US08031978B2
An edge detection filter comprising an array of filter coefficients having an odd number of rows and columns, a first set of zero coefficients extending along a direction traversing the array through a center position to form a first and second side, a second set of positive coefficients extending away from the direction on the first side, and a third set of negative coefficients extending away from the direction on the second side.
US08031965B2
An image processor includes a signal acquiring unit, a first converting unit, a signal specifying unit and a second converting unit. The signal acquiring unit acquires a signal in a color space having a perceptual property. The first converting unit converts the signal acquired by the signal acquiring unit into a first color signal in a color-mapping space having an equilightness-equihue plane. The signal specifying unit specifies a second color signal in the color-mapping color space corresponding to the first color signal, as a color-gamut mapping process. The second converting unit converts the second color signal specified by the signal specifying unit into a signal in a same color space as the color space to which the signal acquired by the signal acquiring unit belongs.
US08031950B2
Software failures are processed by categorizing images associated with the failures into groups based on similarities in the images. The categorizing of the images may be performed by a software failure analysis tool. The images may include full or partial screenshots of a computer at the time of the software failure. An image may be part of the output of a test, or may be part of a report of a software failure from an end user of the software. The software failure analysis tool may be part of a larger software test management system.
US08031948B2
The present invention discloses a shape comparison apparatus and method based on contour decomposition and correspondence. The apparatus comprises a polygonal approximation unit for approximating an image object contour as a polygon, namely representing the image object contour into an ordered contour primitive sequence; an attribute generation unit for calculating attribute value for contour primitive and contour primitive composition; and a comparison unit for establishing correspondence of polygons and hence calculating similarity between contours. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises an image object contour extraction unit for extracting, in the case the input into the apparatus is an image object rather than an image object contour, an image object contour of an image object inputted into the apparatus.
US08031943B2
Text regions of natural language embedded in images are automatically translated via a clipboard buffer during a cut-and-paste command according to an isolation rule defining one or more types of image elements to be isolated, by examining the image elements, responsive to meeting the isolation rule, transferring the image element from the clipboard to an isolation store, disabling pasting of the image element; recognizing text within the isolated image; determining a natural language in which the recognized text is expressed; performing natural language translation of the recognized text into a user-specified destination natural language; producing image data for the translated text; overlaying the image data onto the embedded text in the isolated image element; and pasting the modified image element from the isolation store to a user-designated destination points within a destination computer file.
US08031937B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for the processing of frame buffer data, such as color buffer data, in graphics processing applications. Although more generally applicable, these methods and apparatus are particularly useful in real-time, polygon-based, 3D rendering applications. An exemplary method for processing graphics data according to one or more embodiments of the invention begins with the retrieval, from a buffer, of pixel values corresponding to a tile of two or more pixels, and with the updating of one or more of those updated pixel values. The updated pixel values are selectively compressed using a lossy compression operation or a lossless compression operation, based on an accumulated error metric value for the tile. If lossy compression is used, then the accumulated error metric value for the tile is updated; in either event, the compressed pixel values are stored in the frame buffer for further processing. With this approach, the accumulated error caused by successive, or tandem, compression operations may be limited to a pre-determined maximum.
US08031934B2
An image processer has an extractor to extract a character area from color image data. A color-difference-value acquirer acquires information about color-difference values in the character area. A color-saturation-value acquirer acquires information about color saturation in the character area. A color-difference-subrange storage stores pre-defined color-difference subranges. A chromatic-region determination section determines the character area as gray when color salutation values fail to satisfy a condition for a chromatic color, and determines the character area as a chromatic region when color saturation values in the character area satisfy the condition. A first color-difference-subrange assignment section assigns a stored color-difference subrange to the character area determined as the chromatic region based on information about color-difference values. A representative-color setup section sets color information about the character area determined as chromatic by using an average of the color-difference values in the color-difference subrange assigned to the character area.
US08031933B2
The present invention provides a system (method and apparatus) for creating photorealistic 3D models of environments and/or objects from a plurality of stereo images obtained from a mobile stereo camera and optional monocular cameras. The cameras may be handheld, mounted on a mobile platform, manipulator or a positioning device. The system automatically detects and tracks features in image sequences and self-references the stereo camera in 6 degrees of freedom by matching the features to a database to track the camera motion, while building the database simultaneously. A motion estimate may be also provided from external sensors and fused with the motion computed from the images. Individual stereo pairs are processed to compute dense 3D data representing the scene and are transformed, using the estimated camera motion, into a common reference and fused together. The resulting 3D data is represented as point clouds, surfaces, or volumes. The present invention also provides a system (method and apparatus) for enhancing 3D models of environments or objects by registering information from additional sensors to improve model fidelity or to augment it with supplementary information by using a light pattern projector. The present invention also provides a system (method and apparatus) for generating photo-realistic 3D models of underground environments such as tunnels, mines, voids and caves, including automatic registration of the 3D models with pre-existing underground maps.
US08031928B2
A CT data processing apparatus and a CT data processing method capable of separating a subcutaneous fat region from a visceral fat region accurately and efficiently in CT data are provided. The CT data processing apparatus includes a center calculation part that calculates a body center 41 of an examinee on tomographic CT data, a start point setting part that identifies a vertebral column position 45 on the tomographic CT data and sets a start point on a muscular layer 37 on the opposite side of the vertebral column position 45 with respect to the body center 41, a muscular layer determination part that determines whether or not the muscular layer 37 is present in a first range 48, and when it is determined that the muscular layer 37 is present in the first range 48, further setting a point on the muscular layer 37 in the first range 48 as a new first reference point 47 and thus determining whether or not the muscular layer 37 is present in the first range 48, while moving the first reference point 47 from the start point 46, and a separation line calculation part that calculates a separation line so that the separation line passes through the first reference points 47.
US08031925B2
The present inventions is directed to a method and computer program product for detecting and quantifying protein spots, including: generating an average gel image by taking a pixel-by-pixel average of the intensities of a plurality of aligned gel images; detecting spots on the average gel image using pinnacle detection; and quantifying spots on individual gels using the maximum intensity within fixed neighborhoods surrounding pinnacle locations found in the average gel image.
US08031909B2
The present invention provides a system (method and apparatus) for creating photorealistic 3D models of environments and/or objects from a plurality of stereo images obtained from a mobile stereo camera and optional monocular cameras. The cameras may be handheld, mounted on a mobile platform, manipulator or a positioning device. The system automatically detects and tracks features in image sequences and self-references the stereo camera in 6 degrees of freedom by matching the features to a database to track the camera motion, while building the database simultaneously. A motion estimate may be also provided from external sensors and fused with the motion computed from the images. Individual stereo pairs are processed to compute dense 3D data representing the scene and are transformed, using the estimated camera motion, into a common reference and fused together. The resulting 3D data is represented as point clouds, surfaces, or volumes. The present invention also provides a system (method and apparatus) for enhancing 3D models of environments or objects by registering information from additional sensors to improve model fidelity or to augment it with supplementary information by using a light pattern projector. The present invention also provides a system (method and apparatus) for generating photo-realistic 3D models of underground environments such as tunnels, mines, voids and caves, including automatic registration of the 3D models with pre-existing underground maps.
US08031905B2
Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for embedding and/or extracting data from images. In embodiments, an image may be segmented into regions, and characters or other image groups within a segmented region may be determined to be embedding sites. A data vector may be embedded into a set of corresponding ordered embedding sites by representing each data element as different intensity values assigned to the pixels within one portion of an embedding site relative to the pixels in another portion of the embedding site. In embodiments, embedded data may be extracted from an image by extracting and decoding a set of bit values from a set of identified and ordered embedding sites.
US08031900B2
An eartip that includes at least one acoustic material filled port is provided. The port and the acoustic material contained therein provide the eartip with a controlled acoustic leakage path, thus allowing the user to tailor the performance of the earphones to which the eartips of the invention are attached. The provided eartip is attachable to a standard, generic earpiece, for example through the use of interlocking members (e.g., channel/lip arrangement). At least one port, in addition to the central opening by which the eartip is attached to the earphone, extends through the eartip. The port can have a circular cross-section, arcuate cross-section, or other shape. If desired, for example to increase the port area, the eartip can be designed with multiple ports surrounding the central opening. Within the port is an acoustic material with the desired acoustic impedance. The eartip can be coded to allow identification of the acoustic qualities of a particular eartip.
US08031899B2
A microphone in which a core of an output transformer can be grounded without soldering and degradation of magnetic properties of the core can be prevented by preventing mechanical damage to the output transformer even if an impact force of the microphone is applied is obtained. A grounding pattern is formed in an output transformer mounting location of a circuit board incorporated in the microphone, a conductive fabric is put on the grounding pattern, a core of the output transformer is stacked and arranged on the conductive fabric, and the core of the output transformer is grounded through the conductive fabric. A second conductive fabric that covers the output transformer and is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of a microphone case may be provided and the microphone case may be grounded by bringing the second conductive fabric into contact with the core of the output transformer.
US08031885B2
A preamplifier arrangement for a drum microphone, in which drum the microphone is arranged inside the drum and wherein the microphone is connected to a preamplifier, characterized in that the preamplifier is secured to the side wall or bottom of the resonance chamber of the drum via a mounting arrangement comprising a threaded part, which is fastened to the preamplifier and fitted through a hole in the side wall or bottom, and a counterpart for it.
US08031884B2
Disclosed is a method for reproducing a music file in a terminal equipped to reproduce the music file, the method including determining equalizing reproduction characteristics of the music file when reproduction of the music file is requested, determining and setting an output equalizer setting value of an audio signal, according to the equalizing reproduction characteristics and pre-measured individual hearing ability state information representing hearing ability characteristics of a user, and reproducing the music file so as to output the audio signal according to the output equalizer setting value.
US08031880B2
A signal processor for use in a vehicle audio system provides multiple operating modes. A first mode provides substantially equal total sound pressure levels at each seating location. A first equalization pattern provides a substantially similar frequency response at each of the seating locations, and a first balance configuration provides substantially similar balance patterns at each of the seating locations. A second mode provides greater sound pressure levels at a first seating location than at other seating locations. A second equalization pattern results in a frequency response at the first seating location that is substantially smoother than the frequency responses at other seating locations, and a second balance configuration results in the balance pattern at the first seating location being substantially more balanced than the balance patterns at other seating locations.
US08031877B2
An in-vehicle communication system includes a control unit which locates coupling points of each one of active speaker units to in-vehicle network. The plurality of the active speaker units includes a plurality of acoustic characteristics set data and programs for determining their own addresses. The respective active speaker units thus can be coupled to in-vehicle network without changing their software, and acoustic characteristics values in response to their coupling points in the vehicle can be established.
US08031874B2
A station and a method of collecting information corresponding to security. A wireless communicator transmits a request packet to search a wireless network to at least one external device and receives a response packet to the request packet. An authentication method determiner analyzes the response packet to search for at least one wireless network and determines an authentication method supported by each of the searched wireless networks. A storage unit stores the determined authentication method of each of the searched wireless networks. Thus, necessary information corresponding to security during a connection to a wireless network can be searched in advance and provided to a user.
US08031863B2
An apparatus and method for controlling acoustic echo cancellation in a mobile communication terminal are capable of improving phenomena occurring during a call, such as an echo phenomenon, muting phenomenon and fluctuation of transmitting signals, by performing real-time monitoring of the signal of a speaker output stage and effectively controlling an AEC function according to the characteristics of the terminal. The level of a receiving signal which is outputted to a speaker is detected. A transmitting signal, which is outputted from a microphone, is converted into a digital voice signal. A certain attenuation value is adaptively determined depending on the detected level of the receiving signal, and attenuation on transmitting signal is controlled according to the determined attenuation value.
US08031856B2
According to various embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for routing telephone calls from host switch to remote switch in a Voice Over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) network. A host switch in the VoIP network may be communicably coupled with a plurality of remote switches and with a public switched telephone network (“PSTN”); the host switch may receive a call from PSTN having signaling that includes a called party number field and/or a location routing number field. Based on the called party number field and/or the location routing number field, host switch identifies a target remote switch from among the plurality of remote switches that is associated with the called party number field by, for example, querying a database of associations between location routing numbers and/or telephone numbers and remote switches. Host switch then sends the call to identified target remote switch.
US08031855B2
A user calls a directory assistance service provider to search for a desired telephone number and be connected to a party at the desired number. In one such connection, the user is afforded enhanced directory assistance upon a user command in the form of an out-of-band signaling message, e.g., SS7 signaling message. For example, the user may be afforded further operator assistance by pressing on the user telephone a predetermined key (e.g., “*” key), which is detectable by the directory assistance service provider as an SS7 signaling message.
US08031847B2
A system including a first client data collection device, a host server, and a host user interface. The first client data collection device can store traffic data relating to a first call market of the first client data collection device. The host server can receive the traffic data, parse the traffic data according to settings of the first client data collection device, and evaluate the parsed traffic data based on historical data corresponding to the first client data collection device. The host user interface can receive the evaluated data for displaying the health of the call market.
US08031831B2
To prevent patients from being overexposed or underexposed, it has been attempted to modulate either voltage or current in conventional single energy CT systems. The voltage modulation causes incompatibility in projection data among the views while the current modulation reduces only noise. To solve these and other problems, dual energy CT is combined with voltage modulation techniques to improve the dosage efficiency. Furthermore, dual energy CT has been combined with both voltage modulation and current modulation to optimize the dosage efficiency in order to minimize radiation to a patient without sacrificing the reconstructed image quality.
US08031829B2
A method for analytically reconstructing a multi-axial computed tomography (CT) dataset, acquired using one or more longitudinally-offset x-ray beams emitted from multiple x-ray sources is provided. The method comprises acquiring one or more CT axial projection datasets, wherein the CT axial projection datasets are acquired using less than a full scan of data. The method further comprises reconstructing the CT axial projection datasets to generate a reconstructed image volume. The reconstruction comprises back projecting one or more voxels comprising the multi-axial CT dataset, along one or more projection views, based upon a cone-angle weight determined for the voxels, wherein the cone-angle weight for the voxels is determined along a longitudinal direction.
US08031818B2
Provided is a fine frequency synchronization method of a WiBro system, and particularly, a fine frequency synchronization method which measures a spread degree of a received signal of an adjacent subcarrier using orthogonality of PN sequences and thereby estimates a frequency offset, in a base station or a wireless repeater without using a GPS receiver. The fine frequency synchronization method includes: (a) performing despreading on received adjacent subcarrier sequences, using a PN sequence transmitted from a transmitting party; (b) obtaining ratios of correlative values obtained by the despreading; and (c) estimating a frequency offset on the basis of the ratio of correlative values. Accordingly, fine frequency offset estimation with relatively low complexity is possible without using a GPS receiver in a WiBro environment where interference signals of other base stations or repeaters exist.
US08031811B2
The dynamic DC offset canceling apparatus includes: section 104 that detects dynamic DC offset in longest overlapping part sequences from the differences between the sampling values of a first longest overlapping part sequence and the sampling values of a second longest overlapping part sequence, the first longest overlapping part sequence and the second longest overlapping part sequence being overlapping part sequences in a training sequence of the received signal; section 105 that detects dynamic DC offset outside the longest overlapping part sequences from the difference between an average value of sampling values of a received signal which exists in a burst before the first longest overlapping part sequence, and an average value of sampling values of a received signal which exists in a burst after the second longest overlapping part sequence; and section 106 that adaptively subtracts a DC offset value from the received signal based on these results.
US08031808B2
A wireless receiver detects signals received at two or more antennas, with each antenna coupled to an input receive chain. A switch is employed to couple selected input receive chains to one or more corresponding output receive chains during listening, coarse-detection, and fine-adjustment modes. At least one channel selection filter (CSF) is employed in each output receive chain, and the receiver employs sub-ranging. During idle mode, one antenna's input receive chain is connected to two or more CSFs to detect the packet. When the packet is detected, during a coarse-adjustment mode, the CSFs are reconfigured to couple each antenna's input receive chain to a corresponding output receive chain using low-gain signals. During fine-adjustment mode, the various gains are adjusted to be either high- or low-gain to maintain signals within the dynamic range of the corresponding CSFs.
US08031803B2
A transmitter capable of suppressing a peak of a transmission signal includes a frequency domain acquisition unit for obtaining a frequency domain signal from the signal for transmission; and a level control unit for controlling a level of the frequency domain signal obtained by the frequency domain acquisition unit to suppress a peak in a time domain transmission signal. Further, the transmitter includes a time domain conversion unit for converting the frequency domain signal into the time domain transmission signal whose level has been controlled by the level control unit; and a transmission unit for transmitting the time domain transmission signal.
US08031801B2
A method of controlling signal transmission in a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) communication system including selecting a modulation and code set (MCS) for each of M data streams transmitted via M transmitting antennas in a transmitting side of the MIMO system, and selectively selecting M−1 or fewer transmitting antennas from the M transmitting antennas for transmitting the data streams based on channel quality information indicative of a transmission performance of the selected MCS corresponding to each of the M transmitting antennas. In another example, the present invention provides a novel method of controlling signal transmission in a MIMO communication system including selecting M weight vectors for streams transmitted by each of M transmitting antennas in a transmitting side of the MIMO system, and selectively selecting M−1 or fewer streams and weight vectors from the M weight vectors for transmitting data streams based on channel quality information indicative of transmission performance of the selected weight vectors corresponding to each of the M vector spaces.
US08031797B2
The present invention relates to an interference power estimating device that estimates interference power with high accuracy. The interference power estimating device includes a reference symbol acquiring unit acquiring a reference symbol corresponding to each of the pilot symbols included in a received signal by symbol-averaging a reference signal including the pilot symbol being allocated in positions near in terms of time to each of the pilot symbols and having the number less than the number of the pilot symbols within one slot, and an estimating unit estimating interference power of the received signal by power-valuing each difference between each of the pilot symbols and the reference symbol corresponding to each of the pilot symbols acquired by the reference symbol acquiring unit.
US08031794B2
Interference cancellation is implemented for a multiple antenna system. The multiple antenna receiver is provided that includes a whitening filter coupled to receive processed signals corresponding to signals received at respective antennas, and to generate whitened signals corresponding to each of the received signals, having a colored noise component whitened. The whitening filter coupled to determine the whitened signals, at least in part, utilizes symbols corresponding to the signals received by the plurality of antennas. A signal separator is coupled to supply the whitening filter with processed received signals having interference components reduced as compared to received signals.
US08031787B2
In a method for channel estimation of an OFDM signal transmitted via a channel, an initial channel transfer function is calculated by channel estimation. A channel impulse response is calculated on the basis of the initial channel transfer function. Values of the channel impulse response or of a filtered channel impulse response are classified as noise or as a signal as a function of the level of the values of the channel impulse or of the level of the values of the filtered channel impulse response. A noise-reduced channel impulse response is calculated on the basis of the channel impulse response using the classification, and a noise-reduced channel transfer function is calculated on the basis of this noise-reduced channel impulse response.
US08031776B2
A method and apparatus for extracting a higher quality video stream for a given bit-rate by replacing a specific frame by a base layer frame at a predecoder are provided. A predecoding method performed by the predecoder includes selecting a mode by determining frames to be skipped according to a predetermined criterion among frames located at positions where the base layer exists, and extracting a portion of the bitstream according to the selected mode and extraction conditions.
US08031768B2
A method, system, and program product for quantizing discrete cosine transform coefficients, e.g., for MPEG compression, with minimal bit rate overhead and without using a quantization matrix. This is done by scaling a uniform quantization parameter for the entire discrete cosine transform block, defining a variety of thresholds for the quantization of discrete cosine transform coefficients below which the corresponding coefficient will be quantized to zero, and setting different normative reconstructed values for coefficients that have not been quantized to zero as the decoder will still use the original, unmodified reconstructed values as long as the corresponding coefficient is not zero.
US08031767B2
A method of encoding multi-view video using camera parameters and a method of decoding multi-view video using the camera parameters are provided. The method of encoding multi-view video using the camera parameters includes detecting the camera parameters from each of a plurality of video data input from a multi-view camera in predetermined video units, and adaptively encoding each of the plurality of the video data according to whether each video data has the camera parameters. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the efficiency of compressing video without degrading video quality.
US08031762B2
A process for equalizing streams of OFDM subcarrier data computes the noise variance for each stream, and forms a stream weighting coefficient by equalizing the noise variance, such that for a first stream having a noise variance σ1 and a second stream having a noise variance of σ2, the first stream is scaled by k 1 = 2 σ 2 σ 1 2 + σ 2 2 and the second stream is scaled by k 2 = 2 σ 1 σ 1 2 - σ 2 2 .
US08031758B2
A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.
US08031755B2
A surface emitting semiconductor laser includes: a substrate; a first semiconductor multilayer reflection mirror of a first conduction type; an active region; a second semiconductor multilayer reflection mirror of a second conduction type; a first selectively oxidized layer that is formed in one of the first and second semiconductor multilayer reflection mirrors and includes a first oxidized region selectively oxidized, and a first conductive region surrounded by the first oxidized region; and a second selectively oxidized layer that is formed in one of the first and second semiconductor multilayer reflection mirrors and includes a second oxidized region selectively oxidized, and a second conductive region surrounded by the second oxidized region. A first semiconductor layer next to the first selectively oxidized layer has an Al composition greater than that of a second semiconductor layer next to the second selectively oxidized layer, the first conductive region having a size smaller than that of the second conductive region.
US08031753B2
A red surface emitting laser element includes a first reflector, a second reflector including a p-type semiconductor multilayer film, an active layer between the first reflector and the second reflector, and a p-type semiconductor spacer layer between the active layer and the second reflector, the p-type semiconductor spacer layer having a thickness of 100 nm or more and 350 nm or less.
US08031745B2
The present invention provides a method of operating a base station transmitter. The method includes providing a cellular downlink synchronization signal having primary and secondary portions, wherein the primary portion employs a corresponding one of a plurality of different primary signals allocated to adjoining transmission cells. The method also includes further providing cell-specific information in the secondary portion and transmitting the cellular downlink synchronization signal. In one embodiment, the primary portion explicitly indicates a partial cell identification information and the remaining cell identification information is carried in the secondary portion. In another embodiment, the plurality of different primary signals are simply used to avoid the channel mismatch effect. The present invention also provides a method of operating user equipment. The method includes receiving a cellular downlink synchronization signal having primary and secondary portions wherein the timing acquisition is performed in conjunction with the primary synchronization sequence index detection via the primary portion. In addition, the secondary portion provides cell-specific parameters and identifying and extracting the secondary portion.
US08031744B2
Full-duplex wireless communication is described. In an embodiment, a transceiver device having a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit receives a data packet sent over a shared communication medium. In the embodiment, the transceiver reads the header of the data packet and starts transmitting an output signal on the same shared communication medium. Embodiments are described in which, whilst the transmission of the output signal is ongoing, the transceiver receives an impaired data signal which is made up of the payload of the data packet and interference from the output signal. In the embodiment, a cancellation signal is derived from the output signal, and this is combined with the impaired data signal to remove the interference and recover the payload of the data packet.
US08031738B2
In order to avoid system malfunction, the present invention provides a method of enhancing continuous packet connectivity, known as CPC, for a user equipment, known as UE, in a wireless communications system. The method includes the following steps. A control channel less operation function is activated according to a status variable. The status variable is re-determined when a radio link failure occurs, when a radio link control, known as RLC, unrecoverable error occurs or when transmission of UE CAPABILITY INFORMATION fails, so as to deactivate the control channel less operation function. Preferably, the status variable is CPC_HS_SCCH_LESS_STATUS variable, and the control channel less operation function is HS-SCCH less operation, where HS-SCCH is an abbreviation of “Shared Control Channel for HS-DSCH”.
US08031736B2
An installation is disclosed having a plurality of components which are connected to one another via an Ethernet network, with at least a first of the components having a device for reading data that is intended for that component from a sum frame via a sum frame protocol, as well as a device for reading the sum frame from the data part of an Ethernet MAC frame, with at least one of the components of the installation having a device for embedding the sum frame in the data part of an Ethernet MAC frame, and having a device for transmission of the Ethernet MAC frame via the Ethernet network, and with at least one of the components having a device for insertion of an identifier into the Ethernet MAC frame, which identifier indicates whether the data part of the Ethernet MAC frame contains a sum frame.
US08031731B2
A system for sharing a network port of a network interface includes a plurality of processing units, a first network interface unit coupled to a first portion of the plurality of processing units, a second network interface unit coupled to a different portion of the plurality of processing units, and a link coupled between the first and second network interface units. The first and second network interface units each includes an independently controllable network port for connection to a network, and a virtual interface. The network port includes a shared MAC unit, a link interface, and control logic, which may selectably route packets between processing units of the first portion of the plurality of processing units and the network via the link and the network port of the second network interface unit. The virtual interface may include a plurality of independent programmable virtual MAC units.
US08031726B2
A gateway device for operation at a user premises having at least one endpoint device associated with the gateway device, the gateway device being in communication with a remote service manager comprises an application service module having at least one application, the application service module being remotely managed by a remote service manager via a connection, the application service module residing on a user premises side of a network service provider demarcation, a user module having a user interface that is associated with the at least one application, wherein the user module enables bi-directional communications with the at least one endpoint device, a network module having the connection that enables bi-directional communications with the remote service manager, a processor coupled to the user module, application service module, and network module, and a storage device coupled to the processor operable to store operational information generated by and related to the gateway device, and having a management module operable to generate, collect, process, and provide access to the operational information under the control of the remote service manager.
US08031718B2
A method of data communication between power line communication (PLC) stations belonging to different PLC cells includes transmitting a station ID of a PLC reception station to a PLC cell bridge (CB) of a first PLC cell to which a PLC transmission station belongs, receiving a group identification (GID) and an encryption key of a second PLC cell to which the PLC reception station belongs from the PLC CB of the first PLC cell, encrypting data to be transmitted using the encryption key of the second PLC cell, and transmitting the station ID of the PLC reception station, the GID of the second PLC cell, and the encrypted data, to the PLC CB of the first PLC cell, and an apparatus to perform the method.
US08031708B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a media signal associated with a session established based on a session request. The session request is defined at a session exchange device associated with a media over internet protocol (MoIP) network. The method also includes sending a portion of the media signal to a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) analysis module during a sampling time period after a non-sampling time period.
US08031697B2
A method is disclosed for the optimization of a BICC (Bearer Independent Call Control) IP Bearer Support in a WCDMA R4 Telecommunication system, and provides for exchange of IPAddress and Port Id between two MGWs by avoiding tunneling between two MSCs, reducing the number of message exchanges, and reducing the message sizes.
US08031695B2
An HDLC frame formation technique that calculates fields based on unscrambled data and combines unscrambled fields with scrambled data. Decoding HDLC frames includes determining integrity of the scrambled data based on the unscrambled fields.
US08031687B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to optimized usage of access technology in a multi-mode architecture. By optimizing usage of access technology in a multi-mode architecture, the handset can utilize the most effective access technology for the application or it can utilize multiple access technologies for multiple applications.
US08031683B2
A system, apparatus, and method to dynamically select and establish connections with portals of a mesh network are described herein.
US08031680B2
A wireless communication infrastructure entity 200 and methods therein including assigning a first wireless communication terminal to one or more resources, and sending non-scheduling information to the first wireless communication terminal on an RRBP field in a downlink block based on whether information is received from the first wireless communication terminal on the assigned resource.
US08031675B2
A system for detecting wireless base stations and a method thereof are provided. The system includes a detection module, a count module, a storage module, and a switch module. The method includes sending a detection request to a channel, determining whether a wireless base station corresponding to the channel physically exits, and whether the channel is detected, based on a detection response returned by the channel; returning a detection response; calculating the sum of the detection request and the detection response so as to create a count result to be stored in the storage module; and switching directly from the wireless base station currently in use and the corresponding channel to the next undetected channel and a corresponding wireless base station, based on the count result.
US08031671B2
Methods and systems are provided for using a PDSN in a wireless communication network that includes multiple IP addresses and multiple corresponding physical interfaces. Through the use of multiple IP addresses and interfaces, the throughput of the PDSN may be substantially increased. Additionally, the multiple IP addresses and interfaces may be used to provide redundancy in order to protect against software or hardware failures. According to the methods and systems of the invention, moreover, the risk of internal hard handoffs resulting from the use of a PDSN having multiple IP addresses and interfaces is eliminated or at least substantially reduced.
US08031666B2
A present invention is related to a method for transmitting a data packet in a wireless network. An exemplary method comprises requesting to allocate a bi-directional channel time block including a first channel time block for transmitting a specific data packet and a second channel time block for receiving a response to the specific data packet; transmitting the specific data packet through the first channel time block; and receiving the response to the specific data packet through the second channel time block, wherein the bi-directional channel time block is predetermined to be allocated in an unreserved region in a superframe.
US08031662B2
A method for scheduling data in a communication system having a downlink frame structure including power control regions of a boosting region for boosting power of a data burst, a normal region for keeping power of the data burst, and a deboosting region for deboosting power of the data burst.
US08031661B2
Symmetric transmit opportunity (TXOP) truncation (STT) including receiving a frame that truncates a TXOP around a first station, and responsive to receiving the frame, sending a second frame that truncates the TXOP around a second station. By transmitting a second frame that repeats the truncation of the TXOP transmitted from the first station, a hidden node problem can be avoided and equitable access to the medium provided by ensuring that stations that may be outside the broadcast range of the first station also receive the frame truncating the TXOP. Also disclosed is an access point (AP) that receives an extended interframe space (EIFS) set frame responsively transmits a second frame having a completed transmission corresponding to time based on an interval of EIFS less DIFS, the interval commencing from an end of the EIFS set frame.
US08031659B2
A method of operating a mobile wireless network is provided, in which, when there is a relocation, the connection may be continued essentially directly from the latest state before the relocation. User data is transmitted between a mobile station and a first base station, the user data being combined into data units, for example, packet data units, before being transmitted. For transmission of data units, transmission-specific information describing an instantaneous state of the transmission is stored in the mobile station, as well as in a first network unit at a higher level than the first base station. With the relocation of the mobile station from the first base station to a second base station having a second higher-level network unit, the transmission-specific information stored in the first higher-level network unit is transmitted to the second higher-level network unit to continue the transmission after the relocation essentially directly from its latest state.
US08031658B2
The present invention provides a method for performing Buffer Status Reporting (BSR) in a user equipment (UE) of a wireless communication system. The method includes steps of forming a Medium Access Control (MAC) Packet Data Unit (PDU), the MAC PDU including padding bits with a bit amount larger than the size of a BSR MAC control element, triggering a padding BSR procedure, reporting a short BSR MAC control element when the padding bits of the MAC PDU cannot accommodate a long BSR MAC control element, and indicating the short BSR MAC control element triggered by the padding BSR procedure through a sub-header corresponding to the BSR MAC control element in the MAC PDU.
US08031649B2
Embodiments of systems and methods for arranging data units in a downlink burst transmission are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. In some embodiments a group of data units are arranged by associated identifiers. These identifiers may also be associated with certain subscriber stations. Once arranged, the data units may be transmitted in a downlink burst and received by a subscriber station. The subscriber station may determine the arrangement of the data units to decode until a cutoff value is determined and passed.
US08031646B2
A system according to some embodiments includes a first transceiver configured to transmit downlink signals to, and to receive uplink signals from, a first plurality of mobile terminals in a geographic area using a telecommunications resource, and a resource coordination controller coupled to the first transceiver and configured to communicate with a second telecommunications system including a second transceiver configured to transmit downlink signals to, and receive uplink signals from, a second plurality of mobile terminals within the geographic area using the telecommunications resource. The resource coordination controller may be further configured to coordinate use of the telecommunications resource by the first transceiver and/or the first plurality of mobile terminals based on use of the telecommunications resource by the second transceiver and/or the second plurality of mobile terminals.
US08031642B2
Devices, systems and techniques to monitor signal fading based on a cluster of subcarriers at a receiver and feedback monitored signal fading to a transmitter in wireless communication systems such as OFDM and OFDMA systems.
US08031637B2
A computing system group member, signal bearing medium, and method. A configuration of a computing system group member is determined to be able to assume a role of a primary member of the computing system group and, in response thereto, a first status is assigned in the member. All members of the computing system group receive, in order, all messages directed to group members. A second status is assigned in response to determining that the configuration of the member is not able to support performance as a primary member. The member then processes, within the member, all messages that are transmitted to all members of the group when the member is assigned the first status and when the member is assigned the second status. The configuration of the member, while assigned either the first status or the second status, is adjusted based upon contents of the messages.
US08031636B2
Provided are an apparatus for and a method of analyzing a network, for example, an asymmetric network having a plurality of links, and a wireless device for use in the network. A method of analyzing a network having a plurality of links includes performing one or more operations of sampling a packet interval between two packets transmitted consecutively, and analyzing configuration of the plurality of links included in the network based on the one or more sampled packet intervals.
US08031628B2
Systems and methods are disclosed to probe a network includes generating a set of probing pairs from a network topology for unicast network delay tomography; probing the network using monitoring hosts in the network; and determining network performance from the probing results.
US08031627B2
Example methods and apparatus to deploy and monitor network layer functionalities are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) packet at an input of a server, the IP packet being received from a communicatively coupled router, identifying the IP packet as a production IP packet or a non-production IP packets, when the IP packet is the non-production IP packet, manipulating data within the IP packet to monitor network layer functionality, forwarding the manipulated non-production IP packet to the router, and when the IP packet is the production IP packet, forwarding the production IP packet to the router without manipulating data within the IP packet.
US08031626B2
An Enhanced Reverse Link Encapsulation packet for a MDDI system combines and improves upon the functionality of the Round Trip Delay Measurement packet and Reverse Encapsulation packet. The combination of these packets allows for reduced MDDI link overhead when providing client reverse link transmission. This packet allows for dynamic reverse link bandwidth allocation and therefore improved MDDI link utilization.
US08031621B2
A network for a dual lane control system is provided. The network comprises at least one hub for a first channel and at least one hub for a second channel. A first plurality of end nodes is in a first lane. Each of the first plurality of end nodes is coupled to the first and second channels by being in communication with the hubs for the first and second channels. A second plurality of end nodes in a second lane are each redundant with a respective end node in the first lane. Each of the second plurality of end nodes is coupled to the first and second channels by being in communication with the hubs for the first and second channels.
US08031607B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving a packet belonging to a flow, the packet including a marking used to identify a quality of service (QoS) required for the packet; performing buffer management to determine whether a current occupancy level of a buffer in the network node is greater than a threshold level; when the current occupancy level of the buffer does not exceed the threshold level, performing header compression on the packet in the network node; after performing header compression, performing traffic scheduling to queue the packet in a queue selected from a plurality of queues based on the marking in the packet and to output the packet from the selected queue; and forwarding the packet towards a destination, whereby buffer management, header compression, and traffic scheduling are all performed in a single network node.
US08031601B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to improving the efficiency of bandwidth allocation schemes by adapting to slow-start mechanisms associated with network communications protocols, such as the TCP/IP protocol suite. In one implementation, the present invention scales down the initial target rate assigned to a data flow to a fraction of an initial estimate of the effective rate capacity of the communications path between two hosts. As packets are received, the target rate is gradually increased, eventually up to the detected rate capacity of the communications path. Implementations of the present invention improve the efficiency of bandwidth allocation by reducing the over-allocation of bandwidth to data flows during the slow-start phase, leaving more bandwidth available to other data flows.
US08031582B2
Optical information recording medium, BCA information recorder, and BCA information recording method
Multilayered optical information recording media involve a problem that a BCA is erroneously formed in a different information recording layer even if the BCA is intended to be formed in a specific information recording layer.An optical information medium (1) for recording/reproducing information by applying a laser beam includes two or more recording layers (11, 12) for recording/reproducing information by receiving a laser beam at the same laser beam incident surface (1a). A geometrical irregularity (K) is formed in an area (inner peripheral side) (21) for a BCA on one recording layer (12), and a mirror surface is formed in the area of the other information recording layer (11) corresponding to the BCA area (21). The geometrical irregularity (K) is detected when focus servo is actuated so as to detect the desired information recording layer. Thus, a BCA is prevented from being erroneously formed in another information recording layer.
US08031579B2
A transducer for a storage medium has a supporting element positioned over the storage medium with a first head configured to interact with the storage medium and a second head operatively connected to the first head to interact with the storage medium. The second head is carried by the supporting element in a position adjacent to the first head, and the first head and the second head are aligned in a scanning direction. The first head performs the reading of a data item stored in a portion of the storage medium, the reading entailing the deletion of the data item, and the second head performs the rewriting of the data item in the same portion of the storage medium.
US08031576B2
An optical pickup device according to the present invention includes: a first light source that outputs a first laser beam; a second light source that outputs a second laser beam; and an optical system that irradiates an information medium with the first and second laser beams. The information medium includes: an information layer on which user data is written; and a recording layer on which visible information, which is directly visible to a user, is recorded. The optical pickup device is characterized by outputting the first laser beam in writing the user data on the information layer but outputting the second laser beam in recording the visible information on the recording layer.
US08031575B2
An optical pickup device has a near-field optical system having a numerical aperture of NA>1; a first light source emitting a first light having a first wavelength; a second light source emitting a second light having a second wavelength; an optical system multiplexing the first light and second light and irradiating the multiplexed light onto an optical recording medium having at least two recording layers; a first photodetector detecting the first light returned from the recording medium a second photodetector detecting the second light returned from the recording medium; a controller obtaining a signal corresponding to distance between the near-field optical system and the recording medium based on the returned second light, and obtaining a reproducing signal and a tracking signal of the recording medium and a focus signal corresponding to the recording layer based on the returned first light; and a focus position adjustment mechanism moving a focus position of the first light under control of the focus signal.
US08031571B2
A signal drive apparatus includes a first buffer circuit where a signal converted into an electric signal from a first light signal is amplified; a second buffer circuit where a signal converted into an electric signal from a second light signal is amplified; a control circuit causing one of the first and second buffer circuits to be in an operating state and causing an output stage of the other buffer circuit to be in an idle state of a high impedance, so as to output a changeover control signal which picks up either the first or the second light signal; and a voltage changeover circuit causing any one of the output stages of the first and the second buffer circuits to be in the idle state and supplying a transistor constituting the output stage with a bias voltage equal to or less than a withstand voltage of the transistor.
US08031563B2
A library system includes a first library device that includes a first-drive for reading information from or writing information to a data storage medium and a first storage cell for storing the data storage medium, a second library device that includes a second drive for reading information from or writing information to the data storage medium and a second storage cell for storing the data storage medium, the second library device being positioned adjacent the first library device, and an elevator that transports the data storage medium between the first library device and the second library device, the elevator being positioned between the first library device and the second library device.
US08031561B2
A system according to one embodiment includes a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer with features in a discrete track configuration or a bit patterned configuration and an underlayer adjacent the magnetic layer, the underlayer comprising a material capable of forming surface plasmon resonance; and a magnetic head having: a writer for writing to the medium; and a near-field transducer for heating the medium for thermally assisted recording. Additional systems and methods are also presented.
US08031558B2
Provided is a forced acoustic dipole capable of regulating phases and acoustic pressures of first and second acoustic signals output from first and second pole speakers to freely steer the direction of an acoustic lobe. In addition, a forced acoustic multipole array is constituted by a plurality of forced acoustic dipoles. When the phases and acoustic pressures of the first and second acoustic signals output from the forced acoustic dipoles are regulated to steer an acoustic lobe in a specific direction, sound can be heard from a desired direction only without disturbing others.
US08031557B2
A method of operating an acoustic pulse echo ranging system is provided. A series of acoustic energy pulses of successively increasing or decreasing burst frequencies are transmitted through a transducer assembly. For each transmitted energy pulse associated echoes are received and converted into an echo function over time. The obtained echo function is stored in a two-dimensional pattern whose first dimension is the burst frequency and whose second dimension is the time. Based upon the two-dimensional pattern a frequency response function is evaluated as a function of echo function values over burst frequency at a selected point of time.
US08031553B2
A data strobe signal generating device includes a preamble controller configured to generate a preamble signal enabled in synchronization with a first clock signal and disabled in synchronization with a second clock signal after an output enable signal is enabled, and a data strobe signal output unit configured to generate a data strobe signal in response to the preamble signal.
US08031551B2
Power-backup capabilities are provided by implementing a variety of different methods, systems and devices. According to one such implementation, a data storage device stores data in response to data accesses under the control of a memory control circuit. A solid-state memory circuit and a volatile caching memory circuit provide the memory control circuit with access to a set of common data. A power-reservoir circuit includes two or more capacitor cells that respectively hold charge to provide operating power to the data storage device to permit transfer of the data from the volatile memory circuit to the solid-state memory circuit in the event of a power loss. A detection circuit is connected to a center tap between the capacitor cells and uses the tap to detect characteristics of the cells relative to one another, and to provide an output that can be used to characterize the cells' electrical characteristics relative to one another.
US08031550B2
A voltage regulator circuit for a memory circuit comprises a voltage divider, a capacitor, an active-mode voltage regulator and a standby-mode voltage regulator. The active-mode voltage regulator is always on while in active mode, and turned on whenever a refresh is requested. The standby-mode voltage regulator is periodically turned on while in standby mode, and turned on whenever a refresh is requested. In addition, the active voltage regulator uses stronger transistors than those used by the standby-mode voltage regulator, and both the active-mode voltage regulator and the standby-mode voltage regulator are coupled to the voltage divider and the capacitor.
US08031547B2
A differential sense amplifier can perform data sensing using a very low supply voltage.
US08031546B2
In a semiconductor device having a data input buffer capable of inputting write data to each of memory units, the data input buffer is changed from an inactive state to an active state after the reception of instruction for a write operation effected on the memory unit. The data input buffer is a differential input buffer having interface specs based on SSTL, for example, which is brought to an active state by the turning on of a power switch to thereby cause a through current to flow and receives a signal therein while immediately following a small change in small-amplitude signal. Since the input buffer is brought to the active state only when the write operation's instruction for the memory unit is provided, the data input buffer is rendered inactive in advance, before the instruction for the write operation is provided, whereby wasteful power consumption is reduced. In another aspect, power consumption is reduced by changing from the active to the inactive state in a time period from a write command issuing to a next command issuing.
US08031542B2
A Read only memory (ROM) with minimum leakage includes a ROM array including a first transistor, wherein a drain, a source, a gate, and a bulk of the first transistor is electrically connected to a logic zero in the idle state for ensuring zero junction and sub-threshold leakage current. The drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to a main bit line through a second transistor. The second transistor includes a gate, electrically connected to a first decoding circuit, a drain, electrically connected to the main bit line. A first reference bit line is electrically connected to a drain of a third transistor, wherein gate of the third transistor is electrically connected to a second decoding circuit for generating a stop read signal. A second reference bit line, electrically connected to the first decoding circuit through a first sensing unit for generating a stop pre-charge signal.
US08031536B2
A semiconductor disk wherein a flash memory into which data is rewritten in block unit is employed as a storage medium, the semiconductor disk including a data memory in which file data are stored, a substitutive memory which substitutes for blocks of errors in the data memory, an error memory in which error information of the data memory are stored, and a memory controller which reads data out of, writes data into and erases data from the data memory, the substitutive memory and the error memory. Since the write errors of the flash memory can be remedied, the service life of the semiconductor disk can be increased.
US08031532B2
Flash memory device structures and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. The flash memory devices are manufactured on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates. Shallow trench isolation (STI) regions and the buried oxide layer of the SOI substrate are used to isolate adjacent devices from one another. The methods of manufacture require fewer lithography masks and may be implemented in stand-alone flash memory devices, embedded flash memory devices, and system on a chip (SoC) flash memory devices.
US08031528B2
A flash memory system configured in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention employs a virtual ground array architecture. During programming operations, target memory cells are biased with a positive source bias voltage to reduce or eliminate leakage current that might otherwise conduct through the target memory cells. A positive source bias voltage may also be applied to target memory cells during verification operations (program verify, soft program verify, erase verify) to reduce or eliminate leakage current that might otherwise introduce errors in the verification operations.
US08031523B2
A method for reading a memory, which includes a memory cell having a first half cell and a second half cell, includes the following steps. A first voltage is applied to the memory cell to determine whether a threshold voltage of the first half cell is higher than a predetermined value or not. If the threshold voltage of the first half cell is higher than the predetermined value, a second voltage higher than the first voltage is applied to the memory cell to read data stored in the second half cell, otherwise a third voltage lower than the first voltage is applied to the memory cell to read the data stored in the second half cell.
US08031516B2
A memory cell exhibiting threshold switch behavior, such as a phase change memory, can be programmed in a way that eliminates the need for a separate post-programming verification cycle. In particular, a circuit can be used to apply the programming pulse to a cell in a way that determines whether the cell has reached the desired threshold voltage. If the cell has not reached the desired threshold voltage, it receives another programming pulse. If it has, it does not receive another programming pulse. Thus, by applying a voltage across the cell that never exceeds the threshold voltage of the cell, the need for a separate verification cycle can be eliminated in some embodiments.
US08031515B2
A data programming circuit for storing a writing data into a memory cell is provided. The data programming circuit includes a control circuit and a current generating circuit. The control circuit generates a control signal according to the writing data. The current generating circuit provides a writing current to the memory cell to change a crystalline state of the memory cell. The writing current has a pulse width corresponding to the writing data, and the crystalline state corresponds to the writing data.
US08031506B2
A disclosed embodiment is a programmable memory cell having improved IV characteristics comprising a thick oxide spacer transistor interposed between a programmable thin oxide antifuse and a thick oxide access transistor. The spacer transistor separates a rupture site formed during programming the programmable antifuse from the access transistor, so as to result in the improved IV characteristics. The programmable antifuse is proximate to one side of the spacer transistor, while the access transistor is proximate to an opposite side of the spacer transistor. The source region of the access transistor is coupled to ground, and the drain region of the access transistor also serves as the source region of the spacer transistor. The access transistor is coupled to a row line, while the spacer transistor and the programmable antifuse are coupled to a column line. The rupture site is formed during programming by applying a programming voltage to the programmable antifuse.
US08031502B2
A CAM device memory array having different types of memory cells. A CAM device memory array is subdivided into at least two different portions, where each portion uses only one particular type of CAM cell, and each portion is dedicated to storing a particular type of data. In particular, at least one portion consists of binary CAM cells and the other portion consists of ternary CAM cells. The portions can be partitioned along the row, or matchline, direction or along the bitline direction. Since particular data formats only require predefined bit positions of a word of data to be ternary in value, the remaining binary bit positions can be stored in binary CAM cells. Therefore, the CAM device memory array will occupy an overall area that is less than memory arrays of the same density consisting exclusively of ternary CAM cells.
US08031499B2
In a DC/DC converter comprising a transformer (10) having a primary winding Np and at least first and second secondary windings Ns1 and Ns2; a main output path connecting the first secondary winding to a main output Vp and comprising a synchronous rectifier circuit, a first inductor L1, and a first capacitor C1; and an input path connecting a DC supply voltage Ve to the primary winding and including a switch circuit (12) controlled by a first pulse width modulator PWM1 to regulate the main output voltage by switching the current in the primary winding, there is provided an auxiliary output circuit connecting the second secondary winding to an auxiliary output Va and comprising an auxiliary rectifier path having a control switch M5, a free-wheel switch M6, a rectifier switch M3, a second inductor L2, and a second capacitor C2; and a second pulse width modulator PWM2 connected to the control switch M5 and to the free-wheel switch M6 to control a conduction interval of said switches in order to regulate the auxiliary output independently of the main output, the rectifier switch M3 being controlled synchronously with the synchronous rectifier circuit of the main path.
US08031497B2
A three-leg power converter apparatus including first, second and third input/output ports, a three-leg bridge converter, a filter circuit, a decoupling circuit and a controller is presented. The three-leg bridge converter has three single-leg circuits, two DC terminals connecting to two terminals of the first input/output port, and three mid-terminals with each of them being formed by a middle point of one of the three single-leg circuits. The controller connects to the three-leg bridge converter for controlling an input or output current passing through each DC terminal and mid-terminal. The filter circuit connects between two of the mid-terminals and the second input/output port. The decoupling circuit has two terminals connecting to the second input/output port and another terminal connecting to a terminal of the third input/output port, with the third input/output port having another terminal connecting to the other mid-terminal that dose not connect with the filter circuit.
US08031487B2
The subject matter of the invention is a terminal block (1) as part of a high or mean voltage plant with at least one converter and at least one transformer, said terminal block (1) comprising several terminal ports (5, 6) disposed side by side, each terminal port (5) having two contacting terminal tongues (5a), an electric circuit being closed by the contacting terminal tongues (5a), there being provided a plug (20) that comprises at least one electrically non conductive plug tongue (22) for disconnecting said terminal tongues (5a) in one terminal port (5) in order to open an electric circuit.
US08031485B2
A shielding apparatus useful in the attenuation of electronic noise or spurious electric signals is disclosed. In one embodiment, the shielding apparatus is encapsulated with an electronic component such as an integrated circuit. At least parts of the apparatus are formed using a selective metal deposition process (e.g., electroforming) that increases manufacturing efficiency and provides enhanced mechanical and structural features, as well as reduced cost. In another embodiment, the shielding apparatus comprises an array. Methods of manufacturing and utilizing the shielding apparatus are also disclosed.
US08031479B2
A power converter apparatus that includes a substrate, plate-like positive and negative interconnection members, and capacitors is disclosed. Pairs of groups of switching elements are mounted on the substrate. Each of the positive interconnection member and the negative interconnection member has a terminal portion. The terminal portion has a joint portion that is electrically joined to a circuit pattern on the substrate. The switching elements are arranged in the same number on both sides of the joint portion of at least the positive interconnection member of the positive and negative interconnection members.
US08031473B2
A control device has a base plate, a cover plate coupled to the base plate, a cavity formed between the base plate and the cover plate, a circuit carrier disposed in the cavity, and a conducting track carrier electrically coupled to the circuit carrier. The base plate has a continuous recess that is configured and arranged for feeding a casting compound into the cavity between the base plate and the cover plate. The casting compound is embodied to at least partly enclose the circuit carrier and/or the conducting track carrier in a vibration-damping manner.
US08031472B2
An electronic device includes a housing with electrical circuitry that is sealed against penetration by dust, moisture, water, and the like, and permits convenient mounting and reconfiguration during operation. The electronic device can be reconfigured to add or delete a connecting plug and cable without compromising the seal. Mounting brackets are provided for mounting to both horizontal and vertical support structures, depending on orientation of the brackets.
US08031467B2
An electronic device includes a server, a plurality of fans, a fan holder attached to one outer side of the server and a plurality of fan ducts received in the fan holder. The server defines an inner cavity therein. Each fan is centrifugal fan and has a fan intake and a fan outlet perpendicular to the fan intake. The fan holder accommodates the fans therein. Each fan duct has an inlet communicating with the fan outlet and an outlet communicating with the inner cavity of the server through the fan holder to allow airflow from the fans into the server.
US08031460B2
A first internal conductor has a first portion. A second internal conductor has a lead portion and a main electrode portion. The second internal conductor is arranged in the same layer as the first internal conductor. A third internal conductor has a lead portion and a main electrode portion. The third internal conductor is arranged so as to be adjacent to the second internal conductor in a laminate direction. A fourth internal conductor has a lead portion and a main electrode portion. The fourth internal conductor is arranged so as to be adjacent to the third internal conductor in the laminate direction. When the laminate body is viewed from the laminate direction, the main electrode portion of the third internal conductor overlaps with the main electrode portions of the second and fourth internal conductors. A width of the first portion is smaller than a width of the main electrode portion of the second internal conductor in the longitudinal direction of the laminate body and a width of the main electrode portion of the second internal conductor in the transverse direction of the laminate body.
US08031455B2
In one aspect, the invention provides a system for protecting a plurality of circuits including a plurality of circuit protective devices wherein each circuit protective device includes a respective nominal current rating. According to one embodiment, the system includes current sensing circuitry configured to measure a current of each circuit protective device; and a controller configured to receive each of the measured currents. According to one embodiment, the controller is further configured to determine a ratio between a total current being carried by all of the circuit protective devices combined and a total nominal current rating of all of the circuit protective devices combined and employ the ratio to determine a modified nominal current rating of each circuit protective device, respectively. In a further embodiment, the controller is configured to generate an output signal to isolate a selected circuit selected from among the plurality of circuits based on the modified nominal current rating of the circuit protective device included in the selected circuit.
US08031454B2
An electronic system is provided including providing a target semiconductor device connected to a system power supply, measuring the system power supply with the control device for a power usage by the target semiconductor device, and controlling a fan with the control device based on the power usage.
US08031453B2
An industrial process field device is provided. The device includes wireless process field device electronics disposed within the industrial process field device and at least one battery cell disposed within the industrial process field device and operably coupled to the wireless process field device electronics. A circuit is provided that senses an electrical characteristic related to the at least one cell and provides an output to a switch to decouple the at least one cell from the industrial process field device electronics in response to certain conditions. Such conditions include too much current flowing from the at least one cell; the voltage of the at least one cell being too low; or a short circuit being generated or otherwise observed.
US08031452B2
A device for current detection is disclosed and includes a protection circuit having a current input provided via a positive input and a negative input arranged in parallel to the positive input, a pair of diodes communicatively coupling the positive input to the negative input, wherein the pair of diodes are configured to protect an operational amplifier from an overvoltage and negative voltages, and a peak detector in communication with the protection stage, wherein the peak detector is configured to receive an output provided by the operation amplifier of the protection stage, and wherein the peak detector is configured to create a peak detector output representative of the current input.
US08031450B2
A power supply control circuit includes a control circuit that controls an output transistor to be rendered conductive by forming a second electrical path between a second power supply line and a control terminal of the output transistor when a power supply voltage is applied in a reverse direction between first and second power supply lines, and that controls a second electrical path to be electrically disconnected when the power supply voltage is applied in a forward direction between the first and second power supply lines.
US08031439B2
The head stack assembly of a hard disk drive includes a bobbin, and a printed circuit board attached to the bobbin. The bobbin forms an end of the head stack assembly that is rotatable about an axis of a shaft. The printed circuit board has a flat conductive pattern of a plurality of traces through which current is supplied. The conductive pattern constitutes the voice coil motor of the hard disk drive. The hard disk drive has magnets disposed above and below the bobbin, respectively, to generate a magnetic field across the conductive pattern such that an electromotive force that rotates the HSA is produced when current flows through the conductive pattern. The flat conductive pattern allows the voice coil motor to be relatively thin while the magnets need to encompass only a small region making the hard disk drive compact and lightweight.
US08031432B2
A magnetic write head having a write coil configured to dissipate heat away from the write head to minimize thermal protrusion. The write coil is formed as a helical coil having upper and lower leads that are connected by electrically conductive studs formed therebetween. The first and leads extend beyond the studs to form heat conducting fins that conduct heat away from the write head where it can be dissipated into surrounding structure.
US08031429B2
A method of self servo-writing servo information to a plurality of disk surfaces in a disk drive that includes writing servo information to a plurality of disk surfaces in a first direction, writing servo information to a plurality of disk surfaces in a second direction, and determining an amount of overlap to be written on a reference surface with the reference head that will produce an overlap of servo information on each of the surfaces in the disk drive to which servo information is to be written. The method also includes switching to different tables when seeking across the overlap or border areas.
US08031428B1
A self-servo-write system including a timing control module and a position control module. The timing control module is configured to generate (i) timing information of a first set of servo spirals and (ii) timing control signals for writing a second set of final servo wedges based on the timing information. The position control module is configured to generate (i) position information of the first set of servo spirals and (ii) positioning control signals for writing the second set of final servo wedges based on the timing information. Less than half of the servo spirals in the first set of servo spirals are over-written while writing the second set of final servo wedges. A ratio of a first number of final servo wedges in the second set of final servo wedges to a second number of servo spirals in the first set of servo spirals is a non-integer greater than one.
US08031427B2
A method of servo writing for each track of a magnetic recording medium divided into a plurality of circular tracks including performing a phase adjustment operation by controlling a phase of a recording current according to a skew angle formed by a magnetic head and a track of the magnetic recording medium, and writing a servo pattern when the magnetic recording medium is magnetized using a magnetic head so as to have a magnetized pattern corresponding to a servo pattern.
US08031421B2
The present invention provides a method for measuring an optimum seeking time and an inspection apparatus using this method capable of measuring and setting an optimum seeking time for inspection of a magnetic disk or magnetic head. The method samples average level differences of sector-wise read signals in positive and negative domains for one round of track and detects a minimum value H and a minimum value L among these differences. The method recalculates the seeking time while changing the settling time. After writing and reading test data, calculates a deviation DEV of average levels DEV=(H−L)/(H+L). The method is adapted to obtain a minimum one of the values of settling time having measured when the deviation DEV of average levels is equal to or less than a predetermined value as an optimum settling time or an optimum seeking time.
US08031409B2
An imaging lens includes at least a first positive lens group, a first negative lens group that moves during focusing, a second positive lens group that moves during focusing, a second negative lens group that can move in a direction substantially vertical to an optical axis, and a positive lens group, which are disposed in order from an object, wherein a condition of an expression, which is 2.0<(−f4)/d34<20.8, is satisfied, where f4 is a focal length of the second negative lens group (vibration proof group) that can move in a direction substantially vertical to the optical axis, and d34 is an air distance on the optical axis upon focusing on infinity, between a lens surface disposed closest to an image of a lens group (the second positive lens group in the case of this embodiment) which is disposed to an object side of the second negative lens group that can move in a direction substantially vertical to the optical axis, and a lens surface disposed closest to the object of the negative lens group that can move in a direction substantially vertical to the optical axis.
US08031408B2
A fluid displacement mechanism is disclosed. In an embodiment, first and second cavities are separated by a flexible membrane. The first cavity contains a non-conductive fluid and the second cavity contains a conductive fluid. First and second electrodes are positioned in the first and second cavities respectively such that the application of a voltage between the electrodes causes movement of the membrane by the build up of an electrostatic charge between the membrane and first electrode.
US08031402B2
An apparatus and method for allowing multiple individuals to view discrete images while remaining in close proximity to each other. It encompasses a split screen polarized lens, with alternate polarization portions, fitting over a viewing monitor and pairs of corresponding polarized glasses. Each pair of polarized glasses matches a portion of the screen lens with the same polarization so that the human viewer wearing vertically polarized glasses may only view the vertically polarized portion of the screen and the human viewer wearing horizontally polarized glasses may only view the horizontally polarized portion of the screen.
US08031393B2
A light emitting apparatus has a radiation source for emitting short wavelength radiation. A down conversion material receives and down converts at least some of the short wavelength radiation emitted by the radiation source and back transfers a portion of the received and down converted radiation. An optic device adjacent the down conversion material at least partially surrounds the radiation source. The optic device is configured to extract at least some of the back transferred radiation. A sealant substantially seals a space between the radiation source and the optic device.
US08031391B2
A system and method for operating an electronic device used in light processing. A method comprises altering a spatial relationship between a spatial light modulator (SLM) and a light incident on the SLM, shifting light modulator states of a first portion of light modulators to a second portion of light modulators, and placing a third portion of light modulators in the SLM into a performance degradation-reducing mode. The amount of shifting performed is proportional to the amount of change in the spatial relationship. The method allows for a change in light modulators used to modulate the light, thereby preventing the overuse of some of the light modulators, which may help to prevent degradation of the light modulators. The performance degradation reducing mode may help to further reduce or even reverse the performance degradation of the light modulators.
US08031387B2
A two-element f-θ lens used for a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) laser scanning unit includes a first lens and a second lens, the first lens is a positive refraction meniscus lens of which the convex surface is disposed on a side of a MEMS mirror, the second lens is a positive refraction meniscus lens of which the concave surface is disposed on the side of the MEMS mirror, at least one optical surface is an Aspherical surface in both main scanning direction and sub scanning direction, and satisfies special optical conditions. The two-element f-θ lens corrects the nonlinear relationship between scanned angle and time into the linear relationship between image spot distances and time. The two-element f-θ lens focuses the scan light to the target in the main scanning and sun scanning directions, such that the purpose of the scanning linearity effect and the high resolution scanning can be achieved.
US08031384B2
A device (1) for manufacturing a three-dimensional object by a layer-wise solidification of a building material at positions in the respective layers corresponding to the object is provided. The device has an energy source (6) that emits a beam (9) for solidifying the building material, a scanner (8) that selectively directs the beam (9) to different positions in a building plane (11), and a deflection mirror (7) that deflects the beam (9) coming from the energy source (6) to the scanner (8). The beam (9) from the energy source (6) to the scanner (8) runs in a space (13, 14) secluded from the outside and an adjustment mechanism (16) for the alignment of the deflection mirror (7) is provided, which is adjustable from the outside of the secluded space (13, 14).
US08031380B2
The invention claimed is a novel front feed document imaging device input tray which accommodates varying types and widths of media by providing front feed capability in a single tray attachment, and which tray can pivot out of the way of the document path by virtue of torsion springs when the user wishes to alternate media types. The input tray may be locked into position depending upon the user's requirements.
US08031377B2
An image forming apparatus includes a paper fiber reading unit that reads fiber properties of a paper sheet; an encryption unit that encrypts at least a part of an input image based on the fiber properties read by the paper fiber reading unit; and a printing unit that prints an encrypted image portion encrypted by the encryption unit and an image including information representing the fiber properties read by the paper fiber reading unit on the paper sheet whose fiber properties are read by the paper fiber reading unit.
US08031376B2
A disclosed image processing apparatus enables input of various documents, addition of various types of embedded information, and implementation of various behaviors associated with embedded information detection results. Information embedded in input document data is detected, and an image processing associated with a detection result is carried out. The image processing apparatus includes a document input mechanism, an embedded information analysis mechanism, a behavior determination mechanism, a document output mechanism, and an image management mechanism. In one embodiment, an interface via which the document input mechanism and the embedded information analysis mechanism are connected, and another interface via which the document input mechanism and the image management mechanism are connected are fixed, so that the document input mechanism can be replaced with a new document input mechanism that inherits from those fixed interfaces, without affecting the other mechanisms.
US08031375B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an information input/output method that is capable of imparting different functions to dots of a dot pattern displayed on a printed matter, thereby, at the time of providing information from the dot pattern, recognizing directivity and speedily providing information and that is capable of checking an error relative to a dot layout state, and further, that is capable of enhancing security. Therefore, according to the present invention, the information input/output method is provided, and includes: defining as a block a rectangular area of a square or a rectangle, of a medium face such as a printed matter; while a straight line in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction configuring a frame of the block is defined as a standard grid line, providing a virtual reference grid point by predetermined interval on the reference grid line; laying out a reference grid point dot on a virtual reference grid point; connecting the virtual reference grid points to each other and defining a straight line parallel to the reference grid line as a grid line; defining a cross point between the grid lines as a virtual grid point; generating a dot pattern obtained by laying out one or a plurality of information dots, respectively, having a distance and a direction around the virtual grid point; reading such dot pattern as image information by optical reader means; numerically valuing the dot pattern; and reading and outputting information that corresponds to the numerically valued information from storage means.
US08031370B2
An image processing device includes a histogram generation unit configured to generate a density histogram on the basis of image data of an original document, a white-reference value detection unit configured to acquire as a white reference value a density value at a density distribution peak in a predetermined white side range of the density histogram, a background-removal level determination unit configured to determine a background-removal level value having the maximum density to remove a background component by using a reference table on the basis of the white reference value, and a background removal unit configured to remove the background component from the image data by using the white reference value and the background-removal level value.
US08031369B2
In a method or device to generate or process a resource-based document data stream with which an output of at least one document on an output medium can be controlled, the document data stream is provided with resource reference data related to at least one color management resource, and medium reference data related to the output medium. The resource reference data and the medium reference data are logically connected with one another such that when the medium reference data changes because the output medium has changed, then the resource reference data is automatically changed to another color management resource.
US08031365B2
The present invention provides an image processor for outputting image data to an image forming device forming an image with use of a recording material having a plurality of color components. The processor comprises a component determining a region having higher brightness than predetermined brightness and a region having lower brightness than the predetermined brightness in the image data based on the image data and a component adjusting saturation so as to reduce density values of color components other than a color component having a maximum density value among the plurality of color components of the recording material to increase saturation in a region having brightness determined to be high and reduce density values of color components other than a color component having a minimum density value among the plurality of color components of the recording material to decrease saturation in a region having brightness determined to be low.
US08031361B2
An aspect of the invention provides an image forming apparatus including: a image forming section that forms an image based on a print data on at least one sheet equipped with a non-contact tag; a writing section that wirelessly writes a tag data into the non-contact tag of the at least one sheet; a first cassette that holds a plurality of sheets equipped with first type non-contact tags having a first storage capacity; a second cassette that holds a plurality of sheets equipped with second type non-contact tags having a second storage capacity larger than the first storage capacity; and a selecting section that selects a print cassette from among the first and second cassettes based on a data size of the tag data. The at least one sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming section is provided from the print cassette.
US08031360B2
In an illustrative embodiment, methods and systems are provided for processing facsimiles. A call processing system receives a first message transmitted from a first carrier system regarding a facsimile call to a phone address. The first message includes an identifier associated with the user. The identifier is used to determine if the user is authorized to receive call processing system services. If the user is authorized, a second message is transmitted to the first carrier system, the second message indicating that the first carrier system is to connect the call to the call processing system. The call processing system is connected to the call. A facsimile is received via the call at the call processing system. Information regarding the facsimile call is provided over a network, wherein some or all of the information is displayed in a call log visually accessible by the user.
US08031358B2
An image forming system, having means for storing usage histories of latent image carriers, developer, or the like and maintenance cycles of image forming apparatuses and having a function for selecting image forming apparatuses outputting an image based on the usage history data or the maintenance cycles, in order to achieve uniform output image qualities. By managing the usage histories so as to achieve approximately the same deteriorated conditions of the latent image carriers of the image forming apparatuses, the image forming apparatuses can be put in the same condition and thus the output image qualities can be approximately the same in the image forming apparatuses. Additionally, the maintenance cycles can be adjusted to be approximately the same in the image forming apparatuses. Otherwise, maintenance periods can be controlled so as not to overlap in the image forming apparatuses.
US08031347B2
A multi-media print includes a decoding module, a configuration memory, and a parameter determination module. The decoding module decodes print job parameters and print job data, and outputs decoded print job parameters including decoded print job media selection parameters and the decoded print job data. The configuration memory stores default configuration parameters. The parameter determination module receives the decoded print job parameters including the decoded print job media selection parameters and the decoded print job data and also receives the default configuration parameters including the default media selection parameters from the configuration memory. The parameter determination module determines the final print job media selection parameters for the print job, utilizing the decoded print job media selection parameters and the default media selection parameters. The default media selection parameters are utilized when the print job parameters and print job data are not sufficient to select the media.
US08031346B2
System and method for evaluating coating thickness variations along a turbine blade contour. In one embodiment, applied to a first region extending 360 degrees about the blade and to a second region including an exposed reference surface, the first region includes a first surface over which the coating is formed and a second surface formed by the coating. The system provides a source of structured light positionable to cast patterns suitable for determination of coordinate position information along the surfaces. One or more imaging cameras are positionable to acquire image data based on the light patterns. A computer system processes image information to (1) characterize the first and second surfaces with respect to a coordinate along the reference surface; (2) compare coordinate data corresponding to the first surface with coordinate data corresponding to the second surface; and (3) determine thickness of the coating as a function of position.
US08031343B2
A waveguide optical gyroscope is disclosed. The waveguide optical gyroscope includes a laser, two detectors, a set of couplers and a set of waveguides. The laser generates a light beam. A first waveguide guides the light beam to travel in a first direction, and a second waveguide guides the light beam to travel in a second direction. The first and second waveguides are coupled to several ring waveguides via the couplers. The first detector detects the arrival of the light beam traveling from the first waveguide, and the second detector detects the arrival of the light beam traveling from the second waveguide.
US08031342B2
Embodiments are generally described that include lasers having two mirrors, at least one of which has a reflectivity related to a presence or concentration of a target analyte. Output radiation generated by the laser may be related to the presence of the target analyte.
US08031336B2
The spectrometer 1 is provided with a package 2 in which a light guiding portion 7 is provided, a spectroscopic module 3 accommodated inside the package 2, and a support member 29 arranged on an inner wall plane of the package 2 to support the spectroscopic module 3. The spectroscopic module 3 is provided with a body portion 11 for transmitting light made incident from the light guiding portion 7 and a spectroscopic portion 13 for dispersing light passed through the body portion 11 on a predetermined plane of the body portion 11, and the spectroscopic portion 13 is supported by the support member 29 on the predetermined plane in a state of being spaced away from the inner wall plane.
US08031329B2
An overlay mark is described, including a portion of a lower layer having two x-directional and two y-directional bar-like patterns therein, and two x-directional and two y-directional photoresist bars defined by the lithography process for defining an upper layer and surrounded by the bar-like patterns. At least one of the patterning process for defining the lower layer and the above lithography process includes two exposure steps respectively for defining a first device area and a second device area. When the patterning process includes two exposure steps, one x-directional and one y-directional bar-like patterns are defined simultaneously and the other x-directional and the other y-directional bar-like patterns are defined simultaneously. When the lithography process includes two exposure steps, one x-directional and one y-directional photoresist bars are defined simultaneously and the other x-directional and the other y-directional photoresist bars are defined simultaneously.
US08031318B2
A liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a wiring substrate; an opposing substrate opposite to the wiring substrate; a sealing member for bonding the wiring substrate to the opposing substrate; a liquid crystal filled in a space defined by the wiring substrate, the opposing substrate, and the sealing member; a plurality of scanning signal lines formed in a display area formed inside the sealing member; a plurality of a display signal lines formed in the display area and crossing the scanning signal lines with an insulating film interposed therebetween; and a common signal line formed outside the display area, the scanning signal lines, the scanning signal lines, and common signal line being formed on the wiring substrate, and the common signal line including at least two conductive layers with one of the conductive layers changing a pattern width below a pattern of the sealing member.
US08031304B2
A transfiective liquid crystal display panel, in which at least one of a pixel electrode substrate and a counter electrode substrate is provided with a protruding portion so that the thickness of a liquid crystal layer in a reflective region is smaller than that in a transmissive region, wherein a light-blocking section for shading a defective orientation domain formed by an insufficiently-rubbed portion around the protruding portion is formed simultaneously with, and using the same material as, another element such as a storage capacitor electrode section, a signal line or a scanning line. Thus, the decrease in the display quality due to the defective orientation domain can be suppressed without adding to the production process.
US08031299B2
The present invention is intended to control the color temperature of white exhibited by a liquid crystal display device. White is produced when light waves emitted through pixels associated with three colors of red; green, and blue have maximum intensities. The amounts of light emitted through the respective pixels are controlled by differentiating the shapes of the pixel electrodes disposed at the respective pixels from one another. Thus, the color temperature of white is controlled. Otherwise, the shapes of interceptive films disposed at the respective pixels are differentiated from one another in order to control light waves emitted through the respective pixels. Thus, the color temperature of white is controlled. The interceptive film may be shaped like the pixel electrode. Otherwise, the interceptive film may be realized with an interceptive pattern other than that of the pixel electrode or one of openings bored in a black matrix.
US08031291B2
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a tablet computer having the same. According to the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display, comprising: a liquid crystal display panel for displaying an image; a driving circuit unit connected to the liquid crystal display panel and including a printed circuit board mounted with a circuit component; a top chassis disposed over the liquid crystal display panel; and a fastening member for fastening the printed circuit board of the driving circuit unit to the top chassis.
US08031284B2
There is disclosed an active matrix reflective liquid crystal display panel on which an active matrix circuit is integrated with peripheral driver circuits. Metal lines in the peripheral driver circuits are formed simultaneously with pixel electrodes. Thus, neither the process sequence nor the structure is complicated.
US08031283B2
An active matrix substrate according to one aspect of the present invention is a TFT array substrate including a TFT. The active matrix substrate includes a gate signal line electrically connected to a gate electrode of the TFT, a first insulating film formed above the gate signal line, an auxiliary capacitance electrode formed above the first insulating film and supplied with a common potential, a second insulating film formed above the auxiliary capacitance electrode, a source signal line formed above the second insulating film and electrically connected to a source electrode of the TFT, a third insulating film formed above the source signal line, and a pixel electrode formed above the third insulating film so that the pixel electrode overlaps with a part of the auxiliary capacitance electrode.
US08031271B2
A method of calibrating a projection system is disclosed. The method includes determining a location of at least one hotspot on a screen within the projection system, initiating a calibration sequence of the projection system and ignoring the at least one hotspot during the calibration sequence of the projection system.
US08031266B2
A method for video decoding in a video decoding/de-interlacing display apparatus that utilizes a storage device is provided. The method includes: (a) decoding video data of a next picture; (b) if the next picture is a B picture, buffering the decoded video data of the next picture into a frame buffer of the storage device not stored with a reference picture nor a present display picture nor a previous display picture; and (c) if the decoded next picture is a reference picture, buffering the decoded video data of the next picture into a frame buffer of the storage device not stored with a last decoded reference picture nor the present display picture nor the previous display picture.
US08031255B2
An image capturing device includes: at least two field limiting parts which limit a field of view to a dot-like section to define a passage of light; a light sensor which detects light passing through the field limiting parts; a scanning device which moves a scanning spot defined by the dot-like section in two-dimensional directions within a scanning area of an image to be captured; and a control device which controls movements of the scanning spot by the scanning device while receiving detection signals from the light sensor.
US08031252B2
A solid-state image-capturing device which has built in an image-capturing area including a light receiving element provided on a semiconductor substrate, a substrate bias circuit, and a clamp circuit for receiving output of the substrate bias circuit and applying the output of the substrate bias circuit to the semiconductor substrate in accordance with a substrate pulse, comprises a substrate bias control circuit for controlling so as to reduce an electric current of the clamp circuit during a predetermined period.
US08031248B2
Since the great number of elements constituting a unit pixel having an amplification function would hinder reduction of pixel size, unit pixel n,m arranged in a matrix form is comprised of a photodiode, a transfer switch for transferring charges stored in the photodiode, a floating diffusion for storing charges transferred by the transfer switch, a reset switch for resetting the floating diffusion, and an amplifying transistor for outputting a signal in accordance with the potential of the floating diffusion to a vertical signal line, and by affording vertical selection pulse φVn to the drain of the reset switch to control a reset potential thereof, pixels are selected in units of rows.
US08031244B2
A solid-state imaging device with an improved heat release-ability for releasing a heat generated in the amplifier unit of the solid-state image sensing element includes an elongated substrate (molded case 18), a metallic layer 16 exposed in a surface of the molded case 18 and extending along an elongating direction of the molded case 18, and an elongated solid-state image sensing element 20 mounted on the metallic layer 16, in which a thickness in a region of a metallic layer 16 right under an amplifier unit of the solid-state image sensing element 20 is larger than thicknesses in other regions of the metallic layer 16.
US08031230B2
Provided are a recorded content display program and a recorded content display apparatus which effectively display the recorded contents of video image recording apparatuses connected in plural. To display the recorded contents of the images when the image recording apparatuses for recording the images taken by a camera are connected in plural, the image retaining ranges for the image recording apparatuses connected in plural are arranged and shown on the one screen with the horizontal axis determined as a time direction. And, the image retaining ranges for the image recording apparatuses are displayed with their displays varied visually depending on a frame rate.
US08031229B2
The imaging apparatus includes an image sensor for obtaining a picture image from an optical image that is projected to the image sensor through an optical system, an image moving portion for moving the optical image on the image sensor, a motion detecting portion for detecting a movement on the picture image of a moving subject that appears in the optical image, and a control portion for controlling, during an exposure period after a predetermined operation, the image moving portion in the direction of canceling the movement of the moving subject on the image sensor due to a movement of the moving subject in the real space, based on a movement of the moving subject detected in advance. The control portion sets length of the exposure period based on the movement of the moving subject detected in advance.
US08031219B2
A frequency adjusting unit adjusts a frequency of the clock signal to be supplied to a drive unit when an image is to be formed on the second face in response to a contraction ratio of the printing material on which an image has been formed on the first face. The phase difference determining unit determines a phase difference between the clock signal corresponding to the first face and the clock signal corresponding to the second face in response to a frequency difference and a sign thereof between the clock signal corresponding to the first face and the clock signal corresponding to the second face. The change control unit changes from the clock signal corresponding to the first face to the clock signal corresponding to the second face.
US08031207B2
A mobile telephone displays an image of a payment card in connection with a contactless payment function implemented in the mobile telephone. The mobile telephone constructs the payment card image from separate image elements. Data which represents at least some of the image elements is stored in an image data format which includes at least some dedicated storage fields for the various image elements.
US08031205B2
Various imaging processing techniques for displaying a pre-subpixel rendered image. The pre-subpixel rendered image can be transmitted directly to a display capable of displaying a subpixel rendered image. The pre-subpixel rendered image can also be stored for later transmission for output to the display. Additionally, the pre-subpixel rendered image can be embedded in an image data stream and later extracted and displayed.
US08031191B2
An image processing apparatus for sequentially generating rendering data of a plurality of images composing a moving image, comprising a velocity vector detecting unit for detecting a velocity vector of a block image in an image in accordance with the rendering data based on rendering basic data used for the generation of the rendering data and a control unit for selectively performing, for each of the block images of the rendering data and based on a velocity vector generated by the velocity vector detecting unit, subsampling processing for generating only part of the pixel data in the pixel data corresponding to the block image based on the rendering basic data and non-subsampling processing for generating all pixel data corresponding to the block image based on the rendering basic data to thereby generate the rendering data.
US08031188B2
A digital/analog converter circuit, a level shift circuit, a shift register containing this level shift circuit, a sampling latch circuit and a latch circuit as well as a liquid crystal display device mounted with these respective circuits, wherein a drive circuit integrated with the LCD device containing the digital/analog converter circuit has polysilicon thin film transistors arrayed in a matrix on the substrate as switching devices for the pixels. A level shift circuit in the shift register has a basic structure of CMOS latch cells and is utilized in each level shift of the clock signal at each transfer stage, a sampling latch circuit with a basic structure of CMOS latch cells has a level shift function, and these respective circuits may be incorporated into a single scanning type structural circuit with the drive circuit-integrated liquid crystal display device to provide an LCD panel with an extremely narrow picture frame, stable level shift operation, stable sampling & latch operation in a circuit structure having an extremely small number of components, low power consumption and a small surface area.
US08031182B2
An improved handheld electronic device has a display and a keypad, with the keypad being movable among a number of configurations that enable the “real estate” occupied by the keypad to be increased or decreased, and to correspondingly enable the viewable area of the display to be relatively decreased and increased, respectively.
US08031181B2
A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer's display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses, vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.
US08031166B2
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display method, which can adjust the brightness of different segments of backlight according to the different images. Especially, the present invention discloses a liquid crystal display method, which includes: receiving a image signal; analyzing the image signal; dividing the image into at least two image segments according to the analysis result of the image signal; dividing the backlight into at least two backlight segments according to the division result of the image; adjusting the brightness of the backlight in each backlight segment; adjusting the image signal in each image segment. The liquid crystal display method of the present invention divide the image and the backlight according to the image signal, while adjusting the brightness of the image and backlight in each segment to not only decrease the power consumption of the liquid crystal display, but also increase the contrast of the image signal, thereby improving the effect of liquid crystal display.
US08031164B2
Apparatuses and methods to operate a display device of an electronic device. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a user setting of a display control parameter, and altering, based on the user setting, an effect of an ambient light sensor value (ALS) on control of the display control parameter. Also, according to embodiments of the inventions, a method of operating a display of an electronic device includes receiving a change to one of a display brightness output level and an ambient light sensor output level, and altering, according to the change, a display contrast output level. In some embodiments, a method of operating a proximity sensor of an electronic device includes receiving a light sensor output, and altering, according to the output, an on/off setting of a proximity sensor. Other apparatuses and methods and data processing systems and machine readable media are also described.
US08031163B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a data converter for processing first and second data signals, a backlight unit emitting light having a luminance, and a liquid crystal panel supplied with the light. The LCD panel has a first and second region corresponding to the first and second data signals. The data converter differently processes gray levels of the first and second data signals a and the luminance is adjusted when the first and second regions have different brightness. The LCD driving method allows presentation of different image regions on a screen, such as moving image screens and static image screens without brightness degradation.
US08031161B2
An electrooptic device includes 1) row groups of pixels that are made black during successive first precharge periods that are next to row groups of pixels to which a voltage corresponding to the gray level is written during successive first writing periods, 2) row groups of pixels that are made black during successive second precharge periods that are next to row groups of pixels to which a voltage corresponding to the gray level is written during successive second writing periods, and 3) row groups of pixels that are made black during successive first precharge periods that are next to row groups of pixels that are made black during successive second precharge periods.
US08031158B2
A driving circuit for a flat panel display device includes a generation unit for generating n-phase form generation clocks; and a plurality of shift register stages for sequentially generating a plurality gate signals to a plurality of gate lines using the n-phase form generation clocks, one of the shift register stage including first and second output terminals for outputting first and second switching signals, respectively, using an output signal of one of the preceding shift register stages and an output signal of one of the subsequent shift register stages; a first transistor connected to the first output terminal for receiving one of the n-phase form generation clocks; and a second transistor connected to the second output terminal and the first transistor, wherein each gate line is connected to a node between the first and second transistors.
US08031156B2
A data driving circuit of a liquid crystal display for selectively switching and multiplexing voltages in accordance with a bit order of input data is disclosed. The data driver circuit includes: a voltage distributor that selects one of a first voltage and a second voltages as first output voltage in accordance with the most significant bit of input data including a plurality of n data bits, that multiplexes the first voltage and the second voltage to be output as one of more multiplexed output voltage is one of the first voltage and the second voltage selected in accordance with bits of the input data lower in significance than the most significant bit, and that outputs the first voltage as a final output voltage; and an output buffer that is driven by the first output voltage, the one or more multiplexed output voltages, and the final output voltage.
US08031155B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a display unit having matrix type pixels defined by gate and data lines crossing with each other, a data driver to supply a data voltage to be supplied to the data lines via output lines, the output lines being less in number than the data lines, a plurality of demultiplexers, each including a plurality of switching devices having a gate terminal, source terminal and a drain terminal, wherein the gate terminals are supplied with a plurality of control signals, the source terminals are commonly connected to the corresponding output line, and the drain terminals are individually connected to one side of the data lines, respectively, a data line check unit activated to supply a test data voltage to the other side of the data lines when the data driver is inactive, a plurality of signal input lines individually connected to the gate terminals, respectively, an input terminal supplied with a cutoff signal to be inputted to the signal input lines to turn off the switching devices, and a switching unit electrically connecting/disconnecting the input terminal to/from the signal input lines according to an external control signal.
US08031152B2
A display device includes: a display unit; scanning lines connected to rows of the pixels; data lines connected to columns of the pixels; a dummy scanning line being extended in parallel with the scanning lines; a scanning driver which outputs a selection signal to a selected scanning line and to the dummy scanning line in response to a selection clock signal; a data driver which outputs data for displaying one scanning line in response to a timing determination signal; and a timing determination signal line connected to a node preset on the dummy scanning line and transmits the selection signal transmitted to the node to the data driver as the timing determination signal. Even for a large size display, displaying defects can be prevented.
US08031151B2
A display substrate includes a base substrate, a first storage electrode, a second storage electrode, a first insulating layer, a first spacing member and a second spacing member. The base substrate includes a first pixel region and a second pixel region that are defined by a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of source lines extended in a direction different from an extended direction of the gate lines. The first storage electrode is in the first pixel region. The second storage electrode is in the second pixel region. The first insulating layer covers the first storage electrode, and has a recessed portion on the second storage electrode. The first spacing member is on the first insulating layer corresponding to the first storage electrode. The second spacing member is on the recessed portion.
US08031137B2
When a current frame of a video expresses only grayscales less than a reference grayscale, a sustain pulse applying period and a holding period are alternately provided in a sustain period of at least one subfield having a weight greater than a reference weight in all of the discharge cells of a plasma display panel, thereby reducing power consumption in the plasma display panel. In the sustain pulse applying period, sustain pulses alternately having a first voltage and a second voltage less than the first voltage are applied in opposite phases to first electrodes and second electrodes of the plasma display panel. In the holding period, the first electrodes and/or the second electrodes are maintained at the first voltage.
US08031129B2
A wireless device having vertically and horizontally polarized antenna arrays can operate at multiple frequencies concurrently. A horizontally polarized antenna array allows for the efficient distribution of RF energy in dual bands using, for example, selectable antenna elements, reflectors and/or directors that create and influence a particular radiation pattern. A vertically polarized array can provide a high-gain dual band wireless environment using reflectors and directors as well. The polarized horizontal antenna arrays and polarized vertical antenna arrays can operate concurrently to provide dual band operation simultaneously.
US08031126B2
In one embodiment according to the teachings of the present disclosure, an antenna generally includes a first, second, and third elements. The first and second elements form a first electro-magnetic radiator that is operable to transmit or receive a first signal having a first sense of polarization. The first and third elements form a second electro-magnetic radiator that is operable to transmit or receive a second signal having a second sense of polarization that is different than the first sense of polarization.
US08031123B2
A feeding radiation electrode and a non-feeding radiation electrode are provided extending from a front side surface to top surface of a dielectric base. In the feeding radiation electrode, a slit that extends from a feeding end in an inward direction is formed, and, in the non-feeding radiation electrode, a slit that extends from a ground end in an inward direction is formed. In addition, on the non-feeding radiation electrode, a branch electrode is formed so as to extend toward the side of the feeding radiation electrode. With this configuration, gain is obtained in two frequency bands by using a multi-resonance of fundamental wave resonances and harmonic resonances generated by the feeding radiation electrode and the non-feeding radiation electrode, and a good return loss characteristic caused by coupling of harmonic resonances is provided. In other embodiments, the feeding and non-feeding radiation electrodes may be formed on a flat substrate, or directly on a circuit board.
US08031117B2
A communications device for separating source signals provided by M signal sources includes an antenna array comprising N antenna elements for receiving at least N different summations of the M source signals. At least two of the N antenna elements are correlated and have different polarizations for receiving at least two of the N different summations of the M source signals, with N and M being greater than 1. A receiver is connected to the antenna array for receiving the at least N different summations of the M source signals. A blind signal separation processor is connected to the receiver for forming a mixing matrix comprising the at least N different summations of the M source signals, and for separating desired source signals from the mixing matrix. The mixing matrix has a rank equal to at least N.
US08031116B1
A microwave antenna system having a plurality of antenna elements arranged in an array having two spaced ends. A phase shifter is electrically connected to a first group of at least two adjacent antenna elements at one end of the array and is also electrically connected to a second group of at least two adjacent antenna elements adjacent the other end of the array. Individual phase shifters are connected to individual middle antenna elements for at least several of the antenna elements between the first and second groups of antenna elements. A switch selectively electrically connects a phase delay line in series between the phase shifter and the second group of antenna array elements to effectively double the number of good beam positions of the antenna array.
US08031113B2
Signal acquisition assistance data is obtained for receiving devices such as wireless position assisted location devices seeking signals from any source, such as satellite vehicles and base stations. The data may be obtained from previously acquired data, based upon evaluation of changes in parameters such as time and location that may jeopardize validity. In some cases the data may be adjusted for the changes in parameters. Refined data may be calculated by a receiver using partial measurements of signal sets, particularly if the acquisition assistance data provided by a remote entity includes more distinct parameters than have typically been provided. New data need not be obtained until the validity of previous data expires due to limitations upon temporal extrapolation using Doppler coefficients, unless mobile station movement that cannot be compensated is detected, and jeopardizes validity of the previous data.
US08031112B2
A method of acquiring a signal includes generating a first set of acquired signal power values comprising an acquired signal power value for each of a plurality of Doppler bins over a first predetection integration time (PIT) interval, and generating a second set of acquired signal power values comprising an acquired signal power value for each of the plurality of Doppler bins over a second subsequent PIT interval. The first and the second sets are used to generate at least three additional sets of acquired signal power values. A new set is generated by selecting the maximum of the summations for each Doppler bin from the three additional sets, and a Doppler shift is identified from the Doppler bin having the maximum summation value. The output may be used to initialize a first and a second extended Kalman filters for tracking a carrier signal and a code signal, respectively.
US08031109B2
An antenna configuration is described for high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) radars contained in a single vertical post. The radar may include a vertical dipole or monopole transmitting antenna collocated with a three-element receive antenna. The three antennas including two crossed loops and a vertical element are used in a direction-finding (DF) mode. Isolation between the three antennas produces high quality patterns useful for determining target bearings in DF mode. The single vertical post is sufficiently rigid mechanically that it may be installed along a coast without guy wires.
US08031106B2
A method for determining at least one of the distance to and the speed of an object is discussed. The method comprises determining an indication of whether the object is approaching or moving away and generating an interrogation signal comprising a sequence consisting of segments at constant frequency and segments of varying frequency, wherein if the determining step indicates the object is approaching then the varying frequency segments have decreasing frequency and if the determining step indicates that the object is moving away then the varying frequency segments have increasing frequency. The interrogation signal is transmitted and a version of the interrogation signal reflected from the object is detected. At least one of the distance to and speed of the object is then determined using a combination of the interrogation signal and the reflected version of the interrogation signal.
US08031102B2
Provided is an AD converter that converts an input analog signal into a digital signal, comprising an integrator that sequentially integrates signal levels of the analog signal to obtain an integrated waveform, and outputs the integrated waveform; a digital converting section that detects, with prescribed units of temporal resolution, a transition timing, which is a timing at which a magnitude relationship between a signal level of the integrated waveform and a prescribed reference value transitions to a predetermined state; a feedback section that controls the signal level of the integrated waveform with a control period longer than a unit of temporal resolution, according to a result of the detection by the digital converting section; and a signal processing section that generates the digital signal based on the detection result by the digital converting section.
US08031100B2
A resistor string digital to analog converter formed of polysilicon resistor segments to each of which is applied an electric field. The approach improves the overall accuracy.
US08031099B2
A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuit includes a least significant bit (LSB) set of capacitors, each commonly coupled to an LSB node, and a most significant bit (MSB) set of capacitors, each coupled to an MSB node. A section-coupling capacitor couples the LSB and MSB nodes. The LSB node exhibits a parasitic capacitance, which tends to introduce a jump error voltage. Digital input signals are applied to the LSB and MSB capacitors, and in response, an analog output signal is developed on the MSB node. A compensation capacitor coupled to the MSB node has a compensation capacitance selected to offset the jump error voltage introduced by the parasitic capacitance. The compensation capacitor is enabled when all of the LSB capacitors are coupled to digital input signals having a logic ‘0’ state. Otherwise, the compensation capacitor is disabled (e.g., left in a floating state).
US08031086B2
Radio frequency identification tags are spaced apart from one another in or around a work area for the vehicle. Each of the tags has a corresponding unique identifier. A path planning module establishes a path comprising a path segment between at least two of the radio frequency identification tags. The path segment comprises at least one of a distance between the tags, an angular heading between the tags, and unique identifiers corresponding to the tags. A data processor determines an estimated position of the vehicle based on at least one of odometer data and accelerometer data. A vehicle controller navigates between at least two of the radio frequency identification tags based on the estimated position, the distance and the angular heading. A reader reads the tag identifiers of each tag to track the progress of the vehicle to facilitate execution of or retrieval of any next path segment of the vehicle along the established path.
US08031082B2
A meter reading system of the present invention enables transmission of data between utility meter endpoints and readers. In a first embodiment, the endpoint provides a short message providing its identification to the reader and immediately enters a listen mode. If the reader hears the short message, it can immediately respond and request additional information from the endpoint. If the reader does not hear the short message or does not request additional information during the endpoints listening period, the endpoint enters a sleep mode until its next transmission time. In another embodiment, the endpoint transmits an SCM via AM communication to the reader. The reader can then request additional information and the endpoint can respond with the information via two-way FM communication. In another embodiment, the endpoint is capable of transmitting interval data to the reader via either AM or FM communication.
US08031080B2
A patient support surface comprises a cover defining an interior region, a modifiable support layer situated in the interior region and having at least one air bladder, and a sensor layer situated in the interior region and having at least one sensor configured to detect a physiological parameter of a patient atop the patient support surface.
US08031079B2
A low cost, robust, wireless sensor system that provides an extended period of operability without maintenance is described. The system includes one or more intelligent sensor units and a base unit that can communicate with a large number of sensors. When one or more of the sensors detects an anomalous condition (e.g., smoke, fire, water, etc.) the sensor communicates with the base unit and provides data regarding the anomalous condition. The base unit can contact a supervisor or other responsible person by a plurality of techniques, such as, telephone, pager, cellular telephone, Internet, etc. In one embodiment, one or more wireless repeaters are used between the sensors and the base unit to extend the range of the system and to allow the base unit to communicate with a larger number of sensors.
US08031075B2
A condition of a subject is monitored by a wearable recording unit that adaptively records various signals associated with the condition of the subject. The various signals are recorded by the wearable recording unit using a recording plan that is contextually adaptively updated to the monitored subject from one recording session to another based on the result of the analysis of previous recording sessions.
US08031073B2
Systems and apparatuses for a security device for a bottle are disclosed.
US08031066B2
System and method for playing game based on coin toss, may utilize a system and method for graphically displaying coin toss using sensors to detect physical movement of coin or instrumented coin, communicate sensor-derived data to remote graphical display system, display virtual coin that represents movement and orientation of tossed coin. May utilize sensor, communication, display, game systems and optional message gateway. Sensor system and part of wireless communication system may be external or embedded in coin. Graphical coin movement and orientation may mimic the actual coin being tossed or may be represented as any avatar or other graphical object that represents the coin including celebrity pictures, videos, faces, logos or any other object that may represent a “head” or “tail”. May generate a random number that allows viewers to win a prize. Viewers may guess result of coin toss before toss and win prize if they guess the result correctly.
US08031060B2
A mobile system and method of operation thereof, comprising a radio frequency system, adapted to derive information relating to a position within an environment, based on communications with at least one terrestrial or extraterrestrial transmitter, and remotely transmit to and receive radio frequency information-bearing communications; a memory adapted to store at least a vehicle itinerary or position-related information; a controller, receiving the derived information and controlling a communication of the information-bearing communications relating to at least the stored itinerary or position related information; and a user interface, having a functionality defined by the controller, adapted to interface a user for receipt or presentation of information relating at least one of the itinerary or position-related information and the communicated information.
US08031056B2
A remote controller with a plurality of keys arranged, which remotely controls, upon manipulations of the keys, control-target equipment by transmitting a remote control signal allocated to each of the keys. The remote controller includes a storing section which stores information of a plurality pieces of control-target equipment; an equipment selection operating section which selects control-target equipment to be operated under a remote control from the plurality pieces of control-target equipment whose information is stored in the storing section; a control unit that generates, in a case of manipulation of the equipment selection operating section, a remote control signal to power on the selected control-target equipment, and generates a remote control signal to power off the other control-target equipment information of which is stored in the storing section, except for the selected control-target equipment; and a transmitter for transmitting the remote control signal generated by the control unit.
US08031051B2
To prevent privacy invasion performed according to a proper identifier which has been read.A pseudo-RFID transmission device for transmitting a pseudo identifier (RFID) for disturbing an invader is provided to an individual user. When an RFID transmission instruction is received from a tag reader (SAI), a variable type pseudo RFID different from the one which has been transmitted previously is transmitted (SA3 to SA5) and different RFID is transmitted each time for the same person. The respective pseudo RFID transmission devices are grouped into a plurality of types, so that the pseudo RFID transmission devices belonging to the same group transmit their variable type pseudo RFID while increasing the possibility to transmit common pseudo RFID accorded with one another. An area is specified for each group and the respective pseudo RFID transmission devices are provided to individual users, so that the same RFID may be transmitted for the same person.
US08031043B2
The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a shunt resistor with at least an electrically conductive first connecting leg and an electrically conductive second connecting leg. A resistance area of the shunt resistor is electrically connected to the first connecting leg and to the second connecting leg. The arrangement further comprises a circuit carrier with a first metallization and a second metallization. The first connecting leg is directly joined to the first metallization and the second connecting leg is directly joined to the second metallization. The resistance area of the shunt resistor is in thermal contact with the thermally conductive substrate by use of a thermal filler arranged between the resistance area and the substrate, and/or by directly contacting the resistance area with the substrate.The invention further relates to a method for producing an arrangement with a shunt resistor and a circuit carrier.
US08031041B2
An object of the invention is to provide a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type without requiring more than two semiconductor switches, without increasing the size of a semiconductor chip, and without degrading efficiency. A micro power converter comprises a micro transformer composed of a planar transformer having a structure including a conductor wound on and through a planar magnetic core, and a semiconductor chip including semiconductor switches S1, S2, and a control circuit for controlling the switches. By constructing a flyback transformer using a micro transformer composed of a planar transformer, a micro power converter of a step-up and step-down type is provided having two semiconductor switches and an overall size comparable to a conventional micro power converter.
US08031039B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a separate type magnetic shield apparatus which has high access performance to a magnetically shielded space, in which magnetic shielding is very effectively achieved. In the separate type magnetic shield apparatus, first and second conductors 10a and 10b extending in the longitudinal axial line direction are provided on a curved magnetic shield outer side wall 3 of a first magnetic shield side wall body 2A at up and down symmetrical positions relative to the longitudinal plane Hp passing through the longitudinal axial line of the cylindrical space S to cause current to flow therethrough; first and second conductors 10c and 10d extending in the longitudinal axial line direction, on the curved magnetic shield outer side wall 3 of the second magnetic shield side wall body 2B, at up and down symmetrical positions relative to the horizontal plane Hp passing through the longitudinal axial line of the cylindrical space S to cause current to flow therethrough; and magnetic fluxes H coming horizontally to the first magnetic shield side wall body 2A and to the second magnetic shield side wall body 2B are deflected up and down by means of magnetic fields produced around the first and second conductors 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, thereby preventing magnetic fluxes from flowing into the cylindrical space S.
US08031034B1
A SAW coupled resonator filter providing improved rejection outside the passband frequencies includes at least two filter tracks on a piezoelectric substrate with each track having a plurality of acoustically cascaded transducers disposed along a longitudinal axis of the filter track. At least one filter track includes signal pads driven in a differential mode or a balanced mode. The two tracks are electrically connected with crossover bridges crossing over connecting lines between the tracks such that voltages across the crossover bridges are approximately the same in magnitude but substantially out-of-phase. The connecting lines extend between opposing bus bars of split transducers within each of the filter tracks.
US08031029B2
A compensation method compensates for a length offset between a first transmission line and a second transmission line of a differential signal transmission. The compensation method includes calculating a transmission speed of a first signal in the first transmission line, measuring lengths of the first and second transmission lines, calculating a transmission time of the first signal in the first transmission line, and calculating a relationship between permittivity values of the first and second transmission lines. The compensation method further changes the permittivity values of the first and second transmission lines according to the relationship.
US08031028B2
A circuit for providing AM/PM modulation is described. The circuit provides two drive signals which are later combined in a constructive/destructive fashion. The circuit provides AM modulation with a drive signal having a consistent power level modulated to have varying pulse widths in order to provide variable power within each cycle.
US08031025B2
A mixed-mode PLL is disclosed. The mixed-mode PLL comprises a digital sigma-delta modulator, a low pass filter, and a digital controlled oscillator. The digital sigma-delta modulator receives a fractional bit signal. The low pass filter is coupled to the digital sigma-delta modulator. The low pass filter receives an output signal of the digital sigma-delta modulator and converts the output signal to an analog control signal. The digital controlled oscillator comprises a varactor dynamically coupled to the low pass filter and receiving the analog control signal.
US08031024B1
A wireless communication terminal includes a crystal oscillator, a transceiver and circuitry. The crystal oscillator belongs to a specified type of crystal oscillators in which a dependence of an output frequency as a function of temperature has one or more parameters that vary among the crystal oscillators belonging to the specified type. The transceiver is arranged to perform signal processing operations to a communication signal using the output frequency of the crystal oscillator. The circuitry is arranged to determine a characteristic of the output frequency of the crystal oscillator at one or more operating temperatures, to compute the one or more parameters for the crystal oscillator based on the determined characteristic and the operating temperatures, and to correct a frequency error in the output frequency of the crystal oscillator using the dependence and the computed parameters.
US08031021B2
Provided are an oscillatory circuit based on a metal-insulator transition (MIT) device that can generate a simple and very high oscillating frequency using the MIT device, and a method of driving the oscillatory circuit. The oscillatory circuit includes the MIT device that comprises an MIT thin film and an electrode thin film connected to the MIT thin film and in which an abrupt MIT is generated due to an MIT generating voltage, a resistor that is serially connected to the MIT device, an electric al power source limiting the maximum amount of an applied current and applying a direct current constant voltage to the MIT device, and a light source irradiating electromagnetic waves on the MIT device, wherein the oscillating properties are generated by irradiating the electromagnetic waves using the light source.
US08031020B1
In one embodiment, the present invention includes noise reduction circuits and methods. In one embodiment, cross coupled switching transistors incorporate bias voltages between the control terminal of each transistor and the drain of the other transistor. The bias voltages increase the voltage on each transistors drain terminal and reduce noise upconversion in the system. In one embodiment, the source voltages of each transistor may be increased to linearize the circuit and further reduce noise. In another embodiment, a current is coupled to a PN junction to generate a low noise bias voltage. The bias voltage is used to bias capacitors of a selectively activated and deactivated capacitance to reduce noise. Features and advantages of the present invention may be implemented in an oscillator circuit, which may be used in a communication system, for example.
US08031018B2
An oscillator including a resonator with at least one first tuneable element, with which a resonant frequency of the resonator can be varied. The oscillator further includes an amplifier, which provides an amplification element, connected to the resonator at a coupling position. The amplifier provides a second tuneable element, by which a complex resistance, which the amplifier provides at the coupling position, is variable in a frequency-dependent manner.
US08031014B2
A nonlinear solid-state device useful for frequency conversion of electromagnetic radiation and in particular for harmonic generation, comprising a waveguiding electromagnetically distributed structure (WEDS) which includes monolithically a synthetic nonlinear material (SNM). Input radiation coupled into the WEDS is converted into a higher frequency output radiation through a constricted oscillatory motion of charge carriers and phase matched harmonic frequency generation of radiation which builds up coherently over an interaction length many time larger than the radiation wavelengths. In one embodiment, microwave radiation is converted into terahertz radiation. In other embodiments, SNM based WEDS devices are adapted for frequency mixing and parametric oscillation.
US08031013B2
A surface-mount type crystal oscillator includes: a container body with a first recess and a second recess; a crystal blank including excitation electrodes on respective principal surfaces thereof and hermetically encapsulated in the first recess; and an IC chip which is accommodated in the second recess and into which at least an oscillation circuit using the crystal blank is integrated. The container body includes a bottom wall and a frame wall provided on the bottom wall. Two openings which make up the first and second recesses, respectively, are formed in juxtaposition in the frame wall. A pair of inspection terminals are provided in an area of a top surface of the frame wall which surrounds the second recess. The inspection terminals are electrically connected to the excitation electrodes of the crystal blank.
US08031010B1
The present invention is a Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC)-enabled Time and Frequency Standard (CTFS) architecture. The CTFS architecture includes a microcontroller, a Time Compensated Crystal Oscillator (TCCO) circuit which is connected to the microcontroller, and a Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC) which is connected to the microcontroller. The microcontroller is configured for selectively causing the CTFS to provide a TCCO circuit-based output frequency when the CTFS has not locked to a predetermined atomic resonance, and is further configured for causing the CTFS to provide a CSAC-based output frequency when the CTFS has locked to a predetermined atomic resonance.
US08031006B1
A low noise amplifier includes an input stage. The input stage includes a first device configured to receive an input signal. A second device is connected to the first device. The second device has a predetermined input impedance. The input stage is configured so that a change in the input signal to the first device causes a linearly proportional change in a conductance of the first device. A voltage at a junction between the first device and the second device remains substantially constant due to the predetermined input impedance of the second device.
US08031002B2
A buffer amplifier has high input impedance and is less affected by temperature by supplying independent bias power to each of amplification units. The buffer amplifier includes a bias supply unit supplying bias power having a preset voltage level, an amplification unit receiving preset driving power and the bias power from the bias supply unit to amplify an input signal, and a compensation unit compensating for current unbalance of the driving power supplied to the amplification unit.
US08031000B2
To provide a common-mode feedback circuit that feeds back signal corresponding to common-mode components of output terminal voltage of first and second amplifiers to input terminals of the first and second amplifiers via first and second passive elements connected to a common terminal, respectively.
US08030998B2
An exemplary embodiment of the feed forward amplifier replaces traditional distributed directional couplers, splitters, and delay lines. Moreover, an exemplary feed forward amplifier architecture combines active implementations of RF couplers, power splitters, and/or time delay elements in a novel fashion allowing for ultra-compact size and broadband performance. In an exemplary embodiment, a feed forward amplifier has a main amplifier path and an error amplifier path. The feed forward amplifier comprises a main amplifier in the main amplifier path, and at least one active vector generator in the error amplifier path. The at least one active vector generator is configured to adjust the phase and amplitude of an error amplifier path signal and an error amplifier is configured to receive the adjusted error amplifier path signal. Furthermore, the adjusted error amplifier path signal and an amplified signal are combined to form the output signal of the feed forward amplifier.
US08030985B2
An apparatus for generating a pulse having a pulse width substantially independent of process variation in resistive and capacitive values. The apparatus includes a PTAT current source to generate a first current to charge a capacitor to produce a first voltage; a ΔVGS current source to generate a second current through a resistor to produce a second voltage V2; a comparator to generate the pulse in response to the first and second voltages; and a circuit to enable the charging and discharging of the capacitor. The use of the distinct current sources (e.g., PTAT and ΔVGS) enables the pulse generator to be configured substantially process independent of resistive value. The use of a MOSFET capacitor for the capacitor enables the pulse generator to be made substantially process independent of capacitive value. An additional bandgap current source in parallel with the ΔVGS current source reduces the pulse width dependency on temperature.
US08030977B2
A main (sub) clock circuit comprising a first (second) capacitor, a first (second) current-supply circuit to supply to the first (second) capacitor a first (third) current for charging at a predetermined-current value or a second (fourth) current for discharging at a predetermined-current value, a first (second) charge/discharge-control circuit to output a first (second) control signal for switching between the first (third) current and second (fourth) current which are supplied to the first (second) capacitor from the first (second) current-supply circuit when a voltage across the first (second) capacitor has reached a first (third) reference voltage or second (fourth) reference voltage higher than the first (third) reference voltage, and a first (second) output circuit to output a main (sub) clock according to the first (second) control signal, the first capacitor having one end connected to a first potential, the second capacitor having one end to which the main clock is input.
US08030974B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide a sampling circuit having reduced sampling distortions. The sampling circuit can include a switch having a control terminal, a first channel terminal and a second channel terminal. The first channel terminal can be configured to receive an input signal, and the control terminal can be configured to have a control voltage that varies with regard to the input signal, such that a conducting channel can be formed between the first channel terminal and the second channel terminal to enable an output voltage on the second channel terminal to track the input signal. Further, the sampling circuit can include a bootstrap module coupled to the control terminal of the switch. The bootstrap module can be configured to change the control voltage by a substantially constant value to turn off the conducting channel between the first channel terminal and the second channel terminal in order to hold the output voltage as a sample of the input signal. In addition, the bootstrap module can be configured to couple a voltage increase to the control terminal of the switch to increase a turn-on speed of the switch.
US08030971B2
Techniques for employing multi-gate field effect transistors (FETS) in logic circuits formed from logic gates are provided. Double-gate transistors that conduct only when both transistor gates are active can be used to reduce the number of devices hitherto required in series or “stacked” portions of logic gates. Circuit area can be reduced and performance can be enhanced.
US08030966B2
This circuit is a back terminated transmission line driver which dissipates no outgoing power across its back terminating resistor by using both a voltage source and a current source.
US08030961B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a control signal generating circuit which is configured to set, at least at a time of a first state, first and fifth control signals at a first voltage level, and second, third and fourth control signals at a second voltage level, and to set, at a time of a second state, the first to fourth control signals at the first voltage level, and the fifth control signal at an arbitrary voltage level.
US08030959B2
One embodiment of the present invention includes a system for managing power to a plurality of devices-under-test (DUTs). The system comprises a DUT test system configured to perform at least one test associated with operation of the DUTs and to monitor current associated the at least one test of the plurality of DUTs. The DUT test system can communicate an instruction to a subset of the plurality of DUTs to cancel the at least one test if the monitored current is greater than a predetermined threshold. Each of the plurality of DUTs can comprise restart logic configured to restart the at least one test of the subset of the plurality of DUTs after being cancelled in response to the instruction.
US08030958B2
A system for providing a reference voltage includes a tester adapted to provide a predetermined current, a first ground pad connected to a ground voltage of the tester, a second ground pad connected between the tester and the first ground pad, the second ground pad being connected to the tester through first and second resistors, a reference voltage pad connected to a node between the first and second resistors, the reference voltage pad adapted to provide a test reference voltage, and a multiplexer connected to the reference voltage pad, the multiplexer configured to output the test reference voltage as a reference voltage during substantial voltage variation.
US08030947B2
Second and third ports of a network analyzer are individually connected via cables to predetermined connection points on a differential transmission circuit on an object to be measured. A differential cable is connected to the differential transmission circuit. An antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave radiated from the differential cable is connected to a first port of the network analyzer via a first cable. The network analyzer measures a three-port S parameter of the first, second, and third ports and calculates common-mode and normal-mode components of noise radiated from the differential cable. As a result, the source of noise in an electronic apparatus can be determined, and common-mode noise and normal-mode noise can be separately measured.
US08030946B2
Systems, methods and program products of instructions stored on a computer readable medium related to a tether free piggable inspection tool capable of detecting holidays and able to read and store non-conductive internal coating thickness values in very long conductive pipes, along with distance values for further off-line analysis, are provided. The inspection tool includes a plurality of thickness probes, a data storage unit, a control unit, a plurality of navigation wheels and a holiday detector that uses an electrical conductive medium, such as a gas or fluid, as the ground connection. A closed loop configuration is adopted allowing the system to autocorrect itself for different coating thicknesses along the pipe.
US08030936B2
A downhole induction resistivity assembly that comprises a downhole tool string component. The tool string component comprises an induction transmitter. The transmitter is adapted to induce an induction field in the surrounding formation. A first induction receiver is spaced apart from the transmitter and is adapted to measure the induction field. A magnetic field generating mechanism is disposed adjacent on either or both sides of the transmitter and adapted to guide the transmitter's signal into the formation. A second induction receiver is disposed in close proximity to the magnetic field generating mechanism and is adapted to measure the magnetic field generated by the mechanism.
US08030934B2
A method is proposed for a marine electromagnetic survey based on the TM mode, for the purpose of prospecting for and detecting subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs. The method includes an electromagnetic field source (1113) that, in a submerged, essentially vertical transmitter antenna, generates and injects electric current pulses (81,82) with a sharply defined termination. An electromagnetic field generated by these pulses (81,82) is measured by at least one receiver (1109) provided with an essentially vertical receiver antenna (1111) submerged in water, during the interval when the current in the transmitter antenna (1108) of the electromagnetic field source (1113) is switched off. The distance between the electromagnetic field source (1113) and the at least one receiver (1109) is smaller than the depth of the target object. An apparatus is also described, for implementation of the method.
US08030932B2
An apparatus for use in a magnetic resonance examination includes a radio frequency receive coil (50) and adjustable tuning circuitry (51) for adjusting the resonant frequency of the receive coil. The apparatus also includes a preamplifier (29) which amplifies signals generated by the receive coil. An adjustable feedback circuit (31) alters an effective Q of the receive coil.
US08030925B2
A method of tuning a high temperature superconductor (HTS) resonator includes the steps of providing a HTS inductor and a HTS capacitor, the HTS capacitor being electrically connected to the HTS inductor. A tuning body is provided adjacent to the HTS inductor and the HTS capacitor. The relative position of the tuning body with respect to the HTS inductor and the HTS capacitor is altered so as to tune the resonator. A tunable resonant circuit is provided that includes a substrate having a planar surface. At least one resonator formed from HTS material is disposed on the substrate, the resonator having one or more turns that when combined, turn through greater than 360°.
US08030923B2
Methods and systems are provided for processing a magnetic resonance images. In one embodiment, first and second sets of lines of magnetic resonance imaging signals are acquired. The acquired sets of lines have readout gradients that are reversed in polarity with respect to one another. A two-dimensional phase error is determined using the first and second set of lines.
US08030922B2
In a method and device for correction of a B0 field drift in a temperature map acquisition by magnetic resonance tomography, a fluctuation measurement is calculated per pixel from a number of magnetic resonance tomography phase images of an examination subject or from temperature maps derived therefrom. Using this fluctuation measurement, pixels of the phase images or temperature maps with low fluctuation are determined, and corresponding pixels of a phase image to be corrected or of a temperature map to be corrected are selected using the pixels determined as having low fluctuation. The phase image to be corrected or the temperature map to be corrected is adjusted to a reference phase image or a reference temperature map such that the selected pixels of the phase image to be corrected or of the temperature map to be corrected are calibrated to corresponding pixels of the reference phase image or of the reference temperature map.
US08030910B2
A dual-mode switching voltage regulator has a duty cycle that varies with the input and output voltages so as to dynamically compensate for changes in the operating conditions. The switching voltage regulator uses input and output voltages/currents to optimize the duty cycle of the signals applied to a pair of switches disposed in the regulator. In the PFM mode, a control block senses the time that a first switch used to discharge an inductor is turned off. If the control block senses that the first switch is opened too early, the control block increases the on-time of a second switch used to charge the inductor. If the control block senses that the first switch is opened too late, the control block decreases the on-time of the second switch.
US08030909B2
A synchronous buck converter operates in a PWM mode of operation and switches to light-load mode of operation under a light-load condition. When operating in the light-load mode, the synchronous buck converter transitions between a burst mode and an idle mode of operation. In the burst mode of operation, the converter operates with a fixed but increased duty ratio, with respect to the PWM mode of operation, that installs additional energy in an output capacitor. In the idle mode of operation, the high-side and low-side transistors are each turned off. To maximize energy savings and to quickly transition back to the PWM mode of operation if the load increases, a limit as to the number of allowed switching cycles when bursting is imposed and a minimum ratio of the number of clock cycles when idling to the number of switching cycles when bursting is set. Additionally, a comparator is provided to detect a sudden step-increase in the load to quickly switch the converter back to the PWM mode of operation.
US08030906B2
A switching power source apparatus includes a storage unit to store energy obtained from input power supplied to the storage unit, and to output at least of the stored energy as output power; a first switch; a second switch connected in series with the first switch, the series connection of the first switch and the second switch being connected to the storage unit; and a voltage clamp unit to clamp a level of a voltage applied across the series connection of the first switch and the second switch to a predetermined voltage or less. The first switch is turned on while the second switch is still turned off, and then the second switch is turned on after the first switch has been turned on to supply the input power to the storage unit from the series connection of the first switch and the second switch.
US08030905B2
An apparatus and method for allowing continuous operation of a generator control unit (GCU) despite a ground fault short circuit is disclosed. More specifically, a generator control unit (GCU) that maintains an isolated power pass domain in a completely floating set up with respect to the ground referenced control domain is used to allow continuous operation of a generator control unit (GCU) even when an internal wiring such as a permanent magnet generator wire or a generator field coil wire comes in contact with the chassis due to failure of the insulation. In addition, the apparatus and method also utilizes a high ohmic resistor as the only connection between the isolated power pass domain and the ground referenced control domain to control the voltage spike that occurs during a ground fault short circuit. Finally, the apparatus and method is also capable of detecting the occurrence of a ground fault short circuit by utilizing a ground fault detection to detect a disbalance current passing through a high ohmic resistor.
US08030903B2
A power generator capable of improving power generation efficiency is obtained. This power generator includes a movable portion moving by kinetic energy acting on a power generator body, a first conversion portion converting kinetic energy of the movable portion to electric energy and a movement direction changing portion changing a direction in which the movable portion moves to a direction along a direction in which acceleration applied to the movable portion is larger regardless of a direction of the power generator body.
US08030900B2
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods of controlling power in battery operated systems. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a switching regulator for boosting voltage on a depleted battery to power up a system. The system may communicate with an external system to increase the current received from the external system. Embodiments of the present invention include circuits for controlling power received from external power sources such as a USB power source. In another embodiment, input-output control techniques are disclosed for controlling the delivery of power to a system or charging a system battery, or both, from an external power source.
US08030899B2
The provision of a mode in silver zinc batteries where a user can access extra capacity as an emergency reserve for times when extra capacity is needed. While this temporarily increases capacity, it does not detrimentally affect cycle life over the longer term, and it permits a silver zinc battery to essentially mimic the long term capacity and cycle life characteristics of a lithium ion battery while still affording inherent advantages associated with silver zinc batteries. In a variant embodiment, this ability to temporarily increase capacity is optimally employed at the end of a battery life cycle in a controlled “roll-off” that accords additional cycles of battery service life. In another variant embodiment, the general capability to control capacity is employed to gradually decrease the available capacity of a battery over the life of the battery, to thereby extend the battery service life.
US08030898B2
An alarm-including protection apparatus and method thereof are used to protect a lithium-ion battery with a plurality of series cells. The protection apparatus includes a voltage balance controller for detecting the terminal voltage of each cell and correcting the terminal voltage of each cell. A protection unit and the lithium-ion battery are connected in series. A microprocessor connects to the voltage balance controller and the protection unit for receiving the terminal voltage of each cell and figuring out a voltage difference between the maximum terminal voltage and the minimum terminal voltage of the series cells. According to the comparison result of the voltage difference and a plurality of critical voltage differences, the microprocessor is used to correct the terminal voltage of each cell, generate an alarm signal or stop charging to the lithium-ion battery.
US08030893B2
The battery pack includes an assembled battery including a plurality of secondary battery cells connected at least in series; a voltage detector which detects a terminal voltage of each of the plurality of secondary battery cells; a charge/discharge controller which controls charge/discharge of the assembled battery based on the terminal voltage of each cell detected by the voltage detector; a short-circuiting section which short-circuits a node between cells to the high voltage side or the low voltage side of a power line, or which short-circuits nodes between the cells to each other; and a disconnection detector which controls conduction/non-conduction of the short-circuiting section and which detects a disconnection of the connection line from the voltage detector to the node between the cells, based on a state of controlling the conduction/non-conduction, and at least one of a voltage at the node between the cells detected by the voltage detector, a voltage of the high voltage side or the low voltage side of the power line, and a terminal voltage of each cell. The floating (disconnection) of intermediate taps of the secondary battery cells can be reliably detected without causing losses in regular processes.
US08030890B2
A system for automatic disconnect of an AC source from a converter that includes a converter and a converter. The converter includes a power supply capable of being connected to an alternating current (AC) power source and converting an AC voltage to a direct current (DC) voltage. The portable device contains a rechargeable battery where the portable device uses the DC voltage to charge the rechargeable battery. The connection of the converter to the AC power source is automatically disconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery reaching a full charge or the portable device being disconnected from the converter and automatically reconnected responsive to the rechargeable battery being below a full charge or the portable device being reconnected to the converter.
US08030880B2
The disclosed power system may comprise first and second batteries; an electrical power generator; an electrical load powered by at least one of the first battery, the second battery or the electrical power generator; a converter; and a battery management controller. The converter is connected to both the first and second batteries and configured to operate in a neutral mode, a first battery charging mode, or a second battery charging mode. The converter is configured to create a voltage difference between the first and second batteries in the charging modes. The battery management controller is configured to monitor the voltage of the first battery and the voltage of the second battery and/or to monitor current flow to and from the first and second batteries. The controller controls operation of the converter to operate in the neutral mode, the first battery charging mode or the second battery charging mode.
US08030878B2
A motor driving device that accurately achieves power failure detection according to a power failure tolerance with a relatively simple configuration. A counter input computing unit determines, as a counter input value, a value that is inversely proportional to the power failure tolerance determined from a voltage amplitude value and supplies the counter input value to a counter. The counter accumulates the input value at predetermined intervals and outputs an output value. A comparator determines that power failure occurs if the output of the counter 42 exceeds a threshold value.
US08030877B2
In a back electromotive force phase detecting device, a timing generating unit generates a timing signal indicating a start timing, an intermediate timing and an end timing of a 180-degree electrical angle period in a detection target phase, from an excitation pulse signal. A difference calculating unit receives the timing signal, and calculates a difference between a total PWM control period of the detection target phase during a first-half 90-degree period, and a total PWM control period of the detection target phase during a second-half 90-degree period. In an excitation control device, a control unit changes the capability of driving a motor based on an output of the back electromotive force phase detecting device.
US08030864B2
A motor drive circuit includes a first amplifier circuit to amplify a difference between first and second position detection signals with a gain becoming smaller according to drop in power supply voltage, to output a first amplification signal, the first and second position detection signals being signals indicating a rotational position of a rotor in a motor, having a frequency corresponding to a rotation speed of the motor, and being opposite in phase to each other; a second amplifier circuit to amplify the difference between the first and second position detection signals with the gain, to output a second amplification signal opposite in phase to the first amplification signal; and a drive circuit to amplify the difference between the first amplification signal and the second amplification signal with a predetermined gain to be saturated at the power supply voltage, to output a driving voltage for driving the motor.
US08030858B2
An inverter circuit for a backlight device includes an inverter transformer which supplies a high AC voltage to a plurality of discharge tubes, a filter circuit connected to an output terminal of the inverter transformer, and an abnormal discharge detection circuit. The filter circuit passes a current signal having a high frequency component of the high AC voltage to the abnormal discharge detection circuit, and the abnormal discharge detection circuit detects an abnormal discharge current based on the current signal.
US08030855B2
The invention provides a single-stage electronic ballast for a fluorescent lamp, comprising a boost circuit and a load unit. The boost circuit includes a first inductor, a first capacitor, a first diode and at least a switch, wherein the positive terminal of the first diode is connected to the first inductor, and the negative terminal of the first diode is connected to the at least a switch. The load unit includes at least a fluorescent lamp, two terminals of the first capacitor are respectively connected to the at least a load unit, and the at least a switch is connected to the load unit for controlling its turning-on and turning-off, wherein the boost circuit and the load unit share the at least a switch.
US08030852B2
A light driver circuit device for synchronously driving a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) is provided. The light driver circuit device includes an inverter circuit board and a balance circuit board. The inverter circuit board has an inverter circuit coupled to a driving signal for outputting a driving voltage to drive the CCFLs synchronously. The balance circuit board and the inverter circuit board are installed separately, and the balance circuit board has a balance circuit coupled to a terminal of each CCFL and the inverter circuit. The CCFL driving architecture is designed to install the inverter circuit and the balance circuit individually, thus effectively reducing the space of the driving circuit and the total cost of the circuit design. Furthermore, the balance circuit board can balance the current in each CCFL effectively, and there is no limitation to where the balance circuit board can be disposed.
US08030851B2
A light fitting is provided with a first connector piece arranged to support a light and provide power thereto, an input connected to a power source and arranged to provide power permanently to an output comprising a primary coil, and a transmitter operable to transmit a switch signal. A light is provided comprising a sealed light housing, a light source, a back-up battery, a controller and a second connector piece having a secondary coil and a receiver. The receiver receives the switch signal and the controller controls power delivery to the light source in response to the switch signal received by the receiver thereby to turn the light on and off. The light fitting and the light are arranged to present the primary coil and the secondary coil for inductive coupling therebetween and to present the transmitter and the receiver for wireless communication therebetween.
US08030847B2
In order to achieve a discharge lamp suited to operate under reduced nominal power of e.g. 20-30 W, a lamp is proposed with two electrodes (24) arranged at a distance in a discharge vessel (20, 120) for generating an arc discharge. The discharge vessel (20, 120) has a filling with a substantially free of mercury and comprises a metal halide and a rare gas. The lamp (10, 110) further comprises an outer bulb (18) arranged around the discharge vessel at a distance (d2). The outer bulb (18) is sealed and has a gas filling of a thermal conductivity (λ). The inner diameter (d1) of the discharge vessel is preferably in a range from 2-2.7 mm. The wall thickness (w1) is in a range from 1.4-2 mm. A heat transition coefficient (λ/d2) is calculated as thermal conductivity (λ) at 800° C. of the outer bulb filling divided by the distance (d2). The so-defined heat 10 transition coefficient is below 150 W/(m2K).
US08030845B2
The invention provides a method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescence device having a first flexible plate and a second flexible plate and an organic electroluminescence element provided on a portion at approximately the center of at least one of the flexible plates. The method includes: forming the first flexible plate having a S region which has larger UV light transmittance and a W region which has larger UV light transmittance; forming a substantially frame-shaped UV-curable resin layer on the first flexible plate and/or the second flexible plate so that the UV-curable resin layer overlaps at least partially with the S region; and adhering the first flexible plate with the second flexible plate by irradiation of UV light which uses the S region as an irradiation face so as to cure the UV-curable resin layer. The invention further provides an organic electroluminescence device formed by the method.
US08030838B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus that can prevent corrosion during manufacturing is disclosed. The apparatus can have a remarkably enhanced yield. The apparatus includes: a substrate having a display area, a thin film transistor disposed inside the display area, an electrode power supply line disposed outside the display area, a pixel electrode disposed inside the display area of the substrate and electrically connected to the thin film transistor, an auxiliary conductive layer contacting the electrode power supply line at a side of the electrode power supply line, a pixel defining layer exposing the pixel electrode covering the auxiliary conductive layer and exposing the electrode power supply line. The apparatus also includes an intermediate layer disposed on the pixel electrode and comprising an emitting layer, and a counter electrode disposed on the intermediate layer and extending outside the display area of the substrate to contact the electrode power supply line.
US08030836B2
An apparatus and method for photodynamic therapy or photodynamic diagnosis using an illuminator comprising a plurality of light sources generally conforming to a contoured surface and irradiating the contoured surface with substantially uniform intensity visible light. The light sources may comprise generally U-shaped fluorescent tubes that are driven by electronic ballasts. Adjustment of the ballast voltage controls the output power of the tubes. The tubes are supported by a sheet-metal or plastic housing and are covered by a polycarbonate shield which directs cooling airflow within the unit and prevents glass-patient contact in the vent of tube breakage. An aluminum reflector located behind the tubes increases both the output irradiance and the uniformity of the output distribution. The spacing of the U-shaped tubes is varied to increase the output at the edges of the illuminator to make the output more uniform. Also, different portions of the tubes are cooled at different amounts, to improve uniformity. A light sensor monitors output from the U-shaped tubes to provide a signal for adjusting the output from the tubes.
US08030824B2
A third matching layer (140) affording wide bandwidth for an ultrasound matrix probe is made of polyethylene, and may extend downwardly to surround the array (S360) and attach to the housing to seal the array (S370).
US08030821B2
A generator rotor shaft includes a shaft body extending through a first axial distance, and being hollow. Spline teeth are formed in an inner bore of the hollow shaft body. The ratio of a distance from one end of the hollow body to a remote axial end of the spline teeth and compared to the overall length of the shaft body is between 0.3 and 0.6. A rotor balance assembly, a generator, and a method of forming a generator rotor shaft are also disclosed and claimed.
US08030820B2
An electric motor, including stator core, a shaft, and a shock-absorbing connector including multiple brackets, and a rubber pad. The stator core and the shaft are disposed between the brackets, the shaft is nested in the stator core but not directly mechanically-connected thereto, tightly abuts against the bracket, and passes through the stator core. A through hole is disposed in the stator core and parallel to the shaft, and the rubber pad is received in the through hole.
US08030797B2
An apparatus includes a plurality of wirings, a first power supply to provide a first power to at least one of the wirings, the first power supply being connected to the at least one of the wirings, and a second power supply to provide a second power to at least one of the wirings except that which is connected to the first power supply.
US08030796B2
A barrier operator comprises a current limit portion and a barrier operator portion. The current limit portion is coupled to a mains supply and the barrier operator position is coupled to the mains supply and the current limit portion. The barrier operator portion actuates a movable barrier. The current limit portion regulates electrical current to at least one additional device.
US08030790B2
A hybrid water pressure energy accumulating, wind turbine tower assembly used to directly propel water pumps to raise water from low elevation reservoir(s) to high elevation reservoir(s) where it is used as a potential energy. The wind tower assembly includes a wind turbine having propeller with a rotor, a generator driven by the rotor and a yaw assembly attached to a tower with a foundation. The tower includes in-tower storage reservoirs configured for storing water. The in-tower storage reservoirs could be defined by lower and upper water storage containers attached to the inner or outer surface of the tower that might be connected to other neighboring reservoir(s). The wind turbine may be of the vertical or horizontal-axis type and may be installed inside a residential or commercial building. The lifted water is used to generate electricity utilizing a hydropower generator.
US08030786B2
A system for generating electrical energy from ambient energy such as the energy of ambient motion and acoustic vibrations. The system has at least two stages, a resonating electrical generator and a kinetic energy conversion system. The stages have differing resonant frequencies to enable harvesting energy from lower frequency ambient motion and converting the energy to higher frequency resonant oscillation for efficiently generating electrical energy. A multiaxial system having a plurality of systems for generating electrical energy from ambient motion each oriented to be responsive to motion along a different axis. An embodiment of a system for generating electrical energy from ambient motion for which the resonating electrical generator is at least part of a driving mass of the kinetic energy conversion system.
US08030777B1
Methods of protecting exposed metal damascene interconnect surfaces in a process for making electronic components and the electronic components made according to such methods. An integrated circuit structure having damascene regions with exposed metal surfaces is provided into a closed processing chamber, whereby a first reactant is contacted to the exposed metal surfaces to transform a top portion of the metal layer into a protective self-aligned buffer layer. Reacting molecules of the first reactant with metal atoms of this metal layer forms the protective self-aligned buffer layer entirely within such metal layer. Alternatively, adsorbing surface-active reactant molecules onto the exposed metal surface forms the protective self-aligned buffer layer. A second reactant may be contacted to the protective self-aligned buffer layer to form a self-aligned dielectric cap layer directly over the protective self-aligned buffer layer.
US08030769B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a bumped wafer. A plurality of grooves is formed in an active surface of the bumped wafer. A pre-underfill layer is disposed over the active surface, filling the plurality of grooves. A first adhesive layer is mounted to the pre-underfill layer, and a back surface of the bumped wafer is ground. A second adhesive layer is mounted to the back surface of the bumped wafer. The first adhesive layer is peeled from the active surface of the bumped wafer, or the second adhesive layer is mounted to the first adhesive layer. The bumped wafer is singulated into a plurality of segments by cutting the bumped wafer along the plurality of grooves.
US08030762B2
An LED package having an anodized insulation layer which increases heat radiation effect to prolong the lifetime LEDs and maintains high luminance and high output, and a method therefor. The LED package includes an Al substrate having a reflecting region and a light source mounted on the substrate and connected to patterned electrodes. The package also includes an anodized insulation layer formed between the patterned electrodes and the substrate and a lens covering over the light source of the substrate. The Al substrate provides superior heat radiation effect of the LED, thereby significantly increasing the lifetime and light emission efficiency of the LED.
US08030760B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes a semiconductor device, a cooler of a forced cooling type, and a heat mass. Heat generated in the semiconductor device is conducted to the cooler. The heat mass comes into junction with the semiconductor device with solder so as to be thermally combined with the semiconductor device. The heat mass functions also as an electrode.
US08030756B2
A plastic ball grid array semiconductor package employs a metal heat spreader having supporting arms embedded in the molding cap, in which the embedded supporting arms are not directly affixed to the substrate or in which any supporting arm that is affixed to the substrate is affixed using a resilient material such as an elastomeric adhesive. Also, a process for forming the package includes steps of placing the heat spreader in a mold cavity, placing the substrate over the mold cavity such that the die support surface of the substrate contacts the supporting arms of the heat spreader, and injecting the molding material into the cavity to form the molding cap. The substrate is positioned in register over the mold cavity such that as the molding material hardens to form the mold cap the embedded heat spreader becomes fixed in the appropriate position in relation to the substrate.
US08030752B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor package may include: forming a first board; forming second boards, in each of which at least one cavity is formed; attaching the second boards to both sides of the first board, such that the second boards are electrically connected with the first board; and connecting at least one component with the first board by a flip chip method by embedding the component in the cavity. The method can prevent damage to the semiconductor chips and lower manufacturing costs, while the connection material may also mitigate stresses, to prevent cracking in the boards and semiconductor chips, while preventing defects such as bending and warpage. Defects caused by temperature changes may also be avoided. Furthermore, it is not necessary to use an underfill in the portions where the semiconductor chips are connected with the printed circuit board, which allows for easier reworking and lower costs.
US08030750B2
Described herein are semiconductor device packages with EMI shielding and related methods. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes a circuit substrate, an electronic device, an encapsulant, and a conductive layer. The substrate includes a carrying surface, an opposing bottom surface, and a pad. The device is disposed adjacent to the carrying surface and is electrically connected to the substrate. The encapsulant is disposed adjacent to the carrying surface, encapsulates the device, and includes a center portion and a surrounding peripheral portion that is less thick than the center portion. An opening exposing the pad is formed in the peripheral portion. The conductive layer conformally covers the encapsulant and traverses the opening to connect to the pad.
US08030749B2
A semiconductor device includes a resin case, a plurality of external connection terminals fixedly provided on the resin case, and at least one semiconductor element provided in the resin case. At least one terminal block has at least one wiring terminal for electrically connecting the semiconductor element and the external connection terminals.
US08030748B2
A stackable microelectronic package includes a first microelectronic die attached to and electrically connecting with a first substrate. A second microelectronic die is attached to the first die on one side, and to a second substrate on the other side. Electrical connections are made between the first die and the first substrate, between the second die and the second substrate, and between the first and second substrates, e.g., via wire bonding. The electrical connecting elements are advantageously encased in a molding compound. Exposed contacts on the first and/or second substrates, not covered by the molding compound, provide for electrical connections between the package, and another package stacked onto the package. The package may avoid coplanarity factors, can be manufactured using existing equipment, allows for intermediate testing, and can also offer a thinner package height.
US08030744B2
An electrical connection arrangement between a semiconductor circuit arrangement and an external contact device, and to a method for producing the connection arrangement is disclosed. In one embodiment, a metallic layer is deposited onto at least one contact terminal and/or the contacts and the wire, the metallic layer protecting the contact terminal or the electrical connection against ambient influences and ensuring a high reliability.
US08030740B2
A microelectronic structure including a layerstack is provided, the layerstack including: (a) a first layer including semiconductor material that is very heavily n-doped before being annealed, having a first-layer before-anneal dopant concentration, the first layer being between about 50 and 200 angstroms thick, wherein the first layer is above a substrate, and wherein the first layer is heavily n-doped after being annealed, having a first-layer after-anneal dopant concentration, the first-layer before-anneal dopant concentration exceeding the first-layer after-anneal concentration; (b) a second layer including semiconductor material that is not heavily doped before being annealed, having a second-layer before-anneal dopant concentration, the second layer being about as thick as the first layer, wherein the second layer is above and in contact with the first layer, and wherein the second layer includes heavily n-doped semiconductor material after being annealed, having a second-layer after-anneal dopant concentration, the second-layer after-anneal dopant concentration exceeding the second-layer before-anneal concentration; and (c) a third layer including semiconductor material that is above and in contact with the second layer and that is not heavily n-doped before or after being annealed, the third layer having a third-layer dopant concentration.
US08030737B2
A semiconductor device including: a substrate; an insulating film formed over the substrate; a copper interconnect, having a plurality of hillocks formed over the surface thereof, buried in the insulating film; a first insulating interlayer formed over the insulating film and the copper interconnect; a second insulating interlayer formed over the first insulating interlayer; and an electroconductive layer formed over the second insulating interlayer, wherein the top surface of at least one hillock highest of all hillocks is brought into contact with the lower surface of the second insulating interlayer is provided.
US08030733B1
A copper-compatible fuse target is fabricated by forming a copper target structure at the same time that the copper traces are formed. After the copper target structure and the copper traces have been formed, a conductive target, such as an aluminum target, is formed on the copper target structure at the same time that conductive connection portions, such as aluminum pads, are formed on the copper traces. A trench is then etched around the copper target structure and conductive target to form a fuse target.
US08030732B2
A semiconductor device which has a semiconductor substrate, an isolation insulating film formed in the semiconductor substrate, a conductive pattern formed over the semiconductor substrate and the isolation insulating film, so that a side face of the conductive pattern is formed over the isolation insulating film, and an insulating film is formed over the isolation insulating film, the conductive pattern and the side face of the conductive pattern, and the side face of the conductive pattern comprises a notch.
US08030730B2
An N-layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate, with a BOX layer interposed. In the N-layer, a trench isolation region is formed to surround the N-layer to be an element forming region. The trench isolation region is formed to reach the BOX layer, from the surface of the N-layer. Between trench isolation region and the N-layer, a P type diffusion region 10a is formed. The P type diffusion region is formed continuously without any interruption, to be in contact with the entire surface of an inner sidewall of the trench isolation region surrounding the element forming region. In the element forming region of the N-layer, a prescribed semiconductor element is formed. Thus, a semiconductor device is formed, in which electrical isolation is established reliably, without increasing the area occupied by the element forming region.
US08030726B2
A solid-state image sensor and a method for manufacturing thereof and a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing thereof are provided. A semiconductor substrate is made to be the thin film without using an SOI substrate and cost is reduced. An edge detection portion having hardness larger than that of a semiconductor substrate is formed in the thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate; the semiconductor substrate is made to be the thin film until a position where the edge detection portion is exposed by chemical mechanical polishing from the rear surface; and means Tr1 for reading out a signal from a photoelectric conversion element PD formed in the substrate are formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, where incident light is acquired from the rear surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08030724B2
A solid-state imaging device comprises an imaging region, a peripheral circuit region formed in an outer peripheral portion of the imaging region, a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate having the imaging region and the peripheral circuit region on a main surface thereof, a second conductivity type first semiconductor layer formed in the semiconductor substrate, a first conductivity type second semiconductor layer formed in first semiconductor layer, a through electrode formed in a through hole penetrating through the semiconductor substrate in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate, and a pad portion formed on the semiconductor substrate and connected to the through electrode. The through hole penetrates through a first conductivity type region of the semiconductor substrate.
US08030722B1
A semiconductor device has a base substrate having a plurality of metal traces and a plurality of base vias. An opening is formed through the base substrate. A cover substrate having a plurality of metal traces and a plurality of cover vias is provided. A first die is attached to the first surface of the substrate and positioned over the opening. Side members are coupled to ground planes on the base substrate and cover substrate to form an RF shield around the first die. At least one wirebond having a first end attached to the first die and a second end attached to a metal trace of the base substrate is provided. The at least one wirebond forms a loop wherein a top section of the loop contacts a metal trace of the cover substrate.
US08030721B2
Provided is a method for fabricating an image sensor device that includes providing a substrate having a front side and a back side; patterning a photoresist on the front side of the substrate to define an opening having a first width, the photoresist having a first thickness correlated to the first width; performing an implantation process through the opening using an implantation energy correlated to the first thickness thereby forming a first doped isolation feature; forming a light sensing feature adjacent to the first doped isolation feature, the light sensing feature having a second width; and thinning the substrate from the back side so that the substrate has a second thickness that does not exceed twice a depth of the first doped isolation feature. A pixel size is substantially equal to the first and second widths.
US08030709B2
A semiconductor gate stack comprising a silicon oxide based gate dielectric and a doped semiconductor material is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A high-k material metal gate electrode comprising a high-k gate dielectric and a metal gate portion is also formed on the semiconductor substrate. Oxygen-impermeable dielectric spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the semiconductor gate stack and the high-k material metal gate stack. The oxygen-impermeable dielectric spacer on the semiconductor gate stack is removed, while the oxygen impermeable dielectric spacer on the high-k material metal gate electrode is preserved. A low-k dielectric spacer is formed on the semiconductor gate stack, which provides a low parasitic capacitance for the device employing the semiconductor gate stack.
US08030707B2
A method of forming a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) semiconductor structure in a substrate having a bulk semiconductor layer, a buried oxide (BOX) layer and an SOI layer. During the formation of a trench in the structure, the BOX layer is undercut. The method includes forming a dielectric material on the upper wall of the trench adjacent to the undercutting of the BOX layer and then etching the dielectric material to form a spacer. The spacer fixes the BOX layer undercut and protects it during subsequent steps of forming a bottle-shaped portion of the trench, forming a buried plate in the deep trench; and then forming a trench capacitor. There is also a semiconductor structure, preferably an SOI eDRAM structure, having a spacer which fixes the undercutting in the BOX layer.
US08030698B2
Provided is a nonvolatile memory device having a three dimensional structure. The nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of stacked semiconductor layers and a plurality of memory cell transistors which is formed on each of a plurality of semiconductor layers and serially connected. Memory cell transistors disposed on different semiconductor layers are serially connected to include one cell string forming a current path in a plurality of semiconductor layers, a first selection transistor serially connected to one edge portion of the cell string and a second selection transistor serially connected to the other edge portion of the cell string.
US08030696B2
A thin film transistor substrate includes: a substrate; a thin film transistor and a capacitor formed on the substrate; and a protective film for protecting an electrode on a back surface side of the capacitor when an electrode on a front surface side of the capacitor is cut by irradiation with laser light, the protective film being disposed at such a position as to enclose a corner part of the electrode on the front surface side between the electrode on the front surface side and the electrode on the back surface side of the capacitor.
US08030691B2
An MMIC 100 is a semiconductor device which includes an FET formed on a GaAs substrate 10 and an MIM capacitor having a dielectric layer 20b arranged between a lower electrode 18b and an upper electrode 22b. A method for manufacturing the MMIC 100 is provided, in which a source electrode 16a and a drain electrode 16b of the FET are formed and then a gate electrode 18a of the FET and a lower electrode 18b of the MIM capacitor are formed simultaneously by the lift-off method.
US08030690B2
The invention relates to a detection device using at least one transistor (2) with a vertical channel, comprising a mechanical structure (14), free to move relative to the transistor, in a plane containing the transistor drain (10), source (8) and channel (12).
US08030685B2
A detector system with a microelectronic semiconductor chip and a separate optoelectronic detector chip is specified, wherein the detector chip is positioned on the semiconductor chip. A detector subassembly with such a detector system is also specified.
US08030684B2
The present invention relates to a stable mesa-type photodetector with lateral diffusion junctions. The invention has found that without resorting to the complicated regrowth approach, a simple Zn diffusion process can be used to create high-quality semiconductor junction interfaces at the exposed critical surface or to terminate the narrow-bandgap photon absorption layers. The invention converts the epi material layers near or at the vicinity of the etched mesa trench or etched mesa steps into a different dopant type through impurity diffusion process. Preferably the diffused surfaces are treated with a subsequent surface passivation. This invention can be applied to both top-illuminating and bottom-illuminating configurations.
US08030671B2
A thin film transistor layer including a thin film transistor is formed at a liquid crystal layer side of a color filter layer on an array substrate. Since it becomes possible to form the color filter layer at a position on a relatively flat glass substrate, satisfactory characteristics of the color filter layer can be obtained. The color filter layer is unlikely to have influence on the thin film transistor layer, so that the yield can be improved.
US08030665B2
A substrate 1 for growing nitride semiconductor has a first and second face and has a thermal expansion coefficient that is larger than that of the nitride semiconductor. At least n-type nitride semiconductor layers 3 to 5, an active layer 6 and p-type nitride semiconductor layers 7 to 8 are laminated to form a stack of nitride semiconductor on the first face of the substrate 1. A first bonding layer including more than one metal layer is formed on the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 8. A supporting substrate having a first and second face has a thermal expansion coefficient that is larger than that of the nitride semiconductor and is equal or smaller than that of the substrate 1 for growing nitride semiconductor. A second bonding layer including more than one metal layer is formed on the first face of the supporting substrate. The first bonding layer 9 and the second bonding layer 11 are faced with each other and, then, pressed with heat to bond together. After that, the substrate 1 for growing nitride semiconductor is removed from the stack of nitride semiconductor so that a nitride semiconductor device is provided.
US08030663B2
A semiconductor device including thin film transistors having high electrical properties and reliability is proposed. Further, a method for manufacturing the semiconductor devices with mass productivity is proposed. The semiconductor device includes a thin film transistor which includes a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer, a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer over the gate insulating layer, a buffer layer over the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer, and a semiconductor layer over the buffer layer. A part of the semiconductor layer overlapping with the gate electrode layer is over and in contact with the gate insulating layer and is provided between the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer. The semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer containing indium, gallium, and zinc. The buffer layer contains a metal oxide having n-type conductivity. The semiconductor layer and the source and drain electrode layers are electrically connected to each other through the buffer layer.
US08030658B2
The object of the present invention is to form a low-concentration impurity region with good accuracy in a top gate type TFT. Phosphorus is added to a semiconductor layer by using a pattern made of a conductive film as a mask to form an N-type impurity region in a self-alignment manner. A positive photoresist is applied to a substrate so as to cover the pattern and then is exposed to light applied to the back of the substrate and then is developed, whereby a photoresist 110 is formed. The pattern is etched by using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask to form a gate electrode. A channel forming region, a source region, a drain region, and low-concentration impurity regions, are formed in the semiconductor layer in a self-alignment manner by using the gate electrode as a doping mask.
US08030652B2
A pixel structure and a fabrication method thereof are provided. A substrate with a light-shielding layer and a flat layer formed thereon is provided. A first photomask process is conducted to pattern a first metal layer and a semiconductor layer for forming a source, a drain, a channel layer, a data line and a first pad. A second photomask process is conducted to pattern the protection layer, the second metal layer and the gate dielectric layer for forming a gate, a scan line and a second pad, and a part of the drain is exposed. A third photomask process is conducted to pattern a transparent conductive layer for forming a pixel electrode.
US08030648B2
Disclosed is a stable organic thin film transistor having good switching property and a process for manufacturing an organic thin film transistor by a simple method. The organic thin film transistor comprises a substrate and provided thereon, at least a source electrode, a drain electrode, an organic semiconductor connecting the source electrode and the drain electrode, a gate electrode, and an insulating layer composed of a plurality of layers, the insulating layer being provided between the gate electrode and the organic semiconductor, wherein the organic thin film transistor comprises a mercapto group-containing compound represented by the following formula (I), (R)n—Si(A)3-n-(B) Formula (I) wherein R represents an alkyl group having a carbon atom number of not more than 8; A represents an alkoxy group or a halogen atom; B represents a substituent containing an SH group; and n is an integer of from 0 to 2.
US08030646B2
A light-emitting element is provided, including a first electrode and a second electrode, a first layer including first and second organic compounds, the first layer being formed between the first electrode and the second electrode wherein the first organic compound is capable of emitting a first light and the second organic compound has an electron transporting property, and a second layer including third and fourth organic compounds, the second layer being formed between the first layer and the second electrode wherein the third organic compound is capable of emitting a second light and has an electron trap property and the fourth organic compound has an electron transporting property.
US08030633B2
Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a solid-liquid interface, including providing a vessel configured to contain an at least partially melted material; detecting radiation reflected from a surface of a liquid portion of the at least partially melted material; providing sound energy to the surface; measuring a disturbance on the surface; calculating at least one frequency associated with the disturbance; and determining a thickness of the liquid portion based on the at least one frequency, wherein the thickness is calculated based on L=(2m−1)vs/4f, where f is the frequency where the disturbance has an amplitude maximum, vs is the speed of sound in the material, and m is a positive integer (1, 2, 3, . . . ).
US08030631B2
Provided is an apparatus for projecting multiple beams to a structure on a workpiece comprising a first light source generating a first illumination beam and a second light source generating a second illumination beam, an illumination primary mirror configured to reflect the first illumination beam onto the structure of the workpiece at a first angle of incidence, generating a first detection beam, and configured to reflect the second illumination beam onto the workpiece at a second angle of incidence, generating a second detection beam, a separate illumination secondary mirror positioned relative to the illumination primary mirror so as make the first angle of incidence substantially the same or close to a calculated optimum first angle of incidence and make the second angle of incidence substantially the same or close to a calculated optimum second angle of incidence. The first and second detection beams are diffracted off the structure at the corresponding angle of incidence to a detection primary mirror, reflected onto a separate secondary detection mirror and other optical components on the detection path, and onto spectroscopic detectors.
US08030627B2
A dose calculator for heavy-ion therapy systems uses a limited number of spread out Bragg peak models obtainable by a particular therapy system, the models which may be adjusted in energy (offset) and dose contribution (treatment time) to produce a unique composite dose having a complex dose profile with limited reduced time.
US08030624B2
The present invention provides a method and composition for illuminating a contoured surface, such as a vehicle having a receiving surface extending from a structural member. A method includes providing a heterogeneous mixture including a semiconductor nanocrystal complex and a dispersion media, with the complex generally including a middle layer extending between a core and an outer layer. The mixture may be applied to receiving surface which receives illumination having sufficient characteristics for illuminating the contoured surface, and added during the polymer processing. In addition, a vehicle illumination composition is provided in which a heterogeneous mixture of a semiconductor nanocrystal complex is immersed within a dispersion media, wherein the complex may further include a semiconductor nanocrystal core separated from an outer layer by a middle layer, and the heterogeneous mixture illuminates the contoured surface.
US08030620B2
A method is provided for creating a plurality of substantially uniform nano-scale features in a substantially parallel manner in which an array of micro-lenses is positioned on a surface of a substrate, where each micro-lens includes a hole such that the bottom of the hole corresponds to a portion of the surface of the substrate. A flux of charged particles, e.g., a beam of positive ions of a selected element, is applied to the micro-lens array. The flux of charged particles is focused at selected focal points on the substrate surface at the bottoms of the holes of the micro-lens array. The substrate is tilted at one or more selected angles to displace the locations of the focal points across the substrate surface. By depositing material or etching the surface of the substrate, several substantially uniform nanometer sized features may be rapidly created in each hole on the surface of the substrate in a substantially parallel manner.
US08030618B2
A pellet 4 for use in spectrometry includes a first powder 41 of a light transmitting material in a compression-molded form, and a second powder 42 which is hydrophilic and water-insoluble and is dispersedly mixed in the first powder. A sample 40 to be subjected to spectrometry is e.g. in a powdery form and dispersedly mixed in the first and the second powders 41 and 42. When the sample 40 is a hydrate, the second powder 42 exerts the effect of accelerating dehydration of the sample 40, so that stable spectrum data on the sample in the dehydrated state is obtained early. This makes it possible to perform a processing such as identification of the sample 40 early and precisely.
US08030616B2
A radiation image capturing system includes an image capturing apparatus for capturing a radiation image of a subject by irradiating the subject with a radiation emitted from a radiation source, a supply apparatus for supplying image capturing instruction information for capturing a plurality of radiation images of the subject, and a sorting apparatus for sorting the supplied image capturing instruction information into a predetermined processing order. The image capturing apparatus is controlled to capture the radiation images of the subject according to the processing order of the image capturing instruction information which has been sorted by the sorting apparatus.
US08030603B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and methods directed to a selectively engageable shaft locking device. In one embodiment, a shaft lock device is presented which enables the testing of the shaft and shaft drive device without engaging the drive mechanism into a fully operational state. Another embodiment provides the ability to return the shaft lock device to a storage state after full engagement. The present invention also provides for methods of testing a selective shaft lock device according to the disclosures contained herein.
US08030599B2
Provided are a substrate processing apparatus, a heating device, and a semiconductor device manufacturing method. The substrate processing apparatus comprises a process chamber configured to process a substrate. A heating element is installed at a peripheral side of the process chamber. An annular inner wall is installed at a peripheral side of the heating element. An annular outer wall is installed at a peripheral side of the inner wall with a space being formed therebetween. An annular cooling member is installed at the space for cooling. An actuating mechanism moves the cooling member between a contacting position where the cooling member makes contact with at least one of the inner wall and the outer wall and a non-contacting position where the cooling member does not make contact with any one of the inner wall and the outer wall. A control unit controls at least the actuating mechanism.
US08030598B2
An electric cooking assembly includes a main body portion that defines a cooking area. First and second cooking surfaces are contained within the cooking area. A first electric heating element arranged to provide heat to at least a portion of the first cooking surface, and a second electric heating element is arranged to heat at least a portion of the second cooking surface. The main body portion may include first and second hood members. The first hood member defines the cooking area and the second hood member is positioned at least partially within the cooking area and configured to decrease heat lost from the cooking assembly during preparation of food products in the cooking area. The second hood member is configured for adjustment between an open position providing access to the cooking surface and a closed position covering at least a portion of the cooking surface.
US08030587B2
The invention concerns rotary control device for remote control of a moving vehicle, particularly a civil engineering works vehicle, an agricultural implement or a goods handling vehicle comprising two parts rotatably mobile relative to one another about an axis (A) and formed of a body (2) intended to be fixed to the handle of the remote control and an actuating part (6), the device also comprising first elastic means (13) including a winding (14) and two mobile branches (15, 16), the first actuating part being immobilized, in a position of equilibrium (P), with respect to a first member (2, 6). The device further comprises second elastic means (22) supported, on a mobile branch (15, 16) of the first elastic means (13) and, designed, in the position of equilibrium, to bear against a support portion (24) of the second member (2, 6).
US08030586B2
An electronic switch may include a horizontal bottom plate, a top side of the plate may support at least two electrical contacts. A contactor may be positioned on the top side of the plate and may be elastically deformable to electrically link the at least two electrical contacts. A pushbutton may be positioned vertically above the contactor such that manual displacement of the pushbutton downward may provoke the elastic deformation of the contactor. A first elastic sheet may include a top film protecting the contactor. The top film may be fixed to the top side of the plate to secure the contactor vertically on the plate to form an opening so that the pushbutton may act directly on the contactor. A second elastic sheet may position the pushbutton horizontally relative to the contactor on a top side of which the top film may be fixed.
US08030584B2
A side key module installed at a side of a mobile communication terminal, contactly coupled up to a PCB embedded in the terminal, and simply fabricated without a soldering process. The side key module disposed between a side key installed at the side of the terminal, and the PCB installed in the terminal, including: a first plate of conductivity configured in a lengthwise form including a cut-out space and contacting with the PCB; a second plate of conductivity configured in the same plane with the first plate and disposed in the cut-out space of the first plate, contacting with the PCB; a body accommodating the first and second plates; and a metal dome joining with a side of the body and enabling the first and second plates to be electrically connected together by contacting with the first and second plates if the side key is pressed.
US08030577B2
The present invention has for its object to provide a multilayer printed circuit board which is very satisfactory in facture toughness, dielectric constant, adhesion and processability, among other characteristics. The present invention is directed to a multilayer printed circuit board comprising a substrate board, a resin insulating layer formed on said board and a conductor circuit constructed on said resin insulating layer, wherein said resin insulating layer comprises a polyolefin resin.
US08030575B2
A solution for protecting an electronic device from an electrical surge using a mounting structure is provided. In particular, the mounting structure comprises a conductive material and is electrically connected to the protected electrical device. The conductive material and/or mounting structure can have one or more properties that prevent the mounting structure from adversely impacting operation of the electronic device during normal operation, but enables the mounting structure to provide an alternative electrical path during the electrical surge.
US08030571B2
A telecommunications cable and separator spline. In one example the cable includes a cable jacket defining an elongate cable core, a conductor assembly including four twisted pairs of conductors disposed along the core and a plurality of parallel elongate localized and like distensions in an inner surface of the cable jacket. The distensions are substantially evenly spaced about an inner surface of the cable jacket. In one example, the distensions are the result of a series of filler elements placed between the cable jacket and the cable core and which wind helicoidally along and about the cable core. The separator spline includes first and second elongate dividing strips having a substantially H shaped cross section and arranged side by side, and twists helicoidally along its length. In one example the separator spline and the insulation surrounding the twisted pairs of conductors is manufactured form a material having the same dielectric constant.
US08030567B2
A generalized interface for interconnecting a wide range of electronic musical instruments and signal processing systems includes an outgoing multi-channel audio interface and an outgoing control interface. The outgoing multi-channel audio interface receives instrument audio signals generated by an external musical instrument, while the outgoing control interface receives MIDI control signals generated by the same external musical instrument. The outgoing multi-channel audio interface and the outgoing control interface respectively communicate audio signals and MIDI control signals to the external signal processing system. Variations include the addition of multi-channel audio paths to the instrument using drive transducer signals to excite instrument vibrating elements; the use of control paths to the instrument to control on-instrument lighting, signal processing, drive transducers, controller interpretation, etc.; non-MIDI control paths out of the instrument; providing the instrument with expanded power to supporting on-instrument lighting, video devices, and other auxiliary systems; video signals out of the instrument; and video signals to the instrument to support on-instrument video display.
US08030565B2
This invention provides a signal processing and signal synthesis technique from a family of signal processing and signal synthesis techniques designed to readily interwork or be used individually in creating new forms of rich musical timbres. A plurality of audio signal delays, each with high resonance positive feedback, distortion characteristics, and selectable delay times corresponding to a desired resonant frequency, provide twang and resonance synthesis for moments of sparkle or vibrantly-responsive ongoing backdrops. The selectable delay times may match a musical scale or other resonant frequency distribution. Delay, feedback, and signal processing characteristics and parameters may be recalled from stored program control or modulated in real-time by arbitrary control signals, including those derived from the original input signal. The invention may be used individually or in conjunction with other signal processing and signal synthesis techniques in creating new forms of rich musical timbres. The invention may also be used in spatially-distributed timbre construction.
US08030564B2
A content selecting and recommending method includes a step of generating a log table using information sent as a log from each of a plurality of users' terminals, each user's state being classified into one of a plurality of state patterns, the log table including information indicating a correspondence between each of the state patterns and a piece of content played back in the case of the state pattern; and a step of receiving a content recommendation request which is sent from a requesting user's terminal and includes a state detection signal generated as a result of detection of the requesting user's state, selecting a piece of content, from the log table, appropriate for the requesting user's state indicated, and sending a recommendation of the selected piece of content to the requesting user's terminal.
US08030562B2
A musical drumhead having a top surface and bottom surface and a means attached to the drumhead for discharging an aromatic vapor. The musical drumhead is comprised of a membrane having means to vent the aromatic vapors through the top surface of the drumhead and disperse the vapors into the surrounding environment. Vent means comprises a plurality of vent holes in the drumhead membrane through which the vapors are discharged. The primary source of the vapors is a pad of porous material impregnated with an aroma producing liquid with a pleasing fragrance. The pad of porous material is attached in some conventional manner to the bottom surface of the drumhead immediately beneath the vent holes. The striking of the drumhead produces a vibration in the drumhead membrane which, in turn, excites the molecules in the air beneath and above the membrane. The aromatic oil vapors gathered around the impregnated pad are initially forced in all directions by the excited air and then dispersed through the vent holes into the surrounding areas.
US08030554B2
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB07S09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB07S09, to the plants of soybean XB07S09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB07S09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB07S09 with another soybean plant, using XB07S09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08030553B1
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated RJS04001. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety RJS04001, to the plants of soybean RJS04001 to plant parts of soybean variety RJS04001 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety RJS04001 with another soybean plant, using RJS04001 as either the male or the female parent.
US08030549B2
A broccoli plant characterized in having an exerted head having a crown higher than the leaf canopy and a harvestable head of at least about 200 grams when planted at a density of 40,000 plants per hectare, where the harvestable head comprises the top 25 centimeters of said stalk.
US08030542B2
Disclosed is a means of controlling plant pests by a novel method of expressing Cry2A B. thuringiensis δ-endotoxins in plants. The invention comprises novel nucleic acid segments encoding proteins comprising Cry2A B. thuringiensis δ-endotoxins. The nucleic acid segments are disclosed, as are transformation vectors containing the nucleic acid segments, plants transformed with the claimed segments, methods for transforming plants, and methods of controlling plant infestation by pests.
US08030536B2
A diaper or adult incontinence garment including a backsheet and a sublayer. The sublayer may include one or more acquisition layers and one or more regions having a multitude of through or blind holes. The sublayer may isolate feces away from the skin and at the same time provide liquid acquisition. Certain regions of the sublayer may have a total open area of from 10% to 50% of the total surface area of the sublayer. The holes have an average smallest dimension of at least 3 mm. The sublayer has an average caliper of from 2 mm to 6, and an average caliper loss after wetting and under pressure of 0.3 psi of less than 20%.
US08030534B2
A tunnel dressing for use in treating a tunneling wound using negative pressure wound therapy. The tunnel dressing includes an elongate permeable member having a closed distal end for entering the wound and an open proximal end into which an applicator is removably disposed for guiding the dressing into the wound. The tunnel dressing has a support structure adapted to transport wound exudates away from the wound and to resist compression under suction. The tunnel dressing also has a wound contact surface adapted to minimize tissue entanglement to facilitate removal. The support structure and wound contact surface may be formed from the same material or from two adjacent layers of different material.
US08030529B2
The present invention provides a process for the production of intermediate compounds of formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined herein. The process comprises reacting a substituted aniline with aqueous HX, followed by removal of water by azeotropic distillation and diazotization and pyrolysis with an organic nitrite at elevated temperatures in the absence of a copper catalyst. Alternatively, gaseous HX can be used to substitute aqueous HX in the process. Consequently, a step of water removal by azeotropic distillation can be eliminated. The intermediate compounds of formula I are suitable as intermediates in the preparation of herbicidally active 3-hydroxy-4-aryl-5-oxopyrazoline derivatives.
US08030527B2
A process for preparing substituted biphenyls of the formula I in which the substituents are defined as follows: X is fluorine or chlorine; R1 is nitro, amino or NHR3; R2 is cyano, nitro, halogen, C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C-6-alkenyl, C1-C6-alkynyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-haloalkyl, C1-C6-alkylcarbonyl or phenyl; R3 is C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-alkenyl or C1-C4-alkynyl; n is 1, 2 or 3, where in case that n is 2 or 3, the R.sup.2 radicals may also be different, which comprises reacting the compound of the formula II in which Hal is halogen and X and R1 are as defined above, in the presence of a base and of a palladium catalyst selected from the group of:3 a) palladium-triarylphosphine or -trialkylphosphine complex with palladium in the zero oxidation state, b) salt of palladium in the presence of triarylphospine or trialkylphosphine as a complex ligand or c) metallic palladium, optionally applied to support, in the presence of triarylphosphine or trialkylphosphine, in a solvent, with a diphenylborinic acid (III) in which R2 and n are as defined above, where the triarylphosphines or trialkylphosphines used may be substituted.
US08030512B2
A polycyclic pentafluorosulfanylbenzene compound represented by the following general formula (1) and a process for producing the polycyclic pentafluorosulfanylbenzene compound which comprises reacting a specific pentafluorosulfanylbenzene compound with a specific boronic acid compound are provided. The polycyclic pentafluorosulfanylbenzene compound is a novel compound and can be produced by the process industrially advantageously. (R1 to R4 each independently represent hydrogen atom or fluorine atom, R5 represents a hydrocarbon group having at least two cyclic structures which may have substituents, and Z represents keto group, thioketo group, methylene group or difluoromethylene group.)
US08030510B2
Process for preparing alkylhalosilanes are provided. The process involve reacting an alkyl halide with a solid body formed of silicon and a catalytic system.
US08030509B2
In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides an amino-siloxane composition comprising at least one of structures I, II, III, IV or V said compositions being useful for the capture of carbon dioxide from gas streams such as power plant flue gases. In addition, the present invention provides methods of preparing the amino-siloxane compositions are provided. Also provided are methods for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in a process stream employing the amino-siloxane compositions of the invention as species which react with carbon dioxide to form an adduct with carbon dioxide. The reaction of the amino-siloxane compositions provided by the present invention with carbon dioxide is reversible and thus, the method provides for multicycle use of said compositions.
US08030506B2
Disclosed are a novel cyclotriphosphazene-platinum(II) complex conjugate anticancer agent, showing high selectivity to tumor tissues due to the enhanced permeability and retention effect in tumor tissues and a preparation method thereof.
US08030504B2
The present application is directed to compounds that are TRPV1 antagonists and have formula (I) wherein variables Ar1, L1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, Y1, Y2, and Y3, are as defined in the description, which are useful for treating disorders caused by or exacerbated by vanilloid receptor activity.
US08030501B2
Aiming at production of an optically active 3-amino nitrogen-containing compound which is useful as an intermediate in synthesis of medicines and pesticides, in particular, an optically active 1-protected-3-aminopyrrolidine derivative, from an inexpensive and readily available raw material by a process which is efficient and can be practiced industrially, an optically active 3-amino nitrogen-containing compound is produced by performing a reaction of an optically active 3-substituted nitrogen-containing compound with ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine or dimethylamine in the presence of water. In addition, a 1-protected-3-aminopyrrolidine derivative is produced by performing a reaction of an optically active 1-protected-3-(sulfonyloxy)pyrrolidine derivative with ammonia, methylamine, ethylamine, or dimethylamine in the presence of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, or isopropanol under a pressure of less than 30 barr.
US08030497B2
A compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug ester thereof: wherein R1-R7 are as disclosed in the specification.
US08030496B2
A method whereby a compound having HCV replication inhibitory activity and desired optical activity can be synthesized selectively and at high yield in a small number of steps by using a compound having a specific chiral auxiliary as a starting compound is provided.A compound represented by the formula (1-8): wherein Y represents a group represented by the following formula: Q represents a protected carbonyl group; D represents —(CH2)m—R′, etc.; and n represents an integer of 0 to 10.
US08030493B2
The invention relates to medicine, in particular to mono- and divalent salts of N-(5-hydroxynicotinoil)-L-glutaminic acid exhibiting psychotropic antidepressant, anxiolytic, heroprotective, neuroprotective, antihypoxia cerebroprotective and nootropic action. The novel compounds differ from the known preparations, including the closest prior art in the form of a N-(5-hydroxynicotinoil)-L-glutaminic acid base (nooglucotyl), in that they produce psychotropic effects, namely antidepressant, anxiolytic, neuroprotective and heroprotective actions, in such a way that lesion focuses caused by apoplectic attacks are reduced and age-specific neurological deficiencies and intellectual and physical work capacities are improved.
US08030492B2
Compositions containing neurogenic agents for inhibition of neuron death and inducing proliferation of neural cells are disclosed.
US08030490B2
The present invention discloses a phosphorescent tris-chelated transition metal complex comprising i) two identical non-conjugated cyclometalated ligands being incorporated into a coordination sphere thereof with a transition metal, and one ligated chromophore being incorporated into the coordination sphere; or ii) one non-conjugated cyclometalated ligand forming a coordination sphere thereof with a transition metal, and two ligated chromophores being incorporated into the coordination sphere, wherein the metal is iridium, platinum, osmium or ruthenium, and the ligated chromophore possesses a relatively lower energy gap in comparison with that of the non-conjugated cyclometalated ligand, the latter afforded an effective barrier for inhibiting the ligand-to-ligand charge transfer process, so that a subsequent radiative decay from an excited state of these transition complexes will be confined to the single ligated chromophore. The architecture and energy gap of the ligated chromophore are suitable for generation of high efficiency blue, green and even red emissions.
US08030489B2
Provided is a compound which is useful as a therapeutic agent for chronic renal insufficiency and a therapeutic agent for diabetic nephropathy.The present inventors have made extensive studies on an ornithine derivative having an antagonistic action against an EP4 receptor, and as a result, they have found that by introducing cycloalkanediyl at a C terminal of the ornithine part of the compound of the present invention, the physicochemical properties such as solubility, and the like can be improved, thereby giving further preferred properties as a pharmaceutical. Therefore, they have completed the present invention.The compound of the present invention exhibits a good antagonistic action against an EP4 receptor, and thus, it is useful as a therapeutic agent for chronic renal insufficiency and diabetic nephropathy.
US08030480B2
The present invention relates to a cost-effective process for manufacture of iron sucrose complex.
US08030475B2
Disclosed are nucleic acid molecules, and methods of their use, which have a specific structure including a double helical domain and a G-quadruplex domain physically connected by a linker domain which may be nucleosidic or non-nucleosidic. These aptamers demonstrate potent inhibition of phylogenetically diverse primate lentiviral reverse transcriptases, which effect is largely independent of aptamer sequence provided that the aptamer has the specified structure.
US08030472B2
Novel isolated plant polynucleotide promoter sequences are provided, together with genetic constructs comprising such polynucleotides. Methods for using such constructs in modulating the transcription of DNA sequences of interest are also disclosed, together with transgenic plants comprising such constructs.
US08030471B2
The subject invention relates to nucleic acid sequences and amino acid sequences encoded thereby, derived from the Merozoite Surface Protein (MSP1) gene of the Plasmodium species P. malariae and P. ovale. Such genes and proteins have many beneficial diagnostic as well as therapeutic uses.
US08030462B2
The invention relates to the therapeutic use of oligonucleotides or oligonucleotide analogs as immunostimulatory agents in immunotherapy applications. The invention provides methods for enhancing the immune response caused by immunostimulatory oligonucleotide compounds.
US08030461B2
Bispecific diabody libraries can be constructed from scFv libraries efficiently and without troublesome procedures by a single treatment, placing restriction enzyme sites appropriately for antigen-encoding regions.
US08030455B2
The present invention provides the art with the DNA coding sequences of polynucleotides that are up-or-down-regulated in cancer and dysplasia. These polynucleotides and encoded proteins or polypeptides can be used in the diagnosis or identification of cancer and dysplasia. Inhibitors of the up-regulated polynucleotides and proteins can decrease the abnormality of cancer and dysplasia. Enhancing the expression of down-regulated polynucleotides or introducing down-regulated proteins to cells can decrease the growth and/or abnormal characteristics of cancer and dysplasia.
US08030449B2
Preparation of cryocooled protein crystal is provided by use of helium pressurizing and cryocooling to obtain cryocooled protein crystal allowing collection of high resolution data and by heavier noble gas (krypton or xenon) binding followed by helium pressurizing and cryocooling to obtain cryocooled protein crystal for collection of high resolution data and SAD phasing simultaneously. The helium pressurizing is carried out on crystal coated to prevent dehydration or on crystal grown in aqueous solution in a capillary.
US08030447B2
The present invention is directed to peptide sequences that were identified from combinatorial libraries and could serve as substrates of plague plasminogen activator (Pla). Another aspect of the present invention is drawn to peptides derived from the substrates for Pla as a result of chemical modifications leading to specific inactivation of the proteolytic activity of Pla. Additionally, the present invention is directed to the use of the substrates identified herein in the detection of bacteria expressing omptin family of proteases which includes Y. pestis. Furthermore, the present invention is also directed to the use of the inhibitors identified herein in the prevention and treatment of infection caused by these bacteria.
US08030446B2
The present invention relates to mutant proline-and-arginine rich (PR) peptides with defined structural characteristics for use in inhibiting mammalian 20S proteasome activity and modulating expression of genes regulating the NF-κB pathway. Mutant PR peptides of the present invention differ from wild-type PR peptides by having at least one to three amino acid substitutions, wherein at least one of the amino acid residues at position one, two or three of the mutant PR peptide is positively charged.
US08030437B2
A method for forming a polyimide composite article utilizes a polyimide resin system including at least a first prepolymer component and a second prepolymer component. A preform structure is tackified with the first prepolymer component. Using resin infusion or resin transfer molding techniques, the tackified preform structure is contacted with the second prepolymer component. The polyimide resin system is cured under suitable cure conditions so that the first and second prepolymer components mix and react to produce the polyimide composite structure.
US08030435B2
Disclosed is a method for increasing the solid state polymerization (SSP) rates of metal catalyzed polyesters. The method comprises in a first step, reacting a dicarboxylic acid or a C1-C4 dicarboxylic diester with a diol at a suitable temperature and pressure to effect esterification or transesterification to prepare a precondensate and in a second step, reacting the precondensate to effect polycondensation at a suitable temperature and pressure to prepare a high molecular weight polyester and in a third step, further increasing the molecular weight and viscosity of the polyester under SSP conditions of a suitable temperature and pressure, where a metal catalyst is added in the first step or in the second step as a reaction catalyst, and where a certain phosphinic acid compound is added in the first step, in the second step or just prior to the third step. The polyester product exhibits low aldehyde formation during melt processing steps as well as excellent color.
US08030431B2
A curable mixture which includes at least (a) 10 to 100 percent by weight, in relation to the sum of the components (a) and (b), of at least one bi- or polyfunctional aromatic cyanate or a prepolymer formed from at least one bi- or polyfunctional aromatic cyanate or a mixture formed from the abovementioned cyanates and/or prepolymers; (b) 0 to 90 percent by weight, in relation to the sum of the components (a) and (b), of at least one mono-, bi- or polyfunctional epoxy resin; (c) 0.5 to 30 percent by weight, in relation to the sum of the components (a) and (b), of at least one mono-, bi- or polyfunctional aromatic amine; and (d) 0 to 5 percent by weight, in relation to the sum of the components (a) and (b), of at least one catalyst from the group consisting of transition metal compounds and boron trihalides.
US08030426B2
A polypropylene resin comprising a propylene polymer endowed with the following characteristics: a) distribution of molecular weight Mw/Mn lower than 4; b) the melt-viscosity measured at a temperature of 250° C. in the shear rate range between 1000 1/s and 40000 1/s meet the following relationship: c) h 9*e(−0.00006*sr)+2 a. wherein h represents the melt-viscosity in Pas and sr the shear rate in 1/s d) the isotactic pentads (mmmm) measured with by 13C-NMR are higher than 90%; d) preferably higher than 92%; more preferably higher than 95% and most preferred higher than 96%; e) the hexane extractables according FDA regulations are preferably below 2.6 wt. %; and f) the xylene solubles are below 2 wt. %; with the proviso that the propylene polymer was not visbroken.
US08030421B2
A process for polymerizing 1-butene comprising the step of contacting under polymerization conditions 1-butene and optionally from 0 to 20% by mol of an alpha olefin with a catalyst system obtainable by contacting a bridged metallocene compound of formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 are an hydrocarbon radical A is a carbon atom, a germanium atom or a silicon atom; m is 1, 2; M is a metal of group 4 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; X, is hydrogen, a halogen atom, or a group R, OR, OSO2CF3, OCOR, SR, NR2 or PR2, wherein the substituents R are hydrocarbon radical; L is a moiety of formula (IIa) or (IIb) wherein T is an oxygen (O) or sulphur (S) atom or a CH2 group; and R3 and R4 are hydrogen atoms or hydrocarbon radicals; one or more alumoxanes or compounds able to form an alkylmetallocene cation; and optionally an organo aluminum compound.
US08030419B2
To provide a method for producing a polymer for semiconductor lithography which can attain high uniformity in the polymer from lot to lot. The method for producing a polymer for semiconductor lithography includes the step (P) of heating a polymerizable monomer and a polymerization initiator in a solvent, to thereby polymerize the monomer, the step (P) having the step of controlling a polymerization pressure by regulating a liquid level in a container (WO) which is disposed between a polymerization tank and the atmospheric air and which provides liquid sealing.
US08030414B2
The invention relates to novel polymers or oligomers containing at least sulfinate groups (P—(SO2)nX, X=1-(n=1), 2-(n=2) or 3-(n=3) valent metal cation or H+ or ammonium ion NR4+ where R=alkyl, aryl, H), which are obtained by completely or partially reducing polymers or oligomers containing at least SO2Y-groups (Y═F, Cl, Br, I, OR, NR2 (R=alkyl and/or aryl and/or H), N-imidazolyl, N-pyrazolyl) by means of suitable reducing agents in a suspension or in a solution form.Polymer and polymer(blend)membranes which are obtained by further reacting the received sulfinated polymers, especially by alkylation of the sulfinate groups with mono- di- or oligo functional electrophiles. The invention further relates to methods for producing the sulfinated polymers and for further reacting the sulfinated polymers with electrophiles by S-alkylation.
US08030412B2
The present invention relates to an active-energy-ray-curable coating composition containing, as essential components, a radical-polymerizable resin (I) containing a polymer structure (α) of a radical-polymerizable unsaturated monomer and a poly(perfluoroalkylene ether) chain (β), and having a resin structure in which a plurality of the polymer structures (α) are linked to each other with the poly(perfluoroalkylene ether) chain (β) therebetween and the polymer structures (α) each have a radical-polymerizable unsaturated group at a side chain thereof; and a polymerization initiator (II).The active-energy-ray-curable coating composition can be used as a coating material that imparts surface properties such as stain-proof properties.
US08030409B2
The present invention provides a block copolymer of styrene and an unsaturated cyclic anhydride, such as maleic anhydride, a process for making a copolymer using controlled free radical polymerization in which certain parameters are adjusted to control the microstructure and molecular weight of the copolymer, and a method for using the block copolymer, including as a compatibilizer. Microstructure and molecular weight in the block copolymer can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of stable free radical to initiator. The copolymer can be made in a one step process and has a controlled microstructure that allows one block to be reactive toward several chemical moieties available in engineering polymers and the other block to be fully miscible with polystyrene or polymers miscible with polystyrene or polymers miscible with polystyrene such as polyphenylene ether.
US08030408B2
The present invention is a coating composition comprising a tricure acrylic resin which comprises functionality having different rates of reactivity to crosslinking compounds such as, for example, diisocyantes and polyisocyanates.
US08030400B2
Disclosed is a thermoplastic composition comprising a polycarbonate terpolymer comprising structures derived from structures (I), (II) and (III), wherein (I) is a dihydroxy compound having the structure (A): wherein n is 0 to 4 and Rf is independently a halogen atom, a C1-10 hydrocarbon group, or a C1-10 halogen substituted hydrocarbon group; (II) comprises a second dihydroxy compound derived from Formula (A) and different from (I) and wherein n and Rf are as previously defined; and (III) a third dihydroxy compound not derived from Formula (A), wherein the sum of the mol percent of all of structures (I) and (II) is greater than 45% relative to the sum of the molar amounts of all of structures (I), (II) and (III) in the polycarbonate terpolymer and wherein said polycarbonate terpolymer is amorphous; an impact modifier; and an ungrafted rigid copolymer. The thermoplastic composition has improved chemical resistance and scratch resistance.
US08030398B2
Provided is a (meth)acrylic resin emulsion comprising, as a dispersant, a vinyl alcohol polymer having a degree of saponification of from 80 to 95 mol % and a degree of polymerization of from 400 to 2000 and, as a dispersoid, a polymer comprising at least one type of monomer units selected from acrylate monomer units and methacrylate monomer units, which has a “factor a” of at least 0.3 that indicates the particle size distribution width of the emulsion and of which the film formed at 20° C. to have a thickness of 500 μm has a tensile strength of at least 100 kg/cm2. The emulsion is excellent in all its film strength, film transparency and mechanical stability and further in its alkali resistance.
US08030396B2
Methods for preparing pigmented and nonpigmented powder coating compositions are disclosed. The methods generally involve the use of dispersions comprising a fluoropolymer.
US08030395B2
A water-based pressure sensitive adhesive dispersion is provided. The dispersion is a reaction product of a monomer solution and an aqueous phase. The monomer solution contains from about 40 to 70 parts water-insoluble monomer selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylate, methacrylate, vinyl ester, and combinations thereof and from about 0.01 to 0.2 parts monomer soluble free radical initiator. The aqueous phase includes from about 1 to 20 parts latex binder, from about 0.1 to 2 parts surfactant, from about 0.02 to 1 parts polymeric suspension stabilizer, and water as a remaining balance. All parts are given as parts by weight per 100 parts of the dispersion. The dispersion has a solid phase of at least 60 weight percent, a viscosity of less than about 300 centipoise, measured at about 23° C., and a bimodal particle size distribution.
US08030392B2
A rubber composition for sidewall contains 10 to 40 mass % syndiotactic-1,2-polybutadiene-containing polybutadiene rubber and 10 to 30 mass % tin-modified polybytadiene rubber in a polymer component, and contains 10 to 40 parts by mass silica with respect to 100 parts by mass polymer component. Thus, cut resistance and ozone resistance as well as fuel efficiency of a car can be improved.
US08030384B2
Golf balls consisting of a core and a cover are disclosed. The core is a solid, single-layer core formed from a rubber composition comprising a base rubber and a quinhydrone. The core has a positive hardness gradient such that the difference between the core's surface hardness and the core's center hardness is 25 Shore C units or greater and/or the core has a diameter of from 1.51 inches to 1.59 inches.
US08030380B2
A non-halogen flameproof polycarbonate resin composition is disclosed. The polycarbonate resin composition includes a base resin including (A) about 50 to about 100% by weight of a polycarbonate resin, (B) about 0 to about 50% by weight of a rubber modified aromatic vinyl resin, and (C) about 0 to about 50% by weight of an alkyl(meth)acrylate resin; and (D) about 0.5 to about 30 parts by weight of a cyclic t-butyl phosphonate compound, based on about 100 parts by weight of the base resin comprising (A), (B) and (C). The polycarbonate resin composition can have stability against fire and can be environmentally friendly since it does not contain a halogen flame retardant.
US08030375B2
Disclosed is a highly transparent fiber-reinforced composite material including an assembly of cellulose fibers of 4 to 200 nm average fiber diameter impregnated with a matrix material so as to not only remedy the moisture absorbency attributed to cellulose fibers but also further improve transparency. There is provided a fiber-reinforced composite material including an assembly of cellulose fibers impregnated with a matrix material. In the fiber-reinforced composite material, hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibers are chemically modified through a reaction with one or more chemical modifiers selected from the group consisting of an acid, an alcohol, a halogenating reagent, an acid anhydride, and an isocyanate so that the ratio of a functional group introduced by the chemical modification is 5 to 40 percent by mole based on the hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibers before the chemical modification. The chemical modification of hydroxyl groups of cellulose fibers can reduce the hydrophilicity of cellulose fibers to thereby reduce the moisture absorbency of fiber-reinforced composite material. Further, the affinity between cellulose fibers and matrix material can be enhanced to thereby further improve transparency.
US08030371B2
This invention is directed to single-component alkoxy silicon sealants and methods of making the sealants. The sealants are made from a masterbatch M that includes at least one organopolysiloxane A having terminal and/or pendant alkoxylated groups and at least one mineral filler B.
US08030370B2
A method of producing an improved polyethylene, especially an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene utilizes a sequential irradiation and annealing process to form a highly cross-linked polyethylene material. The use of sequential irradiation followed by sequential annealing after each irradiation allows each dose of irradiation in the series of doses to be relatively low while achieving a total dose which is sufficiently high to cross-link the material. The process may either be applied to a preformed material such as a rod or bar or sheet made from polyethylene resin or may be applied to a finished polyethylene part. If applied to a finished polyethylene part, the irradiation and annealing must be accomplished with the polyethylene material not in contact with oxygen at a concentration greater than 1% oxygen volume by volume. When applied to a preform, such as a rod, the annealing of the bulk polymer part of the rod from which the finished part is made must take place on the rod before the implant is machined therefrom and exposed to oxygen.
US08030365B2
This invention relates to composition containing expandable microspheres and at least one ionic compound and having a zeta potential that is greater than or equal to zero mV at a pH of about 9.0 or less at an ionic strength of from 10−6 M to 0.1M., as well as methods of making and using the composition.
US08030361B2
A cell cultivation carrier implantable in vivo having independent pore with opening of 100 μm-1000 μm on the surface thereof produced by neutralization•gellation of collagen acidic solution, said collagen acidic solution is preliminary prepared by passing through a filter of 10 μm or less pore size by 5-20 mg/mL concentration. Especially, a cell cultivation carrier implantable in vivo having sufficiently self-organized accumulation shape•structure obtained by carrying out said neutralization under directionally supplying of alkali.
US08030358B2
A composition for removing a radioactive element or compound such as systemic transuranic compounds, from mammals comprises a pharmaceutical carrier and a decorporation agent comprising ester and amide derivatives of DTPA. A method of treating a mammal to remove systemic compounds utilizing the DTPA derivatives is also disclosed.
US08030350B2
The invention relates to trans carotenoid compounds and salts thereof as well as compositions thereof, methods for making them, and uses thereof. These compounds are useful in improving diffusivity of oxygen between red blood cells and body tissues in mammals including humans.
US08030344B2
The invention relates to the inhibition of histone deacetylase. The invention provides compounds and methods for inhibiting histone deacetylase enzymatic activity. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions. One aspect of the invention provides compounds of formula (1): in which T, A and X are as described herein.
US08030331B2
The present invention relates to new compounds of formula (I) wherein A, B, P, Q, W, R1 and R2 are defined in the description; invention compounds are useful in the prevention or treatment of central nervous system disorders as well as other disorders modulated by mGluR5 receptors.
US08030312B2
The present invention relates to a method of treating a patient suffering from a disorder of the central nervous system associated with 5-HT1A receptor subtype, comprising as an active ingredient a carbostyril derivative or a salt thereof represented by the formula (1): wherein the carbon-carbon bond between 3- and 4-positions in the carbostyril skeleton is a single or a double bond.
US08030307B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the present invention.
US08030306B2
The present application describes CB-1 inverse agonists according to Formula (I) and (Ia), pharmaceutical compositions comprising at least one compound according to Formula (I) or (Ia), and optionally one or more additional therapeutic agents and methods of treatment using the compounds according to Formula (I) or (Ia), both alone and in combination with one or more additional therapeutic agents. The preferred compounds have the general Formula (Ia), including all prodrugs, pharmaceutically acceptable salts and stereoisomer, thereof, wherein R1, R2, Ar1, Ar2 are defined herein.
US08030292B2
The invention provides antisense antiviral compounds and methods of their use and production in inhibition of growth of viruses of the Filoviridae family, and in the treatment of a viral infection. The compounds and methods relate to the treatment of viral infections in mammals including primates by Ebola and Marburg viruses. The antisense antiviral compounds are morpholino oligonucleotides having: a) a nuclease resistant backbone, b) 15-40 nucleotide bases, and c) a targeting sequence of at least 15 bases in length that hybridizes to a target region selected from the following: i) the Ebola virus AUG start site region of VP24; ii) the Ebola virus AUG start site region of VP35; iii) the Marburg virus AUG start site region of VP24; or iv) the Marburg virus AUG start site region of NP.
US08030290B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for delivery of siRNA to specific cells or tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions and methods for cell type-specific delivery of anti-HIV siRNAs via fusion to an anti-gp120 aptamer.
US08030287B2
In this application is described a novel DNA vaccine for Spring viremia of carp virus. The candidate vaccine a SVCV glycoprotein (G) gene from the North Carolina isolate. The DNA vaccine provides protection in vaccinated fish against challenge with the SVCV.
US08030285B2
The present invention provides a substantially pure or isolated oligodeoxynucleotide of at least about 10 nucleotides comprising a sequence represented by either the formula: 5′N1N2N3T-CpG-WN4N5N63′ wherein the central CpG motif is unmethylated, W is A or T, and N1, N2, N3, N4, N5, and N6 are any nucleotides, or the formula: 5′RY-CpG-RY3′ wherein the central CpG motif is unmethylated, R is. A or G, and Y is C or T, as well as an oligodeoxynucleotide delivery complex and a pharmacological composition comprising the present inventive oligodeoxynucleotide, and a method of inducing an immune response by administering the present inventive oligodeoxynucleotide to a host.
US08030275B2
The present invention provides methods for reducing body weight in a mammal using Fibroblast Growth Factor-like (FGF-like) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same.
US08030274B2
The present invention relates an agent comprising FGF2 (Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 or basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF)) as an effective ingredient for treatment or prevention of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Also, The present invention relates Th1 asthma and COPD mouse animal model induced by Ovalbumin and double strand RNA. The therapeutic agent comprising FGF2 of the present invention can be used for treatment or prevention for airway fibrosis, airway inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, airway remodeling, asthma and COPD. Also, Th1 asthma and COPD mice animal model induced by Ovalbumin and double strand RNA can be used for development of therapeutic agent for asthma and COPD.
US08030273B2
Novel protracted exendin-4 compounds and therapeutic uses thereof.
US08030266B2
A method for producing a pearly luster composition containing pearly luster particles (A) containing a fatty acid glycol ester (a1) and a fatty acid glycol ester (a2) having a melting point higher than the melting point of the fatty acid glycol ester (a1), and a surfactant (B), wherein the method includes the steps of (i) solubilizing the fatty acid glycol ester (a2) in the presence of the surfactant (B); (ii) mixing the solubilized solution obtained in the step (i) with a molten fatty acid glycol ester (a1), to emulsify the mixture; and (iii) cooling the emulsified mixture obtained in the step (ii), to precipitate the pearly luster particles (A); a pearly luster composition obtained by the method; and a shampoo containing the pearly luster composition. The pearly luster composition obtained by the present invention is suitably used for shampoos, conditioners, body shampoos, liquid detergents, and the like.
US08030261B2
Warming personal lubricant compositions, condom products including such compositions and methods of making such condom products are disclosed. The present warming lubricant compositions include at least about 50% by weight of a polyalkylene glycol component, preferably including at least two portions of different molecular weights, and an effective amount of a viscosity inducing component.
US08030255B2
The present invention provides lubricating oil compositions having excellent anti-wear properties and anti-fatigue properties as well as excellent low temperature fluidity, particularly suitable for automatic transmissions and/or continuously variable transmissions, and internal combustion engines. The compositions comprises (A) a base oil with a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 1 to 8 mm2/s, a pour point of −15° C. or lower, an aniline point of 100° C. or higher, the saturates of the base oil containing 40 percent by mass or more of paraffins, 25 percent by mass or less of one ring naphthenes, and 35 percent by mass or less of two to six ring naphthenes, as the main component, and (B) 0.005 to 0.4 percent by mass of a metallic detergent, (C) 0.005 to 0.2 percent by mass in terms of nitrogen of a succinimide-type ashless dispersant, (D) 0.005 to 0.2 percent by mass in terms of phosphorus of a phosphorus-containing anti-wear agent, and (E) 0.01 to 20 percent by mass of a viscosity index improver with a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 50,000 or greater, on the basis of the total amount of the composition.
US08030250B2
The production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation is enhanced by use of a well treatment fluid which contains a carboxylated guar which may be prepared by reacting a guar source and a derivatizing agent of the formula X(CH2)nCOOH or alkali salts thereof, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of —OSO2CH3; —OSO2C2H5; —OTs, —Br, and —I and n is between from 1 to 4. The intrinsic viscosity of the carboxylated guar in 2% KCl at 27° C. is at least 750 mL/g and the degree of substitution (DS) of the carboxylated guar is typically between from about 0.02 to about 0.15.
US08030240B2
Catalysts for dewaxing of hydrocarbon feeds, particularly feeds with elevated sulfur and nitrogen levels, are provided. The dewaxing catalysts include at least two zeolites, including a zeolite with a low silica to alumina ratio. The catalysts may be combined with a low surface binder, or alternatively the catalysts as formulated may have a high ratio of zeolite surface area to external surface area.
US08030233B2
An optical glass having optical constants of a refractive index (nd) of 1.78 or over, an Abbe number (νd) of 30 or below, and a partial dispersion ratio (θg, F) of 0.620 or below comprises SiO2 and Nb2O5 as essential components, wherein an amount of Nb2O5 in mass % is more than 40%. The optical glass further comprising, in mass % on oxide basis, less than 2% of K2O and one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of B2O3, TiO2, ZrO2, WO3, ZnO, SrO, Li2O and Na2O wherein a total amount of SiO2, B2O3, TiO2, ZrO2, Nb2O5, WO3, ZnO, SrO, Li2O and Na2O is more than 90% and TiO2/(ZrO2+Nb2O5) is less than 0.32.
US08030229B2
A composite material comprising at least a first layer which comprises a surfactant component, surfactant-generated microcells, a filler component and a binder component; and a second layer which comprises a metallic component. The composite material may further comprise a substrate to which the first layer is adhered. The composite materials have heat insulating, and fire resistant characteristics and are particularly suited for use in building materials and mattresses.
US08030227B2
A photocurable fixture for orthopedic surgery has a base material and a photocurable resin retained in the base material and containing a urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer and a photopolymerization initiator which absorbs a light within a range of 400 to 700 nm. The urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer being represented by the following formula (I), where A denotes a diisocyanate residue, and each of X and Y denotes a residue obtained by removing a hydroxy group from a (meth)acrylate having a hydroxy group. In formula (I) at least 40 mol % of X and Y is a residue obtained by removing a hydroxy group from a (meth)acrylate having a hydroxy group represented by the following formula (II), where in Formula (II) each of R1 to R6 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
US08030224B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a semiconductor layer and a dielectric layer deposited on the semiconductor layer, including: forming the semiconductor layer; performing a surface treatment for removing a residual carbon compound, on a surface of the semiconductor layer formed; forming a dielectric film under a depositing condition corresponding to a surface state after the surface treatment, on at least a part of the surface of the semiconductor layer on which the surface treatment has been performed; and changing a crystalline state of at least a partial region of the semiconductor layer by performing a heat treatment on the semiconductor layer on which the dielectric film has been formed.
US08030220B2
A method for forming a dielectric layer is provided. The method may include providing a semiconductor surface and etching a thin layer of the semiconductor substrate to expose a surface of the semiconductor surface, wherein the exposed surface is hydrophobic. The method may further include treating the exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate with plasma to neutralize a hydrophobicity associated with the exposed surface, wherein the exposed surface is treated using plasma with a power in a range of 100 watts to 500 watts and for duration in a range of 1 to 60 seconds. The method may further include forming a metal-containing layer on a top surface of the plasma treated surface using an atomic layer deposition process.
US08030218B2
Methods for circuit material processing are provided. In at least one such method, a substrate is provided with a plurality of overlying spacers. The spacers have substantially straight inner sidewalls and curved outer sidewalls. An augmentation material is formed on the plurality of spacers such that the inner or the outer sidewalls of the spacers are selectively expanded. The augmentation material can bridge the upper portions of pairs of neighboring inner sidewalls to limit deposition between the inner sidewalls. The augmentation material is selectively etched to form a pattern of augmented spacers having a desired augmentation of the inner or outer sidewalls. The pattern of augmented spacers can then be transferred to the substrate through a series of selective etches such that features formed in the substrate achieve a desired pitch.
US08030217B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises patterning a layer of photoresist material to form a plurality of mandrels. The method further comprises depositing an oxide material over the plurality of mandrels by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The method further comprises anisotropically etching the oxide material from exposed horizontal surfaces. The method further comprises selectively etching photoresist material.
US08030215B1
Methods and apparatuses directed to high density holes and metallization are described herein. A method may include providing a dielectric layer including a plurality of holes, forming a fill material over a top surface of the dielectric layer and in the plurality of holes, and reflowing the fill material to substantially remove any voids in the plurality of holes. Other embodiments are also described.
US08030210B2
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode over the gate dielectric; a source/drain region adjacent the gate dielectric; a silicide region on the source/drain region; a metal layer on top of, and physical contacting, the silicide region; an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over the metal layer; and a contact opening in the ILD. The metal layer is exposed through the contact opening. The metal layer further extends under the ILD. The semiconductor structure further includes a contact in the contact opening.
US08030200B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor package, includes the steps of forming a first terminal at a first substrate; mixing a polymer resin and solder particles to provide a mixture; covering at least one of an upper surface and side surfaces of the first terminal with the mixture; and heating the first substrate at a temperature higher than a melting point of the solder particles of the mixture to form a solder layer that covers the at least one of an upper surface and a side surface of the first terminal. The solder particles flow or diffuse toward the terminal in the heated polymer resin to adhere to at least some of the exposed surfaces of the terminal thereby forming the solder layer. The solder layer improves the adhesive strength between the terminals of the semiconductor chip and the substrate in the subsequent flip chip bonding process.
US08030199B2
A method of forming low stack height transistors having controllable linewidth in an integrated circuit without channeling is disclosed. A disposable hardmask of doped glass is utilized to define the gate and subsequently protect the gate (and the underlying substrate) during ion implantation which forms the source and drains. A variety of silicided and non-silicided) structures may be formed.
US08030188B2
Provided is a method of forming a compound semiconductor device. In the method, a dopant element layer is formed on an undoped compound semiconductor layer. An annealing process is performed to diffuse dopants in the dopant element layer into the undoped compound semiconductor layer, thereby forming a dopant diffusion region. A rapid cooling process is performed using liquid nitrogen with respect to the substrate having the dopant diffusion region.
US08030187B2
A substrate is exposed to a plasma generated from a gas containing an impurity, thereby doping a surface portion of the substrate with the impurity and thus forming an impurity region. A predetermined plasma doping time is used, which is included within a time range over which a deposition rate on the substrate by the plasma is greater than 0 nm/min and less than or equal to 5 nm/min.
US08030180B2
A semiconductor device is manufactured in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer having an silicon active layer, a buried oxide layer, and a supporting substrate layer. Before the wafer is diced into chips along scribe lines, the silicon active layer is selectively etched to form trenches surrounding the scribe lines. The wafer is then diced using a dicing apparatus having a blade width smaller than the width of the trenches. The dicing blade accordingly does not make contact with the silicon active layer, which is particularly vulnerable to chipping.
US08030175B2
A method of bonding an integrated circuit to an adhesive substrate. The integrated circuit is one of a plurality of integrated circuits, each having a respective frontside releasably attached to a film frame tape supported by a wafer film frame. The method includes the steps of: (a) selecting one of the integrated circuits for bonding to the adhesive substrate; (b) positioning the adhesive substrate at a backside of the selected integrated circuit; (c) positioning a bonding tool on a zone of the film frame tape, the zone being aligned with the selected integrated circuit; and (d) applying a bonding force from the bonding tool through the film frame tape and the selected integrated circuit onto the adhesive substrate, so as to bond the backside of the selected integrated circuit to the substrate.
US08030173B2
A semiconductor process and apparatus provides an encapsulated shallow trench isolation region by forming a silicon nitride layer (96) to cover a shallow trench isolation region (95), depositing a protective dielectric layer (97, 98) over the silicon nitride layer (96), and polishing and densifying the protective dielectric layer (97, 98) to thereby form a densified silicon nitride encapsulation layer (99) over the shallow trench isolation region (95).
US08030169B2
An object is to provide an SOI substrate provided with a semiconductor layer which can be used practically even when a glass substrate is used as a base substrate. Another object is to provide a semiconductor device having high reliability using such an SOI substrate. An altered layer is formed on at least one surface of a glass substrate used as a base substrate of an SOI substrate to form the SOI substrate. The altered layer is formed on at least the one surface of the glass substrate by cleaning the glass substrate with solution including hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or nitric acid. The altered layer has a higher proportion of silicon oxide in its composition and a lower density than the glass substrate.
US08030168B2
The invention includes methods of electrically interconnecting different elevation conductive structures, methods of forming capacitors, methods of forming an interconnect between a substrate bit line contact and a bit line in DRAM, and methods of forming DRAM memory cells. In one implementation, a method of electrically interconnecting different elevation conductive structures includes forming a first conductive structure comprising a first electrically conductive surface at a first elevation of a substrate. A nanowhisker is grown from the first electrically conductive surface, and is provided to be electrically conductive. Electrically insulative material is provided about the nanowhisker. An electrically conductive material is deposited over the electrically insulative material in electrical contact with the nanowhisker at a second elevation which is elevationally outward of the first elevation, and the electrically conductive material is provided into a second conductive structure. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
US08030165B2
A method for forming flash memory devices is provided. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate, which comprises a silicon material and has a periphery region and a cell region. The method further includes forming an isolation structure between the cell region and the periphery region. Additionally, the method includes forming an ONO layer overlying the cell region and the periphery region. Furthermore, the method includes removing the ONO layer overlying the periphery region to expose silicon material in the periphery region. The method also includes forming a gate dielectric layer overlying the periphery region, while protecting the ONO layer in the cell region. In addition, the method includes forming a polysilicon layer overlying the cell region and the periphery region.
US08030157B1
A method of forming a trench in a semiconductor device formed of a substrate and a first layer formed over the substrate includes forming an initial trench that passes through the first layer to the substrate, the initial trench having a diameter that decreases from a first diameter to a second diameter, the second diameter being measured at a distance closer to the substrate than the first diameter; exposing the trench to a dopant via an orthogonal ion implant to form doped regions sidewalls of the trench; and etching the trench to remove at least some of the doped regions.
US08030146B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel and a method of forming a polysilicon channel layer thereof are provided. In the method, firstly, a substrate having a polysilicon layer disposed thereon is provided. Then, a dopant atom not selected from the IIIA group and the VA group is doped inside the polysilicon layer to form a polysilicon channel layer.
US08030137B2
A semiconductor device with a first (101) and a second (111) semiconductor chip assembled on an insulating flexible interposer (120). The interposer, preferably about 25 to 50 μm thick, has conductive traces (121), a central planar rectangular area and on each side of the rectangle a wing bent at an angle from the central plane. The central area has metal studs (122, 123) on the top and the bottom surface, which match the terminals of the chips, further conductive vias of a pitch center-to-center about 50 μm or less. The side wings have contact pads (130) with metallic connectors (131) on the bottom surface; the connectors may be solder balls, metal studs, or anisotropic conductive films. The second chip is adhesively attached to a substrate, whereby the interposer faces away from the substrate. The interposer side wings have a convex bending (150) downwardly along the second chip and a concave bending (151) over the substrate; the side wing connectors are attached to the matching substrate sites.
US08030136B2
A semiconductor device is made by disposing a plurality of semiconductor die on a carrier and creating a gap between each of the semiconductor die. A first insulating material is deposited in the gap. A portion of the first insulating material is removed. A conductive layer is formed over the semiconductor die. A conductive lining is conformally formed on the remaining portion of the first insulating material to form conductive via within the gap. The conductive vias can be tapered or vertical. The conductive via is electrically connected to a contact pad on the semiconductor die. A second insulating material is deposited in the gap over the conductive lining. A portion of the conductive via may extend outside the first and second insulating materials. The semiconductor die are singulated through the gap. The semiconductor die can be stacked and interconnected through the conductive vias.
US08030135B2
Methods for a multiple die package for integrated circuits are disclosed. An insulator layer is provided and one or more vias are formed within it. The insulator may be provided without vias, and vias formed later. At least one integrated circuit is provided and electrically coupled to at least one lead of a first leadframe overlying one surface of the insulator. At least one second integrated circuit is provided and electrically coupled to a second leadframe overlying a second surface of the insulator. Electrical connections between the two leadframes and the first and second integrated circuits are made through the insulator at selected locations, by coupling at least one lead of the first and second leadframes one to another. The leads of the first and second leadframe may be physically coupled by a welding process within vias in the insulator. A method for a removable storage card is also described.
US08030128B1
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method that includes providing a substrate including an emitter layer comprising a plurality of emitters, each emitter defining an axis, forming a heater layer above the emitter layer, and forming a phase change memory (PCM) cell layer above the heater layer. The method also includes forming a top contact layer above the PCM cell layer. The top contact layer comprises a plurality of top contacts, where each top contact is located between two axes. Other embodiments are also described.
US08030123B2
An organic light emission display and a fabrication method thereof. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fabrication method of an organic light emission display includes: forming a light emitting part on a first area of a substrate and a pad part on a second area of the substrate; forming a sealing substrate by etching an area of the sealing substrate corresponding to the light emitting part and etching an area of the sealing substrate corresponding to the pad part; and sealing the light emitting part by attaching the substrate to the sealing substrate.
US08030116B2
A CMOS image sensor and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of color filters on a substrate, each color filter having a curvature, and forming microlenses on the color filters that each has a radius of curvature that varies with the wavelength of the color filter on which it is formed.
US08030114B2
A method to fabricate an image sensor includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a pixel region and a periphery region, forming a light sensing element on the pixel region, and forming at least one transistor in the pixel region and at least one transistor in the periphery region. The step of forming the at least one transistor in the pixel region and periphery region includes forming a gate electrode in the pixel region and periphery region, depositing a dielectric layer over the pixel region and periphery region, partially etching the dielectric layer to form sidewall spacers on the gate electrode and leaving a portion of the dielectric layer overlying the pixel region, and forming source/drain (S/D) regions by ion implantation.
US08030108B1
Exemplary embodiments provide semiconductor nanowires and nanowire devices/applications and methods for their formation. In embodiments, in-plane nanowires can be epitaxially grown on a patterned substrate, which are more favorable than vertical ones for device processing and three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuits. In embodiments, the in-plane nanowire can be formed by selective epitaxy utilizing lateral overgrowth and faceting of an epilayer initially grown in a one-dimensional (1D) nanoscale opening. In embodiments, optical, electrical, and thermal connections can be established and controlled between the nanowire, the substrate, and additional electrical or optical components for better device and system performance.
US08030107B2
An electro-luminescent device includes a transparent substrate, a black matrix on the transparent substrate defining a plurality of spaces, a plurality of color representing layers each arranged in respective ones of the spaces, an overcoat layer on the black matrix and the color representing layers, a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the overcoat layer in a first direction with respect to the color representing layers, a phosphor layer formed on the plurality of first electrodes, an insulating film on the phosphor layer, and a plurality of second electrodes disposed on the insulating film in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
US08030106B2
A method of manufacturing a display device includes forming a gate electrode on a substrate, a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode, and an active layer on the gate insulating layer, the gate electrode made of extrinsic polycrystalline silicon, the active layer made of intrinsic polycrystalline silicon; forming an etch stopper on the active layer; forming source and drain electrodes spaced apart from each other on the etch stopper; forming an ohmic contact layer each between a side of the active layer and the source electrode and between an opposing side of the active layer and the drain electrode; forming a gate line connected to the gate electrode; and forming a data line crossing the gate line.
US08030103B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel and a method of manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel capable of reducing or eliminating metal erosion in an area in which a conductive dot is formed. In some embodiments, a display panel comprises a common electrode formed on an upper substrate, a first electrode formed on a lower substrate opposing the upper substrate and configured to receive a common voltage, a conductive dot formed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate and positioned to supply the common electrode with the common voltage, an insulating layer having a contact hole exposing the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the insulating layer to connect the conductive dot and the first electrode, wherein a cross sectional area of the conductive dot between the upper substrate and the lower substrate is greater than a cross sectional area of an opening of the contact hole.
US08030100B2
The application relates to a chemical sensor device comprising a substrate (1), a sensor medium (3) formed on the substrate, the sensor medium comprising one-dimensional nanoparticles, wherein the one-dimensional nanoparticles essentially consist of a semiconducting AxBy compound, e.g. V2O5 and detection means (2) for detecting a change of a physical property of the sensor medium e.g. conductivity. The porosity of the sensor medium supports a fast access of the analyte to the sensing material and therefore a fast response of the sensor. The selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor can be tailored by doping the one-dimensional nanoscale material with different dopants or by varying the dopant concentration. Sensitivity of the sensor device to an analyte, preferably an amine, can be increased by increasing relative humidity of the sample to at least 5%.
US08030089B2
A method of identifying molecules of biological origin is disclosed. The molecules are identified and the basis of the accurately determined mass to charge ratio of the molecules and at least a further physico-chemical property such as elution time or charge state. Further physico-chemical properties may be used. The experimentally determined accurate mass and physico-chemical properties can then be compared with a look-up table of information. The look-up table may generated or physico-chemical properties of data in a conventional database may be calculated. The ability to recognize and preferably identify the same molecules in two different samples may be used to determine whether a particular biological molecules has been expressed differently in an experimental sample relative to a control sample.
US08030078B2
A base game on a gaming machine may be a conventional 5×3 video reel-type game, where awards are granted for winning symbol combinations in the base game. If a bonus trigger has occurred, a special card deck symbol is added to at least one reel, and the player is granted free bonus spins of the virtual reels in a bonus round. The player accumulates bonus win awards during the free bonus spins based on at least winning combinations of symbols. If the deck symbol is displayed after a spin, the player is randomly dealt a playing card. Dealt playing cards are accumulated until the player has accumulated seven cards. A multiplier is associated with the value of the best five-card hand, and the accumulated bonus win awards are multiplied by the multiplier to identify a final amount to be awarded to the player. The bonus game is then terminated.
US08030069B2
The subject invention provides new materials and methods for the efficient isolation and purification of stem cells. Specifically, conductive immunopolymers with stem cell specific antibodies can be used to remove stem cells from biological fluids.
US08030068B2
The invention provides methods of culturing mammalian taste cells, including taste receptor cells. Cells are maintained for a duration of up to three months and longer while maintaining molecular and functional characteristics of mature taste cells. The cells are cultured on coated cell culture vessels and, from first replacement of medium onwards, the medium is replaced in intervals of at least 5 days. The invention further provides isolation and culturing methods of taste cells wherein the time that the cells are exposed to isolation solution and proteolytic enzymes is minimized and the cells are cultured in coated culture vessels with the medium replaced in intervals of at least 5 days from first replacement onwards. The invention further provides cultured taste cells, transfection and assay methods, and taste cell assay buffers with an osmolarity of about 300-320 and pH of about 7.0-7.3.
US08030046B2
Modified amino acid sequences of OAS1 proteins in non-human primates, and genes related thereto, are provided.
US08030043B2
The present invention provides a novel β-galactoside-α2,3-sialyltransferase and a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase. The present invention also provides a microorganism producing the sialyltransferase, as well as a method for producing the sialyltransferase using such a microorganism. The present invention further provides a vector carrying a nucleic acid encoding the sialyltransferase, and a host cell transformed with the vector, as well as a method for producing a recombinant β-galactoside-α2,3-sialyltransferase. The present invention further provides a method for preparing a sialylsugar chain, which uses the sialyltransferase of the present invention.
US08030028B2
Compositions and methods of producing components of protein biosynthetic machinery that include orthogonal lysyl-tRNAs, orthogonal lysyl-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, and orthogonal pairs of lysyl-tRNAs/synthetases, which incorporate homoglutamines into proteins are provided in response to a four base codon. Methods for identifying these orthogonal pairs are also provided along with methods of producing proteins with homoglutamines using these orthogonal pairs.
US08030026B2
The subject invention relates to antibodies to troponin I as well as methods of use thereof. In particular, such antibodies may be used to detect Troponin I in a patient and may also be used in the diagnosis of, for example, a myocardial infarction or acute coronary syndrome.
US08030015B2
The invention has disclosed a new tumor suppressor protein HCRP1, the polynucleotide sequences encoding this polypeptides, and methods for production of the polypeptide using the recombinant technology. The tumor suppression protein, HCRP1, is obtained through the positional candidate cloning strategy. It locates in 8p22 region of human chromosome. The full length cDNA for HCRP1 is 1916 bp, which encodes a protein of 397 amino acids. When introduced into liver cancer cells, HCRP1 can inhibit the malignant transformation of liver cancer cells.
US08030006B2
A blood testing method for use in the detection of a disease, wherein at least one characteristic antibody or complement factor is bound to a subject's red blood cells, comprises providing a microarray wherein a plurality of binding agents therefor are immobilized on a substrate at discrete pre-defined positions; and contacting a blood sample therewith. The presence of bound red blood cells is then detected.
US08030004B2
Methods are disclosed for identifying agents for the treatment of cancer and/or Fanconi anemia using Xenopus egg cell free extracts from which the endogenous DNA has been removed. The assays and method described herein are easily adaptable to high throughput techniques for example to screen large numbers of agents as possible agents for the treatment of cancer and/or Fanconi anemia. Kits for carrying out the disclosed assays and methods also are disclosed. Agents identified by these methods are also disclosed as are methods for treating a subject with cancer and/or Fanconi anemia with these agents.
US08030000B2
This disclosure describes related novel methods for Recombinase-Polymerase Amplification (RPA) of a target DNA that exploit the properties of recombinase and related proteins, to invade double-stranded DNA with single stranded homologous DNA permitting sequence specific priming of DNA polymerase reactions. The disclosed methods have the advantage of not requiring thermocycling or thermophilic enzymes, thus offering easy and affordable implementation and portability relative to other amplification methods. Further RPA reactions using light and otherwise, methods to determine the nature of amplified species without a need for gel electrophoresis, methods to improve and optimize signal to noise ratios in RPA reactions, methods to optimize oligonucleotide primer function, methods to control carry-over contamination, and methods to employ sequence-specific third ‘specificity’ probes. Further described are novel properties and approaches for use of probes monitored by light in dynamic recombination environments.
US08029997B2
Methods are provided for identification of genes that are imprinted. In another embodiment methods are provided for identification and analysis of genes whose expression shows allelic imbalance. The expression products transcribed from genes that are present in the genome as two or more alleles may be distinguished by hybridization to an array designed to interrogate individual alleles. Genes whose transcription products are present in amounts that vary from expected are candidates for allelic imbalance, imprinting and imprinting errors.
US08029987B2
A HWP1 gene sequence or fragment or variants thereof as a target region in a nucleic acid based assay for Candida albicans and an isolated nucleic acid molecule useful as a probe for identifying C. albicans in a sample. A method for the detection of C. albicans in a sample and quantification of HWP1 gene expression in C. albicans is also described.
US08029976B2
Disclosed is to provide with an optical recording medium of a write-once type in which an excellent recording characteristic can be obtained over low speed recording to high speed recording.In an optical recording medium having a recording layer that contains an organic dye, the recording layer is configured to have at least an organic dye expressed by a general formula shown in the following chemical formula 1 (in this formula, R1 represents an alkyl group of carbon number 1 through 4, R2 and R3 represent respectively an alkyl group of carbon number 1 through 4 and a benzyl group or group forming three to six-member ring by coupling, each of Y1 and Y2 represents independently an organic group, and X represents ClO4, FB4, PF6, and SbF6) and an organic dye expressed by a general formula shown in the following chemical formula 2 (in this formula, R1 and R4 represent an alkyl group of carbon number 1 through 4, R2 and R3 represent respectively an alkyl group of carbon number 1 through 4 and a benzyl group or group forming three to six-member ring by coupling, each of Y1 and Y2 represents independently an organic group, and X represents ClO4, FB4, PF6, and SbF6).
US08029975B2
A resist composition and a method for forming a patterned feature on a substrate. The composition comprises a molecular glass having at least one fused polycyclic moiety and at least one base soluble functional group protected with an acid labile protecting group, and a photosensitive acid generator. The method includes providing a composition including a photosensitive acid generator and a molecular glass having at least one fused polycyclic moiety and at least one base soluble functional group protected with an acid labile protecting group, forming a film of the composition on the substrate, patternwise imaging the film, wherein at least one region of the film is exposed to radiation or a beam of particles, resulting in production of an acid catalyst in the exposed region, baking the film, developing the film, resulting in removal of base-soluble exposed regions, wherein a patterned feature from the film remains following the removal.
US08029973B2
A carrier substrate is provided with a layer of PDMS and curing agent on one side of the carrier substrate. The PDMS and curing agent can be arranged to receive and adhere to a lithographic substrate. The carrier substrate can be dimensioned such that the combined carrier substrate and lithographic substrate may be handled by a conventional lithographic apparatus.
US08029968B2
A positive resist composition with a broad DOF and a method for resist pattern formation are provided. This composition is a positive resist composition which includes a resin component (A) that exhibits increased alkali solubility under the action of acid and an acid generator component (B) that generates acid upon exposure, wherein the component (A) is a copolymer that contains n [wherein, n is an integer from 4 to 6] structural units with mutually different structures, and the proportion of each structural unit within the copolymer is greater than 0 mol % but no higher than 100/(n−1) mol %.
US08029967B2
Provided is a method for producing a toner including the steps of: preparing a resin liquid by mixing at least a binder resin made of polyester resin and a colorant with an ester organic solvent represented by the following general formula (1); dispersing the resin liquid in an aqueous medium to form an emulsion; and removing the ester organic solvent from the emulsion to produce a toner, in which the ester organic solvent before the preparation of the resin liquid contains water in an amount of not less than 1% by weight and up to the saturation solubility at 25° C. to the ester organic solvent: (in which R1 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms).
US08029966B2
The present invention relates to a releasing agent dispersion for toner including a releasing agent, and a dibasic acid containing an alkyl group and/or an alkenyl group or a salt of the dibasic acid, wherein at least one acid group of the dibasic acid is a carboxyl group; and a toner for electrophotography which is produced by aggregating and unifying releasing agent particles and resin particles contained in a dispersion produced by mixing or contacting the releasing agent dispersion with a resin dispersion. The releasing agent dispersion for toner according to the present invention has a good emulsifiability and a good emulsification stability, and is capable of producing a toner which is excellent in productivity and low-temperature fixing property.
US08029965B2
An objective is to provide a developing roller possessing a surface layer capable of suppressing the residual potential during repetitive use with no damage of interlayer adhesiveness, preventing toner leakage and contaminations caused by adhesion matter on the surface, and preventing developing unevenness because of even toner electrification; and also to provide an image forming method employing the developing roller. Also disclose is a developing roller possessing a conductive shaft, and a resin layer provided around an outer circumferential surface of the conductive shaft, wherein the resin layer possesses a surface layer containing a silicone copolymer resin as a principal component and a layer containing a polyamide resin as a principal component, that is provided immediately below the surface layer.
US08029959B2
Taught herein is a charge control agent comprising a specific type of gallic acid metal complex represented by the following Chemical Formula (1) or Chemical Formula (2): In the formula (1), R1 represents an alkyl group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6-12 carbon atoms, or a hydrogen atom; R2 and R4 can independently represent an alkyl group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group containing 2-12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6-12 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, or a hydrogen atom; R3 represents an alkyl group containing 1-12 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group containing 6-12 carbon atoms, a potassium atom, a sodium atom or a hydrogen atom. M represents a divalent to tetravalent metal atom, A is a counterion, m is a number from 1 to 3, and n is 1 or 2.
US08029954B2
A method comprises determining an exposure condition by executing a process including computing an image formed on an image plane under the current exposure condition while changing the exposure condition, and evaluating a line width of the computed image, and exposing the substrate under the determined exposure condition, wherein the determining includes, computing a simplified evaluation value of the computed image, changing the exposure condition and executing the process in the changed exposure condition, after evaluating the computed image if the simplified evaluation value satisfies an allowable value, and changing the exposure condition and executing the process in the changed exposure condition without evaluating the computed image if the simplified evaluation value does not satisfy the allowable value.
US08029946B2
A high temperature, redox tolerant fuel cell anode electrode and method of fabrication in which the anode electrode is pre-conditioned by application of an initial controlled redox cycle to the electrode whereby an initial re-oxidation of the anode electrode is carried out at temperatures less than or equal to about 650° C.
US08029936B2
A heater for heating a reformer of a fuel cell system includes a combustion chamber having a combustion catalyst layer; a distributor having an inner space and uniformly distributing a combustion fuel and an oxidant flowing along the inner space to the combustion catalyst layer of the combustion chamber; and an igniter igniting the combustion fuel and the oxidant, wherein the igniter is placed in the inner space of the distributor. Thus, the igniter is protected from combustion heat of the combustion catalyst layer and thus has improved durability.
US08029930B2
A positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery, which is high in safety, high in capacity, excellent in cycle performance, and high in charge/discharge efficiency, is provided. The positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery is a powder containing a Li—Ni—Co—O or Li—Ni—Co—Ba—O system component as a main component and having an amorphous phase of an oxide mixed in each of particles or formed at the surface of the particle.
US08029927B2
A thin printed flexible electrochemical cell, and its method of manufacture, using a “picture frame” structure sealed, for example, with a high moisture and oxygen barrier polymer film and featuring, for example, a printed cathode deposited on an optional, highly conductive carbon printed cathode collector with a printed or a foil strip anode placed adjacent to the cathode. A viscous or gelled electrolyte is dispensed and/or printed in the cell, and a top laminate can then be sealed onto the picture frame. Such a construction could allow the entire cell to be made on a printing press, for example, as well as gives the opportunity to integrate the battery directly with an electronic application, for example.
US08029921B2
A semiconductor device including a ferrite layer, a widebandgap semiconductor material layer, and a buffer layer. The buffer layer comprises an interweaving of MgO and BaM. In addition the buffer layer allows a gradual reduction of the interfacial stress, and mediates the strain between a silicon substrate and a ferrite layer of the device. In addition, the buffer layer allows for high crystal alignment resulting in high crystal quality and thereby producing a low microwave loss semiconductor device. The buffer layer also minimizes chemical interdiffusion of atoms between the substrate and the ferrite layer.
US08029918B2
A brazing method includes assembling a first member and a second member, the first member including a base plate made of a ferrous material and a diffusion suppressing layer laminated on the base plate and made of a Ni—Cr alloy including more than about 15% and less than about 40% of Cr, the second member being disposed on the first member with a brazing material of a Cu—Ni alloy including more than about 10% and less than about 20% of Ni therebetween, and maintaining the temporary assembly at a temperature of more than about 1,200° C. to fuse the brazing material and diffuse Ni atoms and Cr atoms into the fused brazing material to form the braze joint, causing the resulting brazing material to have an increased melting point due to the Ni and Cr contents of the braze joint to self-solidify the braze joint, and then cooling the resulting assembly.
US08029912B2
The present invention relates to coated polyoxymethylene moldings comprising at least one polyoxymethylene homo- or copolymer A), and also, if appropriate, further additives B), which has been coated on the surface with at least one binder C) and one formaldehyde scavenger D), wherein the binder C) used comprises a polyalkylene oxide C1 or a polyvinyl ester C2 or a graft polymer C3 composed of C1 and C2 or a mixture of these, and the formaldehyde scavenger D) used comprises at least one imidazolidin-2-one compound.
US08029904B2
A curable aryl (thio)ether aryl silicon composition is disclosed. A cured aryl (thio)ether aryl polysiloxane composition is further disclosed, along with a method of making that cured aryl (thio)ether aryl polysiloxane composition from the curable aryl (thio)ether aryl silicon composition. An encapsulated semiconductor device, and a method of making that encapsulated semiconductor device by coating a semiconductor element of a semiconductor device with cured aryl (thio)ether aryl polysiloxane are further disclosed.
US08029894B2
Thermosetting compositions comprising an adhesion-promoting agent are disclosed. The adhesion-promoting agent is derived from boric acid or an equivalent and an ester having two or more functional groups that are derived at least in part from a 1,3-polyol.
US08029887B2
An optical article, having an almost complete isotropy and dimensions equal to or lower than 500 .mu.m, is prepared by a sol-gel procedure comprising a preliminary step wherein the mould is filled cold with a sol containing the desired oxide precursors, sol gelation, gel drying, removal of the gel from the mould and the subsequent miniaturization of the dried gel. The optical article can be used for optic telecommunications.
US08029886B2
A transparent conductive laminate comprising: a transparent film substrate; a transparent conductive thin film provided on one side of the transparent film substrate; and a transparent base substrate bonded to another side of the transparent film substrate with a transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive layer interposed therebetween. The transparent conductive laminate has satisfactory reliability at high temperature and high humidity for touch panels and also has pen input durability and surface pressure durability.
US08029882B2
A silicon carbide porous object includes silicon carbide as an aggregate and metal silicon as a binder, the particles of silicon carbide being bonded to one another so as to have pores thereamong. A method for producing a silicon carbide porous object includes: firing raw materials formed by mixing silicon carbide and metal silicon with metal aluminum or an alloy including metal silicon and metal aluminum in an inert gas atmosphere or a reduced-pressure atmosphere to produce a metal aluminum-metal silicon-silicon carbide porous object; and oxidizing and firing the metal aluminum-metal silicon-silicon carbide porous object in an oxygen atmosphere.
US08029876B2
A thermal-conductive resin composition and a plastic article are provided. The thermal-conductive resin composition comprises about 30 to about 60% by weight of a thermoplastic resin and about 40 to about 70% by weight of a thermal-conductive filler comprising about 10% by weight or more of a thermal-conductive filler with a height-to-length ratio (length/height) of about 7,000 to about 40,000 and about 10% by weight or more of a thermal-conductive filler with a height-to-length ratio of about 10 to about 1,000.
US08029875B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for plasma ion deposition and coating formation. A vacuum chamber may be supplied, wherein the vacuum chamber is formed by a hollow substrate having a length, diameter and interior surface. A plasma may be formed within the chamber while applying a negative bias to the hollow substrate to draw ions from the plasma to the interior surface of the hollow substrate to deposit ions onto the interior surface and forming a coating. The coating may have a Vickers Hardness Number (Hv) of at least 500.
US08029867B1
Two already known items are combined to provide a means to draw with color on paper especially at an office work place using a set of felt tipped markers and a typist's correction fluid.
US08029864B2
In certain example embodiments, a coated article includes respective layers including diamond-like carbon (DLC) and zirconium nitride before heat treatment (HT). During HT, the hydrogenated DLC acts as a fuel which upon combustion with oxygen produces carbon dioxide and/or water. The high temperature developed during this combustion heats the zirconium nitride to a temperature(s) well above the heat treating temperature, thereby causing the zirconium nitride to be transformed into a new post-HT layer including zirconium oxide that is scratch resistant and durable.
US08029859B2
There is provided a method of depositing a Ge—Sb—Te thin film, including: a Ge—Sb—Te thin-film forming step of feeding and purging a first precursor including any one of Ge, Sb and Te, a second precursor including another one of Ge, Sb and Te and a third precursor including the other one of Ge, Sb and Te into and from a chamber in which a wafer is mounted and forming the Ge—Sb—Te thin film on the wafer; and a reaction gas feeding step of feeding reaction gas while any one of the first to third precursors is fed.
US08029853B2
The inventive fabrication process for magnetoresistive devices (CPP-GMR devices) involves the formation of a zinc oxide or ZnO layer that provides the intermediate layer of a spacer layer, comprising Zn film formation operation for forming a zinc or Zn layer and Zn film oxidization operation for oxidizing the zinc film after the Zn film formation operation. The Zn film formation operation is implemented such that after a multilayer substrate having a multilayer structure before the formation of the Zn film is cooled down to the temperature range of −140° C. to −60° C., the formation of the Zn film is set off, and the Zn film oxidization operation is implemented such that after the completion of the Zn film oxidization operation, oxidization treatment is set off at the substrate temperature range of −120° C. to −40° C. Thus, excelling in both flatness and crystallizability, the ZnO layer makes sure the device has high MR ratios, and can further have an area resistivity AR best suited for the device.
US08029851B2
Techniques for making nanowires with a desired diameter are provided. The nanowires can be grown from catalytic nanoparticles, wherein the nanowires can have substantially same diameter as the catalytic nanoparticles. Since the size or the diameter of the catalytic nanoparticles can be controlled in production of the nanoparticles, the diameter of the nanowires can be subsequently controlled as well. The catalytic nanoparticles are melted and provided with a gaseous precursor of the nanowires. When supersaturation of the catalytic nanoparticles with the gaseous precursor is reached, the gaseous precursor starts to solidify and form nanowires. The nanowires are separate from each other and not bind with each other to form a plurality of nanowires having the substantially uniform diameter.
US08029849B2
A multi-piece food product (10) comprising a plurality of strands (12A-12K) that are extruded and aggregated to form an aesthetically pleasing food product is provided. A formulation used to make each of the strands (12A-12K) includes a mixture comprising at least 20% sweetener, at least 15% starchy material, and at least 1% fruit by weight based a total dry weight of the mixture to yield a starch-based confectionary food product. One process for forming the multi-piece food product (10) includes extruding a food stream from a slurry, dividing the food stream into three separate food streams (24A, 24B), injecting color, flavor, and ascorbic acid into the food streams (24A, 24B), conveying the food streams (24A, 24B) into a former (26) and extruding the strands (12A-12K) therefrom, forming the strands (12A, 12B) into an aggregate food mass (31), cooling the food mass (31), and cutting the food mass (31) into individual portions.
US08029845B2
The invention relates to solids dispersions in the form of a solid solution containing a) at least about 0.1% by weight of sterols and/or stanols and/or esters thereof, and b) at least about 50% by weight of sugars and/or sugar alcohols, based on the total weight of the solids dispersion. These solids dispersions provide for simple further processing of the hydrophobic sterols and stanols, and sterol or stanol esters, through improved dispersion behavior in foods, and are distinguished by excellent stability upon storage.
US08029843B2
The invention relates to a method for the preparation of aleurone from bran, in particular, wheat bran, for the extraction of aleuronic cells in particular from wheat grain, whereby the mainly aleurone-containing aleuronic components are separated from the mainly non-aleurone-containing non-aleuronic components in the bran and the aleurone-containing components are then isolated. The separation can be achieved by biochemical/enzymatic means and/or by mechanical-abrasive means. The subsequent isolation and extraction can be achieved by wet and/or dry separating methods.
US08029820B2
A patch containing tulobuterol in the low concentration and having the stable release-controllability, prepared by laminating an adhesive layer consisting of a rubber, an adhesive resin and a plasticizer on a backing, wherein 1 to 4 w/w % of tulobuterol in the lower concentration as an active ingredient and 0.1 to 3 w/w % of a higher fatty acid as a drug-releasing controlling agent are contained in the adhesive layer.
US08029819B2
A diet system for promoting comprehensive weight management in companion animals. The diet system includes a stage I pet food product for promoting weight loss and building lean body mass and a stage II pet food product for maintaining the weight loss and the lean body mass.
US08029816B2
The present invention is directed to medical devices including coatings. The coatings include a topcoat which includes a copolymer comprising a block of an elastin pentapeptide. The topcoat is over a layer of poly(vinyl alcohol) on a hydrophobic coating or over a porous coating comprising pores or depots that include a bioactive agent.
US08029811B2
Use of an adsorbent and a sealed package (e.g. an overwrap) to protect a pharmaceutical product in a solid state in the presence of a reducing sugar.
US08029809B2
Novel bacteriocins and/or the novel lactic acid-producing strains are used for at least reducing the levels of colonization by at least one target bacteria in animals, especially poultry.
US08029805B2
Isolated and/or recombinant adhesin polypeptides from B. pseudomallei are provided, which are used as vaccines. Genetic constructs comprising nucleic acid sequences encoding such polypeptides are also provided. Vectors comprising such constructs have been prepared and used for transforming host cells for producing the polypeptides of the invention. Antibodies to such polypeptides are also provided. Such antibodies can be used to detect the presence of B. pseudomallei or B. mallei.
US08029801B2
The present invention relates to an epitope of HN protein in Newcastle disease virus which can be recognized by an avian immune system and an antibody against the epitope, a method for detecting a Newcastle disease virus by using the antibody, and an antigenic variant of Newcastle disease virus carrying changes in the epitope. The epitope of HN protein and the antigenic variant of Newcastle disease virus can be used for developing efficient vaccines, and further, in diagnosing the Newcastle disease virus rapidly and exactly.
US08029794B2
The invention relates generally to compositions that contain multiple antibodies, e.g., multiple neutralizing antibodies, that immunospecifically bind to one or more toll-like receptors, e.g., two or more toll-like receptors, and methods of using these compositions in the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
US08029793B2
Provided are proliferation inhibitors for cells whose proliferation is stimulated by PTHrP (34-53), comprising a substance inhibiting the binding of PTHrP (1-34) to its receptor.
US08029789B2
Disclosed are a recombinant expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding an E. coli-derived signal sequence and a nucleotide sequence encoding an immunoglobulin constant region, and a transformant transformed with the expression vector. Also, disclosed is a method of mass-producing an immunoglobulin constant region by culturing the transformant and expressing the immunoglobulin constant region in a water-soluble form.
US08029787B2
The present invention provides a new method for detecting, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, prognosticating, imaging and treating selected cancers including gynecologic cancers such as breast, ovarian, uterine and endometrial cancer and lung cancer.
US08029786B2
The present invention relates to antibodies raised against fragments of apolipoprotein B, in particular defined peptides thereof, for immunization or therapeutic treatment of mammals, including humans, against ischemic cardiovascular diseases, using one or more of the antibodies.
US08029762B2
Porous anode bodies suitable for use in solid state capacitors, the porous anode bodies prepared by processes which include providing a niobium suboxide powder comprising niobium suboxide particles having a bulk nitrogen content of 500 to 20,000 ppm, and agglomerating and coalescing the powder; and capacitors incorporating such anode bodies.
US08029758B2
There is provided a process for producing single-walled carbon nanotubes with an increased diameter, characterized in that it comprises a diameter-increasing treatment step of heating carbon nanotubes of a raw material at a degree of vacuum of 1.3×10−2 Pa or below and at a temperature ranging from 1500 to 2000° C., preferably 1700 to 2000° C.
US08029739B2
A sanitation device includes a mobile body, a surface cleaning component, and a source of UV radiation. The surface cleaning component and the source of UV radiation are mounted to the mobile body, which is configured to travel over a surface. The surface cleaning component is configured to engage the surface and the source of UV radiation is configured to direct UV radiation to the surface.
US08029737B2
A honeycomb filter for purifying exhaust gases includes columnar porous ceramic members and an adhesive layer combing the ceramic members with one another. Each porous ceramic member has a partition wall and through holes. The through holes are extending in parallel in length direction of the ceramic members. The partition wall is separating the through holes and filters particulates in exhaust gas. The through holes include ones sealed at inlet side of the ceramic members and ones sealed at outlet side of the ceramic members such that the exhaust gas enters from the inlet side, passes through the partition wall and flows out from the outlet side. The adhesive layer has thermal expansion coefficient αL. The ceramic members have thermal expansion coefficient αF. The thermal expansion coefficient αL of the adhesive layer and the thermal expansion coefficient αF of the ceramic members satisfy relationship, 0.01<|αL−αF|/αF<1.0.
US08029734B2
Carbon nanotubes are functionalized in a broadly applicable manner. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are noncovalently functionalized. The functionalized SWNTs are highly versatile, being useful for a variety of implementations, including for the immobilization of molecules, for circuit arrangements, molecular electronics and for molecular sensors. In addition, stable suspensions of functionalized SWNTs in solutions can be achieved, as well as the self-assembly of nanotubes with unperturbed sp2 structures and thus their electronic characteristics.
US08029732B2
A quality control device for a blood analyzer using whole blood, which specifically can be used to check the correct operation of the blood analyzer. The device includes a storage for storing control bloods by cooling; a mechanism for bringing the control bloods back to the temperature specified by the control blood manufacturer; a stirring mechanism used for resuspension of the cells; and a mechanism for sampling the blood thus prepared.
US08029731B2
A device for measuring/determining a physical quantity of a medium. The device comprises a sensor part and an electronic part, whereby at least the electronic part is arranged inside a housing and at least one fuel cell is provided which at least partially covers the energy demand of the device.
US08029717B2
There is provided a nanoimprint apparatus. The nanoimprint apparatus transfers a pattern formed on a surface of a mold to a transfer layer which is formed partially or entirely on a side surface of a substantially cylindrical or columnar substrate. The nanoimprint apparatus includes: a first jig which is in contact with the substrate 102; a second jig which rotatably supports the first jig; a press unit which is connected to the second jig to press the substrate on the mold 104 through the first and second jigs; and a movable holding unit which holds the mold and moves the mold 104 in a direction substantially perpendicular to a pressing force.
US08029707B2
A system and method for providing photochromic segmented multifocal optical lenses. A latex primer formulation is provided for effectuating adhesion of a surface casting composition onto a lens having a photochromic coating. The method provides efficient, cost effective production of durable photochromic segmented lenses, via secure adhesion of a surface casting layer onto a photochromic substrate while maintaining desirable optical characteristics. A composite optical lens is advantageously formed having a photochromic base lens, a primer composition bonded to a convex surface of said base lens, and a cured casting composition bonded to said primer composition layer. The cured casting formulation includes a segment region to impart multifocal qualities onto the resultant composite optical lens.
US08029703B2
Disclosed is a new compound semiconductor represented by the chemical formula: Bi1-x-yLnxMyCuOTe where Ln belongs to the lanthanoid series and is any one or more elements selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, M is any one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr, Ca, Mg, Cd, Hg, Sn, Pb, Mn, Ga, In, Tl, As and Sb, and 0
US08029693B2
A method for the rapid dilution of an aqueous peracid solution, particularly, peracetic acid, in which a concentrated peracid solution is diluted with an aqueous diluent to produce a more dilute peracid solution in which the solution components are already at equilibrium immediately after dilution. The peracid in a preferred embodiment of this method is peracetic acid, for which the aqueous diluent is acetic acid and water, or hydrogen peroxide and water, or acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and water, whose relative amounts are selected to produce a diluted aqueous peracid acid solution whose peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid components are in equilibrium immediately after dilution.
US08029691B2
A refrigerant that is azeotropic or near-azeotropic comprises a binary blend of R744 and R41. In one embodiment the binary blend has a molar composition of 20 to 60 percent R744, the remainder being R41.
US08029684B2
A self-emission panel and a method of manufacturing a self-emission panel which can prevent emission failures from occurring due to various factors, thereby achieving a self-emission panel that is free from emission failures. The self-emission panel is manufactured by forming a first conductive layer on a substrate directly or via other layers, forming a deposition layer including a luminescent layer on the first conductive layer, and forming a second conductive layer on the deposition layer. This manufacturing method includes: a first step of forming a sectioning layer for sectioning an opening for making a emission area on the first conductive layer after the formation of the first conductive layer; a second step of applying surface treatment to at least the surface of the first conductive layer inside the opening; and a third step of depositing a deposition layer on the first conductive layer given surface treatment in the second step.
US08029681B2
Provided are a master recording medium and a method of manufacturing the master recording medium. The master recording medium includes: a plate; and a magnetic layer which is formed on the plate for magnetically transferring of a servo pattern that is to be formed on a magnetic recording medium. The method of manufacturing a master recording medium includes: engraving a polymer layer by nano imprinting to form an engraved pattern corresponding to a servo pattern to be formed on a magnetic recording medium; forming a magnetic layer which fills in the engraved pattern of the polymer layer; forming a back plate layer on the magnetic layer; and performing processing to expose the servo pattern on a surface of the magnetic layer that is opposite a surface of the magnetic layer on which the back plate layer is formed.
US08029676B2
A method and apparatus are provided for the non-recirculating self-sanitization of a carbon filter (14) in a water pretreatment system (12). The apparatus includes a heat exchanger (50) that can maintain an activated carbon bed (44) of the carbon filter (14) at a desired sanitization temperature during service operation of the pretreatment system (12) where the pretreatment system (12) is providing a pretreated water stream (32H) for final treatment.
US08029675B2
In a membrane distillation process in which a liquid to be concentrated is separated from a vapor space (11) by a vapor-permeable liquid- or water-tight membrane or membrane wall (13), to set the absolute pressure of the liquid to be concentrated a reduced pressure is imparted to this which lowers the absolute pressure of the liquid to be concentrated. A corresponding membrane distillation device is also specified.
US08029670B2
A device for treating cooling lubricants and chips of machine tools. The device includes a container for receiving the untreated mixture of cooling lubricant liquid and solids, an endless conveyor installed in the container for carrying off the collected solids from the container, at least one filtration unit disposed in the container for separating the cooling lubricant liquid from the solids, whereby the filtration unit is formed so as to be mobile and can be positioned as an insertion in the container over the lower run of the endless conveyor.
US08029663B2
A treatment device is for magnetically treating liquid in a liquid container. A container holder receives the liquid container. At least one permanent magnet is associated with the container holder to generate a magnetic field within the liquid in the liquid container. A treatment timer is associated with the container holder.
US08029662B2
The disclosed sorbents are for adsorbing sulfur compounds, particularly sulfur-containing aromatic compounds, from liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline, cracked gasoline, diesel, high sulfur liquid fossil fuels, ultra-low sulfur fuel (ULSF) in fuel cell applications, and mixtures thereof. The sorbent compositions comprise one or more silicates having one or more metal nitrates admixed together. The one or more metal nitrates include iron (II) or (III), zinc (II), cadmium (II) and mercury (II) nitrate. The method of preparing and using the sorbents is also provided.
US08029660B2
Manufacture of semiconductor products such as LCD driver requires a bump plating step for forming a gold bump electrode having a size of from about 15 to 20 μm. This bump plating step is performed by electroplating with a predetermined plating solution, but projections intermittently appear on the bump electrode during a mass production process. In the invention, abnormal growth of projections over the gold bump electrode is prevented by adding, prior to the gold bump plating step, a step of circulating and stirring a plating solution while erecting a plating cup and efficiently dissolving/discharging a precipitate. This step is performed for each wafer to be treated.
US08029652B2
Photocatalytic materials based on coupling of semiconductor nanocrystalline quantum dots (NQD) and molecular catalysts. These materials have capability to drive or catalyze non-spontaneous chemical reactions in the presence of visible radiation, ultraviolet radiation, or both. The NQD functions in these materials as a light absorber and charge generator. Following light absorption, the NQD activates a molecular catalyst adsorbed on the surface of the NQD via transfer of one or more charges (either electrons or electron-holes) from the NQD to the molecular catalyst. The activated molecular catalyst can then drive a chemical reaction. A photoelectrolytic device that includes such photocatalytic materials is also described.
US08029651B2
The invention provides a method of forming a magnetic layer with stable magnetic properties and stable recording-and-reproducing properties, by uniformizing the distribution of oxygen radical concentration upon reactive sputtering, and thereby uniformizing the concentration of oxygen to be taken into the magnetic layer along the plane direction. That is, the invention relates to a method of forming a magnetic layer by reactive sputtering, which comprises: placing a substrate in a reaction container; arranging a pair of electrode units comprising sputtering electrodes and targets which are disposed on surfaces of the sputtering electrodes and which contain chromium other than the oxide thereof, so that the electrode units respectively face both sides of the substrate while the targets are on the substrate sides; feeding an argon-water mixture gas to vicinities of the respective surfaces on the substrate sides of the pair of electrode units; and applying reactive sputtering so that the chromium other than the oxide thereof contained in the targets can be made into chromium oxide as a constituent to form the magnetic layer having the granular structure.
US08029645B2
Soft and strong fibrous structures and more particularly soft and strong fibrous structures that contains less softwood fibers than known fibrous structures and methods for making such soft and strong fibrous structures are provided.
US08029644B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus for removing scrap from tape material on original backing paper includes a supply reel, at least one cutting member, at least one heating member and/or cooling member, and at least one removal member. The supply reel is for supplying and unrolling tape material on original backing paper. The at least one cutting member is for cutting unrolled tape material while on original backing paper. The at least one of a heating member and a cooling member are for at least one of heating and cooling cut unrolled tape material on original backing paper. The at least one removal member is for removing scrap cut unrolled tape material from original backing paper.
US08029643B2
An apparatus and method for removing a temporary substrate from an optical disk is disclosed. A holding fixture (102) provides an optical disk supporting surface. A force imparting tool (118) imparts a force against an optical disk wherein a reaction force to the force imparting tool is provided by the supporting surface. The optical disk is flexed to break away and remove a temporary substrate of the optical disk.
US08029634B2
A method of manufacturing an absorbent article in the form of a pants-type diaper or a sanitary panty starts from a flat blank which includes an elongated absorbent body (5) enclosed between two casing sheets (2, 9) which at opposing front and rear end parts of the absorbent body have side parts which extend laterally beyond the body on opposite sides thereof. The method includes the step of folding the blank about a transverse axis so that the end edges of the side parts lie edge-to-edge. The front and rear side parts of the blank which oppose one another in the folded state of the blank are joined together by a releasable and refastenable fastener (20).
US08029622B2
A cooling gas is discharged from a cooling gas discharge nozzle toward a local section of a front surface of a substrate on which a liquid film is formed. And then the cooling gas discharge nozzle moves from a rotational center position of the substrate toward an edge position of the substrate along a moving trajectory while the substrate is rotated. As a result, of the surface region of the front surface of the substrate, an area where the liquid film has been frozen (frozen area) expands toward the periphery edge from the center of the front surface of the substrate. It is therefore possible to form a frozen film all over the front surface of the substrate while suppressing deterioration of the durability of the substrate peripheral members since a section receiving supply of the cooling gas is limited to a local area on the front surface of the substrate.
US08029619B2
A grouting material which contains a fine particle material having a Blaine specific surface area of 5000 cm2/g or more, containing 30 to 60% by mass of cement clinker, 40 to 70 % by mass of and blast-furnace slag and 0.5 to 3 parts by mass of gypsum in terms of SO3 based on 100 parts by mass of the total amount of cement clinker and blast-furnace slag, and further contains (i) 4 to 8 parts by mass of calcium-aluminate-based rapid-hardening admixture, (ii) 0.05 to 0.2 parts by mass of setting retarder and (iii) 0.5 to 1.7 parts by mass of high-performance water-reducing agent, based on 100 parts by mass of the fine particle material.
US08029613B2
Disclosed is a one-pack type dental adhesive composition comprising: (a) 1.0 to 40.0 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent, (b) 0.01 to 0.4 part by weight of a weak acidic compound which is at least one of organic acid, boric acid and silicic acid, and has an acid dissociation exponent pKa of 3 or more in the form of an aqueous solution, (c) 0.01 to 0.4 part by weight of a strong acidic compound which is at least one of HF, HCl, HBr, HI, HNO3, HClO3, HClO4, HBrO4, HMnO4, H2SO4 and H3PO4 and has an acid dissociation exponent pKa of less than 3, (d) 0.1 to 5.0 part by weight of water, and (e) 20.0 to 99.0 parts by weight of a volatile organic solvent.
US08029602B1
A fuel cell and a method for chemically storing hydrogen. Embodiments of the fuel cell include a mixture having at least one boron-nitrogen-hydrogen compound and a reactive hydride where the mixture has more than about 10 wt % hydrogen density and a hydrogen storage density of about 0.1 kg H21−1.
US08029598B2
A method for recovering metal values from refractory sulfide ores is provided. The method includes the steps of separating clays and fines from crushed refractory sulfide ore, forming a heap from the refractory sulfide ore, producing a concentrate of refractory sulfide minerals from the separated fines and adding the concentrate to the heap, bioleaching the heap to thereby oxidize iron sulfides contained therein, and hydrometallurgically treating the bioleached ore to recover metal values contained therein.
US08029593B2
Biofertilizers have been identified as an alternative to chemical fertilization to increase soil fertility and crop production using sustainable farming. Treatment is with at least a proprietary formulation of a nitrogen-fixing consortium and Azospirillum brasilense. The application of biofertilizers resulted in higher biomass compared to chemical fertilizer treatment. Chlorophyll and nitrogen levels in these grass plants are also likely to be improved.
