US08553504B2
A technique is disclosed to implement crossfading of audio tracks. In one embodiment, the function describing the fade out of the ending audio track and/or the slope describing the fade in of the beginning audio track may be altered to increase the perceptible overlap of the two tracks. In another embodiment, the duration of the fade out and/or of the fade in may be altered to increase the perceptible overlap of the two tracks. In other embodiments, one or both of the function and/or duration of the fade out and/or fade in effect may be altered to improve the perceptibility of the overlap or the audio tracks.
US08553501B1
A system for tracking underwater equipment is disclosed which includes a buoy and an underwater animal trap connected to the buoy. A position sensing unit is mounted to the buoy, wherein the position sensing unit includes a satellite signal receiver which computes location data in response to receiving signals from multiple satellites, and a transmitter which transmits the location data. A tracking device can be used to display the location data received from the position sensing unit, allowing the position of the buoy and associated underwater animal trap to be tracked. A method of tracking an underwater animal trap is disclosed which includes coupling a position sensing unit to a buoy, and tracking the location of the buoy with a tracking unit. The buoy is coupled to an underwater animal trap, and the position sensing unit computes buoy location data in response to receiving signals from multiple satellites.
US08553489B2
For example, a semiconductor device includes latch circuits, whose input nodes are connected to an input selection circuit and whose output nodes are connected to an output selection circuit; and a control circuit, which controls the input selection circuit and the output selection circuit. The control circuit includes a shift register to generate an input pointer signal and a binary counter to generate an output pointer signal. The input selection circuit selects one of the latch circuits on the basis of a value of the input pointer signal. The output selection circuit selects one of the latch circuits on the basis of a value of the output pointer signal. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a hazard from occurring in the input selection circuit, as well as to reduce the number of signal lines that transmit the output pointer signal.
US08553484B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell and a first reference memory cell. The memory cell includes a first switching element and a first capacitor for storing data. The first switching element is controlled by a first wordline, and has a first terminal connected to a first terminal of the first capacitor and a second terminal connected to a first bitline. The first capacitor has a second terminal for receiving a first plate voltage. The first reference memory cell includes a first reference switching element and a first capacitor. The first switching element is controlled by a first reference wordline, and has a first terminal connected to a first terminal of the first reference capacitor and a second terminal connected to a second bitline. The first reference capacitor has a second terminal receiving a first reference plate voltage different from the first plate voltage.
US08553481B2
A sense amplifier latch may be provided to controllably latch the output of a sense amplifier. The latch may open in response to assertion of a latch enable signal to receive data, and close in response to deassertion of the latch enable signal to capture and store the received data. Additionally, a multiplexer may be provided to select from among multiple sources of test data, such as scan data and bypass data. The multiplexer may produce a test data input to the sense amplifier latch that encodes a data value and a control value that causes the data value to be selected. Depending on the state of the test data input, the sense amplifier latch may output either a value received from the sense amplifier or a value encoded in the test data input.
US08553480B2
A memory array includes: at least one differential local bit line pair; at least one differential global bit line pair; at least a column selection signal, for charging the differential local bit line pair to a predetermined voltage; at least an enable signal for coupling the differential local bit line pair to the differential global bit line pair when a voltage of the differential local bit line pair reaches a specific value; and a local sense accelerator, coupled to the differential local bit line pair, for determining a voltage of the differential local bit line pair, and enabling an accelerator signal for latching one of the differential local bit line pair and pulling the other low when the voltage reaches the specific value.
US08553470B2
A layout for simultaneously sub-accessible memory modules is disclosed. In one embodiment, a memory module includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of sectors, each sector being electrically isolated from the other sectors and having a multi-layer structure. At least one memory device is attached to each sector, the memory devices being organized into a plurality of memory ranks. A driver is attached to the printed circuit board and is operatively coupled to the memory ranks. The driver is adapted to be coupled to a memory interface of the computer system. Because the sectors are electrically-isolated from adjacent sectors, the memory ranks are either individually or simultaneously, or both individually and simultaneously accessible by the driver so that one or more memory devices on a particular sector may be accessed at one time. In an alternate embodiment, the printed circuit board includes a driver sector electrically isolated from the other sectors and having a multi-layer structure, the driver being attached to the driver sector.
US08553457B2
A method and system for extending the life span of a flash memory device. The flash memory device is dynamically configurable to store data in the single bit per cell (SBC) storage mode or the multiple bit per cell (MBC) mode. In the MBC storage mode, the cell can have one of multiple possible states, where each state is defined by respective threshold voltage ranges. In the SBC mode, the cell can have states with threshold voltages corresponding to states of the MBC storage mode which are non-adjacent to each other to improve reliability characteristics of the cell.
US08553455B2
Mechanical devices having bistable positions are utilized to form switches and memory devices. The devices are actuatable to different positions and may be coupled to a transistor device in various configurations to provide memory devices. Actuation mechanisms include electrostatic methods and heat. In one form, the mechanical device forms a gate for a field effect transistor. In a further form, the device may be a switch that may be coupled to the transistor in various manners to affect its electrical characteristics when on and off. The memory switch in one embodiment comprises side walls formed with tensile or compressive films. A cross point switch is formed from a plurality of intersecting conductive rows and columns of conductors. Actuatable switches are positioned between each intersection of the rows and columns such that each intersection is independently addressable.
US08553449B2
A magnetic cell structure including a nonmagnetic bridge, and methods of fabricating the structure are provided. The magnetic cell structure includes a free layer, a pinned layer, and a nonmagnetic bridge electrically connecting the free layer and the pinned layer. The shape and/or configuration of the nonmagnetic bridge directs a programming current through the magnetic cell structure such that the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer of the structure is less than the cross section of the structure. The decrease in the cross sectional area of the programming current in the free layer enables a lower programming current to reach a critical switching current density in the free layer and switch the magnetization of the free layer, programming the magnetic cell.
US08553448B2
A static random access memory (SRAM) cell includes a pair of cross-coupled inverters having a first node and a second node. A first transistor is coupled between the first node and a first bit line. A second transistor is coupled between the second node and a second bit line. A third transistor is coupled with the first node. The third transistor has a threshold voltage that is higher than that of a fourth transistor of the pair of cross-coupled inverters by about 10% or more. A fifth transistor is coupled between the third transistor and a third bit line.
US08553445B2
Semiconductor memory device having a stacking structure including resistor switch based logic circuits. The semiconductor memory device includes a first conductive line that includes a first line portion and a second line portion, wherein the first line portion and the second line portion are electrically separated from each other by an intermediate region disposed between the first and second line portions, a first variable resistance material film that is connected to the first line portion and stores data, and a second variable resistance material film that controls an electrical connection between the first line portion and the second line portion.
US08553426B2
A circuit board includes a plurality of conductive layers, at least one group of vias, a number of second vias, at least one power supply element, and at least one electronic element. Each conductive layer includes a conductive portion. Both the first vias and the second vias are defined through the conductive layers and electrically connected each conductive layers. The at least one group of first vias surrounds the at least one power supply element. The second vias are arranged along the side of the conductive portion, and positioned between the power supply element and the electronic element. Current from a power supply element flows to the inner conductive layers through the group of surrounding first vias. Current transmission on each conductive layer continuously flows to another conductive layer having a lower resistance through the second vias during transmission.
US08553413B2
A fan mounting apparatus includes a case and a fan. The case includes a bottom plate and a rear plate substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate. A clipping member extends to an interior of the rear plate in a first direction. The fan includes a sidewall with a securing portion. An extending direction of the securing portion is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The securing portion includes a protruding surface. The securing portion is engaged with the clipping member, and the protruding surface abuts the clipping member.
US08553411B2
A computer chassis is provided. The computer chassis includes a housing having a first closed compartment with a first heat sink having a first heat dissipating surface formed on one side of the first closed compartment; and a second closed compartment having a second heat sink with a second heat dissipating surface formed on one side of the second closed compartment. The first and second compartments are substantially isolated from air flow within the housing. The housing, the first closed compartment and the second closed compartment are configured to define an air passage way between the housing, the first heat dissipating surface and the second heat dissipating surface. This air passage way forms a chimney effect that aids in cooling and promotes natural air convection.
US08553409B2
An information handling system's thermal management is selectively altered by coupling a thermal barrier to the bottom surface of the information handling system chassis so that an air channel insulates against the passage of thermal energy from the bottom surface. A vent opening in a side of the thermal barrier allows airflow through the air channel to a vent opening of the information handling system. The airflow through the air channel cools the base of the thermal barrier so that an end user will experience reduced thermal energy if the information handling system rests on the end user, such as in the end user's lap.
US08553401B2
Disclosed is a computing system including bag and computer components which allow the bag wearer to quickly access and use a computer while mobile. System components, which may vary, include: a bag adapted to attach various computer components and with a computer equipment storage area on outside front; a pivoting display panel located near the bag top front and pivoting into the storage area a computing unit panel located on the bag's inside front; a pivoting input device located on the outside bag front; a pivoting cover near the bottom of the storage area to protect the equipment stored there. The components have appropriate physical and electrical connections. The computing unit panel, in particular, may be shaped and positioned on the inside of the bag front to form a front wall support to assist in storing the display panel in the storage area on the outside of the bag front.
US08553397B2
A method and apparatus mechanically couple portable communication devices. The apparatus can include a first shaft having a first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft length along the first shaft longitudinal axis, a first shaft end, and a second shaft end. The apparatus can include a first portable communication device having a first housing coupled to the first shaft end where the first housing rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis, the first housing having a first housing width. The apparatus can include a second portable communication device that can have a second portable communication device communication signal interface configured to communicate with a first portable communication device communication signal interface and can have a second housing that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the first shaft longitudinal axis. The first shaft length can be at least as long as the first housing width.
US08553392B2
Provided is an electric double-layer capacitor and the like, which may be easily manufactured. In a recessed container (2) constituting a package of an electric double-layer capacitor (1), a step portion (4) is formed. With this, the recessed container (2) has two parallel bottom surfaces which are not provided in the same plane, that is, a first bottom surface constituting a bottom portion of a recessed portion (13) and a second bottom surface constituting an upper surface of the step portion (4). The first bottom surface and the second bottom surface respectively have metallic layers (11, 9) formed thereon, which pass through the recessed container (2) toward an outside to respectively connect to terminals (12, 10). Electrodes (6, 5) are respectively connected to the upper surfaces of the metallic layers (11, 9).
US08553384B2
A fault current limiter (FCL) includes a series of high permeability posts for collectively define a core for the FCL. A DC coil, for the purposes of saturating a portion of the high permeability posts, surrounds the complete structure outside of an enclosure in the form of a vessel. The vessel contains a dielectric insulation medium. AC coils, for transporting AC current, are wound on insulating formers and electrically interconnected to each other in a manner such that the senses of the magnetic field produced by each AC coil in the corresponding high permeability core are opposing. There are insulation barriers between phases to improve dielectric withstand properties of the dielectric medium.
US08553379B2
Transformer differential protection is provided by measuring a plurality of currents corresponding to a first set of windings and a second set of windings of a transformer, and compensating the currents based on their respective flows through either the first set of windings or the second set of windings. The compensated currents may be intentionally augmented to compensate for magnetizing inrush and/or stationary overexcitation conditions associated with the transformer. Augmentation based on stationary overexcitation, for example, may be based on either harmonic restraint or an addition of a V/Hz ratio to a restraining signal. A complex current ratio is calculated corresponding to the plurality of compensated currents. The complex current ratio may be based on a two-terminal equivalent power apparatus. Then, an alpha plane analysis is applied to the complex current ratio. Based on the alpha plane analysis, a power apparatus that includes the transformer is selectively tripped.
US08553375B2
Systems and methods of regulating a power supply may involve ramping an output voltage of the power supply toward an operating voltage level at a first slew rate in response to detecting a soft start condition of the power supply. A determination can be made as to whether the output voltage has exceeded an intermediate voltage level and, if so, the output voltage may be ramped toward the operating voltage level at a second slew rate. The first slew rate can be substantially less than the second slew rate in order to prevent an electrostatic discharge pump from activating.
US08553373B2
A solid state power controller system can include a direct current load, a solid state power controller apparatus including an alternating current sensor coupled to the direct current load, a direct current sensor coupled to the direct current load, a voltage sensor coupled to the direct current load, a main switch coupled to the direct current load via the alternating and direct current sensors, an auxiliary switch coupled in parallel to the main switch, a current limiting resistor coupled in series to the auxiliary switch and a solid state power controller coupled to the main switch, the auxiliary switch, the alternating current sensor, the direct current sensor, and the voltage sensor, and a direct current power source coupled to the solid state power controller apparatus.
US08553372B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetic oscillator includes a layered film and a pair of electrodes. The layered film includes a first ferromagnetic layer, an insulating layer stacked on the first ferromagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked on the insulating layer. The pair of electrodes is configured to apply a current to the layered film in a direction perpendicular to a film surface of the layered film. Regions having different resistance area products are provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer.
US08553367B1
A novel head stack assembly (HSA) is disclosed and claimed. The HSA includes first and second actuator arms. A first head gimbal assembly is attached to the first actuator arm. The first head gimbal assembly includes a read head. A dummy mass is attached to the second actuator arm. The dummy mass includes a mounting plate portion defining a mounting plate width, a neck portion defining a neck width and a neck length, and a distal mass portion defining a distal mass width and a distal mass length. The neck width is less than the mounting plate width and the neck width is less than the distal mass width.
US08553366B1
An actuator pivot bearing is disposed at least partially within a bore in the body of a disk drive head actuator. The actuator pivot bearing includes a lubricant wetting a first surface, and a coating on a second surface. The coating has a surface energy such that the lubricant does not wet the second surface.
US08553365B1
Systems and methods for improving loading and unloading of a read or write head onto and off of a disk medium. Particular embodiments may assist in loading a read or write head to, or unloading a read or write head from, a load location over a surface of a disk medium in such a manner that damage to the surface of the disk medium (e.g., load location) is either prevented or minimized. The prevention or reduction of damage may be achieved by ensuring that a read or write head has sufficient clearance over the surface of a disk medium as the read or write head moves over the surface (e.g., as the head moves parallel to the surface) during a head loading or unloading process.
US08553362B2
A magnetic write head for magnetic data recording that incorporates a novel magnetic oscillation generator stricture that sets up a magnetic oscillation in the magnetic media for improving writing and that also narrows the write width and reduces adjacent track interference by suppressing writing in regions outside of the desired data track. The magnetic oscillation generating structure includes a centrally disposed magnetic assist element that generates an oscillating magnetic field that oscillates in a direction that will assist the write pole in writing to the magnetic medium. The magnetic oscillation generating structure also includes first and second magnetic non-assist elements at either side of the assist element. The non-assist elements generate a magnetic field that oscillates in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, which counteracts the magnetic write assist from the centrally disposed magnetic assist element and acts to suppress writing in these side regions.
US08553352B2
A magnetic tape head according to one embodiment includes a first section having a tape bearing surface (TBS) and portions that are recessed from the TBS; a thin film section coupled to the first section, the thin film section comprising transducers for at least one of reading from and writing to a magnetic tape; and a lubricating layer above at least the first section. Additional systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08553349B2
A method for controlling a hard disk drive, includes a track seeking servo routine in which seek time is measured in a mode of the routine after the trajectory mode, the measured seek time is compared with a predetermined period of time, and an alarm mode is induced when the measured seek time exceeds the predetermined period of seek time.
US08553345B2
According to one embodiment, a position demodulation method includes demodulating a first demodulation signal and a second demodulation signal having a phase difference of 90 degrees to the first demodulation signal based on a read-out signal obtained by reading out a servo pattern recorded on a medium by the head for positioning of a head with respect to the medium; correcting the first and second demodulation signals in which, when a trace of a Lissajous figure is drawn representing the first and second demodulation signals as values on coordinate axes different from each other on a plane, a ratio of respective lengths between intersections of the trace intersecting with two axes orthogonal at an origin of the plane is kept constant; and demodulating a positional signal for determining a position of the head based on the first and second demodulation signals after being corrected at the correcting.
US08553337B2
Embodiments of the invention include an optical system and an optical system module, coupled to a distal end of a fluorescence emission endoscope apparatus, an optical waveguide-based fluorescence emission endoscopy system, and a method for remotely-controlled, multi-magnification imaging of a target or fluorescence emission collection from a target with a fluorescence emission endoscope apparatus. An exemplary system includes an objective lens disposed in a distal end of an endoscope apparatus. The lens is adapted to transmit both a visible target illumination and a fluorescence-emission-inducing target illumination as well as fluorescence-emission and visible light from the target. The system can thus simultaneously provide low magnification, large field of view imaging and high magnification, high-resolution multiphoton imaging with a single lens system.
US08553336B2
An image lens includes a first lens and a second lens. The first lens includes a first surface and a second surface. The second lens includes a third surface and a fourth surface. The image lens satisfies: FB/TTL>0.38; R11/F1>2.23; Z/Y>0.11; Z/T<0.42; R23/F2
US08553333B2
Embodiments of the present system and method are useful for chemical deposition, particularly continuous deposition of anti-reflective films. Disclosed systems typically comprise a micromixer and a microchannel applicator. A deposition material or materials is applied to a substrate to form a nanostructured, anti-reflective coating. Uniform and highly oriented surface morphologies of films deposited using disclosed embodiments are clearly improved compared to films deposited by a conventional batch process. In some embodiments, a scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coating is applied to a polycarbonate substrate, such as a lens. In certain embodiments, an anti-reflective coating is applied to a surface of a solar catalytic microreactor suitable for performing endothermic reactions, where energy is provided to the reactor by absorption of solar radiation. The composition and morphology of the material deposited on a substrate can be tailored. The process can be used at low temperatures as a post-deposition, high-temperature annealing step is obviated.
US08553330B1
A cylindrical lens having a refractive optical element and a diffractive optical element is used in order to provide a cylindrical lens that can preferably be fabricated cost effectively and precisely, and in the case of which optical aberrations and defects in semiconductor diode laser arrangements can be corrected. The diffractive optical element can include various segments.
US08553326B2
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an optical signal bidirectional transmission system comprises a bi-directional port configured to receive and output optical beams, an input port configured to receive beams and an output port configured to output beams, and only one birefringent crystal. A first beam manipulation system configured to adjust polarization of the beams, and direct the beams from the bi-directional port to the birefringent crystal. A second beam manipulation system configured to adjust polarization of the beams, and direct the beams from the input port to the birefringent crystal. The birefringent crystal is configured to direct the beams received from the first beam manipulation system such that the beams may exit the second beam manipulation system through the output port and direct the beams received from the second beam manipulation system such that the beams may exit the first beam manipulation system through the bi-directional port.
US08553323B2
A microscope objective changer includes a changing device for changing at least two objectives. A movable objective holder corresponds to each objective. Each movable objective holder is configured to receive a respective one of the objectives and to transfer the respective objective along a respective displacement path from an allocated stand-by position into an operating position. A carrier is associated with each objective holder and includes a guide groove constituting the respective displacement path. Each displacement path includes a first portion beginning at the respective stand-by position and extends substantially perpendicular to the optical axis and a second portion directly bordering the first portion that includes a downwardly component in a direction parallel to the optical axis such that each objective holder is movable from the respective stand-by position to the optical axis of the operating position when reaching a lower end of the second portion of the displacement path.
US08553320B2
An infrared optical system includes: a first optical element, a second optical element, a third optical element, and a fourth optical element arranged along a direction from an object side toward an image plane side, wherein the fourth optical element has positive refracting power, an aperture is provided between the second optical element and the third optical element, the first and fourth optical elements are made of any one of silicon (Si), chalcogenide glass, and zinc sulfide (ZnS), and the second and third optical elements are made of a resin material, and at least one of a surface facing the object and a surface facing the image plane of each of the second and third optical elements is an aspheric surface.
US08553319B2
An optical amplifying apparatus which includes an optical amplifier, an optical attenuator and a controller. The optical amplifier amplifies a light signal having a variable number of channels. The optical attenuator passes the amplified light signal and has a variable light transmissivity. Prior to varying the number of channels in the light signal, the controller varies the light transmissivity of the optical attenuator so that a power level of the amplified light signal is maintained at an approximately constant level that depends on the number of channels in the light signal prior to the varying the number of channels. While the number of channels in the light signal is being varied, the controller maintains the light transmissivity of the optical attenuator to be constant. Subsequent to varying the number of channels in the light signal, the controller varies the light transmissivity of the optical attenuator so that a power level of the amplified light signal is maintained at an approximately constant level that depends on the number of channels in the light signal subsequent to the varying the number of channels.
US08553313B2
An electrophoretic display unit includes a substrate, a first electrode, a first insulation layer, a second electrode and a second insulation layer. The first electrode is disposed on the substrate. The first insulation layer is disposed on the first electrode. The second electrode is disposed on the first insulation layer. The second insulation layer is disposed on the second electrode. Wherein, the second insulation layer has an opening for appearing a part of the second electrode.
US08553294B2
When generating outline data, the contour pixels of the binarized image data are first extracted. Based on the extracted contour pixels, the contour of the image data is approximated to a straight line. In the straight-line approximation process, the distance between adjacent contour pixels among the extracted contour pixels is calculated. It is determined based on the result of the comparison between the length of the first straight line and the length of the second straight line whether the first straight line is used as a contour of the image data. The first straight line connects the first contour pixel and the second contour pixel adjacent to the first contour pixel. The second straight line connects the second contour pixel and the third contour pixel adjacent to the second contour pixel.
US08553293B2
An image interpolation apparatus includes an extracting unit, temporal interpolation calculators, pattern matching units, and an output unit. The extracting unit extracts pixels around the missing pixels in order to form a basic frame and comparative frames. Each temporal interpolation calculator corresponds to each comparative frame, and calculates a temporal interpolated pixel for each comparative frame based on signal levels and variation of the signal levels. Each pattern matching unit corresponds to each comparative frame, inserts the temporal interpolated pixel of each comparative frame to the missing pixel, calculates difference of between each of the pixels in the basic frame and each of the corresponding pixels in the comparative frame, and sums up the differences for all pixels in absolute value to obtain sums for all comparative frames respectively. The output unit outputs the temporal interpolated pixel having a minimum sum among the sums as a final interpolated pixel.
US08553292B2
An image processing system comprises a first image reading apparatus which generates first image data by reading an image, transmits the first image data to a transmission destination via a network, and transmits, to a second image reading apparatus, information for combining image data which is transmitted by each of the first image reading apparatus and the second image reading apparatus to the transmission destination, the second image reading apparatus which generates second image data by reading an image, and transmits the second image data to the transmission destination via the network by using the transmitted information.
US08553280B2
An image transfer assembly and method capable of adjusting the registration of an image printed on paper. A first image location being determined on at least one first sheet by measuring for each of at least three corners of a first sheet the distance between the two adjoining edges of the respective corners to a portion of at least one first fiducial mark. For each of the measured first sheet corners the measured portion of the at least one first fiducial mark is closer to that respective corner than any other of the first sheet corners. Then a second image to be transferred is adjusted by changing, relative to at least one second sheet, at least one of a size, shear, position and orientation of the second image based on the determined first image location. The adjusted second image being then printed on the second sheet(s).
US08553273B2
In the printing device, the image in the print data indicates a part of the original image. The printing unit prints a print image in the printing region on the recording sheets. Each printing region is assigned with at least one of a gluing region and a projecting region. The projecting region is a part of the printing region. The gluing region is on the recording sheet. One of two printing regions corresponding to two image regions partially overlaps with each other is assigned with the gluing region. The remaining printing region is assigned with the projecting region. An image corresponding to the projecting region corresponds to a part of image corresponding to the one of the two printing regions. The printing unit performs borderless printing with the image corresponding to the projecting region running off the recording sheet.
US08553267B2
If the user of an information processor enters into it a performance request to perform a job and a notification request to notify one or more other information processors of batch processing for the job, this processor transmits the performance and notification requests to a management apparatus. When the management apparatus receives the requests, the apparatus transmits to that processor or those processors a batch m processing notification inviting it or them to transmit to the apparatus a performance request to perform a job. If, within a specified length of time after the notification transmission, the management apparatus receives from that processor or at least one of those processors a performance request to perform a job, the apparatus transmits to an image forming apparatus the jobs which the image forming apparatus is requested to perform. Then, the image forming apparatus performs the jobs by means of batch processing.
US08553256B2
An image scanning system comprising an image scanner and a terminal, wherein the image scanner comprises an image storing unit to store the image data; a terminal designation unit to designate the terminal as a transmission target; a terminal storing unit to record correspondence data to associate the image data with the terminal; an information notification unit to transmit a notification of information concerning image data to the designated terminal; a request receiving unit to receive a request for image data; and an image transmission unit to transmit the image data associated with the designated terminal for which the request has been received, and the terminal comprises: an indication unit to make an indication in response to receipt of the notification; and a request transmission unit to transmit the request to the image scanner when a user operation for requesting image data is received.
US08553252B2
In response to a search command issued from a communication terminal, a printing apparatus declares to the communication terminal that the printing apparatus possesses an analyzing function for analyzing information described in a structured language. The printing apparatus analyzes description data, which relates to a communication method described in a structured language transmitted from the communication terminal, and communicates with the communication terminal in accordance with the communication method.
US08553247B2
In a data processing apparatus, it is an object to realize a mechanism for allowing a setup regarding an image processing apparatus to be made so as to easily execute a job which is requested from said data processing apparatus. Information including an output destination is inputted. Setup information regarding the setup of the own image processing apparatus is stored. The setup information regarding the setup of the own image processing apparatus is transmitted on the basis of the information which is inputted.
US08553241B2
An information processing apparatus includes a decision unit for deciding whether or not each of physical pages of a document file is unprintable based on whether or not an inserter is designated as a paper feed unit, a determination unit for determining whether or not printing of a document is designated for the physical page that is decided as an unprintable page by the decision unit, and a preview display unit for displaying a preview image that can discriminate the physical page determined that printing of the document is designated by the determination unit from the other pages.
US08553239B2
A sheet of a document is scanned, character objects are extracted from a scan image, the extracted character objects are divided line by line, and the direction of the document is set on the basis of a blank percentage determined according to start and end positions of lines. If the direction of the document is different from that of a previous document, an image processing unit rotates the scan image.
US08553238B2
A media separator includes air nozzles and separation plates to form a row of members, and is configured to separate a sheet conveyed from a fixing nip formed of a fixing member and a pressure member. In such a media separator, the plurality of air nozzles and at least one separation plate are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the fixing device, and the plurality of air nozzles are disposed at both lateral ends of the row of members in the longitudinal direction of the fixing device, whereby waving of the edge of the sheet in the printing of frequently used sheet can be prevented and the occurrence of jam may be prevented, and a stable sheet separation and conveyance can be realized.
US08553236B2
An optical target for temporary application in non-determined placement on a surface of an object such as a vehicle wheel assembly within the field of view of an imaging sensor of a machine vision vehicle service system. The optical target consists of a flexible body which is relatively thin and generally flat, capable of conforming to the contours of a surface onto which it is secured in releasable manner by a means of adhesion. A set of visible optical elements are disposed on a front face of the target body for observation and imaging by the imaging sensors.
US08553232B2
Disclosed is an interference objective lens unit, comprising: an objective lens; a beam splitter that splits the light transmitted through the objective lens into a reference optical path in which a reference mirror is provided and a measuring optical path in which the measuring object is placed, and that superposes the split lights to output interference light; a first holder that holds the objective lens and that is formed by material having a first linear expansion coefficient; and a second holder that holds the reference mirror and that is formed by material having a second linear expansion coefficient different from the first linear expansion coefficient, wherein when a usage environment temperature changes, a difference in the linear expansion coefficients between the first holder and the second holder corrects an optical path difference between the reference optical path and the measuring optical path.
US08553231B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the height of a number of spatial positions on the sample, defining a height map of a surface through interferometry with a broadband light source. The method can involve for each spatial position: obtaining a correlogram during scanning of the surface plane of the objective and estimating the point of the correlogram where an amplitude of the correlogram is at its maximum, thus determining an approximation of the height of the spatial position on the sample. The estimation of the value where the correlogram has its maximum can involve subjecting the correlogram to a Fourier transform, subjecting the Fourier transformed signal to a filter, subjecting the filtered signal to an inverse Fourier transform, and calculating the location of the center of mass of the inversed filtered Fourier transformed signal.
US08553230B2
An apparatus and method to determine a property of a substrate by measuring, in the pupil plane of a high numerical aperture lens, an angle-resolved spectrum as a result of radiation being reflected off the substrate. The property may be angle and wavelength dependent and may include the intensity of TM- and TE-polarized radiation and their relative phase difference.
US08553228B2
Systems and methods for calibrating a web inspection system using data from a calibrated point sensor, using a frequency spectra-based analysis. A sensor measures a web property of interest, which is then converted into the frequency domain, as is information from a web inspection system. A correlation model is then created to allow calibration of the web inspection system.
US08553226B2
An optical apparatus for illuminating particles and for detecting emissions from illuminated particles in a flow cytometer having an optical configuration aligned with a flow or particles.
US08553225B2
An electromagnetic radiation detection device is described which includes a tunable dispersive optical element configured to receive electromagnetic radiation and to change the dispersion of the received electromagnetic radiation; a sensor configured to detect the dispersed electromagnetic radiation changed by the dispersive optical element; and a controller configured to: (i) selectively tune the dispersive optical element so as to adjust the dispersion of the received electromagnetic radiation; and (ii) change one or more of operating parameters of the sensor in accordance with the adjusted dispersion. In some implementations, the radiation detection device may be configured as a spectrometer to measure one or more properties of electromagnetic radiation. A method for detecting electromagnetic radiation is also disclosed.
US08553211B2
A Brillouin system for monitoring both temperature and strain includes either a single or double-ended fiber with multiple fiber Bragg gratings (FBG's) at different wavelengths and a pumped seed laser system tunable over a range substantially larger than a Brillouin shift. The FBG's are distributed along the length of the deployed fiber and serve as wavelength selectable reflectors that enable maintaining system operation even in the case of a fiber break.
US08553205B2
A control system controls a positioning device displaceable in at least one degree of freedom by a reluctance motor. A force sensing element and a controller adjust force applied by the motor responsive to a force sensing element configured to sense force applied by the motor. The controller receives a signal representing force applied by the motor from the force sensing element, obtain an acceleration trajectory plan associated with a velocity trajectory plan for the positioning device, obtain a force trajectory plan associated with the acceleration trajectory plan, compare the force applied with a required amount of force obtained from the force trajectory, and adjust the amount of force applied by the motor based on the comparison. Related methods are also presented.
US08553201B2
An immersion lithographic apparatus includes a liquid supply system member configured to contain a liquid in a space between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and the substrate and a liquid supply system member compensator arranged to compensate an interaction between the liquid supply system member and substrate table.
US08553200B2
An optical element includes first regions which reflect or transmit the light falling on the optical element. The optical element also includes second regions which are in each instance separated by a distance from a first region and which at least partially surround a first region. The second regions are designed to be at least in part electrically conductive and are electrically insulated from the first regions. The optical element includes a carrier element and at least two first regions in the form of mirror facets which are arranged on the carrier element. The second regions are arranged with a separation from the mirror facets on the carrier element and are electrically insulated against the carrier element as well as against the mirror facet. At least one mirror facet is surrounded by an electrically conductive second region.
US08553195B2
A substrate for a display panel by which a boundary position of divided exposure regions of elements formed by divisional exposure can be easily identified and process management and evaluation can be easily performed, a display panel having the substrate, a method of producing the substrate, and a method of producing the display panel. A substrate 11 for a display panel includes two or more thin film patterns formed by divisional exposure by which a region to be exposed is divided into a plurality of exposure regions and exposure is made on each of the divided exposure regions, wherein boundary positions of the divided exposure regions of the two or more thin film patterns do not coincide with each other, and a marking 3 indicating the boundary position of the divided exposure regions of at least one of the two or more thin film patterns.
US08553188B2
A liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer including liquid crystal molecules provided between a first substrate and a second substrate; pixels forming a display area; electrodes for applying a voltage across the liquid crystal layer within each of the pixels; a plurality of domain regulating structures for dividing orientations of the liquid crystal molecules and forming multiple domains within each of the pixels, when a predetermined voltage is applied across the liquid crystal layer within each of the pixels. The device also includes a structure which is formed in an outer area located next to the display area, but that does not overlap the display area, and is substantially the same as at least one of the plurality of domain regulating structures.
US08553186B2
A display panel having a pixel region and a sensing region includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a display medium layer. A plurality of pixel structures and at least one photo-voltaic cell device are disposed on the first substrate. The pixel structures are arranged in the pixel region in array, and each of the pixel structures includes a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor. The photo-voltaic cell device disposed in the sensing region includes a doped semiconductor layer, a transparent electrode layer, a first type doped silicon-rich dielectric layer and a second type doped silicon-rich dielectric layer. The first type doped silicon-rich dielectric layer and the second type doped silicon-rich dielectric layer are disposed between the doped semiconductor layer and the transparent electrode layer. The display medium layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US08553178B2
Preferred embodiments utilize a plurality of optical channels to effectively aim the light emitted by a liquid crystal display (LCD). Embodiments may also change the nominal and range of viewing angles of light in two or three dimensions in order to confine the emitted light towards the intended observer.
US08553172B2
Methods and apparatus for aligning a display stack with respect to a housing associated with a portable electronic device are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a chassis arrangement suitable for use in aligning a display stack with respect to a housing includes a first portion, a second portion, and a coupling arrangement. The first portion is configured to engage the display stack, and the second portion is configured to enable the display stack to be manipulated when the display stack is engaged by the first portion. The coupling arrangement couples the first portion with the second portion, and is configured to enable the second portion to be detached from the first portion.
US08553166B2
A thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) array substrate comprises a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines on a substrate. A plurality of pixel regions are defined by the gate lines and the data lines. Each of the pixel regions comprises a pixel electrode and a thin film transistor serving as a switch element. The gate electrode of the thin film transistor is connected with a corresponding gate line through a connection electrode, and the gate electrode is formed by a material layer different from that forming the gate lines.
US08553154B2
An apparatus comprising a first circuit, a processing circuit and a conversion circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate a first intermediate signal in a second format in response to an input signal in a first format. The processing circuit may be configured to generate a second intermediate signal and a third intermediate signal in response to the first intermediate signal. The conversion circuit may be configured to generate an output signal in the first format in response to the second intermediate signal and the third intermediate signal. The processing circuit may be configured to implement color blending on the second intermediate signal in the second format prior to conversion to the first format and pass the third intermediate signal without color blending.
US08553151B2
A video switcher (10) advantageously affords the capability of executing a video effect following recall that avoids visible artifacts upon transitioning from one effect to another. At the outset, the switcher identifies active elements within the video effect, the comprising those elements that undergo a change during execution of the video effect, as opposed to those that remain inert during effect execution. The switcher then dynamically calculates offset for application to an initial key frame value for the video effect to avoid any change in value to active elements upon initial effect recall. The offset value is applied to each subsequent interpolation of the video effect, thereby creating the desired result of applying only relative changes to the active elements of the video effect.
US08553147B2
A display apparatus, equipped with a common input terminal inputting different video signals, can discriminate the type of an input video signal entered from the common input terminal. The display apparatus includes the common input terminal inputting different video signals. A synchronizing signal separation unit separates a synchronizing signal from a video signal entered from the common input terminal. A frequency measurement unit measures a frequency of the synchronizing signal. An input signal discrimination unit discriminates the video signal entered from the common input terminal based on a type of the synchronizing signal separated by the synchronizing signal separation unit and a measurement result obtained by the frequency measurement unit.
US08553146B2
A device obtains a video and a matrix code (such as a QR code) to divide into portions and interlace with the video. The device generates a modified interlaced video by including at least a first portion in a first but not a second field of a first frame, a second portion in a second but not a first field of a second frame, and so on such that all of the portions of the matrix code are included in the modified interlaced video. Subsequently, the device transmits the modified interlaced video to a display. When the modified interlaced video is displayed, the matrix code is present but not visually perceptible. A matrix code reader detects and/or records and analyzes the displayed modified video to identify the portions of the matrix code included therein, extract such portions, and combine the extracted portions to form the matrix code.
US08553137B2
A method of processing image data generated using an image capture device comprising a lens, the method comprising, generating metric data for a plurality of regions of an image, the data representing a plurality of focus measures for each region generated at a plurality of lens positions, processing the metric data in order to cluster regions into at least one group on the basis of their respective focus measures, and determining a lens position for a group corresponding to a position of true focus for the group.
US08553124B2
A solid-state image capturing device includes: a pixel array unit including plural pixels each converting light selectively incident through a mechanical shutter into charges to be stored in a storage portion and having an overflow path through which charges exceeding a saturation charge amount are discharged; and a driving unit starting an exposure by simultaneously resetting all pixels of the pixel array unit, maintaining the overflow path in an opened state during the exposure period, and closing the overflow path during a period while signals are read from the pixels after ending the exposure by closing the mechanical shutter.
US08553122B2
A system and method for driving a solid-state image pickup device including a pixel array unit including unit pixels. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, column signal lines and a number of analog-digital converting units. The unit pixels are selectively controlled in units of rows. Analog signals output from the unit pixels in a row selected by the selective control though the column signal lines are converted to digital signals via the analog-digital converting units. The digital signals are added among a number of unit pixels via the analog-digital converting units. The added digital signals from the analog-digital converting units are read. Each unit pixel in the pixel array unit is selectively controlled in units of arbitrary rows, the analog-distal converting units being operable to performing the converting in a (a) normal-frame-rate mode and a (b) high-frame-rate mode in response to control signals.
US08553116B2
Shutter blades are driven so that light which hits an image sensor which has been hit by the light is blocked (timing t5). That the shutter blades have moved a predetermined amount is detected before the start of the shutter blades blocking the light (timing t6), and furthermore, reset scanning of the exposure amount of the image sensor vertically upwards is started at a reset timing according to the detection before the start of the shutter blades blocking the light (timing t7). Due to this, it is possible for the exposure amount of the image sensor to be reset at a timing corresponding to the type of driving of the shutter for each camera in a case where there is variation or change in the type of driving due to individual unit differences or changes over time in the shutter mechanism.
US08553111B2
A noise reduction system for performing noise reduction processing for an image signal taken in from an image pickup system, includes a local area extracting unit which sequentially extracts, from the image signal, a local area including a target pixel for which the noise reduction processing is performed; a first noise reducing unit which performs random noise reduction processing for the local area; a second noise reducing unit which performs impulsive noise reduction processing for the local area; and a combining unit which combines an image signal which has been subjected to the noise reduction processing by the first noise reducing unit and an image signal which has been subjected to the noise reduction processing by the second noise reducing unit.
US08553110B2
A method and a camera provide an estimation of a mean signal to noise ratio value for an output image comprising a number of pixels, wherein each pixel of the output image has a pixel value. An image histogram divided into bins, the image histogram having information regarding the distribution of pixel values among the pixels of the output image. Each bin has a set of pixels having pixel values within a predetermined range. For each bin of the image histogram, a signal to noise ratio value of that bin may be attributed and weighted with the number of pixels in the set of pixels of that bin. The weighted signal to noise ratio values of the bins are summed, and the sum may then be divided by the total number of pixels of the output image or the total number of pixels in the bins of the image histogram.
US08553107B2
An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units configured to output an image signal obtained by executing photoelectric conversion and a noise signal; a clipping unit configured to clip the noise signal to a clipping level when the noise signal exceeds a preset clipping level; a control unit configured to calculate the clipping level based on a signal read from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and set the calculated clipping level to the clipping unit as the preset clipping level; and a differential unit configured to execute differential processing of subtracting a noise signal read from the photoelectric conversion unit and clipped by the clipping unit, from an image signal read from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion units.
US08553098B2
A semiconductor device with an “anti-shake” function includes a logic chip having a digital circuit which obtains a value indicating the amount of vibration of device such as an imaging apparatus based on a vibration detection signal supplied from a vibration detection element to generate a correction signal. The logic chip includes a correction signal processing unit which generates the correction signal, and a control signal output unit which outputs a vibration control signal in accordance with the correction signal to a vibration correction control unit which executes vibration correction control for an optical component. The control signal output unit includes a plurality of types of signal output sections and outputs a vibration control signal corresponding to a driving unit from one signal output section selected from among the plurality of types of signal output sections.
US08553095B2
Provided are a digital image processing apparatus that detects a motion of a body, such as oscillation, shake, or velocity change of the body, to perform a photographing preparation operation, and a method of controlling the digital image processing apparatus. The digital image processing apparatus includes a motion sensor installed in the apparatus and configured to generate a signal in response to motion of the apparatus, and a controller receiving the motion signal, and controlling the digital image processing apparatus to perform a photographing preparation operation when the signal indicates that the motion is a photographing motion made in preparation of a user performing photography.
US08553091B2
An image-capturing device of the present invention includes an image-capturing element 10 including a plurality of light-sensing cells arranged on an image-capturing surface; an optical system (14, 20) for forming a first image which is in focus on an image-capturing surface 10a in a first state and forming a second image which is out of focus on the image-capturing surface 10a in a second state; and an image processing section 220 for processing a signal obtained from the image-capturing element 10. The image processing section 220 includes a camera-shake blur removing section for generating a restored image obtained by reducing camera-shake blur from an image obtained by the image-capturing element 10 in the second state.
US08553088B2
A system mounted on a vehicle for detecting an obstruction on a surface of a window of the vehicle, a primary camera is mounted inside the vehicle behind the window. The primary camera is configured to acquire images of the environment through the window. A secondary camera is focused on an external surface of the window, and operates to image the obstruction. A portion of the window, i.e. window region is subtended respectively by the field of view of the primary camera and the field of view of the secondary camera. A processor processes respective sequences of image data from both the primary camera and the secondary camera.
US08553083B2
A method is provided for automatically adjusting a size of characters using a camera. The method includes receiving an image with characters; adjusting a focus of the image with characters and detecting a region and a size of characters in the image; determining whether the size of the characters in the image falls within a preset range; recognizing the characters in the image and displaying the recognition results, if the size of characters falls within the preset range; and automatically adjusting a zoom ratio of the image and recognizing the characters in the resized image, if the size of the characters does not fall within the preset range.
US08553080B2
To provide a component placement apparatus capable of preventing free operation of a mounting head within the movable region from being restricted as well as improving the mounting takt time.A component placement apparatus 1 comprising a line sensor camera 23 composed of a projector 21 for projecting inspection light in horizontal direction and a line sensor 22 for receiving the inspection light projected by the projector 21, the component placement apparatus 1 designed to move a mounting head 7 to allow a component P sucked to the suction nozzle 9 of the mounting head 7 before being mounted onto a substrate 10 to horizontally cross the optical axis 20 of the inspection light of the line sensor camera 23 to cause the line sensor camera 23 to perform imaging of the component and to determine the propriety of suction attitude of the component P with respect to the suction nozzle 9 based on the image DP of the component P obtained through imaging of the component P by the line sensor camera 23, characterized in that the projector 21 and the line sensor 22 constituting the line sensor camera 23 are arranged outside the movable region R of the mounting head 7 with respect to the base 2.
US08553076B2
A contact measuring endoscope apparatus includes a case located at a front end of the apparatus to define a accommodating space; a contact probe connected to and projected from an end of the case by a fixed distance; a light emitting element for emitting light; an image pickup lens arranged in the accommodating space for gathering light reflected from an external object to be measured, so as to form an optical image; a light sensor arranged in the accommodating space to locate adjacent to one side of the image pickup lens for converting the optical image into a digital image; and a measuring module. When the contact probe is caused to contact the object to be measured, a fixed distance between the image pickup lens and the object can be maintained and therefore the digital image can be in the fixed scale.
US08553063B2
An apparatus for configuring a high-definition (HD) call connection between computer devices includes a Short Messaging Service (SMS) transceiving module for receiving a message for requesting home network telephony device list information of a first device, discovering a device in the home network to generate the telephony device list information, transmitting response message comprising the generated telephony device list information to the first device, receiving an SMS call connection request message from the first device, and transmitting an SMS call connection response message to the first device, and a Control Point (CP) for selecting a telephony device for receiving and initiating the call.
US08553061B2
An optical scanning device includes a light source device having light emitting members of a number N (N is an integer not less than 2) disposed with a tilt with respect to a sub-scan direction and a main-scan direction, a deflecting device for scanningly deflecting light beams of the number N from the light emitting members, an input optical system for directing the light beams from the light source means to the deflecting device, an imaging optical system for directing the deflected light beams to a surface to be scanned, a synchronism signal detecting device for detecting a portion of a light beam scanningly deflected by the deflecting surface and producing writing start timing signals for the light beams upon the surface to be scanned, and a synchronism detecting optical system for directing the deflected light beams to the synchronism signal detecting device, wherein the synchronism signal detecting device detects a light beam emitted from a light emitting member among the light emitting members of the number N, except a light emitting member which emits a light beam that provides a least light quantity when the same is incident on the synchronism signal detecting device, to determine the writing start timing signal.
US08553060B2
A head unit (4), a platen roller (3), a motor (5) and a gear transmission mechanism (6) are attached to a frame (2) of a thermal printer. The frame (2) is molded by die-casting an alloy material, and a radiating fin assembly (15) is formed integral with the frame (2) in the vicinity of a motor mounting area of the frame (2). Heat generated from the motor (5) is radiated from the die-cast frame and the radiating fin assembly.
US08553048B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for processing the pictures, including: decomposing a dynamic picture frame into multiple static picture frames; bonding each of the static picture frames with a static original picture to generate multiple static pictures; and forming a dynamic picture with the multiple static pictures. Embodiments of the present invention further provide a system for processing the pictures, including a decomposing unit, a bonding unit and a composing unit. The decomposing unit is configured to decompose a dynamic picture frame into multiple static picture frames; the bonding unit is configured to bond each of the static picture frames with a static original picture to generate multiple static pictures; and the composing unit is configured to form a dynamic picture with the multiple static pictures. By processing the pictures with the technical solution provided by embodiments of the present invention, pictures may possess a sense of action and good expressive force, and may better display the personality of the user.
US08553047B2
An image information processing system, which processes image information of a customer wearing products, includes: a customer information database, storing customer information in association with customer code information; and a product information database, enabling storage of product information, concerning the products that the customer wears, in association with order code information. Acquisition of the image information of the customer in the state of wearing products is enabled by a digital camera, and by means of a trial fitting catalog preparation process, a trial fitting catalog, in which the image information acquired by the digital camera unit are included with the customer code information of the customer, who wore the products, and the order code information on the products, is prepared and output by a printer.
US08553043B2
A three-dimensional (3D) image processing method is provided. The method includes receiving from an image source a 3D image containing a plurality of images that are previously compressed, and storing pixel data of the received plurality of images. The method also includes determining that the plurality of images do not have a same number of pixel columns, determining at least one boundaries among the plurality of images, and determining a minimum number of pixel columns and a maximum number of pixel columns of the plurality of images. Further, the method includes adjusting any one of the plurality of images having a column number less than the maximum number such that each of the plurality of images has the maximum number of pixel columns, decompressing the plurality of images, and discarding from each of the decompressed plurality of images by a determined number of last columns, wherein the determined number is the difference between the maximum number and the minimum number.
US08553039B1
A computer-implemented method for collecting, animating in chronological sequence, and presenting the progression of events is disclosed. The method includes providing a set of event data to form a database, the data relating to events that constrained, summarized, or led up to some of the events. Then presenting the database graphically to allow user selection and editing of the Event data in the database to create a set of Events to be presented in an animated manner, and then assigning properties to the manner of presentation of the set of Events to be presented in an animated manner to create a movie. The movement of the movie is provided by an engine that moves a cursor along the timeline to represent the forward or backward change of time and displaying a marker representing an Event from Event data contained in the database.
US08553038B2
The application programming interface operates in an environment with user interface software interacting with multiple software applications or processes in order to synchronize animations associated with multiple views or windows of a display of a device. The method for synchronizing the animations includes setting attributes of views independently with each view being associated with a process. The method further includes transferring a synchronization call to synchronize animations for the multiple views of the display. In one embodiment, the synchronization call includes the identification and the number of processes that are requesting animation. The method further includes transferring a synchronization confirmation message when a synchronization flag is enabled. The method further includes updating the attributes of the views from a first state to a second state independently. The method further includes transferring a start animation call to draw the requested animations when both processes have updated attributes.
US08553025B2
A plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including plural scanning electrodes extending in a first direction and plural address electrodes extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, an address driver to drive the address electrodes, a power recovery circuit including an inductor and a capacitor, and a switch provided in the address driver to switch connection and disconnection between the address electrodes and the power recovery circuit.
US08553016B2
A method of controlling a mobile terminal includes displaying on a display of the mobile terminal a plurality of items, identifying a selected item of the plurality items, and detecting a first rotation of the mobile terminal about a first axis of rotation which exceeds a first threshold amount of rotation. The method further includes performing a first function that is associated with the selected item responsive to the detecting of the first rotation exceeding the first threshold, identifying a condition if a second rotation of the mobile terminal about a second axis of rotation exceeds a second threshold, or if a threshold time period elapses after the detecting of the first rotation and no further rotation of the mobile terminal has been detected, and responsive to the identifying of the condition, performing a second function that is associated with the selected item.
US08553014B2
A touch screen, including a layer of light-transmissive material having an upper surface that is exposed for touch by one or more objects, a plurality of light emitters underneath the upper surface, a first lens assembly for directing light beams emitted by the light emitters into the layer at an angle such that the light beams, when entering the layer, remain confined to the layer by total internal reflection when the light beams are not absorbed by any of the objects touching the upper surface, a plurality of light detectors for detecting light beams and for generating outputs indicating the amounts of light detected, a second lens assembly for directing light beams at a surface of the layer towards the light detectors, and a calculating unit for determining respective one or more locations of the one or more objects touching the upper surface, based on outputs of the light detectors.
US08553010B2
Provided are a touch screen-embedded liquid crystal display panel and a method of manufacturing the same in accordance with one or more embodiments. The touch screen-embedded liquid crystal display panel may include, for example, a transparent first substrate; a second substrate which faces the first substrate; a conductive spacer and a cell-gap spacer which are formed on the first substrate; and a common electrode which is formed on the second substrate and has an aperture in a region that contacts the cell-gap spacer on the first substrate.
US08553000B2
An input apparatus that accurately determines an input operation intended by a user without erroneously determining an operation including no move as an operation including move. Touch positions in a time period from touch-down to touch-up by an input operation performed on a touch panel by the user are recorded in chronological order. A statistical variance of the touch positions is calculated based on the obtained touch positions. Whether the input operation is an operation including no move or an operation including move is determined based on the calculated variance. When the calculated variance is smaller than a threshold value, it is determined that the input operation is the operation including no move, and when the calculated variance is not smaller than the threshold value, it is determined that the input operation is the operation including move.
US08552999B2
A method includes displaying a user interface of an application on a device's touch-sensitive display. The user interface includes a plurality of regions, including a respective region at a respective hierarchy level. The respective region has two or more child regions at a hierarchy level below the respective hierarchy level. The method includes detecting a first contact at a location that corresponds to the respective region and that does not correspond to any of the two or more child regions. When the application is configured to process the first contact, not in conjunction with the respective region, but in conjunction with at least one child region of the two or more child regions, the method includes identifying a respective child region in accordance with positions of the child regions relative to the location, and processing the first contact in conjunction with the identified respective child region using the application.
US08552986B2
In one embodiment, a scalable controller for a computer input area is provided with: a plurality of drive signal pads; a plurality of signal detection pads; a programmable memory to store an indication of active ones of the drive signal pads and signal detection pads; and control circuitry to identify user input with the computer input area by 1) driving active ones of the drive signal pads, and 2) reading active ones of the signal detection pads.
US08552984B2
In one aspect of the present invention a computer-implemented method is provided of processing input key events associated with user input received from a keyboard-type device, wherein the keyboard-type device selected from at least one of a keyboard and a keypad. In this aspect, input key events associated with a first process active within an operating system are received and monitored for a first predefined input key event associated with user selection of a first key of the keyboard-type device for at least a predetermined time period. In response to identifying the first predefined input key event, the input key events are redirected from the first process to a second process. The input key events are monitored for a second predefined input key event associated with further redirection of the input key events. In response to identifying the second predefined input key event, the input key events are redirected to the first process.
US08552983B2
An intelligent object tracking and gestures sensing input device is operative to translate hand gestures of a user into data and commands for operating a computer or various machines. It is provided with video web cameras video vision camera, sensors. A logical vision sensor program in the device measures movements of the user's hand gesture into X, Y and Z dimension definitions. It defines a working space spaced therefrom into virtual space mouse zone, space keyboard zone, and hang sign language zone. It automatically translates the change of coordinates of the user's hand in puzzle cell positions in the virtual working space into the data and commands. Objects having enhance symbols, colors, shape, and illuminated lights are attachable on the user's hand to provide precision input.
US08552979B2
A display device comprises a display screen, a graphical user interface navigation button and a proximity sensor including an infrared radiation emitter, an infrared radiation sensor and an infrared radiation source differentiator. The infrared radiation emitter emits a navigation infrared radiation. The infrared radiation sensor is positioned relative to the infrared radiation emitter to sense a reflection of the navigation infrared radiation in a navigation direction corresponding to the infrared radiation sensor. The infrared radiation source differentiator is in electrical communication with the infrared radiation sensor to provide a navigation mode signal indicative of at least one of a sensing by the infrared radiation sensor of a reflection of the navigation infrared radiation in the navigation direction corresponding to the infrared radiation sensor by a navigation object proximate the infrared radiation emitter and the infrared radiation sensor, and a sensing by the infrared radiation sensor of ambient infrared radiation emitted by an infrared radiation source other than the infrared radiation sensor.
US08552977B2
An input apparatus, a control apparatus, and the like with which an image displayed on a screen can be prevented from being moved unintentionally in a case where a user operates an operation section provided to the input apparatus are provided.An MPU stores a displacement corresponding amount (velocity value) in a memory. When a switch of a button is turned on, the switch starts generating an operation signal and outputs the operation signal to the MPU. When the input of the operation signal from the switch is started, the MPU reads out the displacement corresponding amount stored in the memory, calculates a first correction displacement amount, and outputs it. Since the first correction displacement amount can be used to correct coordinate values of a pointer obtained before the switch is turned on after a start of a press of the button by the user, the pointer can be prevented from being moved unintentionally.
US08552975B2
An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The image display apparatus includes a display, a user input interface for receiving a control signal from a remote controller and processing the received control signal, a network interface for transmitting or receiving data over a network, a controller for controlling a pointer on the display according to the control signal received from the remote controller, and a platform for controlling data transmission or reception over the network according to the control signal received from the remote controller. The platform includes an Operating System (OS) kernel and an application layer that runs on the OS kernel, and the application layer including an installable or deletable application downloaded over the network.
US08552970B2
A liquid crystal display device is provided. A plurality of light emitting units includes a plurality of light emitting elements which are configured to emit light toward a liquid crystal panel through a light guide plate. The light emitting units are arranged in series at an interval in such a direction that the light emitting elements face a side surface of the light guide plate. A feeding circuit is configured to supply power to the light emitting units. A first switch is connected to both ends of at least one of the light emitting units such that the at least one of the light emitting units connected between the both ends is deactivated when the first switch is turned on. A second switch is connected to both ends of at least one of the light emitting units such that the at least one of the light emitting units connected between the both ends is deactivated when the second switch is turned on. A switching unit is configured to control an on/off state of each of the first and second switches according to a driving timing of the liquid crystal panel to subsequently switch the light emitting units to be deactivated.
US08552968B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel; a backlight unit; a panel drive circuit; a timing controller; an internal memory; a self-screen drive controller; a scaler unit; a selection unit; an internal power circuit; an external power circuit; and a microprocessor that blocks an output of the external power circuit from being supplied to the scaler unit in a self-screen drive.
US08552964B2
A plurality of point-light sources emits light, based on an image displayed on a display panel. A substrate has the point-light sources disposed thereon. A power-controlling section provides the point-light sources with first driving current having a pulse current with a pulse modulation duty less than or equal to a maximum pulse modulation duty cycle and a first amplitude in accordance with a normal image. A power-controlling section provides the point-light sources with second driving current having a pulse current with the maximum pulse modulation duty cycle and first boosting amplitude greater than the first amplitude in accordance with a high luminance image. Thus, the quantity of emitted light of the point-light sources may be adjusted in accordance with the position of an image displayed in a display panel, and the point-light sources that correspond to high luminance images may be boosted up.
US08552959B2
A shift register and a gate-line drive device relate to liquid crystal display. The shift register comprises: first thin film transistor, second thin film transistor, third thin film transistor, fourth thin film transistor and fifth thin film transistor; capacitor, connected between first node and the output terminal of the present stage; first operation modular, connected between first operation signal terminal and the first node, and connected to the low level signal terminal; second operation modular, connected between second operation signal terminal and the first node, and connected to the low level signal terminal, wherein, the first operation modular and the second operation modular are alternatively operated, and the first operation modular and the second operation modular are used to maintain both of the gate and drain of the second thin film transistor at low level respectively, when the shift register is not operated.
US08552952B2
No flicker is displayed on the display screen during display of moving pictures and power consumption can be reduced by adding a high quality moving picture display function. Moreover, the number of times of transfer of moving pictures by comprising a still-picture•text•system•I/O bus•interface and a moving picture interface (external display interface), providing a display operation change register (DM) and a RAM access change register (RM) which are changed selectively depending on display content (display mode) displayed on a display device and displaying the display data on the display device via a picture memory even in the moving picture display mode.
US08552951B2
In a driving method for a liquid crystal panel, overdriving pixel data is obtained either independently of the FRC pixel data or depending on a difference between the FRC pixel data and previous FRC pixel data.
US08552950B2
A liquid crystal display device with no flicker and with bright excellent display is provided. A polarity pattern of a conventional frame inversion driving is one kind of display. A polarity pattern of a conventional source line inversion driving is two kinds of display, and a disclination pattern is one kind of display. On the contrary, in a circuit structure of the present invention, polarity patterns are made to have not less than four kinds, and disclination patterns are made to have not less than two kinds. By this, bright display in which flicker is not included and poor display due to disclination is improved, can be obtained.
US08552949B2
The invention provides a method of driving an electro-optical device and an electronic apparatus which are capable of reducing the time for writing data without providing special circuits. In the electro-optical device pixel circuits having reset transistors for controlling an electric connection between drains and gates of driving transistors between the drains and the gates of the driving transistors are arranged on a display panel in a matrix. The pixel circuits arranged in a matrix are electrically connected to a scanning line driving circuit via scanning lines. The scanning line driving circuit sequentially switches on the reset transistors from the pixel circuit connected to first scanning lines in accordance with scanning line control signals supplied from a control circuit and then lets organic EL elements emit light.
US08552947B2
In a driving device and a display apparatus having the driving device, a converter converts input image data and outputs first and second sub-image data which have different values. A first compensator compensates the first sub-image data and outputs a first compensated image data, and a second compensator compensates the second sub-image data and outputs a second compensated image data. An output circuit controls output time of the first and second compensated image data. Accordingly, sub-image data for each sub-pixel may be exactly compensated by employing compensators to individually compensate for the sub-image data of each sub-pixel.
US08552946B2
In a display device and a display driver, when a grayscale of a display image is equal to or lower than a specific grayscale value obtained from a histogram of the display image, a display grayscale is extended with a linear function. On the other hand, when a grayscale of a display image is equal to or higher than the specific grayscale value, histogram equalization of a part higher than the specific grayscale value is performed, and the display grayscale is extended with a non-linear function obtained from the histogram equalization.
US08552936B2
An OLED device comprised of: an OLED means, a capacitive proximity sensing means for sensing a change in a capacitance, a mechanical element, and a means to provide a signal, wherein the OLED means and the mechanical element are movable relative to each other upon operation by a user and can assume a first position or a second position, wherein the capacitance is adapted to change between a first capacitance and a second capacitance when the OLED means and mechanical element are moved between the first position and the second position by an operator, and wherein the signal depends upon the capacitance.
US08552935B2
A semiconductor circuit includes a first circuit block, a second circuit block, and power wiring lines that supply a plurality of reference potentials. The first circuit block and the second circuit block are connected to a common power wiring line that is one of the power wiring lines and supplies a common reference potential. A width of the common power wiring line in the first circuit block is smaller than a width of the common power wiring line in the second circuit block.
US08552930B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus is able to display high quality motion pictures with less after-image when displaying motion pictures and with less fuzzy images without making the response speed of the liquid crystal too fast. The display data emphasized excessively more than a changed value is written into the pixel having any change detected by comparison with the previous display data and its value is made to change excessively more than the value corresponding to its original display data, and then, according to the optical response of the liquid crystal, the lighting time and the lighting period of the light source are controlled for the individual areas of the illumination unit having plural areas.
US08552929B2
A graphical display station of arbitrary shape such as channel letters or other shaped structures is populated with pixels which are components of flexible pixel strings which can be arranged to fit the arbitrary shape(s). The flexible pixel strings provide for straightforward and cost effective fabrication of channel letter or other shaped displays. The invention also includes pixel units which comprise lighting elements together with such control circuits as are needed to roperly drive the lighting elements to form a graphical image. Addressing of the particular pixels is provided to accommodate the arbitrary arrangement of pixels of the flexible pixel strings. Methods of fabricating a channel letter display are also disclosed.
US08552927B2
An electronic device such as a portable phone has a casing, a display element provided in the casing, and a panel attached to the casing to cover the display element. A half mirror layer and a shading layer are formed on the panel. An opening of the shading layer is above the display element. The surface of the panel is seen in a substantially continuously uniform color when no electricity is supplied to the display element, and a display produced by the display element can be seen through the panel when electricity is supplied to the display element.
US08552916B2
An antenna includes a first arm whose one end is connected to a feeding unit, a second arm whose one end is connected to the first arm at a position that is away from the one end of the first arm and whose other end is connected to ground, and a variable impedance unit whose impedance is variable, provided between the ground and the other end of the first arm.
US08552915B2
A radiation detector disposed on a microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The radiation detector includes a receiving antenna adapted to receive errant microwave energy and a rectifier coupled to the receiving antenna that is adapted to rectify at least a portion of the errant microwave energy. A filter is coupled to the rectifier and is adapted to convert the rectified microwave energy into a detection signal.
US08552914B2
The present invention provides an antenna for transmitting/receiving a first frequency signal and a second frequency signal. The antenna includes a first frequency antenna branch for transmitting/receiving the first frequency signal, a second frequency antenna branch separated from the first frequency antenna branch for transmitting/receiving the second frequency signal and an inductance for connecting the first and second frequency antenna branches in series with one another. The inductance is capable of preventing the first frequency signal passing through the second frequency antenna branch.
US08552907B2
In accordance with one of embodiments of the present invention, a frequency resolution processing unit calculates complex number data based on a beat signal caused by a receiving wave coming from a target and a transmission wave. A target detection unit detects a peak value from the intensities of beat frequencies, and then detects an existence of the target. The target link unit makes association between a target detected in the present detecting cycle and the target detected in the past detecting cycle. A direction estimating unit generates a generative complex number data based on the complex number data so as to correspond to a data generation unit. The direction estimating unit calculates, for each antenna, an incoming direction of the receiving wave based on each of normal equations formed by use of the complex number data of the beat frequency which an existence of the target is detected and the generative complex number data.
US08552898B2
A circuit has a digital to analog (DA) resistance ladder having an analog output; a capacitor coupled to the analog output; a first resistance coupled from the capacitor to ground; and a switch coupled to the capacitor in parallel to the resistor, wherein the switch, when closed, has a second resistance, and the first resistance is greater than the second resistance.
US08552892B2
A signal sample trigger apparatus (206) comprises an input (302, 304), a processing resource (300, 500) coupled to the input (302, 304), and an output (306) coupled to the processing resource (300, 500). The processing resource (300, 500) is arranged to generate, when in use, a trigger signal (400, 600) in response to location increment information. The location increment information (402, 404, 602, 604) is received via the input (302, 304), and the trigger signal (400, 600) is provided via the output for triggering execution of a sample of an analogue signal.
US08552890B2
A system utilizing a high throughput lossless coding mode for CABAC in HEVC is described. The system may include an electronic device configured to obtain a block of data to be encoded using an arithmetic based encoder; determine whether the block of data is to be encoded using lossless encoding; in response to determining that the block of data is not to be encoded using lossless encoding, use a first Absolute-3 coding technique to encode the block of data; in response to determining that the block of data is to be encoded using lossless encoding, use a second Absolute-3 coding technique to encode the block of data; wherein the second Absolute-3 coding technique is different than the first Absolute-3 coding technique.
US08552886B2
A system adapted to provide a warning to a motorist that a nearby vehicle has been in an accident. Embodiments include a crash detector operable to detect a crash of a vehicle, a transmitter to transmit a warning signal (typically, radio frequency) from the crashed vehicle, a receiver to receive a transmitted crash warning signal, and a display to warn the operator of an approaching vehicle of the crash. Some embodiments incorporate feedback from a vehicle's air-bag deployment circuitry to provide a trigger effective to broadcast the crash warning signal. Desirably, the operator of an approaching vehicle is provided with at least one, if not both, of a visual and an audible warning signal. Certain embodiments provide such audible and/or visual warning to approaching vehicles via the transmitted warning signal and a display and/or speaker carried in the approaching vehicle. Sometimes, audible and visual warnings may be transmitted directly from the crashed vehicle.
US08552873B2
In a method and system for detecting a driving state of a driver in a vehicle, a face recognition standard corresponding to an environmental condition within the vehicle is established based on a series of image frames generated by capturing consecutively images of the driver upon movement of the vehicle. Upon detection of a variance in the environmental condition during movement of vehicle, the face recognition standard is updated with a corrected face recognition standard corresponding to the environmental condition with the variance. It is determined based on the corrected face recognition standard and the image frames whether the driving state of the driver is a dangerous state, where the driver's face does not face a front windshield of the vehicle or where the driver's face faces the front windshield of the vehicle but one of the driver's eyes is closed.
US08552864B2
For one setting operator being able to readily adjust a threshold by oneself, by means of reporting units that issue a report to indicate the amount of variation in a received electric wave when an intruding object has intruded between a transmitting leaking transmission path and a receiving leaking transmission path, and a remote controller that generates a signal which changes a threshold in the table through the receiving leaking transmission path, the threshold is adjusted properly for each of the blocks with the remote controller based on the report issued from the reporting unit to indicate the amount of variation in the received electric wave caused by a trial intrusion between the two transmission paths by a threshold setting operator.
US08552857B2
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers arranged in a mesh network that each synchronously communicate with at least one other of the plurality of transceivers in an assigned slot of a TDMA channel, at least a first of the plurality of transceivers asynchronously transmitting a priority message on a priority channel that is different than the TDMA channel and at least a second of the plurality of transceivers that detects an information content of the asynchronous priority message on the priority channel and retransmits the detected information content synchronously on the TDMA channel to a third transceiver of the plurality of transceivers.
US08552852B1
A safety light system comprising a trailer hitch mounted configuration. The safety light system includes a safety light assembly receptacle carried by a trailer hitch mounting member. The safety light assembly receptacle includes a light assembly receiving cavity for receiving and temporarily retaining a removable light assembly. The removable light assembly includes elements to provide a user controlled continuous red light, a flashing red light, and a continuous white light. The flashing red light provides a roadside flare configuration. The continuous white light provides a flashlight configuration. The continuous red light in conjunction with the flashing red light configuration provides a driving light configuration. The removable light assembly can include a securing mechanism for attaching the removable light assembly to an object to warn others of the extended object and/or support legs enabling operation as a roadside flare, spotlight, and the like.
US08552849B2
In one embodiment, a method of verifying a component coupled to an output of a power supply includes measuring a frequency response from a control input of the power supply to the output of the power supply. The method also includes comparing the frequency response to a predetermined metric based on the measuring. The component is determined to be valid if the frequency response falls within the predetermined metric.
US08552847B1
A system is disclosed for communicating tactile messages to a user, such as a racecar driver, yacht crewmember, or other athlete. The system can include a tactile vest having tactile activators for conveying tactile messages to the user, including real time messages for helping the user assess and improve physical performance. The messages may be generated based on various types of sensor data, including, for example, data collected by vehicle sensors of a racecar or yacht.
US08552845B2
A vehicle burglar alarm circuit includes a transformer having first to fourth taps, a center tap provided at a center point and output taps, wherein the number of coil turns between the first and second taps is greater than the number of coil turns between the third and fourth taps; and output taps connected with a sounding body. The circuit further includes a first and second power sources connected to the center tap, the second power source outputting a lower output voltage; a sounding body driving unit having first to fourth driving switches respectively connected to the first to fourth taps; and a controller which controls the sounding body driving unit. The first and second driving switches are alternately turned on/off when using the first power source, and the third and fourth driving switches are alternately turned on/off when using the second power source.
US08552843B2
A universal remote controller having a radio frequency (RF) control mode for generating RF signals for controlling an RF based home automation system and having an infrared (IR) control mode for controlling an infrared based electronic device using IR control signals. Control information input via a user interface is used to generate the IR control signals in the IR mode of operation and is used to generate the RF signals in the RF mode of operation. A control unit controls overall operation of the universal remote controller including the generation of IR signals to control electronic devices with the IR signals. A home automation module is connected to the control unit via a communication interface to generate RF signals to control the RF based home automation system. A display displays feedback information to the user regarding operations for controlling the home automation system.
US08552834B2
A system for, and method of, locating a particular item from among a plurality of items identifiable by radio frequency identification (RFID) tags associated with the items, includes an interrogator for radio frequency (RF) signaling the tags to detect unique identifiers associated with the tags in a field of view of the interrogator; and an optical signaler for optically signaling one of the tags in the field of view to designate the particular item to be located.
US08552824B1
An integrated planar electromechanical contactor assembly includes a substrate, a through-hole formed through the substrate, a plurality of solenoid traces embedded within the substrate about the through-hole in a plurality of distinct planes, a solenoid core arranged in the through hole in electromagnetic communication with the plurality of solenoid traces, and a mobile contact arm. The plurality of distinct planes are substantially parallel to one another and each solenoid trace of the plurality of solenoid traces is in electrical communication with an adjacent solenoid trace through an electrical via. Furthermore, the mobile contact arm is configured to selectively connect an external contact lead arranged on the substrate to at least one electrical trace embedded within the substrate responsive to motion of the solenoid core.
US08552815B2
A high-frequency line structure includes a multi-layered resin substrate in which insulating layers of a resin are laminated. A high-frequency-signal input part is arranged on the resin substrate to input a high-frequency signal and supply the high-frequency signal to the resin substrate. A high-frequency-signal output part is arranged in the resin substrate to receive the high-frequency signal from the input part and output the received high-frequency signal. A first metal layer is arranged to encircle the input and output pads and electrically insulated from the input and output parts. A second metal layer is arranged on the resin substrate. A plurality of penetration vias are arranged in the resin substrate to encircle the input part and the output part, and each penetration via being connected to the first and second metal layers.
US08552814B2
Method and circuit topology for an impedance compensation circuit (ICC), for compensating a DC voltage regulator circuit (RC). The ICC comprises individual components that are workable in combination with an inherent output impedance characteristic of the RC. The components are optimizable for providing a substantially uniform AC output impedance characteristic and impedance phase over a first defined frequency range and an operating idle current under a load, by creating a condition where a source impedance and a load impedance are complex conjugates. The source impedance is a series combination of the inherent output impedance characteristic of the RC and a first impedance due to a first portion of the individual components. The load impedance is a parallel combination of a second impedance due to a second portion of the individual components and the load, when the ICC is configured with the RC and the load.
US08552808B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an oscillator having circuitry that measures the power dissipated in a resonator and circuitry that controls the power delivered to the resonator in response to the measured power. In some embodiments, the circuitry that measures the power dissipated in the resonator comprises circuitry that measures the voltage across the resonator, circuitry that measures the current through the resonator, and circuitry that calculates the power dissipated in the resonator based on the measured voltage and current.
US08552807B2
In one exemplary implementation, an electronic apparatus includes: a reference clock source, for generating a reference clock; a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver for receiving satellites signals and the reference clock, comprising: a monitoring circuit, for monitoring a status of the GNSS receiver to generate a monitoring result; and a compensating circuit, coupled to the reference clock source and the monitoring circuit, for compensating the reference clock according to the monitoring result.
US08552806B2
An apparatus for providing clock and a method thereof are provided. The provided apparatus includes a frequency generation unit and a control unit. The frequency generation unit decides amplitude of a clock signal to be a first amplitude or a second amplitude in response to a mode signal. The frequency generation unit converts an external oscillation signal into the clock signal. The control unit receives the clock signal, and outputs the mode signal in response to a system status signal. The control unit outputs the clock signal to external when determining that the clock signal has a stable oscillation. When the system status signal is a power on signal, the first amplitude is used as the amplitude of the clock signal, and when the system status signal is a power off signal, the second amplitude smaller than the first amplitude is used as the amplitude of the clock signal.
US08552802B2
An amplifying circuit comprises: a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and a fourth transistor provided to an input stage; and a first bias circuit. The input signal is input into a control terminal of the first transistor and a control terminal of the second transistor, a first terminal of the first transistor is connected to a first terminal of the third transistor, a first terminal of the second transistor is connected to a first terminal of the fourth transistor, a second terminal of the first transistor is connected to a first potential, a second terminal of the second transistor is connected to a second potential that is equal to or different from the first potential, a second terminal of the third transistor is connected to a third potential, a second terminal of the fourth transistor is connected to a fourth potential, the first bias circuit is connected between a control terminal of the third transistor and a control terminal of the fourth transistor.
US08552800B2
A semiconductor package device comprises a first amplifier block, at least one further amplifier block, and at least one differential inductance operably coupled between a first plurality of elements of the output of a first active component of the first amplifier block and a second plurality of elements of the output of a first active component of the at least one further amplifier block. The differential inductance is arranged such that a uniform inductance is provided between the first plurality of elements of the first active component of the first amplifier block and the second plurality elements of the second active component of the at least one further amplifier block.
US08552791B2
Under-voltage, over-voltage, and temperature detectors disposed in a switching circuit are turned on periodically and in response to an oscillating signal having a low duty cycle. Accordingly, because the voltage and temperature detectors remain off for long durations, their operating currents, and thus the operating current of the switching circuit is substantially reduced. The switching circuit has a current limiting function which is disabled when the switch current is below a threshold value, thereby further decreasing the current consumption of the switching circuit at low switch current levels.
US08552787B2
Methods and apparatus for a gray-coded phase rotating frequency divider. A phase selector is provided that includes two or more selectors, each selector configured to receive multiple clock phases and output a respective clock phase based on one or more selection bits that are part of a selection input, and a gray code generator configured to generate a gray coded output that forms the selection input so that when the gray coded output changes state only selection bits associated with a single selector change. A method includes grouping a plurality of clock phases into two or more groups, for each group, selecting a respective clock phase based on one or more selection bits that are part of a selection input, and generating a gray coded output that forms the selection input so that when the gray coded output changes state only selection bits associated with a single group change.
US08552785B2
A circuit includes a logic gate and a latch. The logic gate is configured to receive a clock signal at a first input. The latch is disposed in a feedback loop of the logic gate and is configured to output a feedback signal to a second input of the logic gate in response to a signal output by the logic gate and the clock signal. The circuit is configured to output a pulsed signal based on one of a rising edge or a falling edge of the clock signal.
US08552782B1
A phase shifter comprises a differential quadrature all-pass filter (QAF) including a balanced input port and two balanced output ports. A quadrature phase shift is manifested between the balanced output ports. The phase shifter also comprises a resistance-capacitance polyphase filter (PPF) section defining two balanced input ports and two balanced output ports. The balanced input ports of the PPF are coupled to the balanced output ports of the QAF. The combination exhibits broad bandwidth and relatively low ohmic loss.
US08552776B2
Apparatuses and methods related to altering the timing of command signals for executing commands is disclosed. One such method includes calculating a forward path delay of a clock circuit in terms of a number of clock cycles of an output clock signal provided by the clock circuit and adding a number of additional clock cycles of delay to a forward path delay of a signal path. The forward path delay of the clock circuit is representative of the forward path delay of the signal path and the number of additional clock cycles is based at least in part on the number of clock cycles of forward path delay.
US08552773B2
A phase locked loop (10) comprising: a tuneable oscillator (12); a mixer-based phase sensitive detector (18) to receive input signals from the tuneable oscillator (12) and a reference signal (20); a cycle slip detector (26) to receive input signals from the tuneable oscillator (12) and the reference signal (20), the cycle slip detector (26) being configured to generate an output signal when two consecutive pulses are present in one of its input signals without an intervening pulse in the other of its input signals; coarse tune signal means (32, 34) to receive the output signal generated by the cycle slip detector; and adding means (24) for adding a signal output by the coarse signal means (32, 34) to a signal output by the phase sensitive detector (18) to control the frequency of the tuneable oscillator (12).
US08552768B2
A synchronous driving circuit in the arts may cause a short through pheromone when a duty cycle of a duty cycle control signal is too short. The present invention sets a delay time with a suitable period when the duty cycle of the duty cycle control signal is too short to avoid the short through phenomenon.
US08552750B2
A sensor, a system of direct measurement using that sensor, and a method of direct and simultaneous measurement of conductivity and dielectric constant of a fluid, particularly high impedance, hydrocarbon-based fluids. The sensor has a cell that holds the fluids to be measured between a single pair of coaxial, bare metal electrodes connected through interface circuitry to measurement circuitry preferably implemented in one or several IC's. The sensor has a mutually compatible electrode geometry that provides both the correct cell constant for measurement of conductivity of hydrocarbons fluids (typical range 0-100,000 pS/cm), and a bulk capacitance (for use in dielectric constant measurement) in the range of measure of readily available low cost commercial IC's (having a typical capacitance measurement span of <10 pF, with a total bulk capacitance at the chip of <20 pF). The cell conductivity constant for use with hydrocarbon-based oils having a conductivity in the range of 1 to 500,000 pS/M is preferably less than or equal to about 0.1. The cell bulk capacitance with hydrocarbon fluids inside the sensor results in a bulk capacitance of at least about 4 pF. In one embodiment, the electronic circuitry is a Microcontroller/DSP that both generates synchronous drive signals at various frequencies, for both conductivity and dielectric constant measurements while directly digitizing and numerically processing the sensor output.
US08552749B2
A system for providing power to a powered device over a communication cable has a cable resistance measuring mechanism that determines values of response signals detected in response to supplying each of at least three reference signals over the communication cable, and determines the resistance of a pair of wires in the cable based on these values. The cable resistance measuring mechanism may be configured for determining resistance of an Ethernet cable that delivers power to the powered device in a Power over Ethernet system.
US08552748B2
A device for detecting and/or quantifying organophosphorus compounds, including an electrical device including a source electrode and a drain electrode separated by a semiconductive material, characterized in that at least one receptor molecule, including a group R and a primary alcohol in spatial proximity to a tertiary amine, with which the primary alcohol is capable of reacting in the presence of an organophosphorus compound, is grafted, by the group R, onto one of the electrodes or onto the semiconductive material, and a device for detecting the variation in positive charges between the two electrodes.
US08552744B2
An apparatus for ascertaining and monitoring a fill level and includes a transmitting/receiving unit and a delay circuit. The delay circuit includes at least a sampling clocking oscillator, which produces a sampling signal having a sampling frequency, a transmission clocking oscillator, which produces a pulse repetition signal having a pulse repetition frequency, and a frequency converter, which produces by means of sequential sampling a difference signal. The apparatus further includes a control/evaluation unit, which determines on the basis of travel time the fill level. Provided on the control/evaluation unit is an external clocking input, which is connected via a clocking line with a first clocking output of the sampling clocking oscillator or with a second clocking output of the transmission clocking oscillator. A stabilized and cost-favorable control circuit for producing an intermediate frequency signal with a highly accurately determinable, transformation factor results.
US08552733B2
The present invention relates to an electrical leak detecting apparatus for an electric vehicle, which is capable of not only detecting an electrical leak generated when a vehicle body is connected to the maximum potential or minimum potential of a battery pack, but also detecting which portion of the battery pack the vehicle body is connected to when an electrical leak is generated through the connection of the vehicle body and an intermediate potential of the battery pack. The electrical leak detecting apparatus for an electric vehicle according to the present invention includes: first and second switches connected to each other in series between a maximum potential terminal and a minimum potential terminal; a detection resistor having one end connected to a common contact of the first and second switches; and first and second measured potential supply units which are connected to each other in parallel between the other end of the detection resistor and the vehicle body, and which selectively provide first and second measured potentials, of different potential, to the battery pack.
US08552730B2
The present invention provides a pH sensing apparatus that includes a flexible polymer substrate, one or more amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes disposed on the flexible polymer substrate, and a reference electrode corresponding to each amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrode. Each reference electrode is disposed on the flexible polymer substrate in close proximity to the corresponding amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrode. The amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes provide a potential in reference to the reference electrodes that varies according to a pH of a substance contacting the amorphous iridium oxide film sensor electrodes and the reference electrodes.
US08552720B2
A disclosed magnetic sensor includes a substrate having a plane surface and multiple sloping surfaces; multiple soft magnetic films each disposed on a different one of the sloping surfaces and magnetized according to strength of a magnetic field; and multiple detecting devices each disposed on the plane surface, including a free layer and a pinned layer and configured to produce a detection output according to magnetization of the free layer and the pinned layer. Each of the soft magnetic films is magnetically coupled with the free layer of a different one of the detecting devices. The pinned layers of the detecting devices have magnetization directions different from each other.
US08552718B2
In a method for the nondestructive testing of pipes made of ferromagnetic steel for flaws by means of stray flux, the pipe is magnetized by a constant field and the discontinuities in the near-surface region of the outer or inner surface of the pipe cause magnetic stray fluxes, which exit the pipe surface and are detected by probes of a test unit, wherein the association of the detected amplitude signals is performed on the basis of the amplitude height and/or the frequency spectrum with respect to an external or internal flaw via defined flaw thresholds respectively. For this, prior to associating the detected amplitude signals to an external or internal flaw, the angular position of the flaw relative to the respective magnetic field direction is determined, and a correction of the signals is carried out via a previously determined correction factor for amplitudes and/or frequencies of a perpendicular angular position.
US08552709B2
Systems and methods presented herein locate and/or identify a circuit within an electrical system. In one embodiment, a transmitter is configured for inducing signals upon a plurality of circuit lines (e.g., power lines, communication lines, lighting circuits, etc.) with each circuit line having a unique signal to identify it from other circuit lines. Each signal may be induced upon an individual circuit line by a inductive coupling clip coupled about the circuit line. The transmitter may be used at a distribution point of the circuit lines, such as circuit breaker box. A receiver can then receive a signal from a distal point on the circuit line to acquire the unique signal induced thereon and identify determine which inductive coupling clip is coupled thereto. For example. the signal may be decoded to display a number of the circuit line being tested.
US08552706B2
DC-DC voltage converter structures and methods are provided that employ first and second transistors which are switched to control currents through an inductor and a capacitor to thereby provide an output voltage substantially equal to a predetermined reference voltage. Preferably included is a voltage feedback loop in which an error voltage is fed back to a loop comparator and further included is a current feedback loop that provides to the comparator a first voltage ramp whose amplitude is proportional to the amplitude of the converter's input current. The output signal of the comparator sets the duty cycles of the first and second transistors. In each converter period, the first and second transistors of the voltage converter respectively control, through the inductor, a first current with a rising slope and a second current with a falling slope. Finally, converter stability is enhanced by providing a second voltage ramp having a slope related to a fraction (e.g., ½) of the falling slope and then comparing the error voltage of the voltage feedback loop to the sum of the first and second voltage ramps.
US08552703B2
A regulator controller which controls conversion of an input voltage to an output voltage, including a switching regulator, a low dropout (LDO) regulator, and a mode controller. The switching regulator develops a pulse control signal to regulate the output voltage when enabled. The LDO regulator also regulates the output voltage when enabled. The mode controller enables or disables the switching regulator and the LDO regulator based on a load condition. The switching regulator is enabled and the LDO regulator is disabled during normal operation. The LDO regulator is enabled when the low load condition is detected, such as a skipped pulse on the pulse control signal. The switching regulator is disabled when the pulse control signal reaches a minimum level. The LDO regulator is disabled and the switching regulator is re-enabled based on threshold conditions of the current output of the LDO regulator.
US08552699B2
An EMI reduction network for a converter, the converter including upper and lower power switches provided between an input voltage node and a reference node. An inductance is coupled between the input voltage node and the upper switch at a first node, a capacitance and an auxiliary power switch are coupled in series between the first and reference nodes, and a controller is provided to control switching. The controller switches the upper switch based on a PWM signal. The controller keeps the lower switch turned on until the phase node goes positive while the upper switch is on. The controller turns the auxiliary switch on after the lower power switch is turned off and turns the auxiliary switch off after the upper power switch is turned off. The lower and auxiliary switches may be zero voltage switched, and the upper switch may be zero current switched.
US08552698B2
A voltage regulator circuit comprising a first circuit functioning as a voltage dependent resistor, the first circuit having an input coupled to a voltage source and an output and having a resistance dependent on the voltage applied across the circuit by the voltage source such that the resistance increases as the applied voltage increases; and a regulator coupled to the output of the first circuit for providing a regulated output voltage.
US08552696B2
A control device of a self-excited reactive power compensation apparatus controls a reactive current output from a self-excited converter to a power system. The control device includes a first reference generating unit, a second reference generating unit, and a selecting unit. The first reference generating unit generates a first voltage reference of an output voltage output from the self-excited converter, such that the reactive current detected by a reactive current detecting unit follows a current reference. The second reference generating unit generates a second voltage reference of the output voltage output from the self-excited converter, such that a value of the reactive current becomes a predetermined value. The selecting unit selects a maximum value from the first and second voltage references.
US08552694B2
A generator device with a generator regulator and a generator unit having a generator and a rectifier arrangement. The generator regulator has an operating voltage connection and a phase voltage connection. Furthermore, if during a control intervention of the phase voltage the DC voltage applied to the operating voltage connection exceeds a predefined limit for a predefined period of time, the generator regulator deactivates the control intervention of the phase voltage.
US08552693B2
A battery cell charging system, including a charger and a controller, for low-temperature (below about zero degrees Celsius) charging a lithium ion battery cell, the battery cell charging system includes: a circuit for charging the battery cell using an adjustable voltage charging-profile to apply a charging voltage and a charging current to the battery cell wherein the adjustable voltage charging-profile having: a non-low-temperature charging stage for charging the battery cell using a charging profile adapted for battery cell temperatures above about zero degrees Celsius; and a low-temperature charging stage with a variable low-temperature stage charging current that decreases responsive to a battery cell temperature falling below zero degrees Celsius.
US08552692B2
A charger and discharger for a secondary battery includes a secondary battery coupled to an output stage of the charger and discharger, a first converter circuit including a first pulse voltage generator that outputs a first pulse voltage according to a first duty ratio, and a first inductor that outputs a first current in proportion to a value of an integral of the outputted first pulse voltage with respect to time to a positive electrode terminal of the secondary battery, a second converter circuit including a second pulse voltage generator that outputs a second pulse voltage according to a second duty ratio, and a second inductor that outputs a second current in proportion to a value of an integral of the outputted second pulse voltage with respect to time to a negative electrode terminal of the secondary battery, and first and second controllers controlling the duty ratios of the first and second pulse voltage generators, respectively.
US08552688B2
A battery condition estimation device estimates a pre-restart voltage drop amount ΔVjh+ΔVbn of a battery mounted to a vehicle during period T1 to T2 from initiation of an engine stop until initiation of an engine restart based on detection values regarding the battery condition. The device estimates a voltage drop amount ΔVst during period T3 from initiation of the engine restart until completion of the engine restart based on the detection values regarding the battery condition. The device finally estimates a minimum voltage of the battery during period T1 to T3 from the initiation of the engine stop until the completion of the engine restart based on a voltage detection value Vj0 before the engine stop, the pre-restart voltage drop amount ΔVjh+ΔVbn, and the voltage drop amount ΔVst.
US08552687B2
Methods and systems are provided for characterizing a battery. A property of the battery is measured. A dynamic characteristic of the battery is determined from a second order linear dynamic model.
US08552685B2
To stabilize the transmission characteristic of an electric power supply system for vehicle even when the vehicle being charged and powered by it shifts horizontally, a power transmitting antenna, which is arranged on the ground, and a power receiving antenna, which is arranged at the bottom of the vehicle, set up resonances at substantially the same resonant frequency and produce magnetic coupling between them. When the power receiving antenna enters the zone in which the power transmitting antenna is located, power is transmitted to the vehicle. By setting H, which is the distance between the power transmitting and receiving antennas that face each other, so that H satisfies 0.11×W1≦H≦0.26×W1 with respect to the width W1 of the power transmitting antenna, the transmission characteristic can be stabilized.
US08552683B2
A charging apparatus for electrical connection with a charging supply for charging a battery module, the charging apparatus including a coolant pipe, the coolant pipe providing a passage for a cooling medium and surrounding a space for accommodating the battery module; a charging terminal for electrically connecting with the charging power supply; and a chiller connected with the coolant pipe, the chiller being configured to circulate and cool the cooling medium.
US08552682B2
A user-operated switch is provided to enable an engine to operate a generator to charge a battery while the vehicle is parked.
US08552677B2
A fan rotary speed controlling device includes a first signal generating circuit, a second signal generating circuit, a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit and a switching circuit. The first signal generating circuit receives a real frequency signal and a target frequency signal, and generates a first signal according to the real frequency signal and the target frequency signal. The second signal generating circuit generates a second signal according to the first signal. The PWM circuit generates a PWM signal according to the second signal. The switching circuit is electrically connected with the PWM circuit and outputs a control signal to control the rotary speed of the motor. Hence, the fan rotary speed controlling device boosts the accuracy and the stability of the fan rotary speed.
US08552673B2
Example embodiments disclose an Interior Permanent Magnet (IPM) machine system including an IPM machine including a nominal operating direct current (dc) bus voltage, and a controller configured to detect an operating dc bus voltage of the IPM machine and to control the IPM machine based on the nominal operating dc bus voltage and the detected operating dc bus voltage.
US08552657B2
The invention describes a method of driving a gas-discharge lamp (1) wherein, at any one time, the lamp (1) is driven according to one of a plurality of different driving schemes (DS1, DS2) and the lamp power is controlled according to one of a plurality of different power control strategies (PCS, PCf, and wherein the lamp (1) is driven according to a first driving scheme (DS1) prior to a trigger event (tsw) and, upon occurrence of the trigger event (tsw), a driving scheme switchover is effected so that the lamp (1) is subsequently driven according to a second driving scheme (DS2), and wherein, in temporal dependence on the trigger event (tsw), a power controls strategy switch over is effected from a first power control strategy (PCs) to a second power control strategy (PCf) such that the lamp power is subsequently controlled according to the second power control strategy(PCf) for a time interval (tm, tf).
US08552656B2
An AC light emitting device, a driving device thereof and a driving method are disclosed. The driving device includes a sub-driving part turned on corresponding to each of positive and negative voltage regions of an AC voltage source to provide current paths for operating at least two LEDs, and a free-charge part charging with a voltage to be supplied to one of the at least two LEDs which is not operated while the other LED is operated by the sub-driving part. The AC light emitting device, the driving device thereof and the driving method thereby can solve problems, such as a decrease in power factor, severe total harmonic distortion, excessive flickering, and the like, due to operating characteristics of the AC light emitting device by application of an AC voltage source thereto.
US08552654B2
A circuit for driving multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) includes at least two sets of LEDs, each set comprised of one or more LEDs in series. The circuit further includes a single inductor connected in series with the two sets of LEDs. At least one set of LEDs is connected to a shunting transistor connected in parallel with the set of LEDs. The duty cycle of the shunting transistor is controlled by a single controller connected to the shunting transistor and the inductor.
US08552649B2
A lamp head is configured to be electrically coupled solely to a power-supply element and a return element. A power voltage carried by the power-supply element is regulated by a control element. The lamp includes at least one LED configured to emit light, and a first circuit coupled to the at least one LED and configured to adjust the brightness of the light emitted by the at least one LED solely in response to adjustments made to the power voltage by the control element.
US08552645B2
A ceramic arc body includes a main body having a chamber. A leg extends from the main body and has an internal opening therethrough that communicates with the chamber. An electrically non-conductive seal member is received in the leg opening. A tapered internal surface abuttingly engages the seal member and provides for centering of the seal member relative to the leg. A separate tapering region, shoulder, or stop surface limits insertion of the seal member into the leg opening for precision location of the seal member, and in another embodiment, a single continuous taper inside the leg cooperates with a tapered seal member for both centering and precision insertion of the seal member into the leg. In another embodiment, a hybrid electrode is employed where one portion of the hybrid electrode is electrically non-conductive and a second portion of the electrode is electrically conductive. The hybrid electrode mechanically supports both the lamp and the starting coil and also provides electrical connection to the starting coil.
US08552640B2
The present invention provides a thin-film formed substrate, an organic electroluminescent display device, a color filter substrate, and a method of producing a thin-film formed substrate. The thin-film formed substrate according to the present invention is a thin-film formed substrate provided with a substrate and a thin film formed on the substrate, the substrate comprising a first bank forming a depression on the substrate, and a second bank formed on the first bank, wherein a partitioned region surrounded by the second bank has a plurality of the depressions arranged therein, and the thin film is arranged in each of the depressions.
US08552607B2
An electric generator using ferrofluid bearings is provided. The generator includes stators having plural magnets separated by a yoke of magnetizable materials. A rotor configured to rotate in a horizontal plane is positioned between the stators. The rotor includes plural coils in which current is induced during rotation from passing through the magnetic fields generated by the stators. A first set of ferrofluid bearings is positioned between the first stator and the rotor and a second set is positioned between the rotor and the second stator. A third set of ferrofluid bearings is positioned adjacent to the periphery of the rotor and configured to center the rotor. In one embodiment, the electric generator is wind-driven and supported in a wind collection housing.
US08552606B1
There is provided a spindle motor including: a shaft; a first sleeve rotatably supporting the shaft by fluid dynamic pressure; a second sleeve provided outwardly of the first sleeve; a stator core mounted on an outer surface of the second sleeve; and a base member including a mounting part protruding upwardly in an axial direction and fixed to at least one of the first and second sleeves.
US08552604B2
A power module of a drive unit of an electric motor is formed by inserting multiple power transistors, which supply a drive current to a coil wound around a stator or a rotor, and wirings connecting the power transistors in a resin, which is formed in the shape of a plate, by resin molding. Electronic components such as aluminum electrolytic capacitors, a choke coil and a first connector are provided in a board thickness direction of the power module and are electrically connected with the wirings of the power module. Thus, a construction for electrically connecting the wirings of the power module formed by the resin molding and the electronic components can be simplified.
US08552587B2
Embodiments related to the conversion of DC power to AC power are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a power conversion system, comprising a plurality of direct current (DC) power sources, a plurality of power output circuits connected to one another in a parallel arrangement, each power output circuit being connected to a corresponding DC power source to receive power from the corresponding DC power source and to selectively discharge power received from the corresponding DC power source, a power combiner configured to combine power received from the plurality of power output circuits to form a combined power signal, an output stage configured to convert the combined power signal into an AC signal or a DC signal, and a controller in electrical communication with each power outlet circuit and the power combiner to control the output of power by the power converter.
US08552582B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for using a renewable source of energy such as solar, wind, or geothermal energy. In some embodiments, the method may include generating electric energy from a renewable form of energy at a plurality of locations at which reside an electric power line associated with an electric power grid. The electric energy generated at each location may be transferred to the electric power line to thereby supply electric energy to the electric power grid.
US08552576B2
A wind power installation is provided having a pylon, a pod mounted rotatably on the pylon, a generator arranged within the pod and having a rotor and a stator, and at least one fan in the region of the pod. The fan may be adapted to blow air out of a rear part of the pod, through an air gap between the stator and the rotor and into a front part of the pod. A seal structure may be positioned in the pod in such a way that an air flow that bypasses the air gap between the stator and the rotor is substantially prevented.
US08552574B2
A cogeneration apparatus for indoor installation includes: an airtight chamber provided within a housing, at least a power generator and an engine being accommodated within the airtight chamber; an intake duct connected to the airtight chamber for introducing air from outside the housing into the airtight chamber; and an exhaust duct connected to the engine for discharging exhaust gas of the engine. The air introduced through the intake duct cools the interior of the airtight chamber and is also sucked in to an air cleaner of the engine, and the exhaust gas of the engine is discharged directly to outside the airtight chamber through the exhaust duct.
US08552573B2
The aim of the present invention is to harvest the improvised impact of the hydrometeors into a practical mechanical energy with the use of mechanical capacitor. Consequently, the mechanical energy is converted into electricity via the principal of electromagnetic induction.
US08552572B2
Provided is a resin composition for encapsulating a semiconductor which has excellent flame resistance and solder resistance, and can be manufactured at a low cost. The composition includes a phenol resin (A), an epoxy resin (B), and an inorganic filler (C). The phenol resin (A) includes at least one polymer component (A0) composed of a polymer having structural units represented by general formulae (1) and (2), and at least one polymer component (A0) is composed of a polymer having structural units represented by general formulae (1) and (2) and terminated on at least one end with an aromatic group free of polar groups and containing at least one alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; each R3 is independently a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and a is an integer of 0 to 3 , wherein R5, R6, R8 and R9 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; each R4 and R7 is independently a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; b is an integer of 0 to 3; and c is an integer of 0 to 4.
US08552570B2
In the wiring board, insulating layers and wiring layers are alternately laminated, and the wiring layers are electrically connected by the vias. The wiring board includes first terminals arranged in a first surface and embedded in an insulating layer, second terminals arranged in a second surface opposite to the first surface and embedded in an insulating layer, and lands arranged in an insulating layer and in contact with the first terminals. The vias electrically connect the lands and the wiring layers laminated alternately with the insulating layers. No connecting interface is formed at an end of each of the vias on the land side but a connecting interface is formed at an end of each of the vias on the wiring layer side.
US08552569B2
A stacked semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor die that has a front side electrically coupled to a substrate pad, the substrate pad is connected to an exterior, a backside of the first semiconductor die, a first integrated circuit, first ESDs, and TSVs, and the TSVs are coupled to the first integrated circuit and the first ESDs. A second semiconductor die is stacked above the backside of the first semiconductor die, the second semiconductor die includes a second integrated circuit that is electrically connected to the TSVs and second ESDs, and the second ESDs is electrically disconnected from the TSVs. The TSVs penetrate the first semiconductor die and extend to the backside of the first semiconductor die.
US08552567B2
Methods of fabricating multi-die assemblies including a wafer segment having no integrated circuitry thereon and having a plurality of vertically stacked dice thereon electrically interconnected by conductive through vias, resulting multi-die assemblies, and semiconductor devices comprising such multi-die assemblies. The wafer segment may function as a heat sink to enhance heat transfer from the stacked dice in the resulting multi-die assembly. The die stacks are fabricated at the wafer level on a base wafer, from which the wafer segment and die stacks are singulated after at least peripheral encapsulation.
US08552563B2
A system and method for making semiconductor die connections with through-silicon vias (TSVs) are disclosed. TSVs are formed through the substrate to allow for signal connections as well as power and ground connections. In one embodiment this allows these connections to be made throughout the substrate instead of on the periphery of the substrate. In another embodiment, the TSVs are used as part of a power matrix to supply power and ground connections to the active devices and metallization layers through the substrate.
US08552539B1
A shielded package includes a shield assembly having a shield fence, a shield lid, and a shield lid adhesive electrically coupling the shield lid to the shield fence. The shield fence includes a porous sidewall through which molding compound passes during molding of the shielded package. Further, the shield fence includes a central aperture through which an electronic component is die attached and wire bonded.
US08552536B2
This disclosure provides systems, processes, and apparatus implementing and using techniques for fabricating flexible integrated circuit (IC) device layers. In one implementation, a sacrificial layer is deposited on a substrate. The sacrificial layer can include amorphous silicon or molybdenum, by way of example. One or more electronic components are formed on the sacrificial layer. A polymer coating is provided on the one or more electronic components to define a coated device layer. The sacrificial layer is removed to release the coated device layer from the substrate. The sacrificial layer can be removed using a xenon difluoride gas or by etching, for example. Coated device layers made in accordance with this process can be stacked. The substrate can be formed of glass, silicon, a plastic, a ceramic, a compound semiconductor, and/or a metal, depending on the desired implementation. The electronic component(s) can include a passive component such as a resistor, an inductor, or a capacitor. The electronic component(s) can also or alternatively include an active component such as a transistor.
US08552532B2
Vertical bipolar junction structures, methods of manufacture and design structures. The method includes forming one or more sacrificial structures for a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) in a first region of a chip. The method includes forming a mask over the one or more sacrificial structures. The method further includes etching an opening in the mask, aligned with the one or more sacrificial structures. The method includes forming a trench through the opening and extending into diffusion regions below the one or more sacrificial structures. The method includes forming a base region of the BJT by depositing an epitaxial material in the trench, in contact with the diffusion regions. The method includes forming an emitter contact by depositing a second epitaxial material on the base region within the trench. The epitaxial material for the emitter region is of an opposite dopant type than the epitaxial material of the base region.
US08552528B2
A one-time programmable memory array includes a first row conductor extending in a first row direction and disposed at a first elevation, a second row conductor extending in a second row direction and disposed at a second elevation and a column conductor extending in a column direction and disposed adjacent to the first row conductor and adjacent to the second row conductor. The array also includes a dielectric layer covering at least a portion of the column conductor, a fuse link coupled between the dielectric layer on the column conductor and the second row conductor.
US08552524B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor component with trench isolation and to an associated fabrication method, a trench isolation having a deep isolation trench with a covering insulation layer, a side wall insulation layer and an electrically conductive filling layer, which is electrically connected to a predetermined doping region of the semiconductor substrate in a bottom region of the trench. The use of a trench contact, which has a deep contact trench with a side wall insulation layer and an electrically conductive filling layer, which is likewise electrically connected to the predetermined doping region of the semiconductor substrate in a bottom region of the contact trench, makes it possible to improve the electrical shielding properties with a reduced area requirement.
US08552522B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a semiconductor substrate; forming patterned features over the semiconductor substrate, wherein gaps are formed between the patterned features; filling the gaps with a first filling material, wherein the first filling material has a first top surface higher than top surfaces of the patterned features; and performing a first planarization to lower the top surface of the first filling material, until the top surfaces of the patterned features are exposed. The method further includes depositing a second filling material, wherein the second filling material has a second top surface higher than the top surfaces of the patterned features; and performing a second planarization to lower the top surface of the second filling material, until the top surfaces of the patterned features are exposed.
US08552516B2
According to one embodiment, a solid state image capture device includes a multilayered interconnect layer, a semiconductor substrate, a pillar diffusion layer and an insulating member. The multilayered interconnect layer includes an interconnect. The semiconductor substrate is provided on the multilayered interconnect layer and the semiconductor substrate has a through-trench. The pillar diffusion layer is formed in the semiconductor substrate around the through-trench. In addition, an insulating member is filled into the through-trench.
US08552510B2
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a transistor that has a ring-shaped gate electrode formed on the substrate; a plurality of external dummy electrodes that are arranged outside the gate electrode and are formed in the same layer as the gate electrode; and at least one internal dummy electrode that is arranged inside the gate electrode and is formed in the same layer as the gate electrode.
US08552500B2
A semiconductor substrate having a first type of conductivity and a top surface, a layer of oxide disposed over the top surface and a semiconductor layer disposed over the layer of oxide. A plurality of transistor devices are disposed upon the semiconductor layer. Each transistor device includes a channel between a source and a drain, where some transistor devices have a first type of channel conductivity and the remaining transistor devices have a second type of channel conductivity. A well region is formed adjacent to the top surface. The well region has a second type of conductivity. First trench isolation regions are between adjacent transistor devices that extend through the semiconductor layer. Second trench isolation regions are between adjacent transistor devices of opposite channel conductivity.
US08552491B2
A semiconductor device includes a trench isolation region provided on a substrate and defining first and second active regions separated from each other. A first semiconductor pillar protruding upward from the first active region is provided. A second semiconductor pillar protruding upward from the second active region is provided. A first gate mask extending to cross over the first and second active regions is provided. The first gate mask surrounds upper sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor pillars. A first gate line formed below the first gate mask, separated from the first and second active regions, and surrounding parts of sidewalls of the first and second semiconductor pillars is provided.
US08552490B2
A nonvolatile memory device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The manufacturing method includes the following steps. First, a substrate is provided. Then, a tunneling dielectric layer is formed on the substrate, and a dummy gate is form on the tunneling dielectric layer. Subsequently, an interlayer dielectric layer is formed around the dummy gate, and the dummy gate is removed to form an opening. Following that, a charge storage layer is formed on the inner side wall of the opening, and the charge storage layer covers the tunneling dielectric layer. Moreover, an inter-gate dielectric layer is formed on the charge storage layer, and a metal gate is formed on the inter-gate dielectric layer. Accordingly, a stacked gate structure of the nonvolatile memory device includes the tunneling dielectric layer, the charge storage layer, the inter-gate dielectric layer, and the metal gate.
US08552486B2
A plurality of metal layers includes a top metal layer. An Ultra-Thick Metal (UTM) layer is disposed over the top metal layer, wherein no additional metal layer is located between the UTM layer and the top metal layer. A Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor is disposed under the UTM layer and over the top metal layer.
US08552480B2
In one embodiment, a detector includes an AlzIn(1-x)Sb passivation/etch stop layer, an AlxIn(1-x)Sb absorber layer disposed above the Alzn(1-z)Sb passivation/etch stop layer, and an AlyIn(1-y)Sb passivation layer disposed above the AlxIn(1-x)Sb absorber layer, wherein x
US08552478B2
A method of fabricating a corner transistor is described. An isolation structure is formed in a substrate to define an active region. A treating process is performed to make the substrate in the active region have sharp corners at top edges thereof. The substrate in the active region is covered by a gate dielectric layer. A gate conductor is formed over the gate dielectric layer. A source region and a drain region are formed in the substrate beside the gate conductor.
US08552471B2
Semiconductor apparatus having reverse blocking characteristics and method of manufacturing the same
There is provided a semiconductor apparatus capable of achieving both a reverse blocking characteristic and a low on-resistance. The semiconductor apparatus includes a first semiconductor layer including a channel layer, a source electrode formed on the first semiconductor layer, a drain electrode formed at a distance from the source electrode on the first semiconductor layer, and a gate electrode formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode on the first semiconductor layer. The drain electrode includes a first drain region where reverse current between the first semiconductor layer and the first drain region is blocked, and a second drain region formed at a greater distance from the gate electrode than the first drain region, where a resistance between the first semiconductor layer and the second drain region is lower than a resistance between the first semiconductor layer and the first drain region.
US08552468B2
A semiconductor layer has a first layer of first conductive type, a second layer of second conductive type, and a third layer. The third layer has a first region of first conductive type, and a second region of second conductive type. A second electrode is in contact with each of the first and second regions. A trench is formed on the semiconductor layer at a surface opposite to its surface facing a first electrode. A gate electrode is embedded in the trench with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The gate electrode includes a first portion projecting into the first layer through the first region and the second layer, a second portion projecting into the first layer through the second region and the second layer. The second portion projects into the first layer deeper than a depth in which the first portion projects into the first layer.
US08552467B2
A vertical four-quadrant triac wherein the gate region, arranged on the side of a front surface, includes a U-shaped region of a first conductivity type, the base of the U lying against one side of the structure, the main front surface region of the second conductivity type extending in front of the gate region and being surrounded with portions of the main front surface region of the first conductivity type.
US08552458B2
A light emitting diode includes a thermal conductive substrate having at least one electrical isolation layer configured to provide vertical electrical isolation and a heat transfer path through the substrate from a front side (first side) to a back side (second side) thereof. The light emitting diode includes an anode having a through interconnect, and a cathode having a through interconnect, which are arranged side by side on the substrate. The light emitting diode also includes a LED chip mounted to the substrate between the anode and the cathode. A method for fabricating the light emitting diode includes the steps of providing a thermal conductive substrate having an electrical isolation layer, forming an anode via and a cathode via side by side on a first side of the substrate part way through the substrate, forming an anode through interconnect in the anode via and a cathode through interconnect in the cathode via, thinning the substrate from a second side of the substrate to the anode through interconnect and the cathode through interconnect, and mounting a LED chip to the first side in electrical communication with the cathode through interconnect and the anode through interconnect.
US08552444B2
Light from a semiconductor light-emitting element travels in all directions. Thus, light that travels in the directions other than a lighting direction cannot be used effectively. Means for forming a semiconductor light-emitting element having tilted side surfaces, and forming a reflective layer on the tilted side surfaces has been proposed. However, since the tilted surfaces are formed by an etching method or the like, it takes a long time to form the tilted surfaces, and it is difficult to control the tilted surfaces. As a solution to these problems, semiconductor light-emitting elements are placed on a submount substrate and sealed with a sealant, and then a groove is formed in a portion between adjoining ones of the semiconductor light-emitting elements. The grooves formed are filled with a reflective material, and a light-emitting surface is polished. Then, the submount substrate is divided into individual semiconductor light-emitting devices. Thus, a semiconductor light-emitting device having a reflective layer on its side surfaces can be obtained.
US08552441B2
A method for manufacturing the AlGaInP LED having a vertical structure is provided, including: growing, epitaxially, a buffer layer, an n-type contact layer, an n-type textured layer, a confined layer, an active layer, a p-type confined layer and a p-type window layer in that order on a temporary substrate, to form a texturable epitaxial layer; forming a transparent conducting film with periodicity on the p-type window layer of the epitaxial layer, forming a regulated through-hole on the transparent conducting film, and filling the through-hole with a conducting material; forming a total-reflection metal layer on the transparent conducting film; bonding a permanent substrate with the texturable epitaxial layer via a bonding layer, and bring the total-reflection metal layer into contact with the bonding layer; removing the temporary substrate and the buffer layer; forming an n-type extension electrode on the exposed n-type contact layer; removing the n-type contact layer, and forming a pad on the n-type textured layer; and forming a p-type electrode on a back of the permanent substrate. The transparent multilayered film with periodicity provides a greater reflectivity difference and hence brings better results than the conventional reflector consisting of single-layered, or, non-periodic, transparent films; and light-emitting efficiency is enhanced.
US08552439B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) package including a substrate, an LED chip, a polarizer, and a supporter is provided. The LED chip is disposed on the substrate. The polarizer is disposed above the LED chip. The supporter is disposed on the substrate for supporting the polarizer.
US08552430B2
A thin-film transistor array substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the transistor includes a capacitor including a lower electrode disposed on the same layer as an active layer and an upper electrode disposed on the same layer as a gate electrode. The transistor may also include a first insulating layer disposed between the active layer and the gate electrode and between the lower and upper electrodes, the first insulating layer not being disposed on a perimeter of the lower electrode. The transistor may further include a second insulating layer between the first insulating layer and the source and drain electrodes, the second insulating layer not being disposed on perimeters of the upper and lower electrodes.
US08552428B2
A power semiconductor device according to the present invention, which has a termination structure in which a field plate is provided on an insulating film filled in a recessed region formed in a semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of unit cells connected in parallel, includes: a gate wiring region in which gate wiring electrically connected to each gate electrode of the plurality of unit cells is provided; and a gate pad region electrically connected to the gate wiring region, wherein the gate wiring region is disposed on the insulating film filled in a recessed region formed in the semiconductor substrate.
US08552423B2
An aperture ratio of a semiconductor device is improved. A driver circuit and a pixel are provided over one substrate, and a first thin film transistor in the driver circuit and a second thin film transistor in the pixel each include a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer, an oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, source and drain electrode layers over the oxide semiconductor layer, and an oxide insulating layer in contact with part of the oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, the oxide semiconductor layer, and the source and drain electrode layers. The gate electrode layer, the gate insulating layer, the oxide semiconductor layer, the source and drain electrode layers, and the oxide insulating layer of the second thin film transistor each have a light-transmitting property.
US08552422B2
An electronic device is presented, such as a thin film transistor. The device comprises a patterned electrically-conductive layer associated with an active element of the electronic device. The electrically-conductive layer has a pattern defining an array of spaced-apart electrically conductive regions. This technique allows for increasing an electric current through the device.
US08552418B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device which is not easily damaged by external local pressure. The present invention further provides a method for manufacturing a highly-reliable semiconductor device, which is not destructed by external local pressure, with a high yield. A structure body, in which high-strength fiber of an organic compound or an inorganic compound is impregnated with an organic resin, is provided over an element layer having a semiconductor element formed using a non-single crystal semiconductor layer, and heating and pressure bonding are performed, whereby a semiconductor device is manufactured, to which the element layer and the structure body in which the high-strength fiber of an organic compound or an inorganic compound is impregnated with the organic resin are firmly fixed together.
US08552413B2
Embodiments of the invention generally include a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element that has an improved device switching performance and lifetime, due to the addition of a current limiting component disposed therein. In one embodiment, the current limiting component comprises a resistive material that is configured to improve the switching performance and lifetime of the resistive switching memory element. The electrical properties of the current limiting layer are configured to lower the current flow through the variable resistance layer during the logic state programming steps (i.e., “set” and “reset” steps) by adding a fixed series resistance in the resistive switching memory element found in the nonvolatile memory device. In one embodiment, the current limiting component comprises a tunnel nitride that is a current limiting material that is disposed within a resistive switching memory element in a nonvolatile resistive switching memory device.
US08552404B2
In an ion implantation method, ion implantation into a substrate is performed while changing a relative positional relation between an ion beam and the substrate. A first ion implantation process in which a uniform dose amount distribution is formed within the substrate and a second ion implantation process in which a non-uniform dose amount distribution is formed within the substrate are performed in a predetermined order. Moreover, a cross-sectional size of an ion beam irradiated on the substrate during the second ion implantation process is set smaller than a cross-sectional size of an ion beam irradiated on the substrate during the first ion implantation process.
US08552402B2
A nano-scale resolution fluorescence microscopy system and a method of obtaining an image using the nano-scale resolution microscopy system, and more particularly, a method and a microscopy system, capable of observing fluorescence probes in high resolution by radiating an irregular diffused light to have an incoherent speckle pattern that has low correlation in an adjacent space are disclosed. According to embodiments of the present invention, a diffraction limit of a fluorescence microscope may be overcome, and a super high resolution image on a nanometer scale may be obtained.
US08552396B2
A ground-based system that provides quasi real-time measurement and collection of snow-water equivalent (SWE) data in remote settings is provided. The disclosed invention is significantly less expensive and easier to deploy than current methods and less susceptible to terrain and snow bridging effects. Embodiments of the invention include remote data recovery solutions. Compared to current infrastructure using existing SWE technology, the disclosed invention allows more SWE sites to be installed for similar cost and effort, in a greater variety of terrain; thus, enabling data collection at improved spatial resolutions. The invention integrates a novel computational architecture with new sensor technologies. The invention's computational architecture is based on wireless sensor networks, comprised of programmable, low-cost, low-powered nodes capable of sophisticated sensor control and remote data communication. The invention also includes measuring attenuation of electromagnetic radiation, an approach that is immune to snow bridging and significantly reduces sensor footprints.
US08552387B2
In an embodiment, an initial segmentation of an examination object is fixed, wherein an attenuation coefficient is assigned to each segment of the segmentation. Raw radiation data about the examination object arranged in the positron emission tomography scanner is acquired, and a correction factor is determined for each pixel with the aid of an optimization method, in which the probability of the acquired raw radiation data is maximized taking into account the segmentation and the attenuation coefficients assigned to the segments. A statistical parameter of the correction factors is determined for each segment and the segmentation is corrected by subdividing a segment as a function of the statistical parameter determined for the segment. A segment correction factor is determined for each segment from the correction factors assigned to the segment and the attenuation coefficients assigned to the segments are corrected as a function of the segment correction factors.
US08552383B2
Methods for in-vitro analysis of biological cells and/or microorganisms to determine characteristics such as: degree of differentiation, cell type, donor individuals, culture conditions, purity, lack of natural characteristic, or additional characteristics in comparison to natural characteristics. The methods include the steps of: (a) projecting infrared radiation on a sample; (b) recording spectral characteristics of the sample; (c) deriving a Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR) from the collected spectral characteristics; (d) generating a derivative transformation of the FT-IR spectrum; (e) comparing said derivative transformation with a derivative of a reference FT-IR spectrum; (f) identifying deviations of said derivative from said reference derivative; and (g) providing an analysis of said characteristics based on the presence of said deviations. In addition, the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the disclosed methods.
US08552382B2
A method of determining a physical property of a composite material includes providing a series of composite materials/surfacing films, which are subjected to increasing thermal experience to create a set of thermal effect standards, collecting mid-IR spectra on those standards, performing data pre-processing and then multivariate calibration on the spectra of the composite materials/surfacing films, and using that calibration to predict the thermal effect for samples in question.
US08552381B2
An infrared (IR) scene projector device includes a light emitter and a thermal emitter. The light emitter is configured to selectably provide visible light. The thermal emitter includes a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACN) array. The VACN array includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed proximate to a thermally conductive substrate, such that a longitudinal axis of the carbon nanotubes extends substantially perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. The thermal emitter absorbs the visible light from the light emitter and converts the visible light from the light emitter into IR radiation.
US08552380B1
An IR detector in the form of a thermopile including one or more thermocouples on a dielectric membrane supported by a silicon substrate. Each thermocouple is composed of two materials, at least one of which is p-doped or n-doped single crystal silicon. The device is formed in an SOI process. The device is advantageous as the use of single crystal silicon reduces the noise in the output signal, allows higher reproducibility of the geometrical and physical properties of the layer and in addition, the use of an SOI process allows a temperature sensor, as well as circuitry to be fabricated on the same chip. The detector can also have an IR filter wafer bonded onto it and/or have arrays of thermopiles to increase the sensitivity. The devices can also be integrated with an IR source on the same silicon chip and packaged to form a complete and miniaturised NDIR sensor.
US08552377B2
This invention provides a design to process a large range of detection beam current at low noise with a single detector. With such a design, the detection system can generate up to 1010 gain and maximum signal output at more than mini Ampere (mA) level. A condenser lens is configured to increase bandwidth of the detector that scan speed can be enhanced.
US08552371B2
There is provided a method for setting a suitable imaging magnification for each of a plurality of measurement places in a charged particle beam apparatus which images a semiconductor pattern.For a given measuring point coordinate, a line segment or a vertex representing a change in concavity and convexity near the measuring point coordinate is searched, and an imaging magnification is set so that coordinates on a sample corresponding to both ends which gives a length that serves as a reference falls in a field of view of the charged particle beam apparatus by letting a minimum distance be the reference, of distances between line segments representing a change in concavity and convexity from the measuring point coordinate or a distance between neighboring vertexes.
US08552368B1
A low pressure ionization source and method for detecting trace atmospheric gases with an instrument employing ionized target substances. The ionization source and method may employ electric potential ionization, photoionization, and/or ionization by alpha and/or beta particle irradiation. In one embodiment, an ionization source includes a fixture securable to the instrument, a chamber within the fixture, two sample entrance passageways into the chamber, an electrode receiver hole, a lamp receiver hole, and an ionized sample exit hole from the chamber. A gas sample entering the chamber via a sample entrance passageway is ionized by one of an electric potential induced by an electrode received in the electrode receiver hole or a light beam provided by a photoionization lamp received in the lamp receiver hole. At least a portion of the ionized gas sample exits the chamber via the sample exit hole to a detector/analyzer of the instrument.
US08552367B2
A micro-reflectron for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer including a substrate and integrated with the volume of the substrate, means for application of a potential gradient in a volume suitable for constituting a flight zone of the ions. The means of application includes at least two polarization electrodes and a wall of at least one resistive material that can be polarized between these electrodes so as to generate a continuous potential gradient, itself providing the function of reflectron, this flight zone, these electrodes and this wall being obtained by the technology of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and this micro-reflectron having a thickness of less than 5 millimeters while its other dimensions are less than 10 times this thickness.
US08552365B2
Methods for operating a mass spectrometer having at least one component having mass-dependent transmission, comprising: injecting a first sample of ions having a first mass range into an ion accumulator for a first injection time under first operating conditions suitable for optimizing transmission of ions of the first range; acquiring a full-scan mass spectrum of the first sample of ions; selecting ion species having a second mass range different than the first range; calculating a second injection time, the second injection time suitable for injecting a population of the selected ion species into the ion accumulator under second operating conditions suitable for optimizing transmission of ions of the second range; injecting a second sample of ions having the selected ion species into the ion accumulator for the second injection time under the second operating conditions; and acquiring a mass spectrum of ions derived from the selected ion species.
US08552364B2
Methods for proteomic analysis are provided. For example, in one aspect a method for identifying and sequencing a peptide may include fractionating a biological sample containing a peptide of interest to at least partially isolate the peptide, obtaining mass spectra of the peptide, and accelerating the peptide into a collision chamber at a plurality of discrete collision energies for a discrete period of time to form a plurality of peptide fragments for each of the plurality of discrete collision energies. The method may further include obtaining a plurality of fragmentation mass spectra from the plurality of peptide fragments for each of the plurality of discrete collision energies, summing the plurality of fragmentation mass spectra from each of the plurality of discrete collision energies to form a plurality of discrete collision energy mass spectra, one discrete collision energy mass spectra from each discrete collision energy, summing the plurality of discrete collision energy mass spectra to form a final mass spectrum for the peptide fragments, and identifying a sequence of amino acids corresponding to the peptide from the final mass spectrum.
US08552359B2
An apparatus for concentrating light and associated method of use is disclosed. This apparatus includes a first outer wall having an anterior end, a posterior end, an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior portion, the interior portion having an anterior end and a posterior end, and a light source disposed within the interior portion. The first outer wall has an opening in the posterior end, the opening having an opening diameter. The interior portion has a substantially frusto-conical shape and has a cross-sectional diameter at the opening equal to the opening diameter and a second cross-sectional diameter near the anterior end that is less than the opening diameter and the inner surface is photo-reflective. The light passes through a sample through an aperture and a collector lens or a second outer wall. A transmission diffraction grating may be utilized.
US08552348B2
A collapsible field director includes at least one master vane and at least first and second slave vanes. The master vane includes a conductive flap that is articulably attached to a mounting flange. The flange is attached to a planar support member having openings or slots formed therein. Each slave vane has a mounting tab thereon. The slave vanes are flexibly connected to the master vane. The slave vanes are flexibly displaceable with respect to the conductor flap and the conductor flap is articulably movable with respect to the mounting flange so that the field director structure, in the deployed state, occupies a self-supported disposition in which the conductor flap is oriented perpendicular to the mounting flange and the slave vanes are angularly spaced from the master vane with the tabs on the slave banes being received in openings or slots in the planar member.
US08552347B2
A method and a device (1) for bonding a metal fairing (6) to protect a leading edge of an aircraft airfoil (7), the metal fairing (6) is designed to be bonded against the airfoil (7) with the help of an adhesive (9). The bonding device (1) is remarkable in that it includes a rigid yoke (2) having inserted therein induction heater elements (30) for heating the metal fairing (6).
US08552345B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a diesel fuel filter heater comprising at least one PTC element, in a motor vehicle. According to the invention, a glow plug control device is used to generate an effective voltage from a vehicle system voltage using pulse width modulation, which is then applied at the filter heater.
US08552342B2
To provide a heater that can reduce fixing failure in a paper passing area while suppressing a temperature rise in a sheet non-passing area, and a fixing apparatus including the heater.Resistors are connected in parallel between two conductive patterns that are provided on a heater substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate, and resistors are arranged so that the shortest current path of each of the resistors can overlap the shortest current path of an adjacent resistor in the longitudinal direction of the substrate.
US08552341B2
A welding torch comprising: a main cylindrical conductive assembly with a front diffuser section having a plurality of circumferentially spaced shielding gas diffuser orifices for directing shielding gas radially outwardly from the assembly, a forwardly facing threaded bore extending through a cylindrical support nose and an elongated wire passageway coaxial with the threaded bore and opening at the rear end of the assembly. An insulated, cylindrical protective sleeve fitted around both the support nose and the diffuser orifices where the sleeve has a front clearance opening and circumferentially spaced openings communicated with the diffuser orifices and a contact tip having a central wire guide bore with a diameter only slightly larger than the diameter of the welding wire, a threaded rear body, a front extension passing through the front clearance opening and a radially extending flange between the rear body and the front extension to hold the protective sleeve around the nose when the body is screwed into the threaded bore of the main assembly.
US08552335B2
A plasma jet apparatus for performing plasma processing of an article includes: an elongated central electrode (2,15), an elongated cylindrical outer electrode (1) or two outer electrodes (15,16) surrounding the central electrode and being coaxial with the central electrode, or two electrodes substantially parallel to the central electrode. an electrical insulator (3) or insulators (18,19) are disposed between the outer electrode(s) and the central electrode, wherein a discharge lumen having a distal end and a proximal end is defined between the central electrode and the electrical insulator(s). A supply opening (6) is disposed at the distal end of the discharge lumen for supplying a plasma producing gas to the discharge lumen, A power source (9) provides a voltage between the central electrode and said outer electrode. The electrical insulator has a radial or outward extension (40,20) at the proximal end beyond the outer surface of the outer electrode(s).
US08552334B2
A plasma processing chamber includes a cantilever assembly and at least one vacuum isolation member configured to neutralize atmospheric load. The chamber includes a wall surrounding an interior region and having an opening formed therein. A cantilever assembly includes a substrate support for supporting a substrate within the chamber. The cantilever assembly extends through the opening such that a portion is located outside the chamber. The chamber includes an actuation mechanism operative to move the cantilever assembly relative to the wall.
US08552333B2
A circuit protection device includes a plasma gun configured to generate a plasma plume, at least one capacitor configured to store electrical energy, and a trigger circuit communicatively coupled to the plasma gun and the capacitor. The trigger circuit is configured to transmit a first signal to the capacitor to cause the capacitor to transmit a first portion of the electrical energy to the plasma gun. The trigger circuit is also configured to transmit a second signal to the plasma gun to cause the plasma gun to generate the plasma plume using the first portion of the electrical energy.
US08552332B2
Provided are a bolt for projection welding and a method of welding the same in which a portion of large fusion depth is formed in a small region and in which junction to a steel sheet part is secured in other regions, thereby realizing high weld strength and stable junction state. A bolt includes a shaft part, an enlarged diameter part, and a fusion bonding projection, the fusion bonding projection including an initial fusion part having at an end surface thereof a tapered portion and a main fusion part continuous with the initial fusion part. Energization with welding current for fusing the fusion bonding projection only is effected on the fusion bonding projection, and in which through pressurization of the fusion bonding projection against a steel sheet part and subsequent energization thereof, a region of the fusion bonding projection is fusion-bonded to the steel sheet part, and an end surface of the enlarged diameter part on the outer peripheral side thereof is brought into junction with a surface of the steel sheet part. With this structure, it is possible to realize a satisfactory welding in an appropriate fused state.
US08552330B2
A submerged arc welding system includes a robot having a first arm connected to a second arm, and at least one wire supply. A welding torch is connected to a first end of the second arm of the robot. A wire motor is mounted to a second end of the second arm of the robot. The wire motor moves wire from the wire supply along a wire path to the welding torch. The system further includes a flux supply and a flux delivery system configured to move flux from the flux supply along a flux path to the welding torch.
US08552329B2
A submerged arc welding system. In one embodiment, the submerged arc welding system includes a robot, a flux supply distal from the robot, and at least one wire supply distal from the robot. The system also includes a welding torch connected to the robot, a wire path connecting the wire supply to the welding torch, and a flux path connecting the flux supply to the welding torch. A flux delivery system is configured to move flux from the flux supply to the welding torch. At least one vent is disposed on the flux path adjacent the welding torch, to evacuate air from the flux path.
US08552325B2
A click mechanism for an electric part comprises a spring 50 made of a plate material and disposed on a rotatable plate 40 that rotates integrally with a rotationally-manipulated shaft of an electric part, a click piece 60 disposed on the outer perimeter of the rotatable plate 40 so as to retractably protrude from the outer perimeter, and projections and depressions 25 formed on the inner perimeter of a housing 22 for the rotatable plate 40 to be arranged in the circumferential direction of the inner perimeter. The click piece 60 is cylindrical and biased by the spring 50 to be in resilient contact with the projections and depressions 25 at the perimeter thereof. The click mechanism can produce a fine and clear click feel, has high durability, and can be reduced in size.
US08552320B2
A switch for generating short-term supply-line interruptions during switching-on with contact elements (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 21, 22, 23) and an actuating element (4) for opening and closing electrical contacts between the contact elements, wherein (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 21, 22, 23). A first contact element (1, 5, 21) is mounted elastically and, when a contact is closed via the first contact element (1, 5, 21), can be deflected elastically in such a way that the contact, after initial closing, is opened again by the elastic deflection.
US08552318B2
Rotary switch interlock mechanisms and electrical switch assemblies with a rotary switch interlock mechanism are presented herein. An electrical distribution device with at least two electrical switches is disclosed. Each of the electrical switches has a switch actuator that is movable between engaged and disengaged positions. A rotary interlock member is rotatably mounted to the housing of the electrical distribution device adjacent the first and second electrical switches. The rotary interlock member is rotatable 180 degrees between a first orientation, whereat the rotary member allows the switch actuator of the second electrical switch into its engaged position while preventing the switch actuator of the first electrical switch from being moved into its engaged position, and a second orientation, whereat the rotary member allows the first switch actuator to be moved into its engaged position while preventing the second switch actuator from being moved into its engaged position.
US08552315B2
A capacitive position sensor is provided having a touch-sensitive area defined by a single-layer of electrodes arranged in a pattern along two axes. The electrode pattern includes a plurality of units each occupying a portion of the touch sensitive area along one axis. Each unit has at least three lines of elongate electrodes spaced apart in the one axis and extending for a length parallel to the other axis. The three lines of elongate electrodes in each unit comprise at least one line of drive electrodes and two lines of sense electrodes or at least one line of sense electrodes and two lines of drive electrodes. Selected electrodes of each unit are arranged in interconnected groups, each group having electrodes from more than one line which have partially overlapping extents along their length.
US08552295B2
A cable assembly has a clamp provided at an end of a multi-core cable. The clamp, which is formed such that the inner diameter thereof increases as it is closer to the rear end, is fixed by caulking to the outer circumference of a sheath. An inner spring and an outer spring are arranged around the outer circumference of a sheath. The inner spring is fixed to the clamp in such a manner as the end thereof on the cable tip side is sandwiched between the sheath and the inner surface of the clamp. The outer spring is shorter than the inner spring in the cable axial direction, and the end thereof on the cable tip side is fixed to the outer circumference of the clamp. The outer circumference of the inner spring and the outer spring is covered with a rubber boot.
US08552291B2
A cable for high speed data communications that includes a first inner conductor enclosed by a first dielectric layer and a second inner conductor enclosed by a second dielectric layer. The inner conductors and the dielectric layers are disposed within the cable in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the cable. The cable also includes drain conductors disposed within the cable laterally to the inner conductors adjacent to the dielectric layers along the longitudinal axis of the cable and within thirty degrees of a horizontal axis through the inner conductors. The cable also includes a conductive shield composed of a strip of conductive shield material wrapped in a rotational direction along and about the longitudinal axis around the inner conductors, the dielectric layers, and the drain conductors.
US08552287B2
A stacked-layered thin film solar cell has a plurality of independent unit cells comprising a substrate, a first electrode layer, a first photoconductive layer, an interlayer, a second photoconductive layer, and a second electrode layer in a series stacked structure, wherein at least one first separation groove is formed within the first electrode layer and the stacked-layered thin film solar cell is characterized in: at least one second separation groove formed on the interlayer, at least one connection groove passing through the first photoconductive layer and the second photoconductive layer, and at least one third separation groove extending downward at a periphery of each of the unit cells so that the connection grooves and the third separation groove are concurrently located inside a projection zone of the second separation groove.
US08552284B2
A pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generating device includes an internal through-hole along the axis direction of the pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generation device; a plurality of first cup-shaped components each made of metal; a plurality of second cup-shaped components each made of thermoelectric material; a first electrode; a second electrode. The plurality of first cup-shaped components and the plurality of second cup-shaped components are arranged alternately and repeatedly along the axis direction. The first electrode and the second electrode are provided respectively at one end and at the other end of the pipe-shaped thermoelectric power generation device.
US08552276B1
A novel maize variety designated X90B043 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 X90B043 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X90B043 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X90B043, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X90B043. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X90B043.
US08552269B2
A soybean cultivar designated 94L41 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 94L41, to the plants of soybean cultivar 94L41, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 94L41, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 94L41. 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 94L41. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 94L41, 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 94L41 with another soybean cultivar.
US08552261B2
A soybean cultivar designated S090057 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S090057, to the plants of soybean S090057, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S090057, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S090057 with itself or with another soybean variety. 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. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S090057, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S090057, 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 the cultivar S090057 with another soybean cultivar.
US08552256B2
The present inventors identified a novel rice glutelin gene, GluD-1, which is expressed specifically in seeds. The promoter of the GluD-1 gene was confirmed to induce seed-specific gene expression, and to induce expression of downstream genes specifically in the endosperm during the early stage of seed maturation process. More specifically, the GluD-1 promoter can induce strong expression of an exogenous gene in sites including the endosperm.
US08552253B2
Provided is a method of using any mammal except humans, in particular, a mammal as an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder model, wherein genes of G protein-coupled receptor kinase interacting protein 1 (GIT1) as a neuronal synapse protein in the brain are knocked out from the mammal. In addition, disclosed is analysis of GIT1 knock-out mice in aspects of molecular biology, cellular biology, electrical biology and animal behavior and, more particularly, a screening method of novel drug, wherein excessive behavior as an attention deficit hyperactive disorder as well as recovery of theta wave in the frontal lobe are observed by administering a candidate material of the drug, thereby inducing recovery of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
US08552250B2
An absorbent article comprises a first location of a first portion of a visual fullness indicating area that is configured to change to a subsequent visual state when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate. At the first location, the first portion has a first overall width. The absorbent article also comprises a second location of a second portion of a visual fullness indicating area that is configured to change to a subsequent visual state when indicating the presence of a bodily exudate. The second location is outboard from the first location. The second location has a second overall width that is wider than the first overall width.
US08552236B2
A catalyst for the conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons comprises particles of a porous refractory material, crystals of a zeolite material grown within the pores of the refractory material, and at least one catalytically active metal or metal compound associated with the zeolite crystals.
US08552235B2
A process for hydrodeoxygenation of feeds derived from renewable sources with conversion by decarboxylation/decarbonylation limited to at most 10%, using a bulk or supported catalyst comprising an active phase constituted by at least one element from group VIB and at least one element from group VIII, said elements being in the sulphide form, and the atomic ratio of the metal (or metals) from group VIII to the metal (or metals) from group VIB being strictly more than 0 and less than 0.095, said process being carried out at a temperature in the range 120° C. to 450° C., at a pressure in the range 1 MPa to 10 MPa, at an hourly space velocity in the range 0.1 h−1 to 10 h−1, and in the presence of a total quantity of hydrogen mixed with the feed such that the hydrogen/feed ratio is in the range 50 to 3000 Nm3 of hydrogen/m3 of feed.
US08552232B2
The present invention provides fully renewable turbine and diesel fuels created from biomass sources. In one embodiment, the fully renewable turbine fuel is comprised of mesitylene and at least one alkane. Preferably, the turbine fuel comprises from about 50 to 99 wt % mesitylene and from about 1 to 50 wt % of at least one alkane. In another embodiment the diesel fuel comprises mesitylene, octadecane, and optionally octane or nonane. Preferably, the diesel fuel comprises from about 50 to 99 wt % mesitylene, and from about 1 to 50 wt % octadecane. These biomass derived fuels may be formulated to have a wide range of cetane values and differing freezing and boiling points. A preferred biogenic turbine fuel comprises one or more synthetic paraffinic kerosenes (SPK) and/or hydroprocessed renewable jet (HRJ) fuel; and between about 8 to 25 vol % of mesitylene. Another preferred biogenic turbine fuel is a blend of about 50% petroleum-based fuel; and about 50% of one or more of synthetic paraffinic kerosenes (SPK) and/or hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel (HRJ), and mesitylene.
US08552227B2
A dehydrofluorination process is disclosed for making hydrofluoroolefins of the structure RfCH═CHRf, wherein each Rf is independently a perfluoroalkyl group or a perfluoroalkyl group having a terminal hydrogen. The process involves reacting RfCH2CHFRf with a basic aqueous solution to produce a product mixture comprising RfCH═CHRf.
US08552223B2
A method of making a heterogeneous catalyst, the catalyst produced therefrom, and the use of the catalyst, comprising mixing a dried ion exchange resin with a solution of a ketone and a metal, swelling the ion exchange resin, distributing the metal in the resin, and transforming without reducing agents the metal to zero valent at a temperature below 120° C.
US08552220B2
To develop a highly safe measure to treat Alzheimer's disease using a secretase-inhibiting substance, there is provided a compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof: wherein A represents a phenyl group or the like, R1 represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom, or a nitro group or the like, R2, R3, R4, and R5 each represent a hydrogen atom or the like, and L represents CH2—CH2 or CH═CH.
US08552216B2
Process for the production of methyl acetate by carbonylating a dimethyl ether feed with carbon monoxide under substantially anhydrous conditions, in the presence of a zeolite catalyst effective for the carbonylation. The carbonylation is carried out at a temperature in the range of 275 to 350° C. and in the presence of hydrogen.
US08552208B2
Tetramic acid analogues of Formula I and Formula II have antibacterial activity, primarily against gram-positive bacteria, and are iron chelators.
US08552198B2
A novel crystal of (R)-2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridinyl]methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole or a salt thereof of the present invention is useful for an excellent antiulcer agent.
US08552182B2
A method for producing a 3-(substituted oxy)-4-pyridazinol compound represented by the following general formula (I): comprising reacting a compound represented by the following general formula (III): with a compound represented by the following general formula (IV): MO—R2 (IV). The compound represented by the general formula (I) can be reacted with a compound represented by the following general formula (VI): to provide a compound of general formula (V): Each of the groups in the formulas is defined. The compounds of general formulas (I) and (V) can be obtained in a high yield and with high selectivity at a low cost, and therefore various functional and active substances can be advantageously synthesized using the compounds as a medicine, an agricultural chemical, a functional material, or an intermediate thereof.
US08552173B2
The present invention relates to compositions useful as probes and in other applications and methods of their use. In some embodiments, nucleotides are prepared and functionalized with dyes. In some embodiments a first molecule is functionalized with an alkynyl group, a second molecule is functionalized with an azide group, and said first and second molecules are mixed under conditions to form a conjugate with a 1,2,3-triazol group. In further embodiments, a nucleotide is functionalized with an alkynyl group, a dye is functionalized with an azide group, and mixing the nucleotide and the dye forms a conjugate capable of emitting light.
US08552172B2
Molecules are provided for inducing or facilitating exon skipping in forming spliced mRNA products from pre-mRNA molecules in cells. The molecules may be provided directly as oligonucleotides or expression products of vectors that are administered to a subject. High rates of skipping can be achieved. High rates of skipping reduce the severity of a disease like Duchene Muscular Dystrophy so that the disease is more like Becker Muscular Dystrophy. This is a severe reduction in symptom severity and mortality.
US08552159B2
Provided herein are carbohydrate complement-modified bifunctional glycoproteins, and their use in tumor-selective therapy. The bifunctional glycoproteins comprise a first component that specifically binds to a tumor-specific antigen and a second component having enzymatic activity by means of which a non-toxic prodrug is cleaved into a cytotoxic drug. The carbohydrate complement comprises at least one exposed carbohydrate residue selected from the group consisting of mannose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, N-acetyllactose, glucose and fucose. The modified carbohydrate complement contributes to increased relative concentration of the glycoproteins at the site of the tumor, and enhanced clearance from the general circulation and non-tumor sites.
US08552139B2
The present invention relates to biodegradable polymers (e.g., polyesters and polyester amides) derived from functionalized biologically active compounds that can provide site specific delivery of bioactive compounds upon biodegradation in a controlled manner.
US08552134B2
A method of producing a water-absorbent resin of the present invention reduces amounts of a residual cross-linking agent and a residual surfactant, achieves high productivity, and improves physical properties of the resultant water-absorbent, such as absorption capacity, extractable polymer content, powder friction, and gel crushability. The method includes the steps of: polymerizing an aqueous monomer solution containing as a major component an acrylic acid monomer in the presence of a cross-linking agent; and drying the resultant polymer by heating, in which the cross-linking agent is a multifunctional (meth)acrylate cross-linking agent having polyethylene glycol structural units including a total of 6 to 200 ethylene oxide repeating units, and the aqueous monomer solution includes a mono(meth)acrylate compound having polyethylene glycol structural units in an amount of 0.1 to 30% by weight relative to an amount of the multifunctional (meth)acrylate cross-linking agent.
US08552131B1
Disclosed is a substantially alternating copolymer that is conformal, hard, flexible, and has low oxygen permeability. Also disclosed is an iCVD-based method of coating a substrate with the substantially alternating copolymer.
US08552126B2
The present invention relates to an aqueous polymer dispersion whose dispersed addition polymer P comprises, copolymerized in free-radically polymerized form, at least one polar monomer having a water solubility of greater than 50 g/liter (measured at 20° C.), and obtainable by free-radically initiated aqueous emulsion polymerization, the polar monomer being metered to the reaction mixture during the polymerization process at a variable, i.e., nonconstant rate, for example in the sense of a rate gradient. The present invention further relates to processes for preparing these aqueous polymer dispersions, to their use as binders and/or in coatings, and also to coatings comprising the polymer dispersion of the invention.
US08552123B2
A thermosetting resin including at least one repeating unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 1: wherein, in Chemical Formula 1, A is derived from a phenolic moiety, an anilinic moiety, or a combination thereof, L is C(O)O, C(O)NR′ wherein R′ is hydrogen, a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C20 alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C30 aryl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C6 to C30 aryloxy group, an aromatic ester, an aromatic ester-imide, an aromatic ester-amide, an aromatic amide, or a combination thereof, Z is a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group including a double bond or a triple bond, a substituted or unsubstituted alicyclic group including a double bond or a triple bond, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group including a double bond or a triple bond, (iso)cyanate, a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof, and n is an integer ranging from 1 to about 4.
US08552112B2
The present invention provides a weather resistant thermoplastic resin with low gloss and a method of preparing the same. The thermoplastic resin of the present invention comprises a (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester-based polymer (A) and a (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester-based oligomeric prepolymer (B), and an aromatic vinyl-cyanide vinyl based copolymer (C), wherein the (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester-based polymer (A) and the (meth)acrylic acid alkyl ester-based oligomeric prepolymer (B) form a network-shaped disperse phase and the aromatic vinyl-cyanide vinyl based copolymer (C) forms a continuous phase.
US08552111B2
A composition comprises a polyvinylchloride homopolymer, a biodegradable plasticizer and either a swelling agent or a carbohydrate coupled to the polyvinylchloride homopolymer or a combination thereof. The composition may further comprise a blowing agent. A coated fabric comprises a textile substrate and a biodegradable coating at least partially coating the textile substrate, wherein the biodegradable coating degrades at least 60% after 28 days under the ASTM D584 standard. A method of making a biodegradable coating comprises providing a polymer and blending a biodegradable plasticizer with the polymer to form a blend. A method of making a coated textile comprises providing a textile and a composition comprising a polymer, a biodegradable plasticizer, and at least one other component; applying the composition to the textile; and curing the composition, thereby making a coated textile.
US08552110B2
Polymerization process for preparing mono-disperse organic/inorganic nanocomposite microspheres in the field of nano technology is disclosed. The process comprises preparing of two different miniemulsion systems of A with inorganic nanoparticles and B with polymeric monomers in advance; adding water-soluble initiator into miniemulsion A, stirring till complete dissolution finally, heating the mixed system to a given temperature for isothermal reaction. The grain size of the as-prepared superparamagnetic Fe3O4/polystyrene using to present invention is homogeneous and controllable, and the magnetic particles content is controllable.
US08552106B2
A fluorosilicone reaction product of a mercapto or vinyl functional organopolysiloxane and a fluorine-containing monomer, and methods of preparing the fluorosilicone are disclosed. The fluorosilicone products are suitable for application to substrates such as textiles, particularly fabrics, to impart oil repellent properties to the textile. The fluorosilicone reaction product is prepared from (A) a fluorine-containing monomer of the formula CH2═C(X)COOYRf, and (B) a mercapto or vinyl functional organopolysiloxane.
US08552099B2
A polymer additive for improving the reheat characteristics of a polymer or polymeric composition comprises an inorganic material which is such that a 2.5 mm thick polyethylene terephthalate plaque incorporating the inorganic material has, when tested, an absorption ratio of less than 0.9, wherein the absorption ratio is either the ratio of A1/A2 or the ratio A1/A3, wherein: A1 is the maximum absorption between 400 nm and 550 nm; A2 is the maximum absorption between 700 to 1100 nm; A3 is the maximum absorption between 700 to 1600 nm. Preferred inorganic materials are titanium nitride, indium tin oxide and lanthanum hexaboride.
US08552086B2
A hardenable dental composition that includes a polymerizable component and an organogelator.
US08552058B2
The invention discloses the application of l-n-butylphthalide as formula (I) in preparing a medicine for preventing and treating dementia, in special Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
US08552057B2
Select phytoestrogen pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use for promoting neurological heath and prevention of age-related neurodegeneration, such as AD, have been developed. These select phytoestrogen formulations are composed of a number of plant-derived estrogenic molecules and/or their structural analogues and exhibit binding preference to ERβ over ERα and agonist activity in the brain. These ERβ-selective phytoestrogen formulations cross the blood-brain-barrier and promote estrogen-associated neurotrophism and neuroprotections mechanisms in the brain, without activating proliferative mechanisms in the reproductive tissues and are therefore devoid of other estrogen-associated problematic aspects. These are administered enterally, transdermally, transmucosally, intranasally or parenterally, in a dosage effective to prevent or alleviate neuronal damage, effect neuronal regeneration or sustain viability, increase expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, and/or decrease indicators of Alzheimer's Disease.
US08552034B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprising Compound 1, (3-(6-(1-(2,2-difluorobenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamido)-3-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid), and at least one excipient selected from: a filler, a diluent, a disintegrant, a surfactant, a binder, a glidant and a lubricant, the composition being suitable for oral administration to a patient in need thereof to treat a CFTR mediated disease such as Cystic Fibrosis. Methods for treating a patient in need thereof include administering an oral pharmaceutical formulation of Compound 1 to the patient.
US08552028B2
A compound is provided. The compound includes a formula of:
US08552027B2
Dyes and photoluminescent compounds based on polymethine dyes that contain at least one alkyl-phosphonate or substituted alkyl-phosphonate group, including the synthetic precursors, methods of synthesis, and applications thereof. Certain embodiments include heterocyclic ring systems and polymethine linkage are selected such that the resulting polymethine dye is a cyanine dye, a merocyanine dye, or a styryl dye.
US08552026B2
The present invention relates to an isatin derivative having the formula (I), a medicament for treatment of tuberculoses containing that isatin derivative as well as a method for preparing isatin derivative according to formula (I).
US08552021B2
Compounds of formula I: including any possible stereoisomers thereof, wherein: R1 is hydrogen, —C(═O)R6 or —C(═O)CHR7—NH2; R2 is hydrogen; or C1-C6alkyl or phenyl, either of which is optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents each independently selected from halo, C1-C6alkyl, C2-C6-alkenyl and C1-C6alkoxy, hydroxy or amino, or R2 is naphtyl; or R2 is indolyl, R3 is hydrogen, C1-C6alkyl, benzyl; R4 is hydrogen, C1-C6alkyl, benzyl; or R3 and R4 together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form C3-C7cycloalkyl; R5 is C1-C10alkyl, C3-C7-cycloalkyl, benzyl, or phenyl, any of which being optionally substituted with 1, 2 or 3 substituents each independently selected from hydroxy, C1-C6alkoxy, amino, mono- and diC1-C6alkylamino; R6 is C1-C6 alkyl; R7 is C1-C6 alkyl; R8 is hydrogen or halogen; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof are useful in the prophylaxis or treatment of HCV infections.
US08552014B2
A method for treating cancer tumors, particularly ovarian cancer tumors, is described, where fused cyclic pyrimidine having a cancer treating ability is selectively delivered to an FR expressing cancerous tumor.
US08552013B2
Novel heterocyclic derivatives based on N6-substituted adenine, having anticancer, mitotic, immunosuppressive and antisenescent properties for plant, animal and human cells and methods of their preparation. Included are also pharmaceutical compositions, cosmetic preparations and growth regulators, which contain these derivatives as active compound and the use of these derivatives for the preparation of drugs, cosmetic preparations, in biotechnological processes, in cosmetics and in agriculture.
US08552007B2
Disclosed are compounds of Formula 1, wherein X is O or S; Y is O or S; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula 1 and methods for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising contacting the invertebrate pest or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a compound or a composition of the invention.
US08552006B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula IVA, formula IVB, or formula IVC, useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, compositions thereof, and methods therewith. The present invention also relates to methods of treating diseases using such CFTR modulators.
US08551993B2
Novel compounds of the general formula (I), the use of these compounds as pharmaceutical compositions, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of treatment employing these compounds and compositions. The present compounds are activators of PPARδ and should be useful for treating conditions mediated by the same.
US08551991B2
An object of the present invention is to synthesize a novel 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoxaline derivative represented by formula (1) and to find a pharmacological action of the derivative. In the formula, the R1 represents a halogen, an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic group, or the like; p represents 0 to 5; R2 represents a halogen, an alkyl, hydroxyl or alkoxy group, or the like; q represents 0 to 2; R3 represents hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl, alkylcarbonyl or arylcarbonyl group, or the like; R4 and R5 independently represent hydrogen, a halogen, an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic group, or the like; R6 represents hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or heterocyclic group, or the like; A represents an alkylene; R7 represents OR8, NR8R9, SR8, S(O)R8, S(O)2R8; and X represents O or S.
US08551987B2
The invention relates to the novel salts AB of the base A with a physiologically acceptable acid B which is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, fumaric acid and salicylic acid and the polymorphic compounds, the corresponding solvates and hydrates thereof.
US08551984B2
The present invention provides novel pyrimidine amines of formula (I) which are potent inhibitors of spleen tyrosine kinase, and are useful in the treatment and prevention of diseases mediated by said enzyme, such as asthma, COPD and rheumatoid arthritis.
US08551974B1
Ophthalmic compositions are provided that include a lubricant, a deturgescent agent, a glycosaminoglycan, and water. Methods of using the ophthalmic compositions are also provided.
US08551973B2
A purified compound having activity against hepatitis C virus is disclosed.
US08551966B2
3-(2′,3′-dideoxy-ribo-β-L-furanosyl)[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(3H)-one derivatives comprising 6-substitutents on the base moiety are shown to have anti-viral properties, particularly with respect to vaccinia and measles. The compounds have unnatural L ribose stereochemistry.
US08551955B2
The invention provides small molecule mimics of the Smac peptide that are dimers or dimer-like compounds having two binding domains connected by a linker. These compounds are useful to promote apoptosis. The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods to use them to treat conditions including cancer and autoimmune disorders.
US08551952B2
Provided herein are methods for treatment of ocular diseases. The methods comprise administering a compound of general Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and Ak are as defined in the specification.
US08551947B2
Hibernating myocardium is characterized by viable myocardium with impaired function due to localized reduced perfusion. Hibernating myocytes retain cellular integrity, but cannot sustain high-energy requirements of contraction. High plasma levels of catecholamines, such as norepinepherine, are believed to be predictive of mortality from hibernating myocardium. Likewise, high levels of catecholamines lead to cardiomyopathy in patients with diabetes. GLP-1 reduces plasma norepinepherine levels, and it thus is useful in a method of treating hibernating myocardium or diabetic cardiomyopathy.
US08551946B2
Provided herein are peptide combinations comprising a GIP agonist peptide and a glucagon antagonist peptide. In some embodiments, the peptide combination is provided as a composition, e.g., a pharmaceutical composition, while in other embodiments, the peptide combination is provided as a kit. In yet other embodiments, the peptide combination is provided as a conjugate, e.g., a fusion peptide, a heterodimer. In specific aspects, the GIP agonist peptide is an analog of native human glucagon. In specific aspects, the glucagon antagonist peptide is an analog of native human glucagon. In some embodiments, the GIP agonist peptide is covalently attached to the glucagon antagonist peptide via a linker. Methods of treating a disease, e.g., a metabolic disorder, such as diabetes and obesity, comprising administering the peptide compositions described herein are further provided.
US08551939B2
The use is claimed of opioid peptides with a novel structure, which in addition to the pharmacophore contain structural elements that interact with neurotensisn receptors. Due to the synergistic interaction with the additional element, an augmented analgesic activity is obtained, capable of being used for an extended period due to decreased drug tolerance induction. These compounds may be of particular use in the treatment of chronic pain as effective analgesics during inflammation caused by rheumatoid, gout, neurodegeneration, post-operative or post-accidental lesions, or oncogenic lesions.
US08551932B2
A liquid hard surface cleaning composition includes melamine foam fibers. In one embodiment the composition has a pH of from about 7 to about 12. In another embodiment, the composition comprises less than about 200 ppm of formaldehyde in solution, per about 1% by weight of melamine foam fibers present in the composition, after 7 days of storage at 50 C.
US08551929B2
The present invention provides unit dose detergent products, such as those in the form of compositions comprising: a water-soluble single-chamber container, such as a pouch; and a cleaning system comprising at least one detersive surfactant, and optionally one or more additional components. The invention also provides methods of production of such compositions, and methods use of such compositions in processes for cleaning dishware and/or fabrics, including garments, by introducing one or more of the unit dose products of the invention into an automatic washing machine suitable for washing dishware or laundry, whereby the cleaning system is released such that it comes into contact with a soiled article (e.g., dishware or fabrics) under conditions favoring the removal of one or more soils from the article.
US08551928B2
A multi-agent type cleaning kit for applying to semiconductor substrates, which contains a foaming agent having an alkylene carbonate and a carbonic acid salt, a foaming aid having an acidic compound, and an oxidizing agent; at least the foaming agent is mixed with the foaming aid upon using for the cleaning of a semiconductor substrate, in combination with the oxidizing agent.
US08551926B2
Emulsified acids have been used to increase production rates of oil and gas in carbonate reservoirs through acid fracturing and matrix acidizing operations. An emulsifier is used to emulsify the aqueous acid with an oil, usually diesel. Very small particles, such as colloidal clay particles and/or nanoparticles increase the stability of the emulsified acids over an elevated temperature range.
US08551922B1
In a process of fabricating a tissue array, a tissue block is sliced to obtain sheet-form pieces of tissue, and each of the sheet-form pieces is closely rolled around a guide member to form a spiral shape tissue around the guide member. Then, the spiral shape tissues are inserted in an axial direction into holes arrayed in a base block.
US08551921B2
An indicator device, and a biological test method, for determining the toxic fingerprint and degree of toxicity, comprising at least 3, preferably at least 11, different microorganisms freeze-dried on an inert support material, wherein the microorganisms are being selected to form a high diversity of microorganisms, on the support material, with regards to the taxonomical tree and high diversity regarding responses to toxic chemicals. Further, a kit and a process for producing the indicator device is also disclosed.
US08551918B2
A herbicidal composition comprising, in addition to customary inert formulation excipients, as a mixture of at least one soil-applied herbicide and a lipophilic additive consisting of a paraffin oil derived from the refined fraction of petroleum oil with a distillation range at 10 mm Hg of about 190 °C. to about 280 °C. and with a carbon number distribution from about C13 to about C55.
US08551915B2
The present invention provides a product for agricultural use in the form of granules or pellets, characterized by comprising at least 30% (w/w) of vinasses and/or sludge measured as a dry extract of vinasses and/or sludge, and an organic or inorganic solid support. In addition, the present invention provides a procedure for producing said product, its use in agriculture, stockbreeding or as biodiesel.
US08551914B2
Molecules having the following structure are disclosed. Processes of using such molecules are disclosed.
US08551910B2
The invention relates to a porous structure comprising a ceramic material comprising mainly or consisting of an oxide material of the pseudobrookite type comprising titanium, aluminum, magnesium and zirconium in proportions such that the phase of the pseudobrookite type substantially satisfies the formula: (Al2TiO5)x(MgTi2O5)y(MgTiZrO5)z. This material satisfies the following composition, in mol % on the basis of just the oxides Al2O3, TiO2, MgO and ZrO2: 90<2a+3m<110; 100+a<3t<210−a; and a+t+m+zr=100, in which: a is the molar content of Al2O3; t is the molar content of TiO2; m is the molar content of MgO; and zr is the molar content of ZrO2.
US08551906B2
The invention relates to a titanate photocatalyst of formula (I): HmAx-mTiyOzDn (I) wherein: A is a cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium and francium; D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of boron, carbon, nitrogen, fluorine, sulphur, phosphorus and iodine; x is a value between 0 and 8; y is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; n is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; z is a value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 8; and m is a value between 0 and 8. The invention also relates to method of production and uses of the titanate photocatalyst.
US08551897B2
Provided are inorganic fibers containing calcium and alumina as the major fiber components. According to certain embodiments, the inorganic fibers containing calcia and alumina are provided with a coating of a phosphorous containing compound on at least a portion of the fiber surfaces. Also provided are methods of preparing the coated and non-coated inorganic fibers and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation comprising the inorganic fibers.
US08551888B2
A method of forming patterns for a semiconductor device. The method includes: forming a first hard mask layer on a layer which is to be etched; forming a second hard mask layer on the first hard mask layer, wherein the second hard mask layer includes a first portion and a second portion formed underneath the first portion, wherein the first portion and second portion are composed of the same material; etching the first portion to form first patterns; forming spacers covering sidewalls of the first patterns; etching the second portion using the spacers as etch masks to form second patterns; etching the first hard mask layer and the spacers using the second patterns disposed underneath the spacers as etch masks to form third patterns; and etching the layer to be etched, using the third patterns.
US08551886B2
A method for semiconductor processing is provided wherein a workpiece having an underlying body and a plurality of features extending therefrom, is provided. A first set of the plurality of features extend from the underlying body to a first plane, and a second set of the plurality features extend from the underlying body to a second plane. A protection layer overlies each of the plurality of features and an isolation layer overlies the underlying body and protection layer, wherein the isolation has a non-uniform first oxide density associated therewith. The isolation layer anisotropically etched based on a predetermined pattern, and then isotropically etched, wherein a second oxide density of the isolation layer is substantially uniform across the workpiece. The predetermined pattern is based, at least in part, on a desired oxide density, a location and extension of the plurality of features to the first and second planes.
US08551883B2
The invention relates to a method for masking a semiconductor substrate including the following steps: providing a planar semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side lying opposite thereto, applying a mask to at least one of the sides, an extrusion printing method being used for applying the mask.
US08551882B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor is provided comprising a substrate and a plurality of wiring layers and dielectric layers formed on the substrate, the wiring layers implementing a circuit. The dielectric layers separate adjacent ones of the plurality of wiring layers. A first passivation layer is formed on the plurality of wiring layers. A first contact pad is formed in the layer and connected to the contact pad. A through silicon via (TSV) is formed through the substrate, the plurality of wiring and dielectric layers, and the passivation layer. The TSV is electrically connected to the wire formed on the passivation layer. The TSV is electrically isolated from the wiring layers except for the connection provided by the metal wire formed on the passivation layer.
US08551879B2
A semiconductor device includes a first conductor formed over a semiconductor device; an insulation film formed over the semiconductor substrate and the first conductor and having an opening arriving at the first conductor; a first film formed in the opening and formed of a compound containing Zr; a second film formed over the first film in the opening and formed of an oxide containing Mn; and a second conductor buried in the opening and containing Cu.
US08551876B2
A manufacturing method for a semiconductor device having a metal gate includes providing a substrate having at least a first semiconductor device formed thereon, forming a first gate trench in the first semiconductor device, forming a first work function metal layer in the first gate trench, and performing a decoupled plasma oxidation to the first work function metal layer.
US08551871B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to one embodiment includes: exposing a surface of a semiconductor substrate to a halogen-containing gas that contains at least one of Si and Ge, the semiconductor substrate being provided with a member comprising an oxide and consisting mainly of Si; and exposing the surface of the semiconductor substrate to an atmosphere containing at least one of a Si-containing gas not containing halogen and a Ge-containing gas not containing halogen after starting exposure of the surface of the semiconductor substrate to the halogen-containing gas, thereby epitaxially growing a crystal film containing at least one of Si and Ge on the surface.
US08551858B2
A method for fabricating a memory device with U-shaped trap layers over rounded active region corners is disclosed. In the present invention, an STI process is performed before the charge-trapping layer is formed. Immediately after the STI process, the sharp corners of the active regions are exposed, making them available for rounding. Rounding the corners improves the performance characteristics of the memory device. Subsequent to the rounding process, a bottom oxide layer, nitride layer, and sacrificial top oxide layer are formed. An organic bottom antireflective coating applied to the charge trapping layer is planarized. Now the organic bottom antireflective coating, sacrificial top oxide layer, and nitride layer are etched, without etching the sacrificial top oxide layer and nitride layer over the active regions. After the etching the charge trapping layer has a cross-sectional U-shape appearance. U-shaped trap layer edges allow for increased packing density and integration while maintaining isolation between trap layers.
US08551857B2
The technique for manufacturing a high-capacitance and high-accuracy MIM electrostatic capacitor by a small number of steps is provided. After a lower electrode of the electrostatic capacitor and second wiring are formed at the same time on a first interlayer insulating film, an opening part is formed in a second interlayer insulating film deposited on the first interlayer insulating film. Next, a capacitance insulating film, a second metal film and a protective metal film are sequentially deposited on the second interlayer insulating film including the interior of the opening part, and the protective metal film, the second metal film and the capacitance insulating film on the second interlayer insulating film are polished and removed by a CMP method, thereby causing the capacitance insulating film, an upper electrode made of the second metal film and the protective metal film to remain in the opening part.
US08551856B2
Methods are provided for forming a capacitor. In one embodiment, a method comprises providing an insulator material layer over a substrate, etching at least one via in the insulator material layer and depositing a contact material fill in the at least one via to form a first set of contacts. The method further comprises etching the insulator material layer adjacent at least one contact of the first set of contacts to form at least one void, depositing a dielectric material layer over the at least one void and over the first set of contacts and depositing a contact material fill in the at least void to form a second set of contacts.
US08551851B2
This disclosure provides (a) methods of making an oxide layer (e.g., a dielectric layer) based on titanium oxide, to suppress the formation of anatase-phase titanium oxide and (b) related devices and structures. A metal-insulator-metal (“MIM”) stack is formed using an ozone pretreatment process of a bottom electrode (or other substrate) followed by an ALD process to form a TiO2 dielectric, rooted in the use of an amide-containing precursor. Following the ALD process, an oxidizing anneal process is applied in a manner is hot enough to heal defects in the TiO2 dielectric and reduce interface states between TiO2 and electrode; the anneal temperature is selected so as to not be so hot as to disrupt BEL surface roughness. Further process variants may include doping the titanium oxide, pedestal heating during the ALD process to 275-300 degrees Celsius, use of platinum or ruthenium for the BEL, and plural reagent pulses of ozone for each ALD process cycle. The process provides high deposition rates, and the resulting MIM structure has substantially no x-ray diffraction peaks associated with anatase-phase titanium oxide.
US08551837B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices with high-k/metal gate features are disclosed. In some instances, methods of fabricating semiconductor devices with high-k/metal gate features are disclosed that prevent or reduce high-k/metal gate contamination of non-high-k/metal gate wafers and production tools. In some embodiments, the method comprises forming an interfacial layer over a semiconductor substrate on a front side of the substrate; forming a high-k dielectric layer and a capping layer over the interfacial layer; forming a metal layer over the high-k and capping layers; forming a polysilicon layer over the metal layer; and forming a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate on a back side of the substrate.
US08551834B2
The present invention relates to providing layers of different thickness on vertical and horizontal surfaces (15, 20) of a vertical semiconductor device (1). In particular the invention relates to gate electrodes and the formation of precision layers (28) in semiconductor structures comprising a substrate (10) and an elongated structure (5) essentially standing up from the substrate. According to the method of the invention the vertical geometry of the device (1) is utilized in combination with either anisotropic desposition or anisotropic removal of deposited material to form vertical or horizontal layers of very high precision.
US08551829B2
A method for manufacturing a multi-gate transistor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first patterned semiconductor layer formed thereon, sequentially forming a gate dielectric layer and a gate layer covering a portion of the first patterned semiconductor layer on the semiconductor substrate, removing a portion of the first patterned semiconductor layer to form a second patterned semiconductor layer, and performing a selective epitaxial growth process to form an epitaxial layer on a surface of the second patterned semiconductor layer.
US08551814B2
A wafer structure (88) includes a device wafer (20) and a cap wafer (60). Semiconductor dies (22) on the device wafer (20) each include a microelectronic device (26) and terminal elements (28, 30). Barriers (36, 52) are positioned in inactive regions (32, 50) of the device wafer (20). The cap wafer (60) is coupled to the device wafer (20) and covers the semiconductor dies (22). Portions (72) of the cap wafer (60) are removed to expose the terminal elements (28, 30). The barriers (36, 52) may be taller than the elements (28, 30) and function to prevent the portions (72) from contacting the terminal elements (28, 30) when the portions (72) are removed. The wafer structure (88) is singulated to form multiple semiconductor devices (89), each device (89) including the microelectronic device (26) covered by a section of the cap wafer (60) and terminal elements (28, 30) exposed from the cap wafer (60).
US08551809B2
A nonvolatile memory device and methods of manufacturing the same has one electrode with a higher work function and a second electrode with a lower work function. The nonvolatile memory device further comprises one or more resistive random access memory (RRAM) cells. The RRAM cells comprise a semiconductor layer with a bandgap of at least four electron volts and a barrier layer between the semiconductor layer and one of the electrodes.
US08551806B2
Methods for passivating a carbonic nanolayer (that is, material layers comprised of low dimensional carbon structures with delocalized electrons such as carbon nanotubes and nano-scopic graphene flecks) to prevent or otherwise limit the encroachment of another material layer are disclosed. In some embodiments, a sacrificial material is implanted within a porous carbonic nanolayer to fill in the voids within the porous carbonic nanolayer while one or more other material layers are applied over or alongside the carbonic nanolayer. Once the other material layers are in place, the sacrificial material is removed. In other embodiments, a non-sacrificial filler material (selected and deposited in such a way as to not impair the switching function of the carbonic nanolayer) is used to form a barrier layer within a carbonic nanolayer. In other embodiments, carbon structures are combined with and nanoscopic particles to limit the porosity of a carbonic nanolayer.
US08551803B2
Provided is a process of producing a solar battery module 1 including plural solar battery cells 4 sealed by a resin 5 between a transparent panel 2 of the light reception surface side and a back face panel 3, which is characterized by arranging plural solar battery cells 4 at a prescribed interval and mutually connecting them to each other by a conductor 8; arranging a first sealing resin sheet 12 substantially covering the entire surface of the transparent panel 2 of the light reception surface side between the transparent panel 2 of the light reception surface side and the solar battery cells 4; arranging a second sealing resin sheet 10 substantially covering the entire surface of the back face panel 3 between the back face panel 3 and the solar battery cells 4; arranging sealing resin sheet pieces 18, 19 which are thicker than the solar battery cells 4 at a space 9 between the solar battery cells 4 so as to be sandwiched by the first sealing resin sheet 12 and the second sealing resin sheet 10; discharging air between the transparent panel 2 of the light reception surface side and the back face panel 3; and heating the resin 5 for melting and then cooling down it for sealing. According to this, when the plural solar battery cells 4 are arranged and sealed by the resin 5, breakage of the solar battery cells 4 can be prevented from occurring.
US08551797B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor laser includes: sequentially forming a cladding layer of a first conductivity type, an active layer, a cladding layer of a second conductivity type, and a contact layer of the second conductivity type on a semiconductor substrate; forming a promotion film which contacts the contact layer only in a window region proximate an end plane of the semiconductor laser and absorbs group-III atoms from the contact layer to promote generation of group-III vacancies; implanting ions into the contact layer in the window region to damage the contact layer in the window region; and after forming the promotion film and implanting the ions, heat treating so that the group-III vacancies are diffused and the active layer is disordered in the window region and forms a window structure.
US08551792B2
A method of dicing a semiconductor wafer comprises scribing at least one dielectric layer along dice lanes to remove material from a surface of the wafer using a laser with a pulse-width between 1 picosecond and 1000 picoseconds and with a repetition frequency corresponding to times between pulses shorter than a thermal relaxation time of the material to be scribed. The wafer is then diced through a metal layer and at least partially through a substrate of the semiconductor wafer.
US08551791B2
Apparatus and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device through a layer material dimension analysis increase productivity. The method includes performing a semiconductor manufacturing process of at least one reference substrate and at least one target substrate in a semiconductor process device, detecting a reference spectrum and a reference profile for the reference substrate, determining a relation function between the detected reference spectrum and reference profile, detecting a real-time spectrum of the target substrate, and determining in real time a real-time profile of the target substrate processed in the semiconductor process device by using the detected real-time spectrum as a variable in the determined relation function.
US08551779B2
The invention relates to a method of identifying, obtaining and/or quantifying a culture of pancreatic cells selected from the group consisting of ductal/endocrine progenitor cells, endocrine progenitor cells, early endocrine cells, and fully differentiated endocrine cells. Also contemplated is a method of expanding the numbers of such cells as well as sorting such cells. The invention further relates to a selective cell surface marker, DDR1, that permits the selection of a unique subset of cells with pancreatic endocrine progenitor phenotype. Furthermore, the invention relates to isolated cells selected from such cells and compositions thereof.
US08551778B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a preform by means of an electrospinning process. The present invention also relates to the use of the present preform as a substrate for growing human or animal tissue thereon. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for growing human or animal tissue on a substrate, wherein the present preform is used as the substrate.
US08551773B2
The present invention provides HIV-derived lentivectors which are safe, highly efficient, and very potent for expressing transgenes for human gene therapy, especially, in human hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as in all other blood cell derivatives. The lentiviral vectors comprise a self-inactivating configuration for biosafety and promoters such as the EF1α promoter as one example. Additional promoters are also described. The vectors can also comprise additional transcription enhancing elements such as the wood chuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element. These vectors therefore provide useful tools for genetic treatments such as inherited and acquired lympho-hematological disorders, gene-therapies for cancers especially the hematological cancers, as well as for the study of hematopoiesis via lentivector-mediated modification of human HSCs.
US08551763B2
In a method and system for forming concentrated volumes of microbeads, a polymer solution and/or suspension includes a polymer dissolved and/or dispersed in a medium. Streams of a focusing fluid and of the polymer solution and/or suspension flow towards a fluid bath, and into intersection with one another, so &s to focus the polymer solution and/or suspension. The polymer solution and/or suspension stream forms microbeads in the fluid bath. Some of the focusing fluid is drawn from the fluid bath, so as to concentrate the microbeads in die fluid bath. The system includes a flow focusing apparatus and a liquid-containing cell. The focusing apparatus includes polymer and focusing nozzles. The cell contains the fluid bath and has an outlet port, through which the focusing fluid is drawn from the fluid bath.
US08551757B2
A novel bacterial strain of Bacillus thuringiensis, VBTS 2528, is described. This strain comprises genes encoding Cry1Ac, Cry 1Ca, and Cry2Aa endotoxin proteins. The invention further relates to an insecticidal composition comprising a mixture of VBTS 2528 and to methods for controlling insect pests utilizing VBTS 2528.
US08551749B2
Devices, methods, and systems are described for controlling pathogenic condition or disease in a subject. Devices are described that include one or more bone cages. The device including one or more bone cages can be configured to include one or more immunogens and one or more adjuvants. The device including one or more bone cages can be configured to, and/or structured to at least partially or completely surround one or more cells or tissues that produce one or more immunogens and/or one or more adjuvants. The device is useful in a method for treating a pathogenic condition or disease in the subject.
US08551742B2
Described herein are microorganisms that produce methionine and related products from endogenous genes in a transsulfuration pathway, as well as from exogenous genes providing a direct sulfhydrylation pathway. Novel genes that are useful for methionine and SAMe production are disclosed.
US08551738B2
There is a need for nucleic acid analysis which is both specific and rapid, and in which no nucleic acid sequencing is required. The present invention addresses this need, among others by providing a method of nucleic acid amplification of overlapping sub-segments of a nucleic acid followed by molecular mass measurement of resulting amplification products by mass spectrometry, and determination of the base compositions of the amplification products.
US08551735B2
Human neutrophil peptide (HNP) 1-3, used as diagnostic and therapeutic molecular probes, are found in clinical tissues of gastric cancer patients. In the analytical process according to the present disclosure, pairs of gastric cancer tissues are used to seek the putative biomarkers by proteomic strategy based on matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS). Then, three differential biomarkers, including HNP-1, -2 and -3, are identified (P<0.001) and overexpressed in gastric cancer. At last, western blotting and immunohistochemistry are used to validate the protein expression in gastric cancer tissues. In conclusion, the use of the up-regulated proteins, HNP1-3, helps diagnosis and therapy in clinical for gastric cancer after validating the sensitivity and specificity.
US08551730B2
Methods of microscopic imaging of biological tissue using adaptive optics technology to improve the image focus and sharpness. Wavefront measurements are taken by using a novel method of seeding biological tissue by using a fluorescent microsphere as a “guide star” as a natural point-source reference. The current methods are capable of improving the Strehl ratio of modern biological microscopes as much as 15 times.
US08551729B2
The invention relates to the use of mutants of L. casei having at least a mutation impairing the regulation of a carbon catabolite repression (CCR) mechanism involving the PTS protein HPr, for the preparation of a food product.The use of said mutants allows for instance to impart to said food products an improved texture and flavor, and/or a higher content in aroma compounds.
US08551724B2
A method is described for improving the nutritional value of a foodstuff comprising a source of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate by feeding the foodstuff in combination with a phytase expressed in yeast. The method comprises the step of feeding the animal the foodstuff in combination with a phytase expressed in yeast wherein the phytase can be selected from the group consisting of AppA1, AppA2 and a site-directed mutant of AppA. The invention also enables reduction of the feed to weight gain ratio and an increase bone mass and mineral content of an animal. A foodstuff and a feed additive comprising AppA2 or a site-directed mutant of AppA are also described.
US08551723B2
The present invention relates to a tyrosine kinase-inducible domain (pKID) and uses thereof. An isolated polypeptide comprising the pKID, and an isolated polynucleotide comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the pKID are provided. Also provided are methods for determining tyrosine kinase and/or phosphatase activity in a sample and for identifying an agent that inhibits a tyrosine kinase or phosphatase using a polypeptide comprising the pKID.
US08551722B2
A method of determining the course of enzyme activity that is variable in time, wherein the activity is probed by conversion of a substrate of the enzyme, includes, in a selected test set up and for a determined substrate of the enzyme, determining the velocity of signal production (dFdiag/dt) resulting from a time curve of the signal (Fdiao=f(A)) obtained from splitting the substrate when it is contacted with a determined initially fixed concentration of the enzyme (E) and providing a “diagnostic plot” with the values of (dFdiag/dt) against the signal (Fdiag) and determining whether the diagnostic plot is either a straight line or a parabola and in the same test conditions, for a given test sample, determining the signal production (Fexp) resulting from splitting the substrate by the enzyme generating in and/or disappearing from the sample and providing the time curve of signal Fexp=f(t); and transforming the obtained experimental value of the signal (Fexp) into an ideal value (Ftransf).
US08551720B2
Provided herein are methods and materials for diagnosing a bowel disease in a subject by detecting the presence or absence of a bowel disease marker. A bowel disease marker has been identified as AKR1B10 and may be useful in identifying subjects at risk for bowel disease, predicting bowel disease progression, and assessing a subject's response to therapy.
US08551718B2
The present invention provides novel functional assay for 5-HT2A, histamine H1 or adrenergic alpha 1b receptors, by measuring intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels utilizing reporter gene driven cell based assay. The novel assay provides both binding affinity as well as mode of action of compounds in a single set. The novel assay of the invention is useful in identification of compounds acting through 5-HT2A, histamine H1 or adrenergic alpha 1b receptors. Furthermore, the assay offers utility in categorizing compounds in to agonist, partial agonist, inverse agonist and antagonist classes. The novel assay can be scaled up to any high throughput format.
US08551715B2
The invention relates to novel polypeptides and cells comprising the polypeptides. The polypeptides and cells are used in methods to identify and/or isolate cells producing a protein with specific biological functions. In particular, the methods may be used for identifying, selecting, and isolating cells producing antigen-specific monoclonal antibodies.
US08551713B1
The present invention relates to a series of markers and a method of determining cause of death post-mortem by quantifying thymus integrity. An examination of thymuses from human infants suffering mortal head trauma revealed a disruption of the cortical-medullary organization of the thymus, particularly involving dissolution of the cortical-medullary border. A similar result was obtained for related mouse and rat models. The human thymuses from head trauma cases also displayed a higher percentage of Ki67-positive thymocytes.
US08551708B2
The present invention relates to the detection of RNA in a sample of cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to the localized detection of RNA in situ. The method relies on the conversion of RNA to complementary DNA prior to the targeting of the cDNA with a padlock probe(s). The hybridization of the padlock probe(s) relies on the nucleotide sequence of the cDNA which is derived from the corresponding nucleotide sequence of the target RNA. Rolling circle amplification of the subsequently circularized padlock probe produces a rolling circle product which may be detected. Advantageously, this allows the RNA to be detected in situ.
US08551706B2
West Nile virus capture oligonucleotides, primers and probes derived from conserved regions of the West Nile virus genome are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleic acid-based assays using the capture oligonucleotides, primers and probes.
US08551705B2
Methods for propagating haploid genomes of male or female origina and genetic screening and modification thereof are provided. These haploid genomes may be used to produce haploid embryos, and embryonic stem-like cells and differentiated cells. Also, these haploid genomes and cells containing, may be used as nuclear transfer donors to produce diploid nuclear transfer units. These diploid NT units e.g., human NT units, may be used to obtain pluripotent cells and differentiated cells and tissues.
US08551704B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for the controlled termination of polymerase mediated primer extension reactions. The methods and compositions of the invention are broadly useful, and in a preferred aspect can be used in identifying sequence elements of template nucleic acids. Control of termination not only provides temporal control over termination, but, when used in conjunction with optically confined reaction regions, also spatially controls such termination.
US08551686B2
The invention relates to an antireflective coating composition for a photoresist layer comprising a polymer, a crosslinking agent and an acid generator, where the polymer comprises at least one unit of structure 1, where, X is a linking moiety selected from a nonaromatic (A) moiety, aromatic (P) moiety and mixture thereof, R′ is a group of structure (2), R″ is independently selected from hydrogen, a moiety of structure (2), Z and W—OH, where Z is a (C1-C20) hydrocarbyl moiety and W is a (C1-C20) hydrocarbylene linking moiety, and, Y′ is independently a (C1-C20) hydrocarbylene linking moiety, where structure (2) is where R1 and R2 are independently selected from H and C1-C4alkyl and L is an organic hydrocarbyl group. The invention further relates to a process for imaging the antireflective coating composition.
US08551682B2
Resist stripping agents useful for fabricating circuits and/or forming electrodes on semiconductor devices for semiconductor integrated circuits and/or liquid crystals with reduced metal and metal alloy etch rates (particularly copper etch rates and TiW etch rates), are provided with methods for their use. The preferred stripping agents contain low concentrations of resorcinol or a resorcinol derivative, with or without an added copper salt, and with or without an added amine to improve solubility of the copper salt. Further provided are integrated circuit devices and electronic interconnect structures prepared according to these methods.
US08551681B2
An emulsion aggregation toner formulation for electrophotography and a method for preparation thereof. The emulsion aggregation toner formulation includes a polyester resin emulsion formed using an extruded polyester binder resin having a broad molecular weight distribution. The extruded polyester binder resin is formed using a plurality of polyester binder resins. Further, the emulsion aggregation toner formulation comprises at least one colorant dispersion and a wax dispersion.
US08551679B2
A toner including a plurality of fine particles includes a core including first latex particles, a wax and a pigment, or a first latex particle-wax complex and a pigment, and a first shell layer including second latex particles and covering at least a portion of the surface of the core, a method of preparing the toner, a method of forming images using the toner, and an image forming device including a toner transferring unit. The toner can have improved fixing and charging properties, preserving properties at a high temperature and high humidity, glossness and anti-offset properties by reducing a domain size of a wax dispersed in the toner and improving dispersibility of the wax.
US08551671B2
A unit cell of a fuel cell is formed by stacking a membrane electrode assembly between a first metal separator and a second metal separator in a stacking direction. A frame is provided in an outer end of the membrane electrode assembly. A seal member is formed on the frame. The seal member includes a first seal as a fuel gas seal, a second seal as a coolant seal, and a third seal as an oxygen-containing gas seal. The first seal, the second seal, and the third seal are offset from each other in the stacking direction.
US08551670B2
An electrochemical device and methods of using the same. In one embodiment, the electrochemical device may be used as a fuel cell and/or as an electrolyzer and includes a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), an anodic gas diffusion medium in contact with the anode of the MEA, a cathodic gas diffusion medium in contact with the cathode, a first bipolar plate in contact with the anodic gas diffusion medium, and a second bipolar plate in contact with the cathodic gas diffusion medium. Each of the bipolar plates includes an electrically-conductive, chemically-inert, non-porous, liquid-permeable, substantially gas-impermeable membrane in contact with its respective gas diffusion medium, as well as a fluid chamber and a non-porous an electrically-conductive plate.
US08551658B2
To provide a process for a lithium-containing composite oxide for a positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery, which has a large volume capacity density and high safety, and is excellent in the charge and discharge cyclic durability and low temperature characteristics.A process for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide represented by the formula LipNxMyOzFa (wherein N is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn and Ni, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, alkaline earth metal elements and transition metal elements other than N, 0.9≦p≦1.2, 0.95≦x≦2.00, 0
US08551650B2
Graphene-based storage materials for high-power battery applications are provided. The storage materials are composed of vertical stacks of graphene sheets and have reduced resistance for Li ion transport. This reduced resistance is achieved by incorporating a random distribution of structural defects into the stacked graphene sheets, whereby the structural defects facilitate the diffusion of Li ions into the interior of the storage materials.
US08551647B2
An electrode is provided with a metal terminal extending from a battery module main body, a bolt which has an expanded section configuring a retaining section at a rear end portion and penetrates the metal terminal upward, and an insulating body which insulates the metal terminal and the battery module case one from the other. The insulating body is provided with a drop preventing section which abuts at least a lower surface of the expanded section of the bolt and prevents the bolt from dropping from the metal terminal.
US08551645B2
A can for a cylindrical lithium rechargeable battery, and a cylindrical lithium rechargeable battery using the same is provided. The battery includes: an electrode assembly having cathode and anode plates facing to each other, a separator interposed between the cathode and anode plates, and cathode and anode taps formed on the cathode and anode plates, respectively; a can accommodating the electrode assembly; and a cap assembly to seal an opening of an upper end portion of the can. The can has surface plate and a lower plate, and a protrusion is formed on the lower plate so as to increase the contact resistance between the anode tap and the lower plate, when the anode tap is welded to the lower plate.
US08551643B2
A battery pack includes a battery housing, a battery cell having a tubular negative electrode having an opening part at one end and a positive electrode fixed to the negative electrode in such a way as to close the opening part, the battery cell being housed in the battery housing, and a protrusion disposed between the battery cell and the inner wall of the battery housing in an area other than an area where the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery cell are fixed.
US08551641B2
A pouch type secondary battery including a safety member. The pouch type secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including first and second electrode plates having opposite electrical polarities and a first separator between the first and second electrode plates; and a safety member including a first conductive plate located on an outside of the electrode assembly and electrically connected to the first electrode plate, a second conductive plate located on an outside of the first conductive plate and electrically connected to the second electrode plate, and an insulating plate between the first and second conductive plates for insulating the first and second conductive plates from each other, and the first conductive plate has a puncture strength that is greater than a puncture strength of the second conductive plate.
US08551634B2
A computer enclosure includes a frame portion and a battery holding structure. The frame portion defines a battery receiving groove for receiving a battery, a first sliding groove and a second sliding groove communicating with the battery receiving groove. The battery holding structure includes a first locking member movably received in the first sliding groove, a second locking member movably received in the second sliding groove, and a spring. The first locking member includes a first latching block. The second locking member includes a second latching block. The spring is compressed between the second locking member and an inner surface of the second sliding groove and configured to provide a force to push the second latching block into the battery receiving groove. The first and second latching members can be pushed into the battery receiving groove to cooperatively latch the battery in the battery receiving groove.
US08551627B2
This invention provides a magnetic disk which can satisfactorily suppress the elution of internal components from an end face of a magnetic disk, and corrosion damage. The magnetic disk comprises a disk substrate, and a thin film including a magnetic layer, a carbon-based protective layer, and a lubricating layer provided in that order on the disk substrate. The main surface and the end face of the magnetic disk are covered with the carbonaceous protective layer. The carbon-based protective layer contains nitrogen at a part adjacent to the lubricating layer. The content of nitrogen atoms relative to the content of carbon atoms in the protective layer formed on the end face is equal to or more than the content of nitrogen atoms relative to the content of carbon atoms in the protective layer formed on the main surface.
US08551626B2
A magnetoresistive device having a high giant magnetoresistance (GMR) value and a moderate low resistance area product (RA) includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a current confined path (CCP) spacer layer positioned between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The spacer layer includes copper current confined paths extending between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer in a matrix of magnesium oxide. The spacer layer is formed by a mixture copper and magnesium oxide, which is heattreated to form the copper current confined paths within the magnesium oxide matrix.
US08551625B2
A derivative with a heteroaromatic ring represented by General Formula (G1) is provided. R11 to R20 in the formula independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms in a ring. J represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms in a ring. Note that α and β may be bonded to each other to form a carbazole skeleton. Het is a substituent represented by General Formula (S1-1) or (S1-2). In General Formulae (S1-1) and (S1-2), Ar1 to Ar4 are independently a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms in a ring. R1 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 10 carbon atoms in a ring.
US08551620B2
A multi-layer aircraft adhesive composition is provided having a first layer prepared from a first composition having a Part A and a Part B. Part A contains a plasticizer, a crosslinking agent, and an adhesion promoter. Part B contains a moisture resister and an abrasion resister. The composition has a second layer formed over at least a portion of the first layer. The second layer is prepared from a second composition having a Part C and a Part D. Part C contains at least one polythiol functional polymer, at least one epoxy resin, at least one sulfur containing material that is different from the at least one polythiol functional polymer, at least one plasticizer, and at least one filler. Part D contains at least one plasticizer, at least one of manganese dioxide or lead oxide, and at least one alkaline agent.
US08551615B2
Disclosed is a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which contains an acrylic polymer and a crosslinking agent. The acrylic polymer has a weight-average molecular weight of 40×104 to 160×104 and contains at least an alkoxyalkyl acrylate (Component A) and an acrylic monomer having a crosslinkable functional group (Component B). The monomer components constituting the acrylic polymer contain 45 to 99.5 parts by weight of Component A and 0.5 to 4.5 parts by weight of Component B to 100 parts by weight of total monomer components constituting the acrylic polymer, and the monomer components constituting the acrylic polymer contain substantially no carboxyl-containing monomers. This relates to improvements to provide pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions that show excellent coatability, transparency, adhesion (typically low-temperature adhesion), and resistance to blistering/separation and concurrently have anticorrosive properties.
US08551610B2
The invention relates to a biaxially oriented, single-layer microporous film which has a shut-off function and is made of propylene homopolymer, propylene block copolymer I and β-nucleation agent. The melting range of the propylene block copolymer I starts at a temperature ranging from 50 to 120° C. The invention also relates to using the film as a separator in primary or secondary battery.
US08551605B2
A primer-less coating composition for facestock comprises: a binder being a water-dispersible polymer; an ethylenically unsaturated compound which is aqueous-dispersible and miscible with or bonded to said water-dispersible polymer, wherein said ethylenically unsaturated compound is able to form a covalent bond with an ink; and a crosslinker, wherein said crosslinker is suitable for binding the coating to the facestock. The coating composition may be applied to a substrate to form a printable film. A printed film in accordance with the invention may be used in a label, for example for use on a container such as a bottle.
US08551600B2
The present invention is in the field of multiple layer glass panels comprising a polymer sheet having desirable surface properties, and more specifically, the present invention is in the field of multiple layer glass panels comprising poly(vinyl butyral) having a finished surface of relatively low waviness and high roughness disposed in contact with poly(ethylene terephthalate) and/or other poly(vinyl butyral) type layers.
US08551596B2
A self-sticking fabric structure includes loop-like fabric structure, which is fabricated by the yarns of the conjugate fiber and split thereafter to recover smaller fibers, substantially all of the fibers forming loop-like fastening elements between the intersection of interlacing or interlooping, and a hook fabric structure, which is fabricated by the yarns of staple fibers for enabling the ends of the staple fibers to protrude over the surface of the fabric and to form a layer of fiber flock type hook-like fastening elements. The fabrication of the self-sticking fabric does not require any further brushing or pile-raising processing process, saving the manufacturing cost, reducing the fabric thickness, and widening the application of the fabric.
US08551592B2
The two-layered preform includes a tubular body having a mouth providing a neck at a first end thereof and a closed bottom at an opposite second end. At least part of the tubular body is formed by a first layer (P1) made of a primary molding material and a second layer (P2) made of an overmolding material. The first layer (P1) is an inner layer made of a primary molding material providing a barrier effect against light by absorption, and the second layer (P2) is an outer layer made of an overmolding material providing a barrier effect against light by reflection. The neck is formed with the overmolding material of the second layer (P2) not coated by the primary molding material of the first layer (P2).
US08551588B2
A resealable and disposable package assembly is described. The assembly includes a container and a multilayer cover laminate that are bonded to one another to initially seal the contents of the package. The package can then be easily opened by at least partially separating the cover laminate along a predesignated interface. The package can be reliably and effectively sealed by recontacting the previously separated cover portions to one another.
US08551584B2
Transparent ink-jet recording films, compositions, and methods are disclosed. These films can exhibit high maximum optical densities, rapid ink drying, low curl, excellent adhesion between the coating layers and the substrate, and negligible ink transfer between stacked ink-jet recording films after imaging. Such films are useful in medical imaging applications.
US08551568B2
The present invention provides a simple, non-destructive and versatile method that enables layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly to be performed on virtually any substrate. A novel catechol-functionalized polymer which adsorbs to virtually all surfaces and can serve as a platform for LbL assembly in a surface-independent fashion is also provided.
US08551551B2
An omega-3 fatty acid supplementation fat blend includes one part by weight of an omega-3 enriching oil containing EPA and/or DHA fatty acids that has been combined and diluted with at least one-half part by weight of a low linoleic acid content oxidatively stabilizing saturated fat. The omega-3 supplementation fat blend is incorporated into stabilized aqueous suspensions including beverages and foods.
US08551544B2
The various non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a protein-based binder or coating system for particulate- and/or powder-type food systems, for example, to form nutritive ready-to-eat food bars, protein bars, snack pieces, or cereal clusters, where the binder comprises a modified wheat protein isolate. Other non-limiting embodiments relate to food compositions comprising a modified wheat protein isolate binder, and at least one of food particulates; powdered food ingredients, such as protein powders; and combinations thereof. In addition, methods for forming the various non-limiting embodiments of the food compositions and the modified wheat protein isolate binder systems are also disclosed.
US08551541B2
The air-refreshing disinfectants currently sold in the market mostly contain artificially synthesized chemical disinfectants. Frequent exposure to the air containing such chemicals may be somewhat harmful to the human body. Therefore the present invention provides an air-refreshing disinfectant, and in particular an air-refreshing disinfectant which is not chemically synthesized and takes natural materials as raw materials and traditional Chinese medicinal volatile oils as main effective ingredients. It is characterized by bacteriostatic and antiviral effects, long-lasting fragrance and cost-effectiveness, and is beneficial to human health. To achieve this objective, the present invention, by taking advantage of the bacteriostatic, antiviral and fragrant characteristics of traditional Chinese medicinal volatile oils, employs specific combinations of eucalyptus oil, clove oil, patchouli oil, forsythia oil and schizonepeta oil as the active ingredients of the air-refreshing disinfectant.
US08551540B1
A stabilizing and antioxidant composition is prepared from the residue obtained from the saw palmetto berry. The residue from the saw palmetto berry exhibits antioxidant properties that can be used to stabilize various compositions such as food or edible compositions and cosmetics. The saw palmetto residue is also delivered topically or orally to a patient to administer an effective amount of an antioxidant to a patient.
US08551539B1
The present invention relates to herbal medicinal compositions and extracts thereof for inhibiting growth of cancer cells. One of the examples described in the present invention comprises Forsythiae fructus, Menthae Herba, Gardeniae Fructus, Scutellariae Radix, Lophatheri Folium, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Rhei Rhizoma, Na2SO4, and Atractylodis Rhizoma. The residual examples are described herein.
US08551533B2
An adjuvant composition is provided which comprises: (a) at least one water-soluble electrolyte; (b) at least one electrolyte-tolerant surfactant; (c) antifoam component which is at least one mixture selected from the group consisting of (1) at least one branched silicone resin (i), at least one silicone fluid (ii), at least one particulate metal oxide (iii) and, optionally, at least one catalyst (iv) for catalyzing the condensation of siloxy groups, (2) the equilibration reaction product of mixture (1), and (3) mixture (1) in which at least a portion of particulate metal oxide (iii) is pre-hydrophobized; (d) optionally, at least one additional bioinert material; and, (e) water.
US08551512B2
Methods for making coatings on an implantable device such as a drug-eluting stent comprising a polymer and nano or microparticles of a drug in slow-dissolving polymorph, implantable devices produced by the methods and methods of using the coatings are provided.
US08551507B2
Several terpene glycosides (e.g., mogroside V, paenoiflorin, geniposide, rubusoside, rebaudioside A, steviol monoside and stevioside) were discovered to enhance the solubility of a number of pharmaceutically and medicinally important compounds, including but not limited to, paclitaxel, camptothecin, curcumin, tanshinone HA, capsaicin, cyclosporine, erythromycin, nystatin, itraconazole, celecoxib, clofazimine, digoxin, oleandrin, nifedipine, and amiodarone. The use of the diterpene glycoside rubusoside and monoterpene glycoside paenoiflorin increased solubility in all tested compounds. The terpene glycosides are a naturally occurring class of water solubility-enhancing compounds that are non-toxic and that will be useful as new complexing agents or excipients in the pharmaceutical, agricultural (e.g., solubilizing pesticides), cosmetic and food industries.
US08551506B2
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08551505B2
Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08551499B2
A method of inducing latency in Mycobacterium permits preparation of an in vitro model system of latent mycobacterial infection. Latency is induced in a pure culture of Mycobacterium by exposing it to multiple stress conditions, including a low nutrient culture medium without glycerol, a low pH, a relatively high level of carbon dioxide and a relatively low gas phase oxygen level. An in vitro model of mycobacterial infection employs macrophages induced from THP1 cells which are then infected with Mycobacterium. The infected macrophages are grown under hypoxic conditions to induce latency in the mycobacteria. The in vitro model of infection is useful in evaluating compounds for activity against latent mycobacteria.
US08551497B2
The present invention includes cold-adapted, acid-fast bacterium for use as a vaccine and a vaccine vector. In preferred embodiments, the cold-adapted, acid-fast bacterium is a Mycobacteria, for example, Mycobacteria shottsii.
US08551495B2
The present invention pertains to the field of immunology and genetic engineering. In particular, the present invention relates to the construction, preparation and use of a recombinant vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease virus. The vaccine comprises a tandem repeat of an antigenic epitope of FMDV VP1 protein, the constant region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain or a functional fragment thereof, and the FMDV 3D protein or an immunogenic fragment thereof. The vaccine can induce protective immune response against FMDV in an animal.
US08551492B2
The present invention relates to compositions comprising peptides for preventing or treating allergy to cats, and in particular to optimal combinations of peptides.
US08551490B2
The invention relates to the identification of genetic products that are expressed in association with a tumor and the nucleic acid coding therefor. The invention relates to the therapy and diagnosis of diseases in which the genetic products that are expressed in association with a tumor are expressed in an aberrant manner. The invention also relates to proteins, polypeptides, and peptides which are expressed in association with a tumor and the nucleic acids coding therefor.
US08551480B2
The present invention concerns methods and compositions for forming immunotoxin complexes having a high efficacy and low systemic toxicity. In preferred embodiments, the toxin moiety is a ranpirnase (Rap), such as Rap(Q). In more preferred embodiments, the immunotoxin is made using dock-and-lock (DNL) technology. The immunotoxin exhibits improved pharmacokinetics, with a longer serum half-life and significantly greater efficacy compared to toxin alone, antibody alone, unconjugated toxin plus antibody or even other types of toxin-antibody constructs. In a most preferred embodiment the construct comprises an anti-Trop-2 antibody conjugated to Rap, although other combinations of antibodies, antibody fragments and toxins may be used to form the subject immunotoxins. The immunotoxins are of use to treat a variety of diseases, such as cancer, autoimmune disease or immune dysfunction.
US08551471B2
The present invention relates to amoebae (slime molds) and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of amoebae or their environmentally stable spores to treat microbial infections and other uses.
US08551464B2
Provided is a method for styling mammalian hair that includes contacting the hair with a composition that includes a poly(vinylamine-vinylformamide) copolymer and a first carrier, contacting the hair with a composition that includes a bisulfite and a second carrier, and styling the hair. The method of the present invention promotes improved hair styling properties such as improved curl retention and straightness retention, e.g., under conditions of high relative humidity and temperature. The method can be used for semi-permanently straightening or curling the hair. Also provided is a method for controlling fizz by applying the copolymer and bisulfite compositions.
US08551461B2
An emulsion lip composition, in solid or stick form, comprising: (a) a reaction product of (i) at least one polyamine with (ii) an oil-soluble polar modified polymer comprising at least one C2-C20 monomer; (b) water; (c) at least one non-volatile solvent; and (d) at least one colorant; and a method of using thereof.
US08551458B2
The invention relates to a composition in the form of an oil-in-water emulsion containing an ester of fatty acid and of polyethylene glycol, an additional surfactant chosen from esters of C16-C22 fatty acid and of sorbitan and esters of C16-C22 fatty acid and of glycerol, a polycondensate of ethylene oxide and of propylene oxide consisting of polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol blocks, and a hydroxylated diphenylmethane derivative. The composition has good stability, in particular after 24 hours at 55° C. Application in caring for and making up keratinous substances.
US08551454B2
Disclosed herein are vials and devices containing a ketorolac solution for intranasal administration and a head space comprising no more than about 10% v/v oxygen and which vials and devices are stored in an oxygen-impermeable pouch. Also disclosed are processes for preparing the vials and devices.
US08551450B2
Peptide vectors having high KDR binding affinity and processes for making such vectors are provided. The peptide vectors may be conjugated to phospholipids and included in ultrasound contrast agent compositions. Such ultrasound contrast agents are particularly useful in therapeutic and diagnostic methods, such as in imaging KDR-containing tissue and in the evaluation and treatment of angiogenic processes associated with neoplastic conditions. The present invention also provides processes for the large scale production of highly pure dimeric and monomeric peptide phospholipid conjugates as well as precursor materials used to form the conjugates. The present invention further provides processes for the large scale production of highly pure peptide phospholipid conjugates which contain very low levels of TFA.
US08551447B2
A bifunctional compound with a monosaccharide and a N2S2 ligand, and more particularly, a bifunctional compound with a N2S2 ligand and aminohexylacetyl galactosamine (ah-GalNAc4) is provided. A method for preparing the bifunctional compound with a monosaccharide and a N2S2 ligand is also provided, including activating a carboxyl group in an organic ligand, reacting the activated carboxyl group with a galactopyranoside through amidation, and then hydrolyzing. The bifunctional compound of the present invention is widely useful in nuclear medicine for preparation of liver imaging agents for assisting in correct diagnosis of diseases.
US08551446B2
A coating for a medical device, particularly for a drug eluting stent, is described. The coating includes a polyacetal-based polymer.
US08551442B2
A reactor for synthesizing hydrogen sulfide in which sulfur and hydrogen are subjected to gas-phase reaction in the absence of a catalyst to synthesize hydrogen sulfide, the reactor including: a reactor body that retains liquid sulfur in a bottom portion thereof; a heating unit that gasifies part of the liquid sulfur; a hydrogen gas supply unit that supplies hydrogen gas into the liquid sulfur; and a heat-exchanging portion provided in a gas-phase reaction region located above the liquid surface of the liquid sulfur in the reactor body, wherein heat-exchanging portion is configured such that the reaction temperature in the gas-phase reaction region is controlled to be within a predetermined temperature range by changing the heat exchange amount per unit volume in a gas-phase reaction region located farther from the liquid surface from the heat exchange amount per unit volume in a gas-phase reaction region located closer to the liquid surface.
US08551441B1
New methods for improving thermoelectric properties of bismuth telluride based materials are described. Constrained deformation, such as by canned/sandwich, or encapsulated, rolling and plane strain channel die compression, particularly at temperatures above 80% of the melting point of the material on an absolute temperature scale, changes the crystallographic texture and grain size to desirably increase the values of both the thermoelectric power factor and the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT for the material.
US08551439B2
A method of refining carbon parts for the production of polycrystalline silicon, comprises the steps of, replacing an inside gas of a reactor, in which the carbon parts are placed, with an inert gas, drying the carbon parts by raising a temperature in the reactor to a drying temperature of the carbon parts while flowing an inert gas through the reactor, raising a temperature in the reactor to a purification temperature higher than the drying temperature while flowing chlorine gas through the reactor, reducing a pressure in the reactor, maintaining the inside of the reactor in a reduced pressure, pressurizing the inside of the reactor by introducing chlorine gas for bringing the inside of the reactor into a pressurized state, and cooling the inside of the reactor.
US08551433B2
A SCR catalyst system, comprising a first SCR catalyst (1) and a second SCR catalyst (2) which is disposed in the exhaust gas tract downstream of the first SCR catalyst (1). At least one metering device (12) for metering in a reducing agent solution is disposed in the exhaust gas tract upstream of a first SCR catalysis element (13) of said first SCR catalyst (1). The SCR catalyst system does not require a device for metering a reducing agent solution into a second SCR catalysis element (21) of the second SCR catalyst (2).
US08551425B2
The present invention provides a method for diagnosing cancer, predicting a disease outcome or response to therapy in a patient sample. The method involves isolating a circulating tumor cell (CTC), for example, a viable CTC, from a sample using a parylene microfilter device comprising a membrane filter having or consisting of a parylene substrate, which has an array of holes with a predetermined shape and size; and detecting and quantifying telomerase activity in blood circulating tumor cells. The invention further provides methods of using cells live-captured in various applications.
US08551422B2
Analytical cartridges, systems and methods of processing a sample for analysis using capillary flows. Vertical gradient sample filtration provides filtrate to an incubation chamber for a time controlled by a flow modulator at the outlet of the incubation chamber. The flow modulator can include a serpentine capillary flow path without side walls. Incubated filtrate can flow from the incubation chamber to a detection channel after a predetermined time. The detection chamber can include one or more analytical regions in a porous substrate for detection of two or more analytes on the same cartridge from the same sample.
US08551421B2
A laboratory instrument for the preparation of samples includes a base housing with a work compartment enclosed by protective walls, at least one multifunctional work head having the ability to turn about a rotary axis pivotally supported on the base housing. At least two defined functional positions that can be aligned with at least one container platform which is arranged in the work compartment. The first functional position contains a receiving device which serves to hold a dosage-dispensing device with free-flowing dosage material, and each of the other functional positions contains an additional device. At least one of the protective walls has a cutout opening, and the at least one multifunctional work head is arranged partially in the cutout, so that portions of the at least one multifunctional work head lies both inside and outside of the work compartment.
US08551415B2
Methods and apparatus for the removal of exhaust gases are provided herein. In some embodiments, an exhaust apparatus may include a housing defining an inner volume; an inlet and an outlet formed in the housing to facilitate flow of an exhaust gas through the inner volume, wherein the inlet is configured to be coupled to a process chamber to receive an exhaust therefrom; and an ultraviolet light source to provide ultraviolet energy to the inner volume. The ultraviolet light source may provide sufficient energy to at least partially decompose the exhaust gases. In some embodiments, the ultraviolet light source may provide ultraviolet energy until the exhaust gas has cooled below a critical temperature.
US08551403B2
A combinatorial chemical formation and assay disc (1) having a base (20) and an upper surface (26) and a lower surface, one of the upper or lower surfaces being an assay surface and a data surface (40) spaced from the assay surface wherein the data surface is on or within the assay disc. The assay surface has a conductive layer (64) on the base, a dielectric or photo-conductive layer (66) on the conductive layer and a chemically functional layer (68, 69) on the dielectric or photo-conductive layer. The assay surface may be planar or include three dimensional features (100, 168).
US08551402B1
A self-contained, mobile assay facility built in a modified armored truck is completely equipped to melt and assay precious metals, particularly gold and silver. An induction furnace melts the metal that is then poured into an ingot. The ingot is weighed and analyzed using an XRF alloy analyzer and the percentage of gold and/or other metals recorded. The value of the gold at current market prices is calculated and the assay and the value of the ingot is printed and given to the seller. The seller may opt to receive the ingot and pay the assayer an assay fee. Alternately, the seller may ask to be paid cash, by bullion, wire transfer, or by an open hedge. Either a transfer or hedge is initiated and confirmed from the assay facility. The ingots may be safely stored or shipped directly from the mobile facility to a wholesaler for further processing.
US08551398B1
An apparatus for reducing the spread of infection includes a covering that is placed over a handle. A quantity of disinfectant that is disposed in an interior portion of the apparatus is expelled from the interior portion to an exterior surface of the apparatus when a user grasps and squeezes the covering or by gravity or by the use of a pump. The pump is activated at regular intervals or when the approach of a user is detected. The disinfectant is replenished or the apparatus is periodically replaced if an interior reservoir is used. If an outer reservoir is used the disinfectant is replenished or the reservoir is periodically replaced. A method for applying a disinfectant to an exterior surface of a covering is provided. According to a modification, the disinfectant is conveyed from the outer reservoir to an exterior surface of the handle by activation of the pump or by gravity if the reservoir is elevated above the handle. A method for applying a disinfectant to an exterior surface of a handle is provided.
US08551397B2
The invention relates to a manufacturing process for steel blanks. The invention relates in particular to a manufacturing process of a steel blank comprising electroslag remelting (ESR—ElectroSlag Remelting) or vacuum arc remelting (VAR—Vacuum Arc Remelting) to obtain very good mechanical properties. The blanks obtained can be used especially in the field of the manufacture of pressurized equipment elements and especially cannon tubes.
US08551392B2
A method for manufacturing a transmission electron microscope (TEM) micro-grid is provided. A sheet of carbon nanotube structure comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes is first provided. Some carbon nanotubes are removed from selected portions of the sheet of carbon nanotube structure to form a plurality of electron transmission portions. Each of the electron transmission portions includes a hole defined in the sheet of carbon nanotube structure and a plurality of residual carbon nanotubes in the hole. The sheet of carbon nanotube structure having the electron transmission portions is cut into pieces to form the TEM micro-grid.
US08551389B2
A method is disclosed for manufacturing an anisotropic material comprising providing a viscoplastic material having a yield stress, and a plurality of magnetic particles disposed therein, and then subjecting the viscoplastic material to a magnetic field for a time sufficient to at least partially align at least a portion of the magnetic particles to at least one of a predetermined position or orientation. Also disclosed is an article having anisotropic properties comprising a viscoplastic material, and a plurality of magnetic particles distributed therein and at least partially aligned to a predetermined orientation. An article having anisotropic properties, comprising a fixed viscoplastic material, and a plurality of magnetic particles distributed and at least partially anisotropically aligned in the fixed viscoplastic material is disclosed.
US08551388B2
The present invention relates to a process for fabricating a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) component, to a monolithic quadrupole mass spectrometer or a component thereof, to a quadrupole mass filter (QMF) or quadrupole ion trap (QIT) capable of generating a hyperbolic electric field and to a modular quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) assembly.
US08551386B2
Methods for imparting a texture to a cured powder coated surface are provided. These methods involve heating the cured powder coating to a temperature greater than its glass transition point (Tg), then imparting a texture to the cured powder coating under pressure using a release medium having a replicative surface. After the texture is imparted to the cured powder coating, the release medium can be removed. Examples of suitable release media include, for example, engraved plates, engraved rolls, release papers, release films, and release webs.
US08551381B2
A fiber composite component comprising at least two, first and second partial elements bordering one another, each having a fiber structure and different matrix systems which respectively embed the fiber structure and cure differently from a liquid state is produced by liquifying the matrix system of the first partial element so that it either penetrates irregularly into the region of the bordering second partial element or leaves an unwetted region in the first partial element adjacent the second partial element, and subsequently liquifying the matrix system of the second partial element so that it can be cured abutting the irregular boundary surfaces of the matrix system of the first partial element. The intermeshing or interlocking of the matrix systems with one another and the fibers increase shear strength.
US08551380B2
Composite prepreg is laid up over a tool by placing prepreg material on a carrier film and using the carrier film to apply the prepreg material to the tool. The prepreg is conformed to contours of the tool by deforming the carrier film.
US08551379B2
A method and system is provided for forming a three-dimensional image and, more particularly, for making three-dimensional digital image transfer thermoformed objects on, e.g., generic molds. The method includes manipulating digital images of a subject into a single image; printing the single image onto a media; and thermoforming the media with the single image using a generic mold. The system comprises a computer infrastructure operable to: receive images of a subject; display the images; stitch together the images to form a single image; adjust portions of the images or single image to compensate for deformation during thermoforming of the single image; register the single image with points on a mold; and print the single image.
US08551370B2
An oxide sintered body substantially containing zinc, tin and oxygen; containing tin at an atomic number ratio, Sn/(Zn+Sn), of 0.23 to 0.50, and being composed mainly of a zinc oxide phase and at least one kind of zinc stannate compound phase, or being composed of at least one kind of zinc stannate compound phase; provided by a method for manufacturing the oxide sintered body by formulating an aqueous solvent to raw material powder containing powder of a zinc stannate compound, or mixed powder of tin oxide powder and zinc oxide powder, and after mixing the resulting slurry for equal to longer than 15 hours, by subjecting the slurry to solid-liquid separation, drying and granulation and subsequently compacting by charging the granule into a mold followed by sintering the resultant compact under sintering atmosphere at 1300 to 1500° C. for equal to or longer than 15 hours.
US08551365B2
An additive formulation suitable for antistatic modification and improving the electrical conductivity of inanimate organic material, consisting essentially of (A) from 1 to 50% by weight of an olefin-sulfur dioxide copolymer, (B) from 1 to 50% by weight of a compound which comprises one or more basic nitrogen atoms and has at least one relatively long-chain linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having at least four carbon atoms or an equivalent structural element which ensures the solubility of component (B) in the inanimate organic material, (C) from 0.1 to 30% by weight of an oil-soluble acid and (D) from 1 to 80% by weight of a high-boiling organic solvent which consists of one or more molecule types, where at least 80% by weight of these molecule types have a boiling point of more than 150° C. at standard pressure, where the sum of all components adds up to 100% by weight.
US08551360B2
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a rare-earth doped alkaline-earth silicon nitride phosphor of a stoichiometric composition. Said method comprising the step of selecting one or more compounds each comprising at least one element of the group comprising the rare-earth elements (RE), the alkaline-earth elements (AE), silicon (Si) and nitrogen (N) and together comprising the necessary elements to form the rare-earth doped alkaline-earth silicon nitride phosphor (AE2Si5N8:RE). The method further comprises the step of bringing the compounds at an elevated temperature in reaction for forming the rare-earth doped alkaline-earth silicon nitride phosphor (AE2Si5N8:RE). In such a method normally a small amount of oxygen, whether intentionally or not-intentionally added, will be incorporated in the rare-earth doped alkaline-earth silicon nitride phosphor (AE2Si5N8:RE). According to the invention the creation of defects by formation of a non-stoichiometric oxygen containing phosphor is at least partly prevented by partly substituting for the ions (AE, Si, N) of the alkaline-earth silicon nitride phosphor (AE2Si5N8:RE) suitable further elements of the periodic system by which vacancies are created, filled or annihilated resulting in the formation of a modified alkaline-earth silicon nitride phosphor (AE2Si5N8:RE) having a stoichiometric composition. In this way a modified phosphor is obtained having excellent and stable optical properties. The invention further relates to a modified phosphor obtainable by the above-mentioned method and a radiation converting device comprising such a phosphor.
US08551359B2
The present invention relates to liquid-crystalline compounds having two fluorinated biphenyl units, a terminal trifluoromethyl or trifluoromethoxy group and a —CF2O— bridge between the two fluorinated biphenyl units. The invention also relates to liquid-crystalline media prepared therewith and to liquid-crystal display devices (LC displays) containing these media.
US08551357B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a thin polarizing film having an absorption axis oblique to a width direction of the film which comprises the steps of: performing an orientation treatment in two directions in a plane of a support film; applying a solution containing a lyotropic liquid crystal compound onto a surface of the support film; and causing a column-shaped aggregate of the lyotropic liquid crystal compound to be oriented in a direction (orientation direction) equal to the vector sum of a direction of first orientation treatment and a direction of second orientation treatment.
US08551356B2
An granular composition for absorbing liquids, the composition comprising perlite, super-absorbent polymer, a pH-indicating dye, and a minor amount of water. According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the subject composition comprises about 80 weight percent perlite, about 5 weight percent SAP, about 0.0125 weight percent pH indicating dye (most preferably phenolphthalein), and from about 7 to about 9 weight percent water in the final product.
US08551351B2
A nozzle plate has a nozzle hole for ejecting liquid, which penetrates in a thickness direction of the nozzle plate. An ejection face of the nozzle plate having an ejection opening of the nozzle hole is covered with a water-repellent coat having a through hole communicating with the nozzle hole. The through hole has a straight portion and a diameter expansion portion. The straight portion is contiguous to the nozzle hole and having the same diameter as the ejection opening. The diameter expansion portion is provided to interpose the straight portion with the nozzle hole and gradually expanding so that a part thereof farther from the straight portion has a larger diameter than a part thereof closer to the straight portion.
US08551346B2
A photomask-forming glass substrate having a square major surface is provided wherein two strip regions are defined on the major surface near a pair of opposed sides such that each region spans between 2 mm and 10 mm inward of the side and excludes end portions extending 2 mm inward from the opposed ends of the side, a least squares plane is computed for each of the two strip regions, the angle included between normal lines to the least squares planes of two strip regions is within 10 seconds, and the height difference between two strip regions is up to 0.5 μm.
US08551332B2
The present invention is affinity particles that are characterized by having phosphorylcholine groups represented by the following formula (1) covalently bonded onto the surface of inorganic powder and also by having ligands having specific affinity with a certain target substance covalently bonded or adsorbed onto the surface of inorganic powder.The object of the present invention is to provide an affinity separation method that uses affinity particles utilizing inexpensive inorganic particles and is capable of separating the target substance easily and with high accuracy.
US08551328B2
Chemically combined chlorides are removed from intermediate and product streams of a hydrocarbon reforming process by contacting the streams with zeolite 13X, having a Si/Al ratio of less than 1.25.
US08551327B2
Processes are provided for producing a diesel fuel product having a sulfur content of 10 ppm by weight or less from feed sources that include up to 20% by weight of a biocomponent feedstock. The mineral hydrocarbon portions of the feed sources can be distillate or heavier feed sources.
US08551324B2
The present invention describes a process for the production of gasoline in a fluid catalytic cracking unit having at least one principal reactor operating using feeds with a low Conradson Carbon and a high hydrogen content, said process comprising recycling a coking cut either to a side chamber branching off the stripper or within the stripper itself by means of a tubular vessel within said stripper.
US08551318B2
Apparatus and method for detecting current or potential generated in a liquid sample suitable for use in a chromatography or other liquid sample analytical system. One embodiment is an electrolytic ion transfer device with a signal detector in communication with the electrodes of the transfer device. Another is a combination ion transfer device/electrolyte generator. Another substitutes a detector for the ion transfer device in the combination.
US08551306B2
A permanent cathode that is to be used as electrode in the electro-refining and/or recovery of metals, such as copper, zinc, cobalt or nickel. The permanent cathode comprises a planar mother plate that is made of metal and comprises two sides. The mother plate comprises an edge, which at least partly surrounds the metal plate. The edge comprises a groove portion that is provided with a groove. The groove portion comprises at least one bridging section for joining together, over the groove portion of the edge of the metal plate at the at least one bridging section, the cathode metal halves, such as cathode copper halves, cathode zinc halves, cathode cobalt halves or cathode nickel halves, which are formed on the sides of the mother plate in the electro-refining of the metals.
US08551300B2
A coated article, and a corresponding method of making the same are provided. The coated article includes a coating supported by a substrate, the coating including a thin metal or metal nitride contact layer (e.g., NiCr, Ni, Cr, CrNx or NiCrNx) located directly between and contacting an infrared (IR) reflecting layer (e.g., Ag) and an oxide barrier layer (e.g., NiCrOx).
US08551299B2
A method of producing HCl from H2 and Cl2 is provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises at least one photochemical chamber placed in fluid communication with at least one source of H2 and at least one source of Cl2. In some embodiments, the photochemical chamber effects the formation of HCl through the use of at least one source of ultraviolet radiation contained therein. In some embodiments, the HCl product may be captured and used as a gas. In some embodiments, the HCl product may be absorbed into water to form an aqueous HCl solution.
US08551297B2
A process for extractive distillation, including: feeding a solvent to an extractive distillation column via a solvent feeding inlet, wherein the solvent has a feeding temperature 3.5˜22.5° C. higher than a top temperature of the extractive distillation column; feeding a mixture comprising a light component and a heavy component to the extractive distillation column via a mixture feeding inlet, wherein the light and heavy components are according to the volatility after adding the solvent, wherein the mixture is liquid, and the mixture feeding inlet is lower than the solvent feeding inlet; condensing a vapor generated by the mixture in an upper portion of the extractive distillation column to obtain the light component; and separating the solvent in a lower portion of the extractive distillation column to obtain the heavy component.
US08551295B2
A reactive distillation apparatus for multistage counter-current rotating bed includes a closed shell, in the center of which a revolving shaft linking each shell section is set, the shaft is provided with two or more rotors in series connection, a feeding inlet, a reflux inlet and an outlet of the gas phase are mounted on the top end face of the shell while a waste liquid outlet and an inlet of the gas phase are set on the bottom end face of the shell, a group of concentric dynamic filler rings with different diameters are installed at intervals along the radial direction, wherein the wall of the dynamic filler rings is holed, and the ring clearance between the dynamic filler rings is configured with static rings fastened on the static disc; a feeding inlet is arranged on the top cover of the shell corresponding to the spray nozzle of raw material liquid; a rotating liquid distributor is arranged on the inner side of the innermost dynamic filler ring of the said lower rotor.
US08551293B2
An improved method for producing paper from pulp includes a plurality of subassemblies arranged in the forming or wet section of a Fourdrinier. The Fourdrinier includes a dewatering table having a plurality of blades that are static and on-the run adjustable in height and/or angle to control orientation of paper fibers in the stock to create a superior quality of paper and improved paper strength characteristics. Gravity and vacuum assisted drainage elements are equipped with on-the-run adjustable angle and height dewatering foil blades starting from a paper dryness of 0.1% and extending all the way to 5% dryness. The result of this process and machine is to improve the paper quality, save fibers and chemicals and fulfill the required paper properties.
US08551284B2
The invention provides a polarizing film comprising: a long polymer film; and a dichroic substance, wherein the polarizing film has an absorption axis in the TD direction of the polarizing film.
US08551280B2
A panel includes a fiberglass substrate encapsulating an aesthetic material. The fiberglass substrate and the aesthetic material are both impregnated with resin to form the solid-core of the panel. The solid-core panel can be manufactured by arranging multiple layers of a fiberglass material between multiple plates, interleaving aesthetic material between at least two of the layers of fiberglass material, applying resin to the multiple layers of fiberglass material and the aesthetic material, and then allowing the combination of the resin, multiple layers of fiberglass material, and the aesthetic material to cure between the plates, forming a solid-core panel encapsulating the aesthetic material.
US08551276B2
A laminating process in which an adhesive composition which is freely flowing or can be rendered freely flowing is discharged from a coating appliance in the form of a substantially continuous or interrupted film, out of a slot nozzle with lateral film boundaries, and is applied and fixed to the surface of at least one web-type substrate, if applicable after being deposited on an advancing transfer substrate, such as a roller, and then transferred to the web-type substrate, and in which the film is guided outward to the substrate via the nozzle slot, clamped or hemmed in at its edges by the film boundary elements, heat is drawn off to the surrounding atmosphere via at least one heat exchange element provided along the film boundary elements.
US08551273B2
The present invention relates to a method for forming fluoroplastic articles including inner and outer fluoroplastic layers and a metal meshwork, the metal meshwork being arranged between the inner and outer fluoroplastic layers, characterized by the meshwork being stretchable and compressible in an axial direction.
US08551269B2
A method for controlling a labelling device, that is part of a block system including a supply device for supplying articles to be labeled, includes supplying, by the supply device, a predetermined number of the articles such that the labelling device and the supply device are each operated at a first operating speed. The predetermined number of the articles are delivered, in an automated manner, to the labelling device. A drive of the labelling device is decoupled from a corresponding drive of the supply device. The labelling device is then operated at a second operating speed.
US08551262B2
A method of maintaining a floor comprises discharging a diluting fluid from a first reservoir to a mixing apparatus, discharging a cleaner concentrate from a second reservoir to the mixing apparatus, continuously identifying changes in fluid level within the first reservoir with a level sensor, providing a first signal indicative of an identified change in fluid level, passing the cleaner concentrate and diluting fluid through a flow control device, and processing the first signal to generate an output signal and controlling operation of the pump and the flow control device in response to the output signal to provide a flow of fluid to a cleaning device at a substantially constant ratio of the diluting fluid from the first reservoir to the cleaner concentrate from the second reservoir for substantially all fluid levels of the first reservoir.
US08551255B2
A dishwasher includes a first washing chamber and a second washing chamber capable of performing a washing operation separately and/or concurrently. Each washing chamber includes a wash pump, a drain pump and a heating unit that are operatively connected to a controller. When initiating a washing fluid in one washing chamber, the controller determines if the other washing chamber is active. If the other washing chamber is active, the heating unit for the one washing chamber is operated at a low power level. However, if the other washing chamber is inactive, the one washing chamber is operated at a high power level to rapidly heat the washing fluid and thus shorten the duration of the washing operation.
US08551254B2
In embodiments of the present invention, a gutter-cleaning device comprises a housing containing an impeller drive facility, the housing configured to fit into a gutter, an impeller, disposed at an end of the housing and driven by the impeller drive facility, and a transport facility for transporting the housing along the gutter.
US08551252B2
Methods for removing residual particles from a substrate are presented including: receiving the substrate including the residual particles; and functionalizing the residual particles with functionalizing molecules, wherein the functionalizing molecules selectively attach with a surface the residual particles, where the functionalizing molecules impart a changed chemical characteristic to the residual particles, and where the changed chemical characteristic facilitates removal of the residual particles from the substrate. In some embodiments, methods further include: before functionalizing, cleaning the substrate, where the cleaning leaves residual particles adhered with a surface of the substrate, and where the residual particles are hydrophilic; and if the surface of the substrate is hydrophobic, performing the functionalizing. In some embodiments, methods further include removing the residual particles from the surface of the substrate where removing the residual particles includes removing the functionalizing molecules.
US08551251B2
Improved methods and apparatus for cleaning substrates and enhancing diffusion limited reaction at substrate surfaces use piezoelectric transducers operating in the gigasonic domain. The resonator assemblies include plural transducer stacks each including a thin film piezoelectric element coupled to a resonator plate that faces the substrate. At the disclosed frequencies and powers used, Eckart or Rayleigh streaming can be induced in a liquid treatment medium without substantial generation of cavitation.
US08551250B2
The present invention relates to a method of extracting a carbohydrate from a carbohydrate juice, said method comprising the steps of: a) providing an adsorbent having unsaturated hydrocarbon groups exposed on its surface wherein said groups are capable of adsorbing a carbohydrate to the (internal) surface of the adsorbent by CH/p interaction, and optionally in addition by hydrogen bonding; b) contacting said raw carbohydrate juice with said adsorbent under conditions by which said carbohydrate is adsorbed to said adsorbent by CH/p interaction, and c) desorbing said carbohydrate from said adsorbent by increasing the temperature of the carbohydrate-adsorbent complex.
US08551247B2
Controlling crystal growth in a crystal growing system is described. The crystal growing system includes a heated crucible including a semiconductor melt from which a monocrystalline ingot is grown according to a Czochralski and the ingot is grown on a seed crystal pulled from the melt. The method includes applying a cusped magnetic field to the melt by supplying an upper coil with a first direct current (IUDC) and supplying a lower coil with a second direct current (ILDC). The method also includes supplying the upper coil with a first alternating current (IUAC) and supplying the lower coil with a second alternating current (ILAC) to generate a time-varying magnetic field, wherein the time-varying magnetic field generates a pumping force in the semiconductor melt.
US08551244B2
A self-adaptive cement system includes cement, water and at least one additive that reacts or/and expands in contact with oil and gas. Several chemical products have been identified including rubber alkylstyrene, polynorbornene, resins such precrosslinked substituted vinyl acrylate copolymers and diatomaceous earth. These additives have the effect of making the cement self-healing in the event of physical failure or damage such as micro-annuli. The self healing property is produced by the contact with subterranean hydrocarbon fluids, the potential repair mechanism is thus activated if and when needed in case of start of loss of zonal isolation. In another embodiment, the expansion is deliberately induced by pumping a hydrocarbon fluid in the vicinity of the set cement.
US08551243B2
Concrete reinforced with nanostructures and reinforcing concrete methods are provided having cement and dispersion including water, a surfactant, carbon nanotubes having on the external surfaces thereof carbon atoms substituted by atoms of another element or other elements, and carbon nanotubes possessing chemical groups on the surface thereof.
US08551241B2
A method of making a rapid setting lightweight cementitious composition with improved compressive strength for products such as boards is disclosed. The method mixes fly ash, alkali metal salt of citric acid and lightweight aggregate with water. Compositions which include fly ash, alkali metal salts of citric acid and lightweight aggregate are also disclosed.
US08551237B2
A process for preparing colorants of the general formula (Ia), (Ib) or (Ic) or mixtures thereof, comprises reacting (a) tetracarboxylic acids or their functional derivatives with (b) at least one compound selected from i. aliphatic amines, ii. aromatic amines, iii. aliphatic diamines, iv. aromatic diamines, (c) optionally in the presence of further additives, (d) optionally in the presence of wetting agents in a mixing apparatus. These colorants are useful for coloration of macromolecular organic and inorganic materials of natural and synthetic origin.
US08551234B2
An air cleaner having a manipulator is disclosed. The manipulator (200) includes a rotary manipulation unit (300), which is provided so as to be movable between a first position, at which the rotary manipulation unit is retracted into the air cleaner, and a second position, to which the rotary manipulation unit is extracted from the air cleaner to enable a user to manipulate the rotary manipulation unit. The manipulator further includes a lift unit (400), which is installed in the air cleaner to move the rotary manipulation unit between the first position and the second position. In the present invention, the manipulator can control several functions of the air cleaner obviating the need for having several control buttons, thus being more convenient for a user. Furthermore, the present invention can prevent water from permeating a PCB mounted in the rotary manipulation unit, thus preventing malfunction of the encoder unit.
US08551221B2
Carbon Dioxide capture processes utilizing ammonia, or ammonia in water as the capture fluid for carbon dioxide generate concentrated solutions of ammonium carbonate species in water, which are subsequently decomposed to capture the carbon dioxide and recycle the ammonia. Forward osmosis processes utilize ammonium carbonate species as draw solutions to pull water from saline solutions such as seawater in the ammonium carbonate solution. The ammonium carbonate solution is then heated to decompose the ammonium carbonate to ammonia and CO2 which are both reused, while a portion of the aqueous stream is recovered as pure water. Combination of carbon capture process with an integrated forward osmosis process provide great economies over standalone operations. Furthermore, the very high concentrations of ammonium carbonate provide a further opportunity to include osmotic power recovery cycles with the integrated forward osmosis and carbon capture process.
US08551218B2
A process for the abatement of carbonyl sulphide, carbon disulphide, metal carbonyl compounds, hydrogen sulphide and hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and arsenic and chlorine compounds from a feed gas comprising the steps of contacting the gas in succession with a first purification agent comprising activated carbon, with a second purification agent comprising alumina, with a third purification agent comprising zinc oxide, with a fourth purification agent comprising a zeolitic material and a fifth purification agent comprising zinc oxide and copper oxide.
US08551216B2
Systems and methods for treating a fluid with a body are disclosed. Various aspects involve treating a fluid with a porous body. In select embodiments, a body comprises ash particles, and the ash particles used to form the body may be selected based on their providing one or more desired properties for a given treatment. Various bodies provide for the reaction and/or removal of a substance in a fluid, often using a porous body comprised of ash particles. Computer-operable methods for matching a source material to an application are disclosed. Certain aspects feature a porous body comprised of ash particles, the ash particles have a particle size distribution and interparticle connectivity that creates a plurality of pores having a pore size distribution and pore connectivity, and the pore size distribution and pore connectivity are such that a first fluid may substantially penetrate the pores.
US08551202B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for planarizing or polishing a substrate. The composition comprises an abrasive, iodate ion, a nitrogen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of a nitrogen-containing C4-20 heterocycle and a C1-20 alkylamine, and a liquid carrier comprising water.
US08551201B2
Polyurethane composition based on a certain polyether and polyester prepolymer reaction mixture, wherein the composition is utilized in manufacturing chemical mechanical polishing/planarizing (CMP) pads. The CMP pads have low rebound and can dissipate irregular energy as well as stabilize polishing to yield improved uniformity and less dishing of the substrate.
US08551199B2
A method of recycling a tail gas includes converting sulfur present in an acid gas stream into elemental sulfur to produce a tail gas and recycling the tail gas to at least one of a gasification reactor and a gas removal subsystem.
US08551197B2
A hydrogen generation system is disclosed that includes an integrated steam reforming reactor. The reactor has an overall cylindrical shape, receives a reformate and separately receiving a combustion gas mixture. The reactor includes a plurality of reforming stages arranged in a stacked series of disc shaped stage configuration, wherein each reforming stage has a disc shaped combustion portion adjacent a disc shaped catalyst pack through which the reformate passes, wherein the reformate is directed axially between stages and radially within each stage; and the combustion mixture is directed radially between groups of stages and circumferentially within each stage.
US08551195B2
A composition and method is disclosed for a wickless semi-liquid candle.
US08551194B2
A candle and process for making it are disclosed. The candle comprises prilled wax particles, comprising hydrogenated natural oil and wherein at least 75% of the prilled wax particles are less than 800 μm in diameter. The candle includes a compressed core and a thermally fused outer layer.
US08551190B2
A method for manufacturing a coloring agent for keratin fibers is provided. The method includes directing a composition A from a container A by a filler apparatus through an inlet opening into a container B containing a composition B. A coloring agent for keratin fibers exits from the container B as a mixture of the composition A and the composition B. The composition A is flowable and encompasses a polymeric thickener and the composition B encompasses a fatty alcohol.
US08551184B1
In one aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus facilitating an adjustable-stiffness prosthesis or orthosis (including approximations to arbitrarily definable non-linear spring functions). Spring rates may be varied under no-load conditions during a walking gate cycle to minimize power consumption. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and apparatus for outputting positive power from a prosthesis or orthosis, facilitating high-performance artificial limbs. In one embodiment of the invention, the positive power is transferred from a functioning muscle to the prosthesis or orthosis, which mimics or assists a non-functioning or impaired muscle. In another embodiment of the invention, the positive power comes from an on-board power source in the prosthesis or orthosis.
US08551181B2
A trial system for a prosthesis is described. The prosthesis can include an acetabular prosthesis generally for implantation in an acetabulum and the surrounding pelvis. The acetabular prosthesis includes an acetabular cup having a substantially concave inner surface and a substantially convex outer surface. One trial shell or a collection of trial shells are provided to trial a range of motion of the hip joint before implanting a shell prosthesis into the acetabular prosthesis.
US08551178B2
A method for treating arthritis of a joint includes identifying a bone lesion in a bone adjacent to the joint; and implanting in the bone a reinforcing member in or adjacent to the bone lesion. A kit for conducting the method includes: (a) at least one reinforcing member having a proximal face adapted to face the joint, a distal face adapted to face away from the joint, and a wedge-shaped edge adapted to pierce bone, wherein the at least one reinforcing member is planar and sterile; and (b) a container adapted to maintain the at least one reinforcing member sterile. Another kit includes: (a) a sterile fluid; (b) a syringe for injecting the fluid into a bone; (c) a curing agent adapted to cure the fluid to polymerize and/or cross-link; and (d) a container adapted to maintain the sterility of contents of the container.
US08551166B2
A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of a human eye including the following steps: inserting a distal tip of a delivery tool within an anterior chamber of the eye through trabecular meshwork of the eye into Schlemm's canal of the eye; and advancing an ocular implant through a curved portion and a distal opening of the delivery tool to place a body portion of the ocular implant in Schlemm's canal and an inlet portion of the ocular implant in the anterior chamber.
US08551163B2
A high efficiency cardiac support system is suitable for chronic use in treating heart failure, wherein the system includes an implantable rotary blood pump, an implantable power module, a wireless power transfer subsystem, a patient monitor, and a programmer. In a cardiac support system, the cumulative efficiencies of the components of the system are capable of providing therapeutically effective blood flow for a typical day of awake hours using the energy from a single wireless recharge of an implanted rechargeable energy source. Moreover, the implantable rechargeable energy source may be recharged during a normal sleep period of 8 hours or less. The system may provide full or partial cardiac support without the need for external wearable batteries, controllers, or cables.
US08551155B2
Methods and systems are described for receiving a parameter relating to a specific patient, and for customizing one or more attributes of a stent ex situ as an at-least-roughly contemporaneous response to receiving the parameter relating to the specific patient or for customizing one or more junctions of a stent ex situ in response to the received parameter relating to the specific patient.
US08551141B2
A multi-stage minimally invasive surgical procedure and associated instruments are disclosed. First, the surgical site is prepared. After preparation, the bone screws or anchors are attached to the bone. Subsequent to insertion of the screws, a rod or connecting member is positioned within the yoke portion of the bone screw. Caps are then placed in a pre-lock position within the yokes. The bone screws may be compressed together or distracted along the rod or connecting member, thereby setting the final spacing of the bones or bone segments. Finally the caps are moved to a final lock position to fix the screws to the rod or connecting member to maintain the bones in position relative to each other.
US08551140B2
A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. A bone engaging fastener is coupled to bone. A second fastener is coupled to a suture construction. The second fastener is coupled to the first fastener. Soft tissue is coupled to the suture construction.
US08551130B2
The invention provides a system, device and method for localized application of therapeutic substances within a biological conduit. One embodiment comprises a rotational atherectomy device having a flexible, elongated, rotatable, drive shaft having a lumen and with an eccentric enlarged abrading head having at least one application hole attached therethrough and in communication with a therapeutic agent delivery sheath and an operator-controlled actuator. The therapeutic substances may then spray radially outwardly from the application hole(s) on the eccentric abrading head during and/or after high-speed rotation of the head. Another embodiment comprises compartments in the abrading head that hold therapeutic agent(s) for release during high-speed rotation. In each case, the therapeutic substance(s) is delivered with radial forces resulting from high-speed orbital rotation of the eccentric abrading head, driving the therapeutic substance(s) into the conduit wall.
US08551125B2
Implantable prostheses for reinforcing and repairing defects in a muscular or tissue wall and a method for fabricating the prostheses that minimizes wasted mesh material and reduces the labor and time required for fabrication. The prosthesis may include a plug body formed of surgical mesh material having a closed end, a larger open end, and a cavity extending therebetween, and a filler body formed of the surgical mesh material comprising a plurality of petals extending radially outwardly from and spaced laterally about a common base disposed in the plug body with the common base attached to the closed end of the plug body. The plug bodies are cut as circular pieces, and the filler bodies are cut as hour-glass shaped pieces from the same sheet of material so as to leave virtually no wasted mesh material. The filler pieces may be attached to the plug body piece by welding.
US08551124B2
An implantation pin for implantation in a target structure has a pinhead and a shaft. The pinhead comprises a pinhead molding portion comprising a moldable material which can be liquefied by application of mechanical energy such as ultrasonic vibration energy. A channel extends through the pinhead and the shaft, the channel connecting the pinhead molding portion to a discharge opening located at the shaft. The moldable material can be liquefied by applying mechanical energy e.g. in the form of ultrasonic vibrations via e.g. a fixation device including an ultrasonic sonotrode and a vibrating tip. The pressure applied by the vibrating tip can be transmitted via the border of the pinhead to the target structure while the liquefied moldable material can be forced through the channel and the discharge opening into a gap between the implantation pin and a recess in a target structure thereby fixing the implantation pin in the target structure.
US08551122B2
Needle-stick injuries are associated with considerable risk of morbidity for healthcare workers and patients. The present invention of a handheld surgical suturing device allows for visualization of surgical field and better control of the suture needle with possible one-hand operation The device also provides active safety features that protect the surgeon from needle-stick injury.
US08551121B2
A bi-directional suture passing instrument is disclosed. The suture passing instrument may include a housing having a first cannulation and a second cannulation that is spaced from the first cannulation by a tissue receiving gap. The instrument may also include a shuttling element movable across the tissue receiving gap between the first and second cannulations. The shuttling element is configured to carry a strand of suture. A first pusher disposed in the first cannulation is configured to push the shuttling element from the first cannulation toward the second cannulation, and a second pusher disposed in the second cannulation is configured to push the shuttling element from the second cannulation toward the first cannulation.
US08551120B2
A combination tissue apposition and suture capturing device (100) for performing endoscopic procedures typically in the gastro-esophageal tract. The device (100) is particularly adapted for forming multiple plications used in a gastroplasty procedure devised to cure or ameliorate gastro-esophageal reflux disease. The device include a tissue sewing capsule (102) attached to the distal end of an endoscope having a needle (120) that is deposited in a capsule (102) distal tip cavity following the suturing of a tissue fold and retrieved to enable the suturing of a subsequent tissue fold without the need for multiple intubations. A suture clip delivery device (200) is also disclosed that is adapted to fit within the capsule to enable suture capture without the need for multiple intubations. The combination device eliminates the need for an overtube and maximizes the speed efficiency of the gastroplasty procedure. A method for using the combination device is also disclosed.
US08551117B2
A skin removal device includes a housing having a handle portion, a drum assembly coupled to the handle portion and including a drum, the drum having an abrasive outer surface configured to abrade skin of a user during rotation of the drum, and an electromechanical drive system disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to rotate the drum. The drum assembly is moveable in a lateral direction relative to the handle portion to enable insertion and removal of the drum assembly.
US08551112B2
An atherectomy device has cannula systems having lumens adapted for insertion of a blood filter and an atherectomy catheter useful for performing atherectomy directly on a patient's cardiovascular tissue. Other embodiments include a lumen for arterial perfusion useful in providing oxygenated blood to the aorta during cardiopulmonary bypass. The distal end of the atherectomy catheter includes an assembly that has a pincer, a loop with or without a mesh, laser, hydraulics, or other suitable mechanism adapted for removing atheroma from a cardiac or vascular tissue. Methods of using the systems for vascular atherectomy are also disclosed herein.
US08551099B2
Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08551089B2
A tissue welding apparatus is adapted to fuse a first piece of tissue to a second piece of tissue which are disposed in a surface proximate relationship. An elongate shaft carries a first jaw, and a second opposing jaw moveable relative to the first jaw. At least one penetrating member is carried by the first jaw and moveable relative to the second jaw to create a channel through the first piece of material and the second piece of material. A source of heat is coupled to the penetrating member for denaturing the tissue defining the channel. This denatured tissue forms a column binding the first piece of tissue to the second piece of tissue. A chemical agent can be carried to the tissue with the penetrating member.
US08551084B2
A system that interfaces with a workstation endocardial mapping system allows for the rapid and successful ablation of cardiac tissue. The system allows a physician to see a representation of the physical location of a catheter in a representation of an anatomic model of the patient's heart. The workstation is the primary interface with the physician. A servo catheter having pull wires and pull rings for guidance and a servo catheter control system are interfaced with the workstation. Servo catheter control software may run on the workstation. The servo catheter is coupled to an RF generator. The physician locates a site for ablation therapy and confirms the location of the catheter. Once the catheter is located at the desired ablation site, the physician activates the RF generator to deliver the therapy.
