US08050721B2
A mobile information terminal has a front surface on which a display surface of a display device is arranged and a rear surface on which a plurality of operation keys are arranged. The mobile information terminal further has a half-depressing sensor for detecting that each of the operation keys is half-depressed and/or a touch sensor for detecting that each of the operation keys is touched. A control section executes a processing operation to cause the display device to display an image showing the arrangement of said operation keys and to change an icon which corresponds to a key of operation keys when a control section determines, according to an input signal from the half-depressing sensor or the touch sensor, that the finger of the operator is placed on this key of operation keys.
US08050718B2
The present invention utilizes a wireless base station having a first radio transceiver and a second radio transceiver connected to the first radio transceiver with a communication cable, a first baseband unit connected to the first radio transceiver with a communication cable, and a second baseband unit connected to the second radio transceiver with a communication cable.
US08050703B2
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes: notifying, from a MAC-e functional unit 10, to a first mobile station UE through a first E-AGCH, a transmission rate for the EUL in the first mobile station UE, in a 2 ms interval; notifying, from the MAC-e functional unit 10, to a second mobile station UE through a second E-AGCH, a transmission rate for the EUL in the second mobile station UE, in a 10 ms interval; notifying, from the MAC-e functional unit 10 to a MAC-hs functional unit 20, the number of the first E-AGCH and the number of the second E-AGCH, in each sub-frames; and determining, at the MAC-hs functional unit 20, a transmission power for a HS-PDSCH, based on the respective numbers of the first E-AGCH and the second E-AGCH.
US08050702B2
To provide a mobile station and a transmission power control method in the mobile station, which are capable of improving the power saving characteristic associated with the transmission power control in the mobile station under a condition in which the transmit diversity is applied. The transmission power of feedback information (11: FBI) is controlled on the basis of control information (TPC) transmitted through a sub-information downlink channel (21) from a base station (210) as a main branch, only when it is determined by a communication method determining section 103 that a cosed loop transmit diversity can be applied (step S201: Yes), and when it is determined by a communication base station determining section 104 that sub-information downlink channels (21, 22) and sub-information uplink channels (11, 12) are connected to a plurality of base stations (step S202: Yes).
US08050696B2
A system and method for wirelessly transferring content to and from a vehicle, in particular, an aircraft. The content includes, for example, data, voice, video and multimedia, that can be wirelessly exchanged over a wireless communication link between an aircraft and a ground station while the aircraft is at or near a parking gate, or between aircraft. In an example, the system employs long distance metropolitan area technology, such as IEEE Standard 802.16 wireless technology, to increase transfer range. The parameter of the wireless communication link can be adjusted based on, for example, the location of the link. The content can further be provided between the vehicle and ground station based on priorities, such as the available link speed, importance of the information, and/or anticipated connection time between the vehicle and ground station. A media creation center can be networked to a plurality of base stations.
US08050679B2
A method is disclosed for transferring preferred frequency information in a mobile communication system which establishes a preferred frequency layer and a non-preferred frequency layer for a Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS) service. The method involves the steps of determining at least one preferred frequency of the MBMS service when a session of the MBMS service starts, generating the preferred frequency information representing said at least one preferred frequency, and transmitting the preferred frequency information to at least one serving radio network controller for managing communication of user equipments intended to receive the MBMS service.
US08050676B2
Direct content redistribution between users belonging to the same community is enabled. A portable telephone set issues a request to a community management server to register portable telephone sets belonging to a community, in association with the community, and the community management server performs community registration. The portable telephone sets issue requests to the community management server for permission to redistribute content which has been distributed from a CP server, and when the redistribution permission request is for registered portable telephone sets belonging to the same community, the community management server grants permission for the redistribution. By this means, content redistribution can be performed directly between users belonging to the same community, without the intervention of the CP server.
US08050667B2
In order to provide a new service even to a conventional mobile communication terminal without installing a new function when starting a new mobile communication service, a mobile communication terminal includes a virtual terminal server that controls the communication on behalf of the mobile communication terminal according to a request from the mobile communication terminal to realize a service function that is a communication function not included in the mobile communication terminal. The virtual terminal server processes, in accordance with the model information of the mobile communication function, information to be informed to the mobile communication terminal to realize the service function to thereby enable the mobile communication terminal to acquire and transmit information obtained by realizing the service function.
US08050656B2
A wireless communication device and method for making a secure transfer of a communication connection from a direct connection with a cellular network to a connection via a wireless local area network is provided. The device and method are adapted for detecting the presence of the wireless communication device within the communication coverage area of the wireless local area network and authenticating the wireless communication device with the wireless local area network. After authenticating the wireless communication device with the wireless local area network, a handoff is requested from the cellular network to the wireless local area network, where a secure connection between the mobile station and the cellular network via the wireless local area network is established, and then the direct connection with the cellular network is broken.
US08050652B2
A network-enabled audio device that provides a display device that allows the user to select playlists of music much like a jukebox is disclosed. The user can compose playlists from disk files, CD's, Internet streaming audio broadcasts, online music sites, and other audio sources. The user can also select a desired Web broadcast from a list of available Web broadcasts. In addition, the user can play standard audio CD's and MP3 encoded CD's and have access to local AM/FM stations. Further, the software, the user controls, and the display in the network-enabled audio device are operably configured and connected such that the user can listen to playlists that include CD's and other audio sources just as the user would choose a playlist in a jukebox. The user accesses a server site via a PC and the Internet. From the server site, the user obtains a list of the devices in his or her Internet Personal Audio Network (IPAN) and what songs are on those devices. The IPAN includes an IPAN server, an IPAN client, and IPAN software stored on the network-enabled audio device. Thus, the network-enabled audio device provides people who are or are not comfortable with computers a way of taking music from various sources and putting it into one place for listening pleasure. In one embodiment, the Personal Computer (PC) is used to compose the playlists, but the user is able to listen to playlists and other audio sources without using the PC.
US08050640B2
An improved antenna diversity system is provided. The antenna diversity system has at least two spaced-apart antennas, with each antenna providing a respective antenna signal. The signal(s) may be processed and scaled according to its respective power level. The phase difference is determined between the signals, and the phase difference reduced by using phase rotation. The signals, which are now substantially in-phase, are summed to generate a combined antenna signal.
US08050639B2
Reception signals received by first to fourth antennas 11 to 14 are sequentially selected one by one repeatedly in accordance with first to fourth switches 31 to 34 being controlled by first to fourth switch control circuits 41 to 44, respectively, so as to be inputted to a signal shaping section 60. The reception signals having been shaped by the signal shaping section 60 are sampled by a sample-and-hold section 71 and AD-converted by an AD converter 72 in accordance with a time at which the reception signals are sequentially selected. The resultant signals are converted into parallel signals by a serial-parallel conversion section 73. Thus, the parallel signals are obtained as the reception signals of the first to the fourth antennas 11 to 14.
US08050636B2
A transmitter capable of operating according to a first standard that does not interfere with a nearby frequency generator operating according to a second standard. The transmitter comprises an oscillator, a frequency divider, a mixer, and a filter. The oscillator is configured to output a first frequency that is outside of a frequency harmonic of the frequency generator. The frequency divider is coupled to the oscillator and divides the first frequency by a selective divide ratio to produce a second frequency. The mixer is configured to receive the first and second frequencies, which combines them to produce a mixed frequency. The filter is then used to filters the mixed frequency to obtain the higher portion of the mixed frequency. The divide ratio of the frequency divider is selected base on the desired output frequency of the transmitter such that a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz ISM band frequency is achieved.
US08050624B2
A distributed control and/or monitoring system and method includes a local application and a remote application separated from the local application. The local application includes a host computer. The remote application includes a plurality of field devices and a communication bus connected to the plurality of field devices. Packet messages are wirelessly communicated between the local application and the remote application such that the host computer and field devices can communicate with each other as if they were directly connected to the same communication bus.
US08050621B2
A method and an apparatus are provided for estimating and removing interference of a signal at a wireless repeater operating in a multi-carrier system. In the method, a current echo channel linear prediction coefficient, which represents a coefficient between a current train signal section and a previous train signal section, is estimated using a current echo channel coefficient estimated in the current train signal section and a previous echo channel coefficient generated in the previous train signal section. A next echo channel coefficient is estimated using the current echo channel coefficient, the previous echo channel coefficient, and the current echo channel linear prediction coefficient. An echo channel coefficient outside a train signal section is estimated using the current echo channel coefficient and the next echo channel coefficient.
US08050614B2
Hard image forming apparatuses and methods are described. According to one arrangement, a hard image forming apparatus includes an imaging member comprising a surface, a development system configured to provide a marking agent to the surface of the imaging member to form developed images upon the surface of the imaging member which correspond to latent images formed using the surface of the imaging member, and a transfer system configured to transfer the developed images from the surface of the imaging member to media. The arrangement further includes a contamination removal device configured to remove contamination material from the surface of the imaging member, and a control system configured to control the contamination removal device to contact the surface of the imaging member to remove the contamination material from the surface of the imaging member at a first moment in time and to space the contamination removal device from the surface of the imaging member at a second moment in time where the contamination removal device does not remove the contamination material from the surface of the imaging member.
US08050610B2
A heat roller of a fixing apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention has a slidable metal belt on an outer side of an elastic roller. At the room temperature, the outer diameter of the elastic roller is smaller than the inner diameter of the metal belt. On the other hand, when the elastic roller is thermally expanded, the metal belt and the elastic roller fit onto each other in a state in which the metal belt fastens the elastic roller.
US08050609B2
In a fixing device, a heat roller and a fixing gear for rotating the heat roller are arranged concentrically, and coupled to each other by inserting a key formed in the fixing gear into a keyway formed in the heat roller. The keyway is designed such that the key is allowed to move along a direction in which the heat roller is rotated. For example, the keyway is formed by notching a free end of a one-side rotary shaft of the heat roller so as to extend along the direction in which the heat roller is rotated.
US08050605B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier having an endless circumferential surface on which a latent image is formed due to an electrostatic potential difference; a developing device that attaches a toner to the image carrier to form a toner image; an endless intermediate transfer belt that is entrained around a plurality of roll members and moves circumferentially, and contacts the image carrier to transfer the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt; a transferring device that further transfers the toner image that has been transferred to the intermediate transfer belt, to a recording sheet; and a load applying member that cooperates with one of the roll members placed inside the intermediate transfer belt, to nip the intermediate transfer belt to apply a load to the intermediate transfer belt, the load applying member contacting a non-image region of the intermediate transfer belt.
US08050604B2
A belt member is rotatably extended around a plurality of rotatable members of an image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording material by using a developer containing a magnetic carrier. The belt member includes a layer, formed of a crystalline resin material, having an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface. The layer has a hardness of 0.25 GPa or more and 0.40 GPa or less at the outer peripheral surface and a hardness of 0.10 GPa or more and 0.20 GPa or less at the inner peripheral surface.
US08050598B2
A toner cartridge in a bottle shape for storing toner is composed of a first cylindrical portion having a blocked bottom wall at one end and an opening at the other end and a second cylindrical portion in which one end thereof is connected to the opening, and an opening for ejecting toner is formed at the other end, and the outside diameter thereof is smaller than the first cylindrical portion.
US08050588B2
An image forming apparatus capable of shortening a time needed for the assembly work is provided. The image forming apparatus of the invention comprises a low-voltage power supply and a housing, wherein the low-voltage power supply includes a substrate provided with a low-voltage power supply circuit, a pair of connection cords each connected to the substrate and an external power supply, a casing made of metal and provided with an accommodation portion inside which the substrate is fixed and a notch located on an opening edge of the accommodation portion, a lid body made of metal and configured to cover the accommodation portion and to define a cord insertion port by closing the notch, and a ring body made of resin and inserted into the notch in a state where both the connection cords are inserted in the ring body and to be attached to the cord insertion port.
US08050574B2
The present invention relates to an optical receiving apparatus designed to receive light wavelength-demultiplexed in a wavelength multiplex optical transmission system. The optical receiving apparatus includes an optical level adjusting unit for adjusting a level of light inputted and for outputting the level-adjusted light and a light receiving unit for receiving the light outputted from the optical level adjusting unit. An optical level adjusted quantity in the optical level adjusting unit is set so that the level of light of relatively shorter wavelength band becomes lower than the level of light of relatively longer wavelength band. This enables normal signal light reception to be achieved irrespective of a variation in the number of wavelengths with a simple configuration.
US08050566B2
A system and a method for quantum key distribution between a transmitter and a receiver over wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) link are disclosed. The method includes providing one or more quantum channels and one or more conventional channels over the WDM link; assigning a different wavelength to each of the one or more quantum channels and each of the one or more conventional channels; transmitting single photon signals on each of the one or more quantum channels; and transmitting data on each of the one or more conventional channels. The data comprises either conventional data or trigger signals for synchronizing the transmission of the single photon signals on the quantum channels. All channels have wavelengths around 1550 nm. The WDM link can be a 3-channel WDM link comprising two quantum channels for transmitting single photon signals and one conventional channel for transmitting conventional data or triggering signals.
US08050556B2
An apparatus comprising an optical transmitter coupled to an optical fiber, and an optical receiver coupled to the optical fiber, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a test signal data pattern and user data into the optical fiber, and wherein the receiver is configured to receive a reflection of the test signal data pattern. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the transmission of an optical test signal data pattern into an optical fiber, wherein the test signal data pattern creates a radio frequency (RF) tone, and detecting a reflection of the RF tone in the optical fiber.
US08050553B2
A lens module includes a flexible printed circuit board, a first sensor, a second sensor, an adjustment device, a lens, a protective frame, an outer housing, a drive mechanism and a resilient member. The flexible printed circuit board includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion. The first sensor and the second sensor are fixed on the flexible printed circuit board. The outer housing is connected to the flexible printed circuit board and covers on the outside of the adjustment device and the protective frame. The resilient member and the flexible printed circuit board are arranged on opposite sides of the outer housing. The flexible printed circuit board can be folded along a connecting line between the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion.
US08050547B2
A device and a process are provided for uniformly lighting an operating area for performing the lighting of an operating area (2) of a bed (30) by means of a lighting unit (3) such that a selected lighting field (13) is lighted uniformly. The image signals of a camera (7) are sent to an image processing unit (17), in which the image signals are analyzed and the individual lighting elements (6) are switched via the control unit (18). A lighting situation is acquired in the process for initializing and operating this lighting system and a lighting field (13) of interest is selected. The image signals are analyzed during the operation and sent to the control unit (18) in order to switch the lighting elements (6) such that uniform lighting is obtained in the first lighting field (13).
US08050544B2
The invention relates to an electronic control device for regulating the voltage across a high-side load, especially for regulating a fan in a motor vehicle, with a control voltage (V1) which is referenced to system ground and which is mirrored to the positive high-side supply voltage, wherein the control voltage (V1) is supplied to the base of a first transistor (Q1) operated in common-emitter connection, which transistor (Q1) has, in the emitter circuit, a first resistor (R1) and, in the collector circuit, a second resistor (R2) and, in series with the latter, the base-emitter diode of a second transistor (Q2). Compensation for temperature effects of the base-emitter voltage of the first transistor is performed by the base-emitter path of a second transistor of the same conductivity type in series with the first transistor.
US08050537B2
An image and audio recording apparatus has a function of recording image data and/or audio data on a recording medium and a function of recording data on a set time band with a timer. When the timer-recording function is caused to set the recording operation, the recording of the image data may be set separately from the recording of the audio data.
US08050534B2
A recording medium, method and apparatus for providing management information are provided. According to an embodiment, the method includes grouping data of a digital stream into a plurality of object units, and grouping one or more object units into an object; and creating management information for accessing the data, the management information including map information and indication information, wherein the map information includes an object unit index table associated with the object units, and wherein the indication information indicates whether the data of the digital stream are grouped into the object units on a basis of a predetermined time period or an entry point information included in the digital stream.
US08050533B2
A left view graphics stream and a right view graphics stream recorded on a recording medium each include one or more display sets, and the display sets are data groups used for displaying one screen worth of one or more graphics objects. The one or more display sets included in the left view graphics stream are in one-to-one correspondence with the one or more display sets included in the right view graphics stream, and an identical playback time for the video stream on the playback time axis is set in each of the corresponding display sets. Each display set includes state information indicating whether the data is all data necessary for displaying one screen worth of one or more graphics objects, or is a difference from the immediately previous display set, and the state information included in corresponding display sets indicate identical content.
US08050532B2
A digital camcorder records an image of an object as a moving image on a recording medium, and displays an image recorded during a period from the start of image taking to a predetermined time on a screen while recording a currently taken image.
US08050528B2
A sealing gland system having an upper half, a lower half, and a sealing material positioned between the upper and lower halves. Each of the upper and lower halves and the sealing material has at least one opening extending therethrough, and wherein the sealing material forms a seal around at least one cable extending through the sealing material upon compression thereof.
US08050526B2
A method for making a micro optical device includes providing an optical element, providing a glass perform, providing a substrate with a precision formed feature designed to passively position the optical element relative to the substrate, and bonding the optical element to the substrate using the glass perform. The optical element is passively located in a predefined relationship with the substrate, and the glass perform has a shape prior to contacting the substrate that is maintained before the bonding.
US08050525B2
An integrated DWDM transmitter apparatus includes a silica-on-silicon substrate which includes a silica layer and a silicon layer. A plurality of input waveguides and a plurality of gratings are provided within the silica layer. Each of the plurality of gratings is coupled to a corresponding one of the input waveguides. An arrayed waveguide grating within the silica layer is coupled to the plurality of input waveguides, and at least an output waveguide within the silica layer are coupled to the arrayed waveguide grating. The transmitter also includes a plurality of lasers disposed in a recessed region of the silica-on-silicon substrate, and each of the lasers is optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of input waveguides. The integrated transmitter also includes plurality of photodiodes, each of the plurality of photodiodes overlying a corresponding one of the plurality of grating.
US08050524B2
An optical device includes an electrooptic crystal substrate, a polarization-inverted region formed in a part of the electrooptic crystal substrate, an optical waveguide formed in the electrooptic crystal substrate, and a groove for relaxing stress disposed between a domain wall of the polarization-inverted region and the optical waveguide.
US08050519B2
The color of a measurement object, such as a vital tooth, and the color of a comparison object to be compared with the measurement object are displayed to a user in an easily comparable manner. The invention provides an image combining apparatus including an image extracting unit for extracting an image of a vital tooth (hereinafter referred to as “measurement-object image”) from a color image of the vital tooth and extracting an image of a shade guide (hereinafter referred to as “comparison-object image”) from a color image of the shade guide, a combining-reference-line setting unit for setting combining reference lines on the measurement-object image and the comparison-object image, a combining unit for combining the measurement-object image and the comparison-object image to form a combined image, and a correction unit for correcting at least one of the measurement-object image and the comparison-object image so as to align their outlines on the combining reference line in the combined image when the outlines are not aligned.
US08050514B2
In order to perform appropriate image correction considering the moving image region and static image region of image data forming a moving image, the image data forming the moving image is input in a unit of frame, the image data is divided into a moving image region and static image region, and a feature amount of the moving image region and that of the static image region are calculated. At least one table for image correction is generated based on the feature amount of the moving image region and that of the static image region, and the image data is corrected using the table.
US08050489B2
Methods and systems for the differential wear mapping of the surface of an object are described. The process involves establishing a radioactive wearing surface on the object through surface layer activation (SLA) and/or radioactive ion implantation (RII) and imaging the wearing surface with conformal photographic or x-ray film to produce a first autoradiograph providing a baseline profile of the wearing surface. After subjecting the object to wear during testing the wearing surface is again imaged with conformal photographic or x-ray film to produce a second autoradiograph providing a worn profile. The first and second autoradiographs of the wearing surface are digitized and compared to produce a differential wear map of the surface of the object.
US08050488B2
In a method of analyzing a wafer sample, a first defect of a photoresist pattern on the wafer sample having shot regions exposed with related exposure conditions is detected. A first portion of the pattern includes the shot regions exposed with an exposure condition corresponding to a reference exposure condition and a tolerance error range of the reference exposure condition. The first defect repeatedly existing in at least two of the shot regions in a second portion of the pattern is set up as a second defect of the pattern. A first reference image displaying the second defect is obtained. The first defect of the shot regions in the first portion corresponding to the second defect is set up as a third defect corresponding to weak points of the pattern. The exposure conditions of the shot region having no weak points are set up as an exposure margin of an exposure process.
US08050480B2
A method is disclosed for generating computed tomography image data of a volume of interest from X-ray CT data sets generated by a computed tomography system during scanning of an examination subject on a helical path rotating around a longitudinal system axis in the infeed direction. In at least one embodiment, at least two volume-based reconstructions of the volume of interest are performed by way of differential back-projection over surfaces constituted by different groups of M-lines, followed in each case by an inverse Hilbert transformation. The method further includes combining different reconstructed volumes to form a final reconstruction of the volume of interest.
US08050474B2
A system reduces artifacts introduced by patient or table motion during generation of a composite image visualizing contrast agent flow. A system for generation of a composite medical image of vessel structure, includes an imaging device for acquiring multiple sequential images of vessel structure of a portion of patient anatomy in the presence of a contrast agent. An imaging processor aligns individual images of the multiple sequential images with a single particular mask image containing background detail of the portion of patient anatomy in the absence of contrast agent. The imaging processor forms data representing multiple digitally subtracted images by subtracting data representing the single particular mask image from aligned individual images of the multiple sequential images. The imaging processor associates different individual images of the multiple digitally subtracted images with different corresponding visual attributes and combines data representing the digitally subtracted images to form a composite image. A reproduction device presents the composite image to a user.
US08050473B2
An improved method of segmenting medical images includes aspects of live wire and active shape models to determine the most likely segmentation given a shape distribution that satisfies boundary location constrains on an item of interest. The method includes a supervised learning portion to train and learn new types of shape instances and a segmentation portion to use the learned model to segment new target images containing instances of the shape. The segmentation portion includes an automated search for an appropriate shape and deformation of the shape to establish a best oriented boundary for the object of interest on a medical image.
US08050472B2
A method and system for acquiring a phalange edge image using an X-ray image of a hand are provided. The method includes: selecting a region of interest from an X-ray image of the hand; acquiring a soft tissue background gray level removed image by removing a soft tissue background gray level from the region of interest; and extracting a phalange edge image from the soft tissue background gray level removed image.
US08050471B2
To reduce the contrast fluid and X-ray load on patients during interventional procedures, a real-time visualization architecture combines 2D live images with 3D reconstructed volume information. In general, 2D X-ray images are recorded from below (Posterior Anterior) and presented head up (Anterior Posterior) by applying a mirroring operation on the image data. In order to ensure a correct alignment of the 2D live images within the reconstructed 3D volume, the 3D information is displayed under the same inverse viewing angle as the 2D live images by applying a mirroring around the Y-axis to the 3D information and by presenting the 3D information in a reverse sorting order. Furthermore, transparent surface/volume rendering combined with silhouette rendering maintains the contrast in the 2D information while preserving the 3D impression.
US08050470B2
A branch extension method and system for segmenting airways in 3D image data is disclosed. An initial airway segmentation is obtained from the 3D image data. Terminal branches of segmented airways of the initial airway segmentation are identified. The segmentation of the terminal branches is then extended. The segmentation of the terminal branches can be extended using various segmentation techniques. This method can use complex segmentation techniques to extend the terminal branches without having a large impact to the overall speed of the segmentation.
US08050466B2
A face recognition method for working with two or more collections of facial images is provided. A representation framework is determined for a first collection of facial images including at least principle component analysis (PCA) features. A representation of said first collection is stored using the representation framework. A modified representation framework is determined based on statistical properties of original facial image samples of a second collection of facial images and the stored representation of the first collection. The first and second collections are combined without using original facial image samples. A representation of the combined image collection (super-collection) is stored using the modified representation framework. A representation of a current facial image, determined in terms of the modified representation framework, is compared with one or more representations of facial images of the combined collection. Based on the comparing, it is determined which, if any, of the facial images within the combined collection matches the current facial image.
US08050465B2
A database includes an identifier and associated parameters for each of a number of faces to be recognized. A new acquired image from an image stream is received potentially including one or more face regions. Face detection is applied to at least a portion of the acquired image to provide a set of candidate face regions each having a given size and a respective location. Using the database, face recognition is selectively applied to at least one of the candidate face regions to provide an identifier for a face recognized in a candidate face region. A portion of the image is stored including the recognized face in association with at least one image of the image stream.
US08050461B2
A method for mapping includes projecting onto an object a pattern of multiple spots having respective positions and shapes, such that the positions of the spots in the pattern are uncorrelated, while the shapes share a common characteristic. An image of the spots on the object is captured and processed so as to derive a three-dimensional (3D) map of the object.
US08050458B2
A frontal view imaging and control device installed on a movable object, includes: an image input unit receiving an image taken by an image device that captures a region of a road surface in a predetermined direction; a projection transformation unit linking each pixel of the image onto a virtual two-dimensional plane of a road surface through coordinate transformation so as to form a virtual projection image on the two-dimensional plane; a projection likelihood calculation unit dividing the virtual projection image into a distant view section and a close view section, and calculating similarity defined between a projection of the distant view section and a projection of the close view section; and an attitude angle calculation unit determining an angle of depression and a panning angle that maximize the similarity as a measured attitude angle that indicates an image capturing direction of the imaging device.
US08050454B2
Methods to process digital video using trajectory extraction and spatiotemporal decomposition for search and retrieval of video are described. An example method extracts interest point data from data representing a plurality of video frames. The interest point data is extracted from each of the video frames independent of the other video frames. Subsequent to extracting the interest point data, the example method links at least some of the interest point data to generate corresponding trajectory information. The example method also clusters the trajectory information to form clustered trajectory information and extracts a representative feature index from the clustered trajectory information.
US08050452B2
Novel methods and systems for quantization based data embedding and reading in host signals, such as image, audio and video signals. To embed auxiliary data in a host signal, an embedder maps the host signal from a first domain into a mapped signal in a second domain. The embedder performs quantization based embedding of auxiliary data into the host signal using quantizers. The quantizers are adapted such that the relationship between corresponding quantizers in the first and second domains satisfies a predetermined constraint. The mapping improves the robustness of the data embedding method by increasing the chances that the embedded data can be recovered by an auxiliary data reader after modifications. A related embedding method projects the mapped signal unto a vector, and specifically, a pseudorandom vector. It performs quantization based embedding on the projected signal. The use of this projection provides added robustness of the embedded data to noise and other forms of distortion.
US08050448B2
A method is disclosed for gaining access to an object and/or to a service of an object or service provider. A biometric reference parameter of at least one user is recorded in a personal mobile station. The user orders an object or service from a remote server by means of his personal mobile station. An actual biometric parameter is recorded by a biometric sensor of the object or service provider and the recorded actual biometric parameter is compared to the reference parameter. On a successful comparison, access to the object or service is permitted. The invention further relates to a system with the components mentioned.
US08050447B2
A partial data acquisition unit acquires partial data included in digital data, a partial data specifying information acquisition unit acquires specifying information for the partial data, a combining unit combines the partial data and the specifying information, and a verification data generation unit generates verification data. Thus, it is possible to verify whether or not region data in image data has been altered. In addition, it is possible to verify that the region data is the region data in image data different from the original image data, and/or, it is possible to further verify that the region data is the different region data included in the original image data.
US08050445B2
Provided are a microspeaker and a method of designing the same. The microspeaker includes a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet disposed on the first permanent magnet with a predetermined gap therebetween, the first and second permanent magnets having opposite magnetization directions; a third permanent magnet and a fourth permanent magnet disposed on the third permanent magnet with a predetermined gap therebetween, the third and fourth permanent magnets being disposed next to the first and second permanent magnets, respectively, with an air gap therebetween; a yoke interposed between the first and second permanent magnets and between the third and fourth permanent magnets; a voice coil inserted into the air gap; and a vibrating diaphragm attached to an end of the voice coil and forming a sound field according to the movement of the voice coil, wherein the first and third permanent magnets have opposite magnetization directions, and the second and fourth permanent magnets have opposite magnetization directions.
US08050444B2
A headphone, headset, or ear protector incorporating adjustable clamping pressure and providing configurable distribution of headband pressure. In one embodiment, the headphones, headsets, or ear protectors include a headband or neckband and at least one earcup coupled to the headband or neckband. The headphone, headset, or ear protector further includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to the headband or neckband and the at least one earcup that provides continuously variable adjustment of clamping pressure provided by the at least one earcup to the head of a user. In another embodiment, the headphone, headset, or ear protector include a headband or neckband, a first earcup coupled to the headband or neckband and a second earcup coupled to the headband or neckband. The headphone, headset, or ear protector further include an adjustment mechanism coupled to the headband or neckband and the first and second earcups that adjusts clamping pressure provided by the first and second earcups to the head of a user and a single control configured to control the adjustment mechanism. In other embodiments, the headphone, headset, or ear protector allows a user to maintain correct left/right stereo imaging while allowing the user to choose which side is placed over the right or left ear.
US08050438B2
The manufacture of housing parts of a hearing apparatus and in particular a hearing device is to be simplified. To this end, provision is made to also efficiently use a so-called tumbling process for the surface treatment of housing. On account of this, a closure element is proposed for closing openings of housing parts for a hearing apparatus of this type during a tumbling process. The closure element has a disk-like center part, a first column section, which protrudes from the one side of the disk-like center part and has a first swelling on its free end, and a second column section, which protrudes from the other side of the disk-like center part and has a second swelling on its free end. A closure element of this type allows openings of housing parts, which are attached to the column sections, to be closed and protected for a tumbling process.
US08050415B2
A method and an apparatus for detecting audio signals are disclosed. The input audio signal is detected to determine whether it is a background frame. The detected background signal is further detected according to a music characterization value and a decision rule. Therefore, background music can be detected, and the classifying performance of the voice/music classifier is improved.
US08050412B2
A demodulator (10) converts television signals to video baseband signals and audio baseband signals including stereo signals representing a right channel signal value and a left channel signal value. A DSP (60) recursively finds a preferred coefficient value for a scaling that reduces stereo separation due to amplitude variation of the right and left channel signal values. The preferred coefficient value is thereafter used for scaling the right and left channel signal values.
US08050409B2
As various applications of wireless ad hoc network have been proposed, security has become one of the big research challenges and is receiving increasing attention. The present invention provides for a distributed key management and authentication approach by deploying the recently developed concepts of identity-based cryptography and threshold secret sharing. Without any assumption of pre-fixed trust relationship between nodes, the ad hoc network works in a self-organizing way to provide the key generation and key management service, which effectively solves the problem of single point of failure in the traditional public key infrastructure (PKI)-supported system. The identity-based cryptography mechanism provided not only to provide end-to-end authenticity and confidentiality, but also saves network bandwidth and computational power of wireless nodes.
US08050396B2
Techniques for message forwarding based on a relationship between a sender and a recipient are described herein. In one embodiment, a process includes, but is not limited to, in response to a message from a sender over a network, identifying a list of candidate recipients to handle the message based on roles of the candidate recipients within an organization in view of the sender, and forwarding the message to a recipient selected from the list of the candidate recipient to enable the selected recipient to handle the message. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08050394B2
A method of implementing call compliance at a central facility through account specific access, the method involving: receiving a call from a caller on an incoming connection; obtaining and verifying account information; enabling the caller on the incoming connection to initiate an outgoing call on an outgoing connection depending on account information; receiving over the incoming connection an identifier of a destination to which a call is to be initiated over the outgoing connection; checking a do-not-call database for an indication of whether the destination is a do-not-call destination; if it is determined that the destination is a do-not-call destination, blocking the outgoing call from taking place over the outgoing connection; and if it is determined that the destination is not a do-not-call destination, allowing the outgoing call to take place over the outgoing connection.
US08050391B1
A method for creating an accounting record in a communication network may include receiving a SIP message and matching service point triggers with data. The method may also include invoking an application server associated with the service point trigger matched. The method also includes capturing accounting information associated with the invoked application server.
US08050384B2
A small tabletop stationary five-degree of freedom device such as a “robot” is used to define the treatment region by tracing the region under direct visualization and then to precisely deliver the treatment plan created by an automatic planning system by positioning a single low energy radiation source, or a plurality of low energy sources connected to each other in a predetermined parallel or similar geometry, each source equipped with blocking and attenuation mechanisms, at a plurality of positions in a planar fashion across or through a selected treatment field, thereby delivering a plurality of parallel overlapping beams indexed on a millimeter or submillimeter grid such that a concentration of dose is achieved at a variable depth in tissue relative to the dose where the radiation first enters the tissue and can be used to treat regions on or below the surface of tissue, in a cavity and underlying region created following a surgical resection, on or below the surface of an internal cavity, hollow viscus, or lumen, or deep in tissue adjacent to an inserted probe or conduit or catheter. By generating a plurality of overlapping beams indexed on a millimeter or submillimeter grid that converge on a target volume loaded with gold nanoparticles, a tumorcidal dose of radiation can be delivered in as little as a single session to tumor cells but not to normal cells within or outside the treatment volume. This approach also makes it possible to deliver serial radiosurgical treatments.
US08050380B2
A zone-optimized mirror (MZ) for reflecting extreme ultraviolet (EUV) or X-ray radiation (18) includes a reflective surface (S) having two or more substantially discrete zones (Z1, Z2, . . . Zn) that include respective coatings (C1, C2, . . . Cn). Each coating is configured to optimally reflect a select range of incident angles of the radiation incident thereon. An EUV optical system (10) and an EUV lithography system (200) that includes at least one zone-optimized mirror are also disclosed.
US08050378B2
In a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant, there is provided a system for aligning a nuclear fuel bundle and handling selected fuel rods within the fuel bundle. The bundle includes water rods, full-length and part-length fuel rods extending through a plurality of fuel spacers provided between top and bottom ends of the bundle, each spacer having a plurality of cells accommodating corresponding fuel and water rods. The system includes a bundle alignment system for aligning the fuel rods and water rods, a rod grapple tool to extract selected part-length rods from the bundle, and a fuel rod guide block slidable onto the top end of the bundle for protecting an uppermost fuel spacer of the bundle, and for aligning fuel rods within individual cells of all the fuel spacers in the fuel bundle.
US08050377B2
Irradiation target retention systems, fuel assemblies having the same, and methods of using the same
Example embodiments and methods are directed to irradiation target retention devices that may be inserted into conventional nuclear fuel rods and assemblies. Example embodiment devices may hold several irradiation targets for irradiation during operation of a nuclear core containing the assemblies and fuel rods having example embodiment irradiation target retention devices. Irradiation targets may substantially convert to useful radioisotopes upon exposure to neutron flux in the operating nuclear core and be removed and harvested from fuel rods after operation.
US08050373B2
A system and method is provided for phase interpolator based transmission clock control. The system includes a transmitter having a phase interpolator coupled to a master timing generator and a transmission module. The phase interpolator is also coupled to a receiver interpolator control module and/or an external interpolator control module. When the system is operating in repeat mode, the transmitter phase interpolator receives a control signal from a receiver interpolator control module. The transmitter phase interpolator uses the signal to synchronize the transmission clock to the sampling clock. When the system is operating in test mode, a user defines a transmission data profile in an external interpolator control module. The external interpolator control module generates a control signal based on the profile. The transmitter phase interpolator uses the signal to generate a transmission clock that is used by the transmission module to generate a data stream having the desired profile.
US08050366B2
A method and OFDM receiver for estimating timing offset are provided. The method includes receiving OFDM data to calculate frequency offset between a transmitter carrier frequency and a receiver carrier frequency, determining first timing offset based on the frequency offset, compensating the OFDM data with the first timing offset, estimating a residual common phase based on the compensated OFDM data, determining second timing offset based on the residual common phase, and compensating the OFDM data with the second timing offset, if the frame symbol index exceeds the predetermined data length.
US08050352B2
A pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) signal generator that injects a copy of a pulse into the PAM baseband signal prior to frequency upconversion and power amplification. The pulse comprises a function of, or an extra copy of, a pulse in the PAM baseband signal. The pulse injector analyzes the PAM baseband signal for times when a predetermined threshold is exceeded and forms a pulse that is constructed and arranged to reduce the amplitude of the PAM baseband signal to a desired peak amplitude when the pulse is added to the PAM baseband signal. In other embodiments the peak-to-RMS amplitude ratio reducing methods and apparatus used to process PAM signal are adapted for reducing peak-to-RMS amplitude ratios of amplitude modulation signals in polar modulation transmitters. Peak-to-RMS amplitude ratio reduction is performed in the quadrature domain, the polar domain, or both the quadrature and polar domains.
US08050350B2
In an I-Q receiver, I-Q baseband mixer receives a real signal, and outputs an in-phase baseband information signal and a quadrature baseband information signal, a decoupling compensator multiplies in-phase baseband information signal and the quadrature baseband information signal by a trained decoupling matrix that, based on adaptive training in response to purely in-phase and purely quadrature phase training signals, decouples the in-phase baseband information signal from a quadrature component of the I-Q signal, and decouples quadrature-phase baseband information signal from an in-phase component of the I-Q signal. Optionally, a trained I-arm-Q-arm imbalance compensator performs a filter compensation on one or both of the decoupled in-phase baseband signal and the quadrature-phase baseband signal output by the trained decoupling matrix. Optionally, the filter is trained based on training signals generated by inputting equal in-phase and quadrature phase training signals to the I-Q baseband mixer, and multiplying the result by the trained decoupling matrix.
US08050345B1
Transmit baseband filter and modulator for filtering and modulating a first bit rate signal into a Gaussian filtered modulated signal and a second transmit filter and modulator for filtering and modulating a second bit rate signal into a Quadrature Amplitude Modulated (QAM) signal. A first amplifier and first transmitter for nonlinearly amplifying and a second amplifier and second transmitter for linearly amplifying modulated signals. A diversity receiver and demodulator system for receiving and demodulating transmitted modulated signals. Processor, transmit baseband filter and modulator provides cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase Gaussian filtered Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulated signal, spread spectrum Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulated signal. Transmit processor and filter provides time division multiplexed (TDM) Gaussian filtered baseband signal and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) in-phase and quadrature-phase baseband modulated signal to a cellular network and to separate wireless network. Diversity receiver and demodulator provides demodulated cross-correlated in-phase and quadrature-phase filtered signal, with receive filter mis-matched to transmit filter.
US08050343B2
A wireless communication system receiver receives and processes a signal comprising at least two component carriers carrying data scheduled to the receiver and having center frequencies spaced apart by at least one component carrier frequency difference. Each component carrier comprises a number of subcarriers spaced apart by a system subcarrier frequency spacing. A common divisor is obtained for the at least one component carrier frequency difference and the system subcarrier frequency spacing. A symbol is received on the subcarriers of the component carriers and downconverted to baseband to produce a baseband symbol. A block of padding values is inserted in the baseband symbol to produce a padded symbol. The length of the block of padding values is such that intermediate subcarriers are inserted to yield a subcarrier frequency spacing for the padded symbol equal to the common divisor. Finally the padded symbol is Fast Fourier Transform, FFT, processed.
US08050335B2
A technique for an equal phase combining for a robust orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) system under high delay spread channel is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving and synchronizing transmitted OFDM symbols having cyclic prefixes via a symbol synchronizer module, removing the cyclic prefixes from the OFDM symbols, via a cyclic prefix remover module, to form time domain symbols, converting the time domain symbols to frequency domain symbols via an FFT module, equalizing a received sub-carrier with complex conjugate of estimated channel coefficients in frequency domain at the same sub-carrier frequency via an equalizer, combining the frequency domain symbols spread over multiple sub-carriers during transmission via a combiner, and detecting phase information from the mapped combined PSK constellation symbol via a detector module.
US08050329B2
A generic spatially-scalable shape encoding apparatus and method for handling different mask decomposition methods, while maximizing coding efficiency of the encoder, is disclosed. The present generic spatially-scalable shape encoding applies three encoding steps to maximize the coding efficiency of the encoder, i.e., mask mode encoding, base mask layer coding and enhancement mask layer coding.
US08050326B2
Disclosed is a method for providing and using information about inter-layer prediction when providing a video signal to a plurality of layers by encoding the video signal. The method for encoding an image signal to bit streams of an enhanced layer and a base layer, includes the steps of coding an image block in a picture of the enhanced layer into residual data based on image data of a block of the base layer corresponding to the vide block, and providing indication information through the bit stream of the enhanced layer, the indication information representing whether the coding is achieved in inter-layer prediction constraint or inter-layer prediction unconstraint.
US08050324B2
Method and apparatus for selecting a reference frame for motion estimation in a video encoder is described. In one example, motion estimation is performed on a current macroblock in a current frame with respect to a reference frame to obtain a motion vector, a sum of absolute difference (SAD), a global motion vector, and an average SAD. A first relative change of the motion vector with respect to the global motion vector is computed. A second relative change of the SAD with respect to the average SAD is computed. A functional based on the first relative change, the second relative change, a first parameter, and a second parameter is computed. The functional is compared with a threshold. The reference frame is selected if the functional satisfies the threshold.
US08050323B2
Coding techniques for a video image compression system involve improving an image quality of a sequence of two or more bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames, where each of the frames includes multiple pixels. One method involves determining a brightness value of at least one pixel of each bi-directionally predicted intermediate frame in the sequence as an equal average of brightness values of pixels in non-bidirectionally predicted frames bracketing the sequence of bi-directionally predicted intermediate frames. The brightness values of the pixels in at least one of the non-bidirectionally predicted frames is converted from a non-linear representation.
US08050319B2
The signal generating apparatus includes a signal modulating unit, a selection signal generating unit, and a phase adjusting unit. The signal modulating unit is utilized for processing a modulation upon an input signal to generate a modulated signal. The selection signal generating unit is utilized for generating at least a first selection signal. The phase adjusting unit is coupled to the signal modulating unit and the selection signal generating unit, and is utilized for receiving the modulated signal and adjusting a pulse width of the modulated signal to generate an output signal according to the first selection signal.
US08050318B2
A compensation circuit and method for reducing ISI products within an electrical data signal corresponding to a detected data signal received via a signal transmission medium introduces distinct compensation effects for individual ISI products within the electrical data signal. Distinct data signal components within the detected data signal and corresponding to such ISI products can be selectively and individually compensated, thereby producing a compensated data signal in which each selected one of such individual data signal components is substantially removed. Individual data signal components or selected combinations of data signal components can be compensated as desired.
US08050310B2
A semiconductor device includes a transmitting unit for receiving plural bits of data to modulate the data to a 1-bit pulse signal whose pulse width corresponds to a value of the data and transferring the pulse signal to a transfer line; and a receiving unit for receiving the pulse signal transferred through the transfer line to demodulate the pulse signal to the plural bits of data.
US08050302B2
A wavelength conversion laser light source includes: an element temperature switching section that switches a temperature of the wavelength conversion element according to a harmonic wave output value as set in an output setting device, and the element temperature switching section for switching a temperature of a wavelength conversion element according to a harmonic wave output level as set in the output setting device, wherein the element temperature switch section includes an element temperature holding section that holds the wavelength conversion element at the temperature as switched by the element temperature switching section.
US08050299B2
A ground station multiplexes audio digital data of a plurality of audio broadcasts, GUI data, and download audio data and transmits the multiplexed signal to a receiving side through a satellite. The receiving side displays a GUI screen corresponding to an audio broadcast. When a music information selection command is input on the display screen, and audio broadcast of a music program corresponding to the music information is selected. When a music information download command is input on the display screen, download audio data corresponding to the music information is output. The download audio data is stored to a storage device so as to download audio data corresponding to a desired music title.
US08050297B2
A system and method that facilitates multiple systems of communicating devices, i.e., a master device and one or more implantable slave devices, to coexist on a common, e.g., RF, communication channel having a limited temporal bandwidth while maintaining the required update rate between each master device and its associated slave devices. In embodiments of the present invention, master devices periodically transmit one or more beacon messages that are suitable for identification by other such master devices at a communication range greater than the communication range that may cause interference between systems and thus enabling one or more systems to cause the position of its frame periods to be interleaved with the frame periods of other such systems in anticipation of systems moving in closer proximity and actually interfering with each other.
US08050294B2
A method for transmitting data in TDM mode is provided to solve the problem in the prior art that the data processing between a transmitter side and a receiver side could not be real time and the delay time during data transmitting would be longer. The method comprises: packaging TIME DIVISION MULTIPLEXING (TDM) frame head information and data to be sent into a TDM frame at a transmitter side, and transmitting the TDM frame to a receiver side; receiving the TDM frame at the receiver side. With the solution according to the present invention, it is possible to perform real time data processing between the transmitter side and the receiver side and shorten the delay time during data transmitting.
US08050285B2
A power line module and method. In a preferred embodiment, the power line module is adapted to couple to a power line outlet, which is provided on a power line network within a spatial region. A power line chip is within a housing. In a preferred embodiment. the power line chip has an input/output port and is capable of converting a power line telecommunication signal having a data rate of greater than about 80 Megabits per second from the power line network to an Ethernet signal for use in a local area network segment. The module has a coupling device coupled to the input/output port of the power line chip. In a preferred embodiment, the module has a first pin comprising a plurality of first spring members operably coupled the coupling device. The first pin is insertable into a first site of the power outlet. The module has a second pin comprising a plurality of second spring members operably coupled to the coupling device.
US08050282B2
A Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) device and method of resolving a network address conflict by considering remote access. In the method, a UPnP remote access server (RAS) in a home network selects a virtual network address in the home network that is accessible by a remote device on a remote network and that does not conflict with a network address in the remote network, and converts an address of a packet transmitted from the home network to the remote network based on the virtual network address.
US08050276B1
An apparatus comprising an input circuit to receive packets of data from a network. A wireless output circuit transmits respective ones of the packets of data wirelessly to one or more wireless clients. A wireless input circuit receives wireless signals from the one or more wireless clients. An output circuit transmits one or more predetermined packets repeatedly to the network on behalf of one of the wireless clients in response to a respective one of the wireless signals received by the wireless input circuit from the one of the wireless clients.
US08050275B1
A method for providing a quality of service in a network environment is provided that includes receiving communication session information associated with a packet data protocol (PDP) link for an end user. The communication session information may be mapped to the end user in order to generate a quality of service attribute to be communicated to a next destination.
US08050271B2
The integrity of a data stream transmitted over a network is protected by adjusting the sequence number, the port number, or another field of a data packet field, for a number of data packets so that the data packets will be considered either valid or invalid by a downstream receiving device. Data packets that have such a field adjusted can be thought of as being rotated outside of a valid range or window, as defined for a network connection. This field of a rotated data packet can be further adjusted, through de-rotation or re-rotation, for various applications. Downstream devices can thus respond to the data packets depending on the state of the rotation.
US08050268B2
Consolidation of management traffic is performed in a network by employing a gateway network management device (NMD) to route management messages between a controller and NMDs located at sites in the network. Management addresses are assigned to components of a network management system, including the management controller and NMDs. The management addresses are distinct from customer addresses associated with equipment located at the sites. These customer addresses can serve as piggyback addresses for routing encapsulated management messages through the network. Management messages from the management controller contain the management address of the destination NMD and are first sent to the gateway NMD. The gateway NMD looks up the piggyback address corresponding to the destination management address and generates an encapsulated management message containing the management message and the piggyback address. Using the piggyback address, the encapsulated message is then routed through the network to the destination NMD.
US08050251B2
An apparatus for optimizing a virtual private network operates by defragmenting and deduplicating transfer of variable sized blocks. A large data object is converted to a plurality of data paragraphs by a fingerprinting method. Each data paragraph is cached and hashed. The hashes are transmitted between a primary and a satellite apparatus. Only data paragraphs which are not cached at both the primary and satellite are transferred. The data object is integrated from data paragraphs stored in cache and transmitted to its destination IP address.
US08050239B2
The present invention discloses a technique for avoiding a signal collision in a wireless medium to improve communication throughput. According to this technique, in a radio communication system composed of a plurality of radio communication devices in such a manner that other radio communication devices exist within the communication area of a radio communication device, a given radio communication device is assigned a time slot periodically so that it can access the wireless medium in the time slot at higher priority than the other radio communication devices. This is achieved as follows: The radio communication device monitors the wireless medium, detects other radio communication devices operating within the communication area of the radio communication device, and divide communication time on the wireless medium into time slots of equal width according to the number of other radio communication devices. Then, each radio communication device selects one of these time slots so as not to share the selected time slot with any other radio communication device, and uses a waiting time shorter than those of the other radio communication devices to access the wireless medium in the selected time slot.
US08050223B2
Enhanced frame preambles facilitate co-channel co-existence in a wireless communication environment by having at least one preamble characteristic that connotes channel-sharing information regarding the wireless communication environment. In an exemplary embodiment, a downlink subframe is received in one or more wireless communication signals in a wireless communication environment. A preamble is detected in the downlink subframe, and at least one characteristic of the preamble is ascertained. Channel-sharing information for the wireless communication environment is determined based upon the at least one characteristic of the preamble. In another exemplary embodiment, a channel is scanned to detect secondary preambles being transmitted on the channel. A current preamble configuration, including a permutation of preamble location and preamble content corresponding to the secondary preambles, is determined, which connote channel-sharing information. A next available preamble location may be adopted based on the current preamble configuration.
US08050221B2
A method and apparatus for dispersing user equipments (UEs) to non-preferred frequencies in a multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MEMS) system is provided. Information regarding a time required until a next session of the MBMS service is started is received. A determination is made as to whether to set a layer dispersion indicator (LDI) in a session stop message, according to the time required until the next session is started. The determined session stop message is sent to the UEs.
US08050216B2
It is a communication terminal including an EVDO radio control portion 1172 adapted to perform a radio communication control operation according to an EVDO communication system. When a data link is released by issuing a power-supply-off instruction during an EVDO communication, the EVDO radio communication portion 1172 is not caused to release a communication session. When the release of a data link is not based on a power-supply-off instruction, the EVDO radio control portion 1172 is caused to release a communication session and to perform reestablishment of a communication session.
US08050215B2
A method for improving power saving performance of a mobile station in an IEEE 802.16e system is provided. The method includes a first process for determining whether a synchronization condition is satisfied, the synchronization condition being that a service connection newly requested to switch to a sleep mode is low QoS insensitive to delay and there are one or fewer service connection that is in a sleep mode and whose connection type is high QoS sensitive to delay among other service connections; a second process of transmitting to a base station a sleep request message for equalizing a start time of a sleep mode of the service connection to a start time of a next sleep interval of a service connection already in the sleep mode, matching a minimum sleep interval of the service connection to the next sleep interval of the service connection already in the sleep mode, and matching a maximum sleep interval of the service connection to a maximum sleep interval of the service connection already in the sleep mode, for sleep-mode synchronization among a plurality of service connections in a mobile station when the synchronization condition is satisfied; and a third process for switching the service connection to a sleep mode indicated by the sleep request message upon receipt of a sleep response message from a base station in response to the sleep request message.
US08050214B2
Disclosed herein is a function for controlling sound output during power on. Upon the start of its booting-up process, a mobile communication terminal determines whether a key for entering the silent mode is pressed by the user. If the corresponding key is pressed, the mobile communication terminal changes a sector of a profile in which sound information is stored, so as to boot-up in the silent mode. Because the mobile communication terminal can change the current profile during the booting-up, the user can prevent the power-on sound from being generated during power on.
US08050212B2
Implementation of opportunistic use of stations in a wireless network as repeaters is described. In one implementation, a station detects the existence of rate anomaly in a wireless network. In response to the rate anomaly, the station may transform into a software repeater for certain other neighboring stations. The repeater function allows for the relaying of packets sent by these neighboring stations to the access point and vice versa. The other neighboring stations, owing to their relative proximity to the repeater station, transmit data at a higher rate to the repeater station. Thus, the removal of the slower stations reduces clogging of the access point and increases the overall data rate within the wireless network. Further, a zero-overhead network coding protocol may be implemented in conjunction with the repeater function to increase capacity of the wireless network.
US08050207B2
Techniques for managing power consumption are disclosed. For instance, an apparatus may include a first network interface module, a second network interface module, and a power management module. The first network interface module may communicate with wireless networks of a first network type, and the second network interface module may communicate with wireless networks of a second network type. Examples of first and second network types are EVDO and CDMA2000, respectively. The power management module may suspend one or more operations of the first network interface module when a number of first network type outages exceeds a predetermined outage threshold within a predetermined time interval.
US08050199B2
A call processing system, which may include multiple distributed call center sites, utilizes a local back-off approach to endpoint registration. The call processing system comprises a plurality of endpoints and at least a first server, wherein the endpoints register with the first server in order to send and receive calls in the call processing system. Responsive to an end-to-end connectivity failure or other designated event, a registration process is initiated in the call processing system for a given one of the endpoints. The issuance of at least one message of the sequence for the given endpoint is controlled so as to provide a local random back-off or other local back-off of the controlled message at that endpoint. For example, a second server implemented as an aggregation server may be operative to control the issuance of messages by the endpoints so as to provide a local random back-off for each of the plurality of endpoints by staggering the delivery of failure notifications to the endpoints.
US08050177B2
An interconnect bandwidth throttler is disclosed. The interconnect bandwidth throttler turns off the interconnect, based on whether a maximum number of transactions has take place within a predetermined throttle window. Both the maximum number of transactions and the throttle window are adjustable.
US08050166B1
A method for storing data on a storage medium is provided. The method includes receiving a modulated bitstream, wherein the modulated bitstream comprises a plurality of bits comprising a bitstate of 1 and 0. The method also includes secondary modulating each of the plurality of bits comprising the bitstate of 1 to output a plurality of secondary modulated bits. The method further includes forming a plurality of marks in the storage medium, the marks indicative of each of the plurality of secondary modulated bits and the plurality of bits comprising the bitstate of 0 in the modulated bitstream.
US08050158B2
A write power adjustment method makes it possible to set optimum write power with high precision. Trial writing is conducted by using write power Pw,m (where m is an integer) of a plurality of kinds, and a modulation M,m associated with each write power is calculated. Optimum asymptotic power Pasy-opt is calculated by performing predetermined computation by using reference asymptotic power Pasy-ref and reference write start power Pws-ref which are previously determined for each medium. An evaluated value S,m=M,m×(Pw,m−Pasy-opt) is calculated by using the optimum asymptotic power Pasy-opt. Write power Pw that makes the evaluated value S equal to zero when applying straight line approximation to a relation between the write power Pw,m and the evaluated value S,m is calculated as optimum write start power Pws-opt. And optimum write power Pw-opt is found by performing predetermined computation on the optimum write start power Pws-opt.
US08050156B2
A write-once recording medium is provided, which comprises a management information area for recording management information for managing a recorded state, and a user data area for recording user data. The user data area is configured to contain at least one recording area. At least one session is configured to contain at least one of the at least one recording area. The management information contains range information indicating a recording range of the at least one recording area and identification information for identifying the recording area located at a boundary of the session.
US08050155B2
A disc playback apparatus includes a decoder 15 for decoding audio files respectively corresponding to different data formats, which are stored in a storage unit, on the basis of a file attribute preset thereto, and for playing back the decoded audio files, and a control unit 16 for determining a file attribute of data read from the storage unit when starting the decoding and playback process on a basis of the file attribute set to the decoder, and for, when the file attribute differs from the file attribute set to the decoder, holding address information about the read data, and, after stopping the reading of subsequent data, changing the setting of the file attribute made for the decoder and then restarting to read the data by using the address information held thereby.
US08050153B2
Method for adaptively driving a tracking element with mechanical deviation and device using the same
The present invention provides a method for adaptively driving a tracking element with mechanical deviation and a driving device using the same. The method comprises the following steps: recording standard moving time and a standard motor current value, supplying driving voltage to a motor for driving a tracking element, detecting a current value of the motor and detecting moving time of the tracking element, and adjusting a driving gain of the motor based on the relation between the current value of the motor and the standard motor current value, and based on the relation between the moving time of the tracking element and the standard moving time of the standard one.
US08050148B2
One embodiment of an apparatus for generating a time stamp includes a clock input, an event signal input and a time stamp output. A DLL is connected to the clock input, with a plurality of delay elements inside the DLL. An output of each of the delay elements is connected to a data input on a latch. An event signal input is connected to an enable input on each of the latches. An output of each of the latches is connected to the time stamp output. The apparatus is adapted to produce a value on the time stamp output indicating a point at which the event signal input transitions between transitions on the clock input.
US08050147B2
A breastfeeding assist timepiece includes a housing containing a first live time display and a second resettable static time display. A left/right side indicator is defined at a further location of said housing. In use, the static time display is continuously reset to a time of a most recently completed feeding, with the left/right side indicator further designating a left or right breast employed first in the most recent feeding and in order to more accurately predict the timing of a present or future feeding, as well as which breast to be initially employed in that feeding.
US08050146B2
An apparatus and method for providing mobile broadcasting services through a communication network and a broadcast network, wherein a mobile terminal receives and stores Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) access address through an Electronic Service Guide (ESG) bootstrap File deLivery over Unidirectional Transport (FLUTE) session. The GMT access address is included in the ESG bootstrap FLUTE session when transmitted. The mobile terminal requests the GMT from the communication network using the GMT access address, receives the GMT from the communication network, and stores and sets the GMT.
US08050144B2
A vertical geophone that includes a lower frequency spring, which forms part of the geophone electrical circuit, that is positioned directly on the lower end cap This arrangement eliminates the “spring supported by a spring” arrangement of prior art geophones to minimize geophone distortion and simplify tuning of the frequency springs. A contact spring is positioned between the lower frequency spring and the lower pole piece for forming part of the geophone electrical circuit. One surface of contact spring includes a plurality of wiper surfaces that ensure consistent sliding electrical contact against either the bottom surface of the lower pole piece or the upper surface of the lower frequency spring. The obverse surface of the contact spring is preferably spot welded to the other adjacent member.
US08050143B2
A system for generating a threat alert in an infrastructure component is provided. The system includes multiple acoustic sensors configured to detect a signal. The system also includes a processing circuitry including at least one analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize the signal. The processing circuitry also includes a digital signal processor configured to process the acoustic signal in a sequential routine. The sequential routine includes a noise filtering routine configured to filter background noise from the acoustic signal and generate a filtered signal. The sequential routine also includes a source identification routine configured to identify a source generating the acoustic signal based upon the filtered signal. The sequential routine further includes a threat analysis routine configured to detect a threat based upon the source identified and generate a threat level signal.
US08050138B2
A ballistic-acoustic transducer system includes a processor and one or more acoustic sensors. The sensors are positioned in a body of water and are in communication with the processor. The system is configured such that acoustic energy generated by a non-explosive projectile as it impacts the water, enters the water, and sinks through the water, is sensed by the one or more acoustic sensors, and the processor is configured to process the acoustic energy sensed by the one or more acoustic sensors.
US08050133B2
A word line driver, a method for driving the word line driver, and a semiconductor memory device having the word line driver. The word line driver receives a main word line driving signal and a sub word line driving signal, to drive a word line with a word line driving signal, wherein the word line is driven concurrently with an activation of the main word line driving signal. The word line driver can reduce the unnecessary current consumption.
US08050128B2
A refresh signal generating circuit of a semiconductor memory device includes a flag signal generator which generates a flag signal in response to a refresh signal and a precharge signal, a clock enable signal buffer which generates first and second buffer enable signals based on an external clock enable signal in response to the flag signal, and a chip select signal buffer which generates an internal chip select signal based on an external chip select signal in response to the flag signal.
US08050127B2
A semiconductor memory device includes first and second sub-memory-cell areas configured to form a memory cell matrix and include a first bit line and a second bit line respectively to form a data transfer path corresponding to a predetermined memory cell, an additional bit line configured to cross the first sub-memory-cell area and form a data transfer path by being connected with the second bit line and a sensing and amplifying unit configured to sense and amplify data inputted through the additional bit line and the first bit line.
US08050117B2
There is provided a command generation circuit. The command generation circuit includes a first driving unit driving an output node in response to an internal MRS command and a RAS idle signal; a second driving unit driving the output node in response to an off-signal; and a latch unit latching a signal at the output node in response to a power-up signal and generating an SRR command.
US08050116B2
Embodiments of a memory cell comprising a voltage module configured to supply a first supply voltage and a second supply voltage, a data node programming module configured to receive the first supply voltage and to program a data node based at least in part on a write data line, and a complementary data node programming module configured to receive the second supply voltage and to program a complementary data node based at least in part on a complementary write data line, wherein the voltage module is configured such that the first supply voltage is substantially different from the second supply voltage for a period of time while the memory device is being programmed. Additional variants and embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed.
US08050105B2
In designing a FLOTOX EEPROM of a dual cell type, a consideration should be given to the layout of cells for microminiaturization of the FLOTOX EEPROM. The FLOTOX EEPROM of the dual cell type includes two paired floating gates (25a, 25b), two tunnel windows (33a, 33b) a shared source (27), a shared control gate (26), select gates (29a, 29b), and a shared drain 28. Thus, a higher reliability design and a higher breakdown voltage design are achieved for the FLOTOX EEPROM of the dual cell type.
US08050101B2
A program method of a nonvolatile memory device includes applying a program voltage to program cells for changing data; verifying the program cells, based on the changed data; and verifying program inhibit cells for maintaining stored data even when the program voltage is applied to the program inhibit cells, based on the stored data.
US08050100B2
A non-volatile semiconductor memory device includes a sense amplifier, first and second bit lines that are connected to the sense amplifier, a first memory cell column that is connected to the first bit line, the first memory cell column being formed by a plurality of MONOS type transistors, a first constant current source that is connected to the second bit line, the first constant current source generating a reference current for the first memory cell column, and a first switch that is provided between the first constant current source and the second bit line, the first switch being formed by a MONOS type transistor.
US08050095B2
In order to maintain the integrity of data stored in a flash memory that are susceptible to being disturbed by operations in adjacent regions of the memory, disturb events cause the data to be read, corrected and re-written before becoming so corrupted that valid data cannot be recovered. The sometimes conflicting needs to maintain data integrity and system performance are balanced by deferring execution of some of the corrective action when the memory system has other high priority operations to perform. In a memory system utilizing very large units of erase, the corrective process is executed in a manner that is consistent with efficiently rewriting an amount of data much less than the capacity of a unit of erase.
US08050090B2
A memory page boosting method, device and system for boosting unselected memory cells in a multi-level cell memory cell is described. The memory device includes a memory array of multi-level cell memory cells configured to store a first portion of logic states and a second portion of logic states. When programming the first portion of logic states, a first boosting process is applied to unselected memory cells and when programming the second portion of logic states, a second boosting process is applied to unselected memory cells.
US08050083B2
A phase change memory device and a write method thereof allow writing of both volatile and non-volatile data on the phase change memory device. The phase change memory device may be written by setting a write mode as one of a volatile write mode and a non-volatile write mode, and writing data as volatile or non-volatile by applying a write pulse corresponding to the write mode, wherein, when power is not supplied to the phase change memory device, the non-volatile data is retained and the volatile data is not retained.
US08050080B2
Random access memory with CMOS-compatible nonvolatile storage element in series with storage capacitor is described herein. Embodiments may include memory devices and systems that have plurality of row lines, column lines, and memory cells each of which comprising an access transistor, a storage capacitor and a CMOS-compatible non-volatile storage element connected in series. The CMOS-compatible non-volatile storage element may store charges corresponding to a binary value. The node located between the CMOS-compatible non-volatile storage element and the storage capacitor may be defined as a storage node. During read operation, a cell may be selected, and the voltage at the storage node of the cell may be sensed at the corresponding column line, and the binary value may be determined based on at least the sensed voltage.
US08050079B2
A nonvolatile memory device, using a resistance material, includes a memory cell array having nonvolatile memory cells arranged in a matrix, multiple bit lines, a column selection circuit and column drivers. The bit lines are coupled to columns of the nonvolatile memory cells in the memory cell array. The column selection circuit selects at least one bit line in response to column selection signals. Each column driver supplies a column selection signal, and includes a first charge unit that charges an output port of the column driver to a first voltage level in response to a first charge signal, a second charge unit that charges the output port of the column driver to a second voltage level from the first voltage level in response to a second charge signal, and a current controller that controls a current path from the second charge unit to the first charge unit.
US08050064B2
A surge voltage target setting unit obtains a main circuit power supply voltage of a semiconductor power conversion device based on an inter-terminal voltage of a semiconductor switching element detected by a voltage detection unit, and sets a control target of a surge voltage in accordance with the obtained main circuit power supply voltage. An active gate control unit, when the semiconductor switching element is turned off, sets a quantity of voltage modification so as to modify a gate voltage in a direction raising the gate voltage, that is, in a direction lowering a turn-off speed, based on feedback of the inter-terminal voltage, when the inter-terminal voltage exceeds the control target.
US08050053B2
The electronic circuit arrangement for controlling a process device comprises a process interface circuitry and a processing circuitry, wherein the process interface circuitry is designed for receiving process signals from the process device and converting the process signals into converted signals and/or digital data, which converted signals and/or digital data are transmitted to the processing circuitry, and wherein the processing circuitry is designed for processing the converted signals and/or digital data and for outputting processed signals and/or digital data, which processed signals and/or digital data are transmitted to the process interface circuitry, and wherein the process interface circuitry is designed for converting the processed signals and/or digital data into control signals, which control signals are transmitted to the process device. The process interface circuitry comprises one or more first printed circuit board assemblies, and the processing circuitry comprises one or more second printed circuit board assemblies, which second printed circuit board assemblies are different from the first printed circuit board assemblies, and wherein each second printed circuit board assembly is electrically connected to at least one of the first printed circuit board assemblies. The circuit arrangement may find applications in high or medium voltage devices, in drives and in power converters.
US08050051B2
A container assembly for accommodating an electronic device in a panel, includes: a retainer attached to the panel; a cover with the electronic device attached thereto pivotably attached to the retainer, and pivotable between an open position and a closed position; a lock for locking the cover at the closed position; a gear damper; a rotating shelf attached to the cover and sandwiching the electronic device with the cover, a rack formed on the rotating shelf configured for engaging with the gear damper; and an elastic support sandwiched between the retainer and the rotating shelf for biasing the cover to the open position via restoring force of the elastic support; wherein the gear damper depresses the restoring force of the elastic support.
US08050050B2
A semiconductor device comprising a flat wiring board, a first LSI disposed on one surface of the wiring board, a sealing resin for covering the one surface and a side face of the first semiconductor element, and a second LSI disposed on another surface of the wiring board. The wiring board has conductive wiring as a wiring layer, an insulation resin as a support layer for the wiring layer, and a conductive through-hole that passes through the wiring layer and the support layer. Connection points between lands disposed in positions in which the external peripheral edges of the semiconductor elements transverse the interior of the lands as viewed vertically from above, which lands are selected from land portions on which the external connection terminals are formed, and the wiring board formed in the same plane as the lands, are unevenly distributed toward one side of the wiring board. Connections for very small wiring are thereby made possible, and a plurality of semiconductor elements can be very densely connected.
US08050049B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device of a double-side mounting structure including a circuit board and a plurality of semiconductor chips arranged and joined together on the opposite surfaces of the circuit board, wherein in an area in which the semiconductor chip 31 mounted on the top surface of the circuit board 2 overlaps with the semiconductor chip 32 mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board 2, a recess portion 21 (or a protruding portion 22) is formed in the surfaces of the circuit board 2.
US08050047B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: providing a flexible circuit substrate having a fold; mounting an integrated circuit or an integrated circuit package over the flexible circuit substrate and connected to the flexible circuit substrate with interconnects; and encapsulating the integrated circuit or integrated circuit package with a recessed encapsulation having a first level and a second level, the second level having the flexible circuit substrate folded thereover.
US08050044B2
A power plane includes a first circuit region and a second circuit region. The length of the first circuit region or second circuit region is related to the noise frequency to be filtered out. The width of the first circuit region can be wider or narrower than the width of the second circuit region. While manufacturing the power plane, a predetermined length is decided according to the resonance frequency of an original power plane, then the proposed power plane is formed with the first circuit region and the second circuit region of a predetermined length, and making the width of the first circuit region wider or narrower than the width of the second circuit region, such that the noises with the resonance frequency can be mitigated.
US08050027B2
A data cartridge device for computer equipment includes a data cartridge which is assembled in an interior of an outer cover, so to be provided with a shock-proof effect. Widths of two side walls of the data cartridge are effectively decreased to reduce entire size of the data cartridge, and an upper and a lower layer of the outer covers are stacked with each other to effectively utilize a storage space. By the modularized design of the outer covers and the data cartridges, the present invention can be flexibly applied to outer housings with various heights (such as an industrial computer cabinet, or a server cabinet).
US08050025B2
A portable electronic (200) device using a cover mechanism (100) to close off two or more interface holes (3512, 3522 and 353) is described. The portable electronic device includes a base portion (30). The cover mechanism includes a first cover member (50) and a second cover member (70). The first cover member has a first cover portion (51) to close off one or more interface holes. The second cover member has a second cover portion (71) to close off another one or more interface holes. The second cover member is latched to the base, and the first cover member is latched to the base and the second cover member.
US08050023B2
A frame with a mounting ear, a display device using the frame and a method of manufacture thereof are provided. The frame includes a frame body and a mounting ear. The frame body has a top frame and a sidewall extending from an edge of the frame top frame. A tap hole is formed on the frame body, and the ear passes through the tap hole to connect with an inner surface of the sidewall. Besides the frame, the display device further includes a display panel module. The display panel module is disposed inside the frame and outwardly displays images via a transparent area enclosed by the frame.
US08050013B2
A capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator placed between the first and second electrodes, and an electrolyte. The first electrode includes a first collector made of metal foil, a first electrode layer containing carbon formed on the surface of the first collector, and a first protector covering the cross section of the first collector. The second electrode includes a second collector made of metal foil, a second electrode layer containing carbon formed on the surface of the second collector, and a second protector covering the cross section of the second collector.
US08049995B1
A method of designing a hard disk drive suspension swage hub geometry for an actuator arm having upper and lower suspensions attached thereto, includes using a finite element analysis model to simulate the effects of swaging the suspensions to the actuator arm, identifying relevant geometric parameters of the suspensions, for each suspensions performing a linear regression to fit an equation containing the geometric parameters to a normal force of the suspension to the actuator arm after swaging according to the fine element analysis, identifying a desired range of differences between the normal forces, using the desired difference range, and solving for values of geometric parameters to produce a set of target design parameters for the suspension swage hubs.
US08049993B2
A magnetic recording medium includes: a substrate; a recording layer that is formed on the substrate to have a grooved pattern; and a protection layer formed on the recording layer to fill in the grooved pattern, wherein the recording layer is defined to have a servo portion that retains servo data and a recording track portion that retains recording data, and wherein a first film thickness of the protection layer at the servo portion is larger than a second film thickness of the protection layer at the recording track portion by a thickness that is in a range from 1 nm to 10 nm.
US08049988B2
In a perpendicular magnetic recording head including a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer which are laminated with a magnetic gap layer interposed therebetween on a medium-opposing surface, and a pair of side shield layers positioned on both sides in the track width direction of the main magnetic pole layer while interposing a nonmagnetic material layer therebetween, the magnetic gap layer is formed in a partial area in the track width direction bridging the main magnetic pole layer and the pair of side shield layers. The pair of side shield layers are in contact with the return yoke layer in a remaining area where the magnetic gap layer is absent.
US08049976B2
The present invention relates to an optical part holding member made of ceramic and a production method thereof, and provides an optical part holding member made of ceramic such that a sintered body after processes of degreasing and sintering has small dimensional changes over dimensions of a mold, and a production method thereof. An example includes a lens holder to hold an optical part, made of a silicon nitride ceramic base composite material produced through a process in which silicon and nitrogen are reacted to be nitrided and contains silicon carbide and an iron compound.
US08049972B2
An exemplary lens actuator includes a movable unit, and a fixed unit. The movable unit includes a hollow body, and a plurality of first guiding members formed on the hollow body. The fixed unit includes a hollow cubic main body, and a plate body disposed on the top end of the hollow cubic main body. The hollow cubic main body and the plate body cooperatively define a receiving cavity for receiving the movable unit therein. The plate body faces the movable unit, and includes a through hole defined in the center of the plate body for allowing light to pass therethrough, and a plurality of second guiding members formed on the plate body. The second guiding members are coupled to the respective first guiding members for constraining the movable unit to move along the central axis of the through hole.
US08049971B2
Provided are a lens driving unit that generates a precise linear motion in a spatially limited structure by using a bending vibration piezoelectric motor having a new structure, and a camera module comprising the lens driving unit. The lens driving unit includes: a lens carrier supporting a lens and comprising a guide axis exposed at least partially to the outside and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lens; and a piezoelectric driving unit having a center portion contacting the guide axis according to a bending motion of a piezoelectric element and moving the lens carrier in a direction in which the guide axis extends.
US08049966B2
An external-cavity one-dimensional multi-wavelength beam combiner that performs wavelength beam combining along a stacking dimension of a laser stack formed of a plurality of laser arrays, each laser array configured to generate optical radiation having a unique wavelength, and each of the plurality of laser arrays including a plurality of laser emitters arranged along an array dimension of the laser stack. The multi-wavelength beam combiner includes a cylindrical telescope configured to image each of the laser emitters along a slow axis of the laser emitters, a transform lens arranged to intercept the optical radiation from each of the plurality of laser arrays and combine the optical radiation along a stacking dimension of the laser stack to form a multi-wavelength optical beam, and a diffraction element positioned at a region of overlap of the optical radiation to receive and transmit the multi-wavelength optical beam.
US08049962B2
A method and system for providing an increased angular extent of autostereoscopic viewing zones received from a display is presented. The design comprises providing a first column of data having a baseline number of views associated therewith, said first column of data provided to at least one lenticule in a lens sheet associated with the display. The design further comprises altering the first quantity of columns of data to a second quantity of columns of data provided to the at least one lenticule. The second quantity of columns comprises more views than the baseline number of views. Employing the second quantity of columns when constructing an autostereoscopic image provides a display having relatively clear viewing of autostereoscopic images for specific viewing distances.
US08049955B2
A Raman amplifier inputs pump light into an optical fiber (transmission path) through which an optical signal passes, to amplify the optical signal. An optical receiving unit is provided downstream of the Raman amplifier and monitors the power of the optical signal amplified by the Raman amplifier. A calculating unit determines Raman amplification gain based on the power of the optical signal monitored by the optical receiving unit, and calculates the power of a noise component included in the optical signal based on the gain. The calculating unit, in real-time, calculates the power, which varies in complicated manners depending on conditions, and outputs information concerning to the power to another apparatus at a frequency on the order of milliseconds.
US08049954B2
A rotating element display includes a matrix having discrete regions of cells of different sizes occupied by rotatably disposed optically and electrically anisotropic elements (e.g., electrically anisotropic bichromal spheres). The regions of larger cells are occupied by larger rotating elements having a first combination of optical properties while the regions of smaller cells are occupied by smaller elements having a second combination of optical properties. The rotating elements having different combinations of optical properties are separately addressable by electromagnetic signals that cause rotation of selected optically dissimilar elements and create a desired color image. In a different aspect, a rotating element display includes a plurality of optically anisotropic rotatable elements occupying cells of a transparent matrix, in a configuration where a background color is viewable through the matrix. A color image is created using a combination of background color with optical properties of the rotating elements.
US08049952B2
An elecotrophoretic display device includes a first substrate, a gate line formed on the first substrate, a data line crossing the gate line to form a defined area, a source electrode connected to the data line, a drain electrode facing the source electrode to define a channel area, a color filter formed on the first substrate, a first electrode formed on the color filter, the first electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate and a fluid and a plurality of charged particles interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08049950B2
An optical pulse generator comprising a phase modulator, wherein the phase modulator is configured to phase modulate and intensity modulate a continuous wave (CW) light signal in accordance with a received electrical signal, and an all-pass filter, the all-pass filter being coupled to the phase modulator to generate a pulsed light signal by filtering the modulated light signal from the phase modulator.
US08049947B2
A display assembly comprises a backplane assembly comprising a plurality of spaced backplane areas, each backplane area comprising a plurality of electrodes, the backplane areas being separated by gutter areas free from electrodes; an adhesive layer overlying the plurality of spaced backplane areas; and a layer of a solid electro-optic medium overlying the adhesive layer in the plurality of spaced backplane areas. The display sub-assembly can be produced via a single lamination and severed to form a plurality of separate electro-optic displays. Processes for producing the display assembly are also described.
US08049940B2
A method is provided for reprinting damaged mailpieces for use in a mailpiece inserter. The method comprising the steps of producing an object-oriented data file of the mailpiece content material including a scan code and storing the object-oriented data files in a reprint repository. The status of a mail run is tracked as mailpieces are fabricated and the results are recorded in a reprint file. The results record whether a mailpiece was successfully fabricated and reprint files are generated in connection with unsuccessfully fabricated mailpieces.
US08049936B2
The invention provides a portable computer system for capturing a target image related to an item. The portable computer system comprises a base, a cover, an image capturing module, and a lightness adjusting module. The cover is pivotally connected to the base, and comprises a panel. According to the size of the item, the cover rotates with respect to the base to project the light radiated from the panel onto the base. The image capturing module is used for rotating with respect to the cover to capture a reference image according to the size of the item. The lightness adjusting module is used for adjusting the lightness of the panel according to the reference image. After the lightness of the panel is adjusted, the item is deposed on the base, and the image capturing module captures the target image related to the item.
US08049934B2
A communication terminal device includes a receiving unit, a printer unit, a selection registering unit, an extracting unit, and a determining unit. The receiving unit receives data. The printer unit prints an image onto printing paper according to the data received by the receiving unit. The selection registering unit registers a selection of whether or not to attach a storage medium, in which information can be electronically written, to the printing paper and to output the printing paper, by associating the selection with prescribed information. The extracting unit extracts the prescribed information from the data received by the receiving unit or data acquired in relation with transmission and reception of the data. The determining unit determines whether or not to attach the storage medium to the printing paper according to the selection registered in the selection registering unit by being associated with the prescribed information extracted by the extracting unit.
US08049933B2
A combination of a latent-image pattern which forms a latent-image part and a background pattern that forms a background-image part is determined so that the latent-image part and background-image part have equal print densities. The determined latent-image pattern and background pattern, color information used to determine a color of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image, input image information as an image to be processed, copy-forgery-inhibited pattern basic information used to designate the latent-image part and background-image part, and camouflage region designation image information used to designate a camouflage region are input. A copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is generated on the basis of the input information.
US08049932B2
An image forming apparatus which having a plurality of image processing modes, that is capable of accurate density gradation control without performing output of any patch image to a recording medium in all the image processing modes. A first correction parameter corresponding to a first image processing mode is prepared on the basis of a result of detection, by a second density detection unit, of the image formed on a recording medium in a first image processing mode. A second correction parameter corresponding to a second image processing mode is prepared on the basis of the first correction parameter and a correlation, stored in a storage unit in advance, between density of a toner image formed on an image bearing member in the first image processing mode and density of toner image formed on the image bearing member in the second image processing mode.
US08049930B2
A method is performed to hide a watermark in two halftone images or in a single halftone image. The halftone image contains information of the hidden watermark, and each pixel value of the halftone image is associated with a corresponding offset value. The offset value is determined according to a corresponding pixel value of the watermark and a corresponding pixel value of another halftone image. The offset value is used to compensate a corresponding input value and a corresponding original error value of the halftone image.
US08049927B2
There are provided an image processing apparatus which corrects the curvature of a scanning line using image data in image formation, and a control method thereof. When reading out image data by burst transfer from a memory in the line direction of a scanning line on the basis of the read start address of the image data and the burst transfer length, the switching address in the line direction for switching a line of image data is set. The image processing apparatus generates, based on the switching address, the second read start address for reading out image data of the second line, so as to read out image data by burst transfer of at least the first line before line switching and the second line after line switching, in accordance with the set switching address. Image data is read out in accordance with an address generated by the address generator, to form an image in which the curvature of a scanning line is corrected.
US08049926B2
Methods and systems of selecting a color for a print operation are disclosed. A color including a color formula with multiple color components may be selected based on a reference color. A print sample may be printed on a printing device based on the selected color. The print sample may include the selected color and one or more rings of color variants. Each ring may include a plurality of color variants differing from a color component of the selected color by a corresponding amount. Each color variant may be aligned axially based on the color component that differs from the selected color and a magnitude of a difference between the color component of the color variant and the selected color. The print sample may be compared to the reference color. A document may be printed on the printing device using at least the color formula for the selected color.
US08049917B2
An image processing device, which includes a reading section that reads image information on both sides; an inquiry section that inquires operational authority; and an execution section that executes a desired operation if the operational authority exists, wherein the document is synthesizedly printed, and the image processing device further includes: an extraction section that extracts added image information; a first determining section that, if the added image information is not extracted, determines whether the information is included in a next surface or in a preceding surface; a second determining section that, if included, determines whether a attribute is imparted to the information, and whether a logical page number agrees with a logical total number of pages; and an image processing section that, if the attribute is imparted and the numbers agree, ignores the image information of the printing surface, and subjects image information of another surface to image processing.
US08049914B2
A multi-function apparatus which is capable of properly coping with cases where an auto-clear function is activated to thereby improve operability after execution of the function. The operating section of a copying machine displays an operating screen associated with each function and receives inputs via the operating screen. According to the auto-clear function, set values associated with predetermined functions are reset to initial values when no input operation has been performed via the operating section over a predetermined time period, and the operating section is caused to display an operating screen associated with a predetermined function. A controller unit of the machine determines whether the copying machine should be operated in a first mode in which disconnection from the network is carried out or in a second mode in which connection to the network is maintained. The controller unit selects one of the first mode and the second mode based on a result of the determination.
US08049907B2
A data processing apparatus is monitoring the first port of itself and the second port of itself. If the data processing apparatus receives data via the second port, it conducts a specific process to the data regardless of a data format of the data so as to convert the data into the data format that can be processed regardless of a data format of the data and sends converted data to the first port.
US08049892B2
A method includes receiving light from a material at a digital imaging device. The method also includes filtering the light into at least three spectral bands using a filter, where different regions of the filter pass different spectral bands. The method further includes measuring the light in each of the spectral bands and determining at least one color associated with the material using the measured light in the spectral bands. The different regions of the filter could include multiple masks (where each mask passes one of the spectral bands), different areas of a linear variable filter, and/or individual filters (where each individual filter passes one of the spectral bands). The digital imaging device could include a digital camera. The filter could be formed on a detector in the digital camera, and/or a component of the digital camera could be replaced with the filter.
US08049880B2
A system for time resolved spectroscopy comprises a CCD device arranged to receive a time varying spectrum. Time resolved spectroscopy is the analysis of a spectrum that varies with time due to any cause. The variation with time of the spectrum may be due, for example, to (i) changes of the spectrum from a given sample space with time (such as due to emission decay); and (ii) changes in the spectrum as successive portions of a sample space are sampled (such as laser scanning microscopy). The CCD device comprises an array of photosites arranged to detect the time varying spectrum and to produce signal charge representative of the spectrum, and one or more CCD multiplication registers arranged to receive the signal charge and to provide charge multiplication. An enhancement of speed and sensitivity is given by a storage area which receives the signal charge in parallel from the array of photosites to provide the charge in serial to the one or more multiplication registers.
US08049877B2
Computer-implemented methods, carrier media, and systems for selecting polarization settings for an inspection system for inspection of a layer of a wafer are provided. One method includes detecting a population of defects on the layer of the wafer using results of each of two or more scans of the wafer performed with different combinations of polarization settings of the inspection system for illumination and collection of light scattered from the wafer. The method also includes identifying a subpopulation of the defects for each of the different combinations, each of which includes the defects that are common to at least two of the different combinations, and determining a characteristic of a measure of signal-to-noise for each of the subpopulations. The method further includes selecting the polarization settings for the illumination and the collection to be used for the inspection corresponding to the subpopulation having the best value for the characteristic.
US08049872B2
An endpoint detection device, a plasma reactor with the endpoint detection device, and an endpoint detection method are provided. The endpoint detection device includes an OES data operation unit, a data selector, a product generator, an SVM, and an endpoint determiner. The OES data operation unit processes reference OES data by normalization and PCA. The data selector selects part of the linear reference loading vectors and selects part of the selected linear reference loading vectors. The product generator outputs at least one reference product value. The SVM performs regression and outputs a prediction product value. The endpoint determiner detects a process wafer etch or deposition endpoint and outputs a detection signal.
US08049870B2
A system and method for tracking an airborne target including an illumination source (e.g., a diode laser array) is used to enhance a target signature and a detector (e.g., a passive high-speed camera) is used to detect to electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared radiation) reflected off the target. The received electromagnetic radiation may be processed by a digital computer and passed through a spatial filter that implements a band limited edge detection operation in the frequency domain. The filter may remove low spatial frequencies that attenuate soft edged clutter such as clouds and smoke as well as filter out artifacts and attenuated medium to high spatial frequencies to inhibit speckle noise from the detector as well as speckle from the laser return off the target.
US08049862B2
A layer of material, such as crystalline indium tin oxide (ITO), is formed on top of a substrate by heating the material to a high temperature, while a temperature increase of the substrate is limited such that the temperature of the substrate does not exceed a predetermined temperature. For example, a layer including amorphous ITO can be deposited on top of the substrate, and the amorphous layer can be heated in a surface anneal process using radiation while limiting substrate temperature. Another process can pass electrical current through the amorphous ITO. In another process, the substrate is passed through a high-temperature deposition chamber quickly, such that a portion of a layer of crystalline ITO is deposited, while the temperature increase of the substrate is limited.
US08049861B2
A liquid crystal display device includes an illuminator and a liquid crystal panel for performing displaying by using light which is emitted from the illuminator. The liquid crystal panel includes a pair of substrates, a liquid crystal layer provided between the pair of substrates, and a pair of alignment films provided on sides of the pair of substrates facing the liquid crystal layer. At least one of the alignment films is a photo-alignment film which is imparted with an orientation regulating force through a photo-alignment treatment, and the illuminator includes a light source causing primary generation of at least blue light, among other light which is used for displaying.
US08049855B2
A display device having a common electrode and pixel electrodes disposed in an insulating state on one of a pair of substrates between which a liquid crystal layer is held, in which each of the pixel electrodes includes a plurality of electrode portions disposed in parallel with one another, each of the electrode portions has a flat surface shape in which each of the electrode portions is bent approximately at a central portion in an extension direction, and each of the pixel electrodes also includes a bridge portion through which corresponding ones of the electrode portions are connected to one another in the bending portion.
US08049854B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device having an array substrate with a top gate type TFT includes a first transparent metal layer deposited to enhance the adhesion between a data metal layer and an insulating substrate before a data metal deposition, and a second transparent metal layer deposited to enhance the adhesion between a gate metal layer and an insulating substrate before a gate metal deposition. The LCD device having the array substrate with a top gate type TFT can be fabricated with a reduced number of masking or sputtering processes, thereby reducing the fabrication time of the LCD device and increasing the yield of the LCD device.
US08049853B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate each including an active area and a non-active area; a black matrix on the first substrate in the non-active area; a color filter layer on the black matrix; a common electrode on the color filter layer and black matrix; an array element on the second substrate in the active area; a plurality of signal lines and a common bridge line in the non-active area; a protective layer on the array element, signal lines and a common bridge line; a transparent pattern connected to the common bridge line and extending to a border region between the active and non-active areas; a seal pattern formed in an edge portion of the first and second substrates; and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second substrates.
US08049852B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display, the method including; disposing a thin film transistor having an input terminal and an output terminal on a first substrate, connecting a pixel electrode to the output terminal, disposing an organic layer on the pixel electrode, forming a first alignment layer having at least two different alignment directions by disposing a mask on the organic layer and radiating an ion beam to the organic layer, disposing a common electrode on a second substrate corresponding to the first substrate, forming a second alignment layer having at least two different alignment directions on the common electrode, and disposing a liquid crystal layer between the first alignment layer and the second alignment layer.
US08049846B2
A reflection-type display device includes an optical modulation layer 34, a pair of substrates 30 and 32 between which the optical modulation layer 34 is retained, an electrode structure 52, 44 for causing pixel-by-pixel changes in the optical characteristics of the optical modulation layer 34. One of the pair of substrates 32 has a corner cube array composed of a plurality of corner cubes 36. The corner cube array 36 has a plurality of projections 46 defining an interval between the pair of substrates 30 and 32, the plurality of projections 46 being disposed in peak portions.
US08049845B2
An optical diffusion device applied in a backlight module includes a plate. Multiple light sources are disposed on one side of the plate. Multiple optical microstructures provided with a longer axis and a shorter axis are disposed on the plate. The longer axis of each optical microstructure is approximately arranged in parallel with a direction extending from the light source, or, in other words, the shorter axis is arranged approximately crossing the direction extending from the light source. A diffusion effect is provided to each light source through the shorter axis of the optical microstructure to increase optical radiant energy among the light sources and to eliminate the dim and dark regions among the light sources for increasing general luminance of the backlight module.
US08049837B2
The present invention is directed to a multilayer film. The present invention is also directed to a backlight unit and a liquid crystal display into which the multilayer film is incorporated. The backlight unit comprises a light source; and a multilayer film disposed adjacent to the light source, wherein the multilayer film comprises a first layer including a plurality of first particles and at least one second layer including a plurality of second particles, and wherein the second layer is disposed adjacent to the first layer and has a refractive index different from the first layer. The liquid crystal display comprises a liquid crystal panel; a light source; and a multilayer film disposed adjacent to the light source, wherein the multilayer film comprises a first layer including a plurality of first particles and at least one second layer including a plurality of second particles, and wherein the second layer is disposed adjacent to the first layer and has a refractive index different from the first layer.
US08049836B2
A display device, a front frame used therein, and a method of manufacture thereof are provided. The display device includes a display panel and the front frame. The display panel has a display surface which is partially covered by the front frame. The front frame includes a side wall corresponding to the sides of the display panel, a top plate extending from the side wall towards the center of the display panel, and cushion filler. The top plate has an inner surface featuring a groove distributed along the side wall. The cushion filler is contained within the groove while its top protrudes from the groove and contacts the display surface outside an active area.
US08049835B2
A display module includes a planar display panel being a liquid crystal display panel, a frame disposed under the planar display panel, a lower bezel disposed outside the frame, an upper bezel disposed outside the planar display panel, and a back light module disposed inside the frame. The frame includes at least one side wall. The outer surface of the side wall includes a plurality of tenons and a fixing plate is coupled to the side wall. The fixing plate is contacted with a side of the planar display panel. The side wall of the lower bezel includes a first hole corresponding to a first tenon so that the first tenon can be engaged with the first hole. The side wall of the upper bezel includes at least one second hole corresponding to a second tenon so that the second tenon can be engaged with the second hole.
US08049833B2
An LCD device with a simplified configuration is disclosed. The LCD device includes a reflection sheet configured to include an opened upper surface, a plurality of first supporters formed to inwardly project from the side walls of the reflection sheet, a bottom cover configured to receive the reflection sheet, a plurality of second supporters formed to inwardly project from the side walls of the bottom cover, and optical sheets disposed on the reflective sheet and configured to include a plurality of fixed protrusions which are formed to outwardly project from the edges of the optical sheets. The edges of a lower surface of a liquid crystal display panel are placed on the first supporters, and the fixed protrusions of the optical sheets are placed on the second supporters.
US08049831B2
The liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal panel; a backlight unit that includes a light guide plate that is positioned at a lower part of the liquid crystal panel and that guides light emitted from a light source in a direction of the liquid crystal panel, and a plurality of optical sheets that provide light emitted from the light guide plate to the liquid crystal panel; and a plurality of step parts that are formed from a base surface to an upper surface in order to receive the liquid crystal panel and the backlight unit, wherein a step part facing the liquid crystal panel among the plurality of step parts includes a main support having an area patterned to be apart from the liquid crystal panel.
US08049815B2
A camera module includes an image sensor, a substrate, a lens part, a lens holder, and a voice-coil motor (VCM). The image sensor is supported on and electrically connected to the substrate. The lens holder has a bottom end and an upper end opposite to the bottom end. The image sensor is accommodated within the lens holder. The lens part includes a lens barrel which has an upper portion and a bottom portion and is disposed on the lens holder. The VCM includes a winding coiling around the upper portion and a set of permanent magnetic members fixedly fixed and surrounding the winding. The outer diameter of the upper portion is smaller than that of the bottom portion. The VCM is configured for driving the lens part to move toward to or away from the image sensor.
US08049793B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image file creation unit, a storage control unit, an extracting unit, and a display controller. The image file creation unit is configured to create a file including a plurality of images, first management information indicating a specified Exif version, and second management information including an image size and a total number of the images in the file. The storage control unit is configured to store the image file in a storage. The extraction unit is configured to extract the image from the image file in the storage based on the second management information. The display controller is configured to display the image on a display.
US08049791B2
An automatic exposure control circuit and a method for generating a hierarchical histogram for exposure control. The control circuit and the method result in the generation of a histogram with sub-histograms of differing resolutions. The sub-histograms are used to adjust an image exposure setting according to a distribution of pixel values determined from the histogram.
US08049790B2
Disclosed herein is an electronic camera for generating an image having a wide dynamic range by synthesizing two image pickup signals of different exposure amount generated by using an electronic shutter function and means for shutting off light, shading of image pickup signals resulting from difference in charge accumulating time among the pixels of image pickup device due to operation from opened state to closed state of the means for shutting off light being corrected by a shading correction means to form a synthesized image without an occurrence of false color due to shading. Also provided is an electronic camera generating two image pickup signals of different exposure amount by two shots of picture taking each using a flash emission in combination, at least one of an electronic shutter of image pickup device and means for shutting off light, as well as an emission of the flash emission means, being controlled to equalize between the two shots of picture taking ratio of exposure by normal light excluding light from the flash emission means and ratio of emission amount by the light from the flash emission means so that the two image pickup signals can be readily generated as having a predetermined exposure amount ratio in every part of a frame of picture even when a flash emission is used in combination.
US08049787B2
An image processing circuit capable of shooting a desired subject is provided in which increasing the size of the digital camera has been avoided. Sensor control unit 31 includes a moving image mode and a still image shooting mode. If a shutter button is operated when sensor control unit is driven in the moving image mode in which mechanical shutter 21 is open, image pickup control unit 37 stops the operation of sensor control unit. Then, after exposing image sensor 23 for a predetermined exposure time, image pickup control unit 37 closes mechanical shutter 21. Additionally, image pickup control unit 37 switches sensor control unit 31 to the still image shooting mode while mechanical shutter 21 is closed.
US08049784B2
An anti-shake device for positioning an image-capturing unit in an optical instrument. A base includes a shaft pillar. A clamp unit includes a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm. The first and second clamping arms pivot to the shaft pillar of the base and detachably clamp the image-capturing unit. A drive unit is connected to the base and includes a driven member driving the first and second clamping arms of the clamp unit to rotate and shifting between a first mode and a second mode. The first and second clamping arms are separated from each other and the image-capturing unit when the driven member is in the first mode. The first and second clamping arms close and clamp the image-capturing unit when the driven member is in the second mode.
US08049780B2
A calibration error correction device for an optical instrument includes a detector operable to detect a position of a focusing lens of an optical instrument along a mechanical path of the focusing lens. A line of sight through an image plane of the optical instrument and the focusing lens at a present position defines an actual viewing direction. The device also includes a memory configured to store viewing direction errors specifying a deviation between a known theoretical viewing direction and the actual viewing direction associated with a plurality of different positions of the focusing lens along the mechanical path and an indicator of at least one value indicative of the actual viewing direction based on the theoretical viewing direction and the viewing direction errors at each of the different positions of the focusing lens along the mechanical path.
US08049775B2
An unit (317, 318) acquires identification information from a camera (101R) (left camera 101L). The unit (303, 312) checks a connection state based on the identification information, and determines the subsequent operation. A unit (305) transmits position and orientation information of the camera (101R) to an apparatus (206). A unit (308) outputs a composite image of a virtual space image generated based on the position and orientation information and a captured image input by a unit (302) to an HMD (100). A unit (313) calculates the position and orientation of the camera (101L) using position and orientation relationship information and the position and orientation information. An unit (316) outputs a composite image of a virtual space image generated based on the position and orientation of the camera (101L), and a captured image input by a unit (311) to the HMD (100).
US08049749B2
An image generator for medical use includes a shape information acquiring unit acquiring shape information of a subject, a functional information acquiring unit acquiring a functional value of the subject, a polyhedron generating unit generating a polyhedron so as to have a clearance within a virtual display space on the basis of the acquired shape information, a functional information mapping unit allocating the functional information to a face of the polyhedron, and a display unit displaying and outputting the virtual display space.
US08049740B2
A computer readable medium has instructions to calibrate a touch system by detecting touch points on a touchscreen that are each associated with touchscreen coordinates in a touchscreen coordinate system. The instructions associated each of the touch points with known calibration targets, and each of the calibration targets has display coordinates in a display coordinate system that is associated with at least one of a display screen and an operating system. The instructions fit the display coordinates and the touchscreen coordinates non-linearly with respect to each other based on a generalized Laplace-constrained fit that is used to identify correction parameters used to map a user generated run-time touch point on the touchscreen to a display coordinate location on a display screen. The correction parameters represent non-linear corrections.
US08049738B2
A touch sensitive position sensor for detecting the position of an object in two dimensions is described. The position sensor has first and second resistive bus-bars spaced apart with an anisotropic conductive area between them. Electric currents induced in the anisotropic conductive area by touch or proximity flow preferentially towards the bus-bars to be sensed by detection circuitry. Because induced currents, for example those induced by drive circuitry, flow preferentially along one direction, pin-cushion distortions in position estimates are largely constrained to this single direction. Such one-dimensional distortions can be corrected for very simply by applying scalar correction factors, thereby avoiding the need for complicated vector correction.
US08049737B2
A dual pointing device and method based on 3-D motion and touch sensors are provided. The dual pointing device includes a sensor including a first sensor sensing a motion in a space and a second sensor sensing a touch input, a movement-mode-determining unit determining a movement mode type using signals of the first and second sensors, and a pointer-moving unit moving a pointer on a display screen using at least one of the signals of the first sensor and the second sensor according to the determined movement mode type.
US08049735B2
A touch panel has a first substrate and a second substrate. The thickness in the non-sensor regions of the first substrate is greater than the thickness in the sensor regions of the first substrate. The second substrate includes first photo spacers and second photo spacers having substantially the same heights. The first photo spacers are structurally connected to the non-sensor regions of the first region of the first substrate, and the second photo spacers are positioned corresponding to the sensor regions of the first substrate that maintain a first gap with the first substrate.
US08049732B2
A touch surface device having improved sensitivity and dynamic range is disclosed. In one embodiment, the touch surface device includes a touch-sensitive panel having at least one sense node for providing an output signal indicative of a touch or no-touch condition on the panel; a compensation circuit, coupled to the at least one sense node, for generating a compensation signal that when summed with the output signal removes an undesired portion of the output signal so as to generated a compensated output signal; and an amplifier having an inverting input coupled to the output of the compensation circuit and a non-inverting input coupled to a known reference voltage.
US08049726B2
An optical trace detecting module is disposed in a computer input device. The computer input device is able to displace on a plane relatively, and has a light-pervious plate used for an object to contact with and move on a surface thereof. The optical trace detecting module includes a circuit board, a first projection set, a second projection set, and at least one optical path diverting element. An optical sensor is electrically disposed on the circuit board. The first projection set is opposite to the light-pervious plate. The second projection set is opposite to the plane. The optical path diverting element is disposed between the two projection sets and the optical sensor, so as to direct the sensing beams emitted by the two projection sets to reach the optical sensor, thereby generating corresponding control signals.
US08049725B2
The present invention relates to a wireless mouse. The wireless mouse includes a base and a slidable battery cover. The slidable battery cover is pivotally coupled to the base. After the slidable battery cover is released from the base, the slidable battery cover is firstly slid outwardly and then rotated upwardly.
US08049712B2
Aspects of the invention provide an electronic paper display system that can include an electronic paper and the writing device. The writing device transmits power and baseband signals by using an electromagnetic coupling between a coil of the writing device and a coil of the electronic paper. The baseband signals, which are encoded by the writing device, are decoded by a decoder of the electronic paper and fed to the control circuit to illustrate images on a bi-stable display unit. The electronic paper has a power storage that temporarily stores power transmitted by using electromagnetic coupling for absorbing fluctuation of power in both transmission and consumption. The asynchronous design of this invention brings both robustness and low-power consumption.
US08049710B2
A multi-view autostereoscopic display apparatus with improved resolution, includes: a display panel alternately displaying a plurality of images of different view points; an image separating device for separating the plurality of images such that the separated images can be alternately observed in different viewing zones; and a directional backlight unit switched between a plurality of different angular distributions of illumination to selectively provide light to the display panel, wherein the directional backlight unit is switched between the plurality of different angular distributions of illumination in synchronization with an image display period of the display panel.
US08049708B2
The present invention provides a controller for controlling strings of LEDs in a liquid crystal display. The hybrid controller uses both analog and digital circuit components. Error amplifiers are used to compare analog feedback signals received from the LED strings with reference signals. The results of those comparisons are converted to digital data and processed by a digital signal processor (DSP). The DSP calculates the drive voltages for the LED strings based on the deviation between the actual current flows (represented by feedback signals) and the desired current flows (represented by reference signals) through the LED strings. Analog drivers provide the drive voltages to the LED strings.
US08049700B2
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) includes a plurality of pixels, each including first and second liquid crystal capacitors, a first storage capacitor including a first terminal connected to the second liquid crystal capacitor and a second terminal applied with a first storage electrode signal, a second storage capacitor including a first terminal connected to the second liquid crystal capacitor and a second terminal applied with a second storage electrode signal having an opposite phase to the first storage electrode signal, and a third storage capacitor including a first terminal connected to the first liquid crystal capacitor and a second terminal applied with the first or second storage electrode signal. A driving method of the LCD improves transmittance and visibility and increases an aperture ratio thereof.
US08049692B2
A common voltage generation circuit includes a common voltage adjusting circuit adjusting a level of a common voltage in response to a compensation signal and providing the adjusted common voltage to a liquid crystal panel, and a common voltage compensating circuit including a resistor producing potential differences between the adjusted common voltage and each of the positive and negative polarity data voltages, a first voltage detector detecting a potential difference between the adjusted common voltage and the negative polarity data voltage, a second voltage detector detecting a potential difference between the adjusted common voltage and the positive polarity data voltage, and a voltage comparator comparing output signals of the first and second voltage detectors and feeding the compensation signal back to the common voltage adjusting circuit.
US08049682B2
There is provided a plasma display device. The plasma display device includes a plasma display panel (PDP) and a driving unit for generating driving signals for driving the PDP. A period in which sustain signals are supplied to the PDP includes a first period in which sustain signals supplied to the PDP gradually increase from a reference voltage to a first voltage, a second period for sustaining a second voltage higher than the first voltage, a third period gradually falling from the second voltage to a third voltage higher than the reference voltage, and a fourth period for sustaining the reference voltage. The length of the first period is shorter than the length of the third period. The first switch is turned on at a point of time before the magnitude of current that flows through the inductor reaches a maximum value and then, becomes 0 in the first period. In supplying the sustain signals to the PDP, the point of time where the sustain voltage sustain period or the reference voltage sustain period starts is controlled so that the driving margin of the PDP can be secured enough without remarkably increasing the power consumption for the PDP and that the high resolution PDP can be driven at high speed.
US08049675B2
A multi-feed horn includes a first feed horn, a second feed horn and a third feed horn which are connected to a first waveguide, a second waveguide and a third waveguide, respectively. The first feed horn is provided with a first proximal end opening and a first tip opening which are rectangular in shape, the second feed horn is provided with a second proximal end opening and a second tip opening which are rectangular in shape, and the third feed horn is provided with a third proximal end opening and a third tip opening which are rectangular in shape. Consequently, a multi-feed horn, a low noise block downconverter and an antenna apparatus which allow a further improvement in the reception characteristic and in the manufacturing accuracy can be provided.
US08049673B2
An electronic device includes a multi-frequency antenna. The multi-frequency antenna includes a ground portion, a support body, a radiation portion, and a strap. The ground portion defines a gap, and two grooves communicating with the gap and located at opposite ends of the gap. The radiation portion resists against a sidewall bounding the gap, and is connected to the strap. The radiation portion is accommodated in the gap and substantially coplanar with the ground portion. The radiation portion defines a slot. The support body is located in the gap and on the radiation portion, to support the strap.
US08049670B2
A portable terminal may include a terminal body, a printed circuit board having a ground unit coupled to an antenna, and an electric field reducing unit to transfer a current flowing in the ground unit to a side surface of the terminal body and to reduce strength of an electric field.
US08049667B2
An antenna system has N antenna units stacked on a mast. Each unit has elements for responding to, e.g., GPS signals, and a phasing network that produces mutually orthogonal primary and auxiliary pattern modes at corresponding mode ports of the unit. A number of power dividers are each associated with a different mode, and each divider has N input ports coupled to the associated mode port of a corresponding antenna unit. The power divider associated with the primary pattern mode produces a reference beam and an auxiliary beam, and remaining power dividers produce different auxiliary beams. All beams have approximately both a common phase center and a common group delay center. An adaptive processor combines the reference and selected auxiliary beams to obtain a composite antenna reception pattern in which nulls are inserted at certain angles to suppress interfering signals, without degrading authentic signals arriving at other angles.
US08049663B2
A method to improve a system's signal performance may comprise: generating a first signal, transmitting the first signal, receiving the first signal, and generating a second signal. The method may further comprise: identifying signal distortions generated by at least one of, a transmitter hardware that transmits the first signal and a receiver hardware that receives the first signal, modifying the second signal based upon the identified signal distortions, correlating the first signal and the second signal by a correlator to generate a correlated signal, and outputting the correlated signal.
US08049661B1
An array antenna has elements spaced less than one-half wavelength in order to produce a spatial pattern which has both visible and invisible regions. The elements in their nominal state are weighted so as to define particular sidelobe levels. In the presence of failed elements which might otherwise degrade the sidelobe levels, the element weighting function is compensated so as to preserve the sidelobe levels within the visible region of the antenna pattern by placing most or all of the degradation of the sidelobe levels into the invisible region of the antenna pattern.
US08049653B2
An amplifier that is operated between first and second power supplies includes a transistor pair having control terminals to which input signals are input, a load resistor pair that is provided between each transistor of the transistor pair and the first power supply, a constant current source that is provided between the second power supply and the transistor pair, and a first switch that is connected with the constant current source in series between the second power supply and the transistor pair, the first switch being turned on or off in accordance with a clock signal.
US08049649B2
A parallel-to-serial conversion circuit for converting pieces of parallel data into serial data, and a parallel-to-serial converting method thereof include: a shifter configured to sequentially shift an initiation signal to generate a plurality of transfer activation signals; a valid duration generator configured to define valid durations of the plurality of pieces of parallel data based on a clock and the plurality of transfer activation signals; and an output unit configured to receive the plurality of pieces of parallel data whose valid duration has been defined and to drive an output in response to a piece of data from among the received parallel data whose valid duration has begun.
US08049646B2
In a key input device, a control section is configured to receives a key return signal as an interrupt signal in a standby mode, to set a normal mode in response to the interrupt signal, and to perform a key scan operation in the normal mode to determine an operated key. A key matrix section having a plurality of keys and configured to supply the key return signal to the control section in response to an operation to the operated key of the plurality of keys.
US08049639B2
A ceiling mount light with a single spherical lens with a 360-degree range viewing field to focus infrared energy into a motion sensor is provided. The ceiling mount light has a sensitivity regulating switch to adjust the level of sensitivity up to about 30 feet in the 360-degree viewing field.
US08049634B2
Disclosed is a method, system and apparatus for use in remotely and internally tapping a conduit. The method is performed, at least partially, by an automatic mechanism or robot configured to effectively perform the tasks and various steps of the method. The method includes the steps of: (a) lining a conduit with a liner; and (b) inserting an automatic mechanism into an internal portion of the liner, wherein the automatic mechanism (i) locates a service tap connection point; and (ii) at least partially engages a fitting device within an internal surface of the service tap entry portion, thereby providing fluid communication between a service tap internal passageway and an internal portion of the liner. An automatic mechanism, a fitting device and an insert element are also disclosed.
US08049633B2
In one embodiment, an electric field sensor is provided including an elongated conductor; a circuit including an input and an output connected across the elongated conductor wherein said circuit includes a DC to AC signal converter; wherein said elongated conductor is operative to impose a DC signal on said circuit input in response to being exposed to an electric field and broadcast an AC signal converted from said DC signal in response to said electric field being greater than a threshold level.
US08049632B2
An alarm system notification device that comprises a single strobe, an input selector, and a controller is disclosed. The single strobe may be configured to operate at a first wavelength band in a first configuration and at a second wavelength band in a second configuration, the first wavelength band being different from the second wavelength band. The configuration of the single strobe (either in the first or second configuration) is determined based on a command that is input by the input selector. In response to receiving the command, the controller may control the single strobe so that the single strobe is configured to operate at one of the first wavelength band in the first configuration or the second wavelength band in the second configuration as indicated in the command.
US08049619B2
A monitoring system, for monitoring an object, which includes a microprocessor comprising a memory to store data, and a control program executed by said microprocessor, said microprocessor having a stand-by mode and an active mode, a communications means connected to said microprocessor for transmitting data from said microprocessor to a monitoring station, a zone monitoring device on the object connected to said microprocessor in a loop with said microprocessor in said stand-by mode, a power source for supplying power to said microprocessor, communications means and zone monitoring device, wherein upon said microprocessor receiving an input signal from said zone monitoring device, said control program directs said microprocessor to switch to active mode, generate and store in said memory an alarm message corresponding to said input signal from said zone monitoring device, activate said communications means, and transmit said alarm message to a monitoring station.
US08049614B2
A method and apparatus to collect user location data over time, correlating user location data with outbreak data. The method and apparatus further comprising an alert mechanism to indicate to a user if there was a potential exposure.
US08049613B2
A security system that can be used in a home, office, or other building in order to generate alarms or take other actions depending on conditions within the building. The security system may rely on sensors within the building which sense various conditions and collect other data. The information learned from the sensors can be communicated to a location outside the building for processing, such as, but not limited to, processing associated with a need to instigate an alarm.
US08049610B2
An Abrupt Braking Indicator (ABI) that complements a vehicle's existing rear brake light by determining the difference between regular brake pedal usage and dangerous abrupt stops or abrupt-braking that often causes accidents. It is when, and only when, an abrupt stop or hard brake occurs at the differential gravitational value of 0.5 G or more that the present invention emits highly noticeable flashing lights that warn following drivers of the sudden hazard ahead.
US08049605B2
Aspects of the present invention are directed at allowing a vehicle to idle for a predetermined amount of time before shutdown. In accordance with one embodiment, a method is provided that accepts input from the vehicle operator to initiate a countdown to vehicle shutdown. When the input is received, a countdown is initiated that is regularly updated to reflect the passage of time. During the countdown, a vehicle ignition bus is maintained in an active state and a countdown value that reflects the time remaining before shutdown is presented on a graphical display. Then, in response to expiration of the countdown, the method allows the vehicle ignition bus to transition into an inactive state.
US08049603B2
An on-vehicle display device mounted on a ceiling including an open and close mechanism, which secures the rearward visibility during the backward driving of the vehicle and also enables the user to continue to enjoy display images. The on-vehicle display device includes a control means which controls the display 1, when the display 1 is open at a best view-angle position, to move in even more widely open direction to a predetermined angle (an displacement-angle position 1b), upon detection of entering a backward driving state of the vehicle. The display 1 is controlled to return to the best view-angle position when the backward driving state of the vehicle is terminated.
US08049601B1
Systems and methods are provided for controlling one or more servos coupled to a model vehicle. An input signal having a series of input pulses encoded at an input pulse repetition frequency is received at a receiver coupled to a model vehicle having one or more servos. The input signal is decoded at the receiver. A servo control pulse is generated using at least one of the input pulses at the receiver. The servo control pulse is outputted to at least one of the servos at an output pulse repetition frequency that is different from the input pulse repetition frequency.
US08049598B2
A method for controlling electronic article surveillance (EAS) transmissions is described. The method includes calculating system parameters associated with one or more of a desired frequency a desired duty cycle, and a desired phase difference between antennas for a transmitter, and initializing a counter with a value based on the system parameters. The method also includes comparing a count from the counter to the system parameters, and modulating EAS transmission signals based on the comparison between the count and the system parameters. An EAS transmitter and an EAS system are also described.
US08049595B2
An in-vehicle transmitter for wirelessly controlling a plurality of remote electronic systems is described. The transmitter includes a memory configured to store a plurality of wireless control code for the plurality of remote electronic systems. The plurality of wireless control code includes a first code to control the operation of a first remote electronic system and a second code different than the first code to control the operation of a second remote electronic system. The transmitter further includes a control circuit mounted to a vehicle interior element configured, in response to operator actuation of one switch, so that the transmitter provides a first wireless control signal having the first code and a second wireless control signal having the second code.
US08049594B1
A system and method for using an RFID read/write device to secure an RFID-operable instrument or an RF communication is provided. The invention includes security databases in communication with a processor for storing and communicating security protocols to the RFID read/write device. The invention includes a method for restricting the unauthorized use of an RFID read/write device. The invention includes a subscription service for communicating user credentials to a certificate authority to obtain a counter security protocol. The invention also includes decrypting information stored on an RF-operable device or transmitted via radio-frequency using counter security protocols.
US08049588B2
A coil device includes first and second coils and a package for sealing the first and second coil. The first coil has a first winding including a first conductor wire wound about a first winding axis, and first and second ends which are both ends of the first conductor wire. The second coil has a second winding including a second conductor wire wound about a second winding axis, and third and fourth ends which are both ends of the second conductor wire. The second winding axis is arranged with the first winding axis. The second end of the first coil is connected with the third end of the second coil. The first end of the first coil and the fourth end of the second coil are adapted to be connected to an outside of the package. This coil device reduces magnetic flux leakage to outside of the package.
US08049583B2
An acoustic wave filter includes a piezoelectric substrate, an IDT (interdigital transducer) formed on the piezoelectric substrate, and reflectors located at both sides of the IDT and composed of electrode fingers, at least one of the electrode fingers of at least one of the reflectors including at least one gap within a propagation path of an acoustic wave.
US08049582B2
The filter includes at least one acoustic track formed on a piezoelectric substrate. At least one SAW input transducer and at least one SAW output transducer are arranged in each track. Each track has a RSPUDT structure and thus a distributed excitation. The excitation function includes sources arranged in a main lobe and a tail function including at least one tail lobe. A fine and precise approximation to the desired continuous excitation function is obtained by decreasing the excitation strength in the tail function by a factor of at least 2.
US08049569B1
A clock generation circuit is provided for improving the accuracy of a low power oscillator circuit contained therein. The clock generation circuit includes a crystal-less oscillator having at least two distinct frequency modes, including a low frequency mode and a high frequency mode. In some cases, the crystal-less oscillator may be adapted to generate a first clock frequency with relatively high accuracy and a second clock frequency with relatively low accuracy. A calibration and control circuit is included within the clock generation circuit for increasing the accuracy of the second clock frequency. In particular, the calibration and control circuit increases accuracy by using the first clock frequency to calibrate the second clock frequency generated by the same crystal-less oscillator. A system comprising the clock generation circuit and methods for operating a crystal-less oscillator having at least two distinct frequency modes are also provided herein.
US08049565B2
A power amplifier includes a plurality of amplification paths in which at least one amplification path is selectively enables and disabled, wherein each amplification path includes an output impedance modification element and a phase shift element that is operable independently from the output impedance modification element, and wherein the output impedance modification element in each amplification path provides selective impedance for each amplification path.
US08049561B2
The invention refers to an amplifier (1) comprising a switchable capacitive divider (10) for dividing a supply voltage delivered to the amplifier (1), the switchable capacitive divider being coupled to a coupling circuit (15) via a first wire and a second wire, the coupling circuit determining a connection path between said first and second wire and a first capacitor (C2) and a switchable power circuit (20).
US08049559B2
A semiconductor device and a radio frequency circuit which are appropriate for multiband, multimode performance can be realized as a semiconductor device including a field-effect transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate, and include: ohmic electrodes serving as source and drain electrodes of the field-effect transistor, first and second Schottky electrodes provided between the ohmic electrodes and serving as gate electrodes of the field-effect transistor, and a third Schottky electrode provided and grounded between the first and second Schottky electrodes.
US08049558B2
A switchable balanced amplifier having multiple, configurable independent input/output paths. Switching networks coupled to the input and/or output quadrature couplers of the balanced amplifier are used to configurably direct any of one or more input signals to any of one or more output ports. In one example, each output port is coupled to circuitry tailored to a specific type of input signal, operating protocol and/or operating frequency band.
US08049552B2
An internal voltage generator of a semiconductor device includes a charge pumping unit for performing a charge pumping operation on the basis of the voltage level of a reference voltage to generate a charge pumped voltage having a voltage level higher than the external power supply voltage; and an internal voltage generating unit for performing a charge pumping operation on the basis of an internal voltage level that is linear with respect to a temperature change in a first temperature range to generate an internal voltage, and to perform a charge pumping operation on the basis of an internal voltage clamping level that is constant independent of a temperature change in a second temperature range to generate the internal voltage.
US08049544B2
A delay locked loop circuit includes a phase comparison unit configured to compare a reference clock with a feedback clock and to output a phase comparison signal, a clock delay unit configured to delay a first reference clock in response to the phase comparison signal, to output a first delay locked clock, to delay one of the first delay locked clock and a second reference clock according to a frequency information signal, and to output a second delay locked clock, a delay locked clock generating unit configured to output a delay locked clock as a phase-mixed clock of the first delay locked clock and the second delay locked clock, the first delay locked clock, or the second delay locked clock in response to the frequency information signal and a delay transfer signal, and a delay replica model unit configured to reflect a delay condition of the reference clock.
US08049540B2
A method for calibrating a bandwidth of a phase-locked loop begins with detecting an error signal generated by the phase-locked loop in response to a stimulus signal. The difference between the integral of the error signal and a nominal value thereof is computed, and the bandwidth of the phase-locked loop is adjusted based on the computed difference.
US08049527B2
An integrated circuit includes a process sensor, a temperature sensor, and a voltage sensor. The process sensor is configured to sense a process parameter indicative of a semiconductor process by which the integrated circuit is formed and, based upon the sensed process parameter, to provide a characterization of the semiconductor process to the output of the process sensor. The temperature sensor is configured to provide an indication of a temperature of the integrated circuit to an output of the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor is configured to provide an indication of a power supply voltage level of the integrated circuit to an output of the voltage sensor. The output of the process sensor is coupled to at least one of the temperature sensor and the voltage sensor to compensate at least one of the indication of the temperature and the indication of the power supply voltage level.
US08049521B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a module that can test and analyze various regions of a solar cell device in an automated or manual fashion after one or more steps have been completed in the solar cell formation process. The module used to perform the automated testing and analysis processes can also be adapted to test a partially formed solar cell at various stages of the solar cell formation process within an automated solar cell production line. The automated solar cell production line is generally an arrangement of automated processing modules and automation equipment that is used to form solar cell devices.
US08049494B2
Flexible array probe for the inspection of a contoured surface with varying cross-sectional geometry
A flexible array probe is disclosed suitable for use in the non-destructive testing and inspection of test pieces with varying cross-sectional geometries. Array elements—such as, but not limited to, eddy current sensors, piezoelectric sensor elements, and magnetic flux leakage sensors—are mounted on thin alignment fins and coupled together with pairs of pivot mechanisms along the axis of desired rotation. The pivot mechanisms allow rotation in exactly one dimension and force the flexible array probe to align its elements orthogonally to the surface of the structure under test. Alignment and coupling fixtures are also disclosed.
US08049493B2
The present invention includes a resin-molded product including at least one magnet having opposite faces extending in directions intersecting with a magnetizing direction of the at least one magnet. The present invention also includes a resin portion molded with the at least one magnet by an insertion molding process, wherein the opposite faces of the at least one magnet are substantially entirely embedded within the resin portion.
US08049490B2
Embodiments of the invention are related to MEMS devices and methods. In one embodiment, a MEMS device includes a resonator element comprising a magnetic portion having a fixed magnetization, and at least one sensor element comprising a magnetoresistive portion, wherein a magnetization and a resistivity of the magnetoresistive portion vary according to a proximity of the magnetic portion.
US08049488B2
A metering device for metering energy delivered to customers over electrical wires from a power distribution cabinet. The metering device has a plurality of current transformers, each capable of receiving one of the electrical wires and connections for the line voltages which drive the wires. The current transformers are arranged for physical correspondence to the power outputs of the power distribution cabinet. Circuitry connected to the current transformers and line voltage connections meter the energy over the electrical wires.
US08049487B2
A power measurement circuit and method are described. The circuit comprises: a transconductance rectifier arrangement including an input and configured to receive a periodically varying input voltage signal having an approximate 50% duty cycle; and an averaging filter for producing a time averaged DC output signal proportional to the mean square of the voltage at the input of the transconductance rectifier arrangement and representative of the average power of the input voltage signal within a range of voltages at the input.
US08049484B2
A powered device includes a first switch, a second switch, and a controller. The first switch is disposed between a center tap of the first transformer and a center tap of the third transformer. The second switch is disposed between a center tap of the second transformer and a center tap of the fourth transformer. The controller is coupled to the first switch and the second switch. The controller is constructed and arranged to output a control signal to the first and second switches to electrically connect the center taps of the first and third transformers together and concurrently electrically connect the center taps of the second and fourth transformers together. The powered device is constructed and arranged to operate in 4-pair mode when the center taps of the first and third transformers are connected together and the center taps of the second and fourth transformers are connected together.
US08049462B2
The present invention discloses a universal serial bus (USB) charging circuit, comprising: a charging path for charging a battery from a USB host; a charging switch located on the charging path; a current sensing circuit for sensing current information on the charging path; a maximum available current detection circuit for detecting the maximum available current from the USB host; and a loop controller circuit for controlling the charging switch so that the charging current on the charging path is substantially equal to the maximum available current detected by the maximum available current detection circuit, wherein the maximum available current detection circuit detects the maximum available current during circuit initialization and stores it.
US08049458B2
A speed-variable field winding type of synchronous rotary electric machine is provided, where a rotor with plural-phase windings faces a rotor with a field winding. A field current is limited to flow through the field winding in one direction thereof. A fundamental component of armature current, which corresponds to a synchronizing current for producing a rotating magnetic field rotating in sync with the rotation of the rotor, is supplied to the armature windings. The synchronizing current is adjusted in frequency to change a rotor rotation speed. A pulsed rotor exciting current is supplied to the armature windings. The exciting current causes the field winding to induce the field current only during a specified current-supply duration shorter than a one cycle of the synchronizing current. The number of current-supply times for the exciting current, per electrical angle 2π and per phase, has a positive correlation with the cycle of the synchronizing current.
US08049449B2
In a brushless motor for an electric power steering device having a configuration of 2 poles and 3 slots, or of an integral multiple thereof, a stator coil is supplied with current containing a higher harmonic component. A difference of 0.5% to 1.5% is provided between the higher harmonic component content rate of the stator coil current and the higher harmonic component content rate of the induced electromotive force generated in the stator coil with rotation of a permanent magnet, thereby mitigating the influence by an armature reaction generated in the induced electromotive force to reduce torque ripples. The difference between the higher harmonic component content rates is set on the basis of a change that occurs in the induced electromotive force due to the armature reaction at a time of supplying electricity to the armature coil.
US08049448B2
A BLDC (brushless direct current) motor system of the present invention includes a control circuit, a sequencer, a driving circuit, and a BLDC motor. The control circuit comprises a speed-feedback loop and a torque-feedback loop to control the maximum speed and the maximum torque of the BLDC motor in parallel configuration. The speed-feedback loop generates a speed-control signal. The torque-feedback loop generates a torque-control signal. A PWM circuit receives the speed-control signal and the torque-control signal to generate a PWM signal. A pulse width of the PWM signal is correlated to the level of the speed-control signal and/or the level of the torque-control signal.
US08049443B2
An integrated printed circuit board-based solid state line voltage interface for use in automation control system applications. Relays connect various functional loads to the line level source in response to input from a controller unit. Switches enable a user to override the controller and manually control the connection of the functional loads. An alternative embodiment further includes limit switches and time delays. The compact nature of the device facilitates ease of installation, mounting of multiple units in less space, and mounting in various specialized location as desired.
US08049441B2
A ballast circuit is provided. The ballast circuit comprises a first lamp set, a second lamp set, a detection circuit, and a latch circuit. The first lamp set comprises a first inductor and a plurality of containing areas. The second lamp set comprises a second inductor and at least one containing area. The detection circuit is configured to receive a direct current (DC) voltage and coupled to the containing areas of the first and second lamp sets so that the detection circuit, the first inductor, the second inductor, and a plurality of lamps contained in the containing areas are in a series connection and generate a first signal. The latch circuit is coupled to the detection circuit and configured to selectively start in response to the first signal.
US08049435B2
An oscillator generates a triangular wave signal whose inclination for charging a capacitor and inclination for discharging the same are the same and which is used to turn on/off FETs Qp1 and Qn1. A signal generation part generates first drive signal in a period shorter than a half period of the triangular wave signal to drive the Qp1, and generates a second drive signal having a pulse width substantially equal to that of the first drive signal and a phase difference of about 180 degrees with respect to the first drive signal, to drive the Qn1 and provide a current to the discharge tube in a direction opposite to the current driven by the first drive signal. Furthermore a pulse current generation circuit converts a synchronization pulse voltage signal into a pulse current that alternates between positive and negative current values.
US08049434B2
A lighting commissioning device and method including a lighting commissioning device for commissioning of a lighting device in a lighting system, the lighting commissioning device including an indication detector 142 responsive to indication from the lighting device and generating a lighting device indication signal 148, a change detector 144 responsive to the lighting device indication signal 148 and generating an indication detected signal 150, and a control unit 146 receiving the indication detected signal 150 and being operably connected to the lighting system.
US08049430B2
An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp comprises an inverter circuit that operates in a partially self-oscillating manner. The inverter circuit comprises a push-pull converter having a main transformer having a primary winding for producing a high-frequency AC voltage, semiconductor switches electrically coupled to the primary winding of the main transformer for conducting current through the primary winding on an alternate basis, and gate drive circuits for controlling the semiconductor switches on a cycle-by-cycle basis. The drive circuits control (e.g., turn on) the semiconductor switches in response to first control signals derived from the main transformer, and control (e.g., turn off) the semiconductor switches in response to second control signals received from a control circuit. The control circuit controls the semiconductor switches in response to a peak value of an integral of an inverter current flowing through the inverter circuit.
US08049413B2
A bank for defining the regions in which pixels are formed has a stacked structure including: a base layer on the low level which also serves as an interlayer insulating film between the pixel forming regions; a middle bank layer on the middle level which serves to improve the fixation of an organic compound material (i.e., improve the uniformity of the film thickness of a positive hole transporting layer and an electron-transporting light emitting layer) in forming an organic EL layer; and a bank metal layer on the upper level which is made of a conductive material and serves also as a common voltage line (cathode line).
US08049410B2
An organic light emitting display including: a substrate having a center region; a pixel unit on the substrate and at the center region of the substrate; a non-pixel unit on the substrate and at an external circumference of the pixel unit; a ground ring in the non-pixel unit; a mother substrate wiring line on the substrate and at the external circumference of the ground ring; and a connection wiring line for electrically connecting the ground ring and the mother substrate wiring line to each other.
US08049407B2
The present invention provides an organic electroluminescent element that includes a pair of electrodes and a plurality of organic compound layers being disposed between the pair of electrodes. The organic compound layers include a luminescent layer containing a blue phosphorescent luminescent material and a host material having the lowest excited triplet energy (T1) of 272 kJ/mol (65 kcal/mol) or more, and hole transport layers. One of the hole transport layers is a layer adjacent to the luminescent layer, and when the ionization potentials of the luminescent layer, the hole transport layer adjacent to the luminescent layer, and another of the hole transport layers, respectively, designated to Ip1, Ip2 and Ip3, the relationship Ip1>Ip2>Ip3 is satisfied.
US08049406B2
A light-emissive device comprising a light-emissive material provided between first and second electrodes such that charge carriers can move between the first and second electrodes and the light-emissive material, wherein the device includes a layer of a polymer blend provided between the first and second electrodes, phase separation of the polymers in the polymer blend having been induced in at least a portion of the polymer blend so as to control the propagation of light emitted by the light-emissive material in a predetermined direction.
US08049405B2
A self light emitting display device having high level of the external coupling efficiency and high grade image presentation as no optical cross-talk or blur can be obtained by a new light-emitting element. The device is constructed as follows. A plurality of picture elements, each of which picture elements has an organic layer composing light emitting areas, a transparent electrode and a reflective electrodes, are formed on a substrate. Between the picture elements, a bank which has a tilted reflective surface is formed so that the light emitting area is surrounded by the bank wherein the transparent optical waveguide layer is formed as optically isolated for each of the picture elements.
US08049401B2
An electron emission device including a first substrate, a second substrate, a gas, a sealant, and a phosphor layer is provided. The first substrate has a cathode thereon, and the cathode has a patterned profile. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate and has an anode thereon. The sealant is disposed at edges of the first substrate and the second substrate to assemble the first and second substrates. The gas is disposed between the cathode and the anode and configured to induce a plurality of electrons from the cathode, wherein the pressure of the gas is between 10 torr and 10−3 torr. The phosphor layer is disposed on the moving path of the electrons to react with the electrons so as to emit light.
US08049398B2
A long-life high-pressure discharge lamp can (i) suppress damage to sealing portions, especially at an initial stage of the accumulated lighting time, (ii) allow for easy assembly of components such as electrodes and (iii) prevent deformation/ripping of metallic foils. An arc tube is a glass enveloping vessel with electrodes arranged therein, and includes: a light emitting portion in which materials are enclosed and a discharge space is formed; and sealing portions provided at ends of the light emitting portion. Each electrode includes an electrode bar whose first end is in the discharge space, and whose second end is in the corresponding sealing portion and connected to a metallic foil. The second end of each electrode bar is partially wrapped around by a sleeve-like metallic cover foil that has a cut-out section positioned over a joining area where the second end of each electrode bar is joined to the metallic foil.
US08049393B2
A rotor for an electric machine includes a rotor yoke having a plurality of axial winding slots distributed on an outer periphery of the rotor yoke; a winding bar disposed in one of the plurality of axial winding slots, the winding bar having at least one winding end emerging axially from the rotor yoke so as to form an end winding; and a retaining device including a plurality of radial bolts, each of the plurality of radial bolts having a head fixedly connected to a shank, wherein the retaining device retains the end winding against a centrifugal force acting on the end winding.
US08049384B2
An electronic drive unit includes a case housing that extends along a primary axis. A sleeve shaft and an electric motor are disposed in the hollow interior of the case housing. The electric motor is operatively connected to the sleeve shaft to rotate the sleeve shaft about the primary axis. At least one gear set is disposed in operative engagement with the sleeve shaft and is configured for rotation about the primary axis. A pair of output shafts each extends along the primary axis within the case housing. The output shafts are rotatably connected to the gear set and are configured for rotation about the primary axis. The gear set is configured to translate rotation of the sleeve shaft into rotation of the output shafts about the primary axis at a rotational velocity that is less than the rotational velocity of the sleeve shaft.
US08049383B2
A motor is basically provided with a rotor and a stator. The stator includes a plurality of stacked magnetic entities, a dielectric material disposed between adjacent ones of the magnetic entities, a positive electrode part provided on at least one of the magnetic entities and a negative electrode part provided on at least one of the magnetic entities that does not have the positive electrode part. The positive electrode part is arranged for connecting to a positive side of an external circuit. The negative electrode part arranged for connecting to a negative side of the external circuit.
US08049378B2
The invention aims at providing a forced cooling rotary electric machine capable of bringing temperature distribution close to a designed temperature distribution and avoiding becoming a larger size, and employs a wedge formed with ventilation grooves and a wedge not formed with the ventilation grooves to regulate the flow rates of cooling gas passing through air ducts, so that the cooling gas supplied to a part of a stator core, in which temperature is low, can be caused to flow positively to a part in which the temperature is high and the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the stator core can be uniformized. As a result, the temperature distribution in the axial direction of the stator core can be brought close to a designed temperature distribution, and a forced cooling rotary electric machine that need not be made larger in size with a margin can be obtained.
US08049371B2
An apparatus for optimizing power consumption of an electrical circuit component in an operating- and evaluating-circuit of a two-conductor field device, wherein a control unit is provided, which switches the electrical circuit component with a clock signal. An energy supply unit is provided for supplying the circuit component with energy, and wherein at least one energy-storing component is connected to at least one output, at least one input and/or a supply input of the electrical circuit component. The apparatus provides for a field device, a suitable electronics for enabling improvement of the energy budget of the evaluating- and operating-circuit, especially its circuit component.
US08049369B2
A controller for a power inverter having a gate assembly with an alternating current power output. A gate driver controls the activation of the gate assembly while a processor controls the operation of the gate driver. A current sensor has an output signal representative of the current at the power output. A noise detector circuit provides an output signal to the processor of the frequency of electromagnetic noise in the power inverter and the processor is programmed to sample the current from the current sensor at the frequency of the noise.
US08049366B2
A DC power system is provided to generate the power from renewable energy and directly supplies the DC power to DC household appliances, thus saving energy that would be wasted during the conversion of DC to AC and back to DC and saving the cost of a rectifier or power factor corrector. The DC power system includes a generator, a DC/DC converter, a battery bank, a bi-directional inverter, a DC load and a controller.
US08049365B2
A power device of the present invention makes a plurality of DC/DC converters redundant, and supplies power individually to a plurality of disk drives. Each first DC/DC converter is respectively made correspondent to a subgroup. One first DC/DC converter is connected to the disk drives respectively inside one subgroup, and the other first DC/DC converter is connected to the disk drives inside the other subgroup. A second DC/DC converter is made correspondent to all of the subgroups. Second DC/DC converters respectively supply direct-current power to any one disk drive of the disk drives in the subgroups.
US08049363B2
A motor drive circuit comprises positive and negative input terminals for connection of the motor circuit to a DC supply, a DC link filter connected between the input terminals: an electric motor having at least two phases, a plurality of motor drive sub-circuits, each connected to a respective phase of the electric motor and which each control the flow of current into or out of the respective phase of the motor that has been drawn from the supply through the DC link filter, and a switching means provided in the electrical path between the DC link filter and the electric motor drive sub-circuits, the switching means being movable between a closed position in which it connects the DC link filter to the motor drive sub-circuits, and an open position which isolates the DC link filter from the motor drive sub-circuits.
US08049358B2
A power distribution system that can be used in naval ships and submarines includes a first propulsion drive system including a propulsion motor having superconducting (preferably high temperature superconducting (HTS)) rotor windings and a power converter. A first propulsion power generation system supplies power to the first propulsion drive system and includes a generator having superconducting (preferably HTS) rotor windings and a power converter. A first power generation system includes a power source for supplying power to a first service distribution system that includes a dc distribution busbar (optionally implemented using HTS cabling or busbar) for carrying a distribution voltage and a distribution current, and a switchboard that includes protective switchgear with contacts. A power converter is used to connect the power source to the switchboard. The power converters are regulated according to a power source foldback and stabilizing characteristic. An electric load is supplied with power from a zonal power supply unit that forms part of a zonal power distribution sub-system. The electric load and the propulsion motor are regulated according to a load shedding and stabilizing characteristic.
US08049356B2
Wave energy conversion device (WEC) comprising a means for damping the reactionary motion of a wave energy conversion device to wave motion, which is a cylindrical bellowed elastomeric member that acts under axial compression.
US08049355B2
There is disclosed a hydro-electric generating device comprising a solid plate fixedly supporting two bearings, which bearings rotatably support a shaft, the plate has a cutout fillable with water subjected to wave motions; a turbine fixed on the shaft. The turbine has a plurality of blades disposed in the cutout. The device further comprises a transmission, kinematically connected to the shaft, an electrical generator mounted on the plate and driven by the transmission, and a forklift furnished with wheels. The plate is secured on the forklift, and the forklift provides for a three-dimension adjustment that constitutes relocation of the generating device along the coastal line, displacement of the generating device from and to the current waterline, and vertical displacement of the plate and turbine of the generating device depending upon the current wave height. The device can be supplemented by a mat placeable on the coastal surface.
US08049352B2
Methods for increasing a total reactive power capability of a cluster of wind turbines operationally connected to a grid and systems for carrying out the methods. The method includes generating a voltage value representative of a grid voltage level, determining a total required reactive power value based on the voltage value, and activating at least one wind turbine in said cluster to increase the total reactive power capability from a present value to the required total reactive power value by a predetermined amount.
US08049351B2
A power generating turbine includes a rotary shaft having an axis of rotation, a magnet supported by and spaced outwardly from the rotary shaft and a conductive coil. The coil located outwardly from the magnet and surrounds the magnet and the shaft, but is sufficiently close to the magnet such that rotary movement of said magnet induces current flow in the coil.
US08049345B2
An overlay mark is used in pattern registration on a semiconductor wafer with an oxide layer. Four sets of two trenches each are formed in the oxide layer. Each trench in a set is parallel to the other trench of the same set. The trenches are configured such that each set forms one side of a box shape.
US08049343B2
There are included a semiconductor substrate provided with a desirable element region, an electrode pad formed to come in contact with a surface of the semiconductor substrate or a wiring layer provided on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, a bonding pad formed on a surface of the electrode pad through an intermediate layer, and a resin insulating film for covering a peripheral edge of the bonding pad such that an interface of the bonding pad and the intermediate layer is not exposed to a side wall.
US08049333B2
A transparent conductor including a conductive layer coated on a substrate is described. More specifically, the conductive layer comprises a network of nanowires which may be embedded in a matrix. The conductive layer is optically transparent and flexible. It can be coated or laminated onto a variety of substrates, including flexible and rigid substrates.
US08049331B2
A system and method for providing capacitively-coupled signaling in a system-in-package (SiP) device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a first semiconductor device and an opposing second semiconductor device spaced apart from the first device, a dielectric layer interposed between the first device and the second device, a first conductive pad positioned in the first device, and a second conductive pad positioned in the second device that capacitively communicate signals from the second device to the first device. In another embodiment, a method of forming a SiP device includes forming a first pad on a surface of a first semiconductor device, forming a second pad on a surface of a second semiconductor device, and interposing a dielectric layer between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device that separates the first conductive signal pad and the second conductive signal pad.
US08049328B2
A semiconductor device has a first interconnect structure formed over a first side of a substrate. A semiconductor die is mounted to the first interconnect structure. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and first interconnect structure for structural support. A portion of a second side of the substrate, opposite the first side of the substrate, is removed to reduce its thickness. The encapsulant maintains substrate robustness during thinning process. A TSV is formed through the second side of the substrate to the first interconnect structure. A second interconnect structure is formed in the TSV. The TSV has a first insulating layer formed over the second side of the substrate and first conductive layer formed over the first insulating layer and into the TSV. The second interconnect structure has a second conductive layer formed over the first conductive layer in an area away from the TSV.
US08049326B2
An environment-resistant module which provides both thermal and vibration isolation for a packaged micromachined or MEMS device is disclosed. A microplatform and a support structure for the microplatform provide the thermal and vibration isolation. The package is both hermetic and vacuum compatible and provides vertical feedthroughs for signal transfer. A micromachined or MEMS device transfer method is also disclosed that can handle a wide variety of individual micromachined or MEMS dies or wafers, in either a hybrid or integrated fashion. The module simultaneously provides both thermal and vibration isolation for the MEMS device using the microplatform and the support structure which may be fabricated from a thin glass wafer that is patterned to create crab-leg shaped suspension tethers or beams.
US08049320B2
A package-on-package (POP) package precursor and packaged devices and systems therefrom includes an electronic substrate including electrically conductive layers and a top surface. A first portion of the top surface has an IC die attached thereon. A second portion of the top surface has a plurality of first attach pads on opposing sides of the IC die for electrically coupling to a first electronic device on top of the IC die. At least a third portion of the top surface is positioned laterally with respect to the first and second portion. The third portion includes a plurality of second attach pads for electrically coupling to at least a second electronic device. At least one of the electrically conductive layers includes a coupling trace that couples at least one of the plurality of second attach pads to the IC die and/or one or more of the plurality of first attach pads.
US08049318B2
The semiconductor device includes a support substrate 101 on which a semiconductor element 105 to be mounted, a covering member 102 disposed to the support substrate via a bonding member, and a space 107 is defined between the covering member 102 and the support substrate 101. The support substrate 101 has a protruded portion 103 and the covering member 102 is disposed so that a portion thereof is in contact with the protruded portion 103 so as to define an air vent leading from the space 107 to outside.
US08049316B2
A semiconductor package is provided with a package body including a base part and a semiconductor device housing part housing a semiconductor device. An electric terminal electrically connected to the device is provided in the housing part and is exposed to an outer surface. A high heat transfer element is arranged from a heat generating part corresponding position corresponding to a heat generating part of the device to a position outside the corresponding position in the base part. The base part is configured by contacting a plurality of thin sheets mutually closely with each other and by bonding integrally with each other. The high heat transfer element includes particles configured by a material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the base part and dispersed in the base part. The particles are dispersed between two mutually adjacent thin sheets among the thin sheets.
US08049300B2
An inductive device including an inductor coil located over a substrate, at least one electrically insulating layer interposing the inductor coil and the substrate, and a plurality of current interrupters each extending into the substrate, wherein a first aggregate outer boundary of the plurality of current interrupters substantially encompasses a second aggregate outer boundary of the inductor coil.
US08049294B2
The present invention is a photodiode detector array for use in computerized tomography (CT) and non-CT applications. Specifically, the present invention is a high-density photodiode arrays, with low dark current, low capacitance, high signal to noise ratio, high speed, and low crosstalk that can be fabricated on relatively large substrate wafers. More specifically the photodiode array of the present invention is fabricated such that the PN-junctions are located on both the front side and back side surfaces of the array, and wherein the front side PN-junction is in electrical communication with the back side PN-junction. Still more specifically, the present invention is a photodiode array awing PN-junctions that are electrically connected from the front to back surfaces and which can be operated in a fully depleted mode at low reverse bias.
US08049280B2
A semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: a gate electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate via a gate insulating film; Si:C layers formed on the semiconductor substrate in sides of the gate electrode; p-type source/drain regions formed in sides of the gate electrode in the semiconductor substrate, and a part of the p-type source/drain regions being formed in the Si:C layers; and silicide layers formed on the Si:C layers.
US08049272B2
A MESFET includes a silicon carbide layer, spaced apart source and drain regions in the silicon carbide layer, a channel region positioned within the silicon carbide layer between the source and drain regions and doped with implanted dopants, and a gate contact on the silicon carbide layer. Methods of forming a MESFET include providing a layer of silicon carbide, forming spaced apart source and drain regions in the silicon carbide layer, implanting impurity atoms to form a channel region between the source and drain regions, annealing the implanted impurity atoms, and forming a gate contact on the silicon carbide layer.
US08049269B2
In a non-volatile memory device, active fin structures extending in a first direction may be formed on a substrate. A tunnel insulating layer may be formed on surfaces of the active fin structures and bottom surfaces of trenches that may be defined by the active fin structures. A charge trapping layer and a blocking layer may be sequentially formed on the tunnel insulating layer. A gate electrode structure may include first portions disposed over top surfaces of the active fin structures and second portions vertically spaced apart from portions of the charge trapping layer that may be disposed over the bottom surfaces of the trenches, and may extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Thus, lateral electron diffusion may be reduced in the charge trapping layer, and thereby the data retention performance and/or reliability of the non-volatile memory device may be improved.
US08049265B2
Provided are semiconductor devices and methods of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device comprises: a floating gate pattern formed in a cell area of a semiconductor substrate; a dummy floating gate pattern extending from the floating gate pattern into an interface area around the cell area; and a control gate pattern intersecting the floating gate pattern at the cell area of the semiconductor substrate.
US08049263B2
A capacitor has an MIM (Metal Insulator Metal) structure comprising a lower electrode formed in the interior of an electrode trench which is formed in an interlayer insulating film, a dielectric film formed over the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed over the dielectric film. The upper electrode and the dielectric film are each formed with an area larger than the area of the lower electrode so that the whole of the lower electrode is positioned inside the upper electrode and the dielectric film. The reliability and production yield of the capacitor are improved.
US08049258B2
Sacrificial plugs for forming contacts in integrated circuits, as well as methods of forming connections in integrated circuit arrays are disclosed. Various pattern transfer and etching steps can be used to create densely-packed features and the connections between features. A sacrificial material can be patterned in a continuous zig-zag line pattern that crosses word lines. Planarization can create parallelogram-shaped blocks of material that can overlie active areas to form sacrificial plugs, which can be replaced with conductive material to form contacts.
US08049257B2
Provided are a CMOS image sensor in which microlenses are formed in a remaining space in a patterned light shielding layer to improve image sensor characteristics and to protect the microlenses during packaging. The CMOS image sensor may include: a semiconductor substrate; at least one photodiode on or in the semiconductor substrate; a first insulating layer on the substrate including the photodiode(s); a plurality of metal lines on and/or in the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer including at least some of the metal lines; a patterned light shielding layer on the second insulating layer; and microlenses in a remaining space on the second insulating layer.
US08049243B2
This gallium nitride-based compound semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a p-type semiconductor layer that are composed of gallium nitride-based compound semiconductors and are deposited in that order on a substrate, and further includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode that are in contact with the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, respectively, wherein the positive electrode has a translucent electrode composed of a three-layer structure including a contact metal layer that contacts at least the p-type semiconductor layer, a current diffusion layer provided on the contact metal layer and having conductivity greater than that of the contact metal layer, and a bonding pad layer provided on the current diffusion layer, and a mixed positive electrode-metal layer including a metal that forms the contact metal layer is present in a positive electrode side surface of the p-type semiconductor layer.
US08049238B2
A light emitting module includes a light source, a light guide plate, and a reflecting mask. The light source includes a circuit board and a light emitting device fixed on the circuit board. The light emitting device includes a plurality of light emitting elements and a control circuit. The light guide plate receives light from the light emitting device and exits from the light guide plate, includes a plurality of light emitting sidewalls, a plurality of reflection walls, and a receiving hole defined in the light guide plate. The receiving hole includes a plurality of light incident sidewalls. The reflecting mask covers the receiving hole, including a bottom surface and a plurality of reflecting surfaces.
US08049236B2
A substrate for an LED assembly can have a plurality of cups formed therein. At least one cup can be formed within another cup. The cups can be co-axial with respect to one another, for example. A machined surface of the substrate can enhance reflectivity of the LED assembly. A transparent and/or non-global solder mask can enhance reflectivity of the LED assembly. A transparent ring can enhance reflectivity of the LED assembly. By enhancing reflectivity of the LED assembly, the brightness of the LED assembly can be increased. Brighter LED assemblies can be used in applications such as flashlights, displays, and general illumination.
US08049231B2
Emissive quantum photonic imagers comprised of a spatial array of digitally addressable multicolor pixels. Each pixel is a vertical stack of multiple semiconductor laser diodes, each of which can generate laser light of a different color. Within each multicolor pixel, the light generated from the stack of diodes is emitted perpendicular to the plane of the imager device via a plurality of vertical waveguides that are coupled to the optical confinement regions of each of the multiple laser diodes comprising the imager device. Each of the laser diodes comprising a single pixel is individually addressable, enabling each pixel to simultaneously emit any combination of the colors associated with the laser diodes at any required on/off duty cycle for each color. Each individual multicolor pixel can simultaneously emit the required colors and brightness values by controlling the on/off duty cycles of their respective laser diodes.
US08049220B2
The present invention relates to a flat panel display device comprising a polycrystalline silicon thin film transistor and provides a flat panel display device having improved characteristics by having a different number of grain boundaries included in polycrystalline silicon thin film formed in active channel regions of a driving circuit portion and active channel regions of pixel portion. This may be achieved by having a different number of grain boundaries included in the polycrystalline silicon thin film formed in active channel regions of a switching thin film transistor and a driving thin film transistor formed in the pixel portion, and by having a different number of grain boundaries included in polycrystalline silicon thin film formed in active channel regions of a thin film transistor for driving the pixel portion for each red, green and blue of the pixel portion. Further, this may be achieved by having a different number of grain boundaries included in polycrystalline silicon formed in active channel regions of an NMOS thin film transistor and a PMOS thin film transistor for forming CMOS transistor used in flat panel display device, thereby constructing a thin film transistor to obtain the improved characteristics for each transistor.
US08049213B2
A method of measuring dimensional characteristics includes providing a substrate and forming a reflective layer over the substrate. A dielectric layer is then formed over the reflective layer. The dielectric layer includes a grating pattern and a resistivity test line inset in a transparent region. Radiation is then directed onto the dielectric layer so that some of the radiation is transmitted through the transparent region to the reflective layer. A radiation pattern is then detected from the radiation reflected and scattered by the metal grating pattern. The radiation pattern is analyzed to determine a first dimensional information. Then the resistance of the resistivity test line is measured, and that resistance is analyzed to determine a second dimensional information. The first and second dimensional informations are then compared.
US08049209B2
A thin film transistor having a semiconducting layer with improved flexibility and/or mobility is disclosed. The semiconducting layer comprises a semiconducting polymer and insulating polymer. Methods for forming and using such thin-film transistors are also disclosed.
US08049206B2
It is an object to provide an organic field effect transistor including an electrode which can reduce an energy barrier at an interface between a conductive layer and a semiconductor layer, and a semiconductor device including the organic field effect transistor. A composite layer containing an organic compound and an inorganic compound is provided in at least part of one of a source electrode and a drain electrode in an organic field effect transistor, and as the organic compound, a carbazole derivative represented by the general formula (1) is used. By providing the composite layer in at least part of one of the source electrode and the drain electrode, an energy barrier at an interface between a conductive layer and a semiconductor layer can be reduced.
US08049203B2
The present invention relates to semiconductor devices comprising semiconductor nanoelements. In particular the invention relates to devices having a volume element having a larger diameter than the nanoelement arranged in epitaxial connection to the nanoelement. The volume element is being doped in order to provide a high charge carrier injection into the nanoelement and a low access resistance in an electrical connection. The nanoelement may be upstanding from a semiconductor substrate. A concentric layer of low resistivity material forms on the volume element forms a contact.
US08049198B2
A phase change memory device for preventing thermal cross-talk includes lower electrodes respectively formed in a plurality of phase change cell regions of a semiconductor substrate. A first insulation layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate including the lower electrodes having holes for exposing the respective lower electrodes. Heaters are formed on the surfaces of the respective holes to contact the lower electrodes. A second insulation layer is formed to fill the holes in which the heaters are formed. A mask pattern is then formed on the first and second insulation layers, including the heaters, to have openings that expose portions of the respective heaters having a constant pitch. A phase change layer is formed on the mask pattern including the exposed portions of the heaters and the first and second insulation layers and subsequently, upper electrodes are formed on the phase change layer.
US08049196B2
A phase-change memory device includes a lower electrode; and at least two phase-change memory cells sharing the lower electrode. Another phase-change memory device includes a heating layer having a smaller contact area with a phase-change material layer and a greater contact area with a PN diode structure.
US08049195B2
An apparatus (10) for reading out, in a time-saving and reliable way, X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plates with an input unit (12) in which a plurality of cassettes (14) in which a storage phosphor plate to be read out is respectively located, can be input. A read-out unit (22) is located beneath the input unit (12) and in which storage phosphor plates can be read out, it being possible to remove a storage phosphor plate from a cassette (14) located within the input unit (12) and to convey it to the read-out unit (22) located beneath the input unit (12) in order to read out the storage phosphor plate, and to convey it back into the cassette located within the input unit (12) after having read out the storage phosphor plate, an output unit (16) which is adjacent to the input unit (12) and in which cassettes (18) can be output, and a moving device for moving the cassette (14) located within the input unit (12) the storage phosphor plate of which has been read out in the read-out unit (22) located beneath the input unit (12) along a substantially horizontal path of movement to the output unit adjacent to the input unit (12).
US08049189B2
A charged particle system comprises a particle source for generating a beam of charged particles and a particle-optical projection system. The particle-optical projection system comprises a focusing first magnetic lens (403) comprising an outer pole piece (411) having a radial inner end (411′), and an inner pole piece (412) having a lowermost end (412′) disposed closest to the radial inner end of the outer pole piece, a gap being formed by those; a focusing electrostatic lens (450) having at least a first electrode (451) and a second electrode (450) disposed in a region of the gap; and a controller (C) configured to control a focusing power of the first electrostatic lens based on a signal indicative of a distance of a surface of a substrate from a portion of the first magnetic lens disposed closest to the substrate.
US08049181B2
A lithography method and system have means for determining a convergence value dc from a relation of beam current to beam position drift (or beam dimension drift) produced in the past; means for finding a beam current i(t) as a function of the convergence value dc of beam position drift (or beam dimension drift), a measured value dm of beam position drift (or beam dimension drift), a gain constant g, and a convergence value c of beam position drift (or beam dimension drift) per unit beam current and using an equation given by i(t)={(1+g)·dc−g·dm(t)}/c; means for making a check regarding dm and dc as to whether dm approaches dc and, thus, a relationship given by |dm−dc|<ε holds, where ε is a positive number providing a decision criterion under the condition where the gain constant g of the beam current i(t) satisfies a relationship given by g>0.
US08049180B2
An ion beam device is described. The ion beam device includes an ion beam source for generating an ion beam, the ion beam being emitted along a first axis, an aperture unit adapted to shape the ion beam, and an achromatic deflection unit adapted to deflect ions of the ion beam having a predetermined mass by a deflecting angle. The achromatic deflection unit includes: an electric field generating component for generating an electric field, and a magnetic field generating component for generating a magnetic field substantially perpendicular to the electric field. The device further includes a mass separation aperture adapted for blocking ions with a mass different from the predetermined mass and for allowing ions having the predetermined mass to trespass the mass separator, and an objective lens having a second optical axis, wherein the second optical axis is inclined with regard to the first axis.
US08049178B2
High rate radiation detectors are disclosed herein. The detectors include a detector material disposed inside the container, the detector material containing cadmium, tellurium, and zinc, a first dopant containing at least one of aluminum, chlorine, and indium, and a second dopant containing a rare earth metal. The first dopant has a concentration of about 500 to about 20,000 atomic parts per billion, and the second dopant has a concentration of about 200 to about 20,000 atomic parts per billion.
US08049173B1
There is disclosed an dual use RF directed energy weapon and imager. A generator may provide a first beam of RF electromagnetic energy which may be directed to an object by a beam director. An imager may form an image of the object. The imager may share an aperture defined by the beam director.
US08049170B2
An ion generation element includes an induction electrode and a plurality of discharge electrodes. The induction electrode is formed of one metal plate. A circumferential portion of a through hole is bent, and a thickness of a wall portion of the through hole is greater than a thickness of a top plate portion. A needle-like tip end of the discharge electrode is located within a range of the thickness of the through hole. Thus, an induction electrode having a structure realizing a small thickness, capable of lessening variation in an amount of ion generation caused by variation in positional relation between the tip end of the discharge electrode and the induction electrode, an ion generation element, an ion generation apparatus, and electric equipment can be obtained.
US08049166B2
A mass spectrometer system comprises a chamber having an ion emitting unit to emit metal ions in the chamber with a communicating hole; a neutral molecule introduction unit; another gas introduction unit; a controller controlling a temperature of a region where metal ions attach to the neutral molecules; and a mass analyzer for the neutral molecules with the metal ions, wherein plotting an attachment energy of the metal ions attached to the neutral molecules in the chamber along an abscissa and the temperature of the region where the metal ions attach to the neutral molecules along an ordinate, the controller adjusts the temperature of the region so as to fall within a range obtained by excluding a range corresponding to the temperature of the region from 150 to 200° C. from a range surrounded by the temperatures of the region [° C.]=150×attachment energy [eV], 100×attachment energy [eV]−50, and 20° C., and attachment energies [eV]=2.1 and 0.5.
US08049163B1
Systems and methods directed to calibration techniques for infrared cameras are disclosed. For example, a method of obtaining calibration information for an infrared device includes providing a calibration target adapted to provide a low-emissivity scene; performing a calibration operation on the infrared device to obtain the calibration information; and storing the calibration information.
US08049160B2
A lens module comprises an optical lens component having an optical axis, an image sensing component located adjacent the optical lens component, and a dust trap located between the optical lens component and the image sensing component. The optical lens component has with a lens mount and a lens barrel mounted in the lens mount by way of a threaded connection. The dust trap comprises body having a groove which locates behind the connection between the lens mount and the lens barrel, for receiving dust dropping from the connection, and an inner extension arm separating the groove from the image sensing component for preventing the dust in the groove from moving onto the image sensing component which could reduce the quality of the image.
US08049158B2
A photonic proximity sensor and photonic sensor system are provided. The photonic proximity sensor includes a first light source, a second light source, and a magneto-optic device. The magneto-optic device receives light emitted from the first and second light sources, and is responsive to variations of a magnetic field to rotate the light from one of the sources significantly more than the light from the other light source.
US08049156B2
A method and apparatus for excess signal compensation in an imaging system is described. In one particular embodiment, the invention provides for non-linear background, offset (due to time dependent dark current) and/or lag (including constant, linear and non-linear terms, due to image persistence) corrections of large area, flat panel imaging sensors.
US08049151B2
Disclosed is a digital type anti-glare device capable of conveniently performing input, operation and adjustment, and a method of controlling the same. The digital type anti-glare device includes a touch sensor input unit recognizing a shade degree and a grind mode level by direct selective operation or adjustment of a user as a digital contact signal and inputting the shade degree and the grind model level to the control unit, and an encoder switch input unit recognizing a sensitivity level and an opening delay level by the selective operation or adjustment of the user and inputting the sensitivity level and the opening delay level to the control unit. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent operation failure due to switch contact, dust or humidity or the like by a touch sensor and encoder input and to facilitate input, operation and adjustment even in a state in which an operator wears gloves.
US08049146B2
The invention relates to a device and a method for welding two polymer parts via fusion using a heater mat knitted from a resistive wire coated with an insulating varnish, the heater mat being given a final shape. The heater mat is resistive wire having a diameter ranging from 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm, and has approximately parallelepiped meshes, the dimensions of which range from 1.5×3 mm2 to 2.5×4.5 mm2.
US08049145B1
A semiconductor device that may include temperature sensing circuits is disclosed. The temperature sensing circuits may be used to control various parameters, such as internal regulated supply voltages, internal refresh frequency, a word line low voltage, or the like. In this way, operating specifications of a semiconductor device at worst case temperatures may be met without compromising performance at normal operating temperatures. Each temperature sensing circuit may include a selectable temperature threshold value as well as a selectable temperature hysteresis value. In this way, temperature performance characteristics may be finely tuned. Furthermore, a method of testing the temperature sensing circuits is disclosed in which a current value may be monitored and temperature threshold values and temperature hysteresis values may be thereby determined.
US08049144B2
A system for coating a substrate includes a heater that heats the substrate. The heater includes a two-dimensional array of a plurality of heat sources which supply heat to the substrate when the substrate is in the presence of the array of heat sources. The heater further includes a controller that controls the operation of each heat source to heat a localized area of the surface of the substrate according to a predetermined temperature profile for the substrate.
US08049140B2
Disclosed here is a pulse welding control method and a pulse arc welding device capable of improving arc stability, and decreasing the amount of spatters. The structure contains arc short-circuit judging section (13) for judging a welding state; setting section (21) for defining parameters used for a short-circuit period and an arc period; secondary control section (25); and driving section (18). Secondary control section (25) sharply decreases welding current on detecting a moment when the tip of a wire has a neck just before recovery from the short circuit, according to at least any one of outputs from a welding current value detector, a welding voltage value detector, and the setting section. Driving section (18) selects from outputs of a pulse-waveform circuit section and a dip-waveform circuit section according to the signal from the setting section and the output from the arc short-circuit section, and outputs the selected data to a switching element.
US08049138B2
An apparatus for processing a three-dimensional structure having a fine three-dimensional shape and a smooth surface is disclosed in which the three-dimensional structure is usable for an optical device. The process method includes depositing a thin layer for absorption of laser light on a flat substrate; depositing a transparent layer on the thin layer for absorption of laser light; and irradiating a process laser light, passing through the transparent layer; in which pulse injection energy of the process laser light is set to be the same as or smaller than the maximum pulse injection energy capable of exposing a surface of the thin layer in front in the incident direction of the process laser light, and to be set the same as or greater than the minimum pulse injection energy capable of removing the transparent layer in rear in the incident direction of the process laser light.
US08049122B2
A circuit breaker includes a housing forming an opening. A push switch is connected to a test circuit to enable testing of the test circuit in accordance with closing the push switch. A flexible membrane is formed in the opening and configured to form a seal between the housing and the flexible membrane. The flexible membrane is located in an operative relationship with the push switch such that pushing the flexible membrane results in a displacement of the push switch.
US08049116B2
A circuit substrate including a laminated layer, an embedded electronic device, at least a circuit structure, and a solder mask layer is provided. The embedded electronic device is disposed within the laminated layer. The circuit structure is disposed on a surface of the laminated layer and is connected between a reference plane and the embedded electronic device. In addition, the solder mask layer is disposed on the surface of the laminated layer and exposes a portion of the circuit structure. The circuit structure has a specific layout by which a circuit trace with an adjustable length can be formed by disconnecting or connecting the exposed portion of the circuit structure.
US08049107B2
The wall plate bracket is for a high voltage outlet, and includes a wall plate having front and rear surfaces. The wall plate has an interior opening. A support housing has an inner surface and an interior region bounded by the inner surface. The support housing is connected to the rear surface such that the interior opening provides access to the interior region. The support housing is configured for support of the high voltage outlet within the interior region. A clamp is connected to the wall plate for securing the wall plate to a wall structure. The rear surface of the wall plate may have a rib to limit the clearance between the support housing and rear surface. Alternatively, the clearance may be limited by a recess in the rear surface in which a mounting tab of the support housing is located.
US08049100B2
Examples of device structures utilizing layers of rare earth oxides to perform the tasks of strain engineering in transitioning between semiconductor layers of different composition and/or lattice orientation and size are given. A structure comprising a plurality of semiconductor layers separated by transition layer(s) comprising two or more rare earth compounds operable as a sink for structural defects is disclosed.
US08049099B2
Provided is a solar cell in which a linear n finger electrode and a linear p finger electrode are alternately arranged on a projection plane parallel to a main surface of a substrate, and which is arranged in a predetermined arrangement direction, including an n-side bus bar electrode connected to the n finger electrode and insulated from the p finger electrode and a p-side bus bar electrode connected to the p finger electrode and insulated from the n finger electrode. The n-side bus bar electrode and the p-side bus bar electrode are provided on a same main surface side of the substrate, intersect with the n finger electrode and the p finger electrode respectively on the projection plane, and have a slope angle relative to the predetermined arrangement direction.
US08049083B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH277420. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH277420, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH277420 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH277420.
US08049080B1
A novel maize variety designated PHPAR and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHPAR with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHPAR through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHPAR or a trait conversion of PHPAR with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHPAR, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHPAR and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08049078B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the habanero pepper line designated PX11423487. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of habanero pepper hybrid PX11423487, and to methods for producing a habanero pepper plant produced by crossing a plant of pepper hybrid PX11423487 with itself or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of habanero pepper hybrid PX11423487, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08049068B2
Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded thereby are described, together with the use of those products for making transgenic plants with increased tolerance to abiotic stress (e.g., high or low temperature, drought, flood).
US08049066B2
The present invention provides novel genes involved in cellulose biosynthesis and methods using such genes to modulate cellulose biosynthesis in fiber-producing plants such as cotton. The invention also provides methods for identifying and isolating alleles of these genes in a population of fiber-producing plants that correlate with the quality of the produced fibers.
US08049063B2
The present invention provides a kind of rice endogenous bentazon and sulfonylurea herbicide resistant gene (Cyp81A6 gene), and its functional conservative variants, the biological activity subfragments or derivatives with the same function. It also provides a kind of method to prevent the selling mixtures during hybrid seed production. It also provides the novel means of the directional genetic manipulation and the improvement of biological traits.
US08049061B2
An intraluminal catheter device having an expandable member formed of a matrix of fiber elements, the expandable member including a hydrogel polymer having a therapeutic agent incorporated therein. The hydrogel polymer can be coated on the fiber elements in a co-axial configuration. The fiber elements may also have a second coating including a protective substance surrounding the hydrogel polymer having a therapeutic agent therein. The matrix of fiber elements can be formed by electrospinning. A process of delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site includes providing an intraluminal catheter device having an expandable member formed of a matrix of fiber elements, the expandable member including a hydrogel polymer having a therapeutic agent dispersed therein, and advancing the catheter device at a desired treatment site. Once at the desired treatment site, fluid is introduced into the inflation lumen to expand the expandable member from a first profile to a second profile, and the therapeutic agent is released from the hydrogel polymer and delivered to the desired treatment site.
US08049060B2
Bulk softened fibrous structures, especially bulk softened, polar agent-free fibrous structures, and methods for making such fibrous structures are provided.
US08049055B2
Process for separation of a feedstock F by adsorption in a simulated moving bed in an SMB device that comprises a zone 1 for desorption of compounds produced by extraction, a zone 2 for desorption of compounds produced with a raffinate, a zone 3 for adsorption of compounds produced by extraction, and a zone 4 that is located between the draw-off of the raffinate and the supply of the desorbent,whereby the device comprises external bypass lines Li/i+1 directly joining two successive plates Pi, Pi+, that are equipped with non-automated means for adjusting flow rate and closing means, in which the degree of opening of the restriction means of the scavenging flow rate of the bypass lines Li/i+1 is adjusted so as to obtain the best performance of the SMB.
US08049051B2
The present invention provides a process for producing aromatic hydrocarbons at a sufficiently high yield, from a light hydrocarbon containing mainly hydrocarbons having 7 or fewer carbon atoms. The process of the present invention comprises bringing a feedstock containing mainly light hydrocarbons having 2 to 7 carbon atoms into contact with a catalyst composition comprising at least a gallium-containing crystalline aluminosilicate wherein a reaction step for converting the feedstock to aromatic hydrocarbons comprises at least two or more reaction layers formed of the catalyst composition, arranged in series and heating means arranged either between or in the reaction layers, the amount of the catalyst in the first stage reaction layer is 30 percent by volume or less of the total catalyst volume, and/or the yield of the aromatics in the product outflowing from the first reaction layer is from 0.5 to 30 percent by mass.
US08049047B2
Process for the manufacture of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) starting with a hydrocarbon source which is subjected to a cracking thus producing a mixture of cracking products then subjected to treatment steps to obtain a mixture of products containing ethylene. The mixture is afterwards subjected to a first separation step into a fraction enriched with the compounds that are lighter than ethylene containing some of the ethylene conveyed to a chlorination reactor in which most of the ethylene is converted to DCE, and into a fraction F1 which is subjected to a second separation step into a fraction F2 and into a heavy fraction. Fraction F2 is afterwards subjected to a third separation step into a fraction enriched with ethylene conveyed to an oxychlorination reactor in which most of the ethylene is converted to DCE, and into a fraction F3 mainly composed of ethane.
US08049042B2
To provide a resist polymer comprising, as a structural unit, an acid-decomposable unit having a structure represented by formula (1) or (2) which exhibits a small line edge roughness and produces little defects in DUV excimer laser lithography or the like. In formulas (1) and (2), n represents an integer of 2 to 24; J represents a single bond or a divalent hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent/heteroatom when n=2, or represents an n-valent hydrocarbon group which may have a substituent/heteroatom when n≧3; E represents a residue of a polymerization terminator, a chain transfer agent or a polymerization initiator; K1 and K2 each represent at least one selected from alkylene, cycloalkylene, oxyalkylene, arylene, a divalent thiazoline ring, a divalent oxazoline ring and a divalent imidazoline ring; L1 and L2 each represent at least one selected from —C(O)O—, —C(O)— and —OC(O)—; M1, M2 and M3 each represent at least one selected from alkylene, cycloalkylene, oxyalkylene and arylene; Y, Y1 and Y2 each represent an acid-decomposable linkage; k1, k2, l1, l2, m1, m2, and m3 each represent 0 or 1; and R1 represents H or a methyl group.
US08049039B2
The present invention generally relates to a process for preparing alkoxylated alkylamines and/or alkyl ether amines. The process consists of two stages and utilizes a catalyst with a multiple-charge counterion. The alkoxylated alkylamines and alkoxylated alkyl ether amines prepared by the process possess the peaked ethoxylation distribution and contain less hazardous by-product.
US08049036B2
Alkenes, unsaturated saturated carboxylic acids, saturated carboxylic acids and their higher analogues are prepared cumulatively from corresponding alkanes utilizing using a multi-staged catalyst system and a multi-stage process which comprises steam cracking of alkanes to corresponding alkenes at flame temperatures and at short contact times in combination with one or more oxidation catalysts for catalytically converting the corresponding alkenes to further corresponding oxygenated products using short contact time reactor conditions.
US08049031B2
New solid forms of fesoterodine fumarate are described. In particular, amorphous fesoterodine fumarate, characterized by a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum as shown in FIG. 1 and by an IR spectrum as shown in FIG. 2 is described. Also fesoterodine fumarate in crystalline form I, characterized by a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum as shown in FIG. 3, by a DSC profile as shown in FIG. 4, by an IR spectrum as shown in FIG. 5, by a solid state 13C-NMR spectrum as shown in FIG. 6 and by a Raman spectrum as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 is described.
US08049027B2
An organosilicon compound having an amino group is provided. This compound is represented by the following general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 respectively represent an unsubstituted or substituted aliphatic monovalent hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms with the proviso that the R1 and R2 may together form a ring with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded, and that R1 and R2 may contain a heteroatom; R3 and R4 independently represent an unsubstituted or substituted monovalent hydrocarbon group containing 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and n represents an integer of 0 to 2. Use of this compound enables production of a polymer product having excellent mechanical properties, high heat resistance, and high transparency. The solution of this compound is stable, and can be stored for a long time, and when used for a polymer modifying agent, it facilitates introduction of amino group and hydroxy group.
US08049024B2
The subjects of the invention are new heterogenized rhodium complexes, the methods of their synthesis and their application as catalysts for synthesis of organosilicon compounds by hydrosilylation. The subject of the invention are new siloxide rhodium(I) complexes immobilised on the silica surface, of the general formula 1. [(≡SiO)(L)Rh(diene)] The second subject of the invention is the method of synthesis of the new rhodium complexes of the general formula 1. The third subject of the invention is the method of obtaining the organosilicon compounds in the reaction of hydrosilylation between the selected alkenes or functionalised alkenes containing the terminal C═C bond and the appropriate compounds containing the Si═H bond selected from silanes, (poly)siloxanes and (poly)carbosiloxanes, in the presence of heterogenized rhodium catalysts, of the general formula 1.
US08049022B2
The present invention relates to fatty acid alkanolamides or polyolamides containing at least one group Y, where Y stands for CF3—(CH2)a—O—, SF5—, CF3—(CH2)a—S—, CF3CF2S—, [CF3—(CH2)a]2N— or [CF3—(CH2)a]NH—, where a stands for an integer selected from the range from 0 to 5, or formula (I), where Rf stands for CF3—(CH2)r—, CF3—(CH2)r—O—, CF3—(CH2)r—S—, CF3CF2—S—, SF5—(CH2)r— or [CF3—(CH2)r]2N—, [CF3—(CH2)r]NH— or (CF3)2N—(CH2)r—, B stands for a single bond, O, NH, NR, CH2, C(O)—O, C(O), S, CH2—O, O—C(O), N—C(O), C(O)—N, O—C(O)—N, N—C(O)—N, O—SO2 or SO2—O, R stands for alkyl having 1 to 4 C atoms, b stands for 0 or 1 and c stands for 0 or 1, q stands for 0 or 1, where at least one radical from b and q stands for 1, and r stands for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, to processes for the preparation of these compounds, and to uses of these surface-active compounds.
US08049020B2
The substituted N-acyl homoserine lactones have the formula (I) wherein R is a saturated or unsaturated straight chain or branched chain aliphatic hydrocarbyl group containing from 5 to 14 carbon atoms; R2 is H or a 1-4C alkyl group; R3 is H or F; and any enantiomer thereof. These compounds exhibit immunosuppressant activity while exhibiting reduced biosensor (autoinducer) activity compared to known N-acyl homoserine lactones.
US08049016B2
The present invention provides heterocyclic derivatives that modulate the activity of stearoyl-CoA desaturase. Methods of using such derivatives to modulate the activity of stearoyl-CoA desaturase and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such derivatives are also encompassed.
US08049015B2
Described herein are compounds that are antagonists of PGD2 receptors. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds described herein, and methods of using such antagonists of PGD2 receptors, alone or in combination with other compounds, for treating respiratory, cardiovascular, and other PGD2-dependent or PGD2-mediated conditions or diseases.
US08049012B2
This invention relates to novel 3-aza-spiro[5.5]undecane derivatives useful as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors.In other aspects the invention relates to the use of these compounds in a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention.
US08049000B2
This invention relates generally to the field of plant molecular biology. More specifically, this invention relates to methods and reagents for the temporally- and/or spatially-regulated expression of genes, particularly in plant seeds and related female reproductive tissue. Compositions comprise novel nucleotide sequences for a seed-preferred promoter known as eep2. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the promoter sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to one of the promoters of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.
US08048991B2
A recombinant or isolated integrin heterodimer comprising a novel subunit α10 in association with a subunit β is described. The α10 integrin may be purified from bovine chondrocytes on a collagen-type-II affinity column. The integrin or the subunit of α10 can be used as a marker or target of all types of cells, e.g. of chondrocytes, osteoblasts, and fibroblasts. The integrin or the subunit α10 thereof can be used as a marker or target in different physiological or therapeutic methods. They can also be used as active ingredients in pharmaceutical compositions and vaccines.
US08048989B2
A biodegradable biopolymer material consists of silk fibroin from domesticated silkworm; silk fibroin from wild silkworm; a composite material comprising silk fibroin from domesticated silkworm and silk fibroin from wild silkworm; or a composite material comprising either silk fibroin from domesticated silkworm or silk fibroin from wild silkworm and at least one secondary substance selected from the group consisting of cellulose, chitin, chitosan, chitosan derivatives, keratin from wool and polyvinyl alcohol. The material may be prepared by, for instance, casting an aqueous solution of domesticated silkworm silk fibroin on the surface of a substrate and then cast drying the applied solution. The biodegradable biopolymer material is effectively used as, for instance, a metal ion-adsorbing material, a sustained release substrate for a useful substance such as a medicine, a biological cell-growth substrate and a biodegradable water-absorbing material.
US08048978B2
The present invention relates to a silphenylene compound represented by the following formula (1): in which R1 to R4 each independently represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and R5 and R6 each independently represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms. The silphenylene compound of the present invention is useful as a flexible printed wiring board material, a passivation film for IC chips, and a panel material for liquid crystals.
US08048966B2
Use of a kinked rigid-rod polyarylene of a particular type for its fire resistance properties.
US08048965B2
Disclosed is a method for extending a shelf life of vinyl ester resin or unsaturated polyester resin during transportation or general storage. The method includes the step of enhancing an oxygen content of the vinyl ester resin or the unsaturated polyester resin, such that the self-polymerization reaction of reactive functional groups having carbon-carbon unsaturated double bonds of the vinyl ester resin or the unsaturated polyester resin can be minimized, so as to slow down occurrence of a gelation phenomenon of the vinyl ester resin or the unsaturated polyester resin in a long-time transportation or storage, and further to decrease a monetary loss.
US08048962B2
A resin composition comprising at least one copolymer (A) selected from an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer (A1) and an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/(meth)acrylic acid ester copolymer (A2), and a polyethylene (B), wherein when the total amount of (A) and (B) in the resin composition is set to be 100% by weight, the content of (A) is less than 100 to 46% by weight, the content of (B) is in excess of 0 but not larger than 54% by weight, and (A) contains 0.1 to 5% by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid unit. There are thus provided a resin composition comprising an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid bicopolymer or an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/(meth)acrylic acid ester tercopolymer and a polyethylene, as well as a film or a sheet made from the resin or the resin composition, and a laminate thereof featuring high-speed workability in the extrusion lamination working, particularly excellent adhesiveness to the polar base materials, adhering little in the extrusion-molding machine, without requiring the use of a purging agent and/or a purging resin at the time of changing the kind of the resin or changing the colored lot of the resin, or requiring the purging agent and/or the purging resin in conspicuously small amounts if they are used.
US08048961B2
A cross-metathesized product mixture is prepared by contacting a metathesis catalyst under metathesis conditions with a composition comprising two or more chemically distinguishable ethylenically unsaturated polymers, at least one of said ethylenically unsaturated polymers (first polymer) having from 0.001 to 50 mole percent unsaturation and at least one other of said ethylenically unsaturated polymers (second polymer) being an amorphous polymer having a Tg less than 0° C. and having from 0.001 to 5 mole percent unsaturation.
US08048946B2
Hydrolytically stable phosphites as secondary antioxidants for polymer resins comprising a phosphite and an amine compound. The phosphite may be a liquid phosphite composition. The amine compound may have the structure of formula I: wherein x is 1, 2 or 3; R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and straight or branched C1-C6 alkyl, and R2 is selected from the group consisting of straight or branched C1-C30 alkyl.
US08048944B2
The present invention provides a polyamide resin composition comprising a polyamide resin (A), a melamine cyanurate-based flame retardant (B) and a surfactant (C), wherein the polyamide resin composition comprises 100 parts by mass of the total of 60 to 75% by mass of the polyamide resin (A) comprising at least one or more polyamide resin (A1) having a melting point of 255 to 270° C. and 25 to 40% by mass of the melamine cyanurate-based flame retardant (B), and 0.1 to 1.0 part by mass of the surfactant (C) comprising at least one or more fatty acid ester of a polyalkylene polyhydric alcohol, and wherein the melamine cyanurate-based flame retardant (B) dispersed in the polyamide resin composition has an average dispersion particle diameter of 1 to 20 μm.
US08048937B2
The present invention relates to UV-curable polyurethane dispersions, to a process for preparing them, and to their use.
US08048936B2
The present invention relates to a microporous polyolefin film suitable as a separator for batteries and thermal properties thereof. A microporous polyolefin film according to the present invention has a film thickness of 5-40 μm, a porosity of 30%-60%, a permeability of 2.0×10−5-8.0×10−5 Darcy, a maximum pore size determined by the bubble point method of not more than 0.1 μm, a puncture strength of 0.20 N/μm or more at room temperature and 0.05 N/μm or more at 120° C., and a maximum shrinkage ratio in the transverse direction (TD) when subjected to a thickness-normalized external force in TMA (thermo-mechanical analysis) of not more than 0%. With excellent thermal stability at high temperature as well as superior puncture strength and gas permeability, the microporous polyolefin film according to the present invention is suitable for high-capacity, and high-power batteries.
US08048933B2
At least one embodiment of the inventive technology focuses on a new composition that comprises hexagonally close packed molybdenum carbide crystals, in addition to metallic nickel crystals and/or sodium, and having use as a catalyst in a Fischer-Tropsch process to produce alcohol. At least one embodiment of a related aspect of the inventive technology is a Fischer-Tropsch reaction to produce alcohols from carbon monoxide and hydrogen using the aforementioned composition to catalyze reactions producing higher alcohols.
US08048930B2
The present invention discloses an activated biocidal aqueous solution containing hydrogen peroxide (activated peroxide solution) obtainable by subjecting an initial solution of hydrogen peroxide in water to a non-thermal electrical discharge process, such as a glow discharge plasma or a corona discharge. The resulting activated peroxide solution containing 0.05 to 20% (w/w) hydrogen peroxide has a pH in the range of 2 to 4, an oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) in the range of 400 to 600 mV, and the solution when having a peroxide content in the range of 0.05% to 0.5% (w/w) has a conductivity in the range of 100 to 500 μSiemens/cm, the solution when having a peroxide content in the range of 0.1% to 5% (w/w) has a conductivity in the range of 100 to 450 μSiemens/cm, and the solution when having a peroxide content in the range of 5% to 20% (w/w) has a conductivity in the range of 100 to 350 μSiemens/cm. The pH, ORP and conductivity are measurable under conditions essentially without the presence of additional compounds in the solution. The biocidal activity of the solution is substantially higher than that of a common peroxide solution. The biocidal solution may be used for any purpose where disinfecting and/or sanitizing and/or cleaning and/or bleaching and/or preservative activity is required. The present invention further discloses a non-thermal electrical discharge process, in particular a pulsed corona induced low frequency pulsed DC plasma discharge process, for the preparation of the activated peroxide solution.
US08048928B2
A method for treating a liver disease such as hepatitis, comprising administering to a patient having the liver disease, an effective amount of a diarylsulfide or diarylether derivative having 2-amino-1,3-propanediol structure, and represented by the following formula (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08048924B2
The invention provides compositions comprising 4-APAA compounds and methods for treating disorders involving inflammation of the intestinal system, such as inflammatory bowel disease. The methods and compositions of the invention also include combinations of 4-APAA compounds and 5-ASA compounds for treatment of such disorders.
US08048923B2
The present invention relates to the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative polyglutamine diseases by the administration of effective amounts of L-methionine S-sulfoximine, L-ethionine S-sulfoximine, glufosinate and/or branched chain α-keto acids. In particular, the present invention relates to the treatment or prevention of Huntington's disease and other polyglutamine disorders caused by expanded genomic CAG nucleotides.
US08048919B2
This invention is based upon the unexpected discovery that ethyl lactate can be used as an emulsifying/dispersing excipient for numerous biologically active compounds without destroying the pharmacological activity of the active ingredient. Ethyl lactate proves to be an extremely effective agent for solubilizing biologically active compounds that are difficult to solubilize in conventional excipients. The operability of this invention is predicated on the necessity for the ethyl lactate to be essentially free of peroxide compounds. Such pharmaceutical grade ethyl lactate can be made by reducing the level of peroxide compounds in high purity ethyl lactate by hydrogenation, reduction with a non-catalytic chemical reducing agent, absorption into activated carbon or alumina, or distillation. In any case, it has been determined to be critical for the level of peroxide compounds to be reduced to less than 10 ppm for the pharmaceutical grade ethyl lactate to be viable as an excipient for many biologically active ingredients. The present invention more specifically discloses a pharmaceutical composition which is comprised of a biologically active ingredient wherein said biologically active ingredient is dispersed in ethyl lactate and wherein said ethyl lactate contains no more than 10 ppm of peroxidic materials and maintains a Gardner 1 color rating throughout its shelf-life period.
US08048914B2
Methods for extraction, isolation, and purification of therapeutically useful compounds from Tripterygium wilfordii are described. Extraction steps employing aqueous base and a hydrocarbon solvent, respectively, are found to increase the efficiency of the process and reduce the amount of material that must be removed by chromatography.
US08048913B2
A composition for use in making commercial food and skin products comprising S-equol or mixtures, including both a non-racemic mixture and a racemic mixture, of S-equol and R-equol. The composition can be used to make articles of commerce such as food supplements, pharmaceuticals, and medicaments. The compositions are useful in a method of delivering S-equol to a mammal to prevent or treat a disease or associated condition, including hormone-dependent diseases or conditions such as cardiovascular disease, lipid disorder, osteopenia, osteoporosis, liver disease, and acute ovarian estrogen deficiency. The S-equol enantiomer can be produced in a biological synthesis from the metabolism of an isoflavone by an organism.
US08048900B2
The invention concerns the treatment of obesity, in particular abdominal visceral obesity. More specifically, the invention concerns the use of selective 15-lipoxygenase (LO) inhibitors for preparing medicines useful in the treatment of obesity, or at least abdominal visceral obesity, and/or its consequences.
US08048899B2
are disclosed. Compounds according to the invention bind to and are agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists of the CB2 receptor, and are useful for treating inflammation. Those compounds which are agonists are additionally useful for treating pain.
US08048897B2
A cyclohexane derivative having the function of reducing a blood sugar level and having preferable properties required of medicines, such as long-lasting drug activity, metabolic stability, and safety; and a medicinal composition for use in the prevention or treatment of diseases attributable to hyperglycemia, such as diabetes, e.g., insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1 diabetes) or noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes), complications of diabetes, and obesity. The derivative is a compound represented by the formula (I): (wherein A is —O—, —CH2—, or —NH—; n is an integer selected between 0 and 1; R6 and R7 each independently is hydrogen or C1-6 alkyl; m is an integer selected among 1-3; Q is selected among the following formulae Q1 to Q5; Ar1 is optionally substituted arylene or optionally substituted heteroarylene, provided that the heteroarylene may be bonded to an aromatic carbocycle or aromatic heterocycle to form a fused ring; and Ar2 is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heteroaryl), a prodrug of the compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either. Also provided are a medicine, a medicinal composition, or the like each containing the compound.
US08048889B2
The present invention relates to 3,4-disubstituted coumarin and quinolone derivatives and processes for their preparation. The invention also related to methods for treating infection of Hepatitis C virus by administering a 3,4-disubstituted coumarin or quinolone derivative.
US08048883B2
This invention discloses a novel stable crystal form of imatinib mesylate, designated by us as α2 Form, which is stable at room temperature and even at higher temperatures up to 120° C. and accelerated stress conditions and, freely soluble in water. This invention also discloses a pharmaceutical composition containing the novel stable α2 form of Imatinib mesylate and other usually employed excipients, useful in the treatment of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). This new α2 Form of imatinib mesylate is prepared by slurrying Imatinib base in isopropanol at room temperature followed by addition of methane sulfonic acid and maintaining 50-60 ° C. followed by filtration. This invention also discloses another process for the preparation of the novel, stable α2 crystalline form of Imatinib Mesylate by the conversion of Imatinib mesylate β-polymorphic modification by suspending it in water and organic solvents, distilling off water azeotropically, cooling and filtering to obtain the α2 crystal form.
US08048875B1
Bethanechol, diltiazem, or a combination thereof is administered locally to the anus for the treatment of benign anal disorders, in particular anal fissures and hemorrhoids. The agents induce a reduction in the mean and resting pressure, thereby assisting in the healing of the anal fissures and hemorrhoids.
US08048872B2
The present invention relates to vinca alkaloid and analog N-oxides having activity for treating hyperproliferative disorders. Further, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using vinca alkaloid and analog N-oxides, alone or in combination with one or more other active agents or treatments, to treat hyperproliferative disorders.
US08048868B1
A method of preventing preeclampsia including administering to a patient during an early stage of pregnancy a prophylactically-effective amount of resibufogenin. The administration of resibufogenin is periodically repeated. The method serves to prevent hypertension, proteinuria, and intrauterine growth restriction.
US08048860B2
A method of treating a Th1-mediated disorder includes administering to a subject in need of the treatment an effective amount of a compound of the formula I: wherein R1 is H, alkyl, aryl, or cyclyl; R2 is pyranose; R3 is H or alkyl; m is 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6; n is 0, 1, 2, or 3; o is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4; p is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and the Th1-mediated disorder is non-obese diabetes, Crohn's colitis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, or autoimmune myocarditis. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition including a compound of formula I above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08048854B2
The invention relates to insulin glargine which is modified by amidation, especially Gly(A21), Arg(B31), Arg amide (B32) human insulin (insulin glargine amide).
US08048837B2
The invention provides an aqueous bleaching solution for substrate treatment comprising a source of oxidant and a suspended polymer matrix having a plurality of optically functional particles associated with one or more copolymers present in the polymer matrix. The plurality of optically functional particles are associated with the copolymer during polymerization of at least one hydrophobic and at least one hydrophilic monomer so as to form a polymer matrix useful to impart an aqueous bleaching solution with optically functional properties providing a benefit to the solutions during storage, use and application to substrates for treatment. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the suspended polymer matrix forms a substantially stable dispersion of the optically functional particles in the aqueous bleaching solution, and provides compositions, methods and kits for employing aqueous bleaching solutions having optically functional properties that are maintained over substantially long storage times.
US08048832B2
Fuels, especially hydrocarbon fuels, and lubricants, especially lubricating oils, contain a class of anti-corrosion, anti-wear, anti-fatigue, and extreme pressure additives that are derived from 1,3-dithiolane-2-thiones.
US08048824B2
A system of printing borderless images on printable media includes at least one sheet of printable media including an imaging surface and a non-imaging surface. The system further includes a removable extension strip having a front surface with an adhesive zone and a non-adhesive zone, a non-adhesive back surface, and a straight line of demarkation between the adhesive and non-adhesive zones. The adhesive zone is configured to removably adhere to the non-imaging surface, and the straight line of demarkation is configured as a placement guide for adhering the adhesive zone of the extension strip to the media. An associated method includes adhering an adhesive portion of removable extension strip to a non-imaging surface proximate a trailing edge of the media, and ink-jet printing an image on an imaging surface of the media using an ink-jet printer. The strip is used by rollers in the printer to advance the media.
US08048823B2
A foil for producing a metal honeycomb or catalyst carrier body, has an average surface roughness of more than 0.3 μm (micrometers) on both surfaces in at least one measurement direction. Preferably, the foil is rolled and has an average surface roughness of more than 0.3 or 0.5 μm, especially approximately 0.6 μm, in the rolling direction and/or transverse thereto. The foil can have an oxide coating with a thickness between 60 and 80 or between 70 and 75 nm (nanometers) on both surfaces. Despite the roughness, an even thickness of the oxide coating with a tolerance of less than 10% or 5% is advantageous on both surfaces. The foil allows production of durable honeycomb bodies, especially for exhaust systems of internal combustion engines, requiring an exactly defined distribution and quality of compounds in the interior thereof. A honeycomb body and method of production using a foil, are also provided.
US08048801B2
A substrate with first and second main surfaces includes at least one channel extending from the first main surface to the second main surface. The at least one channel includes a first cross-sectional area at a first location and a second cross-sectional area at a second location. An electrically conductive first material is disposed in the at least one channel.
US08048799B2
A method for forming copper wirings in a semiconductor device may include depositing a lower insulating film over a semiconductor substrate; forming vias in the lower insulating film; depositing tungsten over the entire surface of upper portion of the lower insulating film so that the vias are gap-filled with the tungsten; forming tungsten plugs by performing a tungsten chemical mechanical polishing process to remove excess tungsten deposited over the upper portion of the lower insulating film; removing the tungsten remaining over the upper portion of the lower insulating film by performing a tungsten etchback process; depositing an upper insulating film over the upper portion of the lower insulating film; exposing upper portions of the tungsten plugs by forming trenches on the upper insulating film; depositing copper over the entire surface of the upper insulating film so that the trenches are gap-filled with the copper; and planarizing the copper over the upper portion of the trenches.
US08048797B2
A method utilizing a multilayer anti-reflective coating layer structure can achieve low reflectivity at high numerical apertures. The multilayer anti-reflective coating structure can be utilized as a hard mask forming various integrated circuit structures. A multilayer anti-reflective coating structure can be utilized to form gate stacks comprised of polysilicon and a dielectric layer. A photoresist is applied above the multilayer anti-reflective coating which can include silicon oxynitride (SiON) and silicon rich nitride (SiRN).
US08048790B2
Semiconductor devices with replacement gate electrodes and integrated self aligned contacts are formed with enhanced gate dielectric layers and improved electrical isolation properties between the gate line and a contact. Embodiments include forming a removable gate electrode on a substrate, forming a self aligned contact stop layer over the removable gate electrode and the substrate, removing a portion of the self aligned contact stop layer over the removable gate electrode and the electrode itself leaving an opening, forming a replacement gate electrode of metal, in the opening, transforming an upper portion of the metal into a dielectric layer, and forming a self aligned contact. Embodiments include forming the contact stop layer of a dielectric material, e.g., a hafnium oxide, an aluminum oxide, or a silicon carbide and transforming the upper portion of the metal into a dielectric layer by oxidation, fluorination, or nitridation. Embodiments also include forming a hardmask layer over the removable gate electrode to protect the electrode during silicidation in source/drain regions of the semiconductor device.
US08048786B2
The present invention provides a method for fabricating a single-crystalline substrate containing gallium nitride (GaN) comprising the following steps. First, form a plurality of island containing GaN on a host substrate. Next, use the plurality of islands containing GaN as a mask to etch the substrate and form an uneven host substrate. Then, perform epitaxy on the uneven host substrate to make the islands containing GaN grow in size and merge into a continuous single-crystalline film containing GaN. Finally, separate the single-crystalline film containing GaN from the uneven host substrate to obtain the single-crystalline substrate containing GaN. According to the present invention, process time can be saved and yield can be improved.
US08048777B2
An object is to suppress discharge due to static electricity generated by peeling, when an element formation layer including a semiconductor element is peeled from a substrate. Over the substrate, the release layer and the element formation layer are formed. The support base material which can be peeled later is fixed to the upper surface of the element formation layer. The element formation layer is transformed through the support base material, and peeling is generated at an interface between the element formation layer and the release layer. Peeling is performed while the liquid is being supplied so that the element formation layer and the release layer which appear sequentially by peeling are wetted with the liquid such as pure water. Electric charge generated on the surfaces of the element formation layer and the release layer can be diffused by the liquid, and discharge by peeling electrification can be eliminated.
US08048757B2
A method for fabricating a capacitor includes forming an isolation layer over a cell region and a peripheral region of a substrate. The isolation layer forms a plurality of open regions in the cell region. Storage nodes are formed on surfaces of the open regions. An upper portion of the isolation layer is etched to expose upper outer walls of the storage nodes. A sacrificial pattern is formed over the isolation layer to enclose the upper outer walls of the storage nodes. The isolation layer in the peripheral region is etched to expose side portions of the resulting structure obtained after forming the sacrificial pattern in the cell region. With the sacrificial pattern supporting the storage nodes, the isolation layer in the cell region is removed. The sacrificial pattern is then removed.
US08048752B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate stack on the semiconductor substrate; forming a gate spacer adjacent to a sidewall of the gate stack; thinning the gate spacer; and forming a secondary gate spacer on a sidewall of the gate spacer after the step of thinning the gate spacer.
US08048751B2
A gate dielectric, an insulating layer and an etching mask are formed on substrate. The etching mask delineates at least the gate electrode and the source and drain contacts and the source, drain and gate output lines of the first metal level of a field effect device. The gate electrode and the future source and drain contacts are formed simultaneously by etching of the insulating layer. A gate material is deposited to form the gate electrode. The source and drain contacts are formed at least in the insulating layer. The source, drain and gate output lines of the first metal level are formed in the etching mask.
US08048750B2
The invention provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that enhances the amount of stress that is transmitted to the channel region for carrier mobility enhancement. In one embodiment an amorphous region is formed at or near the gate dielectric interface prior to source/drain anneal. In a second embodiment the gate material is amorphous as deposited and processing temperatures are kept below the gate material crystallization temperature until stress enhancement processing has been completed. The amorphous gate material deforms during high temperature anneal and converts from an amorphous to a polycrystalline phase allowing more stress to be transmitted into the channel region. This enhances carrier mobility and improves transistor drive current.
US08048748B2
In sophisticated approaches for forming high-k metal gate electrode structures in an early manufacturing stage, a threshold adjusting semiconductor alloy may be deposited on the basis of a selective epitaxial growth process without affecting the back side of the substrates. Consequently, any negative effects, such as contamination of substrates and process tools, reduced surface quality of the back side and the like, may be suppressed or reduced by providing a mask material and preserving the material at least during the selective epitaxial growth process.
US08048736B2
By forming metal capacitors in the metallization structures of semiconductor devices, complex manufacturing sequences in the device level may be avoided. The process of manufacturing the metal capacitors may be performed on the basis of well-established patterning regimes of modern metallization systems by using appropriately selected etch stop materials, which may enable a high degree of compatibility for forming via openings in a metallization layer while providing a capacitor dielectric of a desired high dielectric constant in the capacitor.
US08048735B2
The present invention provides an MIM capacitor using a high-k dielectric film preventing degradation of breakdown field strength of the MIM capacitor and suppressing the increase of the leakage current. The MIM capacitor comprises a first metal interconnect, a fabricated capacitance film, a fabricated upper electrode, and a third metal interconnect. The MIM capacitor is realized by forming an interlayer dielectric film comprising silicon oxide so as to cover the first metal interconnect, then forming a first opening in the interlayer dielectric film to a region corresponding to a via hole layer in the interlayer dielectric film just above the first metal interconnect so as not to expose the upper surface of the first metal interconnect, then forming a second opening to the inside of the first opening so as to expose the surface of the first metal interconnect and then forming a capacitance film and a third metal interconnect.
US08048732B2
An apparatus and method of manufacture for metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors is disclosed. Devices in accordance with the invention are operable at voltages below 2V. The devices are area efficient, have improved drive strength, and have reduced leakage current. A dynamic threshold voltage control scheme comprised of a forward biased diode in parallel with a capacitor is used, implemented without changing the existing MOS technology process. This scheme controls the threshold voltage of each transistor. In the OFF state, the magnitude of the threshold voltage of the transistor increases, keeping the transistor leakage to a minimum. In the ON state, the magnitude of the threshold voltage decreases, resulting in increased drive strength. The invention is particularly useful in MOS technology for both bulk and silicon on insulator (SOI) CMOS. The use of reverse biasing of the well, in conjunction with the above construct to further decrease leakage in a MOS transistor, is also shown.
US08048720B2
A method of forming a wire loop is provided. The method includes: (1) forming a first fold of wire; (2) bonding the first fold of wire to a first bonding location to form a first bond; (3) extending a length of wire, continuous with the first bond, between (a) the first bond and (b) a second bonding location; and (4) bonding a portion of the wire to the second bonding location to form a second bond.
US08048714B2
A semiconductor device mountable to a substrate includes a semiconductor die and an electrically conductive attachment region having a first attachment surface and a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface is arranged for electrical communication with the semiconductor die. A housing at least in part encloses the semiconductor die and the interlayer material. The housing has a recess disposed through the second attachment surface of the electrically conductive attachment region. A dielectric, thermally conductive interlayer material is located in the recess and secured to the housing. A metallic plate is located in the recess and secured to the interlayer material.
US08048705B2
A method of forming a CMOS image sensor device, the method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a P-type impurity characteristic including a surface region. The method forma first thickness of silicon dioxide in a first region of the surface region, a second thickness of silicon dioxide in a second region of the surface region, and a third thickness of silicon dioxide in a third region of the surface region. The method includes forming a first gate layer overlying the second region and a second gate layer overlying the third region, while exposing a portion of the first thickness of silicon dioxide. An N-type impurity characteristic is formed within a region within a vicinity underlying the first thickness of silicon dioxide in the first region of the surface region to cause formation of a photo diode device characterized by the N-type impurity region and the P-type substrate.
US08048701B2
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor light emitting device using a hybrid buffer layer and a method for fabricating the same which can minimize the lattice mismatch between a buffer layer and a nitride semiconductor. The method for fabricating the nitride semiconductor light emitting device using the hybrid buffer layer includes a first step of forming an AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) layer on a substrate, a second step of forming a three-dimensional crystal seed layer made of a material included in a general formula of AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) and AlOyNz on the substrate by recrystallizing the substrate with the AlxGa1-xN(0≦x<1) layer thereon, and a third step of forming an AlN nanostructure by annealing the substrate subjected to the second step at NH3 gas atmosphere, thus forming a hybrid buffer layer composed of the three-dimensional crystal seed layer and the AlN nanostructure on the substrate.
US08048699B2
An organic electroluminescent device includes: a switching element and a driving element connected to each other on a substrate including a pixel region; a planarization layer on the switching element and the driving element, the planarization layer having a substantially flat top surface; a cathode on the planarization layer, the cathode connected to the driving element; an emitting layer on the cathode; and an anode on the emitting layer.
US08048687B2
There is provided a processing method for performing a recovery process on a damaged layer formed on a surface of a low-k film of a target substrate by introducing a processing gas containing a methyl group into a processing chamber. The method includes: increasing an internal pressure of the processing chamber up to a first pressure lower than a processing pressure for the recovery process by introducing a dilution gas into the processing chamber maintained in a depressurized state; then stopping the introduction of the dilution gas, and increasing the internal pressure of the processing chamber up to a second pressure as the processing pressure for the recovery process by introducing the processing gas into a region where the target substrate exists within the processing chamber; and performing the recovery process on the target substrate while the processing pressure is maintained.
US08048684B2
Disclosed herein is a structure and method for manipulating a spin state, regarded as important in the field of spintronics, by which the distribution of spin-up and spin-down states of carriers in a hybrid double quantum disk structure, composed of a diluted magnetic semiconductor and a ferroelectric compound semiconductor, is manipulated through dipole polarization switching of the ferroelectric compound semiconductor without a change in bias. Giant Zeeman splitting properties of the diluted magnetic semiconductor and polarization properties of the ferroelectric compound semiconductor are applied in conjunction with the Pauli exclusion principle, thus enabling the combination or separation of carriers in spin-up and spin-down states in the hybrid double quantum disk structure. The spin relaxation time in the structure is on the order of microseconds, during which the spin state is well-defined, and therefore, the structure can be applied to microprocessors having gigahertz clock speeds.
US08048676B2
The invention provides reagents and methods for detecting pathogen infections in human samples. This detection utilizes specific proteins to detect the presence of pathogen proteins or abnormal expression of human proteins resulting from pathogen infections. Specific methods, compositions and kits are disclosed herein for the detection of oncogenic Human papillomavirus E6 proteins in clinical samples.
US08048666B1
The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for engineering photoautotrophic organisms to convert carbon dioxide and light into fatty acid esters and other molecules, including biofuels. The molecules are then secreted by the organism into a growth medium.
US08048660B2
Disclosed are bioanodes comprising a quaternary ammonium treated Nafion® polymer membrane and a dehydrogenase incorporated within the treated Nafion® polymer. The dehydrogenase catalyzes the oxidation of an organic fuel and reduces an adenine dinucleotide. The ion conducting polymer membrane lies juxtaposed to a polymethylene green redox polymer membrane, which serves to electro-oxidize the reduced adenine dinucleotide. The bioanode is used in a fuel cell to produce high power densities.
US08048652B2
The present invention includes a palatable, stable composition comprising a biomass hydrolysate emulsion for incorporation, into, or used as, nutritional products, cosmetic products or pharmaceutical products. Preferred sources for biomass are microbial sources, plant sources and animal sources. The present invention also provides methods for making such compositions, specifically, a method for producing a product comprising a nutrient, particularly a long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, comprising hydrolyzing a biomass comprising the nutrient and emulsifying the hydrolyzed biomass. Such compositions and methods are useful, for example, for increasing intake of nutrients such as omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids having 18 or more carbons.
US08048650B2
The present invention relates to a microorganism of Corynebacterium genus having enhanced L-lysine productivity and a method of producing L-lysine using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a recombinant microorganism of Corynebacterium genus having enhanced L-lysine productivity by inactivating endogenous NCgI 1090 gene having the amino acid sequence containing repeated aspartate residues and a method of producing L-lysine using the same.
US08048649B2
Methods and compositions for increased production of amino acids from C. glutamicum using sucrose as a carbon source are described. In one aspect, increased production of L-lysine from C. glutamicum is accomplished by using a strain having a mutation in the ptsF gene encoding fructose-PTS enzyme that attenuates or blocks fructose import into the cell when such strain is grown on media containing sucrose as a carbon source and production is increased by providing glucose isomerase in the fermentation media. The glucose isomerase may be exogenously added or expressed in the strain and exported into the media. In certain embodiments the media also contain an invertase. In another aspect increased production of L-lysine is accomplished by making a C. glutamicum strain having the ptsF mutation and a second mutation in a fructose exporter function. The dual mutation retains imported fructose in the cell. In certain embodiments, the strain also overexpresses at least one of a glucose isomerase and glucokinase activity in the cell to drive imported fructose toward the pentose phosphate pathway to increase L-lysine production.
US08048646B2
The invention generally relates to a bone growth factor, and more particularly to compositions including NELL1, articles of manufacture including NELL1 and methods of using NELL1 to induce bone formation. This invention also provides methods for the expression and purification of NELL1 and NELL2 peptides.
US08048637B2
A diagnostic composition to detect antibodies in a sample obtained from an animal or human being infected by Trichinella, comprising at least one peptide containing a series of amino acids that form a continuous or discontinuous epitope recognized by sera from pigs infected with Trichinella.
US08048636B2
The invention provides methods for identifying modulators of mammalian, e.g., human, h2-calponin, the calponin isoform of relatively neutral pI. H2-calponin exerts an effect on the migration and proliferation of a variety of muscle (smooth muscle) and non-muscle cells and is an actin filament-associated regulatory protein influencing the structure of the actin cytoskeleton. Modulators of the activity levels of this protein are useful in preventing, ameliorating, or treating a variety of diseases, disorders or conditions characterized by aberrant cell migration and/or cell proliferation.
US08048628B2
Methods for amplifying nucleic acid, such as DNA or RNA, on a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate are disclosed. The amplification can be achieved through a variety of methods such as thermocycling or isothermally. The printed circuit board substrate can comprise an array of electrodes for transporting droplets and can be part of a sandwich structure including a top plate parallel to the printed circuit board substrate.
US08048625B2
A single nucleotide polymorphism occurring on a leptin receptor gene is analyzed and an inflammatory disease is examined on the basis of the analytical data. Further, a substance capable of changing the interaction between the leptin receptor and galectin-2 is selected to thereby screen a remedy for an inflammatory disease.
US08048624B1
Methods of obtaining mutant nucleic acid sequences that demonstrate elevated oxaloacetate α-decarboxylase activity are provided. Compositions, such as genetically modified microorganisms that comprise such mutant nucleic acid sequences, are described, as are methods to obtain the same.
US08048614B2
A circuit pattern having a size finer than a half of a wavelength of an exposure beam is transferred on a semiconductor wafer plane with an excellent accuracy by means of a mask whereupon an integrated circuit pattern is formed and a reduction projection aligner. The accuracy of transferring the circuit pattern on the semiconductor wafer is improved by synergic effects of super-resolution exposure, wherein a mask cover made of a transparent medium is provided on a pattern side of the integrated circuit mask so as to suppress the aberration of reduction projection alignment, and a method of increasing the number of actual apertures of the optical reduction projection lens system provided with the wafer cover made of the transparent medium on a photoresist side of the semiconductor wafer to which planarizing process is performed.
US08048612B2
A polymer comprising a structural unit represented by the formula (Ia) or (Ib): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom etc., R2 represents a linear, branched chain or cyclic C1-C8 alkyl group, R3 represents a methyl group, n represents an integer of 0 to 14, Z1 represents a single bond etc., k represents an integer of 1 to 4, R4 and R5 each independently represents a hydrogen atom etc., and m represents an integer of 1 to 3, a structural unit represented by the formula (II): wherein R6 and R7 each independently represents a hydrogen atom etc., R8 represents a methyl group, R9 represents a hydrogen atom etc., n′ represents an integer of 0 to 12, Z2 represents a single bond etc., k′ represents an integer of 1 to 4, R21 and R22 each independently represents a hydrogen atom etc., and R23 represents a C1-C30 monovalent hydrocarbon group, and at least one structural unit selected from the group consisting of structural units represented by the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb), (IIIc), (IIId) and (IIIf) wherein R10 represents a hydrogen atom etc., R11 represents a methyl group, R12 is independently in each occurrence a carboxyl group etc., j represents an integer of 0 to 3, a represents an integer of 0 to 5, b represents an integer of 0 to 3, c represents an integer of 0 to (2j+2), Z3 represents a single bond etc., and k″ represents an integer of 1 to 4.
US08048604B2
Hydrofluoroalkanesulfonates of the general formula R—O—CXH—CX2—SO3M, where R is selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups, functionalized alkyl groups, and alkenyl groups; X is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and fluorine with the proviso that at least one X is fluorine; and M is a cation, are made by reacting fluorovinyl ether with aqueous sulfite solution. Organic onium hydrofluoroalkanesulfonates are useful as ionic liquids and photoacid generators.
US08048603B2
A toner is composed of toner particles which contain at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent. As to particle size distribution and particle number distribution of the toner particles, a volume average particle size of the toner particles is set to be 3.0 μm to 6.0 μm, and a content of 5.0 μm or smaller toner particles is set to be 40% by number while a content of 8.0 μm or larger toner particles is set to be less than 2% by volume. Furthermore, an amount of the release agent in toner particle surface is set to be 0.7% by weight or more and 1.8% by weight or less. And furthermore, the release agent is a petroleum-based release agent.
US08048591B2
A mask blank glass substrate is for use in manufacturing a mask blank. In the mask blank glass substrate, a marker expressing, by a plurality of pits, information for identifying or managing the mask blank glass substrate is formed on a surface of a region, having no influence on formation of a transfer pattern, of the mask blank glass substrate. Each of the pits forming the marker is a round hole with its edge portion being generally circular and a distance L1 between the edge portions of the adjacent pits is 50 μm or more. The marker is formed, for example, on an end face of the mask blank glass substrate.
US08048588B2
A method and structure for removing side lobes is provided by positioning first and second radiation transparent regions of respective first and second phases at a first plane with the first and second phases being substantially out of phase. Further, positioning the first and the second region to cause radiation at a second plane to be neutralized in a first region, not to be neutralized in a second region, and to have a side lobe in a third region. Further, positioning a non-transparent region at the first plane to assure radiation at the second plane to be neutralized in the first region and positioning a third radiation transparent region of the first or second phase at the first plane to neutralize the side lobes in the third region at the second plane.
US08048586B2
A fuel cell stack induces smooth current collection and liquid or gas flow without using a heavy bipolar plate. The fuel cell stack includes: a membrane and electrode assembly (MEA) in which an electrolyte membrane is disposed between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode; a current collector disposed in the MEA to form an electrical path with an adjacent MEA; and a non-conductive separation plate disposed between the MEA and the adjacent MEA, the non-conductive separation plate forming flow channels to supply a liquid or gas to the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. A fuel cell stack structure having the above structure is simple and lightweight as the MEA includes a thin and lightweight non-conductive polymer separation plate and a current collector to connect adjacent MEAs.
US08048583B2
The present invention provides, among other things, a method of operating a solid oxide fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack. The method can include the acts of combining an exhaust flow from an anode side of the fuel cell stack and an exhaust flow from a cathode side of the fuel cell stack, transferring heat from the combined exhaust flow to a first air flow, and combining a second air flow and the heated first air flow upstream from the fuel cell stack to control a temperature of the combined air flow entering the cathode side of the solid oxide fuel cell.
US08048578B2
When a vehicle mounted with a fuel cell system travels using electric power supplied from the system, a predetermined portion forming the system, such as a fuel cell, is prevented from being frozen by the relative wind. The fuel cell system is mounted on a vehicle and has the fuel cell for generating electric power by using fuel gas and oxidized gas as fuel and also has a control section for controlling the system. When the speed of the vehicle is higher than or equal to a predetermined threshold and predetermined conditions determined by physical quantities relating to power generation conditions of the fuel cell are satisfied, the control section determines that freeze prevention processing is necessary even if the fuel cell is generating electric power and performs the processing.
US08048577B2
A hydrogen generator (1) includes: a reformer which generates a hydrogen-containing gas from a raw material and steam; a combustor (4) which heats the reformer; an evaporator (2) which generates the steam by utilizing heat of a combustion gas after the reformer is heated by the combustion gas; and a control unit (20), the hydrogen generator (1) is controlled such that ON and OFF of a combustion operation of the combustor (4) are repeated in a start-up operation of the hydrogen generator (1) and a temperature of the reformer is kept to a predetermined temperature or lower, and the control unit (20) controls the combustion operation such that a heat amount per unit time by the combustor (4) in a first combustion operation is larger than the heat amount per unit time in k-th (k>1) and following combustion operations.
US08048575B2
A fuel cell system that is compact and has stabilized performance is provided. The fuel cell system includes two fuel cell stacks or a first fuel cell stack (31) and a second fuel cell stack (32), a high-pressure hydrogen tank (11) as a hydrogen supplying device for supplying hydrogen to the first and second fuel cell stacks (31, 32), a compressor (12) as an air supplying device for supplying air to the fuel cell stack, and a humidifier (20) for humidifying air to be supplied to the first and second fuel cell stacks (31, 32). The humidifier (20) is disposed between the first and second fuel cell stacks (31, 32); a supply air exhaust port of the humidifier (20) and air supply ports (Q1) of the first and second fuel cell stacks (31, 32) are connected by air supply pipes (51) having the same length.
US08048574B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell, an operation controller, a checking unit, a scavenging unit, an instructing unit, a temperature sensor, a humidifier and a humidification controller. The operation controller selects one of a normal operation mode and a low-temperature operation mode. The checking unit determines whether the fuel cell has been started up in the low-temperature operation mode. The instructing unit provides an instruction for a shutoff of electricity generation. When the scavenging unit conducts scavenging based on the checking unit determining that the fuel cell has been started in the low-temperature operation mode in response to an instruction for a shutoff of electricity generation and an actual temperature of the fuel cell is higher than a predetermined temperature, the humidification controller controls an amount of humidification according to the actual temperature.
US08048568B2
Disclosed is a negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery including ultra-fine particles comprising an element which is capable of alloying with lithium. The particles have a diameter of 1 nm to 200 nm, a Raman shift of 480 cm−1 to 520 cm−1 measured by Raman Spectroscopy, and a full width at half-maximum of 10 cm−1 to 30 cm−1.
US08048566B2
The nickel hydroxide particles for a nickel hydroxide electrode may be treated using an alkaline solution of a strong oxidizing agent such as sodium or potassium persulfate to modify the surface nickel hydroxide structure. The resulting modified surface structure has been found to impart various benefits to electrodes formed from the nickel hydroxide. It is believed that the oxidation of cobalt compounds at the surface of the nickel hydroxide particles results in a highly conductive cobalt compound that plays an important role in the high reliability, high stability and high capacity utilization of nickel electrodes as described herein.
US08048562B2
A primary cell having an anode comprising lithium or lithium alloy and a cathode comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) with calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 and lithium carbonate Li2CO3 additive mixed therein. The electrolyte may typically comprise lithium bistrifluoromethylsulfonyl imide, Li(CF3SO2)2N (LiTFSI) salt dissolved in a solvent mixture comprising 1,3-dioxolane and sulfolane. The electrolyte typically contains between about 100 and 2000 parts by weight water per million parts by weight (ppm) electrolyte therein. A cathode slurry is prepared comprising iron disulfide powder with Ca(OH)2 and Li2CO3 mixed therein, carbon, binder, and a liquid solvent. The mixture is coated onto a conductive substrate and solvent evaporated leaving a dry cathode coating on the substrate. The anode and cathode can be spirally wound with separator therebetween and inserted into the cell casing with electrolyte then added.
US08048561B2
Process for the preparation of electrodes from a porous material making it possible to obtain electrodes that are useful in electrochemical systems and that have at least one of the following properties: a high capacity in mAh/gram, a high capacity in mAh/liter, a good capacity for cycling, a low rate of self discharge, and a good environmental tolerance.
US08048552B1
A battery module mount for securing a battery module to a housing of a handheld device, including one or more latch elements attached to the housing and movable between a free position and an unlatched position, with a tab portion, and one or more elongate resilient elements biasing each latch element to the free position. Each latch element is positionable in a latched positions. The mount also includes one or more mating means attached to the battery module with an abutment with which the tab portion is engageable when the latch element is in the latched position, to hold the abutment in a retainable position, thereby securing the battery module to the housing. The tab portion is disengaged from the abutment when the latch element is in the unlatched position, to permit removal of the battery module from the housing.
US08048549B2
A heat exchanger for a fuel cell stack includes a first plate and a second plate. The first and second plates are connected to one another by at least one wall. The first and second plates and the at least one wall form an enclosure having an interior area defined by interior surfaces of the enclosure. At least one liquid metal and transfer means are disposed within the interior area. The liquid metal flows within the transfer means and the interior area in response to a temperature gradient applied to the enclosure.
US08048548B2
In some embodiments a ternary electrocatalyst is provided. The electrocatalyst can be used in an anode for oxidizing alcohol in a fuel cell. In some embodiments, the ternary electrocatalyst may include a noble metal particle having a surface decorated with clusters of SnO2 and Rh. The noble metal particles may include platinum, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, gold, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the ternary electrocatalyst includes SnO2 particles having a surface decorated with clusters of a noble metal and Rh. Some ternary electrocatalysts include noble metal particles with clusters of SnO2 and Rh at their surfaces. In some embodiments the electrocatalyst particle cores are nanoparticles. Some embodiments of the invention provide a fuel cell including an anode incorporating the ternary electrocatalyst. In some aspects a method of using ternary electrocatalysts of Pt, Rh, and SnO2 to oxidize an alcohol in a fuel cell is described.
US08048541B2
An electroluminescence device has an anode, a cathode and an emitting layer located between the anode and the cathode. The emitting layer contains a compound selected from a group consisting of neutral red and its derivatives.
US08048527B2
A formed exfoliated graphite article which comprises an oxidation-resistant coating layer formed at least in the surface layer portion thereof, preferably wherein the oxidation-resistant coating layer contains a boron element and a phosphorus element, the content of a boron element in the oxidation-resistant coating layer is 1 mass % or more, the content of a phosphorus in the oxidation-resistant coating layer is 0.1 mass % or more, and the oxidation-resistant coating layer is formed in a thickness of 0.5 μm or more.
US08048521B2
The embodiments of the present invention relate to multilayer thermoplastic structures having improved sealability and tearability. More specifically, the present invention relates to a multilayer heat sealant structure having at least three layers that may be coextrusion coated or otherwise laminated to a substrate, such as metallized polymeric material, foil, or other substrates.
US08048510B2
A liner for an appliance is formed by a plastic sheet formed into a three dimensional shape corresponding to at least a portion of a compartment of the appliance. A plurality of electrically conductive ink pathways are applied on a surface of the plastic sheet, and a sealer material is applied to the plastic sheet to cover said pathways.
US08048508B2
A honeycomb structure comprising porous partition walls which form, by surrounding, a plurality of cells extending between the two ends faces of the honeycomb structure, and an outer wall formed integrally with the partition walls. The cells consist of partial cells of outermost peripheral portion, having incomplete cell sections, which are located at the outermost peripheral portion of the honeycomb structure and are in partial contact with the outer wall, and complete cells having a complete cell section, other than the partial cells of outermost peripheral portion. In the complete cells, a plugged part is formed at one end of each complete cell so that each end face of the honeycomb structure shows a checkerwise plugging pattern. In the partial cells of outermost peripheral portion to be plugged according to the above-mentioned plugging pattern, part of them is plugged in the entire length and formed integrally with the outer wall and remaining cells have each a plugged part only at one end.
US08048505B1
This invention relates to providing a system for improved portable thermal lining systems. More particularly, this invention relates to providing systems for improved fire training facilities utilizing thermal protective elements of the above-noted portable thermal lining system.
US08048504B2
A layered composite which includes the following layers (I) and (II), wherein layer (I) includes (a) from 0 to 80 part by weight of at least one particular polyamide; (b) from 0 to 100 parts by weight of at least one polyamine-polyamide copolymer; and (c) from 0 to 80 parts by weight of at least one particular polyamide which is different from (a), wherein various monomer units are present in at least 20 parts by weight of the entirety of (a) and (b) and various other monomer units are present in at least 20 parts by weight of the entirety of (b) and (c); and layer (II) includes at least one ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer.
US08048502B2
Disclosed is a readily degradable resin composition having excellent biodegradability. Specifically disclosed is a readily degradable resin composition comprising: an aliphatic polyester (A) which has biodegradability; and an aliphatic polyester (B) which has a solution viscosity (η inh) of 0.25 dl/g or less as measured in a mixed solvent composed of m-chlorophenol and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene at a weight-based ratio of 4:1 at a concentration of 0.4 g/dl and at a temperature of 30° C. and a melt viscosity of 50 Pa S or less as measured at 190° C. at a shear rate of 1 rad/s and is capable of biodegraded at a more rapid degradation rate than the aliphatic polyester (A). Also disclosed is a readily degradable resin composition comprising: an aliphatic polyester (A) which has biodegradability; and an aliphatic polyester (B′) which, when hydrolyzed, can release an acid showing a pH value of 2.0 or less when dissolved in water at a concentration of 0.005 g/ml and is capable of biodegraded at a more rapid degradation rate than the aliphatic polyester (A). Further disclosed is a biodegradable container comprising the readily degradable resin composition.
US08048495B2
Provided are a cholesteric liquid crystal composition which contains a compound having a high Δn value and shows an orientation in a thick layer, and a circular polarization separator sheet having a wide reflection bandwidth and capable of being produced simply and easily. A cholesteric liquid crystal composition containing a compound represented by a formula (1): R1-A1-B-A2-R2 (R1 and R2 represent alkyl, alkylene oxide, H, halogen, hydroxyl, carboxyl, (meth)acryl, epoxy, mercapto, isocyanate, amino or cyano; A1 and A2 represent 1,4-phenylene, 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-cyclohexenyl, 4,4′-biphenylene, 4,4′-bicyclohexylene or 2,6-naphthylene; and B represents a single bond, —COO— or the like) and a rod-shaped liquid crystal compound having Δn of 0.18 or more and at least two or more reactive groups per one molecule.
US08048493B2
An objective is to provide a method of forming a piezoelectric resin film produced at low cost, and specifically to provide the method in which a large-area piezoelectric resin film is produced at low cost, and at reduced investment in facilities. Disclosed is a method of forming a piezoelectric resin film possessing the steps of polymerizing a monomer at a temperature of 5-60° C. to obtain a resin having a polymerization degree of 4-300, and a polarity group possessing one bond selected from a urea bond, an ester bond, an amide bond and an imide bond, coating the resin onto a substrate; and further polymerizing the resin at 70-250° C. while conducting a poling treatment.
US08048491B2
This invention provides a multilayer coating film-forming method by 2-coat-1-bake coating using a clear coat paint comprising a carboxyl group- and/or cyclic acid anhydride group-containing compound and polyepoxide, in which the coating workability and electrostatic coatability are improved by blending a specific organic solvent in the clear coat paint.
US08048488B2
A method of forming conductive features on a substrate, the method comprising: providing two or more solutions, wherein a metal nanoparticle solution contains metal nanoparticles with a stabilizer and a destabilizer solution contains a destabilizer that destabilizes the stabilizer, liquid depositing the metal nanoparticle solution and the destabilizer solution onto the substrate, wherein during deposition or following the deposition of the metal nanoparticle solution onto the substrate, the metal nanoparticle and the destabilizer are combined with each other, destabilizing the stabilizer from the surface of the metal nanoparticles with the destabilizer and removing the stabilizer and destabilizer from the substrate by heating the substrate to a temperature below about 180° C. or by washing with the solvent.
US08048483B2
A method to deposit a thin film on a flexible polymer substrate at room temperature comprising heating source vapor, which is vaporized by an evaporator, in a shower head in a reaction chamber so that the source vapor is thermally decomposed to be converted into the nano-size single phase; and depositing the source vapor in the nano-size single phase on the flexible polymer substrate which is not separately heated.
US08048477B2
A precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound and a method of making this film are disclosed. The film contains group IB-chalcogenide nanoparticles and/or group IIIA-chalcogenide nanoparticles and/or nanoglobules and/or nanodroplets and a source of extra chalcogen. Alternatively, the film may contain core-shell nanoparticles having core nanoparticles include group IB and/or IIIA elements, which are coated with a shell of elemental chalcogen material. The method of making a film of group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound includes mixing the nanoparticles and/or nanoglobules and/or nanodroplets to form an ink, depositing the ink on a substrate, heating to melt the extra chalcogen and to react the chalcogen with the group IB and group IIIA elements and/or chalcogenides to form a dense film.
US08048475B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of fabricating a superconducting wire that can reduce the fabrication cost and increase the mechanical strength of the superconducting wire, and a superconducting apparatus including a superconducting wire obtained by the method. The present invention provides a method of fabricating a superconducting wire including the steps of forming a superconducting layer on a substrate or an intermediate layer formed on the substrate, forming a silver stabilization layer on the superconducting layer, immersing the substrate in a copper sulfate solution after the superconducting layer and the silver stabilization layer are formed thereon, and forming a copper stabilization layer on the silver stabilization layer by electroplating with the copper sulfate solution as a plating bath. A superconducting apparatus including a superconducting wire obtained by the method is also provided.
US08048472B2
An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.
US08048471B2
A medical device, such as a medical wire, which includes a coating applied to the surface of the medical wire. The coating includes a base layer bonded to the surface of the medical wire and an at least partially transparent low-friction top coat applied to the base layer. The base layer includes heat activated pigments that change color when heated above a color shifting temperature. In one embodiment, the color of the pigment in one area contrasts with the color of the pigment in an adjacent area without otherwise affecting the low-friction surface of the coating. The areas of different color created in locations along the length of the low-friction coated medical wire form markings which enable a surgeon to determine the length of the medical wire inserted into a body by observing the markings on the portion of the marked medical wire located exterior to the body.
US08048468B2
Provided are a glyceride oil composition derived from a fish oil and a preparation method thereof. The composition includes docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) with a content of 45 to 95% by weight and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) with a content of 0.001 to 13% by weight among constituent fatty acids, and a saturated fatty acid having 16 to 18 carbon atoms, which is bonded at 1- and 3-positions, with a content of 0.001 to 5% by weight among constituent fatty acids, in which a weight ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) is 0.5 to 8 and a weight ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is 3.5 to 15. The glyceride oil composition derived from fish oil has nutritional and physiological superiority due to containing a great amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as DHA and DPA in a form of glyceride, and can minimize disadvantages of EPA such as inhibition of ω-6 fatty acid metabolism by containing a low amount of EPA. The glyceride oil composition is excellent in digestion and absorption of polyunsaturated fatty acids into a human body by containing a low amount of saturated fatty acids at 1- and 3-positions and process characteristics such as an oxidation stability and water-dispersibility.
US08048459B2
A toaster pastry at least partially coated with a clear coating that provides an at least partial moisture barrier on the surface of the toaster pastry.
US08048458B2
The invention is related to methods and compositions for reducing protozoa populations in animals. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for reducing protozoal populations including administering a first composition comprising an effective amount of saponins to the animal, and administering a second composition comprising an effective amount of a preservative to the animal. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for killing protozoa comprising contacting protozoa with a composition comprising an effective amount of saponins and an effective amount of ethoxyquin. Other embodiments are included herein.
US08048455B2
Disclosed are extracts, compositions, and methods for treating cancer and inflammatory disorders. Also disclosed are methods for preparing extracts or compounds for treating the disorders.
US08048452B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprises a solid amorphous dispersion of a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor and a concentration-enhancing polymer.
US08048438B2
This invention relates to stable non-aqueous single phase viscous vehicles and to formulations utilizing such vehicles. The formulations comprise at least one beneficial agent uniformly suspended in the vehicle. The formulation is capable of being stored at temperatures ranging from cold to body temperature for long periods of time. The formulations are capable of being uniformly delivered from drug delivery systems at an exit shear rate of between about 1 to 1×10−7 reciprocal second.
US08048430B2
Polypeptides, polynucleotides, methods, compositions, and vaccines comprising influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants are provided.
US08048428B2
A DNA composition effective for inhibiting endothelial cell proliferation comprises a DNA construct operably encoding a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor polypeptide, which can be a full length VEGF receptor protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof. This invention provides DNA compositions that encode VEGF receptor-2 (KDR), VEGF receptor-1 (Flt-1), or Flk-1 (the murine homolog of KDR), as well as methods of using such a DNA composition to inhibit vascular endothelial cell proliferation in the tumor micro-environment. Angiogenesis inhibition and subsequent decrease in tumor growth and dissemination is achieved.
US08048419B2
Extracorporeal cell-based therapeutic devices and delivery systems are disclosed which provide a method for therapeutic delivery of biologically active molecules produced by living cells in response to a dynamic physiologic environment. Exemplary designs are disclosed. In a first exemplary embodiment the device includes long hollow fibers in which a layer of cells are grown within the intraluminal volume or within a double hollow-filled chamber. In another exemplary embodiment the device includes a wafer or a series of wafers forms a substrate onto which cells are grown. The wafer(s) are then inserted into a device. The devices are intended to be extracorporeal. Disclosed is a device for delivering a pre-selected molecule, for example, a hormone, into a mammal's systemic circulation. The device may also deliver a member of different cell products. The device comprises an anchoring element that can be anchored to an inner wall of an extracorporeal tube for blood. The device also comprises a capsule that is held in place within the extracorporeal tube for blood or fluid by an anchor. The device is adapted to secure viable cells which produce and secrete the pre-selected molecule into blood or fluid passing the capsule. The invention also provides a minimally invasive method for percutaneously introducing into a preselected blood vessel or body cavity the device of the invention.
US08048417B2
A novel anti-human tenascin ST2146 monoclonal antibody is described endowed with high affinity with the native antigen and high tumor selectivity. The cST2146 hybridoma is stably producing the antibody in high density culture conditions and is suitable for the industrial development of ST2146-based products. ST2146 exhibits properties exploitable for both therapeutic and diagnostic applications.
US08048412B2
The invention provides fungal polypeptides from Trichoderma reesei that possess anti-microbial activity, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, compositions comprising the polypeptides and polynucleotides, and methods of use, thereof.
US08048406B2
A personal care product such as an antiperspirant product includes two portions having different compositions.
US08048395B2
Provided are a method of coating a catalyst metal layer by using a nucleic acid, and a method of forming nanocarbon using the method of coating a catalyst metal layer. The method of coating a catalyst metal layer includes preparing an aqueous solution; the aqueous solution including ions of a transition metal and a nucleic acid; disposing a carbon matrix including carbon, in the aqueous solution, and disposing a catalyst metal layer including a transition metal on a surface of the carbon matrix.
US08048391B2
The present invention relates to a gas purifier containing a filtering media having a photocatalytic action, a system for illuminating said media with UV radiation, a time-delay means or a volatile organic compound analyzer, and a means for automatically adjusting the speed of the gas passing through the media or for adjusting the intensity of the UV illumination, said adjusting being carried out as a function of the time determined by the time-delay means or as a function of the content of a volatile organic compound analyzed by the analyzer.
US08048379B2
An air freshener includes a housing having at least a first compartment and a second compartment, each of the first and second compartments having vents. The air freshener includes a first fan unit disposed within the first compartment and a second fan unit disposed within the second compartment. The air freshener also includes a first fragrance emitting substance disposed within the first compartment proximate the first fan unit and a second fragrance emitting substance disposed within the second compartment proximate the second fan unit. A programmable processor is operatively connected to a power source and the first and second fan units and configured to drive at least one of the first and second fan units so as to promote discharge of one of the first and second fragrance emitting substances from the housing.
US08048375B2
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector.
US08048371B1
Porous adaptive membrane structures having movable membranes are provided. The structures can be made to change their gas, liquid and/or particulate permeability in response to surrounding environmental conditions. Applications includes protective apparel that is comfortable to wear wherein the level of protection provided is based on conditions in the environment. Hence, the protective apparel is highly breathable and comfortable in a non-hazardous environment but impermeable or only semipermeable in a hazardous environment.
US08048368B2
High-temperature materials, based on alloyed intermetallic NiAl, have the following chemical composition (values in % by weight): 26-30 Al, 1-6 Ta, 0.1-3 Fe, 0.1-1.5 Hf, 0.01-0.2 B, 0-1 Ti, 0.1-5 Pd, with the remainder Ni and production-related impurities. The materials have excellent properties, in particular good strength and extremely high oxidation resistance, at very high temperatures of 1300° C., for example.
US08048363B2
A container having a scented label attached using an in-mold label process and methods of making the same. A scented material is supplied to the label, and the label is attached to the container using an in-mold label process. In another embodiment, a container comprises an interior cavity for retaining a substance, and a label adapted to dispense a scent, wherein the label is disposed on an exterior surface of the container using an in-mold label process. The scent may be suggestive of the content of the container.
US08048351B2
A hose for use in bio-pharmaceutical applications includes an innermost tubular layer made from a fluoropolymer material. The tubular layer has an inner, relatively smooth and pure surface that defines an opening for transfer of various media. A layer of silicone is disposed next to an outer surface of the innermost tubular layer through use of, for example, an extrusion method. The outer surface of the tubular layer may first be modified by various treatments or chemicals to facilitate the adhesion of the silicone layer thereto. The silicone material may be solid or foamed. A reinforcement layer may be disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the silicone layer. The reinforcement layer may be formed of a wire braid having gaps. An outer jacket of silicone may be attached to the reinforcement layer and to the inner silicone layer through the gaps in the reinforcement layer.
US08048350B2
The present invention relates generally a manufacturing process which results in a completely hydrogel polymer device that maintains lumen patency which allows for numerous applications. Catheters and stents are particular examples, and their composition, mechanical characteristics, and the significantly unique ability to conduct and allow fluids to pass from one end to the other without physiological rejection, inflammation, or manifestation of complications due to implant or otherwise undesirable outcomes when used for ambulatory and or therapeutic interventions is the purpose of the invention.
US08048349B2
The method of the present invention is adapted to foam and crosslink a raw material including a rubber, a crosslinking agent and a foaming agent. The method includes the following steps: (1) a first crosslinking and foaming step, placing the raw material into a first mold, crosslinking and foaming the raw material to form a pre-molded body; (2) a second crosslinking and foaming step, withdrawing the pre-molded body from the first mold, placing the pre-molded body into a second mold after the pre-molded body being cooled down, crosslinking and foaming the pre-molded body to form a molded body; and (3) a third crosslinking and foaming step, withdrawing the molded body from the second mold, placing the molded body into a heating device after the molded body being cooled down, crosslinking and foaming the molded body to form a product.
US08048346B2
A system for fabricating a septic tank using an outer mold and an inner removable plug, between which hardenable fluid material is poured. Preferably, the plug and mold are positioned with respect to one another in a manner that permits a septic tank to be fabricated in a single pour.
US08048340B2
The invention discloses a polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite and a method for fabricating the same. The method comprises the following steps: carboxylating at least one carbon nanotube to form at least one carboxylic carbon nanotube; mixing the at least one carboxylic carbon nanotube with a solvent to form a first carbon nanotube solution; mixing at least one aniline monomer with the first carbon nanotube solution to form a second carbon nanotube solution; mixing an ammonium persulfate solution with the second carbon nanotube solution to form a third carbon nanotube solution; air-extracting and filtering the third carbon nanotube solution to obtain the polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite; cleaning and baking the polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite. The polyaniline/c-MWNT nanocomposite fabricated by the method could be used for electromagnetic shielding or anti-static shielding.
US08048339B2
Provided are a porous anode active material, a method of preparing the same, and an anode and a lithium battery employing the same. The porous anode active material includes fine particles of metallic substance capable of forming a lithium alloy; a crystalline carboneous substance; and a porous carboneous material coating and attaching to the fine particles of metallic substance and the crystalline carboneous substance, the porous anode active material having pores exhibiting a bimodal size distribution with two pore diameter peaks as measured by a Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore size distribution from a nitrogen adsorption. The porous anode active material has the pores having a bimodal size distribution, and thus may efficiently remove a stress occurring due to a difference of expansion between a carboneous material and a metallic active material during charging and discharging. Further, the anode electrode and the lithium battery comprising the anode active material have excellent charge/discharge characteristics.
US08048332B2
The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting the formation or accumulation of ice on a solid surface and for reducing the salt out temperatures.
US08048326B2
The present invention presents a plasma processing system for etching a layer on a substrate comprising a process chamber, a diagnostic system coupled to the process chamber and configured to measure at least one endpoint signal, and a controller coupled to the diagnostic system and configured to determine in-situ at least one of an etch rate and an etch rate uniformity of the etching from the endpoint signal. Furthermore, an in-situ method of determining an etch property for etching a layer on a substrate in a plasma processing system is presented comprising the steps: providing a thickness of the layer; etching the layer on the substrate; measuring at least one endpoint signal using a diagnostic system coupled to the plasma processing system, wherein the endpoint signal comprises an endpoint transition; and determining the etch rate from a ratio of the thickness to a difference between a time during the endpoint transition and a starting time of the etching.
US08048323B2
A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium (30) having magnetically separate magnetic recording patterns on at least one surface of a nonmagnetic substrate (1), includes the steps of forming a magnetic layer (2) on the nonmagnetic substrate, forming a mask layer (3) on the magnetic layer, forming a resist layer (4) on the mask layer, transferring negative patterns of the magnetic recording patterns to the resist layer using a stamp (5), removing portions of the mask layer which correspond to the negative patterns of the magnetic recording patterns, implanting ions in the magnetic layer from a resist layer-side surface to partly demagnetize the magnetic layer, and removing the resist layer and the mask layer. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes the above magnetic recording medium (30), a driving section (11) that drives the magnetic recording medium in a recording direction, a magnetic head (27) including a recording section and a reproducing section, a device (28) for moving the magnetic head relative to the magnetic recording medium, and recording and reproducing signal processing device (29) for inputting a signal to the magnetic head and reproducing an output signal from the magnetic head.
US08048321B2
An apparatus that allows for separating and collecting a fraction of a sample. The apparatus, when used with a centrifuge, allows for the creation of at least three fractions in the apparatus. It also provides for a new method of extracting the buffy coat phase from a whole blood sample. A buoy system that may include a first buoy portion and a second buoy member operably interconnected may be used to form at least three fractions from a sample during a substantially single centrifugation process. Therefore, the separation of various fractions may be substantially quick and efficient.
US08048318B1
A process for recovering packaged ingredients from multi-component product packets, comprises the steps of: (a) Providing a supply of multi-component product packets that contain at least two components; (b) orienting the multi-component product packets so that one of the components is in a desired position and feeding the oriented multi-component product packets to a breaching station; (c) breaching the multi-component product packets so as to access one of the components; (d) manipulating the multi-component product packets to collect the component accessed in step (c); and (e) further manipulating the multi-component product packets to release and collect another one of the components.
US08048316B2
A method for subjecting a microorganism to a combination of ozone and irradiation of UV light which has a synergistic effect on the reduction of the microorganism that may be resistant to either ozone or UV light alone. In particular, Adenovirus and Naegleria fowleri, are significantly more reduced when subjected simultaneously to the combination of ozone and UV light than when subjected only to ozone or UV light, respectively.
US08048307B2
The present invention generally relates to a filtration system having one or more apparatuses for filtering gases, liquids, or fluids (e.g., water) to remove particulate matter, and methods of making and using the apparatus. More particularly, embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods for applying centrifugal force(s) to push a fluid or gas to be filtered through a porous membrane or filter within the apparatus to separate particulate matter therefrom. The present invention takes advantage of the Coriolis effect within a cylindrical filter radiating out from a rotating central body. The filtration apparatus provides an energy efficient system for microfiltration (or other filtration process) to remove contaminants from gases and fluids, such as waste water.
US08048306B2
A method and apparatus for removing fouling materials from the surface of a plurality of porous membranes (9) arranged in a membrane module (4) by providing, from within the module, by means (10) other than gas passing through the pores of said membranes, gas bubbles in a uniform distribution relative to the porous membrane array such that the bubbles move past the surfaces of the membranes (9) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. The membranes (9) are arranged in close proximity to one another and mounted to prevent excessive movement therebetween. The bubbles also produce vibration and rubbing together of the membranes to further assist removal of fouling materials.
US08048295B2
A process for reducing the Bromine Index of a hydrocarbon feed containing bromine-reactive contaminants that has improved cycle length and utilizes a crystalline molecular sieve catalyst. The process is carried out by contacting the hydrocarbon feed under conversion conditions with a catalyst shaped in the form of an elongated aggregate comprising a crystalline molecular sieve having a MWW or *BEA framework type. The shortest cross-sectional dimension of the elongated aggregate is less about 1/10 inch (2.54 millimeters).
US08048293B2
The desulfurization catalyst for catalytic cracked gasoline according to the present invention has high performance in removal of sulfur compounds in gasoline fractions. This catalyst contains particulate vanadium oxide having the average particle diameter in the range from 0.1 to 10 μm at the content in the range from 0.3 to 3 weight % calculated as that of V2O5. The porous spherical particles of inorganic oxide are made of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite and a porous inorganic oxide matrix, and furthermore contain antimony.
US08048291B2
Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. One or more hydrocarbons can be selectively separated to provide one or more heavy deasphalted oils. At least a portion of the heavy deasphalted oil can be thermally cracked to provide one or more lighter hydrocarbon products.
US08048290B2
The invention relates to a process for producing base oils, comprisings the steps where feedstock selected from ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters of carboxylic acids and anhydrides of carboxylic acids, alpha olefins, metal salts of carboxylic acids and corresponding sulphur compounds, corresponding nitrogen compounds and combinations thereof, is subjected to a condensation step and subsequently subjected to a combined hydrodefunctionalization and isomerization step.
US08048287B2
Methods and apparatuses for selectively removing conductive materials from a microelectronic substrate. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes positioning the microelectronic substrate proximate to and spaced apart from an electrode pair that includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode. An electrolytic liquid can be directed through a first flow passage to an interface region between the microelectronic substrate and the electrode pair. A varying electrical signal can be passed through the electrode pair and the electrolytic liquid to remove conductive material from the microelectronic substrate. The electrolytic liquid can be removed through a second flow passage proximate to the first flow passage and the electrode pair.
US08048282B2
A plating apparatus and method bubbles generated at the plating surfaces easily removed and the uniformity of the thickness of the plated film within the plated surface can be improved. The plating apparatus has a cassette table for loading a cassette in which a substrate having a plating surface is contained. An aligner for aligning the substrate, a rinser-dryer for rinsing and drying the substrate, and a plating unit for plating the substrate are also provided. The plating unit includes a plating vessel containing a plating solution, and a holder holds the substrate to immerse the substrate in the plating solution in the plating vessel. The plating surface is exposed to a nozzle which ejects the plating solution toward the plating surface.
US08048281B2
Methods for fabricating thin film magnetic head coil structures are disclosed. The methods disclose deposition of a first thick seed layer, followed by deposition of an ultra-thin second seed layer. Coil structures having sub-micron pitch and high aspect ratios are deposited on the second ultra-thin seed layer, which is removed from between the coil windings via an isotropic etch process such as wet etching or RIE. Subsequent to selective removal of the ultra-thin second seed layer, the first thick seed layer is utilized to deposit pole and backgap structures, eliminating the need to deposit (and remove) a subsequent seed layer on the coil structure.
US08048280B2
Several techniques are described for reducing or mitigating the formation of seams and/or voids in electroplating the interior regions of microscopic recessed features. Cathodic polarization is used to mitigate the deleterious effects of introducing a substrate plated with a seed layer into an electroplating solution. Also described are diffusion-controlled electroplating techniques to provide for bottom-up filling of trenches and vias, avoiding thereby sidewalls growing together to create seams/voids. A preliminary plating step is also described that plates a thin film of conductor on the interior surfaces of features leading to adequate electrical conductivity to the feature bottom, facilitating bottom-up filling.
US08048279B2
An electrocoagulation treatment device includes a plurality of spaced reaction plates disposed within a reaction chamber. A voltage is applied to selected reaction plates to create an electrical field within the electrocoagulation chamber. The plates are arranged vertically which induces a vertical flow of liquid through a device. The voltage and amperage of the electrical field chamber may be adjusted by placing selected reaction plates in electrical contact with the voltage source. One embodiment is adapted for treatment of fluid containing soluble or particulate organic compounds recalcitrant to biodegradation, including nitrogenous contaminants, such as ammonia or an ammonium compounds. The device and method of the invention include the use of an oxidizing agent such as sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide to aid in the removal of organic contaminants.
US08048278B2
A flowing junction reference electrode comprising a liquid junction member matched with a filter. The junction member and the filter are situated between a reference electrolyte solution and a sample solution. An array of nanochannels spans the junction member and provides fluid communication between the electrolyte solution and the sample solution. The filter is configured to allow a greater flux of electrolyte than that associated with the junction member. Preferably, the number of pores is greater than the number of nanochannels. The filter is preferably configured to have pores with an inner diameter that is the same or less than the inner diameter of the nanochannels. In some embodiment, the resistance of the filter is made lower relative to the resistance of the junction member by selecting suitable length, number, and inner diameter size for the pores of the filter relative to the nanochannels of the junction member.
US08048277B2
A magnet unit, which can realize uniform film thickness distribution of a thin film formed on a substrate without increasing the length and width of a target. The magnet unit includes a peripheral magnet, which is disposed on the yoke on the back side of a cathode electrode so as to follow the outline of a target, and an inner magnet disposed in the peripheral magnet and having a polarity different from the polarity of the peripheral magnet. The magnet unit provides a magnetic track MT that is a set of regions which tangents of magnetic field lines M generated on the target parallels to the target surface. The magnet unit further includes n (n is a positive integer of two or more) extending magnetic pole portions and n−1 projecting magnetic pole portions, which form 2n−1 folded shape portions U at the both ends in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic track.
US08048276B2
Solid oxide stacks used as fuel cells generate electricity from hydrogen or other sources. By an electrolysis process such standard fuel cells can be operated in order to create hydrogen or other electro chemical by-products. Unfortunately stacks generally operate at relatively high temperatures which will be difficult to sustain purely on economic grounds. In such circumstances less efficient operation can be achieved at lower temperatures where the air-specific resistance is higher by balancing with the electrical power input in order to cause the disassociation required. In such circumstances by provision of an incident heat source, whether that be through a heat exchanger heating the compressed air flow, or recycling of a proportion of exhaust from the stack, or combustion of a product from stack disassociation the result will be a sustaining electrolysis operation reducing the amount of expensive electrical supply required to achieve dissociation.
US08048275B2
[Problems] The present invention is to provide a method of solubilizing a carbon nanomaterial, in which a carbon nanomaterial can be dissolved in a hydrophilic solvent easily and uniformly without structural deterioration of the carbon nanomaterial, the dispersibility can be maintained for a prolonged period of time, the solubilizing treatment can be performed at low cost, and the treatment can be easily controlled.[Means for Resolution] The method of solubilizing a carbon nanomaterial of the invention is characterized by mixing a carbon nanomaterial in a hydrophilic solvent, and performing streamer discharge in the hydrophilic solvent to dissolve the carbon nanomaterial in the hydrophilic solvent with the dispersed state thereof maintained stably.
US08048274B2
The invention relates to novel methods for affecting, controlling and/or directing various reactions and/or reaction pathways or systems by exposing one or more components in a holoreaction system to at least one spectral energy pattern. In a first aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy pattern can be applied to a reaction system. In a second aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy conditioning pattern can be applied to a conditioning reaction system. The spectral energy conditioning pattern can, for example, be applied at a separate location from the reaction vessel (e.g., in a conditioning reaction vessel) or can be applied in (or to) the reaction vessel, but prior to other reaction system participants being introduced into the reaction vessel.
US08048273B2
A washer for washing and dewatering of cellulose pulp is disclosed, comprising a rotatable drum with a plurality of outer compartments for the pulp to be washed defined by axial compartment walls distributed along the circumference of the drum, a stationary cylindrical casing that encloses the drum, whereby an annular space is defined between the casing and the drum, the annular space divided by means of longitudinal seals in the axial direction of the drum into zones for forming, washing and discharge of the pulp. At least two of the longitudinal seals are arranged such that, when the drum rotates, they meet compartment walls at shifted points in time with respect to each other. Preferably, all of these longitudinal seals are arranged along the circumference of the drum at different positions with respect to respective opposite axial compartment walls.
US08048272B2
A washer for washing and dewatering cellulose pulp is disclosed, comprising a rotary drum with a plurality of external compartments on the drum defined by axial compartment walls distributed along the circumference of the drum, a stationary cylindrical casing enclosing the drum, defining a ring-shaped space between the casing and the drum, and longitudinal seals in the axial direction of the drum diving the ring-shaped space into a forming zone for forming the pulp, at least one washing zone for washing the pulp at an overpressure, and a discharge zone, and where the longitudinal axial seals are attached to positioning cylinders for adjusting the radial position of the seals, and the longitudinal seal has an articulated connection with the positioning cylinders to make possible oblique positioning of the seal.
US08048265B2
Creping and cutting procedure and equipment, for paper manufacture which consists of a creping doctor (1) carrying a blade (2) which carries out the creping; a support plate (12) which can pivot on a pivot shaft (5) in the geometrical center of which the creping blade (2) works; primary means of actuation (3) which through the support plate (12) cause the rotation of the creping doctor (1) on a pivot shaft (4); and secondary means of actuation of variation of angle (6) which act on the support plate (12) and cause its rotation on a pivot shaft (5) ; in such a way that it is possible, with only two doctors (1), (7) to carry out the maneuvers of creping, blade changing, cutting and cleaning.
