logic device (PLD) having a plurality of serial interface channels, the number of adaptive dispersion compensation engines (ADCEs), which adjust the equalization of each channel that requires it, is reduced. In one embodiment, one ADCE is provided for every group of channels (e.g., every group of two channels), and multiplexers are provided to connect the ADCE to one channel (or more) according to the user logic design. In another embodiment, one ADCE is provided for every group of channels, and time-division multiplexing (TDM) is used to connect the ADCE sequentially to every channel in the group that requires it. Because the time required to adjust each channel is small, theoretically all ADCEs on the PLD could be considered one group, sharing one ADCE by TDM. The TDM circuitry could be programmable to allow priority to be given to certain channels, so that they are adjusted first.
US07782087B2
A cell element field for data processing, having function cell means for execution of algebraic and/or logic functions and memory cell means for receiving, storing and/or outputting information is described. Function cell-memory cell combinations are formed in which a control connection leads from the function cell means to the memory cell means.
US07782082B2
In memory module having multiple data inputs to couple to signal lines of an external data path, multiple memory integrated-circuits (ICs) and a buffer IC, the buffer IC includes respective interfaces coupled to the data inputs and the memory ICs, a first termination circuit having a first load element and a first switch element to switchably couple the first load element to a first data input of the data inputs and a second termination circuit having a second load element and a second switch element to switchably couple the second load element to the first data input. The buffer IC further includes a configuration circuit to store, in response to control information from a memory controller, a first digital value and a second digital value, the first digital value being supplied to the first termination circuit to control an impedance of the first load element and the second digital value being supplied to the second termination circuit to control an impedance of the second load element.
US07782073B2
A testline structure made for integrated circuit tests is presented. The structure includes an array of testline pads formed in the scribe line area or integrated circuit die area on a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of test devices formed under the pads area, and a select circuit selectively connecting one of the test devices. The testline structure of this invention enables access to a large number of test devices through the same number of pads as on a conventional testline and can be employed to conduct parametric, reliability, and functional tests on the same. A source measurement unit (SMU) in a conventional integrated circuit tester is employed to sense and force predetermined test conditions on the test device terminals and conduct accurate Kelvin tests on the selected device. A method of using this testline structure is also presented.
US07782072B2
A probe group can include multiple probes for testing devices having contact pads. The probes can comprise beams, contact tip structures, and mounting portions. The beams can provide for controlled deflection of the probes. The contact tip structures can be connected to the beams and can include contact portions for contacting with the devices. The mounting portions of the beams can be attached to support structures, which can be arranged in a staggered pattern. The beams located in a first row of the staggered pattern can include narrowing regions that lie substantially in line with the mounting portions of a second row of the beams.
US07782063B2
The present invention includes an antenna for measuring an electromagnetic wave radiated from a device to be measured stemming from partial discharge and having sensitivity at least in the UHF band; a filter for extracting a TEM mode component from a measured time waveform; and a measurement device body including a processing section adapted to obtain a second order integral value of the time waveform having undergone the filter processing and obtain a discharge charge quantity from the value. The present invention also comprises an electromagnetic wave radiation simulating apparatus for inputting a pseudo discharge signal to the device to be measured and previously obtaining the relation between the second order integral value and the discharge charge quantity, the processing section obtains the discharge charge quantity from the second order integral value with reference to the previously obtained relation between the second order integral value and the discharge charge quantity.
US07782061B2
An apparatus that estimates the ohmic resistances of N batteries includes voltage and current measurement modules that respectively measure the voltage and current of each of the N batteries. An ohmic resistance estimating module over N+1 time periods receives the voltage and current measurements of each of the N batteries and receives consecutive voltage and current measurements for one of the N batteries. N is a positive integer and the ohmic resistance estimating module estimates the ohmic resistance of the battery that is associated with the consecutive voltage and current measurements.
US07782060B2
An integrated electrode resistivity and EM telemetry tool and obtaining both formation resistivity and telemetry data from the integrated tool. An integrated electrode resistivity and EM telemetry tool having a drill collar including a first portion and a second portion separated by an insulated gap and telemetry cartridge carrying telemetry circuitry including a voltage source generating a voltage drop across the insulated gap and an axial current on a drill string that returns through an earthen formation includes an insulated measure electrode connected to the first portion, and resistivity measurement circuitry functionally connected to the measure electrode and the telemetry circuitry.
US07782057B2
An array coil including at least three conductive elements arranged at predetermined intervals, each of the conductive elements being in the form of a loop, and a plurality of switches that enable the conductive elements to be connected together according to a plurality of connecting patterns.
US07782052B2
In a method for determination of the measurement workflow of a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus in the generation of slice images of a subject, a number of slice images to be generated is established. A total number of measurement regions is established for each of the slice images, with one measurement being necessary for the acquisition of the data of each of the measurement regions. An individual measurement sequence is determined for each slice image, comprising an excitation and a determined number of successive measurements of different measurement regions of the appertaining slice image, with a number of measurement sequences being necessary for acquisition of all measurement regions of the appertaining slice image. The individual measurement sequences are to be distributed to a determined number of measurement streams is determined. An order is established as to the distribution of the entirety of measurements of a respective slice image among the measurement streams.
US07782040B2
Disclosed herein is an information processing terminal including: a resonance circuit unit configured to have a resonance frequency varying linearly in accordance with a control signal so as to receive data and power from a reader/writer in noncontact fashion at the resonance frequency; a maximum received voltage setting unit configured to output a reference voltage for defining a maximum received voltage to be output by the resonance circuit unit; a control signal generation unit configured to generate the control signal in accordance with the received voltage and the reference voltage; and a transmit-receive processing section configured to operate on the received voltage to process the data; wherein the received voltage is not in excess of a predetermined level.
US07782033B2
A voltage regulator having an overload protection circuit and a method for protecting against an output voltage being less than a predetermined level. The voltage regulator has an overload protection circuit coupled between a feedback network and a regulation section. A power factor correction circuit is connected to the regulation section. An output voltage from the power factor correction circuit is fed back to the feedback network, which transmits a portion of the output voltage to the overload protection circuit. If the output voltage is less than the predetermined voltage level, a transconductance amplifier generates a current that sets an overload flag. Setting the overload flag initiates a delay timer. If the delay exceeds a predetermined amount of time, the overload protection circuit shuts down the voltage regulator.
US07782029B2
A power control system comprises a plurality of POL regulators, at least one serial data bus operatively connecting the plurality of POL regulators, and a system controller connected to the serial data bus and adapted to send and receive digital data to and from the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data bus further comprises a first data bus carrying programming and control information between the system controller and the plurality of POL regulators. The serial data bus may also include a second data bus carrying fault management information between the system controller and the plurality of POL regulators. The power control may also include a front-end regulator providing an intermediate voltage to the plurality of POL regulators on an intermediate voltage bus.
US07782028B2
A DC-DC converter includes: an inductance element and a rectifier element connected in series between a voltage input terminal to accept input direct current voltage and a first output terminal; a switching element connected between a connection node of the inductance element and the rectifier element and a reference potential point; and a controlling circuit to form a signal to control on/off of the switching element. The controlling circuit controls on/off of the switching element to control current through the inductance element, and a voltage applied to the voltage input terminal to accept the input direct current voltage is output via a second output terminal as a reference potential of a circuit at a latter stage, so that an output voltage is controllable from a lower to higher voltage than the input direct current voltage without switching step-up and step-down operations.
US07782026B2
Regulator circuit and corresponding uses. The regulator circuit includes at least two input terminals, at least two reactances, at least two output terminals, a plurality of interconnections for connecting said reactances with respect to one another and for connecting at least one of the reactances with the input and output terminals. The interconnections include miniaturized relays that allow exchanging a series connection of the reactances for a parallel connection and vice versa. The circuit can include a voltage monitor, power supply modules, input and output protectors, reference signal modules, and control modules. The regulator circuit has multiple applications including charge pump, power supply, DC/DC converter, DC/AC converter, AC/DC converter, D/A converter, A/D converter, and power amplifier.
US07782008B2
A self-magnetizing motor incorporates a control circuit that starts the motor, controls a magnetizing unit, and then operates the motor. The control circuit can include relay, such as a bi-directional conductive power semiconductor device, and one or more PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) switches. This control circuit eliminates the need for a separate controller and the implementation costs can be reduced.
US07781995B2
A trash can can include a sensor for detecting the presence of an object near a lower portion of the trash can. The detection of the object can be used to signal the trash can to open its lid. The trash can can include an electric drive unit for opening and closing the lid.
US07781993B1
A path module for a linear motor system includes a controller coupled to one or more amplifiers that are operative to control associated windings in the module. The controller receives control information via a communications link. The controller controls the amplifier based on the received control information so as to selectively energize the associated windings in the module. In one aspect, a plurality of such modules may be connected together to form a path along which one or more stages are moveable according to energization of the windings in the path.
US07781982B2
In a low-voltage power supply circuit for illumination that rectifies an ac power supply by means of a rectifier circuit, that controls this rectified output by means of a power-factor control circuit, and that supplies a low-voltage power supply for illumination, the power-factor control circuit is composed of a step-down circuit and is further provided with a current-limiting capability.
US07781964B2
An organic electroluminescent device includes a substrate that is conductive at least on a first surface; a first insulating film located on the first surface of the substrate and including a portion of a first opening, a portion of a second opening, and a portion of a third opening; a semiconductor film located on the first insulating film and receiving a current from the first surface of the substrate via the portion of a first opening; a second insulating film located on the semiconductor film and in contact with the substrate via the portion of a second opening; a capacitance electrode located on the second insulating film; a gate electrode located on the second insulating film and overlapping the semiconductor film; an intermediate insulating film located on the gate electrode and capacitance electrode; a pixel electrode located on the intermediate insulating film and receiving a current via the semiconductor film; a light-emitting layer located on the pixel electrode; a common electrode located on the light-emitting layer; and a power supply section located on the first insulating film and supplying a current to the first surface of the substrate via the portion of a third opening. The second insulating film is interposed between the capacitance electrode and the substrate via the portion of a second opening.
US07781962B2
Light-emitting devices (24) and light-emitting displays (1) for realizing bright display by allowing light emitted from an emissive layer (100) to efficiently contribute to a display. Polarization separators (500) are arranged between the emissive layer (100) and a phase plate (700). In the light of a wavelength range which includes a part or all of a light-emission wavelength range of the emissive layer and is narrower than a visible wavelength range and is directed from the emissive layer side to the polarization separators side, the polarization separators (500) reflect circularly polarized light components which are converted into linearly polarized light that is absorbed by the polarizer (600) due to the operation of the phase plate and transmit the other light.
US07781957B2
An electro-luminescent device has an array of light-emitting elements, including a near white light-emitting element. The near white light-emitting element includes an inorganic light-emitting layer of quantum dots, spaced between a pair of electrodes. The light-emitting layer produces a spectrum of light having at least a bimodal distribution of wavelengths.
US07781955B2
There is provided an image display device which can prevent a charge-up occurring on the surface of an insulation substrate with a simple constitution even if any antistatic film is not provided. In the image display device which includes an electron-emitting device on an insulation layer on the substrate, there is provided a conductive layer which is an orthogonal projection region of an anode electrode and includes a predetermined metal kind directly below an exposed surface of the insulation layer.
US07781953B2
A light-emitting device with open-loop control including a LED capable of emitting a blue light and a mix-light adjusting portion is provided. The mix-light adjusting portion includes a first and a second fluorescent material both capable of being excited by blue light. When the first and the second fluorescent material are excited by a short-wavelength blue light, the excitation intensity of the first fluorescent material is higher than that of the second fluorescent material. When the first and the second fluorescent material are excited by a long-wavelength blue light, the excitation intensity of the first fluorescent material is lower than that of the second fluorescent material. The peak wavelength of the emission of the first fluorescent material is smaller than that of the emission of the second fluorescent material. The dividing wavelength between the short-wavelength blue light and the long-wavelength blue light ranges from a first to a second wavelength.
US07781951B2
To provide a filament lamp having a plurality of filaments disposed in sequence in the axial direction of a light-emitting lamp tube which is configured so as not to shield emitted light from a center filament, internal leads for two filaments disposed proximate hermetically sealed parts at both ends are connected to metal foils in the same hermetically sealed part.
US07781949B2
A spark plug including a ground electrode which has an excellent heat sinking ability. The ground electrode includes a core material therein. Heat received from a combustion chamber during a drive of an internal-combustion engine can be conducted to the core material. More effective heat sinking ability can be achieved because of the core material.
US07781934B2
An alternating-current dynamoelectric machine according to the present invention includes: a stator including: a stator core in which slots that extend in an axial direction are formed on an inner side; and a stator winding that is mounted to the stator core by winding conducting wires into the slots; and a rotatable rotor including: a field winding that is disposed inside the stator; a rotor core constituted by a first pole core and a second pole core that each have claw-shaped magnetic poles that are disposed so as to cover the field winding and that alternately intermesh with each other; and first and second permanent magnets that are respectively disposed on two facing side surfaces of adjacent claw-shaped magnetic poles and that have magnetic fields that are oriented so as to reduce leakage of magnetic flux between the claw-shaped magnetic poles, and a magnetic body is disposed between a pair of the first and second permanent magnets.
US07781921B2
The subject matter is a voltage regulator capable of providing an indicator signal to a load, so that the load can operation under the best current-voltage relationship according to the indicator signal. To this end, the voltage regulator includes an amplifier for generating the indicator signal by amplifying a difference between a signal representative of an output voltage and a signal representative of a reference voltage.
US07781920B2
An electrical power-switching circuit controls power to an electronic device. In some embodiments, the circuit consists of only transistors, resistors, and capacitors, making it small, low cost, and functional over a wide range of supply voltages. The circuit may be switched on and off by a momentary-contact switch. The circuit can be constructed so that, except for transistor leakage current, no power is consumed in the off state, and the controlled device can shut off its own power.
US07781918B2
Electrical switch circuitry including a relay with contacts and a transistor. A control circuit switches the transistor ON in response to a voltage difference across the relay contacts reaching a predetermined value, such that in use, electrical current is caused to flow through the transistor while the electrical contacts of the relay are closing or opening. This reduces electrical arcing across the contacts of the relay.
US07781907B2
An image forming apparatus, includes: a first rectifying circuit that is connected with an external commercial power supply and rectifies an alternating-current input; a first low-voltage power supply circuit that generates low voltages from a rectified power for power supply to respective parts of the apparatus; a first connector that is connected with the first rectifying circuit and is for outputting a power rectified by the first rectifying circuit; and a second connector that is connected with the first low-voltage power supply circuit and is for taking in a rectified power, wherein the apparatus is singly usable and optionally usable by being connected with an image reading apparatus, and the apparatus forms an electrostatic latent image, forms a toner image by developing the electrostatic latent image with toner, and fixes the toner image onto a transfer sheet.
US07781903B2
A wave energy converter with air compression (WECWAC) includes a cylinder and a piston located within the cylinder dividing the cylinder into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The cylinder is fixedly attached to a spar whose up/down (heave) motion is restrained. The piston is fixedly attached to, and driven by, a float which moves generally in phase with the waves. Under typical wave conditions the piston functions to compress air within the upper chamber on its up stroke and within the lower chamber on its down stroke, i. e., the system is thus double-acting. In still water, the spar and cylinder combination is designed to drift down into the body of water relative to the piston whereby the size/volume of the upper chamber is decreased (while that of the lower chamber is increased). For small amplitude waves the piston continues to compress air in the upper chamber and this asymmetrical compression continues until the waves reach a predetermine level when “double-action” is resumed. Controlling the position of the cylinder relative to the piston enables the WECWAC to automatically regulate its compression ‘stroke’ to suit varying wave conditions. The pressurized air from a WECWAC may be stored and/or processed to drive a turbo-generator or it may be combined with the outputs of other WECWACs to drive a single large and highly efficient turbo-generator.
US07781899B2
A leadframe for supporting a semiconductor chip, the leadframe including a die pad having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface defining a thickness and having at least one perimeter edge, and an opening spaced from the at least one perimeter edge and extending through the thickness of the die pad between the first and second major surfaces. A vent extends from the at least one perimeter edge to the opening so that the opening is in communication with the at least one perimeter edge.
US07781887B2
A semiconductor device includes a first die, a substrate, and a first interconnect. The first die includes a first isolation region and a first contact at least partially overlapping the first isolation region. The substrate includes a second contact. The first interconnect couples the first contact to the second contact. The first interconnect is defined by a via through the first isolation region.
US07781883B2
An electronic package includes a die including a thermal interface material through which a primary heat flux path is enabled for conducting heat from the die, an organic substrate, and a thermal interposer provided between the organic substrate and the die, the thermal interposer having an area extending beyond a footprint of the die, the area including the thermal interface material, the thermal interposer conducting heat generated by the die through the thermal interface material such that an auxiliary heat flux path for conducting heat generated in the die is enabled.
US07781871B2
A structure for reduction of soft error rates in integrated circuits. The structure including: a semiconductor substrate; and a stack of one or more wiring levels stacked from a lowermost wiring level to an uppermost wiring level, the lowermost wiring level nearer the semiconductor substrate than the uppermost wiring level; and an alpha particle blocking layer on a top surface of the uppermost wiring level of the one or more wiring levels, the blocking layer comprising metal wires and a dielectric material, the blocking layer having a combination of a thickness of the blocking layer and a volume percent of metal wires in the blocking layer sufficient to stop a predetermined percentage of alpha particles of a selected energy or less striking the blocking layer from penetrating into the stack of one or more wiring levels or the substrate.
US07781866B2
A gallium nitride-based semiconductor stacked structure includes a single crystal substrate, a low-temperature buffer layer grown at a low temperature in a region contiguous to the single crystal substrate and a gallium nitride-based semiconductor layer overlying the low-temperature buffer layer. The low-temperature buffer layer possesses therein a single crystal layer formed of a hexagonal AlXGaγN-based Group III nitride material containing gallium predominantly over aluminum, wherein 0.5<γ≦1 and X+γ=1. The single crystal layer has crystal defects at a smaller density on a (10-10) crystal face than on a (11-20) crystal face. A method for production of the gallium nitride-based semiconductor stacked structure is also disclosed.
US07781863B2
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a lower electrode made of a metallic material, a capacitance film made of an insulating material and laminated on the lower electrode, an upper electrode made of a metallic material, opposed to the lower electrode through the capacitance film, and having an outline smaller than that of the lower electrode in plan view along the opposed direction, and a protective film made of the same material as that of the capacitance film and laminated on the upper electrode.
US07781859B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a well region of a first conductivity type over the semiconductor substrate; a metal-containing layer on the well region, wherein the metal-containing layer and the well region form a Schottky barrier; an isolation region encircling the metal-containing layer; and a deep-well region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type under the metal-containing layer. The deep-well region has at least a portion vertically overlapping a portion of the metal-containing layer. The deep-well region is vertically spaced apart from the isolation region and the metal-containing layer by the well region.
US07781857B2
The invention provides an LCD panel with main slits corresponding to alignment protrusions. The gate lines are shielded by the electrode portion and do not overlap the main slits. Because the gate line and the major slits do not overlap, the liquid crystal molecule arrangement of the liquid crystal layer is not affected by the operating voltage of the gate line.
US07781855B2
An optical device includes a metal film that has a first plane and a second plane electrically connected to the first plane. For example, the second plane is integrally formed with the first plane. The second plane is arranged at an obtuse angle θ (90°<θ<180°) with respect to the first plane. An optical semiconductor chip is mounted on the second plane of the metal film, and a light-transmitting sealing material seals the optical semiconductor chip. The light-transmitting sealing material has the metal film provided on a surface thereof.
US07781851B2
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same reduce die-warpage. The semiconductor device includes a substrate and a first layer of material extending substantially over the entire surface of the substrate. A stress-relieving pattern exists in and traverses the first layer so as to partition the first layer into at least two discrete sections. The stress-relieving pattern may be in the form of an interface between the discrete sections of the first layer, or a wall of material different from the material of the first layer.
US07781846B2
Prior known static random access memory (SRAM) cells are required that a diffusion layer be bent into a key-like shape in order to make electrical contact with a substrate with a P-type well region formed therein, which would result in a decrease in asymmetry leading to occurrence of a problem as to the difficulty in micro-patterning. To avoid this problem, the P-type well region in which an inverter making up an SRAM cell is formed is subdivided into two portions, which are disposed on the opposite sides of an N-type well region NW1 and are formed so that a diffusion layer forming a transistor has no curvature while causing the layout direction to run in a direction parallel to well boundary lines and bit lines. At intermediate locations of an array, regions for use in supplying power to the substrate are formed in parallel to word lines in such a manner that one regions is provided per group of thirty two memory cell rows or sixty four cell rows.
US07781834B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode over a semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate electrode has a gate width direction; a source/drain region in the semiconductor substrate and adjacent the gate electrode, wherein the source/drain region has a first width in a direction parallel to the gate width direction; and a bulk pick-up region in the semiconductor substrate and abutting the source/drain region. The bulk pick-up region and the source/drain region have opposite conductivity types. The bulk pick-up region has a second width in the width direction, and wherein the second width is substantially less than the first width.
US07781832B2
A power MOS transistor comprises a drain region, a trench gate, a source region, a well region, a deep well region and a substrate region. The drain region has a doping region of a first conductivity type connected to a drain electrode. The trench gate has an insulating layer and extends into the drain region. The source region has a doping region of the first conductivity type connected to a source electrode. The well region is doped with a second conductivity type, formed under the source region, and connected to the source electrode. The deep well region is doped with the first conductivity type and is formed under the drain region and the well region. The substrate region is doped with the second conductivity type and is formed under the deep well region. The drain region is formed at one side of the trench gate and the source region is formed at the opposing side of the trench gate such that the trench gate laterally connects the source region and the drain region.
US07781825B2
A semiconductor device includes an insulating layer, a channel structure, an insulating structure and a gate. The channel structure includes a channel bridge for connecting two platforms. The bottom of the channel bridge is separated from the insulating layer by a distance, and the channel bridge has a plurality of separated doping regions. The insulating structure wraps around the channel bridge, and the gate wraps around the insulating structure.
US07781823B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to the present invention includes memory cell units, which include data select lines formed in parallel to each other, data transfer lines crossing the data select lines and aligned in parallel to each other, and electrically rewritable memory cell transistors disposed at intersections of the data transfer lines and the data select lines. It further includes: a memory cell array block in which the memory cell units are disposed along the data select lines; first source lines, connected to one end of the memory cell units, and aligned along the data select lines; and second source lines electrically connected to the first source lines, and disposed along the data select lines.
US07781807B2
A three-dimensional non-volatile semiconductor storage device which realizes both increased packing density and improved performance is disclosed. According to one aspect, there is provided a non-volatile semiconductor storage device comprising a first non-volatile memory cell provided on a first insulator, which includes a first semiconductor layer, and a first gate stack provided above the first semiconductor layer and including a first charge storage layer and a first control gate electrode, and a second non-volatile memory cell provided above the first non-volatile memory cell, which includes a second semiconductor layer, and a second gate stack provided above the second semiconductor layer and including a second charge storage layer and a second control gate electrode, the second gate stack being positioned to be aligned with the first gate stack, and wherein the first control gate electrode functions as a back gate electrode to the second non-volatile memory cell.
US07781805B2
A memory array having memory cells comprising a diode and an antifuse can be made smaller and programmed at lower voltage by using an antifuse material having a higher dielectric constant and a higher acceleration factor than those of silicon dioxide, and by using a diode having a lower band gap than that of silicon. Such memory arrays can be made to have long operating lifetimes by using the high acceleration factor and lower band gap materials. Antifuse materials having dielectric constants between 5 and 27, for example, hafnium silicon oxynitride or hafnium silicon oxide, are particularly effective. Diode materials with band gaps lower than that of silicon, such as germanium or a silicon-germanium alloy, are particularly effective.
US07781804B2
A non-volatile memory disposed on a substrate includes active regions, a memory array, and contacts. The active regions defined by isolation structures disposed in the substrate are extended in a first direction. The memory array is disposed on the substrate and includes memory cell columns, control gate lines and select gate lines. Each of the memory cell columns includes memory cells connected to one another in series and a source/drain region disposed in the substrate outside the memory cells. The contacts are disposed on the substrate at a side of the memory array and arranged along a second direction. The second direction crosses over the first direction. Each of the contacts extends across the isolation structures and connects the source/drain regions in the substrate at every two of the adjacent active regions.
US07781800B2
Disclosed is a p-type field effect transistor (pFET) structure and method of forming the pFET. The pFET comprises embedded silicon germanium in the source/drain regions to increase longitudinal stress on the p-channel and, thereby, enhance transistor performance. Increased stress is achieved by increasing the depth of the source/drain regions and, thereby, the volume of the embedded silicon germanium. The greater depth (e.g., up to 100 nm) of the stressed silicon germanium source/drain regions is achieved by using a double BOX SOI wafer. Trenches are etched through a first silicon layer and first buried oxide layer and then the stressed silicon germanium is epitaxially grown from a second silicon layer. A second buried oxide layer isolates the pFET.
US07781799B2
A semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof wherein a PMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate includes a first strained layer in the PMOS source/drain region and a first capping layer in contact with the first strained layer. Further, the semiconductor device and method provide for an NMOS source/drain region of a transistor within the substrate including a second strained layer in the NMOS source/drain region and a second capping layer in contact with the second strained layer.
US07781795B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a Group III nitride semiconductor device exhibiting improved crystallinity and a good performance. The inventive Group III nitride semiconductor device comprises a substrate, and a plurality of Group III nitride semiconductor layers provided on the substrate, wherein a first layer which is in contact with the substrate is composed of silicon-doped AlxGa1-xN (0≦x≦1). Also, the inventive Group III nitride semiconductor device comprises a substrate, and a plurality of Group III nitride semiconductor layers provided on the substrate, wherein a first layer which is in contact with the substrate is composed of AlxGa1-xN (0≦x≦1), and the difference in height between a protrusion and a depression which are present at the interface between the first layer and a second layer provided thereon is 10 nm or more and is equal to, or less than, 99% the thickness of the first layer.
US07781792B2
A solid state illumination device includes a solid state light emitting diode and a mounting base. The solid state light emitting diode includes encapsulation material, a wafer, and first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes have first ends electrically connecting with the wafer, and opposite second ends exposed outside the encapsulation material. The wafer and the first ends are encapsulated in the encapsulation material. The mounting base includes a main body with a receptacle defined therein, first and second receiving holes receiving the first and second electrodes. The main body defines an indent communicating with the first receiving holes receiving a bulge extending from the first electrodes.
US07781781B2
A CMOS image sensor array and method of fabrication. The CMOS imager sensor array comprises a substrate; an array of light receiving pixel structures formed above the substrate, the array having formed therein “m” levels of conductive structures, each level formed in a corresponding interlevel dielectric material layer; a dense logic wiring region formed adjacent to the array of light receiving pixel structures having “n” levels of conductive structures, each level formed in a corresponding interlevel dielectric material layer, where n>m. A microlens array having microlenses and color filters formed above the interlevel dielectric material layer, a microlens and respective color filter in alignment with a respective light receiving structure formed at a surface of the substrate. A top surface of the interlevel dielectric material layer beneath the microlens array is recessed from a top surface of the interlevel dielectric material layers of the dense logic wiring region.
US07781772B2
It is an object of the present invention to prevent an influence of voltage drop due to wiring resistance, trouble in writing of a signal into a pixel and trouble in gray scales, and provide a display device with higher definition, represented by an EL display device and a liquid crystal display device.In the present invention, a wiring including Cu is provided as an electrode or a wiring used for the display device represented by the EL display device and the liquid crystal display device. Besides, sputtering is performed with a mask to form the wiring including Cu. With such structure, it is possible to reduce the voltage drop and a deadened signal.
US07781768B2
In a case where a p-channel thin film transistor is used as a thin film transistor that is electrically connected to a light-emitting element and drives the light-emitting element, a value of cutoff current of the p-channel thin film transistor is made lower than that of a p-channel thin film transistor of a driver circuit. Specifically, channel doping is selectively performed on a semiconductor layer of a thin film transistor included in a pixel.
US07781760B2
A thin film transistor includes a source electrode and a drain electrode which are disposed to face each other, an organic semiconductor layer provided at least between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a plurality of gate lines extending over the source electrode, the organic semiconductor layer, and the drain electrode, and a gate insulating layer interposed between the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the organic semiconductor layer and the plurality of gate lines.
US07781759B2
A display device includes an insulating substrate; a plurality of gate wires formed on the insulating substrate, the plurality of gate wires including a gate electrode; a gate insulating layer covering the plurality of gate wires; a transparent electrode layer formed on the gate insulating layer, the transparent electrode layer including a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed about the gate electrode and spaced apart from each other to define a channel region disposed therebetween; a plurality of data wires covering a predetermined portion of the transparent electrode layer and being crossed insulatedly with the plurality of gate wires to define pixels; and an organic semiconductor layer formed on the channel region for each pixel, a predetermined portion of the organic semiconductor layer being operatively connected with the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the gate electrode to form a transistor having an improved characteristic and a novel structure.
US07781749B2
An illumination beam irradiation apparatus for use in pattern inspection systems is disclosed, which is less in deterioration of optical components and in attenuation of illumination light. The illumination apparatus includes a light source which yields a fundamental wave, a beam-shaper unit which performs beam-shaping of the fundamental wave so that this wave has a prespecified shape, and a pattern generator unit which operates, upon receipt of the beam-shaped fundamental wave, to convert this incoming wave into illumination light with a shorter wavelength to thereby generate illumination light of a prespecified shape. The illuminator also includes an image relay unit for guiding the illumination light that was generated by the pattern generator to fall onto a workpiece under inspection, such as a photomask or else.
US07781748B2
In a charged-particle exposure apparatus for exposure of a target with a beam of electrically charged particles, the illumination system includes a deflector device adapted to vary the direction of incidence of the illuminating beam upon the pattern definition device, the pattern definition device forms the shape of the illuminating beam into a desired pattern, and the projection optics system projects an image of the beam shape defined in the pattern definition device onto the target; the projection optics system includes a blocking aperture device having an opening and being adapted to block passage of beams traversing outside the opening, namely when the deflector device is activated to tilt the beamlet by a sufficient angle from its non-deflected path, e.g., for blanking out during the process of loading a pattern into the pattern definition device.
US07781746B1
A carrier for transporting a section of flexible phosphor imaging medium through a scanner has a flexible support having a front surface and a back surface, at least one releasable retaining element coupled to the flexible support for holding a first surface of the section of flexible phosphor imaging medium against the front surface of the flexible support, and a flexible frame extending at least partially along the perimeter of the flexible support and having a thickness above the front surface of the flexible support that is substantially the same as the thickness of the section of flexible phosphor imaging medium that is held against the front surface.
US07781744B2
A procedure for the preparation of radioisotopes consisting of a first step of electrodepositing a metallic isotope target to be irradiated on a target-holder element, a second step of irradiating the target, a third step of dissolving the target and a fourth set of purifying the radioisotope from the initial metallic isotope and from other possible radioactive and metallic impurities; the electrodeposition step in turn consisting of a dissolution operation in which the isotope to be irradiated is dissolved in a solution of HNO3 with concentration from 0.5 to 2.5 M, a pH buffering operation, and a recirculation operation, in which the solution obtained above is circulated at a rate from 0.5 to 3 within an electrolytic cell during the current output within the cell itself; the electrodeposition of the target to be irradiated occurs within the electrolytic cell during the recirculation operation.
US07781741B2
Methods and systems for an imaging system including a detector and a data acquisition system are provided. The data acquisition system includes a plurality of terminations, at least one of the terminations coupled to a signal lead of a respective detector element, the circuit board connector positioned proximate the detector to facilitate reducing an input capacitance of the respective detector element signal leads, and at least one connector slot configured to receive a single analog to digital converter board (A/D board), the connector slot further configured to receive two A/D boards in a back-to-back configuration with respect to each other.
US07781738B2
Disclosed is a digital X-ray image detector using an FED, including an upper substrate and a lower substrate disposed to face each other; an anode formed beneath the upper substrate; a photoconductive layer formed beneath the anode for forming electron-hole pairs using X-rays; a cathode formed on the lower substrate; an emitter formed on the cathode for emitting electrons of the cathode; a gate electrode formed on an insulating layer provided around the emitter on the cathode; and a data processing part for converting information about the electron-hole pairs formed in the photoconductive layer by the X-rays, transferred from the anode, to digital data through signal processing including filtering, amplification, storage, or A/D conversion. The high performance digital X-ray image detector of this invention has a high image resolution and a large area, is easy to manufacture and process compared to conventional processes, and has excellent detection efficiency of electrical signals.
US07781732B2
Disclosed is a fully automated system capable of producing high quality real-time S-parameter images. It is a useful and versatile tool in Material Science and Solid State Technology for determining the location of subsurface defect types and concentrations on bulk-materials as well as thin-films. The system is also useful in locating top surface metallizations and structures in solid state devices. This imaging system operates by scanning the sample surface with either a small positron source (22Na) or a focused positron beam. The system also possesses another two major parts, namely electronic instrumentation and stand-alone imaging software. In the system, the processing time and use of system resources are constantly monitored and optimized for producing high resolution S-parameter image of the sample in real time with a general purpose personal computer. The system software possesses special features with its embedded specialized algorithms and techniques that provide the user with adequate freedom for analyzing various aspects of the image in order to obtain a clear inference of the defect profile while at the same time keeping automatic track on the instrumentation and hardware settings. The system is useful for semiconductor and metal samples, giving excellent quality images of the subsurface defect profile and has applications for biological samples.
US07781730B2
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer comprising a first drift region and a second drift region enclosed within an evacuation chamber; a means of introducing an analyte of interest into the first drift region; a pulsed ionization source which produces molecular ions from said analyte of interest; a first foil positioned between the first drift region and the second drift region, which dissociates said molecular ions into constituent atomic ions and emits secondary electrons; an electrode which produces secondary electrons upon contact with a constituent atomic ion in second drift region; a stop detector comprising a first ion detection region and a second ion detection region; and a timing means connected to the pulsed ionization source, to the first ion detection region, and to the second ion detection region.
US07781727B2
Provided are optoelectronic components which include an optoelectronic device and a structure for self-aligning the optoelectronic device. Also provided are optoelectronic modules and methods of forming optoelectronic components.
US07781723B1
A machine is disclosed for inspecting the wall of a bottle which is delivered by a conveyor sequentially to an inspection station. A light source defines a plurality of vertical row groups each having no black row, a white row and a plurality of adjacent rows where the intensity systematically decreases to a lowest level where light blocking defects can be seen and than increases systematically to the next white row.
US07781709B1
A non-spinning projectile that is self-guided to a laser designated target and is configured to be fired from a small caliber smooth bore gun barrel has an optical sensor mounted in the nose of the projectile, a counterbalancing mass portion near the fore end of the projectile and a hollow tapered body mounted aft of the counterbalancing mass. Stabilizing strakes are mounted to and extend outward from the tapered body with control fins located at the aft end of the strakes. Guidance and control electronics and electromagnetic actuators for operating the control fins are located within the tapered body section. Output from the optical sensor is processed by the guidance and control electronics to produce command signals for the electromagnetic actuators. A guidance control algorithm incorporating non-proportional, “bang-bang” control is used to steer the projectile to the target.
US07781703B2
The thermal analyzer comprises temperature deviation approximation formula holder which holds an approximate formula of a temperature deviation between sample and furnace and an elevating or lowering rate of the temperature of furnace during measuring the temperature deviation, programmed temperature corrector which corrects a programmed temperature in proportion to the elevating or lowering rate of the temperature. So that, since the temperature deviation is corrected in proportion to the elevating or lowering rate of the temperature program, the temperature deviation between sample and furnace is controlled to diminish when heating or cooling the sample using the temperature program which elevates or lowers the temperature of the sample or the furnace.
US07781687B2
A control unit including a monitoring apparatus is disclosed, with the monitoring apparatus having an operating element and an attachment element. In at least one embodiment, the control unit is in two parts and includes an operating unit and switching elements. The required spatial association between the operating unit and the switching element is intended to be monitored in a cost-effective and reliable manner. For this purpose, when the monitoring apparatus is installed correctly, at least one second switching element can be operated by way of an operating member, and a first switching element is operated at the same time by way of the operating element of the monitoring apparatus.
US07781686B2
An operating element is provided that has a control knob, which is mounted in a housing, a console, or the like, and can move in a swiveling manner between a home position and multiple switching or contact positions. In order to design the operating element in a simple way, a central momentary switch that establishes the switch actuation point of the operating element and has a haptic function is associated with the control knob, and the momentary switch is actuated each time the control knob is swiveled out of its home position by a predefined angle toward a switching or contact position.
US07781680B2
An exemplary FPCB includes a differential pair consisting of a first transmission line and a second transmission line, a signal layer with the first transmission line arranged therein, a ground layer having a void which includes the area beneath the first transmission line, and a dielectric layer lying between the signal layer and the ground layer. The second transmission line is arranged in the ground layer offset from the first transmission line in the horizontal direction. The FPCB can transmit high speed signals.
US07781678B2
A grommet is inserted into a notch in a channel and partially supports a seal strip attached to the channel. The grommet includes a main segment and first and second end segments. The main segment extends from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis and has a first side surface and a second side surface. The first end segment is attached to the main segment adjacent to the first end of the main segment. The second end segment is attached to the main segment adjacent to the second end of the main segment. The main segment, the first end segment, and the second end segment together define a passageway extending through the grommet parallel to the longitudinal axis. A cable harness including a grommet and a vehicle including a grommet are also provided.
US07781674B2
The present invention relates to a non-corrugated protective tubular housing for electrically and non-electrically conducting elongated members. The non-corrugated protective tubular housing can include a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis that defines a length between a first end and a second end and defining a hollow volume, where at least one of the first and second ends is an open end; and a slit extending along the longitudinal axis and over at least a portion of the length between the first and second ends. The present invention also relates to a method having the step of housing the electrically conducting elongated member within the non-corrugated protective tubular housing.
US07781673B2
This disclosure relates to a polymer containing a first comonomer repeat unit and a second comonomer repeat unit. The first comonomer repeat unit includes a cyclopentadithiophene moiety. The second comonomer repeat unit includes a thienothiophene moiety, a thienothiophene tetraoxide moiety, a dithienothiophene moiety, a dithienothiophene dioxide moiety, a dithienothiophene tetraoxide moiety, or a tetrahydroisoindole moiety. The polymer can be used as a photoactive material in a photovoltaic cell. This disclosure also relates to such photovoltaic cells, as well as modules containing such photovoltaic cells.
US07781670B2
The invention concerns an organic photovoltaic component with a novel encapsulation, wherein the invention for the first time discloses packaging for organic solar cells that includes a low-cost film composite comprising a metal portion. The packaging meets high requirements, particularly with respect to high barrier properties against oxygen and water vapor encapsulation without or with only minimal adhesive joints, since the encapsulation can be welded/soldered to the substrate or the bottom electrode, integrated lead-through of electrical connections, including adhesive-bonded, soldered and/or welded connections.
US07781656B2
A strap for a guitar has a strap belt and two strap connectors each of which is provided at each end of the strap belt. Each strap connector includes a base plate having a first opening, a second opening, and a slit. The first opening has a diameter greater than a head portion of a connector pin. The second opening has a diameter smaller than a neck portion of the connector pin. The slit connects the first and second openings and has a width smaller than the diameter of a neck portion of the connector pin. In the strap connector, a portion of the base plate adjacent to the slit is bendable.
US07781650B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV202909. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV202909, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV202909 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV202909 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV202909.
US07781648B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for providing aphid resistance in plants. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods for using aphid resistant germplasm for breeding soybean aphid resistant soybean plants, including but not limited to cultivars, varieties, lines and methods of breeding the same for commercial use, the breeding methods further involving identifying and using genetic markers for aphid resistant traits.
US07781633B2
The present invention relates to a method for converting a feed including an oxygenate to a product including a light olefin. In particular, this invention relates to converting an oxygenate feedstock with a silicoaluminophosphate catalyst to a product including a light olefin in a reaction apparatus. More particularly, this invention provides a means by which an optimum level of coke can be determined and utilized to generate an optimum or near-optimum yield of light olefins such as ethylene and propylene in a oxygenates to olefins system.
US07781626B2
The invention relates to azeotropic and azeotrope-like mixtures of 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluorobutane (HFC-365) and hydrogen fluoride and a process for separating the azeotrope-like mixtures. The compositions of the invention are useful as an intermediate in the production of HFC-365. The latter is useful as a nontoxic, zero ozone depleting fluorocarbon useful as a solvent, blowing agent, refrigerant, cleaning agent and aerosol to propellant.
US07781625B2
A process for carrying out a chemical reaction which is catalysed by one or more metal or hydrogen fluoroalkyl-sulfonylated compound which process comprises carrying out said reaction in the presence of an ionic liquid or in solvent-free conditions.
US07781624B2
This invention relates to a process for the continuous preparation of nitrobenzene. This process comprises the adiabatic nitration of benzene with a mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid, in which the sum of the concentrations in the reaction zone of the metal ions which form sparingly soluble metal sulfates is less than 900 mg/l, based on the volume of the aqueous phase which contains sulfuric acid.
US07781601B2
A method for the production of 6,6,6-trihalo-3,5-dioxohexanic acid esters of formula (I): in addition to the enols thereof and E and Z isomers, wherein X independently represents fluorine, chlorine or bromine and R1 represents alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl. A method for the production of enol ethers of formula (Ib): and the enols thereof (E and Z isomers) wherein X and R1 have the above-mentioned meanings.
US07781597B2
The present invention provides an efficient, safe and cost effective way to prepare 5-(4-methyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-benzenamine which is a key intermediate for the preparation of substituted pyrimidinylaminobenzamides of formula (II):
US07781596B1
The invention relates to novel 2-phenylbenzimidazoles of general formula (I) or (II), wherein the radicals have the meanings cited in the description, and to their tautomeric forms, possible enantiomeric and diastereomeric forms, to their prodrugs, and to possible physiologically compatible salts. The invention also relates to the production of said compounds and to their use.
US07781590B2
The present invention comprises peridinylalkylcarbamate derivatives, methods for their preparation and the therapeutic use thereof as fatty acid amido hydrolase (FAAH) enzyme inhibitors. These derivatives exert various pharmacological activities by interacting, inter alia, with cannabinoid and vanilloid receptors. By inhibiting the metabolic activity of the FAAH enzyme, compounds often responsible for the onset of a large variety of diseases and other pathological conditions are not generated and the incidence of the disease is greatly reduced.
US07781586B2
Disclosed are novel metathesis catalysts of the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, X1, X2, L and Y are as described herein, a process for making the same and their use in metathesis reactions such as ring closing or cross metathesis.
US07781584B2
Compounds, pharmaceuticals, kits and methods are provided for use with DPP-IV and other S9 proteases that comprise a compound comprising: wherein M is N or CR4; Q1 and Q2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of CO, SO, SO2, and C═NR9; and each L, X, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein.
US07781580B2
Stilbene derivatives exhibit killing and suppression of growth activity against a variety of cancer cells, and are effective at suppressing tumor growth in vivo. The stilbene derivatives may be used in the treatment of diseases characterized by cell hyperproliferation including human malignancies and non-malignant diseases such as liver cirrhosis. Stilbenes may also disrupt abnormal vessels in tumor to achieve vascular disrupting effect to suppress tumor growth. Water soluble pro-drug forms of stilbene derivatives are particularly useful in suppressing tumor growth in vivo.
US07781574B2
Compositions comprising osteogenic factors fused with membrane transduction domains of viral proteins are provided. Also provided are methods of expression and use of such compositions. Further, the methods of making such compositions are also provided. The methods involve transfecting the cells with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a LIM mineralization protein operably linked to a promoter and optionally a membrane transduction domain of a viral protein. Transfection may be accomplished ex vivo or in vivo by direct injection of virus or naked DNA, or by a nonviral vector such as a plasmid. Methods for treating disc disease associated with trauma or disc degeneration are also described.
US07781559B2
Disclosed herein is a curable composition excellent in workability, adhesion properties, rubber-like properties, storage stability, and quick curability. The curable composition comprises (A) a crosslinkable silyl group-containing organic polymer and (B) a (meth)acrylic polymer obtained by polymerizing a (meth)acrylic monomer having a polymerizable unsaturated bond in the presence of a metallocene compound and a crosslinkable silyl group-containing thiol compound, at least one end of the (meth)acrylic polymer being bonded to a residue, —S—R3 (where R3 represents a group having a crosslinkable silyl group) obtained by removing a hydrogen atom from the crosslinkable silyl group-containing thiol compound.
US07781554B2
Polysiloxanes having vinyl or epoxy functionality. The polysiloxanes are used to form polymer-based materials having properties particularly suited for biomedical device applications. The polysiloxanes are of general formula I: wherein R is a C2-10 alkenyl, a C2-10 alkyl with an epoxy group or a C5-C7cycloalkyl with an epoxy group; R2, R3 and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 fluoroalkyl, optionally substituted phenyl and optionally substituted benzyl; A is —OH or —NHR5, wherein R5 is hydrogen or a C1-3 alkyl; and B is —R1-A or —R6, wherein R1 is a linking group having an alkylene group with 2 to 8 carbon atoms wherein the alkylene group optionally includes ether, urethane or ureido linkages; and R6 is selected from the group consisting of C1-4 alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted benzyl; and m and n are integers with an m:n ratio from 30:1 to 3:1.
US07781553B2
External donor systems, catalyst systems and olefin polymerization processes are described herein. The external donor systems generally include a first external donor represented by the general formula SiR2m(OR3)4-m, wherein each R2 is independently selected from alkyls, cycloalkyls, aryls and vinyls, each R3 is independently selected from alkyls and m is from 0 to 4. The external donor systems further include a second external donor represented by the general formula SiR4m(OR5)4-m, wherein each R4 is independently selected from alkyls, cycloalkyls, aryls and vinyls, each R5 is independently selected from alkyls, m is from 0 to 4 and at least one R4 is a C3 or greater alkyl.
US07781546B2
A process comprising polymerising in a loop reactor of continuous tubular construction an olefin monomer optionally together with an olefin comonomer in the presence of a polymerisation catalyst in a diluent to produce a slurry comprising solid particulate olefin polymer and the diluent wherein the internal diameter of at least 50% of the total length of the reactor is at least 700 millimeters and the solids concentration in the reactor is at least 20 volume % is disclosed.
US07781545B2
The present invention relates to a process for the catalytic polymerization of olefins comprising the steps of; i) a first polymerization in a first reactor, wherein olefins are polymerized with a particulate catalyst, hydrogen and optional a comonomer in a fluidum of an inert low boiling hydrocarbon medium into an reaction mixture comprising polymerized olefins; and ii) a second polymerization in a second reactor, wherein the polymerized olefins are further polymerized in a fluidized bed and in a moving bed under such conditions that the residence time in the fluidized bed and the residence time in the moving bed are independently controlled to a reactor system for carrying out said process, to the use of the reactor system, the polyolefins obtainable with said method and to the use of these polyolefins.
US07781539B2
This invention relates to blends containing two or more polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and related methods and articles.
US07781532B2
A stabilized fluorine-containing polymer powder having an average particle size of 5 to 100 μm is prepared by contacting a fluorine-containing polymer powder, which is prepared by milling the fluorine-containing polymer and removing fine particles, fibrous particles and coarse particles by classification, with a fluorinating agent so that the total number of unstable terminal groups is decreased to 7 to 50 per 106 carbon atoms. This is a fluorine-containing polymer powder achieved a high coating efficiency in an electrostatic coating method and provides a film having good properties such as heat resistance, non-tackiness, low frictional property, chemical resistance, etc.
US07781530B2
Polymeric compositions and methods of making and using such compositions are provided. The compositions incorporate a first component that is an isobutylene-based polymer and a second component having propylene-derived units and polyene derived units. The polymeric compositions have desirable processability characteristics, particularly for injection molding applications.
US07781526B2
The invention provides a medical implant or medical implant part comprising porous ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of about 400,000 atomic mass units or more and a porosity of about 15% to about 65%. The invention further provides a process for producing a medical implant or medical implant part.
US07781514B2
A method of making a thickened hardener composition useful in a two part resin system. The thickened hardener composition includes a carrier, a peroxide catalyst, and a thickening and volumetrically increasing agent, wherein the thickening and volumetrically increasing agent is microspheres. A method of making a thermoset resin from a two-part polyester resin system is also provided.
US07781511B2
Diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols are employed in polyolefins as nucleating agents. Diacetals of sorbitols and xylitol nucleating agents may be provided in granular or powder form from hoppers or mixing equipment into polyolefins during the formation of polymeric compositions and polymeric articles. Flow of diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols is improved by the use of certain silicas, in certain defined weight percentages. Submicron size range silica compounds may provide excellent flow enhancement properties when blended and used with diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols powder compounds. A hydrophobic silica mixed with diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols compounds also may provide enhanced flow properties for such mixture, as compared to mixtures using hydrophilic silica. Loading ranges of silica may be important in improving the flow of diacetals of sorbitols and xylitols compounds.
US07781505B2
A process for stabilising the viscosity of an amino-functional siloxane polymer comprises adding a dialkoxydialkylsilane to the amino-functional siloxane polymer or to the reagents from which the amino-functional siloxane polymer is produced.
US07781500B2
Disclosed herein is a process for preparing a composite material comprising mixing at least one natural fiber, at least one polyolefin resin, and at least one functionalized polyolefin coupling agent to provide said composite material; wherein said functionalized polyolefin coupling agent possesses a molecular weight distribution of greater than 2.5 (Mw/Mn by GPC) and comprises a base polyolefin resin that is grafted with a total of more than about 1 mmole of at least one polar monomer per 100 grams of functionalized polyolefin coupling agent.
US07781495B2
A curable composition having a low viscosity and providing a satisfactory rubber cured article is provided. A composition curable by radical photo curing and cationic photo curing in combination, comprising the under-mentioned components (A), (B), (C) and (D) as essential components: (A) a vinyl polymer having two or more acryloyl group or the like per molecule, the acryloyl groups or the like being present at one or more molecular ends; (B) an epoxy compound and/or an oxetane compound; (C) a radical photopolymerization initiator; and (D) a cationic photopolymerization initiator.
US07781490B2
The present invention relates to processes for forming mixed alcohols containing methanol and ethanol. The mixed alcohol can then be used as a feedstock for an oxygenate-to-olefin reaction system for conversion thereof to ethylene, propylene, and the like. In addition, the olefins produced by the oxygenate-to-olefin reaction can then be used as monomers for a polymerization of olefin-containing polymers and/or oligomers.
US07781486B2
The invention relates to the use of a sterile aqueous solution of a substance inhibiting the enzymatic decomposition of endogenous opioide neuropeptides, especially enkephalins, for producing a preparation provided for intravenous infusion, in order to intensify the action of punctual stimulation therapy carried out with an electrical current. One such substance is e.g. D-phenylalanine. In cases that are difficult to treat, pain can be effectively reduced or stopped by infusion of the preparation.
US07781485B2
The present invention provides Hsp90 family protein inhibitors comprising, as an active ingredient, a benzoic acid derivative represented by General Formula (I): [wherein n represents an integer of 0 to 10; R1 represents substituted or unsubstituted lower alkoxycarbonyl, substituted or unsubstituted aroyl, or the like; R2 represents —NR14R15 (wherein R14 and R15 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl or the like); R3 and R5 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl or the like; and R4 and R6 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, halogen, substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl or the like] or a prodrug thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said benzoic acid derivative or said prodrug.
US07781466B2
The invention relates to a preservative comprising at least one isothiazolone, at least one quaternary ammonium compound, and at least one stabilizer selected from the group of sulphite salts, hydrogen sulphite salts, sulphite-releasing compounds and hydrogen-sulphite-releasing compounds, the presence of algicidal triazine being ruled out. The preservative inhibits the growth of fungi, algae and bacteria on or in alkaline coating compositions. The invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of the preservative, to its use in a coating composition, and to the preserved composition.
US07781461B2
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for use as an NPY Y5 receptor antagonist comprising a compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 is lower alkyl, cycloalkyl or the like, R2 is hydrogen, lower alkyl or the like, n is 1 or 2, X is lower alkylene, lower alkenylene, arylene, cycloalkylene or the like, Y is CONR7, CSNR7, NR7CO, NR7CS or the like, Z is lower alkyl, optionally substituted carbocyclyl, optionally substituted heterocyclyl or the like and R7 is hydrogen or lower alkyl, prodrug, pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof.
US07781453B2
The compounds of Formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the meanings as given in the description are novel effective iNOS inhibitors.
US07781449B2
A pharmaceutical composition of a pharmaceutically acceptable trospium salt, with upon administration to a human patient generates an average steady state blood levels of trospium with a minimum (Cmin) and maximum (Cmax) blood levels of about 0.5-2.5 ng/ml and about 2.0-6.0 ng/ml, respectively.
US07781446B2
This invention provides the use of CCI-779 in the treatment of neoplasms.
US07781444B2
Fecal incontinence and anal itch can be treated by administration, more particularly by local application to the anus, of an α adrenergic blocker, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, prostaglandin F2α, dopamine, morphine, β-blockers, and 5-Hydroxytryptamine. The patients who benefit most from the invention are those who have a normal or low maximum anal resting pressure and a structurally intact internal anal sphincter muscle, and patients who have had major bowel resection and reanastomosis.
US07781443B2
A novel compound of the formula (I): wherein R1 is alkoxycarbonyl or the like, R2 is alkyl or the like; R3 is hydrogen or the like; R4 is alkylene or the like; R5 is optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R6, R7, and R8 are independently hydrogen; alkyl, alkoxy, or the like; R10 is optionally substituted aromatic ring, or the like; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which has an inhibitory activity against cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP).
US07781440B2
The invention relates to use of a pyrimidone derivative represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof as therapeutic agents: Wherein m, n, p, X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R4 R5, are as defined herein. The invention specifically relates to a medicament comprising the said derivative or a salt thereof as an active ingredient which is used for preventive and/or therapeutic treatment of a neurodegenerative disease caused by abnormal activity of GSK3β or GSK3β and cdk5/p25, such as Alzheimer disease.
US07781439B2
Pyrazolopyrimidines of the formula in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and X are as defined in the description, processes for preparing these compounds and their use for controlling unwanted microorganisms.
US07781436B2
The present invention relates to indol-3-yl-carbonyl-piperidin and piperazin derivatives which act as V1a receptor antagonists and which are represented by Formula I: wherein the residues R1 to R3 are as defined herein. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, and methods for preparation of the compounds and compositions. The invention further relates to methods for treating dysmenorrhea, hypertension, chronic heart failure, inappropriate secretion of vasopressin, liver cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety and depressive disorders.
US07781429B2
A vehicle for topical delivery which contains a liquid eutectic mixture of hydrophobic compounds.
US07781425B2
A guanidine compound having a biaryl skeleton represented by the following formula (1), which is useful as a catalyst for various asymmetric reactions. (wherein R1, R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s), or a heterocyclic group optionally having substituent(s); R4 to R15 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s), a heterocyclic group optionally having substituent(s), a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group optionally having substituent(s), an aryloxy group optionally having substituent(s), an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group optionally having substituent(s), an aryloxycarbonyl group optionally having substituent(s), a carbamoyl group optionally having substituent(s), an alkylthiocarbonyl group optionally having substituent(s), an arylthiocarbonyl group optionally having substituent(s), a carboxyl group, an alkylthio group optionally having substituent(s), an arylthio group optionally having substituent(s), an amino group or a substituted amino group, or a substituted silyl group; or in any combination of R1 to R15, these substituents may be taken together to form a ring; and X1 to X8 represent a hydrogen atom or a nitrogen atom, provided that, in the case of a nitrogen atom, there is no substituent on X1 to X8.
US07781416B2
Partially desulphated glycosaminoglycan derivatives are described, particularly heparin, and more particularly a compound of formula (I) where the U, R and R1 groups have the meanings indicated in the description. These glycosaminoglycan derivatives have antiangiogenic and heparanase-inhibiting activity and are devoid of anticoagulant activity.
US07781413B2
The present invention identifies the semaphorin polypeptide SEMA3B as a tumor suppressor. This molecule can inhibit tumor growth and induce apoptosis of tumor cells when produced internally in a cancer cell via gene transfer, or when applied extracellularly. These observations permit new methods for treatment and diagnosis of cancer.
US07781411B2
Certain derivatives of avermectin, avermectin monosaccharide and avermectin aglycone, having on the 4″, 4′ or 13 position, respectively, a 6-membered cyclic acetal with a substituent on position 2, that are useful in controlling pests, in particular pests that are harmful to crop plants and to its propagation material, such as representatives of the class insecta, the order acarina and the class nematode, are provided.
US07781409B2
A composition for external use, comprising 2-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid represented by the formula (I): or a salt or ester thereof which is safe to the human body, and a koji mold or a processed koji. The composition for external use is excellent in skin permeability, containing an ascorbic acid derivative which is excellent in stability, utilized persistently in the living body, and strong in antioxidant activity, and has little skin irritation.
US07781400B2
A solid or semisolid implant obtainable by providing a liquid composition comprising an aqueous solution of dextran with molecular weight of 1.0-100 kDa and introducing the liquid composition into the body of a mammal, whereby the implant is formed in situ in the body of the mammal. A process for preparing a composition useful for biomedical application, comprising the steps of providing a liquid composition comprising an aqueous solution of dextran having a molecular weight of 1-100 kDa; and bringing the liquid composition to solidify; whereby water is gradually eliminated from the liquid composition during the solidification. A biomedical article prepared from the composition.
US07781399B2
Disclosed herein are immunogenic compositions comprising a multilayer film comprising two or more layers of polyelectrolytes, wherein adjacent layers comprise oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. A first layer polyelectrolyte comprises an antigenic polypeptide comprising one or more surface adsorption regions covalently linked to one or more antigenic determinant regions, wherein the antigenic polypeptide and the one or more surface adsorption regions have the same polarity. The immunogenic compositions may be employed in methods of eliciting an immune response in a vertebrate organism.
US07781392B2
A malodor reducing perfume composition comprising materials a having fruity note and a two groups of an amber note material where the amount of amber and fruity materials together is at least 3% by weight where the total weight percentage of group A amber materials and group B amber materials, WA, is equal to or greater than 0.5% or the total amount of amber and fruity materials together is at least 3+22*(0.5−WA) % by weight where WA is less than 0.5%; wherein amber note materials have an odour threshold lower than that of 1-(2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8octahydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethanone and group B comprises materials with an amber note having an odour threshold equal to or higher than that of 1-(2,3,8,8-tetramethyl1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethanone; the weight ratio of amber note material having to fruity note material in the composition is in the range about 1:30 to 30:1.
US07781390B2
There is provided a new branched primary alcohol composition and the sulfates thereof exhibiting good cold water detergency and biodegradability. The branched primary alcohol composition has an average number of branches per chain of at least 0.7, having at least 8 carbon atoms and containing both methyl and ethyl branches. The primary alcohol composition may also contain less than 0.5 atom % of quaternary carbon atoms, and a significant number ethyl branches, terminal isopropyl branches, and branching at the C3 position relative to the hydroxyl carbon. The process for its manufacture is by skeletally isomerizing an olefin feed having at least 7 carbon atoms followed by conversion to an alcohol, as by way of hydroformylation, and ultimately, sulfation to obtain a detergent surfactant. Useful catalysts include the zeolites having at least one channel with a crystallographic free diameter along the x and/or y planes of the [001] view ranging from greater than 4.2 Å and less than 7 Å but allows one to skeletally isomerize the olefin to produce a variety of branches, while retaining ready biodegradability and good cold water detergency.
US07781387B2
A phosphate free automatic dishwashing detergent provides improved spotting and filming performance by including a spot reduction system that contains a combination of a polyacrylate and a carboxymethyl inulin. The detergent also includes an enzyme system that contains a combination of Esperase® 6.0T and an alkaline stable protease.
US07781384B2
The invention relates to a biodegradable functional fluid composition based on vegetable oil. This functional fluid suitable for lubricant, hydraulic and like fluid comprises palm olein and its by-product generated from fractionation of palm oil. The by-product is esterified by a hindered alcohol prior to blend together with palm olein and additive packages. The hydraulic fluid particularly suited for tropical climate with temperature ranging from 15-40° C.
US07781383B2
A lubricant, comprising: a base oil as primary lubricant component, and a naphthenate salt as additive (A), and an alkylimidazole compound as additive (B), added to the base oil, preferably further comprising an aliphatic amine compound as additive (C), a fluid dynamic bearing with the lubricant filled therein, a spindle motor with the fluid dynamic bearing installed therein, and a magnetic disk device with the spindle motor installed therein.
US07781378B2
An array is formed with a protective cover on a substrate. The protective cover is patterned to produce an array of openings to the substrate. Desired material is deposited on the substrate through the openings. The protective cover may then be removed. In one embodiment, the protective cover is a conformal polymer, such as di-para-xylylene. It may be removed by mechanical peeling. The material may be biological material such as DNA. The protective cover may be used to prevent non-specific hybridization in inter-spot regions by performing hybridization with the cover still in place. Hybridization that occurs in such regions between the spots may be removed with removal of the protective cover.
US07781377B2
A superconducting article is provided that includes a substrate, an anti-epitaxial film over the substrate, a buffer film having biaxial crystal texture over the anti-epitaxial film, and a superconductor layer over the second buffer film. Also provided is a superconducting article as a tape, in a power cable, and a power transformer.
US07781366B2
An oxidation catalyst system is formed by particles of an oxidation catalyst dispersed in a porous sol-gel binder. The oxidation catalyst system can be applied by brush or spray painting while the sol-gel binder is in its sol state.
US07781359B2
There is provided a high-frequency dielectric material that has a high relative permittivity, a high Q value, and a TCF property value close to zero (0) and can realize co-firing of the dielectric material with silver (Ag) and copper (Cu). The high-frequency dielectric material is characterized by comprising a composition of main constituent materials having a formulation of CaO: 1 mole, Nb2O5: (1−α×β)/3 mole, ZnO: (1−α)/3 mole, TiO2: γ mole, and Li2O: α×(1−β)/6 mole, wherein 0.65≦α≦0.75, 0.09≦β≦0.15, 0.066≦α×β≦0.100, and 0.15≦γ≦0.35; and 1 to 5 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the composition of main constituent materials, of a sintering aid selected from the group consisting of oxides of copper (Cu), boron (B), lithium (Li), bismuth (Bi), and vanadium (V) and a mixture of two or more of the oxides.
US07781356B2
A semiconductor structure and fabrication method is provided for integrating wide bandgap nitrides with silicon. The structure includes a substrate, a single crystal buffer layer formed by epitaxy over the substrate and a group III nitride film formed by epitaxy over the buffer layer. The buffer layer is reflective and conductive. The buffer layer may comprise B an element selected from the group consisting of Zr, Hf, Al. For example, the buffer layer may comprise ZrB2, AlB2 or HfB2. The buffer layer provides a lattice match with the group III nitride layer. The substrate can comprise silicon, silicon carbide (SiC), gallium arsenide (GaAs), sapphire or Al2O3. The group III nitride material includes GaN, AlN, InN, AlGaN, InGaN or AlInGaN and can form an active region. In a presently preferred embodiment, the buffer layer is ZrB2 and the substrate is Si(111) or Si(100) and the group III nitride layer comprises GaN. The ZrB2 buffer layer provides a reflective and conductive buffer layer that has a small lattice mismatch with GaN. The semiconductor structure can be used to fabricate active microelectronic devices, such as transistors including field effect transistors and bipolar transistors. The semiconductor structure also can be used to fabricate optoelectronic devices, such as laser diodes and light emitting diodes.
US07781355B2
The invention relates to glass reinforcement strands, the composition of which comprises the following constituents in the limits defined below, expressed as percentages by weight: 58 to 63% SiO2; 10 to 16% Al2O3; 16 to 23% CaO; 0.5 to 3.5% MgO; 0 to 2% Na2O+K2O+Li2O; 1 to 1.5% TiO2; 0 to 1.5% B2O3; 0 to 0.4% Li2O; 0 to 0.4% ZnO; 0 to 1% MnO; and 0 to 0.5% F. These strands have improved properties in terms of mechanical strength, acid resistance and high-temperature resistance for a low-cost composition. The invention also relates to a process for producing the said strands and to the composition allowing them to be produced.
US07781350B2
In a method and system for controllable electrostatic-directed deposition of nanoparticles from the gas phase on a substrate patterned to have p-n junction(s), a bias electrical field is reversely applied to the p-n junction, so that uni-polarly charged nanoparticles are laterally confined on the substrate by a balance of electrostatic, van der Waals and image forces and are deposited on a respective p-doped or n-doped regions of the p-n junction when the applied electric field reaches a predetermined strength. The novel controllable deposition of nanoparticles employs commonly used substrate architectures for the patterning of an electric field attracting or repelling nanoparticles to the substrates and offers the opportunity to create a variety of sophisticated electric field patterns which may be used to direct particles with greater precision.
US07781346B2
A semiconductor structure may be formed by a wet etching process using an etchant containing water. The semiconductor structure may include a plurality of patterns having an increased or higher aspect ratio and may be arranged closer to one another. A dry cleaning process may be performed using hydrogen fluoride gas on the semiconductor structure.
US07781343B2
By forming a protection layer on the back side of a substrate prior to any process sequences, which may deposit material or material residues on the back side, the respective back side uniformity may be significantly enhanced, thereby also increasing process efficiency of subsequent back side critical processes, such as lithography, back end of line processes and the like. In one illustrative embodiment, silicon carbide may be used as a material for forming a respective protection layer.
US07781339B2
A method of fabricating semiconductor interconnections is provided which can form a Ti-rich layer as a barrier layer and which can embed pure Cu material as interconnection material into every corner of grooves provided in an insulating film even when the grooves have a narrow minimum width and are deep. The method may include the steps of forming one or more grooves in an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, the recess having a minimum width of 0.15 μm or less and a ratio of a depth of the groove to the minimum width thereof (depth/minimum width) of 1 or more, forming a Cu alloy thin film containing 0.5 to 10 atomic % of Ti in the groove of the insulated film along a shape of the groove in a thickness of 10 to 50 nm, forming a pure Cu thin film in the groove with the Cu alloy thin film attached thereto, and annealing the substrate with the films at 350° C. or more to allow the Ti to be precipitated between the insulating film and the Cu alloy thin film.
US07781336B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulation pattern on the semiconductor substrate, and an etch stop layer on the insulating pattern, the insulation pattern and the etch stop layer defining a contact hole that exposes the substrate, a first plug filled in a portion of the contact hole, a diffusion barrier layer formed above the first plug and in a bottom portion and on sidewalls of a remaining portion of the contact hole, a second plug formed on the diffusion barrier layer and filled in the contact hole, and a storage node coupled to and formed on the second plug.
US07781334B2
An electrode is formed in a hole extending partway into the substrate of a semiconductor device by depositing an insulating film and a barrier metal layer on the substrate surface and the interior of the hole, then filling the hole with a layer of electrode material that also covers the substrate surface. Next, the electrode material exterior to the hole is removed by wet etching, using an etchant that does not etch the barrier metal. The barrier metal exterior to the hole is then removed by wet etching, using an etchant that does not etch the electrode material. This process eliminates the need for expensive chemical mechanical polishing.
US07781327B1
Methods of resputtering material from the wafer surface include at least one operation of resputtering material under a pressure of at least 10 mTorr. The methods can be used in conjunction with an iPVD apparatus, such as hollow cathode magnetron (HCM) or planar magnetron. The resputtered material may be a diffusion barrier material or a conductive layer material. The methods provide process conditions which minimize the damage to the dielectric layer during resputtering. The methods allow considerable etching of the diffusion barrier material at the via bottom, while not damaging exposed dielectric elsewhere on the wafer. Specifically, they provide a solution for the dielectric microtrenching problem occurring during conventional resputter process. Furthermore, the methods increase the etch rate to deposition rate ratio (E/D) and improve the etch back nonuniformity (EBNU) of resputter process. In general, the methods provide IC devices with higher reliability and decrease wafer manufacturing costs.
US07781321B2
The present invention, in one embodiment provides a method of forming a semiconducting device including providing a substrate including a semiconducting surface, the substrate comprising a first device region and a second device region; forming a high-k dielectric layer atop the semiconducting surface of the substrate; forming a block mask atop the second device region of the substrate, wherein the first device region of the substrate is exposed; forming a first metal layer atop the high-k dielectric layer present in the first device region of the substrate; removing the block mask to expose a portion of the high-k dielectric layer in the first device region of the substrate; forming a second metal layer atop the portion of the high-k dielectric layer in the second device region and atop the first metal in the first device region of the substrate; and forming gate structures in the first and second device regions of the substrate.
US07781313B2
A method for manufacturing a silicon wafer is characterized by performing one or both of grinding and polishing to a thin discoid silicon wafer to give bowl-shaped warpage that is concave at a central part to a wafer surface. One main surface of the thin discoid silicon wafer is adsorbed and held, and one or both of grinding and polishing are performed to the other main surface to fabricate a convex wafer whose thickness is increased from a wafer outer periphery toward a wafer center or fabricate a concave wafer whose thickness is reduced from the wafer outer periphery toward the wafer center. Then, the other main surface is adsorbed and held to protrude the center or the periphery of the one main surface side based on elastic deformation. One or both of grinding and polishing are carried out with respect to the one main surface to flatten the main surface, and adsorption and holding are released to give bowl-shaped warpage that is concave at the central part to the other main surface or the one main surface. By the method, an SOI wafer or an epitaxial silicon wafer having a high degree of flatness is obtained.
US07781303B2
A method for preparing a shallow trench isolation comprising the steps of forming at least one trench in a semiconductor substrate, performing an implanting process to implant nitrogen-containing dopants into an upper sidewall of the trench such that the concentration of the nitrogen-containing dopants in the upper sidewall is higher than that in the bottom sidewall of the trench, forming a spin-on dielectric layer filling the trench and covering the surface of the semiconductor substrate, performing a thermal oxidation process to form a silicon oxide layer covering the inner sidewall. Since the nitrogen-containing dopants can inhibit the oxidation rate and the concentration of the nitrogen-containing dopants in the upper inner sidewall is higher than that in the bottom inner sidewall of the trench, the thickness of the silicon oxide layer formed by the thermal oxidation process is larger at the bottom portion than at the upper portion of the trench.
US07781299B2
A method is disclosed for making a leadframe package stand having application in semiconductor packaging and microelectronic assembly in which an IC device (e.g., a bare chip IC, a wafer level package, or a chipscale package) is received for electrical connection to a PWB or for vertical package over package stacking. Electrically conductive leadframe traces are arranged in an area array circuit pattern between outer leads at the periphery of the mold body of a leadframe for connection to the PWB to inner leads for connection to the IC device. The inner lead tips terminate at each side of the IC device in groups of parallel aligned rows and columns to facilitate connection to the IC device without using intermediate bonding wires. Prior to molding, the inner leads of the conductive traces are secured by sacrificial tie-bars or adhesive tape to prevent movement of the inner leads and possible short circuits during molding. A cavity is formed in the mold body during molding so as to lie above the inner leads. After molding, the sacrificial tie-bars are separated from the inner leads, and the IC device is located in the cavity to be assembled to the leadframe to complete a leadframe package.
US07781294B2
A method for producing an integrated circuit including a semiconductor is disclosed. In one embodiment, crystal defects are produced by irradiation in the material of the underlying semiconductor substrate which crystal defects form an inhomogeneous crystal defect density distribution in the vertical direction of the semiconductor component and lead to a corresponding inhomogeneous distribution of the carrier lifetime.
US07781292B2
A structure and method of fabricating the structure. The structure including: a dielectric isolation in a semiconductor substrate, the dielectric isolation extending in a direction perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate into the substrate a first distance, the dielectric isolation surrounding a first region and a second region of the substrate, a top surface of the dielectric isolation coplanar with the top surface of the substrate; a dielectric region in the second region of the substrate; the dielectric region extending in the perpendicular direction into the substrate a second distance, the first distance greater than the second distance; and a first device in the first region and a second device in the second region, the first device different from the second device, the dielectric region isolating a first element of the second device from a second element of the second device.
US07781287B2
Vertical channel semiconductor devices include a semiconductor substrate with a pillar having an upper surface. An insulated gate electrode is around a periphery of the pillar. The insulated gate electrode has an upper surface at a vertical level lower than the upper surface of the pillar to vertically space apart the insulated gate electrode from the upper surface of the pillar. A first source/drain region is in the substrate adjacent the pillar. A second source/drain region is disposed in an upper region of the pillar including the upper surface of the pillar. A contact pad contacts the entire upper surface of the pillar to electrically connect to the second source/drain region.
US07781277B2
An integrated circuit includes NMOS and PMOS transistors. The NMOS has a strained channel having first and second stress values along first and second axes respectively. The PMOS has a strained channel having third and fourth stress values along the first and second axes. The first value stress differs from the third value and the second value differs from the fourth value. The NMOS and PMOS have a common length (L) and effective width (W), but differ in length of diffusion (SA) and/or width of source/drain (WS). The NMOS WS may exceed the PMOS WS. The NMOS may include multiple dielectric structures in the active layer underlying the gate. The SA of the PMOS may be less than the SA of the NMOS. The integrated circuit may include a tensile stressor of silicon nitride over the NMOS and a compressive stressor of silicon nitride over the PMOS.
US07781276B2
A CMOS integrated circuit has NMOS and PMOS transistors therein and an insulating layer extending on the NMOS transistors. The insulating layer is provided to impart a relatively large tensile stress to the NMOS transistors. In particular, the insulating layer is formed to have a sufficiently high internal stress characteristic that imparts a tensile stress in a range from about 2 gigapascals (2 GPa) to about 4 gigapascals (4 GPa) in the channel regions of the NMOS transistors.
US07781275B2
A method of manufacturing a flash memory device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate in which a cell region and a select transistor region are defined, etching the semiconductor substrate in the select transistor region so that there is a first step between the cell region and the select transistor region, forming a cell gate in the cell region, and forming a transistor in the select transistor region.
US07781271B2
A process for laser processing an article which comprises: heating the intended article to be doped with an impurity to a temperature not higher than the melting point thereof said article being made from a material selected from a semiconductor a metal an insulator and a combination thereof; and irradiating a laser beam to the article in a reactive gas atmosphere containing said impurity thereby allowing the impurity to physically or chemically diffuse into combine with or intrude into said article.The present invention also provides an apparatus for use in a laser processing process characterized by that it is provided with an internal sample holder and a device which functions as a heating means of the sample a window made of a material sufficiently transparent to transmit a laser beam a chamber comprising a vacuum evacuation device and a device for introducing a reactive gas containing an impurity element a laser apparatus operating in a pulsed mode to irradiate a laser beam to said chamber and a means to move said chamber synchronously with the laser irradiation.
US07781270B2
Electronic devices integrated on a single substrate and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method includes providing a substrate, and forming at least two electronic devices on the substrate, wherein the at least two electronic devices are selected from a thin film transistor, a memory, a diode, a capacitor, a resistor and an inductor. The at least two electronic devices are formed from a plurality of film layers, each film layer is formed over the substrate at the same time, and at least one layer of the film layers is formed by printing process.
US07781267B2
A semiconductor device and associated method for forming. The semiconductor device comprises an electrically conductive nanotube formed over a first electrically conductive member such that a first gap exists between a bottom side the electrically conductive nanotube and a top side of the first electrically conductive member. A second insulating layer is formed over the electrically conductive nanotube. A second gap exists between a top side of the electrically conductive nanotube and a first portion of the second insulating layer. A first via opening and a second via opening each extend through the second insulating layer and into the second gap.
US07781266B2
A method of assembling an IC device package is provided. A leadframe is formed. At least one IC die is attached to a die attach pad portion of the leadframe. Wire bonds are coupled between the IC die and the leadframe. A cap is attached to the leadframe. A second surface of the cap includes a cavity formed therein. The cap and leadframe form an enclosure structure that substantially encloses the at least one IC die. An encapsulating material is applied to encapsulate at least the IC die. A perimeter support ring portion of the leadframe is trimmed.
US07781265B2
A dual flat non-leaded semiconductor package is disclosed. A method of making a dual flat non-leaded semiconductor package includes forming a leadframe having a die bonding area with an integral drain lead, a gate lead bonding area and a source lead bonding area, the gate lead bonding area and a source lead bonding area being of increased area; bonding a die to the die bonding area; coupling a die source bonding area to the source lead bonding area; coupling a die gate bonding area to the gate lead bonding area; and partially encapsulating the die, the drain lead, the gate lead and the source lead to form the dual flat non-leaded semiconductor package.
US07781264B2
A flip-ship semiconductor package with a lead frame as a chip carrier is provided, wherein a plurality of leads of the lead frame are each formed with at least a dam member thereon. When a chip is mounted on the lead frame by means of solder bumps, each of the solder bumps is attached to the corresponding one of the leads at a position between the dam member and an inner end of the lead. During a reflow-soldering process for wetting the solder bumps to the leads, the dam members would help control collapse height of the solder bumps, so as to enhance resistance of the solder bumps to thermal stress generated by CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) mismatch between the chip and the leads, thereby preventing incomplete electrical connection between the chip and the leads.
US07781259B2
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device of the invention, a rigid substrate which supports one or more semiconductor elements on a surface of the substrate and is clamped between an upper mold and a lower mold of an encapsulation mold at a time of resin encapsulation is provided, so that a vent-end edge portion of the substrate corresponding to a vent end of the encapsulation mold has a thickness smaller than a thickness of other portions of the substrate. The substrate is disposed in the encapsulation mold, and resin is injected into a cavity between the upper mold and the substrate to encapsulate the semiconductor elements with the resin.
US07781256B2
Semiconductor devices and methods for making such devices are provided. One such method may include forming an epitaxial layer of single crystal SiC on a single crystal Si growth substrate, forming an epitaxial diamond layer on the layer of SiC, forming a Si layer on the diamond layer, bonding a SiO2 surface of a Si carrier substrate to the Si layer, and removing the Si growth substrate to expose the SiC layer. In yet another aspect, a semiconductor layer may be deposited onto the SiC layer. The semiconductor layer may further be deposited epitaxially.
US07781250B2
The present invention provides a wafer level chip size package having cavities within which micro-machined parts are free to move, allowing access to electrical contacts, and optimized for device performance. Also a method for fabricating a wafer level chip size package for MEMS devices is disclosed. This packaging method provides a well packed device with the size much closely to the original one, making it possible to package the whole wafer at the same time and therefore, saves the cost and cycle time.
US07781241B2
The method of the invention for producing a group III-V semiconductor device includes forming, on a base, a plurality of semiconductor devices isolated from one another, each semiconductor device having at least an n-layer proximal to the base, and a p-layer distal to the base, and having a p-electrode formed on the top surface of the p-layer, and a first low-melting-point metal diffusion preventing layer, the low-melting-point metal diffusion preventing layer being formed on the top surface of the p-electrode; forming, from a dielectric material, a side-surface protective film so as to cover a side surface of each semiconductor device; bonding the semiconductor device to a conductive support substrate via a low-melting-point metal layer; and removing the base through the laser lift-off process.
US07781239B2
A semiconductor defect type determination method and structure. The method includes providing a semiconductor wafer comprising a first field effect transistor (FET) comprising a first type of structure and a second FET comprising a second different type of structure. A first procedure is performed to determine if a first current flow exists between a first conductive layer formed on the first FET and a second conductive layer formed on the first FET. A second procedure is performed to determine if a second current flow exists between a third conductive layer formed the second FET and a fourth conductive layer formed on the second FET. A determination is made from combining results of the first procedure and results of the second procedure that the first FET and the second FET each comprise a specified type of defect.
US07781238B2
A method for making a testable sensor assembly is provided. The method includes forming a first sensor array on a first substrate having a first side and a second side, wherein the first sensor array is formed on the first side of the first substrate, coupling a first semiconductor wafer having a first side and a second side to the first sensor array, wherein the first side of the first semiconductor wafer is coupled to the first sensor array, thinning one of the second side of the first substrate or the second side of the first semiconductor wafer, and testing the first sensor array to identify operational and non-operational units in the testable sensor assembly before integration of the sensor assembly with interface electronics.
US07781237B2
An apparatus includes a first support structure configured to support an element that has an alignment marker provided with at least one height difference. The apparatus also includes an alignment sensor comprising a light source that is configured to provide a light beam that illuminates the alignment marker; and at least one detector configured to detect the at least one height difference of the alignment marker by analyzing the light beam reflected by the alignment marker. Such an apparatus may be used to align of the element with respect to the first support structure.
US07781230B2
An electro-resistance element that has a different configuration from conventional elements and is excellent in both affinity with semiconductor manufacturing processes and resistance change characteristics is provided. An electro-resistance element has two or more states in which electric resistance values between a pair of electrodes and is switchable from one of the two or more states into another by applying a predetermined voltage or current between the electrodes. The electro-resistance element includes a substrate and a multilayer structure disposed on the substrate, the multilayer structure includes an upper electrode, a lower electrode and an electro-resistance layer disposed between the electrodes, wherein the electro-resistance layer includes Fe2O3, and Fe3O4 contained in an amount of 0% to 20% of Fe2O3 in percent by weight, the lower electrode is made of an iron oxide having a different composition from the electro-resistance layer and containing Fe3O4, and the electro-resistance layer and the lower electrode make contact with each other.
US07781229B2
New chemiluminescent compounds, stable in aqueous buffers, for use in biological assaying include acridanebased compounds and (1,2)-dioxetanes. Among the new acridanebased compounds are water-soluble acridanes, enhancer coupled acridanes, bis and trisacridanes as well as acridane-(1,2)-dioxetanes. Among the new (1,2)-dioxetanes are electron deficient group-containing dioxetanes and tethered bis-1,2-dioxetanes. The (1,2)-dioxetanes are useful as substrates for various enzymes. The acridanes can be admixed with an oxidizing agent. An aqueous buffer and, optionally, a stabilizer to form a substrate or reagent formulation useful for assaying, inter alia, HRP.
US07781223B2
A fluorescent molecular wire is provided, having a fluorescent polymer main chain to which an optically active substituent is linked so as to be conjugatable form, the optically active substituent being represented by formula (I) below: where R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 represent independently a hydrogen atom, a linear alkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms that may have a substituent, a branched alkyl group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms that may have a substituent, a cyclic alkyl group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms that may have a substituent, an aryl group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms that may have a substituent, or an aralkyl group having 7 to 30 carbon atoms that may have a substituent, and R3 and R7 may be bonded respectively to R4 and R8 to form an alkylene group having 2 to 60 carbon atoms that may have a substituent; and R10 and R11 represent independently a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms that may have a heteroatom, and R10 and R11 may be bonded to form an alkylene group having 2 to 30 carbon atoms that may have a heteroatom.
US07781222B2
A biosensor system determines analyte concentration from an output signal generated by an oxidation/reduction reaction of the analyte. The biosensor system adjusts a correlation for determining analyte concentrations from output signals at one temperature to determining analyte concentrations from output signals at other temperatures. The temperature-adjusted correlation between analyte concentrations and output signals at a reference temperature may be used to determine analyte concentrations from output signals at a sample temperature.
US07781218B2
The present invention is directed to methods of identifying and/or comparing humans. More particularly, the present invention is directed to methods of collecting human scent compounds from a subject, extracting the compounds, analyzing the compounds, and correlating the compounds to a unique compound profile for the subject. These unique compound profiles can be used to distinguish one subject from another, or to identify a specific subject based upon a sample.
US07781215B2
The present invention concerns the discovery that proteins encoded by a family of vertebrate genes, termed here hedgehog-related genes, comprise morphogenic signals produced by embryonic patterning centers, and are involved in the formation of ordered spatial arrangements of differentiated tissues in vertebrates. The present invention makes available compositions and methods that can be utilized, for example to generate and/or maintain an array of different vertebrate tissue both in vitro and in vivo.
US07781212B2
Antibodies that bind to a 40 kDa protein which is expressed on tumors, but is not expressed on normal adult hemopoietic cells are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for production and the use of such antibodies.
US07781207B2
The present invention relates to a method and a system for producing a mammalian pre-embryo and a stem cell having a better quality than prior art methods. The system comprises means for obtaining a mammalian oocyte, and means for obtaining a mammalian spermatozoa, and an apparatus having at least two separate air-tight chambers, for which the oxygen tension of one chamber may be changed independent of the oxygen tension of the other chamber, said at least two separate air-tight chambers constitute a main chamber and at least one residence chamber. The method for in vitro producing a mammalian pre-embryo comprising the steps: a1) providing a mammalian oocyte, a2) providing a mammalian spermatozoa, b) culturing the oocyte and the spermatozoa, c) fertilizing the oocyte with the spermatozoa obtaining a fertilized oocyte, and d) allowing cell-division of the fertilized oocyte obtaining a multicellular pre-embryo wherein at least one of the steps a1) or a2) is conducted at an oxygen tension below 15%, or e) allowing cell-division of the fertilized oocyte obtaining a multicellular pre-embryo, wherein the culture is performed at an oxygen tension allowing cultivation of the cells and wherein at least one of the steps comprises a change in the oxygen tension Stem cells are produced from the multicellular pre-embryo.
US07781201B2
This invention relates generally to polypeptides and peptides having an amylase activity, e.g., enzymes, polynucleotides encoding the enzymes, the use of such polypeptides and peptides. In one aspect, the polypeptides having amylase activity have increased activity and stability at acidic, neutral and alkaline pH and increased temperature. In one aspect, the invention provides methods for producing an alcohol, for producing a high-maltose or a high-glucose syrup or a mixed syrup, for liquifying a starch-comprising composition, comprising use of polypeptides having amylase activity of the invention.
US07781200B2
The present invention relates to a new wild-type lipase, its nucleic acid sequences and the amino acid sequences thereof. This new lipase shows washing performance in the form of wild-type. The present invention also relates to the method for producing the lipase and the uses of the lipase in baking.
US07781199B2
The present invention concerns the V617F variant of the protein-tyrosine kinase JAK2, said variant being responsible for Vaquez Polyglobulia. The invention also relates to a first intention diagnostic method for erythrocytosis and thrombocytosis allowing their association with myeloproliferative disorders, or to the detection of the JAK2 V617F variant in myeloproliferative disorders allowing their reclassification in a new nosological group, and to the identification of specific inhibitors and siRNA.
US07781198B2
The invention relates to thermostable polymerases that have polymerase activity temperatures in the range from 90° C. up to 113° C., such as those derived from Pyrolobus fumaria, and to polynucleotides encoding the polymerases In addition, methods of designing new thermostable DNA polymerases and methods of use thereof are also provided. The polymerases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.
US07781197B2
Bryophyte plants and bryophyte plant cells comprising dysfunctional fucT and xylT genes and an introduced glycosyltransferase gene, methods for the production of glycosylated proteins therewith, vectors and uses thereof.
US07781195B1
A device for manipulating a molecule in vivo relative to a target tissue includes at least one elongated member having at least two discrete and separately activatable electrodes separated by an insulating material interposed therebetween. The electrodes are configures to establish at least one of a first electromagnetic field between selected electrodes sufficient to manipulate a molecule relative to a target tissue and a second, typically higher-level, electromagnetic field sufficient to cause transient permeability of a cell membrane within the target tissue. A third electromagnetic field may also be applied to cause further translation of the molecule into an electropermeabilized cell and/or manipulated with respect to the tissue. Thus three-dimensional manipulation of the molecule relative to the target tissue may be effected to optimize a desired positioning thereof, such as entry into a cell.
US07781194B2
The invention relates to a method for using biomass in a biogas process. The aim of the invention is to use substrates having a high nitrogen and solid content, and which using a small amount of water, has very good energy balance and is particularly environmentally friendly. Said aim is achieved by the virtue of the fact that the substrate is treated with a recirculated product in order to form a pumpable medium, and additionally treated with bacteria in cyclones and fermenters, which simultaneously removes the nitrogen in a stripping process, separates the solid fermentation radicals and further uses the recirculated product as a heat-exchanger and reaction medium. Said process is environmentally friendly and has a very good energy balance.
US07781190B2
This invention provides a method for combining overlapping DNA molecules comprising: (a) providing first and second DNA fragments, the first having a region homologous to a region in the second; (b) tagging the first DNA fragment with a selectable marker; (c) cloning the first DNA sequence into a retrieval vector to form a DNA-vector complex; (d) linearizing the DNA-vector complex; and (e) inserting the first DNA fragment from the DNA-vector complex into the second DNA fragment using homologous recombination to form a combined DNA molecule; and (f) removing the selectable marker, thereby generating a combined DNA molecule. The invention further provides a vector for retrieving and inserting a selected DNA molecule into a target DNA molecule.
US07781187B2
Fluorescent dyes useful for detecting a target material in biological assays an electron donating moiety which is linked by a conjugated π-electron bridge to an electron accepting moiety. The π-electron bridge includes at least one carbocyclic ring structure or heterocyclic ring structure. The electron accepting moiety is a carboxylic acid, a salt of a carboxylic acid, or has the formula: wherein:X8 is selected from the group consisting of H, CH3, and (CH2)n6-Z2−, where Z2− is a monovalent anion; and n6 is an integer from 1 through 10; andQ3 is O or S.
US07781184B2
The present invention aims to provide a convenient and high precision evaluation method of a pharmaceutical agent that changes the mitochondrial membrane potential, using a mitochondrial membrane potential of a cultured cell as an index.The present invention provides a method for evaluating the ability of a test substance to change the mitochondrial membrane potential by using, as an index, the change in the mitochondrial membrane potential, which is produced by the addition of an ion permeability regulator on a cellular membrane to a cell culture medium, wherein the change is measured as variation in the fluorescent intensity of a fluorescent dye.
US07781167B2
A molecular detection chip including a metal oxide silicon-field effect transistor (MOSFET) on sidewalls of a micro-fluid channel and a molecular detection device including the molecular detection chip are provided. A molecular detection method, particularly, qualification methods for the immobilization of molecular probes and the binding of a target sample to the molecular probes, using the molecular detection device, and a nucleic acid mutation assay device and method are also provided. The formation of the MOSFET on the sidewalls of the micro-fluid channel makes easier to highly integrate a molecular detection chip. In addition, immobilization of probes directly on the surface of a gate electrode ensures the molecular detection chip to check for the immobilization of probes and coupling of a target molecule to the probes in situ.
US07781158B2
A method for separation the collagen from the various animal tissues is disclosed for preparing collagen solution and product using the same. The porcine tissues are processed to have proper form and size for acid-treatment. The acid-treatment is repeated with pepsin to separate type I or II collagens. The separated collagen is salt-treated for fractionation and ethanol-treated for obtaining 5˜10% of collagen from the initial tissue weight. The prepared tissues are processed for separating collagen through the collagen separating process. The separated collagen is processed for preparing product. The method for preparing product is comprised: treating a collagen solution having a predetermined concentration under a neutral condition at a low temperature, followed by overnight treatment at a temperature of 30 to 35° C.; concentrating collagen by centrifugation; and dissolving the thus-concentrated collagen in refrigerated weakly-acidic solvent or phosphate buffered saline (PBS), thereby preparing collagen having a concentration of 1 to 5 mg/mL.
US07781154B2
A method for forming a damascene structure utilizes dual hard mask layers and a thin etch stop layer, and does not require a sacrificial layer within the via. A floating etch stop layer can additionally be used. The dual hard masks may be formed of dielectric and neither of the hard masks is required to contain metal. The thin etch stop layer reduces capacitance problems.
US07781150B2
A method of photolithographic exposure is disclosed. The photolithographic exposure method comprises providing a substrate, forming a first resist layer thereon, forming a second resist layer on the first resist layer, the second resist layer providing a transmission which first increases then decreases as exposure dose increases, and exposing the second resist layer.
US07781149B2
A lithographic method to enhance image resolution in a lithographic cluster using multiple projections and a lithographic cluster used to project multiple patterns to form images that are combined to form an image having enhanced resolution.
US07781148B2
Thermally imagable elements are described comprising on a substrate with hydrophilic surface (a) a first layer comprising a first polymer soluble or swellable in aqueous alkaline developer and insoluble in organic solvents with low polarity and (b) a second layer comprising a second polymer soluble or swellable in aqueous alkaline developer, wherein the first polymer is different from the second polymer and the second polymer comprises vinyl acetal repeating units and pendant acidic groups selected from COOH, —SO3H, —PO3H2, —PO4H2, aromatic OH and groups having acidic amide or imide groups.
US07781145B2
Disclosed herein are photoresist cleaning solutions useful for cleaning a semiconductor substrate in the last step of a developing step when photoresist patterns are formed. Also disclosed herein are methods for forming photoresist patterns using the solutions. The cleaning solutions of the present invention include H2O as a primary component, a surfactant as an additive, and optionally an alcohol compound. The cleaning solution of the present invention has lower surface tension than that of distilled water which has been used for conventional cleaning solutions, thereby improving resistance to pattern collapse and stabilizing the photoresist pattern formation.
US07781140B2
A method for removing dry film resist (DFR) from a fine pitch solder bump array on a semiconductor wafer provides for pre-soaking the wafer in a chemical bath then turbulently exposing the wafer to a chemical solution, both steps taking place in batch processing with the wafers processed in a vertical position. The wafers are then individually processed through a chemical spinning operation in which a chemical solution is dispensed from a spray nozzle while motion such as spinning is imparted the horizontally disposed wafer. The spin speed of the chemical spraying process may then be increased to accelerate physical removal of residue. Deionized water rinsing and spin-drying provide a solder bump array void of any DFR or other residuals.
US07781130B2
The invention provides a pigment-containing heat-curable composition including a pigment dispersion solution obtained by dispersing a composition containing a heat-curable resin, a solvent, and a pigment, wherein the concentration of the pigment is 50% or more and less than 100% with respect to the total solid contents.
US07781128B2
The invention relates to extreme ultraviolet photolithography masks operating in reflection. These masks comprise a lower mirror (22) covering a substrate (20), and absorbent zones formed on the lower mirror in an etched pattern that defines the pattern to be reproduced. According to the invention, the absorbent zones are formed by resonant Fabry-Pérot cavities exhibiting a strong absorption peak for the operating wavelength. The cavities are formed by the lower mirror (22), an upper mirror (24) and, between the mirrors, a transparent medium, the thickness of which is calculated so as to produce an absorption peak at the operating wavelength. The medium may be formed from silicon (27) or by a superposition of a thin silicon oxide layer (forming a buffer layer to facilitate etching) and a silicon layer.
US07781127B2
A main object of the present invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a pattern formed body which makes it possible to form property varied patterns having a desired line width, even when plural pattern formed bodies are manufactured. To achieve the object, the invention provides a manufacturing method of pattern formed bodies, comprising: a pattern-forming step of radiating vacuum-ultraviolet light onto a patterning substrate, a surface property of which is varied by the vacuum-ultraviolet light, through a photomask having at least a transparent substrate and a light shielding part to form a pattern formed body having a property varied pattern, in which the surface property of the patterning substrate is varied; and a step of repeating the pattern-forming step to manufacture a plurality of the pattern formed bodies, wherein an interval between the transparent substrate and the patterning substrate upon the pattern-forming step is set into the range of 0.1 μm to 200 μm.
US07781121B2
The fuel cell of this invention includes at least one unit cell that includes: a membrane-electrode assembly including an electrolyte membrane sandwiched between an anode and a cathode; an anode-side separator in contact with the anode and having a fuel flow path for supplying a fuel to the anode; and a cathode-side separator in contact with the cathode and having an oxidant flow path for supplying an oxidant to the cathode. The fuel flow path has a first flow channel and a second flow channel, and each of the first flow channel and the second flow channel has a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet. The first flow channel and the second flow channel are adjacent to each other, and the direction of the flow of fuel through the first flow channel is opposite to the direction of the flow of fuel through the second flow channel.
US07781117B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell and a controller that controls a hydrocarbon fuel supply to an anode side and a cathode side of the fuel cell. The controller controls an oxidant supply to the anode and cathode sides to exothermically react with the hydrocarbon fuel when a temperature of the fuel cell is below a threshold temperature. When the temperature is greater than the threshold temperature, the controller terminates supply of the hydrocarbon fuel and the oxidant to the anode side. The controller terminates supply of the hydrocarbon fuel to the cathode side, and supplies a hydrogen-containing feed to the anode side.
US07781113B2
Systems of checking thermal-induced circulation of a coolant in a fuel cell stack are disclosed. The system includes coolant inlet and outlet lines extending from a fuel cell stack. A pump and a radiator are confluently connected to the coolant inlet and coolant outlet lines. In one embodiment, a valve (either check type or automatic type) is provided in the coolant outlet line at the bottom of the fuel cell stack to prevent the flow of cold coolant from the coolant outlet line into the fuel cell stack upon start-up of the fuel cell stack. In another embodiment, a valve (either one-way flow control type or automatic type) is provided in the coolant inlet line at the top of the fuel cell stack. A method of checking thermal-induced circulation of a coolant in a fuel cell stack is also disclosed.
US07781109B2
Hydrogen is stored in materials that absorb and desorb hydrogen with temperature dependent rates. A housing is provided that allows for the storage of one or more types of hydrogen-storage materials in close thermal proximity to a fuel cell stack. This arrangement, which includes alternating fuel cell stack and hydrogen-storage units, allows for close thermal matching of the hydrogen storage material and the fuel cell stack. Also, the present invention allows for tailoring of the hydrogen delivery by mixing different materials in one unit. Thermal insulation alternatively allows for a highly efficient unit. Individual power modules including one fuel cell stack surrounded by a pair of hydrogen-storage units allows for distribution of power throughout a vehicle or other electric power consuming devices.
US07781102B2
Electrodes comprising an alkali metal, for example, lithium, alloyed with nanostructured materials of formula SizGe(z-1), where 0
US07781094B2
A microporous composite membrane obtained by coating at least one surface of a microporous polyolefin membrane with a solution of a gelable fluororesin in a mixed solvent of a good solvent for the fluororesin, and a poor solvent having a dipole moment of 1.8 Debye or less and drying to form a porous coating layer of the above fluororesin has cylindrical penetrating pores formed in the above coating layer, with well-balanced permeability, adhesion to electrodes, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance, shutdown properties and meltdown properties.
US07781091B2
A battery pack includes a plurality of cylindrical cell modules, each formed by serially connecting a plurality of unit cells; a cell box in which the cell modules are contained in a manner such that the cell modules are arranged parallel to each other; a plurality of holding members fit to outer peripheries of the cell modules so as to arrange the cell modules in a zigzag manner along axes of the cell modules, in a manner such that the holding members make contact with each other and a gap is secured between every adjacent cell module; and an elastic body inserted between the holding members and a frame of the cell box. Preferably, a pushing member provided between the elastic body and the holding members is provided.
US07781090B2
A solid electrolyte battery incorporating a positive electrode with an elongated positive-electrode collector having two sides on which positive-electrode active material layers are formed, a negative electrode with an elongated negative-electrode collector having two sides on which negative-electrode active material layers are formed, and a solid electrolyte layer formed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode such that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are laminated and wound. A ratio A/B of the total film thickness A of the positive-electrode active material layers with respect to the total thickness B of the negative-electrode active material layers satisfies a range from 0.5 to 1.2.
US07781086B2
A fuel processor system capable of circulating fuel processor system gases, e.g. reformate, anode exhaust, and/or combustor exhaust, through a fuel processor provides advantages. The system fuel cells discharge hydrogen-containing anode exhaust and oxygen-containing cathode exhaust, The fuel processor converts hydrogen-containing fuel to hydrogen-containing reformate to fuel the fuel cells. A catalytic combustor coupled with a vaporizer reactor is positioned in series downstream from the fuel cells. A bypass passage connects an outlet of at least one of the fuel processor, the fuel cells, the catalytic combustor, and the vaporizer reactor to the inlet of the fuel processor. The bypass passage is operable to circulate a fuel processor system gas to the inlet of the fuel processor.
US07781085B2
A novel polymer electrolyte is provided that enables a solid polymer electrolyte used in fuel cells, for example, to have sufficient proton conductivity even in a low-water-content state or a zero-water-content state by using a monomer compound represented by the general formula (1), and a graft copolymer compound in which the monomer compound represented by the general formula (1) is graft-copolymerized to the main chain of a fluorine-containing hydrocarbon polymer. Tf indicates a trifluoromethane sulfonyl group (—SO2CF3).
US07781067B2
A semiconducting structure having a glass substrate. In one embodiment, the glass substrate has a softening temperature of at least about 750° C. The structure includes a nucleation layer formed on a surface of the substrate, a template layer deposited on the nucleation layer by one of ion assisted beam deposition and reactive ion beam deposition, at least on biaxially oriented buffer layer epitaxially deposited on the template layer, and a biaxially oriented semiconducting layer epitaxially deposited on the buffer layer. A method of making the semiconducting structure is also described.
US07781065B2
A multilayer ceramic substrate includes a base material layer including an aggregate of first particles containing a crystallized glass material and a first ceramic material, a constraining layer including an aggregate of second particles containing a second ceramic material that does not sinter at a temperature at which the crystallized glass material is melted, an intercalating layer including an aggregate of third particles containing a viscosity-decreasing substance that decreases the viscosity the melted crystallized glass material, and conductive films arranged along a main surface of at least one of the base material layer, the constraining layer, and the intercalated layer. The multilayer ceramic substrate also includes conductive films provided along a main surface of at least one of the base material layer, the constraining layer, and the intercalated layer.
US07781063B2
The present invention is a continuous high thermal conductivity resin featuring high thermal conductivity (HTC) materials 30 and a host resin matrix 32. The HTC materials 30 form a continuous organic-inorganic composite with the host resin matrix 32 via surface functional groups that are grafted to the HTC materials 30 and form covalent linkages with the host resin matrix 32. Phonons 34 tend to pass along the HTC materials 30 as they travel through the host resin matrix 32, and phonons 36 pass to the next HTC material if the distance between these materials is less than n.
US07781059B2
A fiber modifier for improving thermo-bonding affinity of a composite fiber to a natural fiber includes a blend of maleic anhydride and a copolymer component selected from a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, a copolymer of ethylene and methacrylic acid, and combinations thereof. A core and sheath composite fiber including a sheath component made from a fiber composition that contains the above fiber modifier is also disclosed.
US07781054B2
The invention relates to a coating that is produced from a thermally curable, aqueous coating material on an organic basis, and that contains colloidally dispersed metallic bismuth. The invention further relates to the use thereof as anti-corrosive coating on metal substrates.
US07781047B2
The present invention relates to a donor laminate for transfer of a conductive layer comprising at least one electronically conductive polymer on to a receiver, wherein the receiver is a component of a device. The present invention also relates to methods pertinent to such transfers.
US07781032B2
A method of depositing a thin film may include providing a wafer into a thin film apparatus, rotating the wafer, flowing a plasma across the wafer from edge to edge, depositing a first thin film on the wafer, creating a temperature gradient within the thin apparatus, and depositing a second thin film on the wafer. The temperature gradient may include having the temperature at the center of the wafer being higher than the temperature at the edges of the wafer.
US07781026B2
Disclosed is a phase change ink composition comprising a phase change ink carrier and a colorant compound of the formula wherein M is an atom or group of atoms capable of bonding to the central cavity of a phthalocyanine molecule, wherein axial ligands optionally can be attached to M. Also disclosed is a radiation curable ink composition comprising (a) an ink vehicle, said ink vehicle comprising at least one radically curable monomer compound, and this colorant compound.
US07781023B2
A method of producing an electroluminescent display is provided. A medium is obtained from a stream of commerce. The medium is activated to form a pattern such that the medium emits light by electroluminescence according to the pattern in response to electrical energization.
US07781020B2
A structured material characterized in having, on a substrate, a layer having tubular pores positioned uniaxially parallel to the interface of the substrate and the layer and supporting a conductive polymer material having a function of a surfactant therein. A method for producing the above structure material characterized by the steps of providing a substrate having the anisotropy on a surface, applying a solution containing a surfactant having a functional group for polymerization in the molecular structure, a solvent therefor, and a solute different from the surfactant to the substrate, and a step of standing for a predetermined time for causing the surfactant to assemble in a predetermined direction based on the anisotropy of the substrate.
US07781019B2
A method of forming a concrete wall having a substantially uniform exterior surface texture. The method includes the initial step of pouring concrete into a wall form. The concrete is poured from a first mixture and is allowed to cure. After the concrete is cured, the wall form is removed from the resultant concrete base structure. A roughened texture is then created on the base structure. A finishing mixture is then applied to the roughened texture. The finishing mixture may be created by separating the aggregate from a portion of the remaining first mixture. The finishing mixture creates a smooth texture on the exterior surfaces of the initially formed base structure.
US07781017B1
A method for making a carbon nanotube-based device is provided. A substrate having a shadow mask layer to define an unmasked surface area thereon is provided. A sputter source is disposed on the shadow mask layer. The sputter source is configured for supplying a catalyst material and depositing the catalyst material onto the substrate. A catalyst layer including at least one catalyst block is formed on the substrate. A thickness of the at least one catalyst block is gradually decreased from one end to another opposite end thereof. The at least one catalyst block has a region with a thickness proximal or equal to an optimum thickness. A carbon source gas is introduced. At least one carbon nanotube array extending from the catalyst layer using a chemical vapor deposition process is formed. The at least one carbon nanotube array is arc-shaped, and bend in a direction of deviating from the region.
US07781013B2
A transparent support and plural types of particle groups having different particle size distributions each other that are to be contained in a light diffusing layer are provided. a blending ratio of the plural types of particle groups is computed such that a space packing ratio of respective particles in the light diffusing layer becomes a specified space packing ratio and the plural types of particle groups having been blended in the computed blending ratio are dispersed on the transparent support, whereby the light diffusing layer is formed on the transparent support. Thus, a diffusion film can be produced simply and at low cost.
US07781008B2
Disclosed is a scarified, whole, dried, infused, buoyant cranberry. Further a process for preparing the cranberry is disclosed. The process includes sizing individually quick frozen cranberries by collecting those that pass through a mesh screen with 16 millimeter openings and that are retained on a mesh screen with openings of 9 millimeters. The sized cranberries are then scarified and infused in an infusion solution having a Brix of from 40 to 80 at a temperature of from 29 to 44° C.±5° C. until the cranberries have a Brix of at least about 40. The cranberries are removed from the infusion solution and dried at a temperature of from 73 to 85° C. until they have a water activity level of from 0.25 to 0.6 and a buoyancy of at least 30%.
US07781006B2
The present invention generally relates to frozen foods, for example, frozen desserts such as ice cream. One aspect of the invention is directed to carbonated frozen desserts and other carbonated frozen foods. Another aspect is directed to methods of making frozen foods, such as carbonated frozen desserts and other foods, as well as methods of freezing other fluids, such as water. A carbonated frozen dessert can be made, for example, by introducing carbon dioxide (CO2) into dessert mix prior to freezing the dessert mix. Yet another aspect of the invention is directed to cooling dessert mixes and other food products by introducing a fluid, such as a refrigerant, into the dessert mix or food product that cools and/or freezes the dessert mix or food product. The fluid may also become incorporated into the frozen dessert or other food product. Still another aspect of the invention is directed to frozen foods, such as ice creams and similar frozen desserts, having smooth consistencies. Other aspects of the invention are directed to apparatuses for making such frozen foods, methods of promoting such frozen foods, and the like.
US07780991B2
The present invention encompasses a solid dose delivery vehicle for ballistic administration of a bioactive material to subcutaneous and intradermal tissue, the delivery vehicle being sized and shaped for penetrating the epidermis. The delivery vehicle further comprises a stabilizing polyol glass loaded with the bioactive material and capable of releasing the bioactive material in situ. The present invention further includes methods of making and using the solid dose delivery vehicle of the invention.
US07780990B2
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for the treatment of diabetes mellitus using combination therapy. The compositions relate to a compound selected from one or more of betaines, lipidic betaines, betaine lipids and an antidiabetic agent such as sulfonylureas, biguanides, glitazones, .alpha.-glucosidase inhibitors, potassium channel antagonists, aldose reductase inhibitors, glucagon antagonists, activators of RXR, insulin therapy or other anti-obesity agent. The methods include the administration of the combination of compound of Formula I with antidiabetic agent where the two components are delivered in a simultaneous manner, where the compound selected from one or more of betaines, lipidic betaines, betaine lipids is administered first, followed by the antidiabetic agent, as well as wherein the antidiabetic agent is delivered first followed by the compound selected from one or more of betaines, lipidic betaines, betaine lipids. In the claims, betaine means pharmaceutically acceptable betaine, lipidic betaines, betaine lipids, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and combinations thereof.
US07780989B2
A process for the preparation of a dispersion of crystalline nanoparticles in an aqueous medium is disclosed. Specifically, a first solution comprising a substantially water-insoluble substance in a water-miscible organic solvent is rapid mixed with an aqueous phase comprising water, and optionally a stabilizer, to form a dispersion of amorphous particles. The dispersion of amorphous particles is then sonicated for a sufficient period to form crystalline nanoparticles of the substantially water-insoluble substance. The process provides nanocrystals with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of less than 1 micron, particularly less than 300 nm, and is particularly useful for the preparation of nanocrystalline dispersions of pharmaceutical substances.
US07780988B2
Homogeneous solid amorphous dispersions of drugs in concentration-enhancing polymers are formed in desirable larger particle sizes with minimal fines by using an atomizer and process conditions capable of producing droplets having an average diameter of at least 50 microns and a D10 of at least 10 microns.
US07780985B2
The invention provides a novel “separation marking” on a tablet as a means for assisting in the identification of a region on the tablet that is desired to be able to be broken from time to time. Said breaking allows production of smaller dosage forms known herein as tablettes. In a preferred embodiment, the separation mark will be a printed mark that is made on the tablet surface.
US07780982B2
A biodegradable hyaluronic acid derivative comprising a modified hyaluronic acid repeating unit represented by the formula (HA)-[O(C═O)NH-M]p, wherein HA is a unit including N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid, M is a modifying moiety containing a C2-16 hydrocarbyl group or a prepolymer, and p is an integer of 1 to 4. The biodegradable hyaluronic acid derivative when dissolved in a hydrophilic medium can form micelles and can be used to entrap a pharmaceutically active or bioactive molecule.
US07780981B2
Systems and methods for treating diseases, addictions and disorders in humans and animals involving synchronizing and tailoring the administration of drug compounds with the body's natural circadian rhythms, in order to counteract symptoms when they are likely to be at their worst. Automated and pre programmable transdermal drug administration system are used. This system can also utilize a pump or pressurized reservoir, and/or a system for removing depleted carrier solution, or other modulated dispensing actuator, in conjunction with micro-fabricated structures commonly referred to as Micro-needles, or heat, or iontophoresis, sonophoresis, or a wide range of chemical permeation enhancers.
US07780978B2
The present invention provides an edible composition for oral delivery of an active agent such as paclitaxel or a retinide. The composition comprises, in the form of a dry flowable powder: (a) an active agent such as a retinide; (b) lipid matrix composition; (c) optionally sweetener; (d) flour. Compositions of the invention may be administered per se or mixed with a solid or liquid food carrier, for direct oral consumption by a subject or administration through a feeding tube.
US07780961B2
The invention relates to a recombinant Lactococcus strain, with environmentally limited growth and viability. More particularly, it relates to a recombinant Lactococcus that can only survive in a medium, where well-defined medium compounds are present. A preferred embodiment is a Lactococcus that may only survive in a host organism, where such medium compounds are present, but cannot survive outside the host organism in the absence of such medium compounds.
US07780960B2
Provided is a process for purifying human interferon beta from a recombinant human interferon beta-containing culture comprising performing affinity chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), wherein the affinity chromatography includes: adsorbing the interferon beta-containing culture to an equilibrated affinity chromatography column, followed by washing with an equilibration buffer solution; washing the column with a washing buffer solution A of pH 6.5-7.5 containing 30-60 wt % of propylene glycol and a washing buffer solution B of pH 6.5-7.5 containing 10-30 wt % of propylene glycol and 1-2M NaCl; and eluting a human interferon beta-containing fraction with a buffer solution of pH 6.5-7.5 containing 40-60 wt % of propylene glycol and 1-2M NaCl.
US07780954B2
A cosmetic composition for sunless tanning or imparting glow to skin is herein described. The composition includes from about 0.1 to about 20% by weight of a tanning agent and from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a crosslinked cationic copolymer having a monomer unit which is a methacryloylethyl or acryloylethyl tri(C1-C3 alkyl)ammonium salt. The crosslinked cationic copolymer is a color enhancing agent which improves color intensity and avoids streaking of the developing tan/glow.
US07780951B2
The invention relates to the immunization of pigs against Candidatus Helicobacter suis using antigens of species related to Candidatus Helicobacter suis.
US07780946B2
The present invention relates to a supported catalyst system. The supported catalyst of the present invention comprises an inorganic support having attached to at least one surface thereof non-acidic, hydrophillic, hydroxyl-containing organic R10 groups having no or substantially no surface charge in solution, and at least one linker capable of binding a catalytic species, e.g. an enzyme or an organometallic molecule, wherein the linker is attached to a catalytic species. The R10 groups preferably are selected from the group consisting of —CH2OH, —CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH3, —CH2CH2OH, —CH(OH)2CH3, —CH2CH(OH)2, —CH(OH)CH2(OH) and mixtures thereof. The presence of the R10 groups on the support surface prevents or reduces non-specific binding of the catalytic species with the support surface by minimizing hydrophobic interactions and providing no or substantially no surface charge in the region of the support having catalytic species attached thereto. Simultaneously, the linker binds the catalytic species to the surface of the support in a manner which permits the catalytic species to be freely available for catalytic activity. Methods of catalyzing a reaction using the supported catalyst system of the invention are also disclosed.
US07780944B2
The invention is a process and device for exchanging heat energy between three or more streams in a microchannel heat exchanger which can be integrated with a microchannel reactor to form an integrated microchannel processing unit. The invention enables the combining of a plurality of integrated microchannel devices to provide the benefits of large-scale operation. In particular, the microchannel heat exchanger of the present invention enables flexible heat transfer between multiple streams and total heat transfer rates of about 1 Watt or more per core unit volume expressed as W/cc.
US07780938B2
The inventive method of producing silicon comprises reacting gaseous trichlorosilane with hydrogen to deposit silicon onto a substrate and to produce silicon tetrachloride by-product, vaporizing the silicon tetrachloride by-product to form gaseous silicon tetrachloride, converting the gaseous silicon tetrachloride to finely divided silicon, forming a silicon melt by melting the finely divided silicon, and forming solid silicon from the silicon melt.
US07780937B2
Granules based on silicon dioxide and having the properties: Average grain size:10 to 120 μm BET surface area:40 to 400 m2/g Pore volume:0.5 to 2.5 ml/g Pore size distribution:less than 5% of the total pore volume exists of pores with a diameter < 5 nm, rest meso- and macropores pH value:3.6 to 8.5 Tapped density:220 to 700 g/l They are prepared by dispersing silicon dioxide in water, spray drying, optionally heating and/or silanizing.Whereas a pyrogenic silicon dioxide powder with a BET surface area of 30 to 90 m2/g, a DBP index of 80 or less, a mean aggregate area of less than 25000 nm2 and a mean aggregate circumference of less than 1000 nm, wherein at least 70% of the aggregates have a circumference of less than 1300 nm or a high-purity pyrogenically prepared silicon dioxide having metal contents of less than 0.2 μg/g is prepared by reacting a silicon tetrachloride having a metal content of less than 30 ppb by means of flame hydrolysis is used.
US07780926B2
Process for carrying out heat exchange reactions comprising introducing a reactant stream into a bed of catalytic material placed outside at least one double walled heat transfer tube in a heat exchange reactor contacting the reactant stream with the catalytic material in indirect heat exchange with a heat transfer medium present in the annular volume of the at least one double walled heat transfer tube, the annular volume comprising one or more spacer elements creating a helical flow path of the heat transfer medium around the inner heat transfer tube of the at least one double walled heat transfer tube. The invention also includes a heat exchange reactor for carrying out the above reaction.
US07780918B2
Sensor platforms and methods of making them are described, and include platforms having horizontally oriented sensor elements comprising nanotubes or other nanostructures, such as nanowires. Under certain embodiments, a sensor element has an affinity for an analyte. Under certain embodiments, such a sensor element comprises one or more pristine nanotubes, and, under certain embodiments, it comprises derivatized or functionalized nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, a sensor is made by providing a support structure; providing a collection of nanotubes on the structure; defining a pattern within the nanotube collection; removing part of the collection so that a patterned collection remains to form a sensor element; and providing circuitry to electrically sense the sensor's electrical characterization. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises pre-derivatized or pre-functionalized nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, sensor material is derivatized or functionalized after provision on the structure or after patterning. Under certain embodiments, a large-scale array includes multiple sensors.
US07780912B2
A paint that warns of radiological or chemical substances comprising a paint operatively connected to the surface, an indicator material carried by the paint that provides an indication of the radiological or chemical substances, and a thermo-activation material carried by the paint. In one embodiment, a method of warning of radiological or chemical substances comprising the steps of painting a surface with an indicator material, and monitoring the surface for indications of the radiological or chemical substances. In another embodiment, a paint is operatively connected to a vehicle and an indicator material is carried by the paint that provides an indication of the radiological or chemical substances.
US07780911B2
A biocidal composition is provided, said biocidal composition comprising components suitable for producing peracid in situ, wherein said components comprise one or more prion-degrading enzymes, a suitable substrate, at least one enzyme having perhydrolase activity, and a source of peroxygen.
US07780910B2
A cartridge holder (30) for an automated endoscope reprocessor (10) is mounted on a movable rack (14). As the rack is wheeled into the chamber, a connector (164) on the cartridge holder (164) automatically makes a fluid connection with a connection port (158) within the chamber. The cartridge holder includes a base (42) and a lid (44), which is pivotally connected to the base by a hinge (110). A cartridge (40) holding a dose of a disinfectant concentrate or reagents is positioned in a well (50) defined by the base and the lid closed. Water flows through the cartridge holder via a fluid passageway (A) defined in part by the lid and in part by the hinge. The water mixes with the concentrate or reagents and the resulting disinfectant solution passes out of a lower end (205) of the cartridge into the well. The solution flows upwardly, around the cartridge, through an annular space (232) between the cartridge and the well, disinfecting the well in the process. The solution exits the cartridge through a plurality of bores (80) at an upper end of the base.
US07780891B2
A tire mold having a substantially elliptical base surface and a method for making a tire mold are provided. In one embodiment, a user selects a major axis length for the tire mold, then selects a ratio of the major axis length to a minor axis length. The tire mold is then formed with a substantially elliptical base surface defined by the first major axis and the selected ratio.
US07780885B2
The invention relates to a high pressure casting method for producing articles of sanitaryware and to a machine implementing the method. The method of type “A” comprises the steps of forming the thickness of the sanitaryware article, emptying the excess slip out of the mould and consolidating the article, all these steps being performed at a constant pressure equal in value to the maximum pressure of the step in which the thickness of the article is formed. In the method of type “B”, the steps of emptying out the excess slip and consolidating the sanitaryware article (14) are performed at a pressure equal to 75% of the maximum pressure of thickness formation. The casting machine comprises a discharge device for draining out the excess slip through a calibrated valve that enables the slip to be discharged without decreasing the pressure in the mould. Compared to prior art casting methods, the moulds and the sanitaryware articles are therefore subjected to less stress and strain and the time required to complete a casting cycle is significantly reduced.
US07780881B2
Contact lens molds and systems and methods for producing contact lens molds are described. The contact lens mold sections include two optical quality surfaces, a flange circumscribing at least a portion of the two optical quality surfaces, and an elongate member extending from the flange. Two mold sections can contact one another to form a mold assembly having a contact lens shaped cavity. The mold sections are structured to form a contact lens having an edge that does not require further physical modification before placement on an eye. Systems and methods are described which direct a molten polymeric material into cavities corresponding to the mold sections.
US07780873B2
A bioactive complex composition having enhanced oxidative stability, emulsion stability, mineral rich transparent beverages and a wide range of functional health benefits. The composition may include as a base composition individual ingredients or a synergistic blend of mineral salts, Omega-3 rich oils, phospholipids, chitosan, and alpha-casein, beta-casein, kappa-casein or protein fragments, glycopeptides, phosphopeptides. The composition may optionally be further utilized for the prevention of hypercholesterolemia, bone (and teeth) mineral loss, treatment of mental health diseases, heart health, additional nutritional supplementation, and treatment of additional medical conditions.
US07780871B2
A type of inorganic light-emitting material for a UV solid light source is described. The inorganic light-emitting material is fluorescent powder for a silicate-based UV solid light source. The main ingredient is Sr2CaLn2(SiO4)3±δ. The center of the light-emitting part is the material entering the cation light lattice node. The material is Eu+2, Sm+2, Yb+2, Mn+2, Sn+2, and Cu+2 series +2 valence ions. The second part of the light-emitting is the +3 valence TR+3 ions of Ce+3, Eu+3, Tb+3, Sm+3, and Dy+3 series distributed inside the nodes. When the chemical index is 0≦δ≦0.2, the indium nitride and gallium nitride-based allomorphous semiconductor short wave UV light, under conditions of excitement, produces light radiation wavelength λ≦430 nm multiple band white light that can then be used. The color temperature is between T=2500K and 12000K.
US07780869B2
An efficient oxygen scavenging composition for use in film forming polymers is disclosed wherein the oxygen scavenging composition comprises an oxidizable metal particle, such as elemental iron; a water hydrolysable Lewis acid, such as aluminum chloride; and an acidifying electrolyte such as sodium or potassium bisulfate.
US07780868B2
Alkaline etching solutions capable of improving a surface roughness even with a relatively low alkaline concentration, contain bromate or both bromate and nitrate. An alkaline etching method using the solution produces silicon wafers with improved surface roughness.
US07780856B2
A device for on-line radiating gas-containing liquid with light that can mix ozone and water, and radiate the same on-line as well as remove accretions on protective sheaths (preferably quartz tubes) of the device to reduce energy loss. Ozone and water is mixed in a gas-liquid mixer of the device and the ozone-water mixture is guided by a conduct of a gas-liquid separator of the device and spayed out to be radiated by multiple UV lamps protected by the protective sheaths. The accretions on the protective sheaths are removed by scraper mechanisms of a washing assembly of the device.
US07780848B2
A single needle hemodiafiltration apparatus is provided. The single needle hemodiafiltration apparatus includes circuits for blood supply from a patient and blood return to a patient, a dialysis fluid supply system for supplying a dialysis fluid, and a system for controlling the blood flow and dialysis fluid flow in a separation device which is equipped to perform filtration and back-filtration operations. A controller is provided that controls, in a series of coordinated operations, the flow of blood from the patient into the separation device, the flow of filtration fluid and back filtration fluid, and the return of blood to the patient.
US07780846B2
A method for producing a substantially desulfurized hydrocarbon fuel stream at temperatures less than 100° C. including providing a nondesulfurized fuel cell hydrocarbon fuel stream and passing the fuel stream through a sulfur adsorbent system containing a specialized sulfur adsorbent containing hydrated alumina to produce a substantially desulfurized hydrocarbon fuel stream.
US07780842B2
Methods and apparatuses for measuring streaming metrics. A method for measuring a streaming metric corresponding to a rotating surface is characterized by rotating the surface around an axis of rotation and measuring the streaming metric at a location within one radius from the axis of rotation and within three radii from the surface, wherein the location does not contact the surface. Apparatus for measuring a streaming metric corresponding to a rotating surface are characterized by a working electrode which does not contact the surface, a counter electrode, a meter connected to the working electrode and the counter electrode, a rotatable spindle on which the surface is mounted, and a container for holding electrolyte, wherein the working electrode, counter electrode, and surface are located within the container.
US07780836B2
On both surfaces of an electric insulating material 1, a surface conductive layer 2A and a back surface conductive layer 2B are formed by transcription. Further, a via hole 5 penetrating through the surface conductive layer 2A and the electric insulating material 1 is provided. After forming a photosensitive plating resist pattern 14, the via hole 5 is filled with a copper plating filler 15, and the surface wiring layer 9A and the back surface wiring layer 9B are formed. Thereafter, the photosensitive plating resist pattern 14 as well as the surface conductive layer 2A and the back surface conductive layer 2B provided under the photosensitive plating resist pattern 14 are removed to fabricate a double-sided wiring board 11.
US07780831B2
Methods of analyzing the electrophoretic mobility distribution of von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers include providing a sample medium comprising a plurality vWF multimers. The vWF multimers are electrophoretically separated by electrohoretic mobility in the sample medium by subjecting said sample medium to an electric field to provide separated vWF multimers. The separated vWF multimers in the sample medium are exposed to a light source to produce scattered light. The scattered light is detected, and the electrophoretic mobility distribution of the separated vWF multimers is determined from the detected scattered light.
US07780828B2
The present invention relates to an analytical instrument (1) which includes a flow path (5) for moving a sample containing blood cells, an introduction port (50) for introducing the sample into the flow path (5), a reagent portion (51) arranged in the flow path (5), and an electron detection medium (52) for obtaining information necessary for analyzing an analysis target component contained in the sample in relation with an amount of electrons transferred. The reagent portion (51) contains an electron mediator for supplying an electron taken from the analysis target component in the sample to the electron detection medium (52), and at least part of the reagent portion is positioned adjacent to the introduction port (50).
US07780823B2
A tending module (7) for a series of electrolytic cells (2) to be used for the production of aluminum by fused bath electrolysis including a frame (8) that can be fixed to a trolley (6) and a turret (9) fitted on the frame (8) so as to pivot about a vertical axis A, and equipped with a set of tools including a crust breaker (11), a bucket shovel (12), at least one first anode clamp (13) and a hopper (15) fitted with a retractable duct (16), and a balcony or a cab (18) having controls that will be used to maneuver the module and the tools, and a control station (19) from which an operator can actuate the controls. The module according to the invention is characterized in that, taking a first plane P1 and a second plane P2 perpendicular to each other and to the turret (9) plane Pt and intersecting on the A axis, the center C of the control station (19) is located at a determined distance C1 from plane P1 and a determined distance C2 from plane P2, the center of the bucket shovel (12) and the center of the first anode clamp (13) are located on the opposite side of the plane P1 from the control station (19), and the crust breaker (11) and the retractable duct (16) are located between the control station (19) and the row formed by the bucket shovel (12) and the first anode clamp (13).
US07780820B2
A high performance TMR sensor is fabricated by incorporating a tunnel barrier having a Mg/MgO/Mg configuration. The 4 to 14 Angstroms thick lower Mg layer and 2 to 8 Angstroms thick upper Mg layer are deposited by a DC sputtering method while the MgO layer is formed by a NOX process involving oxygen pressure from 0.1 mTorr to 1 Torr for 15 to 300 seconds. NOX time and pressure may be varied to achieve a MR ratio of at least 34% and a RA value of 2.1 ohm-um2. The NOX process provides a more uniform MgO layer than sputtering methods. The second Mg layer is employed to prevent oxidation of an adjacent ferromagnetic layer. In a bottom spin valve configuration, a Ta/Ru seed layer, IrMn AFM layer, CoFe/Ru/CoFeB pinned layer, Mg/MgO/Mg barrier, CoFe/NiFe free layer, and a cap layer are sequentially formed on a bottom shield in a read head.
US07780809B2
A method of forming an elastomeric tire component is provided, comprising the following steps. An apparatus is provided which includes a rotating applicator head and a non-rotating portion. The non-rotating portion has an internal channel having a first end in fluid communication with a gear pump and a second end in fluid communication with a first channel of the rotating applicator head. The first channel is substantially aligned with the Z axis. The rotating applicator head further includes a second channel in fluid communication with the first channel, and wherein the second channel is oriented at an angle with respect to a Y axis and is in fluid communication with a nozzle. The method further includes pumping a strip of elastomeric material through said internal channel and then into said first and second channel, and then through an outlet of said nozzle onto a surface. The apparatus further comprising a tongue assembly rotatably mounted to the applicator head and being positioned adjacent said nozzle, wherein said tongue compresses said strip of elastomeric material against said surface.
US07780804B2
An information support (12) has at least one piece of information which is provided on the information support (12). The information is covered by material layer which is released by means of ultrasonic sonotrode (18) from a hot-stamping strip (24) wherein the material layer is transferred to the information support (12) at the position at which the information on the information support (12) is to be covered. The transfer of material layers onto an information support can be effected rapidly and in an economical fashion at low temperatures using the ultrasonic sonotrode. The ultrasonic sonotrode preferably operates in an oscillatory region between 15,000 and 35,000 Hz. The information support (12) can be configured as a support which accepts a material layer without covering information on the support.
US07780801B2
The invention relates to a composition of matter comprising a soldering flux, wherein the flux consists essentially of a combination of a fluxing agent and a solvent, and wherein the fluxing agent comprises a keto acid such as levulinic acid or acetylbutyric acid. The flux may also comprises an ester acid, or comprises a mixture of the keto acid with the ester acid. The solvent comprises a mixture of a tacky solvent with a non-tacky solvent. The invention also relates to a process comprising soldering at least two surfaces together, each of which comprises a metal area to which solder can adhere by employing the following steps in any order: applying solder to at least one of the metal areas, aligning the metal areas so that they are superimposed over one another, heating at least one of the areas to a temperature that comprises at least the melting temperature of the solder. The last step comprises joining the superimposed areas to one another. The process employs the flux composition operatively associated with the solder, and in one embodiment the invention comprises a mixture of the flux composition with powdered solder. In another embodiment, the process comprises IMS, C4 and C4NP processes and the solder comprises a lead free solder. The invention also comprises a product produced by the foregoing process or processes.
US07780800B2
A bent pipe corresponding to at least API X100 grade and having a base metal with high strength and toughness and a weld metal with high toughness is provided. A steel plate prepared by cooling after hot rolling at a cooling rate at the central portion in the plate thickness direction of at most 5° C. per second at 700-500° C. is formed into a bend mother pipe, which is then heated to 900-1100° C. and subjected to bending, then it is cooled to a temperature of at most 300° C. at a cooling rate in the central portion of the thickness direction of at least 5° C. per second at 700-500° C., after which it is tempered at 300-500° C.
US07780796B2
An apparatus for controlling an operation of a robot cleaner including: a battery installed in the robot cleaner; and a means for selectively cutting off power supply of the battery to at least one or more units operated for performing a cleaning operation when the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped. When the cleaning operation of the robot cleaner is stopped, the robot cleaner is changed to the power saving mode or to the standby mode, and accordingly, power consumption of the battery of the robot cleaner can be reduced.
US07780790B2
Disclosed is a vacuum processing apparatus in which a conducive partition having a plurality of through holes is formed inside a vacuum processing vessel, and an internal space of the vacuum processing vessel is partitioned into a plasma generating space in which a high-frequency electrode is installed to function as a counter electrode with respect to the partition, and a substrate processing space in which a substrate is set. This vacuum processing apparatus includes a gas reservoir formed on a sidewall of the vacuum processing vessel and communicating with the plasma generating space, and a gas supply system connected to the gas reservoir to supply a gas to the gas reservoir.
US07780782B2
A method of growing ribbon crystal provides a crucible containing molten material, and passes at least two strings through the molten material to produce a partially formed ribbon crystal. The method then directs a fluid to a given portion of the partially formed ribbon crystal to convectively cool the given portion.
US07780778B2
A first pigment made of a coloring pigment having a primary average particle diameter of 200 nm or smaller or, or made of carbon black having an average particle diameter of a structure of 100 nm or smaller, and a second pigment made of barium sulfate having a primary average particle diameter of 55 nm or smaller are combined so that a value of (acid amount-base amount) of one pigment becomes positive, and a value of (acid amount-base amount) of other pigment becomes negative, and the combined first and second pigments are dispersed in a medium in the presence of a pigment dispersant.
US07780770B2
An air cleaner particularly disposed for an internal combustion engine is provided with a housing, a filter element disposed in the housing, and adsorbent disposed on the side of an outlet formed to the housing and adapted to adsorb an evaporated fuel invaded inside the housing through the outlet. The adsorbent includes an adsorbing material adsorbing the evaporated fuel and a pair of non-woven fabrics sandwiching the adsorbent material from both sides thereof, and at least one of the non-woven fabrics disposed on the outlet side includes a reinforcing material so as to be integrated with the non-woven fabric.
US07780766B2
The invention provides devices and methods for collecting vapor gas generated by an oil-containing material within a production tank. The devices and associated methods result in produced oil having a reduced level of dissolved hydrocarbons and recovery of vapor gas for resale. The devices include vapor recovery units connected to conventional oil-production units so that a conventional unit is converted to a low emission unit. In an embodiment, the device is a column separator comprising a perforated, packed spiral baffle with one end that receives vapor gas and a second end for removing gas that has traversed the length of the column separator. Also provided are methods for converting an oil-production unit into a low-emission oil production unit using any of the devices disclosed herein.
US07780748B2
A thin type reforming apparatus used for a fuel cell is provided. In the thin type reforming apparatus, a substrate has a passage formed therein, and a fuel inlet introduces fuel to the passage. An evaporator is disposed within the substrate downstream of the fuel inlet, and includes a bubble remover for imparting a flow resistance to the fuel in a liquid state, removing bubbles and vaporizing the fuel. A reformer has a passage formed downstream of the evaporator, and reforms the fuel to hydrogen gas through a heat absorbing reaction. A CO remover has a passage formed downstream of the reformer and removes CO gas included in the hydrogen gas through a heat radiating reaction. A cover covers an upper portion of the substrate and sealing the passages from an outside.
US07780746B2
The disclosure is directed to a method of enhancing a fuel value for a used or waste lubricating oil, lubricating oils having improved combustion and emission characteristics, and a business method for distributing and using waste oils as components of primary combustion fuels. In one embodiment, there is provided a lubricating oil composition having improved combustion and emission properties when burned as a used lubricating oil composition. The lubricating oil composition includes a major amount of oil of lubricating viscosity and a minor combustion improving amount of a combustion improving additive.
US07780738B2
A ceramic-metal composite articulation is provided with substantial elimination of wear debris, wherein a ceramic material is provided with superior mechanical properties tailored for articulating with ceramic articulations having high flexural strength (greater than about 700 MPa), high fracture toughness (greater than about 7 MPam1/2) and a high Weibull modulus (greater than about 20), in comparison with presently available bio-ceramics such as alumina or zirconia. The mechanical property enhancement enables ceramic materials with greater reliability and significantly reduced in-vivo fracture risk to be obtained. Preliminary in-vitro wear performance, to several million cycles using established test protocols, of head/cup components in a prosthetic hip joint made from these ceramics also demonstrates the ultra low wear characteristics. These material properties substantially eliminate polyethylene (PE) wear debris mediated implant failures by offering an optimal combination of bio-mechanical safety and reliability with ultra low wear performance.
US07780726B2
The present invention is an assembly comprising a prosthetic valve to be implanted; a radially expandable stent comprising at least one zone intended to be expanded to allow the stent, in the expanded state, to bear against the wall of the body duct to be fitted with the valve, this bearing making it possible to immobilize this stent with respect to this wall; and means for mounting the valve with respect to the stent, making it possible to connect the valve to the stent in such a way that the placement of the stent allows the valve to be mounted in the body duct, and expansion means such as a balloon catheter being provided to trigger expansion of the stent at the implantation site. According to the invention, the valve and the stent are designed in such a way that, at the moment when the stent is expanded, the valve is situated outside the zone or zones of the stent that are subjected to said expansion means. The invention thus consists in separating the valve and said zone or zones to be expanded, so that the expansion of the stent can be effected with an expansion force suitable for perfect anchoring of this stent in the wall of the body duct to be fitted with the valve, and without any risk of destruction or damage of the valve.
US07780724B2
Described is a monolithic in situ forming valve system. The valve system is delivered in an unformed, collapsed configuration that lacks any functional characteristics commonly associated with a valve before. However, once expanded, the system is transformed into a competent valve for use in a wide variety of applications. The valve system includes a superior expandable structure, an inferior expandable structure, and a helical pre-valve component. The helical pre-valve component comprises a first end attached with the superior expandable structure and a second end attached with the inferior expandable structure. The helical pre-valve component is formed such that expansion of the superior expandable structure and the inferior expandable structure causes the helical pre-valve structure to transform into a functional valve held between each of the expandable structures.
US07780721B2
A stent includes a stent body having a circumference and struts disposed helically about the circumference. Each of the struts has a strut length and a ratio of a number of the struts around the circumference to the strut length is greater than 800 per inch, in particular, over 1000 per inch. A method for manufacturing a helical stent includes the steps of providing a stent body with struts disposed about the circumference thereof in turns and with bridges connecting the struts in adjacent turns. The stent body is expanded and, thereafter, some of the bridges, in particular, sacrificial bridges, are removed.
US07780717B2
A stent graft introducer actuation assembly (1) having a fixed handle (3) and at least one sliding handle (5, 7), the sliding handle or handles telescoping within the fixed handle, and a winch arrangement (9) to retract the sliding handle into the fixed handle. There may be provided arrangements to give a mechanical advantage to the winch arrangement.
US07780715B2
A catheter system for treating lesions is provided. The system is suitable for treatment of bifurcation lesions, has a low profile and provides substantially predictable translational and rotational positioning. In one embodiment, the system includes a fixed wire balloon catheter and a partially attached guidewire lumen, wherein the guidewire lumen is attached to the catheter at a crotch point. The location of the crotch point is predetermined so as to provide substantially predictable positioning. Several embodiments of the system are described for various types of lesions and vessel configurations.
US07780713B2
A pouch includes a mixture of a crystalline substance and liquid that is solid at room temperature (e.g., 70° F.) and melts when in contact with a human body, therein cooling the body.
US07780712B2
The present invention encompasses a device for changing the temperature of the kidney during laparoscopic surgery or during organ transportation or transplantation.
US07780707B2
An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the tissue surfaces so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.
US07780700B2
A patent foramen ovale closure device, method of delivering and a delivery system are provided. The device may include a closure device releasably connectable to an actuator. The device may include a proximal segment, an intermediate segment and a distal segment. When delivered, the proximal segment and intermediate segment form a first clip-shaped portion sized and configured to be positioned over a septum secundum of the patent foramen ovale, and the intermediate segment and distal segment form a second clip-shaped portion sized and configured to be positioned over a septum primum of the patent foramen ovale.
US07780696B2
An emboli capturing system captures emboli in a body lumen. A first elongate member has a proximal end and a distal end. An expandable emboli capturing device is mounted proximate the distal end of the first elongate member, and is movable between a radially expanded position and a radially contracted position. When in the expanded position, the emboli capturing device forms a basket with a proximally opening mouth. A second elongate member has a proximal and a distal end with a lumen extending therebetween. The lumen is sized to slidably receive a portion of the first elongate member. An expandable delivery device is mounted to the distal end of the second elongate member and is movable from a radially retracted position to a radially expanded position. The delivery device has a receiving end configured to receive the emboli capturing device, and retains at least the mouth of the emboli capturing device in a radially retracted position.
US07780693B2
A delivery catheter 200 for rapid exchange delivery of an embolic protection filter 301 over a guidewire 22, and rapid exchange deployment of the filter 301 at a desired site in a vasculature. The delivery catheter 200 comprises a catheter body 2, a restraining sheath 10 and an elongate pull wire 9. The catheter body 2 comprises a proximal hypotube portion 5 and a radially offset distal spring pusher 6. The restraining sheath 10 is movable in a sliding manner relative to the catheter body 2 upon retraction of the wire 9, and the distal end of the pusher 6 is engageable with the filter 301 in a reception space 11 upon retraction of the sheath 10 to deploy the filter 301 out of the reception space 11. The pusher 6 has a guidewire lumen 16 and a proximal guidewire opening 17 for passage of the guidewire 22 through the lumen 16 and out through the proximal guidewire opening 17 in a rapid exchange manner.
US07780689B2
A microkeratome 10 for use in ophthalmic surgery includes a bar-link drive 20 connected to a cutting-head 36. A fixation ring 34 attaches to a patient's eye and is coupled to the bar-link drive 20 to the drive the cutting-head 36 at least partially across the fixation ring 34.
US07780686B2
The present invention is directed to gastrointestinal or enteric (including biliary) anastomosis and the like. The anastomotic device of the invention is a three dimensional woven tube of wire. The outer loops or ends of the tube fold or loop back on deployment in a manner which holds the luminal interface of the anastomotic site into apposition at the deployment site. The woven tube is deployed using a protective sleeve and nose assembly. Adjustment of the wire diameter and/or material properties of the wire can cause the anastomotic device to remain in place permanently or, for example, in the case of the intestine to slough through the two apposing walls of the lumen resulting in the device safely passing through the intestine leaving a naturally healed, properly functioning anastomosis.
US07780685B2
Provided is a two-piece anastomosis fastener that can be used to join two tissue sections together in accordance with Natural Orifice Transendoscopic Surgery (NOTES). The fastener may be releasably attached to a fastener applying instrument for delivery in accordance with such procedures. The fastener includes a first member and a second member, where the clamp members are operably configured to fasten together to clamp and hold tissue, such as gastric tissue, in juxtaposition to establish an anastomosis. The first clamp member and the second clamp member are coupled with an adhesive.
US07780678B2
Methods for enhancing the lubricity of implant delivery devices are provided. The present methods of enhancing the lubricity of an intraocular lens inserter reduce the force required to express an intraocular lens therefrom. By reducing the force required to express an intraocular lens from an inserter, intraocular lens delivery is improved.
US07780674B2
An instrument for controlling the distribution of bone cement on the surface of the head of a bone to prepare the bone to receive a re-surfacing prosthesis comprises a hollow shell which can be fitted on to the head of the bone to define a space around the head. The shell is rotationally symmetrical and has a spike like projection extending axially from the internal surface of the shell. At least one rib is located on the internal surface of the shell, extending from the spike like projection or from close to it, towards the open face of the shell, which contacts cement on the head of the bone in a sweeping action when the shell is rotated around its axis on the head of the bone.
US07780672B2
A femoral adjustment device to balance a flexion gap. The device includes a body attachable to a distal femur, the body having a cutting guide and an adjustment mechanism operable to balance the flexion gap, wherein upon balancing the flexion gap, the cutting guide is operable to guide at least one cut in the distal femur.
US07780668B2
A portable surgical workstation for implant formation comprising a base with a central planar section. The central planar section has a plurality of tracks and a throughgoing slot with a recessed stepped surrounding surface formed on a bottom surface of the central planar section. A vise assembly mounted to the base comprises a fixed jaw member secured to the base, a traveling jaw member moveably mounted to the base and a fixed drive housing mounted to the base. The traveling jaw member has a plurality of rail members adapted to be slidably mounted in the central planar section tracks. The fixed drive housing has a threaded longitudinal bore which receives a threaded drive shaft, one end of the drive shaft being secured in the traveling jaw member to transport the traveling jaw member.
US07780666B1
A locking screw assembly is provided which allows installation into a plate-like member using relatively little force, but which requires relatively great force for removal. The fastener has an annular locking ring provided within a groove in the head of the screw to allow the screw to sit within or flush with the anterior surface of the plate. The through-hole in the plate which receives the locking screw comprises an entrance, a collar section, an undercut, and an exit. The locking ring resides within the undercut. The locking ring has a leading surface that is chamfered or radiused and a trailing surface that is flat. The chamfer allows the locking ring to easily be inserted into the through-hole by interacting with a lead chamfer in the entrance. After installation, the flat trailing surface abuts a lip adjoining the collar section and the undercut and prevents the screw from being easily removed from the through-hole.
US07780662B2
An electrosurgical system for sealing vessels using capacitive (RF) dielectric heating and a method thereof are provided. The system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an end effector with parallel plate electrodes that will clamp onto a vessel and maintain a specified gap distance; however, the electrodes will be coated with a non-conductive dielectric material. Such an end effector will ensure that direct conduction between the electrodes does not occur through tissue or fluids and effectively creates a parallel plate capacitor with a dielectric, e.g., tissue and coating, in between the plates. The electrosurgical instrument will be activated with an AC signal at a specified RF frequency, e.g., a Debye resonance frequency, via an electrosurgical generator. An effective AC current will flow through the tissue and cause heating due to fictional losses from rotating polar molecules in the tissue.
US07780652B2
A system and method for providing light treatments to a patients skin, which could include both dermal and epidermal regions. The system and method utilize multiple hand pieces where each hand piece can deliver light from a different light source. The system and method provide for control over the different light source corresponding to the different hand pieces based on whether the hand pieces are held in storage positions in a hand piece management unit. A control unit of the system provides operates to cause a user interface display to communicate information to a user based on the positions of the different hand pieces. Further, the system and method can provide a user with access to different aspects of the systems operation based on the positions of the hand pieces.
US07780651B2
An articulated surgical instrument for enhancing the performance of minimally invasive surgical procedures. The instrument has a high degree of dexterity, low friction, low inertia and good force reflection. A unique cable and pulley drive system operates to reduce friction and enhance force reflection. A unique wrist mechanism operates to enhance surgical dexterity compared to standard laparoscopic instruments. The system is optimized to reduce the number of actuators required and thus produce a fully functional articulated surgical instrument of minimum size.
US07780646B2
A medical device shaft for connection with a handle and for insertion within a body includes an elongated, deflectable shaft having a proximal shaft portion, an intermediate shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion. The elongated, deflectable shaft includes a transition in stiffness from the proximal shaft portion to the distal shaft portion. In a preferred implementation, the shaft includes a plurality of slits that extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. Varying at least one of the number of slits, the location of slits, the frequency of slits, the orientation of the slits, the size of the slits, and the depth of the slits varies the transition of stiffness.
US07780644B2
A medicine discharge stopper for a medical bag of a type where a multiple of medicines are mixed, aiming to positively exclude a possibility of generation of erroneous operation that administration is done without opening the mixing seal. The medical bag is formed from a soft film and has an inner space, which is divided into compartments 20 and 22. An outlet port 12 is provided so that it is opened to the first compartment 20. The stopper includes split halves, which, when tied, form an inner space 34 of the outlet port 12. The combination is done under a resilient force by cantilever fashioned extending parts 38. When the weak seal portion is opened, an impact-like hydraulic force is generated and the bag is widened, which causes the flaps 30 and 32 to be opened against the resilient force, resulting in a release of the stopper. The flaps 30 and 32 are made separable from the body parts, which allows the stopper to be also utilized for a holder of needle during the execution of infusion process.
US07780643B2
An absorbent article such as a sanitary towel, diaper, incontinence protector or panty liner, has a substantially elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and has two side edges, a front edge and a rear edge, a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion located between the front portion and the rear portion. The article includes a shaping element. The shaping element includes at least two substantially elongated blanks which are cross-laid in an at least partially overlapping and substantially X-shaped configuration. A method for manufacturing an absorbent article permits improved manufacture of the article, with less material wastage.
US07780636B2
The present invention relates to medical devices which are adapted for application to a skin surface of a user and comprise a transcutaneous device which is supplied in a sterile condition. Thus, a medical device is provided, comprising a mounting surface adapted for application to the skin of a subject, a first portion having a first end adapted to penetrate the skin of the subject, and a second portion in fluid communication with the first portion and having a second end. The device further comprises enclosure means being transformable from an initial configuration encapsulating the first and second portions in an initial aseptic state, to a second configuration in which the ends of the first and second portions are allowed to communicate with the exterior through the enclosure means, wherein the enclosure means does not enclose the mounting surface.
US07780631B2
An apparatus having a shaft that can sense the depth of penetration, for penetrating into an object (the substrate). The substrate being penetrated has impedance that varies according to the depth under a surface of the substrate. The shaft has a tip for penetration and has conductive ends near to the tip of the shaft. A change of impedance of material of the object between the conductive ends can be sensed to provide information on the depth of penetration. A processor can be provided external to the object being penetrated by the shaft to gather and process the impedance information to determine whether the desired depth has been achieved.
US07780626B2
An angioplasty balloon catheter and method of making and using the same. The balloon catheter may include a catheter shaft and a balloon coupled to the shaft. The balloon may include one or more cutting edges coupled thereto. The shaft may include one or more inflation lumens and a plurality of openings defined therein that are in fluid communication with the inflation lumen or lumens.
US07780619B2
A blood processing machine has a compact configuration in which the first and second parts of the machine separate to open a gap between them. The actuators and sensors face into the gap such that when a cartridge with a fluid circuit is placed in the gap and the two parts are brought together closing the gap, the actuators and sensor engage the fluid circuit. One of the parts has an operator interface with a display that is preferably aligned with the gap in such a way that the frontal area of the machine is minimized.
US07780609B2
A method of detecting a change in hearing of a user includes providing a sound generating device for providing both a content audio signal and a hearing test audio signal. The sound generating device is used to provide hearing test audio sounds of different loudnesses around a threshold of hearing of the user. None of these sounds is calibrated to a pre-specified decibel level. A first threshold of hearing is determined at a first time and a second threshold of hearing is determined at a second time. The first threshold of hearing is compared with the second threshold of hearing.
US07780598B2
In a sonodynamic treatment apparatus including: a first ultrasound radiating unit for radiating diagnostic ultrasound; a second ultrasound radiating unit for radiating treatment ultrasound; an echo detection unit for detecting an ultrasound echo; a diagnostic controller for radiating the diagnostic ultrasound with the first ultrasound radiating unit and detecting the ultrasound echo corresponding the diagnostic ultrasound; an echographic controller for processing an echographic image on the basis of the detected ultrasound echo; and a treatment controller for radiating the treatment ultrasound with the second ultrasound radiating unit, radiation of the treatment ultrasound with the second ultrasound radiating unit is controlled to have a predetermined exposure duration and a predetermined pause duration of the treatment ultrasound, and the echographic image is generated on the basis of the ultrasound echo during the pause duration of the treatment ultrasound exposure with the diagnostic image generator. The treatment ultrasound may be weakened after detection of a bubble generated by the treatment ultrasound.
US07780596B2
The time between heartbeats is measured over a series of such heartbeats. The time interval between two successive events is calculated and stored as a first array. The time difference between adjacent heartbeat intervals is also calculated from the first array and recorded as a differential array. The differential array is subjected to frequency analysis. First the differential array data is linearly interpolated to increase the number of data samples. The interpolated data is then subjected to a fast fourier transform (FFT) yielding a power spectrum. Characteristic frequency ranges are then integrated and the resulting frequency domain spectrum(s) are analyzed for dominant frequency characteristics.
US07780595B2
A method and system for computerized medical diagnostics is disclosed. Beginning with interacting with a patient or a healthcare professional via a diagnostic module to obtain patient health items, the system automatically obtains an initial differential diagnosis and multiple strategy differential diagnoses based on the patient health items. In one embodiment, each strategy differential diagnosis is obtained with different analysis criteria of the patient health items. At least a portion of the strategy differential diagnoses are compared and a panel differential diagnosis based on the compared differential diagnoses is determined. The initial diagnosis and the panel differential diagnosis are reconciled so as to recommend an action or provide a diagnosis to the patient or the healthcare professional.
US07780592B2
The disclosure describes an endoscopic delivery system that includes an endoscope and a tissue-receiving member. The tissue-receiving member includes an opening to receive the distal end of the endoscope. The tissue-receiving member also defines a tissue-receiving space that receives tissue when vacuum pressure is applied to the space through the endoscope. A tool and/or material may be delivered to the tissue drawn into the tissue-receiving space. The tissue-receiving member may be cap-like, and only receive the distal end of the endoscope, or include an overtube that receives a substantial portion of the endoscope. The system may be used to, for example, deliver tissue bulking devices to a location proximate to the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
US07780587B2
A support harness and an unweighting assembly for at least partially unweighting a patient during rehabilitative exercises. The unweighting assembly including a support harness configured to generally extend around at least a portion of the patient, a support structure for supporting the support harness, and at least three connectors. Each of the connectors includes a first end coupled to the support structure and a second end coupled to the support harness at one of at least three connection points so that the patient is able to be supported in a crawling position.
US07780585B1
An abdominal muscle exercise machine of a push-pull type that includes an elbow sliding support plate with handle bars; a knee sliding support plate with swiveling knee cups; elastic resistance bands attached between the elbow and knee support plates and the end stabilizer bars; parallel sets of shafts at the front and rear end of the machine connected to the sliding support plates; a center rod with support legs to raise it off the ground; quick release clamps attached to the parallel shafts; and end support rods with end caps at the front and rear end of the machine. The machine has a dual incline angle for both the elbows and knees to pull and push against during exercise and may be adjusted in range of motion using quick release clamps. The machine may also be easily folded closed for storing in a compact space.
US07780584B2
An exercise device comprising a chair attachment assembly adapted for attachment to a chair at a location under a seat of the chair and configured to extend outwardly therefrom. A pair of leg supports are pivotally coupled at first ends thereof to a pivot point on the chair attachment assembly. Each leg support is independently moveable between a contracted position and an extended position. A leg holder is coupled to each leg support near a second end thereof. A resistance element is pivotally coupled between each leg support and the chair attachment assembly. Each resistance element is configured to provide resistance against both outward movement of the associated leg support from the contracted position to the extended position and inward movement of the associated leg support from the extended position to the contracted position.
US07780583B2
An air spring is used as a resistance device in exercise equipment having a lever arm for exercising various muscle groups such as those in arms and legs. In one embodiment, the equipment can be used while standing and the resistance movements strengthen core muscles. In another, it can be adapted to be used on a table surface for exercising hands, wrists and forearms. In still another embodiment, it can incorporate a bike pedal assembly to simultaneously aerobically exercise the legs and arms. The equipment includes resistance level regulating components and a visual indicator using a gauge or similar device to monitor resistance levels. Embodiments also include interchangeability of human interface members and a hand pump integrated with the lever arm, which may also include interchangeability of the human interface members.
US07780579B2
A weighing system, using the principle of electromagnetic force compensation, which includes a permanent magnet system (14) having an air gap, a shielding cover (12), a coil (13) located inside the air gap, a transmission lever (7) to whose longer lever arm the coil is attached, and upon whose shorter lever arm the weight transferred by the load receiver acts, a position sensor (20, 21, 22) which detects the position of the transmission lever and which is situated in the vicinity of the coil, and a control amplifier (16) for controlling the current passing through the coil. Further, at least one vertical support (25) is connected to the transmission lever in the vicinity of the coil and the position sensor and projects through an opening (27) in the shielding cover. A counterweight (26) is placed on this/these support(s) closely above the shielding cover.
US07780578B2
An exercise apparatus that is stowable in a containment space formed by an article of furniture. The exercise apparatus may be deployed from a storage position within the containment space to a ready-to-use position. An electronic console for the exercise apparatus may be deployed to a ready-to-use position for use in conjunction with the exercise apparatus. The electronic console may be placed into a storage position when the exercise apparatus is stowed in the containment space so as not to interfere with the normal use of the article of furniture. The article of furniture may further comprise a component that is moveable to reveal a grasping member for use in conjunction with the exercise device.
US07780573B1
A treadmill having a track assembly that allows a user to navigate in any arbitrary direction. A movable user support has a plurality of rotatable members that rotate about axes normal to the direction of movement of the user support. Separate power drive mechanism concurrently move the user support and rotate the members to omni-directional user movement. A control for the power driven mechanism is responsive to the directional orientation of the user on the user support to cause the user support to operate in the direction of the orientation of the user.
US07780571B2
An automatic transmission control apparatus includes an engine rotational speed limit verifying section and a shift control characteristic changing section. The engine rotational speed limit verifying section is configured to receive an engine rotational speed limit value for limiting an engine rotational speed and determine if the engine rotational speed limit value is lower than a prescribed normal upper limit value. The shift control characteristic changing section is configured to change a shift schedule of an automatic transmission based on the engine rotational speed being limited by the engine rotational speed limit value and the automatic transmission having a stronger tendency to select a higher gear stage than if the engine rotational speed limit value was not being limited to a lower value than the prescribed normal limit value, when the engine rotational speed limit value is determined to lower than the prescribed normal upper limit value.
US07780565B2
A differential device for differentially distributing a driving force to axles along an axis is disclosed. The differential device has a case being capable of rotation about the axis, which includes a flange configured to receive the driving force and a shaft crossing the case perpendicularly to the axis; an opening defined by a peripheral border on an outer periphery of the case so as to allow access into the case, lateral extremities of which is deviated from a center of the shaft toward a direction opposite to the flange along the axis; and a differential gear set housed in and drivingly coupled to the case, the differential gear set including an input gear rotatable around the shaft and output gears so combined with the input gear as to differentially distribute the driving force to the output gears, the output gears being drivingly coupled to the axles.
US07780564B2
An automatic transmission line pressure regulator includes a first body for installation in a valve bore distant from a line pressure valve and having a threaded bore passing therethrough, a threaded adjuster axially engaged in the threaded bore and rotationally adjustable with respect to the first body, a second body for installation in the valve bore and engagement with the threaded adjuster and a spring for installation between and engagement with the second body and the line pressure valve. Rotation of the threaded adjuster with respect to the first body alters an axial position of the adjuster, the second body and a first end of the spring, thereby altering a pre-load on the spring to alter a resistive force against movement of the line pressure valve caused by line pressure, and thusly, regulates line pressure.
US07780559B2
A chain transmission containing two toothed sprockets, a chain and a tensioner where the center (S) of the pitch circle of the driven sprocket (2) lays outside of the circle inscribed by the part of chain (4) mating with the driven sprocket (2). Each link (5,6) of the chain (4) contains plates (7) connected by three pins (8 and 9), while the axis of one of the pin (9) lays outside of the plane determined by axes of the remaining pins (8) of the link (5, 6).
US07780558B2
The chain guide of a bicycle rear derailleur is a chain guide which is connected to a movable member so that this guide is free to swing about a center pivot axis. The chain guide has a pair of plate members rotatably supporting a guide pulley and a tension pulley. One of the plate members is provided with a chain slip prevention part which is disposed between both plate members in the vicinity of the guide pulley. Preferably, the chain slip prevention part has a width of ten mm or greater and fifty mm or less.
US07780555B2
A ball having an inflatable ball shell within which is found an inflatable inner ball partially filled with an inner ball gas and partially filled with a liquid that is held in the center of the inflatable ball shell by an inflatable support when the inflatable inner ball, the inflatable ball shell and the inflatable support are inflated. The ball exhibits an eccentric and unpredictable motion unless a concomitant spin is appropriately applied to it and the motion of the ball is primarily determined by movement of the liquid within the inflatable inner ball. The inflatable support can be a donut-shaped chamber having an inner radius which is substantially the same as, and may be attached to, an outer radius of the inflatable inner ball. Alternatively, the inflatable support can be three or more elastic spherical shells attached to the inflatable inner ball.
US07780548B2
Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads, and methods of manufacture are described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a strike face having one or more grooves with edges, where one or more of the edges is unsmooth. Other embodiments are also described herein.
US07780546B2
A composite golf club shaft having a reinforcing ribbon of composite material spiraling along an intermediate portion of the shaft and bonded thereto to reinforce the hoop strength of the shaft. The ribbon is shaped into a rib of different cross-sectional shapes, the preferred embodiment being a thin rectangular shape approximately 0.125 wide of an inch and spiraling at a rate of four turns per inch, producing a groove of equal width. The methods of the invention produces the shaft by providing a mandrel having the outside shape desired for the shaft's inside surface; wrapping a ribbon of reinforcing material around the shaft in a spiral groove therein; forming the shaft body around the mandrel; and separating the mandrel from the shaft after curing, by unscrewing the mandrel.
US07780543B2
Embodiments include a golf swing training device primarily formed from a first material having dimensions suitable for wrapping around a shaft of a golf club and a second material coupled to the first material wherein the second material conforms to the dimensions of the first material and adds sufficient weight to the golf club. The training device is removable coupled to the shaft of the golf club. A method including securing a swing training device around a portion of the shaft of the golf club, the training device comprising a length dimension suitable to distribute a weight of the training device about a substantial portion of the length of the shaft and then swinging the golf club.
US07780542B1
A golf training device and process are disclosed for assisting a golf player in aligning a golf club through an arcuate path for contacting a golf ball. The golf training device comprises a plate including a face side and a back side. The face side of the plate has a first color. The back side of the plate has a second color. An exterior edge of the plate has a third color. A coupler extends between the interior edge of the plate and the shaft of the golf club for securing the plate to the golf club. The third color alone is visible during the golf player swinging the golf club for producing a perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball. The perpendicular alignment between the face surface of the golf club and the ball propels the ball in a straight trajectory.
US07780539B2
A ball trap comprises a carrier about which is spaced a number of suspended flaps so as to be positioned, in use, about the surface on which the ball travels and which are configured, so that when a—or the—flap is impacted by a ball, the flap is pushed aside to a position where, provided the impact force is sufficient, the ball passes underneath the flap and the flap falls back to its position of rest to prevent the ball from escaping; characterised by the feature that the flap region which the ball pushes aside on impact is spaced sufficiently, radially outward from the carrier that the same region can subsequently come down behind the ball and act as the escape-preventing means.
US07780531B2
A gaming system includes at least one community display, a first gaming machine, and a second gaming machine. The at least one community display displays a communal game that includes a plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a communal value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines have a respective first and second video display for displaying the plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a first and second player value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines determine the first and second player values by applying a respective first and second value-enhancement parameter to the communal values associated with at least some of the plurality of elements. The first value-enhancement parameter is different than the second value-enhancement parameter.
US07780528B2
A transmission apparatus used for transmitting a question to a recipient. Generates a control signal for limiting an answer-inputting function of a reception apparatus used by the recipient; adds the control signal generated by a generation mechanism and used for limiting the answer-inputting function of the reception apparatus and an address of a recipient reception collector unit showing a collection destination of where an answer entered by said recipient in response to the question is transmitted when an amount of recipient responses stored in a storage unit exceeds a predetermined number. The apparatus then transmits the broadcast signal including the control signal and the address of a recipient reception collector unit to the recipient.
US07780526B2
Gaming machines and networks capable of providing universal mediation between multiple disparate gaming systems are disclosed. In particular, multiple disparate gaming systems providing different services and features can be accessed by a player throughout a gaming session at a gaming device as a result of a single player transaction using a universal indicia of identification by the player. Such an indicia can include a card, token, PIN, biometric identifier and/or other identification source. A player identification device at the gaming device can accept such indicia, and can also facilitate protocol mediation and hardware mediation between the gaming device and each of the multiple disparate gaming systems. Enhanced DCUs may also be used to facilitate such mediations, and also to provide redundant communication paths between a LAN containing the gaming device and a WAN including the multiple disparate gaming systems.
US07780520B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming system includes a plurality of different types of progressive awards adapted to be provided to one or more players of the gaming machines in the gaming system. In one embodiment, one or more progressive awards are each associated with a progressive hit value, wherein when each progressive award increments to its respective progressive hit value, a triggering event occurs and such progressive award is provided to a player. In one embodiment, one or more progressive awards are each associated with a secondary game, wherein if the secondary game is triggered, a player is provided either a fixed award or one of the progressive awards associated with the secondary game based on a play of the secondary game. In one embodiment, one or more progressive awards are each associated with an outcome of a primary game, such as a designated symbol combination, wherein if the associated primary game outcome is generated, such progressive award is provided to a player.
US07780516B2
A system of linked gaming machines is disclosed herein. Upon a certain triggering event occurring, eligible gaming machines simultaneously receive a signal for initiating a free game bonus round. The player awarded the most credits or points from the play of the free games is awarded a special jackpot. The possibility of the free game bonus round occurring at any time provides incentive for players to keep playing the linked gaming machines. A free game pot, used to fund the free games, is accumulated from a percentage of wagers, where the percentage is dynamically changed based on the level of the free game pot.
