US08305929B2
The present invention relates to an electronic device for communication within a network, comprising a first interface (6) enabling communication with at least one further electronic device (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e) within a network (8) according to a first communication standard, a storage (5) for storing a first address of the at least one further electronic device (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e), said first address relating to the first communication standard, and a controller (4) for requesting a second address from said at least one further electronic device (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e), said second address relating to a second communication standard within said network (8), wherein the second address is stored together with the first address in the storage (5).The present invention further relates to a method for operating an electronic device.
US08305918B2
A method is provided for configuring the service quality profile of a given flow at the access node of a packet communication network to which is connected to the gateway of a receiving user of the flow. The method includes a step where the gateway determines on its own a service quality profile to be associated with the flow, that is triggered upon reception of a packet from the access node, and a step where the service quality profile thus determined is sent to the access node. The profile is used by the access node for transmitting packets intended for the gateway and belonging to the flow in question.
US08305900B2
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a NAS node selection function with CN node bearer circuit availability monitoring and availability-based load sharing. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for providing a NAS node selection function. The method includes performing various steps at a NAS node selection function which may be integrated with or separate from a media gateway. The method includes monitoring bearer circuit availability for each of a plurality of CN nodes. The method further includes storing an indication of bearer circuit availability for each of the CN nodes. The method further includes receiving initial layer 3 messages from radio access nodes in response to mobile station activity. The method further includes, in response to the messages, assigning mobile stations to the MSCs in a load-sharing manner using the stored indications of bearer circuit availabilities.
US08305898B2
A system and method for guiding and distributing network load flow is proposed and characterized by providing service-providing equipment with better packet routes to reduce the load flow of a routing device. At least two service-providing devices are connected to enable the routing device to guide the packets sent by a user-end device into the at least two connected service-providing devices for allowing the service provider used by the user to process requested services and thereby reduce the number of times of sending data packets to the routing device. In the case that the subscriber has applied for multiple network services, the packets only need to be requested once with the connected service-providing equipment in order to complete all network services.
US08305887B2
Techniques are provide herein to determine the amount of allocated and unutilized bandwidth for services already provided on each of a plurality of quadrature amplitude modulator (QAM) channels. One of the plurality of QAM channels is selected as a selected QAM channel to maximize capacity for future service requests based on a determination that the selected QAM channel can have bandwidth deallocated to support a service at a second bandwidth greater than a first bandwidth. A sufficient amount of the allocated and unutilized bandwidth is deallocated for services provided at the first bandwidth on the selected QAM channel such that the service at the second bandwidth is thereafter supportable on the selected QAM.
US08305881B2
A method and system for maximizing wavelength reuse in an optically protected wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) network, the WDM network supporting a plurality of service connections, includes associating service connections supported by non-overlapping paths to form respective service channel groups, and for each service channel group, assigning at least one common wavelength channel for establishing the service connections. In addition, for each of said groups, at least one common wavelength channel is assigned for establishing a shared protection path for the service connections of each of said groups. In addition, the wavelength channels assigned for establishing the shared protection paths for each of the groups may be used for providing service connections for the WDM network when not in use as shared protection paths. However such provisional service connections are dropped when the wavelength channels are needed to establish shared protection paths. Such provisional service connections may be offered at reduced cost.
US08305872B2
In a method of enabling synchronization for a channel in an OFDM based telecommunication system initially providing a symbol for transmission and selecting at least two carrier frequencies, subsequently determining a respective weighting parameter for the selected frequencies and finally transmitting the symbol on all selected frequencies based on the weighting parameters.
US08305864B2
A compound objective lens, an optical head device, an optical information device, and an information processing device that can inhibit the occurrence of aberration even when a light beam source wavelength shifts from the designed value. A diffraction structure having a sawtooth or stepwise cross section is formed in the region (R10) and region (R20). The height of the sawtooth or stepwise cross section formed in the region (R10) provides a light beam, which has a predetermined wavelength, with a difference in optical path length of N times the predetermined wavelength, as compared with a case of propagation in air. The height of the sawtooth or stepwise cross section formed in the region (R20) provides the light beam, which has the predetermined wavelength, with a difference in optical path length of J times the predetermined wavelength, as compared with a case of propagation in air. At least one of the difference in height between both ends of a boundary band (RB) provided between the region (R10) and the region (R20), and the width of the boundary band (RB) provides the light beam, which has the predetermined wavelength, with a difference in optical path length of (N+J)/2 times (N and J are mutually different natural numbers) the predetermined wavelength, as compared with a case of transmission in air.
US08305857B2
An apparatus configured to write input data on an optical recording medium using a write pulse waveform, the write pulse waveform including a first pulse, a last pulse and a multi-pulse train, is provided. The apparatus includes a discriminator configured to discriminate a magnitude of a present mark and a magnitude of a leading space from the input data, a write waveform controller configured to control the write pulse waveform to generate an adaptive write pulse waveform by varying a position of a rising edge of a first pulse of the present mark to be written according to the magnitude of the present mark and the magnitude of the leading space, and use a grouping table to control the write pulse waveform to generate the adaptive write pulse waveform, the grouping table being configured to store rising edge data of the first pulse of the write pulse waveform varying according to corresponding stored values of magnitudes of present marks and magnitudes of leading spaces, and a processor configured to process the input data on the optical recording medium using the adaptive write pulse waveform. The discriminator is further configured to apply the magnitude of the present mark and the magnitude of the leading space to the write waveform controller. The adaptive write pulse waveform is generated without regard for a trailing space of the present mark being written using the adaptive write pulse waveform. A width of the first pulse is varied by varying the position of the rising edge.
US08305853B2
A hybrid BD drive 1 (1) of the present invention includes a flash control section (2) which (a) uses a flash memory (7) as a cache memory in a case where the hybrid BD drive (1) receives an address or data via an interface (13) and which (b) uses the flash memory (7) as a data memory in a case where the hybrid BD drive (1) receives an address or data via an interface (14). This makes it possible to provide an optical disc drive device having a nonvolatile memory capable of reducing an access time in random access and storing data except cache data.
US08305851B2
An optical disk apparatus includes an optical pickup and a signal processor. The optical pickup includes an actuator for driving an objective lens, and a detected light intensity signal output part for outputting a detected light intensity signal to the processor. The signal processor includes a servo signal generator for generating a main push-pull signal and a sub push-pull signal on the basis of the detected light intensity signal supplied from the detected light intensity signal output part, a signal generator for generating a differential push-pull signal and a lens error signal by conducting addition/subtraction on the main push-pull signal and the sub push-pull signal, and a tracking offset correction signal generator which is input with the lens error signal to output a tracking offset correction signal. The differential push-pull signal correction is conducted by conducting addition/subtraction between the differential push-pull signal and the tracking offset correction signal.
US08305843B2
A human-machine interface system adapted to track movement of an object in air is disclosed. In one aspect, the human-machine interface includes an acoustic transmitter, an acoustic receiver, and logic configured to apply a calculated inverse matrix of an impulse signal transmitted by the acoustic transmitter to a signal received by the acoustic receiver, wherein movement of the object is used to control the machine.
US08305842B2
A location system, for the tracking of personnel or products for establishing the location of an identification tag attached to a person or product, has the tag comprising a power source; an ultrasonic transducer; a transmitter connected to an output signal from the transducer and capable of transmitting multiple frequencies to establish the unique ID of the tag in question, including a first frequency solely to identify when a tag is about to start transmitting data; the system comprising further a plurality of strategically located ultrasonic receiver; and processing means including a reader incorporating a number of Goertzel filters corresponding to the number of frequencies transmitted to process output signals from the ultrasonic receivers to establish the ID of the read tag and its location.
US08305837B2
A semiconductor device includes a system clock input unit configured to receive a system clock for synchronizing input times of an address signal and a command signal from a memory controller, a data clock input unit configured to receive first and second data clocks for synchronizing an input/output time of a data signal from the memory controller, wherein a phase of the second data clock is shifted according to a training information signal, and the second data clock having the shifted phase is inputted to the data clock input unit, and a phase detection unit configured to detect a logic level of the second data clock based on an edge of the first data clock, and generate the training information signal to transmit the generated signal to the memory controller according to the detected logic level.
US08305832B2
An integrated circuit includes at least one memory array for storing data. A first switch is coupled with the memory array. A first power line is coupled with the first switch. The first power line is operable to supply a first power voltage. A second switch is coupled with the memory array. A second power line is coupled with the second switch. The second power line is operable to supply a second power voltage for retaining the data during a retention mode. A third power line is coupled with the memory array. The third power line is capable of providing a third power voltage.
US08305831B2
An SRAM includes circuitry configured for the SRAM to operate at different operation modes using different voltage levels wherein the voltage level and thus the supply current leakage is regulated based on the operation mode. For example, the SRAM, in a normal operation mode, consumes power as other SRAMs. In a deep sleep mode the supply voltage (e.g., VDDI) for the bit cell in the SRAM macro is lowered by about 20-40% of the SRAM supply voltage (e.g., VDD), sufficient to retain the data in the bit cell. When access to the SRAM is not needed, the SRAM operates in the sleep mode, consuming little or no power.
US08305825B2
A timing control circuit comprises at least three current control units coupled in parallel between a first circuit and a second circuit node. The current control units each have an active mode and an inactive mode. The current control units are responsive to a timing trigger event to pass current whose magnitude is dependent on how many of the current control units are in the active mode. The current control units comprise a plurality of groups. Current control units within a same group are responsive to a change in a bit of a control value corresponding to that group to switch together between the active and inactive modes, such that the magnitude of the current is dependent on which of the groups are in the active mode. The signal timing in the associated circuit is varied in dependence on the magnitude of the current.
US08305824B2
In some embodiments a voltage regulator provides an operation voltage to a memory system and a transient voltage supply adjusts the operation voltage provided by the voltage regulator during transient events of the memory system. Additionally, the voltage supply may adjust the operation voltage provided to the memory system at a fixed time interval that corresponds to a worst case load transient event.
US08305823B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit having a sense amplifier includes first and second inverters each having an output terminal coupled to an input terminal of the other inverter. The first inverter is configured to be activated in response to a first and a third activation signals, and the second inverter is configured to be activated in response to a second and a fourth activation signals. The first and third activation signals and the second and fourth activation signals are provided through separate signal sources from each other.
US08305820B2
A memory device includes an array of memory cells, the memory device including a bitline biasing circuit for biasing a bitline during a write operation. The bitline biasing circuit operating to provide a negative biasing voltage to the bitline. The magnitude of the negative biasing voltage is inversely proportional to a memory cell supply voltage level provided at a memory cell supply voltage node.
US08305814B2
Single-ended sense amplifier circuit. An example of the sense amplifier circuit includes an inverter coupled to a bit line to read a bit cell. The sense amplifier circuit also includes a first circuit responsive to a control signal to charge the bit line for a predefined time. Further, the sense amplifier circuit includes a second circuit coupled to the bit line and responsive to a read 1 operation to retain voltage of the bit line above a first threshold to render the inverter to read 1 from the bit cell.
US08305805B2
An array of programmable non-volatile devices use a floating gate that functions as a FET gate that overlaps a portion of a common source/drain region. This allows a programming voltage for the device to be imparted to the floating gate through capacitive coupling, thus changing the state of the device. The invention can be used in environments such as data encryption, reference trimming, manufacturing ID, security ID, and many other applications.
US08305799B2
A supply voltage generating circuit includes a first charge pump circuit that generates a first internal supply voltage, and second charge pump circuit that generates a second internal supply voltage. The absolute value of the second internal supply voltage is greater than that of the first internal supply voltage. The output terminal of the first charge pump circuit is connected to a secondary-side charging terminal of the second charge pump circuit. The secondary-side is an output-side of the corresponding charge pump circuit, and the charging terminal is an auxiliary charging terminal that supplies an auxiliary charge to a secondary-side output terminal of the corresponding charge pump circuit. The output terminal of the second charge pump circuit outputs a voltage value that is the result of adding a prescribed voltage value to the value of the first internal supply voltage applied to the charging terminal.
US08305798B2
A solid-state memory in which write assist circuitry is implemented within each memory cell. Each memory cell includes a storage element, such as a pair of cross-coupled inverters, and an equalization gate connected between the storage nodes of the storage element. The equalization gate may be realized by two transistors in series, or as a double-gate transistor. The equalization gate is controlled by a word line indicating selection of the row containing the cell in combination with a column select signal indicating selection of the column containing the cell in a write cycle. Upon a write to a selected cell, both gates are turned on, connecting the storage nodes of the cell to one another and assisting the write of the opposite date state from that previously stored.
US08305788B2
A semiconductor memory device to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit line pairs, a plurality of column selectors, a common signal line pair including one common line commonly connected to one of each of the plurality of bit line pairs, and the other common line commonly connected to the other of each of the plurality of bit line pairs, a sense amplifier amplifying the potential difference of the common signal line pair, and a plurality of capacitance adding circuits that balance with parasitic capacitances of the column selectors which are not selected, the capacitance adding circuits being provided respectively between the one of each of the bit line pairs and the other common line and between the other of each of the bit line pairs and the one common line.
US08305782B2
A method and device for providing redundant control of a controllable current valve in a converter of a power transmission system. A first converter control unit sends a first valve control signal. A first active/standby indicator is associated with the first converter. A second converter control unit sends a second valve control signal. A second active/standby indicator is associated with the second converter control unit. The device also includes a valve control unit. An active/standby indicator indicates if a corresponding converter control unit is active or standby. Only one indicator indicates an active unit at a given point in time. The valve control unit receives the active/standby indicators and valve control signals, selects a valve control signal to be applied if the corresponding active/standby indicator indicates an active converter control unit and controls the current valve using the selected valve control signal.
US08305775B2
During a soft start period at the time of startup, a PWM control is carried out. After the soft start period ends, the PWM control is converted into a frequency control, so that stress of a switching element is suppressed and the audible oscillation frequency is removed. As a result, it is possible to obtain a switching power supply device having high power conversion efficiency.
US08305773B2
A housing assembly for a lightweight electronic device for vehicular application is virtually “fastenerless” and includes a one-piece case formed of a layered composite structure including polymer based, electrically insulating sheet material and electrically conductive sheet material that is compression molded or hydroformed to provide three-dimensional case details to accept one or more electronic devices such as circuit boards required for electrical control and display of vehicle based systems. The conductive sheet material is preferably a wire mesh which provides shielding from electrical anomalies and grounding of the circuit boards via exposed wire mesh pads and adjacent ground clips. Major components and subassemblies are self-fixturing during the final assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated tools, fixtures and assembly equipment.
US08305772B2
A flexible printed circuit board having an integrated shield, a circuit based thereon, and a hearing aid having the circuit, are provided. The flexible printed circuit board includes a mount layer, a metallization layer and a shielding layer for shielding against electromagnetic interference influences. It can be bent about a respective bending axis in at least two different bending areas, in which the two bending axes are at an angle of at least 45 degrees to one another. The shielding layer extends at least over the two bending areas. A circuit based on the printed circuit board can be fitted with electronic components in at least one circuit area and can be bent in the bending areas in such a way that the circuit area is shielded by the shielding layer against electromagnetic interference influences in at least three spatial directions which are substantially at right angles to one another.
US08305769B2
A solderless electronic component or capacitor mount assembly including a housing having a base portion and a cover portion is disclosed. The cover portion and base portion being couplable to each other so as to secure a capacitor to the housing. The assembly further including at least one connector configured to couple the assembly to a printed circuit board, and at least one electrical contact configured to contact a respective at least one lead of the capacitor and provide an electrical connection for the capacitor.
US08305768B2
In a lead mounting method of mounting, onto a principal surface of a printed board, a lead to be connected to a terminal, a flat lead is prepared which lead has a mounted part to be disposed on the principal surface of the printed board and a connected part to be connected to the terminal. The flat lead is bent into an L shape so that the mounted part and the connected part are perpendicular to each other to obtain an L-shaped lead. The mounted part of the L-shaped lead is connected and fixed onto the principal surface of the printed board by soldering.
US08305764B2
The invention relates to a method and a semifinished product for producing an inlay, in particular for chip cards, stored value cards, identification documents, or the like, having at least two electronic components, all electronic components being arranged in a relative configuration on a carrier substrate to implement a component configuration and the component configuration being arranged in a filler material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a card having a semifinished product and a card produced using the semifinished product.
US08305760B2
A high power drive stack system is provided which includes a cabinet (20) having a vaporizable dielectric fluid cooling system (110) and a plurality of receivers (22) for accepting a plurality of modules (30) containing power electronics. The modules are removably attachable to the receivers by at least two non-latching, dry-break connectors (210). Each of the at least two connectors providing both a fluid connection and an electrical connection between the cabinet and the module.
US08305758B2
A heat-dissipating module is disclosed, which is suitable for an electronic apparatus with a case and a heat source. The heat-dissipating module includes a set of dissipation fins and a fan. The set of dissipation fins is suitable to connect a heat source and there is a flow channel between the set of dissipation fins and the case. The fan is for producing an airflow flowing towards the set of dissipation fins, while the partial airflow flows through the flow channel.
US08305755B2
A jet impingement cooling device may include a jet structure and a target layer. The jet structure may include at least one fluid jet operable to produce an impingement jet of cooling fluid. The target layer may further include a heat receiving surface configured to be coupled to a heat generating device and a jet impingement target surface. The jet impingement target surface may further include at least one target structure having a wavy-fin topology with a fin peak, wherein the fluid jet and the target structure are arranged such that the fin peak of the target structure is aligned with a centerline of the impingement jet of cooling fluid during operation of the jet impingement cooling device.
US08305753B2
An electronic device includes an adjustable mechanism disposed at a front end of a housing body thereof. The adjustable mechanism includes a foot pad extending through the housing body, and movable relative thereto between a retracted position, where a bottom of the foot pad is higher than that of a docking station, and an extended position, where the bottom of the foot pad is at a same level as that of the docking station. A movable engaging hook is mounted slidably on an inner side of the housing body, and is partially exposed from the housing body. The engaging hook engages the foot pad when the engaging hook is at a limiting position and when the foot pad is at the retracted or extended position, and disengages the foot pad to enable the foot pad to move between the retracted and extended positions when at a free position.
US08305746B2
An electronic apparatus of the present invention includes a first case 1 including a keyboard 5 and a signal processing portion, a second case 2 including a liquid crystal display 21 that is capable of displaying visible information obtained by converting an input signal into a visible information signal in the signal processing portion, hinges 3 for rotatably supporting the first case 1 and the second case 2, and light source bodies 11, 12 that are capable of illuminating the keyboard 5 and located at both ends of the second case 2 in the axial direction of the hinges 3. With this configuration, the electronic apparatus can not only illuminate the input portion but also prevent light from entering the eyes of a user directly, thereby making it possible for the user to perform the input operation properly in a dark place.
US08305745B2
A housing structure includes a casing unit for connection with a selected one of first and second display panels and defining a receiving space for receiving an electronic component module used for connecting electrically with one of the first and second display panels, and two side frames respectively connected to left and right sides of the casing unit at different height positions. When the casing unit and the side frames are connected to one of the first and second display panels, a third fastening hole set of each side frame is adapted to be aligned with a first or second fastening hole set of the first or second display panel so that the side frames can be connected to the selected one of the first and second display panels, thereby reducing the cost of making molds for the housing structure.
US08305740B2
An electronic device includes a body with a slide member, a supporter connected to the slide member to support the body placed on a plane, and a fastener combining the supporter and the slide member to make the supporter locate at a first position of the slide member. When the body is applied a force, the supporter moves along the slide rod to locate at a second position to adjust an angle between the body and the plane.
US08305739B2
A panelboard supplies electricity to multiple loads, such as lighting fixtures and/or other electrical devices via one or more high-amperage circuit breakers and one or more low-amperage circuit breakers. The panelboard includes one or more vertical busbars and one or more horizontal busbars coupled together in a single housing. The one or more horizontal busbars are coupled to a main input breaker that receives electricity from a source. The main input breaker distributes the electricity to the horizontal busbars. The horizontal busbars distribute the electricity to the high-amperage circuit breakers coupled thereto and to the vertical busbars. The vertical busbars distribute the electricity to the low-amperage circuit breakers coupled thereto.
US08305736B2
A system and method for connecting supply power to motor control components includes use of a motor control center subunit with moveable supply power contacts. After a motor control center subunit is secured into a motor control center compartment, the supply power contacts may be advanced to engage supply power buses. For disconnection, the supply power contacts may be refracted and isolated from the buses before physical removal of the subunit.
US08305735B2
A stacked solid electrolytic capacitor with positive multi-pin structure includes a plurality of capacitor units, a substrate unit and a package unit. The positive electrode of each capacitor unit has a positive pin extended outwards therefrom. The positive pins are divided into a plurality of positive pin units that are separated from each other and electrically stacked onto each other. The negative electrode of each capacitor unit has a negative pin extended outwards therefrom. The negative pins are divided into a plurality of negative pin units. The negative pin units are separated from each other and the negative pins of each negative pin unit are electrically stacked onto each other. The substrate unit has a positive guiding substrate electrically connected to the positive pins and a negative guiding substrate electrically connected to the negative pins. The package unit covers the capacitor units and one part of the substrate unit.
US08305723B2
A motor drive ground fault detection device operates by computing the total RMS voltage of all the phases, and comparing the total RMS voltage to a threshold to determine if a ground fault has occurred.
US08305721B2
An electrostatic discharge protection device for protecting an inner circuit, which is operated in a source voltage, is provided and includes a protection unit and a control unit. The protection unit provides a discharge path for transmitting an electrostatic signal from a pad to a ground line. According to a voltage level at a control end, the protection unit adjusts a holding voltage and a triggering voltage determining whether to conduct the discharge path. When the source voltage is supplied, the control unit transmits the input voltage to the control end of the protection unit, so as to raise the holding and the triggering voltages of the discharge path. When the source voltage is not supplied, the control unit switches the control end of the protection unit to a floating condition by the electrostatic signal, so as to lower the holding and the triggering voltages of the discharge path.
US08305714B2
A voice-coil motor (VCM) with voice coils configured to reduce vibrations of a head when data is accessed on a disk in a disk drive. The VCM includes at least one VCM magnet and a voice-coil assembly. The voice-coil assembly includes a first voice coil and at least a second voice coil. The first voice coil is disposed in proximity to a magnetic pole of the at least one voice-coil-motor magnet. The second voice coil is disposed in close proximity to the first voice coil such that the first voice coil substantially overlays the second voice coil. The first voice coil and the second voice coil are configured to reduce vibrations of the head when data is accessed on a disk in the disk drive. A rotary actuator including the voice coils and a disk drive including the VCM are also provided.
US08305711B2
A microwave assisted magnetic recording writer is disclosed with an octagonal write pole having a top portion including a trailing edge that is self aligned to a spin transfer oscillator (STO). Leading and trailing edges are connected by two sidewalls each having three sections. A first section on each side is coplanar with the STO sidewalls and is connected to a sloped second section at a first corner. Each second section is connected to a third section at a second corner where the distance between second corners is greater than the distance between first corners. A method of forming the writer begins with a trapezoidal shaped write pole in an insulation layer. Two ion beam etch (IBE) steps are used to shape top and middle portions of the write pole and narrow the pole width to <50 nm without breakage. Finally, a trailing shield is formed on the STO.
US08305703B2
A defect is detected on a storage medium of a disk drive. A location of the defect is determined, within a smallest addressable unit of data stored on the storage medium. An indication of the location is stored in a memory. A location of a sensor of the disk drive relative to the data stored on the storage medium is monitored. A response of at least one of a defect detector of the disk drive, a read channel controller of the disk drive, and a servo controller of the disk drive is changed based on the location of the sensor relative to the data stored on the storage medium and the stored indication of the location of the defect.
US08305701B2
The disclosure relates to a connecting arrangement for an optical device, such as in microlithography. The connecting arrangement includes a first body, a second body and a connecting device. The first body contacts the second body in a laminar manner in a contact region. The connecting device is connected to the second body and contacts the first body via at least one contact unit. The connecting device is configured to generate a predefinable contact force in the contact region between the first body and the second body. The contact unit includes a plurality of separate contact elements. Each contact element is connected to the second body via a spring unit which can be elastically deformed to generate a contribution to the contact force.
US08305695B2
The present invention is directed to high magnification compact zoom lenses that are reduced in diameter of groups of lens pieces closer to the imaging plane to provide downsized lightweight zoom lenses of magnification as high as 20 diameters, with an image stabilizer or vibration compensating mechanism being also reduced in dimensions. An exemplary improved high magnification zoom lens has four groups of lens pieces, namely, the first or leading lens group G1 of positive refractivity in the foremost position closer to the subject, the second lens group G2 of negative refractivity, the third lens group G3 of positive refractivity, and the fourth lens group G4 of positive refractivity in the rearmost position closer to the imaging plane, all arranged in this order. In displacing the entire lens optics of the zoom lens from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the second lens group G2 are moved toward the imaging plane and the fourth lens group G4 are moved to compensate for a varied position of the resultant image while the first and third lens groups, G1 and G3, have their respective positions fixed along the optical axis. The zoom lens satisfies the requirements as defined in the following formulae: f3/f4>2.0 and v4>65 where f3 is a focal length of the third lens group G3, f4 is the focal length of the fourth lens group, v4 is an average of Abbe contrasts of all the convex lens pieces in the fourth lens group G4.
US08305693B1
A high zoom ratio wide-angle zoom lens system includes a first lens group comprising a first lens of biconcave, a second lens of positive meniscus, a third lens of biconvex, and a fourth lens of biconvex wherein the first lens and the second lens are lenses not cemented together by adhesive; a second lens group comprising a fifth lens of positive meniscus, a sixth lens of biconcave, a seventh lens of biconvex, and an eighth lens of plano-concave; a third lens group comprising a ninth lens of biconvex; and a fourth lens group comprising a tenth lens of biconvex, an eleventh lens of plano-concave, a twelfth lens of biconvex, and a thirteenth lens of biconcave. The zoom lens system has a wide angle of view of at least 70-degree, high zoom ratio, and other advantages.
US08305689B2
The present invention relates to a light source apparatus or the like provided with a structure that can block reflected return light also when an emitting end side of an optical isolator is a space. The light source apparatus comprises a light source section, a guide section, and an optical module. The optical module includes a collimator, an optical isolator, and an oblique-beam blocking section. The collimator outputs collimated light with a predetermined beam diameter as a forward propagating beam. The optical isolator is a polarization-independent optical isolator that introduces the collimated light from a first end and outputs this collimated light from a second end. The oblique-beam blocking section includes first and second optical components each having a window of a diameter D, and blocks light incident at a predetermined angle relative to an optical axis of the forward propagating beam out of a backward propagating beam, by separating the first and second optical components from each other by a predetermined distance.
US08305686B2
A method for producing an optical element having a three-dimensional structural part that can resolve problems associated with deterioration of optical characteristics that is caused by variations in the element shape in the conventional process and poor endurance caused by insufficient joining strength and the optical element produced by the method are provided. A method for producing an optical element configured by joining at least a first optical member and a second optical member formed from an oxide material includes the processes of forming a refractive index periodic structural part with a period equal to or less than a visible light wavelength on at least one of the first optical member and the second optical member, forming a joining layer composed of an oxygen-deficient oxide on the first optical member and the second optical member, tightly joining the first optical member and the second optical member by the joining layer, and oxidizing the joining layer after the tight joining.
US08305683B2
A polarizer of the present invention having a higher level of polarization performance for a light in the deep ultraviolet wavelength range includes: a substrate transparent to deep ultraviolet light; and a periodic structure including a plurality of structural elements at predetermined intervals on the substrate, the polarizer being configured so that the deep ultraviolet light incident thereon is split into a light component reflected by the periodic structure and a light component passing between the structural elements adjacent to each other, and the periodic structure being composed of chromium oxide or tungsten.
US08305681B2
The invention is directed to the provision of a wavelength conversion-type ultraviolet light source apparatus that can obtain a stable output. A light source apparatus according to one mode of the invention includes: a laser light source 1 which produces fundamental light L1; at least one nonlinear optical crystal 3 which takes the fundamental light L1 or a harmonic thereof as incident light and outputs wavelength-converted light L2; and polarization adjusting means 2 which is placed in an optical path of the incident light and causes an output of the wavelength-converted light L2 to change by changing its refractive index for a polarized component of the incident light. The polarization adjusting means 2 changes the amount of change of the refractive index in accordance with an electrical signal output from a photodetector 7.
US08305676B2
An optical deflector includes multiple voltage-dependent refractive boundaries. Light passes through the refractive boundaries and accumulates a deflection angle. An electrode placed to apply a voltage to the boundaries may be non-uniform to modulate a wavefront as it passes. A scanning laser projector includes the optical deflector to modulate laser light.
US08305675B2
A light control apparatus for controlling incident light passing through an aperture includes a substrate having the aperture, a plurality of incident light control members that are moved respectively in different planes perpendicular to an optical axis direction on the substrate, a plurality of drive members that drive the incident light control members, and separating members that separate, with a certain gap, moving spaces in which the plurality of incident light control members moves in the respective planes. The plurality of incident light control members are each moved by the drive members between an aperture position and a retracted position away from the aperture position.
US08305670B2
A MOEMS apparatus for scanning an optical beam is formed from a double active layer silicon on insulator (DSOI) substrate that includes two active layers separated by an insulating layer. The apparatus includes an electro-static comb drive having a stator formed in a first of the two active layers and a rotor formed in a second of the two active layers. The electro-static comb drive is operative to impart a tilting motion to a micro-mirror formed in the second active layer. The MOEMS apparatus is designed such that: a) at least one of the distances created between a tooth belonging to the rotor and an adjacent tooth belonging to the stator is less than 7 μm; and the aspect ratio of the apparatus is higher than 1:20.
US08305666B2
System and method for maintaining perceived hue constancy. A method for displaying an image includes receiving a color vector and associated image data, remapping the color vector to maintain a perceived hue constancy by adjusting a hue component of the color vector in response to a change in a lightness component or a chroma component of the color vector, providing the remapped color vector to a light source for display, and displaying image data associated with the color vector. The use of the constant hue curve ensures that the adjusting of the color vector maintains the perceived hue of the color vector, thereby helping to maintain image quality.
US08305663B2
A clock-signal generating unit generates temporally-continuous clock signals. A spread-spectrum clock-signal generating unit generates a spread-spectrum clock signal by modulating a frequency spectrum of a clock signal generated by the clock-signal generating unit. A signal delaying unit generates a fixed delay unaffected by a spread spectrum from the spread-spectrum clock signal generated by the spread-spectrum clock-signal generating unit, and delays a phase of the spread-spectrum clock signal based on an amount of the fixed delay.
US08305661B2
An image processing apparatus includes a reading speed changing unit to change a reading resolution of a manuscript in a vertical direction by changing a carrier linear speed of the manuscript or a moving speed of a reading carriage; a resolution changing unit to change a resolution in the vertical direction of image data of which reading resolution is changed; and a resolution instruction unit to calculate a threshold of a required resolution of an image to determine instruction contents for the reading speed changing unit and the resolution changing unit, based on a data size drawn from a maximum readout size of the manuscript in a main scanning direction and information to specify a pixel and data transfer capability of a data bus, and to provide a resolution for the reading speed changing unit and the resolution changing unit according to the calculated threshold of the required resolution.
US08305660B2
Engine response curves (RCs) can be used for streak compensation for printed documents. A feedback control paradigm can be included to effect RC compensation. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) can be used to represent each RC in the collection of spatial RC data as a linear combination of basis vectors. RCs are approximated by selecting the first few basis vectors, the approximation aiding in noise rejection and reducing computation in the controller by reducing dimensionality of the RC data from gray levels to the number of SVD bases selected. An optimal subset of RCs is selectable from the set of approximated RCs by clustering the SVD weights, the clustered SVD weights producing TRCs that span all engine response RCs generated by a printer. Compensation RCs are constructible using reduced number of bases and clustered SVD weights.
US08305650B2
A system, method, and machine-readable storage medium for detecting changes in images are provided herein. The system includes an original grid and an image detection software program. The original grid represents an original image. The image detection software program detects changes between the original image and the processed image as follows: receiving a description of the original grid, the processed image and a set of tolerance parameters; scanning horizontally the pixels of the processed image into horizontal runs, scanning vertically the pixels of the processed image into vertical runs, and saving each of the plurality of vertical and horizontal coordinates within the predefined vertical and horizontal tolerance; determining a plurality of processed intersection coordinates; comparing a portion of the plurality of processed intersection coordinates to a portion of the plurality of original grid line intersection coordinates; and providing an image comparison result.
US08305648B2
An apparatus (10) for adjusting the calibration of an imaging system to correct for geometric distortion comprises a rotating drum for receiving recording media (17), a plurality of carriages (18) each having an imaging head (16) with a plurality of addressable imaging channels, and a controller programmed with a lookup table, analytical relationship or algorithm that relates corrective adjustments to be made to the imaging of a given imaging head based on the positions of others of the imaging heads. A method is described for obtaining the lookup table, analytical relationship or algorithm. The method has particular relevance to large imaging systems.
US08305647B2
The present invention provides an information printing method and a printing device, which assure a higher level of security when outputting printed matter. The present invention provides a printing device comprising a document storage means for storing electronic document data generated at a printing instruction issuing terminal operated by a printing instruction issuer and transmitted from the printing instruction issuing terminal, an ID setting means for setting a print retriever ID of a print retriever who is to execute processing for outputting the electronic document data stored at the document storage means onto paper, a watermark information superimposing means for superimposing the print retriever ID having been set at the ID setting means as watermark information onto the electronic document data and a printing means for outputting the electronic document data having the watermark information superimposed thereupon by the watermark information superimposing means onto paper.
US08305645B2
A segmentation process section classifies signals of pixels in input image data into respective signals of a black text/low density area, a black text/high density area, a color text area, and an area other than a text area. A black generation and under color removal section performs an under color removal process with respect to the signal of the black text/low density area so that an amount of UCR is a middle value (C, M, Y) of signals indicative of color component density levels. Consequently, it is possible to prevent color fringing and a white spot at a time when chromatic aberration occurs in the input image data.
US08305639B2
A determining unit determines a color of a character. A color converting unit converts a chromatic color having a predetermined hue into the predetermined color and a chromatic color having a hue other than the predetermined hue and an achromatic color into a black color. A processing unit processes either one of a color character and a black character determined by the determining unit such that the color character having the chromatic color converted into the black color is relatively noticeable to the black character.
US08305631B2
A method is provided for processing an image to optimize print time of the image by a print apparatus based on the size of the image to be printed and the print pass thresholds of the print apparatus. A dimension of the image corresponding to the dimension along the sub-scanning axis of the image as it will be printed by the print apparatus is obtained, along with the corresponding number of print passes required to print the image. An analysis is performed to determine whether the size of the image could be reduced to require one less print pass by the print apparatus in printing the reduced image based on the proximity of the determined dimension to the range of dimensions that will result in one less print pass by the print apparatus. If the size of the image may be reduced such that the image could be printed in one less print pass while also meeting optional criteria such as enforcement of a maximum image reduction threshold, the image is scaled prior to printing to reduce the number of print passes performed by the print apparatus in printing the image.
US08305629B2
One or more among a PC document receive filter, a FAX document receive filter, a read filter, and a readout filter create a report on each of the corresponding functions in a format common to the functions. A report filter changes a format of the created report as desired by the user. Therefore, when a setting for a report output process is changed, it is not necessary to change the setting with respect to each of the functions. Thus, it is possible to reduce development man-hours for the report output process.
US08305628B2
A printing apparatus analyzes whether or not each page in form data has been given a designation of blank page printing, carries out a process based on a result of analysis, of invalidating the designation of blank page printing of a page that has been given the designation of blank page printing in the form data, merges form data and print data, and performs printing of merged data that has been obtained by merging.
US08305626B2
A computer readable storage medium in which a printer driver is stored is provided. The printer driver causes a computer to operate as a computing apparatus including: a memorizing unit that memorizes a plurality of set value combinations in each of which a set value is associated with each setting item; a selection accepting unit that displays information indicating the set value combinations in a selectable manner and accepts selection of at least one set value combination; and a set value changing unit that applies, to a part of setting items for which values have already been set, a set value for a setting item included in the set value combination the selection of which has been accepted by the selection accepting unit so as to effect a change.
US08305621B2
Management of multiple paper sources during printing is provided. A setting screen allows setting a page layout indicating a number of pages to be arranged on a single face of a sheet of paper. An additional setting screen having different setting items allows setting of multiple paper feed sources for a single print job where the paper feed sources include a paper feed source for the first page of the print job and another paper feed source for a page different from the first page. The page layout may be changed in accordance with an operation on a page image indicating a set page layout when the additional setting screen includes the page image. In addition, both setting screens may be provided by a single printer driver.
US08305619B2
The present invention is intended to improve operability of an image processing device by reading a document with multiple pages at a time, changing a page addressed to each destination, and transmitting the page to each destination. In order to achieve this, an image processing device 1 for example comprises: a scanner unit 2 for reading a document with multiple pages and for generating image data; a destination setting part 52 for setting a plurality of destinations to which the image data generated by the scanner unit 2 are addressed; a transmission page setting part 53 for selecting at least one page addressed to each of the plurality of destinations from the multiple pages for which the image data are generated by the scanner unit 2, and for setting the selected page as a transmission page addressed to each destination; a file creation part 54 for creating a transmission file containing the image data of the selected page to be transmitted to each destination based on the transmission page set for each destination by the transmission page setting part 53; and a file transmission part 55 for individually transmitting the transmission file created by the file creation part 54 to each destination.
US08305603B2
An object of this invention is to allow deleting/updating firmware at high speed and properly deleting/updating a software part for executing a job without posing any problem in a general job in an image processing apparatus which executes a job by combining a plurality of independent software parts. For this purpose, when updating one software part associated with an image processing job, it is determined whether a standby job as a job contains a software part to be updated. If it is determined that the standby job does not contain any software part to be updated, the software part is updated. If it is determined that the standby job contains the software part to be updated but a software part in another image processing apparatus on the network can replace the software part to be updated, software parts which execute the job are reconstructed to update the target software part. If it is determined that no alternative image processing apparatus exists, the update request is saved and held.
US08305602B2
A method for managing printer settings is described. Physical printers in electronic communication with a network are discovered. Installed printers, configured with a printer driver, are discovered. The physical printers are associated with the installed printers. One or more default print settings are specified. The one or more default print settings of at least one of the installed printers are updated.
US08305599B2
A user-interface unit receives a request from a user. A control unit performs an execution control in response to the request received by the user-interface unit, and during an execution process, performs an interruption process and an authentication process. An application-logic unit provides a plurality of functions related to an image forming process. A device-service unit provides a shared service for the application-logic unit.
US08305598B2
An image-forming apparatus has an image-forming mode during which an image is formed on a recording medium and a power-saving mode in which power consumption is reduced relative to in the image-forming mode, and comprises: a continuously-powered unit powered in the image-forming mode and the power-saving mode; and a non-continuously-powered unit powered in the image-forming mode but not in the power-saving mode, wherein the continuously-powered unit includes: a communication unit connected with an external network; a storage unit storing data input via the communication unit; and a processing unit performing processing based on data stored in the storage unit when the power-saving mode is switched to the image-forming mode.
US08305584B2
An optical property measurement apparatus includes a light source unit, a first optical coupler, a second optical coupler, a lens, a lens, a phase modulation unit, a drive unit, an optical path length difference adjustment unit, a control unit, a light receiving unit, a synchronization detection unit, and a measurement unit. The phase modulation unit carries out phase modulation with a frequency f. The synchronization detection unit outputs a first signal having a value corresponding to a magnitude of a component of the frequency f included in an electrical signal output from the light receiving unit, and also outputs a second signal having a value corresponding to a magnitude of a component of the frequency 2f included in the electrical signal. The control unit controls the optical path length difference adjusted by the optical path length difference adjustment unit to be a predetermined value based on the first signal or the second signal output from the synchronization detection unit.
US08305582B2
Methods and apparatus for analyzing a sample using at least one detector are disclosed.
US08305576B2
In a total luminous flux measurement apparatus according to an embodiment, a total luminous flux emitted by an object is calculated based on a result of measuring illuminances using a measuring unit when providing relative movement between the object and an integrating unit to expose a substantially entire light emitting surface of the object to an inner space of the integrating unit. Specifically, under conditions that the object is disposed to penetrate the integrating unit from one sample hole to the other sample hole, a luminous flux of a portion of the object within the inner space of the integrating unit is measured, then the integrating unit is moved relative to the object, and a luminous flux of a portion accordingly contained in the inner space of the integrating unit is measured.
US08305566B2
An apparatus for detecting electromagnetic waves includes a first electromagnetic wave sensor, two first electrodes, a second electromagnetic wave sensor, and two second electrodes. The two first electrodes are electrically connected to different portions of the first electromagnetic wave sensor. The second electromagnetic wave sensor crosses with and is spaced from the first electromagnetic wave sensor. The two second electrodes are electrically connected to different portions of the second electromagnetic wave sensor.
US08305562B2
A method of and apparatus for generating a depth image are provided. The method of generating a depth image includes: emitting light to an object for a first predetermined time period; detecting first light information of the object for the first predetermined time period from the time when the light is emitted; detecting second light information of the object for the first predetermined time period a second predetermined time period after the time when the light is emitted; and by using the detected first and second light information, generating a depth image of the object. In this way, the method can generate a depth image more quickly.
US08305561B2
A scanning-type distance measuring apparatus includes: an optical system 9 having a first deflecting member 9a that deflects measurement light output from a light transmitting unit 3 toward a space to be measured via an optical window, a light receiving lens 9c that condenses reflection light from an object R to be measured existing in the space to be measured, and a second deflecting member 9b that deflects the reflection light passed through the light receiving lens toward a light receiving unit 5 disposed to oppose the light transmitting unit 3; a scanning mechanism 4 that rotates the optical system 9 about a predetermined axis P; and an optical member 90 that outputs the measurement light deflected by the first deflecting member 9a from an incident light path Lc of the reflection light to the second deflecting member 9b.
US08305546B2
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes forming a gate driver and array elements in at least one cell area of a mother substrate while forming a test element in at least one test area of the mother substrate, and inspecting the test element to determine an operational state of the gate driver.
US08305543B2
An assembled panel is provided in the present invention, the panel comprises substrate for liquid crystal display. The substrate comprises a base substrate comprising at least one individual panel region, a subsidiary sealant member provided on the periphery of the individual panel region, at least one opening region provided on the subsidiary sealant member, and a buffer provided on the base substrate between the opening region and the individual panel region and corresponding to the opening region.
US08305541B2
A tape carrier package (TCP) includes a base film, an integrated circuit (IC) chip and an output pad group. The IC chip is formed on the base film. The output pad group is formed on a first end of the base film. The output pad group includes a plurality of output blocks having a plurality of output pads, wherein the plurality of output pads in an output block have substantially the same width as each other. The widths of the output pads from one output block to another output block are different from each other.
US08305538B2
A super large wide-angle high-speed response liquid crystal display apparatus manufactured by using a photolithographic procedure for three times. The invention adopts a halftone exposure technology to form a gate electrode, a common electrode, a pixel electrode and a contact pad, and then uses the halftone exposure technology to form a silicon (Si) island and a contact hole, and a general exposure technology to form a source electrode, a drain electrode and an orientation control electrode. A passivation layer uses a masking deposition method. A film is formed by using a P-CVD method, or a protective area is formed at a local area by using an ink coating method or spray method, and a TFT array substrate used for the super large wide-angle high-speed response liquid crystal display apparatus manufactured by using a photolithographic procedure for three times can be produced.
US08305531B2
A black matrix is disposed on a surface of a first base substrate having a switching element, a color filter is disposed on the switching element in a pixel area, a pixel electrode is disposed on the first base substrate having the color filter, and a first alignment layer is disposed on the pixel electrode to form a first substrate. A common electrode layer is disposed on a second base substrate, and a second alignment layer is disposed on the common electrode layer to form a second substrate. A liquid crystal composition including a reactive mesogen (RM) is interposed between opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates. The RM is cured to form a mesogen cured product on the first and second alignment layers. Accordingly, an RM having a planar structure increases curing speed, reduces, manufacturing time, and improves quality of the LCD panel.
US08305527B2
A color separation system is disclosed, which comprises: a backlight source, being highly collimated and used for providing an incident beam; a color separation module, formed with a first color separation film for separating the incident beam basing on wavelength while deflecting the optical paths of the resulting split beams; and a beam splitting module, being configured with at least one beam splitting plate and a liquid crystal layer; wherein, the at least one beam splitting plate is used for converging the beams from the color separation module while deflecting the optical paths thereof for enabling those to be discharged thereout following a normal direction of a light emitting surface of the backlight source.
US08305523B2
A multi-layer polarization grating includes a first polarization grating layer, a second polarization grating layer on the first polarization grating layer, and a third polarization grating layer on the second polarization grating layer, such that the second polarization grating layer is between the first and third polarization grating layers. The second polarization grating layer has a periodic molecular structure that is offset relative to that of the first polarization grating layer along an interface therebetween. The third polarization grating layer may also have a periodic molecular structure that is offset relative to that of the second polarization grating layer along an interface therebetween. As such, the periodic molecular structures of the first and second polarization grating layers may be out of phase by a first relative angular shift, and the periodic molecular structures of the second and third polarization grating layers may be out of phase by a second relative angular shift. Related fabrication methods are also discussed.
US08305520B2
A light source device according to one of the invention comprises a light emitting element; a light guide substrate into which light emitted from the light emitting element enters; a mounting substrate on which the light emitting element is mounted; and a conductive pattern for removing a static electricity in or on the light guide substrate, formed on the mounting substrate.
US08305519B2
Provided are a liquid crystal display device and television receiving apparatus having further improved use efficiency of light emitted from a light source while suppressing increase in costs. A liquid crystal display device 1 of the invention includes a liquid crystal display panel (40), two polarizing layers (first polarizing layer (50), second polarizing layer (52)) disposed so that the two polarizing layers sandwich the liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight device (10) (light source). Between the backlight device (10) and the first polarizing layer (50) (rear polarizing layer) that is one of the two polarizing layers disposed closer to the backlight device (10), an optical sheet assembly (20) is provided, which optical sheet assembly includes a lens sheet (22) for converging light emitted from the backlight. Furthermore, the first polarizing layer (50) and the optical sheet assembly (20) sandwich a λ/2 sheet (30) (λ/2 layer).
US08305516B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device capable of improving a use efficiency of light emitting diode (LED) printed circuit boards (PCBs) by configuring the existing plate type LED PCBs in a bar type so as to reduce an area used, the LCD device including, an LCD panel configured to display images, a backlight unit disposed at a lower portion of the LCD panel for providing light to the LCD panel, and provided with a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) printed circuit boards (PCBs) formed in a bar type, and a plurality of LEDs disposed on each of the LED PCBs to be spaced apart from each other, and casing components including a mold frame for receiving and fixing the LCD panel and the backlight unit, an upper cover and a bottom cover.
US08305515B2
Provided are a backlight unit and a display device having the same. The backlight unit includes a case having an opening, at least one lamp assembly disposed on a side surface of the case and including a light source, an optical transreflective unit on the case, the optical transreflective unit transmitting a portion of first light passing through the opening and reflecting a portion of second light generated from the light source, and an optical sheet including a first diffusion unit on the optical transreflective unit.
US08305511B2
A beam splitting film including a light transmissive plate and a plurality of strip protrusion groups is provided. The light transmissive plate has a first surface and a second surface. The strip protrusion groups are disposed on the second surface. Each of the strip protrusion groups includes a first strip protrusion and a second strip protrusion. The first strip protrusion has a first strip surface and a second strip surface inclined relative to the second surface. The second strip protrusion has a third strip surface and a fourth strip surface inclined relative to the second surface. An average slope of the first strip surface is not equal to an average slope of the third strip surface. An average slope of the second strip surface is not equal to an average slope of the fourth strip surface. A backlight module and a stereo display apparatus are also provided.
US08305509B2
A liquid crystal display device with improved productivity and a manufacturing method of the same. A liquid crystal display device according to the invention comprises in a region in which a scan line and a data line intersect with each other a first substrate comprising a first thin film transistor using either an amorphous semiconductor or an organic semiconductor for a channel portion, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a third substrate comprising a second thin film transistor using a crystalline semiconductor for a channel portion. In the liquid crystal display device of the invention, a crystal grain boundary in the crystalline semiconductor extends along the flow of electrons or holes in the second thin film transistor, the first substrate is attached to the second substrate so that the first substrate is exposed, a first region for forming the second thin film transistor and a second region for forming an input terminal and an output terminal are formed on the third substrate, and the short side length of the third substrate is 1 to 6 mm and the short side length of the first region is 0.5 to 1 mm.
US08305502B2
A beam combiner for combining a plurality of light beams onto an optical path, comprising: a first dichroic element having a dichroic coating that is disposed to transmit light of a first wavelength band along the optical path and to reflect light of a second wavelength band onto the optical path, and a second dichroic element having a dichroic coating that is disposed to transmit the light of the first and second wavelength bands along the optical path and to reflect light of a third wavelength band onto the optical path. The beam combiner further includes a phase difference compensation multilayer thin-film stack that provides at least one reflectance edge transition that lies outside any of the first, second, and third wavelength bands and which provides compensation for an accumulated phase difference for polarization states of the transiting in at least one of the first, second, and third wavelength bands.
US08305501B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes an input module, a tuner, an amplifier and a preset module. The input module receives a television broadcast signal. The tuner selects a television broadcast signal of a target channel from television broadcast signals of channels receivable by way of the input module. The amplifier amplifies the television broadcast signal supplied to the tuner. The preset module determines whether each of the channels is receivable or unreceivable and to turn on or turn off of the amplifier, based on a first reception status information of the television broadcast signal of the reception channel acquired from the tuner in a state that the amplifier is on and a second reception status information of the television broadcast signal of the reception channel acquired from the tuner in a state that the amplifier is off.
US08305494B2
A broadcast receiving device includes a first receiving unit, a second receiving unit, a display control unit, an audio determination unit, a switching determination unit and a switching execution unit. The display control unit displays a first image corresponding to a first television broadcast received by the first receiving unit on a main screen in a monitor, and displays a second image corresponding to a second television broadcast received by the second receiving unit on a subscreen in the monitor. The switching determination unit compares a first audio corresponding to the first television broadcast with a second audio corresponding to the second television broadcast, and determines whether or not the second audio is to be outputted instead of the first audio. The switching execution unit executes audio switching processing based on a determination result of the switching determination unit so that the second audio is outputted instead of the first audio.
US08305493B2
A receiver for receiving signals in a plurality of transmission schemes, reducing the circuit size thereof successfully. The receiver for receiving a baseband signal and a modulated signal, includes a first PLL circuit configured to generate a first internal clock based on an external clock synchronized with the baseband signal; a demodulator configured to demodulate the modulated signal to output the demodulated signal; a selector configured to select one of the baseband signal or the demodulated signal; and a first CDR circuit configured to generate a recovered clock and recovered data from the signal selected by the selector, by using the first internal clock.
US08305490B2
A de-interlacing system includes a motion adaptive de-interlacer, a horizontal motion estimation device, a horizontal motion compensation device, a vertical motion detection device, a multiplexer, and a film signal detector. The film signal detector receives an input signal and decides whether the input signal is a video stream or a film stream to thereby select an output from the motion adaptive de-interlacer or the horizontal motion estimation and compensation device. Thus, a de-interlacing output has stable and smooth edges when a video stream is inputted, and the motion judder phenomenon is reduced when a film stream is inputted.
US08305489B2
A video conversion apparatus includes: a video format conversion unit configured to interpolate, in the case that video signals, which are made up of a luminance component and color difference components and of which the video format is the interlace format, have been supplied, the luminance component and color difference components of the video signals, thereby converting the video format of the video signals into the progressive format; and a color difference format conversion unit configured to interpolate the color difference components of the video signals obtained with the conversion by the video format conversion unit, thereby converting the color difference format of the video signals from a first color difference format to a second color difference format that includes more color difference components than the first color difference format.
US08305488B2
A device for displaying multiple image streams each comprising multiple image frames that entertains multiple viewers includes at least three image generators for generating at least three separate image streams that each include multiple image frames. At least one of the image generators is configured for at least one viewer input. An image multiplexer is provided for interleaving image frames of each image stream to produce an interleaved image stream and a display is provided for showing the interleaved image stream. A method of displaying multiple image streams is also presented.
US08305487B2
Provided is a multi-exposure controlling method and apparatus. An exposure control unit may set an initial exposure time based on a comparison result between a predetermined brightness confidence interval and an average high brightness that is calculated based on at least one current histogram. A comparison unit may compare the brightness confidence interval and an average low brightness that is calculated based on a subsequent histogram obtained by photographing a subject using the set initial exposure time. The exposure control unit may change the initial exposure time based on a comparison result of the comparison unit.
US08305483B2
An imaging device includes an image pickup device having an arrangement of photoelectric converting units, the arrangement in which a plurality of pairs of photoelectric converting units are arranged along a predetermined direction, each pair of photoelectric converting units receiving light beams of a subject passing through partial areas in a pair that are lopsided in reverse to each other along the predetermined direction in an exit pupil of a shooting optical system, and a focus detector for performing focus detection of a phase-difference detecting technique according to data obtained from the pair of photoelectric converting units in the arrangement of the photoelectric converting units. The focus detector corrects the data according to a correction amount corresponding to a positional shift amount from the normalized position, and performs focus detection of the phase-difference detecting technique according to the corrected data.
US08305478B2
An imaging device is capable of recording images having various aspect ratios and of realizing an easily viewable and convenient thumbnail display. The imaging device includes: an imaging optical system; an imaging sensor for outputting image signals of optical image of object; an aspect ratio switching section for switching aspect ratios of shot images; an image recording section for interrelating and recording the image signals and aspect ratio information; a display section for displaying reduced images; a specification section for receiving a specification made by a user with respect to the aspect ratio information of reduced images to be displayed on the display section; and an image display control section for determining a location and a display size of each of the reduced images on the display section, and the number of the reduced images displayed on the display section in accordance with the specified aspect ratio information.
US08305468B2
A plurality of preliminary image signals is acquired by carrying out preliminary image acquisition of a subject, before actual image acquisition, with different amounts of light received by an image acquisition device. Subsequently, a dynamic range and an amount of noise, or an S/N ratio, for a case in which the plurality of preliminary image signals is combined is calculated, and a received-light-level difference of the image acquisition device among a plurality of actual image signals acquired through the actual image acquisition is calculated on the basis of the dynamic range and the amount of noise, or the S/N ratio. Then, by carrying out the actual image acquisition on the basis of the calculated received-light-level difference, a plurality of actual image signals with different received light level is acquired. These actual image signals are combined to acquire a combined image.
US08305461B2
The present invention provides an information display device including an imaging unit that executes an imaging process to image a subject to output an imaging signal; a monitor capable of displaying an image of the subject based on the imaging signal; a switching part located near the monitor; a first display controller for displaying, in a menu on the monitor, each of a first group of items consisting of a plurality of items associated with the imaging process, whereby first setting data can be set; and a second display controller for displaying, in a menu on the monitor, each of a second group of items associated with a plurality of particular items in the first group and having fewer items than the first group, whereby second setting data can be set, wherein switching between the first and second display controllers is performed by operating the switching part.
US08305449B2
An apparatus for detecting a focus state has an optical image-forming system that forms an object image, a plurality of line sensors that is arranged on a projected area of the optical image-forming system; a plurality of monitor sensors that is arranged on the projected area along the direction of a line-sensor array, each monitor sensor being adjacent to a corresponding line sensor and monitoring an amount of light incident on the corresponding line sensor; and a signal processor that outputs image-pixel signals corresponding to the object image on the basis of electric charges accumulated in the plurality of line sensors. At least an endmost monitor sensor corresponding to an endmost line sensor is arranged on the center-facing side of the endmost line sensor.
US08305448B2
An image processing device includes a face detector configured to detect a face based on a taken image, and an output processor configured to have a function to execute privacy-mask processing for privacy protection for an image of a face detected by the face detector or an image of a background of the face. The output processor includes a function to separately output an image of a face detected by the face detector and an image of a background of the face which are each subjected to or not subjected to the privacy-mask processing.
US08305439B2
A surveillance camera that includes a device for capturing video signals and that converts the video signals to optical signals. The surveillance camera has a first component with a first aperture and a second component with a second aperture. The second component engages the first component such that the first component rotates relative to the second component. The surveillance camera has a first optical component that extends through the first aperture of the first component. The surveillance camera also has a second optical component that extends through the second aperture of the second component. The first optical component is separated from the second optical component by a gap. The first optical component is operatively connected to the device. The first optical component receives the optical signals and transmits the optical signals to the second optical component across the gap to permit a continuous rotation of the first component relative to the second component. The second optical component communicates the optical signals to a destination.
US08305435B2
The present invention achieves the process of easily registering a template which is prepared for a size change in pattern matching for specifying a measurement point, and high-speed pattern matching by which adequate position accuracy can be obtained in measurement. The present invention includes means for automatically calculating the size and position of a positioning template different from a measurement point itself when the measurement point is designated, to display a template having the calculated size and position. The present invention further includes means for performing pattern matching by using all or some of a plurality of divided templates and extracting templates having a similar positional relationship to the original positional relationship.
US08305434B2
A photographing control unit comprising a drive signal generator, an analog front end, a synchronization signal generation unit, and a system control unit controls an imager under a predetermined photographing condition, so that the imager photographs an observation image of a sample observed by a microscope and formed on a light receiving surface of the imager. A computing unit obtains inputs of a plurality of photographing parameters, determines a photographing condition based on the obtained photographing parameters, and sets the photographing condition for the photographing control unit. A display unit displays the designable ranges of the photographing parameters. Here, when the computing unit obtains the input of a priority parameter, it changes the designable range of the plurality of photographing parameters other than the priority parameter based on the priority parameter and causes the display unit to display the designable range after the change.
US08305430B2
A visual odometry system and method for a fixed or known calibration of an arbitrary number of cameras in monocular configuration is provided. Images collected from each of the cameras in this distributed aperture system have negligible or absolutely no overlap. The relative pose and configuration of the cameras with respect to each other are assumed to be known and provide a means for determining the three-dimensional poses of all the cameras constrained in any given single camera pose. The cameras may be arranged in different configurations for different applications and are made suitable for mounting on a vehicle or person undergoing general motion. A complete parallel architecture is provided in conjunction with the implementation of the visual odometry method, so that real-time processing can be achieved on a multi-CPU system.
US08305429B2
An image pickup apparatus having a simple configuration and being capable of performing switching between an image pickup mode based on a light field photography technique and a normal high-resolution image pickup mode is provided. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup lens 11, a microlens array section 12 where light passing through the image pickup lens 11 enters, and an image pickup device 13 sensing light emitted from the microlens array section 12, and the focal length of each of microlenses constituting the microlens array section 12 is variable in response to an applied voltage.
US08305414B2
A write control circuit for controlling driving of a plurality of light sources each including a laser diode for emitting light includes a plurality of write control mechanisms configured to control the plurality of laser diodes to perform writing for image forming with a plurality of colors. Each of the plurality of write control mechanism includes at least one image development part for developing and processing image data and at least one laser diode control part for controlling driving of the laser diodes.
US08305409B2
A method is provided which includes operating a first multi-channel imaging head to direct imaging beams along a scan path to transfer a first non-contiguous feature and a second non-contiguous feature from a donor element to the receiver element by a thermal transfer process. The first and second non-contiguous features are spatially separated from one another at least in a sub-scan direction. The method also includes operating a second multi-channel imaging head to direct imaging beams to direct imaging beams to transfer a third non-contiguous feature from the donor element to the receiver element by the thermal transfer process. The third non-contiguous feature is between the first and second non-contiguous features and is spatially separated from each of the first and second non-contiguous features at least in the sub-scan direction.
US08305403B2
A method for generating a gamma table is provided. The method is applied to a display, and the display obtains n-bit corrected gray levels [y(1), . . . , y(2m)] from m-bit original gray levels [x(1), . . . , x(2m)] by using the gamma table, wherein m and n are positive integers. The method comprises calculating the corrected gray levels [y(1), . . . , y(2m)] corresponding to the original gray levels [x(1), . . . , x(2m)] according to a gamma curve; and successively calculating differences of two adjacent corrected gray levels (y(i+1)−y(i)) and recording the differences as a plurality of gamma reference values z(i+1) (i=1˜(2m−1)) corresponding to the original gray levels x(i+1), in which the value z(1) corresponding to x(1) is y(1), in order to generate the gamma table.
US08305401B1
A light management unit (LMU) includes multiple brightness compensation modules and algorithms mixed together in a digital domain. The LMU is configured to receive content data, such as gamma correction data generated by a graphics or video processor and corresponding to frames of video data, ambient light data obtained using a light sensor, ambient temperature data using a temperature sensor, and a manual brightness setting. An ambient light compensation value is multiplied into the manual brightness settings so the resulting compensation value is a percent of the manual settings. A content adjustment interface (CAI) module is configured to compensate the backlight brightness according to real-time video data. The content adjustment performed by the CAI module is combined with the ambient light adaptive dimming. A final stage step generator enables a gradual brightness transition to minimize, if not eliminate jitter and jump.
US08305394B2
A system and method for processing video data are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes generating halftone data for a first video frame and generating halftone data for a second video frame. The method further includes, to reduce at least one visual artifact, selectively copying the halftone data for the first video frame into the halftone data for the second video frame, the selective copying being based upon a comparison between a predetermined fixed threshold and the difference in the human visual system model-based perceptual error of the originally generated halftone data for the second video frame and the human visual system model-based perceptual error of the halftone data for the second video frame after the copying is done.
US08305391B2
System and method for generating multiprimary signals with optimization for bit depth for use in display devices. A preferred embodiment comprises converting an input color signal into an output color signal, wherein the number of colors in the output color signal is less than a number of colors used in a display system, when a weighting of the input color signal is less than a specified threshold, and converting the input color signal into an output color signal, wherein the number of colors in the output color signal is equal to the number of colors used in the display system, when the weighting of the input color signal is greater than the specified threshold. The use of fewer colors eliminates low bit depth colors, allowing increased dither quality in dimmer images.
US08305387B2
Adaptive pulse-width modulated sequences for sequential color display systems and methods. A method for displaying an image comprises receiving the image, computing a duty cycle for the image, generating a color sequence based on the computed duty cycle, and displaying the image using the color sequence. The generating comprises assigning a color cycle order to display time blocks in the color sequence, and assigning bitplane states for each display time block in the color sequence.
US08305382B2
A graphics processing system comprises at least one memory device storing a plurality of pixel command threads and a plurality of vertex command threads. An arbiter coupled to the at least one memory device is provided that selects a command thread from either the plurality of pixel or vertex command threads based on relative priorities of the plurality of pixel command threads and the plurality of vertex command threads. The selected command thread is provided to a command processing engine capable of processing pixel command threads and vertex command threads.
US08305375B2
A method of providing a slide show includes selecting one of a plurality of images in which geographic position information is set, marking a plurality of positions corresponding to the plurality of images on a map based on geographic position information and outputting the map, setting an image search range on the map based on a position on the map, which corresponds to the selected image, and providing the slide show by using images corresponding to positions on the map, which belong to the set image search range.
US08305373B2
A pixel driving device for drive control of pixels, has a image data conversion circuit for generating an original gradation signal by converting an image data, based on a preset conversion property, a signal correction circuit for outputting a corrected gradation signal by adding a correction value acquired based on an electric property parameter of a pixel to the original gradation signal, and a drive signal impressing circuit for impressing a voltage signal corresponding to the corrected gradation signal on one end of a signal line. The original gradation signal has a value that corresponds to a gradation value of the image data and the maximum value of the original gradation signal is set to a value equal to or smaller than a value acquired by subtracting a value corresponding to the correction value from a maximum value in an input range of the drive signal impressing circuit.
US08305367B2
The major characteristics of the present invention lies in that, on one hand, conventional driving or overdriving techniques that do not add significant cost to the display device are used for scanning while, on the other hand, the direct-lit, LED-based backlight is turned off during the pixels' transient period where their grey levels gradually approach or overshoot above the target grey levels so that the residuals of the dynamic images during the transient period are not manifested.
US08305364B2
A stylus is used in an electronic device. The electronic device includes a navigation key. The stylus includes a barrel, a tip portion; and a connecting assembly. The tip portion can be detachably attached to an end of the barrel. The connecting assembly includes a main post and four resisting arms, and connects to the other end of the barrel, and the resisting arms are rotatably seated on the tip portion. When the stylus is used as a joystick, the resisting arms are rotated about 90° to form a cross shape, the tip portion is attached to the main post, and the resisting arms latch to the navigation key. The present disclosure further discloses an electronic device using the stylus.
US08305360B2
A sensing circuit for a capacitive touch panel is disclosed. By adding a path for a noise to pass through, the noise is differentially processed through two paths which have the same electrical conditions with each other. The noise is then decreased significantly, and a sensing signal can be detected correctly.
US08305353B2
A glare-resistant touch panel has a touch-sensing layer, a polarizing filter, a diffraction layer and an anti-reflection layer. The polarizing filter is mounted on the touch-sensing layer. The diffraction layer is mounted on the polarizing filter and splits lights into different polarized angles. The anti-reflection layer is mounted on the diffraction layer. With the diffraction layer, light polarized at a specific angle are split to be polarized at different angles and are allowed to partly pass through polarized sunglasses. Hence a sunglasses wearer can still see what the screen from the touch panel displays even if the sunglasses and the polarizing filter are oriented perpendicular to each other.
US08305349B2
A remote controller includes a case having an upper surface having an opening provided therein, an electrostatic touch panel provided at the opening of the case, a board having an upper surface facing the electrostatic touch panel, a push switch provided on upper surface of the board, a cover sheet provided on the upper surface of the board, a control section operable to detect a position on the upper surface of the electrostatic touch panel where the user touches, and a transmitter to send a remote signal in response to the detected position and an activation of the push switch. The electrostatic touch panel can move toward and away from the circuit board. The cover sheet has a deformable projection projecting. The deformable projection has an upper tip contacting the electrostatic touch panel. The deformable projection has substantially a dome shape having a concave lower surface and a convex upper surface.
US08305348B2
A display device includes a display panel, an integral type printed circuit board electrically connecting the display panel and a signal transmission member formed on a rear side of the integral type printed circuit board to transmit the input signal. The integral type printed circuit board comprises a driving circuit member applying a driving signal to the display panel, and an input circuit member integrally formed with the driving circuit member to generate an input signal.
US08305342B2
A gas discharge addressed display comprising a matrix of micro-mechanical picture elements with optical properties.
US08305338B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus and backlight adjustment method are provided.Backlight luminance sensors 111A to 111D are disposed in the vicinity of four outer corners of an effective screen of an LCD panel 121. Each of the backlight luminance sensors 111A to 111D detects the luminance of each of three primary colors. A backlight unit is composed of a three-primary LED array and a light diffusion unit. Transistors of the backlight luminance sensors and transistors of a pixel portion are formed on the same substrate in the same process. When a transistor is irradiated with backlight in its sufficient off region, an off current occurs due to light excitation. Since the value of the off current corresponds to the luminance of the rays of backlight that irradiates the transistor, the luminance of the backlight is detected with an output voltage into which the off current is converted. As a result, the luminance of the backlight is kept constant.
US08305337B2
In method of individually driving a plurality of light-emitting blocks of a light source module providing light to a display panel including a unit pixel, luminance of a first light-emitting block corresponding to a first image block that includes an out of gamut (OOG) data among a plurality of image blocks corresponding to the light-emitting blocks is boosted. A second light-emitting block corresponding to a second image block that does not include the OOG data is driven so that the second light-emitting block has luminance corresponding to a representative gray-scale of the second image block.
US08305336B2
A light source apparatus includes a light source module, a light sensor, a data converter, a light source controller and a light source driver. The light source module includes a light source. The light sensor generates sensing data by sensing the amount of light generated from the light source. The data converter converts the sensing data which exceeds a maximum value of reference data of a control range into converted sensing data within the control range. The light source controller generates a control signal for controlling the amount of light from the light source based upon the sensing data corresponding to no more than the maximum value or based upon the converted sensing data. The light source driver drives the light source by providing the light source with a driving signal based upon the control signal.
US08305327B2
Provided is a waveform processing circuit including: an amplitude expansion circuit configured to expand amplitude of an analog video signal; a voltage shifting circuit configured to shift a voltage of the analog video signal; and an impedance conversion circuit having an output impedance lower than that of the voltage shifting circuit.
US08305325B2
A color display apparatus includes a display unit having electro-optical elements arranged in a row direction and a column direction, scanning lines provided in respective rows of the electro-optical elements to select respective rows, and data lines provided in respective columns and supplying data signals to electro-optical elements in the row which the scanning lines select, and conversion circuits each of which receives a digital video signal and converts the digital video signal to an analog video signal. In addition, a first dispersion circuit receives the analog video signals outputted from the conversion circuits and exchanges an arrangement of the analog video signals to output to bus lines, column drive circuits sample the analog video signals in the bus lines in a time sharing manner and generate and output the data signals, and a second dispersion circuit receives the data signals outputted from the column drive circuits and rearranges the data signals to output to the data lines. The rearranging of the data signals by the second dispersion circuit restores the exchanging of the arrangement by the first dispersion circuit.
US08305319B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes an LCD panel, and a common voltage generating circuit configured for providing common voltages to the LCD panel. The common voltage generating circuit includes a microprocessor, a timer, a voltage adjustment circuit, and a look up table. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the timer, the look up table, and the voltage adjustment circuit. The timer is configured for recording a continuous operated time of the LCD panel. The look up table is configured for storing optimal common voltages corresponding to each continuous operated time. The microprocessor is configured for reading the optimal common voltage at set intervals corresponding to the continuous operated time, and controlling the voltage adjustment circuit to provide the corresponding optimal common voltage to the LCD panel.
US08305318B2
A liquid crystal display device includes pixels, gate lines and source lines, active elements, a gate driver circuit, a source driver circuit, and a timing controller circuit. The source driver circuit conducts a prescribed operation of supplying the source signals of positive polarity and negative polarity having a prescribed voltage to the source lines during a vertical blanking interval, and electrically cutting the source lines off after the supply of the source signals while establishing a short circuit between adjoining source lines supplied with the source signals of opposite polarities, thereby causing the source lines to hold a prescribed DC voltage value.
US08305312B2
A liquid crystal display includes: a substrate; a display region on the substrate, the display region comprising: one or more gate lines overlying the substrate; a gate insulating layer overlying the gate lines; a semiconductor layer overlying the gate insulating layer; one or more pairs of source and drain electrodes overlying the semiconductor layer, each pair being a pair of one source electrode and one corresponding drain electrode facing the source electrode; one or more data lines overlying the semiconductor layer, each data line comprising one or more of the source electrodes, wherein a display area is provided at each intersection of the data lines with the gate lines; a passivation layer overlying the data lines and the drain electrodes and comprising a plurality of contact holes; and one or more color filters overlying the passivation layer and comprising a plurality of through holes. In top view, the semiconductor layer has the same shape as the data lines and the drain electrodes except over each region between each source electrode and the corresponding drain electrode. The contact holes' edges are aligned with the through holes' edges.
US08305308B2
The display device including pixels has formed therein at least two drive blocks each made up of pixel rows. Each of the pixels includes: a drive transistor; a capacitor element, a luminescence element; a first switching transistor which causes conduction between the gate of the drive transistor and a fixed potential line; and a second switching transistor which causes conduction between the source of the drive transistor and the capacitor element. Each of the pixels further includes a third switching transistor which connects a pixel in a k-th drive block and a first signal line or a fourth switching transistor which connects a pixel in a (k+1)-th drive block and a second signal line.
US08305305B2
An image display device in which a plurality of pixel circuits are arranged has a current light-emitting element, a driver transistor for flowing current in the current light-emitting element, a retention capacitor for retaining a voltage determining an amount of current flowed from the driver transistor, and a writing switch for writing a voltage depending on an image signal to the retention capacitor. Transistors configuring the respective pixel circuits are an N-channel type transistor, each of the pixel circuits further includes an enable switch, an initialization capacitor for initializing the voltage of the retention capacitor, and a separation switch.
US08305301B1
Visual artifact reduction method for a display comprising the use of gamma correction. Other artifact reduction methods can be used with gamma corrections including error diffusion, dithering, and center of light.
US08305298B2
A plasma display apparatus and method of driving the plasma display apparatus are described. The plasma display apparatus has a plasma display panel that has a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode. The plasma display apparatus also includes a first driver, a second driver and a third driver. The first driver supplies to the first electrode a first signal that decreases gradually from a first voltage to a second voltage during a setdown period of a reset period. The third driver supplies to the third electrode a third signal that increases from a third voltage to a fourth voltage during the setdown period of the reset period.
US08305294B2
A tiled display apparatus includes at least five functionally identical transparent partially-overlapped display tiles arranged in two dimensions, each display tile including pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, and the display tiles being disposed so that light emitted by pixels located beneath a neighboring display tile at the edge of the pixel array passes through the neighboring display tile.
US08305293B2
The present invention provides a portable dual display reader including a first panel, a second panel, and an embedded system. The second panel attaches to one side of the first panel to be selectively in a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The embedded system is coupled to either the first panel or second panel. The embedded system has a microprocessor, a data source, and an operation system. The microprocessor processes or compiles a data string from the data source and displays the data string simultaneously on the first panel and the second panel. The operation system allows a user to enter at least one command to drive the related hardware apparatus of the embedded system, so as to accomplish the operation of the command. The data string further includes a first data string. The operation system cuts the first data string into several data segments and selectively displays the data segments on the first panel and the second panel in a sequential or non-sequential mode.
US08305283B2
This coplanar differential bi-strip delay line includes two conducting strips disposed on one and the same face of a dielectric substrate and each comprising a first and a second end. The two first ends of the two conducting strips are respectively joined to two conductors of a first bi-strip port for connection to a first external differential device. The two second ends of the two conducting strips are respectively joined to two conductors of a second bi-strip port for connection to a second external differential device.
US08305281B2
The present invention provides a core-shell magnetic material having an excellent characteristic in a high frequency band, particularly, in a GHz band. The core-shell magnetic material includes: core-shell magnetic particles including magnetic metal particles and an oxide coating layer, the magnetic metal particle containing magnetic metal selected from the group of Fe, Co, and Ni, nonmagnetic metal selected from the group of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti, Hf, Zn, Mn, a rare-earth element, Ba, and Sr, and an element selected from carbon and nitrogen, and the oxide coating layer being made of an oxide containing at least one nonmagnetic metal as one of the components of the magnetic metal particle; and oxide particles existing at least a part between the magnetic metal particles and containing nonmagnetic metal selected from the group of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti, Hf, Zn, Mn, a rare-earth element, Ba, and Sr, and in which nonmagnetic metal/magnetic metal (atomic ratio) in the particles is higher than that in the oxide coating layer.
US08305277B2
A method of detecting and removing ice and/or snow on a communication antenna is presented. In the method, environmental data indicating at least one current environmental condition is received. An optical signal is transmitted from a signaling structure of the communication antenna toward a reflecting surface of the antenna. The optical signal is received at the signaling structure upon returning from the reflecting surface. The returning optical signal is then processed to determine at least one characteristic value of the returning optical signal. The reflecting surface is then heated if the environmental data indicates that ice or snow accumulation on the communication antenna is possible, and the at least one characteristic value of the returning optical signal is outside a predetermined range.
US08305276B2
An exemplary testing circuit board is used for testing an antenna performance and includes a signal circuit layer, a base layer electrically connected to the signal circuit layer, and a test unit. The signal circuit layer can transmit test signals from the antenna. The base layer is fixed with the signal circuit layer and used as a ground section to shield the test signals. The test unit is electrically connected to the signal circuit layer and the base layer and includes a signal inception port. The signal inception port is positioned on the signal circuit layer and protrudes from the base layer, and the signal inception port is capable of receiving the test signals and transmitting the test signals to the signal circuit layer.
US08305275B2
A mobile wireless communications device has a portable handheld housing. A circuit board is carried by the portable handheld housing. RF circuitry is carried by the circuit board. A diversity antenna and main antenna are carried by the portable handheld housing and coupled to the RF circuitry and operative together. The RF circuitry tunes the diversity antenna into a diversity communications frequency band to achieve a diversity mode of operation with the main antenna and tunes the diversity antenna into a non-diversity communications frequency band when cross-coupling has occurred from the diversity antenna to the main antenna when operating in the diversity communications frequency band. A switch is carried by the portable handheld housing and connected to the RF circuitry and coupled between the diversity and main antennae and disconnects the diversity antenna when operating in the non-diversity band to prevent cross-coupling from the diversity antenna to the main antenna.
US08305273B2
A dual-band dual-antenna structure is provided. The dual-band dual-antenna structure comprises a substrate, a first antenna and a second antenna. The substrate comprises a first signal transport layer and a second signal transport layer, wherein the second signal transport layer is not coplanar with the first signal transport layer. The first antenna is disposed on the first signal transport layer and comprises a first U-shaped radiation element and a first polygon radiation element. The first polygon radiation element is disposed in an opening of the first U-shaped radiation element. The second antenna is disposed on the second signal transport layer but does not overlap under the first antenna. The second antenna comprises a second U-shaped radiation element and a second polygon radiation element. The second polygon radiation element is disposed in an opening of the second U-shaped radiation element.
US08305262B1
A signal processing method includes transforming a received NLFM waveform from a first domain to a second domain, multiplying the transform of the received NLFM waveform with a complex conjugate of a low-pass filtered and transformed reference signal, and inverse transforming a product of the multiplication from the second domain to the first domain.
US08305260B2
An antenna device includes subarray antennas including antenna elements, feeding lines and feeding interfaces. At least one of the feeding lines includes a phase shifter which shifts phases of the signals feeding to corresponding antenna elements. The feeding lines feed signals to the antenna elements. Each feeding interface is connected to each of subarray antennas. The subarray antennas are arranged parallel to each other with an interval on a plane to be symmetrical about a central axis. The interval is less or equal than a free-space wavelength. The central axis is along with the center of two adjacent subarray antennas arranged at middle of the subarray antennas when the number of the subarray antennas is even. Moreover, the central axis is along with one subarray antenna arranged at the middle of the subarray antennas when the number of the subarray antennas is odd.
US08305251B2
A wireless remote control system is provided. This system includes a remote controller, plural detectors, and a decision module. The detectors are used for detecting the frequency a wireless signal emitted by the remote controller and respectively generate a detecting result. Based on at least one frequency difference between the detecting results, the decision module determines how the remote controller is moving and thereby generates a control signal. Because the decision module needs no knowledge of the frequency of the emitted wireless signal, the wireless remote controller has the advantages of small size, low cost, and low power consumption.
US08305243B2
Systems and methods compress data and control data compression in borehole communication. The systems and methods convert original data collected by a sensor from a first domain into a second domain, wherein the original data is associated with one or more properties of an underground formation. A predetermined number of significant coefficients is selected from components of the second domain, wherein the predetermined number of significant coefficients are components of the second domain with largest amplitudes. The selected predetermined number of significant coefficients is quantized via an quantization technique and the selected predetermined number of significant coefficients is encoded into compressed data via an encoder.
US08305238B2
A man-machine interface for assisting a pilot during takeoff or landing of an airborne vehicle in reduced external visibility includes a display which represents a virtual scenario from the perspective of a virtual observer who is himself located behind the airborne vehicle and is in the same flight attitude as the airborne vehicle itself. The virtual scenario includes a base plane which symbolizes an idealized ground surface, calculated from the instantaneous value of the altitude above ground and the instantaneous flight attitude data of the aircraft. The base plane is bounded by an artificial horizon and is continuously updated with the instantaneous flying state data and the instantaneous height above ground. The virtual scenario also includes a symbol which represents the airborne vehicle, and the position of the symbol relative to the base plane represents the current flight attitude and the instantaneous height of the airborne vehicle above ground.
US08305232B2
A utility network interface device is provided for operation with a utility network. The utility network interface device includes a detector configured to produce a state signal upon occurrence of a prescribed state that interferes with the ability of a utility meter, with which the utility network interface device is associated, to measure consumption of a commodity and/or report consumption of the commodity. The utility network interface device also includes a control unit configured to detect a tampering with the utility meter in accordance with the state signal produced by the detector. The control unit automatically controls a notification unit to output, external to the utility meter, notification of the tampering detected by the control unit, in response to the detection of the tampering. Also provided are a utility network including the utility network interface device, a method of operating a utility network interface device, and a computer-readable recording medium having a computer program recorded thereon for operating a utility network interface device.
US08305230B2
An apparatus for initializing a wellbore survey tool comprises a base portion and a first mounting portion mechanically coupled to the base portion. The first mounting portion can be adapted to be mechanically coupled to at least one directional reference system configured to provide data indicative of an orientation of the at least one directional reference system with respect to a reference direction. The apparatus of certain embodiments further comprises a second mounting portion mechanically coupled to the base portion, the second mounting portion configured to be mechanically coupled to a wellbore survey tool such that the wellbore survey tool has a predetermined orientation with respect to the at least one directional reference system.
US08305221B2
Provided are an abrupt MIT device with variable MIT temperature or voltage, an MIT sensor using the abrupt MIT device, and an alarm apparatus and a secondary battery anti-explosion circuit including the MIT sensor. The MIT device includes an abrupt MIT layer undergoing an abrupt MIT at a transition temperature or a transition voltage and at least two electrode layers contacting the abrupt MIT layer. The transition temperature or the transition voltage varies with at least one of factors including a voltage applied to the electrode layers, a temperature, an electromagnetic wave, a pressure, and a gas concentration that affect the abrupt MIT layer. The MIT sensor is a temperature sensor, an infrared sensor, an image sensor, a pressure sensor, a gas-concentration sensor, or a switch. The alarm apparatus includes the MIT sensor and an alarm-signaling unit connected in series with the MIT sensor. The secondary battery anti-explosion circuit includes a secondary battery, the MIT sensor attached to the secondary battery to sense the temperature of the secondary battery and thus to prevent the possible explosion of the secondary battery, and a protection circuit body powered by the secondary battery.
US08305220B2
Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring and displaying the activities and behaviours of animals over a period of time. The display includes a sequence of visual representations correlating to the activities of the animal.
US08305217B2
The invention provides a system for improving communication statuses among a sensor, a tag and a non-contact type IC card for RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). In the present system, a resonator is added to a sensor a tag, or non-contact type IC card. The resonator is constituted by a coil and a capacitor. Further a magnetic substance is attached to the coil of the resonator so as to intensify the magnetic field.
US08305214B2
A system for tracking at least one plant includes an electronic tag including an interrogation interface and memory circuitry and a package for the electronic tag, the package being configured for physical association with at least one corresponding plant.
US08305201B2
An antitheft device for a vehicle includes a main ignition switch, an auxiliary ignition switch disposed at a location which is predetermined so that a driver, when seated on a driver's seat, can operate the auxiliary ignition switch and the auxiliary ignition switch is invisible in a vehicle interior, and an engine start unit including an engine start signal cutoff unit which is connected to the auxiliary ignition switch. When the main and auxiliary ignition switches are turned on, the engine start signal cutoff unit is turned on so that the engine start unit delivers an engine start signal.
US08305200B2
A device and method are provided to drive piezoelectric elements in haptic applications. In one embodiment, a pattern generator provides user programmable PWM waveforms to a driver. The load of the driver is an inductor in series with the piezoelectric element. The filtration of the inductor in series with the capacitance of the piezoelectric element suppresses the high-frequency components of the PWM pulse train, and recovers a value commensurate with the duty cycle of the PWM pulse train. The resulting waveform across the piezoelectric element is converted to physical motion, thereby creating a haptic effect on a user interface. Advantageously, there is reduced power loss, reduced switching induced noise, and a more haptic rich environment.
US08305193B2
Devices and methods of preventing data transfer between an RFID reader and an RFID device to be protected, are provided. An example of an embodiment of an RFID signal capture device includes a container, a signal capture circuit configured to substantially disrupt the signal provided by the RFID reader when the RFID signal capture device is positioned to protect the RFID device, and an interrogation indicator configured to indicate to a user of the RFID device that an unauthorized RFID reader is attempting to interrogate the RFID device when the RFID signal capture device is positioned in close proximity to the RFID device to provide protection thereto and when the RFID reader is producing the interrogation signal.
US08305183B2
This invention relates to a transformer (1) for multi-output power supplies such as those commonly found in electronic equipment. The transformer comprises a magnetic core (3) and a plurality of windings (5, 7, 9) at least some of which are fractional windings, arranged about the magnetic core. The transformer comprises a dual transformer structure with a pair of transformers, a main transformer (11) and an auxiliary transformer (13). In a preferred embodiment, the main transformer and the auxiliary transformer are connected together. In this way, readily available magnetic components may be used in the construction of the transformer and the simple construction allows for a large cross-sectional area of transformer to be deployed so that reduced turn counts of windings may be used.
US08305153B2
An oscillator comprises an inverter, with a resonator connected between an input and an output of the inverter. A transistor external to the inverter is connected in a current mirror mode with a transistor of the inverter so that the inverter's transistor copies the current of the external transistor. The external transistor has its drain terminal connected to the gate terminals of the inverter's transistor and of the external transistor. A current source is connected to the gate terminal of the inverter's transistor, and a switch is connected between the drain and gate terminals of the external transistor. Circuitry controls the switch so as to open the connection between the drain and gate terminals of the external transistor at the beginning of a start-up phase of the oscillator.
US08305149B2
A semiconductor circuit apparatus having a clock oscillating circuit includes a first inverter circuit having a power supply terminal connected to a power supply potential via a first power supply potential connection transistor and a ground terminal connected to a ground potential via a first ground potential connection transistor, an inverter circuit block having a second inverter circuit connected to the power supply potential via a second power supply potential connection transistor and to the ground potential via a second ground potential connection transistor and connected to the first inverter circuit in parallel and a selection circuit block that outputs a power supply potential connection signal to any one of gate terminals of the first and second power supply potential connection transistors and a ground potential connection signal to any one of gate terminals of the first and second ground potential connection transistors.
US08305132B2
A low-pass filter includes an integrator having an adjustable unity frequency. The integrator includes a first input, first output and feedback loop between the first input and output of the integrator. The first input is connected to a branch that includes a first impedance, to which is applied a first input voltage of the low-pass filter. The feedback loop includes a second impedance and the first output of the integrator is the first output of the low-pass filter.
US08305128B2
According to a spurious pulse generator of this invention, integrating circuits are provided at a plurality of stages for carrying out integrating operations about time and outputting a spurious pulse, the integrating circuits being constructed to input a voltage value for controlling a crest value which is a peak swing of the spurious pulse to an amplifier forming an integrating circuit at a most upstream stage when a switching element is ON, and to input a constant voltage value when the switching element is OFF. As a result, the voltage value before ON-state and after ON-state of the switching element does not change but remains a constant voltage value, thereby obtaining a desired spurious pulse.
US08305122B2
There is provided a current switching circuit that adds additional current in accordance with an intensity of output current to input current of a current mirror at a rising edge of the output current of the current mirror. The current switching circuit includes a MOS transistor outputting the additional current upon receiving ON potential at a gate terminal, and a slope of a leading edge waveform of a pulse signal providing the ON potential is controlled in accordance with the intensity of the output current.
US08305117B2
A divider of an input multiphase signal by a given division factor so as to obtain an output multiphase signal, the divider having a circuit adapted to divide a first signal component of an input multiphase signal by an given division factor to obtain a first component of a output multiphase signal, and a plurality of N−1 devices including a first device adapted to sample the first component with a component of the input multiphase signal to obtain the component of the output multiphase signal corresponding to the one component of the input multiphase signal. Every other device of the plurality of N−1 devices is adapted to sample the component of the output multiphase signal of the preceding device with another component of the input multiphase signal, phase shifted by a further constant factor to obtain the corresponding component of the output multiphase signal.
US08305108B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes first and second bump pads configured to output data, a probe test pad coupled to the first bump pad, and a pipe latch unit configured to selectively transfer data loaded on first and second data lines to one of the first and second bump pads in response to a pipe output dividing signal during a normal mode, and sequentially transfer the data loaded on the first and second data lines to the probe test pad in response to the pipe output dividing signal during a test mode.
US08305102B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a probe card in which the positional shift of the tip of a probe can be compensated for in response to a change in the temperature, and a wafer test in a wide range of temperatures can be performed. More specifically, the probe card includes a substrate, a probe composed of a first metallic material having a first thermal expansion coefficient, a base of the probe being joined to the substrate, a tip of the probe coming into contact with a connection terminal of an electronic device, and a thermal compensation member composed of a second metallic material having a second thermal expansion coefficient that is higher than the first thermal expansion coefficient, a base of the thermal compensation member being fixed to the substrate, a tip of the thermal compensation member coming into contact with the probe at an intermediate portion between the base of the probe and the tip of the probe.
US08305098B2
A probe card assembly used to test electronic devices in an automated test equipment system. The probe card assembly includes a substrate having a plurality of through-holes contained therein and a plurality of electrical contact elements. Each of the plurality of electrical contact elements has characteristics of both a torsional beam and a cantilever beam design and is configured to scrub a test pad associated with the electronic device in two directions concurrently. The plurality of electrical contacts is configured to be magnetically aligned to the substrate. Each of the plurality of electrical contact elements is further configured to be removably adhered to the substrate thus allowing easy field replacement of individual electrical contact elements.
US08305095B2
A voltage measurement device for connection to a primary voltage dividing element provided between ground and an electrically conducting element in a system for controlling an electrical process and such a system. The device includes at least one first branch of secondary voltage dividing elements, where the branch is adapted to be connected in parallel with the primary voltage dividing element, and a first measuring unit connected to one of the secondary voltage dividing elements of the first branch and arranged to measure the voltage across this secondary voltage dividing element and provide a first voltage signal corresponding to a voltage of the electrically conducting element.
US08305094B2
The resistance measuring device of the present invention includes switch transistors and switch conductive lines disposed between the bonding pads on a first substrate and between the bumps on a second substrate, such that the bonding pads and the bumps are conducted when the transistors are turned on, and the bonding resistance between at least one of the bonding pads and its corresponding bump can be directly measured.
US08305085B2
A lithium-ion battery controlling apparatus includes a controller. The controller is configured to raise an upper-limit voltage in response to capacity degradation of a lithium-ion battery which is configured to supply power to a load and receive power from the load.
US08305073B2
A position sensor, a position sensor arrangement and a method of operating the position sensor and position sensor arrangement is described, working on the basis of magnetic field sensing sensors maximizing reliability against defects and external interference signals and providing redundancy, in particular for shift-by-wire systems in automobiles. The invention includes various aspects and preferred embodiments including individual sensors that can either only measure the direction of the magnetic field or in addition to that the absolute value of the magnetic field. The specific embodiments depend on the desired diagnostic options, redundancy and compensation capabilities both as to interfering magnetic fields and sensor failures or non-plausible output signals of individual sensors. An evaluation unit can be provided for compensating measurement deviations. Goals are to make the position sensor compact in size, cost effective, maximize reliability against defects and external interference signals, have diagnostic ability and provide redundancy.
US08305072B2
In order to facilitate the assembly of an elongated magnetostrictive sensor in an enveloping tight protective profile, the sensor unit according to the invention comprises a head piece which closes the face of the protective profile and which partially reaches into the protective profile, wherein the wave conductor unit and also the circuit board are initially connected form locked with the head piece and electrically connected therewith.
US08305067B2
Pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers and output stage driver circuits and related methods of communicating switching regulator mode information. The controller includes circuitry that recognizes intervals when the load driven by the regulator is in a low power mode. Responsive to recognizing the low power mode, the controller generates a PWM mode signal having at least three (3) different levels including at least one intermediate level that is coupled to at least one driver. Based on the PWM mode signal, the regulator is switched into a power saving low power operational mode.
US08305039B2
Systems and methods for determining a state of charge (SOC) of an electrical energy storage device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system is provided for determining the SOC of an electrical energy storage device comprises at least one memristor coupled in series with the electrical energy storage device to monitor charge current and discharge current of the electrical energy storage device. The system also includes a readout controller configured to determine the SOC of the electrical energy storage device based on the resistance of the memristor.
US08305038B2
The present invention aims to reliably prevent overcharge by carrying out charging in just proportion during charging periods.A charging apparatus 1 for charging a secondary cell 22 by supplying a charging current Ic thereto is provided with a discharge amount detector 62 for detecting an amount of power discharged from the secondary cell in a non-charging state, a charge amount detector 60 for detecting an amount of power charged into the secondary cell in a charging state, and a charger controller 10 for stopping charging when the amount of charged power (charge amount Wc) becomes equal to the amount of discharged power (discharge amount Wc) during a charging period.
US08305034B2
A battery monitoring system (BMS) configured for use in measuring operating conditions of a battery or other source of electric current. The BMS may include a housing configured to include a dampening element between a shunt and connection arm in order to limit the likelihood of vibrations and other forces acting on the BMS shorting or otherwise disrupting electrical connections used to measure current through the shunt.
US08305026B2
A PSC/PSC motor for 2-pole operation and 4-pole operation. The motor uses an independent 2-pole main winding and an independent 4-pole main winding. An auxiliary winding includes an independent 2-pole auxiliary winding, an independent 4-pole auxiliary winding, and a shared auxiliary winding used in both the 2-pole operation and the 4-pole operation.
US08305024B2
A method of starting and apparatus for starting a multiphase electrical machine is disclosed. The aim is to reduce oscillatory pulsation in torque generated by the motor and inrush current that occurs shortly after start-up. The starting method comprises the steps of first connecting at least one, but less than all, of a plurality of windings to a respective phase-shifted supply voltage at a controlled point in the supply phase. Then, after a controlled delay following the first connection, connecting the or each remaining winding of the machine a respective phase-shifted supply voltage. The invention has particular application to multiphase (most usually, 3-phase) motors. However, it can also be applied to other electrical machines, such as generators and transformers. The method can be performed at initial start-up or, in the case of application to a motor, at Y-delta switchover.
US08305020B2
The device is provided with an electric power conversion circuit including switching elements for converting a DC electric power to an AC electric power, a load connected to an output side of the electric power conversion circuit, means for detecting a current flowing through a DC side in the electric power conversion circuit, a voltage command value preparing means for controlling the operation of the switching elements in the electric power conversion circuit and a wire breaking detecting means. The wire breaking detection means judges a wire breaking in the load or an abnormality of any of the switching elements in the electric power conversion circuit by making use of a DC current detection value in a period when a current of maximum voltage phase or of voltage minimum phase of the electric power conversion circuit is flowing in a DC current.
US08305013B2
A controller that monitors a rectified voltage and detects whether the rectified voltage comes from a TRIAC dimmer or an on/off switch dimmer is disclosed. The controller controls dimming of a light source according to the rectified voltage if the rectified voltage comes from the TRIAC dimmer. The controller controls dimming of the light source according to an operation of the on/off switch dimmer if the rectified voltage comes from the on/off switch dimmer.
US08305010B2
There is provided an LED lighting device having a satisfactory temperature characteristic and a small amount of variation in output current. The step-down chopper is provided with a first circuit including the switching element, the impedance means and a first inductor connected in series and a second circuit including the first inductor and a diode connected in series. A self-excited drive signal generation circuit is provided with a second inductor magnetically coupled with the first inductor and applies a voltage induced in the second inductor to the switching element to keep the switching element on. A turn-off circuit outputs an output voltage when the voltage of the impedance means detected by a comparator exceeds the reference value, and the output voltage allows a switching element to turn on to short-circuit the output terminals of the self-excited drive signal generation circuit, resulting in that the switching element is turned off.
US08305005B2
An integrated circuit for driving high-voltage LED lamps is applied to a rectified alternative current (AC) power and a plurality of LED stacks. The integrated circuit includes a control unit, a plurality of current-clamping units which electrically connect to the control unit and the LED stacks respectively, and a plurality of current-sensing units which electrically connect to the current-clamping units and the control unit. When the rectified power is switched on, the current-sensing unit constantly monitors the electrical current flowing through the respective current-clamping unit and feeds back the monitored data to the control unit. The control unit sequentially switches on or off the current-clamping units according to the combinatorial logic state of the monitored data.
US08304994B2
An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of generating light are provided. The plasma lamp may comprise a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power and a lamp body to receive the RF power. The lamp body may include a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than 2. A bulb is provided that contains a fill that forms a light emitting plasma when the RF power is coupled to the fill. Collection optics is provided to direct the light along an optical path to an aperture, wherein the optical path includes at least one reflective surface and at least two refractive surfaces.
US08304985B2
There is provided a light emitting device which enables a color display with good color balance. A triplet compound is used for a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits red color, and a singlet compound is used for a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits green color and a light emitting layer of an EL element that emits blue color. Thus, an operation voltage of the EL element emitting red color may be made the same as the EL element emitting green color and the EL element emitting blue color. Accordingly, the color display with good color balance can be realized.
US08304982B2
A sealing layer covers more surely both of a display region and a peripheral region on a substrate. A dummy structure (36) is formed in the peripheral region (15) of the substrate. The dummy structure (36) contains, for instance, at least one of the materials constituting an organic EL display structure (18). The dummy structure (36) is located in the peripheral region so that the volume per unit area of the sealing layer (40) in the peripheral region (15) is substantially the same as that in the display region (13).
US08304973B2
In a flash lamp 1, a front end part 62 of a cathode 60 and a front end part 72 of an anode 70 are opposed to each other on a reference line RL, and with respect to a reference surface RS including the reference line RL, a front end part 82 of a trigger electrode 80 is located on one side, and a front end part 92 of a trigger electrode 90 is located on the other side. Further, a terminal end 82a of the front end part 82 of the trigger electrode 80 and a terminal end 92a of the front end part 92 of the trigger electrode 90 are separated from the reference line RL, and each front end part 82, 92 is formed so as to taper toward the reference line RL. Accordingly, an arc discharge occurs in a limited route R from a terminal end portion of the front end part 62 of the cathode 60 through a terminal end portion of the front end part 82 of the trigger electrode 80 and a terminal end portion of the front end part 92 of the trigger electrode 90 to a terminal end portion of the front end part 72 of the anode 70.
US08304969B2
A heat insulation structure for cooling fan includes a base, a blade hub, and a stator. The base has a ceramic bearing sleeve, which defines an axial inner space for receiving at least one bearing therein. The bearing has an axial shaft hole; and a heat insulating nanomaterial is applied between the bearing and the bearing sleeve. The blade hub has a plurality of blades and a rotor shaft provided thereon. The rotor shaft has an end connected to the blade hub and another end inserted in the shaft hole on the bearing. The stator is fitted around the bearing sleeve, and a heat insulating nanomaterial is applied between the stator and the bearing sleeve. The ceramic bearing sleeve and the heat insulating nanomaterial together protect the bearing against damage caused by heat produced by windings wound around the stator to thereby largely increase the lifetime of the cooling fan.
US08304958B2
A power generation apparatus includes a dielectric, a movable member being opposed to the dielectric with a predetermined distance, and an electret and an opposing electrode that are formed on the surface of the movable member facing the dielectric so as to generate a fringe electric field penetrating the dielectric between the two electrodes. When the volume occupancy of the dielectric between the electret and the opposing electrode varies in accordance with a displacement of the movable member, the power generation apparatus outputs the electric charge induced in the opposing electrode as electric current.
US08304952B2
An electromagnetic motor system with no counter/back electromotive force due to the ability of the system to change from one magnetic state to another magnetic state in a defined sequence. In the first state a kinetic energy component is added to the system's rotor where two permanent magnetic materials, which are affixed to the rotor, are allowed to come into an angular range such that they act in a symmetrical manner on a fixed soft ferromagnetic material. This fixed soft ferromagnetic material also acts as the core of an electromagnetic coil and when the rotor's permanent magnets are at the closest proximity to the soft ferromagnetic core a voltage is applied across the coil, resulting in the soft ferromagnetic coil being saturated in a horizontal manner where previously it was polarized in a vertical manner while under the influence of the rotor's two permanent magnets.
US08304950B2
A dynamoelectric machine that can suppress increases in rotor inertia to extend belt service life and increase field magnetomotive force to increase output. In the dynamoelectric machine, first and second magnetic guidance members are fitted into first and second holding grooves that are disposed so as to extend axially on facing portions of first and second trough portions radially outside inner wall surfaces, and are disposed so as to span over first and second trough portions. First and second permanent magnets that are magnetically oriented in a reverse direction to a magnetic field that originates from a field coil are fitted into and held by interfitting grooves of the first and second magnetic guidance members so as to face inner circumferential surfaces near tip ends of second and first claw-shaped magnetic pole portions so as to have a predetermined clearance.
US08304946B2
The present invention provides a spindle motor which has superior operating characteristics. The spindle motor includes a stationary support shaft which is fastened to a base plate, a thrust plate which is fitted over the stationary support shaft, a sleeve which is rotatably provided around the stationary support shaft and is coupled to a rotor casing, and an annular stopper which is fastened to the sleeve or the rotor casing to support the lower surface of the thrust plate and prevent the sleeve from being removed. A first fluid sealing part is formed between the stopper and the thrust plate. The spindle motor further includes an annular sealing cap which is coupled to the sleeve or the rotor casing to store fluid between the sealing cap and an upper surface of the sleeve. A second fluid sealing part is formed between the sealing cap and the stationary support shaft.
US08304929B2
An inverter configured for use within a vehicle to power consumer electronic devices and other types of devices requiring single-phase, AC energy. The inverter may include a network interface or other type of the connection to a vehicle data bus or other message exchange system in order to communicate with an electronic control unit (ECU) or other feature included within the vehicle to monitor and control energy consumption by one or more vehicle subsystems.
US08304928B2
Load type electrical parts incorporated in auxiliary machine modules 164a to 184a are driven by electrical connectors 160a to 180a having communicating units, control units and load driving units mounted on electronic boards. An electronic door control unit 200a connected to a sub bus connected to the electrical connectors 160a to 180a converts the communication protocol of a control signal of the load type electrical parts received from a LAN in a vehicle serving as a main bus of the vehicle to the communication protocol of the sub bus and transmits the protocol converted control signal to the electrical connectors 160a to 180a. Further, sensors or switches in the auxiliary machine modules 164a to 184a output signals to the control units.
US08304925B2
Disclosed is a movable object type high-efficiency wave energy apparatus which further accelerates vibration of floating bodies according to vibration of waves to maximize electric power generation efficiency.
US08304917B2
A multi-chip stacked package and its mother chip to save an interposer are revealed. The mother chip is a two-layer structure consisting of a semiconductor layer and an organic layer where a redistribution layer is embedded into the organic layer with a plurality of first terminals and a plurality of second terminals disposed on the redistribution layer and exposed from the organic layer. The mother chip is flip-chip mounted on the substrate. The active surface of the daughter chip is in contact with the organic layer with the bonding pads of the daughter chip bonded to the first terminals. Furthermore, a plurality of electrically connecting components electrically connect the second terminals to the substrate. In the multi-chip stacked package, the interposer can be eliminated with a thinner overall package thickness as well as controlled package warpage.
US08304913B2
Methods of forming a microelectronic packaging structure and associated structures formed thereby are described. Those methods may include a die embedded in a coreless substrate, wherein a mold compound surrounds the die, and wherein the die comprises TSV connections on a first side and C4 pads on a second side of the die, a dielectric material on a first side and on a second side of the mold compound; and interconnect structures coupled to the C4 pads and to the TSV pads. Embodiments further include forming packaging structures wherein multiple dies are fully embedded within a BBUL package without PoP lands.
US08304910B2
A lack of exposure margin is avoided in a region, where an interconnection is required in a direction different from that of an interconnection of a region where an exposure condition is optimized. A semiconductor device According to an aspect of the invention includes a semiconductor substrate 201; an interlayer insulating film 202 that is formed on the semiconductor substrate 201; a plurality of first interconnections 1, 1, . . . that are formed in a first region on the interlayer insulating film 202 while complying with a first design rule, the first interconnections running along a specific direction; a plurality of second interconnections 2, 2, . . . that are formed in a second region on the interlayer insulating film 202 while complying with a second design rule identical to the first design rule, the second interconnections running along the same direction with that of the first interconnections 1, 1, . . . ; and a connection member 3 that is formed in the interlayer insulating film 202, the connection member forming a desired interconnection pattern by electrically connecting at least the two second interconnections 2 and 2 that should become an identical potential.
US08304908B2
A multilevel interconnect structure in a semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer formed on a semiconductor wafer, a Cu interconnect layer formed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer formed on the Cu interconnect layer, and a metal oxide layer formed at an interface between the Cu interconnect layer and the second insulating layer. The metal oxide layer is formed by immersion-plating a metal, such as Sn or Zn, on the Cu interconnect layer and then heat-treating the plated layer in an oxidizing atmosphere.
US08304907B2
The present invention adds one or more thick layers of polymer dielectric and one or more layers of thick, wide metal lines on top of a finished semiconductor wafer, post-passivation. The thick, wide metal lines may be used for long signal paths and can also be used for power buses or power planes, clock distribution networks, critical signal, and re-distribution of I/O pads.
US08304906B2
Partial air gap formation for providing interconnect isolation in integrated circuits is described. One embodiment is an integrated circuit (“IC”) structure includes a substrate having two adjacent interconnect features formed thereon; caps formed over and aligned with each of the interconnect features; sidewalls formed on opposing sides of each of the interconnect features and a gap formed between the interconnect features; and a dielectric material layer disposed over the substrate to cover the caps and the gap.
US08304903B2
A wirebond-less packaged semiconductor device includes a plurality of I/O contacts, at least one semiconductor die, the semiconductor die having a bottom major surface and a top major surface, the top major surface having at least two electrically isolated electrodes, and a conductive clip system disposed over the top major surface, the clip system comprising at least two electrically isolated sections coupling the electrodes to respective I/O contacts.
US08304895B2
A semiconductor package is provided. The semiconductor package includes a package body, a plurality of semiconductor chips, and an external connection terminal. The package body is stacked with a plurality of sheets where conductive patterns and vias are disposed. The plurality of semiconductor chips are inserted into insert slots extending from one surface of the package body. The external connection terminal is provided on other surface opposite to the one surface of the package body. Here, the plurality of semiconductor chips are electrically connected to the external connection terminal.
US08304892B2
A semiconductor package includes a base substrate, a semiconductor chip mounted on the base substrate and including bonding pads, first and second connection terminals disposed adjacent to the semiconductor chip on the base substrate and electrically connected to the bonding pads, a first ball land disposed on the base substrate and electrically connected to the first connection terminal, a second ball land spaced apart from the connection terminals, the first ball land disposed between the second ball land and at least one of the first and second connection terminals, a first insulating layer covering the first ball land but exposing at least a part of the second ball land, and a first conductive wire extending onto the first insulating layer and connecting the second connection terminal to the second ball land.
US08304876B2
Provided is a semiconductor package and a method for fabricating the semiconductor package. The semiconductor package may include a first package having a first semiconductor chip mounted on a first substrate and a second package having a second semiconductor chip mounted on a second substrate, the second substrate being bent to cover a side of the first package to contact the first substrate such that the first and second packages are connected electrically.
US08304863B2
A through-substrate via (TSV) structure includes at least two electrically conductive via segments embedded in a substrate and separated from each other by an electrically conductive barrier layer therebetween. The length of each individual conductive via segment is typically equal to, or less than, the Blech length of the conductive material so that the stress-induced back flow force, generated by each conductive barrier layer, cancels the electromigration force in each conductive via segment. Consequently, the TSV structures are immune to electromigration, and provide reliable electrical connections among a chips stacked in 3 dimensions.
US08304862B2
A semiconductor package includes: a wiring board; and a semiconductor device which is formed on the wiring board; wherein the semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor chip; and a penetration electrode, one end of which is fixed on one plane of the semiconductor chip, and the other end of which penetrates the semiconductor chip and is fixed on the other plane of the semiconductor chip, the penetration electrode penetrating the semiconductor chip in such a manner that the penetration electrode is not contacted to a wall plane of the semiconductor chip by a space portion formed in the semiconductor chip; and the wiring board and the semiconductor device are electrically connected via the penetration electrode.
US08304849B2
A device containing a printed wire board (PWB), wherein the PWB comprises a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel is a closed channel having a noble metal-containing layer on a surface of the fluid channel is disclosed. A method of making a device containing providing a substrate of a PWB; and fabricating a fluid channel in the PWB, wherein the fluid channel is a closed channel having a noble meal-containing layer on a surface of the fluid channel is disclosed. Also, a method containing providing a printed wire board (PWB), wherein the PWB comprises a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel is a closed channel having a noble metal-containing layer on a surface of the fluid channel, and flowing fluid the fluid channel is disclosed.
US08304843B2
The present disclosure provides a tunnel field effect transistor (TFET) device comprising at least following segments: a highly doped drain region, a lowly doped up to undoped channel region being in contact with the drain region, the channel region having a longitudinal direction, a highly doped source region in contact with the channel region, the contact between the source region and the channel region forming a source-channel interface, a gate dielectric and a gate electrode covering along the longitudinal direction at least part of the source and channel regions, the gate electrode being situated onto the gate dielectric, not extending beyond the gate dielectric, wherein the effective gate dielectric thickness tgd,eff of the gate dielectric is smaller at the source-channel interface than above the channel at a distance from the source-channel interface, the increase in effective gate dielectric thickness tgd,eff being obtained by means of at least changing the physical thickness tgd of the gate dielectric.
US08304841B2
A gate-last method for forming a metal gate transistor is provided. The method includes forming an opening within a dielectric material over a substrate. A gate dielectric structure is formed within the opening and over the substrate. A work function metallic layer is formed within the opening and over the gate dielectric structure. A silicide structure is formed over the work function metallic layer.
US08304837B2
A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor static random access memory cell that includes a plurality of P-channel multi-gate transistors and a plurality of N-channel multi-gate transistors. Each transistor includes a gate electrode and source and drain regions separated by the at least one gate electrode. The SRAM cell further includes a plurality of contacts formed within the source and drain regions of at least one transistor. A plurality of contacts of at least one transistor are recessed a predetermined recess amount, wherein a resistance of the at least one transistor is varied based upon the predetermined recess amount.
US08304835B2
A semiconductor structure, which serves as the core of a semiconductor fabrication platform, has a combination of empty-well regions and filled-well regions variously used by electronic elements, particularly insulated-gate field-effect transistors (“IGFETs”), to achieve desired electronic characteristics. A relatively small amount of semiconductor well dopant is near the top of an empty well. A considerable amount of semiconductor well dopant is near the top of a filled well. Some IGFETs (100, 102, 112, 114, 124, and 126) utilize empty wells (180, 182, 192, 194, 204, and 206) in achieving desired transistor characteristics. Other IGFETs (108, 110, 116, 118, 120, and 122) utilize filled wells (188, 190, 196, 198, 200, and 202) in achieving desired transistor characteristics. The combination of empty and filled wells enables the semiconductor fabrication platform to provide a wide variety of high-performance IGFETs from which circuit designers can select particular IGFETs for various analog and digital applications, including mixed-signal applications.
US08304830B2
An LDPMOS structure having enhanced breakdown voltage and specific on-resistance is described, as is a method for fabricating the structure. A P-field implanted layer formed in a drift region of the structure and surrounding a lightly doped drain region effectively increases breakdown voltage while maintaining a relatively low specific on-resistance.
US08304826B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of floating gate electrodes respectively formed above a semiconductor substrate with first insulating films disposed therebetween, and a control gate electrode formed above the plurality of floating gate electrodes with a second insulating film disposed therebetween. In each of the plurality of floating gate electrodes is formed to have a width of an upper portion thereof in a channel width direction which is smaller than a width of a lower portion thereof in the channel width direction and one of contact surfaces thereof on at least opposed sides which contact the second insulating film is formed to have one surface, and the second insulating film has a maximum film thickness in a vertical direction, the maximum film thickness being set smaller than a distance from a lowest surface to a highest surface of the second insulating film in the vertical direction.
US08304823B2
A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit including a ferroelectric memory cell is disclosed. One embodiment of the method includes: forming a amorphous oxide layer over a carrier, the amorphous layer including: O and any of the group of: Hf, Zr and (Hf,Zr), forming a covering layer on the amorphous layer, and heating the amorphous layer up to a temperature above its crystallization temperature to at least partly alter its crystal state from amorphous to crystalline, resulting in a crystallized oxide layer.
US08304804B2
An object of the present invention is to increase the light emission efficiency of a ZnO-based optical semiconductor device. An optical semiconductor device B has a structure which includes n-type Zn1-zMgzO (barrier layer) 11/Zn1-zMgxO (active layer) 15/p-type Zn1-yMgyO (barrier layer) 17, and light is emitted from the active layer 15. Electrodes 23, 21 are respectively formed on barrier layers 11, 17. By applying a voltage between the two electrodes 23, 21, light is emitted from ZnO (active layer) 15. Here, there are a relationship of x
US08304796B2
Provided is a light-emitting apparatus in which light extraction efficiency of a light-emitting device is improved and viewing angle dependency of an emission color is reduced. The light-emitting apparatus includes a cavity structure and a periodic structure. When guided-wave light is diffracted by the periodic structure in a direction that forms an angle which is larger than 90° and smaller than 180° relative to a guided-wave direction of an optical waveguide in the cavity structure, a wavelength of the diffracted light becomes longer as the diffraction angle increases.
US08304794B2
A light emitting device includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface not parallel to the first surface, and a light emission layer disposed over the second surface to emit light. The light emission layer has a light emission surface which is not parallel to the first surface.
US08304787B2
A light-emitting device having a light-emitting epitaxy structure. The light-emitting epitaxy structure has a modulus of a critical reverse voltage not less than 50 volts, while the light-emitting epitaxy structure is reverse-biased at a current density of −10 μA/mm2, and has a luminous efficiency not less than 50 lumen/Watt, while the light-emitting epitaxy structure is forward-biased at a current density of 150 mA/mm2.
US08304779B2
The thin film transistor includes a gate insulating film formed over a gate electrode; a microcrystalline semiconductor film including an impurity element which serves as a donor, formed over the gate insulating film; a pair of buffer layers formed over the microcrystalline semiconductor film; a pair of semiconductor films to which an impurity element imparting one conductivity type is added, formed over the pair of buffer layers; and wirings formed over the pair of semiconductor films to which an impurity element imparting one conductivity type is added. The concentration of the impurity element which serves as a donor in the microcrystalline semiconductor film is decreased from the gate insulating film side toward the buffer layers, and the buffer layers do not include the impurity element which serves as a donor at a higher concentration than the detection limit of SIMS.
US08304776B2
The present invention relates to a thin film transistor substrate and method for fabricating the same which can secure an alignment margin and reduce the number of mask steps. A thin transistor substrate according to the present invention includes a gate line and a data line crossing each other to define a pixel, a gate metal pattern under the data line, a thin film transistor having a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode in the pixel, and a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode of the thin film transistor by a connection electrode, wherein the data line has a plurality of first slits to disconnect the gate metal pattern from the gate line.
US08304759B2
It is highly desirable to design a monolithic image sensor (and array), which could offer high quantum efficiency over broad spectral ranges, and the possibility to rapidly and randomly address any element in the array. This invention utilizes the growth of semiconductor nanowires such as Si, Ge, Si:Ge, ZnO, or their alloys based nanowires on standard substrates to create multispectral image sensors and photovoltaic cells having these highly desirable features.
US08304758B2
Preparation of oxidation-reduction (redox) nano-medicine quantum dot room temperature superconductor quantum bit (qubit) networks includes processes of making unitary, binary, ternary, an d/or quaternary liquid pharmaceutical ingredients of an antioxidase antioxidant, a β-adrenergic receptor agonist, a P2-purinergic receptor agonist, and/or a phenylalkylamine calcium channel blocker in combination with either 1:20 xanthine oxidase (XO):xanthine (X) or X alone in a liquid phase by using the L16(2)15 and L9(3)4 orthogonal optimization design protocols and modulating spatial distance constraint from about 0.1 Å to about 200 Å as well as a 10 class clean bottom-up self-assembly approach. Redox nano-drug quantum dot superconductor qubit network can be identified at room temperature by Planck constant (ℏ)-related qubit metrology of electron spins and polaritons (the quantum state of photon-exciton hybrid or photoelectron coupling/co-tunneling) through conducting atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) and/or laser micro-photoluminescence (PL) spectrum standard measurement method, wherein ℏ-related quantum continuous variables (QCVs) are derived from faster Fourier transformation (FFT) of average current-voltage (I-V) curves and PL spectra, their first derivatives of relative phases in frequency and time domains (dr/df=ΔE/ℏ and dr/dt=ΔE/ℏ) and their FFTs to acquire Σ(2n), Σ(2n·2n), Σ(2n+1), Σ(2n·2n), Σ(22n+1·22n+1) and/or Σ(22n+1) binary superconductor qubit matrix networks. Uses of this invention cover room temperature superconductor (resistance loss, insulator with conductor or ∞ conductance) quantum devices and quantum biology metrology, implanted nano-drug quantum dot diagnostic and therapeutic nanodevices and/or nano-bio-electrochemistry sensors with target-recognized functions.
US08304757B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a GaAs substrate; and an active layer provided over the GaAs substrate, the active layer including: a lower barrier layer lattice-matched to the GaAs substrate; a quantum dot provided on the lower barrier layer; a strain relaxation layer covering a side of the quantum dot; and an upper barrier layer contacting the top of the quantum dot, at least a portion of the upper barrier layer contacting the top of the quantum dot being lattice-matched to the GaAs substrate, and having a band gap larger than a band gap of the quantum dot and smaller than a band gap of GaAs.
US08304754B2
Rewritable switching materials and methods for forming the same are described herein. One embodiment is a storage device comprising a first electrode, a state change element in contact with the first electrode, the state change element comprises ZrxYyOz, and a second electrode in contact with the state change element. A method for forming such a storage device is also disclosed herein. Another embodiment is a storage device comprising a first electrode a state change element in contact with the first electrode, the state change comprises at least one of cerium oxide or bismuth oxide, and a second electrode in contact with the state change element. A method for forming such a storage device is also disclosed herein.
US08304753B2
An image reading device comprises: a light source; a first optical element that focuses light emitted from the light source, the emitted light being reflected by a medium in a first detection area; a first detector that outputs first detection information in response to arrival of light in the first detection area; a second optical element that guides to a second detection area a portion of the light emitted from the light source, which portion does not arrive at the reflective medium in the first detection area; a second detector that outputs second detection information responsive to detection of light at the second detection area; and a generator that generates image data of the medium by revising the first detection information on the basis of the second detection information.
US08304751B2
In a charged particle beam irradiation apparatus to be adapted to a particle beam cancer treatment system or the like, a desired depth dose distribution is highly precisely created. In the charged particle beam irradiation apparatus that irradiates a particle beam, which is radiated from a particle beam generation unit, to a subject to be irradiated via a ridge filter exhibiting a cyclic thickness distribution for causing the particle beam to exhibit a desired energy distribution, the ridge filter has plural ridges thereof arranged to be perpendicular to entering directions of the particle beam.
US08304731B2
An infrared light detector with an infrared light sensitivity thereof further improved. According to the infrared light detector, an isolated region of a first electronic layer is switched between a “disconnected status” and a “connected status”. Under the connected status, saturation of an electrostatic charge quantity of the isolated region in the disconnected status is eliminated, and consequently, saturation of a variation amount of an electrical conductivity of a second electronic layer is eliminated. Therefore, the infrared light sensitivity is further improved by time integration of the variation amount of the electrical conductivity of the second electronic layer.
US08304728B2
Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for infrared (IR) detection. Organic layers can be utilized to produce a phototransistor for the detection of IR radiation. The wavelength range of the IR detector can be modified by incorporating materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths. Quantum dots of materials sensitive to photons of different wavelengths than the host organic material of the absorbing layer of the phototransistor can be incorporated into the absorbing layer so as to enhance the absorption of photons having wavelengths associated with the material of the quantum dots. A photoconductor structure can be used instead of a phototransistor. The photoconductor can incorporate PbSe or PbS quantum dots. The photoconductor can incorporate organic materials and part of an OLED structure. A detected IR image can be displayed to a user. Organic materials can be used to create an organic light-emitting device.
US08304727B2
An image sensor is capable of judging proximity to a subject. The image sensor judges the distance to the subject using a change in output voltage value by the presence or absence of a specific band of wavelengths of infrared (IR) measured by optical sensors such as proximity pixels. Thereby, the image sensor enables an ordinary image sensor to easily realize a proximity function, and makes it possible to minimize damage to a quality of image when the image is picked up in a night photography mode or in a proximity photography mode.
US08304726B2
A scan control unit for generating two-dimensional coordinates for performing a scan with an electron beam of an electron scanning microscope is provided with first and second transforming units for transforming coordinates in the horizontal (X) direction and the vertical (V) direction. An area to be tested in a sample is scanned with an electron beam in an arbitrary direction. As the first and second transforming units, small-capacity transformation tables (LUTs) capable of operating at high speed in each of the horizontal (X) direction and the vertical (Y) direction are used. By also using a large-capacity transformation table (LUT) that stores coordinate transformation data corresponding to plural scan types, a test apparatus compatible with the plural scan types, having multiple functions, and capable of performing high-speed scan control is realized.
US08304725B2
A charged particle beam system wherein the output of the secondary electron detector is detected while the retarding voltage is varied between the values for which the secondary electrons do not reach the sample and the values for which the secondary electrons reach the sample, and the surface potential of the sample is determined on the basis of the relationship between the retarding voltage and the detected output of the secondary electron detector.
US08304722B2
On the basis of a displacement of the field of view before and after a deflection of a charged particle beam, extracted from a first specimen image, including a displacement of the field of view recorded by causing a charged particle beam to deflect by a predetermined amount by a beam deflector in an image in which a specimen image is captured at a first magnification calibrated by using a specimen enlarged image of a specimen as a magnification standard, and also a displacement of the field of view before and after a deflection of the charged particle beam, extracted from a second specimen image, including a displacement of the field of view recorded by causing a charged particle beam to deflect by the predetermined amount by the beam deflector in an image in which a specimen image is captured at a second magnification, the second magnification is calibrated.
US08304714B2
A sensor for measuring a property of a chemical, the sensor including: a light source; and a mixing medium in optical communication with the light source and exposed to the chemical; wherein four wave mixing of light interacting with the mixing medium provides a signal that indicates the property.
US08304711B2
An interior rearview mirror system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a reflective element and ambient and glare light sensors. A control circuit is operable to establish a reflectance level of the reflective element. At least one of (a) the mirror system includes a charge accumulation device selectively connected with the ambient or glare light sensor and the control circuit establishes the ambient and glare light levels as a function of time for an output of the charge accumulation device to reach a reference level when connected to the respective light sensor, (b) a common element is used to measure outputs of the light sensors sequentially to correspond errors due to component variations, and (c) the mirror system includes temperature compensation of the glare and/or ambient light sensor and the temperature compensation is responsive to a reference light sensor that is substantially not exposed to light.
US08304708B2
An image pickup element includes a light-receiving portion having a matrix arrangement formed by disposing first-direction arrays, each having photoelectric conversion portions arranged in a first direction with a predetermined gap maintained therebetween, in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and micro-lenses provided above the light-receiving portion. A certain first-direction array in the matrix arrangement is provided with a pair of photoelectric conversion portions that optically receive, via a pair of micro-lenses, photographic-subject light beams passing through a pair of segmental regions in an exit pupil of a photographic optical system, the pair of segmental regions being disposed biasedly in opposite directions from each other in the first direction. The pair of micro-lenses is disposed such that light axes thereof extend through vicinities of edges of the pair of photoelectric conversion portions, the edges being the farthest edges from each other in the first direction.
US08304706B2
Provided is a photodetector circuit having significantly low current consumption. The photodetector circuit includes two opposing P-channel metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors each including a gate connected to a drain of the opposing P-channel MOS transistor. The drain of one of the P-channel MOS transistors is discharged with an ON-state current of an N-channel MOS transistor which is turned ON with a voltage generated in a photoelectric element. The drain of the other of the P-channel MOS transistors is discharged with an ON-state current of a depletion type N-channel MOS transistor including a gate to which a voltage of a reference power supply terminal is input, and a source to which the voltage generated in the photoelectric element is input.
US08304696B2
An air circulator and an oven including such an air circulator. Ducting has an inlet located toward an upper end of a cooking chamber of the oven and an outlet proximate the lower portion of the chamber. An air mover can move air in the chamber though a fluid passage defined in the ducting from the upper portion of the chamber to the lower portion.
US08304693B2
A contact tip for a welding torch includes a refractory material reinforced copper composite including approximately 10 to 50% by volume of a refractory material and at least one of copper and a copper alloy. The refractory material is one of a metal and a ceramic material. The contact tip may include an elongated, generally cylindrical body having a front contact end, an opposite rear retaining end, and a passageway extending from the rear retaining end to the front contact end. A portion of the passageway may be defined by the refractory material reinforced copper composite. The portion may have a diameter that is approximately 3 to 8% larger than an outer diameter of a consumable electrode wire, and the portion may have a length of approximately 0.2 to 0.6 inches.
US08304679B2
A vacuum insulated switchgear comprising a vacuum container accommodating at least a pair of movable contacts and a pair of fixed contacts, wherein the movable contacts are capable of taking three positions, the switchgear being a double-break three-position type switch having breaking and disconnecting functions.
US08304668B2
A food product scale is adapted to interface with an electronic product ordering system, such as a kiosk ordering system, enabling store personnel to more readily identify, process and complete such orders.
US08304666B2
A plurality of coaxial leads is made within a single via in a circuit substrate to enhance the density of vertical interconnection so as to match the demand for higher density multi-layers circuit interconnection between top circuit layer and bottom circuit layer of the substrate. Coaxial leads provide electromagnetic interference shielding among the plurality of coaxial leads in a single via.
US08304660B2
A fully reflective and highly thermoconductive electronic module includes a metal bottom layer, a transparent ceramic layer and a patterned metal wiring layer. The metal bottom layer has a lower reflective surface. The transparent ceramic layer has an upper surface and a lower surface. The lower surface of the transparent ceramic layer is bonded to the lower reflective surface of the metal bottom layer. The metal wiring layer is bonded to the upper surface of the transparent ceramic layer. The lower reflective surface reflects a first light ray, transmitting through the transparent ceramic layer, to the upper surface of the transparent ceramic layer. A method of manufacturing the fully reflective and highly thermoconductive electronic module is also disclosed.
US08304657B2
A printed wiring board includes a core substrate having a penetrating hole, a first circuit on a first surface of the substrate, a second circuit on a second surface of the substrate, and a through-hole conductor in the hole connecting the first and second circuits. The hole has first and second opening portions. The first opening portion becomes thinner toward the second surface. The second opening portion becomes thinner toward the first surface. The first opening portion has first and second portions. The second opening portion has first and second portions. The first and second portions of the first opening portion form inner walls bending inward at the boundary between the first and second portions. The first and second portions of the second opening portion form inner walls bending inward at the boundary between the first and second portions.
US08304649B2
A waterproofing method is provided for a wire to be arranged in a water susceptible area of a vehicle. The method includes removing an insulating coating layer in a lengthwise intermediate part of the wire to expose a core. A fluid waterproofing agent then is dropped to an exposed core section. Negative pressure then is introduced into the inside of the insulating coating layer from wire ends to suck the waterproofing agent into the inside of the insulating coating layer. Alternatively the exposed core section is loaded with pressure air to press the waterproofing agent into the inside of the insulating coating layer. Thus the waterproofing agent is infiltrated between the strands inside the insulating coating layer.
US08304646B2
The invention teaches novel structure and methods for producing electrical current collectors and electrical interconnection structure. Such articles find particular use in facile production of modular arrays of photovoltaic cells. The current collector and interconnecting structures may be initially produced separately from the photovoltaic cells thereby allowing the use of unique materials and manufacture. Subsequent combination of the structures with photovoltaic cells allows facile and efficient completion of modular arrays. Methods for combining the collector and interconnection structures with cells and final interconnecting into modular arrays are taught.
US08304642B1
The MUSIC AND LYRICS DISPLAY METHOD provides for a complete solution comprising a way of displaying correct portions of lyrics and or musical notation at appropriate times while something live is happening. By using a predetermined series of symbols in a song sequence, symbols may serve as indices for looking up and displaying distinct portions of lyrics identified by corresponding symbols comprised within bodies of lyrics. Furthermore, when displaying words and music notation, notes are spaced horizontally to align with words that are large and not broken up, such that words are natural looking and easy to read, while musical notes are easy to sight read with words to which they obviously correspond. Another aspect of the present invention allows for providing such multimedia in such a way that users may play audio for free for a certain span of days or demo trial period, and where users may register to retain access thereto.
US08304630B1
A soybean cultivar designated S100299 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S100299, to the plants of soybean cultivar S100299, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S100299, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S100299. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S100299. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S100299, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S100299 with another soybean cultivar.
US08304606B2
The present invention relates to genetically modified plant cells and plants, and to processes for the production of genetically modified plant cells and plants which have an increased activity of a protein having the activity of a starch synthase II and an increased activity of a protein having the activity of a glucan-water dikinase. Plants of this type synthesize starches having increased hot water swelling power. The present invention likewise relates to starches having increased hot water swelling power, and to processes for their production.
US08304603B2
The invention relates to a method for increasing the tolerance of a plant to water deficit, by overexpression in the plant of a protein, designated ABA4, which is involved in the conversion of violaxanthin to neoxanthin in the biosynthesis of abscisic acid.
US08304600B2
An absorbent article comprising nonwoven fabric having convex and concave surfaces, and that allows liquid such as excreta and the like to permeate quickly. A sanitary napkin has a plurality of raised ridge portions and groove portions in a top sheet member. The fiber density of the side edge portions of each of the plurality of raised ridge portions in the thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric is substantially uniform, and is higher than the average fiber density in the raised ridge portions. The fiber density of the central portion between both the side edge portions of each of the plurality of raised ridge portions is substantially uniform in the thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric, and is lower than the average fiber density in the raised ridge portions.
US08304599B2
A method of forming a film resistant to blocking including the steps of providing a polymeric film having a first and second surface; applying the anti-blocking agent in a fluid or molten state to at least the first surface of the polymeric film; and gathering the treated film. The anti-blocking agent may be substantially acrylic free.
US08304594B2
The present invention provides a process for increasing ethylene and/or propylene yield during conversion of oxygenates using a system comprising a reactor and a regenerator, wherein the reactor comprises a fluidized bed reactor and a riser reactor, which process increases ethylene and/or propylene yield by using a mixture of the deactivated catalyst from the fluidized bed reactor and the regenerated catalyst from the regenerator in the riser reactor for further cracking the C4+ hydrocarbon stream separated from the product stream.
US08304590B2
Autothermal torrefaction devices, which can be either stationary of mobile, are provided and include a torrefaction chamber having a chamber inlet for receiving biomass and at least one chamber outlet. The torrefaction chamber can be substantially surrounded by an exterior housing defining an outer jacket and having a jacket inlet and a jacket outlet. The outer jacket and torrefaction chamber define a space therebetween such that a burner unit including an inlet operatively connected to the chamber outlet and an outlet operatively connected to the jacket inlet allows vapors produced or released from within the torrefaction chamber to travel into the burner unit for combustion of at least a portion of the vapors and subsequently travel through the space between the jacket and the torrefaction chamber to provide heat necessary for autothermal torrefaction of biomass.
US08304580B2
There is provided a method for producing a tris(perfluoroalkanesulfonyl)methide acid salt represented by formula [1], including the steps of (a) reacting a methylmagnesium halide represented by formula [2] with a perfluoroalkanesulfonyl fluoride represented by formula [3], thereby obtaining a reaction mixture; and (b) directly reacting the obtained reaction mixture with at least one selected from the group consisting of alkali metal halides, quaternary ammonium salts, and quaternary phosphonium salts. By this method, it is possible to easily produce the target methide acid salt with high yield.
US08304577B2
The present disclosure is generally directed to compounds which can modulate G-protein coupled receptor 88, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for modulating G-protein coupled receptor 88.
US08304571B2
The present invention relates to a perfluoropolyether-modified polysiloxane represented by general formula (1): wherein X is a divalent group represented by formula —CH2—, —CH2O—, —CH2OCH2— or —Y—NR—CO—, R1, R2, and R3 are, independently of each other, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group; X′ is a divalent group represented by formula —CH2—, —OCH2—, —CH2OCH2— or —CO—NR—Y′—, a is, independently of each other, 0 or 1; z and z′ are, independently of each other, an integer of 5 to 100; and Rf is a divalent group represented by the following general formula (2): —CtF2t[OCF2CF(CF3)]m—OCF2(CF2)rCF2O[CF(CF3)CF2O]nCtF2t— (2) or by the following general formula (3): —Ct′F2t′(OCF2CF2)u(OCF2)vOCt′F2t′— (3).
US08304565B2
New diacylglycerol-polyethylene glycol (DAG-PEG) conjugates are described. A variety of linkers between the PEG chain and glycerol backbone of the DAG-PEGs may be selected to optimize liposomal formulations of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
US08304554B2
A compound represented by the following formula (DII): wherein Y31, Y32 and Y33 each independently represents a methine group or a nitrogen atom; R31, R32 and R33 each independently represents the following formula (DII-R):
US08304545B2
The invention relates to a 1-aza-bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-2-en-3-ylmethyl acetate of the formula (I), wherein said compound is useful as a synthesis intermediate for the production of mequitazine.
US08304540B2
The present invention discloses a process for stereoselective synthesis of Lamivudine comprising the following steps: (a) performing a glycosylation reaction between the compound of formula (I) and cytosine or protected cytosine, and separating the reaction product by recrystallization to obtain the intermediate of formula (II); and (b) deprotecting the intermediate of formula (II) to obtain Lamivudine.
US08304539B2
Novel non-steroidal compounds are provided which are useful in treating diseases or disorders associated with modulation of the glucocorticoid receptor, AP-1, and/or NF-κB activity, including metabolic and inflammatory and immune diseases or disorders, having the structure of formula (I): an enantiomer, diastereomer, or taυtomer thereof, or a prodrug ester thereof, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof, in which: Z is heterocyclo or heteroaryl; •A is a S- to 8-membered carbocyclic ring or a S- to 8-membered heterocyclic ring; B1 and B2 rings are pyridyl rings, wherein the B1 and B2 rings are each fused to the A ring and the B1 ring is optionally substituted by one to three groups which are the same or different and are independently selected from R1, R2, and R4, and the B2 ring is optionally substituted by one to three groups which are the same or different and are independently selected from R5, R7, and R3 J1, J2, and J3 are at each occurrence the same or different and are independently -A1QA2-; Q is a bond, O, S, S(O), or S(O)2; A1 and A2 are the same or different and are at each occurrence independently selected from a bond, C1-3 alkylene, substituted C1-3 alkylene, C2-4 alkenylene, and substituted C2-4 alkenylene, provided that A1 and A2 are chosen so that ring A is a 5- to 8-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; R1 to R11 are as defined herein.
US08304536B2
Disclosed is a phthalocyanine compound characterized by being represented by the formula (1) below. This phthalocyanine compound has good affinity to titania, and is suitably used for an organic thin film of an organic solar cell and the like. [In the formula, M represents a hydrogen atom or a central metal; Z1 and Z2 independently represent a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms or a phenyl group; and Ar represents at least one aryl group selected from those represented by the following formulae (2) to (12). (In the formulae (2) to (12), R1 to R103 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an amino group, a silanol group, a thiol group, a carboxyl group, a phosphoric acid group, a phosphate group, an ester group, a thioester group, an amide group, a nitro group, a monovalent hydrocarbon group, an organoxy group, an organoamino group, an organosilyl group, an organothio group, an acyl group or a sulfone group.)]
US08304526B2
The present invention regards mutant forms of Bik that comprise anti-cell proliferation and/or pro-apoptotic activities. In particular embodiments, the Bik polypeptides comprise a substitution at Thr33 and Ser35 and, in some embodiments, phosphorylation at these sites is inhibited. In more particular embodiments, these forms are useful for cancer therapy, particularly when administered in combination with liposomes. In embodiments wherein a mutant Bik polynucleotide is administered for cancer therapy, the polynucleotide may be regulated in a tissue-specific manner.
US08304524B2
The present invention provides compositions and pharmaceutical formulations of Factor H derived from plasma. Also provided are methods for the manufacture of the Factor H compositions and formulations, as well as methods for the treatment of diseases associated with Factor H dysfunction.
US08304519B2
The present invention provides for diagnosis or treatment of neurological or neuropsychiatric disorders involving abnormal dopamine neurotransmission. Methods and agents are provided for modulating dopamine transporter activity and modulating dopaminergic neurotransmission. Agents of the present invention include fragments of D2 receptor or dopamine transporter (DAT) that can disrupt D2-DAT coupling.
US08304515B2
A process for the purification of a tetraol PFPE derivative [tetraol (T)] of formula (I): HO—CH2—CH(OH)—CH2—O—CH2—CF2—O—Rf—CF2—CH2O—CH2—CH(OH)—CH2OH, wherein Rf represents a fluoropolyoxyalkene chain (chain Rf), from a mixture (M) of hydroxyl (per)fluoropolyether derivatives, said mixture comprising said tetraol (T) and at least one hydroxyl (per)fluoropolyether [PFPE (OH)] comprising a chain Rf terminated with at least one end group of formula: —CF2CH2OH; —CF2CH2O—CH(OH)—CH2—O—CH2—CH(OH)—CH2OH; said process comprising: step 1: reacting the mixture (M) with ketones and/or aldehydes so as to selectively protect couples of hydroxyl groups on vicinal carbon atoms by forming corresponding cyclic ketal/acetal derivatives, so as to yield a protected mixture (P); step 2: reacting residual hydroxyl groups of the mixture (P) with suitable functionalizing agents enabling substantial volatility modification, so as to obtain a functionalized protected mixture (Pf); step 3: fractional distillation of the mixture (Pf) so as to isolate the cyclic acetal/ketal derivatives of tetraol (T); and step 4: hydrolyzing the acetal/ketal derivatives of tetraol (T) so as to recover pure tetraol (T).
US08304508B2
A fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein n represents an integer of 1-4, and the two carboxylic groups are not adjacent to each other on the aromatic ring. It is possible to obtain a linear polymer compound by reacting the fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid with a comonomer (e.g., diaminodiol). By thermal cyclization, this linear polymer compound can be converted into another polymer compound having superior characteristics.
US08304507B2
The polymerizable composition for a polythiourethane optical material of the present invention includes (A) a polymerization catalyst for a polythiourethane optical material, (B) at least one compound selected from an isocyanate compound and an isothiocyanate compound, and (C) a compound containing one or more mercapto groups, wherein said polymerization catalyst for a polythiourethane optical material (A) includes (a1) a zinc compound, (a2) a compound represented by the following general formula (1), and (a3) a sulfonic acid represented by the following general formula (2):
US08304505B2
Materials crosslinkable at room temperature by condensation are based on organosilicon compounds which cure to give permanently resilient materials, and which employ one or more compounds of the metals Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, or Sr as catalyst.
US08304493B2
Methods of modifying block copolymers to enhance thermodynamic properties thereof without sacrificing material properties and methods of forming modified block copolymers having desired properties are disclosed. The modified block copolymers may be used, for example, as a mask for sublithographic patterning during various stages of semiconductor device fabrication. For example, block copolymers having desirable material properties, such as etch selectively, may be chemically modified to tailor a χ value thereof to optimize the process conditions for achieving a self-assembled state and to reduce a defectivity of the self-assembled block copolymer pattern.
US08304492B2
A polybutadiene brominating method uses a quaternary ammonium tribromide as the brominating agent. The brominating is performed in solution, and dual extractions recover the spent brominating agent and recombine it with fresh bromine to regenerate an active tribromide. Solvent and aqueous extraction streams can be purified and recycled as needed.
US08304485B2
A process for forming an opacifying pigment encapsulated in polymer including (a) dispersing a pigment particle having an average particle diameter of from 150 to 500 nm and an index of refraction of at least 1.8 such as, for example, TiO2 in a medium with from 0.1% to 10% by weight, based on the weight of said pigment particle, sulfur acid-functional first polymer whereby the zeta potential of the dispersed pigment particle is less than −28 mV between pH 5 and pH 8; and (b) performing an emulsion polymerization in the presence of the dispersed pigment particle to provide from 10% to 200%, by weight, based on the weight of the pigment particle, second polymer that at least partially encapsulates the dispersed pigment particle. Also provided are the encapsulated pigment particle so formed and compositions including the encapsulated pigment particle.
US08304477B2
Disclosed are mixtures of oxyalkylene bridged bis- and tris-phosphite esters of formulae I and II where R is hydrogen or methyl, n and n′ are independently an integer from 1 to 45 and R1, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, straight or branched chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, phenylalkyl of 7 to 9 carbon atoms, phenylalkyl of 7 to 9 carbon atoms substituted on the phenyl ring by one to three straight or branched chain alkyl of 1 to 12 carbon atoms or R1, R2 and R3 are each independently —(CH2)k—COOR4 where k is 0, 1 or 2 and R4 is hydrogen or straight or branched chain alkyl of 1 to 20 carbon atoms. The mixtures of formula I and II are liquid at ambient conditions and are effective stabilizers for polyolefins.
US08304476B2
It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a flame retardant resin composition having a high level of flame retardancy and excellent physical properties and a molded article thereof.The flame retardant resin composition comprises: (A) 100 parts by weight of a resin component (component A) containing polylactic acid (component A-1); (B) 10 to 50 parts by weight of an organic phosphorus compound represented by the following formula (1) (component B): (in the above formula, the phenyl group may have a substituent); (C) 5 to 30 parts by weight of a hydrogenated styrene-based thermoplastic elastomer (component C); and (D) 1 to 10 parts by weight of talc (component D).
US08304472B2
A method for producing a conductive polyamide-polyphenylene ether resin composition comprising (A) 10 to 90 parts by mass of a polyphenylene ether resin, (B) 5 to 85 parts by mass of a polyamide having a (terminal amino group)/(terminal carboxyl group) ratio falling within the range from 0.20 to 4.0, (C) 5 to 85 parts by mass of a polyamide having a (terminal amino group)/(terminal carboxyl group) ratio falling within the range from 0.05 to 0.19 and (D) 0.1 to 10 parts by mass of a conductive filler, the method comprising the step of melt-kneading of the component (A), the component (B), a compatibilizer (F) and a master batch (E) obtained by melt-kneading of the component (D) and the component (C) in advance.
US08304471B2
A rubber composition, in particular intended for the manufacture of tires, based on at least a predominant elastomer, chosen from the group consisting of butyl rubbers, essentially unsaturated diene elastomers, essentially saturated diene elastomers and the mixtures of these elastomers, and a reinforcing filler, characterized in that the composition also comprises at least one inert filler chosen from silicon-based lamellar mineral fillers and a nonfunctionalized polyisobutylene oil, having a molecular weight of between 200 g/mol and 40 000 g/mol, present in a proportion of between 2 and 50 phe.
US08304469B2
A highly heat-conductive epoxy resin composition, which comprises epoxy resin in a liquid state at room temperature, a latent curing agent, a highly heat-conductive filler, and a non-ionic surfactant, where preferably the latent curing agent is mixed with a portion of the epoxy resin in a liquid state at room temperature to form a master batch, can keep a relatively low viscosity, even if a large amount of the filler is contained, and can be cured at a relatively low temperature for a short time, and has a distinguished storage stability as one-component composition.
US08304463B1
A process for recovering waste latex material from a manufacturing plant, treating the recovered waste latex material, and subsequently utilizing the recovered and treated waste latex material in a manufacturing plant. Waste latex material is recovered and treated to provide a fine, sand-like material that is suitable for reintroduction into a latex adhesive manufacturing process.
US08304458B2
A method of reclaiming a cured elastomer material in the form of crumb or chips, comprising mixing the elastomer material with a devulcanization-aiding chemical composition and performing devulcanization by applying a shear-stress deformation while performing a mechanical disintegration into fine-ground crumbs under a controllable temperature not exceeding about 90 degrees C.
US08304456B2
An apparatus for mixing a high-viscosity material with a gas and transferring the high-viscosity material mixed with the gas. The apparatus includes a piston pump, a high-viscosity material supply device for supplying a high-viscosity material to the cylinder, a gas supply device for supplying a gas to the cylinder, a piston drive device for driving the piston of the piston pump, a piston stopping device fixed in the cylinder for stopping the piston, a valve device for a high-viscosity material for selectively opening and closing a passage for communication between the high-viscosity material supply device and the cylinder of the piston pump, and a valve device for a gas for selectively opening and closing a passage for communication between the gas supply device and the cylinder of the piston pump.
US08304451B2
In recognition of the need to develop novel therapeutic agents and efficient methods for the synthesis thereof, the present invention provides novel inhibitors of histone deacetylases, tubulin deacetylases, and/or aggresome inhibitors, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives thereof. The inventive compounds fall into two classes—“isotubacin” class and “isoisotubacin” class—all of which include a 1,3-dioxane core. The present invention further provides methods for treating disorders regulated by histone deacetylase activity, tubulin deacetylase activity, and/or the aggresome (e.g., proliferative diseases, cancer, inflammatory diseases, protozoal infections, protein degradation disorders, protein deposition disorders, etc.) comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of an inventive compound to a subject in need thereof. The present invention also provides methods for preparing compounds of the invention.
US08304448B2
Disclosed is a composition for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, which comprises a benzazole derivative as an active ingredient. The benzazole derivative has inhibitory activity against DGAT (diacylglycerol acyltransferase), which causes metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes in the process of lipid metabolism. With the ability to effectively control lipid metabolism and energy metabolism, thus, the composition is useful in the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes.
US08304434B2
A series of substituted aryl sulfone derivatives represented by Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions comprise an effective amount of the instant compounds, either alone, or in combination with one or more other therapeutically active compounds, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Methods of treating conditions associated with, or caused by, calcium channel activity, including, for example, acute pain, chronic pain, visceral pain, inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, urinary incontinence, itchiness, allergic dermatitis, epilepsy, diabetic neuropathy, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, sleep disorder, bipolar disorder and stroke, comprise administering an effective amount of the present compounds, either alone, or in combination with one or more other therapeutically active compounds.
US08304429B2
The present invention provides methods for preventing and/or treating degenerative disorders of the central nervous system using 5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol, 5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof, or any combination of two or more thereof. In particular, the present invention provides methods for preventing and/or treating Parkinson's disease.
US08304418B2
The present invention provides a novel pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-one, specifically a derivative of 1-(pyridine-4-yl)-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-one. This compound is a kinase inhibitor that shows unexpected anti-proliferative activity against cells, including against tumor cells, and anti-tumor activity in xenograft tumor models. The compound or a suitable salt or prodrug thereof is useful for the treatment of individuals suffering from a cancer or another proliferative disorder or disease.
US08304417B2
The present invention relates to chemical processes useful in the manufacture of the compound 4-(6-chloro-2,3-methylenedioxyanilino)-7-[2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)ethoxy]-5-tetrahydropyran-4-yloxyquinazoline (the active entity within AZD0530), to intermediates useful in the manufacture of that compound and to processes for the manufacture of those intermediates. The invention also relates to particular crystalline forms of that compound such as a difumarate salt and a trihydrate and to pharmaceutical compositions containing such crystalline forms.
US08304415B2
A series of novel 1,2-disubstituted amido-anthraquinone derivatives, and the preparation method and application of said derivatives. Said application includes said derivatives with therapeutically effective amount being prepared into pharmaceutical compositions for inhibition of cancer cell growth, further treating cancer.
US08304414B2
This invention describes novel pyrazole compounds of formula III: wherein Z1, Z2, and Z3 are as described in the specification; Q is —S—, —O—, —N(R4)—, or —CH(R6)—; R1 is T-Ring D, wherein Ring D is a 5-7 membered monocyclic ring or 8-10 membered bicyclic ring selected from aryl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or carbocyclyl; and R2 and R2′ are as described in the specification. The compounds are useful as protein kinase inhibitors, especially as inhibitors of Aurora-2 and GSK-3, for treating diseases such as cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
US08304413B2
Disclosed are compounds and methods for treating inflammatory and fibrotic disorders, including methods of modulating a stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) system with an active compound, wherein the active compound exhibits low potency for inhibition of the p38 MAPK; and wherein the contacting is conducted at a SAPK-modulating concentration that is at a low percentage inhibitory concentration for inhibition of the p38 MAPK by the compound. Also disclosed are derivatives and analogs of pirfenidone, useful for modulating a stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) system.
US08304410B2
The present invention relates to compounds having formula 3 as well as the synthesis, intermediates and methods of using the same.
US08304409B2
The invention describes novel nitrosated nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and novel compositions comprising at least one nitrosated NSAID, and, optionally, at least one compound that donates, transfers or releases nitric oxide, stimulates endogenous synthesis of nitric oxide, elevates endogenous levels of endothelium-derived relaxing factor or is a substrate for nitric oxide synthase, and/or at least one therapeutic agent. The invention also provides novel compositions comprising at least one nitrosated NSAID, and at least one compound that donates, transfers or releases nitric oxide, elevates endogenous levels of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, stimulates endogenous synthesis of nitric oxide or is a substrate for nitric oxide synthase and/or at least one therapeutic agent. The invention also provides novel kits comprising at least one nitrosated NSAID, and, optionally, at least one nitric oxide donor and/or at least one therapeutic agent. The invention also provides methods for treating inflammation, pain and fever; for treating gastrointestinal disorders; for facilitating wound healing; for treating and/or preventing gastrointestinal, renal and/or respiratory toxicities resulting from the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory compounds; for treating inflammatory disease states and/or disorders; and for treating and/or preventing ophthalmic diseases and/or disorders.
US08304406B2
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions and combinations for treating, preventing or managing pulmonary hypertension comprising small molecule heterocyclic pharmaceuticals, and more particularly, substituted pyridines and pyridazines optionally combined with at least one additional therapeutic agent.
US08304400B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods useful in the reduction of p11 protein activity in cancer cells. P11 protein is demonstrated to affect plasmin production and activity, MMP activity, plasminogen activation, antiangiogenic plasmin fragment production, cell invasion, tumor development and metastasis. Compositions that modulate levels of p11 either up or down are demonstrated to be effective in reducing tumor development. Also disclosed are cancer treatment methods that employ compositions that modulate p11 activity and clonal cell lines and assays useful for the identification of compositions that modulate p11 activity.
US08304398B2
The present invention provides means and methods for alleviating genetic disease. A genetic defect that has a phenotype in differentiated cells can lead to defects in precursor cells thereof. These so-called secondary defects contribute to the overall disease of the individual. In the present invention, genetic intervention with the aim to alleviate symptoms of genetic disease is directed toward the primary genetic defect in the differentiated cell and the secondary defect in the precursor cell.
US08304397B2
The present invention relates to the identification of a microRNA, miR-208, that induces the expression of β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC) and represses fast skeletal muscle contractile protein genes. Inhibition of this function is proposed as a treatment for cardiac fibrosis, hypertrophy and/or heart failure, and augmentation of this function can be used to repress slow fiber genes and activate fast fiber genes in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
US08304396B2
The invention relates to a class of soft or semi-soft CpG immunostimulatory oligonucleotides that are useful for stimulating an immune response.
US08304389B2
In one aspect the present invention provides methods for inhibiting cell death or inflammation in a mammal, wherein the methods each include the step of administering to a mammal a Bcl protein in an amount sufficient to inhibit cell death or inflammation in the mammal. The invention also provides methods for identifying a Bcl protein that inhibits cell death or inflammation when administered to a mammal.
US08304385B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I, II, III or IV, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the present invention.
US08304380B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of formyl cyclohexene derivatives which are suitable as odorants as such or as intermediates for the preparation of further odorants. In particular the present invention relates to a domino-methylenation-Diels-Alder reaction of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes using formaldehyde in the presence of 1,3-butadienes.
US08304377B2
Provided are new anionic surfactants and methods of their preparation and use. The surfactants are compounds of the formula I: wherein R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 are as defined herein.
US08304374B2
The present invention relates to a lubricating composition containing a dicarboxylic acid ester or a dicarboxylic acid amide as an antiwear agent. The invention further provides a lubricating composition suitable for the mechanical device such as an internal combustion engine.
US08304370B2
An image receiver element includes a water-soluble or water-dispersible polyurethane binder in the image receiving layer. This polyurethane has a Tg of from about 60 to about 80° C., a molecular weight of at least 25,000, and an acid number of from about 16 to about 35 mg KOH/g. Moreover, the polyurethane comprises from about 42 to about 60 weight % of recurring urethane units, from about 8 to about 20 weight % of alkylene glycol recurring units, from about 18 to about 40 weight % of carbonate recurring units having aliphatic side chains, and from about 3 to about 15 weight % of recurring units having a water-soluble or water-dispersible acid group, based on total binder weight.
US08304369B2
The present invention relates to a particulate superabsorbent polymer comprising a monomer and an internal crosslinker agent wherein the particulate superabsorbent polymer has a Centrifuge Retention Capacity Increase of 2 g/g or more as set forth herein in the Centrifuge Retention Capacity Increase Test. The present invention further relates to a superabsorbent polymer comprising an internal crosslinker agent comprising a silane compound comprising at least one vinyl group or one allyl group attached to a silicon atom, and at least one Si—O bond. The present invention further relates to an absorbent article that includes such particulate superabsorbent polymers.
US08304367B2
The present invention aims at providing a catalyst as a porous catalyst body for decomposing hydrocarbons which comprises at least magnesium, aluminum and nickel, wherein the catalyst has an excellent catalytic activity for decomposition and removal of hydrocarbons, an excellent anti-sulfur poisoning property, an excellent anti-coking property even under a low-steam condition, a sufficient strength capable of withstanding crushing and breakage even when coking occurs within the catalyst, and an excellent durability. The above aim of the present invention can be achieved by a porous catalyst body for decomposing hydrocarbons which comprises at least magnesium, aluminum and nickel in such a manner that the magnesium and aluminum are present in the form of a composite oxide of magnesium and aluminum, and the nickel is present in the form of metallic nickel; and which porous catalyst body has a magnesium element content of 10 to 50% by weight, an aluminum element content of 5 to 35% by weight and a nickel element content of 0.1 to 30% by weight, a pore volume of 0.01 to 0.5 cm3/g, an average pore diameter of not more than 300 Å and an average crushing strength of not less than 3 kgf.
US08304364B2
An oxidation catalyst is provided which is capable of combusting PM in a diesel engine exhaust gas at a low temperature and which has low degradation due to heat generated during combustion (i.e., has high heat resistance).A composite oxide for an exhaust gas purification catalyst is formed from Ce, Bi, R, R′, and oxygen, and when the molar ratios of Ce, Bi, R, and R′ are expressed as Ce:Bi:R:R′=(1−x−y−z) :x:y:z, it satisfies 0
US08304356B2
The present invention relates to a color adapting composition used for coloring and color adapting porcelain for ceramic crown such as dental restorations and prosthetics, and aluminosilicate glass appropriate for using in a color adapting composition. More specifically, a color adapting composition for dental porcelains are prepared by blending two or more kinds of glass frits having different sintering temperatures from each other and an inorganic pigment or a colored glass obtained by previously dispersing inorganic pigments in glass.
US08304345B2
The invention relates to improvements in the polishing of a layer of germanium by a method which includes a first step of chemical-mechanical polishing of the surface of the germanium layer that is carried out with a first polishing solution having an acidic pH. The first polishing step is then followed by a second step of chemical-mechanical polishing of the surface of the germanium layer carried out with a second polishing solution having an alkaline pH. The polished heteroepitaxial germanium layer has a surface microroughness of less than 0.1 nm RMS and a surface macroroughness corresponding to a surface haze level of less than 0.5 ppm.
US08304342B2
A chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) stop layer is implemented in a semiconductor fabrication process. The CMP stop layer, among other things, mitigates erosion of sidewall spacers during semiconductor fabrication and adverse effects associated therewith.
US08304337B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: forming a device over a substrate including a bond wire pad row located between a perimeter of the substrate and the device; configuring the bond wire pad row to include three sided bond wire pads that horizontally overlap; and forming an interconnection between the device and the bond wire pad row.
US08304336B2
A method for fabricating a solar cell using inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) including a first electrode, a P layer, an intrinsic layer, an N-type layer and a second electrode. The method includes forming an intrinsic layer including a hydrogenated amorphous silicon (Si) thin film by an inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition (ICP-CVD) device using mixed gas including hydrogen (H2) gas and silane (SiH4) gas. In the mixed gas, silane gas is in a ratio of 8 to 10 relative to mixed gas.
US08304335B2
According to the present invention, there is provided an electrode structure which includes: a nitride semiconductor layer; an electrode provided over the nitride semiconductor layer; and an electrode protective film provided over the electrode, wherein the nitride semiconductor layer contains a metal nitride containing Nb, Hf or Zr as a constitutive element, the electrode has a portion having a metal oxide containing Ti or V as a constitutive element formed therein, and the electrode protective film covers at least a portion of the electrode, and contains a protective layer having Au or Pt as a constitutive element.
US08304325B2
A substrate dividing method which can thin and divide a substrate while preventing chipping and cracking from occurring. This substrate dividing method comprises the steps of irradiating a semiconductor substrate 1 having a front face 3 formed with functional devices 19 with laser light while positioning a light-converging point within the substrate, so as to form a modified region including a molten processed region due to multiphoton absorption within the semiconductor substrate 1, and causing the modified region including the molten processed region to form a starting point region for cutting; and grinding a rear face 21 of the semiconductor substrate 1 after the step of forming the starting point region for cutting such that the semiconductor substrate 1 attains a predetermined thickness.
US08304322B2
The invention relates to a method and resulting structure that can substantially minimize and/or eliminate void formation during an isolation trench isolation fill process for typical trench shaped and goal-post shaped isolation regions. First, a thin thermal oxidation layer is grown on the sidewall of each trench and then a layer of polysilicon is deposited above the oxidation layer and oxidized. In one embodiment, a repeating series of polysilicon deposition and polysilicon oxidation steps are performed until each trench has been completely filled. In another embodiment, within a goal-post shaped trench having a wider upper portion and a narrower lower portion, the remainder of the upper wider trench portion is filled using a conventional high density plasma technique.
US08304308B2
A semiconductor structure contains a bipolar transistor (101) and a spacing structure (265-1 or 265-2). The transistor has an emitter (241), a base (243), and a collector (245). The base is formed with an intrinsic base portion (243I), a base link portion (243L), and a base contact portion (245C). The intrinsic base portion is situated below the emitter and above material of the collector. The base link portion extends between the intrinsic base portion and the base contact portions. The spacing structure includes an isolating dielectric layer (267-1 or 267-2) and a spacing component. The dielectric layer extends along the upper semiconductor surface. The spacing component includes a lateral spacing portion (269-1 or 269-2) of largely non-monocrystalline semiconductor material, preferably polycrystalline semiconductor material, situated on the dielectric layer above the base link portion. Opposite first and second upper edges of the lateral spacing portion (275-1 and 277-1) laterally conform to opposite first and second lower edges (297-1 and 299-1) of the base link portion so as to determine, and thereby control, its length.
US08304306B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming a first field effect transistor (FET) and a second FET on a substrate, the first FET comprising a first interfacial oxide layer, and the second FET comprising a second interfacial oxide layer; encapsulating the first interfacial oxide layer of the first FET; and performing lateral oxidation of the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET, wherein the lateral oxidation of the second interfacial oxide layer of the second FET converts a portion of the substrate located underneath the second FET into additional interfacial oxide.
US08304286B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a substrate assembly having a connection path; mounting a base device over the substrate assembly with a mount layer; mounting a stack device over the base device and having a stack die and a stack-organic-material; forming a stack-through-via in the stack-organic-material of the stack device and connected to the stack die and the substrate assembly; and applying a shield layer directly on a planarized surface of the stack-through-via partially exposed from the stack-organic-material.
US08304284B2
In some aspects, a method of fabricating a memory cell is provided that includes fabricating a steering element above a substrate, and fabricating a reversible-resistance switching element coupled to the steering element by fabricating a carbon nano-tube (“CNT”) seeding layer by depositing a silicon-germanium layer above the substrate, patterning and etching the CNT seeding layer, and selectively fabricating CNT material on the CNT seeding layer. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08304280B2
A thin film transistor array panel includes a substrate, a plurality of first and second signal lines crossing each other on the substrate, source electrodes connected to the first signal lines, drain electrodes connected to the second signal lines, pixel electrodes connected to the drain electrodes, a first partition formed on the source and drain electrodes and having a first opening, wherein a lower width of the first opening is wider than an upper width of the first opening, an organic semiconductor formed in the first opening and at least overlapping the portions of the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode connected to the second signal line and at least overlapping the portion of the organic semiconductor.
US08304277B2
A semiconductor device has a base substrate with first and second etch-resistant conductive layers formed over opposing surfaces of the base substrate. First cavities are etched in the base substrate through an opening in the first conductive layer. The first cavities have a width greater than a width of the opening in the first conductive layer. Second cavities are etched in the base substrate between portions of the first or second conductive layer. A semiconductor die is mounted over the base substrate with bumps disposed over the first conductive layer. The bumps are reflowed to electrically connect to the first conductive layer and cause bump material to flow into the first cavities. An encapsulant is deposited over the die and base substrate. A portion of the base substrate is removed down to the second cavities to form electrically isolated base leads between the first and second conductive layers.
US08304265B2
A process for producing a color conversion filter uses an ink jet recording method, which can form a color conversion layer at a desired position without the need to separately form partition walls, and a process for producing an organic EL display. The process for producing a color conversion filter includes forming a black matrix having a plurality of opening parts on a transparent substrate, forming at least two types of color filter layers independently of each other on a black matrix to which dissimilar color filter layers are adjacent, to form a partition wall, at least two of the color filter layers being superimposed on top of each other, and forming a color conversion layer by ink jet recording onto at least one of the color filter layers.
US08304259B2
A labeling dye of the present invention includes a coloring portion comprising an organic EL-dye, a bonding portion to be bonded with a biomolecule and a spacer portion for linking the coloring portion and the bonding portion. The present invention provides a high incorporation ratio and also high fluorescence intensity in solid state.
US08304247B2
Novel recognitive hydrogels and sensors are provided, as well as methods of fabricating and using such hydrogels and sensors. Such recognitive hydrogels may comprise a molecularly imprinted polymer having a binding cavity specific for a triggering molecule and a conductive polymer associated with the molecularly imprinted polymer. Such sensors may comprise the recognitive hydrogels and an impedance sensing component. Such methods may comprise providing a triggering molecule, providing a sensor comprising a molecularly imprinted polymer having a binding cavity specific for the triggering molecule, a conductive polymer associated with the molecularly imprinted polymer, and an impedance sensing component, introducing the triggering molecule into the sensor, and detecting a change in impedance of the recognitive hydrogel with the impedance sensing component.
US08304237B2
The invention relates to a method for cultivating biologic cells (1), wherein cells (1) are grown on a substrate (10) having a plurality of substrate openings (11), and wherein cell aggregates (2) are formed, including groups of cells (1) that span the substrate openings (11). A separation of the cell aggregates (2) from the substrate (10) by extracting the cell aggregates (2) from the substrate openings (11) can be provided. The invention further relates to a cell-cultivating device (100), including a substrate (10) having a plurality of substrate openings (11) and cell aggregates (2) including groups of cells (1) that span the substrate openings (11). The cell aggregates (2) are particularly used in high throughput tests with biologically active substances or in methods of tissue cultivation.
US08304236B2
The present invention relates to a modified biotin-binding protein. The modified biotin-binding protein of the present invention includes an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, an amino acid sequence having one to several amino acid mutations in the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, or an amino acid sequence having 80% or more identity to the sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, and having a biotin-binding activity, wherein at least one residue selected from the group consisting of: 1) an arginine residue at position 104 of SEQ ID NO: 2; 2) a lysine residue at position 141 of SEQ ID NO: 2; 3) a lysine residue at position 26 of SEQ ID NO: 2; and 4) a lysine residue at position 73 of SEQ ID NO: 2 is replaced with an acidic amino acid residue or a neutral amino acid residue.
US08304235B2
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence codifying for a protein characterized in having at least four zinc finger domains and in modulating the transcription of the utrophin gene by binding to a nucleotidic sequence comprised in a utrophin gene untranscribed regulatory sequence. Protein codified thereby and uses thereof.
US08304225B2
A novel bacterial strain of Bacillus thuringiensis for inhibiting insect pests is provided, wherein the Bacillus thuringiensis includes the gene fragments of cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1D, and cry1E.
US08304223B2
The invention relates to novel mutants of γPLE, to vehicles containing the same and to their use in the production of enantiomer-enriched alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters.
US08304213B2
Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of one of more sulfide (hydrosulfide) salt and optionally one or more additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.
US08304208B2
A phenotron assay can be used for determining an adverse effect on health by: identifying an exposure condition to be studied for an adverse effect on the health of an organism; providing a phenotron having one or more sensors each configured to sense a signal; introducing one or more test founder organisms into the phenotron, said test founder organisms each having a signal emitting tag that is sensed by the one or more sensors and each being exposed to the exposure condition; introducing one or more control founder organisms into the phenotron, said control founder organisms each having a signal emitting tag that is sensed by the one or more sensors and none of said control founder organisms being exposed to the exposure condition; collecting, from the one or more sensors, signals from the tags to obtain data indicative of a parameter of the health of the one or more test founder organisms compared to the one or more control founder organisms; and determining from the data whether the exposure condition has an adverse effect on the health of the one or more test founder organisms.
US08304205B2
The invention relates to methods for determining the activity of a proteolytic coagulation factor of the blood coagulation cascade in a body fluid such as whole blood or plasma. A combination is provided in a reaction mixture. The combination comprises the sample and an activation agent for activating a proteolytic coagulation factor of the blood coagulation cascade or for activating the blood coagulation cascade. The effect of the activating on a reagent system comprising a cleavable moiety is evaluated. The cleavable moiety is or becomes bound to a chemiluminescent agent or a sensitizer agent or both. The chemiluminescent agent and the sensitizer agent are related in that, when in close proximity, energization of the sensitizer agent results in energization of the chemiluminescent agent. The effect of the activating is related to the activity of a proteolytic coagulation factor of the blood coagulation cascade wherein the effect is the extent of cleavage of the cleavable moiety.
US08304203B2
A method and kit for assaying a cell sample for the presence of at least a threshold number of cells of a given type are disclosed. The kit includes an assay device having a sample chamber for receiving the cell sample and an elongate collection chamber containing a selected-density and/or viscosity medium and having along its length, a plurality of cell-collection regions, and particles which are capable of specific attachment to cells of the selected cell type, and which are effective, when attached to the cells, to increase the density or magnetic susceptibility of the cells. In operation, particle-bound cells and particles in the cell sample are drawn through the elongate collection chamber under the influence of a gravitational or selected centrifugal or magnetic-field force until the particle-bound cells and particles completely fill successive cell-collection regions in the collection chamber. Indicia associated with at least one collection regions indicates a concentration of cells of the selected type effective to at least partially fill that collection region.
US08304202B2
Methods, compositions, and cells for drug screening based on interaction between a Bim polypeptide and a TRIM2 polypeptide. Methods and compositions for treating cancer based on tested levels of Bim and TRIM2 proteins are also provided.
US08304197B2
The present invention concerns methods for detecting a hepcidin precursor in a sample from a patient and involves contacting the sample with an antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds to one or more epitopes of a hepcidin precursor amino acid sequence located within amino acids 20-50 of SEQ ID NO: 2.
US08304189B2
The present invention relates to the fields of biotechnology and molecular biology. In particular, the present invention relates to the construction and use of nucleic acid molecules comprising cloning sites which differ in nucleotide sequence. In particular embodiments, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules which contain recombination sites with different primer binding sites. These different primer binding sites may be used to sequence different ends of nucleic acid segments located between the two recombination sites.
US08304180B2
Improved complementary phase shift mask (c:PSM) imaging techniques are described, including a method in which scattering bars are provided on the trim mask in order to allow better CD uniformity to be achieved in the double exposure process. The number, size and position of the scattering bars can be optimised to achieve a desired isofocal CD and/or a desired level of sensitivity of the CD to trim exposure energy used in the second exposure step of the c:PSM process. The trim exposure dose can be regulated, and/or the trim width used on the trim mask can be optimised, to compensate for iso-dense bias so as to achieve optical proximity correction.
US08304175B2
A patterning method is provided. First, a material layer is formed on a substrate. Thereafter, an ashable layer is formed on the material layer. Afterwards, a patterned transfer layer is formed on the ashable layer, wherein the patterned transfer layer has a critical dimension less than the exposure limit dimension. Further, the ashable layer is patterned using the patterned transfer layer or a complementary layer of the patterned transfer layer as a mask, so as to form a patterned ashable layer. The material layer is then patterned using the patterned ashable layer as a mask.
US08304173B2
The method of forming a pattern includes forming a first photosensitive layer pattern including a first pattern in a first region of a substrate and a second pattern in a second region of the substrate, by performing a first photolithography process using a photomask having a first mask region and a second mask region. The first pattern is transferred from the first mask region, and the second pattern is transferred from the second mask region. The method further includes forming a second photosensitive layer pattern including a third pattern in the second region of the substrate and a fourth pattern in the first region of the substrate, by performing a second photolithography process using the photomask. The third pattern is transferred from the first mask region, and the fourth pattern is transferred from the second mask region.
US08304169B2
The present invention relates to a novel alkali-developable resin, a method of producing the alkali-developable resin, a photosensitive resin composition including the alkali-developable resin, and a device that is manufactured by using the photosensitive composition. In the case of when the alkali-developable resin is used as a component of the photosensitive composition, the photosensitivity, the developability and the film remaining rate of the pattern are improved.
US08304161B2
A silsesquioxane resin comprised of the units (Ph(CH2)rSiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)m, (HSiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)n′(MeSiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)o′(RSiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)p, (R1SiO(3-x)/2(OR′)x)q where Ph is a phenyl group, Me is a methyl group; R′ is hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R is selected from an aryl sulfonate ester group; and R1 is selected from substituted phenyl groups, ester groups, polyether groups; mercapto groups, and reactive or curable organic functional groups; and r has a value of 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4; x has a value of 0, 1 or 2; wherein in the resin m has a value of 0 to 0.95; n has a value of 0.05 to 0.95; o has a value of 0.05 to 0.95; p has a value of 0.05 to 0.5; q has a value of 0 to 0.5; and m+n+o+p+q=1.
US08304160B2
A photosensitive resin composition for an interlayer insulating film or a protective film of a substrate for circuit formation, which includes a polymer (a) having a structural unit shown by the formula (A) and a compound (b) which generates a radical when irradiated with active rays and has a structure shown by the following formula (B).
US08304156B2
A magenta electrostatic developing toner includes binder resin particles that do not contain a coloring agent or a release agent and has a shape factor SF1 of about 110 or less, the number of the binder resin particles being about 50 or less per 5,000 electrostatic developing toner particles; and inorganic particles that have a median diameter of about 5 nm to about 70 nm in an amount of about 0.01 mass % to about 0.4 mass % based on the mass of the electrostatic developing toner; and a magenta coloring agent that has an azo group.
US08304153B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer overlying the conductive substrate. The photosensitive layer comprises a phthalimide isoindole derivative having a specific chemical formula.
US08304151B2
The presently disclosed embodiments relate in general to electrophotographic imaging members, such as layered photoreceptor structures, and processes for making and using the same. More particularly, the embodiments pertain to the incorporation of an ozone quenching compound into the charge transport layer to quench the corona effluents and protect the polycarbonate binder of the charge transport layer from being attacked by ozone species, thereby enhancing wear resistance and fatigue cracking.
US08304131B2
The invention provides a direct methanol fuel cell. The direct methanol fuel cell includes a membrane having a first surface and an opposite second surface. The membrane is sandwiched between a pair of electrodes. Two terminals of the membrane and a portion of the first and second surfaces adjacent to the two terminals are exposed from a pair of the electrodes. A pair of gas diffusion layers is respectively disposed on the pair of electrodes. A plurality of first border material layers having a plurality of holes is respectively physically embedded on the exposed first and second surfaces. A plurality of adhesion materials is respectively mounted on the border material layers, passing through the holes to contact the first and second surfaces of the membrane.
US08304120B2
A microbial fuel cell includes a cell housing having first and second chambers. The first chamber is adapted for containing a fluid including a biomas. The second chamber is adapted for containing an oxygenated fluid. A cathode extends into the cell housing second chamber. An electrode assembly includes a bound segment and an anode segment extending into the cell housing first chamber. The electrode assembly has multiple, substantially aligned, fibers. The outer surfaces of the fibers of the anode segment are adapted for receiving a biofilm. An electrically conductive tubular member envelops the fibers of the bound segment.
US08304116B2
A battery includes an anode having an alkali metal as the active material, a cathode having, for example, iron disulfide as the active material, and an increased electrolyte volume.
US08304115B1
A practical solid-state battery composed primarily of ceramic or glass materials and containing no liquid, gel or polymeric electrolytes. The invention utilizes solid-state electrolyte materials with solid-state anode and cathode materials along with construction concepts utilized in the multi layered ceramic capacitor (MLCC) industry to result in a compact primary or secondary battery.
US08304112B2
The present invention discloses that the auxiliary electric conductor is additionally installed between the positive or negative electrode plates being installed at the edge inside the individual electrode cell having electrode plates and the electrode cell casing, and the insulator is further installed between the electrode plate and the auxiliary electric conductor thereby favoring currents of the current collecting terminals at multiple end sides of the electrode plates of the same polarity to be collected to the single end side current collecting terminal structure being used as the input/output interface terminal.
US08304110B2
A composition includes a cathodic material comprising a support structure. The support structure includes copper and zinc, and has less than 1 weight percent of aluminum, tin, or aluminum and tin. An energy storage device includes a cathodic material having a support structure.
US08304109B2
The sealed battery includes a sealing plate 13 sealing a mouth of an outer can, an external terminal 16 attached to the sealing plate 13 and having a connecting terminal 23, and a current interruption mechanism 18interrupting current in response to pressure increase in the outer can that is installed in a conductive pathway electrically connecting the connecting terminal 23 and an electrode assembly. In the connecting terminal 23, a through-hole 23b continuing to the space on the current interruption mechanism 18 at the side corresponding to the outside of the battery is formed. The through-hole 23b is sealed with a terminal stopper 30 made of an elastic member so as to form a closed space between the terminal stopper 30 and current interruption mechanism 18. An electrolyte or washing solution hardly enters the current interruption mechanism during the manufacture can be provided.
US08304107B2
A cylindrical lithium rechargeable battery includes a core member made of a material that is softer than steel use stainless and has specific gravity lower than that of steel use stainless. The core member may prevent deformation and breakage of a cap assembly.
US08304104B2
Disclosed is a battery module including a plurality of plate-shaped battery cells mounted in a module case in a stacked state, wherein each of the plate-shaped battery cells is configured in a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a battery case formed of a laminate sheet, the battery module is configured in a structure in which a plurality of heat dissipation members disposed at two or more interfaces between the battery cells and a heat exchange member to integrally interconnect the heat dissipation members are mounted at one side of a battery cell stack, and heat generated from the battery cells during charge and discharge of the battery cells is removed by the heat exchange member via the heat dissipation members.
US08304098B2
The hard-coated member of the present invention having a compression-stress-loaded hard coating having a thickness of 5 μm or more, the hard coating having a face-centered cubic structure having a composition represented by (Me1-aXa)α(N1-x-yCxOy), wherein Me is at least one element selected from Groups 4a, 5a and 6a, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, B and S, a, x and y are respectively the contents (atomic ratios) of X, C and O, and α is a ratio of (Me1-aXa) to (N1-x-yCxOy), meeting 0.1≦a≦0.65, 0≦x≦0.1, 0≦y≦0.1, and 0.85≦α≦1.25; and the X-ray diffraction of the hard coating having a peak intensity Ir of a (111) plane, a peak intensity Is of a (200) plane, and a peak intensity It of a (220) plane, meeting 2≦Is/Ir, and 0.2≦It/Ir≦1, and the (200) plane having a half-value W(°)≦0.7.
US08304093B2
A weld set-up and weld process are provided that alleviate micro-cracking as between a pair of welded pieces. The weld set-up is provided in which the weld pieces are configured to cause micro-cracking to occur in a portion of the welded pieces that is then removed by post-processing machining techniques. This weld set-up includes a primary weld piece and a secondary weld piece with a flange portion that extends over the primary weld piece. When used in conjunction with electron beam welding, application of the weld beam onto the secondary weld piece causes the formation of a preferential nailhead that is formed exclusively in the first weld piece.
US08304087B2
Process for treating wood consisting in injecting in cavities of the wood a solution of at least one fungicide and/or bactericide and/or insecticide and at least one monomer that can progressively form a polymer matrix in the cavities of the wood and then a gel in the cavities of the wood. The treated woods thus obtained exhibit an improved lifetime.
US08304083B2
A hydrophilic member comprising a substrate and a hydrophilic coating film provided on the substrate, wherein the hydrophilic coating film is produced by coating a substrate with an aqueous solution containing (a) a hydrophilic polymer, (b) an alkoxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of Si, Ti, Zr, and Al, and (c) a metal complex catalyst, and heat-drying the solution applied.
US08304082B2
The present invention has its object to provide an interlayer film for a laminated glass, which is excellent in penetration resistance, moisture resistance, and sound insulation.The present invention relates to an interlayer film for a laminated glass, which comprises: a polyvinyl acetal resin; and a plasticizer, the plasticizer being represented by formula (1): wherein R1 represents a phenyl group, R2 represents an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, and n represents 4 to 6.
US08304077B2
Metallic effect pigments with a platelet-shaped metallic substrate. The pigments have at least one metal oxide layer. Covalently bonded to the surface of the metal oxide layer is a polysiloxane of formula I: where R1 is a saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 30 carbon atoms and/or an aryl radical, alkylaryl radical or arylalkyl radical having 6 to 30 carbon atoms; R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently of one another are saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radicals having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and/or aryl radicals, alkylaryl radicals and/or arylalkyl radials having 6 to 12 carbon atoms; x=1 to 200, y=2 to 30; A is (CH2)n, O, S, (OCH2CH2)m or C6R64, where n=0 or 1 and m=0 to 30 and R6 is H and/or alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; B is (CH2)z or (OCH2CH2)w, z=0 to 30 and w=0 to 30; and R7 and R8 independently of one another are O or a saturated or unsaturated, straight-chain or branched alkyl radical having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and/or an aryl radical, alkylaryl radical or arylalkyl radical having 6 to 9 carbon atoms, where X is O or OH and is attached to the pigment surface. The disclosure further relates to a method for producing metallic effect pigments and to their use in powder coatings, more particularly in powder coatings produced by mixing methods, as well as to the use of these powder coatings. Finally, the disclosure also relates to powder coatings.
US08304075B2
The present invention relates to a coarsely divided microcapsule preparation with particles whose particle sizes are in the range from 200 μm to 5 cm, comprising microcapsules with a capsule core of latent heat storage material and a thermosetting polymer as capsule wall and one or more polymeric binders whose binder polymer has thermoplastic properties and film-forming properties under processing conditions, where the binder content, calculated as solid, is 1-30% by weight, based on the total weight of the coarsely divided microcapsule preparation.
US08304071B2
An optical laminate produced by a process for producing an anti-dazzling laminate comprising a light transparent base material and an anti-dazzling layer provided on the light transparent base material. The process includes providing the light transparent base material and forming the anti-dazzling layer having a concavoconvex shape on the light transparent base material, wherein the concavoconvex shape of the anti-dazzling layer satisfies the following requirements: Sm is not less than 100 μm and not more than 600 μm, θa is not less than 0.1 degree and not more than 1.2 degrees, and Rz is more than 0.2 μm and not more than 1 μm, wherein Sm represents the average spacing of concavoconvexes or profile irregularities in the anti-dazzling layer; θa represents the average inclination angle of the concavoconvexes or profile irregularities; and Rz represents the average roughness of the concavoconvexes or profile irregularities.
US08304069B2
The present invention relates to light wood-base materials comprising from 30 to 92.5% by weight, based on the wood-base material, of wood particles, the wood particles having a mean density of from 0.4 to 0.85 g/cm3, from 2.5 to 20% by weight, based on the wood-base material, of polystyrene and/or of styrene copolymer as a filler, the filler having a bulk density of from 10 to 100 kg/m3, and from 5 to 50% by weight, based on the wood-base material, of a binder, the mean density of the light wood-base material being less than or equal to 600 kg/m3.
US08304068B2
The present invention relates to compositions, which can be used for coating (e.g., painting) wiper blade rubbers to enhance durability, resistance to frictional forces, and/or other properties. In various embodiments, the coating compositions comprise nano-particle PTFE (Teflon®), polyurethane, and silicone resin in a solvent and/or liquid carrier, such as distilled water. The coating compositions may further comprise graphite, a carbon lubricant, and/or a water-based resin. Methods for forming a coating on a wiper blade rubber using the compositions of the invention are also provided.
US08304067B2
A method of fabricating a liquid film is provided. The method comprises the steps of applying hydrophilic liquid onto a substrate with an electrode formed thereunder, covering the hydrophilic liquid with a protection film comprising hydrophobic liquid, dispersing surfactant for reducing the surface tension between the hydrophilic liquid and the protection film, and applying voltage to the hydrophilic liquid and the electrode to wet the substrate with the hydrophilic liquid. With the surfactant and the electro-wetting principle, a contact angle between the hydrophilic liquid and the substrate is controlled. The liquid film having a uniform thickness in nano size is thus formed on the substrate. The protection film prevents the evaporation of the liquid film in the air to thereby secure the stability of the liquid film.
US08304063B2
A diamond-like carbon film for sliding parts which is applied to the sliding surface of sliding parts, the diamond-like carbon film including at least two layers, one being a lower layer of diamond-like carbon (referred to as DLC hereinafter) and the other being an upper layer of DLC placed thereon, wherein the lower layer has a hardness no lower than 20 GPa and no higher than 45 GPa, a Young's modulus no lower than 250 GPa and no higher than 450 GPa, and a thickness no smaller than 0.2 μm and no larger than 4.0 μm, and the upper layer has a hardness no lower than 5 GPa and lower than 20 GPa, a Young's modulus no lower than 60 GPa and no higher than 240 GPa, and a thickness no smaller than 1.0 μm and no larger than 10 μm. The diamond-like carbon film has both good durability and low frictional coefficient.
US08304062B2
Certain examples disclosed herein are directed to devices that include a substrate and conductor disposed on the substrate. In some examples, each of the conductor and the substrate may include materials that are mutually insoluble in each other. In other examples, the conductor may further comprise a substantially pure metal. In certain examples, the disposed conductor may be configured to pass adhesion tape test ASTM D3359-02. Methods of forming the conductors are also provided.
US08304059B2
A stretchable fabric for marking, having a laminated structure of a first adhesive layer 11 formed of a hot-melt adhesive composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane resin having physical properties including a melting point of 125 to 165° C., a melt viscosity of 8,000 to 15,000 Pa·s at 150° C., and a 100% modulus of 2 to 8 MPa, an interlayer 20 formed of a thermosetting polyurethane resin which is stretchable and opaque, a second adhesive layer 12 formed of the hot-melt adhesive composed of the thermoplastic polyurethane resin having the above-described physical properties, and a surface layer 30 formed of a thermosetting polyurethane resin which is stretchable and transparent, wherein a mark image has been formed on a front surface of the interlayer 20 or on a back surface of the surface layer 30. This fabric for marking is good in adhesion to an adherend and adhesion durability, can sufficiently stretch while conforming to the stretch of the adherend and can form a mark having excellent resistance to color fading.
US08304040B2
A polymer is swollen in a first tank. The swelling temperature is in the range of −10 to 50° C. The mixture is cooled in a first cooling vessel to the range of −100 to −10° C., and thereafter heated in a heating device to the range of 0 to 57° C. The polymer is cellulose acylate in which a degree of substitution of the acyl group for hydroxyl group is at least 2.87. A film obtained from the cellulose acylate has a negative value of ΔRe and a positive value of ΔRth, and |ΔRth| is at least 10 nm. ΔRe and ΔRth are respective difference of Re and Rth at the measurement thereof with use of wavelengths between 700 nm and 400 nm. The film is used adequately as a birefringence film, a protective film for a polarizing filter in a liquid crystal display.
US08304037B2
A liquid crystal compound having general physical properties necessary for a liquid crystal compound, a high stability to heat, light or the like, a small viscosity, a suitable refractive index anisotropy, a suitable dielectric anisotropy and steep electro-optic characteristics, a wide temperature range of a nematic phase and an excellent compatibility with other liquid crystal compounds, and a liquid crystal compound especially having a wide temperature range of a nematic phase. A compound represented by formula (1). with, for example, R1 and R2 are alkyl having 1 to 10 carbons; A1 is 1,4-cyclohexylene; A2 is 2,3-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; X is fluorine or chlorine; Z1 and Z2 are a single bond; and p and q is 0 or 1.
US08304019B1
Atomic layer deposition in a roll-to-roll manufacturing environment is disclosed. At least a portion of a substrate from a first roll is disposed in a chamber. A first atomic layer deposition (ALD) half reaction is performed on the portion of the substrate while the portion is within the chamber. A subsequent ALD half reaction may be performed on the same portion of the substrate to form a layer of material. Multiple ALD sequences may be performed by passing the substrate through a sequence of ALD reaction chambers or by passing the substrate through one or more ALD reaction chambers in a continuous loop.
US08304015B2
A method forms a resin film on a substrate by depositing droplets of resin liquid by an inkjet method. The method includes: a first resin liquid arrangement step of arranging a plurality of droplets of a first resin liquid separately from each other on a substrate in such a manner that the droplets do not make contact with each other; a first resin liquid curing step of curing at least a surface of each of the droplets of the first resin liquid arranged on the substrate; a second resin liquid arrangement step of arranging a plurality of droplets of a second resin liquid at substantially central positions between the droplets of the first resin liquid on the substrate, after the at least the surface of each of the droplets of the first resin liquid is cured; and a second resin liquid curing step of curing the droplets of the second resin liquid arranged on the substrate.
US08304012B2
Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.
US08304010B2
The present invention relates to a structured food product with a hard texture, containing between 20 and 100% of a fat phase and between 0 and 15% of water, whereby the fat phase contains at least one fat composition containing—between 10 and 55 wt. % of at least one liquid oil with a saturated fatty acid content of less than 25 wt. % with respect to the weight of the liquid oil between 45 and 90 wt. % of a hard fat component with a StOSt/POP ratio of at least 2, preferably at least 2.5, most preferably at least 3.0, wherein St is stearic acid, P is palmitic acid and O is oleic acid. The present invention also relates to a process for producing such a structured food product.
US08304009B2
A method is provided for producing a processed tomato product having more tomato aroma inherent to grown tomatoes. Tomato fruits are washed and crushed. Juice is extracted from the crushed material, the extracted juice is deaerated and the deaerated material is heated. The crushed material and the extracted juice from immediately after the crushing until immediately before the deaerating are maintained at temperature of 15-40° C. The dissolved oxygen concentration of the crushed tomatoes and/or the extracted juice from immediately after the crushing until immediately before the deaerating is raised at least temporarily to 6 mg/L or over, and the dissolved oxygen concentration of the deaerated juice immediately before the heating is reduced to 3.5 mg/L or below.
US08304006B2
A method for producing a beverage from an ingredient-containing capsule by inserting a sealed capsule into a capsule enclosure space of a beverage production device, enclosing the capsule by a relative displacement of at least two enclosing members which define the capsule enclosure space, and opening an inlet face of the capsule and injecting a fluid under pressure into the capsule in order to open an outlet face of the capsule. The capsule is provided at its outer surface with sealing material which is exposed to the fluid pressure in the capsule enclosure space. After enclosing the capsule, the fluid pressure in the capsule at least partially acts on the sealing material, such that in turn the sealing material is pressed against one of the enclosing members thus constituting a flow resistance that is sufficient to guarantee a pressure build-up inside the capsule sufficient for the pressure-assisted opening of the outlet face of the capsule.
US08304002B2
Use of an extract of fenugreek to obtain a formulation for the preventive or curative treatment of human or animal diseases involving flagellated protozoa belonging to the Metamonada phylum.
US08304000B2
This invention relates to an improved process for preparing water extract of cinnamon in a large scale. The process comprises the steps of: (a) adding an aqueous solvent such as water to at least 5 kg of a cinnamon raw material at a water to material ratio of 1:1 to 100:1, (b) boiling the mixture of (a) for at least 5 minutes, (c) removing the solid debris from the mixture, (d) storing the liquid portion of the mixture at about −5 to 25° C., preferably 0-10° C., until a top layer of oil is formed and partitioned, (e) removing the top layer of oil, and (f) collecting the remaining liquid portion. The present process prepares a cinnamon water extract product with a minimal content of potentially toxic cinnamaldehyde and coumarin, while increasing the contents of the active ingredients of polyphenolic polymers for controlling blood glucose level.
US08303987B2
Pharmaceutical compositions comprising fluvastatin, HPMC and optionally other pharmaceutical excipients which are colour-stable upon prolonged periods of storage.
US08303971B2
According to the invention preparation for regeneration of bone defects is employed in many branches of medicine, especially in orthopedics, dental surgery, reconstructive surgery, periodonthology and implantology. The preparation has been developed on the basis of inorganic chemical compound naturally occurring, i.e. deproteinized human bone, and on the basis of at least one of inorganic chemical compounds synthetically occurring, i.e. bioglass in the form of granulated high calcium product (54% mol. CaO), obtained with the use of zol-gel method in the system CaO—SiO2—P2O5, of density 2.9082 g/cm3, with phase composition with a dominant glassy phase and beginnings of crystallization of apatite, heat treated at temperature of 800° C., having a specific surface BET 57.8166 m2/g and/or tricalcium phosphate—TCP in the form of granulated product with chemical formula Ca3 (PO4)2. As a component deproteinized particles of human bone are used, favorably with granulation 0.3-0.5 mm, bioglass favorably with granulation 0.3-0.5 mm and/or TCP—tricalcium phosphate favorably with granulation 0.3-0.5 mm. The amount of bone material in the preparation amounts favorably to 70-80% of the preparation weight, the amount of bioglass in preparation amounts favorably to 10-15% of the preparation weight, the amount of TCP in the preparation amounts favorably to 10-15% of the preparation weight. During implantation binder in the form of blood from patient's operative wound is introduced into the preparation. Amount of the preparation in mixture favorably amounts to 75-80% of the mixture weight and the amount of own blood favorably amounts to 20-25% of the mixture weight.
US08303963B2
The invention concerns a methylated immunogenic recombinant peptide sequence comprising mycobacterial heparin-binding hemagglutinin. The invention also concerns chemical and enzymatic methods for preparing such a sequence, the sequence being previously produced in a non-methylated recombinant form then methylated by post-translational modification. The invention further concerns recombinant tools, vectors and host cells for implementing post-translational enzymatic methylation of the recombinant HBHA. The invention finally concerns immunogenic compositions comprising methylated, native or recombinant HBHA, such compositions being useful for preparing vaccines against mycobacterial infections.
US08303959B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for the detection and treatment of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys infection.
US08303942B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a composition for hair which comprises highly safe nanoparticles having high transparency due to the small particle size and high permeability into hair and scalp. The present invention provides a composition for hair which comprises protein nanoparticles containing an active ingredient for hair.
US08303938B2
The present invention relates generally to an anti-calculus composition and method for treating subgingival calculus. The anti-calculus composition comprises a pyrophosphate and a tripolyphosphate in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The composition may also comprise a fluoride providing compound.
US08303935B2
The present invention provides a compound which has affinity with amyloid, shows sufficiently rapid clearance from normal tissues and is suppressed in toxicity such as mutagencity. Provided is a compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof: wherein A1, A2, A3 and A4 independently represents a carbon or nitrogen; R1 is a halogen substituent; R2 is a halogen substituent; and m is an integer of 0 to 2, provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is a radioactive halogen substituent, at least one of A1, A2, A3 and A4 represents a carbon, and R1 binds to a carbon represented by A1, A2, A3 or A4 as well as a low-toxic diagnostic agent comprising a compound represented by the preceding formula or a salt thereof.
US08303928B2
The present invention relates to a fluorine-containing magnesium oxide powder using a vapor phase reaction and a method of preparing the same and more particularly to a fluorine-containing magnesium oxide powder brings about a cathode-luminescence emission having a peak within a wavelength range of 220 to 320 nm upon being excited by electron beams. The present invention provides a fluorine-containing magnesium oxide powder using a vapor phase reaction that sprays fluorine-containing gas and oxygen-containing gas to magnesium vapor, and the purity of magnesium oxide containing fluorine (i.e. the purity of fluorine-containing magnesium oxide) of 0.001 to 2 wt % is at least 98 wt % and a BET specific surface area thereof is 0.1 to 50 m2/g.
US08303923B2
Process for the co-production of methanol and ammonia from a hydrocarbon feed without venting to the atmosphere carbon dioxide captured from the methanol or ammonia synthesis gas and without using expensive air separation units, water gas shift and carbon dioxide removal steps.
US08303922B2
A new method is disclosed for the exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride into mono- and few-layered nanosheets (or nanoplatelets, nanomesh, nanoribbons). The method does not necessarily require high temperature or vacuum, but uses commercially available h-BN powders (or those derived from these materials, bulk crystals) and only requires wet chemical processing. The method is facile, cost efficient, and scalable. The resultant exfoliated h-BN is dispersible in an organic solvent or water thus amenable for solution processing for unique microelectronic or composite applications.
US08303919B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of emission control equipment for boilers, heaters, kilns, or other flue gas-, or combustion gas-, generating devices (e.g., those located at power plants, processing plants, etc.) and, in particular to a new and useful method and apparatus for preventing the poisoning and/or contamination of an SCR catalyst. In another embodiment, the method and apparatus of the present invention is designed to protect an SCR catalyst, while simultaneously providing emission control.
US08303917B2
A hydrogen producing system and a hydrogen producing method by which hydrogen can be efficiently produced using abundant seawater as the raw material. A hydrogen producing method has a system (10) for producing hydrogen from seawater, and the hydrogen producing system (10) has an activation device (12) and a pipe line device (14). The activation device (12) has a closed space (S) for introducing the seawater (W) and a vapor ejection means (18) for ejecting high-temperature, high-pressure vapor (T) into the closed space (S), and the activation device (12) activates under high temperature and high pressure the seawater (W) in the closed space (S). The pipe line device (14) is a device for receiving and leading the high-temperature, high-pressure seawater activated by the activation device (12) and includes one or more seawater leading tubes (403-408) having any one of triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal and octagonal cross sections.
US08303914B2
A closure assembly is provided for a specimen collection container. The closure assembly includes a bottom ring and top ring assembly. The bottom ring is removably attachable to the open end of the container. The top ring assembly, which is removably attached to the bottom ring, includes a mounting ring and a pierceable, resealable septum that closes the bottom ring and permits pierceable instrument access therethrough. The container interior can also be accessed by the removal of the bottom ring from the open end of the container or by the removal of the top assembly from the bottom ring.
US08303906B2
An analytical test element for determining an analyte in a body fluid comprises a detection area in which the analyte is detected and an application site at which the body fluid can be applied to the test element. The application site is spaced apart from the detection area, wherein at least some of the body fluid applied to the application site moves from the application site to the detection area. The test element also comprises a contamination area which at least partially adjoins the application site, wherein an adhesive substance is applied to at least part of the contamination area of the test element. The adhesive substance adheres to the contamination area of the test element and is able to interact with an excess amount of applied body fluid such that at least some of the body fluid adheres to the test element and thereby an excess amount of body fluid remains in the contamination area. An additional embodiment provides for test elements which, after use, can be stored in a storage container. Another embodiment provides for the production of the test elements.
US08303898B2
Apparatus for treating allografts, having a sonication tank configured to transmit ultrasonic energy to the interior of the tank; a treatment canister rotatably positioned in said sonication tank, and configured to receive allografts therein; and a treatment fluid source in fluid communication with said treatment canister. Methods of treating allografts and methods for determining microbial contamination using the apparatus.
US08303894B2
The fluidic system including a sheath pump that pumps sheath fluid from a sheath container into an interrogation zone, a waste pump that pumps waste fluid from the interrogation zone to a waste container, in which the flow rate of the sheath fluid is different from the flow rate of the waste fluid thereby drawing a sample fluid from a sample container into the interrogation zone, a detection system that provides a data set of input signals from the sample fluid, an analysis engine that recognizes aggregate particle events in the data set, and a controller that automatically adjusts the flow rate of the sample fluid into the interrogation zone based on the recognition of aggregate particle events, by controlling at least one of the flow rates of the sheath fluid and the waste fluid.
US08303881B2
Methods and systems of forming barbed sutures from blown films are provided. A method for forming a barbed suture includes providing a blown film, cutting slits into an outer edge of the blown film, and twisting the blown film such that the slits protrude from the twisted blown film to form a barbed suture. A system for forming a barbed suture includes a set of heating rollers configured for stiffening an outer edge of a blown film, a set of cutting rollers configured for forming slits in the outer edge, a set of twisting rollers configured for twisting the blown film into a suture, and a heat source to set the suture.
US08303880B2
A process of manufacturing a plastic product includes selecting natural or synthetic fiber as a material; adhering a thermoplastic resin onto surfaces of the material to form a thin film thereon by soaking or heating; heating the thin film; forming two releasable films on upper and lower surfaces of the thin film respectively; cutting the thin film into thin film units; heating and pressing the thin film units to form cured thin film units; applying one of the cured thin film units onto an inner surface of a first mold; further heating and pressing the cured thin film unit to form a thin film structure; placing the thin film structure inside a second mold; and injecting a thermoplastic material into the second mold to adhere onto an outer surface of the thin film structure to produce the finished plastic product.
US08303874B2
The invention relates to a process for forming fibers from a spinning solution utilizing a high speed rotary sprayer. The fibers can be collected into a uniform web for selective barrier end uses. Fibers with an average fiber diameter of less that 1,000 nm can be produced.
US08303873B2
Multilayer composites are obtained from a molding composition which contains the following components: a) 100 parts by weight of polyamide and b) from 0.005 to 10 parts by weight of a compound having at least two carbonate units by coextruding with a molding composition based on a high-melting-point polymer whose crystallite melting point Tm is at least 255° C. and/or whose glass transition temperature Tg is at least 180° C.
US08303863B2
A fine particle which contains a compound represented by formula (1): wherein R1a and R1b may be the same or different, and each independently represent an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heteroaryl group; R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and at least one of R2 and R3 is an electron withdrawing group; R2 may be bonded to R3 to form a ring; R4 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, a substituted boron, or a metal atom; and R4 may be covalently bonded or coordinately bonded to at least one among R1a, R1b and R3.
US08303849B2
A method of HCN removal from syngas including treating a hot syngas stream for conversion to chemical products by removing various components from the hot syngas stream by: passing the hot syngas stream to a scrubber; adding aldehyde to a circulating scrubber water; capturing ammonia and HCN in the circulating scrubber water and condensing water from the hot syngas stream into the circulating scrubber water; withdrawing a scrubber waste water effluent from the scrubber comprising absorbed ammonia, ammonium, and absorbed HCN, and glycol nitriles, formed from the reaction of the aldehydes with HCN, from the scrubber; withdrawing a treated syngas stream effluent from the scrubber having a reduced concentration of ammonia and HCN; and, passing at least a portion of the scrubber waste water effluent stream to a biological treatment zone for the removal of ammonia, absorbed HCN, and glycol nitriles.
US08303842B2
Compositions and methods for producing a manufactured product, a method for making a liquid absorbent, and processes for disposal of flammable liquids with a flue gas desulfurization by-product. The compositions for the manufactured products combine a binder and the by-product. The composition contains a greater percentage by weight of the by-product than the binder. The methods for producing manufactured products include dewatering the gypsum-depleted waste stream to reduce a water content, and forming the manufactured product. The method for making a liquid absorbent includes dewatering, granulating, drying, heating, and packaging a granulated gypsum-depleted composition as the liquid absorbent. The processes for disposal of flammable liquids include distributing a by-product into contact with flammable liquid, absorbing the liquid, transporting, and igniting the flammable liquid. The artificial soils are a combination of by-product and animal waste.
US08303840B2
A primary battery includes a cathode having an acid-treated manganese dioxide, an anode, a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an alkaline electrolyte.
US08303827B2
The present invention discloses a method for making a MEMS device, comprising: providing a zero-layer substrate; forming a MEMS device region on the substrate, wherein the MEMS device region is provided with a first sacrificial region to separate a suspension structure of the MEMS device from another part of the MEMS device; removing the first sacrificial region by etching; and micromachining the zero-layer substrate.
US08303826B2
An automatic strainer assembly for straining a slurry comprises an inlet for receiving the slurry, a horizontally disposed strainer body in fluid communication with the inlet, and a rotatable strainer member received within the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. The strainer member defines a plurality of passageways for strained fluid to pass therethrough. A scraper is positioned substantially adjacent to and contacting the outer surface of the strainer member for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer member. A collection vessel is positioned substantially below the body for receiving material scraped from the outer surface of the strainer member. A helical member is mounted on an internal shaft or auger is located within the strainer member for contacting the slurry to increase mixing and promote flow of the slurry through the system.
US08303823B1
Nanoscale additives and methodology for their use during polymer-aided sludge dewatering to increase the dewatering efficiency compared to traditionally used polymer-only dewatering processes. The nanoscale additive increases the percent solids in the dewatered cake compared to polymer-only treatment. When the nanoscale additives are added, the centrifugal force (shear) required to obtain high percent solids can be significantly reduced and the optimum polymer dose required for effective dewatering is also significantly reduced.
US08303821B2
A method for reducing antimicrobial compound levels in a liquid composition containing at least one antimicrobial compound. The method comprises contacting said liquid composition with a functionalized resin. Antimicrobial compounds that may be removed by this method include isothiazolin-3-ones, e.g., 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one; 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one and N-alkyl derivatives thereof, especially N-methyl and N-n-butyl; 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA); 2-bromo-2-nitropropanediol (BNPD); dithio-2,2′-bis(benzmethylamide) (DTBMA); hexetidine; chlorphenesin, C1-C4 alkyl-4-hydroxybenzoates (alkyl parabens); 3-iodopropynylbutylcarbamate (IPBC); formaldehyde releasers and mixtures thereof.
US08303812B2
A method and device for removing floated matter such as sludge located near the surface of a fluid body is contemplated that employs pneumatic force to remove the floated matter. The contemplated device employs pneumatic force for lifting and blowing the floated matter into an inlet channel. The device is configured to provide uniform airflow across the inlet channel. The inlet channel of the device may also include an adjustable section, or a fixed section and an airflow damper, which allows air flow along the channel to be controlled in a periodic fashion. There are also portable devices for removing such floated matter from the surface of a body of water.
US08303808B1
A fuel filter assembly for preventing backflow of fuel into the fuel line from the fuel tank after the fuel has entered the fuel filter includes a housing having an interior, an inlet port and an outlet port. A filter member and a cage member are positioned in the interior of the housing. The cage member is positioned adjacent to the inlet port of the housing. A stopper member is positioned in the cage member. A biasing member is positioned in the cage member and coupled to the stopper member such that the biasing member urges the stopper member into contact with the housing around the inlet port. Thus, fluid flow through the inlet port is prevented while the stopper member contacts the housing around the inlet port. The biasing member is compacted by fluid flow pressure to permit fluid flow into the housing through the inlet port.
US08303804B2
This invention relates to a process for improving the yield and properties of jet fuel from a kerosene feed. More particularly, a kerosene feedstock is hydrotreated and dewaxed using a ZSM-48 catalyst to produce a jet fuel in improved yield and having improved properties.
US08303801B2
Analytes in a liquid sample are determined by methods utilizing sample volumes of less than about 1.0 μl and test times within about nine seconds. The methods are preferably performed using small test strips including a sample receiving chamber filled with the sample by capillary action.
US08303785B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber, substrate stage, electrode, conductive members, and deposition shield. The chamber is maintained at a predetermined potential. The substrate stage serves to hold a substrate within the chamber. The electrode serves to generate a plasma inside the chamber by applying AC power to the chamber. The conductive members connect the substrate stage and the side wall of the chamber by surrounding the plasma space between the substrate stage and the electrode in plasma formation, and at least some of them are separated by being moved by a driving mechanism so as to form an opening for loading a substrate onto the substrate stage while no plasma is being formed. The deposition shield covers the surfaces of the conductive members on the side of the plasma space.
US08303783B2
A method and apparatus for improving the corrosion resistance of chrome plated materials. After the materials to be chrome plated are mechanically abrasively polished, but before they are reverse etched, they are power washed with a high-pressure liquid. A sprayer with nozzles directed inwardly towards the materials directs water onto the material at pressures in the range of 1000 or 2500 to 3000 psi. After the materials are chrome plated, they are heated above the melting point of a buffing compound, and then the heated materials with the buffing compound applied are buffed. An induction heater is used, before or after the buffing compound is applied. Computer controls, responsive to operator input of the cross-sectional size, composition and/or speed of movement of the chrome plated materials, to in turn regulate the power to an induction coil heater.
US08303779B2
Methods of depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer on a substrate are generally disclosed. A shield of greater than about 75% by weight molybdenum can be attached to a first surface of a substrate such that the shield contacts at least about 75% of the first surface. The shield can then be heated via an energy source to cause thermal exchange from the shield to the substrate to heat the substrate to a sputtering temperature. A transparent conductive oxide layer can then be sputtered on a second surface of the substrate at the sputtering temperature. Methods are also generally disclosed for manufacturing a cadmium telluride based thin film photovoltaic device.
US08303772B2
Provided is an unbleached paper product made from grass type pulp, the unbleached paper product has a brightness of 35-60% ISO, the grass type pulp is unbleached. The unbleached paper product includes an unbleached toilet paper, an unbleached hand towel, an unbleached wiping paper, an unbleached duplicating paper, an unbleached meal container, an unbleached food wrapping paper and an unbleached printing paper. The paper products have a high intensity and have no detection of dioxin and absorbable organic halides in the harmful substance detection test.
US08303767B2
Methods of pretreating comminuted cellulosic material with an acidic solution and then a carbonate-containing solution to produce a pretreated cellulosic material are provided. The pretreated material may then be further treated in a pulping process, for example, a soda-anthraquinone pulping process, to produce a cellulose pulp. The pretreatment solutions may be extracted from the pretreated cellulose material and selectively re-used, for example, with acid or alkali addition, for the pretreatment solutions. The resulting cellulose pulp is characterized by having reduced lignin content and increased yield compared to prior art treatment processes.
US08303766B2
A method and device for evaporating a predeterminable volume of fluid includes successive addition of partial volumes of the predeterminable volume to a supply line at different adding rates, at least partially evaporating the partial volumes forming vapor film between them and a supply line wall, conveying the partial volumes through the supply line to an evaporator surface, and applying the partial volumes to an evaporator surface region varying as a function of mass and/or volume adding rate of the partial volume, permitting effective evaporation of fluid, particularly urea/water solution. Utilization of the highest possible proportion of evaporator surfaces is achieved by mass and/or volume addition rate-dependent distribution of impingement surfaces on the evaporator surface. This heating strategy in the supply line region ensures the Leidenfrost effect when individual partial volumes are added. As even a distribution as possible is achieved using a corresponding geometrical configuration of the evaporator channel.
US08303765B2
A plasma etching apparatus includes a pressure-reducible chamber 1, a placement section 3 for supporting an object to be treated within the chamber 1, a dielectric member 5 for sealing an upper opening of the chamber 1, and a coil 4 provided outside the dielectric member 5. The coil 4 generates a plasma 6 in the chamber 1 by inductive coupling so that the object 2 is subjected to etching. The dielectric member 5 has recess portions 5c discontinuous to one another. Portions of the dielectric member 5 form large-thickness portions 5b. A thickness of the dielectric member 5 in the recess portions 5c is smaller than a thickness of the large-thickness portions 5b. The recess portions 5c are placed according to distribution densities of conductors constituting the coil 4.
US08303759B2
A method for the production of a laminate material for hook and loop closures, particularly for diaper closures, comprises laminating a textile material onto a carrier film having a surface structure that is suitable for forming a connection with the hooks of a hook and loop closure. The textile material is not connected with the carrier film over its entire area, and the textile material forming the cover layer of the laminate material is brushed after lamination.
US08303756B2
The method for bonding a glass cap according to the present invention comprises the steps of, forming a plurality of recesses on a side of a glass corresponding to a substrate; forming a plurality of light non-transmittable layers on a surface of the glass opposite to a surface corresponding to the substrate; dispensing a sealant on a substrate-bonding region of the glass or on a cap-bonding region of the substrate; bonding the glass to the substrate in the state that each active area formed on the substrate is received in each recess of the glass; curing the sealant dispensed on the sealing-dispensing region by irradiating ultraviolet rays to a side of the glass to which the substrate is not bonded; and dicing the bonded glass and substrate to make the individual devices. The present invention intercepts the ultraviolet rays irradiated to the active areas of the substrate to protect the active areas, and so can cure completely the sealant dispensed on the metal lines.
US08303754B2
To provide a glass substrate with protective glass which suppresses formation of microscopic scratches on the back surface of the glass substrate in the production process for a display device, and which prevents a strength decrease in the process or formation of etch pits after a chemical etching treatment; a process for producing a display device by using the glass substrate with protective glass; and silicone for release paper for the glass substrate with protective glass. A glass substrate with protective glass, which comprises a glass substrate and a protective glass substrate laminated on each other, and which is characterized in that the glass substrate and the protective glass substrate are laminated by a resin layer having removability.
US08303745B2
A process of transferring a layer of a first material from a first substrate, having defects in a zone close to the surface, onto a host substrate made of a second material includes a step of thinning the first substrate in order to form a first thinned substrate, an ion or atom implantation in the first substrate in order to form an implantation plane therein, delimiting the layer to be transferred, and a transfer of the layer onto the host substrate by fracturing the substrate along the implantation plane.
US08303744B2
A process of making a multilayered product having an interior honeycomb layer or core. The interior layer is formed by passing a generally flat web of material between rollers to create a corrugated web. The corrugated web is cut and folded to create the honeycomb core. Outer protective skins are applied to exterior surfaces of the interior layer to create a multilayered material which is then cut to size.
US08303742B2
A tyre having a radially internal surface of substantially toroidal conformation, includes: a housing mounted on the internal surface of the tyre and an electronic unit at least partially housed in the housing, the housing including at least two portions, each having a cavity in contact with a respective portion of the electronic unit and housing the same, each portion of the housing being mounted on the internal surface of the tyre, and a fastening element applied to the portions of the housing to maintain a constraint between such portions and the electronic unit. A method of installing the electronic unit into a tyre.
US08303741B2
A process for producing an oral preparation containing a first water-swellable gel-forming layer and a second water-swellable gel-forming layer as outermost layers, a medicine being sealed in an inner space formed by bonding the periphery of the first water-swellable gel-forming layer and the periphery of the second water-swellable gel-forming layer either directly or via an adhesive layer, the process including (a) a step of forming a first water-swellable gel-forming layer, (b) a step of forming a recess in a predetermined area of the first water-swellable gel-forming layer, (c) a step of filling the recess with a medicine to obtain a medicine-containing body, and (d) a step of forming a second water-swellable gel-forming layer over the medicine-containing body directly or via an adhesive layer so that the first water-swellable gel-forming layer and the second water-swellable gel-forming layer are bonded around the recess, and a process for continuously producing the oral preparation are disclosed. According to the above process for producing an oral preparation, an oral preparation in which the medicine is completely masked so that the medicine can be administered without a problem of bitterness and odor of the medicine can be efficiently produced without causing the medicine to deteriorate due to heat history, without a loss of the medicine, and without a limitation to the amount of the medicine to be added.
US08303740B1
A self igniting pyrotechnical sparkler. The sparkler includes a nonflammable support member or rod substantially covered with a pyrotechnic coating composition along one end and a pyrotechnical igniter coating covering over part of the pyrotechnic coating. The igniter coating including a mixture of potassium chlorate, antimony sulfate, powder aluminum, particulate magnesium, binder and/or glass beads.
US08303734B2
The present invention provides a high strength thick steel material excellent in toughness and weldability reduced in amount of C and amount of N, containing suitable amounts of Si, Mn, Nb, Ti, B, and O, having contents of C and Nb satisfying C—Nb/7.74≦0.004, having a density of Ti-containing oxides of a particle size of 0.05 to 10 μm of 30 to 300/mm2, and having a density of Ti-containing oxides of a particle size over 10 μm of 10/mm2 or less, produced by treating steel by preliminary deoxidation to adjust the dissolved oxygen to 0.005 to 0.015 mass %, then adding Ti and, furthermore, vacuum degassing the steel for 30 minutes or more, smelting it, then continuously casting it to produce a steel slab or billet, heating the steel slab or billet to 1100 to 1350° C., hot rolling the slab or billet to a thickness of 40 to 150 mm, then cooling it.
US08303731B2
A method for carbonitriding a steel part arranged in an enclosure maintained at a reduced internal pressure, the part being maintained at a temperature level, comprising an alternation of first and second steps, a carburizing gas being injected into the enclosure during the first steps only and a nitriding gas being injected into the enclosure only during at least part of at least two second steps.
US08303720B2
An apparatus for cleaning the floor of an accommodation of an animal includes a master unit and a mobile unit that is movable relative to the master unit. A floor-cleaning device and an air-flow-generating device are disposed on the mobile unit that is movable relative to the remaining part of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a control system for controlling the operation of the apparatus. The control system activates the air-flow-generating device when the mobile unit moves away from the master unit and deactivates the air-flow-generating device when the mobile unit moves towards the master unit. After activation of the air-flow-generating device, the control system activates the floor-cleaning device when the mobile unit moves towards the master unit and deactivates the floor-cleaning device when the mobile unit has reached the master unit.
US08303719B2
A deposit removing method that can reliably remove deposit produced in plasma processing using plasma produced from a process gas containing methane gas and oxygen gas. In a chamber in which an electrode to which radio frequency electrical power is supplied is disposed, plasma processing is carried out on a substrate using the plasma produced from the process gas containing methane gas and oxygen gas, and then a cleaning step is carried out in which plasma is produced from a mixed gas containing fluorinated compound gas containing hydrogen in the chamber.
US08303717B2
An alkali-type nonionic surfactant composition contains a nonionic surfactant (component A), water (component B), at least one compound (component C) selected from the group consisting of benzenesulfonic acid, toluenesulfonic acid, dimethylbenzenesulfonic acid, hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid and salts thereof, and at least one alkaline chemical (component D) selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide. The alkali-type nonionic surfactant composition contains the nonionic surfactant (component A) in an amount of 0.5 to 20 wt % and has a pH at 25° C. of 12 or greater.
US08303710B2
A high pressure apparatus and related methods for processing supercritical fluids. In a specific embodiment, the present apparatus includes a capsule, a heater, at least one ceramic ring but can be multiple rings, optionally, with one or more scribe marks and/or cracks present. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus optionally has a metal sleeve containing each ceramic ring. The apparatus also has a high-strength enclosure, end flanges with associated insulation, and a power control system. In a specific embodiment, the apparatus is capable of accessing pressures and temperatures of 0.2-2 GPa and 400-1200° C., respectively.
US08303697B2
A method for purifying polluted air having particle phase pollutants and gaseous phase pollutants is provided. The method comprising: separately purifying and treating particle phase and gaseous phase pollutants present in the air; providing a dust cleaning apparatus, a catalytic filter core and a valve for controlling an airflow path within an air purification apparatus; controlling the airflow path for the air to bypass the catalytic filter core in a way that: if the amount of particle phase pollutants is above a predetermined value, the valve is moved to the open position to enable the air to bypass the catalyst filtering core; if the amount of particle phase pollutants is less than a predetermined value, the valve is moved to the closed position to force the air to pass through the catalyst filtering core.
US08303696B2
Disclosed are apparatus and method to treat large amounts of flue gas from a pulverized coal combustion power plant. The flue gas is contacted with solid sorbents to selectively absorb CO2, which is then released as a nearly pure CO2 gas stream upon regeneration at higher temperature. The method is capable of handling the necessary sorbent circulation rates of tens of millions of lbs/hr to separate CO2 from a power plant's flue gas stream. Because pressurizing large amounts of flue gas is cost prohibitive, the method of this invention minimizes the overall pressure drop in the absorption section to less than 25 inches of water column. The internal circulation of sorbent within the absorber assembly in the proposed method not only minimizes temperature increases in the absorber to less than 25° F., but also increases the CO2 concentration in the sorbent to near saturation levels. Saturating the sorbent with CO2 in the absorber section minimizes the heat energy needed for sorbent regeneration. The commercial embodiments of the proposed method can be optimized for sorbents with slower or faster absorption kinetics, low or high heat release rates, low or high saturation capacities and slower or faster regeneration kinetics.
US08303695B2
Systems are provided for gasification operations. The systems may use carbonous gas as part of plant operations. The systems may include a first compressor configured to compress a carbonous gas and a controller. The controller is configured to control the first compressor to transition from compressing a first carbonous gas to compressing a second carbonous gas during startup of a gasification system.
US08303694B2
Certain embodiments described herein are directed to chromatography systems that include a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device can be fluidically coupled to a switching valve to provide for selective control of fluid flow in the chromatography system. In some examples, the microfluidic device may include a charging chamber, a bypass restrictor or other features that can provide for added control of the fluid flow in the system. Methods of using the devices and methods of calculating lengths and diameters to provide a desired flow rate are also described.
US08303690B2
A hollow fiber carbon membrane is provided, which has excellent gas separation performance, unbreakable flexibility and high utility. The hollow fiber carbon membrane comprises carbonized substance obtained by calcination of a hollow fiber-like material formed from a polyphenylene oxide derivative, and has an external diameter in the range of 0.08 mm to 0.25 mm. The polyphenylene oxide derivative substantially comprises repeating units represented by the following (a) and (b) (in the structural formula, R11 and R12 independently represent hydrogen atom or sulfone group, except that R11 and R12 are both hydrogen atoms), wherein the ratio A (%) of the repeating unit (b) to the repeating units (a)+(b) satisfies 15%
US08303687B2
Chlorine is absorbed in water from gas streams of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium and mixtures thereof, in which process the formation of hypochlorous acid is suppressed through the regulated addition of hydrogen peroxide, and hydrochloric acid is formed.
US08303684B2
A pressurized gaseous mixture acidic gas and a useful gas is directly in a first absorption column with a physically acting absorption agent. Then the absorption agent loaded with the acid gas and useful gas is subdivided into first and second streams. The first stream is fed directly to a recycle flash container and there decompressed to reclaim the useful gas, extract the acidic gas from the absorption agent, and form a recycled gas containing the useful gas and acidic gas. The second stream is through a second absorption column to the recycle flash container. Some of the recycled gas from the recycle flash container is compressed and fed through the second absorption column so as to therein directly contact the second stream, and then the recycle gas that has passed through the second absorption column and contacted the second stream is returned to the gaseous mixture.
US08303680B2
An encapsulated particle comprises a core particle and a polyurethane layer disposed about the core particle. The core particle can be various particles, such as fertilizer, biocides, flame retardants, seeds, etc. The polyurethane layer comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive component. The isocyanate-reactive component comprises a graft polyol having a continuous phase and polymeric particles. A method of forming the encapsulated particle comprises the steps of providing the core particle, applying the isocyanate and isocyanate-reactive components to the core particle, and reacting the isocyanate and isocyanate-reactive components to form the polyurethane layer. The encapsulated particle has excellent physical properties, such as increased water repellency, resiliency and shelf life.
US08303671B2
A composition including a basic dye component and an acid dye component providing an internal salt composition wherein at least one of the basic dye component, the acid dye component, or both the basic dye component and the acid dye component comprises a waxy moiety.
US08303648B2
The invention relates to a prosthetic valve for regulating flow through a body lumen and delivering a therapeutic agent into said lumen. In one embodiment, the prosthesis includes a frame having an exterior wall, a hollow interior space, a valve member, and at least one aperture through the exterior wall that permits a controlled amount of therapeutic agent loaded into the hollow interior into the surrounding body lumen following implantation. In another embodiment, the prosthesis includes a frame having a groove, a valve member, and therapeutic agent loaded in the groove.
US08303639B2
A method for treating a vascular condition is disclosed, the method comprising delivering a stent to a target region of a vessel, the stent including a drug polymer coating including an elution portion and a remaining portion, eluting the elution portion from the delivered stent for an elution period, heating the delivered stent after the elution period; and removing the remaining portion based on the heating.
US08303632B2
Techniques for spinal surgery include accessing at least one vertebral element of the spinal column. At least one loading member is engaged to the at least one vertebral element. The loading member is allowed to integrate with the bony structure of the vertebral element over time. The integrated loading member is accessed in a second surgical procedure, and can be loaded and/or attached to a construct.
US08303631B2
A system for providing dynamic stabilization and balance control at a vertebral motion segment has first and second bridge elements and at least one bias element. The bridge elements anchor to adjacent vertebrae with polyaxially adjustable anchoring members, and the bias elements attach to each bridge element to span between them. Each bias element has two fixation portions and a bias body extending between the fixation portions. Each bias element may comprise an elastically deformable material to provide dynamic stabilization with motion, or may comprise rigid material to provide rigid stabilization, and both bias element types may be included in one system. The bias elements are attachable to the bridge elements at discrete attachment locations, or at non-discrete attachment locations. Alternate embodiments may include three or more bridge elements on adjacent vertebrae, and multiple bias elements. A tensioning tool may provide adjustable tension to an elastically deformable bias element.
US08303630B2
Multiple implants and methods for the minimally invasive treatment of spinal stenosis are disclosed. A spinal implant device includes a spacer region and an attachment region. The spacer region is adapted to be positioned between first and second spinous processes of first and second vertebral bodies to limit movement of the first spinous process and the second spinous process toward one another. The attachment region attaches to the first spinous process via a fastener that extends substantially along a long axis of the spinous process.
US08303628B2
A spinal stabilization system is disclosed. The spinal stabilization system can include at least one anchorage component and a surgical rod. The anchorage component has a superior end, an inferior end, and an axial passage therebetween. The surgical rod is configured to be installed at least partially within the axial passage of the anchorage component. The surgical rod includes an elongate body having a first end and a second end. The first end or the second end is adapted to engage the superior end or the inferior end of the anchorage component. Further, the surgical rod is configured to substantially constrain rotational movement within the anchorage component.
US08303626B2
The present invention relates to a device comprising a shaped shoulder piece to rest on the shoulders of a person to be treated, and a shaped head piece to be laid on it, as support for the chin and two bottom points of the rear lower edge of the skull. This ensures a three-point support of the head on the top side of this shaped head piece. Further, the device comprises a lifting mechanism, which is inserted between the back of the shaped shoulder piece and the shaped head piece. This lifting mechanism is simply a pump in the form of a bellows with a one-way valve for discharge, by which the air cushion can be inflated and discharged arbitrarily.
US08303619B2
The nosebleed treatment apparatus features a pair of pliable mirror image nose pads comprising a first nose pad and a second nose pad. A gel pack is disposed within each nose pad. Each gel pack has a first side spaced apart from a second side. The first side is adjacent to an inner surface of the medial pad section. The second side is disposed within the lateral pad section. A smooth shouldered reinforcement member is disposed atop each nose pad. A U-shaped oblong tensing member connects the first nose pad to the second nose pad at each reinforcement member. The apparatus can be placed in a freezer or cooler for extended cool retention within the gel packs when removed. Upon removal, the apparatus is placed on a bleeding nose and remains until removed, so that a patient need not hold it in place.
US08303611B2
A shaft for use with a clamp device, includes a cable which extends through a bore of the shaft; and a plurality of alternating first beads and second beads defining the shaft, each of the first and second beads having an inner opening defining the bore of the shaft, and having a surface, wherein each of the second beads has a larger inner diameter of the inner opening than each of the first beads, each of the second beads is supported on the surface of two adjacent first beads at a line of contact, and the surface of each of the second beads has a convex shape at the line of contact, wherein the first beads and the second beads have a three-dimensional convex torus configuration.
US08303603B2
A clamping device for a motor-driven epilation apparatus. The clamping device has a first clamping element with a first contact surface, in the region of which a three-dimensional clamping structure is provided. The clamping device has a second clamping element with a second contact surface. The contact surfaces of the clamping elements are intermittently brought in mutual clamping contact during the operation of the epilation apparatus. The hardness of the second clamping element in the region of the second contact surface is lower than that of the first clamping element in the region of the first contact surface.
US08303597B2
An assembly for guiding resection of a femur and tibia of a knee joint in preparation for installing a femoral and tibial knee components. For example, the assembly can include tibial and femoral IM rods to which are connected through a tensioning bolt that allows controlled adjustment of the distraction of the tibia and femur during cut positioning in a range of flexion angles. Also, the assembly is usable with relatively small, noninvasive approaches to the knee joint by way of relatively narrow, low profile components that attach to tibial and femoral IM rods. Further, the assembly includes several quick-release components to allow fast assembly and disassembly in a surgical setting. Each of these aspects, along with the ability of the assembly to accurately guide initial reference cuts to the tibia and femur, promotes an improved outcome for the patient.
US08303593B2
A boring tool for a bone, particularly the proximal femur, which has an elongate shank having a cutting portion at the front end, and a portion to mount a rotary driving device at the rear end of the shank. The tool has an axial through bore for receiving a guide wire, wherein the shank, in a rear portion, has at least one radial aperture which is open to the axial bore.
US08303590B2
An orthopedic device can include an intramedullary nail and an insert telescopically received in the intramedullary nail. The insert includes at least two guiding bores for corresponding bone fasteners that can be locked at an angle to the intramedullary nail. A locking set screw can be coupled to the insert and move the insert to a position that locks the bone fasteners to the nail.
US08303586B2
Open electrosurgical forceps for sealing tissue which include a pair of first and second shaft portions each having a jaw member disposed at a distal end thereof. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive sealing surface which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween with at least one of the jaw members including a knife slot defined along a length thereof. The knife slot is dimensioned to reciprocate a knife blade therefrom. The forceps also have a cutting mechanism which selectively actuates the knife blade from a first position wherein the knife blade is disposed at least substantially entirely within the knife slot of the jaw member to at least one subsequent position wherein the knife blade is at least partially deployed from the knife slot of the jaw member. The knife blade is displaceable in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the forceps.
US08303574B2
A repeater system may control a pump by using a repeater and a user interface. An adhesive patch system may be used for affixing a pump or other object to a human body. Such an adhesive patch system may include two sets of adhesive members, each member including an adhesive material on at least one side so as to attach to the body. The members of the first set are spaced to allow the members of the second set to attach to the body in spaces provided between the members of the first set, and the members of the second set are spaced to allow members of the first set to detach from the body without detaching the members of the second set. Also, fill stations and base stations are provided for personal pump systems.
US08303568B2
A multilumen catheter assembly including an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end and a first lumen having a sidewall extending between the proximal end and the distal end, a first distal opening disposed at the distal end, and a first guide wire opening disposed proximally of the distal end and co-planar with the sidewall. The assembly also includes a second lumen connected to the sidewall and extending from the proximal end toward the distal end, proximally of the distal end. The second lumen includes a second opening extending obliquely away from the sidewall distally toward the first distal opening and a second guide wire opening disposed proximally of the second opening and in a plane generally parallel to the sidewall. A method of inserting the catheter into a vessel is also disclosed.
US08303563B2
An absorbent article such as a sanitary napkin, a panty-liner, or an incontinence guard for light incontinence, includes a cover sheet (15) and a backsheet (12). The absorbent article (1) includes a separate sheet (4) secured on that side of the backsheet (12) facing away from a user during use of the absorbent article (1). The separate sheet (4) is preferably divided into two short end portions (7) and an intermediate portion (8) extending between the short end portions. The short end portions (7) are permanently or releasably secured via securing members (11) at a respective end portion (19) in such a way that the intermediate portion (8) forms a laterally extending through-passage (22) against the backsheet (12). The separate sheet (4) is equipped with wings (9) along at least part of the side edges (6) of the separate sheet (4).
US08303561B2
A method for continuously producing absorbent garments includes forming a continuous multi-component production web; and cutting individual garments from the production web. The production web is formed by: a) feeding a first elastic web in a travelling direction; b) stretching the first elastic web by 35-250% in the travelling direction; c) intermittently laying down absorbent cores in an intermediate zone extending in a travelling direction of the production web; d) feeding a continuous web of liquid permeable material in the travelling direction and covering the absorbent cores with the continuous web of liquid permeable material; and e) bonding the first elastic web to the continuous web of liquid permeable material in a first lateral zone on a side of the intermediate zone of the production web. In addition, an absorbent garment has a continuous liquid permeable layer.
US08303559B2
A disposable diaper is provided with a skin-contactable sheet piece above a liquid-pervious topsheet. The skin-contactable sheet piece is formed with openings extending in a back-and-forth direction through which body waste is guided toward the topsheet and both lateral zones of the sheet piece on both sides of these openings as viewed in a transverse direction are provided with elastic members attached under tension. Outside the skin-contactable sheet piece as viewed in the transverse direction, leak-barriers are provided and the lateral zones of the skin-contactable sheet piece are bonded to the leak-barriers along regions defined between proximal edges and free edges of the respective leak-barriers.
US08303542B2
A cassette 74 for use with an ophthalmic surgical pump 16 for collecting aspirant fluid and tissue from a patient's eye includes a rigid walled container 18 having an interior volume 42. At least one tapered alignment slot 20 is formed in a side wall of the container 18 and extends from a back wall 24 towards a front wall 26. An irrigation and aspiration manifold base 50 is removeably attached to the container 18. An aspiration path 46 is formed within the container 18 for receiving the aspiration fluid and the tissue from the eye and directing the flow of fluid towards a front half of the container 18 before the fluid and tissue collects within a majority of the interior volume 42 of the container 18. A fluid level indicator 34 is formed on a wall 22 of the container 18, such that an associated photo-detector 86 of the pump 16 may determine a level of fluid in the container 18.
US08303538B2
The devices of the present disclosure are rheolytic thrombectomy catheters with a self-inflating distal balloon. A self-inflating balloon is located distal to an inflow gap or orifice and distal to a fluid jet emanator, which self-inflating balloon is inflated and expanded by the utilization of internal operating forces consisting of forwardly directed high velocity fluid jet streams and/or entrained thrombus particulate therein. The self-inflating balloon, when inflated, impinges on the wall of the blood vessel to isolate sections of the blood vessel distal and proximal to the inflated balloon in order to prevent flow of thrombus particulate, fluids and the like distal to the self-inflating balloon and to provide a stagnant nonflow region proximal to the self-inflating balloon. The devices of the present disclosure also provide for a uniform spacing of the catheter tube with respect to the thrombus and/or wall of the blood vessel.
US08303536B2
The invention relates to delivery devices and methods for providing more uniform delivery of agents such as drugs. In some embodiments, a delivery device is provided made of one or more implantable materials having predetermined agent-permeable and agent-impermeable regions and a reservoir containing one or more active agents, either alone or in an acceptable composition, as well as methods of administering one or more agents using such a device. Also provided are methods of equilibrating such devices, so that a steady state of agent delivery can be achieved at or soon after introduction of the device to its intended location of use. Methods of use of such devices to deliver an agent are also provided.
US08303531B2
An apparatus for applying a spray to a selected site on a patient includes a sheath having a through bore extending from a first end to a second end. A flexible multi-lumen tube is secured within the sheath and has a distal portion that extends beyond the second end of the sheath. A malleable wire is positioned within at least the distal portion of the multi-lumen tube wherein manual force is exerted upon the distal portion to position the distal end in a selected position by bending the malleable wire. A housing is attached to the rigid outer sheath and has a plurality of ports for engaging a multi-tube syringe and a port for injecting a gas into the selected site wherein each port is in communication with at least one lumen. A spray nozzle is removably attached to the distal end of the multi-lumen tube wherein the at least one liquid and the gas are discharged from the multi-lumen tube and into the spray nozzle such that the aerosol exiting the spray nozzle is effective in treating the selected site.
US08303530B2
A method employing a handpiece having at least one set of piezoelectric elements polarized to produce longitudinal motion when excited at the relevant resonant frequency. The piezoelectric crystals are connected to an ultrasonic horn to which a cutting tip is attached. The horn and/or the cutting tip contains a plurality of diagonal slits or grooves. The slits or grooves produce optimized torsional movement in the cutting tip when the piezoelectric crystals are excited at a second resonant frequency. When in torsional mode, material may clog the cutting tip. The present method includes the step of providing a pulse of longitudinal movement of the tip when clogging is detected.
US08303524B2
A control device for a walking assist device is provided. The control device has a means that decides whether the total sum of measured values of treading forces of the legs of a user is greater than a predetermined value and a means which determines a predetermined ratio according to observed values or desired values of reference parameters obtained immediately before a negative determination result by using supporting forces acting on the leg links from the floor side as the reference parameters. This is in the case where the determination result of the decision means is negative and is a process undertaken instead of determining the predetermined ratio between the supporting forces acting on the leg links according to the measured values of the treading forces of the legs of the user.
US08303520B2
An actuating medical device and methods for making and using the same. The actuating medical device may include a proximal shaft portion having a distal end region, an actuating shaft portion attached to the distal end region, one or more actuating members coupled to or otherwise disposed adjacent the actuating shaft portion, and a distal shaft portion attached to the actuating shaft portion. The actuating shaft portion may include a shape memory material and may be adapted to shift between a first configuration and a second configuration. Using the actuating medical device may include positioning the actuating medical device in a blood vessel and shifting the actuating shaft portion between the first and second configurations.
US08303519B2
This invention provides a guide wire whose structural features can be determined through an endoscope. The guide wire is inserted into a patient's body and used in the lumen. It has markings at the positions where the structural features change.
US08303512B2
The present invention realizes calculating a pulse rate accurately, even when a body movement component has no periodical characteristics, by surely removing the body movement component generated in a living organism from a pulse wave component. A pulse wave detecting section includes a pulse wave sensor and outputs a pulse wave detection signal to an MPU functioning as a body motion component removing section. A body motion sensor outputs a body motion detection signal corresponding to a body motion that affects the behavior of venous blood to the MPU. As a result, to the MPU removes the body motion component from the pulse wave detection signal based on the body motion detection signal. A pulse rate calculating section calculates the pulse rate based on the pulse wave detection signal from which the body motion component has been removed. The pulse rate is displayed on a liquid crystal display device.
US08303511B2
This invention relates generally to systems and methods for optimizing the performance and minimizing complications related to implanted sensors, such as pressure sensors, for the purposes of detecting, diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease in a medical patient. Systems and methods for anchoring implanted sensors to various body structures are also provided.
US08303509B2
An echogenic medical device, such as a needle catheter, which produces an improved ultrasonic image of the device, and a method of performing a medical procedure using a device of the invention. One aspect is directed to a catheter which reduces artifacts in the ultrasound image of the catheter. In one embodiment, the catheter has a spherical distal tip. Another aspect of the invention is directed to an echogenic catheter with echogenic portions arranged in an array to facilitate determination by ultrasonic imaging of the rotational orientation of the catheter relative to a desired location within the patient.
US08303498B2
A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US08303497B2
A surgical retractor includes a first component and a second component. The first component includes a ring structure and a conical outer wall. The ring structure has a first opening and defines a first plane. The outer wall forms an ellipse-shaped second opening in communication with the first opening and extends below the ring structure at an acute angle with respect to the first plane. The second component includes a top structure and a conical inner wall. The top structure has a third opening and defines a second plane. The inner wall forms an ellipse-shaped fourth opening in communication with the third opening and extends below the top structure at an acute angle with respect to the second plane. The top structure is disposed at least partially inside the ring structure such that the second component is rotatably adjustable with respect to the first component.
US08303495B2
A magnetic retraction device is provided that may be used to manipulate organs and tissue. The device includes a magnetic agent, at least one inflatable member configured to contain the magnetic agent, and a magnetic device. The inflatable member can be disposed on an elongate member adapted for delivery into a patient lumen. The inflatable member can be interconnected with one or more additional inflatable members by a sling.
US08303493B2
A switching filter is provided in a light source device. The switching filter has a first dichroic filter which transmits illumination light in a first wavelength band from a lamp and a fluorescence observation filter which transmits at least illumination light in a second wavelength band and is rotatably provided such that the first dichroic filter and the fluorescence observation filter pass through an illumination light optical axis. An LED portion has a blue LED which emits illumination light in the first wavelength band toward the switching filter. A second dichroic filter capable of transmitting illumination light from the lamp and reflecting illumination light from the LED portion to a condenser lens is also arranged at the switching filter.
US08303487B2
An endoscope 2 includes an insertion body 3 equipped with a potentiometer 26 for detecting a bending state of a bending portion 3B which is allowed to be bent and inserted into a subject and an electric connector 18c for outputting an electric signal as a detection result of the potentiometer 26, and a motor unit 4 detachable with respect to the insertion body 3 via an attachment/detachment portion 14, which is equipped with an electric motor 23 for bending the bending portion 3B.
US08303486B2
A capsule-type endoscope system includes plural receivers, plural mounting spots for mounting the receivers and an information processing apparatus connected to the receivers via the mounting spots. Each receiver wirelessly receives image data from a capsule-type endoscope that images inside of an examinee's body; stores examinee identification information and the received image data; and displays the examinee identification information or examinee information associated therewith. The information processing apparatus receives the examinee identification information from each receiver via the mounting spot and manages its correlation with receiver identification information or mounting spot identification information. The image data is transmitted via the mounting spot to the information processing apparatus to be stored therein. The information processing apparatus displays the correlation by displaying at least a part of the examinee identification information or examinee information, and displays the progress of the transmission of image data corresponding to each receiver.
US08303484B2
A self-propelled robotic device moves through bodily and other passageways by inflating regions of an overlying bladder along the length of the robotic device in a sequence that imparts motion to the device. The regions of the overlying bladder are inflated by energizing a plurality of coils, which are surrounded by a ferrofluid, in a sequence. The ferrofluid responds to the magnetic field created by an energized coil by creating a bulge in the side wall of the overlying bladder.
US08303483B2
In an adaptive device and an adaptive method for adapting the stomach opening of a patient, a gastric band having a non-elastic back part on the exterior and a first expandable chamber on the interior are placed around the stomach of the patient for adapting the stomach opening, and the stomach opening of the patient is adapted by modifying the amount of fluid in the first expandable chamber. For this purpose, the adaptive device includes a second expandable chamber, so that the second expandable chamber is connected to the first expandable chamber, and whereby the fluid is displaced from the one expandable chamber to the other expandable chamber in order to modify the stomach opening of the patient. The adaptive device can in particular be controlled by changing the position of the body of the patient.
US08303479B2
The invention relates to a biophysiological regulator for therapeutic treatments, including brain stimulation coils (7) which generate current using a microcontroller (11). The invention includes a second microcontroller (16), a liquid crystal display (17), a selector (21) for selecting pre-recorded programs and a connection port (20) for an external device (19) which is provided with a speaker (24) and LEDs that indicate whether or not the battery is charged (18), the regulator is connected (27), an application is underway (26) and the battery is low (25), and an internal program (28) which regulates the frequency and typology of the output wave and the time. The invention also includes a tamper protection system formed by a microcontroller (29) inside a special connector (30) built into the assembly (applicator and cable), in which the internal software of the device reads the serial number located inside the microcontroller of the connector.
US08303477B2
A brachytherapy treatment device includes an insertion member, an expandable chamber, and first and second immiscible fluids. The insertion member has proximal and distal ends. The expandable chamber is disposed on the distal end of the insertion member and has an inner surface defining a three-dimensional volume. First and second immiscible fluids are disposed within the expandable chamber and have different radiation absorption properties. At least one of the first and second immiscible fluids forms a fluid radiation shield having a predetermined orientation within the three-dimensional volume. First and second immiscible fluids may have different densities and utilize fluid buoyancy to form an symmetric fluid radiation shield to create an asymmetric radiation dosing profile relative to an inner boundary of a treatment site. Methods for performing brachytherapy treatment include positioning fluids and/or a patient to form an asymmetric fluid radiation shield in a desired orientation to protect sensitive tissues.
US08303476B2
A device for administering brachytherapy to a patient includes a vessel that may be in the form of a hollow cylindrical cup, for fleshing into and substantially filling the open-ended cavity. The vessel has a closed outer end, which may be a removable cover, and a source guide penetrates the closed outer end so as to extend deep into the vessel, to receive a radiation source in the source guide. A manipulator can be connected to the radiation source, and also to the source guide, for allowing several different types of manipulation of the source orientation and position within the vessel during the brachytherapy procedure.
US08303474B2
An apparatus for insertion of capsules into cigarette filter tows is disclosed. The apparatus may include a tow processing unit, a capsule insertion unit and a filter rod making unit. The capsule insertion unit may include a hopper, a belt, an inlet pipe, a capsule feeder wheel and a capsule insertion wheel.
US08303473B2
An athletic training apparatus to assist a coach training muscle coordination of a player. An adjustable, delayed resistance, burst release, extension coil operatively couples to a first cable harness and a second cable harness. The first cable harness detachably couples to a coach and feedbacks real-time physical movements of the coach to the player. The second cable harness detachably couples to a training muscle group of the player. The training muscle group receives feedback from the real-time physical movements of the coach including a first resistance level during one portion of the exercise routine and a second resistance level during a second portion of an exercise routine. During an exercise routine, movements of the player are substantially unaffected and unstrained by the athletic training apparatus.
US08303470B2
An exercise device includes a flexible support element and a step height adjustment mechanism. The flexible support element couples at least one crank to a right foot support and a left foot support. The step height adjustment mechanism allows a person to adjust a step height of a path through which the left and right foot supports move.
US08303468B2
A power transmission device that includes a clutch that transmits power from a motor to an axle; a first pump that is driven by power from the motor to generate and output fluid pressure; a second pump that receives and is driven by a supply of electric power to generate and output fluid pressure; a pressure regulating valve that regulates a pressure of operation fluid output from the first pump, and delivers at least a portion of operation fluid discharged in connection with the pressure regulation to a lubrication target for use as lubricant; and a switching valve that switches between a first connection state and a second connection state.
US08303463B2
A method to control a powertrain including a transmission, an engine, and an electric machine includes applying through a series of clutch fill events a series of incrementally changing command pressures in a pressure control solenoid controllably connected to a clutch within the transmission, monitoring a pressure switch fluidly connected to the pressure control solenoid and configured to indicate when the pressure switch is in a full feed state, determining changes in cycle times of the pressure switch corresponding to sequential applications of the series of incrementally changing command pressures, selecting a preferred command pressure to achieve a transient state in the clutch based upon the changes in pressure switch cycle times, and controlling the clutch based upon the preferred command pressure.
US08303457B2
An automatic transmission has first, second and third gear sets, first and second clutches, and first, second and third brakes. First, second and third sun gears, and a first carrier are interconnected with a second sun gear, a second carrier, a third carrier, an input shaft and an output gear, respectively. The first clutch selectively connects the first sun gear and the second sun gear to the input shaft, and the second clutch selectively connects the first ring gear and the second carrier to the input shaft. The first brake selectively connects the first ring gear and the second carrier to a casing. The second brake selectively connects the second ring gear and the third carrier to the casing, and the third brake selectively connects the third ring gear to the casing.
US08303455B2
A multi speed transmission comprising planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts and shift elements. The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (4) which can couple housing (G) via brake (04) and the carrier of set (P1) couples shaft (3) which can couple housing (G), via brake (03), and drive shaft (1) via clutch (13), and shaft (6) via clutch (36). Shaft (6) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gears of gearsets (P3, P4). Shaft (1) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) and is operatively connected to the carrier of gearset (P3). Shaft (7) couples the ring gear of set (P1) and the carrier of gearset (P2). The ring gear of gearset (P4) couples shaft (5) which can couple housing (G) via brake (05) and output shaft (2) operatively couples the carrier of gearset (P4) and the ring gear of gearset (P3).
US08303452B2
An automatic transmission includes a first planetary gear set including first to third rotating elements; a second planetary gear set including fourth to sixth rotating elements; a third planetary gear set including seventh to sixth to ninth rotating elements; an input shaft constantly connected with the first rotating element; an output shaft constantly connected with the second rotating element; and at least five friction elements including a first friction element capable of locking a rotation of the eighth rotating element, a second friction element configured to selectively connect the second rotating element with the fifth rotating element, a third friction element configured to selectively connect the second rotating element with a second rotating member defined by the sixth and seventh rotating elements, a fourth friction element configured to selectively connect the fifth rotating element with the eighth rotating element, and a fifth friction element configured to selectively connect the first rotating element with the fifth rotating element. The automatic transmission achieves each of at least seven forward speed-ratios and one reverse speed-ratio, by a concurrent engagement of two friction elements which are selected from the five friction elements.
US08303450B2
An eccentric dual stepping gear roller bearing system, which consists of an input shaft and an output shaft associated with a gear ring holding an exterior row of equally spaced ball bearings, an output gear with an interior row of lesser diameter with fewer equally spaced ball bearings held at a different plane relative the exterior row, and at least one stepping gear with exterior and interior stepping gears having differing radii joined off-set on top of one another and eccentrically mounted on the drive shaft to act on the interior and exterior rows of roller bearings, which act as gear teeth to rotate the output gear to reduce shaft output.
US08303441B1
A racquet stringing system for use with a stringing machine configured for stringing a racquet having a string bed of racquet string formed of a plurality of main string segments and a plurality of cross string segments. The stringing system includes a control unit and at least one racquet string algorithm operably coupled to the control unit. The control unit is coupled to the racquet stringing machine and includes a processing unit. The racquet stringing algorithm is configured to enable the control unit to produce at least three different string tension signals for tensioning the main string segments and/or cross string segments of the racquet on the stringing machine based upon one or more racquet head profiles and/or one or more player characteristics.
US08303438B2
The present invention is directed to an improved multi-layer golf ball displaying enhanced playing characteristics, including high speed, high launch, and low spin. In general the golf ball displays improved performance in areas such as distance and feel for lower swing speed players. The ball has a relatively large solid inner core, with at least one solid outer core layer surrounding the inner core, and a thin cover layer surrounding the outermost core layer. The inner core is softer than the outer core, which in turn is softer than the cover. The ball may be designed such that the coefficient of restitution (COR) gradient is from slow to fast; that is, the inner core has a lower COR than the total core, which has a lower COR than the entire golf ball.
US08303435B2
The present disclosure pertains to composite articles, and in particular a composite face plate for a golf club-head, and methods for making the same. In certain embodiments, a composite face plate for a club-head is formed with a cross-sectional profile having a varying thickness. The face plate comprises a lay-up of multiple, composite prepreg plies. At least a portion of the plies comprise a plurality of elongated prepreg strips arranged in a predetermined criss-cross pattern in the lay-up. The prepreg strips create one or more areas of increased thickness where the strips overlap each other, thereby creating a desired profile for the plate. Metallic or polymer covers or cover layers can be used to define a striking surface.
US08303425B2
Equipment (1) for a funfair includes: a rigid body (5) provided with at least a place (51) for a passenger; a frame (10) for supporting the body (50), through a supporting mechanism (14, 17, 52) which enables the body (50) to rotate with respect to a first rotation axis (X) and a second rotation axis (Y) located perpendicular to one another and being solidly mobile in rotation with respect to a fixed third rotation axis (Z); and a mechanism (16, 18, 22) for rotating the body (50) with respect to the first rotation axis (X), the second rotation axis (Y) and the third rotation axis (Z), independently of one another.
