US08400829B2
A semiconductor memory device includes memory blocks each comprising a plurality of memory cells formed over a semiconductor substrate having a P well, a first voltage generator supplying operating voltages to an selected block of the memory blocks, and a second voltage generator generating a negative voltage to the P well during a program operation.
US08400826B2
Memory devices adapted to receive and transmit analog data signals representative of bit patterns of two or more bits facilitate increases in data transfer rates relative to devices communicating data signals indicative of individual bits. Programming of such memory devices includes initially programming a cell with a coarse programming pulse to move its threshold voltage in a large step close to the programmed state. The neighboring cells are then programmed using coarse programming. The algorithm then returns to the initially programmed cells that are then programmed with one or more fine pulses that slowly move the threshold voltage in smaller steps to the final programmed state threshold voltage.
US08400823B2
A memory unit includes a giant magnetoresistance cell electrically coupled between a write bit line and a write source line. The giant magnetoresistance cell includes a free magnetic layer separated from a first pinned magnetic layer by a first non-magnetic electrically conducting layer. A magnetic tunnel junction data cell is electrically coupled between a read bit line and a read source line. The magnetic tunnel junction data cell includes the free magnetic layer separated from a second pinned magnetic layer by an oxide barrier layer. A write current passes through the giant magnetoresistance cell to switch the giant magnetoresistance cell between a high resistance state and a low resistance state. The magnetic tunnel junction data cell is configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state by magnetostatic coupling with the giant magnetoresistance cell, and be read by a read current passing though the magnetic tunnel junction data cell.
US08400814B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array configured of at least a first portion and a second portion each including a plurality of memory cells each with a variable resistor which stores an electrically rewritable resistance value as a data, and a control circuit which controls a first operation including selected one of operations to erase, write and read the data in the first portion and a second operation including selected one of operations to erase, write and read the data in the second portion, the first operation and the second operation being performed in temporally overlapped relation with each other.
US08400807B2
A system that includes a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, and a controller chip. The first semiconductor chip includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a first circuit electrically coupled to the second terminal, a second circuit electrically coupled to the first terminal and the first circuit, and a third circuit electrically coupled to the second circuit. The second semiconductor chip includes a third terminal, a fourth terminal, a fourth circuit electrically coupled to the fourth terminal, a fifth circuit electrically coupled to the third terminal and the fourth circuit, and a sixth circuit electrically coupled to the fifth circuit.
US08400800B2
Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can be DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating “soft” turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said bi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers.
US08400799B2
This inverter circuit includes first and second switching elements and an output transformer which is provided with a first primary winding connected in series between said first and second switching elements, and also with a secondary winding for obtaining an output voltage. The inverter circuit is further provided with a first voltage supply, a second voltage supply, and a control unit. The first voltage supply applies voltage to said first switching element via said first primary winding. And the second voltage supply applies voltage to said second switching element via said second primary winding. The control unit turns said first switching element and said second switching element alternatingly ON and OFF. This inverter circuit also includes first and second regeneration snubber circuits for regenerating the charge charged into snubber capacitors.
US08400798B2
A pulse width modulated current control method and system architecture may achieve the high performance of an advanced current control for full-bridge stages, in terms of accuracy, error, speed, and frequency response, but with a reduced complexity in terms of used analog circuits, being comparable with that of an elementary peak current control. The only analog blocks used may be a current sense transducer, i.e. a series resistor or a sense-FET, and a comparator for the current sensing while the rest of the control circuitry is digital.
US08400796B2
A device for converting a DC voltage into an AC voltage and vice versa comprises a control system to control the voltage conversion and at least one phase leg (1) with a first (Uvp1) voltage source connected in series between a first DC terminal (4) and a first AC terminal (6) and with a second (Uvn1) voltage source connected in series between the first AC terminal (6) and a second DC terminal (5). Each of the voltage sources comprises at least a first and a second submodule (15) in series-connection, where each submodule (15) comprises at least two power electronic switches (16) connected in parallel with at least one capacitor (17). The control system comprises a central control unit (19) and at least two subunits (20), where the central control unit (19) transmits to each subunit (20) a reference AC voltage (ua_ref) and a switching carrier signal (s_sw) and where each subunit (20) controls the switching of the power electronic switches (16) of one of the submodules (15) according to a PWM pattern so that each time the switching carrier signal (s_sw) crosses the reference AC voltage (ua_ref) either the voltage across the capacitor (17) or a zero voltage are applied to output terminals (26, 27) of the corresponding submodule (15).
US08400781B2
In an integrated circuit (IC) adapted for use in a stack of interconnected ICs, interrupted through-silicon-vias (TSVs) are provided in addition to uninterrupted TSVs. The interrupted TSVs provide signal paths other than common parallel paths between the ICs of the stack. This permits IC identification schemes and other functionalities to be implemented using TSVs, without requiring angular rotation of alternate ICs of the stack.
US08400778B2
A multi-phase voltage regulator is disclosed where each phase is comprised of an array of high and low side transistors that are integrated onto a single substrate. Further, a system of mounting the voltage regulator onto a flip chip and lead frame is disclosed wherein the source and drain lines form an interdigital pattern.
US08400773B2
A mobile actuating device including a two shell housing, an interior chamber delimited by the shells, an electronic unit for data communication, an actuating member inside an opening of the first shell, a gap between the actuating member and the first shell, a carrier element, and a switching element connected to the electronic unit and associated with the actuating member, wherein the first shell includes a display having an opening in the first shell from which a light signal is emitted, the carrier element being translucent and made of a first material having a low modulus of elasticity, wherein the opening is completely filled by the carrier element, which conducts the light signal through the opening, and wherein the actuating member is made out of a second material with a larger modulus of elasticity than the first material.
US08400772B2
A support element arrangement for an electronic component includes a first support element and a second support element, the first support element being configured perpendicularly to the second support element and having a first main extension plane, and, in addition, the first support element having a first recess, the first recess at least partially surrounding the second support element in the first main extension plane.
US08400768B2
The invention relates to a computer case, comprising a case top, a case base, two lateral walls, a rear wall and a front cover, the case top being detachably retained at least on the rear wall and a power supply unit being arranged on one of the lateral walls. The computer case according to the invention is characterized in that the lateral wall on which the power supply unit is arranged is swiveled to the case base.
US08400745B1
A fuse apparatus for protecting a device and a load coupled to the device may include a switch. The switch may be configured to interrupt current to protect a device and a load coupled to the device. A fuse apparatus may include a current sensor which may be coupled to a controller. The controller may control the switch to interrupt current to protect a device when current exceeds a threshold current. Additionally, a fuse apparatus may include a voltage sensor coupled to the controller. The controller may control the switch to interrupt current to protect a load when an output voltage of the device exceeds a threshold voltage.
US08400727B2
According to one embodiment, a recording device comprises: a recording medium, an arm, a positioning module, a self-servo write clock generator, and an on-track module. The positioning module positions the arm at a position at which the electromagnetic transducer detects a rotational synchronization component of an intermediate pattern comprised in the recording medium. The self-servo write clock generator generates a self-servo write clock based on the detected rotational synchronization component. The on-track module positions the electromagnetic transducer to the intermediate pattern serving as a position for starting self-servo write based on the generated self-servo write clock. Until the on-track module appropriately completes the positioning, the self-servo write clock generator sequentially changes a decoding gate interval corresponding to the intermediate pattern in accordance with the rotational synchronization component, and captures a spiral reproduction waveform.
US08400726B1
A target amplitude for an acquisition gain-loop is determined. A tracking gain-loop is configured to adjust a gain of the tracking gain-loop during a data portion of the received signal, wherein the received signal comprises an acquisition portion and the data portion. An acquisition gain-loop is configured to adjust a gain of the acquisition gain-loop during the acquisition portion of the received signal. A detector is configured to detect in the data portion an occurrence of a pattern identical to a portion of the acquisition portion. An amplitude estimation block is configured to compute an amplitude estimate based at least in part on the detected portion. A target amplitude updating block is configured to update the target amplitude based at least in part on the amplitude estimate.
US08400720B2
Provided is a zoom lens, including in order from a magnification conjugate side to a reduction conjugate side: a first lens unit having a negative refractive power; a second lens unit having a positive refractive power; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power; a fifth lens unit having a negative refractive power; and a sixth lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first and sixth lens units do not move for zooming, while the second to fifth lens units move to the magnification conjugate side during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. Each of the second and third lens units is composed of a single positive lens. Movement amounts of the second, third and fourth lens units during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end satisfy appropriate relationships.
US08400718B2
To realize an image pickup lens that can be applied to an image pickup module in which a solid-state image sensing device is used, that allows a reduction in manufacturing cost, and that easily maintains its desired resolving power, etc., the second lens has a surface facing the subject, and the surface includes a central portion sticking out toward the subject and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion and sinking in toward the image surface. Further, the image pickup lens satisfies the mathematical expression 0.30
US08400715B2
A variable power zoom lens of four groups of lens pieces respectively exerting positive, negative, positive, and positive refractivities varies the power from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end as a result of the 1st and 2nd lens groups being separated more, the 2nd and 3rd lens groups, and the 3rd and 4th lens groups, coming closer to each other. The 3rd lens group has a leading set of lens pieces closer to the object side having a positive refractivity as a whole and the trailing set of lens pieces have negative refractivity as a whole, and the trailing set alone are moved to be orthogonal to the optical axis to compensate for defocus in the imaging plane. The 2nd lens group is displaced closer to objects for focusing.
US08400712B2
A method and apparatus involve: admitting through objective optics of an optical sight a beam of radiation representing a scene; generating two different images of the scene; supplying the images to respective portions of a field of view at a viewing section; and superimposing a respective reticle onto each image. According to a different aspect a method and apparatus involve: causing two beams of radiation within an optical sight that represent different images of a scene to approach a reflective section in different directions, the reflective section causing a portion of each beam to reach a respective portion of a field of view at a viewing section; and superimposing a respective reticle onto each beam portion.
US08400711B2
An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal is carried on the support. The mounting (100) is preferably pivotally mounted on the support (40) so that it can be pivoted from a position in which the crystal lines on the axis of the microscope to a position in which a sample carried on the support can be observed visually. The mounting is arranged such that it can be returned reliably and reproducibly to its original position with the crystal on the axis.
US08400702B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, an optical modulation device includes a Mach-Zehnder modulator and a controller. The Mach-Zehnder modulator is supplied a drive signal and a bias voltage. The Mach-Zehnder modulator modulates inputted light on the bases of the drive signal and the bias voltage. The drive signal selectively is superimposes a predetermined frequency signal. The bias voltage selectively is superimposes the predetermined frequency signal. The controller selects a superimposing target which is the drive signal or the bias voltage so as to change modulation formats.
US08400697B2
A disclosed optical scanner apparatus can include a member having spaced apart proximal and distal portions. An optical scanning device can be configured to direct optical radiation, which is moveably coupled to the proximal portion of the member and can be configured to rotate in a plane of movement to a first position to direct the optical radiation along a first path and can be configured to rotate in the plane of movement to a second position to direct the optical radiation along a second path. A MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) actuator can be coupled to the optical scanning device, where the MEMS actuator can be configured to move in a first direction to move the optical scanning device to the first position and can be configured to move in a second direction to move the optical scanning device to the second position. The MEMS actuator can have proximal and distal portions, where the distal portion of the MEMS actuator is coupled to the proximal portion of the member and the proximal portion of the MEMS actuator is coupled to the optical scanning device. Other scanner apparatus are disclosed.
US08400691B2
An image-processing apparatus includes: a memory that stores a red color range occurring within a color space; an acquiring unit that acquires image data representing an image containing text; and a generating unit that generates, based on the image data acquired by the acquiring unit, image data in which a pattern image is disposed in a region containing text whose color is within the red color range, the pattern image having a first transmittance in a case that a size of the region is greater than or equal to a threshold, the pattern image having a second transmittance that is smaller than the first transmittance in a case that the size of the region is smaller than the threshold.
US08400689B2
This invention provides an image reading apparatus which can start image processing on a joint portion between divided first and second half portions without waiting for image reading and shorten throughput time of image processing by outputting data from the joint portion as first data to an output unit. This apparatus includes a CCD sensor or CMOS sensor in which a plurality of pixel sensors to receive reflected light from a document are arranged in the main scanning direction and a transfer circuit configured to output, to an output unit, optical image information read at the first and second half portions of the pixel sensors in the main scanning direction. The transfer circuit outputs, to the output unit, data from the joint portion between the first and second half portions of the pixel sensors in the main scanning direction as the first data.
US08400684B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a calculating unit that sequentially selects pixels as a target pixel, on binary image data composed of plural color plates for each printing color after having been subjected to halftone-dot processing, and calculates a characteristic amount in each of plural preset areas around the selected target pixel on the basis of states of pixels in the areas; a determination unit that determines, on the basis of the characteristic amount in each of the areas calculated by the calculating unit, whether or not the target pixel is a pixel to be subjected to overlay processing; a decision unit that decides, for each of the color plates, a position of a pixel to be referred to when changing a pixel value of the target pixel, on the basis of a halftone-dot processing attribute for each of the color plates; and a changing unit that, if it is determined by the determination unit that the target pixel is the pixel to be subjected to the overlay processing, changes the pixel value of the target pixel of the image data of the color plate for a printing color to be changed in pixel value in the overlay processing, to a pixel value at the position decided by the decision unit.
US08400681B1
A method of file preparation, ripping and plate making for high end graphics printed on cylindrical products utilizing Dry Offset printing presses. While utilizing two inverse angle techniques and one fixed angle on the Black, with virtually unlimited color pluralities, encompassing a majority of all open areas of the common printing blanket without any ink overlap. The nesting of the halftone dots at even coarse line screen rulings eliminating a dot rosette pattern and creating a continuous tone appearance. Print contrast is increased to that of offset printing quality and ink contamination over the course of the run length is virtually eliminated. This current invention also increases the ability to print white with colors as opposed to needing white coating done in advanced to transparent plastics and metallic surfaces.
US08400679B2
A system and method for routing and processing jobs in a production environment considers the setup characteristics of each print job. Each set of jobs may be classified as a first job processing speed set, a second job processing speed set, or another job processing speed set based on the corresponding setup characteristics. First job processing speed sets are routed to a first group of job processing resources, while second job processing speed sets are routed to a second group of job processing speed resources. Each resource group may include an autonomous cell.
US08400678B2
Disclosed are FIFO type methods, systems and apparatus for electronically registering image data relative to a raster or other marking device. According to an exemplary method, a FIFO type data queuing configuration is provided, where the length of data memory segments associated with the FIFO are selected to correspond to the number of raster lines from the most upstream point of the physical raster to the point where the given pixel column intersects the physical raster.
US08400676B2
A method of rasterizing a print image plane for a multiple beam printer engine, which comprises the steps of receiving an image having a plurality of lines of print data for processing by the printer engine, and performing a print image plane rasterization. The print image plane rasterization includes (a) calculating a first line destination for a first line of print data; (b) moving the first line of print data to the first line destination; and (c) calculating a displaced line destination for a displaced line of print data, and continually moving the displaced line of print data to the displaced line destination until the displaced line of print data is moved to the first line and forms a loop. The process is repeated until each line of the plurality of lines has been moved to a line destination associated with each line of the image.
US08400669B2
An information processing apparatus includes an attribute setting unit configured to set a continuous staple attribute as chapter information of document data having a hierarchical structure that includes document information, chapter information, and page information, based on a user's setting entered via a screen, wherein the continuous staple attribute is set to instruct a printing apparatus to staple consecutive chapters together as a group.
US08400668B2
A scanning apparatus and a method thereof include a scanning unit scanning a document and outputting a scanned result, at least one external storage unit detachably attached to the apparatus, at least one internal storage unit, and a controller detecting an attachment state of the external storage unit and storing the scanned result in one of the external storage unit and the internal storage unit according to the attachment state of the external storage unit. The scanning unit of the scanning apparatus is combined with a user scanning unit and a user printing unit into a combination apparatus, and the scanned result is printed in a printing apparatus spaced-apart from the scanning apparatus by a distance, thereby removing cables between the scanning or printing apparatus and a personal computer. Regardless of an attachment state of the external storage unit, the document is scanned in the real time, and the scanning apparatus is commonly used with a plurality of personal computers which are not connected to the scanning apparatus.
US08400667B2
An image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an image reading unit that reads an image from a document to generate base image data which matches predetermined default reading conditions; a reading condition identifying unit that identifies reading condition settings specified by a user in response to when the image is read; and an information saving unit that saves the base image data and the reading condition settings identified by the reading condition identifying unit in association with each other as saved-image information.
US08400661B2
A system and method for promoting environmental behavior by device users are provided. The method includes allocating “green” points to each of a plurality of users. A job request, such as a print job request, is received from one of the users. A cost in points is computed for executing the job request, based on a formula which is designed to promote environmental behavior by the user. The user's allocated points are reduced by the computed cost when the job is performed.
US08400657B2
A data utilization device is provided. The data utilization device includes an information storing unit; a first command receiving unit that receives a first command from a terminal device; a second command transmitting unit that transmits a second command to a server specified by the first command; a server registration item receiving unit that receives server registration items from the server; a third command transmitting unit that transmits a third command including the server registration items to the terminal device; a server registration information receiving unit that receives server registration information from the terminal device; a fourth command transmitting unit that transmits a fourth command including the server registration information to the server; a response receiving unit that receives from the server a response to the fourth command; and a storage control unit that stores the data utilization information if the response is an affirmative response.
US08400653B2
A printing system prevents mistakes such as that a printed paper sheet printed by requesting from a PC to an image forming apparatus is left in an ejected-paper tray. The image forming apparatus transmits to the server printing execution result information that includes the serial number and the time and date of the printing. The server manages the state of unfetch of the printed paper sheet using a fetch flag in a printing record list created based on the printing execution result information, changes the fetch flag from “unfetched” to “fetched” when information indicating that the printed paper sheet has been fetched is sent from the image forming apparatus.
US08400648B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus that include a personal identification method acquisition unit that extracts an identification method for identifying an operator from a first image scanned by an image scanning unit; a verification information extraction unit that extracts verification information with respect to personal identification information of the operator from the first image; a personal identification information acquisition unit that acquires the personal identification information in accordance with the identification method; a verification unit that verifies the acquired personal identification information with the verification information; and an authentication unit that authenticates the operator based on authentication information of the operator extracted from the first image when the personal identification information matches with the verification information.
US08400643B2
A position sensing device having a high range to resolution ratio comprises a light source arrangement, a moving aperture arrangement and a multiple position sensitive detector (PSD) arrangement. The multiple PSD arrangement comprises a plurality of position sensitive detectors arranged along at least two detection tracks along a measuring axis. Each of the plurality of position sensitive detectors shares a common portion of a total measuring range along the measuring axis with an adjacent position sensitive detector which is on a different detector track. The total measurement range is larger than the detector range of each of the position sensitive detectors.
US08400639B2
The use of optical microcavities, high-Q resonators and slow-light structures as tools for detecting molecules and probing conformations and measuring polarizability and anisotropy of molecules and molecular assemblies using a pump-probe approach is described. Resonances are excited simultaneously or sequentially with pump and probe beams coupled to the same microcavity, so that a pump beam wavelength can be chosen to interact with molecules adsorbed to the microcavity surface, whereas a probe beam wavelength can be chosen to non-invasively measure pump-induced perturbations. The induced perturbations are manifest due to changes of resonance conditions and measured from changes in transfer characteristics or from changes of the scattering spectra of a microcavity-waveguide system. The perturbations induced by the pump beam may be due to polarizability changes, changes in molecular conformation, breakage or formation of chemical bonds, triggering of excited states, and formation of new chemical species.
US08400638B2
The embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a physical resource for use in a physical resource consuming apparatus.
US08400630B2
A method for detecting defects in an object includes a step of locally illuminating the object by radiating in light having a wavelength to which the object is transparent. Multiply reflected components of the incident light are detected while the detection of directly transmitted components of the incident light is at least partly avoided and the detection of singly reflected components of the incident light is at least partly avoided. Defects are identified by evaluating intensity differences in the detected components of the incident light. There is also disclosed a device for carrying out the method.
US08400623B2
Machines and methods measure an unknown characteristic of an optical signal incident upon a detector characterized by one or more dynamic response parameters. One method receives an output signal from the detector and compares that output signal and a computationally determined response of the detector to a known optical signal incident upon the detector. The response is based on said one or more dynamic parameters. The method determines the unknown characteristic based on the comparison of the output signal and the computationally determined response of the detector. Another method receives an output signal from an optical detector detecting one or more optical signals, accesses a predetermined characteristic curve of detector response, compares the output signal from the detector to the predetermined characteristic curve of detector response, and calculates at least one unknown characteristic of one or more optical signals based on results of the comparing step.
US08400622B2
Described herein are systems and methods for enhancing sensitivity of an optical time-domain reflectometer (“OTDR”) using bi-directional analysis techniques. One embodiment of the disclosure of this application is related to a computer readable storage medium including a set of instructions that are executable by a processor. The set of instructions being operable to collect a first set of measurement data at a first resolution to provide a relative backscatter of the fiber, collect a second set of measurement data taken at a second resolution to calculate loss along the length of fiber, and combine the first set of measurement data with the second set of measurement data to calculate the loss along the fiber at the first resolution.
US08400619B1
An automatic target tracking system and method employ an image capturing system for acquiring a series of images in real time of a distant area containing a remote target, and a processing system for processing the acquired images to identify the target and follow its position across the series of images. An automatic beam steering and method operate in conjunction with a laser source for emitting a laser beam to be transmitted in the form of a transmitted laser beam extending along a steerable beam transmission axis to the remote target. The beam steering system is controlled by the processing system to steer the beam transmission axis to be aimed at the target being tracked by the target tracking system, so that the transmitted laser beam will be transmitted at the appropriate angle and in the appropriate direction to be aimed at the tracked target.
US08400608B2
A display apparatus according to the present invention comprises a display part, a housing which accommodates the display part, a circulator circulating the air in the housing around the display part in a vertical direction, and a fan provided on a rear side of the display part. The housing makes the display part be seen from outside therethrough. The fan converts the flow of the air circulating in the vertical direction to a horizontal direction in order to disperse heat generated from a rear surface of the display part.
US08400607B2
Applications of embodiments include the use of transmissive or transflective display technologies in extreme temperature environments. Specifically, display assemblies and methods using heating and/or active cooling are described. For example, such applications may include the use of display panels, such as LCD panels, having a diagonal dimension of 17 inches or more.
US08400605B2
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal panel including short sides and long sides, a plurality of gate lines disposed on the liquid crystal panel and extending substantially in parallel with the short sides of the liquid crystal panel, a plurality of data lines insulated from the gate lines, intersecting the gate lines and extending substantially in parallel with the long sides of the liquid crystal panel, a printed circuit board disposed near one of the short sides of the liquid crystal panel and providing an image signal to the liquid crystal panel, a light guide plate overlapping the liquid crystal panel, a light source module providing light to the light guide plate and a circuit board on which the light source module is mounted.
US08400604B2
Provided is an array substrate for an IPS-mode LCD device and method of fabricating the same that prevents a problem referred to as wavy noise. The IPS-mode LCD device and method have a shorter processing time and low error rate without an increase in fabrication and production costs.
US08400601B2
A flat panel display device and a method of manufacturing the flat panel display device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the flat panel display device includes: i) a first substrate, ii) an active layer formed over the first substrate, wherein the active layer comprises a source region, a drain region, and a channel region, iii) a gate insulating layer formed on the active layer, iv) a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating layer and over the channel region of the active layer and v) a first interlayer insulating film formed on the gate insulating layer and the gate electrode. The device may further includes 1) a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the source region and the drain region of the active layer, respectively, through a contact hole, wherein the contact hole is formed in the first interlayer insulating film and the gate insulating layer, 2) a second interlayer insulating film interposed substantially only between i) the first interlayer insulating film and ii) the source electrode and the drain electrode, 3) a passivation layer formed on the first interlayer insulating film and the source electrode and the drain electrode and 4) a pixel electrode electrically connected to the source electrode or the drain electrode through a via-hole formed in the passivation layer.
US08400596B2
A liquid crystal display includes a first signal line disposed on a first substrate, a second signal line disposed on the first substrate and crossing the first signal line, a switching element disposed on the first substrate and connected to the first signal line and the second signal line, a first slope member disposed on the switching element and forming a ridge, a valley, and an inclined surface between the valley and the ridge, a pixel electrode disposed on the first slope member and connected to the switching element, a first alignment layer disposed on the pixel electrode and vertically aligned with respect to the surface of the first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a common electrode disposed on the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first alignment layer and the common electrode.
US08400590B2
To provide a liquid crystal display device having high visibility and high image quality by relieving color phase irregularity. A light-shielding layer is selectively provided so as to overlap with a contact hole for electrical connection to a source region or a drain region of a thin film transistor. Alternatively, by providing an opening portion of a colored layer (color filter) with an opening so as to overlap with a contact hole, uneven alignment of liquid crystal molecules does not influence display, and a liquid crystal display having high image quality can be provided.
US08400577B2
Herein disclosed a display apparatus including: a pixel array having a matrix of pixel circuits each including respective electrooptical elements for determining a display brightness level and respective drive circuits for driving the electrooptical elements; wherein adjacent two of the pixel circuits are paired with each other, and each of the drive circuits of the adjacent two pixel circuits includes at least one transistor having a low-concentration source/drain region or an offset region of an offset gate structure, the electrooptical elements and the drive circuits of the adjacent two pixel circuits being laid out such that a line interconnecting a drain region and a source region of the at least one transistor extends parallel to a direction of pixel columns of the pixel circuits of the pixel array.
US08400573B2
A polarization converting optical system and a liquid crystal projection apparatus including the polarization conversion optical system are provided. The polarization conversion optical system includes a light incident surface; a light exit surface having first and second light exit regions; a half-wave plate disposed on the first light exit region; and a plurality of polarization separating surfaces, between the light incident surface and the light exit surface, which divide light into first S-polarization and P-polarization components and second S-polarization and P-polarization components, deviating the second S-polarization component and the first P-polarization component in a direction inclined with respect to an optical axis, and emitting the S-polarization components through the first light exit region and emit the P-polarization components through the second light exit region.
US08400572B2
A media device for a vehicle includes an interchangeable switch assembly, and a console including a receiving part accommodating the interchangeable switch assembly. The interchangeable switch assembly includes a switch panel and a circuit board. The interchangeable switch assembly further includes a backlight unit for providing light to the switch panel.
US08400568B2
A system and method for providing access to a video display for multiple devices. Various aspects of the present invention may comprise receiving a first display driver signal through a first display driver interface and a second display driver signal through a second display driver interface. A first module (e.g., a window multiplexer module) may process the first and second display driver signals to form respective first and second video windows in a composite display. For example, the first module may transform and translate video information to fit a window. The first module may, for example, generate an output video signal comprising information of the first window and information of the second window. Such a signal may, for example, be utilized to drive an output display showing the first and second windows. Various aspects may also provide method steps and apparatus for controlling features of the displayed windows.
US08400566B2
Features are extracted from video and audio content that have a known temporal relationship with one another. The extracted features are used to generate video and audio signatures, which are assembled with an indication of the temporal relationship into a synchronization signature construct. the construct may be used to calculate synchronization errors between video and audio content received at a remote destination. Measures of confidence are generated at the remote destination to optimize processing and to provide an indication of reliability of the calculated synchronization error.
US08400555B1
Methods and apparatus for capturing and rendering images with focused plenoptic cameras employing microlenses with different focal lengths. A focused plenoptic camera that includes an array of microlenses with at least two different focal lengths may be used to simultaneously capture microimages from at least two different planes at different distances from the microlens array. Image operations such as refocusing and focus bracketing may be performed on flats captured with the camera. Images may be constructed from subsets of the microimages captured using each type of microlens, thus creating multiple images each focused at a different depth. An array of stacked microlenses including stacks that provide different focal lengths may be used. The lens stacks may be provided by stacking two microlenses arrays on top of each other in the camera.
US08400546B2
An image capturing device comprises a pixel array having a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion portion, a plurality of signal lines connected to the pixel array, a plurality of column amplifiers configured to respectively amplify signals transferred from the pixel array via the signal lines, the column amplifier comprising a first input terminal, a first output terminal, an amplifier having a second input terminal and a second output terminal, a feedback capacitance arranged between the second input terminal and the first output terminal, an input capacitance having an electrode connected to the first input terminal, and an electrode connected to the second input terminal, a first switch arranged between the second input terminal and the second output terminal, a second switch arranged between the first output terminal and the second output terminal, and a third switch arranged between a reference voltage terminal and the first output terminal.
US08400537B2
An image sensor includes an array of pixels comprising a plurality of kernels that repeat periodically and each kernel includes n photosensitive regions for collecting charge in response to light, n is equal to or greater than 2; and a transparent layer spanning the photosensitive regions having n optical paths, at least two of which are different, wherein each optical path directs light of a predetermined spectral band into specific photosensitive regions.
US08400522B2
A method and apparatus for applying tonal correction to images to obtain a more pleasing photographic image by redistributing low-key, mid-tone and high-key tones. Luminance is calculated by using formulas appropriate for the color space or directly inputted. Two color-difference components are computed for the original image. Luminance is subjected to a tonal correction function to obtain a tonal corrected luminance. Luminance gain is calculated and applied to the color-difference components to obtain two tonal corrected color-difference components. The tonal corrected luminance and two tonal corrected color-difference components can be directly output or used to calculate three color component signals for the desired color space.
US08400519B2
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method includes setting a first image as a reference image; if an image comparison mode is selected, operating a camera in a close-up photography mode; displaying a preview image currently being provided by the camera on a display module; and if the preview image is chosen to be captured, displaying a comparison result screen showing differences between the first image and a second image obtained by capturing the preview image on the display module. Therefore, it is possible for a user to easily identify the differences between the first and second images from the comparison result screen.
US08400517B2
Images captured by an image capture device on a line of sight with an associated gyrometric system designed to supply gyrometric measurement data relating to the line of sight are stabilized. To this end, a first series of captured images is obtained. Then, a second series of stabilized images is obtained by applying, to the first series of images, an image stabilization based on gyrometric information. Then, a residual stabilization error is determined by applying a digital processing to the second series of stabilized images. Finally, the preceding three steps are repeated. On initialization, the gyrometric information corresponds to the measurement data supplied by the gyrometric system. Then, subsequently, the gyrometric information is obtained by correcting, on the basis of the residual error, the measurement data supplied by the gyrometric system.
US08400514B2
The present invention is an antivibration actuator including an affixing plate (12), a moving frame (14) to which an image stabilizing lens (16) is attached, and a drive means for generating drive force in a first direction and a second direction; the drive means is furnished with a drive magnet (22) and a first drive coil (20a) and second drive coil (20b) disposed on substantially the same plane so as to face that the drive magnet; a first magnetic boundary line (C1) and a second magnetic boundary line (C2) disposed to connect to the first magnetic boundary line are provided on the drive magnet, and when current flows, a first direction drive force is generated; the second drive coil is disposed to face the second magnetic boundary line, and when current flows, a second direction drive force is generated.
US08400507B2
In V2V or other networks in which multiple video feeds are available to a participant, a participant can select a particular video feed for display. The participant has the option of selecting or locking onto a particular camera so that the display continues to show scenes captured by that camera without regard to what appears in those scenes. As an alternative, the participant may select or lock onto a particular scene. If a scene is selected, the current video feed is analyzed to identify key features. The video feed is monitored. If the key features disappear from the video feed, video feeds available from other cameras are analyzed for the presence of the key features. A new video feed (i.e., camera) is selected from the set of video feeds currently generating images including the key features.
US08400504B2
Contamination monitoring of high voltage insulators provides a system and method producing an early predictor for high voltage insulator failure, allowing repairmen to either already be on site when a high voltage insulator fails in order to expedite repair time, or allowing repair and/or replacement of a faulty insulator before the failure actually occurs. The system and method provide transmission of an alarm signal when contaminant levels (such as equivalent salt deposit density (ESDD) levels) formed on a high voltage insulator exceed pre-selected threshold values, indicating the likelihood of high voltage insulator failure.
US08400497B2
A method and apparatus for generating a stereoscopic file defined based on a conventional International Standardization Organization (ISO) based media file format. The apparatus includes an encoder encoding first video data and second video data that are included in three-dimensional (3D) video data; and a file generating unit arranging the encoded first video data and second video data according to the information of a stereoscopic file format including boxes that are selected from boxes included in a conventional International Standardization Organization (ISO) based media file format in order to store and generate the stereoscopic file, and generating the stereoscopic file.
US08400480B2
Disclosed herein is a color display apparatus which has a pixel pattern including a plurality of repeating units of a pixel array, wherein each of the plurality of repeating units of the pixel array is composed of at least five sub-pixels while including at least one sub-pixel from a first to fourth sub-pixel, respectively, the first sub-pixel representing a red color (R), the second sub-pixel representing a green color (G), the third sub-pixel representing a blue color (B), and the fourth sub-pixel representing a mixed color of at least two colors from among the R, G, and B, and each of the plurality of repeating units of the pixel array corresponds to at least two image pixels.
US08400479B2
A color signal processing apparatus calculates a target color gamut including color signal values of each pixel of an input video, and calculates target primary colors corresponding to the calculated target color gamut. The color signal processing apparatus produces the calculated target primary colors by mixing primary colors in an input color gamut of the input video, and converts and outputs the color signal values of each pixel of the input video to match the calculated target color gamut defined by the calculated target primary colors. Since it is possible to adaptively transform the input color gamut of the input video, the input video that is reproduced has an increased light quantity and an enhanced contrast.
US08400477B1
A computer program product has a computer-readable storage medium having computer program instructions embodied therein for performing a method for resizing an object. The method may include positioning a cursor to a handle of the object; selecting the handle; repositioning the handle in a direction to modify the geometry of the object; moving the handle away from the corner of the object along a path designated for maintaining the object's height, width, or aspect ratio; and confirming a new location of the handle for a resized object; wherein the resized object is displayed to the user.
US08400474B2
An imaging apparatus comprises a remote controller including no operating button and an imaging instrument including a display screen portion capable of displaying a first graphical user interface in association with movement of the remote controller. Selection item of the first graphical user interface is selected and determined on the basis of anteroposterior movement of the remote controller.
US08400470B2
A method is provided for displaying a client-side multi-component image. A plurality of image component channels derived from captured images of a sample are stored in a server, the plurality of image component channels being stored in the form of a plurality of image data records. A client then requests one or more of the plurality of image data records and the server transmits to the client the one or more of the plurality of image data records requested. At the client, the client-side multi-component image is composited from the image data records transmitted the composited client-side multi-component image is displayed.
US08400469B2
During execution of an engine application by an engine unit, a host unit determines a region for host display upon a display screen, wherein the host unit determines the display contents, according to the usage direction of the display screen employed. Subsequently, the unit creates a host image; the unit generates an engine application image, when the operation of the engine application starts. A display image generation means then generates an image during engine application execution wherein the host image and the engine application image are overlapped, so that, in the region wherein the region for host display and the region for engine display are superimposed, priority is given to the engine application image. Thus, along with it being possible to build the device as a whole in a more compact manner, it is also possible to ensure the convenience from the point of view of the user.
US08400467B1
A graphical planning and scheduling system is described. The system is based on the Graphical Planning Method and object oriented principles. The system is graphics-driven and may support gestural and surface computing. The system may allow resource leveling, schedule optimization, and time/cost tradeoffs to occur interactively on a display and in conjunction with network construction. The system may allow forward and backward planning and scheduling of projects. The system may also allow project stakeholders to interactively participate in collaborative planning and scheduling sessions.
US08400462B2
The invention relates to a method of locating a code in an image file, comprising forming an image window from a target comprising a readable code, dividing the image window into sub-windows, analysing for each sub-window whether it constitutes a part of the code by comparing the variation density color of the sub-window with one or more threshold values set for the color, gathering the sub-windows evaluated as constituting a part of the code into a group of sub-windows, and verifying that the gathered group of sub-windows defines a valid code.
US08400460B2
The present invention is applied to a coding device and a decoding device for moving image data in compliance with, for example, an MPEG-4AVC/ITU-T H. 264 system, in which address data is issued to specify an area that is a plurality of read units in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, respectively, and reference image data is stored in a cache memory.
US08400458B2
A method is provided for optimizing computer processes executing on a graphics processing unit (GPU) and a central processing unit (CPU). Process data is subdivided into sequentially processed data and parallel processed data. The parallel processed data is subdivided into a plurality of data blocks assigned to a plurality of processing cores of the GPU. The data blocks on the GPU are processed with other data blocks in parallel on the plurality of processing cores. Sequentially processed data is processed on the CPU. Result data processed on the CPU is returned.
US08400456B2
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information.
US08400453B2
A graphics or image rendering system, such as a map image rendering system, receives image data from an image database in the form of vector data that defines various image objects, such as roads, geographical boundaries, etc., and textures defining text strings to be displayed on the image to provide, for example, labels for the image objects. The imaging rendering system renders the images such that the individual characters of the text strings are placed on the image following a multi-segmented or curved line. This rendering system enables text strings to be placed on a map image so that the text follows the center line of a curved or angled road or other image feature without knowing the specifics of the curvature of the line along which the text will be placed when creating the texture that stores the text string information. This feature provides enhanced visual properties within a map image as it allows, for example, road names to be placed anywhere inside a road following the curvature of the road, thus providing a pleasing visual effect within the map image.
US08400446B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for placing fasteners in a three dimensional product definition. A fastener is identified from a plurality of different fasteners to fasten a set of components in a three dimensional product definition using a policy to form a selected fastener. A set of points on the set of components is received for which fasteners are to be placed to form a set of defined points. A set of locations in the set of components is generated in the three dimensional product definition using the set of defined points to form a set of defined locations. The selected fastener is placed into the set of defined locations.
US08400443B2
A plasma display device is provided. The plasma display device can prevent the generation of complementary bright spots or the occurrence of voltage peaking by adjusting the time to apply a bias voltage during a reset period. Thus, it is possible to improve the discharge properties and picture quality of a PDP.
US08400436B1
A software application program that intelligently interfaces with a statistical data recording program, mass data storage devices and programmable electronic display devices to monitor the situational current state of a real-time event or activity such as a sporting contest and to identify, select, compile, organize, prioritize, present and recommend a plurality of relevant data items compiled from a plurality of recorded data sources to provide visual display content for selection by an operator for display on one or more electronic display boards. The intelligent interface software application program enables an operator of a programmable electronic display device instantly to review and select relevant data items corresponding to a given situational current state of a real-time event or activity and transmit selected data items for display on electronic display boards to a viewing party or public.
US08400430B2
A touch panel is integrated into a flat panel display device having a visual display surface with a front polarizer layer, particularly a liquid crystal display device. The touch panel comprises a flexible transparent membrane containing the front polarizer layer and having a first transparent conductive layer on a lower surface of the flexible transparent membrane and a rigid base comprising the flat panel display device and having a second transparent conductive layer on an upper surface of the rigid base. At least one spacer separates the flexible transparent membrane from the rigid base, keeping the first and second transparent conductive layers in spaced-apart facing relationship. A bus bar and tail communicate a signal from the touch panel to the flat panel display device.
US08400429B2
A touch device to sense and compute the coordinate of a touch object is provided. The touch device comprises a panel, a light-emitting element, an image sensor, a reflective strip and a processing unit. The panel has a sensing area surrounded by first to fourth boundaries where the first and the third boundaries define an x direction and the other two boundaries defines y direction. The light-emitting element and the image sensor are located on the first boundary with a specific distance therebetween. The reflective strip is located on the second to fourth boundaries. When the touch object touches the sensing area, a first and a second light path from the light-emitting element to the image sensor are blocked to form a real and a virtual image such that the processing unit computes the coordinate of the touch object according to the real and the virtual images. A touch method is disclosed herein as well.
US08400421B2
A multi-touch detecting method is adapted for detecting locations of touched points on a touch panel including first and second conductive films, and includes following steps. First measuring points of the first conductive film distributed along X-axis of a Cartesian plane are scanned, and x-components are determined accordingly. Second measuring points of the second conductive film distributed along Y-axis of the Cartesian plane are scanned, and y-components are determined accordingly. A first voltage is applied to the first conductive film, and A second voltage is applied to at least one of the second measuring points with the location on the Y-axis adjacent to or overlapping one of the y-components. Voltages at the first measuring points with the locations on the X-axis adjacent to or overlapping the x-components are measured sequentially and one of the y-components and one of the x-components are outputted.
US08400420B2
The present invention provides an image display system including a display device. The display device further includes a capacitive touch panel and a power supply. In operation, the display device has a common electrode. The touch panel includes a sensing capacitor module and a sampling capacitor. The sensing capacitor module is connected to the common electrode, and has a variable capacitance. The sampling capacitor is selectively electrically connected to the sensing capacitor and the common electrode.
US08400409B1
An interface device and method are provided for sensing movement of an actuator across a surface of a window in an enclosure thereof. The interface device comprises an optical navigation sensor including an illuminator within the interface to illuminate at least a portion of the actuator through the window when the actuator is positioned in contact with or proximal to the surface of the window, and a detector to receive light reflected through the window from the actuator. The interface device further includes a number of capacitive guard-sensors in the enclosure adjacent to the optical navigation sensor to disable the optical navigation sensor when a conductive body is sensed in proximity to the guard-sensors.
US08400407B2
A touch panel comprises a substrate having a forward major surface and formed of a plurality of assembled substrate segments. Cover material overlies the forward major surface to reduce the visibility of seams between adjacent substrate segments.
US08400379B2
The present invention is intended to suppress power consumption of an EL display. In accordance with the brightness of an image to be displayed in a pixel portion, the contrast of the image is determined whether to be inverted or not, and the number of bits of the digital video signal to be input into the pixel portion is reduced, and the magnitude of a current to flow through the EL element is allowed to be maintained at a constant level even when a temperature of an EL layer changes by providing the EL display with another EL element to be used for monitoring a temperature.
US08400373B2
The driving method of the plasma display device has a plurality of combination sets for display that include a different number of combinations, and has a random number generating section for generating a random number. For each of a red image signal, a green image signal, and a blue image signal, a combination set for display selected from the plurality of combination sets for display based on a predetermined selection reference is used, and disturbance based on the random number is added to the predetermined selection reference.
US08400371B2
The head mounted display of the present invention has a display part for displaying images to the wearer, a supporting part which supports the display part, which is fed out into a position in front of as eye from a position that is not located in front of the face, and which is moved from this position in front of as eye into this position that is not located in front of the face, and a mounting part which holds this supporting part, and which is mounted on the wearer in a position that is not located in front of the face, and is constructed so that the supporting part can move past the side of the head along the contour of the head. As a result, a display device is produced which is relatively free of unsightliness with respect to the wearer.
US08400365B2
An antenna device includes a feeding member including a coil pattern and an emitting member to emit a transmit signal supplied from the feeding member and to receive a receive signal and supplying it to the feeding member. The emitting member includes an opening portion and a slit portion communicating with the opening portion. When seen in plan view from the direction of the winding axis of the coil pattern, the opening portion of the emitting member and the inner region of the coil pattern overlap each other, and the emitting member and the coil pattern overlap each other at least partially.
US08400364B2
Disclosed is a multiband planar antenna including: an insulating film, a first antenna section and a second antenna section facing to the first antenna section across a feeding point on a film, wherein the first antenna section includes: a first antenna element including a side having a length in an extending direction corresponds to a first resonance frequency; a shorter second antenna element at a predetermined distance from and in parallel with the first antenna element; and a first coupling section to couple the first and second antenna elements, wherein a length in the extending direction of a first clearance corresponds to a resonance frequency higher than the first resonance frequency, and wherein the second antenna section includes: third and fourth antenna elements; a second coupling section; and a second clearance similar to the above.
US08400351B2
Methods and apparatus are presented for determining a position of an antenna of a GNSS rover from observations of GNSS signals collected at the antenna over multiple epochs and from correction data for at least one of the epochs. A first-epoch rover position relative to a moving base location is determined, a second-epoch update of the first-epoch rover position relative to the moving base location for a second epoch is determined using a single-differenced delta phase process, and the first-epoch position and the second-epoch update are combined to obtain a second-epoch rover position relative to a moving base location of the second epoch.
US08400346B2
A method comprises transmitting a radar signal into an target area, receiving reflected portions of the radar signal from the target area, and processing the reflected portions of the radar signal. The step of processing comprises windowing analog signals representative of the reflected portions of the radar signal, performing a fast Fourier transform on the windowed analog signals to produce an FFT result for each window, and obtaining the average of the FFT results from consecutive windows. In accordance with the method, a user receives indication from an indicator that a golf ball is present in the target area when the average of the FFT results corresponds to characteristics of the golf ball. The system comprises a radar transceiver, a processor for processing reflected portions of the radar signal, and an indicator indicating to the user a golf ball present in the target area.
US08400342B2
A joystick comprising a housing, a ball supported and held within the housing, and a joystick handle attached to the ball. The joystick also includes a first device held within the housing, and a second device held within the housing. The joystick also includes a first engagement shaft extending from the first device to the ball, the first engagement shaft having an end adjacent the ball and engaging the ball, and a second engagement shaft extending from the second device to the ball, the second engagement shaft having an end adjacent the ball and engaging the ball.
US08400336B2
A method for parallel context modeling through reordering the bits of an input sequence to form groups of bits in accordance with a context model-specific reordering schedule. The reordering schedule is developed such that the groups of bits are formed to satisfy two conditions: first, that the context for each of the bits in a group of bits is different from the context of each of the other bits in that group, and the context of each of the bits in that group is determined independently from each of the other bits in that group. The parallel context modeling may be used in encoding or decoding operations.
US08400328B2
A device and method for providing a warning to an operator of a truck/tractor and trailer unit of a potential loss or reduction of brakes. The invention provides a pressure differential sensor (12) which bridges between an air supply line (13, 16) to the spring brakes (17) of a truck/tractor and an air supply line (14) to the trailer. An audible and/or visual warning device (31, 33) coupled to the sensor (12) is activated upon a differential between the pressures in the respective supply lines (13, 16 and 14) being sensed.
US08400321B2
An electronic trip device is described that includes a test signal generator coupled to at least one of a line conductor and a neutral conductor and configured to create a test signal. The electronic trip device also includes a leakage current detection circuit configured to compare a current in the line conductor and a current in the neutral conductor, the leakage current detection circuit configured to output an error signal if the test signal is not detected.
US08400311B2
A bed includes a frame, a controller coupled to the frame, and a patient position detection system coupled to the frame and coupled to the controller. The patient position detection system has at least three modes of operation of varying sensitivities for determining whether a person supported on the frame has moved by a sufficient amount to activate an alarm.
US08400310B2
The present invention relates to an improved an automated hand cleaning reminder system having a disinfectant dispenser mounted proximate to an entranceway. When approaching the entranceway the visitor must first utilize a disinfectant dispenser to gain unalarmed entry or exit through the entranceway. When the disinfectant dispenser is utilized the disinfectant dispenser transmits a signal to a processor which then deactivates temporarily a motion/presence detector scanning an area immediately adjacent or close to the entranceway, and thus permits entry or exit for the visitor. At the same time, processor activates a light emitter to provide a visual indication to the visitor that passage is permitted, and, simultaneously also activates the access allowed audio tone to be played through a message conveying apparatus. If the dispenser has not been utilized, the proximity detector will remain armed and the processor then issues an access denied audio tone to be played through the message conveying apparatus, and, simultaneously also activates a flashing light emitter to provide a visual indication to the visitor that passage is not permitted.
US08400307B2
A radio frequency IC device includes a radio frequency IC chip arranged to process a transmitted/received signal, a printed circuit board on which the radio frequency IC chip is mounted, an electrode arrange on the circuit board, and a loop electrode that is arranged on the circuit board so that the loop electrode is electrically connected to the radio frequency IC chip and is coupled to the electrode by electromagnetic coupling. The electrode is coupled to the radio frequency IC chip via the loop electrode so as to transmit or receive a high-frequency signal. A power supply circuit board including a resonance circuit and/or a matching circuit may be disposed between the radio frequency IC chip and the loop electrode.
US08400303B2
An information processing system includes an information processing device arranged in a vehicle, a portable device storing unique information, a specification information recording unit configured to record specification information having a predetermined relationship with the unique information, a first transmission unit configured to transmit a request signal requesting transmission of the unique information, a first reception unit configured to receive the unique information transmitted from the portable device, a position specifying unit configured to compare the received unique information with the specification information and specify whether or not the portable device is inside the vehicle, a detection unit configured to detect a human inside the vehicle, an alarm unit configured to set off an alarm, and an alarm control unit.
US08400296B2
A system and method for verifying that an operator was sufficiently close to one or more items to be inspected during an inspection to actually inspect the components, and storing an indication to that effect in a memory accessible via a computer network. In addition to the indication, the memory can store other inspection related data, such as a starting time or ending time of the inspection, or maintenance information about the item that was input during the inspection. The system and method enable a third party application, such as an accounting program or a maintenance program, to access any of the inspection related data.
US08400295B1
A tracking device for tracking a patient and providing patient data. The device features a base ring for securing around a patient's wrist or ankle, the base ring is locked via a tamper-detecting optical lock with an alarm component. A microprocessor with a memory component is disposed in the base ring. A universal serial bus port for transferring data to and from the memory component is operatively connected to the microprocessor. An active radio frequency identification (RFID) circuit with a unique signature is disposed in the base ring, the active RFID has an antenna adapted to send signals from the RFID circuit and receive signals for the RFID circuit, the active RFID circuit is adapted to autonomously transmit signals within a range to an external communication system via the antenna, the signals representing location of the active RFID and information stored on the memory component.
US08400291B2
An information display apparatus includes a display unit including a non-volatile display medium. The information display apparatus further includes: a temperature detecting unit configured to detect a display unit temperature which is temperature of the display unit; a temperature determining unit configured to determine whether the display unit temperature is outside of a set temperature range which is predetermined based on characteristics of the display unit; and a display control unit configured to perform on the display unit a burn prevention display which is predetermined based on the characteristics, when the display unit temperature is outside of the set temperature range.
US08400286B2
A spacer lamp in passenger and/or goods traffic, with a light field which dispenses light according to an illuminating configuration, wherein the light field 6 has a first and a second light source, and a control unit is provided for controlling the illumination configuration of the light field, wherein the light field 6 has a first illuminating characteristic for the eye of an average adult as he approaches the light field until a predefined spacing depending on a configuration parameter is reached, and has a second illuminating characteristic different from the first one if the spacing falls short of the predefined spacing.
US08400275B2
A method of utilizing RFID tags for jointly processing a task and an associated system are provided. The method includes causing a plurality of RFID tags to enter a ready state, causing the RFID tags to enter an accessible state in turn, transmitting the task to the RFID tags, utilizing the RFID tags to jointly process the task, and reading a result from the RFID tags having processed the task.
US08400269B2
Methods and systems using polarization modulated electromagnetic waves. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are systems comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, and a RFID tag (the RFID tag communicatively coupled to the RFID reader),. The RFID tag is configured to transmit data to the RFID reader with data encoded in polarization of electromagnetic waves transmitted from the RFID tag.
US08400262B2
A keyless entry device of a vehicle includes: a transmission unit installed in the vehicle that transmits a search signal to a search range including an area inside the vehicle and a vicinity area outside the vehicle; a reply unit installed in a portable device carried by a user that transmits a reply signal when receiving the search signal at several locations within the search range; a determination unit that individually determines whether the portable device is present in the area inside the vehicle and the vicinity area outside the vehicle within the search range on the basis of the reply signal transmitted from the portable device; and a control unit that controls locking or unlocking of a door of the vehicle on the basis of the determination result of the determination unit.
US08400251B2
An electronic component includes a multilayer composite including first insulating layers, second insulating layers, and a helical coil. The helical coil is disposed within the multilayer composite and includes a plurality of coil conductors connected to each other with a plurality of via hole conductors. The coil is located corresponding to the region defined by the second insulating layers when viewed in a stacking direction of the first and second insulating layers. The second insulating layers are located in the region coinciding with the locus of the coil without covering the via hole conductors when viewed in the stacking direction.
US08400249B2
A common mode choke coil includes a first coil element and a second coil element connected in series between a first port and a second port, and a third coil element and a fourth coil element connected in series between a third port and a fourth port. With normal mode current flow through the first and second transmission lines, a first closed magnetic circuit forms in which magnetic flux passing through the first and second coil elements forms a closed loop, and a second closed magnetic circuit forms in which a magnetic flux passing through the third coil element and the fourth coil element forms a closed loop. With common mode current flow in the first and second transmission lines, a third closed magnetic circuit forms in which a magnetic flux passing through the first through fourth coil elements forms a closed loop.
US08400244B2
A reactor includes a cooling block; a heat radiation base affixed to the cooling block; a reactor core that includes a coil, and that is affixed to the heat radiation base; and a resin molded body formed on the heat radiation base to cover the reactor core. The heat radiation base is formed of a metal or an alloy that has a predetermined logarithmic decrement and predetermined heat conductivity. The predetermined logarithmic decrement is equal to or higher than 0.1, and the predetermined heat conductivity is equal to or higher than 10 W/mK.
US08400238B2
An impedance matching, harmonic electromagnetic tuner has an airline with multiple slots to reduce the overall length of the tuner. At least one RF probe is disposed within each slot so that it can be moved parallel to, towards and/or away from a center conductor. Each of the probes may be put in user selectable positions to create a user selectable impedance.
US08400220B1
Quiescent current control for Class AB output stages is provided that is responsive to a sum of current of the pull-up and pull-down transistors in the crossover region, and responsive to a minimum of the pull-up or pull-down transistors otherwise. Replicating transistors operate responsive to activation of the pull-up and pull-down transistors. Additional circuit elements provide a summed current output that corrects for quiescent current variation, while having good operation over PVT variations, and having minimal distortive effects. Use of scaled replicating transistors reduces the current in the quiescent current control circuit. Additionally, a current limiter or topology change may be used to reduce current spikes in replication of the output stage current. Adjustment of a reference current can also prevent turning off a non-active output element to reduce the need to stew the element back on.
US08400218B2
A current mode power amplifier includes a current steering stage configured to steer a scaled current based on differential voltage inputs, a filtered current mirror connected to the current steering stage to receive the scaled current and produce a filtered output current, and a resonant load configured to receive the output current and generate an output voltage signal for transmission.
US08400213B2
A complementary band-gap voltage reference circuit comprising first and second groups of transistors, each group containing a first transistor of npn type and a second transistor of pnp type and the transistors of different types in the same group having different emitter current conduction areas. The emitter-collector paths of the first transistors of each group are connected in parallel so as to present differential base-emitter voltages. The second transistors of each group are connected with their emitter-collector paths in parallel with a base-emitter junction of the first transistor of the same group so as to present differential base-emitter voltages of the second transistors across the first and second groups of transistors. The output regulated voltage is an additive function of the differential base-emitter voltages and of additive base-emitter voltages of transistors with smaller emitter current conduction area and different type.
US08400200B1
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods of noise reduction and/or power saving. According to one or more illustrative implementations, for example, innovations consistent with delay lines in clock/timing circuits such as Delay-Lock-Loop (DLL) and/or Duty Cycle Correction (DCC) circuits are disclosed.
US08400197B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a jitter generator configured to receive a reference clock; add jitter to the reference clock; and output the reference clock with the included jitter to a phase lock loop (PLL). The PLL is used to generate a local oscillator (LO) signal for a transceiver. A jitter controller outputs a signal to the jitter generator to control a characteristic of the jitter added to the reference clock. The reference clock with the added jitter is used to reduce a fractional spur caused by a radio frequency (RF) attacker coupling into the PLL.
US08400196B2
A phase correction circuit includes a skew detection unit configured to generate first skew detection signals and second skew detection signals by comparing multi-phase signals with one another, a phase control signal generation unit configured to generate a plurality of phase control signals by combining the first skew detection signals with the second skew detection signals, and a phase adjustment unit configured to delay the multi-phase signals by delay time corresponding to the plurality of the phase control signals.
US08400191B2
A transistor has variation in a threshold voltage or mobility due to accumulation of factors such as variation in a gate insulating film which is caused by a difference of a manufacturing process or a substrate to be used and variation in a crystal state of a channel formation region. The present invention provides an electric circuit which is arranged such that both electrodes of a capacitance device can hold a voltage between the gate and the source of a specific transistor. Further, the present invention provides an electric circuit which has a function capable of setting a potential difference between both electrodes of a capacitance device so as to be a threshold voltage of a specific transistor.
US08400178B2
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device, the device includes a substrate, a front-end structure formed in the substrate, a back-end structure formed on the front-end structure, a heater embedded in the back-end structure and operable to generate heat, and a sensor embedded in the back-end structure and operable to sense a temperature of the semiconductor device.
US08400168B2
A method of obtaining a material property of a pavement material from a microwave field generally includes generating a microwave frequency electromagnetic field of a first mode about the pavement material. The frequency response of the pavement material in the electromagnetic field can be measured, such as by a network analyzer. The measurement of the frequency response permits correlating the frequency response to a material property of the pavement material sample, such as the density. A method of correcting for the roughness of a pavement material divides the pavement into a shallow layer and a deep layer. Two planar microwave circuits measure the permittivity of the shallow and deep layer. The permittivities are correlated to correct for roughness. An apparatus for obtaining the density of a pavement sample includes a microwave circuit and a network analyzer. The network analyzer measures the frequency response to determine the density of the pavement material.
US08400163B2
A voltage detecting circuit includes a switch group that selects any one of a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a sampling capacitor that maintains a potential difference between a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of a battery cell selected by the switch group, a measuring part that outputs a detected voltage value signal corresponding to the potential difference between ends of the sampling capacitor, a transfer switch that transfers, to the measuring part, the potential difference caused between the ends of the sampling capacitor, a correction capacitor provided in parallel to input terminals of the measuring part, and between the transfer switch and the measuring part, and a discharge switch provided in parallel to the correction capacitor, and controlled so that a switching condition of the discharge switch is mutually exclusive with that of the transfer switch.
US08400160B2
A combined resistivity tool incorporating both induction/propagation antennas and lateral resistivity antennas disposed in recesses of downhole tubulars, in which a lateral resistivity antenna includes an insulating base layer disposed in the recess; a toroidal antenna disposed over the insulating base layer; and a shield disposed over the recess.
US08400158B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole. The apparatus includes a carrier configured to be conveyed through the borehole. A first transmitter electrode and a second transmitter electrode are disposed at the carrier and configured to inject an electrical current into the earth formation. A first measurement electrode and a second measurement electrode are disposed at the carrier and configured to measure the electrical current to estimate the property of the earth formation. A first bucker amplifier is coupled to the first measurement electrode and a second bucker amplifier is coupled to the second measurement electrode, wherein the first and second bucker amplifiers are configured to equalize electrical potentials of areas in front of the first and second measurement electrodes.
US08400157B2
The present invention relates to a HTEM system that includes a semi-rigid bucking coil and an algorithm to determine the magnetic field B from the measured signal dB/dt. The bucking coil may be positioned in a concentric coplanar manner relative to a transmitter coil and receiver coil, in order to minimize spurious signals at the receiver coil during data acquisition time. Signals gathered by the system may be further processed by a signal processing means. Moreover, measurements performed upon data generated by the system may be performed upon the entire period of a current waveform applied to the transmitter and bucking coils.
US08400152B2
A method for parallel magnetic resonance imaging (“pMRI”) that does not require the explicit estimation of a coil sensitivity map is provided. Individual coil images are reconstructed from undersampled scan data that is acquired with a radio frequency (RF) coil array having multiple coil channels. An inverse operator is formed from autocalibration scan (ACS) data, and is applied to the acquired scan data in order to produce reconstruction coefficients. Missing k-space lines in the undersampled scan data are synthesized by interpolating k-space lines in the acquired scan data using the reconstruction coefficients. From the acquired scan data and the synthesized missing k-space lines, individual coil images are reconstructed and combined to form an image of the subject.
US08400143B2
A signal processing circuit for a rotation detector includes a rotational direction determining portion, an effective edge determining portion, a normal-rotation pulse request holding portion, a reverse-rotation pulse request holding portion, an output request signal outputting portion, a pulse outputting portion, a first resetting portion, and a second resetting portion. When one of the holding portions holds an output request signal, the pulse outputting portion outputs a pulse based on the output request signal. When the other one of the holding portions holds an output request signal and then a condition for holding the output request signal that is already held by the one of the holding portions is satisfied in a state where the one of the holding portions holds the output request signal, the second resetting portion resets the output request signal held by the other one of the holding portion.
US08400136B2
A semiconductor device and a layout method of the same reduce a mismatch in a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor unit providing a first path of current and a second transistor unit designed in a mirror structure to the first transistor unit and providing a second path of current. The layout of the second transistor unit has a shape identical to the first transistor unit and shifted in a first direction. The layout of the semiconductor device reduces a mismatch of the transistors occurring when masks are combined, and thereby reduces their offset.
US08400133B2
For output current detection of a voltage regulator, a sensing circuit is coupled to a high-side element of the regulator and detects the current therein to generate a sensing current. A simulation circuit is coupled to the sensing circuit and generates a summed current by simulation with the sensing current. A setting resistor is coupled to the simulation circuit and receives the summed current to provide an output for feedback control of the voltage regulator.
US08400132B2
A circuit may generate a clock signal with a variable period given by a ratio between an initial switching period and a number of phase circuits through which a current of a multi-phase PWM voltage converter flows. The circuit may include an adjustable current generator driven by a signal representing the number of phase circuits through which the current flows and configured to generate a current proportional to the number of phase circuits through which the current flows, and a tank capacitor charged by the adjustable current generator. The circuit may include a comparator of a voltage on the tank capacitor with a threshold value configured to generate a pulse of the clock signal when the threshold value is attained, and a discharge path of the tank capacitor, the discharge path being enabled during the pulses of the clock signal.
US08400119B2
A one-phase static var compensator apparatus includes a compensator string consisting of a first static var compensator connected serially to a thyristor valve. The compensator string is arranged to be connected on its first end to one phase of a transmission grid of a rated voltage exceeding 69 kV. Moreover, the thyristor valve includes a plurality of thyristors connected serially and the compensator string is arranged to be directly connected to the transmission grid. A corresponding three phase apparatus is also presented.
US08400113B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for satisfying a demand response (DR) signal includes receiving the DR signal from an external source through a communication module; connecting an energy storage source to an appliance; charging the energy storage source during a first DR period specified by the external source; and disconnecting line power and using power from the energy storage source during a second DR period.
US08400112B2
A method for managing power limits for a battery includes the step of increasing a minimum operating state of charge after an initial power capability has decreased to the point where a predefined full discharge power is not available at an initial minimum operating state of charge. The increased minimum operating state of charge can be chosen such that the full discharge power is available. The increased minimum state of charge may not be chosen to provide the full discharge power if the increased minimum state of charge is greater than a maximum low limit state of charge.
US08400108B2
A battery assembly with a housing that contains a removable battery pack. The housing, which is sterilzable, has a head designed to couple to a power consuming device. The battery pack, which is not sterlizable, contains at least one rechargeable cell. The battery pack has a head dimensioned to fit the same charger socket that can receive a sterlizable battery. The battery pack has contacts that abut charger contacts. The housing has internal contacts. Collectively, the housing and battery pack are shaped so that, when the battery pack seats in the housing, the battery pack contacts abut the housing internal contacts. The housing internal contacts are connected to the housing external contacts for supply power to the power consuming device. A cover selectively holds the battery pack in the housing chamber.
US08400102B2
According to one of the embodiment, an assembled battery has a plurality of cells electrically connected in series. A charge amount difference detection circuit detects charge amount difference of the cells. Wherein, while a charging or discharge current is being applied to the cells, the charge amount difference detection circuit detects charge amount differences greater than a charge amount of a reference cell having a minimum charge amount, the charge amount differences of the cells are determined by addition of the charging or discharge currents during a period corresponding to the time differences between the reference cell and the other cells reaching a predetermined specific voltage, discharge switches are controlled by a switch controller, based on the charging amount differences.
US08400101B2
In order to more rapidly warm up a battery device in a power supply equipped with a fuel cell and a battery device, a fuel-cell-mounted vehicle driving system for driving and controlling a rotating electric machine installed on a vehicle comprises an inverter connected to the rotating electric machine; a power supply circuit having a battery device, a voltage converter, and a fuel cell; and a power supply control device for controlling the power supply circuit. The power supply control device includes an FC output voltage setting module for setting the output voltage of the fuel cell, an OCV avoidance module for, when an FC output voltage is set, avoiding a voltage around an OCV, a battery warm-up control determination module for determining whether the battery device is under warm-up control or not, and an OCV avoidance release module for, when the battery device is under the warm-up control, releasing the OCV avoidance.
US08400100B2
An electric power converter includes a DC to DC converter section adjusting DC power of a battery with at least two units in series, a DC circuit having at least two DC link capacitors in series between a positive and a negative line from the DC to DC converter section, an electric power converter section connected to the DC circuit to convert DC electric power to AC electric power for a motor, a bilateral switching circuit connecting an intermediate potential point between the capacitors and an AC output point in the electric power converter section, and a short-circuit between the intermediate potential point of the DC circuit and an intermediate potential point between the battery units. Normal operation of a load is ensured even when the battery, the capacitor in the DC circuit or the switching device in the electric power converter section becomes abnormal, while achieving high efficiency.
US08400097B2
The effect of chattering on the measurement of the pulse period is reduced. The pulse period representing the rise interval of target pulses appearing in a pulse signal PI is measured. The pulse signal PI is sampled in synchronization with a measurement clock CLK. Measurement of a designated inhibition period is started in synchronization with the fall of the signal PI. Measurement of the current pulse period is completed and measurement of a new pulse period is started if the inhibition period has elapsed at the rise of the signal PI. Counting of the current pulse period is continued if the inhibition period has not elapsed.
US08400094B2
A robotic surgery system for supporting a patient and a robotic surgical manipulator. The robotic surgery system includes a base, a pillar coupled to the base at a first end and extending vertically upward to an opposing second end, and an attachment structure coupled to the second end of the pillar. A patient table is coupled to the attachment structure. A robot support arm has a first end coupled to the attachment structure. The robot support arm extends vertically upward and then horizontally over the patient table. A robotic surgical manipulator supported by the horizontal portion of the robot support arm will extend generally downward from the robot support arm toward a patient supported by the patient table to place an end effector of the robotic surgical manipulator adjacent a desired surgical site on the patient.
US08400089B2
An electronic control circuit for a brushless motor has an input power circuit providing a DC voltage and a microcontroller integrated circuit receiving the DC voltage. The microcontroller integrated circuit provides three-phase control signals according to a space vector control method. A microprocessor connected to the microcontroller integrated circuit executes supervisory control over the electronic control circuit. An inverter circuit receives the three-phase control signals from the microcontroller integrated circuit and provides driving signals to the brushless motor based on the three-phase control signals received from the microcontroller integrated circuit.
US08400088B2
A controller (100) for controlling a salient-pole machine (200) is disclosed. The controller (100) is adapted to determine at least one operational parameter of the salient-pole machine (200), such as for example a rotor position, a rotor angle or a steady-state voltage. The controller (100) comprises a calculating unit for calculating test pulse properties for test pulses for supply to phase inputs of the salient-pole machine. The test pulse properties thereby comprise a pulse width and the calculating unit (110) is adapted for determining the pulse width in an adaptive manner.
US08400077B2
A power supply circuit for receiving an input voltage and outputting a driving voltage to at least one LED string. The power supply circuit includes a rear-stage converting circuit and a control circuit. The rear-stage converting circuit is used for receiving the input voltage and converting the input voltage into a compensating voltage. The control circuit is connected to the rear-stage converting circuit and the LED string for detecting the magnitude of a current passing through the LED string, thereby controlling the current passing through the LED string to be identical. The driving voltage is outputted from the power supply circuit. The driving voltage is a summation of the input voltage and the compensating voltage.
US08400069B2
A lighting device which supplies power to an electrode of a discharge lamp to turn on the discharge lamp includes: a pulse generating circuit which produces a high-voltage pulse and applies the high-voltage pulse to the electrode; wherein the pulse generating circuit includes an inductor whose output end is connected with the electrode, and a capacitor connected with the output end of the inductor to produce free oscillation of current applied to the electrode in cooperation with the inductor.
US08400068B2
In at least one embodiment of the disclosure, a discharge lamp lighting device comprises a discharge lamp driving section and a control unit. The control unit alternately performs a first DC driving processing and a first AC driving processing in a first portion of the driving current. The control unit alternately performs a second DC driving processing and a second AC driving processing in a second portion of the driving current different from the first portion. The control unit performs the first AC driving processing and the second AC driving processing such that a frequency of a first alternating current and a frequency of a second alternating current have different values.
US08400067B2
A light emitting device and an element substrate which are capable of suppressing variations in the luminance intensity of a light emitting element among pixels due to characteristic variations of a driving transistor without suppressing off-current of a switching transistor low and increasing storage capacity of a capacitor. According to the invention, a depletion mode transistor is used as a driving transistor. The gate of the driving transistor is fixed in its potential or connected to the source or drain thereof to operate in a saturation region with a constant current flow. A current controlling transistor which operates in a linear region is connected in series to the driving transistor, and a video signal for transmitting a light emission or non-emission of a pixel is inputted to the gate of the current controlling transistor through a switching transistor.
US08400058B2
A PDP to improve a discharge delay includes X and Y electrodes, a dielectric layer covering the X and Y electrodes, and a protective layer covering the dielectric layer. The protective layer includes an MgO film stacked on a surface of the dielectric layer, and a plurality of MgO crystal particles attached on the MgO film. In addition, a covering ratio of a surface of the MgO film is lower than or equal to 10%, and the plurality of MgO crystal particles are arranged so that orientations of surfaces opposing to the discharge space are aligned. Further, the plurality of MgO crystal particles have a cubic form.
US08400053B2
Carbon Nanotube Films, Layers, Fabrics, Ribbons, Elements and Articles are disclosed. To make various articles, certain embodiments provide a substrate. Preformed nanotubes are applied to a surface of the substrate to create a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes. Portions of the non-woven fabric are selectively removed according to a defined pattern to create the article. To make a nanofabric, a substrate is provided. Preformed nanotubes are applied to a surface of the substrate to create a non-woven fabric of carbon nanotubes wherein the non-woven fabric is substantially uniform density. The nanofabrics and articles have characteristics desirable for various electrical systems such as memory circuits and conductive traces and pads.
US08400049B2
A tuning fork quartz crystal resonator has a base and two resonating arms extended in parallel from the same side of the base. Each resonating arm has asymmetric grooves on its upper and bottom surface, and the via-hole to reliably connect the top and bottom electrode. The asymmetric groove design can simplify the manufacturing process and lower the manufacturing cost. The base has continuous concave on both side surfaces and a recess on the main surface. The energy of ultrasonic wave propagating via the base mounting pads into the ceramic package can be reduced. This unique tuning fork quartz crystal resonator can prevent dramatic reduction of the Q value, and retain the outstanding quality of the resonator.
US08400048B2
A tuning-fork type piezoelectric resonator plate includes: at least a plurality of leg portions serving as vibrating portions; a bonding portion bonded to the outside, and a base portion from which the leg portions and the bonding portion protrude. The plurality of leg portions protrude from a first end face of the base portion and are provided side-by-side on the first end face. The bonding portion protrude from a second end face located opposite the first end face of the base portion at a position located opposite a center position of the plurality of leg portions in a width direction of the first end face of the base portion. And, at least a base end portion of the bonding portion is used as a bond region that is bonded to the outside.
US08400047B2
Provided are a bismuth-based piezoelectric material whose insulation property is improved while its performance as a piezoelectric body is not impaired, and a piezoelectric device using the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1): Bix(Fe1-yCoy)O3 (1) where 0.95≦x≦1.25 and 0≦y≦0.30, and a root mean square roughness Rq (nm) of a surface of the piezoelectric material satisfies a relationship of 0
US08400022B2
Described herein are embodiments of transferring electromagnetic energy that includes providing a first electromagnetic resonator structure receiving energy from an external power supply, said first resonator structure having a first mode with a resonant frequency ω1, an intrinsic loss rate Γ1, and a first Q-factor Q1=ω1/(2Γ1), providing a second electromagnetic resonator structure being positioned distal from said first resonator structure and not electrically wired to the first resonator structure, said second resonator structure having a second mode with a resonant frequency ω2, an intrinsic loss rate Γ2, and a second Q-factor Q2=ω2/(2Γ2), and transferring electromagnetic energy from said first resonator structure to said second resonator structure over a distance D that may be smaller than each of the resonant wavelengths λ1 and λ2 corresponding to the resonant frequencies ω1 and ω2, respectively. The electromagnetic resonator structures may be designed to have Q1>100 and Q2>100. The absolute value of the difference of said angular frequencies ω1 and ω2 may be smaller than the magnitude of the coupling rate, κ.
US08400017B2
Described herein are improved configurations for wireless power transfer for computer peripherals, including a source magnetic resonator, integrated into a source station and connected to a power source and power and control circuitry; a device magnetic resonator, integrated into a computer peripheral; wherein power is transferred non-radiatively from the source magnetic resonator to the device magnetic resonator, and where the quality factors of the source and device resonators, Qs and Qd, satisfy the relationship, √{square root over (QsQd)}>100.
US08400009B2
An interface for a bulkhead monitor in an in-flight entertainment system, and a method for using the same. More specifically, a one-wire interface use to electrically couple a tapping unit and its associated monitor in an in-flight entertainment system. The wire has a first end for coupling to an input of a comparator in the tapping unit, and a second end for coupling to an input of a comparator in the monitor, to couple the tapping unit to the monitor. The interface further includes a second wire for coupling the wire to a load, such as an indicator which indicates an on or off condition of at least the video monitor. The wire of the interface can also carry a signal indicating a indicating at least one of transmitting state and a receiving state of a microcontroller of the monitor.
US08400006B2
There are a large number of sites in the world's oceans and rivers that can provide a significant, viable, and cost effective source of renewable energy. Many are strategically located close to populated areas where these sites can be used to harness energy using ecologically benign hydrodynamic technology. A hydrodynamic array comprises multiple hydrodynamic elements for producing electricity by the motion of ocean tides or river currents and forces acting on the hydrodynamic array, which is immersed in ocean tides or river currents and which is in motion relative to the ocean tides or river currents.
US08400004B2
A method for operating a wind turbine that includes a generator device for outputting electric energy to a network, the generator device having a stator, and a controller device for controlling the generator device. To ensure sufficient protection of the wind turbine even during network fluctuations, a network voltage is determined using a network model at least as a function of a stator voltage measured with a first measuring apparatus and a network power measured with a second measuring apparatus, and the determined network voltage and a predeterminable maximum phase angle present between the stator voltage and network voltage are used to determine the maximum effective power of the wind turbine that can be output, and the output effective power is regulated as a function of the determined maximum effective power that can be output and a target effective power predetermined by the control device.
US08399997B2
In one embodiment, a method includes attaching a film to cover a first portion of a first semiconductor die. The first semiconductor die is attached, using the tape, to a lead frame using a first bonding method. The first bonding method places the film between the lead frame and the semiconductor die. A second semiconductor die is attached to the lead frame using a second bonding method. The second bonding method bonds the lead frame and the semiconductor die. The first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device are encapsulated into a semiconductor package.
US08399976B2
A semiconductor device includes a thermoplastic resin case, a semiconductor chip mounted within the thermoplastic resin case, a metal terminal having a wire bonding surface and an opposing contact surface, and a wire connected between the wire bonding surface and the semiconductor chip. The contact surface of the metal terminal is thermoplastically bonded at an area to the inside of the thermoplastic resin case.
US08399973B2
A first memory device and second memory device have a same input/output layout configuration. To form a stack, the second memory device is secured to the first memory device. To facilitate connectivity, the second memory device is rotationally offset with respect to the first memory device in the stack to align outputs of the first memory device with corresponding inputs of the second memory device. The rotational offset of the second memory device with respect to the first memory device aligns one or more outputs of the first memory device with one or more respective inputs of the second memory device. Based on links between outputs and inputs from one memory device to another in the stack, the stack of memory devices can include paths facilitating one or more series connection configurations through he memory devices.
US08399966B2
Flow diverting structures for preferentially impeding, redirecting or both impeding and redirecting the flow of flowable encapsulant material, such as molding compound, proximate a selected surface or surfaces of a semiconductor die or dice during encapsulation are disclosed. Flow diverting structures may be included in or associated with one or more portions of a lead frame, such as a paddle, tie bars, or lead fingers. Flow diverting structures may also be inserted into a mold in association with semiconductor dice carried on non-lead frame substrates, such as interposers and circuit boards, to preferentially impede, redirect or both impede and redirect the flow of molding compound flowing between and over the semiconductor dice.
US08399965B2
A layer structure with an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effect is applicable for reducing an EMI effect caused by signal transmission between through silicon vias, so as to effectively provide the EMI shielding effect between electrical interconnections of a three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit. By forming EMI-shielding through silicon vias at predetermined positions between the through silicon vias used for signal transmission, a good EMI shielding effect can be attended, and signal distortion possibly caused by the EMI effect can be reduced between different chips or substrates.
US08399964B2
A magnetic shield is presented. The shield may be used to protect a microelectronic device from stray magnetic fields. The shield includes at least two layers. A first layer includes a magnetic material that may be used to block DC magnetic fields. A second layer includes a conductive material that may be used to block AC magnetic fields. Depending on the type of material that the first and second layers include, a third layer may be inserted in between the first and second layers. The third layer may include a non-conductive material that may be used to ensure that separate eddy current regions form in the first and second layers.
US08399956B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices and structures thereof are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a workpiece having a plurality of trenches formed therein, forming a liner over the workpiece, and forming a layer of photosensitive material over the liner. The layer of photosensitive material is removed from over the workpiece except from over at least a portion of each of the plurality of trenches. The layer of photosensitive material is partially removed from over the workpiece, leaving a portion of the layer of photosensitive material remaining within a lower portion of the plurality of trenches over the liner.
US08399953B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an element isolation insulating film dividing an upper portion of the substrate into a plurality of first active regions, a source layer and a drain layer, a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, a first punch-through stopper layer, and a second punch-through stopper layer. The source layer and the drain layer are formed in spaced to each other in an upper portion of each of the first active regions. The first punch-through stopper layer is formed in a region of the first active region directly below the source layer and the second punch-through stopper layer is formed in a region of the first active region directly below the drain layer. The first punch-through stopper layer and the second punch-through stopper layer each has an effective impurity concentration higher than the semiconductor substrate. The first punch-through stopper layer and the source layer are separated in the channel region. The second punch-through stopper layer and the drain layer are separated in the channel region.
US08399950B2
A photodiode includes a photosensitive element formed in a silicon semiconductor layer on an insulation layer. The photosensitive element includes a low concentration diffusion layer, a P-type high concentration diffusion layer, and an N-type high concentration diffusion layer. A method of producing the photodiode includes the steps of: forming an insulation material layer on the silicon semiconductor layer after the P-type impurity and the N-type impurity are implanted into the low concentration diffusion layer, the P-type high concentration diffusion layer, and the N-type high concentration diffusion layer; forming an opening portion in the insulation material layer in an area for forming the low concentration diffusion layer; and etching the silicon semiconductor layer in the area for forming the low concentration diffusion layer so that a thickness of the silicon semiconductor layer is reduced to a specific level.
US08399947B2
A solid-state imaging device includes photoelectric conversion units, vertical transfer units including vertical transfer electrodes, a horizontal transfer unit, a distribution transfer unit including distribution transfer electrodes, and first light-shield layers and second light-shield layers provided on the vertical transfer units and the distribution transfer unit. The first light-shield layers and the second light-shield layers are conductive. The first light-shield layers are provided in a layer different from a layer in which the second light-shield layers are provided. At least one of the first light-shield layers serves as an interconnect electrically connected to the vertical transfer electrodes included in the same row, and at least one of the first light-shield layers on the distribution transfer unit serves as an interconnect electrically connected the distribution transfer electrodes. The first light-shield layers are disposed so as not to overlap with the horizontal transfer unit.
US08399941B2
A method and system for providing a magnetic junction usable in a magnetic device are described. The magnetic junction includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer has an easy cone magnetic anisotropy. The magnetic junction is configured such that the free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction.
US08399939B2
A photoelectric device, such as a photodetector, can include a semiconductor nanowire electrostatically associated with a J-aggregate. The J-aggregate can facilitate absorption of a desired wavelength of light, and the semiconductor nanowire can facilitate charge transport. The color of light detected by the device can be chosen by selecting a J-aggregate with a corresponding peak absorption wavelength.
US08399936B2
A structure and method of forming through substrate vias in forming semiconductor components are described. In one embodiment, the invention describes a method of forming a through substrate via by partially filling an opening with a fill material, and forming a first insulating layer over the first fill material thereby forming a gap over the opening. The method further includes forming a second insulating layer to close the gap thereby forming an enclosed cavity within the opening.
US08399934B2
A method of forming transistors and structures thereof. A CMOS device includes high k gate dielectric materials. A PMOS device includes a gate that is implanted with an n type dopant. The NMOS device may be doped with either an n type or a p type dopant. The work function of the CMOS device is set by the material selection of the gate dielectric materials. A polysilicon depletion effect is reduced or avoided.
US08399930B2
There is provided a semiconductor device that includes: a transistor having a gate electrode, a source region, and a drain region; a first inter-layer insulation film covering the transistor; a first contact plug formed penetrating through the first inter-layer insulation film and connected to either the source region or the drain region; a second inter-layer insulation film covering the first contact plug; a groove extending in the second inter-layer insulation film in a same direction as an extending direction of the gate electrode and exposing a top surface of the first contact plug at a bottom thereof; a second contact plug connected to the first contact plug and formed in the groove; and a wiring pattern extending on the second inter-layer insulation film so as to traverse the groove and integrated with the second contact plug.
US08399929B2
To provide a technique that can maintain uniformity of semiconductor elements and wirings microfabricated, while maintaining the mounting efficiency of circuit cells onto a chip. Respective gate electrodes of an n-channel type MISFET and another n-channel type MISFET forming a NAND circuit cell are coupled to the same node, and simultaneously perform respective on-off operations according to the same input signal. These n-channel type MISFETs are arranged adjacent to each other, and electrically coupled in series. Respective gate electrodes of a p-channel type MISFET and another p-channel type MISFET forming the NAND circuit cell are coupled to the same node, and simultaneously perform respective on-off operations according to the same input signal. These p-channel type MISFETs are arranged adjacent to each other, and electrically coupled in series.
US08399925B2
A termination structure with multiple embedded potential spreading capacitive structures (TSMEC) and method are disclosed for terminating an adjacent trench MOSFET atop a bulk semiconductor layer (BSL) with bottom drain electrode. The BSL has a proximal bulk semiconductor wall (PBSW) supporting drain-source voltage (DSV) and separating TSMEC from trench MOSFET. The TSMEC has oxide-filled large deep trench (OFLDT) bounded by PBSW and a distal bulk semiconductor wall (DBSW). The OFLDT includes a large deep oxide trench into the BSL and embedded capacitive structures (EBCS) located inside the large deep oxide trench and between PBSW and DBSW for spatially spreading the DSV across them. In one embodiment, the EBCS contains interleaved conductive embedded polycrystalline semiconductor regions (EPSR) and oxide columns (OXC) of the OFLDT, a proximal EPSR next to PBSW is connected to an active upper source region and a distal EPSR next to DBSW is connected to the DBSW.
US08399924B2
An integrated circuit containing an extended drain MOS transistor may be formed by forming a drift region implant mask with mask fingers abutting a channel region and extending to the source/channel active area, but not extending to a drain contact active area. Dopants implanted through the exposed fingers form lateral doping striations in the substrate under the mask fingers. An average doping density of the drift region under the gate is at least 25 percent less than an average doping density of the drift region at the drain contact active area. In one embodiment, the dopants diffuse laterally to form a continuous drift region. In another embodiment, substrate material between lateral doping striations remains an opposite conductivity type from the lateral doping striations.
US08399919B2
A unit block circuit of a semiconductor device includes a first well, a first pickup unit configured to form a closed loop over the first well, a first transistor including a first gate and a first active region, and formed within the first pickup unit, and a first reservoir capacitor formed in a spare within the first pickup unit and arranged in a major-axis direction of the first gate of the first transistor, wherein the first reservoir capacitor comprises a second active region and a second gate, the second gate being formed over the second active region.
US08399917B2
A semiconductor device, including a semiconductor substrate including isolations defining active regions of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of buried gate electrodes extending below an upper surface of the active regions of the semiconductor device, a plurality of bit lines extending on the semiconductor substrate along a first direction, a plurality of insulating patterns extending on the semiconductor substrate along a second direction that crosses the first direction, and a plurality of capping patterns extending over the bit lines, wherein the insulating patterns and the capping pattern both include insulating material and at least a portion of corresponding ones of the insulating patterns and the capping patterns are in direct contact with each other.
US08399911B2
A method is disclosed for producing Group III-N field-effect devices, such as HEMT, MOSHFET, MISHFET or MESFET devices, comprising two active layers, e.g. a GaN/AlGaN layer. The method produces an enhancement mode device of this type, i.e. a normally-off device, by providing a passivation layer on the AlGaN layer, etching a hole in the passivation layer and not in the layers underlying the passivation layer, and depositing the gate contact in the hole, while the source and drain are deposited directly on the passivation layer. The characteristics of the active layers and/or of the gate are chosen such that no two-dimensional electron gas layer is present underneath the gate, when a zero voltage is applied to the gate. A device with this behavior is also disclosed.
US08399901B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device. The light emitting device comprises a light emitting semiconductor layer comprising a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer, a first passivation layer on the light emitting semiconductor layer, and a second passivation layer on the first passivation layer and has an elastic modulus of 2.0 to 4.0 GPa.
US08399898B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting device, comprising: a LED die (10) having a first surface (12), a second surface (14) and at least one side facet (16) connecting the first and the second surface (12, 14). Further, the LED die comprises a light polarizing layer (20), a light blocking layer (30), and a light reflecting layer (40). The light polarizing layer (20) is arranged on the first surface (12), the light blocking layer (30) is arranged on the at least one side facet (16), and the light reflecting layer (40) is arranged on the second surface (14) of the LED die.
US08399893B2
A luminous means includes a first group of semiconductor chips and a second group of semiconductor chips, each group includes at least one semiconductor chip, wherein the first and second groups of semiconductor chips are arranged laterally alongside one another at least in part with respect to a main emission direction of the luminous means, and a third group of semiconductor chips which includes at least one semiconductor chip and is disposed downstream of the first and the second group with respect to the main emission direction, wherein each group of semiconductor chips emits electromagnetic radiation in wavelength ranges that differ from one another in pairs, radiation emitted by the third group of semiconductor chips has the shortest-wave wavelength range, radiation emitted by the first and second group of semiconductor chips at least partly passes into the at least one semiconductor chip of the third group, and mixed radiation is emitted by an emission area of the luminous means.
US08399884B2
The present invention improves the aperture ratio of a pixel of a reflection-type display device or a reflection type display device without increasing the number of masks and without using a blackmask. A pixel electrode (167) is arranged so as to partially overlap a source wiring (137) for shielding the gap between pixels from light, and a thin film transistor is arranged so as to partially overlap a gate wiring (166) for shielding a channel region of the thin film transistor from light, thereby realizing a high pixel aperture ratio.
US08399883B2
The present invention provides a nitrogen-oxide gas sensor that is able to measure nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide at the same time and ensure measurement accuracy and long stability. For these purposes, the nitrogen-oxide gas sensor includes: an oxide ion conductive solid electrolyte; a primary film that contacts the solid electrolyte and is made of a p-type semi-conductor metal oxide; a secondary film that contacts the solid electrolyte and is made of a p-type semiconductor metal oxide; an n-type semiconductor metal oxide that is included in at least one of the primary and secondary films; a power source that applies electric power to the primary and secondary films by electrically connecting a primary node to the primary film and a secondary node to the secondary film; and a measurement unit that measures the electric potential difference between the primary and secondary nodes.
US08399875B1
A nonvolatile memory element including a resistance variable element configured to reversibly change between a low-resistance state and a high-resistance state in response to electric signals with different polarities; and a current controlling element configured such that when a current flowing when a voltage whose absolute value is a first value which is larger than 0 and smaller than a predetermined voltage value and whose polarity is a first polarity is applied is a first current and a current flowing when a voltage whose absolute value is the first value and whose polarity is a second polarity is applied is a second current, the first current is higher than the second current, and the resistance variable element is connected with the current controlling element such that the first polarity voltage is applied to the current controlling element when the resistance variable element changes from the low-resistance to the high-resistance state.
US08399871B2
An apparatus for control of a procedure, comprising: a communications interface; a control console, wherein the control console is adapted to provide control commands via the communications interface to at least one of: at least one imaging device or at least one medical instrument used to perform the procedure; and, at least one radiation shield attached to the control console and positioned between the control console and a patient on which the procedure is being performed, wherein the apparatus is separately movable from at least one of the at least one imaging device, the patient or the at least one medical instrument.
US08399866B2
The invention comprises a charged particle beam extraction method and apparatus optionally used in conjunction with charged particle beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. The system uses a radio-frequency (RF) cavity system to induce oscillation of a charged particle stream. Sufficient amplitude modulation of the charged particle stream causes the charged particle stream to hit a material, such as a foil element of a set of foils. The foil decreases the energy of the charged particle stream, which decreases a radius of curvature of the charged particle stream in the synchrotron sufficiently to allow a physical separation of the reduced energy charged particle stream from the original charged particle stream where thickness of a selected foil is a function of energy of circulating charged particles. The physically separated charged particle stream is then removed from the system by use of an applied field and deflector.
US08399863B2
A charged particle gun includes: a charged particle source; a first extracting electrode arranged in such a manner that a distance between the charged particle source and the first extracting electrode is fixed; a second extracting electrode located on the side opposite to the charged particle source with respect to the first extracting electrode, the electrode being arranged in such a manner that a distance between the first extracting electrode and the second extracting electrode is adjustable; and an earth electrode located on the side opposite to the first extracting electrode with respect to the second extracting electrode, the electrode being arranged in such a manner that a distance between the second extracting electrode and the earth electrode is fixed; wherein the first extracting electrode is equal in potential to the second extracting electrode.
US08399858B2
Described is a portable dosimeter that includes a piece of optically stimulated luminescence material (OSLM) mounted in a dosimeter mount that is rotatably mounted in a cylindrical recess of a dosimeter housing.
US08399851B2
Systems and methods of an ion implant apparatus include an ion source for producing an ion beam along an incident beam axis. The ion implant apparatus includes a beam deflecting assembly coupled to a rotation mechanism that rotates the beam deflecting assembly about the incident beam axis and deflects the ion beam. At least one wafer holder holds target wafers and the rotation mechanism operates to direct the ion beam at one of the at least one wafer holders which also rotates to maintain a constant implant angle.
US08399844B2
A detector made of a detector assembly including a detector housing comprising a reflective interior surface relative to a wavelength of fluoresced electromagnetic radiation, and a scintillator contained within the detector housing. The detector further including a photomultiplier tube (PMT) coupled to the detector housing, wherein a portion of the PMT is contained within the detector housing.
US08399843B2
In one aspect a scintillation array includes a transparent material between portions of adjacent scintillation pixels. The transparent material can allow light to pass from one scintillation pixel to an adjacent scintillation pixel. The resulting image provides information regarding the depth at which a scintillation event occurs. Another aspect regards a scintillation array that includes reflector strips separating portions of adjacent scintillation pixels. Other spaces between portions of scintillation pixels need not include reflector strips and may be filled with other reflective material.
US08399840B2
A scintillator material comprises a rare-earth halide coated with a layer comprising a resin and a pigment. In an embodiment, the scintillator material is used in an ionizing-radiation detector, and in particular embodiment, a gamma camera. The layer can adhere well and act as an absorbent or reflector depending on the color of the pigment.
US08399836B2
An optical member made of polycrystalline silicon formed from high-purity trichlorosilane as a raw material, and that absorbs and scatters an infrared ray in a wavelength region of 4 μm or less. In the optical member, a ratio A/B between a transmittance A of an infrared ray having a wavelength of 4 μm and a transmittance B of an infrared ray having a wavelength of 10 μm is 0.9 or less, and an average crystal grain size of the polycrystalline silicon is 5 μm or less. This polycrystalline silicon is produced by hydrogen reducing SiHCI3 by heating a base material to 800 to 900° C. using a chemical vapor deposition method. In this way, an infrared ray transmissive optical member, a manufacturing method thereof, an optical device, an infrared detector, and an optical apparatus capable of sensing a human body with high sensitivity and accuracy are realized.
US08399834B2
Ion microscope methods and systems are disclosed. In general, the systems and methods involve relatively light isotopes, minority isotopes or both. In some embodiments, He-3 is used.
US08399831B2
Dual beam instruments, comprising a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) column for imaging and a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) column for milling, are routinely used to extract samples (lamellae) from semiconductor wafers. By observing the progress of the milling with the SEM column, end pointing of the milling process can be performed.The invention offers an alternative solution to this problem, in which an instrument with only a FIB column is used.For milling a lamella to its final thickness of, for example, 30 nm, the focused ion beam 100, is scanned repeatedly along the lamella. It is found that while milling the lamella a signal can be derived from the lamella that is sufficient for end pointing. No additional electron beam for inspection is needed.
US08399825B2
A sensor for sensing the angular position of a rotor includes a code disk rotatable with the rotor. A first light guide is rotatable with the rotor. The light guide directs light from a light source through the code disk to a detector. A second light guide has first and second arms directing light from a light source to the detector. A light modulator modulates the light directed from one of the first and second arms to the detector. A method for determining the angular position of the rotor includes providing the code disk with a plurality of individual designation areas located near the outer peripheral edge of the disk. Each designation area has a plurality of digital bits. The detector detects the digital bits from a selected portion of the code disk. The selected portion is functionally related to the angular position of the rotor. A bit center is determined for each bit of the selected portion. The bit is determined to be a 1 or a 0 by determining a value related to the bit based on the determined bit center and comparing the determined value against a threshold. The determined 1's and 0's are monitored to identify a code word. The angular position of the rotor is identified based upon the identified code word.
US08399811B2
A stage for a substrate temperature control apparatus having high reliability at low cost by preventing thermal deformation of a plate while employing a material other than ceramics as a material of the plate. The stage is used for mounting a substrate in the substrate temperature control apparatus for controlling a temperature of the substrate, and the stage includes: a plate having a first surface facing the substrate and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and a planar heater bonded to the second surface of the plate, wherein surface treatment is performed in a first thickness on the first surface of the plate, and the surface treatment is performed in a second thickness thinner than the first thickness or no surface treatment is performed on a predetermined area of the second surface of the plate.
US08399810B2
A grilling apparatus comprising: a base housing; a cooking grate positionable on or in an upper portion of the base housing; a radiant heat cavity within the base housing below the cooking grate; at least one electric heating element within the radiant heat cavity; and a reflective surface within the radiant heat cavity which diverges outwardly in an upward direction at an angle of from 20° to 60° from horizontal.
US08399803B2
A method of setting processing data for a computer-assisted laser processing apparatus is disclosed, along with a system for setting a laser processing data. The method comprises a function of setting a three-dimensional profile of a object and a processing pattern as processing conditions, a function of generating processing data representing the processing conditions for the object, and a function of visually displaying a two dimensional representation of the processing data on a display screen and a function of setting a three-dimensional profile of a object and a processing pattern as processing conditions, wherein it is enabled to set the three-dimensional profile and the processing pattern while displaying the object in two dimensions on the display screen disposed within a processing zone.
US08399798B2
The invention relates to a method for incorporating a structure into a surface of a workpiece that is transparent in a certain wavelength range. For this purpose the surface to be structured is brought into contact with a target surface containing a target material by means of a laser beam, the wavelength of which is within the certain wavelength range, energy is introduced at least at one position through the workpiece and into the boundary region of the surface to be structured and the target surface such that target material is deposited at the respective position in and/or on the surface to be structured. For this purpose a pulsed laser beam having a pulse repetition rate of more than 10 kHz is used, which is focused such that the focus is positioned on or under the target surface, wherein the laser beam has a power density in the focus of more than 2000 W/mm2. The invention further relates to a device for introducing a structure into a surface of a workpiece transparent in a certain wavelength range.
US08399792B2
A welding device includes an electrode head adapted to concurrently house an array of associated multiple, continuous-feed electrodes in a spaced apart configuration for concurrently depositing cladding material on the surface of a workpiece. The electrode head may be actuatable through a welding trajectory. The welding device may also include a welding power source adapted to provide power for simultaneously establishing a welding arc between each of the multiple, continuous-feed electrodes and the workpiece.
US08399790B1
Various embodiments of methods and systems are provided for mining alluvial gold deposits. The methods can comprise collecting feed from alluvium and washing the feed at high pressure. The feed can be separated into a plurality of separate fractions. At least one fraction is transferred to a metal sensor system using a conveyer, wherein when gold is detected in a piece of the fraction, an air blast can be targeted and delivered at the piece, with the air blast diverting the piece to a receiving container.
US08399788B2
A mechanical asymmetrical activator for electrical contactors in the manufacturing of fire pump controllers comprising a flexible cable and pulley system wherein the pulling of the flexible cable engages the pulley system to activate contactor. The activator comprises a compound pulley assembly comprising a first pulley with a fixed axle and a second pulley with a free axle, an arm in cooperation with the free axle and adapted to engage the contact carrier of a contactor and a plurality of mounting attachments for engaging the auxiliary contactor mounting points of a contactor.
US08399787B2
A switch lever for a vehicle including: knobs that perform a rotation manipulation in order to turn on, turn on or off a light of a vehicle, or to adjust a wiping interval of a windshield wiper of the vehicle; a pair of lever arms that are disposed within and rotate with the knobs according to a rotation of the knobs; a pair of contact terminals each that is installed at an end part of one side of the lever arms to move according to a rotation of the lever arms; a guide member having guide grooves for receiving the pair of contact terminals therein; and an insulation part having a fixed terminal that contacts with each of the contact terminals to generate an operation signal.
US08399784B2
An apparatus for key actuation of an electronic device comprising a linear bearing configured for transmitting user actuation, and a complementary guide portion, wherein the linear bearing and the guide portion are arranged to allow the linear bearing to move reciprocally relative to the guide portion for key activation, and wherein both the linear bearing and the guide portion comprise a material with a hardness substantially between 6 Mohrs and 10 Mohrs.
US08399781B1
An electronic device includes at least one terminal formed on the electronic device. The electronic device also includes at least one of a semiconductor device, an integrated circuit chip, and a computer. A seamless conductive mesh is formed on at least one surface of the electronic device. The conductive mesh is in electrical contact with the terminal. The terminal facilitates electrical conduction between the conductive mesh and an electrical detection circuit. The electronic device also may include a pattern having traces formed on at least two surfaces where each of the traces includes a continuous loop of conductive material is formed on at least two surfaces. The electronic device also may include a first plurality of conductive loops formed on the electronic device that are continuous and surround the electronic device in a first direction and a second plurality of conductive loops formed on the electronic device that are continuous and surround the electronic device in a second direction.
US08399770B1
A bushing assembly including a first bushing element, a second bushing element, and a locking subsystem. The first bushing element has a first end, a second end, a first outer surface with a first outer diameter, a first inner surface defining a first channel, and a first flange positioned proximate the first. The second bushing element has a first end, a second end, a second inner surface having a second inner diameter greater than the first outer diameter, a second outer surface, and a second flange positioned proximate the second end. The second inner surface defines a second channel that receives a portion of the first bushing element. The locking subsystem is proximate the first end of the first bushing element and secures the first bushing element to the second bushing element.
US08399766B2
A cable connecting member for use in cold climates includes a rubber insulating tube housing an end of a cable and enhancing electrical insulation from the cable. A rubber spacer is inserted between the rubber insulating tube and the end of the cable. At a temperature at which an elongation modulus of the rubber insulating tube increases three or more times as high as the elongation modulus of the rubber insulating tube at room temperature, an elongation modulus of the rubber spacer at such temperature is less than three times as high as the elongation modulus of the rubber spacer at room temperature.
US08399757B2
Methods for automatically analyzing and/or performing music are described. One embodiment concerns a method for assigning chords to a musical score indicative of a sequence of time segments, each time segment comprising at least one note, the method comprising assigning a chord to each time segment responsive to consonance/dissonance relationships between the assigned chord and the notes of at least two of the time segments. Optionally, consonance/dissonance relationships include existence of a dissonant between a chord assigned to a time segment and a note of the time segment and existence of resolution to said dissonant.
US08399748B2
A cotton cultivar, designated L-1851, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of cotton cultivar L-1851, to the plants of cotton L-1851 and to methods for producing a cotton plant produced by crossing the cultivar L-1851 with itself or another cotton variety. The invention further relates to hybrid cotton seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar L-1851 with another cotton cultivar.
US08399747B1
A soybean cultivar designated 1446437 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 1446437, to the plants of soybean cultivar 1446437, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 1446437, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 1446437. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 1446437. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 1446437, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 1446437 with another soybean cultivar.
US08399737B2
The invention relates to a resistance gene and functional homologs or fragments thereof isolated from Solanum bulbocastanum. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of this resistance gene, for example, in a method to increase or confer at least partial resistance in a plant to an oomycete infection.
US08399734B1
A novel maize variety designated X8K869 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 X8K869 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8K869 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8K869, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8K869. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8K869.
US08399731B2
A wound treatment for use during phototherapy treatment of a wound includes a pliable optical component adapted to be applied over the wound and to direct light rays during phototherapy treatment, and a bandage for securing the Fresnel lens over the wound. The optical component may be configured to direct light rays toward a perimeter edge of the wound. A wound treatment kit for phototherapy treatment of a wound includes a package and a sterile, pliable optical component in the package. The optical component is removable from the sterile package and is placed over the wound during the phototherapy treatment. The optical component directs light rays toward a selected area of the wound during phototherapy treatment.
US08399726B2
A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The reactor surfaces that contact the reactants and products do not provide a significant detrimental catalyzing effect. In an embodiment the reactor contains an inert lining or a portion of the reactor inner surface is treated to reduce the detrimental catalytic effects. In an embodiment the reactor contains a lining that includes an oxidative catalyst.
US08399718B2
A catalyst for hydrogenating aldehydes to alcohols includes a combination of copper oxide and zinc oxide and promoters including one or more alkaline earth metal promoters and/or one or more transition metal promoters. The promoters may be combined with copper oxide and zinc oxide after formation of a copper/zinc precursor material.
US08399716B2
Method for purifying an alcohol, notably 1,3-propanediol, from a fermentation broth.
US08399714B2
The invention relates to a process for the synthesis of stilbene derivatives of formula (I)-(E) or (I)-(Z) in which R represents hydrogen or an OH group, by deprotection in the presence of an aluminum halide and of a tertiary amine of a compound of formula (II)-(E) or (II)-(Z) in which A represents hydrogen or an OR′1 group, and R1, R2, R3 and R′1 independently represent an alkyl or aralkyl group.
US08399712B2
Cocrystals of pterostilbene are disclosed, including: pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal, pterostilbene:carbamazepine cocrystal, pterostilbene:glutaric acid cocrystal, and pterostilbene:piperazine cocrystal. The pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal is polymorphic. Forms I and II of the pterostilbene:caffeine cocrystal are disclosed. The therapeutic uses of the pterostilbene cocrystals and of pharmaceutical/nutraceutical compositions containing them are also disclosed. The disclosure sets out various methods of making and characterizing the pterostilbene cocrystals.
US08399701B2
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series, and to the preparation of di- and polyisocyanates of the diphenylmethane series from these di- and polyamines. The di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series are prepared by the reaction of aniline and formaldehyde in the presence of hydrochloric acid. In the present invention, the formaldehyde employed is used as an aqueous solution which contains less than 0.001 wt % of metal ions which are divalent and/or more than divalent.
US08399699B2
A method for producing an alkoxycarbonyl compound wherein the method comprises reacting carbon monoxide and an alcohol compound with methylacetylene in the presence of a catalyst containing a Group 10 metal compound, a proton acid and a phosphine compound, the propadiene content of the methylacetylene is 50 ppm or less, the phosphine compound is used at greater than 0.000020 mol with respect to 1 mol of methylacetylene, and the carbon monoxide and the alcohol compound are reacted with 200000 mol or more of methylacetylene with respect to 1 mol of the Group 10 metal compound.
US08399695B2
This invention relates to organometallic precursor compounds represented by the formula (H)mM(R)n wherein M is a metal or metalloid, R is the same or different and is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, heterocyclic radical containing at least one nitrogen atom, m is from 0 to a value less than the oxidation state of M, n is from 1 to a value equal to the oxidation state of M, and m+n is a value equal to the oxidation state of M, a process for producing the organometallic precursor compounds, and a method for producing a film or coating from the organometallic precursor compounds.
US08399694B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a more simplified and more efficient process for producing a highly purified orange roughy oil having high storage stability. The present invention provides a process for producing a highly purified orange roughy oil substantially free of a polyunsaturated fatty acid ester having 4 to 6 double bonds, and having a saponification value of 98 to 113 and an iodine value of 73 to 89, comprising washing with an alkaline aqueous solution to remove a free fatty acid; hydrogenating with a catalyst to reduce a polyunsaturated fatty acid ester; and purifying by treatment with an adsorbent.
US08399689B2
Embodiments of antimicrobial chrysophaentin compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the chrysophaentin compounds, and methods for using the chrysophaentin compounds are disclosed. Some embodiments of the disclosed compounds are isolated from Chrysophaeum taylori. Certain embodiments of the chrysophaentin compounds inhibit FtsZ protein, thereby inhibiting the growth of clinically relevant bacteria, including drug-resistant strains.
US08399688B2
A method to make levulinic acid (LA), furfural, or gamma-valerolactone (GVL). React cellulose (and/or other C6 carbohydrates) or xylose (and/or other C5 carbohydrates) or combinations thereof in a monophasic reaction medium comprising GVL and an acid; or (ii) a biphasic reaction system comprising an organic layer comprising GVL, and a substantially immiscible aqueous layer. At least a portion of the cellulose (and/or other C6 carbohydrates), if present, is converted to LA and at least a portion of the xylose (and/or other C5 carbohydrates), if present, is converted into furfural.
US08399684B2
Organocatalysts, particularly proline sulfonamide organocatalysts, having a first general formula as follows are disclosed. Embodiments of a method for using these organocatalysts also are disclosed. The method comprises providing a disclosed organocatalyst, and performing a reaction, often an enantioselective or diastereoselective reaction, using the organocatalyst. Solely by way of example, disclosed catalysts can be used to perform aldol reactions, conjugate additions, Michael additions, Robinson annulations, Mannich reactions, α-aminooxylations, α-hydroxyaminations, α-aminations and alkylation reactions. Certain of such reactions are intramolecular cyclizations used to form cyclic compounds, such as 5-or 6-membered rings, having one or more chiral centers Disclosed organocatalysts generally are much more soluble in typical solvents used for organic synthesis than are known compounds. Moreover, the reaction yield is generally quite good with disclosed compounds, as is their enantioselective and diastereoselective effectiveness.
US08399678B2
An improved process for preparing dabigatran etexilate, as well as analogous compounds of formula 7, is described.
US08399677B2
The invention provides a method for the preparation of fentanyl comprising: (a) reacting 4-piperidone hydrochloride monohydrate with aniline in presence of reducing environment to produce 4-anilinopiperidine (4-AP), (b) reacting the 4-AP as obtained from step (a) with phenethyl halide under reflux conditions in highly alkaline medium to give 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine, and (c) converting the 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine to fentanyl by reacting with propionyl chloride in presence of halogenated hydrocarbons, then isolating fentanyl by solvent extraction and purifying by crystallization from petroleum ether at a temperature ranging from 60-80° C.
US08399671B2
The present disclosure generally relates to methods for producing opioid derivatives. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the preparation of hydromorphone, hydrocodone, or a derivative thereof, by means of a non-catalytic hydrogenation reaction of thebaine, oripavine or a derivative thereof, respectively, using a hydrazide reagent, followed by hydrolysis of the hydrogenated intermediate at a low temperature and for a short period of time. Additionally, the present disclosure relates to a composition comprising the desired hydromorphone, hydrocodone, or a derivative thereof, in combination with a 6-beta compound that is structurally related thereto.
US08399669B2
The present invention relates to pentarylenetetracarboximides of the formula (I) or (Ia) or mixtures thereof to processes for preparation thereof, and to the precursors and use thereof.
US08399658B2
A process for purifying laurolactam by means of integrated connection of distillation and crystallization is provided. The crystallization is performed as a solution or melt crystallization. The process reduces thermal stress applied to the laurolactam stream and improved yields are obtained. Raw materials are recovered and recycled in the production sequence.
US08399655B2
There is provided a method for resolving a compound of formula III, in the cis configuration: There is also provided a process for producing optically active compound of formula I or II: wherein: R1, R2, R3 are as defined herein, the method and process involving the production, recovery and conversion of diastereomeric salts.
US08399654B2
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for CTNNB1.
US08399653B2
The invention provides interfering RNA molecule-ligand conjugates useful as a delivery system for delivering interfering RNA molecules to a cell in vitro or in vivo. The conjugates comprise a ligand that can bind to a transferrin receptor (TfR). Therapeutic uses for the conjugates are also provided.
US08399650B2
A method is provided for identifying mycobacterial genes that are induced or up-regulated under culture conditions that are nutrient-starving and which maintain mycobacterial latency, said conditions being obtainable by batch fermentation of a mycobacterium for at least 20 days post-inoculation, when compared with culture conditions that are not nutrient-starving and which support exponential growth of said mycobacterium. Said induced or up-regulated genes form the basis of nucleic acid vaccines, or provide targets to allow preparation of attenuated mycobacteria for vaccines against mycobacterial infections. Similarly, peptides encoded by said induced or up-regulated genes are employed in vaccines. In a further embodiment, the identified genes/peptides provide the means for identifying the presence of a mycobacterial infection in a clinical sample by nucleic acid probe or antibody detection.
US08399646B2
The present invention provides antagonizing antibodies, antigen-binding portions thereof, and aptamers that bind to proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9 (PCSK9). Also provided are antibodies directed to peptides, in which the antibodies bind to PCSK9. The invention further provides a method of obtaining such antibodies and antibody-encoding nucleic acid. The invention further relates to therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof to reduce LDL-cholesterol levels and/or for the treatment and/or prevention of cardiovascular disease, including treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
US08399644B1
A novel computational method and generation of mutant butyrylcholinesterase for cocaine hydrolysis is provided. The method includes molecular modeling a possible BChE mutant and conducting molecular dynamics simulations and hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical calculations thereby providing a screening method of possible BChE mutants by predicting which mutant will lead to a more stable transition state for a rate determining step. Site-directed mutagenesis, protein expression, and protein activity is conducted for mutants determined computationally as being good candidates for possible BChE mutants, i.e., ones predicted to have higher catalytic efficiency as compared with wild-type BChE. In addition, mutants A199S/A328W/Y332G, A199S/F227A/A328W/Y332G, A199S/S287G/A328W/Y332G, A199S/F227A/S287G/A328W/Y332G, and A199S/F227A/S287G/A328W/E441D all have enhanced catalytic efficiency for (−)-cocaine compared with wild-type BChE.
US08399636B2
A method for double-stranded DNA purification, by which a solution containing DNA in a mixture with other components is passed over a support on which is covalently coupled an oligonucleotide capable of hybridizing with a specific sequence present on the DNA to form a triple helix.
US08399622B2
Methods and reagents for classifying tumors and for identifying new tumor classes and subclasses. Methods for correlating tumor class or subclass with therapeutic regimen or outcome, for identifying appropriate (new or known) therapies for particular classes or subclasses, and for predicting outcomes based on class or subclass. New therapeutic agents and methods for the treatment of cancer.
US08399614B2
Disclosed herein are non-natural amino acids and polypeptides that include at least one non-natural amino acid, and methods for making such non-natural amino acids and polypeptides. The non-natural amino acids, by themselves or as a part of a polypeptide, can include a wide range of possible functionalities, but typical have at least one aromatic amine group. Also disclosed herein are non-natural amino acid polypeptides that are further modified post-translationally, methods for effecting such modifications, and methods for purifying such polypeptides. Typically, the modified non-natural amino acid polypeptides include at least one alkylated amine group. Further disclosed are methods for using such non-natural amino acid polypeptides and modified non-natural amino acid polypeptides, including therapeutic, diagnostic, and other biotechnology uses.
US08399610B2
The present invention relates to an immunogenic composition for a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that comprises BAX peptides from BAX host cell proteins and more particularly, a vaccine including those peptides that is directed against cancers that are associated with HPV infections, such as cervical cancer, head and neck cancer and skin cancers. The BAX peptides comprise fragments of BAX host cell proteins that have been targeted for degradation by HPV proteins, such as E6 and E7 and are presented on the surface of HPV infected cells in relatively large amounts. These peptides can be recognised by CTL and elicit an immune response, and are therefore ideal tumour-specific markers. The invention also relates to novel peptide: peptide complexes such as BAX peptide/HLA complexes and their use in a tumour-specific vaccine.
US08399607B2
The present invention generally relates to a pad transfer printing method for making colored hydrogel contact lenses with good image quality. More specifically, the present invention relates to make and use a pad transfer printing pad comprises an addition-cure room temperature vulcanized silicon, which has subjected to post-heat treating. The post-heat treated pad transfer printing pad is characterized by having a reduced silicone residue release by at least 50 percent relative to a control transfer pad having identical composition without post heat treating.
US08399603B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to yellow-to-transmissive conjugated polymers, a method to prepare the yellow conjugated polymers, the use of the yellow conjugated polymers in an electrochromic and/or electroluminescent device comprising neutral state primary subtractive colored conjugated polymers, and a method to prepare the device comprising the yellow conjugated polymer. The yellow conjugated polymers comprise a sequence of dioxythiophene units alternating with aromatic units, thiophene units, furan units, and/or pyrrole units. The yellow conjugated polymers are prepared by cross-condensation reactions. The yellow conjugated polymers can be soluble and preparation of the device involves deposition of the yellow conjugated polymer from solution onto a surface.
US08399597B2
A resorcinol-modified phenolic resin composition is formed by reacting a basic catalyst, formaldehyde, water and a benzene-ol to form an intermediate composition to which resorcinol is subsequently added to reduce the presence of free formaldehyde. Optionally, an alkanolamine can be combined and reacted with the resorcinol-modified phenolic resin composition to form a resorcinol-alkanolamine-modified phenolic resin composition. The resorcinol-modified phenolic resin and the resorcinol-alkanolamine-modified phenolic resin compositions can be employed to coat abrasive products having a relatively low free formaldehyde content.
US08399596B2
The preparation of epoxy resin compositions which comprise glycidyl ethers comprising cyclohexyl groups and have a low oligomer content is carried out by distillation of compositions which are obtainable by ring hydrogenation of compounds of the general formula (I) where —X— is —CR2—, —CO—, —O, —S—, —SO2—, the radicals R are each, independently of one another, H, C1-6-alkyl, C3-6-cycloalkyl, in which one or more H atoms can be replaced by halogen, the radicals R′ are each, independently of one another, C1-4-alkyl, halogen, the indices n are each, independently of one another, 0, 1, 2 or 3, and subsequent reaction of the hydroxyl groups with epichlorohydrin, in thin film evaporators or short path evaporators at a temperature in the range from 150 to 270° C. and a pressure in the range from 0.001 to 1 mbar.
US08399593B2
A polymer including a structure represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and a composition and a film including the same are provided. In the above Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is as defined in the detailed description.
US08399586B2
A process for feeding ethylene into a polymerization system includes providing a low-pressure ethylene stream, one or more low-pressure C3 to C20 monomer streams, an optional low-pressure inert solvent/diluent stream, and one or more reactors; metering the low-pressure ethylene stream, the one or more low-pressure C3 to C20 monomer streams, and the optional low-pressure inert solvent/diluent stream; blending the metered low-pressure ethylene stream, the metered one or more low-pressure C3 to C20 monomer streams, and the metered low-pressure optional inert solvent/diluent stream to form an ethylene-carrying low-pressure blended liquid feed stream; pressurizing the ethylene-carrying low-pressure blended liquid feed stream to the polymerization system pressure with one or more high-pressure pumps to thrm an ethylene-carrying high-pressure blended reactor feed stream; and feeding the ethylene-carrying high-pressure blended reactor feed stream to the one or more reactors.
US08399581B2
Metallocene catalyzed polyethylenes are found to have improved physical properties, improved processability and improved balance of properties. Surprisingly, there is a direct relationship between MD shrinkage, and MD tear. Additionally, MD tear is greater than TD tear, and MD tear is also greater than intrinsic tear. MD tear to TD tear ratios are above 0.9, and dart drop impact is above 500 g/mil. The polyethylenes have a relatively broad composition distribution and relatively broad molecular weight distribution.
US08399578B2
In a method of synthesizing a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve having 90+% CHA framework-type character, a reaction mixture is prepared comprising sources of water, silicon, aluminum, and phosphorus, as well as an organic template. In one aspect, the reaction mixture is heated at more than 10° C./hour to a crystallization temperature and is retained at the crystallization temperature or within the crystallization temperature range for a crystallization time from 16 hours to 350 hours to produce the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve. In another aspect, the reaction mixture is heated at less than 10° C./hour to a crystallization temperature from about 150° C. to about 225° C. and is then retained there for less than 10 hours to produce the silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve. The molecular sieve can then be recovered from the reaction mixture and, preferably, used in a hydrocarbon conversion process, such as oxygenates to olefins.
US08399571B2
The present invention relates to modified polyolefins having a propylene content of at least 50 ma-% and a maximum of 75 ma-%, being determined by means of 13C-NMR spectroscopy, and having a poly(ethylene) triad content of a maximum of 2.5 ma-%, being determined by means of 13C-NMR spectroscopy, relative to the total detected ethylene content, a melting heat of at least 9 and a maximum of 20 J/g, determined by means of differential calorimetry, and a solubility in xylol at ambient temperature of at least 96 ma-%, and a solubility in THF at ambient temperature of at least 67 ma-%, wherein one or multiple silanes are grafted onto the polymer. The invention further relates to a method for the production of the polyolefins, and to the use thereof, particularly in or as an adhesive.
US08399570B2
A tire component comprising a vulcanized residue of a functionalized polymer defined by the formula I where π is a rubbery polymer chain, B is a boron atom, R1 is a bond or a divalent organic group, and each υ is independently selected from thioalkoxy groups (—SR), amino groups (—NR2), or phosphino groups (—PR2), where each R is independently selected from monovalent organic groups or two R groups form a divalent organic group, which forms a cyclic structure.
US08399566B2
The present invention relates to golf balls and golf ball components comprising a blend of one or more ionomers mixed with one or more metal or ammonium salts of chelating agent. The resulting modified ionomer compositions have improved processability as shown by the increase in melt flow index (I2) as compared to the unmodified ionomer analogs while demonstrating an increase in resiliency or speed as shown by increasing COR, while maintaining or showing only a slight increase in hardness as measured by Shore D.
US08399564B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball providing a great distance. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core consisting of a center and one or more intermediate layers covering the center; and a cover covering the core, wherein at least one of said intermediate layers is formed from a high fluidity intermediate layer composition that contains (A) a polyamide resin composition having a flexural modulus in a range from 500 MPa to 4,000 MPa and a melt flow rate (240° C., 2.16 kg) of 5.0 g/10 min or more, and (B) at least one member selected from the group consisting of an ethylene-(meth)acrylic acid binary copolymer, a metal-neutralized product of the binary copolymer, an ethylene-(meth)acrylic acid-(meth)acrylic acid ester ternary copolymer, and a metal-neutralized product of the ternary copolymer.
US08399563B2
An object of the invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in the durability at the normal and low temperatures, flight distance, and shot feeling on the shots. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in a direction stability on the shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising: a core consisting of at least one layer; and a cover covering the core and having a thickness ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm, wherein the cover is formed from a cover composition that contains as a resin component, (A) a highly elastic polyamide resin (B) a metal-neutralized product of binary copolymer and/or ternary copolymer, and (C) a resin having a polar functional group in a specific amount, and wherein the cover composition has a slab hardness ranging from 65 to 75 in Shore D hardness.
US08399562B2
An amine-containing alkoxysilyl-functionalized polymer, a method of preparing a reactive polymer functionalized with an alkoxysilane functionalizing agent and further reacted with an amino alcohol, the resulting polymer, and vulcanizates thereof.
US08399560B2
The invention relates to the use of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate bead polymers with an average particle size V50 that ranges between 30 and 70 μm for improving the stress cracking resistance of moulding materials containing polyalkyl(meth)acrylate. The invention also relates to moulding materials comprising: a) at least 50 wt. % of an impact resistance modifying agent, which contains at least one polyalkyl(meth)acrylate phase; b) at least 8 wt. % of a polyalkyl(meth)acrylate bead polymer with an average particle size V50 that ranges between 30 and 70 μm; and c) between 0 and 42 wt. % of a polyalkyl(meth)acrylate with a molecular weight ranging between 20,000 and 350,000 g/mol, whereby the wt. % of the components a) to c) amounts to 100 wt. %, and to moulded bodies that can be obtained from said materials.
US08399559B2
The present invention provides polyurethanes including a reaction product of components including: (a) at least one polyisocyanate; (b) at least one branched polyol having 4 to 18 carbon atoms and at least 3 hydroxyl groups; and (c) at least one polyol having one or more bromine atoms, one or more phosphorus atoms or combinations thereof; compositions, coatings and articles made therefrom and methods of making the same.
US08399556B2
A dielectric weldable material includes a blend of at least two components including an inert polymer and an elastomeric polar polymer. A method of forming a bond includes providing a substrate having a first end and a second end, wherein the substrate includes a blend of at least two components including an inert polymer and an elastomeric polar polymer. The method further includes bonding the first end and second end of the substrate with high frequency electromagnetic energy.
US08399550B2
A process for forming a tire component, the process comprising the steps of introducing a vulcanizable polymer, a curative, a first carbon black characterized by an iodine adsorption number, per ASTM D1510, that is greater than 60 g/kg, and a second carbon black characterized by an iodine adsorption number, per ASTM D1510, that is less than 60 g/kg to form a vulcanizable composition, fabricating a tire component from the vulcanizable composition, and curing the tire component.
US08399547B2
The present invention relates to a heat-absorbing polymer composition containing a transparent thermoplastic synthetic substance, an inorganic infrared absorber with stabilizer and also to the production and use of the polymer compositions according to the invention and to the products produced therefrom. In particular, the present invention relates to the stabilization of inorganic IR absorbers from the group of the tungsten compounds and also to the use of the polymer composition according to the invention containing these stabilized inorganic IR absorbers for the purpose of producing windowpanes for use in buildings, motor vehicles, rail vehicles or aircraft.
US08399540B2
An ink-jet ink composition comprising: a pigment, a polymer pigment dispersion, polymer particles, a hydrophilic organic solvent, water, and at least one of a water-soluble acidic compound having a molecular weight of 200 or less or a salt thereof in an amount of from 50 ppm to 1,000 ppm; an ink set that includes the ink-jet ink composition and a treatment liquid that forms an aggregate when contacted with the ink-jet ink composition; and an image forming method using the ink set.
US08399528B2
The present invention relates to a method for improved removal of cations, preferably alkaline earth metals, in particular calcium and barium, from aqueous solutions using chelating resins having acetic acid and/or iminodiacetic acid groups having high dynamic absorption capacity for cations at a low residual content of the cations and high regeneration efficiency, to the chelating exchangers themselves, and also to uses thereof.
US08399520B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the following formula (I); [wherein T represents a single bond, a C1-C4 alkylene group which may have a substituent and the like; formula (I-1) represents a single bond or a double bond; A represents a single bond, a bivalent 5- to 14-membered heterocyclic group which may have a substituent and the like; Y represents a single bond and the like; Z represents a methylene group and the like; ring G represents a phenylene group and the like which may condense with a 5- to 6-membered ring and may have a heteroatom; Ra and Rb are the same as or different from each other and represent a hydrogen atom and the like; W represents a single bond and the like; R′ represents 1 to 4 independent hydrogen atoms and the like; and R″ represents 1 to 4 independent hydrogen atoms and the like] or a salt thereof, or a hydrate thereof.
US08399517B2
Novel calcilytic compounds and methods of using them are provided.
US08399516B2
Omega-3 lipid compounds of the general formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and may be selected from a group of substituents consisting of hydrogen, a hydroxy group, an alkyl group, a halogen atom, an alkoxy group, an acyloxy group, an acyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, an alkylthio group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carboxy group, an alkylsulfinyl group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an amino group, and an alkylamino group; X represents a carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof, a carboxylate, a carboxylic anhydride or a carboxamide; and Y is a C6 to C22 alkene with two or more double bonds, having E and/or Z configuration, are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and lipid compositions comprising such compounds, and to such compounds for use as medicaments in particular for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
US08399505B2
Compounds of a certain formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the meanings indicated in the description, are novel effective HDAC inhibitors.
US08399504B2
This invention relates to novel compounds of the Formula (I) pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful for the therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the modulation or inhibition of 11β-HSD1 in mammals. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions of the novel compounds of the Formula (I) and methods for their use in the reduction or control of the production of cortisol in a cell or the inhibition of the conversion of cortisone to cortisol in a cell.
US08399503B2
The invention relates to substituted azaindole derivatives, to methods for the production thereof, to medicaments containing said compounds and to the use of substituted azaindole derivatives for producing medicaments.
US08399502B2
Compounds useful as antibacterial agents are provided. The compounds are analogs of indole-3-carbinol and have a backbone selected from dihydroindolo[2,3-b]carbazole, 2,2′-diindolylmethane, 2′,3-diindolylmethane, and 3,3′-diindolylmethane. The compounds are useful therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of bacterial infections in mammals. Methods of synthesis of the compounds are provided, as are pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds.
US08399498B2
The present invention provides an animal ectoparasite-controlling agent containing as an active ingredient a hydrazide compound represented by the formula (1) wherein R3 represents a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group or a hydrogen atom, R5 and R6 are the same or different each other and each represents a methyl group or a hydrogen atom, R4 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group substituted by a C1-C6 alkoxy group, which shows excellent controlling effects on animal ectoparasites.
US08399494B2
The present invention is directed to 2,5-disubstituted phenyl carboxamide compounds which are antagonists of orexin receptors, and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.
US08399493B2
The present invention relates to methods for treating or controlling schizophrenia in a mammal using compounds having the Formula (I), wherein M1 and M2 are defined in the application.
US08399488B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, m, s, t, W, Z, Ar, R1, R2, R3, R6, and R7 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US08399486B2
The invention relates to pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, and hexahydroazepinyl compounds of Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs, or solvates thereof, wherein R1, R2, Z and m are defined as set forth in the specification. The invention is also directed to the use compounds of Formula I to treat a disorder responsive to the blockade of calcium channels, and particularly N-type calcium channels. Compounds of the present invention are especially useful for treating pain.
US08399474B2
The present invention relates to methods of treating metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherogenic dyslipidemia and/or obesity. The present invention also relates to methods of restoring the incretin effect, to restoring physiologic control of glucagon levels, to restoring first-phase insulin secretion, and to restoring the physiologic glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The methods of the present invention comprise administration of a selective κ-receptor antagonist, such as guanidinylated naltrindole (GNTI), or pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof to a subject in need thereof.
US08399473B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of formula (I) which are inhibitors of the beta-secretase enzyme and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the treatment of such diseases in which the beta-secretase enzyme is involved.
US08399472B2
The invention encompasses compounds having formula I-V and the compositions and methods using these compounds in the treatment of conditions in which modulation of the JAK pathway or inhibition of JAK kinases, particularly JAK3, may be therapeutically useful.
US08399467B2
This invention relates to novel substituted triazolo-pyridazines, their derivatives, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. This invention also provides compositions comprising a compound of this invention and the use of such compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are beneficially treated by administering an α1-GABA-A receptor antagonist and/or a α2, α3 and α5 GABA-A receptor agonist.
US08399461B2
The present invention relates to bicyclic heterocycles of general formula the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures 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 treating diseases, particularly tumoral diseases, as well as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract, and the preparation thereof.
US08399453B2
The invention relates to organic compounds which have interesting pharmaceutical properties. In particular, the compounds are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of infections such as those caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Trypanosoma cruzi and parasites of the Leishmania genus such as, for example. Leishmania donovani. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, as well as processes for their preparation.
US08399440B2
The present invention relates a composition for treating rheumatic diseases. The composition comprises a compound having the formula wherein Ra is selected from —OCH3, —OCH2CH3, —CH3, —CH2CH3, —CCCH3, —CHCH—CH3, or CH2—CHCH2; and one or more anti-rheumatic agents. A method of using the composition for treating rheumatic diseases in humans and animals is also disclosed.
US08399434B2
The present invention provides a method of hydroxylating or oxidizing a compound of interest in a subject (e.g., a cytotoxic oxazaphosphorine prodrug), by administering the compound of interest to the subject; and concurrently administering the subject a metalloporphyrin in an amount effective to hydroxylate or oxidize the compound of interest in the subject.
US08399430B2
Described herein is the synthesis of alkylated and semi-synthetic glycosaminoglycosan ethers, referred to herein as “SAGEs.” The synthesis of sulfated alkylated SAGEs is also described. The compounds described herein are useful in a number of applications including wound healing, drug delivery, and the treatment of a number of inflammatory diseases and skin disorders.
US08399426B2
Method for treating breast cancer using adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) siRNA or ANT2 shRNA
The present invention relates to adenine nucleotide translocator 2 (ANT2) siRNA (small interfering RNA) or ANT2 shRNA (short hairpin RNA) suppressing the expression of ANT2 gene expression and anticancer agent containing the same. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for treating breast cancers or stem cells of a breast cancer by treating the same with ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA. In addition, the invention provides a method for inhibiting metastasis of breast cancer cells with ANT2 siRNA or ANT2 shRNA.
US08399424B2
The invention relates to a method of intracellularly controlling amounts of gene products, which can increase an amount of gene product intracellularly, comprising a step of introducing into the cell a substance having a sequence complementary to the base sequence of mRNA corresponding to the gene product, its precursor or another substance which can have equivalent action in the cell.
US08399415B2
Oligopeptides according to formula (I) and/or (II), R1-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Phe-NH2 (I, SEQ ID NO:1); R1-Tyr-Pro-PhePhe-NH2 (II, SEQ ID NO:2), wherein R1 is linked to the NH2-group of the amino-terminal part of Tyr and is selected from the group consisting of —H; a linear saturated or unsaturated or branched saturated or unsaturated acyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms, which may be functionalized by a —OH, —SH, —COOH or —CONH+ group; a sterol or a sphingolipid group which is linked to the amino terminal part of Tyr via a bifunctional linker are disclosed. Cosmetic compositions containing the oligopeptides are also disclosed.
US08399407B2
An insulin analogue comprises a B-chain polypeptide containing at least one alteration selected from a methylated phenylalanine substitution at position B24 and an addition of two amino acids to the carboxyl end of the B-chain polypeptide. A first amino acid at position B31 is selected from glutamate and aspartate, and a second amino acid at position B32 is selected from glutamate, alanine and aspartate. The methylated phenylalanine may be ortho-monofluoro-phenylalanine, meta-monobromo-phenylalanine or para-monochloro-phenylalanine. The analogue may be an analogue of a mammalian insulin, such as human insulin. A nucleic acid encoding such an insulin analogue is also provided. A method of treating a patient comprises administering a physiologically effective amount of the insulin analogue or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof to a patient.
US08399406B2
Reconstituted pulmonary surfactants comprising a lipid carrier, a combination of polypeptide analog of the native surfactant protein SP-C with a particular polypeptide analog of the native surfactant protein SP-B may be used for the treatment or prophylaxis of RDS and other respiratory disorders.
US08399405B2
Biologically active crosslinked polypeptides with improved properties relative to their corresponding precursor polypeptides; and methods of making and identifying such improved polypeptides.
US08399400B2
A single chain, polypeptide fusion protein, comprising: a non-cytotoxic protease, or a fragment thereof, which protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of a nociceptive sensory afferent; a dynorphin Targeting Moiety that is capable of binding to a Binding Site on the nociceptive sensory afferent, which Binding Site is capable of undergoing endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent; a protease cleavage site at which site the fusion protein is cleavable by a protease, wherein the protease cleavage site is located between the non-cytotoxic protease or fragment thereof and the dynorphin Targeting Moiety; and a translocation domain that is capable of translocating the protease or protease fragment from within an endosome, across the endosomal membrane and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the polypeptide fusion proteins, methods of preparing same and uses thereof are also described.
US08399397B2
Methods and compositions for enhancing the score of an individual in a sport activity are disclosed.
US08399385B2
Libraries of nucleic acids encoding chimeric binding polypeptides based on plant scaffold polypeptide sequences. Also described are methods for generating the libraries.
US08399381B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula: wherein Q represents a fused heterocyclic group, X and Y are the same or different and each represent an optionally halogenated lower alkyl group, an optionally halogenated lower alkoxy group, etc., or a salt thereof, as well as a herbicide comprising the compound or a salt thereof, which exhibits a significant effect for control of sulfonylurea herbicide-resistant weeds in paddy fields and can reduce the number of active ingredients in a combined preparation and a method of controlling sulfonylurea herbicide-resistant weeds which comprises using the same.
US08399379B2
This invention relates to a synergistic herbicidal composition comprising Component A comprised of i) 25 to 40% asulam, or its sodium salt; ii) 10 to 20% of a surfactant; iii) 0 to 1% of an antifoam; iv) 0 to 5% adjuvants and auxiliaries; and v) 40 to 65% water; and Component B comprised of trifloxysulfuron, or its herbicidally effective salts; wherein the ratio of Component A to Component B is in range of 80:1 to 380:1 based on active ingredient. The invention furthermore relates to a method of controlling weeds in crops of useful plants, especially in postemergence sugarcane, and to the use of this novel composition for this purpose.
US08399378B2
There is now described a method of controlling pests with nitroimino- or nitroguanidino-compounds; more specificallya method of controlling pests in and on transgenic crops of useful plants, such as, for example, in crops of maize, cereals, soya beans, tomatoes, cotton, potatoes, rice and mustard, with a nitroimino- or nitroguanidino-compound, especially with thiamethoxam, characterized in that a pesticidal composition comprising a nitroimino- or nitroguanidino-compound in free form or in agrochemically useful salt form and at least one auxiliary is applied to the pests or their environment, in particular to the crop plant itself.
US08399375B2
The invention relates to a supported metallocene catalyst composition and a process for the preparation of polyolefin using the same. A supported metallocene catalyst composition according to the invention is prepared by bringing a compound of a group IV transition metal into contact with an inorganic or organic porous carrier treated with an ionic compound. Advantages of a supported metallocene catalyst composition of the invention include an increase in the catalyst activity during polymerization of slurry and an olefin compound in the vapor phase even at a low content of metallocene metal components within the carrier, and an improvement in solving process problems such as fouling, sheeting, plugging or the like.
US08399374B2
The present invention relates to novel and unique catalyst particles, a method for preparing same, the use of the catalyst particles for polymerization reactions and methods of controlling the catalyst particle morphology.
US08399370B2
A glass composition which is reduced in the amount of residual bubbles and is produced using smaller amounts of an environmentally unfriendly component such as arsenic oxide and antimony oxide. This glass composition comprises, in terms of mass %; 40-70% SiO2; 5-20% B2O3; 10-25% Al2O3; 0-10% MgO; 0-20% CaO; 0-20% SrO; 0-10% BaO; 0.001-0.5% Li2O; 0.01-0.5% Na2O; 0.002-0.5% K2O; and 0-1.0%, excluding 0%, Cl.
US08399366B1
A method is provided for forming a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a substrate on a substrate holder in a process chamber, where the substrate contains a raised feature having a top surface and a sidewall surface, and flowing a process gas into the process chamber, where the process gas contains a hydrocarbon gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and optionally argon or helium. The method further includes maintaining a process gas pressure of at least 1 Torr in the process chamber, forming a plasma from the process gas using a microwave plasma source, and exposing the substrate to the plasma to deposit a conformal amorphous carbon film over the surfaces of the raised feature.
US08399365B2
A dielectric containing a titanium silicon oxide film and a method of fabricating such a dielectric provide a dielectric for use in a variety of electronic devices. Embodiments may include a dielectric containing a titanium silicon oxide film arranged as one or more monolayers. Embodiments may include structures for capacitors, transistors, memory devices, and electronic systems with dielectrics containing a titanium silicon oxide film, and methods for forming such structures.
US08399362B2
A device having three evaporation sources and a unit for moving the respective evaporation sources in one chamber is used, whereby it becomes possible to increase efficiency of use of an evaporation material. Consequently, manufacturing cost can be reduced, and a uniform thickness can be obtained over an entire surface of a substrate even in the case in which a large area substrate is used.
US08399361B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a compound semiconductor layer formed over the substrate, and a protective insulating film composed of silicon nitride, which is formed over a surface of the compound semiconductor layer and whose film density in an intermediate portion is lower than that in a lower portion.
US08399358B2
Silicon oxide based low-k dielectric materials may receive superior hydrophobic surface characteristics on the basis of a plasma treatment using hydrogen and carbon containing radicals. For this purpose, the surface of the low-k dielectric material may be exposed to these radicals, at least in one in situ process in combination with another reactive plasma ambient, for instance used for patterning the low-k dielectric material. Consequently, superior surface characteristics may be established or re-established without significantly contributing to product cycle time.
US08399356B2
A conductive film containing aluminum or an aluminum alloy with a thickness equal to or greater than 1 μm and equal to or less than 10 μm is etched by wet-etching to be a predetermined thickness, and then etched by dry-etching, whereby side-etching of the conductive film can be suppressed and thickness reduction of a mask can be suppressed. The suppression of side-etching of the conductive film and the suppression of thickness reduction of the mask enable a conductive film containing aluminum or an aluminum alloy even with a large thickness equal to or greater than 1 μm and equal to or less than 10 μm to be etched such that the gradient of the edge portion of the conductive film can be steep, a predetermined thickness of the conductive film can be obtained, and shape difference from a mask pattern can be suppressed.
US08399351B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes a process for filling holes in a dielectric film with tungsten. The process deposits tungsten in the holes, partially etches the deposited tungsten, and then deposits additional tungsten in the holes. Voids that may be left by the first tungsten deposition step are made accessible by openings formed in the etching step, and are then filled in by the second tungsten deposition step. Tungsten hexafluoride may be used as both a deposition source gas and an etching gas, providing a simple and inexpensive process that is suitable for high-volume production.
US08399350B2
Method for fabricating a microelectronic element having an air gap in a dielectric layer thereof. A dielectric cap layer can be formed which has a first portion overlying surfaces of metal lines, the first portion extending a first height above a height of a surface of the dielectric layer, and a second portion overlying the dielectric layer surface and extending a second height above the height of the surface of the dielectric layer, the second height being greater than the first height. After forming the cap layer, a mask can be formed over the cap layer. The mask exposes a surface of only the second portion of the cap layer which has the greater height. Subsequently, an etchant can be directed towards the first and second portions of the cap layer. Material can be removed from the dielectric layer where exposed to the etchant.
US08399349B2
The present invention is a process for forming an air gap within a substrate, the process comprising: providing a substrate; depositing a sacrificial material by deposition of at least one sacrificial material precursor; depositing a composite layer; removale of the porogen material in the composite layer to form a porous layer and contacting the layered substrate with a removal media to substantially remove the sacrificial material and provide the air gaps within the substrate; wherein the at least one sacrificial material precursor is selected from the group consisting of: an organic porogen; silicon, and a polar solvent soluble metal oxide and mixtures thereof.
US08399341B2
The invention is to provide a method for heat treating a silicon wafer reducing grown-in defects while suppressing generation of slip during RTP and improving surface roughness of the wafer. The method performing a first heat treatment while introducing a rare gas, the first heat treatment comprising the steps of rapidly heating the wafer to T1 of 1300° C. or higher and the melting point of silicon or lower, keeping the wafer at T1, rapidly cooling the wafer to T2 of 400-800° C. and keeping the wafer at T2; and performing a second heat treatment while introducing an oxygen gas in an amount of 20-100 vol. %, the second heat treatment comprising the steps of keeping the wafer at T2, rapidly heating the wafer from T2 to T3 of 1250° C. or higher and the melting point of silicon or lower, keeping the wafer at T3 and rapidly cooling the wafer.
US08399339B2
Electrical devices comprised of nanowires are described, along with methods of their manufacture and use. The nanowires can be nanotubes and nanowires. The surface of the nanowires may be selectively functionalized Nanodetector devices are described.
US08399333B2
The present invention relates to using an insulator layer between two metal layers of a semiconductor die to provide a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, such as an ohmic MEMS switch or a capacitive MEMS switch. In an ohmic MEMS switch, the insulator layer may be used to reduce metal undercutting during fabrication, to prevent electrical shorting of a MEMS actuator to a MEMS cantilever, or both. In a capacitive MEMS switch, the insulator layer may be used as a capacitive dielectric between capacitive plates, which are provided by the two metal layers. A fixed capacitive element may be provided by the insulator layer between the two metal layers. In one embodiment of the present invention, an ohmic MEMS switch, a capacitive MEMS switch, a fixed capacitive element, or any combination thereof may be integrated into a single semiconductor die.
US08399325B2
A method for producing a semiconductor device with an electrode structure includes providing a semiconductor body with a first surface, and with a first sacrificial layer extending in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body from the first surface, and forming a first trench extending from the first surface into the semiconductor body. The first trench is formed at least by removing the sacrificial layer in a section adjacent to the first surface. The method further includes forming a second trench by isotropically etching the semiconductor body in the first trench, forming a dielectric layer which covers sidewalls of the second trench, and forming an electrode on the dielectric layer in the second trench, the electrode and the dielectric layer in the second trench forming the electrode structure.
US08399312B2
A radiation-hardened semiconductor structure including an insulator material doped with at least one of a transition metal, a lanthanide, and an actinide, and a semiconductor material located over the insulator material. A semiconductor device including the radiation-hardened semiconductor structure is also disclosed, as are methods of forming the radiation-hardened semiconductor structure and the semiconductor device.
US08399305B2
A semiconductor wafer contains a plurality of semiconductor die separated by saw streets. A dam material is formed over the saw streets around each of the semiconductor die. A plurality of openings is formed in the dam material. The openings in the dam material can be formed on each side or corners of the first semiconductor die. The semiconductor wafer is singulated through the dam material to separate the semiconductor die. The semiconductor die is mounted to a substrate. A mold underfill is deposited through a first opening in the dam material. A vacuum is drawn on a second opening in the dam material to cause the underfill material to cover an area between the first semiconductor die and substrate without voids. The number of second openings can be greater than the number of first openings. The first opening can be larger than the second opening.
US08399299B2
A method for making a structure including at least the steps of: making at least one first portion of at least one getter material against a first substrate or a second substrate, making at least one second portion of at least one getter material against the second substrate when the first portion of getter material is placed against the first substrate, or against the first substrate when the first portion of getter material is placed against the second substrate, and attaching the second substrate to the first substrate by thermocompression of a first part of the first portion of getter material against at least one part of the second portion of getter material, forming at least one cavity delimited by the first substrate and the second substrate, a second part of the first portion of getter material being placed in the cavity.
US08399295B2
A support substrate includes a first surface and a second surface located above the level of the first surface. Chips are mounted on the first surface. A first insulating film is disposed over each chip. First conductive plugs are connected to the chip extending through each first insulating film. Filler material made of resin filling a space between chips. Wirings are disposed over the first insulating film and the filler material for interconnecting different chips. The second surface, an upper surface of the first insulating film and an upper surface of the filler material are located at the same level.
US08399287B1
A solar cell that is readily manufactured using processing techniques which are less expensive than microelectronic circuit processing. In preferred embodiments, printing techniques are utilized in selectively forming masks for use in etching of silicon oxide and diffusing dopants and in forming metal contacts to diffused regions. In a preferred embodiment, p-doped regions and n-doped regions are alternately formed in a surface of the wafer through use of masking and etching techniques. Metal contacts are made to the p-regions and n-regions by first forming a seed layer stack that comprises a first layer such as aluminum that contacts silicon and functions as an infrared reflector, second layer such titanium tungsten that acts as diffusion barrier, and a third layer functions as a plating base. A thick conductive layer such as copper is then plated over the seed layer, and the seed layer between plated lines is removed. A front surface of the wafer is preferably textured by etching or mechanical abrasion with an IR reflection layer provided over the textured surface. A field layer can be provided in the textured surface with the combined effect being a very low surface recombination velocity.
US08399286B2
A method of making a semiconductor device includes providing a web substrate, forming a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type over the web substrate, forming a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type over a first side of the first semiconductor layer, forming a first electrode layer over the second semiconductor layer, forming a handle web substrate over the first electrode layer, delaminating the web substrate from the first semiconductor layer after the step of forming the handle web substrate, where at least one opening extends through the first and the second semiconductor layers, and forming a second electrode layer over a second side of the first semiconductor layer such that the first and second electrode layers are in electrical contact with each other.
US08399285B2
A phase change memory device includes heaters which are formed in their respective memory cells and vertically positioned stack patterns having phase change layers and top electrodes which are formed to come into contact with the heaters. The heaters have horizontal cross-sectional bent shapes which can have any number of shapes such as a shape similar to that of a boomerang. The horizontal cross-sectional bent shapes of the to heaters are for minimizing the contact area between the heaters and the phase change layer so that programming currents can be reduced or minimized.
US08399284B2
A thin film deposition apparatus, which has high external light transmittance and a cathode having a uniform thickness, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the thin film deposition apparatus includes a deposition source spaced apart from a center of the substrate and configured to emit a deposition material toward the substrate and a blocking member disposed on the substrate and configured to block at least part of the deposition material emitted from the deposition source, wherein an opening is defined on at least one side of the blocking member.
US08399272B2
A method of manufacturing the semiconductor light emitting element comprises a semiconductor layer forming step of forming the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer on the first wafer having a transparent property; a bonding step of bonding the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer to the first wafer; a groove forming step of forming the groove extending from the lower surface of the first wafer to the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer; a light applying step of applying a first light to the lower surface of the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer through the first wafer to reduce a bonding force between the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer and the first wafer; a separating step of separating the first wafer from the multilayered nitride semiconductor layer; and a cutting step of cutting the second wafer along the groove to divide into a plurality of the semiconductor light emitting element.
US08399266B2
A semiconductor structure including a test structure for detection of a gap in a conductive layer of the semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; the test structure, the test structure being located on the semiconductor substrate, the test structure comprising a multilayer gate stack, wherein the multilayer gate stack includes a single conductive layer region including: a gate dielectric located on the semiconductor substrate; the conductive layer located on the gate dielectric; and an undoped amorphous silicon layer located on the conductive layer; and wherein the test structure is configured to detect the presence of the gap in the conductive layer.
US08399264B2
The present disclosure relates to the field of microelectronic substrate fabrication and, more particularly, to alignment inspection for vias formed in the microelectronic substrates. The alignment inspection may be achieved by determining the relative positions of fluorescing and non-fluorescing elements in a microelectronic substrate.
US08399260B2
A method for extracting low-molecular-weight proteins/peptides contained in a body fluid sample, particularly, in serum or plasma. The method includes the steps of (a) to (e): (a) adding reagent 1 containing urea and thiourea and reagent 2 containing a reducing agent to the body fluid sample, mixing them, subsequently dropping the mixture into reagent 3 containing 90% or more of an organic solvent, and mixing them; (b) stirring at a low temperature the mixed solution obtained in step (a); (c) centrifuging at a low temperature the stirred solution obtained in step (b) and removing the supernatant; (d) adding reagent 4 containing an organic solvent and an acid to the precipitate obtained in step (c) and mixing them; (e) stirring at a low temperature the mixed solution obtained in step (d); and (f) centrifuging at a low temperature the stirred solution obtained in step (e) and recovering the supernatant.
US08399255B2
The present invention relates to a method of manipulating plant development that allows for partial or complete male sterility in grasses.
US08399253B2
A three-dimensional cell culture method for increasing cell proliferation efficiency by suitably regulating the proliferation-inducing and proliferation-inhibitory signals between cells is provided. The method includes repeatedly performing any one or both of the following processes a) and b) so as to regulate proliferation-inducing and proliferation-inhibitory signals between the cells: a) a process of gradually adding the micro-scaffolds, in which a small amount of the micro-scaffolds are used in an initial stage in order to maintain a suitable distance between the cells, and the amount of the micro-scaffolds is then increased slowly according to cell proliferation rate; and b) a periodic shaking process, in which shaking is performed in order to separate connected cells from each other by a physical force, after the cells are incubated for more than a given period of time.
US08399252B2
Methods and kits of releasing cells are provided. The method comprises the steps of providing cultured cells on a cell culture support comprising a multi layer polyelectrolyte coating immobilized on a substrate, and releasing the cultured cells from the cell culture support by a releasing solution comprising DMSO. The kit comprises a cell culture support and a releasing solution. The releasing solution comprises DMSO.
US08399247B2
Methods and apparatus for processing eggs based upon a characteristic such as gender are provided. Material is extracted from each of a plurality of live eggs, the extracted material is assayed to identify eggs having the characteristic, and then eggs identified as having the characteristic are processed accordingly.
US08399246B2
A baculovirus expression vector achieves dual functions of (1) subunit vaccine by displaying the influenza surface protein for humoral immune responses; and (2) DNA vaccine by expressing influenza surface protein for long-acting cellular immune response. A method for inducing immunogenicity in a host is also disclosed.
US08399242B2
The present invention relates to methods for the production of ω-3 and/or ω-6 fatty acids in oleaginous yeast. Thus, desaturases and elongases able to catalyze the conversion of linoleic acid (LA) to γ-linolenic acid (GLA); α-linoleic acid (ALA) to stearidonic acid (STA); GLA to dihomo-γ-linoleic acid (DGLA); STA to eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA); DGLA to arachidonic acid (ARA); ETA to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); DGLA to ETA; EPA to docosapentaenoic acid (DPA); and ARA to EPA have been introduced into the genome of Yarrowia for synthesis of ARA and EPA.
US08399239B2
Embodiments herein concern compositions, methods and uses for harvesting suspension cultures or decontaminating waters. In certain embodiments, suspension microorganism cultures can comprise algal cultures. In some embodiments, harvesting suspension cultures may include using a composition capable of interacting with the culture in order to separate the culture from a liquid or media.
US08399236B2
The present invention concerns a system, comprising bacteriophages and particles comprising active agents, in which a first additional peptide is fused to proteins of the bacteriophage, the first additional peptide adheres to the surface of the particle and furthermore a second additional peptide is fused to proteins of the bacteriophage. The second additional peptide can adhere on substrate surfaces. The present invention furthermore concerns the use of the system for delayed release of active agents and also a method for production of the system. The present invention furthermore concerns a method for the selection of phage species from a combinatorial phage population.
US08399232B2
An object of the present invention is to provide enzymes associated with equol synthesis, genes coding such enzymes, and a process for producing equol and its intermediates using the enzymes and genes.The present invention provides a dihydrodaidzein synthesizing enzyme, tetrahydrodaidzein synthesizing enzyme, equol synthesizing enzyme, and genes coding these enzymes. The present invention also provides a process for synthesizing dihydrodaidzein, tetrahydrodaidzein, and/or equol using these enzymes.
US08399231B2
The invention provides novel nucleic acid polymerases from strains GK24 and RQ-1 of Thermus thermophilus, and nucleic acids encoding those polymerases, as well as methods for using the polymerases and nucleic acids.
US08399228B2
The invention relates to a method for recovering energy from the organic fraction of urban solid waste comprising the following steps: a) the organic fraction is pre treated with mineral acids, preferably sulfuric acid, during which the fraction is heated by an outer thermal jacket with no steam injection or steam explosion, thereby producing a first slurry containing an insoluble solid susceptible to enzymatic attack by cellulases; b) a step comprising enzymatic hydrolysis using cellulases and simultaneous fermentation, using an ethanologenic microorganism, of the first slurry in order to obtain a second slurry containing diluted ethanol; and c) distillation of the second slurry such as to obtain wet ethanol, a recyclable liquid effluent and a solid.
US08399226B2
Described are engineered strains of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica capable of producing an oil comprising greater than 50 weight percent of eicosapentaenoic acid [“EPA”], an ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, measured as a weight percent of total fatty acids [“% TFAs”] and having a ratio of at least 3.1 of EPA % TFAs, to linoleic acid, measured as % TFAs. These strains over-express at least one Δ9 elongase/Δ8 desaturase multizyme, in addition to other heterologous Δ9 elongases, Δ8 desaturases, Δ5 desaturases, Δ17 desaturases, Δ12 desaturases, C16/18 elongases, and optionally over-express diacylglycerol cholinephosphotransferases, malonyl CoA synthetases and/or acyl-CoA lysophospholipid acyltransferases. The strains possess at least one peroxisome biogenesis factor protein knockout. Methods for producing EPA within said host cells, oils obtained from the cells, and products therefrom are claimed.
US08399225B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing urethane-containing acrylic- and (meth)acrylic esters by reacting a urethane-containing alcohol with a reactant acrylic- or (meth)acrylic ester of a saturated alcohol in the presence of at least one polymerization inhibitor and an enzyme as a catalyst within a reactor, wherein the saturated alcohol released in the process and optionally an entraining agent form an azeotrope with an excess of the reactant (meth)acrylic ester, such that the azeotrope is removed by distillation under reduced pressure and at least one substream from the bottom of the reactor is circulated through the top of the distillation column. Using this process, urethane-containing acrylic- and (meth)acrylic esters are prepared in high yields and high purities under mild conditions from economically obtainable reactants with no significant polymer formation.
US08399223B2
The invention provides a method for treating lung cancer or breast cancer wherein the method comprises administering a pharmaceutically effective dose of arazyme enzyme to a subject with lung cancer or breast cancer. The arazyme enzyme is either a protein comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; and/or a protein encoded by DNA comprising the coding region of the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
US08399220B2
The present invention relates to oral antibacterial compositions comprising trihydroxybenzoate derivatives, e.g., useful for the treatment of gum diseases (e.g., gingivitis or periodontitis) and to methods of using such compositions.
US08399217B2
A method for promoting and suppressing auto-induction of transcription of a cloned gene 1 of bacteriophage T7 in cultures of bacterial cells grown batchwise is disclosed. The transcription is under the control of a promoter whose activity can be induced by an exogenous inducer whose ability to induce said promoter is dependent on the metabolic state of said bacterial cells.
US08399215B2
The invention relates to a cell which comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding a xylose isomerase, wherein the amino acid sequence of the xylose isomerase has at least about 70% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 3 and wherein the nucleotide sequence is heterologous to the host. The cell of the invention may be used in a process for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol. Such a process may comprise fermenting a medium containing a source of xylose with a cell of the invention such that the cell ferments xylose to the fermentation product.
US08399206B2
The present invention provides an approach for the determination of the activation states of a plurality of proteins in single cells. This approach permits the rapid detection of heterogeneity in a complex cell population based on activation states, expression markers and other criteria, and the identification of cellular subsets that exhibit correlated changes in activation within the cell population. Moreover, this approach allows the correlation of cellular activities or properties. In addition, the use of modulators of cellular activation allows for characterization of pathways and cell populations. Several exemplary diseases that can be analyzed using the invention include AML, MDS, and MPN.
US08399201B2
The present invention discovered that a mammalian TRPM8 binds to calmodulin. The present invention provides a polypeptide complex comprising a cold-menthol receptor (TRPM8) or an active fragment or derivative of TRPM8 and a calmodulin or an active fragment or derivative of calmodulin, and the uses of the polypeptide complex.
US08399198B2
System, including methods, apparatus, compositions, and kits, for assays with an emulsion including capsules. A method of performing an assay is provided. In the method, an aqueous phase may be provided. The aqueous phase may include a sample and an effective concentration of one or more skin-forming proteins. An emulsion may be formed. The emulsion may include droplets of the aqueous phase disposed in a nonaqueous continuous phase. The emulsion may be heated to create an interfacial skin between each droplet and the continuous phase, to transform the droplets into capsules. Assay data related to the sample may be collected from the capsules.
US08399189B2
Methods and kits are provided for nucleic acid analysis. In an illustrative method a target nucleic acid is amplified using a first primer and a second primer, wherein the first primer comprises a probe element specific for a locus of the target nucleic acid and a template-specific primer region, and the probe element is 5′ of the template-specific primer region, subsequently allowing the probe element to hybridize to the locus to form a hairpin, generating a melting curve for the probe element by measuring fluorescence from a dsDNA binding dye as the mixture is heated, wherein the dye is not covalently bound to the first primer, and analyzing the shape of the melting curve. Kits may include one or more of the first and second primers, the dsDNA binding dye, a polymerase, and dNTPs.
US08399179B2
A method for forming a high aspect ratio microstructure (20) comprises: a) forming on a conductive surface (4) of a carrier substrate (3) one or more dielectric structures (6) to create a mandrel (7); b) forming masking material (8) by electrodepositing on exposed areas of the conductive surface of the mandrel one or more metal structures; c) forming a composite structure (18) by taking a photopolymer structure comprising a substrate (12) having thereon an electromagnetic radiation-sensitive photopolymer of either a positive tone or a negative tone (14), the photopolymer having a thickness substantially equal to the desired height of the microstructure to be formed, and adhering the photopolymer to the masking material (8), wherein the masking material is opaque to the electromagnetic radiation; d) removing the carrier (3); e) exposing the photopolymer (14) to electromagnetic radiation so as to irradiate regions of the photopolymer corresponding to the one or more dielectric structures (6) and substantially not to irradiate regions of the photopolymer corresponding to the one or more metal structures (8); and f) developing to selectively remove those portions of the photopolymer exposed to the radiation if the photopolymer has a positive tone; or to selectively remove the unexposed portions of the photopolymer if the photopolymer has a negative tone, thereby forming a high aspect ratio microstructure (20). The invention also provides a composite structure (18) for use in the method.
US08399176B2
Disclosed is a photosensitive resin composition suitable for use in a transflective liquid crystal display (LCD). The photosensitive resin composition uses, as an alkali-soluble binder resin, a blend of two kinds of binder resins. The first binder resin has a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 1,000 but lower than 20,000 and contains no reactive group. The second binder resin has a weight average molecular weight greater than or equal to 20,000 but lower than 80,000 and contains reactive groups. The photosensitive resin composition has good adhesion to an underlying substrate while forming a high resolution fine pattern.
US08399169B2
An electrophotographic toner which includes a latex, a colorant, and a releasing agent, wherein characteristics of the electrophotographic toner measured by using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in an attenuated total reflection mode (FT-IR-ATR), in which an incidence angle is changeable, satisfy Inequalities 1 through 3 presented herein.
US08399166B2
Disclosed are a toner for developing an electrostatic image, a full color toner kit and an image formation method layer, the toner comprising at least a resin and a colorant, wherein the colorant includes quinacridone pigment having a number average primary particle size of from 30 to 150 nm and having a ratio of a long axis length to a short axis length of from 1.0 to 2.0.
US08399165B2
To provide a coating fluid for forming an undercoat layer having high stability, a high quality and long-life electrophotographic photoreceptor capable of forming a high quality image in various environments, with which image defects such as black spots or color spots hardly occur, an image forming apparatus using such a photoreceptor, and an electrophotographic cartridge using such a photoreceptor.A coating fluid for forming un undercoat layer of an electrophotographic photoreceptor containing titanium oxide particles and a binder resin, characterized in that titanium oxide agglomerated secondary particles in the coating fluid have a volume average particle size of at most 0.1 μm and a cumulative 90% particle size of at most 0.3 μm.
US08399164B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, an undercoat layer thereover wherein the undercoat layer contains a metal oxide a phenolic resin and a dendritic polyester polyol; a photogenerating layer; and at least one charge transport layer.
US08399162B2
The present invention discloses a method of forming exposure patterns. These steps of the present method comprise: a substrate is provided; a photoresist layer is formed over the substrate; subsequently, a photo mask with a pattern is placed and aligned to a corresponding location over the photoresist layer for at least double exposure processes, and the photo mask with a pattern is moved and aligned to another corresponding location over the photoresist layer during at least one exposure process; successively, at least one filter is provided to perform at least one exposure process, and the filter is placed above or below the photo mask; and the patterns with different dimensions are consequently formed on the substrate after partial photoresist is removed during a later developing process.
US08399159B2
Provided is a mask blank substrate that can reduce the change in flatness of a main surface thereof before and after chucking to make very small the position offset caused by a photomask and that can significantly reduce the difference in tendency of substrate deformation before and after chucking between photomasks. In a mask blank substrate having two main surfaces and four end faces, a central point is set on the main surface, a first axis of symmetry that passes through the central point and that is parallel to one of the end faces and a second axis of symmetry that passes through the central point and that is perpendicular to the first axis of symmetry are respectively set, measurement points are set in the form of a grid with respect to the first axis of symmetry and the second axis of symmetry so as to measure heights of the main surface from a reference plane at the measurement points, respectively, differences each between measured height values at those measurement points located at positions that are axisymmetric with respect to the first axis of symmetry are calculated, and those differences corresponding to at least 95% of the total number of the calculated differences between the measured height values are within a predetermined value.
US08399149B2
A composition showing enhanced proton conductivity comprising at least a polymer with an ionizable group (A) containing a proton and carbon nanostructures functionalized with ionizable group (B) containing a proton is disclosed where A and B are same or different.
US08399147B2
An electrolyte-electrode assembly (MEA) includes: an electrolyte; an anode side electrode and a cathode side electrode formed so as to sandwich the electrolyte via intermediate layers. The anode side electrode has a thickness set to 1 μm, for example. A method for manufacturing the electrolyte-electrode assembly, i.e., the MEA includes a step for forming the anode side electrode by sputtering.
US08399146B2
A free-standing membrane electrolyte electrode assembly (ESC) comprises an electrolyte, an anode electrode formed at one end face of the electrolyte, and a cathode electrode formed at the other. The electrolyte is a single crystal having a surface along with oxide ions move or a direction in which the ions move or a polycrystal oriented along a surface along which oxide ions move or in a direction in which the ions move. The surface or the direction is parallel to the thickness direction. The thickness of the electrolyte is 50 to 800 μm and the quotient of the division of the total thickness of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode by the thickness of the electrolyte is 0.1 or less,. The thickness of the ESC is 1 mm or less.
US08399143B2
A solid oxide fuel cell (“SOFC”) stack device is disclosed. The SOFC stack includes SOFC units that can easily be stacked and electrically connected to one another. Furthermore, each of the SOFC units can easily be removed from the others and replaced with a new one. The fuel cell stack includes a supporting mechanism and two conducting and pressing units. The supporting mechanism includes three parts. Each part of the supporting mechanism includes slots defined therein for receiving the SOFC units. Each of the conducting and pressing units is located between two adjacent ones of the parts of the supporting mechanism.
US08399138B2
One embodiment includes a method for recharging a lithium ion battery, including providing a lithium ion battery comprising used liquid electrode material; removing said used liquid electrode material from said lithium ion battery; and, introducing a relatively unused liquid electrode material into the lithium ion battery to replace the used liquid electrode material.
US08399137B2
The present invention provides an electrolyte containing novel additive for electrochemical device and the electrochemical device thereof. The additive is a compound represented by below formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, or halogen; n and m are independently 1, 2, or 3. The additive of the present invention can protect the surface of the carbonaceous material on the anode and suppress the occurrence of exfoliation, thereby increasing the lifetime of the electrochemical device. Furthermore, the additive of the present invention also slows down the decay of capacity on the cathode during charging-discharging cycles, and hence maintains a better performance.
US08399127B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a positive electrode having a positive-electrode active material layer reversibly inserting and extracting lithium ions on a positive-electrode current collector, a negative electrode having a negative-electrode active material layer reversibly inserting and extracting lithium ions on a negative-electrode current collector, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution, wherein at least one of the positive and negative electrodes has a film on the surface and at least one of the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the nonaqueous electrolyte solution contains a nitrogen-containing cyclic compound. Such a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is superior in high-temperature storage stability allowing preservation of favorable discharge rate even after high-temperature storage.
US08399126B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte is provided that includes a non-aqueous solvent and an electrolyte salt, wherein the non-aqueous solvent contains a fluorinated ether (1) represented by the following Formula: HCF2CF2CF2CH2—O—CF2CF2H (1). This non-aqueous electrolyte has good wettability to a polyolefin separator, can provide a battery with excellent load characteristics for a long period, does not easily decompose in the battery under high-temperature storage, and causes little gas generation due to decomposition. Furthermore, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided that includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and the above-described non-aqueous electrolyte.
US08399122B2
A sealed battery including an electrode assembly 11 having multiple positive electrode substrates exposed at one end and negative electrode substrates exposed at the other end; and collectors 18 and collector receiving parts 19 that are resistance-welded on both sides of the multiple positive or the multiple negative electrode substrates or both, a through-hole 30 being formed in at least one of the collectors 18 and the collector receiving parts 19, and the resistance welding being performed at the rim of the through-hole 30. With such sealed battery, the spattered particles 26 generated during the resistance welding are captured in the through-hole 30, and will rarely enter the interior of the electrode assembly 11 or splash out to the exterior.
US08399119B2
A battery module and a method for cooling the battery module are provided. The battery module includes a battery cell and a cooling fin disposed adjacent to the battery cell. The cooling fin has a solid plate and first and second tab portions extending from first and second edges, respectively, of the solid plate. The first and second tab portions are bent perpendicular to a front surface of the battery cell. The cooling fin extracts heat energy from the battery cell thereto. The battery module further includes a first cooling manifold that contacts the first tab portion of the cooling fin. The first cooling manifold has at least one flow channel extending therethrough that receives a fluid therethrough. The first cooling manifold conducts heat energy from the cooling fin into the fluid flowing through the first cooling manifold to cool the battery cell.
US08399116B2
An electrochemical storage cell having a coiled core is disclosed. The coiled core includes a cathode sheet, an anode sheet, and a separator sheet. An anode connector is connected with the anode sheet at a first end of the coiled core and a cathode connector is connected with the cathode sheet at a second, opposite end of the coiled core. The coiled core has a length Lcore and a width Wcore and each connector has a width Wconnector. The length of the coiled core Lcore, width of the coiled core Wcore, and width of each connector Wconnector have the relationship 0<(Wcore−Wconnector)/Lcore<0.37.
US08399115B2
Monitoring individual cells within large battery stacks used in alternative fuel vehicles is provided using wireless sensor networks. In one embodiment, a battery stack comprised of a plurality of cells includes a plurality of wireless sensor nodes each electrically connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of cells. Each of the wireless sensor nodes includes a sensor circuit for measuring individual performance characteristics for cells to which the wireless sensor nodes are connected. This cell-specific performance data may then be wirelessly transmitted to an external node, which is coupled to a vehicle battery management system configured to determine at least one of a state of charge, state of health and remaining useful life data for the overall battery stack based on the performance characteristics of the battery stack's individual cells.
US08399110B2
The invention is directed to single crystal alkaline earth metal fluoride optical elements having an adhesive, hermetic coating thereon, the coating being chemically bonded to the surface of the metal fluoride optical element with a bonding energy ≧4 eV and not merely bonded by van der Walls forces. The materials that can be used for coating the optical elements are selected from the group consisting of SiO2, F—SiO2, Al2O3, F—Al2O3, SiON, HfO2, Si3N4, TiO2 and ZrO2, and mixtures (of any composition) of the foregoing, for example, SiO2; HfO2 and F—SiO2/ZrO2. The preferred alkali earth metal fluoride used for the optical elements is CaF2. Preferred coatings are SiO2, F—SiO2, SiO2/ZrO2 and F—SiO2/ZrO2.
US08399104B2
The present invention provides a composite molded article and a method for producing the same. The composite molded article comprises a molded article of an olefin thermoplastic elastomer (A) and a molded article of an olefin thermoplastic elastomer (B) fused to each other, wherein the olefin thermoplastic elastomer molded article (A) contains an olefin thermoplastic elastomer composition (A′) having less than 5% by weight of a cyclohexane-soluble(s) and less than 35% of a compression set (JIS K6262, 70° C., 22 hours), and the olefin thermoplastic elastomer molded article (B) contains an olefin thermoplastic elastomer composition (B′) obtained by blending 100 parts by weight of an ethylene/α-olefin/non-conjugated diene copolymer rubber (b-1) containing 6 to 15 wt % of a non-conjugated diene unit, with 40 to 150 parts by weight of a mineral oil softener (b-2), 5 to 150 parts by weight of an olefin resin (b-3), and 0.01 to 20 parts by weight of a crosslinking agent (b-4) and subsequent dynamic heat treatment thereof.
US08399101B2
Disclosed is a toughened poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) resin composition comprising poly(hydroxyalkanoic acid) and an impact modifier comprising a core/shell polymer that does not comprise a vinyl aromatic comonomer, having a refractive index not greater than 1.5; wherein the core comprises elastomer and the shell comprises non-elastomeric polymer. Also disclosed are packaging materials and packaged products comprising the composition.
US08399098B2
A laminate comprises an ionomeric interlayer sheet which, in turn, comprises or is prepared from a sodium/zinc mixed ionomer that comprises carboxylate groups and a combination of counterions that consists essentially of sodium cations and zinc cations. The sodium/zinc mixed ionomer is the neutralization product of a precursor acid copolymer. The precursor acid copolymer comprises copolymerized units of an α-olefin and an α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and it has a melt flow rate of about 70 to about 1000 g/10 min. In addition, the precursor acid copolymer, when neutralized to a level of about 40% to about 90%, and when comprising counterions that consist essentially of sodium ions, produces a sodium ionomer that has a freeze enthalpy that is not detectable or that is less than about 3.0 j/g, when determined by differential scanning calorimetry.
US08399093B2
Provided is a process for preparing surface-modified silicon dioxide particles with a mean particle diameter of at most 100 nm, involving (A) high-pressure grinding of a predispersion having (i) surface-modified silicon dioxide particles which are at least partly aggregated, are bonded to the surface-modifying component via Si—O—Si bonds, and still have reactive groups on their surface; (ii) an organosilicon compound which has a silicon-carbon bond and a functional group which can react with the reactive groups to form a covalent Si—O—Si bond; and (iii) a solvent, to form a dispersion; and (B) removing the liquid phase of the dispersion. Also provided are redispersible, surface-modified silicon dioxide particles obtained by this process, and their use in toner powders, silicone rubber, adhesives, and scratch-resistance surface coatings.
US08399089B1
A nanomaterial based admixture improves the fire retardancy of foam-based GFRC material to a minimum of 3 hours, creating Nano GFRC. A dispersion of nanoclay in water is prepared by heating water to 80-90 ° C., adding the desired amount of nanoclay and stirring with a magnetic stirrer for 30-45 minutes, producing a stable and uniform dispersion. Concrete is made by mixing sand, acryl, water, nanoclay solution, and cement in a bucket, adding enough water reducer to thin the mixture enough to stir, adding fibers, and mixing the composite using a rotor for about 10 minutes. Polystyrene foam is sandwiched with the prepared mixture on all sides to make the concrete. This resulting concrete is lightweight and strong, reduces CO and CO2 emissions by a factor of three compared to standard GFRC, and shows dramatic improvement in fire retardant properties.
US08399083B2
A label structure is disclosed for mounting on a container and includes a base panel for affixing to a surface of the container. An adhesive is applied to at least a portion of a rear face of the base panel for adhering the base panel to the container. The label structure further includes a leaflet associated with the base panel for application to the container with the base panel, and the leaflet comprising at least one panel with opposite faces. The label structure also includes a laminating strip securing the leaflet to the base panel, and the laminating strip overlies the leaflet and overlying the base panel. In some embodiments, the leaflet is positioned adjacent to the base panel, with a first portion of the leaflet overlying the base panel and a second portion of the leaflet not overlying the base panel.
US08399079B2
Thermoformable sheet having a thickness of at least 300 micrometers comprising a blend of: (A) from 5 to 20% by weight of a propylene-ethylene copolymer having substantially isotactic propylene sequences, the propylene-ethylene copolymer having a melt flow rate from 4 to 30 g/10 min and comprising at least 70% by weight units derived from propylene and from about 10 to 20% by weight units derived from ethylene; and (B) from 80 to 95% by weight of a polypropylene having a melt flow rate of from 2 to 8 grams/10 minutes, wherein the melt flow rate of the blend is from 2 to 7 grams/10 minutes and wherein the blend exhibits: (1) room temperature Charpy toughness of at least 15 KJ/m2, (2) flexural modulus of at least 1000 MPa, (3) 00 Charpy toughness of at least 2 KJ/m2, and (4) a value for haze of less than 40%.
US08399077B1
A film is provided, and in particular, a film having at least one gas barrier layer that comprises a noise-dampening polymer resin and of a polyglycolic acid resin. The polyglycolic-based films provide excellent gas barrier properties while maintaining a desirable level of softness and low noise making them ideal for a variety of medical applications.
US08399075B2
A spalted wood product having a first ply cut from a wood and a second ply cut from the wood wherein the first ply and the second ply are spalted. The spalted first ply or spalted second ply is positioned on a base, where the base includes engineered wood, and the wood products include wood flooring.
US08399074B2
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the content ratio of polar and neutral compounds in a liquid crystal layer is controlled, or a coupling agent that is well adapted to those compounds is used as a material for a sealant, thereby stably maintaining the display quality of the liquid crystal display even at low temperatures.
US08399065B2
A method and apparatus for forming an electrochemical layer of a thin film battery is provided. A precursor mixture comprising electrochemically active precursor particles dispersed in a carrying medium is provided to a processing chamber and thermally treated using a combustible gas mixture also provided to the chamber. The precursor is converted to nanocrystals by the thermal energy, and the nanocrystals are deposited on a substrate. A second precursor may be blended with the nanocrystals as they deposit on the surface to enhance adhesion and conductivity.
US08399057B2
Porous films with straight pores oriented normal to the plane of the films are produced through solution processing techniques. The production takes advantage of inorganic-surfactant or inorganic-polymer co-assembly and a patterned substrate. The patterned substrate, which is also produced via solution phase self-assembly, forces vertical orientation in a hexagonal cylinder system with no practical limits in substrate size or type. This provides a route to vertically oriented inorganic pores with a pitch ranging from 3 nm to over 15 nm and pore sizes ranging from 2 nm to over 12 nm. The size is tuned by choice the choice of organic templating agents and the deposition conditions. The pores can be produced with or without a capping layer which can be used to seal the nanopores.
US08399056B2
A method of forming on at least one support at least one metal containing dielectric films having the formula (M11-a M2a) Ob Nc, wherein: 0≦a<1, 01 and M2 being metals Hf, Zr or Ti using precursors with pentadienyl ligands and/or cyclopentadienyl ligands.
US08399052B2
A method of coating an object includes applying a heterogeneous mixture of polymeric powder and metal powder to a surface of an object and heating the surface for a period of time sufficient to cause the polymeric powder to cure and form a coating on the surface. The cured polymeric coating may then be subjected to one or more finishing operations. The resulting coating contains a substantially equal distribution of metal powder throughout a thickness thereof. The powder mixture may adhere to adhesive material applied to one or more surfaces of an object. The powder mixture may adhere to one or more heated surfaces of an object.
US08399047B2
Multifunctional reactive polymers created by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and methods of making such polymeric systems are provided. Such polymers provide multifunctional surfaces which can present two or more different molecules (e.g. biological ligands) in controlled ratios. Polymers may include compositional gradients allowing attached ligands to be presented as continuous gradients across a surface. The polymer compositions are modularly designable and applicable to a wider range of applications, including biomedical devices and diagnostic systems.
US08399035B2
A pod for mixing an amount of a dispersible material with water. The pod may include a pod body having a lower aperture and a poppet positioned within the aperture. The poppet may be sized so as to seal the lower aperture until a predetermined pressure is reached within the pod body.
US08399028B2
A method for preparing a concentrated solution containing water, citrate ions and silver ions, including providing an amount of trisilver citrate, providing an amount of citric acid, wherein the amount of the citric acid is at least 19 times the amount of the trisilver citrate by weight, and mixing the trisilver citrate and the citric acid in an amount of water to produce the concentrated solution, wherein the amount of water is selected so that the concentrated solution has a citrate ion concentration which is at least 300 grams per liter. A concentrated solution containing water, citrate ions and silver ions, wherein the concentrated solution has a silver ion concentration which is at least 10 grams per liter. A diluted solution prepared by adding water to a concentrated solution containing water, citrate ions and silver ions.
US08399025B2
A particle composition comprising a graft copolymer formed from a biocompatible polymer and a plurality of polyamine moieties, wherein the polyamine moieties are bound to the biocompatible polymer, and a combinatorial delivery polymer comprising a plurality of particles that comprises a graft copolymer of formed from a biocompatible polymer and a plurality of polyamine moieties, wherein the polyamine moieties are bound to the biocompatible polymer, a plurality of nucleic acids electrostatically loaded onto the particles, a plurality of chemokine molecules, and a biodegradable polymer network, in which the loaded particles and chemokine molecules may be entrapped, are disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for treating a subject comprising administering a therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition, the pharmaceutical composition comprising a particle composition that comprises a graft copolymer formed from a biocompatible polymer and a plurality of polyamine moieties, wherein the polyamine moieties are bound to the biocompatible polymer.
US08399024B2
A method of producing water-insoluble anti-cancer drug in the form of particulates, the method including preparing a water-insoluble anti-cancer drug having at least one multiple bond in the structure, and irradiating said water-insoluble anti-cancer drug with a laser beam having a wavelength of a low absorption portion in the vicinity of the foot of an absorption curve on the long wavelength side within the absorption band until said water-insoluble anti-cancer drug is formed into particulates having an average particle diameter of 50 to 200 nm.
US08399022B2
A method for producing spherical ferrite nanoparticles includes the steps of: preparing a first aqueous solution containing a disaccharide, an alkaline, an oxidation agent, seed particles and divalent iron ions; and conducting particle growth in the first aqueous solution to produce the spherical ferrite nanoparticles.
US08399021B2
The invention relates to a material consisting of an aqueous dispersion of PEG-coated nanoparticles of maghemite. The process for preparing said material consists in polymerizing ethylene oxide in the presence of nanoparticles of maghemite in an aqueous dispersion. The polymerization is initiated using reactive groups which are capable of initiating the polymerization of ethylene oxide without the addition of a catalyst, and which are attached to the nanoparticles of maghemite by means of a coupling agent comprising an alkoxysilyl group and one or more of said reactive groups. Applications: contrast agent for MRI.
US08399020B2
Shaped plant growth nutrient products such as fertilizer products are provided as well as processes for producing and using such shaped plant growth products. The products comprise active plant growth ingredients mixed with a biodegradable, water dispersible, water soluble, thermoplastic polymeric binding agent. Preferably, the shaped products are in tablet form and the active plant growth ingredient comprises a fertilizer.
US08399019B2
Compositions for an oral delivery vehicle are described as well as methods for their manufacture and administration. The oral delivery vehicles can be made in any size or shape and can further comprise a medicament or other substance or object to be orally delivered. The vehicle can, for example, take the form of a pouch or capsule. Alternatively, a medicament or other substance to be orally delivered can be coated with the composition. In another alternative, the medicament or other substance to be orally delivered can be dispersed within a matrix of the composition. The compositions for the oral delivery vehicle are also suitable for use as an animal food or treat or use as a hunting bait or lure.
US08399014B2
To provide a method of reducing an intrinsic harsh/astringent taste of protamine and a protamine salt and effectively using a fat absorption suppressive effect of these.A complex is formed by reacting at least one of acidic macromolecular substances, such as alginate and polyglutamate, and gum arabic which are capable of forming a complex reducing harsh/astringent taste and dissociating protamine having a lipase inhibitory activity by pepsin treatment, with protamine or a protamine salt.
US08399012B2
A biodegradable biodelivery device is disclosed. The biodelivery device is formed from a polymer comprising the reaction product of a polyol and a polyacid. When exposed to water, the polymer degrades through hydrolysis. Of particular advantage, the polymer can be formed so as to be elastic and flexible. In one embodiment, the polymer is formed into a vaginal insert. As the polymer degrades, the polymer releases acid to a vaginal environment for decreasing the pH of the environment.
US08399010B2
Osteogenic sponge compositions having enhanced osteoinductive properties for use in bone repair are described. The compositions include a quickly resorbable porous carrier, a more slowly resorbed mineral scaffold and an osteogenic factor, preferably a bone morphogenetic protein. The compositions enable increased osteoinductive activity while retaining a reliable scaffold for the formation of new bone at an implant site. Methods for therapeutic use of the compositions are also described.
US08398997B2
A composition for topical application of a botulinum toxin (including botulinum toxin derivatives) comprises a botulinum toxin and a carrier comprising a polymeric backbone comprising a long-chain polypeptide or nonpeptidyl polymer having attached positively charged branching or “efficiency” groups. The invention also relates to methods for reducing muscle paralysis and other conditions that may be treated with a botulinum toxin, particularly paralysis of subcutaneous, and most particularly, facial, muscles, by topically applying an effective amount of the botulinum toxin and carrier, in conjunction, to the subject's skin or epithelium. Kits for administration are also described.
US08398994B2
The present invention provides improved vaccination methods for increased protection against ileitis. The methods provide for the vaccination of young animals, preferably piglets, between 10 and 26 days of age, vaccination of pregnant sows during the second or third stages of gestation, and a combination of these methods. Vaccination of the pregnant sows can occur using repeated and/or high doses of Lawsonia antigen prior to farrowing.
US08398987B2
The present invention relates to a composition for treating diseases associated with autoantibodies specific for platelet proteins, in particular autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. The composition, comprising an epitope of a platelet protein, treats diseases by tolerization.
US08398980B2
As a subtype of humanized PM-1 antibody against interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), there is provided antibody sub-type (1) whose one heavy chain C terminus consists of Pro-NH2 (447). As another subtype of humanized PM-1 antibody against interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), there is provided antibody subtype (2) whose both heavy chain C termini consist of Pro-NH2 (447). Furthermore, there are provided pharmaceutical compositions comprising these.
US08398978B2
Methods of using antibodies directed to the C-terminal side of β-amyloid peptide for diagnosing and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Aβ peptide associated diseases are described.
US08398967B2
A liquid composition in an osmotic drug delivery system and a dosage form in an osmotic drug delivery system is disclosed comprising an amphiphilic molecule, a non-aqueous liquid solvent, and a pharmaceutically active agent.
US08398966B2
The present invention describes IL-1β binding proteins, including chimeric, CDR-grafted, and humanized antibodies that bind IL-1β. Binding proteins of the invention have high affinity for IL-1β and neutralize IL-1β activity. A binding protein of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an IL-1β-binding portion thereof. Methods of making and methods of using the binding proteins of the invention are also described. The IL-1β binding proteins of the invention are useful for detecting IL-1β and for inhibiting IL-1β activity, including in a human subject suffering from a disease or disorder in which IL-1β activity is detrimental.
US08398961B2
The present invention relates to agents for the setting and styling of keratin fibers, in particular human hair, from a suitable dispenser system in the form of a fine powder, which is optionally freshly ground, shaved or rasped only directly prior to use, and to the use of this preparation for the treatment of keratin fibers, in particular human hair.
US08398952B2
The present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a potassium titanate adapted for a friction material of a friction slide member. The present invention includes the steps of uniformly mixing an aggregate or a granulation of a titanium compound and a potassium compound with a vibration rod mill to form a mixture and sintering the mixture for reaction one another in order to manufacture a desired potassium titanate with ease and low cost.
US08398947B2
The present invention relates to a method for separating diamond from gangue minerals. In particular, this method relates to the addition of a first reagent or reagents which contact the diamond in diamond ore slurry to at least partially remove hydrophilic coatings from the diamond surfaces. A second reagent or reagents may also be added to the slurry so that the reagent may adsorb on the diamond surfaces and thereby enhance the hydrophobicity of diamonds. The increase in hydrophobicity may improve the flotation of diamonds.
US08398944B2
An air pollution control system 10A according to the present invention includes: a boiler 11 that burns fuel; NOx removal equipment 12 that decomposes nitrogen oxides in flue gas 25 discharged from the boiler 11; a desulfurizer 15 that causes sulfur oxides in the flue gas 25 having passed through the NOx removal equipment 12 to be absorbed by an absorbent, thereby reducing sulfur oxides in the flue gas 25, a waste-water treatment device 16 including a solid-liquid separating unit 31 that separates desulfurized waste water 28 discharged from the desulfurizer 15 into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, and a mercury removing unit 32 that removes mercury in the desulfurized waste water 28; and a treated waste-water returning unit (a makeup water line) 17 that returns at least a part of treated waste water 40 treated by the waste-water treatment device 16 to the desulfurizer 15.
US08398943B2
An arrangement and method for reducing the nitrogen oxide content in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine with the aid of ammonia and/or ammonia-releasing reduction agents, whereby ammonia and/or ammonia-containing reduction agent is added to the exhaust gas stream upstream of a catalyst combination composed of an SCR catalyst and a subsequent NH3-oxidation catalyst in such a way that a homogeneous mixture of exhaust gas and ammonia is present upstream of the SCR catalyst. To optimize the reaction or conversion of nitrogen oxides, disposed downstream of the combination of a first SCR catalyst and a first NH3-oxidation catalyst is at least one second catalyst having SCR activity in order in this way to reduce the nitrogen oxides formed at the first NH3-oxidation catalyst due to insufficient selectivity of the catalyst to nitrogen with not yet oxidized NH3.
US08398938B2
A microfluidic thermal bend actuated pressure pulse valve having an inlet for receiving a flow of liquid, an outlet for outputting the flow of liquid, a meniscus anchor between the inlet and the outlet such that the flow from the inlet towards the outlet stops at the meniscus anchor where the liquid forms a meniscus, a movable member for contacting the liquid, and, a thermal expansion actuator for displacing the movable member to generate a pulse in the liquid to dislodge the meniscus such that the liquid flow towards the outlet resumes.
US08398937B2
A microchannel 4 for transporting a specimen S using capillary phenomenon includes an analysis chamber 6 having a cross-sectional area larger than those of portions located in front of and behind the analysis chamber 6 in the direction of flow, an inflow opening 5 through which the specimen S flows into the analysis chamber 6, and a discharge portion 7 through which the specimen S is discharged from the analysis chamber 6. The discharge portion 7 includes a pair of discharge openings 71a and 71b located opposite to each other with respect to the inflow opening 5. With this structure, impairment of transport of the specimen S due to the presence of a residual air bubble is avoided.
US08398936B2
In a capillary pump unit, a capillary pump including a plurality of through portions making a first point and a second point of an approximately flat-plate-shaped base communicable with each other are formed in the base, and a sample liquid is transferred from the first point to the second point by capillary force by the through portions.
US08398932B2
A culture apparatus which is capable of shortening sterilization time includes a gas concentration measuring sensor, pipes connected to a gas concentration measuring device and every corner of a cultivating chamber, and a sterilizing gas generator that supplies sterilizing gas into a cultivating chamber and atomizes a sterilizer solution (oxygenated water) by means of an ultrasonic vibrator. The culture apparatus further includes an ultraviolet lamp that irradiates gas in the cultivating chamber, a freely opening/closing door, a door-locking device, and a controller for controlling the locking device to prevent the door from being opened from start of the sterilization process to end of the decomposition process.
US08398929B2
The disclosure provides a device and method used to produce a tubular structure made of a refractory metal compound. In particular, the disclosure provides a device and method used to produce a tubular structure made of a refractory metal compound by reacting a green tubular structure made of a refractory metal with at least one reactive gas.
US08398928B2
An ultraviolet treatment chamber for treating exhaust streams, particularly those containing organic particulates, utilizes ultraviolet light energy very efficiently. This is done by setting up a circulating flow in a treatment plenum so that all of the effluent experiences a substantially uniform residence time without the need for baffles or other flow controllers that would block the ultraviolet light.
US08398922B2
An oxygen sensor comprising an oxygen sensing compound and configured to substantially mitigate leaching of the oxygen sensing compound from the oxygen sensor to an outer surface thereof is provided. The oxygen sensor may comprise one or more layers. A first portion of the oxygen sensor is configured to be permeable to gas and comprises an oxygen sensing material. A second portion is disposed with or on the first portion and is configured to be permeable to gas and substantially impermeable to the oxygen sensing material.
US08398916B2
A method and process for at least partially forming a medical device that is at least partially formed of a metal alloy which improves the physical properties of the medical device.
US08398907B2
Disclosed are multicomponent fibers derived from a blend of a sulfopolyester with a water non-dispersible polymer wherein the as-spun denier is less than about 6 and wherein the water dispersible sulfopolyester exhibits a melt viscosity of less than 12,000 poise measured at 240° C. at a strain rate of 1 rad/sec, and wherein the sulfopolyester comprising less than about 25 mole % of residues of at least one sulfomonomer, based on the total moles of diacid or diol residues. The multicomponent fiber is capable of being drawn at a relatively high fiber speed, particularly at least about 2000 m/min, and may be used to produce microdenier fibers. Fibrous articles may be produced from the multicomponent fibers and microdenier fibers. Also disclosed is a process for multicomponent fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and microdenier webs.
US08398904B2
The present invention relates to a microcellular foam of a thermoplastic resin and a method for preparing the same, and more particularly to a microcellular foam comprising a skin layer having a porosity of below 5% and a core layer having a porosity of at least 5%, wherein the thickness of the skin layer accounts for 5 to 50% of the entire foam, and a method for preparing the same. The microcellular foam of the present invention is advantageous in that it has a thicker skin layer and smaller and uniform micropores in the core layer, compared with conventional microcellular foams, while having mechanical properties comparable to those of conventional non-foamed sheets.
US08398901B2
A new method to produce solid nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) films containing patterns by differential heating of aqueous suspensions of NCC has been discovered. When acid-form NCC suspensions are dried by heating to temperatures above 50° C., darkening of the NCC can occur, while neutral forms of NCC can produce iridescent chiral nematic films by heating to temperatures up to 105° C. Placing materials of different thermal conductivity beneath the container containing an evaporating NCC suspension results in watermark-like patterns of different iridescent color imprinted within the film structure. Other colloidal rod-like particles can be employed in place of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), for example chitin or chitosan.
US08398896B2
Described are aluminum pastes comprising spherical-shaped and nodular-shaped particulate aluminum and an organic vehicle and their use in forming p-type aluminum back electrodes of silicon solar cells.
US08398879B2
A powder mixture, which contains a soft magnetic powder and an insulating powder lubricant in an amount of 0.1% by mass or more relative to the soft magnetic powder, is formed by compacting at a compacting pressure of 800 MPa or less, thereby obtaining a powder compact that has a space factor of the soft magnetic powder of 93% or more. The powder compact can be used as a soft magnetic powdered core. The soft magnetic powdered core has a specific resistance or 10,000 μΩcm or more. A powder of a metal soap such as barium stearate or lithium stearate is used as the insulating powder lubricant.
US08398869B2
A method of fabricating a circuit includes bonding an electrically conductive layer to a carrier film using an adhesive selected from acrylic polymer and silicone polymer, removing selected portions of the electrically conductive layer from the carrier film to provide a circuit arrangement, and transferring the circuit arrangement from the carrier film to a substrate.
US08398867B2
Method for producing a probe for atomic force microscopy with a silicon nitride cantilever and an integrated single crystal silicon tetrahedral tip with high resonant frequencies and low spring constants intended for high speed AFM imaging.
US08398866B2
A microchip for forming an emulsion has a first glass substrate, a second glass substrate and a silicon substrate. The silicon substrate has formed therein a first fluid flow path through which a first fluid flows and a second fluid flow path through which a second fluid that is not mixed with the first fluid flows. The first fluid flow path has a plurality of branched flow paths that join at a joint portion. The second fluid flow path communicates with the joint portion. The silicon substrate has formed therein an emulsion formation flow path that faces an edge portion of the second fluid flow path at the joint portion. An emulsion composed of the first fluid and the second fluid that is surrounded by the first fluid is formed in the emulsion formation flow path.
US08398865B2
A method of manufacturing a mechanical part includes the steps of providing a micro-machinable substrate; etching a pattern which includes the part through the entire substrate using photolithography; mounting the etched substrate on a support so as to leave the top and bottom surfaces of said substrate accessible for coating; depositing a tribological quality improving coating of on the outer surface of the part; and releasing the part from the substrate.
US08398859B2
Device for haemodiafiltration, which comprises a first circuit for a dialysis solution and a second circuit for blood, so that the toxic substances from the blood flow pass into the dialysis liquid within a haemofilter (11), a liquid pump (20) located upstream of the haemofilter (11) in the first dialysis liquid circuit, is adapted for injecting replacement liquid into the dialysis solution flow after a blood pump (15) finishes pumping blood to the interior of the haemofilter (11).
US08398857B2
This invention is directed to a process for separating a solute from a solute-bearing material. A substantial amount of solute is extracted from the solute-bearing material by contacting particles of the solute-bearing material with globules of an extraction solvent. The particle size of the solute-bearing material and the globule size of the extraction solvent are balanced such that little if any solute or extraction solvent remains in the solute-bearing material.
US08398856B2
Systems and methods for the bioremediation of soluble sulfates from an environmental effluent, include a first chamber including lactic acid bacteria immobilized on a first matrix and a second chamber including sulfate-reducing bacteria immobilized on a second matrix. The methods include providing the lactic acid bacteria a suitable medium for the production of lactic acid, which is directed to the culture of sulfate-reducing bacteria for use as a substrate/electron donor for the reduction of sulfates present in the environmental effluent.
US08398854B2
The present invention relates to a filter system (1) for removing impurities from a fluid, having a filter housing (2) enclosing a housing interior (3), and having at least one cylindrical filter body (9) provided in the filter housing (2), said filter body separating an uncleaned space (10) from a clean space (11) in the housing interior (3). In order to be able to more simply adapt the filter system (1) to different filtration levels, each filter body (9) has at least two cylindrical filter elements (12) that are designed as identical components and that are axially attached to one another.
US08398849B2
A system and method are outlined for controlling and optimizing chemical injection into a process unit to control fouling. The method uses an optical device to measure the fouling propensity of the process fluid at various points within the process unit. The measurements are compared with one another and prediction methods are used to evaluate the fouling potential within the unit, and determine the proper chemical dosage. Antifoulant chemical is then introduced into the unit to control the rate of fouling. The method and application continue on a frequent basis to maintain optimal fouling control within the unit.
US08398847B2
One or more computer implemented methods for continuously processing used oils are provided. The method can include a feedstock tank containing feedstock. The feedstock tank can have a sparger and a level sensor. The feedstock tank can be in fluid communication with a first pump, a first filter, a heater, a second filter, first flow meter, a primary nozzle, a secondary nozzle, a motionless inline static mixer, and a first reactor.
US08398845B2
A measuring device for analyzing a sample liquid having at least one analyte is provided. A test field support housed in the device includes a number of individual test fields in communication with electrochemical measuring cells of the test field support. Reagents can be assigned to the electrochemical measuring cells which can react with a sample liquid. The reaction can lead to a measurable change of at least one quantity characteristic of the presence or concentration of an analyte in the sample. The measuring device includes evaluation electronics. The individual test fields on the test field support are accessible to the user after the measuring device has been opened.
US08398830B2
Disclosed therein are a method and a system for anodizing metals. The anodizing system includes: an electrolytic bath storing electrolyte of a predetermined amount therein; an anode line mounted on an upper portion of the electrolytic bath, the anode line having insulation blocks for dividing the anode line into several sections; a cathode line disposed outside the anode line, the cathode line having insulation blocks mounted correspondingly to the insulation blocks of the anode line for dividing the cathode line into several sections; a chain connected to a driving sprocket and a driven sprocket inside the anode line, the chain having a plurality of transfer blocks; and hangers electrically connected to the anode line and adapted to fixe and support objects to be plated, which are deposited in the electrolyte.
US08398828B1
The present disclosure is generally directed to devices and methods of treating aqueous solutions to help remove or otherwise reduce levels, concentrations or amounts of one or more contaminants. The present disclosure relates to an apparatus comprising spaced-apart electrode structural support members extending from a first sidewall to a second sidewall, the spaced-apart electrode structural support members each having at least one photoelectrode and counterelectrode coupled to respective terminals adapted to be electrically coupled to a power supply, and at least one ultraviolet light source between the spaced-apart electrode support members.
US08398826B2
The present invention generally comprises a semiconductor film and the reactive sputtering process used to deposit the semiconductor film. The sputtering target may comprise pure zinc (i.e., 99.995 atomic percent or greater), which may be doped with aluminum (about 1 atomic percent to about 20 atomic percent) or other doping metals. The zinc target may be reactively sputtered by introducing nitrogen and oxygen to the chamber. The amount of nitrogen may be significantly greater than the amount of oxygen and argon gas. The amount of oxygen may be based upon a turning point of the film structure, the film transmittance, a DC voltage change, or the film conductivity based upon measurements obtained from deposition without the nitrogen containing gas. The reactive sputtering may occur at temperatures from about room temperature up to several hundred degrees Celsius. After deposition, the semiconductor film may be annealed to further improve the film mobility.
US08398825B2
A mode shifting apparatus for a decoking tool, a decoking tool and method of operating same. The apparatus includes features to make it rotatably and translationally responsive to changes in pressure of a decoking fluid such that the apparatus is cooperative with the tool and the decoking fluid in a first operating condition to establish a drilling mode with one or more of the tool's drilling nozzles, and in a second operating condition to establish a cutting mode with one or more of the tool's cutting nozzles. In one form, the apparatus includes one or more sets of tandem seals disposed along a component interface within the apparatus or between the apparatus and the tool to help redundantly isolate seizure-sensitive components within the apparatus from the pressurized decoking fluid. In another form, the apparatus includes a gas spring to counteract the forces imposed by the pressurized decoking fluid. In another form, the apparatus includes a manual override connection.
US08398823B2
A press felt (1) has a front side (1a), a rear side (1b) and fibers (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g) which, on their fiber surface, have channels (20) which extend between a first end (11) and a second end (12) of the respective fiber (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g), the first end (11) pointing in the direction of the front side (1a) and the second end (12) pointing in the direction of the rear side (1b). Furthermore, the press felt (1) can be used for mechanically dewatering a paper web (100) in a papermaking machine.
US08398821B2
Fibrous structures comprising an additive, more particularly finished fibrous structures comprising a low surface energy solid additive, and/or sanitary tissue products comprising such finished fibrous structures, are provided.
US08398820B2
A method of making a belt-creped absorbent cellulosic sheet includes compactively dewatering a papermaking furnish to form a nascent web having an apparently random distribution of papermaking fiber, applying the nascent web having the apparently random fiber distribution to a translating transfer surface that is moving at a transfer surface speed, belt-creping the web from the transfer surface at a consistency of from about 30 to about 60 percent utilizing a patterned creping belt, the belt-creping step occurring under pressure of at least 20 pounds per linear inch in a belt creping nip defined between the transfer surface and the creping belt. The belt is traveling at a belt speed that is slower than the speed of the transfer surface. The web is creped from the transfer surface and redistributed on the creping belt.
US08398818B2
An absorbent cellulosic sheet having a variable local basis weight includes a patterned papermaking-fiber reticulum provided with (a) a plurality of generally machine direction (MD) oriented elongated densified regions of compressed paper-making fibers having a relatively low local basis weight as well as leading and trailing edges, the densified regions being arranged in a repeating pattern of a plurality of generally parallel linear arrays that are longitudinally staggered with respect to each other such that a plurality of intervening linear arrays are disposed between a pair of cross machine (CD) direction aligned densified regions, and (b) a plurality of fiber-enriched, pileated regions having a relatively high local basis weight interspersed between and connected with the densified regions, the pileated regions having crests extending generally in the cross-machine direction of the sheet.
US08398817B2
Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus to improve the etching uniformity when a back surface of a substrate is etched with a high-temperature chemical liquid. The chemical-liquid processing apparatus removes a film formed on a substrate by etching with a high-temperature chemical liquid. The apparatus includes a substrate holding mechanism to hold the substrate horizontally in a state where a back surface of the substrate faces downward, a rotating mechanism to rotate the substrate holding mechanism by a hollow rotating shaft extending vertically, a chemical-liquid discharge nozzle to supply the high-temperature chemical liquid to the back surface of the substrate by discharging the high-temperature chemical liquid upwardly, and a chemical-liquid supply mechanism to supply the chemical liquid to the chemical-liquid discharge nozzle. The chemical-liquid discharge nozzle includes a plurality of outlets discharging the high-temperature chemical liquid to a plurality of contacting places on the back surface of the substrate in different distances from the center of the back surface of the substrate, other than the center of the back surface of the substrate.
US08398816B1
Porogen accumulation in a UV-cure chamber is reduced by removing outgassed porogen through a heated outlet while purge gas is flowed across a window through which a wafer is exposed to UV light. A purge ring having specific major and minor exhaust to inlet area ratios may be partially made of flame polished quartz to improve flow dynamics. The reduction in porogen accumulation allows more wafers to be processed between chamber cleans, thus improving throughput and cost.
US08398810B2
An aqueous composition comprising a) a polymer obtainable by free-radical polymerization b) a tricyclic diterpene derivative or a mixture of tricyclic diterpene derivatives (referred to collectively as tricyclic diterpene for short) c) a metal salt of an organic acid d) if appropriate filler.
US08398805B2
The invention provides a manufacturing system and a manufacturing method of an optical display device which can bond an optical film to one surface and the other surface of an optical display unit in such a manner that optical anisotropies are orthogonal, by using two material rolls in which their optical anisotropies are the same direction such as an absorption axis. The manufacturing system of the optical display device in which the optical film is bonded to the optical display unit is provided with a supplying apparatus of a first sheet material supplying after cutting into a predetermined length, and a supplying apparatus of a second sheet material supplying after cutting into a predetermined length, and the supplying apparatus of the first sheet material and the supplying apparatus of the second sheet material are structured such that one supplying apparatus cuts a long sheet material having a width corresponding to a short side into a length corresponding to a long side, and the other supplying apparatus cuts a long sheet material having a width corresponding to the long side into a length corresponding to the short side, in correspondence to the long side and the short side of the optical display unit.
US08398802B2
A method of producing a corrugated product comprises the steps of providing at least one medium conditioning apparatus upstream of at least one of a corrugating labyrinth, single-facer, and/or double-backer. The moisture content in at least one of a web of medium material, first face-sheet, and/or second face-sheet is adjusted to be in the range of 6-9 wt. % moisture by applying a substantially continuous thin film of liquid thereto using the at least one medium conditioning apparatus. In one example, at least one heating arrangement is arranged downstream from the at least one medium conditioning apparatus to heat at least one of the web of medium material, first-face sheet, and/or second face-sheet.
US08398797B2
A method for producing a cordierite-based ceramic honeycomb filter comprising the steps of introducing a plugging material of a cordierite-forming material into predetermined flow paths of a sintered, cordierite-based ceramic honeycomb having an outer diameter of 150 mm or more, and drying and sintering the resultant plugs, the sintering step comprising a temperature-elevating process, a temperature-keeping process and a temperature-lowering process, and the temperature-elevating process having a temperature-elevating speed of 70-500° C./hr from 800° C. to the highest keeping temperature.
US08398789B2
Superelastic and/or shape memory nickel-titanium alloys having an increased fatigue life that is superior to known nickel-titanium alloys are disclosed. The nickel-titanium alloys have a minimum fatigue life that may be at least about 10 million strain cycles at a strain of at least about 0.75. The minimum fatigue life may be due, at least in part, to the nickel-titanium alloy having at least one of an oxygen concentration of less than about 200 ppm, a carbon concentration of less than about 200 ppm, the absence of oxide-based and/or carbide-based inclusions having a size greater than about 5 microns (μm), the presence of an R-phase, or combinations of the foregoing. Articles manufactured from such fatigue-resistant nickel-titanium alloys can be more durable because they are more resistant to repetitive strain and crack propagation.
US08398787B2
A high-strength steel sheet is provided which, even when subjected to long-term stress-relief annealing after welding, decreases little in strength and which has satisfactory low-temperature HAZ toughness. The high-strength steel sheet has a chemical composition adequately regulated and has a CP value defined by the following equation (1) of 5.40% or higher and a carbon equivalent (Ceq) defined by the following equation (2) of 0.45% or lower. CP value=125[Ti]+111[Nb]+60[V]+15[Mo] (1) ([Ti], [Nb], [V], and [Mo] indicate the contents (mass %) of Ti, Nb, V, and Mo, respectively.) Ceq=[C]+[Mn]/6+([Cr]+[Mo]+[V])/5+([Cu]+[Ni])/15 (2) ([C], [Mn], [Cr], [Mo], [V], [Cu], and [Ni] indicate the contents (mass %) of C, Mn, Cr, Mo, V, Cu, and Ni, respectively.
US08398784B2
A dishwasher includes a washing container, devices for washing dishes by means of rinsing liquor, and a sorption drying device which is connected in an air-conducting manner to the washing container via an outlet of the washing container and an inlet of the washing container. The sorption drying device is provided with a sorption column encompassing reversibly dehydratable material and is disposed between a wall of the washing container and an exterior housing wall of the dishwasher.
US08398782B2
A protective arrangement for protecting a control device associated with a dishwashing appliance is provided. A door assembly is pivotably engaged with a tub portion of the dishwashing appliance and cooperates therewith to cover a forward access opening defined by the tub portion. The control device is mounted to the door assembly and is adapted to selectively direct operation of at least one operational component of the dishwashing appliance. The protective arrangement is configured to wrap about the control device so as to be at least partially disposed between the control device and door assembly. The protective member is further disposed between a detergent dispensing device and the control device to at least partially prevent contact between dishwashing fluid from the detergent dispensing device and the control device. An associated apparatus and method are also provided.
US08398776B2
One aspect involves: supporting a workpiece with workpiece support structure that includes spaced support parts, a support section supporting the support parts, and a workpiece holding adhesive on each support part, where the adhesives engage respective regions of a surface portion on the workpiece; and supplying a coating material toward a different surface portion of the workpiece. A different aspect involves: supporting a workpiece with workpiece support structure that includes a workpiece support member with a surface portion extending approximately parallel to a direction, and a workpiece support part having two adhesive portions that respectively engage the surface portion on the support member and a surface portion on the workpiece; and supplying a coating material in the direction, toward a different surface portion of the workpiece.
US08398772B1
An apparatus for reactive thermal treatment of thin film photovoltaic devices includes a furnace tube including an inner wall extended from a first end to a second end. The apparatus further includes a gas supply device coupled to the second end and configured to fill one or more working gases into the furnace tube. Additionally, the apparatus includes a cover configured to seal the furnace tube at the first end and serve as a heat sink for the one or more working gases. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a fixture mechanically attached to the cover. The fixture is configured to load an array of substrates into the furnace tube as the cover seals the furnace tube. Moreover, the apparatus includes a crescent shaped baffle member disposed seamlessly at a lower portion of the inner wall for blocking a convection current of the one or more working gases cooled by the cover.
US08398755B2
An integrated fiber membrane module for air dehydration and air separation includes dehydration and separation units disposed concentrically in a generally cylindrical module. Air flows through the outer dehydration unit, becomes dried, and is then directed, in an opposite direction, through the separation unit. The permeate gas from the separation unit serves as a sweep gas for the dehydration unit. A portion of dried gas produced by the dehydration unit may be used as a sweep gas for the separation unit, and also for the dehydration unit. The module makes it feasible to dry and separate air using a device which occupies relatively little space, and which is therefore especially suited for use in aircraft and in other cramped environments.
US08398751B2
Systems and methods for the separation of a particulate-fluid suspension are provided. An apparatus for the separation of a particulate-fluid suspension can include an enclosed vessel having two or more sections disposed coaxially along a common longitudinal centerline, wherein a first section has a first cross sectional area and a second section has a second cross sectional area. A plurality of apertures can be disposed about the second section. The apparatus can have a cylindrical surface, parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the apparatus, disposed within the first section. A fluid distribution channel having a plurality of apertures can be disposed either about an exterior surface or an interior of the apparatus. A plurality of fluid conduits can provide fluid communication between the fluid distribution channel and the plurality of apertures distributed about the second section.
US08398743B2
A method for processing flue-gas, in an exemplary embodiment, includes providing an absorber unit having a membrane contactor, channeling a combustion flue gas along a first surface of the membrane contactor, and channeling an ammonia-based liquid reagent along a second opposing surface of the membrane contactor. The method also includes partially separating the ammonia-based liquid from the flue gas such that the ammonia-based liquid and the flue gas contact at gas-liquid interface areas, defined by a plurality of pores of the membrane contactor, to separate CO2 from the flue gas by a chemical absorption of CO2 within the ammonia-based liquid to produce a CO2-rich ammonia-based liquid.
US08398738B2
The invention is directed to a method for producing an oxygenated biochar material possessing a cation-exchanging property, wherein a biochar source is reacted with one or more oxygenating compounds in such a manner that the biochar source homogeneously acquires oxygen-containing cation-exchanging groups in an incomplete combustion process. The invention is also directed to oxygenated biochar compositions and soil formulations containing the oxygenated biochar material.
US08398737B2
A mat member includes an inorganic fiber, an organic binder, and a material which expands at a temperature of approximately 130° C. to approximately 200° C.
US08398735B2
A filter element includes support grid secured about its periphery edges to a periphery frame member. A pleated filter media is secured to the frame member and is sized and positioned to fully cover the filter fluid aperture. The support grid is positioned such that it is effective in providing support to the filter media against fluid forces. At least one elongated comb member is provided and includes a plurality of spaced tapered teeth protruding outwards towards the filter media. The teeth are sized and spaced to be received into at least a portion of grooves present between the pleats of the filter media. The teeth of the comb member are sized and spaced to regulate filter media pleat separation and spacing.
US08398724B2
Methods for providing, at the discretion of the user, at least two different oxidative hair coloring compositions providing different level of lift based on a single tint component. The methods involve the use of a tint component, an oxidizing component and a third component comprising a non-ammonia alkalizing agent. The compositions may comprise little or no ammonia.
US08398710B2
A breast implant system is provided comprising a plurality of chambers including one or more first fluid chambers (1) and one or more second fluid chambers (2). The first fluid chamber (1) forms part of a breast implant (10), whereas the second fluid chamber (2) may also form part of the breast implant or may be implanted remote from the breast implant. The first and second fluid chambers are interconnected so as to allow exchange of fluid between the first and second chambers, thereby causing the shape and, depending upon the specific embodiment, also the volume to change accordingly.
US08398707B2
The invention features a valve holder for a prosthetic valve having a stent with a stent base and multiple commissure posts projecting from the stent base. The valve holder includes (i) a central base portion, (ii) a plurality of legs radially extending from the central base portion, and (iii) a handle extending from the central base portion. At least one of the legs of the holder has a first prong portion separated from a second prong portion by a gap. The leg also has a of commissure post engaging member that is slideably engaged with the leg.
US08398705B2
A bioabsorable stent is disclosed. The stent is made of a bioabsorable material and has an elongated body having a proximate end, a distal end, and at least one open channel formed on the exterior surface of the elongated body to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end. Also disclosed is a bioabsorable stent having an elongated center rod having a proximate end and a distal end and a plurality of leaflets extending outward from the center rod and forming channels between two neighboring leaflets to provide fluid communication between the proximal end and the distal end.
US08398693B2
The present invention relates to medical devices for implantation or insertion into body lumens, for example, catheters, guidewires, stents and aneurysm coils. The devices of the present invention comprise electrically actuated materials, such as electroactive polymers and piezoelectric and electrostrictive materials, which enhance or expand their functionality.
US08398690B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide rotationally asymmetric bone screws. Embodiments of the present invention provide mechanisms that reduce the bending stiffness of conventional shaft bone screws in order to yield a less-rigid fixation construct. Such a less-rigid construct enables a controlled amount of motion at a fracture site which in turn promotes bone healing. As a means to reduce the bending stiffness of positive-locking bone screws, embodiments of the present invention provide a bone screw having a non-circular cross-section over parts of the screw length and/or longitudinal slots along at least a portion of the bone screw.
US08398680B2
A crimpable magnesium sleeve for securing a suture within the body and for dissolving over time while introducing only compatible amounts of magnesium into the body. An instrument for placing such a sleeve on a suture crimping the sleeve and cutting the suture after placement. An alloy of magnesium, zinc, and aluminum may be used to form the sleeve.
US08398672B2
A method and an apparatus for anchoring a medical implant device within a blood vessel or other body passageway are described herein. An anchor delivery system houses one or more expandable anchors connected to the medical implant device. The anchors remain housed in a non-expanded configuration until the medical implant device has been placed in a desired position within the body, and then the anchors are propelled through a body wall where each anchor expands outwardly from an anchor shaft. In one configuration, each anchor is formed as a compressible closed loop which extends outwardly from an anchor shaft and loops back to cross over and extend beyond the anchor shaft. To propel the anchors, a drive shaft is connected to a triggering unit which, when activated, causes the drive shaft to drive the anchor shafts in a direction such that the anchors are propelled through the body wall.
US08398668B2
Methods, devices, tools and assemblies for treating a patient to effect weight loss. One method embodiment involves passing a device including an expandable member in a collapsed configuration and a buoyancy member through an opening in the skin of a patient and into the abdominal cavity of the patient, and anchoring at least a portion of the expandable member, relative to at least one structure in the abdominal cavity. Devices including at least one expandable member and at least one buoyancy member are provided.
US08398650B1
An orthopaedic prosthetic inserter used for the implantation of double mobility implants is described. The inserter consists of a drive train, a C-shaped housing, and a prosthetic cup grabbing subassembly. The subassembly comprises a frustro-conical nose and an expandable dome. When activated by the drive train, the dome expands into the cup of the prosthetic to manipulate the prosthetic during implantation.
US08398648B2
A method is disclosed and can include engaging a harvest guide with bony tissue and placing a cutting device within the harvest guide. The harvest guide can maintain the cutting device substantially perpendicular to a tangent through a point on the bony tissue aligned with the cutting device. The cutting device can be an osteochondral chisel, a trephine, or a combination thereof.
US08398645B2
A number of orthopaedic surgical instruments are also disclosed. A method, apparatus, and system for fabricating such instruments are also disclosed.
US08398640B2
The invention includes a system and method for the loosening of tissue. In one embodiment, a device for use in an intervertebral tissue removal procedure includes a cannula having a first end portion for insertion into tissue, a feed passage within the cannula, a return passage within the cannula, and a loosening member movable within the feed passage and the return passage and at least partially deployable away from the first end portion of the cannula.
US08398639B2
A surgical driver including an open frame and a plurality of drive shafts rotatably routed in said open frame.
US08398634B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a replaceable electrosurgical end effector cartridge is provided to couple to a mechanical wrist of a surgical instrument for a robotic surgical system. The replaceable electrosurgical end effector cartridge includes two pluggable end effectors and a pair of spring latches. The two end effectors are moveable end effectors having a jaw portion, an off-center portion, and a base portion in one embodiment. The replaceable electrosurgical end effector cartridge may further include a fastener to rotatably couple the end effectors together.
US08398630B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for non-continuous circumferential treatment of a body lumen. Apparatus may be positioned within a body lumen of a patient and may deliver energy at a first lengthwise and angular position to create a less-than-full circumferential treatment zone at the first position. The apparatus also may deliver energy at one or more additional lengthwise and angular positions within the body lumen to create less-than-full circumferential treatment zone(s) at the one or more additional positions that are offset lengthwise and angularly from the first treatment zone. Superimposition of the first treatment zone and the one or more additional treatment zones defines a non-continuous circumferential treatment zone without formation of a continuous circumferential lesion. Various embodiments of methods and apparatus for achieving such non-continuous circumferential treatment are provided.
US08398629B2
Tissue ablation probes, systems, and methods are provided for treating tissue (e.g., a tumor). The probe comprises an inner probe shaft, and an outer probe shaft disposed around the inner probe shaft. The outer probe shaft has a distal portion fixably mounted to the inner probe shaft, and a proximal portion rotatably mounted to the inner probe shaft. The probe further comprises a coiled ablation electrode disposed between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The electrode is configured for unwinding when the proximal portion rotates about the inner probe shaft in one direction, thereby placing the electrode in a radially expanded geometry, and configured for winding when the proximal portion rotates about the inner probe shaft in another opposite direction, thereby placing the electrode in a radially collapsed geometry.
US08398618B2
A medical instrument comprises a shaft which is connected at the proximal end to a handle, and it also comprises an insert which is guided along the shaft and which is connected at the proximal end to a movable grip part of the handle. At its distal end, the insert has a tool which can be actuated by pivoting of the grip part. A lock is also provided which can be brought into locking engagement with the movable grip part. To cancel the lock function, a detent is provided which can be brought between lock and movable grip part, such that the lock function can be cancelled by the detent.
US08398611B2
Compositions and methods are provided for treating joint conditions, such as osteoarthritis and/or the pain associated therewith. The compositions and methods utilize a first component, namely hyaluraonic acid (“HA”), in combination with a lyophilized second component that is effective to at least temporarily reduce the viscosity of the HA. In an exemplary embodiment, the second component is one or more glycosaminoglycans (“GAG”), such as chondroitin sulfate (“CS”), including CS4 and/or CS6, dermatan sulfate, heparin, heparan sulfate, and keratan sulfate. The composition can optionally include other joint supplements, such as glucosamine (“GlcN”).
US08398608B2
A device for expelling a fluid through a needle mounted on a hub includes an elongated luer member that has a distal portion dimensioned to engage the needle hub to provide fluid communication between the luer member and the needle. An adapter anchors the luer member within the device. Slidingly mounted on the adapter is a cylindrical-shaped inverted plunger that is movable thereon between an advanced position and a withdrawn position. A needle guard is biased by a biasing member to extend distally from the luer member when the plunger is in the advanced position. The guard is selectively engageable with the plunger to be retracted to expose the distal portion of the luer member for fluid engagement with the needle hub when the plunger is moved to the withdrawn position.
US08398606B2
A multi-layered, absorbent perineal pad is disclosed that has a generally ovate cross-section. In disclosed embodiments, the pad has an absorbent outer layer, antimicrobial intermediate layer, and absorbent inner layer. At least two opposing edges of the pad are sealed to one another so that the absorbent inner layer encloses an internal cavity within the pad. The pad may be used to absorb liquids from perineal structures (such as vaginal or anal liquids) or administer agents to perineal structures. Liquids that are absorbed in the pad can be subjected to diagnostic assays.
US08398593B2
A brake mechanism for an injection device for generating a braking action on a moving, e.g. rotating, part or component of the injection device.
US08398584B2
A breast pump convertible between a single breast pump mode and a double breast pump mode. The breast pump includes a pump and a conduit assembly coupled to the pump and at least one breast shield. The breast pump is operable to convert between the single breast pump mode and the double breast pump mode while maintaining substantially the same vacuum level applied to one of the breasts.
US08398574B1
An athletic undergarment has a pants with a trunk and legs. A cup pouch is adjustably attached to a waistband supports a cup protector assembly having a bellows and bladder providing a protective comfortable air cushion for a person's groin area. Adjustable knee supports are attached to the legs.
US08398570B2
An eccentric mass (EM) motor in a vibrotactile transducer provides a wide band vibrational stimulus to a mechanical load in response to an electrical input. The eccentric mass and motor may form part of the transducer actuator moving mass, which is in contact with a load, i.e, the skin of a user. The moving mass and the actuator housing may be in simultaneous contact with the load. The moving mass may be guided by a spring between the actuator housing and the moving mass. The load, moving mass, spring compliance, and housing mass make up a moving mass resonant system. The spring compliance and system component masses may be configured to maximize the actuator displacement and/or tailor the transducer response to a desired level. This configuration may be implemented as a low-mass wearable wide-band vibrotactile transducer.
US08398563B2
A method for hair cell stimulation includes determining a frequency band corresponding to damaged hair cell region in accordance with a preset algorithm, determining the frequency band corresponding to the damaged hair cell region as a target frequency band, and outputting an acoustic signal with given intensity to the target frequency band so as to stimulate the damaged hair cell region. The method treats hearing loss by acoustic signal.
US08398552B2
In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus for performing serial transfer between an ultrasonic probe and an apparatus main body, stable image formation can be performed even when transfer quality is poor while realizing downsizing of the ultrasonic probe. The apparatus includes: (i) an ultrasonic probe including a reception signal processing unit for generating parallel sample data based on reception signals outputted from plural ultrasonic transducers, a parallel/serial conversion unit for converting the parallel sample data into serial sample data, and a communication unit for transmitting the sample data; and (ii) an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body including a storage unit for storing the sample data of at least one frame transmitted from the ultrasonic probe, and an image forming unit for generating an image signal by performing reception focusing processing on the sample data with respect to every one frame read out from the storage unit.
US08398548B2
In an ultrasound diagnosis, the inventor has found a characteristic that coincidence of RF data after matching addition or amplitude image data at the small opening are different between those of an isolated point (minute structure), a continuous surface, and a speckle. On the basis of the characteristic, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and method which can distinguish and extract the isolated point, the continuous surface, and the speckle and determine a tissue property are provided.
US08398546B2
A nutrition and activity management system is disclosed that monitors energy expenditure of an individual through the use of a body-mounted sensing apparatus. The apparatus is particularly adapted for continuous wear. The system is also adaptable or applicable to measuring a number of other physiological parameters and reporting the same and derivations of such parameters. A weight management embodiment is directed to achieving an optimum or preselected energy balance between calories consumed and energy expended by the user. An adaptable computerized nutritional tracking system is utilized to obtain data regarding food consumed, Relevant and predictive feedback is provided to the user regarding the mutual effect of the user's energy expenditure, food consumption and other measured or derived or manually input physiological contextual parameters upon progress toward said goal.
US08398543B2
A capsule endoscope that includes a capsule-shaped casing and a detecting unit that is provided inside the casing to detect a magnetic field orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the casing, the endoscope being activated when the detecting unit detects a magnetic field of a threshold or more; a capsule container that houses the endoscope; a route portion in which a route is formed on which the container moves on a planar face; an activation magnetic field generating unit that is arranged at an interval along the route, and includes magnets for generating magnetic fields in a direction vertical to a direction in which the container moves on the route, the magnets being arranged such that respective magnetization directions are different; and a response unit that has a magnetization direction orthogonal respectively to a center axis direction of the longitudinal direction and a direction of the detected magnetic field.
US08398540B2
A disposable endoscope body having an enclosure in its distal end for a non-disposable element, such as a video camera head. Because of its complexity and sensitivity, the camera head is non-disposable and cannot be sterilized. The camera head is sealed in the endoscope body, such that it does not contaminate the patient during the procedure. Sealing is achieved using an end cap. After use, the camera is withdrawn from the proximal end of the endoscope, which, being near to or within the workstation, has not been inserted into the subject and should be free of patient contamination. Passage of the camera out through the proximal end therefore avoids contamination by the patient, such that it can be used again without need for sterilization. A dispensing kit is described, for supplying the sterile endoscope body and for installing and sealing the camera with a minimum of manual intervention.
US08398531B2
An apparatus for overall bodily mobilization of a human subject may include a frame for resting fixed on the ground, a platform for supporting the subject that can be moved relative to the frame, and motorized operating means for operating the platform relative to the frame. The operating means may be configured to both (1) throw the platform offcenter relative to a fixed axis substantially vertical and (2) rotate the platform about the fixed axis when the platform is offcenter. The platform may be provided with movable peripheral bearing means on corresponding supporting means that are secured to the frame. The bearing means may enable the platform to rest on the frame while tilting it in an adjustable manner relative to the horizontal in a plane passing through the fixed axis and a central zone of the platform when the operating means throw the platform offcenter relative to this axis.
US08398529B2
An exercise treadmill for simulating a dragging or pulling action, having an endless moveable surface looped around rollers or pulleys to form an upper run and a lower run, with an exercise surface for walking or running on while operating the treadmill; and a moment arm weight resistance means for simulating the dragging or pulling of a load.
US08398528B2
A spinal correction device that corrects the spinal column of a user comprising a lower limb exercising part that swings the lumber region to impart a symmetrical motion to positions symmetrical with respect to the spinal column of a user facing forward with his or her trunk erect, a pair of gripping parts provided in a position in front of the lower limb exercising part and gripped by both hands of the user, and a control unit that relatively moves the gripping parts with respect to the lower limb exercising part between the position in front of the lower limb exercising part and a lateral position, with the lower limb exercising part in a driven state.
US08398525B2
A planetary gear reduction system has a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, a ring gear, and a planet carrier. The planet carrier has a first plate supporting one ends of planet shafts supporting the planet gears, a second plate supporting the other ends of the planet shafts, and a cylindrical drum connecting the first and second plates. The first plate has first portions supporting the one ends of the planet shafts; second portions connecting the first plate to the drum, the first and second portions being provided alternately in a circumferential direction; first cutouts each defined between the neighboring first and second portions, the first cutouts each extending radially inwardly from a circumferential edge thereof to a position adjacent a circle passing centers of the planet shafts; and second cutouts each defined radially inward of the second portion and between the neighboring two first portions, the second cutouts each extending radially inwardly from a first region outside the circle and a second region inside the circle.
US08398522B2
A multi-stage transmission comprising planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts, and shift elements. Gearsets (P1, P2) form a front -mounted gear gearset and gearsets (P3, P4) form a main gearset. The carriers of gearsets (P1, P2) are coupled via shaft (4) which couples a main gearset element. The ring gear of gearset (P1) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) via shaft (8) that couples drive shaft (1) via clutch (18). The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples housing (G) by shaft (3) via brake (03), and shaft (1) via clutch (13). The ring gear of gearset (P2) couples housing (G) by shaft (5) via brake (05). Shaft (7) couples main gearset element, and, via brake (07), housing (G). Shaft (6) couples another main gearset element and, via clutch (16), shaft (1). The output shaft couples a further main gearset element.
US08398521B2
The invention discloses a mechanical torque converter (100) having a casing (6), an input shaft (2) entering casing (6) and rotatable within the casing (6). An output shaft (5) exits casing (6) and is rotatable within casing (6). A gearbox (1) is located within casing (6) and coupled to input shaft (2). An escapement device (3) is within casing (6) and coupled to gearbox (1) to brake gearbox (1) under low speed and a clutch (4) co-operates with output shaft (5) and gearbox (1).
US08398517B2
A journal bearing includes a central body having first passageway and a filter module. The central body extends axially and is adapted to be supported at each outer end. The first passageway extends generally axially through a portion of the central body. The filter module is disposed in the first passageway and is configured to trap debris from a lubricant fluid flowing therethrough. In one embodiment, the filter module is adapted to be inserted and removed from the first passageway as a single unit, thereby allowing the filter module to be connected and disconnected from fluid communication with a lubricant manifold positioned adjacent the journal bearing.
US08398511B2
The present invention relates to inflatable neoprene bladders and method of manufacturing inflatable neoprene bladders. The invention also relates to inflatable articles having an inflatable neoprene bladder wherein the article has an idealized shape and superior resiliency and air retention. Finally, the invention relates to sportsballs and gameballs having an inflatable neoprene bladder.
US08398507B2
A golf ball comprising a single layer core formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, and a cover layer disposed thereabout. The single layer core has an inner core region disposed about the geometric center and an outer core region that is disposed about the inner core region and is adjacent the outer surface, the outer core region having a thickness of about 15 mm or less. The inner core region has a hardness that increases radially from the geometric center toward the outer core region in a plurality of increments of about 5 Shore C. The inner core region has a first hardness (IC1h) and the outer core region has a second hardness (OC2h) such that (OC2h)>(IC1h) and a hardness of the outer surface (OSh) is greater than a hardness of the geometric center (GCh), represented by the relationship (OSh)>(GCh).
US08398505B2
A golf club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a crown, a toe, a heel, a sole, and a skirt extending between the crown and the sole and between the toe and the heel. The club head includes a drag-reducing structure that may include one or both of a continuous groove extending from a front portion to a rear edge of the toe, and along an entire length of the skirt, and a substantially V-shaped recess formed in the sole and having a vertex positioned proximate the ball striking face and the heel and away from the skirt and the toe, and a pair of legs extending to a point proximate the toe and away from the ball striking face, and curving toward the skirt and away from the ball striking face.
US08398494B2
A constant velocity universal joint has a boot with enhanced durability and compactness, which are achieved by suppressing abrasion of the boot. The constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member, an inner joint member, a torque transmitting member, a shaft, and a boot. The surface roughness of an outer peripheral surface of the shaft satisfies Rsk<0, Rpk<2 μm, and Ra<4 μm.
US08398492B2
A damper includes an outer cover having a front cover and a rear cover. The covers are joined to form a lubricant oil accommodation chamber for accommodating liquid. A damper device, a limiter mechanism, a first plate including a first collar portion located toward the front of the limiter mechanism, and a second plate including a second collar portion located toward the rear of the limiter mechanism are arranged in the outer cover. The limiter mechanism includes a first limiter plate, which is an input side on the torque transmission path, a second limiter plate, which is an output side on the torque transmission path, and a limiter disc spring, which presses the limiter plates.
US08398488B2
For a user having a user input actuator, a virtual interface device, such as for a gaming machine, for determining actuation of a virtual input by the input actuator is disclosed. The device comprises a position sensing device for determining a location of the user input actuator and a controller coupled to the position sensing device, the controller determining whether a portion of the user input actuator is within a virtual input location in space defining the virtual input.
US08398485B2
A method and system for a player to select numbers for a game ticket for play of a random draw game by displaying available game tokens on a display screen of a mobile computer device, selecting a pre-determined number of the available game tokens, and communicating the selected game ticket to a controller for the random draw game.
US08398481B2
In various embodiments, a secondary player may bet on the resolution of an event within the game of a primary player.
US08398455B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for grinding cams of a camshaft (7) in a clamp with two grinding spindles (10, 11), wherein the cams or cam pairs are each arranged in a mirror image relative to the workpiece rotation axis (16), wherein the camshaft (7) is tensioned and rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof. In the device for carrying out the method, the camshaft (7) can be inserted into the workpiece receiver (6) from the side lying opposite the at least one back stay (15) by means of the loading device.
