US08374247B2
Aspects of a method and system for hierarchical motion estimation with multi-layer sub-pixel accuracy and motion vector smoothing are presented. Aspects of the system may include hierarchical motion vector computation that enables motion vectors to be computed at each level in the hierarchy based on a distinct pixel resolution level. A smoothing algorithm may be utilized to suppress spurious motion vector generation. The motion vectors computed at one level in the hierarchy may be utilized when computing motion vectors in a subsequent level. A bias value may be computed for each motion vector that provides an evaluation metric that may enable determination of whether the computed motion vector is to be utilized to enable generation of the interpolated image frame.
US08374245B2
Several improvements for use with Bidirectionally Predictive (B) pictures within a video sequence are provided. In certain improvements Direct Mode encoding and/or Motion Vector Prediction are enhanced using spatial prediction techniques. In other improvements Motion Vector prediction includes temporal distance and subblock information, for example, for more accurate prediction. Such improvements and other presented herein significantly improve the performance of any applicable video coding system/logic.
US08374243B2
Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding based on intra prediction. The method of encoding an image based on intra prediction comprises dividing a current block into a plurality of sub blocks so that a plurality of unit blocks adjacent to each other are included in one of the sub blocks based on an intra prediction direction of each of the unit blocks included in the current block, and performing intra prediction encoding on each of the sub blocks so that only information about one intra prediction direction is encoded in each of the sub blocks.
US08374239B2
There are provided scalable video encoders and decoders and corresponding methods for scalable video encoding and decoding. A scalable video encoder includes an encoder for selectively using spatial intra prediction to code, on a macroblock adaptive basis, an enhancement layer residue generated between an enhancement layer macroblock and a corresponding upsampled base layer macroblock.
US08374236B2
An apparatus and method for digital video encoding is disclosed. The disclosed system provides for a way of improving video quality for a given video coding system design.
US08374231B2
An equalization simulator with training sequence detection uses an oscilloscope to acquire digital samples of an analog waveform signal from a serial data link to produce a digitized waveform record. The equalization simulator has training sequence detection receiving the digitized waveform record and generates a training sequence, an equalization adapter receiving the digitized waveform record and the training sequence and generating equalizer taps, and an equalizer receiving the equalizer taps and the digitized waveform record and generating an equalized digitized waveform record.
US08374213B2
A sounding reference signal transmission method which is efficient in an uplink wireless telecommunications system using a multiple antenna technique and sounding reference signal hopping. A terminal using the multiple antenna technique is equipped with a plurality of antennas, and a base station receives the sounding reference signal transmitted from these antennas and estimates the uplink channel state of each antenna. Moreover, the sounding reference signal performs frequency hopping so that the base station determines the channel condition for the entire bandwidth to which data is transmitted in the uplink system. The sounding reference signal is transmitted through an antenna pattern in which the sounding reference signal can be transmitted through the entire data transmission bandwidth of the uplink system for each antenna of the terminal without additional overhead in this environment.
US08374204B2
A synchronous optical network (SONET) framer includes a frame dimension unit and a programming interface. The frame dimension unit can be programmed with a frame dimension through the programming interface. The SONET framer converts a data stream to and/or from a frame format based on the frame dimension programmed into the frame dimension unit. For instance, in various embodiments, a SONET framer can be programmed to support a variety of SONET frame sizes and to provide a number of testing and design advantages.
US08374201B2
For use in visible light communication (VLC), methods for synchronization with multiple topology support and for transmitting an extended preamble. The method for synchronization includes transmitting a two-part preamble sequence. The preamble sequence includes one or more repetitions of a fast locking pattern (FLP) configured to be used for clock synchronization, and one or more repetitions of a topology dependent pattern (TDP) configured to be used to distinguish a plurality of VLC topologies. The method for transmitting an extended preamble includes generating an extended preamble and transmitting the extended preamble during a receive or idle mode for maintaining visibility support and for better synchronization performance.
US08374200B2
Various methods and systems receiving information from an access point over a wireless link in order to reduce processing and/or transmission overhead are disclosed. Such methods and systems may include the processing of a received packet using a descrambling operation on at least a portion of the packet's information based on a MAC-ID associated with an access terminal to produce at least a first processed packet, and determining whether the received packet is targeted to the access terminal based on the first processed packet.
US08374185B2
A packet inspection device and method for use with a packet-retrievable network apparatus are provided. The packet inspection method includes: converting header information of a packet received into a hashing function value in presence of handshaking underway at the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) layer and comparing the hashing function value by a hashing function unit of the pending processing module, storing the hashing function value in a memory unit, and performing packet state comparison and packet screening and then creating by the session processing module a transmission connection according to the packet screened and selected by the pending processing module upon determination that data stored in the memory unit match the hashing function value resulting from conversion by the hashing function unit, thereby expediting packet inspection, reducing occupied memory space, and cutting costs.
US08374182B2
A network node that includes a memory to store a multicast forwarding table that contains entries that govern how multicast traffic is to be forwarded from a multicast virtual local area network (MVLAN) associated with the network node, to receiver VLANs associated with the network node, where each entry includes a multicast group, that is associated with a group of ports on the multicast VLAN via which the multicast traffic is received, and information associated with the receiver VLANs to which the received multicast traffic is to be sent. The network node also includes a processor to receive multicast traffic associated with a particular multicast group, via a particular port on the multicast VLAN; perform, using the multicast forwarding table, a look up operation, based on the particular multicast group, to determine to which of the receiver VLANs the multicast traffic is to be sent; and transmit the multicast traffic, associated with the particular multicast group, to user devices, via the receiver VLANs, based on a determination that the entry, associated with the particular multicast group, includes information associated with the receiver VLANs.
US08374180B2
A method is provided for controlling a management server that is connected to a DTV through an IP connection, wherein the DTV is located in one independent space among a plurality of independent spaces physically separated from one another. The method including generating a message file including an Application Programming Interfaces (API) command and a parameter related to a display condition, accessing an IP address of a DTV serving as a destination of the generated message file, transmitting, if the accessing is successfully achieved, the generated message file to the DTV having the accessed IP address and receiving information for identifying whether the message file is successfully processed from the DTV.
US08374175B2
A system and method for remote direct memory access over a network switch fabric. Some illustrative embodiments may include a system comprising a first system node, a direct memory access (DMA) controller, a second system node, and a network switch fabric coupling together the first and second system nodes (the network switch fabric comprises a rooted hierarchical bus). The DMA controller is configured to perform a DMA transfer of data between the first and second system nodes across the network switch fabric. The data is formatted as one or more remote DMA (RDMA) protocol messages that are routed across the network switch fabric based on a bus end-device identifier corresponding to the second system node.
US08374173B2
A method of enabling the management of handovers of voice calls from a Packet Switched, PS, access to a Circuit Switched, CS, access where the voice calls are established using an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network. The method comprises performing a first IMS registration of a user via said PS access including setting for the user in a Home Subscriber Server, HSS, of the user's home network, an identifier of a first access transfer control function, which access transfer control function is responsible for anchoring user media sessions in an access transfer gateway of a serving network, and notifying a mobility function within said service network of the set identifier. A second or further IMS registration of the same user is then performed via said PS access, it being determined that said first IMS registration exists. As a consequence, the setting of an identifier of a second or further access transfer control function in the HSS for the user is prevented, while either the setting of the identifier of the first access transfer control function is maintained, or is replaced with an identifier of a service centralization and continuity application server. The mobility function is notified of any change to the set identifier. In the event of a requirement to handover an ongoing voice call associated with said second or further IMS registration from said PS to said CS access, the identifier currently set in the HSS and identified to the mobility function is used to manage the handover.
US08374164B2
Improved detection of specific BFD LSP path failures is herein disclosed. The improved detection described herein allow for faster fault isolation of a failure along a LSP path, which in turn may allow for faster repair of the failure. When opening a BFD session with a LSP egress node, the LSP ingress node provides the LSP egress node a path descriptor along with the BFD Discriminator. If a BFD failure is detected at the LSP egress node, the LSP egress node can signal an alarm that includes a full description of the path.
US08374162B2
A disclosed transmission device includes a frequency scheduling unit configured to allocate, to each user, either frequency blocks that are consecutive frequency subcarrier blocks obtained by dividing a system bandwidth or distributed frequency blocks that are frequency subcarrier blocks discretely distributed in the system bandwidth; and a mapping unit configured to assign transmission data to the frequency blocks or the distributed frequency blocks according to the allocation result. The frequency scheduling unit is configured to allocate the distributed frequency blocks using the frequency blocks as units and to allocate sub-blocks obtained by dividing the respective distributed frequency blocks.
US08374157B2
A wireless docking station that allows a wireless connection between a computing device, for example a hand-held computing device, and a plurality of peripheral devices. This is achieved by providing the computing device with a wireless connectivity bus. The computing device may be, but is not limited to, a personal computer, a laptop, a notebook, a media player, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and the likes.
US08374146B2
A communication system provides downlink acknowledgments corresponding to uplink transmission using hybrid automatic repeat request to multiple users in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing communication system, wherein a frequency bandwidth comprises multiple frequency sub-carriers, by spreading each acknowledgment of multiple acknowledgments with a selected spreading sequence of multiple spreading sequences to produce multiple spread acknowledgments, wherein each acknowledgment is intended for a different user of the multiple users, and distributing the multiple spread acknowledgments across the multiple frequency sub-carriers.
US08374137B2
This invention pertains to wireless communications, specifically, methodology and algorithm to management resources and schedule users in a coordinated way among a group of base stations, such as Femtocells, Picocells, self-organized Basestations, Access Points (APs) or mesh network nodes, or among the basestations in a two tiered networks, to improve the performance for individual user, individual Basestation (BTS), the overall systems or all of above.
US08374131B2
A method may include allocating channels of a wireless local area network (WLAN) including a plurality of access points to the plurality of access points based on a load of each access point. The load of each access point may include a user load and/or an interference load. The user load may be generated by each user of the access point. The interference load may be based on interference caused by transmissions between the remainder of the plurality of access points and users of the remainder of the plurality of access points.
US08374124B2
The invention includes methods and apparatuses for supporting mobility management and packet routing in ad hoc wireless networks. A method for mobility management includes detecting, at a first base station, a request by a wireless device to establish an association with the first base station where the first base station comprises a mobile base station, updating an association table of the first base station to include an association of the wireless device to the first base station, and propagating, toward a second base station, a message adapted to update an association table of the second base station, wherein the second base station is a mobile base station, wherein the message is propagated toward the second base station wirelessly. The packet routing functions of the present invention may be used independent of, or in conjunction with, the mobility management functions of the present invention.
US08374123B2
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of collision avoidance systems and methods. One method embodiment, among others, comprises a client sending an end of transmission (EOT) request to an access point (AP), and responsive to the EOT request, the AP responding with an EOT frame.
US08374118B2
Embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for efficient control signaling over shared communication channels with wide dynamic range. Some embodiments includes a gateway configured to encode and to transmit multiple physical layer headers, including a first physical layer header and a second physical layer header. The first physical layer header may span a first length and represent a first modcode; the second physical layer header may span a second length and represent a second modcode. The second length may be longer than the first length. Embodiments may include multiple terminals in wireless communication with the gateway via satellite, including a first terminal configured to decode the first physical layer header and to determine the first modcode. Embodiments may include a second terminal configured to decode the second physical layer header and determine the second modcode.
US08374115B2
In a cellular wireless network, methods and apparatus are disclosed for a signal broadcasting scheme that can be individually augmented for users with poor reception. The network employs a first downlink channel for broadcasting data to all mobile stations, a second downlink channel for sending signals to a specific mobile station in a cell, and an uplink channel for feeding back information to the base station. To achieve a certain user reception quality, the system adjusts its broadcasting parameters based on the statistical analysis of the feedback data. If some users still require better reception, the system individually augments their broadcast signals via the second downlink channels. Methods and apparatus are also disclosed for synchronization of data distribution by base stations, which, in part, allows the receivers to combine the receiving signals and improve their reception quality.
US08374108B2
In mobile communication system having a plurality of mobile traits and a plurality of base station units, the system of the present invention is characterized in that the base station unit has a gap period length setting section for setting the length of the gap period for the mobile unit depending on the type of the radio access technology to be monitored by the mobile unit.
US08374103B2
A system and method for receiving, from one or more ingress routers, a first set of records including data corresponding to network traffic, receiving, from one or more egress routers, a second set of records including data corresponding to network traffic and creating a multicast traffic matrix using at least a portion of the data included in the first and second sets of records.
US08374101B2
Methods and systems for allocating resources and modulation and coding schemes to transmit layers of a data stream are described. Embodiments provide efficient utilization of resources by collectively allocating resource slots to layers assigned a common modulation and coding scheme. Modulation and coding schemes are assigned based on a maximal utility that is modeled on the collective resource allocation.
US08374099B2
A base station (2) receives paging information for a mobile station (8) from gateway device (1), transmits the paging information after changing the amount of the radio resource of a paging channel, and measures a statistic associated with the completion of communication processing including at least a response of the paging information. The base station (2) then calculates a reception error rate of the paging information, based on the statistic. When receiving the paging information, the mobile station (8) transmits a response signal to the base station (8).
US08374096B2
A computer implemented method selects antennas in a multiple-input, multiple-output wireless local area network that includes multiple stations, and each station includes a set of antennas. Multiple consecutively transmitted sounding packets are received in a station. Each sounding packet corresponds to a different subset of the set of antennas. A channel matrix is estimated from the multiple consecutively transmitted sounding packets. A frame including a high throughput (HT) control field is sent to initiate a selecting of antennas, and a subset of antennas is selected according to the channel matrix.
US08374092B2
A technique protects against failure of a network element using Multi-Topology Repair Routing (MTRR) in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a protecting node (e.g., a router) maintains Multi-Topology Routing (MTR) databases for a first topology and at least a second topology. The protecting node determines whether any acceptable repair paths are available in the first topology for a protected network element (e.g., node, link, etc.) of the first topology. If not, the protecting node may establish a repair path (e.g., for Fast ReRoute, FRR) in the second topology for the protected network element.
US08374084B2
A method of scheduling packets in a mobile communication system includes, in each time period, assigning to each bearer of a terminal, a credit. In each time period for which resources are available, accepting data packets from a bearer in accordance with predefined constraints of priority, buffer content and credit. An accepted data packet size may exceed the available credit by an amount in a predefined range.
US08374080B2
The addition of high throughput capability elements to beacon frames and peer link action frames in wireless mesh networks enable the utilization of desirable features without further modifications to the network. Rules can be established for high throughput mesh point protection in a mesh network, Space-time Block Code (STBC) operations and 20/40 MHz operation selections. However, features such as PSMP (power save multi-poll) and PCO (phased coexistence operations) are barred from implementation to prevent collisions.
US08374076B2
A method and an apparatus of transmitting scheduling request (SR) in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes configuring a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for a SR in a subframe, the subframe comprising a plurality of single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols, wherein one SC-FDMA symbol on the PUCCH is punctured and transmitting the SR on the PUCCH in the subframe.
US08374075B2
Phase and frequency recovery techniques comprising; a software controlled clock synthesizer (SCCS) for high accuracy phase & frequency synthesis producing synchronized low jitter clock from external time referencing signals or time referencing messages wherein SCCS includes a hybrid PLL (HPLL) enabling 1-50,000 frequency multiplication with very low output jitter independent of reference clock quality, and receiver synchronization techniques (RST) enabling by one order more accurate synchronization of receiver clock to OFDM composite frame combined with much faster acquisition time and better stability of receivers oscillator.
US08374070B2
Disclosed is a magnetic recording medium comprising a substrate, a magnetic recording layer formed on the substrate to record magnetic information, and a piezoelectric material disposed adjacent to the magnetic recording layer and capable of contracting and expanding. Preferably, piezoelectric members made of the piezoelectric material are formed in such a manner as to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other on the substrate in a direction crossing a track on the magnetic recording layer, and the magnetic recording layer is formed between the piezoelectric members. When subjected to laser light or ultraviolet radiation, the piezoelectric material contracts or expands at least in the direction crossing the track. The piezoelectric material is selected from the group consisting of lead lanthanum zirconate titanate, barium titanate, and potassium niobate.
US08374068B2
A low cost and lightweight interchangeable lens system is provided. The lens system includes two aspheric elements that is usable both for page-based and bit-based data storage systems. The lens system has a large field of view up to ±50 degrees and a high numerical aperture up to 0.8. The invention reduces cost and weight of the objective lenses and is usable with the servoing technology. The invention provides a long working distance of 20% of the focal length and provides sufficient physical space to accommodate media and aberration corrections, which enable a media interchangeable and compatible system among the both optical recording formats.
US08374060B2
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording method includes first and second steps. The first step applies heat to part of a hard disk medium and forms a moving high-temperature region in a magnetic recording layer of the hard disk medium. The high-temperature region is higher in temperature than a region therearound and has a temperature equal to or higher than the maximum coercivity vanishing temperature of a plurality of magnetic grains contained in the magnetic recording layer. At least one magnetic grain that is adjacent to the rear end of the high-temperature region in the direction of movement of the high-temperature region has a coercivity of a value other than 0. The second step applies a write magnetic field to the hard disk medium such that the write magnetic field applied to the at least one magnetic grain adjacent to the rear end of the high-temperature region is 3 kOe or smaller in magnitude.
US08374057B2
The escapement racks for the hour (11), for the quarter-hour (10) and for the minutes (9) on the minute-repeater are mounted such that the same pivot about a common axis (14), with the escapement racks for the hour and the quarter-hour on one side, and the racks for the quarter-hour and for the minutes on the other side connected by a unidirectional drive connection having a ratchet (15, 17), a toothed pawl (10a, 9a) engaging with the ratchet, a banking pin (10b, 9b) and a cam (16b, 18b) to enable selective engagement of the ratchet with the pawl teeth. The end of the motor spring is kinetically secured to the two separate sets of activating pawl teeth (13a, 13b) for the first chime lift (21), with the first set of teeth (13a) for the hour chime, and the second set of teeth (13b) for chiming quarter-hours and minutes.
US08374055B2
A system and method are described for locating and communicating with miners in an underground mine, in which miners carry a battery-powered signal unit with an impact actuator engagable with a wall, floor, or ceiling surface of the mine to transmit acoustic signals through the ground, and actuate controls on the unit to send a predefined message or a specific message via the impact actuator to ground-coupled acoustic receivers coupled with a base station that includes a decoder to determine the message sent by the miner and a location component to determine the miner's location based on the received signals.
US08374050B2
A memory operative to provide multi-port functionality includes multiple single-port memory cells forming a first memory array. The first memory array is organized into multiple memory banks, each of the memory banks comprising a corresponding subset of the single-port memory cells. The memory further includes a second memory array including multiple multi-port memory cells and is operative to track status information of data stored in corresponding locations in the first memory array. At least one cache memory is connected with the first memory array and is operative to store data for resolving concurrent read and write access conflicts in the first memory array. The memory includes a controller operative: to receive the status information and to determine a validity of data stored in the first memory array as a function of the status information; to control a manner in which data is stored in the memory for avoiding data overflow in the cache memory; and to resolve concurrent read and write access conflicts in the first memory array during the same memory cycle.
US08374046B2
Computing device and method for clearing data stored in complementary metal-oxide semiconductor chip
A method for clearing data stored in a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) chip of a computing device. The computing device further includes a CMOS jumper connected to the CMOS chip, and a general purpose input/output (GPIO) interface connected to the CMOS jumper. The method configures a GPIO pin of the GPIO interface as an output port, controls the GPIO pin to generate a GPIO signal with a high level, and outputs the GPIO signal with the high level to the CMOS jumper. After receiving a command of clearing data stored in the CMOS chip, the method pulls down the GPIO signal from the high level to a low level, to clear the data stored in the CMOS chip.
US08374031B2
In non-volatile memory devices, a write operation typically consists of an alternating set of pulse and verify operations. After a pulse is applied, the device must be biased properly for an accurate verify, with a selected word-line settled at the desired voltage level. The techniques described here address the problem of a relatively large waiting time at the start of a verify phase of a write operation when the selected word line is moving to its first verify level, while at the same time the non-selected word lines of a NAND type array are ramping up to a read pass level. For the non-selected word lines, during the program pulse, these are set at a first voltage above ground and then, during the verify operation, then are set at the read pass level. Rather than take the non-selected word lines to ground in between, they are instead moved directly from their voltage in the pulse phase directly into their read pass level. This helps to reduce the amount of movement in the selected word line due to capacitive coupling, allowing the preparation of the verify level of a selected word line settings earlier.
US08374029B2
An electrically addressed non-volatile memory is maintained by measuring a voltage threshold for each selected memory cell in the electrically addressed non-volatile memory. The voltage threshold is a voltage around which a controllable voltage signal applied to a control gate of a selected memory cell produces a change in value read from the selected memory cell. A measured voltage threshold distribution of the measured voltage thresholds is generated for the selected memory cells. The voltage threshold distribution is analyzed to identify memory cells having greater probabilities of read errors, for example. In response to the analysis, an operating parameter that affects the memory cells identified as having greater probabilities of read errors is selectively changed.
US08374026B2
In a particular embodiment, a data storage device includes a memory array including a target memory cell and one or more other memory cells. The data storage device also includes a controller coupled to the memory array. The controller is configured to directly compute a reliability measure for at least one bit stored in the target memory cell of the memory array based on a voltage value associated with the target memory cell and based on one or more corresponding voltage values associated with each of the one or more other memory cells of the memory array.
US08374012B2
A phase-controlled power supply is disclosed. The power supply includes a power conditioner with an input configured to connect to an external source of electrical power, the power conditioner being configured to provide conditioned power on its output. The power supply also includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, and a switching module coupled between the output of the power conditioner and to the primary winding of the transformer. The switching module has two modes of operation and a control signal input configured to accept a first control signal. The switching module includes a switching element configured to connect the power conditioner output to the primary winding of the transformer. The switching module operates in the first mode when the first control signal is in a first state, switching the first switching element at a first frequency and first duty cycle. The switching module operates in the second mode when the first control signal is in a second state, switching the first switching element at a frequency and duty cycle according to the first control signal.
US08374007B2
A power supply apparatus and a method for supplying power are provided. The apparatus, for use in a system having a first power signal, includes an assistance unit and a power supply device. The assistance unit outputs at least one maintaining signal according to the first power signal selectively. The power supply device outputs a second power signal, wherein the power supply device maintains the second power signal according to the at least one maintaining signal, for example, in an inactive state, such as an idle or standby state or other suitable timing.
US08374004B2
An isolated alternating current (AC)-direct current (DC) converter is disclosed. The isolated AC-DC converter comprises a slave control circuit including a slave driver module configured to receive a command and to control coupling of the slave control circuit to a primary-side inductor of a transformer based on the command, a master control circuit coupled to a secondary-side inductor of the transformer, the master control circuit including a master control module configured to sense a feedback voltage across a load and to generate the command based on the feedback voltage and a reference voltage, and a coupler configured to communicate the command from the master control module to the slave driver module and to provide isolation between the master control module and the slave driver module.
US08374003B2
A control IC including a full-bridge circuit is disposed on a primary side and a secondary side. Bidirectional communication is performed between the primary side and the secondary side in a state in which they are isolated. A control signal output from the primary side or the secondary side earlier is preferentially processed. As a result, the authority to control a switching element can be freely given to a primary-side control IC or a secondary-side control IC, and any control processing can be performed with software.
US08373999B1
A standoff device and a concomitant method of attaching the same to a printed wiring board, comprising inserting into an opening in the printed wiring board a standoff device comprising a threaded body, a neck region narrower and atop the body, and a hexagonal head atop the neck and comprising one or more anti-turn features, and threading a nut onto the body to contact a side of the printed wiring board opposite that contacted by the hexagonal head.
US08373995B2
An expansion card mounting apparatus includes an enclosure, a slot cover of an expansion card, and a retaining member. The enclosure includes a side wall which defines an expansion card slot. A support plate is formed on the side wall and located above the slot. The slot cover includes a fixing portion. A recess is defined in the fixing portion. The slot cover shields the expansion card slot with the fixing portion placed on the support plate. The retaining member is pivotably mounted on the side wall. The retaining member includes a pressing plate and a boss formed on the pressing plate. The pressing plate presses the fixing portion on the support plate, and the boss located in the recess.
US08373992B2
A transmission/reception optical module has an optical transmission subassembly 182, an optical reception subassembly 183, and a circuit board 1 wherein the circuit board 1 is formed into one member by a rigid/flexible substrate. Circuit board main bodies 2a, 2b, and an optical reception subassembly fixation region 4 are formed by rigid regions 5A, 5b, and 5P. An area provided between the circuit board main body 2a and the optical reception subassembly 4 is composed of a flexible region 6P. A part of the circuit board main body 2 is composed of a flexible region 6.
US08373989B2
A fan fixing device for fixing fan units includes two parallel first sidewalls, two parallel second sidewalls, and a number of fixing members. Each first sidewall defines a number of vent ports and includes a vertical plate, a lower plate, and an L-shaped engagement member. The lower plate and the engagement member are positioned at opposite sides of the vertical plate. The second sidewalls are connected between the first sidewalls. The second sidewalls and the first sidewalls cooperatively form a receiving room. The fixing members engage with between the engagement members of the first sidewalls, the fixing member is configured for securing the fan units to the two first sidewalls in the receiving room.
US08373988B2
A server cabinet adapted for receiving servers therein includes a top plate and a bottom plate opposite to the top plate, a left side plate and a right side plate connecting with the top and bottom plates respectively, and a curtain assembly disposed at a front side of the server cabinet. The curtain assembly includes a pivot and a curtain coiled on the pivot. The curtain assembly defines through holes therein. The curtain is capable of spreading out from the pivot toward the bottom plate to thereby cover the front side of the server cabinet.
US08373985B2
Electronic device comprising frame and trim. Trim wrapped around at least three sides of the frame. Trim comprising an outer piece and an inner assembly. Outer piece of substantially continuous flexible tactile material comprising a substantially elongate first side portion, a substantially elongate second side portion substantially parallel to the first side portion, and at least one substantially elongate cross portion connecting the first and second side portions. The inner assembly comprising a substantially rigid first side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece first side portion; a substantially rigid second side inner piece substantially coextensive with the outer piece second side portion; and at least one substantially rigid inner cross piece. Each cross piece substantially coextensive with the short dimension of the outer piece cross portion, and shorter than the long dimension of the outer piece cross portion, thereby creating at least one gap in the inner assembly.
US08373982B2
A computer device includes a chassis, a rail disposed in the chassis, an electronic module slidably disposed on the rail, a cable set connected to the electronic device and a cable arranging module. The cable arranging module includes a fixed frame and a flexible frame. The fixed frame extends along a first axis parallel to and under the rail. The flexible frame is connected between the fixed frame and the electronic module. The cable set is located in the fixed frame and the flexible frame. When the electronic module is located in the chassis, a part of the flexible frame is supported on the rail and located on a second axis parallel to the first axis. When the electronic module slides out from the chassis, the flexible frame supported on the rail moves away from the rail along the second axis and at least partially moves to the first axis.
US08373981B2
An expansion card fastening device includes a bracket, a first fastener, and a second fastener. The bracket includes parallel arranged fences. The first fastener is assembled on one of the fences, and includes a connecting portion, a supporting portion, and an elastic element. The supporting portion and the elastic element are both disposed on an end of the connection portion. A first clasp protrudes from the supporting portion, and faces the same direction with a free end of the elastic element. A second fastener pivots to the supporting portion, and is resisted by the elastic element. A second clasp protrudes from the second fastener, and faces the same direction with the first clasp.
US08373975B2
A protective cover includes a cover body and a pressing body integrally mounted to the cover body. The cover body has an accommodating cavity recessed from a surface of the cover body and an accommodating hole defined through the base wall of the accommodating cavity. The pressing body is mounted to the cover body and includes a pressing portion and a resisting post. The pressing portion is configured for being received within the accommodating cavity and exposed from the accommodating hole. The resisting post protruding from a surface of the pressing portion away from the cover body corresponding to the switch. There also discloses a key assembly using the protective cover and a portable electronic device using the key assembly.
US08373969B2
An energy storage system includes an electric component, a solvent, and a protective device which chemically binds the decomposition products of the solvent. Any damage to the surroundings, which could be caused by the decomposition products of the solvent, can be prevented using the novel energy storage system.
US08373958B2
An receptacle device with power-meter is provided. The receptacle device includes a power supply conversion unit configured to convert input power supply so as to measure a current value or a voltage value of the input power supply; an analog-to-digital conversion unit configured to convert an analog output from the power supply conversion unit into a digital signal, a control unit configured to output a control signal to control operation of the receptacle device by comparing the digital signal input from the analog-to-digital conversion unit to a predefined reference value; a switch unit configured to be turned on or off in response to the control signal from the control unit; and a display unit configured to display values of current, voltage, power, zero phase, and power factor of the input power supply, and display a menu that is controllable by a user.
US08373956B2
A circuit and method for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. The ESD protection circuit includes: a silicon control rectifier (SCR) connected between a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail; one or more diodes connected in series in a forward conduction direction between the first voltage rail and a source of a p-channel field effect transistor (PFET); a drain of the PFET connected to the SCR and connected to ground through a current trigger device; and a control circuit connected to the gate of the PFET.
US08373952B2
An integrated DC link inductor and current sensor winding having a core that includes at least two primary legs and at least one secondary leg, two direct current (DC) link windings each wound around one of the two primary legs, and a common mode current sensor winding wound around the secondary leg. Resistors coupled to the common mode current sensor winding may damp the common mode current oscillations.
US08373951B2
A universal serial bus (USB) protection circuit. The circuit includes a V+ line, a ground line, a D+ line, a D− line, a first resettable device, a second resettable device, a windowing comparator, a first switch, and a second switch. The V+ line is configured to be connected to a V+ connection of a USB cable. The ground line is configured to be connected to a ground connection of the USB cable. The D+ line is configured to be connected to a D+ connection of the USB cable. The D− line is configured to be connected to a D− connection of the USB cable. The first resettable device is coupled to the V+ line and links the V+ line to a V+ of a local device. The second resettable device is coupled to the ground line and links the ground line to a common node of the local device. The windowing comparator has a negative input coupled to the common node and a positive input coupled to the ground line. The first switch is coupled between the D+ line and a D+ of the local device, and is driven by an output of the comparator. The second switch is coupled between the D− line and a D− of the local device, and is driven by the output of the comparator.
US08373939B2
A linear motion device includes a guide shaft. A to-be-moved member is supported on the guide shaft, and is linearly movable along the guide shaft. A lead screw extends parallel to the guide shaft. A clamper meshes with the lead screw. The clamper moves as the lead screw rotates. An intermediate member is provided between the to-be-moved member and the clamper. An urging member operates for urging the to-be-moved member toward the clamper and enabling the intermediate member to be seated between the to-be-moved member and the clamper in a manner such that an axis of the intermediate member is nonparallel to the guide shaft.
US08373936B2
To provide an image sensing lens and an image sensing module each of which includes four lenses and each of which corrects aberrations well and has a great resolving power and a reduced height, an image sensing lens includes (i) a third lens which has a surface facing an image surface, the surface being an aspheric surface and (ii) a fourth lens which has a surface facing an object and a surface facing the image surface, the surfaces being each an aspheric surface. The image sensing lens satisfies the following Formulae (1) through (3): 0.51
US08373935B2
A fixed-focus lens disposed between an enlarged side and a reduced side is provided. An f-number of the fixed-focus lens is smaller than or equal to 2. The fixed-focus lens includes a first lens group and a second lens group. The first lens group includes a first lens, wherein the first lens is an aspheric lens. The second lens group, disposed between the first lens group and the reduced side, has a positive dioptre. The second lens group includes a second lens, wherein the second lens is an aspheric lens. The fixed-focus lens focuses by moving the first and the second lens group and satisfies 0.1<|f/f1|<1, 0.2<|f/f2|<1.5, and 1.5
US08373929B2
A very low energy-absorption coating and related methods for use with high power CO2 lasers includes at least a thin layer of ThF4 (16) used as a water/moisture barrier, in combination with BaF2 (14), for various optical elements. When used in connection with a ZnSe substrate (12) or any other suitable material (such as for a focusing lens), the coating (10) extends the useful life by helping prevent moisture adsorption that otherwise may occur within 2-3 days of contact with air. The coating (10) may comprise (1) a BaF2 layer (14) of approximately optical quarter wave thickness, (2) a thin 200-300 Angstrom layer of ThF4 (16) used as a water barrier (3) a thin 1000-2000 Angstrom layer of ZnSe (18), and (4) an optional ZnSe layer (20) of optical half wave thickness. Among other applications, the coating (10) provides very low energy absorption for a 10.6 um CO2 laser at a value<0.15%, and provides longer lifetimes as compared to conventional coated lenses without the combination of BaF2 (14) and ThF4 (16). The specific and relative thicknesses of the various coating layers can be modified substantially and still provide many benefits.
US08373926B2
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are drawn to a method and apparatus for the differentiation of power and channel count changes in optically amplified links. Additionally, configuration of a corresponding optical amplifier can be based on the determination of the power and channel count changes.
US08373922B2
A window includes a plurality of transparent substrates spaced apart from each other in a thickness direction; a light transmittance-adjusting layer on a surface of at least one transparent substrate of the plurality of transparent substrates and having a thermochromic or thermotropic characteristic; and an air circulator configured to circulate a heat transfer medium in a space between the plurality of transparent substrates for changing a light transmittance of the light transmittance-adjusting layer.
US08373918B2
An organically based electrochromic component, e.g. for the production of displays and/or state indicators produces at least two colors. For the first time, two colors can be switched according to the voltage by using a dye system of 4,4′-bipyridinium salts.
US08373913B2
An image scanning apparatus includes a light source unit having a plurality of lamps. A converter supplies power to the plurality of lamps and adjusts the power according to a desired light intensity of each the plurality of lamps. A controller controls the converter such that at least one of the lamps is overdriven for a predetermined amount of time when lamp warm-up is initiated. Thus, the length of time required to wait until an operational light intensity is reduced.
US08373910B2
An image scanning device includes a base part; and multiple image sensors each including a substrate, a line sensor including scanning elements arranged on the substrate, and a holder for holding the substrate. The base part holds the image sensors such that the scanning elements of an image sensor partly overlap the scanning elements of an adjacent image sensor in the main-scanning direction. The coefficients of linear expansion of the substrate and the base part are substantially the same; the holder and the base part are fixed together at a first fixing point; the holder and the substrate are fixed together at a second fixing point; and the distance in the main-scanning direction between the first fixing point and the second fixing point and the direction of the second fixing point with respect to the first fixing point are the same for all the image sensors.
US08373906B2
This invention has as its object to generate image data having a desired resolution by a small footprint upon execution of resolution conversion processing in an image processing apparatus having an area image sensor. This invention is an image processing method for processing a plurality of image data which have phase shifts in the main scanning direction and sub scanning direction, including a step of inputting a target resolution, a step of executing super-resolution processing for respective positions using image data, corresponding to each position of the document in the sub scanning direction, of the plurality of image data, and a step of further executing variable-magnification processing of the image data which has undergone the super-resolution processing at that position when the resolution of the image data executed super-resolution processing is lower than the target resolution.
US08373901B2
A large-capacity multiplexing system assuring image quality and robustness is provided. An image-processing apparatus multiplexing additional information on image information includes a first multiplexing unit that is configured to perform pseudo-halftone processing so that the image information is changed into a first quantization level of multi-level gradation and that is configured to multiplex first information of the additional information at the pseudo-halftone-processing time, and a second multiplexing unit that is configured to perform the pseudo-halftone processing so that the first quantization level subjected to the pseudo-halftone processing by the first multiplexing unit is changed into a second quantization level of gradation lower than the multi-level gradation and that is configured to multiplex second information of the additional information at the pseudo-halftone-processing time.
US08373900B2
An image reading apparatus which approximates the MTF characteristics on the front and back surfaces of the original to each other, in reading a double-sided original, to thereby prevent a density difference and a color difference from being caused between the front and back surfaces of the original. A CCD line sensor and a CIS read front and back surfaces of the double-sided original to output image data. The filter coefficients of first and second MTF correction filters are set for use in a plurality of areas arranged by dividing respective reading ranges of the CCD line sensor and the CIS. The first and second MTF correction filters correct the MTF characteristics of the image data output from the CCD line sensor and the CIS, using the set filter coefficients for associated areas.
US08373899B2
A color image forming apparatus specifies print mode (media), forms a test image based on gradation levels of a plurality of colors according to the specified print mode (media), and detects the test image with a color sensor. The color image forming apparatus performs gray axis correction calculation based on detection result obtained by the color sensor.
US08373897B2
A method and a system for predicting print colors are provided. A profile generator determines standard density spectral reflectances of a color chart printed under standard density conditions, first changed density spectral reflectances of a color chart printed with only the density of one of colors C, M, Y, K being changed by a given amount, and second changed density spectral reflectances of a color chart printed with the densities of the colors C, M, Y, K being changed by the same amount. The profile generator generates a print predicting profile for obtaining desired target densities, using the standard density spectral reflectances, the differences between the standard density spectral reflectances and the first changed density spectral reflectances, and corrective coefficients for obtaining the second changed density spectral reflectances, and predicts highly accurately colors of the print where the density of a desired color is changed, using the print predicting profile.
US08373895B2
A method for embedding “no-scan” or “no-copy” information in a document border includes encoding information as a plurality of data carrying dot pair patterns. For each page of a document to be rendered, the method includes determining whether the border area is blank. If found not blank the border area is cleared. Each of the plurality of data carrying dot patterns is embedded in the blank border area of the document page. The document page with the embedded data carrying dot patterns is then rendered, where each data carrying dot is too small to be visually noticeable.
US08373892B2
An image scanner is provided with a super-resolution processing function for generating a high-resolution image using multiple pieces of low-resolution image data. The scanner device then measures an initial MTF value without performing the super-resolution processing, refers to an MTF properties table in which is registered a number of pieces of low-resolution image data for a scanner device of that type to achieve a pre-set target MTF, and registers the number of images that corresponds to the initial MTF value in the scanner, if that number is present, and registers an interpolated value if that number is not present. The image scanner then performs the super-resolution processing using the registered number of pieces of low-resolution image data, and outputs image data of a target resolution.
US08373885B2
An input unit inputs RAW data. An image generating unit generates an image from the RAW data using a demosaicing processing. A print unit that prints the image.
US08373882B2
A wireless communication device can send and receive realtime facsimile transmissions over a data channel available to the device. The device can implement a real time facsimile protocol over the data channel, which can generally be a packet switched network connection, such as an IP connection. An image capture device can be employed to obtain an image of a document that can be facsimile transmitted from the wireless device over the data channel. The document image may be converted to a format generally usable with facsimile transmissions. The wireless device can be configured to transmit immediately following image capture, or after a desired number of images are captured. A contact list that may be included with the wireless device may be used to select a destination address for facsimile transmission. A printing device can be the destination address to permit wireless or mobile printing.
US08373867B2
A digital multifunction peripheral provided with a scanner portion, an operation portion, an image forming portion, a device control portion, a fax modem, a communications portion, a management portion, and a hard disk (HD) is connected to a server apparatus via an external network. A large-format display is attached integrally to a rear face of a case of the digital multifunction peripheral, with a first display screen facing toward the outside. The device control portion is connected to the server apparatus via the external network, and displays various pieces of provided information managed by the server apparatus on the first display screen.
US08373862B2
An extended range optical imaging system and method for use in turbid media generates a beam of coherent light, modulates the beam of coherent light to encode scan information, directs the modulated beam of coherent light from a first location through the turbid medium toward a target, scans the modulated beam of coherent light over the target in a pattern, according to the scan information, to illuminate the target and to cause light to be reflected, detects the modulated light reflected from the target with a sensor at a second location in the turbid medium to derive an output signal that varies in proportion to the modulated reflected light, demodulates the output signal to derive information comprising the scan information, and constructs an image from the output signal and the scan information so derived.
US08373861B2
A system for the rapid analysis of microbiological parameters includes a specimen container for containing a liquid sample, a housing having an enclosable chamber shaped for receiving the specimen container, an incubating system mounted within the housing for incubating microbiological materials within the liquid sample, and a spectrophotometer system mounted within the housing for measuring light absorbed, emitted or scattered by the liquid samples as the microbiological materials are incubated by the incubating system over time. The specimen container is filled with a liquid sample to be tested and mixed with a reagent that provides a detectable parameter, and placed inside the apparatus. The incubation system heats and maintains the temperature of the liquid sample within a preset range while the spectrophotometer system propagates light within the specimen container, and monitors and records changes in the light as the light propagates through the container. A continuous non-intrusive monitoring and recording of the test parameter is achieved as the incubation progresses. Any significant deviation of the signal output is an indication of presence of the detectable parameter, while the time taken to reach the significant deviation provides quantification of the microbiological parameter under investigation.
US08373860B2
A filter arrangement can transmit and/or reflect light emanating from a moving object so that the emanating light has time variation, and the time variation can include information about the object, such as its type. For example, emanating light from segments of a path can be transmitted/reflected through positions of a filter assembly, and the transmission functions of the positions can be sufficiently different that time variation occurs in the emanating light between segments. Or emanating light from a segment can be transmitted/reflected through a filter component in which simpler transmission functions are superimposed, so that time variation occurs in the emanating light in accordance with superposition of two simpler non-uniform transmission functions. One or more mask arrangements can be configured to receive the emanating light and in response provide encoded emanating light.
US08373857B2
A miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer system and methods are disclosed. A probe tip including one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers is provided. A first spectrometer system receives light from a first set of the plurality of light receivers. A second spectrometer system receives light from a second set of the plurality of light receivers. A processor, wherein the processor receives data generated by the first spectrometer system and the second spectrometer system, wherein an optical measurement of a sample under test is produced based on the data generated by the first and second spectrometer systems.
US08373854B2
The present teachings provide for systems, and components thereof, for detecting and/or analyzing light. These systems can include, among others, optical reference standards utilizing luminophores, such as nanocrystals, for calibrating, validating, and/or monitoring light-detection systems, before, during, and/or after sample analysis.
US08373852B2
A fiber rotator mechanism for rotating a portion of an optical waveguide, specifically an optical fiber, about a longitudinal axis thereof comprises a motor having a tubular rotor through which the fiber extends, in use, and to which the fiber is secured, directly or indirectly. An optical fiber may be secured by means of a device which also compresses the optical fiber to induce a required birefringence, conveniently by means of a spring-loaded clamping device or a ferrule of shape memory material.
US08373847B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for influencing a light beam arrangement comprising a plurality of light beams (4) arranged alongside one another, wherein provision is made of at least one optical element (5, 15, 25) which is movable transversely with respect to the light beams and by which the light beams can be influenced if the light beams pass through the optical element, and which has at least one light-absorbing region (9, 19, 29), wherein the apparatus comprises a drive device for the optical element, a measuring device for detecting the light of the light beam and a control unit, wherein the control unit is designed such that the drive device is controlled in a manner dependent on the position of the light-absorbing region. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a projection exposure apparatus for microlithography comprising a multi-mirror array, in which the corresponding apparatus can be used, and to a method for operating the corresponding apparatus or the projection exposure apparatus.
US08373843B2
A lithographic apparatus includes a substrate table to hold a substrate and a projection system to project a patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate. A liquid supply system at least partly fills a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, and has a liquid confinement structure to at least partly confine the liquid within the space. An outlet removes a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between the liquid confinement structure and the substrate. An evacuation system draws the mixture through the outlet, and includes a separator tank to separate liquid from gas in the mixture and a separator tank pressure controller, connected to a non-liquid-filled region of the separator tank, to maintain a stable pressure within the non-liquid-filled region.
US08373837B2
A line-on glass type liquid crystal display panel that is adapted to prevent signal interference and electromagnetic interference between line-on glass type signal lines. The liquid crystal display panel of the invention includes a picture display part with a matrix of liquid crystal cells, multiple line-on glass type signal lines located in an outer area of the picture display part for applying drive signals to drive the liquid crystal cells, and a dummy line formed between the line-on glass type signal lines with at least a layer of insulating film therebetween.
US08373835B2
A liquid crystal display module includes: a liquid crystal display panel; a backlight light source; a casing enclosing the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight light source; a first flexible printed wiring board electrically connected to the liquid crystal display panel and a second flexible printed wiring board connected to the backlight light source, the first flexible printed wiring board and the second flexible printed wiring board being led out from an exit formed in an identical side of the casing to an outside of the casing in a state of being superposed on each other and being bent to a rear surface side of the casing; and a connecting part for electrically connecting the second flexible printed wiring board to the first flexible printed wiring board, the connecting part being formed on the outside of the casing.
US08373827B2
A system for displaying images is provided and includes a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate having a plurality of orthogonal data lines and scan lines thereon. A first transparent electrode layer is disposed over the data lines and a second transparent electrode layer is disposed over the first transparent electrode layer. A second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate and has an inner surface. A conductive layer is disposed over the inner surface of the second substrate. A liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08373820B2
A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display device includes a reflection plate, first and second light guide plates over the reflection plate, the second light guide plate disposed between the first light guide plate and the reflection plate, wherein the first light guide plate includes first and second sections alternating with each other, and the second light guide plate includes third and fourth sections alternating with each other, the first and third sections having patterns at rear surfaces, the second and fourth sections excluding patterns, wherein the first section corresponds to the fourth section, and the second section corresponds to the third section, first and second light-emitting diode (LED) assemblies at opposite sides of the first and second light guide plates, each of the first and second LED assemblies including LEDs arranged in first and second lines, and a plurality of optical sheets over the first light guide plate, wherein the LEDs of the first lines of the first and second LED assemblies face opposite side surfaces of the first light guide plate, and the LEDs of the second lines of the first and second LED assemblies face opposite side surfaces of the second light guide plate.
US08373818B2
A multiple primary color display device according to the present invention includes a pixel defined by a plurality of sub pixels. The plurality of sub pixels include a first sub pixel to display a first color having a first hue, a second sub pixel to display a second color having a second hue, a third sub pixel to display a third color having a third hue, and a fourth sub pixel to display a fourth color having a fourth hue. When a color represented by the input signal is changed from black to white via a color of a prescribed hue, luminance levels of the plurality of sub pixels are set such that the luminance level of each of the first sub pixel, the second sub pixel and the third sub pixel is started to be increased without increasing the luminance level of the fourth sub pixel and such that the luminance level of the third sub pixel is increased at a lower rate than that of the luminance level of each of the first sub pixel and the second sub pixel.
US08373796B2
Common techniques for Motion Compensated Frame Rate Conversion (MC-FRC) suffer from occlusion which, if not taken explicitly into account, causes a visually disturbing artifact known as ‘halo’. To solve this artifact, these regions have to be detected prior to performing interpolation. Several techniques exist to detect occlusion in a frame, but these are based on motion vectors, which are frequently unreliable. The invention relates to a method to detect occlusion by comparing match errors, thereby offering occlusion detection even when the motion vectors are incorrect.
US08373791B2
A camera system includes: a focus detection controller that is capable of performing control for an imaging optics according to a plurality of focus detection systems; and a focusing controller that controls focusing of the imaging optics. And the focus detection controller transmits, to the focusing controller, identification information that specifies which of the plurality of focus detection systems is performed.
US08373777B2
An image processing apparatus includes a region extracting section that extracts a first predetermined region including a target pixel in a current frame and a second predetermined region including a pixel located at the same position as the target pixel in a previous frame, a motion vector calculating section that calculates a motion vector of the first predetermined region with respect to the previous frame based on part or all of the pixels in the first predetermined region and part of the pixels in the second predetermined region, a filter coefficient determining section that determines a filter coefficient for a plurality of pixels in the second predetermined region based on the motion vector, and a noise reducing section that reduces noise in the target pixel based on the plurality of pixels in the second predetermined region and the filter coefficient.
US08373776B2
An image processing apparatus outputs an output image by synthesizing a first image obtained by shooting, a second image obtained by shooting with an exposure time longer than the exposure time of the first image, and a third image obtained by reducing noise in the first image. The image processing apparatus has a noise reduction processing control portion which controls the contents of image processing for obtaining the third image from the first image according to the noise level in the first image.
US08373775B2
An apparatus, method, and software stored on a computer-readable storage medium, for correctly reduce noise included in image data regardless of the characteristics of the image data. The noise reduction apparatus and method employ a determinator for determining whether a target pixel of image data corresponds to a flat portion, an edge portion, or a gradation portion based on a pixel value of the target pixel and pixel values of neighboring pixels of the target pixel; and a noise reduction unit for reducing noise included in the image data based on a result of the determining by the determinator.
US08373771B2
An imaging apparatus sets a search condition of image data so as to contain a condition that image data to be searched is created between a latest send image data that has most recently been sent among pieces of image data, which are read from a storage unit and sent to a display device or which are sent from either the imaging apparatus or other imaging apparatus to the display device, and image data that is created at the earliest time after the latest send image data has been created among the pieces of the image data stored in the storage unit; determines image data to be sent to the display device from among pieces of image data stored in each of the imaging apparatus and the other imaging apparatus, based on a search result sent from the other imaging apparatus as a response to the sent search condition.
US08373768B2
In order to increase the efficacy of a mood-based playlisting system, a mood sensor such as a camera may be used to provide mood information to the mood model. When the mood sensor includes a camera, a camera may be used to capture an image of the user. The image is analyzed to determine a mood for the user so that content may be selected responsive to the mood of the user.
US08373761B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for correcting a shake of a digital photographing apparatus. The method includes sensing a shake via an inertial sensor comprised in the digital photographing apparatus, and calculating a first shake value; comparing the first shake value with a predetermined threshold value and, when the first shake value is greater than the predetermined threshold value, driving an OIS (optical image stabilizer); detecting an edge component of an image of a target subject, wherein the image is input via an imaging device of the digital photographing apparatus, and calculating a second shake value from a difference value between edge values of sequential frames of the input image; and comparing the second shake value with the first shake value, and according to a result of the comparing, controlling a shake of the target subject to be corrected.
US08373760B2
A digital camera 1 comprising a key operation unit (27) for registering subject information for identifying the subject, and photography conditions or image processing conditions corresponding to the subject identified according to the subject information; image memory (31) for storing the subject information, and the photography conditions or image processing conditions registered by the key operation unit (27); and a CPU (20). The CPU (20) detects a characteristic portion of the subject from the acquired image, identifies a subject corresponding to the characteristic portion of the detected subject, by referring to the subject information stored in the image memory (31), acquires the photography conditions or image processing conditions corresponding to the identified subject identified from the image memory (31), and carries out image capturing or image processing based on the acquired photography conditions or image processing conditions. In this way, an image capturing device capable of easily carrying out image processing in accordance with individual preferences is provided.
US08373755B2
A system for operating network cameras, a method for operating network cameras, and a network camera having a storage function are provided so that the system does not have to include a network video recorder.
US08373754B2
A method and an arrangement for evaluating sensor images of an image-evaluating surroundings-detection system on a moved carrier, preferably a vehicle (1), are proposed, wherein areas in the sensor images captured by a camera (4) which are dark in relation to the surroundings are evaluated in chronologically successive evaluation steps in order to determine whether said dark areas are moving toward the carrier at the speed of said carrier, and in that these dark areas are detected as shadows (7) of a static object and corresponding signaling is performed.
US08373753B2
A surveillance system is provided that includes at least one sensor disposed in a security area of a surveillance region to sense an occurrence of a potential security breach event; a plurality of cameras is disposed in the surveillance region; at least one camera thereof has a view of the security area and can be configured to automatically gather biometric information concerning at least one subject person in the vicinity of the security area in response to the sensing of a potential security breach event; one or more other of the plurality of cameras can be configured to search for the at least one subject person; a processing system is programmed to produce a dossier corresponding to the at least one subject person to match biometric information of one or more persons captured by one or more of the other cameras with corresponding biometric information in the dossier.
US08373748B2
A control unit is connected to an endoscopic video camera, which is connected to an endoscope. Image data representing an image is received by the control unit from the video camera. Based on a characteristic of the received image which is indicative of a physical characteristic of the endoscope, the endoscope is recognized and/or and the value of a parameter for processing or display of images acquired by the camera is then automatically selected.
US08373739B2
A system and methods to permit a health care provider and a patient to remotely communicate information corresponding to the patient's medical condition with each other, both visually and audibly, via communication link in real time. The system may comprise a first and second interface units each comprising a camera, a microphone, a display, and a speaker. The camera and microphone of the first interface unit may permit real-time video and audio, respectively, to be transferred to the display and speaker of the second unit. Likewise, the camera and microphone of the second interface unit may permit real-time video and audio, respectively, to be transferred to the display and speaker of the first unit.
US08373737B2
A light emitting substrate has a plurality of first light emitting portions arranged in a main scanning direction and a second light emitting portion disposed in a direction intersecting the main scanning direction with respect to the array of the plurality of first light emitting portions. A lens array has a plurality of first lenses, each of which is disposed to face each of the plurality of first light emitting portions, and a second lens for the second light emitting portion. A direction of the emitted light from the second light emitting portion has a slope with respect to a straight line which extends perpendicularly from a light emitting face of the corresponding second light emitting portion.
US08373718B2
Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide a system and process for enhancing the display of color in a graphical display. In one embodiment, a process is provided for color enhancement using a detection volume and a shift volume. In one embodiment, input from pixels, as color data, is compared to a detection volume. If the color data of an input is detected in the detection volume, the color data is modified to a corresponding position in the shift volume, the modification consisting of an enhancement to the original color.
US08373715B1
Object previews for projection painting operations using arbitrary paint surfaces are provided. The object preview is rendered from the view of the arbitrary projection paint surface. The object preview is provided to the user, who then may define projection paint attribute values by painting over the object preview. The projection paint attribute values are mapped back on to the projection paint surface and one or more images of the object geometry are rendered using the projection paint attribute values. Object previews are rendered by defining a camera view and a proxy surface. A mapping from the proxy surface to a projection surface is defined and associates proxy surface points with projection paint surface points. Rays generated using a projection operation are defined and a renderer uses these rays to determine attribute values for their associated points on the proxy surface to define an object preview image.
US08373708B2
A video processing system, method, and computer program product are provided for encrypting communications between a plurality of graphics processors. A first graphics processor is provided. Additionally, a second graphics processor in communication with the first graphics processor is provided for collaboratively processing video data. Furthermore, such communication is encrypted.
US08373705B2
A method is provided for creating a multimedia scene including at least one object animation, designed to be reproduced on at least one radio communication terminal. At least one of the animations is associated with a non-temporal animation variable, representing a state of at least one object of the scene, of at least one element of the terminal, and/or a state of at least one associated communication network. The variable provides a time-based function for the animation. A method is also provided for reproducing a multimedia scene comprising at least one object animation, on a radio communication terminal.
US08373688B2
Methods for allocating predetermined output display spaces to devices and allowing the devices to freely display desired information in the respective allocated spaces so as to easily control the devices is disclosed. That is, one of the methods for outputting information collected through a report request (S41, S42) on a display of a platform device in order to request basic device capability information of devices and allowing a user to directly control a selected device through a key passing-through method is disclosed.
US08373678B2
An electronics device having a projector module including a first light source, and a first scanner scanning an image projection surface in a biaxial direction; a distance measuring device performing one-dimensional scanning on a plane over the image projection surface to determine the position of an optical interceptor and including a second light source, a second scanner performing scanning with the second light beam, and a light detector detecting the second light beam reflected from the optical interceptor; and a controller. The uniaxial-scanning component of the first scanner is shared with the second scanner. The positional data are compared with two-dimensional coordinate data of the projected image to determine the position of the optical interceptor on the projected image. The controller inputs a signal to the electronics device when determining that the optical interceptor performs optical interception on the projected image.
US08373670B2
A method for adjusting at least a area of a touch screen is provided. The touch panel includes a first touch area and a second touch area, the first touch area is responsive to a stationary touch and corresponds to a first function, and the second touch area is responsive to a sliding touch and corresponds to a second function. The method includes: defining an overlapped touch area including at least part of the first touch area and at least part of the second touch area; receiving a touch input on the touch panel; when the touch input is started from the overlapped touch area, calculating a moving distance of the touch input and a touch time of the touch input; and when the touch time is within a threshold time, and the moving distance exceeds a threshold distance, setting the overlapped touch area to correspond to the second function.
US08373668B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an electrophoretic display apparatus and an operating method thereof. According to one or more embodiments, an update voltage compensating for the degradation of an image is applied to a related pixel after a predetermined time interval elapses, when a plurality of images are consecutively displayed on one screen. Thus, the update voltage may be prevented from being applied to the pixel before the image degradation occurs, thereby preventing the pixel from being over-charged.
US08373665B2
Computing devices are disclosed which include a digitizer and a display, wherein the digitizer and the display are mounted on opposite surfaces of the device. For example, a computing device such as portable hand held device includes a display mounted on a front surface of the device and a digitizer is mounted on a rear surface of the device, wherein the digitizer receives a pointing action to be displayed on the display and wherein locations on a digitizer surface are mapped to locations on the display surface so that a user may easily indicate locations or objects on a screen without obscuring the user's view of the screen.
US08373657B2
Enhanced multi-touch detection, in which a graphical user interface for an application is projected onto a surface, and electromagnetic radiation is emitted. The electromagnetic radiation is collectively emitted by an array defining a layer aligned parallel with the surface and overlapping at least a region of the surface onto which the graphical user interface is projected. Electromagnetic radiation is detected that reflects off of an object interrupting the defined layer where the defined layer overlaps the region of the surface onto which the graphical user interface is projected, and indicating a position of the object is output.
US08373648B2
A proximity sensor, a control method thereof and an electronic apparatus equipped with the proximity sensor are disclosed. The proximity sensor connected to a light-emitting module includes a light source, a light receiver and a control module. The light source emits lights at predetermined time intervals. The light receiver receives reflected lights of the emitted lights that are reflected from an object. The control module determines whether an average value of intensity values of the reflected lights is larger than a threshold value. If yes, the control module further determines whether a difference between a highest and a lowest intensity value of the reflected lights falls in a preset range. If yes, the control module would control the light-emitting module to change to a different light mode thereof. When a user reacts to the different light mode, the system will be able to tell whether a real user is present.
US08373647B2
A surface light source device, which may perform surface light emission using a plurality of light guide members while suppressing formation of emission lines, and a display device using the surface light source device is provided. The surface light source device includes light sources, and a plurality of light guide members, each light guide member having a light incidence surface for light entering from each of the light sources, and making surface light emission based on incident light from the light incidence surface. The plurality of light guide members are arranged on the same plane, and each light guide member has tapered or curved surfaces adjacent to the light incidence surface, each tapered or curved surface having a predetermined angle against the light incidence surface.
US08373641B2
A power control system for an LCD monitor having an LCD panel includes a light source unit providing light to the LCD panel, a power supply unit generating a standard low DC current, and a high-voltage generator for converting the lower DC voltage to a relatively high voltage and supplying the high voltage to the light source. The power control system further includes a feedback control unit coupled to the power supply unit for interrupting the operation of the power supply unit when the converted high voltage is determined to be abnormal. The feedback control unit includes a cable, through which a voltage can be induced due to high voltage generated by the high-voltage generator, and a power supply control circuit capable of interrupting the operation of the power supply unit when the converted high voltage is determined to be abnormal by analyzing the induced current.
US08373639B2
A device and method for adjustment of a work place illumination in computerized image presentation, a detection device being arranged to detect the current light and/or contrast values of at least one active presentation surface, that the detection device is connected to a control and adjustment device arranged to automatically adjust the work place illumination of the presentation surface depending on reference values determined in the control and adjustment device in relation to the current light and/or contrast value of the presentation surface.
US08373634B2
A source driver for display devices includes line pair driving blocks. Each of the line pair driving blocks includes a de-multiplexing portion for de-multiplexing first and second digital data to generate first and second de-multiplexing data, a decoding portion for decoding the first and second de-multiplexing data to generate first and second analog data, and a multiplexing portion for multiplexing the first and second analog data to generate first and second gradation voltages. In the source driver, the de-multiplexing portion is controlled by signals having information of loading timing for the digital data and information of polarity for the gradation voltages.
US08373632B2
An apparatus for driving an LCD device includes an image display unit having liquid crystal cells in respective regions defined by a plurality of gate and data lines; an over-driving apparatus to detect a signal of a moving image based on a source data and to detect modulated data based on the detected signal, the modulated data changes a response speed of a liquid crystal based on the detected signal; a gate driver to supply scan signals to the gate lines; a data driver to convert the modulated data into analog video signals and to supply the analog video signals to the data lines; and a timing controller to align the modulated data and to generate data control signal and gate control signal, the timing controller outputs the aligned data and the data control signal to the data driver and outputs the gate control signal to the gate driver.
US08373616B2
A locating and displaying method upon a specific video region of a computer screen comprises the steps of: capturing a plurality of computer screens during a predetermined time period; comparing one computer screen with the following computer screen to locate a plurality of screen differences, in which every single screen difference includes at least one different region; judging a respective position of every individual different region of each screen difference so as to locate an object window containing the different region; determine one object window as a video region by comparing a size or an appearance time of the object window; capturing a film of the video region; forwarding the film to a distant displayer; and then the displayer broadcasting the film on a display.
US08373613B2
A photovoltaic apparatus, through which an antenna is allowed to transmit and receive radio-frequency signals, includes a photovoltaic material and conducting electrodes. The photovoltaic material is used for converting photon energy into electrical energy, and the conducting electrodes collect and transfer the electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic material. The arrangement of the conducting electrodes forms a frequency selective surface placed in the transmitting or receiving path of the antenna. The frequency selective surface and the antenna have a spacing there between. The projection of the frequency selective surface in the transmitting or receiving path of the antenna covers the antenna.
US08373602B2
An antenna mounted on a baseboard including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface includes a feed portion, two radiating portions, a ground portion and a coupling portion. The feed portion and the two radiating portions are disposed on the first surface, and the two radiating portions are connected to the feed portion. The ground portion and the coupling portion are disposed on the second surface, and the coupling portion is connected to the ground portion. The coupling portion passes through the baseboard and couples with two radiating portions.
US08373596B1
Techniques are disclosed that allow for the detection and locating of RF emitters. The technique includes recording emitter signals of interest received from the search area via an antenna array and a phase coherent receiver, wherein all frequency conversions carried out by the phase coherent receiver are performed in a phase coherent fashion across all the channels. The technique further includes identifying subspace of each channel using singular value decomposition (SVD), analyzing the subspace of each channel for the presence of a target signal, and direction finding and/or geolocating the target signal.
US08373583B2
An embodiment may include first circuitry and second circuitry. The first circuitry may compress, at least in part, based at least in part upon a first set of statistics, input to produce first output exhibiting a first compression ratio. If the first compression ratio is less than a desired compression ratio, the second circuitry may compress, at least in part, based at least in part upon a second set of statistics, the first output to produce second output. The first set of statistics may be based, at least in part, after an initial compression, upon other data that has been previously compressed and is associated, at least in part, with the input. The second set of statistics may be based at least in part upon the input. Many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible.
US08373580B2
Systems and methods for efficiently updating text or symbol annunciations outputted by an avionics system on legacy displays. Instead of using a set sweeping pattern to update the display, a smart updating concept is used. The smart updating concept senses when the pilot is adjusting the selected altitude control (or other user interface device that will alter displayed annunciations), then gives priority to updating the radial lines on the display that contain the annunciation field. Once the annunciation field has been updated, the display returns to normal operation.
US08373576B2
A system for wirelessly monitoring a plurality of parameters is disclosed. A first remote transceiver is attached to at least one first sensor for monitoring one of the parameters and a second remote transceiver is attached to at least one second sensor for monitoring another of said parameters. The system includes a base station transceiver. The first and second remote transceivers reach periodically report normal operating conditions to the base station transceiver. The first remote transceiver reports abnormal sensor readings with no substantial delay after occurrence. The second remote transceiver reports abnormal sensor readings a predetermined length of time after occurrence.
US08373570B2
Load current from an electrical AC supply circuit is monitored so that both high frequency (10-100 kHz), and low frequency (60 Hz) signal current components are measured over certain time periods. A high frequency energy component is measured in an integral fashion, e.g., summing a plurality of samples taken. A certain amount of high frequency energy during a half-cycle is required to indicate an arc event. A certain number of these arc events per half-cycle must occur within a specific time period to indicate the presence of an arc. The root-mean-square (RMS) value of the low frequency energy component is used to determine the severity of the arc. The higher the amperage of the load current arc, the faster the arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) will respond by disconnecting the arcing load from the AC supply circuit, e.g., fewer number of arc events necessary for tripping of the AFCI.
US08373555B1
A garage door opening system for alerting a user if the garage door is left open featuring an interface unit for integrating into the garage door, the interface unit comprises a motor microprocessor, a door position sensor; and an interface transceiver; and a remote device comprising a remote microprocessor, a remote transceiver, a speaker, and a push button, wherein the push button functions to move the garage door between the open and closed positions, wherein the transceivers are in two-way communication with each other within a range, wherein if the remote device is out of range and the garage door is left open the alarm is activated to alert the user.
US08373549B2
An electronic device for providing tactile feedback is provided. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback using any suitable approach, including for example vibration, heat, electrical, visual, or any other type of feedback. The electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to detecting any particular status of the electronic device, receiving any particular input, or detecting any suitable communication received by the electronic device. For example, the electronic device may provide tactile feedback in response to receiving a particular user input, or to detecting a user's finger on a particular portion of the electronic device.
US08373538B1
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for surreptitiously installing, monitoring, and operating software on a remote computer controlled wireless communication device are described. One aspect includes a control system for communicating programming instructions and exchanging data with the remote computer controlled wireless communication device. The control system is configured to provide at least one element selected from the group consisting of: a computer implemented device controller; a module repository in electronic communication with the device controller; a control service in electronic communication with the device controller; an exfiltration data service in electronic communication with the device controller configured to receive, store, and manage data obtained surreptitiously from the remote computer controlled wireless communication device; a listen-only recording service in electronic communication with the device controller; and a WAP gateway in electronic communication with the remote computer controlled wireless communication device.
US08373535B2
A thermistor having multiple metal layers about at least a portion of a semiconductor body. The thermistor includes a first thick film electrode layer, a reactive metal layer, a barrier metal layer and, optionally, a layer to facilitate attachment to an electrical contact. Also, a method of making the thermistor is described.
US08373532B2
In the winding wire at the winding completion end side, two wires are piled up vertically and wound together from the inner circumferential side towards the outer circumferential side. The winding wire at the winding start end side that has remained on the inner circumferential side is drawn forth from the inner circumferential side to the outer circumferential side so as to form a curve along the flat surface of the coil. In the crossing portions of the winding wire at the winding completion end side and the winding wire at the winding start end side, the two wires of each winding wire are superimposed and caused to cross each other in a state in which the wires are laid down transversely.
US08373527B2
An improved magnetic attachment system is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
US08373519B2
A switchable power combiner is disclosed. The switchable power combiner has an output section that is a signal source connected to a transformer section. The transformer section has one or more primaries and a common secondary. The transformer primaries and secondary are acoustically coupled. The primaries or/and the secondary are made of switchable piezoelectric material, such that the acoustic coupling between any primary and the secondary can be switched on or off by electrical control, thereby implementing a switchable power combiner. The transformer secondary is connected to an antenna port. The power amplifier output section is segmented and connected to the transformer primaries. The power amplifier output section has a plurality of power amplifiers and a plurality of reactance elements, either fixed or variable. The switchable power combiner generates different linear load lines by switching on and off the coupling between any primary and the secondary.
US08373515B2
To determine the level of frequency drift of a crystal oscillator as a result of a change in the its temperature, the temperature of the crystal oscillator is sensed and used together with previously stored data that includes a multitude of drift values of the frequency of the crystal oscillator each associated with a temperature of the crystal oscillator. Optionally, upon initialization of a GPS receiver in which the crystal oscillator is disposed, an initial temperature of the crystal oscillator is measured and a PLL is set to an initial frequency in association with the initial temperature. When acquisition fails in a region, the ppm region is changed. The temperature of the crystal oscillator is periodically measured and compared with the initial temperature, and the acquisition process is reset if there is a significant change in temperature. The GPS processor enters the tracking phase when acquisition is successful.
US08373510B2
A programmable filter for LC tank voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a design structure for a programmable filter for LC tank VCO. The programmable filter includes a proportional control comprising a plurality of capacitance biased by different input voltages and an integral control comprising a filter element with a capacitance C1 and a set of capacitance biased by a voltage output of the filter element.
US08373506B2
A signal amplifying circuit and associated methods and apparatuses, the circuit comprising: a signal path extending from an input terminal to an output terminal, a gain controller arranged to control the gain applied along the signal path in response to a control signal; an output stage within the signal path for generating the output signal, the output stage having a gain that is substantially independent of its supply voltage, and a variable voltage power supply comprising a charge pump for providing positive and negative output voltages, the charge pump comprising a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of the states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage.
US08373502B1
A relaxation oscillator for generating a first and a second oscillation signals, comprising: a reference-voltage providing circuit for providing a high and a low reference voltages; switches for directing the high and low reference voltages to inputs of a transconductance amplifier and a non-inverting input of a comparator; the transconductance amplifier for generating an output current with a value determined by its transconductance value, controlled by an input tuning voltage, and multiplied by its inputs' voltage difference; a capacitor connecting between the transconductance amplifier output and ground; and the comparator for generating a first and a second digital signals; wherein the first and second digital signals are digital control signals to the switches, and the first and second oscillation signal of the relaxation oscillator respectively; wherein the oscillation frequency of the relaxation oscillator is independent of the reference voltages, achieving accurate frequency turning, and simplifying the reference-voltage providing circuit.
US08373499B2
An SDRAM includes a DC-DC converter IC for generating a first internal power supply voltage from external power supply voltage, a regulator IC for generating a second internal power supply voltage lower than the first internal power supply voltage, from external power supply voltage, and a switching portion for supplying the first internal power supply voltage to an internal circuit in a normal operation mode and supplying the second internal power supply voltage to the internal circuit in a self-refresh mode. The switching unit allows the DC-DC converter IC and the regulator IC to operate simultaneously only for a prescribed overlapped period, at a time of operation mode switching. The DC-DC converter IC temporarily increases the first internal power supply voltage within the operating voltage range of the internal circuit in the overlapped period.
US08373493B2
Power switching circuits and power management techniques are provided that can reduce static power of ICs, including digital core processors. In one embodiment, the power switching circuit includes a footer (power-gating transistor) between the core and a ground rail and at least two additional power-gating transistors parallel to the footer. The power-gating transistors are controlled by respective control signals to enable selective switching. In a specific embodiment, for each sleep mode, at most, a single one of the transistors is turned on. Multiple sleep modes are accomplished according to the relative sizing of the additional power-gating transistors. A larger of the additional transistors is used to provide a standby mode during short idling times by providing a fast wake-up time and some reduction in static power. For standby modes during longer idling periods, smaller sized transistors are turned on. For longest idling periods, all transistors are turned off.
US08373481B2
Control circuitry and method of controlling for a sampling phase lock loop (PLL). By controlling the duty cycle of a sampling control signal, in accordance with the PLL reference and output signals, spurious output signals from the sampling PLL being controlled can be reduced.
US08373472B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a digital phase locked loop (ADPLL) configured to generate a plurality of time-aligned output clock signals having different frequency values. The ADPLL comprises a digital controlled oscillator configured to generate a variable clock signal that is separated into two signal paths operating according to two separate clock domains. A first signal path is configured to generate a feedback signal that synchronizes the variable clock signal with a reference signal. A second signal path comprises a clock divider circuit configured to synchronously divide the variable clock signal to automatically generate a plurality of time-aligned output clock signals having different frequencies. A clock aligner monitors a phase difference between the variable clock signal and one of the plurality of time-aligned output clock signals and generates a control signal that causes a programmable delay line to automatically time-align the output clock signals with the variable clock signal.
US08373463B1
A phase-locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizer includes a phase detector, a low pass filter coupled to the phase detector, an amplifier coupled to the low pass filter, a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) coupled to the amplifier, a power splitter coupled to the VCO, and a switch configured to select between a first branch and a second branch through which to couple the power splitter to the phase detector. The first branch includes a frequency divider while the second branch includes a mixer. The PLL frequency synthesizer also includes a frequency accuracy indicator that compares a frequency in the first branch with a frequency generated in the second branch, and confirms that the PLL frequency synthesizer is locked to a desired frequency upon receiving a phase lock signal, if the frequency generated in the first branch is the same as the frequency generated in the second branch.
US08373456B2
The domain crossing circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus for improving a timing margin includes a sampler that provides a sampling internal signal generated by delaying an internal input signal by a predetermined time in response to a clock and an edge information signal that defines an output timing of the sampling internal signal and an output stage that allows the sampling internal signal to be synchronized with the clock in response to the edge information signal to be output as a final output signal.
US08373453B2
A circuit including a first buffer coupled to a power line to output a first output signal based on a data signal to an output terminal, a second buffer coupled to the power line to output a second output signal based on the data signal to the output terminal when a control signal is in a predetermined level, and a control circuit coupled to the power line and the control signal.
US08373450B2
A precision current reference or a precision oscillator includes a circuit that precisely controls the cyclic charging of a switched capacitor. The voltage across the switched capacitor is ramped up to a desired voltage during the charge phase. The circuit comprises a network of switched capacitors around a transconductance amplifier. An error voltage between a predetermined voltage and a voltage across the switched capacitor is amplified by a transconductance amplifier to give an error current, which is integrated over time to give an integrated error voltage. The error voltage can be minimized such that the circuit produces a precise output current whose value depends on the switched capacitor capacitance, the predetermined reference voltage and a frequency used to switch the switched capacitors. Alternatively, an embodiment may be part of a frequency locked loop to provide a precise oscillator whose frequency depends on a predetermined resistance and the switched capacitor capacitance.
US08373449B2
A current sensing circuit arrangement is disclosed. The circuit arrangement includes a load transistor for controlling a load current to a load being coupled to a drain electrode of the load transistor. A sense transistor is coupled to the load transistor. The sense transistor has a drain electrode that provides a measurement current representative of the load current. The load transistor and the sense transistor are field effect transistors having a common source electrode. A measurement circuit is configured to receive the measurement current from the sense transistor and to generate an output signal therefrom, the output signal being representative of the load current.
US08373447B2
A method and apparatus of alternating service modes of a silicon on insulator (SOI) process circuit includes determining whether the SOI process circuit is in a first or second service mode. A first clock or a second clock is selected for transmission along a buswire of the SOI process circuit based upon the determination. A receiving device of the signal is notified whether the SOI process circuit is operating in the first service mode or the second service mode.
US08373434B2
A Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) connection control board is provided. The FPGA connection control board includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a plurality of first connection terminals formed at an upper part of the PCB, a plurality of second connection terminals formed at a lower part of the PCB and a plurality of switches each for selectively connecting each of the plurality of first connection terminals with each of the plurality of second connection terminals.
US08373431B2
A data storage device comprises a storage medium for storing data in the form of marks and at least one probe for scanning the storage medium. The storage medium may be comprised in a substrate. The probe comprises a cantilever that comprises terminals serving as electrical contacts an being during operation of the probe mechanically fixed to a probe-holding structure, which may be a common frame of the data storage device. A probe further comprises a supporting structure, to which the terminals are mechanically directly coupled or coupled via hinges and which extends away from the terminals. A tip with a nanoscale apex is provided. A beam structure comprises a heating resistor and is attached at ends to the supporting structure. The beam structure is thinned at least in a direction parallel to an axis of the tip compared to an area of the supporting structure abutting the beam structure.
US08373427B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for in-situ measurement of impurities on metal slugs utilized in electron-beam metal evaporation/deposition systems, and for increasing the production yield of a semiconductor manufacturing processes utilizing electron-beam metal evaporation/deposition systems. A voltage and/or a current level on an electrode disposed in a deposition chamber of an electron-beam metal evaporation/deposition system is monitored and used to measure contamination of the metal slug. Should the voltage or current reach a certain level, the deposition is completed and the system is inspected for contamination.
US08373423B2
An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) test apparatus includes an IEEE 1394 chip, an IEEE 1394 plug, an IEEE 1394 outlet, a test header, and a switch module. The IEEE 1394 chip, plug and outlet each include a ground pin, two pairs of differential signal pins, and a power pin. The test header includes ground pin sockets, two pairs of differential signal pin sockets, and a power signal pin socket. The three power pins and the power signal pin socket are electrically connected together. The switch module is operable to electrically connect the two pairs of differential signal pins of the IEEE 1394 chip to the two pairs of differential signal pins of the IEEE 1394 plug or electrically connect the two pairs of differential signal pins of the IEEE 1394 chip to the two pairs of differential signal pins of the IEEE 1394 outlet.
US08373421B2
An ambulatory infusion device for infusion of a liquid drug into a patient's body over an extended period of time and methods thereof are disclosed. The device includes a sensor assembly, which produces a sensor assembly output based on an infusion characteristic of the ambulatory infusion device and based on a supply voltage/current, and a supply unit which is coupled to a sensor of the sensor assembly and generates the supply voltage/current. A sensor testing unit detects a failure of the sensor assembly, wherein the sensor testing unit is coupled to the sensor assembly and the supply unit, and the sensor testing unit carries out a sensor testing sequence. The sensor testing sequence includes controlling the supply unit so as to produce a variation of the supply voltage/current, and determining whether the variation of the supply voltage/current produces a corresponding variation of the sensor assembly output.
US08373416B2
A data processing system configured to process acquired image data (e.g., as part of a diagnostic imaging apparatus) uses a signal-power estimating unit for estimating signal power by using reference data containing data different from processing-target data and a data processing unit for processing the processing-target data by using a WF (wiener_filter) based on the signal power estimated by the signal-power estimating unit.
US08373411B2
In an in-line pipe inspection tool, sensors for inspecting the pipe are mounted on sensor blocks moveable relative to the body of the tool. However, when the sensor blocks move radially to conform to different pipe diameters, the circumferential distances between the sensors changes. To ameliorate the effect of this, the sensor blocks have a shape such that one axial edge of each sensor block circumferentially overlaps the opposite edge of an adjacent sensor block. With such an arrangement, when the sensor block are operating at minimum diameter, part of one sensor block will overlap an adjacent block, in the circumferential direction. As the diameter of the pipeline in which the pig is used increases, the degree of overlap will reduce, and may even reduce to zero, but there will still be no overall axial gaps between the sensor blocks. Thus, by suitable shaping of the sensor blocks the tool can be used with a wide range of pipe diameters.
US08373394B1
A system and method for dynamically adjusting capacitance added in parallel to an electrical line input for improving efficiency of an electrical system. A microprocessor monitors in real time the current and voltage wave forms of a system and selects the optimum amount of capacitance from a bank of capacitors of different values. The system is implemented at the utility transformer to encourage adoption of the device by utility companies and customers.
US08373379B2
Methods and devices are presented herein for estimating induction motor inductance parameters based on instantaneous reactive power. The induction motor inductance parameters, e.g., the stator inductance and the total leakage factor, can be estimated from motor nameplate data and instantaneous reactive power without involving speed sensors or electronic injection circuits. In one embodiment, the method includes: measuring voltages and currents; converting the measured voltages and currents into discrete-time voltage and current samples by analog-to-digital converters; synthesizing a complex voltage from the discrete-time voltage samples; synthesizing a complex current from the discrete-time current samples; acquiring and storing motor nameplate data; detecting instantaneous rotor speed by calculating an instantaneous rotor slot harmonic frequency with respect to an instantaneous fundamental frequency; calculating, via an induction motor inductance estimator, the motor's instantaneous reactive power and other intermediate quantities; and outputting the stator inductance and the total leakage factor.
US08373377B2
A shift register which receives a transmission clock signal, which is shifted according to the transmission clock signal, and which outputs a gate signal a predetermined time after reset; a reset circuit which outputs a reset signal for resetting the shift register when the reset circuit receives an input of a step signal for driving the stepping motor; and a switching element which receives the gate signal of the shift register and which is switched between a blocked state and a conductive state are provided in a driving circuit of a stepping motor.
US08373371B2
A method of controlling an electric machine that includes sequentially exciting and freewheeling a winding of the electric machine. The winding is excited in advance of zero-crossings of back emf in the winding by an advance angle, and the winding is freewheeled over a freewheel angle. The method then includes varying the advance angle and the freewheel angle in response to changes in the voltage used to excite the winding. Additionally, a control system for an electric machine, and a product incorporating the control system and electric machine.
US08373369B2
A method for operating a synchronous motor wherein a magnetic field is generated by a first motor component in a predetermined orientation, the method including generating a relative movement between the first and a second motor component limited to a predetermined value, and determining a direction of the relative movement, wherein the generating and determining are repeated until a change in the direction of the relative movement occurs, wherein a magnetic field having a changed orientation with regard to a previously generated magnetic field is generated by the first motor component, and wherein the orientation of the magnetic field with the changed orientation is changed by a predetermined orientation section and depending on the determined direction of the relative movement. The invention encompasses an amplifier for operating a synchronous motor and a system including an amplifier and a synchronous motor.
US08373368B2
An energy storage device having a variable momentum of inertia uses centrifugal forces acting on movable masses to self adjust its moment of inertia. The adjustment of the moment of inertia occurs without any additional energy input. Energy is stored as rotational kinetic energy and potential elastic and/or gravitational energy.
US08373364B2
System(s) and method(s) are provide to efficiently assess performance of a set of light emitting diode (LED) strings in an illumination system. A multiplexer component collects input signal from the one or more LED strings via a first set of one or more monitoring pins, processes the collected input signal, and extracts at least one output signal. The at least one output signal is conveyed to a demultiplexer component through a second set of one or more monitoring pins, wherein the number of elements in the second set of monitoring pins is equal to or smaller than the number of monitoring pins in the first set. The collected input signal is processed in accordance with at least one mode of operation of the multiplexer component, the mode of operation autonomously configured by the demultiplexer component. The multiplexer component can autonomously generate intelligence on operating status of the set of LED strings.
US08373361B2
Greenhouse system may comprise an illumination, a sensor, and a controller. The illumination and controller are arranged to vary the intensity and the spectral distribution of the light emitted by the illumination. The emitted light may be pulsed light, the pulse characteristics being variable by the controller in dependency of the output of the sensor. The controller is arranged to interpret the relevant variables measured by the sensor and to assess the actual and/or expected growth of the relevant plants, and to control the intensity and/or the spectral distribution of the light emitted by the illumination. Some sensors may be provided for measuring the intensity and/or spectral distribution of the actual light in the greenhouse, other sensors for measuring plant dimensions of the relevant plants or plant groups. The illumination may comprise a heat collector which can be connected to heating or air conditioning inside or outside the greenhouse.
US08373359B2
According to one embodiment, a light-emitting device includes an emitting layer, first and second electrodes, a voltage-supply circuit, an ammeter and a controller. The emitting layer includes a solution containing an emitting material and a solvent. The first and second electrodes are in contact with the solution. The voltage-supply circuit applies an operating voltage between the first and second electrodes. The ammeter measures the amount of electric current flowing between the first and second electrodes. The controller controls the operation of the voltage-supply circuit such that the polarity of the operating voltage reverses and determining a timing of reversing the polarity based on the output of the ammeter.
US08373357B2
An integrated circuit device has a modulator module that provides a modulation signal comprising one frequency keyed on and off, or alternating between two or more different frequencies or phases that are selected based upon a modulator signal. The one or more frequencies or phases may be selected from a plurality of frequency sources. Switching the one frequency on or off, or between the at least two different frequencies or phases may be synchronized with one or both of the two or more different frequencies or phases so that “glitches” or spurs are not introduced into the modulation signal. The integrated circuit device may also comprise a processor, memory, digital logic and input-output. Frequency sources may be internal to the digital device or external. The modulator signal may comprise serial data generated from the digital logic and/or processor of the digital device.
US08373349B2
A circuit for controlling the switch frequency of an inverter that strikes and drives fluorescent lamps is disclosed. The circuit comprises a frequency generator and an offset circuit. The offset circuit provides a current signal in response to the lamp status. The frequency generator provides a frequency control signal in respond to the current signal so as to control the switch frequency of the inverter. When the lamp is open, the switch frequency of the inverter is higher; when the lamp is lighted, the switch frequency of the inverter is lower.
US08373347B2
A light system that is controllable to generate a plurality of selected lighting effects, the light system includes a main processor, the main processor being in communication with a plurality of light sources; and each of the plurality of light sources having a distinct, known address whereby one of more of the light sources are individually addressable by the main processor, a known address being received by a selected light source of the plurality of light sources and acting to set the selected light source of the plurality of light sources in a disposition to receive a subsequent command from the main processor for generating a selected lighting effect. A light source and a method of forming a light system are further included.
US08373345B2
The invention relates to a control (7) of the lighting of an elevator car (3) as well as to a method for controlling the lighting of an elevator car. The lighting of an elevator car according to the invention is controlled at least partly on the basis of information about a change in the speed of the elevator car.
US08373343B2
The invention provides an optoelectric device, in particular an organic light emitting diode device comprising a substrate, a first electrode applied on the substrate, a second electrode, a layer of an organic light emitting material which is arranged in between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a multilayer seal applied onto the second electrode which multilayer seal comprises at least one layer of a high density material and at least one layer of an organic material in which organic material a moisture scavenging agent has been incorporated, which moisture scavenging agent comprises an organic composition that does not generate an acidic proton when subjected to hydrolysis. The invention also relates to an article comprising said organic light emitting device, and a method for preparing said device.
US08373330B2
One embodiment of the present invention features a circuit for driving a piezoelectric actuator, comprising a first transmission line to provide an input signal having a time-varying voltage; a second transmission line to provide a predetermined voltage current; a piezoelectric element; and a switch coupled to the second transmission line and the piezoelectric element, the switch configured to electrically connect and disconnect the predetermined voltage current to and from the piezoelectric element based on the input signal.
US08373329B2
A surface acoustic wave device includes an electrode and a dielectric layer laminated on a piezoelectric substrate, in which the electrode includes a first electrode film containing Pt, Au, Ag, or Cu and a second electrode film containing Al, the normalized film thickness h/λ of the first electrode film is about 0.005 or more and at most about 0.015 in the case of Pt, the normalized film thickness h/λ of the Al film is about 0.06 or more and at most about 0.185, and the normalized film thickness h/λ of the dielectric layer is about 0.2 or less.
US08373320B2
A stator for a motor of a compressor includes a stator core, an insulator fitted on an axial end face of the stator core, and coils wound around the stator core and the insulator. The insulator has an annular portion, a plurality of circumferentially arranged tooth portions projecting radially inwardly from an inner peripheral surface of the annular portion, and a cylindrical-shaped wall section erected on an axial end face of the annular portion. The coils include crossover wires routed on an outer peripheral surface of the wall section of the insulator so as to extend obliquely relative to a plane orthogonal to an axis of the stator, as viewed in a direction orthogonal to the axis.
US08373318B2
A terminal lead insulator assembly for use in a wound field synchronous machine has a generally cylindrical skirt extending in a first direction from a radially larger face. The radially larger face is formed with a plurality of radially outwardly extending ears. The ears include central openings for receiving electrical connections. A rotor assembly, a wound field synchronous machine and a method of assembling such a rotor assembly, each of which include the terminal lead insulator assembly as mentioned above, are also disclosed and claimed.
US08373314B2
A power supply device (1) for at least one electrical means (2) arranged below sea level, for instance a power supply and control device, or the like, used in maritime oil and/or gas production, comprises a voltage supply means (3) particularly provided above sea level, which is connected via a first cable connection (4) to the electrical means (2) and via a second cable connection (5) to a subsea anode (6). —The electrical means has assigned thereto a subsea cathode (7) for closing the circuit. It is thereby ensured that power supply is guaranteed even in the case of reduced cabling efforts for a long period of time and can be maintained and repaired in a simple way.
US08373303B1
An electrical power supply arrangement includes a solar power device that converts sunlight into DC electrical power. A DC load runs on the DC current electrical power. The DC load may be controlled or adjusted to consume a maximum amount of the electrical output of the solar power device. A DC-to-AC converter converts the DC electrical power into AC electrical power. A controller enables the DC-to-AC converter to receive a portion of the DC current electrical power from the solar power device only if all of the DC current electrical power cannot be consumed by the DC load.
US08373293B2
A protection system for a doubly-fed induction machine; with a stator and a rotor. The stator of the doubly-fed induction machine is connected to a grid, and the rotor of the doubly-fed induction machine is connected to the grid via a converter. The converter includes a machine side converter, and a DC-link and a line side converter. The protection system also includes at least one crowbar, the crowbar being connected to the rotor, at least one DC-chopper provided in the DC-link, a converter controller, and a separate protection device for DC-chopper and the at least one crowbar.
US08373287B2
A polymeric composition comprising a first polymer chosen from a poly(arylene ether) polymer including polymer repeat units of the following structure: —(O—Ar1—O—Ar2—O—)m—(—O—Ar3—O—Ar4—O)n- where Ar1, Ar2, Ar3, and Ar4 are identical or different aryl radicals, m is 0 to 1, n is 1 m; a polysulfone, a polyimide, a poly(etherketone), a polyurea, a polyurethane, and combinations thereof and a second polymer comprising a per(phenylethynyl) arene polymer derivative. Cured films containing the polymer can exhibit at least one of the following properties: Tg from 160° C. to 180° C., a dielectric constant below 2.7 with frequency independence, and a maximum moisture absorption of less than 0.17 wt %. Accordingly, the polymer is especially useful, for example, in interlayer dielectrics and in die-attach adhesives.
US08373286B2
A curable organopolysiloxane composition and an optical semiconductor element sealant, each comprising (A) a diorganopolysiloxane that has at least 2 alkenyl groups wherein at least 70 mole % of all the siloxane units are methylphenylsiloxane units and the total content of 1,3,5-trimethyl-1,3,5-triphenylcyclotrisiloxane and 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-1,3,5,7-tetraphenylcyclotetrasiloxane is no more than 5 weight %, (B) an organopolysiloxane that has at least 2 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms wherein at least 15 mole % of the silicon-bonded organic groups are phenyl groups, and (C) a hydrosilylation reaction catalyst. An optical semiconductor device in which an optical semiconductor element within a housing is sealed with the cured product from the aforementioned composition.
US08373282B2
A structure includes a metal pad over a semiconductor substrate, a passivation layer having a portion over the metal pad, and a first polyimide layer over the passivation layer, wherein the first polyimide layer has a first thickness and a first Young's modulus. A post-passivation interconnect (PPI) includes a first portion over the first polyimide layer, and a second portion extending into the passivation layer and the first polyimide layer. The PPI is electrically coupled to the metal pad. A second polyimide layer is over the PPI. The second polyimide layer has a second thickness and a second Young's modulus. At least one of a thickness ratio and a Young's modulus ratio is greater than 1.0, wherein the thickness ratio is the ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness, and the Young's modulus ratio is the ratio of the second Young's modulus to the first Young's modulus.
US08373281B2
A semiconductor element mounted on an insulating resin layer formed on a wiring layer is sealed by a sealing resin. On the wiring layer, a protruding electrode protruding to the side of the semiconductor element and a protruding section are integrally formed with the wiring layer, respectively. The protruding electrode is electrically connected to an element electrode of the semiconductor element by penetrating the insulating resin layer. The protruding section is arranged to surround the semiconductor element along the four sides of the semiconductor element, and is embedded in the sealing resin up to a position above a section where the protruding electrode and the element electrode are bonded.
US08373276B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a printed wiring board in which solder bumps of a mounted semiconductor chip are less prone to be ruptured. The printed wiring board includes a dielectric layer having a main surface and a connecting pad embedded in the dielectric layer. The connecting pad is shaped like a brimmed hat. That is, the connecting pad includes a plate portion whose diameter is larger than that of a contact portion. The main surface of the contact portion is exposed at the main surface of the dielectric layer. Diameter of the contact portion is substantially the same as diameter of an under bump metal at the semiconductor chip side, when mechanical stress is applied, the stress disperses evenly to both of the connecting pad and the under bump metal, and thus rupture is less prone to occur.
US08373275B2
A fine pitch solder bump structure with a built-in stress buffer that is utilized in electronic packages, and a method of producing the fine pitch solder bump structure with built-in stress buffer. Employed is a very thick final passivation layer that is constituted of a polyimide as a so-called “cushion” for a minimal thickness of UBM (BLM) pad and solder material, while concurrently completely separating the resultingly produced polyimide islands, so that the polyimide material provides most of the physical height for the “standoff” of a modified C4 (controlled collapse chip connection) structure. In employing the polyimide material as the primary structural component of the vertical chip package interconnect in this particular inventive manner, the inherent stress buffering property of the polyimide material is utilized to full advantage by effectively reducing the high stresses encountered during chip manufacture processing steps, such as chip join, reflow, preconditioning and reliability thermal cycle stressing.
US08373269B1
A device includes a lower jig and an upper jig, wherein the lower jig and the upper jig are configured to secure a package substrate. The lower jig includes a first base material and a first plurality of features attached to the first base material. The first plurality of features is disposed adjacent to a peripheral of the lower jig. The upper jig includes a second base material and a second plurality of features attached to the second base material. The second plurality of features is disposed adjacent to a peripheral of the upper jig. The first plurality of features is configured to be attracted to the second plurality of features by a magnetic force.
US08373268B2
A semiconductor package including a plurality of stacked semiconductor die, and methods of forming the semiconductor package, are disclosed. In order to ease wirebonding requirements on the controller die, the controller die may be mounted directly to the substrate in a flip chip arrangement requiring no wire bonds or footprint outside of the controller die. Thereafter, a spacer layer may be affixed to the substrate around the controller die to provide a level surface on which to mount one or more flash memory die. The spacer layer may be provided in a variety of different configurations.
US08373266B2
A system for dissipating heat from a semiconductor board includes a first substrate including an opening formed therein, a second substrate attached to a surface of the first substrate, and a microchip positioned in the opening and bumped to the second substrate. The system further includes a heat sink directly adhered to the microchip. A method of manufacturing a heat dissipating semiconductor board includes forming an opening in a first substrate and positioning a microchip in the opening. The method further includes directly adhering the microchip to a heat sink, bonding the microchip to a second substrate and boding a surface of the first substrate to the second substrate.
US08373264B2
An integrated electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield for a semiconductor module package. The integrated EMI shield includes a plurality of wirebond springs electrically connected between a ground plane in the substrate of the package and a conductive layer printed on the top of the package mold compound. The wirebond springs have a defined shape that causes a spring effect to provide contact electrical connection between the tops of the wirebond springs and the conductive layer. The wirebond springs can be positioned anywhere in the module package, around all or some of the devices included in the package, to create a complete EMI shield around those devices.
US08373263B2
An interconnection structure includes a semiconductor chip, a mounting substrate on which the semiconductor chip is mounted, and a group of bonding wires provided to connect the semiconductor chip and the mounting substrate. The group of bonding wires includes: a first signal bonding wire contained in a first envelope and provided to propagate a signal; a first power supply bonding wire contained in the first envelope and applied with a first power supply voltage; and a second power supply bonding wire contained in a second envelope and applied with a second power supply voltage. One of the first envelope and the second envelope is arranged between the other of the first envelope and the second envelope and the mounting substrate. The second power supply bonding wire is arranged in a position in which electromagnetic coupling between the second power supply bonding wire and the first signal bonding wire is smaller than electromagnetic coupling between the second power supply bonding wire and the first power supply bonding wire.
US08373261B2
Provided is a chip stack package and a method of manufacturing the same. A chip stack package may include a base chip including a base substrate, a base through via electrode penetrating the base substrate, a base chip pad connected to the base through via electrode, and a base encapsulant. The chip stack package may further include at least one stack chip on a surface of the base substrate. The chip stack package may also include an external connection terminal connected to the base through via electrode and the base chip pad and protruding from the base encapsulant, and an external encapsulant surrounding and protecting outer surfaces of the base chip and the at least one stack chip, wherein the chip through via electrode and the chip pad are connected to the base through via electrode and the base chip pad of the base chip.
US08373259B2
A system includes an optical transceiver assembly, including a flip chip connection of a semiconductor die with a photonic transceiver that overhangs a substrate to which it is to be connected. The assembly further includes an alignment pin that is held to the semiconductor die at a micro-engineered structure in the semiconductor die. The alignment pin provides passive alignment of the photonic transceiver with an optical lens that interfaces the photonic transceiver to one or more optical channels.
US08373255B2
A diode comprises a P-type well formed in a semiconductor substrate, at least one N-type impurity doping area formed in the P-type well, an isolation area formed to surround the N-type impurity doping area, a P-type impurity doping area formed to surround the isolation area, first contacts formed in the N-type impurity doping area in a single row or a plurality of rows, and second contacts formed in the P-type impurity doping area in a single row or a plurality of rows, wherein pin resistance can be adjusted through changing any one of a distance between the N-type impurity doping area and the P-type impurity doping area, a contact pitch between the first contacts, and a contact pitch between the second contacts.
US08373253B2
A semiconductor structure. The semiconductor comprises a substrate, a first deep well, a diode and a transistor. The first deep well is formed in the substrate. The diode is formed in the first deep well. The transistor is formed in the first deep well. The diode is connected to a first voltage, the transistor is connected to a second voltage, and the diode and the transistor are cascaded.
US08373240B2
A sensor device and method. One embodiment provides a first semiconductor chip having a sensing region. A porous structure element is attached to the first semiconductor chip. A first region of the porous structure element faces the sensing region of the first semiconductor chip. An encapsulation material partially encapsulates the first semiconductor chip and the porous structure element.
US08373238B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate, and a FinFET over the semiconductor substrate. The FinFET includes a semiconductor fin; a gate dielectric on a top surface and sidewalls of the semiconductor fin; a gate electrode on the gate dielectric; and a source/drain region at an end of the semiconductor fin. A first pair of shallow trench isolation (STI) regions includes portions directly underlying portions of the source/drain regions, wherein the first pair of STI regions is separated by, and adjoining a semiconductor strip. The first pair of STI regions further has first top surfaces. A second pair of STI regions comprises portions directly underlying the gate electrode, wherein the second pair of STI regions is separated from each other by, and adjoining, the semiconductor strip. The second pair of STI regions has second top surfaces higher than the first top surfaces.
US08373237B2
Example embodiments provide a transistor and a method of manufacturing the same. The transistor may include a channel layer formed of an oxide semiconductor and a gate having a three-dimensional structure. A plurality of the transistors may be stacked in a perpendicular direction to a substrate. At least some of the plurality of transistors may be connected to each other.
US08373236B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor device (10) with a substrate (11) and a semiconductor body (1) comprising a bipolar transistor with in that order a collector region (2), a base region (3), and an emitter region (4), wherein the semiconductor body comprises a projecting mesa (5) comprising at least a portion of the collector region (2) and the base region (3), which mesa is surrounded by an isolation region (6). According to the invention, the semiconductor device (10) also comprises a field effect transistor with a source region, a drain region, an interposed channel region, a superimposed gate dielectric (7), and a gate region (8), which gate region (8) forms a highest part of the field effect transistor, and the height of the mesa (5) is greater than the height of the gate region (8). This device can be manufactured inexpensively and easily by a method according to the invention, and the bipolar transistor can have excellent high-frequency characteristics.
US08373227B2
A semiconductor device comprises a substrate including a first region and a second region of a first conductivity type and a third region between the first and second regions of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, and being covered by a dielectric layer. A plurality of trenches laterally extend between the third and second region, are filled with an insulating material, and are separated by active stripes with a doping profile having a depth not exceeding the depth of the trenches wherein each trench terminates before reaching the dielectric layer and is separated from the third region by a substrate portion such that the respective boundaries between the substrate portions and the trenches are not covered by the dielectric layer. A method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device is also disclosed.
US08373225B2
A super-junction trench MOSFET with Resurf Stepped Oxide and split gate electrodes is disclosed. The inventive structure can apply additional freedom for better optimization of device performance and manufacturing capability by tuning thick oxide thickness to minimize influence of charge imbalance, trapped charges, etc. Furthermore, the fabrication method can be implemented more reliably with lower cost.
US08373205B2
Humidity or a gas concentration or a solvent concentration in at least one gas is detected by a field effect transistor-based gas sensor whose sensor signal is generated by the change in the work function on a sensitive film. Detection is to be provided in a simple, effective and inexpensive manner. An additional change in potential is impressed at a gate of the field effect transistor and a variable of the resulting change in the sensor signal relative to the additional change in potential is evaluated. For example, each variable, which is e.g. a ratio, can be assigned a relative humidity, a gas concentration, or a solvent concentration. Sensitive films having at least one polymer are particularly advantageous.
US08373204B2
A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device includes a semiconductor substrate and a GaN-type layer stack on top of the semiconductor substrate. The GaN-type layer stack has at least one buffer layer, a first active layer and a second active layer. Active device regions are definable at an interface of the first and second active layer. The semiconductor substrate is present on an insulating layer and is patterned to define trenches according to a predefined pattern, which includes at least one trench underlying the active device region. The trenches extend from the insulating layer into at least one buffer layer of the GaN-type layer stack and are overgrown within the at least one buffer layer, so as to obtain that the first and the second active layer are continuous at least within the active device regions.
US08373203B2
An intrinsic or substantially intrinsic semiconductor, which has been subjected to a step of dehydration or dehydrogenation and a step of adding oxygen so that the carrier concentration is less than 1×1012/cm3 is used for an oxide semiconductor layer of an insulated gate transistor, in which a channel region is formed. The length of the channel formed in the oxide semiconductor layer is set to 0.2 μm to 3.0 μm an inclusive and the thicknesses of the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate insulating layer are set to 15 nm to 30 nm inclusive and 20 nm to 50 nm inclusive, respectively, or 15 nm to 100 nm inclusive and 10 nm to 20 nm inclusive, respectively. Consequently, a short-channel effect can be suppressed, and the amount of change in threshold voltage can be less than 0.5 V in the range of the above channel lengths.
US08373202B2
An integrated circuit chip includes a silicon substrate, a first circuit in or over said silicon substrate, a second circuit device in or over said silicon substrate, a dielectric structure over said silicon substrate, a first interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a first pad connected to said first node of said voltage regulator through said first interconnecting structure, a second interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a second pad connected to said first node of said internal circuit through said second interconnecting structure, a passivation layer over said dielectric structure, wherein multiple opening in said passivation layer exposes said first and second pads, and a third interconnecting structure over said passivation layer and over said first and second pads.
US08373193B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a first conductive type semiconductor layer; an active layer on the first conductive type semiconductor layer; and a first electrode pad including a plurality of reflective layers on the first conductive type semiconductor layer.
US08373182B2
A semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same can include a wavelength converting layer encapsulating at least one semiconductor light-emitting chip to emit various colored lights including white light. The semiconductor light-emitting device can include a base board with the chip mounted thereon, a frame located on the base board, a transparent plate located on the wavelength converting layer, a reflective material layer disposed between the frame and both side surfaces of the wavelength converting layer and the transparent plate, and a light-absorbing layer located on the reflective material layer. The semiconductor light-emitting device can be configured to improve light-emitting efficiency and a contrast between a light-emitting and non-light-emitting surfaces by using the transparent material and light-absorbing layer. A wavelength-converted light that is emitted can have a high light-emitting efficiency and a high contrast between a light-emitting and non-light-emitting surface from a small light-emitting surface.
US08373179B2
A LED chip including a substrate, a semiconductor device layer, a current blocking layer, a current spread layer, a first electrode and a second electrode is provided. The semiconductor device layer is disposed on the substrate. The current blocking layer is disposed on a part of the semiconductor device layer and includes a current blocking segment and a current distribution adjusting segment. The current spread layer is disposed on a part of the semiconductor device layer and covers the current blocking layer. The first electrode is disposed on the current spread layer, wherein a part of the current blocking segment is overlapped with the first electrode. Contours of the current blocking segment and the first electrode are similar figures. Contour of the first electrode and is within contour of the current blocking segment. The current distribution adjusting segment is not overlapped with the first electrode.
US08373178B2
A light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer on the active layer; and a transparent electrode layer formed at least one of on and under the light emitting structure, wherein the transparent electrode layer has a thickness in a range of 30 nm to 70 nm to obtain a transmittance equal to or greater than 70% with respect to a wavelength range of light of 420 nm to 510 nm.
US08373176B2
A MOSFET representing a semiconductor device capable of achieving decrease in the number of steps in a manufacturing process and improvement in integration by including an electrode that can be in contact with any of a p-type SiC region and an n-type SiC region with contact resistance being sufficiently suppressed includes an n+ SiC substrate, an n− SiC layer formed on the n+ SiC substrate, and a source electrode arranged in contact with the n− SiC layer. The n− SiC layer includes an n+ source region having an n conductivity type. The source electrode includes a source contact electrode arranged in contact with the n+ source region and containing Ti, Al and Si.
US08373175B1
Simultaneous formation of electrical ohmic contacts to silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductor having donor and acceptor impurities (n- and p-type doping, respectively) is disclosed. The innovation provides for ohmic contacts formed on SiC layers having n- and p-doping at one process step during the fabrication of the semiconductor device. Further, the innovation provides a non-discriminatory, universal ohmic contact to both n- and p-type SiC, enhancing reliability of the specific contact resistivity when operated at temperatures in excess of 600° C.
US08373173B2
The object of the present invention is to form a low-concentration impurity region with good accuracy in a top gate type TFT. Phosphorus is added to a semiconductor layer by using a pattern made of a conductive film as a mask to form an N-type impurity region in a self-alignment manner. A positive photoresist is applied to a substrate so as to cover the pattern and then is exposed to light applied to the back of the substrate and then is developed, whereby a photoresist 110 is formed. The pattern is etched by using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask to form a gate electrode. A channel forming region, a source region, a drain region, and low-concentration impurity regions, are formed in the semiconductor layer in a self-alignment manner by using the gate electrode as a doping mask.
US08373168B2
A thin film transistor is provided. The thin film transistor includes a gate, at least an inorganic material layer, at least one dielectric layer, a source, a drain, and an active layer. The active layer is located on the substrate. The source and the drain cover a part of the active layer and a part of the substrate. A channel region exists between the source and the drain. The inorganic material layer is filled into the channel region. The dielectric layer at least including an organic material covers the inorganic material, the source and the drain. The gate is disposed on the dielectric layer.
US08373166B2
According to present invention, system on panel without complicating the process of TFT can be realized, and a light-emitting device that can be formed by lower cost than that of the conventional light-emitting device can be provided. A light-emitting device is provided in which a pixel portion is provided with a pixel including a light-emitting element and a TFT for controlling supply of current to the light-emitting element; a TFT included in a drive circuit and a TFT for controlling supply of current to the light-emitting element include a gate electrode, a gate insulating film formed over the gate electrode, a first semiconductor film, which overlaps with the gate electrode via the gate insulating film, a pair of second semiconductor films formed over the first semiconductor film; the pair of second semiconductor films are doped with an impurity to have one conductivity type; and the first semiconductor film is formed by semiamorphous semiconductor.
US08373163B2
Disclosed are an oxide semiconductor and a thin film transistor (TFT) including the same. The oxide semiconductor may include a lanthanoid (Ln) added to zinc oxide (ZnO) and may be used as a channel material of the TFT.
US08373154B2
Various embodiments of the invention relate to a CMOS device having (1) an NMOS channel of silicon material selectively deposited on a first area of a graded silicon germanium substrate such that the selectively deposited silicon material experiences a tensile strain caused by the lattice spacing of the silicon material being smaller than the lattice spacing of the graded silicon germanium substrate material at the first area, and (2) a PMOS channel of silicon germanium material selectively deposited on a second area of the substrate such that the selectively deposited silicon germanium material experiences a compressive strain caused by the lattice spacing of the selectively deposited silicon germanium material being larger than the lattice spacing of the graded silicon germanium substrate material at the second area.
US08373153B2
Implementations of quantum well photodetectors are provided. In one embodiment, a quantum structure includes a first barrier layer, a well layer located on the first barrier layer, and a second barrier layer located on the well layer. A metal layer is located adjacent to the quantum structure.
US08373148B2
The present resistive memory device includes first and second electrodes. An active layer is situated between the first and second electrodes. The active layer with advantage has a thermal conductivity of 0.02 W/Kcm or less, and is surrounded by a body in contact with the layer, the body having a thermal conductivity of 0.01 W/Kcm or less.
US08373146B2
The invention comprises a radio-frequency accelerator method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. An RF synthesizer provides a low voltage RF signal, that is synchronized to the period of circulation of protons in the proton beam path, to a set of integrated microcircuits, loops, and coils where the coils circumferentially enclose the proton beam path in a synchrotron. The integrated components combine to provide an accelerating voltage to the protons in the proton beam path in a size compressed and price reduced format. The integrated RF-amplifier microcircuit/accelerating coil system is operable from about 1 MHz, for a low energy proton beam, to about 15 MHz, for a high energy proton beam.
US08373138B2
An irradiation surface of an electron beam irradiation device 28 is directed toward a vessel 2 conveyed by a vessel conveying device 24 to thereby irradiate the vessel 2 with the electron beam to sterilize the vessel, an irradiation chamber 30 is provided so as to surround the irradiation surface of the electron beam irradiation device 28 and the vessel 2 subjected to the irradiation, a discharge chamber 32 is provided on an outlet side of the irradiation chamber 30, and dry-air supply means 80 for supplying a dried aseptic air is connected to the irradiation chamber 30. By removing moisture within the irradiation chamber 30 which is irradiated with the electron beam, the changing of nitrogen oxide to nitric acid is suppressed to thereby prevent metal portions from corroding.
US08373137B2
A high resolution energy-selecting electron beam apparatus and method for improving the energy resolution of electron-optical systems by restricting the energy range of admitted electrons, and optionally also for improving the spatial resolution by correcting chromatic and geometric aberrations. The apparatus comprises a plurality of magnetic or electrostatic prisms that disperse an electron beam according to the energies of the electrons into an energy spectrum, a plurality of magnifying lenses such as electromagnetic or electrostatic quadrupoles that increase the energy dispersion of the energy spectrum, an energy-selecting slit that selects a desirable range of energies of the electrons, and optionally also sextupole, octupole and higher-order lenses that correct chromatic and geometric aberration of the electron-optical system. The apparatus also comprises further magnetic or electrostatic prisms and electron lenses arranged such that the energy dispersion of the electron beam emerging from the apparatus is cancelled.
US08373135B2
A counting detector is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the counting detector includes sensors for converting radiation quanta into electrical pulses and an evaluation unit with a number of energy thresholds, wherein the evaluation unit generates for each sensor a count value for each energy threshold from the pulses, which count value represents the number of radiation quanta with an energy above the respective energy threshold. In at least one embodiment, one of the energy thresholds is arranged directly above a characteristic energy of radiation quanta causing double counting in order to correct double counting; and a correction unit calculates a corrected count value from the count values of the energy thresholds, which corrected count value has reduced double counting for at least one of the energy thresholds. Images with an improved contrast-to-noise ratio and, at the same time, a reduced X-ray dose can be generated on the basis of the at least one corrected count value. In at least one embodiment, the invention moreover relates to a computed tomography system with such a counting detector.
US08373134B2
To mitigate the influence of charge sharing occurring in semiconductor detectors, an improved semiconductor detector (200) is provided, which comprises: a plurality of anodes (210) arranged to form at least one opening (230), each opening being formed by two anodes in the plurality of anodes; at least one cathode (220); a detector cell (240) located between the plurality of anodes and the at least one cathode; wherein the detector cell comprises at least one groove (250), each of the at least one groove having a first opening (252) aligned with one of the at least one opening being formed by two anodes in the plurality of anodes, each of the at least one groove extending towards the at least one cathode. By forming grooves in the detector cell, the charge cloud generated by a single photon can be received by a corresponding anode instead of several neighboring anodes, which thereby improves the spectral resolution and count rate of a semiconductor detector.
US08373133B2
A water Cerenkov-based neutron and high energy gamma ray detector and radiation portal monitoring system using water doped with a Gadolinium (Gd)-based compound as the Cerenkov radiator. An optically opaque enclosure is provided surrounding a detection chamber filled with the Cerenkov radiator, and photomultipliers are optically connected to the detect Cerenkov radiation generated by the Cerenkov radiator from incident high energy gamma rays or gamma rays induced by neutron capture on the Gd of incident neutrons from a fission source. The PMT signals are then used to determine time correlations indicative of neutron multiplicity events characteristic of a fission source.
US08373118B2
Methods and systems for mass spectrometry and more particularly to an interface providing charged particles to a mass spectrometer are described herein.
US08373116B2
Provided is a multi-channel electrospray emitter. The emitter includes a plurality of separate or distinct capillaries, each capillary being one channel and terminating in a nozzle, from which the analyte is sprayed. The nozzles may be raised above a face of the electrospray emitter. The multi-channel electrospray emitter may comprise a microstructured fiber. In one embodiment, the microstructured fiber may be a photonic crystal fiber.
US08373103B2
An apparatus for heating and impelling air comprises a housing, an air heating impeller assembly, and a magnetic assembly. The impeller assembly may impel air through the housing and heat the air, and may include a support shaft, a plurality of annular disks positioned along the support shaft and each having a central aperture through which the support shaft extends. The impeller assembly includes paddles radiating outwardly from the shaft, and each of the paddles is positioned between the shaft and the disks to space at least one disk from the support shaft to form an air path therebetween. The paddles space the disks in an axial direction to form gaps therebetween to form an air path between the disks. The magnetic assembly applies a magnetic field of adjustable intensity to the disks to cause heating of the disks.
US08373100B2
A heating element with a ceramic body that has PTC properties is specified. The heating element has electrodes that are arranged on ceramic body. Both the ceramic body and the electrodes are lead-free.
US08373092B2
A selective laser sintering apparatus is adapted contain or receive a build frame and comprises a cap assembly which includes a removable plate assembly having at least one gas inlet formed therein. The removable plate assembly sealingly covers the build frame. The cap assembly further comprises at least one gas line fluidly connectable to the gas inlet via a gas port to deliver inert gas to the interior of the build frame. The plate assembly comprises upper and lower plates defining a spacing therebetween. A seal extends around a periphery of the upper and lower plates and is sandwiched therebetween to enclose the spacing. The lower plate has a plurality of gas inlets formed therein which are in fluid communication with the spacing such that inert gas may be delivered to the build volume while the cap assembly is installed thereupon.
US08373091B2
A microcontact according to the invention is less than 10 mm in length and composed of a conductive basis material, a base surface treatment layer formed thereon, and an upper surface treatment layer, and includes a contact portion, a terminal portion, and an intermediate portion formed over its entire circumference with exposed oxide surfaces of the base surface treatment layer. The exposed oxide surfaces are formed by irradiating the front and rear surfaces of the contact with laser beams at respective predetermined inclined angles to remove the upper surface treatment layer and simultaneously to oxidize the narrow base surface treatment layer exposed by the removal of the upper surface treatment layer. In this manner, the exposed oxide surfaces can be formed with a high accuracy in a simple manner for stopping solder rise at a predetermined position when the terminal portion of the microcontact is jointed to a substrate by soldering.
US08373088B2
An atmospheric pressure plasma generation apparatus is provided for generating plasma at the atmospheric pressure with stable voltage supply. A plasma generation apparatus of the preset invention includes a first conductor arranged to face a workpiece and having a power plate through power is applied; a second conductor arranged oppositely to a surface facing the workpiece along the first conductor for define a discharge space; and a gas supply unit having a gas supply passage for guiding gas to the discharge space and supporting the first and second conductors. The atmospheric plasma generation apparatus of the present invention is advantageous since the plasma can be uniformly generated in stable manner at an atmospheric pressure on the basis of a stable voltage supply.
US08373086B2
Provided are a plasma processing apparatus and method. The plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber, an upper electrode, a lower electrode, a substrate support, and a movement member. The upper electrode is disposed at an inner upper portion of the chamber. The lower electrode faces the upper electrode at an inner lower portion of the chamber to support a substrate such that a bevel of the substrate is exposed in a substrate level etching process. The substrate support is disposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode to support the substrate such that a central region of a bottom surface of the substrate is exposed in a substrate backside etching process. The movement member is configured to move the substrate support to separate the substrate from the substrate support in the substrate backside etching process.
US08373083B2
The invention relates to a method for connecting thick-walled metal workpieces by welding. In order to create the weld joint, the cross-sections are provided with a maximum of three weld regions according to wall thickness, the welding being carried out by a combined use of welding methods: the first weld region (root) is welded by means of laser beam welding or hybrid laser-arc welding, the second weld region is welded by means of hybrid laser-arc welding, and the third weld region required occasionally depending on the thickness of the sheet metal is welded by means of hybrid laser-arc welding or simply arc welding. The invention also relates to a seam preparation corresponding to the respective welding method used.
US08373081B2
An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.
US08373076B2
A shielding assembly includes a frame including a catch protruding near one end thereof; and a cover including a main body. The main body is punched to form an opening and a latching portion protruding from the main body and aligned with the opening; the latching portion latches with the catch, the latching portion shields the opening to improve the shielding affect of the shielding assembly.
US08373074B2
An inductor and multiple inductors embedded in a substrate (e.g., IC package substrate, board substrate, and/or other substrate) is provided herein.
US08373072B2
A printed circuit board includes a ground layer, a power source layer, a signal wiring layer, an insulating layer and an electromagnetic radiation suppressing member. The power source layer is provided to be opposed to the ground layer. The signal wiring layer transmits a signal in a predetermined frequency domain. The insulating layer insulates the ground layer, the power source layer and the signal wiring layer from one another. The electromagnetic radiation suppressing member is provided to cover a circumferential edge of the insulating layer. The electromagnetic radiation suppressing member has a negative dielectric constant and a positive magnetic permeability in a frequency domain including the predetermined frequency domain.
US08373059B2
A solar cell array is formed by connecting an n-type electrode of a first solar cell included in a plurality of solar cells and a p-type electrode of a second solar cell with each other. An n-type electrode of a protective diode is connected to the p-type electrode of the first solar cell, while a p-type electrode of the protective diode is connected to the p-type electrode of the second solar cell. According to this structure, a solar cell array capable of reducing the number of welded points with respect to bonded portions of the solar cells as well as a process time and a solar cell module including the same can be provided.
US08373055B2
In the multi-timbre states in which musical tones with various timbres are outputted or imputed simultaneously and in the non-multi-timber states in which musical tones with a single timbre are outputted or inputted, the most suitable state of transmitting musical tone data is provided. When the non-multi-timber states is selected (step 12), the zones “1” and “2” turn into the in-communication states (INT) and the zones “3” and “4” turn into the out-communication states (EXT). When the multi-timbre states is selected (step 12), all the zones/timbres turn into the both-communication states (BOTH) (step 13). The both-communication states provide said in and out-communication states simultaneously. In the out-communication states, tone data are sent to the external apparatus connected to the musical tone (internal) apparatus. In the in-communication states musical tone data are sent only within the musical tone (internal) apparatus.
US08373052B2
A pedal apparatus that suppress the generation of acoustic sound at the time of operation includes a belt member made of an elastic material linked to an upright section of a main body section and a belt fastening section of a pedal. When the pedal is stepped on by a performer, the belt member is tensioned from a relaxed state and displaced to a linear form while being subjected to elastic deformation. When the pedal is further stepped on from that state, the displacement of the pedal is limited by the tensile force of the belt member. Accordingly, the generation of the striking sound that would otherwise be produced due to the impacting of bodies against each other to limit the pedal displacement can be avoided.
US08373049B1
A novel maize variety designated X8N319 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X8N319 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8N319 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8N319, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8N319. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8N319.
US08373048B1
A novel maize variety designated X08A166 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A166 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A166 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A166, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A166. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A166.
US08373042B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH057021. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH057021, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH057021 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH057021.
US08373040B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV400845. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV400845, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV400845 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV400845 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV400845.
US08373037B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV363541. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV363541, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV363541 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV363541 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV363541.
US08373031B2
A hybrid cucumber designated Enki is disclosed having resistance to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fuliginea), cucumber mosaic virus, and cucumber vein yellowing virus. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid cucumber Enki, to the plants of hybrid cucumber Enki, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant, either inbred or hybrid, by crossing the hybrid Enki with itself or another cucumber plant. The invention further relates to methods for producing a cucumber plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other cucumber lines, cultivars, or hybrids derived from the hybrid cucumber Enki.
US08373026B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the lettuce line designated RX17275496. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of lettuce line RX17275496, and to methods for producing a lettuce plant produced by crossing a plant of lettuce line RX17275496 with itself or with another lettuce plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of lettuce line RX17275496, including the gametes of such plants.
US08373022B2
The present invention relates to methods of generating or increasing resistance to at least one biotrophic pathogen in a plant or a part of a plant by increasing the protein quantity or function of at least one Bax Inhibitor-1 (BI-1) protein in at least one part of the plant. Moreover, the invention relates to polypeptide sequences and nucleic acid sequences which code for a BI-1 protein, and to expression cassettes, vectors and organisms which comprise such sequences or such a protein.
US08373021B2
The present inventors analyzed genes involved in plant disease resistance. As a result, they discovered the transcription factor gene OsWRKY45, which is induced in leaf blades of rice plants by activating the systemic acquired resistance (SAR) that plants inherently have, i.e., by treating rice plants with benzothiadiazole (hereafter may be abbreviated as BTH), which is an agent thought to induce disease resistance in plants. It was further discovered that rice blast disease resistance and rice bacterial leaf blight resistance were markedly improved by reintroducing the gene into rice plants and constitutively expressing it.
US08373010B2
Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene comprising the steps of; (1) fluorination of 240fa to form 245fa; (2) conversion of 245fa to a cis/trans mixture of 1234ze; (3) hydrogenation of the cis/trans mixture of 1234ze to form 254fb ; and (4) dehydrofluorination of 254fb to produce 3,3,3-trifluoropropene. Alternatively or additionally, a second process for the preparation of the desired compound comprises the following steps; (1) fluorination of HCC-240fa to form HCFC-244fa; (2) conversion of 244fa to a cis/trans mixture of HFO-1234ze; (3) hydrogenation of the cis/trans mixture of 1234ze to form HFC-254fb; and (4) dehydrofluorination of 254fb to produce 3,3,3-trifluoropropene.
US08373009B2
A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. The extractant comprises at least one solvent selected from the group consisting of C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.
US08373008B2
A process for recovering butanol from a mixture comprising a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a non-condensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof. An overhead stream from a first distillation column is condensed to recover a mixed condensate. An entrainer is added to at least one appropriate process stream or vessel such that the mixed condensate comprises sufficient entrainer to provide phase separation of the organic and the aqueous phases to provide for recovery of the butanol.
US08373002B2
Organic compounds containing at least one site of ethylenic unsaturation are catalytically hydrocyanated and the medium of hydrocyanation is separated into desired linear organic compounds containing at least one nitrile function, e.g., 3-pentenenitrile, and undesired nitrile by-products, e.g., methylglutaronitrile, and the undesired nitrile by-products are hydrodenitrogenated into ammonia and at least one hydrocarbon compound under an absolute hydrogen pressure ranging from 0.1 to 10 MPa at a temperature ranging from 200° to 500° C. and in the presence of a hydrodenitrogenation catalyst.
US08373001B2
The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of compounds comprising two nitrile functional groups. It relates more particularly to a process for the manufacture of dinitrile compounds from compounds comprising a nitrile functional group and an ethylenic unsaturation in the presence of a catalytic system comprising an organometallic complex and a cocatalyst of the Lewis acid type. The process of the invention comprises a stage of treatment of the reaction medium resulting from the hydrocyanation which makes it possible to extract and recover the metal element of the Lewis acid.
US08372992B2
A compound of formula (ascorbate)2Sr:(M+a)x(ascorbate)y, or ascorbate)2Sr:Ca(ascorbate)2, a composition containing the same, a method of making the same and a method of administering the same as a supplement.
US08372990B2
The present invention relates to substituted bicyclic tetrahydropyrrole compounds of general formula (I), methods for their preparation, medicaments comprising these compounds as well their use in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of humans and animals.
US08372985B2
The present invention is directed to a process of making α-aminooxyketone and α-hydroxyketone compounds. The synthetic pathway generally involves reacting an aldehyde or ketone substrate and a nitroso substrate in the presence of a catalyst of the formula (IV): wherein Xa-Xc represent independently nitrogen, carbon, oxygen or sulfur and Z represents a 4 to 10-membered ring with or without a substituent and optionally a further step to convert the α-aminooxyketone compound formed to the α-hydroxyketone compound. The present invention results in α-aminooxyketone and α-hydroxyketone compounds with high enantioselectivity and high purity. The present invention is also directed to a catalytic asymmetric O-nitroso Aldol/Michael reaction. The substrates of this reaction are generally cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketone substrate and a nitroso substrate. This methodology generally involves reacting the cyclic α,β-unsaturated ketone substrate and the nitroso substrate in the presence of a proline-based catalyst, to provide a heterocyclic product.
US08372982B2
The present invention relates to a N-(Phenylcycloalkyl)carboxamide or N-(Benzylcycloalkyl)carboxamide or its thiocarboxamide derivative of formula (I) wherein A represents a carbo-linked, unsaturated or partially saturated, substituted or non-substituted 5-membered heterocyclyl group, T represents an oxygen or a sulphur atom, B represents a non aromatic carbocycle that can be substituted by one to four C1-C8-alkyl groups, and X, Z1, Z2 and Z3 represent various substituents; their process of preparation; the preparation of intermediate compounds; their use as fungicide active agents, particularly in the form of fungicide compositions and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, notably of plants, using these compounds or compositions.
US08372979B2
The invention relates to a method for producing highly pure 2,4′-dimethyl-3-piperidino-propiophenone (tolperisone) (formula I) and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrochlorides, and hydrates thereof. The method allows the content of the undesired byproduct 2-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl) propenone (4-MMPPO) to be kept significantly lower than in previously known methods. The invention further relates to active substance formulations which contain tolperisone and are suitable, among other things, for producing combination preparations used for treating patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The invention also relates to topical formulations, controlled release (CR) formulations, and transdermal therapeutic systems, such as active substance patches, which contain less than 50 ppm, preferably less than 10 ppm, more preferably less than 7 ppm, and most preferably less than 3 ppm or 0 ppm (i.e. less than the detectable amount) of the undesired byproduct 2-methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl) propenone (4-MMPPO) in relation to 100 percent by weight of active substance.
US08372978B2
Mucic acid salts of a compound represented by the following structural formula: are disclosed. In particular, single crystalline mucic acid salts of the compound represented by structural formula (I) are characterized by a variety of properties and physical measurements. Methods of producing the mucic acid salts, using the salts to antagonize one or more aspartic proteases, and methods of treating a number of aspartic protease mediated disorders using the salts are described herein.
US08372975B2
The invention provides a liquid crystal compound having general physical properties necessary for the compound, namely stability to heat, light and so forth, a wide temperature range of a liquid crystal phase, a high clearing point, a good compatibility with other compounds, a large optical anisotropy and a large dielectric anisotropy; a compound represented by formula (1): wherein, for example, R1 is alkyl having 1 to 20 carbons; ring A1 and ring A4 each are 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene, or 1,4-phenylene in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by halogen; Z1 and Z4 each are a single bond; L1, L2, L3 and L4 each are hydrogen or fluorine; and X1 is fluorine, chlorine, —CF3 or —OCF3.
US08372972B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of dihydroquinazolines, for example, methyl (S)-{8-fluoro-2-[4-(3-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]-3-[2-methoxy-5-(trifluoro -methyl)-phenyl]-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-yl}acetate (2S,3S)-2,3-bis[(4-methylbenzoyl) -oxy]succinic acid salt, which are used for the production of antiviral medicaments.
US08372962B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising cupredoxins, and their use to inhibit angiogenesis in mammalian cells, tissues, and animals, and particularly the angiogenesis that accompanies tumor development and particularly in humans. Specifically, the present invention relates to compositions comprising the cupredoxin(s), and or peptides that are variants, derivatives or structural equivalents of cupredoxins, which retain the ability to inhibit angiogenesis in mammalian cells, tissues or animals. These compositions may be peptides or pharmaceutical compositions, among others. The compositions of the invention may be used to treat any pathological condition that has as a symptom or cause, inappropriate angiogenesis, and particularly inappropriate angiogenesis related to tumor development.
US08372960B2
It is an objective of the present invention to provide tRNA that has CUA or CCCG as an anticodon and is aminoacylated with an unnatural amino acid, such tRNA being capable of efficiently introducing an unnatural amino acid into a protein without competing with a termination factor. Such tRNA is a mutant tRNA for tryptophan which has G at the 5′ end, C as a base pairing with the G at the 5′ end, and A as a base next to the C on the 3′ side, such tRNA being a mutant tRNA which pairs with a stop codon and has CUA as an anticodon or a mutant tRNA which pairs with a stop codon or a 4-base codon has CUA or CCCG as an anticodon, into which a single base has been inserted just before the CCA sequence at the 3′ end.
US08372959B2
Disclosed is a method for the production of a heterologous polypeptide of interest with a homogenous N-terminus, using a fusion polypeptide comprising the polypeptide of interest and N-terminally thereto a polypeptide exhibiting autoproteolytic function, said method comprises the steps of a) binding of the fusion polypeptide in a soluble, autoproteolytically inactive form by an affinity chromatography system, b) refolding of the fusion polypeptide, thereby activating the autoproteolytic function of the fusion polypeptide and causing cleavage of the heterologous polypeptide of interest, and c) subsequently eluting the heterologous polypeptide of interest, wherein the steps are conducted on one affinity chromatography system.
US08372955B2
The present invention relates to the field of the in vitro diagnosis of the progression status of an infection of an individual with a virus belonging to the family of the Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV) as well as with the therapeutical treatment of this infectious disease.
US08372954B2
Phage display libraries are taught in which the recombinant phage population displays a plurality of potential binding fragments having preferred characteristics of solubility and/or intermolecular interaction. Also taught are methods of biasing display libraries to produce variants which more closely approximate the preferred characteristics of the parental binding fragment.
US08372944B1
A method of making a hyperbranched amphiphilic polyester compound includes drying under vacuum a mixture of 2-(4-hydroxybutyl)-malonic acid and p-toluene sulphonic acid as catalyst. The vacuum is then released with a dry inert gas after drying. The dried mixture is heated under the inert gas at a temperature sufficient for polymerization. The inert gas is evacuated while continuing to heat the mixture. The formed polymer is then dissolved in dimethylformamide and precipitated out by adding methanol. Modifications of the method yield nanoparticles of polyesters having properties suited for coencapsulating fluorescent dyes together with therapeutic drugs, resulting in theranostic nanoparticles, that is, nanoparticles useful in both therapeutic treatments and diagnostic methods.
US08372938B2
A mask material composition that is used for diffusion barrier of an impurity diffusing component into a semiconductor substrate includes a siloxane resin (A1) containing a constituent unit represented by the following formula (a1): wherein R1 is a single bond or C1-C5 alkylene group; and R2 is a C6-C20 aryl group.
US08372935B2
The invention relates to novel compounds with a guanidine structure, and more particularly nontoxic compounds with a silylated guanidine structure.
US08372919B2
In a method for making sulfurized polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylonitrile, a first solvent, a catalyst, and sulfur or sodium thiosulfate are provided. The polyacrylonitrile is dissolved in the first solvent to form a polyacrylonitrile solution. The catalyst is uniformly dispersed in the polyacrylonitrile solution. The polyacrylonitrile solution with the catalyst is heated to induce a cyclizing reaction of the polyacrylonitrile, thereby forming a first conjugated polymer solution with a conjugated polymer. The sulfur or sodium thiosulfate is uniformly mixed with the conjugated polymer to form a mixture. The mixture is heated to form sulfurized polyacrylonitrile.
US08372917B2
A film comprising a polylactic acid and polypropylene blend having a haze of from about 10% to about 95% and a gloss 45° of from about 50 to about 125. A method of producing an oriented film comprising blending polypropylene and polylactic acid to form a polymeric blend, forming the polymeric blend into a film, and orienting the film. A method of producing an injection molded article comprising blending polypropylene and polylactic acid to form a polymeric blend, injecting the polymeric blend into a mold, and forming the article.
US08372916B2
Phosphorus-containing compounds useful for flame retardant epoxy resins are disclosed. The flame retardant epoxy resins may be used to make electrical laminates. This invention is particularly useful in end use applications in which a low bromine or low halogen content is required or desired.
US08372906B2
A halo-functional silane possesses halogen functionality and alkanedioxysilyl functionality.
US08372902B2
Disclosed herein is a composition for preparing a non-dripping flame retarding masterbatch. The flame retarding masterbatch includes a fire retardant in an amount of about 0.1-15.0 wt %, a crosslinking agent in an amount of about 0.1-1.5 wt %, a thermoplastic polymer in an amount of about 76.5-99.5 wt %, a crosslinking initiator in an amount of about 0.01-2.0 wt %, and a dispersing agent in an amount of about 0.1-5.0 wt % in the composition.
US08372898B1
The invention relates to an aqueous cyan inkjet ink composition for use in ink jet printers comprising an aqueous carrier, a self dispersed cyan pigment, a polymeric additive, a surfactant, and a specific cosolvent mixture comprising a C2-C8 terminal alkanediol, a cyclic amide compound and its derivative, a polyol/polyalkylene oxide condensate, and a trihydric alcohol. Preferably, the self dispersed cyan pigment is surface modified with bisphosphonate group. The cyan inkjet ink demonstrates excellent stability, superior chroma, good printhead maintenance characteristics and high heater reliability in permanent and semi permanent printheads.
US08372895B2
The present invention relates to a polymer based material comprising a water binding agent, whereas the water binding agent is present in an amount sufficient to chemically and/or physically absorb and/or adsorb water to prevent degradation of the polymer. It also relates to a polymer based material which comprises a plasticizer or organic solvent as well as a multi-component material or composite including materials encompassing a second polymer and/or an active agent. Furthermore it relates to a method for manufacturing the polymer comprising material and use of the material for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition to be used for treatment of bone, cartilage and/or periodontal defects. The invention also encompasses a kit using the polymeric material. Further, the present invention encompasses the use of a water binding agent for inhibiting water induced degradation of a polymer comprising material, for inducing blood clot stabilization in a polymer comprising material and for increasing storage stability in a polymer comprising material, wherein the water binding agent is not removed prior to application of the material.
US08372894B2
A method for producing a graft polymer comprises the steps of: a) irradiating a base polymer with an electron beam or a source of γ-radiation, b) contacting a grafting solution with the base polymer, wherein the grafting solution contains at least one oxygen scavenger and at least one graft monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene and styrene derivatives, and c) graft polymerizing the mixture of the base polymer and the grafting solution obtained in step b).
US08372888B2
Provided are novel compositions which uniquely inhibit sphingosine kinase Type 1 (SphK1) and which are useful in a number of applications including killing or damaging cancer cells, inducing apoptosis, inhibiting growth, metastasis and development of chemoresistance in cancer cells, leukemia, increasing the effectiveness of anti-cancer agents, attenuating immune reactivity, inhibiting survival signaling in cancer cells, and reducing symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
US08372878B2
There are described compounds of general formula (I) and isomeric forms thereof wherein n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, saturated or unsaturated; most preferably at least one of R1 to R5 represents halogen; at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 is selected from —S—R or —COOR, or two or more Of R1-R5 comprise a linking group such as —S—(CH2)mS—, where m is 1, 2 or 3 and R is selected from alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl having 3-6 carbon atoms, hydroxy, and aryl having 6 to 10 carbon atoms, such groups being optionally substituted, and when R1 is selected from —S—R, then at least one of R2, R3 and R5 is most preferably selected from halogen; and R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are otherwise the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, electron donor groups such as alkoxy having 1-5 carbon atoms or hydroxy, electron acceptor groups selected from cyano, nitro, trifluoroalkyl or amide; alkylamino, benzoyloxy, nitroxy, phenyl or sulpho; and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof. Compounds described have activity on the melanocortin receptors and have application in the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory, arthritic or central nerve regeneration conditions.
US08372877B2
The present invention is directed to statin formulations having improved solubility and/or stability and methods for the same.
US08372873B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. These compounds inhibit serine protease, particularly the hepatitis C virus NS3-NS4A protease.
US08372871B2
Compounds of general formula (I) below: are characterized in that A represents in particular a C5-C10 heterocyclic group, Y represents in particular a single bond, and B represents in particular an aryl or heteroaryl group.
US08372864B2
The present invention relates to derivatives of 1-oxo-isoindoline-4-carboxamides and of 1-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-5-carboxamides, to the preparation thereof and to the therapeutic use thereof.
US08372855B2
The present invention relates to cyclohexyloxy-substituted heterocycles of general formula (I) the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids, which have valuable pharmacological properties, particularly an inhibitory effect on signal transduction mediated by tyrosine kinases, the use thereof for the treatment of diseases, particularly tumoral diseases as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diseases of the lungs and airways and the preparation thereof.
US08372852B2
Described herein are novel enzyme inhibitors. In some embodiments, the enzyme inhibitors are reverse transcriptase inhibitors, particularly HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Also described herein are compositions containing them and methods of using them. Thus, the compounds and compositions described herein are useful for the in vitro and in vivo inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase as a method of treating or preventing HIV, AIDS or related disorders. In some embodiments, the enzyme inhibitors are compounds of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or tautomer thereof:
US08372851B2
A compound according to Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R1, R2, R6, R7 and Z are as defined in the specification; pharmaceutical compositions thereof; and methods of use thereof.
US08372847B2
The invention relates to the compound (S)-4-(1-cyclopropyl-2-methoxyethyl)-6-(6-(difluoromethoxy)-2,5-dimethylpyridin-3-ylamino)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydropyrazine-2-carbonitrile, pharmaceutical compositions of the compound, and methods of using the compound for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and neurological diseases including depression, anxiety related disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, addiction and negative aspects of drug and alcohol withdrawal, and other conditions associated with CRF.
US08372845B2
Compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, are useful for treating diseases mediated by blockade of the epithelial sodium channel. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08372843B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of ion channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US08372838B2
Compounds of the formula I wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and X are defined as described in the specification, which are bradykinin B1 antagonists, and their use as medicaments.
US08372837B2
Novel compounds of structure Formula (I) or an enantiomer, a diastereomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Z, R1, R2, R21, T1, T2, T3 and T4 are defined herein, are provided which are GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulators. GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulators are useful in treating, preventing, or slowing the progression of diseases requiring GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor modulator therapy. Thus, the disclosure also concerns compositions comprising these novel compounds and methods of treating diseases or conditions related to the activity of the GPR119 G protein-coupled receptor by using any of these novel compounds or a composition comprising any of such novel compounds.
US08372834B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising 5-fluorouracil, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or analogue thereof, folinic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a cyclodextrin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof. The invention also relates to methods for the treatment of cancer using such compositions.
US08372815B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of suppressing, inhibiting, preventing, or treating conjunctivitis in a subject, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a lipid or phospholipid moiety bound via an ester or amide bond to a physiologically acceptable monomer, dimer, oligomer, or polymer, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a pharmaceutical product thereof to a subject with conjunctivitis.
US08372793B1
The present invention relates to a composition having tarnish-removing and soil-removing and preventing properties for cleaning a metal surface and methods of using the compositions.
US08372790B2
An antimicrobial hand wash includes a soap, an antimicrobial agent, and an amine salt. The amine salt is found to increase the antimicrobial efficacy of the hand wash. The amine salt produced through the reaction of monoethanolamine and lactic acid is of particular interest as a soap addition. In processes of this invention, it is possible to create the desired amine salt in the soap in situ.
US08372784B2
A method for producing a superconductive wire, whereby an elongated intermediate element is formed out of an initial element in a deformation step and whereby the superconductive filaments are formed by a final reaction heat treatment, is characterized in that prior to the final reaction heat treatment the filaments in the intermediate element are densified in one or more high pressure densification steps following up the deformation step, said densification steps comprising a simultaneous action of at least four hard surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the elongated intermediate element, building up high pressure P≧100 MPa on a part of the intermediate element having an axial length L. This leads to a substantial increase of the critical current density Jc, whereby the anisotropy factor Γ is be almost not affected thus enabling production of almost isotropic wires or tapes.
US08372774B2
A photocatalyst-coated body comprises a substrate and a photocatalyst layer provided on the substrate, the photocatalyst layer comprising photocatalyst particles of 1 part or more by mass and less than 20 parts by mass, inorganic oxide particles of 70 parts or more by mass and less than 99 parts by mass, and the dried substance of a hydrolyzable silicone of zero parts or more by mass and less than 10 parts by mass, provided that a total amount of the photocatalyst particles, the dried substance of the inorganic oxide particles and the hydrolyzable silicone is 100 parts by mass in terms of silica. The inorganic oxide particles have a number average particle diameter ranging from 10 nm or more to less than 40 nm calculated by measuring lengths of 100 particles randomly selected from particles located within a visible field magnified 200,000 times by a scanning electron microscope.
US08372771B2
A system and method for activating chromium catalyst, including: increasing temperature of a chromium catalyst at a first rate for a first period of time to a first temperature; and increasing temperature of the chromium catalyst at a second rate for a second period of time from the first temperature to a second temperature, wherein the first rate is greater than the second rate, and wherein the first period precedes the second period.
US08372762B2
In a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, a manufacturing technique and a manufacturing apparatus of a semiconductor device which simplify a lithography step using a photoresist is provided, so that the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the throughput is improved. An irradiated object, in which a light absorbing layer and an insulating layer are stacked over a substrate, is irradiated with a multi-mode laser beam and a single-mode laser beam so that both the laser beams overlap with each other, and an opening is formed by ablation in part of the irradiated object the irradiation of which is performed so that both the laser beams overlap with each other.
US08372753B2
A method and apparatus for cleaning layers of solar cell substrates is disclosed. The substrate is exposed to a reactive gas that may comprise neutral radicals comprising nitrogen and fluorine, or that may comprise anhydrous HF and water, alcohol, or a mixture of water and alcohol. The reactive gas may further comprise a carrier gas. The reactive gas etches the solar cell substrate surface, removing oxygen and other impurities. When exposed to the neutral radicals, the substrate grows a thin film containing ammonium hexafluorosilicate, which is subsequently removed by heat treatment.
US08372751B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes etching a substrate to form a body separated by a trench, forming liner layers that cover sidewalls of the body, forming a sacrificial layer that fills the trench and exposes an upper sidewall of each liner layer, forming a hard mask pattern that covers a first one of the liner layers having the exposed upper sidewalls, forming a barrier layer to be selectively grown over the exposed upper sidewalls of a second one of the liner layers, removing the hard mask pattern, removing a part of the sacrificial layer to expose a lower sidewall of a first one of the liner layers, and removing the lower sidewall of the first one of the liner layers to form a side contact.
US08372750B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for nickel silicidation includes providing a substrate having a source region, a gate region, and a drain region, forming a source in the source region and a drain in the drain region, annealing the source and the drain, implanting, after the annealing the source and the drain, a heavy ion in the source region and the drain region, depositing a nickel layer in each of the source and drain regions, and heating the substrate to form a nickel silicide region in each of the source and drain regions by heating the substrate.
US08372749B2
A printing plate and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. A metal layer is first formed on a glass substrate. The metal layer is then patterned in a predetermined shape. The glass substrate is next etched to a predetermined depth using the patterned metal layer as a mask and the metal layer removed. If necessary, additional metal layers have the same or different patterns may be formed on the glass substrate and the glass substrate etched after each metal layer is formed thereon until a desired etching depth in the glass is achieved.
US08372735B2
A method of using helium to create ultra shallow junctions is disclosed. A pre-implantation amorphization using helium has significant advantages. For example, it has been shown that dopants will penetrate the substrate only to the amorphous-crystalline interface, and no further. Therefore, by properly determining the implant energy of helium, it is possible to exactly determine the junction depth. Increased doses of dopant simply reduce the substrate resistance with no effect on junction depth. Furthermore, the lateral straggle of helium is related to the implant energy and the dose rate of the helium PAI, therefore lateral diffusion can also be determined based on the implant energy and dose rate of the helium PAI. Thus, dopant may be precisely implanted beneath a sidewall spacer, or other obstruction.
US08372725B2
Structures and methods are provided for forming pre-fabricated deep trench capacitors for SOI substrates. The method includes forming a trench in a substrate and forming a dielectric material in the trench. The method further includes depositing a conductive material over the dielectric material in the trench and forming an insulator layer over the conductive material and the substrate.
US08372723B2
This disclosure, in one aspect, provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes forming a collector for a bipolar transistor within a semiconductor substrate, forming a base within the collector, forming a patterned isolation layer over the collector and base, forming an emitter layer over the patterned isolation layer, forming an isolation layer over the emitter layer, patterning the patterned isolation layer, the emitter layer and the isolation layer to form at least one emitter structure having an isolation region located on a sidewall thereof, and forming a buried contact in the collector to a depth sufficient to adequately contact the collector.
US08372708B2
This invention discloses a semiconductor power device. The trenched semiconductor power device includes a trenched gate, opened from a top surface of a semiconductor substrate, surrounded by a source region encompassed in a body region near the top surface above a drain region disposed on a bottom surface of a substrate. The semiconductor power device further includes an implanting-ion block disposed above the top surface on a mesa area next to the body region having a thickness substantially larger than 0.3 micron for blocking body implanting ions and source ions from entering into the substrate under the mesa area whereby masks for manufacturing the semiconductor power device can be reduced.
US08372700B2
It is an object to provide a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor, in which the number of masks to be used is small. A thin film transistor is manufactured as follows: a first conductive film, an insulating film, a semiconductor film, an impurity semiconductor film, and a second conductive film are stacked; a resist mask having a recessed portion is formed thereover with the use of a multi-tone mask; a thin-film stack body is formed with first etching; a gate electrode layer is formed with second etching in which an etched first conductive film is side-etched; and then a source electrode and a drain electrode and the like are formed. A crystalline semiconductor film is used for the semiconductor film.
US08372696B2
A repair method for repairing an active device array substrate is provided. The active device array substrate includes a substrate, scan lines, data lines, active devices, pixel electrodes, and common lines. At least one of the scan line has an open defect. The scan lines and the data lines are intersected to define sub-pixel regions. The active devices are electrically connected with the scan lines and the data lines correspondingly. Each pixel electrode is disposed in one of the sub-pixel regions and electrically connected with one of the active devices. The repair method includes cutting one of the common lines neighboring to the open defect to form a cutting block that is electrically insulated from the common lines; and welding the cutting block, the scan line having the open defect and two active devices located at two opposite sides of the open defect.
US08372691B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes the steps of: (a) providing a support including a plane having a first region for mounting a chip thereon and a second region provided around the first region; (b) forming an insulating resin layer in a semi-curing state on the plane; (c) forming, on the insulating resin layer, a first opening portion for exposing the first region; (d) fitting a chip in the first opening portion to mount the chip on the first region; and (e) completely curing the insulating resin layer after the step (d).
US08372690B2
Disclosed in this specification is a system-in-a-package substrate that includes an interconnect substrate for permitting finely pitched connections to be made to an integrated circuit. The interconnect substrate includes a central region on its upper surface for receiving the integrated circuit. The interconnect substrate also has interconnections that electrically connect the finely pitched contacts on the upper surface to larger pitched contacts on the lower surface. The larger pitched contacts connect to a conductive trace frame. The resulting assembly is encased in a molding compound along with a plurality of other devices which are configured to interact with one other through the conductive trace.
US08372688B2
A film-forming method includes a preprocessing step (step 1) wherein the inside of a processing chamber is exposed to a gas containing Cl and/or F in a state having no substrate in the processing chamber, and a step (step 2) wherein a substrate is loaded into the processing chamber after the step 1. Then, in a step 3, a gaseous Ge raw material, a gaseous Sb raw material, and a gaseous Te raw material are introduced into the processing chamber having the substrate loaded therein, and a Ge—Sb—Te film formed of Ge2Sb2Te5 is formed on the substrate by CVD.
US08372687B2
A method for forming multiple layers in a single process chamber includes placing a substrate in the process chamber having multiple processing sources and iteratively forming a copper indium gallium selenium (CIGS) including forming multiple relatively thin CIGS layers including forming a copper indium gallium (CIG) layer on the substrate, the CIG layer having a thickness of between less than about 50 angstroms and about 200 angstroms, forming a selenium layer on the CIG layer, the selenium layer having a thickness of between less than about 50 angstroms and about 200 angstroms and heating the substrate, the CIG layer and the selenium layer. A processing chamber system is also disclosed.
US08372686B2
A method for producing an organic thin film transistor having, on a substrate, a source electrode, a gate electrode, a drain electrode, an insulating layer and an organic semiconductor layer. The method has a step of forming the source electrode and the drain electrode such that one of the source electrode and the drain electrode which is an inner-located electrode has an outer circumference which is circular or polygonal and that the other electrode which is an outer-located electrode has an inner circumference facing the outer circumference of the inner-located electrode, the inner circumference being of a shape which is substantially concentric with the outer circumference of the inner-located electrode. The method also has a step of forming the organic semiconductor layer for connecting the source electrode and the drain electrode to each other by a process of dropping an organic semiconductor material.
US08372683B2
An RTP heating system and an RTP heating method, which can heat a photovoltaic-device intermediate product having a glass substrate, a Mo layer, and a light absorption layer in formation. The RTP heating system is composed of a chamber; a support member located in the chamber; a heating element mounted in the chamber for emitting infrared rays for heating; and a plurality of temperature sensors and a temperature control device for sensing and controlling thermal sources from the heating element and the support member. The infrared rays can be mostly reflected off the Mo layer to apply less direct heating to the glass substrate. Accordingly, the upper and lower surfaces of the photovoltaic-device intermediate product can be heated under different temperatures separately to prevent the glass substrate below the photovoltaic-device intermediate product from softening and deformation and to allow production of the light absorption layer on the Mo layer.
US08372680B2
Medical imaging devices may comprise an array of ultrasonic transducer elements. Each transducer element may comprise a substrate having a doped surface creating a highly conducting surface layer, a layer of thermal oxide on the substrate, a layer of silicon nitride on the layer of thermal oxide, a layer of silicon dioxide on the layer of silicon nitride, and a layer of conducting thin film on the layer of silicon dioxide. The layers of silicon dioxide and thermal oxide may sandwich the layer of silicon nitride, and the layer of conducting thin film may be separated from the layer of silicon nitride by the layer of silicon dioxide.
US08372677B2
MEMS accelerometers have a substrate, and a proof mass portion thereof which is separated from the substrate surrounding it by a gap. An electrically-conductive anchor is coupled to the proof mass, and a plurality of electrically-conductive suspension anus that are separated from the proof mass extend from the anchor and are coupled to the substrate surrounding the proof mass. A plurality of sense and actuation electrodes are separated from the proof mass by gaps and are coupled to processing electronics. The fabrication methods use deep reactive ion etch bulk micromachining and surface micromachining to form the proof mass, suspension arms and electrodes. The anchor, suspension arms and electrodes are made in the same process steps from the same electrically conductive material, which is different from the substrate material.
US08372670B2
A method for making a light-emitting element assembly including a support substrate having a first surface, a second surface facing the first surface, a recessed portion, and a conductive material layer formed over the first surface and the inner surface of the recessed portion, and a light-emitting element. The light-emitting element has a laminated structure including a first compound semiconductor layer, a light-emitting portion, and a second compound semiconductor layer, at least the second compound semiconductor layer and the light-emitting portion constituting a mesa structure. The light-emitting element further includes an insulating layer formed, a second electrode, and a first electrode. The mesa structure is placed in the recessed portion so that the conductive material layer and the second electrode are in at least partial contact with each other, and light emitted from the light-emitting portion is emitted from the second surface side of the first compound semiconductor layer.
US08372669B2
There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device having a patterned substrate and a manufacturing method of the same. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate; a first conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductivity type nitride semiconductor layer sequentially formed on the substrate, wherein the substrate is provided on a surface thereof with a pattern having a plurality of convex portions, wherein out of the plurality of convex portions of the pattern, a distance between a first convex portion and an adjacent one of the convex portions is different from a distance between a second convex portion and an adjacent one of the convex portions.
US08372667B2
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to substrate processing equipment and methods incorporating light sources which provide independent control of light pulse duration, shape and repetition rate. Embodiments further provide rapid increases and decreases in intensity of illumination.
US08372660B2
This invention discloses an analyzing method for detecting a specific analyte in a fluid sample. The method comprises the following steps. First, a substrate is provided. The substrate has a channel provided concavely on an upper surface thereof. The channel comprises a first area, a second area and a third area, and these three areas are connected sequentially. Each of the second and the third areas comprises a nitrocellulose layers containing a reaction material and formed at the bottom thereof. The nitrocellulose layer of the third area can absorb a fixed volume of the fluid sample. Second, the fluid sample is applied to the first area and delivered by the second area and then to the third area. Finally, the reaction material reacts with the specific analyte in the fluid sample to produce a signal for detection.
US08372659B2
The present invention provides a highly sensitive sensing device for biopolymers which detects the magnetic signal generated from a labeled biopolymer under AC magnetic field using thermo-responsive magnetic nano particles as a probe.
US08372651B2
A method of monitoring a surfactant in a microelectronic process is disclosed. Specifically, the monitoring of a surfactant occurs by studying the absorbance of a sample collected from a microelectronic process.
US08372649B2
The present invention describes the development of a end-capped bipyridine compound having formula A and the zinc complex having formula B. The assay having formula 1 can be used to estimate and quantify the amount of zinc ions by monitoring the fluorescence changes. The assay with formula 1 can be use to image and detect Zn2+ ions in MCF7 cell lines. The zinc complex of formula 2 and 4 can be used as a fluorescent sensor for cyanide anions using analyte replacement protocol. The assay with formula 2 is selective only to cyanide anions even in the presence of other competing anions. The assay with formula 3 having bright green solid state emission is used for the preparation of formula 4. The orange fluorescent powder of assay with formula 4 is used for the selective detection of CN− ions in aqueous solution.
US08372647B2
The present invention provides novel markers for diagnosing pancreatic cancer, and methods for determining if a subject has pancreatic cancer utilizing the markers, etc. The methods involve comparing mass-spectrometric peaks of certain sugar chains, obtained from patients' blood and determining if there is a significant decrease in peak intensity, compared with corresponding peaks from patients without pancreatic cancer.
US08372639B2
The present invention relates to an anti-human α9 integrin antibody. More particularly, the present invention relates to: a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a humanized antibody and a human antibody that specifically recognize human α9 integrin; a hybridoma cell that produces the monoclonal antibody; a method for producing the monoclonal antibody; a method for producing the hybridoma cell; a therapeutic agent comprising the anti-human α9 integrin antibody; a diagnostic agent comprising the human α9 integrin antibody; and a method for screening for a compound that inhibits the activity of human α9 integrin.
US08372636B2
The present invention provides a genetic method for tethering polypeptides to the yeast cell wall in a form accessible for binding to macromolecules. Combining this method with fluorescence-activated cell sorting provides a means of selecting proteins with increased or decreased affinity for another molecule, altered specificity, or conditional binding. Also provided is a method for genetic fusion of the N terminus of a polypeptide of interest to the C-terminus of the yeast Aga2p cell wall protein. The outer wall of each yeast cell can display approximately 104 protein agglutinins. The native agglutinins serve as specific adhesion contacts to fuse yeast cells of opposite mating type during mating. In effect, yeast has evolved a platform for protein-protein binding without steric hindrance from cell wall components. As one embodiment, attaching an scFv antibody fragment to the Aga2p agglutinin effectively mimics the cell surface display of antibodies by B cells in the immune system for affinity maturation in vivo. As another embodiment, T cell receptor mutants can be isolated by this method that are efficiently displayed on the yeast cell surface, providing a means of altering T cell receptor binding affinity and specificity by library screening.
US08372634B2
A storage-access apparatus includes a first support device including a first base; at least one first storage-access device and at least one first storage device, disposed on the first base and arranged in a first circle; a second support device including a second base; at least one second storage-access device and at least one second storage device, disposed on the second base and arranged in a second circle; and a transporting device, wherein the first storage-access device, the first storage device, the second storage-access device and the second storage device each has plural compartments, the transporting device corresponds to the compartments, and the first storage-access device and the first storage device can rotate relative to the second storage-access device and the second storage device. Accordingly, the storage-access apparatus can be employed in depositing and picking up products independently. Also disclosed is a storage system including, among others, the storage-access apparatus.
US08372625B2
The disclosure provides novel molecules related to growth and differentiation factor-8 (GDF-8), in particular mouse and humanized antibodies, and antibody fragments, including those that inhibit GDF-8 activity and signaling in vitro and/or in vivo. The disclosure also provides methods for diagnosing, treating, ameliorating, preventing, prognosing, or monitoring degenerative orders of muscle, bone, and insulin metabolism, etc., in particular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In addition, the disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of such disorders by using the antibodies, polypeptides, polynucleotides, and vectors of the invention.
US08372619B2
Compositions and methods are provided for enzymes with altered properties that involve a systematic approach to mutagenesis and a screening assay that permits selection of the desired proteins. Embodiments of the method are particularly suited for modifying specific properties of restriction endonucleases such as star activity. The compositions include restriction endonucleases with reduced star activity as defined by an overall fidelity index improvement factor.
US08372613B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for the production of ethanol by cyanobacteria. More specifically, the methods can be used to produce ethanol using genetically engineered light responsive cyanobacteria.
US08372609B2
Concentrated sugar solutions obtained from polysaccharide enriched biomass by contacting biomass with water and at least one nucleophilic base to produce a polysaccharide enriched biomass comprising a solid fraction and a liquid fraction and then contacting enriched biomass with a dilute mineral acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, or a combination thereof, to produce an intermediate saccharification product, which is contacted with an enzyme consortium to produce a final saccharification product comprising fermentable sugars.
US08372600B2
A method and apparatus for measuring changes in cell volume generally includes introducing cells into a chamber having a volume between 2 and 100 times the volume of the introduced cell. A first electrically conductive extracellular fluid is introduced into the chamber and a current is applied. The voltage induced by said current flow is measured. The first fluid is exchanged with a second electrically conductive extracellular fluid and a current is applied. The voltage induced by said current flow is measured. The first induced voltage result and the second induced voltage result are used in conjunction with known voltages induced by such current flows to monitor changes in the volume corresponding to fluid flow between the cell and an extracellular fluid.
US08372599B2
This invention relates to a culture medium, a kit containing the culture medium and to a method for detection of a parasite such as Dientamoeba fragilis and/or another parasite. The culture medium of the invention is bi-phasic and includes a solid phase containing an egg slope or agar slope; and a liquid phase including a serum and a peptone.
US08372597B2
The present invention provides methods of introducing a polynucleotide into a target cell, wherein the method employs a light generating protein coding sequence acting as a reporter. An important advantage of the methods described herein is that drug resistant target cells or target cells having no useful auxotrophic markers can be effectively transformed. The present invention also includes transformed cells produced by the methods described herein. Also described are light generating protein coding sequence modifications, a variety of vectors, and methods of using the transformed cells of the present invention.
US08372584B2
The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.
US08372583B2
Disclosed is a means for improving the clinical outcomes of cancer therapy. Specifically disclosed is an activity potentiator comprising a compound capable of inhibiting the expression of RFP (RET finger protein) gene or the activity of RFP as an active ingredient. The activity of an anti-cancer agent having an oxidative stress inducing ability can be potentiated by using the anti-cancer agent in combination with the activity potentiator. Further specifically disclosed are a biomarker useful for the recognition of prognosis in a cancer patient and use of the biomarker.
US08372580B2
Assays using binding studies involving function of BRCA1a protein have use for diagnosis and for evaluation of possible tumorogenicity of agents, particularly estrogenic agents. The assays do not rely on use of a probe for only specific sequences, but on effects of known and unknown or not previously studied sequences (consequence of genetic changes) or posttranslational modification of BRCA1 proteins (as a consequence of epigenetic changes) as seen in hereditary and sporadic cancers.
US08372577B2
It is disclosed a photosensitive resin composition comprising (a) a binder polymer based on a copolymer containing benzyl (meth)acrylate as a building block, (b) a photopolymerizable compound having at least one polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated group in the molecule and (c) a photopolymerization initiator based on a hexarylbisimidazole compound, with a light-initiated color former being optionally contained as component (d). The composition has long-term keeping quality, exhibits particularly high resistance to plating and dry etching, as well as assuring improvement in resolution and adhesion; the composition may be used to form a photosensitive dry film.
US08372573B2
A toner in which, in a loss tangent (tan δ) curve obtained by a dynamic viscoelasticity test, the tan δ shows a maximal value δa in the temperature region of 28.0-60.0° C., which maximal value δa is 0.50 or more, and shows a minimal value δb in the temperature region of 45.0-85.0° C., which minimal value δb is 0.60 or less, where the difference between the maximal value δa and the minimal value δb is 0.20 or more; and, where the temperature that affords the maximal value δa is represented by Ta (° C.) and the temperature that affords the minimal value δb is represented by Tb (° C.), the difference between the Ta and the Tb is 5.0-45.0° C.; and the toner having, in a storage elastic modulus (G′) curve obtained by the dynamic viscoelasticity test, a value G′a of a storage elastic modulus at the Ta, of 1.00×106-5.00×107 Pa.
US08372548B2
An organic electrolytic solution including: a lithium salt; an organic solvent; and a compound represented by Formula 1 below, and a lithium battery including the organic electrolytic solution. In Formula 1: R1, R2, and R3 may be each independently a hydrogen atom, a C1 to C10 alkyl group, a C6 to C10 cycloalkyl group, a C6 to C10 aryl group, a C2 to C10 alkenyl group, or a C2 to C10 alkynyl group; X is C (R2) or nitrogen; and n is an integer ranging from 1 to 5.
US08372540B2
The invention provides an electrochemical cell which includes a first electrode having a electrode active material, a second electrode which is a counter electrode to the first electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is represented by the general formula AaVbNbc(PO4)3, wherein 0
US08372531B1
A reserve battery that is activated via a low energy mechanical force. The reserve battery generally includes a battery case having an electrolyte compartment at a first end and an electrode compartment at a second end, a first terminal having an external button connected to the case at the first end, and a second terminal connected to the case at the second end. A movable ampoule is movably positioned within the electrolyte compartment. A bias member is located within the case between the external button and the ampoule and a porous cutter is positioned within the case between the electrodes and the ampoule and supported by an inverted U-shaped support structure. When an external force is applied to the external button, the bias member transfers an internal force to the ampoule to cause the ampoule to engage the cutter and allow the electrolyte to release thus activating the battery.
US08372523B2
A coated article is described. The coated article includes a stainless steel substrate, a bonding layer formed on the substrate, and a hard layer formed on the bonding layer. The bonding layer is a nickel-chromium alloy layer. The hard layer is a nickel-chromium-boron-nitrogen layer. The mass percentage of nitrogen within the hard layer is gradually increased from the area near the bonding layer to the area away from the bonding layer. A method for making the coated article is also described.
US08372514B2
The present invention relates to moisture-curing compositions that comprise, in addition to a first type of polymer having a specific end group, at least one additional type of polymer having a different specific end group. It has been shown that such compositions have a surprisingly quick adhesive formation and a low amount of seepage.
US08372511B2
A fine carbon fiber having linearity, each fiber filament of the carbon fiber having a bending angle of 30° or less with respect to the longitudinal direction of the fiber filament, and including a hollow space extending along its axis, and having an outer diameter of 1 to 1,000 nm, an aspect ratio of 5 to 1,000, and a BET specific surface area of 2 to 2,000 m2/g, wherein the average interlayer distance (d002) of the carbon fiber at a (002) plane is 0.345 nm or less as measured by means of X-ray diffractometry, and the ratio of the peak height (Id) of the band at 1,341 to 1,349 cm−1 in a Raman scattering spectrum of the carbon fiber to that of the peak height (Ig) of the band at 1,570 to 1,578 cm−1 in the spectrum (Id/Ig) is 0.1 to 2. The fiber exhibits excellent dispersibility in a matrix.
US08372509B2
A decorative laminate that contains at least three layers that include a surface layer, a backing layer and a color layer positioned between the surface and backing layers. The surface layer or backing layer or both are made of flame retardant engineering thermoplastic materials.
US08372496B2
A cooking item comprising a vitreous coating with improved impact-resistance properties. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such an item.
US08372493B2
An emblem assembly configured for attachment to a vehicle includes a first element having a first surface and a second surface recessed from the first surface, wherein the first element defines at least one void therethrough extending through the second surface. The emblem assembly includes a second element having a third surface, a fourth surface spaced apart from the third surface, and a fifth surface extending between the third surface and the fourth surface, wherein the second surface is spaced apart from the fifth surface to define a channel therebetween. The emblem assembly includes a coating disposed on the third surface and a sealant disposed adjacent and in contact with at least a portion of each of the void, the second surface, the coating, and the fifth surface to thereby fill at least a portion of the channel. A method of forming the emblem assembly is also disclosed.
US08372491B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating plastic bottles comprising an operation for cold plasma sterilization with non-germicidal gasses and/or an operation for the cold plasma deposition of a diffusion barrier layer, said method being characterized in that said cold plasma delivers adjustable nonthermal energy to the entire inside surface of the bottle, said cold plasma being generated either through a distributed propagation of microwaves having a maximum intensity in the vicinity of said surface or by a hollow cathode system adapted to the bottle and supplied with pulsed DC and/or RF voltage. The invention also relates to the devices for implementing the method.
US08372487B2
After forming an opening, a resist film is formed on the entire surface and a resist pattern is formed by patterning the resist film. The shape of the resist pattern is such that it covers one side of the bottom of the opening. As a result, a Si substrate is exposed only in one part of the opening. Then, using the resist pattern as a mask, a catalytic layer is formed on the bottom of the opening. Then, the resist pattern is removed. Carbon nanotubes are grown on the catalytic layer. At this time, since the catalytic layer is formed on only one side of the bottom of the opening, the Van der Waals force biased towards that side works horizontally on the growing carbon nanotubes. Therefore, the carbon nanotubes are attracted towards the nearest side of the SiO2 film and grow biased towards that side.
US08372486B2
Liquid hydrofluorocarbons provide low corrosivity lubrication of metallic surfaces especially at elevated temperatures.
US08372467B2
Potato chip cooking process and apparatus includes controlled cooking of potato slices from the initial to the final cooking stages. Slices are deposited in hot cooking oil to develop a slice pack which is carried along a cooking path during which the pack is agitated and mixed by paddle means or tumbled so that the individual slices receive maximum contact with the cooking medium. The cooking path may be divided into one or more stages in each of which the cooking times and temperatures are selected and maintained to produce potato chips of different styles having a final moisture content in the range of 1.2% to 2%. Further disclosed are apparatus that includes temperature and oil circulation controls for the oil heat exchangers dedicated to each stage of a cooking protocol. A multiplicity of variable rate, rotatable paddle wheel assemblies are positioned along the cooking path for thorough agitation of the potato pack encouraging good oil contact with the individual slices and consistent, chip-to-chip final moisture content.
US08372461B2
A process for extending the use of chiller water that is used for cooling food products in food production facilities for an extended period of time of at least two production days and up to seven production days by delivering an initial chemical charge at the beginning of each production day to return the chiller water to the desired antimicrobial solution concentration to provide acceptable antimicrobial control of the chiller water over the extended period of time. The process providing acceptable antimicrobial control in the processing of any protein or non-protein based food products that require batch or continuous chilling as part of the production process. The length of time that the water in a chilled water bath (chiller) may be used may be dramatically and safely increased before the bath is emptied for cleaning, sanitizing and refilling.
US08372460B2
A method for sanitation and preservation of foodstuffs includes the following steps. A container containing a foodstuff is provided. A non-thermal plasma is introduced to an interior of the container. The container is sealed.
US08372459B2
An apparatus and method for cooking food, such as meat, protein, vegetable, or soup is disclosed. In one embodiment, the food items are supplied in a flexible polymer package that can withstand the temperature needed to cook the item. The cooking apparatus has two cooking surfaces in the form of heated platens, which may be arranged in a vertical orientation. These platens come together to simultaneously contact both sides of the food item. The cooking apparatus further includes a controller, configured to prepare the food using various control system algorithms. The apparatus cooks the food item from both sides to affect rapid and even cooking. It uses a combination of temperature, time, food thickness, platen force and a cooking code that is unique for each food type. The control system algorithm uses some or all of these parameters to determine precisely when the food item is cooked correctly.
US08372455B2
Cosmetic compositions with anti-free radical activity have been developed. Such compositions preferably contain an association of at least the following three substances with anti-free radical activity: an extract of emblica, idebenone and N-acetylcysteine.
US08372452B2
An oral herbal composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an extract derived from the berries of a plant, Piper cubeba, wherein the composition is provided for use in the treatment of oral candidiasis (oral thrush). The oral herbal composition can be formulated in the form of a candy, a chewable tablet and an oral gel. The herbal composition exhibits antifungal activity against azole resistant strains of Candida albicans. The herbal composition is safe to administer and has improved patient compliance.
US08372448B2
For use in mammals, methods for enhancing the anti-tumor response and treating disorders associated with anti-tumor response. The methods generally comprise non-topical administration of purified, isolated quinic acid alkyl acid or a carboxy alkyl ester with a non-toxic carrier or diluent.
US08372444B2
A composition comprises an ion-exchanged carrageenan. The carrageenan may be a traditionally extracted or neutrally extracted iota or kappa carrageenan. The ion-exchanged carrageenan has reduced gelling cation contents, reduced gelling temperature, and reduced melting temperature, as compared to its non-ion-exchanged counterpart. The ion-exchanged carrageenan may be mixed with another carrageenan to form a carrageenan product having a unique gelling temperature and melting temperature. Also disclosed is a process for making an ion-exchanged carrageenan composition.
US08372438B2
Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.
US08372437B2
A method for preparing placenta membrane tissue grafts for medical use, includes obtaining a placenta from a subject, cleaning the placenta, separating the chorion tissue from the amniotic membrane, mounting a selected layer of either the chorion tissue or the amniotic membrane onto a drying fixture, dehydrating the selected layer on the drying fixture, and cutting the selected layer into a plurality of tissue grafts. Preferably, the drying fixture includes grooves or raised edges that define the outer contours of each desired tissue graft, after they are cut, and further includes raised or indented logos that emboss the middle area of the tissue grafts during dehydration and that enables an end user to distinguish the top from the bottom side of the graft. The grafts are comprised of single layers of amnion or chorion, multiple layers of amnion or chorion, or multiple layers of a combination of amnion and chorion.
US08372435B2
Nanoparticles are functionalized for use as bio-imaging probes using a novel, modular approach. Particle surface modification is based on a phosphonate monolayer platform on which was built a multi-segmented, multi-functional film: the first segment provided hydrolytic stability, the second aqueous suspendability, and the third, selectivity for cell attachment. In vitro imaging experiments visualized nanoparticle-cell surface binding. Peptide-derivatized nano-particles were not displaced from cells by soluble peptide. Methods for coating the host particles and use of rare earth ion-doped particles in imaging methods and photodynamic therapy methods are also disclosed.
US08372432B2
Compositions and methods for the treatment of pain in a mammal are described. More specifically, a dosage form designed for release of acetaminophen and an opioid is described, wherein the dosage form provides delivery of the drugs to the upper gastrointestinal tract (“GI”) of a mammal for an extended period of time.
US08372430B2
Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for treating conditions including; ameliorating side effects associated with compounds such as lipase inhibitors; gastrointestinal distress; fecal urgency; obesity; hyperlipidemia; diarrhea; reducing levels of toxic substances; reducing blood cholesterol levels; inducing satiety; effecting weight loss; effecting weight control; and treating, delaying onset and/or preventing Type II diabetes. One embodiment includes compositions for administration to an animal for stiffening lipophilic substances in the gastrointestinal tract. Such stiffening agents have a complete melting point of about 33° C. or greater. Kits comprising the composition are also included. Methods of stiffening lipophilic substances present in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal are also provided. The methods comprise administering a composition comprising a safe and effective amount of a stiffening agent to an animal. The methods also comprise administering a composition comprising a safe and effective amount of a stiffening agent and a safe and effective amount of a lipase inhibitor to an animal.
US08372416B2
A process for limiting the growth of microorganisms comprises (a) providing an antimicrobial agent comprising fine-nanoscale gold on a support medium comprising nanoparticulate titania, the fine-nanoscale gold having been deposited on the support medium by physical vapor deposition; and (b) contacting at least one microorganism with the antimicrobial agent.
US08372410B2
Hyperimmune serum reactive antigens and fragments thereof are disclosed. In addition, methods for isolating such antigens and specific uses thereof, including the treatment of S. epidermidis infections, are disclosed.
US08372408B2
The invention relates to the use in a cosmetic composition of an extract of the alga Phaeodactylum tricornutum, as a depigmenting active agent intended in particular for attenuating or eliminating skin pigmentation marks or for lightening the complexion or bodily hairs or head hair. The extract is preferably a lipid extract. The invention also relates to a cosmetic care method for attenuating or eliminating skin pigmentation marks or for lightening the complexion or bodily hairs or head hair, characterized in that it comprises the application, to at least one concerned area of the skin, of a cosmetic composition containing this extract.
US08372405B2
A method is provided for improving the solubility of proteins, for example, bacterial toxins. In one embodiment, solubility is improved by introducing point mutations that replace cysteine residues capable of forming intermolecular disulfide bonds with other amino acid residues that do not form such bonds. By abrogating the ability of the cysteine residues to form inter-molecular disulfide bonds, aggregation of the protein is reduced, thereby improving the solubility of the protein. In another embodiment, solubility of the protein is improved by producing truncated forms of the protein that express the LHN domain and a fragment of the Hc domain. Proteins made according to the method of the invention are useful, for example, as immunodiagnostic agents and vaccine components.
US08372404B2
The invention relates to inhibitors that bind to C5 and C5a, but which do not prevent the activation of C5 and do not prevent formation of or inhibit the activity of C5b. One example of such an inhibitor molecule is the monoclonal antibody designated MAb137-26, which binds to a shared epitope of human C5 and C5a. These inhibitors may be used to inhibit the activity of C5a in treating diseases and conditions mediated by excessive or uncontrolled production of C5a. The inhibitor molecules are also useful for diagnostic detection of the presence/absence or amount of C5 or C5a.
US08372389B2
The present invention relates to methods for preventing or treating toxicities associated with exposure to ionizing radiation or to chemotherapy. Particularly, the present invention relates to methods for preventing or treating toxicities associated with radiation or chemotherapy comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment polypeptide complexes comprising an IL-6 linked to a soluble IL-6 receptor, the polypeptide complexes capable of preventing or treating toxicities, particularly xerostomia.
US08372387B2
The invention provides a therapeutic composition comprising an aqueous buffer, and a therapeutic agent that improves the functioning of a diseased heart by decreasing left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and simultaneously increasing left ventricular ejection without affecting the blood pressure or heart rate.
US08372385B2
An antifouling condensation curing organopolysiloxane composition is prepared by premixing a part or all of (A) a diorganopolysiloxane free of a reactive group with a part or all of (B) silica to form a premix, then mixing the premix with the remainder of (A) and (B), (C) a base diorganopolysiloxane, and (D) a silane. The composition has a good balance of low viscosity and high thixotropy, can be thickly coated in a single pass, and cures into a coating having rubber strength and surface smoothness and exhibiting satisfactory antifouling property over a long period of time.
US08372371B2
The invention relates to a method of making alkali metal silicide compositions, and the compositions resulting from the method, comprising mixing an alkali metal with silicon and heating the resulting mixture to a temperature below about 475° C. The resulting compositions do not react with dry O2. Also, the invention relates to sodium silicide compositions having a powder X-ray diffraction pattern comprising at least three peaks with 2Theta angles selected from about 18.2, 28.5, 29.5, 33.7, 41.2, 47.4, and 56.2 and a solid state 23Na MAS NMR spectra peak at about 18 ppm. Moreover, the invention relates to methods of removing a volatile or flammable substance in a controlled manner. Furthermore, the alkali metal silicide compositions of the invention react with water to produce hydrogen gas.
US08372368B2
The present invention is a method for synthesizing non-zeolitic molecular sieves which have a three dimensional microporous framework comprising [AlO2] and [PO2] units. In preparing the reaction mixture, a surfactant is used, coupled with non-aqueous impregnation to prevent acid sites from being destroyed by water during Pt impregnation. The superior SAPO exhibits higher activity and selectivity especially in catalytic hydroisomerization of waxy feeds, due to the presence of medium-sized silica islands distributed throughout the SAPO.
US08372365B2
An improved process for reduction-oxidation desulphurization uses an oxidizer operating at a pressure greater than the absorber where a liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution contacts a sulfur-containing gas feed stream.
US08372364B2
An exhaust gas post treatment system for, in particular, a self-igniting internal combustion engine including a catalytic converter that is arranged in an exhaust gas line, a fine particle filter and an introduction device for a reduction agent arranged upstream of the catalytic converter in the direction of the flow of the exhaust gas, and to a method for operating said type of exhaust gas post treatment system. An exhaust gas post treatment system and a method for operating said type of system that is simple to use and compact. This is achieved by virtue of the fact that the catalytic converter is a reductively or oxidatively operated catalytic converter, or that the introduction device, the catalytic converter, that can be operated reductively or oxidatively, and the fine particle filter are arranged in said sequence and in the exhaust line in the direction of flow.
US08372347B2
Improvements in the selective extraction of relatively low molecular weight oils from coal, coal liquids, oil shales, shale oils, oil sands, heavy and semi-heavy oils, bitumens, and the like are provided by a continuous process involving contacting the material to be treated with supercritical water in a continuous operation at pressures of from 500 psi to 3000 psi, temperatures of 250° C. to 450° C., and in-reactor dwell times generally in excess of 25 seconds and up to 10 minutes.
US08372345B2
An ozone generating apparatus includes a base container for holding water, and a head assembly connected to the upper edge of the base container, the head assembly containing a plurality of ozone generating cells each having a dielectric tube and an electrode assembly coaxially disposed within the associated dielectric tube. The dielectric tubes and electrode assemblies are disposed and connected such that the tube and/or electrode assembly of each ozone generating cell can be accessed independently of all other ozone generating cells, and such that the possibility of cascade failure of all remaining ozone generating cells upon failure of a single cell is substantially eliminated. The base container is provided with a process back flood prevention structure to protect the ozone generating cells.
US08372342B2
An apparatus for monitoring thrombus formation wherein anticoagulated blood is flown through a channel simulating a blood vessel while releasing the anticoagulant treatment or promoting blood coagulation to thereby monitor thrombus formation. This apparatus for monitoring thrombus formation comprises: a thrombus formation chamber in at least a part of which a thrombus formation inducer inducing thrombus formation is provided; an inlet tube which is connected to the thrombus formation chamber and through which blood is flown into the thrombus formation chamber; and a drug tube which is connected to the inlet tube and through which a drug releasing the anticoagulant treatment or a drug promoting blood coagulation is supplied. A method of monitoring thrombus formation which comprises flowing anticoagulated blood into a thrombus formation chamber, in at least a part of which a thrombus formation inducer inducing thrombus formation is provided, while releasing the anticoagulant treatment or promoting blood coagulation to thereby monitor thrombus formation.
US08372339B2
The invention discloses a sterilization device (1), to sterilize media, equipment and/or decontamination of waste material, said sterilization device (1) comprising a chamber (2), at least one exhaust line (6) arranged to said chamber (2) and at least one gas generator arranged to said chamber (2), at least two sterile filters (8a, 8b) arranged in series in the exhaust line (6), at least one vacuum means (7) connected to the chamber (2) via said exhaust line (6) and said at least two filters (8a, 8b). At least one heating means (9) is arranged to said exhaust line (6) between said two sterile filters (8a, 8b) in order to vaporize condensate that develops between the filters. Furthermore, it is disclosed a sterilization process for sterilization of media, equipment and/or decontamination of waste material, a vaporizing system (12) of a sterilization device and use of such a vaporizing system (12) in a sterilization device.
US08372335B2
The invention provides an austenitic ductile cast iron alloy composition including about 2.2% to about 2.4% by weight carbon; about 3.5% to about 4.0% by weight silicon; about 28% to about 29% by weight nickel; about 2.5% to about 3.0% by weight chromium; about 0.9% to about 1.1% by weight molybdenum; and greater than about 50% iron, wherein percentages are based on the overall weight of the composition. The invention further provides articles, such as turbocharger housings, prepared using the inventive alloys.
US08372332B2
Methods of fabricating a polymeric implantable device with improved fracture toughness through annealing, nucleating agents, or both are disclosed herein. A polymeric construct that is completely amorphous or that has a very low crystallinity is annealed with no or substantially no crystal growth to increase nucleation density. Alternatively, the polymer construct includes nucleating agent. The crystallinity of the polymer construct is increased with a high nucleation density through an increase in temperature, deformation, or both. An implantable medical device, such as a stent, can be fabricated from the polymer construct after the increase in crystallinity.
US08372325B2
Endolumenal prostheses that readily and extensively convert from a delivery configuration to a deployed configuration are disclosed. Endolumenal prostheses may be fabricated from one or more shape memory polymers, a high modulus elastomer, a polymer that is both elastomeric and exhibits shape memory behavior, a hydrogel, or some combination thereof. Polymers used to fabricate the prostheses are selectively synthesized to exhibit desired characteristics such as crystallinity, strain fixity rate, strain recovery rate, elasticity, tensile strength, mechanical strength, cross-linking density, extent physical cross-linking, extent of covalent cross-linking, extent of interpenetrating networks, rate of erosion, heat of fusion, crystallization temperature, and acidity during erosion. The endolumenal prostheses convert to the deployed configuration following delivery to a treatment site, upon exposure to an initiator either present within the body naturally or introduced into the body.
US08372324B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for binding of particulate materials to manufacture articles including continuous panels or sheets. Particulate feed materials are mixed with a heat curable binder and the mixture is fed to and compressed in a die. A radio frequency (RF) field is applied across electrodes between which the mixture is held compressed to inductively or dielectrically heat and cure the binder. Prior to entering the die the mixture is first fed to an intake zone where the mixture is shaped into substantially the same shape as the shape of the mixture in the die so that any curing of the binder due to heating of the mixture in the intake zone occurs while the mixture is in the desired final shape. Operating parameters including shape and dimensions of the intake zone, mixture advancement lengths, are disclosed.
US08372323B2
A process for preparing a PANOX fiber comprising: obtaining an acrylonitrile copolymer, wherein the copolymer contains at least about 2% by weight itaconic acid comonomer; forming a spin dope from the copolymer; wet spinning the spin dope to obtain gelled filaments; contacting the gelled filaments with ammonia activator in an aqueous imbibation bath; bundling the gelled filaments to obtain a fiber; removing solvent from the fiber; drawing the fiber; densifying the fiber by heating the fiber up to about 400 degrees C. for a time of about 15 minutes in a rapid densification zone; and withdrawing a PANOX fiber from the densification zone.
US08372321B2
A part may be manufactured in a desired color from virgin or recycled polymeric material by selection of a color formulation to be used in a first location 4, 6, 8, 10, 12; relaying color information to a centralized match prediction system 16 as regards the desired color and other information concerning a polymeric material which is to be made in the desired color. The system 16 includes a database and associated software and is able to take the color information and predict how to reproduce the colors using an associated color dispense system. A device 30 controls dispense stations 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 which may be conveniently situated at customer sites or the like. The dispense stations dispense colors for use.
US08372314B2
Disclosed are an indium Tin Oxide (ITO) target, a method for manufacturing the same, a transparent conductive film of ITO, and a method for manufacturing the transparent conductive film of ITO. The ITO target includes at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of Sm2O3 and Yb2O3, wherein an amount of the oxide is about 0.5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % based on the weight of the target.
US08372310B2
A process for the production of synthesis gas is presented, which involves the steps of a) preparing a vapor phase mixture comprising steam and at least one hydrocarbon or oxygenated hydrocarbon by atomizing of the at least one hydrocarbon or oxygenated hydrocarbon through a nozzle such that the at least one hydrocarbon or oxygenated hydrocarbon is present as droplets with a droplet size of less than 500 μm and the time to complete evaporation does not exceed 0.5 seconds, said at least one hydrocarbon or oxygenated hydrocarbon having an atmospheric boiling point in the range of −50 to 370° C., said vapor phase having a H2O/C molar ratio of at least 2, and b) catalytic conversion of the vapor phase mixture into synthesis gas in a reformer.
US08372309B2
To provide a phosphor having an emission spectrum with a broad peak in a range from green color to yellow color, having a broad and flat excitation band capable of using lights of broad range from near ultraviolet/ultraviolet to blue lights as excitation lights, and having excellent emission efficiency and luminance. The problem is solved by providing the phosphor expressed by a general composition formula MmAaBbOoNn:Z (where element M is one or more kinds of elements having bivalent valency, element A is one or more kinds of elements having tervalent valency, element B is one or more kinds of elements having tetravalent valency, O is oxygen, N is nitrogen, and element Z is one or more kinds of elements acting as the activator), satisfying 4.0<(a+b)/m<7.0, a/m≧0.5, b/a>2.5, n>o, n=2/3m+a+4/3b−2/3o, and having an emission spectrum with a peak wavelength of 500 nm to 650 nm when excited by light in a wavelength range from 300 nm to 500 nm.
US08372303B2
Disclosed is cerium oxide powder for a CMP abrasive, which can improve polishing selectivity of a silicon oxide layer to a silicon nitride layer and/or within-wafer non-uniformity (WIWNU) during chemical mechanical polishing in a semiconductor fabricating process. More particularly, the cerium oxide powder is obtained by using cerium carbonate having a hexagonal crystal structure as a precursor. Also, CMP slurry comprising the cerium oxide powder as an abrasive, and a shallow trench isolation method for a semiconductor device using the CMP slurry as polishing slurry are disclosed.
US08372296B2
Provided is a manufacturing method for a thermal head, including: bonding a flat upper substrate in a stacked state onto a flat supporting substrate including a heat-insulating concave portion open to one surface thereof so that the heat-insulating concave portion is closed (bonding step (SA2)); thinning the upper substrate bonded onto the supporting substrate by the bonding step (SA2) (plate thinning step (SA3)); measuring a thickness of the upper substrate thinned by the plate thinning step (SA3) (measurement step (SA4)); deciding a target resistance value of heating resistors based on the thickness of the upper substrate, which is measured by the measurement step (SA4) (decision step (SA5)); and forming, at positions of a surface of the upper substrate thinned by the plate thinning step (SA3), the heating resistors having the target resistance value determined by the decision step (SA5), the positions being opposed to the heat-insulating concave portion (resistor forming step (SA6)). Thus, a high-efficiency thermal head capable of accurately outputting a target heating amount obtained by estimating an amount of heat wasted without being used is easily manufactured without using a special apparatus.
US08372295B2
Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale arrays of openings and linear microchannels utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. Embodiments of the invention use a self-templating or multilayer approach to induce ordering of a self-assembling block copolymer film to an underlying base film to produce a multilayered film having an ordered array of nanostructures that can be removed to provide openings in the film which, in some embodiments, can be used as a template or mask to etch openings in an underlying material layer.
US08372289B2
A method for conditioning a contaminated ion exchange resin includes mixing the contaminated ion exchange resin with water and at least partly breaking up the contaminated ion exchange resin into water-soluble components or fragments through the use of an oxidizing agent added to the water. A resulting aqueous solution is consolidated with a binder, optionally after concentration by evaporation of water.
US08372285B2
Numerous different types of waste compositions generally in an aqueous environment are bio-remediated under aerobic conditions utilizing highly diverse and multiple microorganisms within a reactor. The process is carried out with the microorganisms attached or bound by a variety of different surface characteristics to packing substrates, located within the reactor, having high surface areas and high porosity in the form of small micropores. Multiple different types of substrates are utilized that include minerals, carbon compounds, polymers and plastics, ceramics, metals, and the like and shapes thereof are utilized that efficiently dissolve air into the water. The reactors desirably have multiple bio-remediation stages therein. The reactor also contains at least one perforated chimney through which air can flow and optimize dissolving oxygen into the aqueous environment of the various bio-remediation stages. The reactors house maximum biodiversity to bio-remediate waste compositions in various wastewaters encountered from industrial, commercial, municipal and residential sources.
US08372284B2
Disclosed are a wastewater treatment plant and a wastewater treatment method. The wastewater treatment plant includes: a reactor including a gas outlet, a treated water outlet, and an inlet through which wastewater and gas are supplied, through which the wastewater is introduced, to perform aeration and denitrification; a sludge separation means including plural reaction unit bodies stacked inside the reactor to divide the interior of the reactor into upper and lower sides and separating sludge in a aeration process by forming a gas hold-up space for collecting the gas rising from a lower portion of the reactor; and a aeration unit introducing gas into the reactor.
US08372277B2
A floating streambed comprising a circulation pump having an inlet hose or pipe, an inlet hose or pipe depth adjuster, and one or more treatment channels comprised of permeable matrix. The floating streambed floats on a water body. Water enters the inlet hose or pipe from the water body and is pumped by the circulation pump into the treatment channels. The treatment channels are comprised of permeable matrix, and water entering the treatment channels flows both horizontally through the treatment channel and into the water body and also vertically downward through the permeable matrix of the treatment channels.
US08372275B2
The present invention is a liquid filter that includes a removable filter cartridge that is easily accessible for quick, easy replacement, the filter being installed directly adjacent to or preferably in direct contact with the sink itself utilizing the opening originally intended for the spray attachment on the sink, or, where there is no opening for a spray attachment, by adding a small hole to access the liquid supply below the countertop, the filter being designed to sit entirely on top of the sink flange or countertop immediately adjacent to the sink and containing an integral faucet for dispensing filtered liquid, along with an integral actuator or switch to control the flow of filtered liquid.
US08372257B2
A suspension type electrodeposition coating composition containing, as a resin component, block copolyimide having a siloxane bond in a molecular structure and an anionic group in a molecule. Preferably, the above-mentioned block copolyimide contains, as one of the diamine components, diamine having a siloxane, bond in a molecular structure. In addition, preferably, the above-mentioned anionic group is a carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof and/or a sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof. The electrodeposition coating composition has superior heat resistance, which does not easily develop peeling and cracks in the electrodeposited body, and is capable of efficiently forming a high-insulation electrodeposited film superior in the uniformity of film property.
US08372245B2
A roll assembly (10) for a fiber-web machine has at least at one end thereof, with a bearing assembly (20) with a bearing housing, which bearing housing (18) has a flexible and attenuating attachment arrangement by means of which the roll can be attached in a flexible and attenuating manner on the frame or foundation (22) of the fiber-web machine. A mass absorber (24) is arranged in conjunction with the bearing housing, whereby the damping of the vibration of the roll assembly is arranged by the cooperation of the bearing housing that is attached in a flexible and attenuating manner and the mass absorber (24) in conjunction therewith. The invention also relates to a method of attenuating the vibration of a roll of a fiber-web machine.
US08372236B2
A method of heating a thermoplastic board by heat conduction in a heating system which has at least a first surface contacting tool and a second surface containing tool spaced from the first tool, at least one of which is heatable. The thermoplastic board is placed into the heating system between the two surface contacting tools, with an auxiliary sheet being placed between the contact surface of the respective heatable surface contacting tool and the surface of the thermoplastic board facing it. The space between the two surface contacting tools is then reduced to a predefined gap measurement, and the heatable surface contacting tool or tools is heated.
US08372235B2
Methods and apparatus are described for producing welded assemblies of plastic parts for use in fluid flow applications. A unit cell structure is disclosed for use in an assembly.
US08372232B2
A heat transfer material kit is disclosed that includes a first image transfer material that includes a printable non-porous surface, and a second image transfer material that includes an outer layer having a film forming binder and thermoplastic particles. A method of using the kit is disclosed that includes the steps of a) imaging the substantially non-porous printable surface to form an imaged surface having printed and un-printed areas; b) positioning the outer layer adjacent the imaged surface; c) transferring a portion of the outer layer to the printed area while transferring a lesser portion of the outer layer to the non-printed area to form a coated imaged surface having a non-printed area with less coating than the printed area; and d) thereafter transferring the coated image to a substrate. Alternate methods of using the kit and applying images to substrates that provide good image appearance and durability are also disclosed.
US08372231B1
A method and apparatus for manufacturing. A fiber layer and a first porous bonding layer are formed to form a unidirectional lay-up of fibers. The unidirectional lay-up of fibers is heated under pressure to form a unidirectional composite tape. A first plurality of lengths of the unidirectional composite tape is laid down to build a first layer from the unidirectional composite tape. A second plurality of lengths of the unidirectional composite tape is laid down to build a second layer from the unidirectional composite tape on the first layer at a predetermined angle from the first layer. At least one of the first and second plurality of lengths of the unidirectional composite tape are slit while laying down the first and second plurality of lengths of the unidirectional composite tape. A composite fabric is formed from the first and second layer.
US08372229B2
A method for coupling corrugated pipe segments is disclosed. The method includes providing first and second thermoplastic corrugated pipe segments arranged to form a fluid flow path and aligning ends of the pipe segments adjacent one another to form a joint. The method further includes providing a coupling assembly having a thermoplastic sheet with a flexible weld rod of a thermoplastic material attached thereto and circumferentially contacting the coupling assembly with the first and second thermoplastic pipe segments. An electrical current is applied to the weld rod to cause the weld rod, sheet and pipe segments to fuse to one another and form a circumferential weld seam on each side of the joint.
US08372220B2
There are provided an aluminum alloy forging having high strength, toughness, and resistance to corrosion in response to the thinning of automotive underbody parts, and a process for production thereof.The aluminum alloy forging includes an aluminum alloy containing predetermined amounts of Mg, Si, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Zr, and Ti with the balance being composed of Al and inevitable impurities, and having a hydrogen gas concentration of 0.25 ml/100 g of Al. In the aluminum alloy forging mentioned above, the area ratio of Mg2Si having a maximum length of 0.1 μm or above is 0.15% or below, the recrystallization ratio of the aluminum alloy is 20% or below, and a size distribution index value defined by V/r of dispersed particles of the aluminum alloy (V: the area ratio [%] of the dispersed particles, and r: the average radius [nm] of the dispersed particles) is 0.20 or above.
US08372219B2
Gun barrel for firearms made from a deformed material and method for producing the gun barrel material. The material has a chemical composition in % by weight of: ContentCSiMnPSCrMo Min0.280.080.15 3.61.2 Max0.360.260.350.0050.0024.41.8 ContentNiVWTiAs + Sn + SbFe Min 0.42 Rest Max<0.50.5 0.150.080.007 and impurities due to smelting. The material has a hardness of at least 46 to 48 HRC.
US08372216B2
A continuous method for surface treatment of metal strips applies a finish coat having a thickness of not more than 3 μm, the apparatus employed for application being equipped with at least one IR sensor which faces a coated side of the strip, operates in reflection geometry, and serves to measure the coat thickness of the finish coat, with the strip running.
US08372215B2
A human-interface cleaning device for cleaning human-interface devices commonly used for the treatment sleep apnea. The cleaning device has a solvent-receiving end which connects to a solvent-delivery source such as a faucet or shower head. At the opposite end of the cleaning device is a funnel-like shaped solvent-discharge end which is tapered at its distal end and adapted to easily friction-fit into any receiving aperture of most human-interface devices. The inner chamber of the device has one or more fins each having an angled flap at their ends. As so connected to a solvent-delivery source and to a human-interface device, the cleaning device will enhance the force of the solvent being delivered through the cleaning device and more easily and effectively clean the human-interface device to which attached.
US08372213B2
Semiconductor wafers are treated in a liquid container filled at least partly with a solution containing hydrogen fluoride, such that surface oxide dissolves, are transported out of the solution along a transport direction and dried, and are then treated with an ozone-containing gas to oxidize the surface of the semiconductor wafer, wherein part of the semiconductor wafer surface comes into contact with the ozone-containing gas while another part of the surface is still in contact with the solution, and wherein the solution and the ozone-containing gas are spatially separated such that they do not come into contact with one another.
US08372212B2
According to one embodiment, a supercritical drying method comprises cleaning a semiconductor substrate with a chemical solution, rinsing the semiconductor substrate with pure water after the cleaning, changing a liquid covering a surface of the semiconductor substrate from the pure water to alcohol by supplying the alcohol to the surface after the rinsing, guiding the semiconductor substrate having the surface wetted with the alcohol into a chamber, discharging oxygen from the chamber by supplying an inert gas into the chamber, putting the alcohol into a supercritical state by increasing temperature in the chamber to a critical temperature of the alcohol or higher after the discharge of the oxygen, and discharging the alcohol from the chamber by lowering pressure in the chamber and changing the alcohol from the supercritical state to a gaseous state. The chamber contains SUS. An inner wall face of the chamber is subjected to electrolytic polishing.
US08372208B2
In an automatic wash, a control unit operates a boom arm around a vehicle in a bay by moving a bridge along a lengthwise vehicle orientation, moving a trolley on the bridge along a widthwise vehicle orientation, and rotating the boom arm about the trolley. The boom arm is coupled to a mount which is flexibly coupled to the trolley such that boom arm impact displaces the mount and the trolley. The displacement may be two-dimensional and/or angular. In response, the control unit determines whether an impact has occurred by comparing the data to a baseline. If there is an impact, the control unit relocates the boom arm and may continue the wash process. If a sufficient force impact occurs that the control unit cannot correct, the boom arm may disengage from the mount which may trigger a breakaway sensor and cause the control unit to abandon the wash.
US08372206B2
Provided are a range of ultrasonic cleaning assemblies that include radiating surfaces activated by corresponding arrays of planar transducers configured to increase the power applied to a reduced volume of fluid associated with a fuel assembly, thereby increasing that applied power density for improved cleaning. The individual ultrasonic cleaning assemblies may be arranged in a variety of modules that, in turn, may be combined to increase the length of the cleaning zone and provide variations in the power density applied to improve the cleaning uniformity.
US08372204B2
A susceptor for holding semiconductor wafers in an MOCVD reactor during growth of epitaxial layers on the wafers is disclosed. The susceptor comprises a base structure made of a material having low thermal conductivity at high temperature, and has one or more plate holes to house heat transfer plugs. The plugs are made of a material with high thermal conductivity at high temperatures to transfer heat to the semiconductor wafers. A metalorganic chemical vapor deposition reactor is also disclosed utilizing a susceptor according to the present invention.
US08372202B2
A disclosed film deposition apparatus includes a turntable including a substrate receiving area; a first reaction gas supplier for supplying a first reaction gas to a surface of the turntable having the substrate receiving area; a second reaction gas supplier, arranged away from the first reaction gas supplier along a circumferential direction of the turntable, for supplying a second reaction gas to the surface; a separation area located along the circumferential direction between a first process area of the first reaction gas and a second process area of the second reaction gas; a separation gas supplier for supplying a first separation gas to both sides of the separation area; a first heating unit for heating the first separation gas to the separation gas supplier; an evacuation opening for evacuating the gases supplied to the turntable; and a driver for rotating the turntable in the circumferential direction.
US08372199B2
Bulk GaN and AlGaN single crystal boules, preferably fabricated using a modified HVPE process, are provided. The single crystal boules typically have a volume in excess of 4 cubic centimeters with a minimum dimension of approximately 1 centimeter. If desired, the bulk material can be doped during growth, for example to achieve n-, i-, or p-type conductivity.
US08372195B2
Solid pigment concentrate comprising at least one pigment and a dispersant comprising a polyamine backbone and one or more hydrophobic pendent groups, characterized in that the concentrate further comprises a non-ionic 5 surface active agent comprising polyoxyalkylene groups. The polyamine backbone can for instance comprise polyalkylene imine building blocks.
US08372186B2
A ductless fume hood suitable for the removal of various chemical materials including toxic and non-toxic gases, vapors, particles, dust and unpleasant odors from a fluid stream. The ductless fume hood uses electronic devices and software to enable real time monitoring of gas levels in parts per million.
US08372180B2
The invention provides a process for controlling the moisture content of a supply gas for use in drying a product, which process comprises the steps of: (a) providing the supply gas; (b) optionally heating the supply gas; (c) determining the temperature and the moisture content of the supply gas; (d) contacting the supply gas with a rotating desiccant wheel, whereby the rotating speed of the desiccant wheel is controlled by means of the data on the temperature and the moisture content as obtained in step (c) in combination with the corresponding sorption isotherm of the desiccant; and (e) recovering the dehumidified supply gas as obtained in step (d). The invention further provides a dehumidified gas obtainable by said process, a dehumidifier system, a process for drying a product comprising bringing the product into contact with a dehumidified gas as obtained in accordance with the invention, and a product obtainable by said drying process.
US08372178B2
There is disclosed a silver powder comprising silver particles, each said silver particle comprising silver components 100-500 nm long, 80-100 nm wide, and 80-100 nm thick, assembled on the surface of silver to form a spherically-shaped, open structured particle, wherein the surface of the particle resembles the surface of an orange rind and the d50 particle size is from about 2.5 μm to about 6 μm. Also disclosed is a process for making these silver particles. The silver particles formed are particularly useful in electronic applications.
US08372176B2
The invention relates to the use of metal complexes comprising a ligand derived from 2-aryl-2-hydroxyacetic acid and a divalent or trivalent metal cation and to the use of the said ligands in dissolving divalent or trivalent metal cations in aqueous phase.The said complexes can be used to treat metal deficiencies in plants.
US08372165B1
A diesel fuel blending component primarily comprised of 1,2-(ditetrahydrofuryl)ethane (DTHFE) along with a method of manufacture is presented. The blending component will reduce PM and other emissions in a diesel engine. The component is manufactured from C5 sugar sources by first converting to furfural, then furion, and then hydrotreated to the desired product.
US08372159B2
The sealing sheath is for use with a prosthetic socket and associated liner. The sealing sheath includes a textile tube for surrounding at least a portion of a liner that is configured to wear on a residual limb. An annular seal, e.g. an elastomeric or silicone seal, is positioned adjacent a proximal end of the textile tube and continuously extends from an inside of the textile tube configured to be adjacent the liner, through the textile tube to an outside thereof configured to be adjacent an inside of the prosthetic socket. The annular seal may include a first wing on an inside of the textile tube configured to be adjacent the liner, a second wing on an outside of the textile tube configured to be adjacent an inside of the prosthetic socket, and a base connecting lower ends of the first and second wings to define a v-shaped cross-section of the annular seal.
US08372157B2
An osteoconductive backing implant for joint revisions is provided that may enhance bone healing and, for cementless implants, bony integration of the implant. The backing implant comprises a generally planar surface that may be formed into a generally hemispherical shape. In one embodiment, the backing implant comprises a disc having an inner hole and an outer edge, at least one slit extending from the inner hole to the outer edge. The disc may be formed from a coherent mass of elongate, mechanically entangled demineralized bone particles.
US08372148B2
An intervertebral spacer for positioning between vertebral members. The spacer may include contact surfaces that are configured to contact against the vertebral members. A fluid cylinder may be positioned between the first and second contact surfaces and configured to contain a fluid. The fluid cylinder may include an outer cylinder with an open first end that telescopingly receives an inner cylinder. The spacer is configured to maintain the distance between the contact surfaces at a desired amount.
US08372146B2
Distensible ligaments and distensible ligament systems are provided, including apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for distensible systems.
US08372138B2
An implantable, radially distensible stent includes a plurality of helically wound elongate members. The members include an overlapping portion having a longitudinal extent, opposed and convexly rounded sides defining a width of the members and opposed luminal and exterior surfaces. The members include shape memory polymer. The side of one elongate member slidingly overlaps the side of an adjacent elongate member to form a self-supporting wall structure of a stent. The stent wall is self-supporting without other support structure incorporated into or abutting the elongate members. Further, the shape memory polymer may include a biodegradable or bioabsorbable elements.
US08372136B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a fatigue resistant stent includes a flexible tubular structure having an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a sidewall therebetween and having apertures extending through the sidewall. According to other aspects of the invention, processes for making a fatigue resistant stent are disclosed. According to further aspects of the invention, delivery systems for a fatigue resistant stent and methods of use are provided.
US08372132B2
A stent inserting device is used in inserting a self-expandable stent with leading and trailing ends into a tubular organ of a living body. The stent inserting device includes a grip body, an external tube attached to a front end of the grip body, a push member movably inserted into the external tube from a rear end of the grip body, and a tubular cap for removably receiving the stent in a compressed state. The tubular cap has a front end operatively connected to the push member and a rear end slidably fitted to a front end of the external tube. The stent inserting device is designed to hold the stent within the tubular cap in such a manner that the stent is first expanded at the trailing end and then gradually expanded toward the leading end when the tubular cap is pushed away from the external tube.
US08372125B2
The present invention relates to a device for fixation of a bone fracture. The device comprises at least one appliance (1) for placing close to the bone fracture, and fixing elements in the form of pins (2) which are intended to be locked to the appliance (i) in order to fix the bone fracture (3). With the object of allowing correct positioning of the appliance and pins and thereafter driving the pins into correct positions for optimum stable fixation of the bone fracture, the appliance (1) is provided with predrilled holes (4) whose diameter is adapted to the diameter of forward portions (2a) of the pins (2) so that said forward portions can be inserted through the holes until they come up against the bone (3) with the fracture (3a) on which the appliance is used, which pins (2) have, to the rear of said forward portions (2a), threaded portions (2b) in which the outside diameter of the threads is larger than the diameter of said forward portions, and the material of which the appliance (1) is made is such that the threaded rear portions (2b) of the pins (2) can be screwed into it and the forward portions (2a) of the pins can thereby be driven into the bone (3) with the fracture (3a) on both sides of the fracture.
US08372121B2
A spinal stabilization system includes a first stabilization member and a second stabilization member engaged to one another in end-to-end fashion. A coupling system adjustably secures the stabilization members in axial position relative to one another while allowing the relative axial positioning to be adjusted to accommodate growth or other condition or arrangement.
US08372111B2
An apparatus is disclosed including but not limited to a group of force resistive objects for concurrently applying pressure to different positions on at least one of a plurality of human tissues; and a connective member for fixedly interconnecting the plurality of force resistive objects. A method for using the apparatus is also disclosed.
US08372103B2
There is provided a lancet firing device comprising a projection, configured to project into an interior cavity of a lancet body when a lancet having a lancet body is loaded into the firing device; and means to grip an inner wall of the lancet body, the means being disposed on the projection.
US08372102B2
An end effector for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument. A body extends along a longitudinal axis. The body includes a proximal end and a distal end. The body comprises an outer surface that defines an inner portion. The proximal end of the body is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude. An extendable folded element includes a first end coupled to the distal end of the body and extending proximally along the longitudinal axis from the distal end of the body toward the proximal end of the body. The extendable folded element comprises a second free acoustic end. The extendable folded element and the outer surface of the body define a single substantially parallel acoustic path.
US08372100B2
An ultrasound surgical apparatus includes a handpiece which includes a probe provided with a proximal end portion mechanically coupled to an ultrasound transducer and a distal end portion used for treatment of a living tissue; a drive portion which outputs a drive signal; a detection portion which detects, in the drive signal, a cavitation level signal corresponding to a state of cavitation generated in a calibration solution, based on the drive signal of calibration signal strength corresponding to class information about the handpiece; a condition storage portion which stores calibration information; an output setting portion which sets the vibration strength; and a control portion which controls the drive portion so as to output the drive signal of drive signal strength corresponding to the vibration strength set by the output setting portion, based on the calibration information and the class information.
US08372091B2
A device (10) is used for moving a thread of a surgical sewing instrument (60). The device comprises a clamp (18) for detachably clipping said device (10) on the surgical sewing instrument (60). The device has an arm (24) having a first end connected to said clamp (18). A freely rotatable roller (50) being arranged at a second end of said arm (24), said roller (50) resting on the thread of the surgical instrument (60) having clipped on the device (10).
US08372084B2
A system for replacing a natural nuclear disc in an intervertebral space has a spinal device configured for placement in the intervertebral space. An insertion tool is configured for holding the spinal device while the spinal device is inserted into the intervertebral space. A gripping member of the insertion tool has an end for adjustably holding the spinal device within the intervertebral space. A steering actuator of the insertion tool is operably connected to the spinal device and configured for pivoting the adjustably held spinal device within the intervertebral space while the steering actuator is controlled remotely from the intervertebral space. The steering actuator is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the tool. A locking mechanism is provided to keep the spinal device from pivoting in an insertion position and to keep the disc device from being released unintentionally.
US08372083B2
An adapter to provide moveable configurations of securing structures such as fastener apertures or throughbores for fastening a surgical instrument to an anatomical structure, such as a bone. The adapter is connectable to the surgical instrument in a plurality of discrete locations on the surgical instrument, thereby allowing a surgeon to select an optimum fixation location for fastening the surgical instrument to the anatomical structure. The adapter may be cannulated to accommodate a fastener and may be slidably affixed to the surgical instrument while simultaneously providing stable fixation between the surgical instrument and the bone. The adapter may be configured to mate with another adapter having a similar configuration such that multiple fixation locations may be provided to the surgeon. Moreover, a plurality of adapters may be connected to the surgical instrument either directly or indirectly through another adapter to select multiple optimum fixation locations.
US08372082B2
A force-limiting clutch for a surgical instrument includes a drive element and a transmission element. An actuator is coupled to the drive element, and a drive shaft is coupled to the transmission element for providing an output force. If the force input from the actuator to the clutch reaches a predetermined threshold, the force-limiting clutch “slips” and does not transfer the actuator force to the drive shaft to prevent excessive force/pressure output. Normally, drive features on the drive element engage with transmission features on the transmission element to transfer forces from the actuator to the drive shaft. When a threshold force is reached, the drive features slip past the transmission features. This clutch “breakpoint” determines the maximum loading that the surgical instrument can provide at its output. In various embodiments, multiple transmission features can be arranged in a serial manner, such that the force-limiting clutch provides multiple breakpoints.
US08372077B2
In a saw for the removal of a prosthesis which is integrated with a bone, a blade is connected to a handle wherein the distal end of the blade includes a shaped nib. The shaped nib has teeth, with at least some of the teeth being angled to cut as the saw is moved in a backward direction. The nib additionally includes means for allowing the nib to be reversibly deformed such that in use its maximum width can be temporarily reduced.
US08372074B2
A multi-articular fracture fixation device having a adjustable modulus of rigidity. The implant apparatus includes modular tensioning elements that can be disposed in a ball-and-socket linear array along a length of connecting wire within a medullary canal or percutaneously. The connecting wire includes a threaded end and a stop member at the opposite end, and when a lock nut is threadably disposed on the threaded end and tightened, at least two of the tensioning elements in the array may be swivelled relative to one another and arranged to introduce curvature as desired along the length of the array. Tightening the lock nut is also employed to adjust the modulus of rigidity to he retained during healing.
US08372070B2
A surgical system includes a surgical instrument including a conducting section transmitting ultrasound vibration generated by an ultrasound transducer to a distal end portion and transmitting a high-frequency output signal to the distal end portion, an ultrasound drive section outputting an ultrasound drive signal to the ultrasound transducer, a high-frequency output section outputting a high-frequency output signal to the conducting section, a detection section detecting an ultrasound impedance of a surgical site to which ultrasound energy and high-frequency energy are provided from the distal end portion by outputting both signals simultaneously to the surgical instrument, a determination section determining whether the detected ultrasound impedance is in a predetermined range, and a control section performing control to increase a high-frequency output value by a first predetermined amount or decrease the high-frequency output value by a second predetermined amount when the detected ultrasound impedance is out of the predetermined range.
US08372066B2
Thermal, electrosurgical and mechanical modalities may be combined in a surgical tool. Potentially damaging effects in a first modality may be minimized by using a secondary modality. In one example, thermal hemostasis may thus help electrosurgical applications avoid the adverse tissue effects associated with hemostatic monopolar electrosurgical waveforms while retaining the benefits of using monopolar incising waveforms.
US08372062B2
In one embodiment, a neck bridge for bridging the neck of an aneurysm includes a junction region, a number of radially extending array elements attached to the junction region, and a cover attached to one or both of the junction region and an array element. The array elements are configured to be positioned within the aneurysm after the neck bridge is deployed from a delivery device. In a second embodiment, the neck bridge includes a junction region and a braided or mesh-like structure secured to the junction region. The braided or mesh-like structure is made from an elastic material.
US08372052B2
Packaged garments having pre-fastened, refastenable seams tucked in a certain position can preserve fastener performance. Such refastenable seams are particularly suitable for side seams on pant-like absorbent garments. Prior to packaging the garment, the refastenable seams are pre-fastened and tucked into the garment such that any resilient fastening components lie flat in a plane parallel to a plane in which front and back waist portions of the garment lie. When the garment is compressed and packaged, the resilient fastening components remain flat and do not become creased or crushed.
US08372051B2
Medical dressings and medical dressing kits that can be used to provide a ported medical dressing for placement over a wound or other body site where controlled fluid access is desired. The controlled fluid access provided by the medical dressings may be useful to remove fluids from the wound (as in, e.g., negative or reduced pressure therapies), to provide one or more gases to a wound site, to provide one or more liquids to a wound site, and/or to provide one or more active agents to a wound site. To achieve controlled fluid access, the medical dressing and medical dressing kits may include a port body with a lower surface that is adhesively adhered to the skin at the periphery of a wound or other body site.
US08372050B2
A reduced pressure dressing for applying reduced pressure treatment to a tissue site includes an interface layer adapted to be positioned at the tissue site. An absorbent layer is in fluid communication with the interface layer to absorb liquid from at least one of the interface layer and the tissue site. A pump is in fluid communication with the absorbent layer to deliver a reduced pressure to the tissue site. A cover is positioned over the pump, the absorbent layer, and the interface layer to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site, and a liquid-air separator is positioned between the absorbent layer and the pump to inhibit liquid from entering the pump.
US08372049B2
A reduced pressure treatment system includes a reduced pressure source and a reduced pressure dressing. The dressing includes an interface layer adapted to be positioned at a tissue site and an absorbent layer in fluid communication with the interface layer to absorb liquid from at least one of the interface layer and the tissue site. A diverter layer is positioned adjacent the absorbent layer, and the diverter layer includes a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with the absorbent layer to distribute a reduced pressure to the absorbent layer. A cover is positioned over the diverter layer to maintain the reduced pressure at the tissue site.
US08372045B2
An infusion device capable of administering liquid medication at a continuous flow rate, and upon user demand delivers a controlled volume dosage of liquid medication at a higher dosage flow rate. The dosage reservoir remains empty until the user actuates it by selectively and temporarily removing the pressure source, such as a spring. During actuation, fluid rapidly flows from the medication reservoir to fill the dosage reservoir. After actuation, the pressure source exerts a higher pressure on the dosage reservoir than the medication reservoir pressure, which results in a temporary higher bolus flow rate. Thus, two distinct flow rates are achieved with one flow restrictor element.
US08372044B2
The present invention provides an injection device including a syringe having a distal end for receiving a needle, and a plunger inserted into a proximal end. A guard is slidable on the syringe, has a proximal end, a distal end, and is biased from a first position wherein the needle is exposed toward a second position wherein the guard covers the needle. The syringe includes a body having a central cylindrical opening for receiving a medicine and the plunger, and further includes a pair of longitudinally extending members on opposite sides of the body. The injection device includes cooperating detents for retaining the guard and syringe in the first and second positions. A latch member is engageable by the plunger as the plunger is depressed to release the cooperating detents. Upon release, a spring element biases the guard toward the second position.
US08372038B2
An apparatus and method to suppress vacuum surges in a surgical aspiration system is disclosed and claimed. A vacuum surge suppressor includes a first fluid path for coupling to a surgical instrument, and a filter attached to the first fluid path. A flow restrictor is coupled to the filter with the filter disposed upstream of the flow restrictor. The vacuum surge suppressor also includes a second fluid path for coupling to a vacuum pump. The second fluid path is connected to the flow restrictor and disposed downstream of the flow restrictor. The second fluid path defines a path internal pressure. A third fluid path is coupled to the filter and is connected to the second fluid path, bypassing the flow restrictor. A valve in the third fluid path obstructs flow in the third fluid path in response to the path internal pressure.
US08372036B2
In various embodiments, an ophthalmic injection device may include a dispensing chamber to hold a substance (e.g., a drug) to be injected into an eye, a thermal feedback layer with at least one thermal sensor, and a temperature control layer to apply or remove heat from the dispensing chamber. In some embodiments, the thermal feedback layer and the temperature control layer may be coupled to each other and/or coupled to the dispensing chamber. In some embodiments, at least one of the thermal sensors may be secured between the temperature control layer and the dispensing chamber using a thermal adhesive.
US08372035B2
A disposable injector with a housing (10) in which a mechanical spring energy reservoir, a cylinder/piston unit (100), a piston-actuating ram (60) and a trigger unit are arranged, wherein the spring energy reservoir comprises at least one pretensioned spring element, wherein at least part of the piston-actuating ram is positioned between the spring energy reservoir and the piston of the cylinder/piston unit, and wherein the piston (111) of the cylinder/piston unit is separately moveable via pump rod (140). The pump rod can be coupled releasably to the piston or to a piston rod of the piston. The cylinder of the cylinder/piston unit has a rear sealing element (105) that permits sterile closure of the cylinder interior located between the piston and the cylinder.
US08372034B2
A balloon catheter system for the intraluminal advancement of conventional guidewires beyond partially or fully occluded or stenosed lesions in body passages, such as CTOs in the vasculature, is provided. Balloons are provided. In certain embodiments of the invention, a balloon having relatively thickened proximal tapers is provided. In certain embodiments of the invention, balloons having a tapered midsection are provided. The balloons are preferably useful with crossing balloon catheter systems. In certain embodiments of the invention, the balloons preferably reduce or minimize trauma to the vascular wall or wall of other body passage in which it is used.
US08372031B2
The present invention relates to an injection device for manually penetrating a needle arranged to said device and automatic injecting a medicament mixture, the device being of the type comprising: a first housing part into which a multi-chamber container is arranged and a second housing part which can be displaced relative to said first housing in order to mix at least two substances arranged inside said container; a plunger rod arranged to act on said container, drive force means capable of pushing said plunger rod for acting on said container, an activation member comprising flexible locking means releasibly connected to said plunger rod for holding said plunger rod and thereby said drive force means in a pre-tensioned state, and a push button protruding from said second housing part; and a locking member being arranged around said activation member and being axially slidable in relation to said activation member between a first position wherein said locking member completely surrounds said locking means and a second position wherein said locking member partially surrounds said locking means after said locking member has been axially displaced by said first housing when said first housing has been displaced into said second housing part; and wherein said flexible locking means are arranged to be released from said plunger rod only after said locking member is moved from the first position to the second position and said push button is axially moved into the second housing part, such that the flexible locking means comes completely out of contact with the locking member.
US08372019B2
A medical system comprises a medical probe including an elongated probe body, a lumen extending within the probe body, an axially flexible section, and a push-pull member slidably disposed within the lumen. The system comprises a ditherer mechanically coupled to the member for cyclically displacing it axially back and forth within the lumen, such that the ends of the probe body are axially displaced relative to each other via the axially flexible section. The system further comprises a sensor for sensing a force axially applied to the distal end of the probe body. A method comprises introducing a medical probe into a patient, axially dithering the distal end of the medical probe back and forth relative to the proximal end of the medical probe, and sensing a force applied between tissue of the patient and the distal end of the medical probe while the distal end is axially dithered.
US08372015B2
An integrated monitoring and body fluid sampling device constructed to permit digital as well as alternate-site body fluid sampling and analysis, the device comprising: a housing; at least one skin-penetration member; and a member constructed for the application of circumferential or vacuum pressure to an appendage; wherein the member is detachably or retractably connected to the housing in a manner such that the integrated monitoring and body fluid sampling device can perform digital or alternate-site body fluid sampling and analysis. Additional arrangements and techniques are also described.
US08372012B2
Systems and methods provide for assessing the heart failure status of a patient and, more particularly, to generating a trend parameter based on a distribution of the patient's respiration rate. Systems and methods provide for detecting, using an implantable device or a patient-external device, patient respiration and computing a respiration rate based on the detected patient respiration. A distribution of the respiration rate is calculated, and a trend parameter based on the respiration rate distribution is generated. The trend parameter is indicative of a patient's heart failure status. An output signal indicative of the patient's heart failure status may be generated based on the trend parameter.
US08372010B2
There is provided an ultrasonic wave diagnosis instrument. The ultrasonic wave Doppler diagnosis instrument transmits an ultrasonic continuous wave in a range direction and receives a reflective wave of the ultrasonic continuous wave. The ultrasonic wave Doppler diagnosis instrument includes: a modulation unit that subjects the ultrasonic continuous wave to frequency modulation such that a phase is varied in accordance with the distance of the range direction; a demodulation unit that demodulates the reflective wave for each range of the range direction while interlocking with the frequency modulation, and generates a reception signal in the range in a separated state; and a presentation unit that presents information by using a signal of a Doppler component based on the reception signal.
US08372005B2
An analyte monitor includes a sensor, a sensor control unit, and a display unit. The sensor has, for example, a substrate, a recessed channel formed in the substrate, and conductive material disposed in the recessed channel to form a working electrode. The sensor control unit typically has a housing adapted for placement on skin and is adapted to receive a portion of an electrochemical sensor. The sensor control unit also includes two or more conductive contacts disposed on the housing and configured for coupling to two or more contact pads on the sensor. A transmitter is disposed in the housing and coupled to the plurality of conductive contacts for transmitting data obtained using the sensor. The display unit has a receiver for receiving data transmitted by the transmitter of the sensor control unit and a display coupled to the receiver for displaying an indication of a level of an analyte. The analyte monitor may also be part of a drug delivery system to alter the level of the analyte based on the data obtained using the sensor.
US08371989B2
The present invention relates to a user-participating type fitness lecture system and a fitness training method using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a user-participating type fitness lecture system that provides direction for correcting a user's posture or motion by comparing the user's motions with user created contents (UCC). When the contents are played back for the user to emulate, correctness of the user's motion is grasped by detecting and comparing motions in the contents with the user's motion photographed through a camera, and providing the user with posture correction information in image or voice formats. In one embodiment, a user-participating type fitness lecture system according to the present invention comprises a user terminal for photographing a user and transmitting a moving image of the user while playing back a UCC selected by the user; and a posture correction server for providing the user terminal with the UCC selected by the user, receiving the moving image from the user terminal, comparing the moving image with the played back UCC, and directing correction of the user's posture in voice or image.
US08371988B2
A shift by wire control for a multi-speed vehicle transmission is provided. The control includes a shift by wire shift valve in fluid communication with other shift valves and clutch trim valves to provide double blocking features in the neutral range and a reverse range. The shift by wire valve is configured with multiple differential areas to provide failure modes for all forward ranges.
US08371977B2
A transmission ratio variable mechanism is provided with: an input member and an output member capable of rotation about a first axis; an inner race for differentially rotatably coupling to each member; an outer race for rotatably supporting the inner race via a rolling element; and a transmission ratio variable mechanism-use electric motor for rotation-driving the outer race. A second axis which is a center line of the inner race and the outer race is inclined to the first axis. A first concave-convex engaging section for engaging one side end surface of the inner race and a power transmission surface of the input member corresponding to the one end surface are arranged. There is provided a second concave-convex engaging section for engaging the other end surface of the inner race and a power transmission surface of the output member.
US08371966B2
A lacrosse head pocket includes an elongated single layer runner with multiple cross pieces. The single layer runner can be constructed from a material, such as a polymeric material, molded over the cross pieces. The cross pieces and/or runner can include speed lace loops with which a net lace can be joined. A related method includes providing cross pieces, overmolding a polymeric material over the cross pieces to form a single layer runner, where the overmolded material is the only structure extending between and connecting the cross pieces, and where the cross pieces are transverse to the runners. Another method includes providing a pocket base overmolding the base with a polymeric material to cover portions of it, and forming connection elements between different portions independently of any other components of the pocket base.
US08371965B2
A miniature basketball hoop has a pair of spaced apart hooks on the top of a backboard to hook the backboard over the top of a door. The hoop includes a break-away rim mounted to the front of the backboard, and sound dampening material on the rear face of the backboard, so as to minimize sound when a ball hits the backboard or rim during use.
US08371963B2
The invention is a training device for baseball batters and, more generally, is a training device for any athletic motion that utilizes a foot pivoting movement. The invention has a mat, pivot device and toe hold. The mat is approximately the size of baseball batters box. For baseball training, the mat is placed in the batters box such that the pivot device is facing the rear. The baseball player places his rear foot on the pivot device and his front foot in one of the toe holds. The baseball player trains by maintaining rear foot contact on the pivot, and pivoting his rear foot during the swing.
US08371962B2
In one example, a method can comprise (i) receiving, at a processing device, physical characteristic information, performance characteristic information, and shot characteristic information associated with an individual, (ii) calculating, with a component option analyzer of the processing device, a first optimal component of a plurality of components for an optimized golf club for the individual based on at least one of the physical characteristic information, the performance characteristic information, or the shot characteristic information associated with the individual; and (iii) calculating, with the component option analyzer of the processing device, a second optimal component of the plurality of components based on the first optimal component. The processing device may calculate the first optimal option and the second optimal option via the component option analyzer. Other examples and related embodiments are disclosed herein.
US08371934B2
A self configuring progressive jackpot award system includes a plurality of electronic gaming machines (EGMs). The plurality of EGMs respectively include a plurality of EGM configuration options, and operate in accordance with the EGM configuration options. A subset of the plurality of EGM configuration options relates to participating in a progressive jackpot award game. A progressive controller is coupled to the plurality of EGMs and controls the operation of a progressive jackpot award game. The progressive controller includes a plurality of progressive jackpot award game configuration options. A subset of these progressive jackpot award game configuration options correspond to the subset of EGM configuration options related to participating in the progressive jackpot award game. The progressive controller automatically sends data representing this subset of progressive jackpot award game configuration options to the plurality of EGMs. The plurality of EGMs receives the progressive jackpot award game configuration option representative data from the progressive controller, stores the subset of EGM configuration options related to participating in the progressive jackpot award game represented by the data, and participates in the progressive jackpot award game in accordance with the EGM progressive jackpot award game configuration options.
US08371930B1
A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
US08371924B2
A gaming system displays a plurality of bingo cards each containing at least one column, each column having at least one square. Each square includes a random number selected from a range associated with that column. The gaming system displays each bingo card and an initially-empty accumulation area. Balls are drawn from a pool of balls, each ball associated with a number. As the balls are drawn, any square on any of the bingo cards containing the number of the drawn ball is marked with a suitable indicator. A primary award is provided for combinations of marked squares on one or more of the bingo cards. The gaming system displays the balls in the accumulated area in the order in which they are drawn. The gaming system provides a secondary award for combinations of balls displayed in the accumulation area.
US08371923B1
A simulated musical interface associated with a gaming machine enhances player excitement and interaction with the gaming machine. In one embodiment, the simulated musical interface is associated with a game in which the player uses the interface to play a simulated instrument on a gaming machine to affect, or apparently affect, the outcome of the game. As the player plays the simulated instrument via the simulated musical interface, indicia or graphical representations may be generated for a game of chance on a display associated with the gaming machine.
US08371920B2
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device and a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome. The randomly selected outcome is selected from a plurality of possible outcomes. The gaming system further includes a controller operative to display a multi-zone selection feature. The multi-zone selection feature comprises a plurality of zones, each zone having a plurality of selectable elements arranged in an array. Each selectable element is associated with a selection result. The controller is further operative, in response to selection of a first selectable element in a first one of the zones, to provide the selection result associated with a second selectable element in a second one of the zones.
US08371919B2
A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a plurality of gaming machines configured to receive a wagering input and to access a group game including a persistent-state gaming environment. A controller is configured to maintain the persistent-state gaming environment and to control game play within the persistent-state gaming environment. The persistent-state gaming environment is configured to permit ingress and egress of players into and out of the persistent-state gaming environment.
US08371917B2
A method, system, and computer readable storage medium to provide a variation of a blackjack game. If the dealer's up-card is of a predetermined card, then the dealer will automatically reveal the dealer's hole card, thereby providing the player with additional information. If the player's initial hand comprises a predetermined hand or hands, then the player can earn a bonus which can be multiplied based on a multiplier associated with the dealer's up-card.
US08371916B2
A computer-implemented method for operating a league using at least one fantasy server system includes the following. Fantasy player information including performance history of one or more real-world athletes selected as fantasy players is provided. The fantasy player information is updated in real-time based on fantasy player performance information from a real-world performance. At least one substitution factor is provided. A real-time injury information is received. A real-time fantasy player substitution is determined based on the real-time injury report and the at least one substitution factor.
US08371901B2
A partial female undergarment slidingly attachable to a brassiere for covering a selected portion of a woman's chest or cleavage when an outer garment is worn over the brassiere. The partial undergarment includes a fabric panel that extends horizontally between the straps of the brassiere, and is removably attached to such straps while the outer garment is worn. The undergarment may be selectively positioned along such straps in the vertical position as desired by the woman, whereupon elastic means under tension removably retains the undergarment in the desired position. The lower portion of the undergarment may hang down to engage loose-fitting outerwear when the woman leans forward, such that the upper portion remains substantially adjacent the woman to cover her upper chest while the lower portion engages the outerwear to define an opaque screen obscuring her lower torso.
US08371898B1
A suction toy assembly and its method of operation. The suction toy assembly has a chassis. The chassis has a front end, a rear end, side surfaces and a base plate. A fan opening is formed through the base plate. A motorized fan is mounted to draw air through the fan opening from the surrounding area. This creates a low pressure condition under the base. A drive wheel is used to propel the assembly. A linkage element is coupled to the drive wheel. At least one extraneous element is provided that protrudes outwardly away from the chassis as a cantilever. The extraneous elements are articulated by movements of the linkage element when the drive wheel rotates, or the chassis moves. Appendages may be mounted on a flexible member to allow for the illusion of climbing.
US08371883B2
A first connector has a housing holding a female contact. A second connector has a housing holding a male contact. The connectors are connected to each other by inserting the male contact into the female contact along an insertion direction. The female contact has a support portion and a spring portion having a contact point. The spring portion is located above the support portion in the vertical direction. The male contact is insertable between the spring portion and the support portion. The male contact has a contact portion, a tip, an upper slope and a lower slope. The contact portion contacts the contact point when the male contact is inserted into the female contact. The upper slope extends from the tip to the contact portion, sloping over a first tapering range. The lower slope extends from the tip to the contact portion, sloping over a shorter second tapering range.
US08371881B2
An electric socket includes a socket housing defining prong slots therein. Conductive terminals are disposed in the socket housing. An electrically and thermally insulating protective plate is disposed in the socket housing. The protective plate is disposed between the conductive terminals and the side of the socket housing that forms the prong slots. The protective plate includes a substrate and ring protrusions extending into the prong slots and each having an outer profile matching an inner profile of a corresponding prong slot. A central portion of each ring protrusion defines a through hole aligning with a corresponding prong slot. By providing the electrically and thermally insulating protective plate between the conductive terminals and the socket housing, the electric socket can prevent the high temperature and sparks produced at the conductive terminals from igniting the socket housing to cause fire, thus having improved product reliability.
US08371877B2
An electrical connector and method of forming the same are provided, where the electrical connector includes a printed circuit board configured to exhibit a first length L, a first width W, a thickness T, and a slot of a slot-width approximately equal to T, the slot also exhibiting a slot-length at least approximately equal to one-half of L. The printed circuit board includes at least a first signal trace, a second signal trace, and a ground plane, where the printed circuit board is configured to electrically isolate the first signal trace and the second signal trace from the ground plane. The first signal trace is configured to make electrical contact with at least a first electrically conductive cable. The electrical connector also includes at least a first contact pin affixed to the printed circuit board and coupled to the second signal trace.
US08371874B2
Axially compressible, self-sealing, high bandwidth F-connectors for conventional hand tools for interconnection with coaxial cable. An internal, dual segment sealing grommet activated by compression elongates and deforms to provide a travelling seal. Each connector has a rigid nut that is rotatably secured to a, tubular body. A rigid, conductive post has a barbless shank that coaxially extends through the connector and penetrates the coaxial cable within the connector. A tubular, metallic end cap is slidably fitted to a body shank, and is thereafter forcibly compressed lengthwise during installation. The end cap has a ring groove for seating the enhanced grommet. The end cap can irreversibly assume any position, being held by end cap teeth. The grommet travels and extrudes during compression to mate and intermingle with a portion of the cable braid that is looped back to form a prepared cable end.
US08371866B1
The present invention discloses a card connector which comprises an insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals, an ejection mechanism, a tray, and a metal shell. The insulating body has a substrate. One side of the substrate is perforated to form a guide groove of which a bottom surface is a cylindrical surface. The ejection mechanism comprises a pushing shaft, a plurality of balls, a sliding bulk, and a pressing element. The pushing shaft, the plural balls, and the sliding bulk are slidably disposed in the guide groove. The plural balls are located between the pushing shaft and the sliding bulk and can be rolled sequentially. By the design of the ejection mechanism constructed by the pushing shaft, the plural balls, the sliding bulk, and the pressing element, the present invention has an advantage of making the card connector to be of a small size.
US08371852B2
A dental implant for coupling an artificial tooth to a jawbone of a patient is provided. The dental implant includes an elongated body having a first end threaded bone-engaging portion for engaging the dental implant with the jawbone and a second end, and wherein the dental implant is adapted to operate as a conduit for bone grafting material by enabling introduction of the bone grafting material into a grafting space extending between said elongated body and the patient's jawbone surrounding it. Preferably, the dental implant includes a plurality of longitudinal grooves located at the external surface of the threaded bone-engaging portion of the dental implant, or includes circumferentially located openings, to allow delivery of bone grafting material into the grafting space.
US08371847B2
A method of producing a customized orthodontic appliance (1), including brackets (12) fixed to teeth (13) of a dental arch of a patient and an orthodontic archwire (11). Each bracket (12) is fixed to a surface of a tooth (13) of the dental arch by a bracket bonding pad (121) of the bracket, and the orthodontic archwire (11) is fixed to the brackets in a housing (123) of a bracket body (122) of each bracket. The bracket is produced with a blank (50) having at least two volumes (51, 52), one volume representative of an envelope volume of a bracket bounding pad and an envelope volume of a bracket body.
US08371838B2
The present invention relates to a method and a device for placing at least one material layer onto a relief mold for producing a composite material. Thereby, an elastically-reversibly deformable body with a surface relief that is designed to correspond to the relief mold is pressed against the material layer, as a result of which the surface of said body is deformed, and the material layer can be picked up. As a result of its elastically-reversible characteristics the body subsequently deforms back to its initial state so that the material layer can easily be placed onto the relief mold.
US08371836B2
The invention provides a method for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mold cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mold cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mold a molded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the molded three-dimensional product from the mold cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the molded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.
US08371834B2
An anti-self rotation mechanism for preventing self-rotation of the eccentric shaft includes a long orbiting key formed at an end of the eccentric shaft, a ring formed of a long hole through which the orbiting key slides, ring keys that extend toward both outer sides in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the hole, and two key grooves formed in the casing, through which the ring keys slide.
US08371827B2
The suspension system is applied in a compressor, presenting a shell in which interior is horizontally suspended a motor-compressor assembly having opposite ends that are spaced from the shell by an axial spacing. Mounting elements are each attached to an end of the motor-compressor assembly and suspension springs are mounted to the shell and to each respective mounting element. The suspension system comprises stop elements attached to the shell and having a free end portion disposed between a respective end of the motor-compressor assembly and the adjacent suspension spring. A first distance defined between the stop element and the adjacent end of the motor-compressor assembly is smaller than the axial spacing and smaller than a second distance defined between the stop element and an adjacent suspension spring.
US08371825B2
A retrofit kit for an emergency eyewash station and method of retrofitting a plumbed emergency eyewash station is disclosed. The kit includes a sterile eyewash fluid source. A pump assembly having an input port and an output port is also included. The input port is configured to connect to a dispensing structure of a plumbed eyewash station and the output port is configured to connect to the sterile eyewash fluid source. A drive assembly is configured to drive the pump assembly to draw sterile eyewash fluid from the sterile eyewash fluid source and discharge it through the dispensing structure of the plumbed eyewash station. The eyewash fluid discharged from the dispensing structure is configured to drain through a discharge of the plumbed eyewash station and away from the plumbed eyewash station.
US08371821B1
An electrical control system for energy efficient pump stations providing for continuous operation of a single primary pump with a second pump functioning as the support pump and a third pump acting as the standby/emergency pump. All pumps are of equal horsepower and horsepower selection is determined by the system curve to select the lowest, most efficient horsepower necessary to discharge water at the highest inflow rate while not allowing the water level to drop below the submerged pump level during continuous running of the primary pump. A timer having an indicator arm rotates one full revolution every thirty days changing the pump sequence to reduce wear and tear on individual pumps. Each pump functions as the primary, secondary and backup/emergency pump for the same number of hours during the monthly cycle. Adding control circuits enables one or more pumps to be added when necessary.
US08371812B2
A turbine frame assembly for a gas turbine engine includes: (a) a turbine frame including: (i) an outer ring; (ii) a hub; (ii) a plurality of struts extending between the hub and the outer ring; (b) a two-piece strut fairing surrounding each of the struts, including: (i) an inner band; (ii) an outer band; and (iii) an airfoil-shaped vane extending between the inner and outer bands; (d) a plurality of nozzle segments disposed between the outer ring and the hub, each nozzle segment being an integral metallic casting including: (i) an arcuate outer band; (ii) an arcuate inner band; and (ii) an airfoil-shaped vane.
US08371808B2
Provided is an industrial gas turbine multi vane segment, which can be cast in one piece using a wax pattern method. The multi vane segment includes a platform; at least three airfoils, extending radially from the platform, having a combined airfoil volume, a chord length and an airfoil thickness; and a shroud with a shroud volume, disposed on an end of said airfoils radially distant from the platform. The ratio of the shroud volume to the combined airfoil volume defines a first ratio, while the multi vane segment has a first ratio greater or equal to 1.4:1. This ratio enables preferential solidification, during casting, of the airfoils before the shroud.
US08371806B2
A gas turbine engine system includes a nacelle assembly, a core engine and a mixer disposed between the nacelle assembly and the core engine. The core engine includes a core passage and a core auxiliary duct passage. The core auxiliary duct passage includes an inlet for receiving a portion of a core airflow form the core engine and an outlet for discharging a portion of the core airflow received from the core engine.
US08371801B2
A system for installing and extracting a flowing water turbine below the surface of the water includes a flow inducer assembly for improving the conversation of the kinetic energy of a waterway to mechanical energy. The flow inducer assembly includes a nozzle that may be shaped as a cowling and a outlet diffuser. The system may be useful in a number of settings, including, but not limited to, streams, rivers, dams, ocean currents, or tidal areas that have continuous or semi-continuous water flow rates and windy environments.
US08371796B2
An apparatus for stacking veneer sheets is provided, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for delivering veneer sheets to a stacking point and means for placing veneer sheets on a stack to be formed. The conveyor means comprise a first and a second conveyor element disposed on opposite sides of a veneer sheet, said first and/or second conveyor element being provided with magnet elements arranged for cooperation with a conveyor element present on the opposite side, such that the veneer sheet to be fed in between the conveyor elements is pressed with a desired force between the conveyor elements and is movable thereby to a stacking point, which is provided with stopper means for stopping the veneer sheet and with means for releasing the veneer sheet from between the conveyor elements to enable its placement on a stack to be formed.
US08371793B2
The invention refers to a storage device for vehicles. It comprises several platforms arranged one above the other. The platforms can be lifted or lowered between a first lower and a second upper position. By means of that the platform can optionally be connected to a common approach way. Preferably the platforms are guided at a stand. The platform can be fixed in its respective position at the stand by a support or a stopper.
