US08649726B2
A shutter device includes a main body and a seal member. The main body is an annular body fitted around an outside of one end of a cylindrical tube which includes a discharge outlet in a part of the circumferential face near the end in the axial direction, and includes a first opening having a same shape as the discharge outlet and a second opening having a first opening end and a second opening end. The seal member has a length equal to a distance from a vicinity of the first opening end on an outer circumferential face of the main body, passing across the first opening, the second opening end and the first opening on an inner circumferential face of the main body in the stated order, to a vicinity of the second opening end.
US08649721B2
A surface processing apparatus includes a heating unit and a detachably mountable film cartridge. The film cartridge is provided with a first opening portion into which the heating unit proceeds, and an operational portion disposed in a casing, for acting on a shutter of the heating unit to move the shutter between a closing position (first position) and an opening position (second position). The heating unit proceeds into the casing through the first opening portion with the shutter being in the closing position, and the operational portion acts on the shutter in the casing to move the shutter to the opening position.
US08649720B2
An image heating apparatus includes an endless rotatable heat generator for heating an image on the recording material by induction heat generation by a magnetic flux, a coil outside the generator for generating the magnetic flux for the induction heat generation, first and second magnetic cores, respectively provided on the same and opposite sides of the coil as the heat generator for directing the magnetic flux to the heat generator, a mover for moving the second core between first and second positions, the second position being farther away from the coil than the first position, and an electroconductive member extending from the first core to the second position in a direction away from the heat generator.
US08649719B2
In an image forming apparatus, the following inequalities (1) and (2) are satisfied: (L1−L3)×(V2/V1)
US08649714B2
A development device includes a developer bearer to carry by rotation two-component developer to a development range to develop a latent image formed on a latent image bearer, a magnetic field generator disposed inside the developer bearer, a developer regulator for adjusting an amount of the developer on the developer bearer, positioned upstream from the development range in a rotational direction of the developer bearer and facing the developer bearer across a regulation gap, a supply compartment from which the developer is supplied by a developer agitator to the developer bearer, a collection compartment, a pre-regulation portion adjacent to and upstream from the developer regulator in the rotational direction of the developer bearer, and a developer mobility adjuster that makes mobility of the developer in the pre-regulation portion higher on an upstream side in a developer conveyance direction in the supply compartment.
US08649706B2
Disclosed is a corona charging apparatus for electrically charging a surface of an image bearing member to which the corona charging apparatus faces and which is rotatably provided in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the corona charging apparatus including: a discharging electrode; a shield case that covers the discharging electrode, the shield case being opened at least in a region where the discharging electrode and the image bearing member face each other; and a sheet-like member being made from aluminum and being attached to a first surface of the shield case which first surface faces the discharging electrode.
US08649699B2
A heater is inserted into a roller through-hole of a heating roller body. An attached portion of a terminal plate is attached to a power supply terminal provided on one end of the heater. An engaging portion is a plate member extending from the attached portion in a first radial direction of the heating roller body and arranged in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the heater. The engaging portion is engaged with the fixing frame. An engaging terminal portion is a plate member extending from the attached portion in a second radial direction of the heating roller body and intersects with the longitudinal direction of the heater. The second radial direction is a direction the same as the first radial direction.
US08649689B2
A digital coherent receiving apparatus includes a first oscillator for outputting a local light signal of a fixed frequency, a hybrid unit mixing the local light signal with a light signal received by a receiver, a second oscillator for outputting a sampling signal of a sampling frequency, a converter for converting the mixed light signal into digital signal synchronizing with the sampling signal, a waveform adjuster for adjusting a waveform distortion of the converted digital signal, a phase adjustor for adjusting a phase of the digital signal adjusted by the waveform adjustor, a demodulator for demodulating the digital signal adjusted by the phase adjuster, and a phase detector for detecting a phase of the digital signal adjusted by the phase adjuster, and a control signal output unit for outputting a frequency control signal on the basis of the detected phase signal to the second oscillator.
US08649683B2
A method for managing an optical network having a plurality of nodes interconnected by a plurality of fiber links includes installing one or more active reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) cards into a node and installing a spare ROADM card into the node. The one or more active ROADM cards are configured to pass optical traffic to and from the optical network. The installed spare ROADM card is remotely activated to pass optical traffic to and from the optical network, subsequent to configuring the one or more active ROADM cards, based on one of: an event or expiration of a time period.
US08649681B2
An optical network unit for a passive optical network (10), configured to: initiate an upstream wavelength (wus) for an upstream signal (US) from the optical network unit to an optical line terminal (10); iteratively, until an iteration criterion is met, i) transmit the upstream signal (US) to the optical line terminal (10), ii) receive from the optical line terminal (10) power level data (p) for the upstream signal (US) as measured by the optical line terminal (10), and iii) set the upstream wavelength (wus) for the upstream signal (US) to a new wavelength-value; and adjust the upstream wavelength (wus) to a wavelength-value previously set for the upstream signal (US) and associated with power level data corresponding to a certain power level. A passive optical network system, the optical line terminal and related methods are also disclosed.
US08649678B2
The technique for improving the efficiency in use of power resources while maintaining the received signal quality that satisfies the requirement during a system operation is disclosed. The frame processing apparatus disclosed in the present case includes: a frame processing unit which performs frame processing on an input signal in the designated error processing mode; and a controlling unit which receives the monitoring result relating to the signal quality of the input signal and performs switching control of the designation of the above error processing mode in the frame processing unit based on the received monitoring result.
US08649668B2
Systems and methods are presented for adaptively streaming a time-ordered sequence of video frames from a video server, across a wide area network, to a remote client video device, to accommodate advanced video display modes. Based on indications received from the remote client, the video server obtains and sends to the remote client encodings of video frames adapted to facilitate smooth, timely transitions between display modes at the client, and optimal playback quality across all modes, subject to various operational constraints. Advanced playback modes include fast forward and reverse, slow forward and reverse, frame-by-frame stepping, and other modes that specify displaying video frames on the client at a rate different from the normal display rate, or that specify displaying video frames in a different order than the normal time-ordering of the sequence of video frames. The systems and methods may be incorporated into collaborative online video editing environments.
US08649666B2
An apparatus and a method for generating a moving image, and an apparatus and a method for reproducing a moving image are provided. The present moving image generating apparatus includes a script parsing unit which analyzes script information, a composer which generates a script to define a moving image, and a storage management unit which includes and stores setting information regarding the moving image in the script. Accordingly, a user may prevent the consumption of unnecessary resources as a moving image defined in a script is generated.
US08649664B2
An audio and/or video generation apparatus is arranged in operation to generate audio and/or video signals representative of an audio and/or video source has a meta data generation tool which is arranged in operation to generate meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals, wherein the type of meta data generated by the meta data generation tool is user selectable. The audio and/or video generation apparatus may comprise a recording means which is arranged in operation to record the audio and/or video signals on a recording medium, and the audio and/or video generation apparatus may be arranged to receive meta data associated with the audio and/or video signals generated by a data processor, the recording means being arranged in operation to record the meta data on the recording medium with the audio and/or video signals. The meta data may be user generated, such as text describing the audio/video signals, or may be secondary meta data which is automatically generated by the audio/video apparatus. The recording medium may be a linear recording medium, and the recording means may be arranged in operation to record at least one of the user generated meta data and the secondary meta data on the recording medium after the audio and/or video signals at a position at which at least one of the user generated and secondary meta data can be read by a reproducing means before the audio and/or video signals.
US08649658B2
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for playback of programs and other works recorded on random access storage media. One embodiment of the invention relates to random access storage media such as a DVD (“digital versatile disk” or “digital video disk”) used to distribute motion pictures and other audio/video programs or works. The invention involves a manner of utilizing secondary storage space of the storage media not used by the primary program being distributed to store secondary programs such as movie trailers and product advertisements, and to present the secondary programs to the user in a topical and interesting manner. In one embodiment, storage space of a random access storage medium such as a DVD is allocated to a number of variously sized programs or program portions called “chapters.” In one embodiment, each primary and secondary program constitutes a separate chapter. In this embodiment, each time the primary chapter is played, the DVD playback device plays a limited selection of secondary chapters before and/or after the primary chapter. In one embodiment, the sequence of secondary chapters played back varies each time the DVD is played. In this manner, as a viewer repeatedly views the DVD over time, a large variety of promotional material can be presented to the viewer without overburdening the viewer with overly-long sequences of promotions and trailers. In addition, because the sequence of trailers changes each time the DVD is viewed viewer interest is maintained.
US08649638B2
A method for measuring the deformation of a specimen using an extensometer having a loop of a single-mode optical fiber. At least two points of the loop are attached to desired locations on a specimen. Light is transmitted through the loop and the transmitted optical power is measured by a photodetector. The deformation of the specimen causes the size and shape of the loop to change, which changes the transmitted optical power. The change in optical power is related to extension or compression using calibration curves. The sensor works on the principle of transmitted power modulation through the curved section.
US08649637B2
The present patent application relates to a polarization interference optical interleaver, which includes a first port to transmit the first optical signal through the first optical path, a second port to transmit the second optical signal and a third port to transmit the third optical signal. The first optical signal passes through the first optical path and splits into the second optical signal and the third optical signal by the first and the second light splitting/combining crystals and the interference crystal group. The interference crystal group is located between the first and the second light splitting/combining crystals. The second optical signal and the third optical signal are received and reflected by a reflecting mirror. Then the second optical signal and the third optical signal output through the second port and the third port respectively. The second optical signal reflected by the reflecting mirror transmits along the first optical path of the first optical signal and passes through the interference crystal group, then walks off the first optical path by light walk-off device and outputs through the second port. The third optical signal reflected by the reflecting mirror transmits along the second optical path and passes through the interference crystal group, then outputs through the third port. There are only four beams in the interference crystal group of the present patent application. So the volume of the interference crystal group is minimized and the cost is reduced.
US08649636B2
A super-resolution processor in one aspect of the present invention first estimates a motion between an input image and a delayed input image which is obtained by delaying the input image by some frames, and determines a motion vector in super-resolution processing of adding a high frequency component using a learning database. Subsequently, the super-resolution processor updates an evaluation value evaluated when a patch is extracted in a target block of the input image, so that a learned high frequency patch is likely to be selected, the learned high frequency patch being the same as the learned high frequency patch used for super-resolution processing performed at the position motion-compensated by the motion vector in the frame at the same time as the time of the delayed input image.
US08649627B2
A method and apparatus for providing image processing. For one embodiment of the invention, an image processing apparatus is arranged to process a first relatively underexposed and sharp image of a scene, and a second relatively well exposed and blurred image, nominally of the same scene, the first and second images being derived from respective image sources. The apparatus provides a portion of the relatively first underexposed image as an input signal to an adaptive filter; and a corresponding portion of the second relatively well exposed image as a desired signal to the adaptive filter. The adaptive filter produces an output signal from the input signal and the desired signal; and an image generator constructs a first filtered image from the output signal, relatively less blurred than the second image.
US08649619B2
Computer-readable medium having an image decoding program performing: storing a reference image of a previously decoded image; receiving coded information including motion vector and rounding method information specifying a rounding method for synthesizing a prediction image of a currently decoded image; and synthesizing via motion compensation using the motion vector information and reference image, using a positive and negative rounding method for interpolating pixel intensity values; wherein interpolation of pixel intensity values uses a rounding method specified by the rounding method information included in the encoded current P frame bitstream; wherein the rounding method information is not received from the encoded I frame bitstream; wherein the rounding method information includes a header section of the currently decoded image's coded information, and specifies one of two values; and wherein one specifies a positive rounding method, and another a negative rounding method; and wherein the rounding method information is one bit.
US08649616B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image separating unit that separates and creates a plurality of derivative images from an input image based on feature of the input image; a coding unit that codes each of the derivative images separately, couples coded data of the derivative images, and generates multilayer structure data; and a controller that controls a code amount of coded data of at least one derivative image with a low code assignment priority out of the derivative images so that a data amount of the multilayer structure data is equal to or less than a limit amount.
US08649610B2
Example methods and apparatus for auditing signage are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves directing an operator to a signage location and capturing an image of a signage at the signage location. The example method also includes detecting an actual characteristic of the signage based on the image and comparing the actual characteristic to an expected characteristic.
US08649599B2
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program capable of obtaining, even if a process such as a graph cut method is performed in units of small regions, a result similar to that obtained in the process performed in units of pixels.A pre-segmentation executing unit 13 classifies pixels in an image on the basis of correlation among the pixels, thereby dividing the image into a set of small regions. A small region adjacent energy calculating unit 14 calculates a small region adjacent energy on the basis of a difference in pixel value of a pixel set at the vicinity of a boundary of a pair of small regions adjacent to each other in the set of small regions. A small region likelihood energy calculating unit 15 selects object regions and background regions for the respective small regions on the basis of a trimap image, constructs a probability model function, and calculates object likelihoods and background likelihoods for the respective small regions. A segmentation executing unit 16 divides the image into a binary mask image of a foreground and a background using a small region adjacent energy and a small region likelihood energy. The present invention can be applied to image processing of separating an object image.
US08649591B2
In accordance with an embodiment, a pattern inspection method includes: applying a light generated from a light source to the same region of a substrate in which an inspection target pattern is formed; guiding, imaging and then detecting a reflected light from the substrate, and acquiring a detection signal for each of a plurality of different wavelengths; and adding the detection signals of the different wavelengths in association with an incident position of an imaging surface to generate added image data including information on a wavelength and signal intensity, judging, by the added image data, whether the inspection target pattern has any defect, and when judging that the inspection target pattern has a defect, detecting the position of the defect in a direction perpendicular to the substrate.
US08649580B2
An image processing method includes obtaining a first spectral characteristic value in a sample point on a stained sample based on a value of a pixel of a stained-sample image obtained by imaging the stained sample, the sample point corresponding to the pixel, the stained sample being stained with a predetermined staining dye and to be observed; and obtaining gradual second spectral characteristic values on the staining dye. The method also includes estimating an amount of the staining dye in the sample point on the staining sample by using the second dye spectral characteristic values on the staining dye based on the first spectral characteristic value.
US08649564B2
A pedestrian detector includes an image-taking mechanism and an image analyzer. The image-taking mechanism is provided on a vehicle and used to take an image in front of the vehicle. The image analyzer is connected to the image-taking mechanism and used to receive the image from the image-taking mechanism and analyze the image to determine whether the image conforms to a pedestrian to determine whether there is a pedestrian in front of the vehicle.
US08649556B2
Disclosed herein are a method and system for appearance-invariant tracking of an object in an image sequence. A track is associated with the image sequence, wherein the track has an associated track signature comprising at least one mode. The method detects the object in a frame of the image sequence (1020). A representative signature is associated with the detected object. The method determines a spatial difference measure between the track and the detected object, and determines, for each mode of the track signature, a visual difference (1410) between the mode of the track signature and the representative signature to obtain a lowest determined visual difference (1420). The method then utilises the spatial difference measure and the lowest determined visual difference to perform at least one of the following steps of: (i) associating the detected object with the track (1440), and (ii) adding a new mode to the track signature (1460), based on the representative signature.
US08649547B2
A mountable multi-directional audio device comprises at least one broadcasting device, which has a sounding portion outwardly; and at least one connecting member, the any end of the connecting member is connected with the broadcasting device.
US08649542B2
It should be possible to produce hearing aids in a simpler and more compact fashion. It is for this reason that a hearing aid is proposed, the loudspeaker device of which is shielded by a shielding device, more particularly a housing, which can shield both high-frequency and low-frequency electromagnetic fields. The shielding device is at least in part made of an amorphous, soft-magnetic metal with a preferred direction of the nanocrystalline structures. Using this, a plurality of separate shielding elements can be dispensed with and a hearing aid can have a smaller embodiment.
US08649538B2
A multi-mode hearing aid includes a processor that is configured to selectively apply different hearing aid profiles to different input signals, such as a first sound signal received from a microphone and a second sound signal received from a transceiver, to produce first and second shaped output signals. The processor is configured to produce an output signal including at least one of the first shaped output signal and the second shaped output signal.
US08649536B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for capturing sound for communication by mounting one or more intra-oral microphones to capture sound; and mounting a mouth wearable communicator in the oral cavity to communicate sound with a remote unit.
US08649534B2
The invention provides an audio interface device and method utilizing a single audio jack connector for plugging into a three-wire analog microphone or a three-wire digital microphone, thereby reducing dimensions and production costs thereof and an electronic system using the same. The audio interface comprises an audio jack connector, having first to third contacts electronically connected with the three-wire microphone plugged thereinto; and an audio processing device, detecting a type of the three-wire microphone plugged into the audio jack connector, outputting a clock signal to the three-wire microphone and receiving a digital audio signal from the three-wire microphone when the type is digital; or receiving analog audio signals from the three-wire microphone when the type is analog.
US08649531B2
Improved approaches to flexibly implementing graphic equalizers on media players are disclosed. These approaches provide dynamic order reduction of a multi-band graphic equalizer so that equalizer effects can be timely performed with only limited computational resources. In one embodiment, a media player receives a media item and associated equalizer settings for a multi-band graphic equalizer. The media player can then automatically (i.e., without user action) approximate the multi-band graphic equalizer with the equalizer settings for the media item using a fewer number of filters. Fewer filters means order reduction, and thus reduction in computational requirements. After the multi-band graphic equalizer is approximated, the media player can present the media item to its user in accordance with the reduced complexity, approximated equalizer.
US08649529B2
An apparatus for localizing a sound source includes at least two rotatably arranged microphones, a drive formed to set the microphones into rotation, and an evaluator. The evaluator is formed to receive microphone signals of the at least two microphones, while the at least two microphones are moving, and to obtain information on a direction from which sound arrives from the sound source or information on a position of the sound source, using the microphone signals obtained during the movement of the microphones.
US08649518B1
A method and circuitry for implementing CSA fast enough for use in programmable devices such as FPGAs process multiple packets with the words that were contained within the packets out of order, and then combines processed words in the correct order. Data advance and data delay techniques can be used to combine processed words correctly. The invention can be used for encryption, decryption, or both. Respective words from each data packet in a plurality of data packets are processed substantially simultaneously. Those respective words are processed in a first cipher path to generate intermediate blocks, and the intermediate blocks are processed in a second cipher path. Timing of the intermediate blocks after output from the first cipher path can be adjusted if necessary.
US08649514B2
A number of encryption system types utilized by subscriber terminal devices currently requesting tuning to a particular switched digital video (SDV) content selection is determined in response to each change in a number of the subscriber terminals requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection. SDV content associated with the particular SDV content selection is encrypted as either encrypted SDV content or multiply partially encrypted SDV content based upon the determined number of encryption system types beginning from a current play location indicated for the SDV content selection within an electronic program guide (EPG). Either the encrypted SDV content or the multiply partially encrypted SDV content is distributed as part of an outgoing SDV content stream to the subscriber terminals currently requesting tuning to the particular SDV content selection.
US08649509B2
A system generates a randomized hash value and/or verifies data against a randomized hash value. A hashing circuit can respond to data by randomly selecting a hashing algorithm parameter among a defined set of different hashing algorithm parameters, and by applying a hashing algorithm that uses the selected hashing algorithm parameter to hash the received data to generate a randomized hash value. Another hashing circuit randomly selects a hashing algorithm among a defined set of different hashing algorithms, and applies the selected hashing algorithm to hash the received data to generate a randomized hash value. Another hashing circuit applies a hashing algorithm to hash received data to generate an intermediate hash value that occupies a defined memory space, and randomly selects a partial segment of the hash value from a segment of the defined memory space to generate a randomized hash value.
US08649498B1
Architectures, arrangements, systems and/or methods for an Internet protocol (IP) telephony system for enterprise applications that is efficiently provisioned and maintained are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single platform uses a label allocation and routing scheme to provide overlapping dial plans for multiple customers, E.164 mapping and enhanced regulatory enhancements for both wireline and wireless telephony devices.
US08649495B1
The present invention is related to telecommunications. A call processing system receives a first call from a caller intended for a first person. A notification regarding the first call is transmitted over a network to a terminal associated with the first person. A user interface is displayed on the terminal via which the first person can indicate that a callback message is to be transmitted to the caller. The callback message is transmitted to the caller, wherein the callback message includes an identification of the first person, a callback control, and text indicating that the caller is to activate the control to initiate another call to the first person. At least partly in response to the caller activating the control, A second call to be placed via which the first person and caller are connected.
US08649483B2
A method is described for producing a grating, in particular an absorption grating, having a grating constant of less than 100 μm, by using a solution of superparamagnetic colloidal nanocrystal clusters (CNCs), a solvent liquid and a photocurable resin, with the following steps: —alignment of the CNCs in the solution by an external magnetic field, —exposure of the solution, so that the resin is cured and grating structures of an intended grating constant are formed, and —removal of the magnetic field.
US08649481B2
The present invention relates to network enabled analysis of x-ray images. Also described are devices comprising calibration phantoms; methods of using these devices; methods of formulating databases containing information regarding x-ray images; the databases themselves; and methods of manipulating the information and databases.
US08649479B2
A system and method for breast imaging using x-ray computed tomography (CT) are provided. One system includes a rotating gantry, an x-ray source coupled to the gantry for generating an x-ray beam and an x-ray detector coupled to the gantry for detecting x-rays of the x-ray beam. The system further includes an adjustable collimator coupled to the x-ray source and configured to adjust a focus of the x-ray beam generated by the x-ray source. The x system also includes a controller configured to control the collimator to adjust the focus on a region of interest (ROI) and to control a beam intensity for the x-ray beam generated by the x-ray source during a scan.
US08649469B2
A method of receiving a demodulated waveform according to a protocol in which the waveform represents a block of transmitted bits comprising a first group of bits and a second group of bits, the second group of bits being a function of the first group of bits, the method comprising: sampling the demodulated waveform to recover a first group of sample values corresponding to the first group of transmitted bits and a second group of sample values corresponding to the second group of transmitted bits; assigning bit values to reliable sample values of the first group of sample values; generating a set of candidates for a block of bits corresponding to the demodulated waveform, each candidate comprising a first group of candidate bits and a second group of candidate bits, the first group of candidate bits being generated using the assigned bit values and a combination of bit values unique to that candidate in the set of candidates, and the second group of candidate bits being generated by applying the said function to the first group of candidate bits; performing a correlation operation by determining a correlation between each candidate and the recovered first and second groups of sample values to form a correlation value associated with each candidate; and selecting the candidate associated with the correlation value that is indicative of the strongest degree of correlation between a candidate and the first and second groups of sample values to be the block of bits corresponding to the demodulated waveform.
US08649465B2
The invention relates to methods for adaptive clock reconstruction and decoding in audio frequency. The method includes the steps of: receiving a modulated signal, wherein the modulated signal is modulated by RC-FSK (Return to Carrier Frequency Shifting Keying); performing a spectrum analysis to the modulated signal to obtain a plurality of frequency envelopes; storing the frequency envelopes; searching the peak values of the frequency envelopes and the time points corresponding to the peak values to modify an estimated period; and generating a clock period for the RC-FSK demodulation and a clock phase for the RC-FSK demodulation according to the estimated period.
US08649459B2
A digital baseband signal for radio frequency transmission is processed prior to performing digital-to-analog conversion. The digital baseband signal is filtered. The number of bits of the digital baseband signal is reduced to minimise the size of the digital-to-analog converter. By performing some of the bit reduction before filtering, the size of the filter circuit is reduced whilst still meeting relevant performance parameters.
US08649442B2
An encoding apparatus and an encoding method, a decoding apparatus and a decoding method, a recording medium, and a program suitable for encoding image signals with a higher compression ratio for transmission or accumulation. In an arithmetic coding section, from among the syntax elements of input image compression information, the frame/field flag is first encoded by a frame/field flag context model. When the macroblock to be processed is subjected to frame-based encoding, a frame-based context model, specified in the current H.26L standard, is applied. On the other hand, when the macroblock to be processed is subjected to field-based encoding, a field-based context model is applied for the syntax elements described below. The present invention is applied to an encoder for encoding image information and a decoder for decoding image information.
US08649441B2
Disclosed are techniques for scalable, multiview, and multiple descriptive video coding using an improved Network Adaptation Layer (NAL) unit header. A NAL unit header can include a layer-id that can be a reference into a table of layer descriptions, which specify the properties of the layer. The improved NAL unit header can further include fields for reference picture management and to identify temporal layers.
US08649437B2
An image interpolator is presented that utilizes a block-based motion estimator to provide block-based motion vectors and a motion vector select coupled to the block-based motion estimator to provide pixel based motion vectors. A first image interpolator provides a first interpolated image from the selected motion vectors. A second image interpolator corrects the selected motion vectors, including a correction for halo reduction. Post processing can be utilized to further reduce the halo effect.
US08649435B2
A video encoding method and apparatus and a video decoding method and apparatus. In the video encoding method, a first predicted coding unit of a current coding unit that is to be encoded is produced, a second predicted coding unit is produced by changing a value of each pixel of the first predicted coding unit by using each pixel of the first predicted coding unit and at least one neighboring pixel of each pixel, and the difference between the current coding unit and the second predicted coding unit is encoded, thereby improving video prediction efficiency.
US08649431B2
A prediction block of a current block is created by performing intra prediction or inter prediction on the current block. The prediction block is filtered by using a predetermined filter. The current block is encoded based on the filtered prediction block. A compression rate of image encoding may be substantially improved by more accurately performing a prediction encoding.
US08649429B2
Digital television broadcasting signals employ parallel concatenated convolutional coding, commonly called “turbo coding”, to improve reception by receivers in motor vehicles. Turbo coded Reed-Solomon codewords are transversally disposed in the payload fields of encapsulating MPEG-2-compliant packets to improve the capability of the Reed-Solomon coding to overcome deep fades. Turbo codewords are transmitted more than once in so-called “staggercasting”. Reception of DTV signals is improved by combining soft decisions concerning repeated transmissions of turbo codewords before turbo decoding. Only the data components of turbo codewords are transmitted twice in “punctured” staggercasting of turbo codewords, with parity components being transmitted only once, so code rate is reduced by a smaller factor than two.
US08649426B2
Video data that is associated with a videoconference or a telepresence session is captured and a video signal relating thereto is provided. The video signal is divided into segments, which are identical from one video frame to another subsequent video frame within the video signal. Each segment is encoded independently, to result in encoded segment data such that both I-frames and P-frames are generated for a given segment, so as to support independent reconstruction of segments at a distant end. The encoded segment data is transmitted subsequently to the distant end.
US08649425B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for adjusting a bit rate in a security device connected to an external storage, which can determine an output bit rate optimum to the external storage in the security device for receiving a video signal shot by a plurality of cameras and writing the same on the external storage, such as a USB memory, and can vary and adjust the data input bit rate of the video signal shot properly by the plurality of cameras based on the output bit rate. The data input bit rate of a video signal inputted into the security device is higher than the data input bit rate of a video signal outputted to the external storage, thus preventing a failure of not being able to write a video signal shot by a plurality of cameras on the external storage.
US08649420B2
A data-processing module can handle a predetermined command transmitted by a corresponding main controller through a command serial signal or a clock signal. When the predetermined command represents “command-latching”, the data-processing module controls a command register to store the data transmitted by a section of the command serial signal temporarily stored in an FIFO buffering circuit for latching command. When the predetermined command represents “data-latching”, the data-processing module controls a command register to store the data transmitted by the section of the command serial signal temporarily stored in the FIFO buffering circuit for latching data. In this way, the data-processing module can control the command register to latch command or the data register to latch data without a redundant pin for receiving latching signals transmitted by the main controller, reducing the cost of the data-processing module.
US08649419B2
A method for compensator for comparator offset is provided. A first propagation delay for a first signal traversing a comparator to a first output terminal of the comparator and a second propagation delay for a second signal traversing the comparator to a second output terminal of the comparator are measured. The first and second propagation delays are then compared to generate a comparison result, and the comparator is adjusted to compensate for an input voltage offset based at least in part on the comparison result.
US08649408B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor laser device with high reliability and excellent heat dissipation is provided. The semiconductor laser device includes an active layer, a p-type semiconductor layer on the active layer, a pair of grooves formed by etching into the p-type semiconductor layer, a stripe sandwiched by the pair of grooves and having shape of ridge, and a pair of buried layers made of insulator to bury the grooves. The bottom surfaces of the grooves are shallower with an increase in distance from the stripe.
US08649396B2
A wireless local area network (WLAN) device transmits a header over an air interface, at a first modulation rate. The header may include an indication of a second modulation rate that will be used to transmit a consolidated payload. The device further transmits the consolidated payload at the second modulation rate. The consolidated payload includes multiple data units. In one embodiment, the consolidated payload includes delimiters with validation fields associated with the various data units.
US08649389B2
Transmitting from a mobile terminal to a telecommunication network data stored in a plurality of queues, each queue having a respective transmission priority, includes setting the data in each of the queues to be either primary data or secondary data, or a combination of primary data and secondary data. The data may be transmitted from the queues in an order in dependence upon the priority of the queue and whether the data in that queue are primary data or secondary data. Resources for data transmission may be allocated such that the primary data of each of the queues are transmitted at a minimum predetermined rate and such that the secondary data of each of the queues are transmitted at a maximum predetermined rate, greater than the minimum predetermined rate.
US08649388B2
In a distributed antenna system (DAS) and a local area network (LAN), a common communication infrastructure distributes data from radio-based and Internet-based sources. A radio equipment (RE) of the DAS interfaces to a LAN segment. For the downlink, a gateway maps radio signal data from a radio equipment controller (REC) and data packets from a switch to mixed-data frames using a radio data interface protocol for transmission in the DAS. At the RE, the signal data and data packets are retrieved from the mixed-data frames and provided to the air interface and LAN segment, respectively. For the uplink from the RE, the radio signal data from the air interface and the data packets from the LAN segment are mapped to mixed-data frames and transmitted to the gateway. The gateway retrieves the signal samples and data packets from the mixed-data frames for transfer to the REC and switch, respectively.
US08649386B2
Among other things, a wireless device is disclosed for enabling communication with a gateway device within a user premises. The wireless device includes a wireless local area network transceiver for bidirectional wireless data communication at the premises, an interface for wired communication, a processor for converting data between the wireless and wired interfaces. The wireless device receives instructions from the gateway device via the transceiver or the interface and implements conversion and communication control functions to implement a selected one of a plurality of wireless-wired adaptations for communications flowing between the selected one of the transceiver and the interface and the other of the transceiver and the interface for communication within the user premises for application service delivered by the gateway device.
US08649378B2
Method and apparatus for controlling the routing of data packets in an IP network (200). A DNS system (202) stores a packet admission policy configured for a first end-host (B) that dictates conditions for allowing other end-hosts to get across data packets to the first end-host or not. A routing voucher is defined which is required for routing data packets to the first end-host. The routing voucher is distributed to routers (R) in the IP network. When an address query is received at the DNS system (202) from a second end-host, the voucher is supplied to the second end-host if the configured policy allows the second end-host to convey data packets. Otherwise, the voucher is not supplied. If allowed, the second end-host will add the routing voucher to any data packets directed to the first end-host. When a valid routing voucher is present in a packet at a router (204) in the network, the packet will be forwarded to the next router in the IP network. The router will otherwise discard the packet.
US08649373B2
An apparatus and a method are described for zero packet loss task migration in an network switch in a computer network. The invention relates to active or programmable networks, i.e. networks based on packet switching algorithms and switch configurations which are subject to change. A well-defined protocol enables an intelligent switch to migrate tasks from one forwarding engine to another without any packet loss. This enables the algorithms and configurations of the switch to be updated or modified arbitrarily.
US08649365B2
A mobile node, method, apparatus and system for neighbor cell identification and measurements in a wireless network. A first synchronization signal is provided a first base station, wherein the received first synchronization signal is on a predetermined frequency of a transmission bandwidth. Initial synchronization is performed. A second synchronization signal is provided, wherein the second synchronization signal is outside of the predetermined frequency of the transmission bandwidth. Neighbor cell identification based on the received second synchronization signal.
US08649358B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless station (STA), comprising a transceiver operable for communicating in a wireless network, wherein the transceiver is adapted to use signaling that enables the wireless station to communicate necessary information including a desired modulation coding scheme (MCS).
US08649352B2
Extending Mobile IP (MIP) to support both local and remote access by using two MIP client stacks in the end node, a roaming Node in the local access network, a standard Home Agent in the remote network is described. Messages between the access node and the mobile node, and between the internal modules of the mobile node are used to control hand-off for each of multiple MIP clients operating in parallel in the mobile node and to enable backwards compatibility with legacy remote access clients.
US08649347B2
Demodulation reference signals and data are transmitted to a receiving terminal through time/frequency resources of the radio communication system using a resource block as a base unit. The method includes arranging at least two orthogonal DM-RSs in two edge OFDM symbols for resource blocks of respective cells, a frequency offset existing between cells at positions of the orthogonal DM-RSs in the edge OFDM symbols, performing puncturing at positions corresponding to the orthogonal DM-RSs of the other cells in the edge OFDM symbols of the respective cells, arranging superimposing DM-RSs in the two edge OFDM symbols in a resource block of one cell and arranging the superimposing DM-RSs at positions corresponding to the resource blocks of the other cells, wherein positions of the superimposing DM-RSs are set between the positions of the orthogonal DM-RSs in the respective edge OFDM symbols.
US08649338B2
In a method of fractional frequency reuse in a communication network, a frequency band is divided into a plurality of sub-bands according to a Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) scheme to define a FFR allocation of the band for a plurality of bases stations, each of the base stations being associated with a respective region. At a first base station of the plurality of base stations, the first base station associated with a first region, communication with a mobile terminal in the first region is established on one of the plurality of sub-bands according to the FFR allocation. A second base station of the plurality of base stations, the second base station associated with a second region, transmits on the one of the plurality of sub-bands according to the FFR allocation; receives an indication of a coverage problem detected at the mobile terminal due to interference from the second base station on the one of the plurality of sub-bands; and in response to the receiving the indication, decreases a transmit power level for the one of the plurality of sub-bands in the second region.
US08649337B2
Certain aspects of the disclosure relate to providing detailed control channel design for a dynamic selection scheme between normal subframes and special subframes. In one aspect, a method may be provided for generating a subframe that comprises a data region and at least one control region interpretable by a first group of one or more legacy User Equipments (UEs) as a first type and by a second group of non-legacy UEs as a second type, wherein the second group of UEs supports a plurality of features that are a superset of a plurality of features supported by the first group and transmitting the subframe to the first group and the second group of UEs.
US08649331B2
A mobile device experiences a condition where a time overlap exists between a packet data burst being communicated over a packet data channel of a serving cell and broadcast data burst being communicated over a broadcast control channel of a neighbor cell. The mobile device sets its RF receiver to receive the packet data burst instead of the broadcast data burst based on identifying that the neighbor cell is not a candidate for an upcoming handoff. On the other hand, the mobile device sets its RF receiver to receive the broadcast data burst instead of the packet data burst based on identifying that the neighbor cell is a candidate for an upcoming handoff. The mobile device may set the RF receiver to receive the packet data burst instead of the broadcast data burst based on further identifying that a call drop is imminent.
US08649309B2
An apparatus and method for creating a data path for a broadcasting service in a cellular network is provided. In a method for creating a data path to provide a broadcasting service in a cellular network, a broadcast server transmits a session start request message to an Access Service Network-GateWay (ASN_GW) before transmission of Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) data, to request a multicast connection setup. The ASN_GW establishes a multicast connection between the broadcast server and the ASN_GW on the basis of information of the session start request message. The ASN_GW transmits a session start response message to the broadcast server in response to the session start request message, after establishment of the multicast connection between the broadcast server and the ASN_GW. The ASN_GW transmits a path registration request message to at least one base station associated with a broadcast zone, to request MBS data path establishment and air resource reservation. The base station establishes a multicast connection between the ASN_GW and the base station on the basis of information of the path registration request message. The base station transmits a path registration response message to the ASN_GW in response to the path registration request message, after establishment of the multicast connection between the ASN_GW and the base station.
US08649307B1
A system for mobile communication includes a mobile communication device that has a first plurality of antennas and a transmitter. The transmitter, in response to a requested bandwidth for a first packet not being greater than a bandwidth of a first transmit mode, is configured to encode and transmit the first packet from the first plurality of antennas. The first packet has a single-carrier frequency-division-multiple-access (SC-FDMA) modulation of the first transmit mode. In response to a requested bandwidth for a second packet being greater than the bandwidth of the first transmit mode, the transmitter is configured to encode and transmit the second packet from the first antennas. The second packet has a multiple-in-multiple-out orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (MIMO-OFDM) modulation of a second transmit mode. A base station includes a second plurality of antennas and is configured to receive and decode the first packet and the second packet.
US08649306B2
The standby time of a CDMA cell phone is extended by using two receive chains to monitor the Quick Paging Channel (QPCH) when the signal-to-noise ratio falls within a predetermined range. Monitoring the QPCH saves battery power by obviating the need to monitor the general paging message unless quick paging (PI) bits are set. The QPCH is not monitored, however, in noisy environments where PI bits are incorrectly detected causing the paging message to be needlessly monitored. Power is saved by monitoring the QPCH in noisier environments without increasing the incorrect detection rate. Incorrect detection is reduced in the predetermined range by using an additional receive chain to achieve receive diversity. Although additional power is consumed by the second receive chain in the predetermined range, the power saved by not demodulating the paging message at each slot more than compensates for the additional power consumed by the second receive chain.
US08649302B2
A receiver for receiving RF-signals in a plurality of different communication bands, each communication band including a receive frequency range and a transmit frequency range includes a plurality of receiving ports, a plurality of input circuits, a first inductor and a second inductor. Each receiving port is configured to receive RF-signals in a receive frequency range of a communication band. Each input circuit is connected to an associated receiving port for processing RF-signals applied to the receiving port. The first inductor is connected to a first group of input circuits and the second inductor is connected to a second group of input circuits, wherein the first group of input circuits and the second group of input circuits are disjunct. The receiving ports associated with the first group of input circuits are configured to receive RF-signals in a first group of communication bands, wherein in the first group of communication bands, none of the transmit frequency ranges overlap with one of the receive frequency ranges. The receiving ports associated with the second group of input circuits are configured to receive RF-signals in a second group of communication bands, wherein in the second group of communication bands, none of the transmit frequency ranges overlaps with one of the receive frequency ranges.
US08649296B2
A method to organize nodes into an overlay network and to disseminate multicast messages within this overlay both through an efficient tree embedded in the overlay and through gossips exchanged between overlay neighbors. Regardless of the size of the system, this invention incurs a constant low overhead on each node.
US08649294B2
The disclosure relates to a system and method for initiating a command relating to one network that an electronic communication device may be in communication with, depending on triggering conditions relating to another network that the device may be in communication with. The communication device comprises: a network connection to initiate a command relating to the network after satisfaction of a predetermined condition relating to another network relating to the communication device; and a communication system to process communications between the device and the network and between the device and another network.
US08649290B2
A method and system controls timing of network performance information logging of a cellular network by configuring a mobile device to automatically collect data about physical characteristics of the cellular network and log that data. The mobile device initially receives network performance information logging configuration from its registered cellular network. Based on the configuration, the mobile device configures itself to collect and log the network performance information relating to physical characteristics of the cellular network. While in idle mode, the mobile device collects and logs the information. A logging duration timer corresponds to a specified time duration over which the mobile device logs network performance information. If the mobile device starts the logging duration timer at the time of configuration, it maintains the timer even after the transition to idle mode. The mobile device may also start the logging duration timer after it transitions to idle mode.
US08649288B2
The present invention discloses a method and User Equipment (UE) for acquiring random access information. The method comprises: during a random access procedure, the UE measures and acquires parameter information in the random access procedure; and after the success of the random access, the UE reports partial or all of acquired parameter information to a base station. According to the present invention, the base station can optimize the random access according to the parameter information reported by the terminal, thereby improving the precision of the random access optimization.
US08649281B2
A wireless communication network includes a base station and a relay station. The relay station is configured to relay communications between the base station and at least one subscriber station. The base station is configured to communicate with the subscriber station via the relay station. The base station further is configured to transmit, in a subframe, a plurality of transport blocks for a plurality of Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) processes to the relay station. Each transport block corresponds to a different HARQ process.
US08649279B2
An apparatus and method for adaptively setting a Timer_Status_Prohibit (TSP) parameter, the method comprising receiving a category information from a first terminal; determining a threshold value based on the category information and transmitting the threshold value to the first terminal; starting a TSP timer and transmitting at least one data packet to the first terminal once the TSP timer has started; determining when the TSP timer exceeds the threshold value to discontinue transmitting the at least one data packet to the first terminal; receiving a status report from the first terminal; and using the status report, determining whether there is any missing or erroneously received data packet and retransmitting any missing or erroneously received data packet from the at least one data packet to the first terminal.
US08649263B2
A method and apparatus for sending and receiving channel quality indicators (CQIs) is disclosed. A CQI may be sent or received periodically. A CQI may also be sent or received upon request by a network.
US08649256B2
A router includes multiple routing engines. If the active routing engine fails, a backup one of the routing engines detects the failure and assumes the role of active routing engine. A redundancy controller circuit, connected to the multiple routing engines, facilitates the selection and switching of the routing engines. Portions of the packet forwarding engine, in addition to the routing engine, may be redundantly implemented. The active routing engine controls the selection of the redundant portion of the packet forwarding engine.
US08649255B2
A device and a method for Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) are disclosed. The device includes a data receiving module, an address translation module, a data storage module, a FFT module, a data extraction module and a data output module. The data receiving module is configured to receive the input data. The address translation module is configured to duplicate M/N copies of the received data and then send them to the data storage module. The data storage module is configured to store the received data sent by the address translation module to M/N different addresses. The FFT module is configured to perform M-point FFT on the stored data. The data extraction module is configured to extract one point in every several points of the transformed data, and send the extracted data to the data output module. The data output module is configured to output the received data.
US08649254B2
A method includes multiplying, at a device, a suppressed estimate of a channel by a first matrix to obtain a delay restricted estimate of the channel. The method also includes demodulating a signal received via the channel based at least in part on the delay restricted estimate of the channel.
US08649253B2
A receiver and reception method for estimating a channel in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) system is provided. The receiver includes a delay estimator for estimating, from a signal received from a transmitter through multipaths, at least one of an average time delay of the multipaths and a time delay of one of the multipaths having a maximum power among the multipaths, a rotator for circular-rotating the received signal using the estimated delay, and a channel estimator for estimating a channel impulse response of the circular-rotated signal.
US08649249B1
A novel method and apparatus is provided for printing magnetic patterns using heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). The apparatus includes an array of probes that is arranged in a predetermined pattern, such as a servo pattern. The array of probes is brought into contact, or near-contact, with a magnetic recording medium that has been bulk erased substantially along an initialization direction. Each probe is energized so as to heat its respective contacted (or near-contacted) region of the recording medium above a threshold temperature. An external magnetic field is applied to the heated regions in a direction that is substantially opposite from the initialization direction. The strength of the external magnetic field is chosen to be greater than the coercivity of the recording medium at the threshold temperature, but less than the coercivity of the recording medium at room temperature. As a result, only magnetizations in the heated regions become aligned with the external field.
US08649242B2
The invention concerns a device (1) for the insonification of an environment or medium, which is designed to generate a beam of focussed waves around a point in a so-called focus zone (20), used for imaging the medium or changing the properties of the medium, with the insonification device (1) having an intrinsic or extrinsic support structure on which is installed a network of a predetermined number of ultrasound transducers (12) that are designed to be controlled independently for generation of the focussed wave beam.According to the invention, the transducers (12) used for the generation of the focussed wave beam are located in a homogeneous spatial distribution along at least two concentric spirals (11) that are wound onto a three-dimensional concave area (10) whose shape and size are chosen to allow optimal focusing of the beam at a predetermined focal length, and whose concave side is oriented toward the focus zone (20).
US08649239B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a multi-bank random access memory (RAM) structure that provides signal buffering at both the global and local connector level for improved performance. Specifically, inverters are incorporated into the global connector(s), which traverse groups of memory banks and which transmit signals (e.g., address signals, control signals, and/or data signals) from a memory controller, and also into alternating groups of local connectors, which connect nodes on the global connector(s) to corresponding groups of memory banks, such that any of the signals that are received by the memory banks from the memory controller via the global and local connectors are buffered by an even number of inverters and are thereby true signals. Signal buffering at both the global and local connector level results in relatively fast slews, short propagation delays, and low peak power consumption with minimal, if any, increase in area consumption.
US08649233B2
A first data amplifier connects to a first memory cell identified by an X-address signal and a selection signal obtained by predecoding a Y-address signal. A second data amplifier connects to a second memory cell identified by the X-address signal and a delayed selection signal obtained by delaying the selection signal. A generator generates a delayed operation clock signal by delaying an operation clock signal of the first data amplifier. A timing controller receives a first control signal for controlling an operation of the first data amplifier and a second control signal for controlling an operation of the second data amplifier, outputs the first control signal to the first data amplifier at a timing according to the operation clock signal, and outputs the second control signal to the second data amplifier at a timing according to the delayed operation clock signal.
US08649227B2
When selectively erasing one sub-block, a control circuit applies, in a first sub-block, a first voltage to bit lines and a source line, and applies a second voltage smaller than the first voltage to the word lines. Then, the control circuit applies a third voltage lower than the first voltage by a certain value to a drain-side select gate line and a source-side select gate line, thereby performing the erase operation in the first sub-block. The control circuit applies, in a second sub-block existing in an identical memory block to the selected sub-block, a fourth voltage substantially identical to the first voltage to the drain side select gate line and the source side select gate line, thereby not performing the erase operation in the second sub-block.
US08649209B1
Integrated circuits with memory circuitry are provided. The memory circuitry may include memory cell transistors and associated pass transistors. The memory cell transistors and the pass transistors may be formed using multiple strips of oxide definition (OD) regions coupled in parallel. The multiple OD strips may have reduced widths. The ratio of the distance from adjacent OD strips to a given OD strip to the width of the given OD strip may be at least 0.5. Forming memory circuitry transistors using this multi-strip arrangement may provide increased levels of stress that improve transistor performance. Each OD strip may have a reduced width that still satisfies fabrication design rules. Forming OD regions having reduced width allows the pass transistors to be overdriven at higher voltage levels to further improve transistor performance.
US08649192B2
A power-supply includes a power-supply input. A transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding separated galvanically from the primary winding. A controlled semiconductor switch has a control input in series circuit with the primary winding, which lies parallel to the power-supply input. A controllable control circuit for the semiconductor switch delivers a periodic control signal, which is controlled such that the output voltage on the secondary winding is kept at a desired value independent of the load, to the semiconductor switch. A voltage limiting circuit lies parallel to the input side of the primary winding. An output signal of the voltage limiting circuit acts on the switch state of the semiconductor switch to move the semiconductor switch to a stationary state, in which it generates no alternating current on the primary winding, when the voltage on the primary winding has exceeded a specified limiting value.
US08649185B2
In one embodiment, a transducer apparatus comprises an elastomeric substrate and another elastomeric substrate. A plurality of transducer modules are mounted on the elastomeric substrate. A plurality of additional transducer modules are mounted on the other elastomeric substrate. Each transducer module of the plurality of transducer modules and the plurality of additional transducer modules comprises a transducer array having multiple transducer elements and an electronic circuitry coupled to the transducer array. The plurality of transducer modules and the plurality of additional transducer modules are mounted relative to each other whereby the plurality of additional transducer modules substantially cover any dead zones of the plurality of transducer modules.
US08649184B2
The present invention provides a dual chip signal conversion device, comprising: a carrier, one side surface thereof being provided with at least a first contact and a second contact while the other side surface thereof being provided with at least a third contact and a fourth contact; a first chip disposed at one side surface of the carrier and electrically connected to the second and fourth contacts; a second chip disposed at one side surface of the carrier and electrically connected to the first chip; and an antenna disposed within the carrier and electrically connected to the second chip.
US08649182B2
A housing is usable for positioning selectively a first electronic card having a first locking hole and a second electronic card having a second locking hole, and includes a base plate, a connector for mating with the selected one of the first and second electronic cards, and a movable element including a lever body that has an end portion connected pivotally to the base plate and a third locking hole opposite to the end portion. The lever body is operable to move the third locking hole between a first position, where the third locking hole is aligned with the first locking hole to cooperatively receive a fastener for fastening one of the first and second electronic cards, and a second position, where the third locking hole is aligned with the second locking hole to cooperatively receive the fastener for fastening the other one of the first and second electronic cards.
US08649178B2
A heat dissipation module for an electronic apparatus including a heat-generating structure is provided. The heat dissipation module includes a heat dissipation structure and a heat-conducting structure. The heat-conducting structure includes a heat-conducting portion and an extending portion. The heat-conducting portion is adhered between the heat-generating structure and the heat dissipation structure. The heat generated by the heat-generating structure is transmitted to the heat dissipation structure through the heat-conducting portion. The extending portion is connected to the heat-conducting portion and exposed to the heat-generating structure and the heat dissipation structure. When the extending portion is forced to move along a direction away from the heat-generating structure and the heat dissipation structure, the heat-conducting portion is deformed to release the adhesion between the heat-conducting portion and the heat-generating structure and the adhesion between the heat-conducting portion and the heat dissipation structure.
US08649174B2
An apparatus and article is disclosed for separating intake air from exhaust air. The apparatus discloses an intake port, coupled to conduct intake air; an exhaust port, coupled to conduct exhaust air; and an air-curtain port, coupled to conduct air-curtain air to separate at least a portion of the intake air conducted by the intake port from the exhaust air conducted by the exhaust port. The article discloses a ductwork shell article, having an intake vent, an intake chamber, an exhaust vent, an exhaust chamber, an air-curtain vent, and an air-curtain chamber; wherein: the air-curtain vent is in part located between the exhaust vent and the intake vent.
US08649172B2
A fixing assembly for a fan module is combined in a housing and includes at least one fixing base and at least one bottom pad. The fixing base has an accommodating space and a plurality of positioning portions in the accommodating space. The positioning portions are provided in pairs and symmetrical to each other. The locations of the positioning portions are designed for positioning various sizes of heat-dissipating fans. The bottom pad is configured to support the bottom of the fixing base. By this structure, various sizes of fan modules can be positioned in the housing.
US08649171B2
In accordance with at least some embodiments, a computer system includes an enclosure (202) configured to hold at least one resource unit (204). The computer system also comprises a plurality of mixed-flow ducted fans units (400) selectively attached to the enclosure (202). Each mixed-flow ducted fan unit (400) comprises a duct (102) having an intake diameter, a bellmouth diameter, and an exhaust diameter. The bellmouth diameter is less than the intake diameter and the exhaust diameter.
US08649158B2
The present invention relates to a capacitor arrangement having a capacitor and a first terminal plate and a second terminal plate. The capacitor has a first contact face and a second contact face arranged opposite one another. The terminal plates are each connected to one of the contact faces and have protrusions on one end suitable for engaging in recesses in a power rail.
US08649151B2
An injector drive circuit including: a step-up circuit generating a high voltage from a power supply; a first switching device connected to a path between the step-up circuit and an injector; a second switching device connected to the power supply; a third switching device connected between the injector and the ground; and a control unit operating the first, second and third switching device according to a value of current flowing through the injector; wherein the control unit has a unit turning on and off the second switching device in a period during which it turns on and off the first switching device a plurality of times; wherein the control unit has, as set values to control the current flowing through the injector, a first threshold defining a lower current limit, a second threshold defining an upper current limit and a third threshold, larger than the second threshold.
US08649149B1
In accordance with a non-limiting example, a dual level surge protector adaptively selects the protection level required in response to any expected voltages that will be applied to the tip and ring lines. In one example, the surge protector has a first set value for responding to an applied battery voltage and a second set value for responding to a combination voltage that includes a battery voltage plus a ringing voltage.
US08649143B2
A method of tripping a circuit breaker including sampling an AC line voltage at regular intervals during a first time period to generate a plurality of AC line voltage samples. Each sample of the set of AC line voltage samples is summed to generate a voltage area value. A controller determines whether the voltage area value exceeds a threshold. In response to the voltage area value exceeding the threshold, an amount determined as a function of the voltage area value is added to a count value. The circuit breaker is caused to trip in response to the count value equaling or exceeding a maximum count value.An improper line-to-neutral voltage can be detected by monitoring the line-to-neutral voltage and comparing it to a function such as a trip curve. Thus, components downstream from a circuit breaker, as well as the circuit breaker itself, can be protected from prolonged exposure to improper voltages, which can lead to component failure.
US08649141B2
A by-pass circuit includes a first power MOS with an intrinsic diode, a first conduction terminal coupled to a cathode, a second conduction terminal coupled to an anode, and a control terminal. A tank capacitor is coupled to the anode. A second MOS has a first and second conduction terminals, a control terminal, and a turn-on threshold smaller than that of the intrinsic diode, the first conduction terminal thereof coupled to the cathode and the control terminal coupled to the anode, so the first MOS turns on when the array of cells are sub-illuminated. An oscillator and charge pump are supplied through the second conduction terminal of the second MOS to charge the tank capacitor. A control circuit is coupled to the control terminal of the first power MOS to switch it based upon a voltage of the tank capacitor and sign of the voltage between the cathode and anode.
US08649124B2
An apparatus illustratively includes a return pole (RP) and a shield. The RP has a first RP magnetic layer, a second RP magnetic layer, and a RP non-magnetic layer. The RP non-magnetic layer separates and magnetically decouples the RP first and second magnetic layers. The shield has a first shield magnetic layer, a second shield magnetic layer, and a shield non-magnetic layer. The shield non-magnetic layer separates and magnetically decouples the shield first and second magnetic layers. A method illustratively includes generating magnetic flux and collecting the magnetic flux through an inner magnetic shell.
US08649120B1
A receiver for a hard disk drive system includes an analog front end module configured to receive a read-back signal and to output a digital read-back signal. An equalizer module is configured to generate a data vector based on the digital read-back signal. A detector module is configured to generate a decision vector based on the data vector. A gain module is configured to generate a scalar gain vector and to generate a revised data vector based on the data vector, the decision vector and the scalar gain vector. A back end module is configured to receive the revised data vector.
US08649119B2
Methods and systems for measuring variations in head-disk clearance in a hard disk drive. User generated data is randomly selected at a controller of the hard disk drive wherein the user generated data is stored on a disk associated with the hard disk drive. A reference point associated with the user generated data is stored on a storage medium associated with the hard disk drive. The user generated data is read at the controller. The user generated data is analyzed with the reference point using more than two frequencies, at the controller, to obtain a variation in measurement of the head-disk clearance.
US08649116B2
A lens barrel of the present invention is provided with an electric section having a plurality of sliding portions that slide along the predetermined conductor pattern. The electric section is provided with a thin-sheet electric section body supporting the plurality of sliding portions, and a reinforcing portion is provided at the electric section body. Therefore, in the lens barrel 1, the reinforcing portion increases the deformation resistance of the electric section body that supports the sliding portions.
US08649113B1
This invention provides an optical image capturing lens system comprising: a negative first lens element having a convex object-side surface and a concave image-side surface at the paraxial region; a positive second lens element; a negative third lens element; a positive fourth lens element having a convex image-side surface at the paraxial region; and a negative plastic fifth lens element having a convex object-side surface at the paraxial region as well as a concave at the paraxial region and convex at the peripheral region image-side surface, at least one of the object-side and image-side surfaces being aspheric. The optical image capturing lens system of the present invention effectively increases the angle of view to a proper range and suppresses the distortion. In addition, the present invention has a tighter arrangement of the lens elements and a smaller back focal length, and therefore is more appropriate for the compact device.
US08649111B2
The present invention provides an optical element, comprising: a side surface where incident light undergoes diffuse reflection inside the optical element, between the outline of a top optical surface and a bottom optical surface; and an inclined surface for total reflection of diffuse reflection from the side surface, formed at least between the side surface and the bottom optical surface.
US08649110B2
A lens barrel includes a fixed frame, a rotary frame provided inside the fixed frame, a first frame provided inside the rotary frame, an electronic component provided inside the first frame, and a flexible printed circuit board connected, at one end thereof, to the electronic component and connected, at the other end thereof, to the fixed frame. A gear part is provided at an outer circumferential surface of the rotary frame. In the first frame, a first protrusion outwardly protruding beyond the gear part in a radial direction about the optical axis is provided at a position corresponding to the flexible printed circuit board in a circumferential direction about the optical axis on a side of the gear part opposite to the object in the optical axis direction.
US08649101B2
A projection apparatus includes an illumination system providing an illumination light beam, a light valve disposed in a transmission path of the illumination light beam and converting the illumination light beam into an image light beam, a projection lens disposed in a transmission path of the image light beam, a first field lens, and a second field lens. The first field lens and the second field lens are disposed between the light valve and the projection lens and in the transmission paths of the illumination light beam and the image light beam. The first field lens is a positive meniscus lens with a first concave surface facing the projection lens. The second field lens is a positive meniscus lens with a second concave surface adjacent to the first field lens. The projection apparatus is capable of reducing a ghost image.
US08649094B2
An imaging lens having reduced susceptibility to thermally-induced stress birefringence for imaging an object plane to an image plane; comprising: an aperture stop positioned between the object plane and the image plane; a first group of lens elements located on the object plane side of the aperture stop; and a second group of lens elements located on the image plane side of the aperture stop; wherein the lens elements immediately adjacent to the aperture stop are fabricated using glasses having a negligible susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence as characterized by a thermal stress birefringence metric; and wherein the other lens elements in the first or second groups of lens elements are fabricated using glasses having at most a moderate susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence as characterized by the thermal stress birefringence metric.
US08649091B2
A screen unit includes a screen, a screen holding unit which holds the upper end of the screen, a screen winding unit around which the screen is wound, a pantograph mechanism which expands and stores the screen, and adjusting units which control the position of the upper end of the screen when the screen is expanded. The adjusting units have a support member which has a screw portion, and an adjusting screw member rotatably provided on the corresponding support member. The support member shifts in accordance with rotation of the adjusting screw member.
US08649088B2
A microscope system stores, for each objective, the movement control information including a type flag indicating the type of an objective depending on the presence/absence of a soak or a type of the soak and a save distance for saving the stage or the objective switch unit by a predetermined distance. When a switch direction of objectives is input, and when there is a change in the type of the objective after the switch, the system stops an operation after the stage or the objective switch unit is moved according to the save distance, and recovers the stage or the objective switch unit to an original position after the operation direction input unit inputs an operation direction for the stage and the objective switch unit.
US08649083B2
A multi-zone reflector having an opaque zone and a transflective zone. The reflector includes a supporting base, a lower reflecting layer disposed adjacent the supporting base, and an upper reflecting layer extending over the opacifying layer and the transflective zone of the reflector. The lower reflecting layer substantially completely covers the transflective zone, and the opacifying layer is disposed substantially outside the transflective zone adjacent to the lower reflecting layer. Over at least a portion of the transflective zone, the upper and lower reflecting layers have a common surface.
US08649078B2
A driver for driving an optical deflector includes a mirror, a movable frame for supporting the mirror, a support body surrounding the movable frame, and a first group of piezoelectric actuators and a second group of piezoelectric actuators alternating with the first group of piezoelectric actuators. A first drive voltage for the first group of piezoelectric actuators has first repeated waves each with a first rising period. A second drive voltage for the second group of piezoelectric actuators has second repeated waves each with a second falling period corresponding to the first rising period of the first drive voltage and a second rising period corresponding to the first falling period of the first drive voltage. Frequencies of the first and second repeated waves exclude natural frequencies of a mechanically-vibrating system of the mirror with respect to the axis thereof depending upon the piezoelectric actuators.
US08649072B2
Certain embodiments provide an imaging system including a light guiding member supported on a circuit substrate so as to be capable of lighting an object, an optical image-forming member and a solid-state imaging device. The optical image-forming member is arranged on the circuit substrate so as to have an optical axis thereof parallel to the circuit substrate, is arranged on the circuit substrate so as to be able to receive reflected light from the object, emits the reflected light in an oblique direction with respect to a surface of the circuit substrate, and forms an image at a predetermined distance position. The solid-state imaging device includes a light receiving surface that is oblique with respect to the circuit substrate surface, and is mounted on the surface of the circuit substrate so as to have the receiving surface positioned at a position where the image is formed.
US08649071B2
The image reading apparatus includes an LED, a light guiding body, and a photoelectric conversion element. The light guiding body has a plurality of prisms for diffusing light. The plurality of prisms includes: at least one first prism that is disposed on an incident surface side in the main scanning direction; and at least one second prism that is disposed on an opposite end side to the incident surface side in the main scanning direction. In the first prism, an angle of a prism incident plane with respect to the main scanning direction is greater than an angle of a prism anti-incident plane with respect to the main scanning direction. In the second prism, an angle of a prism incident plane with respect to the main scanning direction is smaller than an angle of a prism anti-incident plane with respect to the main scanning direction.
US08649070B2
An image forming optical element is provided, in which an incident unit having a first lens face to which a light beam output from an original document (object) is input, an output unit having a second lens face outputting the light beam, and a bent unit connecting the incident unit and the output unit at an angle are integrally formed into a transparent medium. The bent unit has a reflection face reflecting the incident light beam input to the first lens face and guiding the light beam to the second lens face. The incident light beam is collected at any of the incident unit, the bent unit, and the output unit to form an intermediate image of the object, and the intermediate image is formed on the output side of the second lens face to form an erection image of the object.
US08649064B2
In order to correct image files to be printed in a printing device, there is provided a printing device including: an inputting unit that is configured to be capable of inputting an image file representing a motion image; a generating unit that is configured to extract a plurality of frame images from the image file and to generate a first output image in which the plurality of extracted frame images are laid out on a single page; correcting unit that is configured to correct the first output image and to generate a first corrected output image; and a printing unit that is configured to be capable of printing the first corrected output image.
US08649061B2
A printing system comprises a memory configured to store image data representing an image. The printing system comprises a processor configured to perform a first digital halftone process on a first portion of the image and a second digital halftone process on a second portion of the image.
US08649058B2
A method for enhancing detail information in rasterized, continuous tone images includes a function that enlarges the contrast of a pixel in a neighborhood of pixels when in that neighborhood one of the pixels has a value that is close to a white color. This is determined by selecting the whitest pixel in the neighborhood. The function shows a gradual transition between the situations in which the whitest pixel is close to the white color and in which the whitest pixel is far from the white color. The method results in a better rendering of fine print when the image is sent to a printing system that reproduces the image on receiving material. For small characters, the legibility is improved by application of this method.
US08649057B2
The operation apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a touch panel, a determination unit, a shrinkage rate calculating unit, a window shrinking unit, and a multi window display unit. The shrinkage rate calculating unit that calculates, in a case in which the determination unit determines that an input operation on the plurality of setting item keys is detected within a predetermined time period, a shrinkage rate allowing equal allocation of space for a predetermined number of setting condition input windows in a display region based on the setting item number, and a size of the display region in a case of displaying only one setting condition input window on the touch panel. The multi window display unit that displays in the display region the predetermined number of setting condition input windows that are shrunk by the window shrinking unit.
US08649051B2
An image composition device includes: a determination unit that determines an overlap state between respective pixel strings on corresponding lines in plural first image data pieces, having plural continuous pixels in the same color as a pixel string, including continuous coordinates with start point coordinate information and end point coordinate information of the pixel string, using the plural first image data pieces; and a composition unit that composes plural second image data pieces based on a result of determination by the determination unit.
US08649050B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a memory buffer that has a plurality of band buffers for storing band data in which image data is divided into a plurality of bands; a data processing unit that performs a specific process with respect to the band data stored in the memory buffer; a storage unit having a storage area that store image data of a plurality of pages of an original of a specific size, storing processed band data that has been subjected to the specific process by the data processing unit into the storage area and, outputting a plurality of pieces of the processed band data stored in the storage area; and an output processing unit that performs a print process based on the plurality of pieces of the processed band data that is output from the storage unit.
US08649047B2
Systems and methods for dynamically updating service ranks for a plurality of service actions for an electronic system are disclosed. A central computing system may receive a plurality of service actions prioritized in an order based on a service rank associated with each service action. Each service action may correspond to one or more operations performed to attempt to repair an electronic system. The central computing system may receive feedback information for one or more service actions from a first user pertaining at least to whether each service action successfully repaired a fault for the electronic system. The service rank for each service action may be updated based on at least the feedback information, and the order for the service actions may be modified based on the updated service ranks. The central computing system may provide one or more service actions to a second user based on the modified order.
US08649043B2
A method implemented in a print shop management system for exporting print jobs from the print shop management program. The exporting method allows selection of an export job ticket format at the time of export. The export job ticket format may be a press device format suitable for consumption by a digital printing device, or an original input format that preserves the format of the original job ticket imported from an external program. For the press device format, an output job ticket in the requested format is generated from scratch based on job parameters stored in a job ticket database. For the original input format, a copy of the original job ticket is read from an input job ticket and exported; optionally, job parameters generated by the print shop management program may be incorporated into the copy of the input job ticket before exporting.
US08649040B2
A printing method for printing a file stored on an external storage device attached to an image forming device includes steps of transmitting printing instruction information including first print instructing device information that specifies a print instructing device, from the print instructing device configured to issue a printing instruction to the image forming device, to the image forming device, determining whether the first print instructing device information included in the printing instruction information transmitted by the print instructing device is identical to second print instructing device information stored on the external storage device that specifies a print instructing device, and printing the file stored on the external storage device with the image forming device based upon the printing instruction information, when it is determined that the first print instructing device information is identical to the second print instructing device information.
US08649038B2
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form images based on image data transmitted from information processing apparatus of users including registered users and unregistered users; a setting unit configured to set permission information for each user based on a log of the image forming and limit information; a first judging unit configured to determine whether user identification information is attached to image data; a second judging unit configured to determine, based on the permission information that is set for an unregistered user, whether to permit execution of image forming of the image data, when the first judging unit determines that the user identification information is not attached to the image data.
US08649028B2
An image forming apparatus has a connection terminal for connecting and disconnecting a plug-in device, which is configured to be plugged into the connection terminal. The image forming apparatus includes a driver controller that activates a device driver corresponding to the plug-in device in accordance with detection of insertion of the plug-in device. The device driver establishes a connection with an application in response to a connection request from the application that uses the plug-in device.
US08649027B2
A multifunction apparatus having plurality types of functions and a display device that indicates one of the functions including: a selection device that is operated so as to select a function to be used among the plurality types of functions; and a display control device that makes the display device display information regarding the function selected with the selection device in an appearance that is different from appearances for rest of the plurality types of functions.
US08649011B2
An analytical assembly within a unified device structure for integration into an analytical system. The analytical assembly is scalable and includes a plurality of analytical devices, each of which includes a reaction cell, an optical sensor, and at least one optical element positioned in optical communication with both the reaction cell and the sensor and which delivers optical signals from the cell to the sensor. Additional elements are optionally integrated into the analytical assembly. Methods for forming and operating the analytical system are also disclosed.
US08649007B2
An optical emission spectroscopic (OES) instrument includes a spectrometer, a processor and an adjustable mask controlled by the processor. The adjustable mask defines a portion of an analytical gap imaged by the spectrometer. The instrument automatically adjusts the size and position of an opening in the mask, so the spectrometer images an optimal portion of plasma formed in the analytical gap, thereby improving signal and noise characteristics of the instrument, without requiring tedious and time-consuming manual adjustment of the mask during manufacture or use.
US08649001B2
A substrate for fingerprint contact includes a plate, and the plate includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is an optical diffusing surface. The optical diffusing surface is used for being contacted by a finger, and features hazed particles. The second surface faces an optical imaging system. The optical diffusing surface of the plate helps to enhance light to be evenly emitted to the finger and weakens the unnecessary scattered light to the optical imaging system, so as to enhance the recognition rate of a fingerprint when the optical imaging system is used for intercept the light applied on a finger.
US08648997B2
A member with a cleaning surface for use in capturing particles in a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The particles are captured by a plurality of projections which are arranged in a pattern. A sensor can be used to detect contaminant particles in the pattern.
US08648995B2
Relating to a method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, minimizing liquid crystal material loss and use of cleaning solvent, and providing a liquid crystal display device in which a seal pattern having few gap inconsistencies are taken as a objective. Liquid crystal material wraparound can be prevented by forming a seal stopper portion outside a peripheral seal portion, and in addition, by increasing the degree of symmetry of the seal pattern and by forming a damming portion between injection ports, gap inconsistencies within the liquid crystal display device can be reduced.
US08648986B2
A symmetric diffusion film (SDF) and a flat panel display applied with the same are provided. The SDF comprises at least two different materials of a first material having a first refractive index mixed with a second material having a second refractive index, and the first refractive index is different from the second refractive index. The flat panel display comprises a symmetric diffusion film (SDF) disposed at one side of the upper polarizer, and the upper polarizer adapting no compensation film.
US08648982B2
There is provided an optical film having a small size change with a temperature change of a support of a pattern retardation film. An optical film includes: a support comprising a polymer having a moisture absorptivity of 0.5% or more; a first retardation region and a second retardation region, in which birefringence thereof is mutually different; and an optically anisotropic layer in which the first retardation region and the second retardation region are alternately patterned for every one line.
US08648969B2
A brightness adjusting device of the present invention includes: a brightness setting section that accepts input of brightness change information that is an instruction to change a brightness setting value; a brightness adjusting section that performs brightness adjustment by either one of a first brightness adjusting unit and a second brightness adjusting unit having different characteristics from each other, in accordance with the instruction that is input from the brightness setting section; a determining section that determines whether or not the brightness adjustment of the brightness adjusting section switches from the first brightness adjusting unit to the second brightness adjusting unit; and an output section that outputs an alarm when the brightness adjustment of the brightness adjusting section is determined to switch from the first brightness adjusting unit to the second brightness adjusting unit based on a determination result of the determining section.
US08648967B2
A multiband signal generator generates multiband signals from 21 lines of input data by using a subset of N lines with each line delayed from 1 line to N lines respectively. M line buffers delay the multiband signals such that each line is delayed from 1 line to M lines respectively. An analyzer detects correlations between video data by selecting regions with a maximum size M×M in the multiband signals, and analyzes characteristics of the video data. A multiband signal generator generates multiband signals with cutoff frequencies based on an analysis result from the analyzer, by using the data from 1-line through N-line delayed multiband signal. An amplitude adjuster and synthesizer unit adjusts and synthesizes amplitudes of the multiband signals.
US08648955B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and method for acquiring light field data using a variable modulator. The apparatus varies a modulator located between an optical system and a sensor adaptively according to objects to be captured or a peripheral environment. Accordingly, 4-dimensional (4D) light field data optimized according to objects to be captured or according to changes in focal distance may be acquired.
US08648946B2
According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes a black level regulating unit. The black level regulating unit has a frame integration average holding unit. A frame integration average is an integration average of an optical black signal using a video frame as a unit. The frame integration average holding unit holds the frame integration average as a signal to be applied to a black level regulation of an effective pixel signal. The frame integration average holding unit updates the frame integration average when an image pickup condition is changed.
US08648941B2
An image processor which is capable of performing correction of defective pixels without degrading image quality when synthesizing a plurality of still images. When a plurality of image data items are synthesized, a first reference value which is smaller than a second reference value for use in determining whether or not to correct pixel data forming the image data is compared with a pixel value indicated by each of synthesized pixel data items forming the synthesized image data, and first correction processing is performed in which the synthesized pixel data of the synthesized image data is corrected according to a result of comparison.
US08648939B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a normal pixel disposed in a pixel section capable of performing a global shutter, and including at least a photoelectric conversion part and a memory part adjacent to the photoelectric conversion part; and a leak-light correcting pixel disposed in the pixel section to correct degradation of an image quality originated from leak light leaked into the memory part.
US08648936B2
A recovery processing unit performs an image quality recovery processing of reducing a blur in an image using a filter to reduce a blur at an image height position for each image height on a line from the center position of the image to an end of the image.
US08648932B2
A system, apparatus and methods for providing a single use imaging device for sterile environments is disclosed and described. A single use high definition camera used for general purpose surgical procedures including, but not limited to: arthroscopic, laparoscopic, gynecologic, and urologic procedures, may comprise an imaging device that is a sterile and designed to ensure single use. The imaging device may have a single imaging sensor, either CCD (charge coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor), encased in a housing. The imaging device may further include the ability to be attached to an optical coupling device, using C-Mount threads or another proprietary or unique connection method. The imaging device may further include a cable to transmit data to and from a camera control unit.
US08648926B2
An imaging device of the present invention comprises an imaging section for photoelectrically converting a subject image, and outputting image data, an aperture control section for narrowing subject light flux at a first aperture value and a second aperture value, a shooting control section for, in response to a release instruction, imaging a first image at the first aperture value and, reading out first image data from the imaging section while simultaneously carrying out a stopping down operation to the second aperture value, imaging a second image at the second aperture value and, reading out second image data from the imaging section, and an image processing section for detecting an amount of variation in contrast value for each location in the first image data and the second image data, and carrying out processing to blur at an intensity of blurring according to the amount of variation between each location.
US08648922B2
A medical image apparatus according to the embodiments has a medical image utilization apparatus and medical image archiving apparatus. The former has an acquisition part that acquires a requested frame rate for cases in which medical images are movie displayed on its display, and an designating part that designates an attention point with respect to one of the medical images displayed. The latter has a transmission speed measurement part that measures the data transmission speed between the former and the latter, an extraction part that, based on the requested frame rate, the attention point and the data transmission speed, extracts the region including the attention point for each of the medical images, and a transmission part that transmits an image of the extracted region to the display. The display displays, as a moving image, the images of the region extracted by said extraction part at said requested frame rate.
US08648915B2
An image processing apparatus that records image data on a detachable storage medium in a previously set recording format is provided. The apparatus sets the recording format of image data, and determines whether or not a storage medium attached to an attachment unit has a communication function that communicates with a different apparatus than the image processing apparatus. If it is determined that the storage medium has a communication function, and that the recording format of image data that can be transferred by the communication function does not match the recording format that has been set, the apparatus issues a warning.
US08648906B2
A method is disclosed for operating a machine vision inspection system to determine a fluorescent imaging height for acquiring a fluorescent image for repeatably determining the location of a feature within the fluorescent material. The height of an exposed workpiece portion exposed outside of the fluorescent material is determined (e.g., using a height sensor or autofocus operations). The determined height is repeatable. The exposed portion has a characteristic height relative to the fluorescent material and/or features located therein. The fluorescent imaging height, which may be inside the fluorescent material, is determined relative to the determined height of the exposed portion. The fluorescent imaging height is determined such that it enhances the detection of the desired feature located within the fluorescent material in the resulting fluorescent image. For a variety of workpieces, the method provides automatic acquisition of appropriately focused fluorescent image more reliably than previously known methods.
US08648902B2
In one embodiment, an element 106 transforms non-polarized light into plane polarized light with an arbitrary plane of polarization. A synchronizer 112 gives the element 106 an instruction to rotate the plane of polarization, thereby getting the plane of polarization of the illumination rotated and casting that polarized illumination toward the object. At the same time, the synchronizer 112 sends a shooting start signal to an image sensor 110, thereby getting video. The synchronizer 112 performs these processing steps multiple times. A captured video signal is sent to an image processing processor 108. Candidates for the azimuth angle of a surface normal are obtained based on an intensity maximizing angle image, the zenith angle of the surface normal is obtained based on a degree of intensity modulation image, and the ambiguity of the azimuth angle is solved, thereby generating a surface groove normal image.
US08648901B2
A head separated type imaging apparatus includes a head unit and a main unit which are separated, the head unit imaging a subject and the main unit processing an imaging signal transmitted from the head unit. The head unit includes an imaging unit having a plurality of pixels and imaging the subject, and a storage unit storing correction information for pixels for which a data amount of correction information is larger than a predetermined threshold out of correction information correcting noise of the plurality of pixels and remaining correction data. The main unit includes a correction information obtaining unit obtaining the correction information for pixels for which the data amount of correction information is larger than the predetermined threshold in priority and then obtaining the remaining correction data, and a correcting unit correcting, when the correction information obtaining unit completes obtaining of the correction information for pixels for which the data amount of correction information is larger than the predetermined threshold, an image signal transmitted from the imaging unit of the head unit based on the obtained correction information.
US08648900B2
Apparatus that allows at least one feature of a patient's face to be observed while the patient is in a prone position includes a facial cushion, a video camera and a monitor. The facial cushion provides cranial support for a patient in a prone position during a medical procedure. The cushion has a frontal aperture that is dimensioned so that the facial feature of a patient wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position are visible through the at least one aperture. The video camera has a lens disposed for providing a sequence of video signals representing sequential images of the facial features that are visible through the frontal aperture. The monitor is coupled to the video camera for enabling the images of the at least one facial feature to be monitored. The images are monitored by a video monitor and/or a computer.
US08648898B2
According to one embodiment, stereoscopic liquid crystal shutter glasses include a left-eye liquid crystal shutter and a right-eye liquid crystal shutter. Each of the left-eye liquid crystal shutter and the right-eye liquid crystal shutter has a response time not more than 5 milliseconds. Each of the left-eye liquid crystal shutter and the right-eye liquid crystal shutter has a contrast ratio not less than 350:1. The contrast ratio is a value at an angle of sight of 30 degrees in left direction and in right direction.
US08648879B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for tracking augmented reality content using a mobile sensor. The method includes recognizing an augmented reality marker from an input image and calculating a position and posture of the recognized augmented reality marker, calculating a position and posture of augmented reality content corresponding to the augmented reality marker using the calculated position and posture of the augmented reality marker, synthesizing the augmented reality content with the input image using the calculated position and posture of the augmented reality content, and displaying the synthesized image, updating the position and posture of the augmented reality content using a 6-axis sensor when the augmented reality marker is not recognized in the input image; and synthesizing the augmented reality content with the input image using the updated position and posture of the augmented reality content, and displaying the synthesized image.
US08648878B2
Information in a diagram is logically structured using lists, containers, and callouts without requiring the diagram author to explicitly define a structure or map any diagram contents to a structure. Logical relationships are inferred based on actions associated with shapes, groupings, and attributes of shapes/groupings taken by the author. Feedback mechanisms are provided to communicate an underlying structure to the author. Intelligent behaviors are enabled to expose manipulation of diagrams based on their logical structure.
US08648874B2
A system and method for generating a graphical image on a display is disclosed. The graphical image is generated from data describing at least one object. The display includes a plurality of positions. Each of the plurality of positions has an area. The system and method include determining if a portion of the at least one object intersects a current position of the plurality of positions and providing an output if the portion intersects the current position. The method and system further include providing a mask for the portion if it is determined that the portion intersects the current position. The mask indicates an extent to which the at least one portion occupies the area of current position. The method and system further include utilizing the mask to provide antialiasing. The method and system also include repeating the determining, one mask providing, and utilizing steps for each of the plurality of positions.
US08648862B2
A method, system and computer readable media relating to automatically adjusting a graphics feature to compensate for a predetermined resolution limit. The method generally relates to automatically identifying, within a selected area of a graphics file, one or more portions of at least one graphics feature meeting predetermined criteria for adjustment, including criteria for defining a thin portion having a thickness less than the resolution limit. The method then automatically modifies only the identified one or more portions to have an adjusted thickness greater than the initial thickness. Additional criteria may be used to restrict which thin portions of the feature are actually modified.
US08648853B2
Various methods, techniques or modules are provided to allow for the automated analysis of the 3-D representation of the upper front torso (i) to recognize 3-D anatomical features, (ii) to orient the subject with reference to their anatomy or a display, (iii) to determine dimensional analysis including direct point-to-point lines, 3-D surface lines, and volume values, (iv) to simulate the outcome with the addition of breast implants including breast and nipple positioning, (v) to assist in the selection of the breast implants, and/or (vi) to assist in the planning of breast surgery. The automated analysis is based on the analysis of changes in a 3-D contour map of the upper torso, orientation analysis of 3-D features and planes, color analysis of 3-D features, and/or dimensional analysis of 3-D features and positions of the upper torso.
US08648836B2
The present invention discloses a hybrid pointing device including an optical navigation module and a pointing module. The optical navigation module is configured to replace the conventional buttons of a convention pointing device, such as an optical mouse or a trackball mouse. The optical navigation module is configured to sense gestures of at least one object operated by a user to activate commands associated with particular programs running on the host. Since the optical navigation module is only configured to sense gestures of the object but not the movement of the hybrid pointing device relative to a surface, the resolution thereof is aimed to be sufficiently high enough for sensing gestures and no need to be relatively high.
US08648819B2
A capacitive two-dimensional (2D) touch panel has three sets of interleaved electrodes. A first set of electrodes is spaced apart along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other by a resistive strip connected at either end to a connection line. A second set of electrodes is also arrayed along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other via a notionally non-resistive first connection. A third set of electrodes is also arrayed along the y-direction and these are galvanically connected to each other via a notionally non-resistive second connection. The second and third sets of electrodes are interleaved without galvanic cross-conduction to provide a gradient along the x-direction to resolve touch position in the x-direction. The first set of electrodes resolves touch position along the y-direction. Passive or active capacitive sensing techniques may be used to acquire the position information from the 2D touch panel.
US08648817B2
A portable game machine with a display which also serves as a touch panel type input portion is comprised of means for detecting a contact between a finger of a player and a screen, means for computing a coordinate position of the finger on the screen, means for computing and determining the coordinate position where the object to be displayed on the display is displayed so as to separate a predetermined distance from the coordinate position of the finger and to create a gap between the object displayed on the display and a periphery of the finger contacted with the screen, and object display means for displaying the object at the computed and determined coordinate position on the display.
US08648813B2
An apparatus for processing input data by means of instructions and outputting the processed data, comprising a central data processing unit, memory means in which the instructions are stored, data input means for inputting the data, and data output means for outputting the processed data, wherein said data input means are arranged for detecting a user's input motion in at least two dimensions, and wherein said data processing unit is arranged for determining representatives of the directions of the detected input motion, wherein the data processing unit is furthermore arranged for carrying out a predetermined instruction from the memory in dependence on the determined values of the representatives of the directions of the input motion and, providing a minimum length or direction has been exceeded, independently of the length or direction of the input motion.
US08648804B1
An embodiment of the invention is directed to a Joystick apparatus comprising a housing for anchoring the Joystick to; a stem having an actuator connected to a first end, the stem having a second end terminating at a working tip, the stem having an intermediate portion adapted to interface with a pivot point supported by the housing; a flexible disc having a peripheral rim and a central portion, the peripheral rim being supported by the housing, the central portion being connected to the stem about the stem's pivot point; and a sensor located proximate to the working tip and being adapted to detect the motion of the working tip. A novel aspect of the invention is in the use of a flexible disc acting simultaneously as a joint and a spring, thereby simplifying construction of the Joystick.
US08648801B2
Navigating on a display includes tracking motion of an input tool on a display, comparing a motion of the input tool to a threshold, and changing a position of the visible portion of a page of information on the display if the input tool motion exceeds the threshold. The position of the visible portion of the page of information on the display is constrained if the motion does not exceed the threshold.
US08648783B2
A driving apparatus and a method for a liquid crystal display wherein a picture can be inspected by a specific image signal when an image signal is not applied is provided. In the driving apparatus, an image signal processor extracts a complex synchronizing signal and a first image signal from a complex image signal input from an external source. An image signal generator generates a second image signal. An input signal detector counts the pulses in the complex synchronizing signal to generate a selection signal. An image signal selector selectively outputs any one of the first image signal from the image signal processor and the second image signal from the image signal generator in response to the selection signal. A data driver applies an output image signal selected and output by the image signal selector to the liquid crystal display panel.
US08648773B2
A light ray controller has a circular frustum shape and is fitted in a circular hole of a top board such that its large diameter bottom opening faces upward. The light ray controller transmits a light ray while diffusing the light ray in a ridgeline direction and transmits the light ray straightforward without diffusing the light ray in a circumferential direction. A rotation module is provided under the table. One or more scanning projectors are provided on a circumference around an axis of the light ray controller on the rotation base of the rotation module. One or more scanning projectors are rotated by the rotation module. The controller controls one or more scanning projectors being rotated based on three-dimensional shape data stored in a storage.
US08648772B2
A reflective display, such as an electrophoretic display (EPD), and an emissive display, such as a backlit liquid crystal display, may be combined to form an amalgamated display. This combination may include layering one display atop the other, alternating reflective and emissive display elements, or otherwise interspersing reflective and emissive display elements with one another. Images on the amalgamated display may be presented using either reflective or emissive modes or a combination of the two, depending upon factors such as refresh rate, power consumption, presence of color and/or video, and so forth.
US08648767B2
There is provided a communication device that includes an antenna section including a plurality of loop coils that are combined in a polygonal pyramid shape, and a communication section configured to perform contactless communication with another communication device using the antenna section. The plurality of loop coils may include two adjacent loop coils, and magnetic fields generated by the two loop coils may have mutually opposite phases.
US08648762B2
An antenna device includes: a substrate; micro-strip and grounding portions that are respectively disposed on opposite first and second surfaces of the substrate, the former including a signal-feed section for feeding of signals and a plurality of first connecting sections electrically connected to the signal-feed section; and a plurality of first loop antennas arranged along a peripheral edge of the grounding portion, each including a first radiator portion disposed on the first surface and electrically connected to a respective one of the first connecting sections, and a second radiator portion disposed on the second surface, electrically interconnecting the first radiator portion and the grounding portion, and cooperating with the first radiator portion to form a loop.
US08648758B2
A wideband cavity-backed slot antenna includes an enclosure having a slot, a balun located proximate the slot, a feed extending through the enclosure to the balun, and a plurality of coupled lines proximate the balun and distal to a location at which the balun is coupled to the feed.
US08648747B2
Ephemeris data is downloaded intelligently to a GPS-enabled wireless communications device based on user activity rather than at fixed predetermined intervals. Ephemeris data can be downloaded to enable both Aided GPS and Assisted GPS. The device can download ephemeris data based on the frequency of requests into an API communicating with a GPS driver, based on the detection of a new network, or a change in time zone of the network time. Intelligent, adaptive downloading of ephemeris optimizes the usage of bandwidth and the data charge to the user while ensuring that ephemeris data is cached to provide assistance for location-based services such as turn-based navigation.
US08648746B2
A network analyzer includes an n-port network with two ports for measuring wave parameters of a measurement object. Each port has a feed for a radio-frequency signal from a signal source. Signal components of the radio-frequency signal fed into the respective port are reflected at the measurement object and the signal components of one or more radio-frequency signals fed into at least one other port are transmitted through the measurement object to the respective port are measured as wave parameters. The two ports are supplied with different radio-frequency signals, wherein frequencies or frequency bands are offset with respect to one another by a frequency offset. Reflected and transmitted signal components of the radio-frequency signals are measured at the same time at the two ports.
US08648744B2
An object detection apparatus including: an electromagnetic wave radiating-receiver radiating an electromagnetic wave and receiving a reflection wave of the radiated electromagnetic wave; a reflection point identifying mechanism identifying, based on data regarding the reflection wave received by the electromagnetic wave radiating-receiver, a reflection point on a detection target object at which the radiated electromagnetic wave was reflected; and a representative point setting mechanism setting a representative point representing the position of the detection target object based on the reflection point identified by the reflection point identifying mechanism. The object detection apparatus outputs data regarding the set representative point. The representative point setting mechanism performs a correction prohibiting or minimizing a change of position of the representative point in the detection target object which occurs as a result of a change in a relative position between the detection target object and the moving body.
US08648739B2
A transmission interface includes a first pin, a second pin, a conversion unit, and a decoding unit. The conversion unit receives a serial input data stream via the first pin and receives a serial clock via the second pin. The conversion unit converts the serial input data stream to parallel input data and converts the serial clock to a parallel clock. The serial input data stream has a full swing form. The decoding unit receives and decodes the parallel input data and generates an input data signal according to the decoded parallel input data.
US08648735B2
Provided is a safety directional indicator to improve highway safety. Embodiments of the invention include devices for guiding a driver of a vehicle in a desired direction, typically away from highway workers, pedestrians, curbs, and opposing lanes of traffic. Specifically included is a safety directional indicator system comprising a flexible belt with a plurality of light transmitting bars disposed along the belt and having a plurality of LEDs disposed at one elongated end of each light transmitting bar and in operable communication with a control system for illuminating the LEDs in a manner to indicate a direction for traffic. Safety devices according to the invention can be stand-alone devices, devices capable of being attached to objects or structures at a highway scene, or configured to be worn on a person's body. An object of the safety devices according to embodiments of the invention is to increase driver awareness of highway situations especially during conditions of restricted visibility.
US08648734B2
A system for collecting data includes a remote sensor assembly and a central data collection device. The remote sensor assembly has a data bus, a remote wireless node, and a plurality of remote sensor modules in wired communication with the remote wireless node via the data bus. Each of the remote sensor modules converts a sensed condition into data in response to a request from the remote wireless node. The central data collection device has a master wireless node for periodically wirelessly communicating with the remote wireless node. The remote wireless node collects data from each of the plurality of remote sensor modules and periodically transmits the data to the master wireless node. The remote sensor modules are interchangeable and new remote sensor modules may be added. The remote wireless node may detect the sequence of the attached remote sensor modules to enable three-dimensional mapping of the sensed conditions.
US08648728B2
Apparatus for use with a vehicle is disclosed and comprises an interlock device. The device is adapted to, in use: at least while said vehicle is in motion, periodically generate a prompt; assess motion of said vehicle; at least when said vehicle is assessed by said device to be at rest, carry out an analysis operation wherein a breath sample is received and analyzed; and in the event that, within a predetermined period following a prompt, the device does not, while said vehicle is assessed to be at rest, carry out said analysis operation, enter an alarm state at least when the vehicle is in motion. The device can be adapted to carry out analysis operations only when the vehicle is assessed to be at rest.
US08648724B2
The invention relates to a system and method for motivating or prompting persons to wash hands. The system includes a sensor for detecting use of a toilet or a urinal, which sensor creates a first signal indicative of that use, and a signaling arrangement for issuing in response to the first signal at least one second signal reminding or prompting the person to use a cleansing agent dispenser.
US08648721B2
An EAS security tag for providing both EAS and battery recharging features within one tag. The tag includes a rechargeable battery and an antenna having a magnetic core and at least one coil winding disposed around at least a portion of the core. The antenna supplies a voltage corresponding to a first frequency or a second frequency when placed within a magnetic field. The tag also includes an EAS circuit having a resonant frequency corresponding to the first frequency, and an energy harvesting circuit having a resonant frequency corresponding to the second frequency, where the battery recharging circuit recharges the rechargeable battery. Depending upon the magnetic field that the tag is exposed to, either the EAS circuit is enabled thus allowing for EAS detection or the energy harvesting circuit is enabled allowing for the battery to be recharged.
US08648720B2
Improved, magnetic high security switch apparatus is provided for use in detecting relative movement between first and second members such as a door frame and door from a close position, wherein the members are proximal, and an open position, where the members are separated. The switch apparatus includes a magnetic shiftable ball switch assembly having an elongated housing and a shiftable ball therein, which traverses an oblique path of travel between respective switch states in response to relative movement between the first and second members. Preferably, the housing is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal in order to prevent defeat of the switch apparatus through use of an external defeat magnet.
US08648719B2
A container unit for the storage and protection of laboratory substances includes a protective housing and at least one dosage-dispensing unit. The at least one dosage-dispensing unit includes a reservoir container and a dispensing head. To prepare the at least one dosage-dispensing unit for operation, the protective housing can be removed from the dosage-dispensing unit. The protective housing has a bottom part with at least one suitably shaped recess to provide a stable seat for the at least one dosage-dispensing unit, as well as a bell-shaped top. The top can be connected to the bottom part, so as to form a tightly sealed interior space. For transportation and storage purposes, the at least one dosage-dispensing unit is arranged in the interior space of the closed protective housing.
US08648707B2
A process is provided for generating an alarm if at least one monitored parameter (13) deviates from at least one preset value or value range, with the detection or determination of parameter (13) in case of its deviation. The process takes into account a verification interval (25) of limited duration in time and with adaptation of the time limitation of the verification interval (25) as a function of the extent of deviation of parameter (13) from the preset value or value range. A control device, a device for generating an alarm, a treatment devices, a digital storage medium, a computer program product as well as to a computer program are provided.
US08648703B2
A vehicle having a sensor apparatus includes a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion disposed on a side surface of a vehicle frame, wherein the first and second mounting portions are spaced apart in a vehicle length direction, wherein the first and second mounting portions configured to receive a load platform of the vehicle, a wheel assembly comprising a sensor transmitter, and a receiver mounted to the side surface between the first and the second mounting portions, the receiver configured to receive a signal from the sensor transmitter.
US08648699B2
An item tracking system including at least one signal emitting element directly or indirectly attached to a portion of at least one item, wherein at least a portion of the at least one signal emitting element extends from the at least one item. The system further includes a container, including: (i) a support surface configured to at least partially support the at least one item and having at least one opening extending therethrough, which is configured to at least partially receive at least a portion of the signal emitting element therethrough; and (ii) at least one signal receiving member configured for communication with the portion of the at least one signal emitting member extending through the at least one opening. An item tracking container and method of tracking are also disclosed.
US08648697B2
Disclosed is an information providing system using a network. The information providing system comprises a tag for transmitting a tag identification code, a mobile communication terminal for receiving the tag identification code through a first network, generating map request data and transmitting the map request data together with the tag identification code, a first computer for transmitting the tag identification code and the map request data, which are received from the mobile communication terminal through a third network, through a second network, a third computer for providing map data through the second network, and a second computer for receiving the tag identification code and the map request data through the second network, receiving the map data from the third computer, and transmitting the map data to the first computer. The first computer transmits the map data to the mobile communication terminal through the third network.
US08648693B2
A key slot capable of accommodating an auxiliary key, which is a vehicle key other than a master key. A key lock mechanism locks or unlocks movement of the auxiliary key in the key slot, thereby allowing the auxiliary key to be taken out of the key slot in accordance with a lending condition of the auxiliary key. An invalid key return prevention unit permits the auxiliary key to be returned to the key slot in accordance with a return condition of the auxiliary key. If the return condition is met, the invalid key return prevention unit causes the key lock mechanism to lock the auxiliary key in the key slot. If the return condition is not met, the invalid key return prevention unit does not allow the auxiliary key to be returned to the key slot.
US08648692B2
Accessing an automobile with a transponder is disclosed. A processor may determine if the transponder is within range and receive a signal with an identification code from the transponder. If the identification code is valid, user information for the automobile based on the identification code are retrieved. The processor may also process spoken commands if the identification code is valid.
US08648689B2
A system includes a controller that executes a method for determining failure of the door latch sensor using both the door latch sensor and a door lock sensor. If the door latch sensor is faulty, the controller adjusts an automatic feature of the vehicle based on a door lock signal instead of a door state signal. The controller is also configured to mark the door latch signal as faulty if the door latch system is not functioning properly by using a fault counter that tracks the door lock sensor.
US08648686B2
A resonant transformer and resonant converter are disclosed. The resonant transformer includes a first bobbin, a first primary winding coil, plural first secondary winding coils, a second bobbin, a second primary winding coil, plural second secondary winding coils and a magnetic core assembly. The first bobbin includes a first winding section and plural single-trough second winding sections. Plural pins are arranged at the first winding section. The first primary winding coil is wound around the first winding section and connected with the pins. The first secondary winding coils are wound around respective single-trough second winding sections. The second bobbin includes a third winding section and plural single-trough fourth winding sections. The second primary winding coil are wound around the third winding section and connected with the pins at the first winding section of the first bobbin. The second secondary winding coils are wound around respective single-trough fourth winding sections.
US08648681B2
Magnetic structure production may relate, by way of example but not limitation, to methods, systems, etc. for producing magnetic structures by printing magnetic pixels (aka maxels) into a magnetizable material. Disclosed herein is production of magnetic structures having, for example: maxels of varying shapes, maxels with different positioning, individual maxels with different properties, maxel patterns having different magnetic field characteristics, combinations thereof, and so forth. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, a second maxel may be printed such that it partially overwrites a first maxel to produce a magnetic structure having overlapping maxels. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, a magnetic printer may include a print head comprising multiple parts and having various properties. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, various techniques for using a magnetic printer may be employed to produce different magnetic structures. Furthermore, description of additional magnet-related technology and example implementations thereof is included herein.
US08648675B1
A planar transmission line may include first and second spaced apart planar conductors. The transmission line may include a first section in which the first and second conductors extend along a first line in respective first and second parallel planes and are broadside coupled, and a second section extending from the first section along a second line transverse to the first line. The first and second conductors in the second section may include respective first portions extending in the respective first and second planes that are broadside coupled. The first conductor may include a second portion in the second section extending in the second plane, with the first portion of the second conductor and the second portion of the first conductor having adjacent edges that are edge-coupled.
US08648662B2
An oscillator circuit for producing a frequency signal has a resonator element, an amplifier circuit and a coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus connects the amplifier circuit to the resonator element for the duration of a switching-on process in the oscillator circuit.
US08648658B2
There is disclosed a method for generating pre-emphasis coefficients for a pre-emphasis stage of a non-linear distorting device, the method comprising the steps of: capturing, for a given time period, samples of an input signal and samples of an output signal; determining the direction of an error between the captured samples; adjusting the input signal in a direction to reduce the error to generate an estimate of the pre-distorted input signal; generating updated pre-distortion coefficients in dependence on the estimate of the pre-distorted input signal and generated pre-distortion coefficients for one or more previous time periods.
US08648655B2
A linear amplification with nonlinear components (LINC) modulator is provided. The LINC modulator includes: a separator that generates a plurality of constant envelope signals from a source signal; a processor that receives an input signal and detects and removes a phase jump in phase trajectory of the input signal to generate a first signal having a continuous phase trajectory and a second signal having a discontinuous phase trajectory; and a quadrature modulator that mixes the first signal with the second signal to reconstruct the input signal.
US08648650B2
Disclosed herein is an integrated circuit including: a timing signal distribution circuit configured to distribute a timing signal that indicates predetermined timing; a synchronous operation circuit configured to operate in synchronization with the distributed timing signal; a logic circuit configured to perform predetermined logical operation based on an operation result of the synchronous operation circuit; and a power supply section configured to supply a voltage lower than a timing signal distribution circuit drive voltage to drive the timing signal distribution circuit as a logic circuit drive voltage to the logic circuit.
US08648649B2
A voltage down converter includes a first driver having a first input terminal configured to generate a first voltage by using an external voltage in response to a first driving signal being inputted to the first input terminal, a control circuit configured to output the first driving signal to the first input terminal in response to a level of the first voltage, a second driver having a second input terminal configured to generate a second voltage by using the external voltage in response to the first driving signal or a second driving signal being inputted to the second input terminal, wherein the first driving signal is transferred from the first input terminal to the second input terminal through a conductive line, and a driving control circuit configured to generate the second driving signal and transferred to the second input terminal in response to a level of the second voltage.
US08648642B2
A switch for an analog signal may include a main MOS transistor whose source forms an input terminal of the switch and whose drain forms an output terminal of the switch, a capacitor having a first terminal permanently connected to the source of the main transistor, a circuit for charging the capacitor, and a first auxiliary transistor configured to connect the second terminal of the capacitor to the gate of the main transistor in response to a control signal. The charge circuit may include a resistor permanently connecting the second terminal of the capacitor to a power supply line. The capacitor and the resistor may form a high-pass filter having a cutoff frequency lower than the frequency of the analog signal.
US08648637B2
A slew rate boost circuit for an output buffer and an output buffer circuit for a source driver having the same are provided. In an output buffer including a pull-up unit providing a buffer output signal in a first level by receiving a buffer input signal and performing pull-up operation and a pull-down unit providing a buffer output signal in a second level having opposite phase from the first level by receiving the buffer input signal and performing pull-down operation, the slew rate boost circuit includes a first comparator generating a first boost signal to boost pull-up operation of the pull-up unit of the output buffer by inputting a first input signal and a second input signal and a second comparator generating a second boost signal to boost pull-down operation of the pull-down unit of the output buffer by inputting the first input signal and the second input signal.
US08648635B2
Clock signal generators having a reduced power feedback clock path and methods for generating clocks
Memories, clock generators and methods for providing an output clock signal are disclosed. One such method includes delaying a buffered clock signal by an adjustable delay to provide an output clock signal, providing a feedback clock signal from the output clock signal, and adjusting a duty cycle of the buffered clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal. An example clock generator includes a forward clock path configured to provide a delayed output clock signal from a clock driver circuit, and further includes a feedback clock path configured to provide a feedback clock signal based at least in part on the delayed output clock signal, for example, frequency dividing the delayed output clock signal. The feedback clock path further configured to control adjustment a duty cycle of the buffered input clock signal based at least in part on the feedback clock signal.
US08648633B1
The invention provides a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit, including a phase locked loop (PLL) circuit, providing a reference voltage; a first delay device, delaying an input data so as to generate a first delay signal; an edge detector, generating an edge signal according to the first delay signal and the input data; a second delay device, delaying the edge signal according to a control signal so as to generate a second delay signal; a first gated voltage-controlled oscillator, generating an output recovery clock according to the second delay signal and the reference voltage; a phase detector, detecting a phase difference between the first delay signal and the output recovery clock so as to generate a phase signal and a output recovery data; and an amplifier, amplifying the phase signal by a factor so as to generate the control signal.
US08648632B2
In a digital PLL circuit, a phase comparison circuit counts the numbers of transitions of a reference clock and an oscillation clock, sets a time taken until the number of transitions of the reference clock reaches a reference count value as a phase comparison time period, and detects, as a phase error value, a difference between a target count value, obtained based on a magnification value of a desired oscillating frequency with respect to the frequency of the reference clock and the reference count value, and the number of transitions of the oscillation clock in the phase comparison time period. A smoothing circuit smoothes the phase error value. A digitally-controlled oscillation circuit controls the frequency of the oscillation clock in accordance with the phase error value smoothed by the smoothing circuit.
US08648630B2
System and method are provided for driving a transistor. The system includes a floating-voltage generator, a first driving circuit, and a second driving circuit. The floating-voltage generator is configured to receive a first bias voltage and generate a floating voltage, the floating-voltage generator being further configured to change the floating voltage if the first bias voltage changes and to maintain the floating voltage to be lower than the first bias voltage by a first predetermined value in magnitude. The first driving circuit is configured to receive an input signal, the first bias voltage and the floating voltage. The second driving circuit is configured to receive the input signal, a second bias voltage and a third bias voltage, the first driving circuit and the second driving circuit being configured to generate an output signal to drive a transistor.
US08648627B1
An electrical waveform generating circuit has a programmable current source-driver. A digital switched current source is coupled to the programmable current source-driver and controlled by waveforms stored in the programmable current source-driver. A plurality of MOSFETs is coupled to the programmable current source driver. A first coupled inductor is connected to the plurality of high voltage MOSFETs. A transducer is coupled to the first coupled inductor.
US08648620B2
A PLC includes a single-chip, a relay output module, an I/O module, a pulse output module, a relay, and a servo motor. The single chip includes a single-chip timer, a hardware watchdog, a 11.0592M crystal, and an A/D converter module. A system program is burned into an EEPROM of the single-chip. The relay connected to the relay output module. The servo motor is connected to the pulse output module. The system program includes a programming module and a control module. The programming module includes a main function and a function subroutine library, and the main function calls the subroutines of the function subroutine library. The control module scans the input signals from the I/O module during predetermined period, and then generates output signals according to the control commands generated by the programming module, to control output of the relay output module and the pulse output module.
US08648618B1
Method and module for judging status alterations of power supplies that are caused by changes of external power sources are provided. Through comparing first, second and third comparison voltages with a stabilized voltage of a voltage stabilization and energy storage element in a power factor correction unit, the status of the power supply can be judged, and an external power supply abnormal signal, a power supply abnormal signal or a power failure alert signal can be generated according to the status to allow a motherboard to perform loading regulation. The power failure alert signal is used to timely stop operation of the power supply, hence can resolve the problems of the conventional techniques such as delay notification, inaccurate judgment or complex composition of judgment circuit.
US08648616B2
A test fixture for testing loaded printed circuit boards having a plurality of test points having a probe plate including an array of widely spaced high force spring test probes in compliant contact with solid translator pins located in a translator fixture removably positioned over the probe plate. The test fixture includes optimization software wherein translation of the test signals are optimized by providing the shortest interconnect distance in the x-y plane between the test points on the printed circuit board and the test probes in the probe plate. The fixture further includes an unpowered opens device for testing components on the loaded printed circuit board.
US08648612B2
A device for using electromagnetic pulses to determine a distance to a surface includes a pulse generator, a real time sampler and a calibration unit having a signal generator for generating a calibration signal with a predefined frequency. In a calibration mode the real time sampler receives the calibration signal, and an average sample time delay of the sampler is determined based on the sampled calibration signal and the known calibration frequency. In a measurement mode, the real time sampler receives a reflection signal and the distance is determined based on a sampled reflection signal and the average sample time delay. Knowledge of the average delay of the sampler makes it possible to exactly determine the distance (in time and thus space) between two points in the sampled signal.
US08648611B2
An RF sensing circuit with a voltage-controlled oscillator comprises a low noise amplifier (LNA), a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency demodulating unit, a bandpass filter (BPF) and a digital signal processing unit. The VCO has an injection signal input port and a voltage input port, wherein the injection signal input port is electrically connected with an output of the LNA. The frequency demodulating unit is electrically connected with an output of the VCO and the BPF is electrically connected with an output of the frequency demodulating unit. The digital signal processing unit is electrically connected with an output of the BPF and the voltage input port of the VCO.
US08648607B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for monitoring power usage. A plurality of power usage cycles are monitored using a controller. Each of the power usage cycles includes a plurality of current draw periods. Each of the current draw periods has a different average current draw. A current draw reading is determined to be abnormal when the current draw reading meets a threshold associated with one of the current draw periods, while the one of the current draw periods is predicted to be active. An action is performed when the current draw reading is determined to be abnormal.
US08648603B2
A deterioration degree calculating apparatus for a secondary battery of the invention includes: obtaining a voltage value at a stop time of charge and discharge of a target secondary battery; obtaining a voltage value at a first start time of charge and discharge after that; obtaining an SOC of the target secondary battery at the stop time or at the start time; obtaining a length of an unused period from the stop time to the start time (an elapsed time); obtaining a self-discharge slope of the target secondary battery by dividing an absolute value of a difference between the voltage value at the start time and the voltage value at the stop time by the elapsed time; obtaining a temperature during an unused period by use of a self-discharge map in which the SOC and the self-discharge slope is recorded for each temperature; calculating a progress degree of deterioration of the target secondary battery during the unused period based on the obtained temperature and elapsed time; and accumulating the calculated deterioration progress degree to accurately calculate the deterioration degree of the secondary battery without continuously consuming electric power during the unused period.
US08648602B2
Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to monitoring battery cells. In accordance with various embodiments, an energy storage cell apparatus includes a current injection circuit that separately inject current into individual ones of a plurality of battery cells that store energy, and an impedance-detection circuit detects an impedance characteristic of each of the plurality of battery cells in response to the injected current. A filter circuit receives impedance data regarding the detected impedance characteristic and separates low-frequency components of the impedance data from high-frequency components of the impedance data. A memory circuit stores data corresponding to high-bandwidth data including both the low-frequency components and the high-frequency components, and an access circuit provides the low-frequency components for the plurality of battery cells to a battery pack controller. The access circuit further accesses and provides the stored high-bandwidth data for a subset of the individual battery cells to the battery pack controller based upon available bandwidth for communicating the high-bandwidth data.
US08648597B2
An RF coil is provided with a hollow-shaped outer conductive element and strip-shaped conductive elements disposed along the outer conductive element in the axial direction. The strip-shaped conductive elements are disposed with uneven intervals to secure an internal space at a position where the strip-shaped conductive elements are not disposed. In order to obtain uniform sensitivity at the center section of the RF coil, the strip-shaped conductive elements and the outer conductive element are electrically connected via capacitors of which capacitances are adjusted so that a magnetic field component perpendicular to the center axis should be generated at a desired resonance frequency, and the strip-shaped conductive elements are axisymmetrically disposed with respect to the center axis of the outer conductive element. As a result, a comfortable examination space in a tunnel type MRI apparatus is achieved without increasing the manufacturing cost of the MRI apparatus.
US08648592B2
Semiconductor device components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device component includes a conductive segment having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. A first via is coupled to the second surface of the conductive segment at the first end. A second via is coupled to the first surface of the conductive segment at the second end, and a third via is coupled to the second surface of the conductive segment at the second end.
US08648589B2
A magnetoresistive sensor that has a free layer with a face centered cubic, 100 crystal orientation formed on an underlayer structure that has been deposited in the presence of nitrogen. The free layer can be constructed of CoFe, Co2(Mn(1-y)Fey)X (where 0≦y≦1 and X is Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, or a combination thereof), CoFeX (where X is Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Ga, or a combination thereof). The under-layer can include a layer of Ta, a Cu layer formed over the layer of Ta and deposited using a process gas comprising about 20 percent nitrogen and a layer of Ag deposited over the layer of Cu and deposited using a process gas comprising about 50 to 100 percent nitrogen.
US08648586B2
A circuit for sensing load current of a voltage regulator. The circuit includes a power transistor and a mirror transistor. A first transistor sizing circuit is coupled to the power transistor and is operable to control size of the power transistor based on a bias voltage of the power transistor, thereby regulating a first voltage for varying load conditions. The circuit also includes a feedback amplifier coupled to the power transistor and the mirror transistor. A transistor is coupled to the feedback amplifier and the mirror transistor. An analog to digital converter (ADC) is coupled to the transistor. A second transistor sizing circuit is coupled to the mirror transistor, the transistor, and the ADC. The second transistor sizing circuit is responsive to an output voltage to control size of the mirror transistor, thereby ensuring that accuracy of output voltage sensed by ADC is not limited by ADC's resolution.
US08648580B2
A regulator for providing a low dropout voltage at an output node of the regulator is provided. An amplifier has a non-inverting input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an inverting input terminal and an output terminal. A first resistor is coupled between a ground and the inverting input terminal of the amplifier. A second resistor is coupled to the inverting input terminal of the amplifier. A first transistor is coupled between a voltage source and the second resistor. A current source coupled between the voltage source and a gate of the first transistor provides a bias current. A second transistor coupled between the first transistor and a current mirror has a gate coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier. The first and second transistors are different type MOS transistors. The replica unit generates the low dropout voltage according to a voltage of the output terminal of the amplifier.
US08648565B2
A charging system of a vehicle for charging a vehicle-mounted power storage device includes a charger configured to receive electric power from a power supply external to the vehicle for charging the power storage device, a charging power sensing portion for sensing charging power supplied to the power storage device, and a charging control device for performing control on the charger by generating a power command value for the charger based on a target value. The charging control device detects a difference between charging power sensed by the charging power sensing portion and the target value and determines presence/absence of abnormality of the charger based on the detected difference.
US08648564B2
According to an embodiment, a power transmitting device includes a power supply unit, a power transmitting coil, a first switch, a piezoelectric element, and a first switch controller. The power supply unit is configured to generate a transmission power by using power supplied to a power input terminal. Once the first switch is turned on, the first switch electrically connects an external power supply and the power input terminal until the first switch is turned off next time. The piezoelectric element is disposed at a position at which a weight of a placed power receiving device can be detected. The piezoelectric element is configured to generate a detection power according to the weight of the placed power receiving device. The first switch controller is configured to generate a starting power by the detection power and switches the first switch to on by using the starting power.
US08648561B2
The present invention relates to a method for generating an electric control signal for controlling one or more switching elements of an inverter for driving an electric machine, such as a motor, the method comprising the steps of providing an electric control signal comprising a control frequency and a corresponding control period, dividing a first control period of said electric control signal into a plurality of switching periods, and providing a first switching PWM pulse within a first switching period of a first control period, and providing a second switching PWM pulse within a second switching period of said first control period, wherein the first switching PWM pulse is a minimum-filtered PWM pulse, and wherein the second switching PWM pulse is a corrected PWM pulse. The present invention further relates to an electronic control signal provided according to the before-mentioned method, and to an electronic control system for providing the before-mentioned method.
US08648551B2
A system and method are provided for continuously reorienting a solar panel array while maintaining a substantially stationary footprint for the solar panel. A cylindrically shaped knuckle is provided that is formed with a bottom surface and a top surface that is slanted relative to the bottom surface at a slant angle φ. One end of an upper pole is positioned against the top surface of the knuckle, and one end of a lower pole is positioned against the bottom surface of the knuckle. An upper and lower motor respectively connect the knuckle to the upper pole and the lower pole. These motors are used to continuously rotate the knuckle at an angular velocity ω relative to the upper and lower poles. When the knuckle rotates, the upper and lower poles remain stationary to allow the solar panel to continuously reorient while maintaining a substantially stationary footprint.
US08648550B2
A lighting system includes a master that controls a plurality of light fixtures via wireless RF communications. An ambient light sensor in the master is used to monitor total ambient light and to prevent excessive illumination. In an auto-calibration process, the master makes ambient light measurements A, B and C when the light fixtures are illuminating an area at a minimum setting, at a maximum setting, and at an intermediate setting, respectively. A first threshold is set to be approximately (B−A). A second threshold is set to be slightly larger than (B−A)+(B−C). In normal system operation, total ambient light measurements are taken and compared to the two thresholds. In one example, if detected brightness is lower than the first threshold then the system is set at its maximum illumination setting, whereas if detected brightness is greater than the second threshold then the system is set at its intermediate illumination setting.
US08648545B2
A control device and an LED light emitting device using the same are provided and technology of providing a high contrast ratio to the LED light emitting device and allowing the LED light emitting device to perform a stable operation is disclosed. The LED light emitting device includes a DC/DC converter reference voltage generator that generates a DC/DC converter reference voltage so that a minimum level of a channel voltage having a largest LED voltage drop agrees with a predetermined minimum reference voltage by detecting a plurality of channel voltages corresponding to LED voltage drops of each of a plurality of LED channels LED and an output voltage controller that controls an output voltage of the DC/DC converter using a distribution voltage corresponding to an output voltage and the DC/DC converter reference voltage.
US08648539B2
A single chip multi-voltage or multi-brightness LED lighting device having at least two LED circuits having at least two LEDs connected seπes, and electrically unconnected in a parallel relationship, a forward operating dπve voltage of at least six volts and are monolithically integrated on a single substrate, configurable by means of connecting the circuits so as to provide optional operating voltage level and/or desired brightness level wherein the electrical connection at the LED packaging level when the single chips are integrated into the LED package Alternatively, the LED package may have external electrical contacts that match the integrated chips within Optionally allowable, the drive voltage level and/or the brightness level select-ability may be passed on through to the exterior of the LED package and may be selected by the LED package user, the PCB assembly facility, or the end product manufacturer.
US08648530B2
A fluorescent lighting device includes a ballast and a tube. An amalgam is located within the tube. A resistive heater is operatively coupled with the ballast, to receive electrical power from the ballast while the fluorescent lighting device is in an OFF state. The resistive heater is mounted near the amalgam to transfer heat to the amalgam while the fluorescent lighting device is in the OFF state.
US08648525B2
Disclosed are a transparent electrode with excellent optical transmittance and conductivity, a purifying method of conductive fibers employed in the transparent electrode and an organic electroluminescence element with reduced luminance unevenness and long product lifetime employing the transparent electrode. The transparent electrode of the invention comprises a transparent substrate and provided thereon, a transparent conductive layer containing conductive fibers and a transparent conductive material, featured in that the content rate of conductive fibers with an aspect ratio of not less than 100 contained in the transparent conductive layer is 99.00% or more.
US08648519B2
A spark plug is provided with a ground electrode, a noble metal tip made of a Pt alloy, and a relieving layer tip made of a Pt alloy which has a linear expansion coefficient between that of the ground electrode and that of the noble metal tip.
US08648518B2
A power driven component inside a compressor is disposed with a stator and rotors. The stator has an iron core in a circular ring and stator coils in a tightly wound manner. A vertical interval is formed between adjacent stator coils. A cover body is formed on the stator and a shield member that is formed with an upper portion along each stator coil and bending curve portions at two sides of the upper portion. Each bending curve portion is extended toward the interval from the upper portion. A sealed cover portion is connected between the bending curve portions of the upper portion and correspondingly seals each interval to reduce noise of the compressor and oil circulation rate.
US08648512B2
An improved generator for using waterpower, wave-power or wind-power, comprising; a set of magnet plates and coil plates for mounting on a rotating shaft in parallel, the magnets installed on the magnet plates and the generating coils installed on the coil plates with constant-intervals in radial direction, a plurality of blades obliquely installed on circumference of the magnet plates and coil plates with mutually opposite direction, an inner annular cylinder and outer annular cylinder mounted on the coil plates to form annular container for inserting the magnets. A plurality of induction coils installed on the inner annular cylinder, a plurality of electromotive coils installed on the outer annular cylinder for proximately contact with ends of the magnets. The magnet plates and coil plates rotate in mutually opposite direction to enhance the quality of generation and repulsive force. Thus, the rotational reaction force is continuously generated between the magnets and coil plates to enhance the rotational force.
US08648510B2
A cover structure of an actuator is provided in which a case of the actuator, which houses a conversion mechanism that converts input energy to mechanical motion, has a metal cover fastening portion and a cover member to which a metal fastening part that is fastened to the cover fastening portion is integrally attached. The cover member is formed by a metal cover portion and a resin cover portion. The metal cover portion has a center portion that covers part of the conversion mechanism, and an extended portion that extends from the center portion to the area near the metal fastening part so as to oppose the cover fastening portion. In this way, a vehicular power transmitting apparatus that discourages theft is provided by realizing an actuator with a strong cover fastening structure by making the fastening portion of the actuator be able to withstand intentionally inflicted damage without its weight being increased much.
US08648507B2
An electric machine includes a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface that defines an interior portion. The housing also includes a connection zone having a first end portion that extends from the outer surface to a second end portion that is exposed to the interior portion. The connection zone includes a connection passage. A terminal block extends through the connection passage. The terminal block includes a non-electrically conductive member that is sealed against the connection passage, and an electrically conductive member covered by the non-electrically conductive member. The electrically conductive member includes a first end section that extends to a second end section through an intermediate section. The first end section has a first connection zone and the second end section has a second connection zone. The second connection zone is at an angle relative to the first connection zone.
US08648504B2
A vehicle drive motor, capable of efficiently cooling the motor stator without being accompanied by an increase in size, includes a stator having an annular stator core, provided in an inner periphery of a tubular motor casing, and a stator coil provided in the stator core, and a rotor on an inner side of the stator core and rotatable relative to the stator. The motor casing includes an oil supply passage and an oil discharge passage in the motor casing and opening at an inner diametric surface of the motor casing, which are opposite axially to each other. Stator core grooves communicated with the oil supply passage and the oil discharge passage extend axially in an outer diametric surface of the stator core. Accordingly, lubricant oil may flow from the oil supply passage towards the oil discharge passage through the stator core groove.
US08648503B2
The invention relates to an arrangement for acoustic decoupling of a stator of an electric motor having two substantially cylindrical decoupling rings disposed on both sides of the stator and concentric to a motor shaft, each fixed to a front side of the stator on one side and each fixed to a housing enclosing the stator on the other side, and comprising recesses on the circumferential surfaces thereof. The decoupling rings hold the stator in a centered position at a distance from the housing. The recesses allow targeted acoustic decoupling. The invention is particularly applicable for electric motors in steering systems for motor vehicles.
US08648501B2
This is generally directed to providing protection circuitry to selectively handle power-providing cables and headset cables that can couple to the same port of an electronic device. In some embodiments, the device can include a Headset Rx chip to communicate with the headset cable and a Power Rx chip to communicate with the power-providing cable. As the Headset Rx chip and the Power Rx chip can be coupled to the same contact of the device's port, these chips may prevent one another from operating correctly or may damage one another. Accordingly, in some embodiments, it can be determined whether a headset cable or a power-providing cable is coupled to the device. When a headset cable is coupled to the device, the protection circuitry can disconnect the Power Rx chip. Similarly, when a power-providing cable is coupled to the device, the protection circuitry can disconnect the Headset Rx chip.
US08648492B2
The operation and/or power of a plurality of energy loads and/or energy supplies configured to supply power to the energy loads are managed in a coordinated manner. The coordinated control over the energy loads and/or energy supplies may enable the execution of missions including a one or more objectives by energy loads with an enhanced efficiency, autonomy, and/or effectiveness. Aspects of the planning and/or management of execution of the missions may be automated according to predetermined rules and/or criteria.
US08648483B2
Wind turbine system. The system includes a lower wind speed vertical axis wind turbine operatively connected to a first electrical motor/generator and a higher wind speed vertical axis wind turbine operatively connected to at least one second electrical motor/generator. Electrical power from the first electrical motor/generator is directed to the at least one second electrical motor/generator and mag-lev system to cause the higher wind speed turbine to begin turning. A start-up assistance subsystem which acts like a local wind accelerator and produces a positive torque to assist in the start-up of a vertical axis wind turbine is also provided.
US08648482B2
A wind turbine with a drive train connecting a drive unit with a generator assembly is provided. The generator assembly includes a first generator with a first stator and a first rotor, the first rotor being directly connected to the drive train, and at least a second generator indirectly coupled to the drive train via a gear box. Further, a drive train assembly, a wind turbine nacelle system, a method for converting rotational energy into electrical energy, a method of building a nacelle and methods of re-equipping a wind turbine are provided.
US08648474B2
A package includes a first plated area, a second plated area, a die attached to the first plated area, and a bond coupling the die to the second plated area. The package further includes a molding encapsulating the die, the bond, and the top surfaces of the first and second plated areas, such that the bottom surfaces of the first and second plated areas are exposed exterior to the package. Additional embodiments include a method of making the package.
US08648471B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a semiconductor substrate; a cell array block formed on the semiconductor substrate and including plural stacked cell array layers each with a plurality of first lines, a plurality of second lines crossing the plurality of first lines, and memory cells connected at intersections of the first and second lines between both lines; and a plurality of via-holes extending in the stacked direction of the cell array layers to individually connect the first or second line in the each cell array layer to the semiconductor substrate. The via-holes are formed continuously through the plural cell array layers, and multiple via-holes having equal lower end positions and upper end positions are connected to the first or second lines in different cell array layers.
US08648470B2
A semiconductor device has a first semiconductor die including TSVs mounted to a carrier with a thermally releasable layer. A first encapsulant having a first coefficient of thermal expansion CTE is deposited over the first semiconductor die. The first encapsulant includes an elevated portion in a periphery of the first encapsulant that reduces warpage. A surface of the TSVs is exposed. A second semiconductor die is mounted to the surface of the TSVs and forms a gap between the first and second semiconductor die. A second encapsulant having a second CTE is deposited over the first and second semiconductor die and within the gap. The first CTE is greater than the second CTE. In one embodiment, the first and second encapsulants are formed in a chase mold. An interconnect structure is formed over the first and second semiconductor die.
US08648462B2
A semiconductor power module includes an active element and a passive element serving as semiconductor elements each having a first electrode on a front surface and a second electrode on a back surface thereof, a heat pipe having a first region defined as arrangement parts of the active element and the passive element on its one end side and electrically connected to one of the first and second electrodes of the active element and the passive element arranged in the first region, a cooling fin arranged in a second region defined on the other end side of the heat pipe, and a heat pipe provided to sandwich the active element, the passive element, and the cooling fin arranged on the heat pipe along with the heat pipe and electrically connected to the other of the first and second electrodes of the active element and passive element.
US08648460B2
A thermal interface material comprises an epoxy resin derived from nutshell oil or an epoxidized dimer fatty acid, or both, and fusible metal particles substantially devoid of added lead. Optionally, the TIM comprises a catalyst for the epoxy functionality.
US08648457B2
Electrodes on a touch sensor are connected with pins of an integrated circuit by wires. The wires connecting a first side of the integrated circuit go under the integrated circuit to the electrodes, and wires connecting a second side of the integrated circuit have segments extending away from the touch sensor under the integrated circuit.
US08648454B2
Wafer-scale packaging structures and methods are provided for integrally packaging antenna structures with semiconductor RFIC (radio frequency integrated circuit) chips to form compact integrated radio/wireless communications systems for millimeter wave (mmWave) and Terahertz (THz) applications. For example, a chip package includes an RFIC chip, an antenna structure and an interface layer. The RFIC chip includes a semiconductor substrate having an active surface and an inactive surface, and a BEOL (back end of line) structure formed on the active surface of the semiconductor substrate. The antenna structure includes an antenna substrate and a planar antenna radiator formed on a surface of the antenna substrate, wherein the antenna substrate is formed of a low loss semiconductor material. The interface layer connects the antenna structure to the BEOL structure of the RFIC chip.
US08648449B2
According to example configurations herein, a leadframe includes a connection interface. The connection interface can be configured for attaching an electrical circuit to the leadframe. The leadframe also can include a conductive path. The conductive path in the leadframe provides an electrical connection between a first electrical node of the electrical circuit and a second electrical node of the electrical circuit. Prior to making the connection between the electrical circuit and the leadframe, the first electrical node and the second electrical node can be electrically isolated from each other. Subsequent to making connection of the electrical circuit with the leadframe, the conductive path of the leadframe electrically connects the first electrical node and the second electrical node together. Accordingly, the leadframe provides connectivity between nodes of an electrical circuit in lieu of having to provide such connectivity at, for example, a metal interconnect layer of an integrated circuit device.
US08648447B2
A semiconductor rectifier device using an SiC semiconductor at least includes: an anode electrode; an anode area that adjoins the anode electrode and is made of a second conductivity type semiconductor; a drift layer that adjoins the anode area and is made of a first conductivity type semiconductor having a low concentration; a minority carrier absorption layer that adjoins the drift layer and is made of a first conductivity type semiconductor having a higher concentration than that of the drift layer; a high-resistance semiconductor area that adjoins the minority carrier absorption layer, has less thickness than the drift layer and is made of a first conductivity type semiconductor having a concentration lower than that of the minority carrier absorption layer; a cathode contact layer that adjoins the semiconductor area; and a cathode electrode.
US08648442B2
A semiconductor device having a transistor circuit and a bleeder resistance circuit is provided in which fluctuations in resistance value of a bleeder resistor are reduced. In the transistor circuit, a barrier metal film and a interconnect film are layered as a metal film on an interlayer insulating film above transistor structure. In the bleeder resistance circuit, the interconnect film is layered as a metal film on the interlayer insulating film above the bleeder resistor formed from polysilicon film. Alternatively, the metal film in the bleeder resistance circuit includes the barrier metal film only in a portion where the metal film is connected to the bleeder resistor. This reduces stress to the bleeder resistor formed from a polysilicon film, and the resistance value of the bleeder resistor accordingly fluctuates less. In addition, since the metal film used as interconnect of the transistor circuit includes the barrier metal film, interconnect reliability is not impaired.
US08648437B2
A Schottky photodiode may include a monocrystalline semiconductor substrate having a front surface, a rear surface, and a first dopant concentration and configured to define a cathode of the Schottky photodiode, a doped epitaxial layer over the front surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor substrate having a second dopant concentration less than the first dopant concentration, and parallel spaced apart trenches in the doped epitaxial layer and having of a depth less than a depth of the doped epitaxial layer. The Schottky photodiode may include a metal filler in the parallel spaced apart trenches to form a Schottky rectifying contact with the doped epitaxial layer, an anode current distributor metal layer on a surface of the doped epitaxial layer and in electrical contact with the metal filler of the parallel spaced apart trenches, a dielectric passivation layer on the anode current distributor metal layer, and a conductive metal layer over the rear surface of the monocrystalline semiconductor substrate and configured to provide an ohmic contact with the cathode.
US08648429B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor chip stacks mounted on a substrate. Bonding terminals disposed on the substrate correspond to the chip stacks, such that at least one chip in each chip stack may be directly connected to a bonding terminal on the substrate and at least one chip in the chip stack is not directly connected to the bonding terminal. The semiconductor chip stacks may each act as one semiconductor device to the outside.
US08648427B2
An electronic device, including an integrated circuit, can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer overlying the buried conductive region, wherein the semiconductor layer has a primary surface and an opposing surface lying closer to the buried conductive region. The electronic device can also include a first doped region and a second doped region spaced apart from each other, wherein each is within the semiconductor layer and lies closer to primary surface than to the opposing surface. The electronic device can include current-carrying electrodes of transistors. A current-carrying electrode of a particular transistor includes the first doped region and is a source or an emitter and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region. Another current-carrying electrode of a different transistor includes the second doped region and is a drain or a collector and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region.
US08648424B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a channel region, a gate insulation layer on the channel region, a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer, and source and drain regions in recesses in the substrate on both sides of the channel region, respectively. The source and drain regions include a lower main layer whose bottom surface is located at level above the bottom of a recess and lower than that of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and a top surface no higher than the level of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and an upper main layer contacting the lower main layer and whose top surface extends to a level higher than that of the bottom surface of the gate insulation layer, and in which the lower layer has a Ge content higher than that of the upper layer.
US08648423B2
Provided is a semiconductor device in which a short margin between a storage contact plug and a bit line contact plug may be increased. The device includes a substrate including isolation regions and active regions defined by the isolation regions, gates disposed in the substrate and configured to intersect the active regions and define source regions and drain regions in the active regions, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the substrate, bit line contact plugs configured to penetrate the interlayer insulating layer and contact the drain regions, and first bit line structures and second bit line structures disposed on the interlayer insulating layer. The first bit line structures include first bit line conductive patterns and first bit line spacers covering sidewalls of the first bit line conductive patterns. The second bit line structures include second bit line conductive patterns configured to contact the bit line contact plugs to be substantially parallel to the first bit line conductive patterns and first bit line spacers covering sidewalls of the second bit line conductive patterns and sidewalls of the bit line contact plugs.
US08648420B2
A semiconductor device includes an input/output pad, and a data transfer unit configured to form a parasitic diode between the input/output pad and a power supply terminal thereof to discharge an introduced electrostatic discharge (ESD), and form a data transfer path between the input/output pad and an internal circuit in response to a control signal.
US08648418B2
Controlled localized defect paths for resistive memories are described, including a method for forming controlled localized defect paths including forming a first electrode forming a metal oxide layer on the first electrode, masking the metal oxide to create exposed regions and concealed regions of a surface of the metal oxide, and altering the exposed regions of the metal oxide to create localized defect paths beneath the exposed regions.
US08648397B2
A switching element (a semiconductor device) (18) having a top gate electrode (21) and a bottom gate electrode (23) is provided with a silicon layer (a semiconductor layer) (SL) that is arranged between the top gate electrode (21) and the bottom gate electrode (a light-shielding film) (23) and that has a source region (24), a drain region (28), a channel region (26), and low-concentration impurity regions (25, 27). Furthermore, the bottom gate electrode (23) is arranged so as to overlap the channel region (26), a part of the low-concentration impurity region (25), which is adjacent to the source region (24), and a part of the low-concentration impurity region (27), which is adjacent to the drain region (28). The bottom gate electrode (23) is controlled so as to have a prescribed potential.
US08648389B2
A nitride semiconductor device is disclosed. The device includes a stack of semiconductor layers including the channel layer, the spacer layer, and the doped layer. The spacer layer is made of AlN while the doped layer is InAlN. A feature of the embodiment is that the spacer layer has a thickness of 0.5 to 1.25 nm.
US08648382B2
Planar light emitting device includes: anode and cathode feeding parts formed on first surface side of transparent substrate and electrically connected to quadrilateral planar anode and cathode, respectively; quadrilateral frame shaped anode auxiliary electrode formed at the whole circumference of surface of the planar anode; anode feeding auxiliary electrode integrally and continuously formed to the auxiliary electrode and laminated on anode feeding part. Light emitting part is formed of a region where only organic layer intervenes between the planar anode and cathode. Distance between predetermined two parallel sides of the four sides of the light emitting part and the peripheral border of the transparent substrate is smaller than distance between the other two parallel sides and the peripheral border. The cathode and anode feeding parts are located along said other two parallel sides. The anode feeding part is located at each side, in width direction, of the cathode feeding part.
US08648374B2
A light emitting diode device includes: a cathode lead frame; an anode lead frame which is electrically insulated from the cathode lead frame; a light emitting diode chip which is electrically connected to the cathode lead frame and the anode lead frame respectively; a synthetic resin member which forms an indentation receiving the light emitting diode chip and fixes the cathode lead frame and the anode lead frame; and a metallic heat-radiation/light-reflection member which covers at least a portion of the indentation and covers an upper surface of the synthetic resin member.
US08648364B2
A flat panel display with a black matrix and a fabrication method of the same. The flat panel display has an insulating substrate at the upper part of which a pixel electrode is equipped; an opaque conductive film formed on the front surface of the insulating substrate except at the pixel electrode; an insulating film equipped with a contact hole exposing a portion of the opaque conductive film; and a thin film transistor equipped with a gate electrode, and conductive patterns for source/drain electrodes connected to the opaque conductive film through the contact hole.
US08648356B2
A light emitting diode for harsh environments includes a substantially transparent substrate, a semiconductor layer deposited on a bottom surface of the substrate, several bonding pads, coupled to the semiconductor layer, formed on the bottom surface of the substrate, and a micro post, formed on each bonding pad, for electrically connecting the light emitting diode to a printed circuit board. An underfill layer may be provided between the bottom surface of the substrate and the top surface of the printed circuit board, to reduce water infiltration under the light emitting diode substrate. Additionally, a diffuser may be mounted to a top surface of the light emitting diode substrate to diffuse the light emitted through the top surface.
US08648355B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a substrate; a light emitting structure comprising a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the substrate; an electrode layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer; and an electrode on the electrode layer, wherein the substrate comprises a plurality of convex portions, wherein the electrode layer comprises a plurality of holes corresponding to a region of at least one of the plurality of convex portions of the substrate, wherein an insulating material is disposed in the plurality of holes on the light emitting structure.
US08648351B2
Provided is a crack-free epitaxial substrate having excellent breakdown voltage properties in which a silicon substrate is used as a base substrate thereof. The epitaxial substrate includes: a (111) single crystal Si substrate and a buffer layer including a plurality of composition modulation layers each formed of a first composition layer made of AlN and a second composition layer made of AlxGa1-xN (0≦x<1) being alternately laminated. The relationship of x(1)≧x(2)≧ . . . ≧x(n−1)≧x(n) and x(1)>x(n) is satisfied, where n represents the number of laminations of each of the first and the second composition layer, and x(i) represents the value of x in i-th one of the second composition layers as counted from the base substrate side. Each of the second composition layers is formed so as to be in a coherent state relative to the first composition layer.
US08648348B2
Provided is a light emitting device according to one embodiment including: a substrate which has protrusions on the C-face, and of which unit cells are constructed in a hexagonal structure; a semiconductor layer which is formed on the substrate, in which empty spaces are formed in sides of the protrusions, and of which unit cells are constructed in a hexagonal structure; and a light emitting structure layer comprising a first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an active layer formed between the first conductive semiconductor layer and second conductive semiconductor layer which are formed on the semiconductor layer, wherein the A-face of the substrate and the A-face of the semiconductor layer form an angle of greater than zero degree, and the protrusions include the R-faces.
US08648336B2
Method for growing multilayer polymer based hetexjunction devices which uses selective breaking of C—H or Si—H bonds without breaking other bonds leading to fast curing for the production of layered polymer devices having polymer heterojunctions deposited by the common solution-based deposition methods.
US08648335B2
An organic light emitting diode display includes: a substrate; a first electrode positioned on the substrate; an organic layer positioned on the first electrode; a transflective layer positioned on the organic layer; an organic emission layer positioned on the transflective layer; and a second electrode positioned on the organic emission layer.
US08648330B2
A method for forming a nanowire field effect transistor (FET) device includes forming a nanowire over a substrate, forming a liner material around a portion of the nanowire, forming a capping layer on the liner material, forming a first spacer adjacent to sidewalls of the capping layer and around portions of the nanowire, forming a hardmask layer on the capping layer and the first spacer, removing an exposed portion of the nanowire to form a first cavity partially defined by the gate material, epitaxially growing a semiconductor material on an exposed cross section of the nanowire in the first cavity, removing the hardmask layer and the capping layer, forming a second capping layer around the semiconductor material epitaxially grown in the first cavity to define a channel region, and forming a source region and a drain region contacting the channel region.
US08648315B1
An ion accelerator includes a plasma ion source and a micro-collimator. The micro-collimator has a plurality of channels. The length-to-width ratio of each channel is greater than five, and the channel width is less than one micron. The ion source is coupled to the micro-collimator such that ions from the ion source pass into the channels, and then through the plurality of channels. In one specific example, the ion source produces cold ions that have only a small amount of lateral momentum. Each channel is an individually gated acceleration channel that is formed into a solid dielectric material. Ions are accelerated down the acceleration channel. The ion accelerator forms a part of an ionjet head of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.
US08648314B1
A fast neutron imaging apparatus and method of constructing fast neutron radiography images, the apparatus including a neutron source and a detector that provides event-by-event acquisition of position and energy deposition, and optionally timing and pulse shape for each individual neutron event detected by the detector. The method for constructing fast neutron radiography images utilizes the apparatus of the invention.
US08648303B2
An infrared light detector having a sensor chip (4), which includes a thin-film element (5) made from a pyroelectrically sensitive material, having an electrical insulator (27), at least one electronic component (17, 18) having a thin-film design, which forms part of a readout electronics unit, and a thin-film membrane (2), on which the sensor chip (4) and the electronic component (17, 18) are mounted side by side in an integrated manner such that the electronic component (17, 18) is electrically conductively coupled to the thin-film element (5). A signal amplifier (22), with which, in co-operation with the electronic component (17, 18), an electrical signal emitted from the sensor chip (4) can be amplified, can be connected to the electronic component (17, 18).
US08648302B2
A thermal detector includes a substrate; a support member supported on the substrate with a cavity interposed therebetween; a heat-detecting element formed on the support member; a first light-absorbing layer formed on the heat-detecting element and the support member so as to be in contact with the heat-detecting element; and a second light-absorbing layer formed on the first light-absorbing layer so as to be in contact with the first light-absorbing layer. The second light-absorbing layer has a higher refractive index than the first light-absorbing layer. A first wavelength resonates between a surface of the support member and an upper surface of the second light-absorbing layer, and a second wavelength, which is different from the first wavelength, resonates between an interface, at which the first light-absorbing layer and the second light-absorbing layer are in contact with each other, and the upper surface of the second light-absorbing layer.
US08648288B2
Pixels, imagers and related fabrication methods are described. The described methods result in cross-talk reduction in imagers and related devices by generating depletion regions. The devices can also be used with electronic circuits for imaging applications.
US08648285B2
A system for guiding a gun-fired or mortared round towards an intended target, the system including a round having: a forward facing image pick-up device for capturing image data; a first transceiver; guidance device for varying a flight path of the round; and a first processor. The system further including a control platform remotely located from the round, the control platform having: a second transceiver; a second processor; an input device; and a display. Where the first processor transmits image data from the image pick-up device through the first transceiver to the second processor through the second transceiver, the second processor transmits guidance information from the second transceiver to the first processor through the first transceiver and the first processor controls the guidance device based on the guidance information to guide the round towards the intended target.
US08648284B2
A composite material that increases in temperature upon exposure to electromagnetic radiation includes single crystal silicon carbide whiskers and fibrils in a matrix material. Also disclosed are heat-generating objects that include the composite material, and a method of generating heat.
US08648283B2
An insulator for an electric heater is configured to allow a heater coil to expand/contract uniformly, and permit an easy fitting of the heater coil thereto. The insulator includes a body part formed of an insulating material, a coil seating part at an end of the body part for supporting the heater coil, and a seating slot between the coil seating part and the body part for inserting the heat coil.
US08648269B2
A electrically operated blocking device used to block the operation of electrical or mechanical equipment without using a system of deadbolt locks, keys, and electrically operated key traps. The electrically operated blocking device preferably includes a blocking shaft used to block the operation of electrical equipment such as, e.g., switches, circuit breakers and other similar electrical equipment, or mechanical equipment such as, e.g., valves, cams, gears, doors or any moving device or device operator, and preferably includes a keyless solenoid release unit (KSRU) used to control a plunger that locks the blocking shaft into place and unlocks the blocking shaft to allow the blocking shaft to move freely along its axis.
US08648268B2
A switch for selectively routing electrical signals, particularly microwave signals, in a printed circuit board includes a rotatable contact that is connected to a shaft. A first motor is configured to rotate the shaft and a second motor is configured to axially move the shaft to lift the contact from the printed circuit board. A position controller produces driving signals that are received by the first and second motors to lift the contact from the printed circuit board, rotate the contact to a desired position and lower the contact to the circuit board.
US08648267B2
A weight measurement device has a housing that includes a base, a platform located above the base and on which a subject is placed or stands, and a chamber defined by the base and the platform. At least one load cell is contained in the chamber and is supported by the base. A load transmission member is located between the platform and the load cell. A bracket is fixed to the base. An elastic deformation part is located around the load transmission member and connected to the bracket and to the load transmission member. The elastic deformation part has an elasticity that is greater than that of the load transmission member, and allows the load transmission member to change in position with respect to the bracket when force is transmitted from the platform via the load transmission member to the load cell.
US08648266B2
A multiple force-measuring device, especially a multiple weighing device has at least two force-measuring modules. Each force-measuring module includes a force-measuring cell and a power delivery means. The power delivery means of at least one of the force-measuring modules in this arrangement is connected, directly or through a junction element, to a control cable that is connected to a power supply unit. The force-measuring modules are connected directly to each other through a module-connection cable that transfers electrical power therebetween.
US08648263B2
A wiring board and a method of forming a wiring board including a first substrate, a second substrate having a smaller mounting area than a mounting area of the first substrate, and a base substrate laminated between the first substrate and the second substrate such that the first substrate extends beyond an edge of the second substrate. An IVH (Interstitial Via Hole) penetrates the base substrate.
US08648261B2
A printed circuit board comprises a circuit substrate, an electrically conductive cloth structure, and a shielding structure. The circuit substrate comprises a base layer, a grounded circuit layer, and a connecting pad formed on the grounded circuit layer. The cloth structure comprises an anisotropic conductive adhesive connected to the connecting pad, an insulating layer, and a metallic deposition layer arranged between the anisotropic conductive adhesive and the insulating layer. The shielding structure comprises a shielding metal layer, an adhesive matrix, and a number of electrically conductive particles electrically connected to the shielding metal layer. The insulating layer defines a number of through holes corresponding to the particles, the particles is arranged in the through holes respectively and electrically connected the metallic deposition layer and the shielding metal layer. A method for manufacturing the above PCB is also provided.
US08648259B2
A grommet for housing electrical wires constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure includes a mounting structure, a tube, and a plurality of stiffeners. The mounting structure is configured to mount to a panel of a vehicle, the mounting structure defining a first passage extending therethrough. The tube extends from the mounting structure and defines a second passage in communication with the first passage. The tube includes a corrugated portion having a plurality of ridges and a plurality of grooves interposed between the plurality of ridges. The stiffeners are interposed between those of the plurality of ridges that are disposed within a zone of the corrugated portion. The stiffeners extend partially around a circumference of the tube.
US08648257B2
An insulation material composition for a direct current (DC) power cable and the DC power cable using the same are provided. A direct current (DC) power cable insulation material composition includes 0.5 to 5 parts by weight of surface-modified nano-sized cubic magnesium oxide, per 100 parts by weight of a polyethylene base resin.
US08648253B1
A method of manufacture of I-III-VI-absorber photovoltaic cells involves sequential deposition of films comprising one or more of silver and copper, with one or more of aluminum indium and gallium, and one or more of sulfur, selenium, and tellurium, as compounds in multiple thin sublayers to form a composite absorber layer. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to roll-to-roll processing of photovoltaic cells. In an embodiment, the method is adapted to preparation of a CIGS absorber layer having graded composition through the layer of substitutions such as tellurium near the base contact and silver near the heterojunction partner layer, or through gradations in indium and gallium content. In a particular embodiment, the graded composition is enriched in gallium at a base of the layer, and silver at the top of the layer. In an embodiment, each sublayer is deposited by co-evaporation of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium, which react in-situ to form CIGS.
US08648248B2
A photovoltaic assembly includes an optical element comprising a body having opposed planar major surfaces with a plurality of open-mouthed inclusions (grooves) formed on the light output surface. Each groove has a closed apex with an included apex angle. The body is formed from a material having an index of refraction of at least 1.3 and an induced absorbance rate ΔAbs/Dose less than or equal to about 0.4. The optical element is attached to a photovoltaic cell using an adhesive having an index of refraction in the range from about 1.34 to 1.50. The apex angle is selected such that light incident upon the body is conveyed the light output surface by the mechanism of total internal reflection from the boundary walls of the grooves and/or without retro-reflection toward the incident surface. The thickness of the adhesive layer and the dimension of the mouth of the grooves are selected such that light incident on the surface of the photovoltaic cell is not obscured by conductor lines on the cell's surface.
US08648245B1
An AMTEC power system including a housing that defines a cold chamber and a hot chamber, an insulative material disposed between the cold chamber and the hot chamber, the insulative material including carbon foam, and at least one AMTEC cell received in the housing, the AMTEC cell extending into both the cold chamber and the hot chamber.
US08648241B2
A manipulator information obtaining unit obtains at least a note name corresponding to a manipulator manipulated. A storage device includes a register configured to store at least possible note names, note names in a history of manipulators manipulated, and key candidates, and a first table configured to store diatonic scale notes for each of the key candidates. A key determination unit compares the note names in a history of manipulators manipulated with the diatonic scale notes for each of the key candidates and determines whether there is a key candidate in which all of the note names in the history of the manipulators coincide with any of the diatonic scale notes of the key candidate, thereby determining a key of a musical composition played by the manipulation of the manipulators, and storing the determined key in the register.
US08648230B2
Regulatory regions are shown which regulate expression of an operably linked heterologous nucleic acid molecule in plants. Promoters are described which express at lower levels in pollen cells that in other plant cells. Methods of using such promoter to regulate expression of an operably linked nucleic acid molecule are described. A polyadenylation nucleotide sequence from soybean is further shown.
US08648228B2
Nucleotide sequences of a Msca1 gene, critical to male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in impacting male fertility in plants.
US08648220B2
Converting a crude vinyl acetate feed to ethanol by hydrogenating the acetic acid and ethyl acetate in the crude vinyl acetate feed. The crude vinyl acetate feed may comprise acetic acid and/or ethyl acetate, as well as vinyl acetate and minor amounts of vinyl propionate. The crude vinyl acetate feed may be obtained from an azeotrope column as either a sidestream or a bottom stream in a vinyl acetate production process.
US08648219B2
A method and system for purifying crude glycerin is provided in which a mixture is formed by blending glycerin, water, an organic solvent, and an acid. The acid being capable of reacting with soap impurities to form lipids that are soluble in the organic solvent and ionic salts that are soluble in the glycerin and water. Liquid-liquid extraction separates and partitions the organic solvents and lipids away from the glycerin, water, and ionic salts with the organic solvent and lipids being reclaimed for future use. Any residual trace amount of organic solvent that remains in the glycerin and water is separated and removed through the use of a clarifier system, with the formation of micro-bubbles arising from a diffuser facilitating the separation. Prior to collection of the purified glycerin product, the ionic salts are removed from the mixture through the use of an ionic exchange resin, electrodialysis, or electrodeionization, followed by the water being removed by evaporation. The resulting purified glycerin exhibits a purity level on the order of about 99.7% or more.
US08648216B2
One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to the synthetic methods for making lepidopteran pheromones including navel orangeworm pheromones. The synthetic methods involve novel, efficient, and environmentally benign steps and procedures.
US08648214B2
The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of 4-hydroxy-α′-[[[6-(4-phenylbutoxy)hexyl]amino]methyl]-1,3-benzenedimethanol 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoate (salmeterol xinafoate) (12a), the preparation of 4-hydroxy-α′-[[[6-(4-phenylbutoxy)hexyl]amino]methyl]-1,3-benzenedimethanol (salmeterol) (11), the preparation of protected N-[6-(4-phenylbutoxy)hexyl]amine intermediates (7), and the preparation of 6-substituted (4-phenylbutoxy)hexane intermediates (5), shown below, wherein X is a leaving group and Pg is a protecting group.
US08648212B2
A description is given of a process for preparing solutions of radiation-sensitive, free-radically polymerizable organic compounds, where a first starting compound, which has an acid halide group, and a second starting compound, which has an alcoholic hydroxyl group, are esterified with one another in a solvent or in a solvent mixture. The solvent comprises one or more ketones having a boiling point of below 150° C. under atmospheric pressure (1 bar), or the solvent mixture is composed to an extent of at least 50% by weight of said ketones. One of the two starting compounds has at least one radiation-sensitive group and the other of the two starting compounds has at least one ethylenically unsaturated, free-radically polymerizable group. A description is also given of corresponding solutions of radiation-sensitive, free-radically polymerizable organic compounds and of their use for preparing radiation-crosslinkable, free-radically copolymerized copolymers, more particularly for hotmelt pressure-sensitive adhesives or aqueous polymer dispersions.
US08648210B2
The present invention relates to a method for purification of lipid material originating from biological material. In the method the lipid material comprising acylglycerols and phosphorus impurities and at least one added nonpolar solvent and at least one added polar solvent is provided into a reaction zone whereby at least a two phase system comprising a nonpolar phase and a polar phase is formed. The phase system is heated in the closed reaction zone under mixing at a temperature from 150° C. to 300° C. and at a pressure wherein said solvents are in subcritical state, preferably of below 100 bar, dependent on the vapor pressure of the selected solvents, until the phosphorus impurity is removed from the polar phase. Subsequently, the nonpolar phase including the purified oil comprising acylglycerols is separated and recovered from said phase system.
US08648205B2
The present invention generally relates to metal complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes that contain one or more additional active moieties and/or groups therein. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to metal complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes that contain an anti-fungal and/or anti-microbial moiety and/or group in combination with one or more additional active moieties and/or groups selected from fluoroquinolone compounds or derivatives thereof; steroids or derivatives thereof; anti-inflammatory compounds or derivatives thereof; anti-fungal compounds or derivatives thereof; anti-bacterial compounds or derivatives thereof; antagonist compounds or derivatives thereof; H2 receptor compounds or derivatives thereof; chemotherapy compounds or derivatives thereof; tumor suppressor compounds or derivatives thereof; or C1 to C16 alkyl heteroatom groups where the heterotatom is selected from S, O, or N. In still another embodiment, the present invention relates to metal complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes that contain an anti-fungal and/or anti-microbial moiety and/or group in combination with two or more additional active moieties and/or groups selected from fluoroquinolone compounds or derivatives thereof; steroids or derivatives thereof; anti-inflammatory compounds or derivatives thereof; anti-fungal compounds or derivatives thereof; anti-bacterial compounds or derivatives thereof; antagonist compounds or derivatives thereof; H2 receptor compounds or derivatives thereof; chemotherapy compounds or derivatives thereof; tumor suppressor compounds or derivatives thereof; or C1 to C16 alkyl heteroatom groups where the heterotatom is selected from S, O, or N.
US08648202B2
The invention relates to bis(perfluoroalkyl)phosphinous acids, bis(perfluoroalkyl)thiophosphinous acids and derivatives, the synthesis thereof and the use thereof, in particular for the synthesis of air-stable metal complexes for catalytic processes.
US08648198B2
Described herein are enhanced N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and their methods of use and treatment, e.g., of Formula (I): wherein one or more of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, or the ring formed by the joining of R1 and R2, is a hydrophobic moiety which confers enhanced antagonist activity as compared to existing NMDA receptor antagonists, e.g., ifenprodil. Compounds described herein are designed based on the discovery that ifenprodil binds within the allosteric domain of the GluN1/GluN2B NMDA receptor, particularly at the interface between GluN1 and GluN2B subunits. In silico methods are further described herein.
US08648192B2
The present invention relates to a compound of formula (I) wherein R1, R2 and n are as defined herein. The invention also relates to processes for making the compounds of formula (I) and methods of using the compounds of formula (I) as reagents in organic synthesis.
US08648190B2
The invention relates to a production method of a 2-hydroxymethylmorpholine salt, which includes crystallization from a solution containing 2-hydroxymethylmorpholine of formula (1) 1,4-oxazepane compound of formula (2) and an acid.
US08648177B2
Method for lyophilization is provided, in particular methods for lyophilization of formulations comprising AT III. Also provided are compositions prepared by therefrom. Also provided are kits comprising the compositions and/or lyophilized products.
US08648167B1
A variety of polymers and copolymers suitable for use as biologically compatible constructs and, as a non-limiting specific example, in the formation of degradable tissue scaffolds as well methods for synthesizing these polymers and copolymers are described. The polymers and copolymers have degradation rates that are substantially faster than those of previously described polymers suitable for the same uses. Copolymers having a synthesis route which enables one to fine tune the degradation rate by selecting the specific stoichiometry of the monomers in the resulting copolymer are also described. The disclosure also provides a novel synthesis route for maleoyl chloride which yields monomers suitable for use in the copolymer synthesis methods described herein.
US08648162B2
To provide an adherence substance which has a low viscosity and good coatability, can be made solvent free, has a low adhesive strength, of which increase with time is small, has good adhesion to a substrate, has excellent adhesion to an adherend and excellent removability, and has a good wettability. An adherence substance which is obtained by curing a curable composition comprising a silyl group-containing polymer (S) obtained by introducing a hydrolyzable silyl group to a molecular terminal of a polyurethane prepolymer obtained by reacting a polyol compound with a polyisocyanate compound, and which has a peel adhesive strength of at most 8N/25 mm.
US08648161B2
The purpose of the present invention is to improve the water absorption of a water-absorbent resin without sacrificing the productivity, production cost, safety, and so on. Provided is a sustainable and renewable water-absorbent resin with excellent whiteness, which is suitable for mass consumption as disposal diapers or the like, and which can dispense with excessive purification of raw material acrylic acid. Also provided is a process for the production of a water-absorbent resin, which comprises: a step of preparing acrylic monomers; a step of polymerizing the monomers; and a step of drying the obtained aqueous gel, wherein the monomers at the time of polymerization contain at least 400 ppm of propionic acid.
US08648159B2
The invention relates to cross-linkable vinylester-copolymers obtained by means of radically initiated polymerisation of a) one or more vinyl esters and b) one or more ethylenically unsaturated, epoxy functional monomers, and by a subsequent reaction that is analogous to polymerisation of the thus obtained base polymers with one or more ethylenically unsaturated acids g), such that at least one ethylenically unsaturated, polymerizable group is introduced into each base polymer. Said invention is characterised in that the cross-linkable vinylester-copolymers have molecular weights of Mn of ≧6.500 g/mol.
US08648158B2
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of copolymer in a continuous mode of operation in a polymerization apparatus, comprising a polymerization reactor having feed lines and an outflow, free radical polymerization initiator, an acid monomer and polyether macromonomer being passed as monomeric starting materials into the polymerization reactor through the feed lines, initiator, monomeric starting materials and copolymer-containing reaction composition thermostated at −20 to +120° C. being present in the polymerization reactor, copolymer-containing reaction composition being discharged from the polymerization reactor through the outflow, the introduction of the polyether macromonomer into the polymerization reactor being effected separately from the acid monomer in a manner such that the polyether macromonomer is mixed with the initiator, monomeric starting materials and copolymer-containing reaction composition in the polymerization reactor and comes into contact with the acid monomer for the first time thereby.
US08648155B2
The present description discloses a polymeric composition which is a melt-processed alloy comprised of (a) a polyarylene sulfide resin, (b) a polyaryl-ether-ketone resin, and a reactive compound which results in (c) a graft copolymer of the polyarylene sulfide resin and/or the polyaryl-ether-ketone resin in addition to the starting resins. Exemplary melt-processed polymeric compositions can be made by reacting an alkoxy silane with the polyarylene sulfide resin and/or the polyaryl-ether-ketone resin to produce a graft copolymer of a portion of one or both of the resins, sufficient to render the composition uniform and homogeneous. It is normally preferred for the exemplary organosilane compound, to be an amino silane. The subject invention further reveals an insulated wire comprising (1) an electrical conductor and (2) a layer of the melt-processed alloy composition; and fiber reinforced composites comprising fibers substantially fully impregnated with the alloy polymeric composition.
US08648152B2
The present invention provides a polyfunctional dimethylnaphthalene formaldehyde resin which is polyfunctional, rich in reactivity and useful as a variety of raw materials to be modified, specifically a dimethylnaphthalene formaldehyde resin obtained by allowing (1) one kind or two or more kinds of a dimethylnaphthalene having one methyl group on each of two benzene rings in a naphthalene ring thereof and selected from the group consisting of 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene, 1,6-dimethylnaphthalene, 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, 1,7-dimethylnaphthalene, 1,8-dimethylnaphthalene and 2,7-dimethylnaphthalene; and (2) formaldehyde to react with each other in the presence of water and an acid catalyst, the polyfunctional dimethylnaphthalene formaldehyde resin having a mean value of the number of hydrogen atoms substituted by the reaction among the six hydrogen atoms directly bonded on the naphthalene ring in the dimethylnaphthalene of from 1.8 to 3.5.
US08648146B2
Disclosed is a method for activating a solid support material with epoxy groups and for immobilizing ligands thereon, utilizing phase transfer catalytic conditions. The method permits the introduction of epoxy groups and specific nucleophilic ligands on the support material with a high level of substitution. Furthermore, the invention provides a general method for immobilizing a ligand for use in a wide variety of chromatographic separation procedures such as ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic interaction chromatography (HIC), reverse phase chromatography (RPC), or affinity chromatography.
US08648141B2
The present invention relates to improved compositions of SSBR rubber. The improved compositions exhibit sufficient or improved balance of characteristics such as rolling resistance, HBU, abrasion, grip, and/or tear. The compositions may be made in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
US08648136B2
Polymer-inorganic particle blends are incorporated into structures generally involving interfaces with additional materials that can be used advantageously for forming desirable devices. In some embodiments, the structures are optical structures, and the interfaces are optical interfaces. The different materials at the interface can have differences in index-of-refraction to yield desired optical properties at the interface. In some embodiments, structures are formed with periodic variations in index-of-refraction. In particular, photonic crystals can be formed. Suitable methods can be used to form the desired structures.
US08648134B2
A polymer composition comprises a polymer matrix, a first fluorine-containing processing aid, and a second processing additive system that is substantially free of fluorine and that comprises: (a) a lubricant and (b) a surfactant.
US08648117B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating cancer metastasis by cyclohexenone compounds.
US08648115B2
The present invention relates to the use of compounds of general formula (I) or of a salt thereof as anti-oomycetes and to a method for combating plant pathogens using said compounds.
US08648105B2
The present invention relates to diarylthiohydantoin compounds and methods for synthesizing them and using them in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer.
US08648100B2
The invention relates to the use of Roflumilast, Roflumilast N-Oxide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. The invention additionally relates to the use of Roflumilast, Roflumilast N-oxide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of either in combination with a PDE5 inhibitor or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension.
US08648098B2
The present invention relates to methods involving avoiding adverse drug interactions with pirfenidone and CYP inducers, such as smoking.
US08648093B2
A crystalline form of a drug, ways to make it, compositions containing it and methods of treatment of diseases and inhibition of adverse physiological events using it are disclosed.
US08648090B2
Indole alkaloid derivatives having an opioid receptor agonistic effect, their synthesis, and therapeutic compositions containing these derivatives, and methods of treating conditions with these compounds and therapeutic compositions, are provided.
US08648086B2
The present invention provides 5,6-bicyclic heteroaryl-containing urea compounds of Formula I or II and use of the same for treating conditions mediated by protein kinase such as VEGFR2, c-Met, PDGFRβ c-Kit, CSF1R, or EphA2.
US08648071B2
The present invention relates to substituted hydrazonamide compounds. The invention further relates to methods of inhibiting the activity of Hsρ90 in a subject in need thereof and methods for treating hyperproliferative disorders, such as cancer, in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a substituted hydrazonamide compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising such a compound.
US08648070B2
This invention relates to bicyclic ring system substituted sulfonamide functionalized phenols of general formula 1, their use as inhibitors of CXCR2 activity, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and methods of using the same as agents for treatment and/or prevention of respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints or diseases, inflammatory diseases of the joints, skin, or eyes, diseases of the peripheral or central nervous system or cancers, as well as pharmaceutical compositions which contain these compounds.
US08648060B2
The invention relates to the field of male and/or female sexual dysfunction. The invention specifically relates to the use of 3-alpha-androstanediol, preferably in combination with a 5-HT1A agonist. Optionally, said 3-alpha-androstanediol and said 5HT1a agonist are further combined with a type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibitor.
US08648055B2
A method for neutralizing or inactivating a virus, and neutralizing or inactivating HIV using sophorolipids having antiviral properties produced by synthesizing the sophorolipid by fermentation of Candida bombicola in a fermentation media to form a natural mixture of lactonic sophorolipids compounds and non-lactonic sophorolipids compounds and utilizing the natural mixture as an antiviral agent, and/or separating the lactonic sophorolipids from the natural mixture to form a lactonic fraction and mixing all remaining fractions to form a non-lactonic fraction and utilizing the lactonic fraction and/or the non-lactonic fraction as an antiviral agent, and sophorolipid compounds for use as antiviral agents.
US08648053B2
The present invention provides a method for treating Usher's syndrome in a human subject including administering to the human subject an oligonucleotide having 8 to 30 linked nucleosides having a nucleobase sequence comprising a complementary region comprising at least 8 contiguous nucleobases complementary to a target region of equal length within exon 3 of an Usher RNA transcript.
US08648052B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the treatment or prevention of Chlamydia infections. The methods and compositions inhibit the entry of Chlamydia into a host cell expressing EMP2 by interfering with the interaction between the Chlamydia and EMP2. The compositions include EMP2 nucleic acids and polypeptides as well as anti-EMP2 antibodies.
US08648047B2
Pharmaceutical compositions and methods for sensitizing multi-drug resistant cancer or radiation resistant cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents are provided. Compositions include ligands of hyaluronan receptors, including glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronan oligomers and derivatives of these oligomers, hyaluronan binding proteins, antibodies specific for hyaluronan receptors, hyaluronan mimetics, inhibitors of hyaluronan synthesis, and stimulators of hyaluronan degradation.
US08648037B2
The present invention discloses compounds of Formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US08648033B2
The invention relates to a method to confer, enhance, improve or modify the odor properties of a perfuming composition or of a perfumed article, by adding to the composition or article an effective amount of at least a compound of formula (I) wherein R1 represents a C1-3 hydrocarbon group; R2 represents a C1-3 hydrocarbon group; and one R3 represents a C1-3 hydrocarbon group, and the other R3 represents a hydrogen atom. The invention also relates to perfuming compositions and perfuming consumer products containing these compounds.
US08648028B2
The present disclosure relates to a capsule having a core and a shell surrounding the core. The shell comprises a polymeric material produced by reacting a component (A) with a component (B). Component (A) comprises a polysiloxane bearing one or more amino groups and component (B) comprises one or more polyisocyanates. The disclosure also relates to processes for producing the capsules, methods of using the capsules, and to products containing the capsules.
US08648025B2
A personal care composition is provided with a silicone compound and being aesthetically modified for improved skinfeel with a polyhydroxy quaternary ammonium salt of structure (I): wherein X− is selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, hydroxyl, sulphate, phosphate, methosulphate, carboxyl, citrate and tartrate; and (ii) from about 0.05 to about 50% of silicone by weight of the composition.
US08648022B2
The present invention proposes a lubricating oil for refrigerators comprising, as the base oil, a polyester-based derivative or a polyvinyl ether derivative and a polycarbonate-based oxygenated compound; a polyoxyalkylene glycol derivative; or a polyester-based derivative or a polyvinyl ether derivative and a polyoxyalkylene glycol derivative. The lubricating oil exhibits excellent miscibility with a refrigerant having one carbon atom and no chlorine atoms and, in particular, with difluoromethane and provides a hydraulic fluid composition exhibiting excellent antiwear, lubricity and stability.
US08648018B2
The invention is directed to stable crosslinked water-soluble swellable polymers, methods for making same, and their various uses in the hygiene and medical arts, gel electrophoresis, packaging, agriculture, the cable industry, information technology, in the food industry, papermaking, use as flocculation aids, and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a composition comprising expandable polymeric microparticles having labile crosslinkers and stable crosslinkers, said microparticle mixed with a fluid and an unreacted tertiary crosslinker that is capable of further crosslinking the microparticle on degradation of the labile crosslinker so as to form a stable gel. A particularly important use is as an injection fluid in petroleum production, where the expandable polymeric particles are injected into a well and when the heat and/or pH of the well cause degradation of the labile crosslinker and when the particle expands, the tertiary crosslinker crosslinks the polymer to form a stable gel, thus diverting water to lower permeability regions and improving oil recovery.
US08648007B2
An apparatus and method for vaporizing and transporting an alkali metal salt is shown. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam forming a solution that can be transported, such as to a remote reaction zone. The solution can be transported via a third conduit that is capable of being heated by a heat source. The method can be used to add a promoter to a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction.
US08648006B2
Novel methods of electroless plating are described. Catalyst coatings can be applied within microchannel apparatus. Various reactions, including combustion and steam reforming, can be conducted over electroless catalyst coatings.
US08647995B2
Sodium containing aluminosilicate and boroaluminosilicate glasses are described herein. The glasses can be used as substrates or superstrates for photovoltaic devices, for example, thin film photovoltaic devices such as CIGS photovoltaic devices. These glasses can be characterized as having strain points ≧535° C., for example, ≧570° C., thermal expansion coefficients of from 8 to 9 ppm/° C., as well as liquidus viscosities in excess of 50,000 poise. As such they are ideally suited for being formed into sheet by the fusion process.
US08647981B1
Some embodiments include methods of forming a pattern. First lines are formed over a first material, and second lines are formed over the first lines. The first and second lines form a crosshatch pattern. The first openings are extended through the first material. Portions of the first lines that are not covered by the second lines are removed to pattern the first lines into segments. The second lines are removed to uncover the segments. Masking material is formed between the segments. The segments are removed to form second openings that extend through the masking material to the first material. The second openings are extended through the first material. The masking material is removed to leave a patterned mask comprising the first material having the first and second openings therein. In some embodiments, spacers may be formed along the first and second lines to narrow the openings in the crosshatch pattern.
US08647974B2
Various semiconductor chip input/output structures and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes providing a semiconductor chip that has a first conductor pad and a passivation structure. A second conductor pad is fabricated around but not in physical contact with the first conductor pad to leave a gap. The second conductor pad is adapted to protect a portion of the passivation structure.
US08647966B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a method of sawing a semiconductor wafer will be described. A semiconductor wafer is positioned in a wafer sawing apparatus that includes a sawing blade and a movable support structure that physically supports the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is coupled with the support structure with various layers, including a die attach film, an adhesive and a base film. The die attach film is cut with the sawing blade. During the cutting operation, a contact portion of the sawing blade engages one of the layers and moves at least partly in one direction. While the contact portion of the sawing blade engages the layer, the support structure moves in the opposite direction. Various aspects of the present invention relate to arrangements and a wafer sawing apparatus that involve the aforementioned sawing method.
US08647953B2
A method for fabricating a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) device is described, including following steps. Two recesses are formed in a substrate. A first epitaxy growth process is performed, so as to form a first semiconductor compound layer in each of the recesses. A second epitaxy growth process is performed with an epitaxial temperature lower than 700° C., so as to form a cap layer on each of the first semiconductor compound layers. Each of the cap layers includes a second semiconductor compound layer protruding from a surface of the substrate. The first and the second semiconductor compound layers are composed of a first Group IV element and a second Group IV element, wherein the second Group IV element is a nonsilicon element. The content of the second Group IV element in the second semiconductor compound layers is less than that in the first semiconductor compound layers.
US08647945B2
A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a material stack including an epitaxially grown semiconductor layer on a base semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer on the epitaxially grown semiconductor layer, and an upper semiconductor layer present on the dielectric layer. A capacitor is present extending from the upper semiconductor layer through the dielectric layer into contact with the epitaxially grown semiconductor layer. The capacitor includes a node dielectric present on the sidewalls of the trench and an upper electrode filling at least a portion of the trench. A substrate contact is present in a contact trench extending from the upper semiconductor layer through the dielectric layer and the epitaxially semiconductor layer to a doped region of the base semiconductor layer. A substrate contact is also provided that contacts the base semiconductor layer through the sidewall of a trench. Methods for forming the above-described structures are also provided.
US08647944B2
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having a logic formation region where a logic device is formed; a first impurity region formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the logic formation region; a second impurity region formed in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate in the logic formation region; a third impurity region formed in an upper surface of the first impurity region and having a conductivity type different from that of the second impurity region; a fourth region formed in an upper surface of the second impurity region and having a conductivity type different from that of the second impurity region; a first silicide film formed in an upper surface of the third impurity region; a second silicide film formed in an upper surface of the fourth impurity region and having a larger thickness than the first silicide film.
US08647937B2
CMOS devices are fabricated with a channel layer having minimized dopant fluctuation and diffusion. Embodiments include forming a dummy gate, on a substrate, between a pair of spacers, forming, in the substrate, a source and drain separated by a ground plane layer, removing the dummy gate from the substrate, forming a cavity between the pair of spacers, forming, after removal of the dummy gate, a channel layer on the substrate, forming a high-k layer on the channel layer and on side surfaces of the cavity, and forming a replacement gate in the cavity.
US08647932B2
Disclosed are a thin film transistor and a method of manufacturing the thin film transistor. An electrode layer of the thin film transistor includes a seed layer formed of a transparent conductive material doped with indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) and a main layer formed of a transparent conductive material. The thin film transistor includes a substrate, a gate electrode on the substrate, a gate insulation film on the substrate to cover the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulation film in a region corresponding to the gate electrode, an electrode layer having a double layer structure and disposed on the gate insulation film in a manner such that a topside portion of the semiconductor layer is exposed through the electrode layer, and a passivation layer on the gate insulation film to cover the semiconductor layer and the electrode layer.
US08647927B2
A microwave circuit package having a ball grid array, BGA, soldered on to a planar major surface of a metal housing of the package for the electrical connection of the ports of the microwave circuit through RF signal paths to an adjacent electrical device. Each of the RF signal paths comprises a pin electrically connected to a respective port of the microwave circuit package, projecting normally through an opening in the said major surface from which it is electrically insulated, and soldered to a ball of the BGA; the pin and the surrounding balls of the BGA, which are soldered to the metal housing, constituting a coaxial RF signal path.
US08647923B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a plurality of first integrated circuits on the surface side of a first semiconductor substrate; forming a plurality of second integrated circuits in a semiconductor layer that is formed on a release layer provided on a second semiconductor substrate; bonding the two semiconductor substrates so that electrically bonding portions are bonded to each other to form a bonded structure; separating the second semiconductor substrate from the bonded structure at the release layer to transfer, to the first semiconductor substrate, the semiconductor layer in which the plurality of second integrated circuits are formed; and dicing the first semiconductor substrate to obtain stacked chips each including the first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit.
US08647919B2
Provided is a method to manufacture a light-emitting display device in which a contact hole for the electrical connection of the pixel electrode and one of the source and drain electrode of a transistor and a contact hole for the processing of a semiconductor layer are formed simultaneously. The method contributes to the reduction of a photography step. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel formation region is formed.
US08647916B2
Methods for manufacturing a solar cell are provided. The method may include forming a lower electrode on a substrate, forming a light absorption layer on the lower electrode, forming a buffer layer on the light absorption layer, and forming a window layer on the buffer layer. The window layer may include an intrinsic layer and the transparent electrode which have electric characteristics different from each other, respectively. The intrinsic layer and the transparent electrode may be formed by a sputtering process using a single target formed of metal oxide doped with impurities.
US08647913B2
A solid state image sensor, a method for fabricating the solid state image sensor and a design structure for fabricating the solid state image sensor structure include a substrate that in turn includes a photosensitive region. Also included within solid state image sensor is a non-planar reflector layer located over a side of the photosensitive region and the substrate opposite an incoming radiation side of the photosensitive region and the substrate. The non-planar reflector layer is shaped and positioned to reflect uncaptured incident radiation back into the photosensitive region while avoiding optical cross-talk with an additional photosensitive region laterally separated within the substrate.
US08647912B2
The present invention is a solar cell 500 comprising the substrate 510 made of a crystalline semiconductor, an i-type semiconductor layer 520a and an i-type semiconductor layer 520b each made of an amorphous semiconductor, and a first-conductivity type semiconductor layer 530 and a second-conductivity type semiconductor layer 540 each made of an amorphous semiconductor, in which by catalytic chemical vapor deposition in which catalyzers decompose raw gas when being heated by receiving an electric current, the i-type semiconductor layer 520a is formed on the principle plane 515a by the catalyzer placed at the position facing the principle plane 515a, the i-type semiconductor layer 520b is formed on the principle plane 515b by the catalyzer placed at the position facing the principle plane 515b are formed on the i-type semiconductor layer 520a and the i-type semiconductor layer 520b on the substrate 510.
US08647910B2
The present invention relates to masking pastes and methods for removing portions of the back electrode and photovoltaic junction from a photovoltaic laminate to create a partially transparent thin-film photovoltaic panel. Such panels may be useful in window and sun-roof applications. This method can be used to edge-delete and electrically isolate a photovoltaic panel and to reduce the reflectivity of the sun-facing substrate surface.
US08647892B2
A method for process control is disclosed. The method includes performing an etching process on a semiconductor substrate forming a structure and a test structure having a pattern and a releasing mechanism coupled to the pattern; and monitoring the pattern of the test structure to determine whether the etching process is complete.
US08647889B2
The present invention is directed to a luminescent immunoassay method for detecting an analyte in a liquid sample with high sensitivity. The invention provides a unique combination of (i) using a probe having a small sensing surface area for binding analyte molecules, (ii) using a high molecular weight branched polymer conjugated with multiple binding molecules and multiple luminescent labels, and (iii) cycling the probe having immunocomplex formed back to the reagent vessel and amplification vessel 1-10 times and repeating the reaction with the reagent and the amplification polymer, to improve the sensitivity of detection level. For each cycling, the luminescent signal is increased significantly over the noise.
US08647886B1
The present invention generally relates to an apparatus, method, system for the determination of the aggregation rate of red blood cells. More specifically, the invention concerns a method, system, and the relative apparatus used to determine the aggregation rate of red blood cells, and other parameters related to these, such as viscosity, deformability, elasticity, density, in the field of in vitro medical analyses, using optical systems after or during inducted forces for red blood cell disruption and redistribution generated by ultrasound waves.
US08647866B2
Novel polypeptide combinations, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed for zcytor17-containing multimeric or heterodimer cytokine receptors that may be used as novel cytokine antagonists, and within methods for detecting ligands that stimulate the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic, lymphoid and myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the multimeric or heterodimeric cytokine receptor, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.
US08647863B2
A plasmid is provided comprising the following functional units: a prokaryotic origin of replication, a marker sequence, two specific recombinase recognition sequences and a multiple cloning site, whereby it comprises a gene coding for a sequence specific recombinase, whereby the units are arranged on the plasmid in such a way that the plasmid is divided into a miniplasmid and a minicircle upon expression of the sequence specific recombinase, said miniplasmid comprising the prokaryotic origin of replication, the marker sequence and the gene for the sequence specific recombinase and said minicircle comprising the multiple cloning site.
US08647862B2
When using the equipment and method in accordance with this invention, it is possible to implement biotechnological production e.g. in biorefineries in such a way that it is possible to make use of the phenomena of the gas-liquid interface and interfaces between other phases by means of a moving process solution and gas led into it. This way, production and post-treatment methods can also be integrated, and desired acceleration of reactions and cost reductions can be achieved.
US08647857B2
The present disclosure generally relates to processes employing polypeptides having colanic acid-degrading activity. The processes generally involve contacting a biological material with a polypeptide capable of digesting colanic acid. Additional process steps, such as chromatographic separation steps, are also described.
US08647846B2
A method and a container for production of a biomembrane are disclosed in the present invention. The biomembrane produced in the method and in the container of the present invention can be processed into a mask, wherein processes for changing the shape of the biomembrane are unnecessary. The mask produced from the biomembrane can be efficient to maintain the skin, and to supply the moisture thereto.
US08647845B2
Provided is a method for efficiently producing sugar and simultaneously efficiently producing ethanol. A method for producing sugar characterized by comprising a pretreatment step in which a plant-origin sugar solution is fermented by a microorganism having no sucrose-degrading enzyme and a step for producing sugar from the fermented sugar solution. A method for producing sugar characterized by comprising a pretreatment step in which a plant-origin sugar solution is fermented by a microorganism in the presence of a sucrose-degrading enzyme inhibitor and a step for producing sugar from the fermented sugar solution.
US08647842B2
The present invention provides methods for producing a fusion protein capable of binding vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). The methods of the invention comprise growing recombinant cells in suspension culture, wherein the recombinant cells contain an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a fusion protein that binds VEGF, and isolating the fusion protein from the suspension culture. The fusion protein may comprise a VEGF receptor component having an immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domain 2 of a first VEGF receptor, an Ig domain 3 of a second VEGF receptor, and a multimerizing component.
US08647841B2
According to the present invention there is provided a method of producing a protein in a eukaryotic cell line, comprising the steps of a) providing a backbone of an artificial chromosome, b) recombining the nucleic acid encoding said protein into said backbone to generate an expression vector, c) introducing said expression vector into a eukaryotic host cell line to obtain a eukaryotic expression cell line, d) cultivating said expression cell line to produce said protein, and e) isolating said protein. The invention further relates to respective vectors and transgenic cell lines.
US08647840B2
The invention provides orthogonal translation systems for the production of polypeptides comprising unnatural amino acids in methylotrophic yeast such as Pichia pastoris. Methods for producing polypeptides comprising unnatural amino acids in methylotrophic yeast such as Pichia pastoris are also provided.
US08647837B2
The present invention comprises artificial tissue constructs that serve as in vitro models of mammalian lung tissue. The artificial tissue constructs of the present invention comprise functionally equivalent in vitro tissue scaffolds that enable immunophysiological function of the lung. The constructs can serve as novel platforms for the study of lung diseases (e.g., interstitial lung diseases, fibrosis, influenza, RSV) as well as smoke- and smoking-related diseases. The artificial tissue constructs of the present invention comprise the two components of alveolar tissue, epithelial and endothelial cell layers.
US08647833B2
The invention concerns the field of hemostasis, in particular blood coagulation disorders linked to an abnormal expression of tissue factor, and to physiopathological phenomena correlated with over-expression of the factor. The present invention provides a method for assaying the activity of circulating tissue factor in a biological sample. The method of the invention is carried out in vitro, in particular on a blood sample collected from a patient.
US08647828B2
The present invention provides methods for intracellular and/or nuclear targeting of an agent capable of specifically binding to syndecan-4. The present invention further provides methods for the modification of the intracellular and/or nuclear targeting of said agent, as well methods for identifying compounds capable of modifying the syndecan-4 delivery pathway. The present invention further provides experimental kits to perform the methods according to the invention.
US08647822B2
Modulation of PD-1 activity in the presence or absence of an agent as measured by a gene expression profile of at least two genes is provided. Reagents, kits, methods and uses thereof for the modulation of immune function comprise the identification of modulators of PD-1 activity.
US08647821B2
Described are devices and methods for detecting binding on an electrode surface. In addition, devices and methods for electrochemically synthesizing polymers and devices and methods for synthesizing and detecting binding to the polymer on a common integrated device surface are described.
US08647811B2
A positive-working lithographic printing plate precursor has an outermost imageable layer that is present at a dry coverage weight of at least 0.7 g/m2 and up to and including 1.6 g/m2 and comprises a primary polymeric binder comprising recurring units of a hydroxyaryl acetal or a hydroxyaryl ester, or recurring units of both a hydroxyaryl acetal and a hydroxyaryl ester. The outermost imageable layer also contains an alkali-soluble secondary vinyl polymer that is not a primary polymeric binder and a non-polymeric polyhydric phenol. These precursors comprise an infrared radiation absorber to make them sensitive and imageable using infrared radiation. After imaging, the precursors can be processed (developed) using an relatively low pH developer such as a silicate- or metasilicate-free developer.
US08647807B2
A photosensitive resin composition comprising: a vinyl-based polymer (I) obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing a monomer (a) having a phenolic hydroxyl group; a vinyl-based polymer (II) obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing a carboxyl group-containing vinyl monomer (b), and having a weight average molecular weight of 20,000 to 100,000, provided that the vinyl-based polymer (I) is excluded; a quinonediazide compound (III); and a compound (IV) represented by following formula (5).[In the formula, Y is a hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; l and m are each independently an integer of 1 to 3; n is 1 or 2; p and q are each independently 0 or 1.].
US08647806B2
The present invention is related to a photosensitive resin composition containing: a vinyl-based copolymer (I) obtained by polymerizing a monomer mixture containing a monomer (a) having a phenolic hydroxyl group and a carboxyl group-containing vinyl monomer (b); a quinonediazide compound (II) and a compound (III) represented by the following formula (5), and to a photosensitive dry film and a method for forming a patter by using the photosensitive resin composition.According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a photosensitive resin composition which can form a resist film in which the occurrence of crack is suppressed, the film reduction of the unexposed area is suppressed, and sensitivity and resolution are excellent, and to provide a photosensitive dry film and a method for forming a pattern by using the photosensitive resist composition [In the formula, Y is a straight or branched hydrocarbon group of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; 1 and m are respectively independently an integer of 1 to 3; n is 1 or 2; p and q are respectively independently 0 or 1.]
US08647804B2
A method of preparing carrier for electrophotography, which includes a core material and a coating material layer formed on the surface of the core material, including coating a coating material of the coating material layer on the core material; and burning the coating material by an induction heater, wherein the induction heater applies an alternative current to parallely-located plural coil circuits including a conductive wire including the shape of a coil to generate a magnetic line changing its direction and intensity for inductively heating the core material to heat the coating material.
US08647800B2
Provided is a toner capable of suppressing the bleeding of wax to the surface of the toner to maintain a high electrophotograph property while maintaining a broad fixing temperature range and capable of reducing interior contamination in long-term use. The toner includes toner particles, each of which contains a binder resin, a colorant, and a wax. The toner has a softening point of 75° C. or more and 110° C. or less measured by a constant-pressure-extrusion-type capillary rheometer. The wax is a hydrocarbon wax composed of a hydrocarbon compound. The hydrocarbon wax has specific abundance ratios each corresponding to a specific carbon number range of hydrocarbon compounds.
US08647798B2
A photoreceptor including an electroconductive substrate; a photosensitive layer on the electroconductive substrate; and a protection layer on the photosensitive layer, wherein the protection layer includes a radical polymerizable compound having three or more radical polymerizable groups without a charge transportable group, a monofunctional radical polymerizable compound having a specific charge transportable group and a non-radical polymerizable compound having a specific charge transportable group.
US08647793B2
A solid proton conductor for a fuel cell and a fuel cell employing the solid proton conductor, the solid proton conductor including a sulfonated polymer, and a hydrophilic polymer having an acid group, constituting a polymer solvent, providing a proton mobile path.
US08647788B2
A fuel cell module (1) with a fuel cell (2), a residual gas burner (4) and a heat exchanger (6). The service life of the module (1) can be improved by at least one compensator (27) for establishing a flow-carrying connection between the residual gas burner (4) and the heat exchanger (6).
US08647782B2
A fuel cell system is provided that can establish, for a long time period, a stack to an idling stop state. The fuel cell system includes: an idling stop control means for setting the stack to an idling stop state by, decreasing both a supplied amount of air to the stack and generated electric current produced from the stack to less than during the idling power generation; and a discharge valve control means for determining whether there is a necessity to discharge nitrogen or generated water inside of the anode system, and for opening the purge valve or drain valve in a case of there being a necessity. The discharge valve control means shortens valve open times (PO2, DO2) of the purge valve and drain valve during idling stop to less than the valve open times (PO1, DO1) thereof during idling power generation.
US08647780B2
The invention concerns novel ionic compounds with low melting point whereof the onium type cation having at least a heteroatom such as N, 0, S or P bearing the positive charge and whereof the anion includes, wholly or partially, at least an ion imidide such as (FXI0)N—(OX2F) wherein X1 and X2 are identical or different and comprise SO or PF, and their use as solvent in electrochemical devices. Said composition comprises a salt wherein the anionic charge is delocalised, and can be used, inter alia, as electrolyte.
US08647779B2
A nonaqueous electrolyte composition includes: a nonaqueous solvent; an electrolyte salt; a matrix resin; a filler; and a surfactant.
US08647770B2
A rechargeable magnesium-ion battery includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte layer between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte includes a source of magnesium ions, such as a magnesium salt. The first electrode includes an active material, the active material including tin and bismuth, for example as a binary combination of Sn and Bi, such as a solid solution or intermetallic compound.
US08647769B2
The invention provides for a method of discharging a chemical source of electric energy in two stages. The chemical source of electric energy comprises a positive electrode (cathode) including sulphur or sulphur-based organic compounds, sulphur-based polymeric compounds or sulphur-based inorganic compounds as a depolarizer, a negative electrode (anode) made of metallic lithium or lithium-containing alloys, and an electrolyte comprising a solution of at least one salt in at least one aprotic solvent. The method comprises the steps of configuring the chemical source of electric energy to generate soluble polysulphides in the electrolyte during a first stage of a two stage discharge process, and selecting the quantity of sulphur in the depolariser and the volume of electrolyte in a way that after the first stage discharge of the cathode, the concentration of the soluble polysulphides in the electrolyte is at least seventy percent (70%) of a saturation concentration of the polysulphides in the electrolyte.
US08647763B2
A battery coolant jacket for use with a plurality of cells is provided, the jacket comprised of a hollow enclosure configured to permit a liquid coolant to flow through the enclosure, entering via a coolant inlet and exiting via a coolant outlet; a plurality of cell apertures that extend completely through the hollow enclosure, where each cell aperture is sized to fit a cell; and a plurality of coolant segregation walls that are integrated into the hollow enclosure and separate the cells into groups of cells, and where each coolant segregation wall forms a barrier between the cell group contained within that coolant segregation wall and the liquid coolant flowing through the hollow enclosure. The coolant jacket may include at least one flow control wall integrated within the hollow enclosure that controls the coolant flow pathway between the enclosure's coolant inlet and outlet, for example causing the coolant flow pathway to alternate directions between adjacent cell groups.
US08647756B2
A magnetic tape produced by cutting a magnetic sheet with a wide breadth into a tape having a predetermined width using a cutting device, in which the magnetic sheet has a magnetic layer containing magnetic powder and a hinder formed on one surface of a non-magnetic substrate having a thickness of 4 μm or less, and a center line average height (Ra) along a roughness curve of a cut edge of the magnetic tape is from 0.08 to 0.25 μm.
US08647755B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium with less medium noise, excellent overwrite characteristics, and scratch resistance. According to one embodiment, when an Ar gas with addition of a micro-amount of oxygen is used upon forming an upper Ru intermediate layer, a micro-structure of a magnetic layer formed thereon can be formed in a state where no magnetic oxide region is segregated and the magnetic crystal grains are isolated. In this case, a gas pressure for forming the upper intermediate layer is set to 5 Pa or more and 12 Pa or less which is a region much higher compared with 0.5 Pa or more and 1 Pa for the lower Ru intermediate layer. Since writing by a head becomes difficult remarkably in the perpendicular magnetic medium having magnetic crystal grains promoted for isolation, a second magnetic layer for facilitating magnetization reversal by lowering the oxide concentration and somewhat strengthening coupling between particles only in the magnetic layer on the side of the surface is formed to a layer above the first magnetic layer as a main part.
US08647737B2
The invention provides a process for forming crack-free dielectric films on a substrate. The process comprise the application of a dielectric precursor layer of a thickness from about 0.3 μm to about 1.0 μm to a substrate. The deposition is followed by low temperature heat pretreatment, prepyrolysis, pyrolysis and crystallization step for each layer. The deposition, heat pretreatment, prepyrolysis, pyrolysis and crystallization are repeated until the dielectric film forms an overall thickness of from about 1.5 μm to about 20.0 μm and providing a final crystallization treatment to form a thick dielectric film. Also provided was a thick crack-free dielectric film on a substrate, the dielectric forming a dense thick crack-free dielectric having an overall dielectric thickness of from about 1.5 μm to about 20.0 μm.
US08647735B2
This invention relates to a heating article (1) comprising a substrate (2) of which one of the surfaces (21) is equipped with a design (4), in the form of a coating layer with at least one pattern (41, 42), which comprises a thermochromic pigment composition with at least one SC thermochromic pigment that is lipid-sensitive under heat. According to the invention, the thermochromic pigment composition includes at least one thermostable pigment and composite pigment grains (43), which each include a core (430) including the semiconducting thermochromic pigment, and a solid, transparent and continuous envelope (431), formed by a mineral or organomineral material. The thermochromic pigment composition shows a reversible change in color in a thermal color-change area with an amplitude of no more than 40° C. within the range of variation of said temperature T1 of use.
US08647725B2
A cellulose acylate film, containing an acyl-modified compound of a reduction product of a ketone compound-formaldehyde polymer, a polarizing plate containing the film as transparent protective film, and a liquid crystal display device having the polarizing plate.
US08647717B2
A method for preparing a thermo-insulating packaging material including steps of providing a first paper-based substrate, applying a fluid thermal-insulating composition onto the first paper-based substrate, the thermal-insulating composition including a filler, an organic binder, a plasticizer, and water, applying a second paper-based substrate over the thermal-insulating composition such that the thermal-insulating composition is positioned between the first paper-based substrate and the second paper-based substrate to form a structure, and drying the structure.
US08647712B2
The present teachings describe a process that includes obtaining a composition of particles comprising fluorine containing particles and aerogel particles. The composition is mixed at a resonant frequency of a mixing system containing the composition. The composition is powder coated onto a substrate and cured to form a release layer on the substrate.
US08647710B2
A method for production of a substrate having a patterned optical coating on a curved surface is provided. The method includes applying a masking to a sub-area of the curved surface applying an optical coating using a vacuum deposition method, and removing the masking. A coated substrate, which can be produced in particular by the method described above, is also provided. The coated substrate includes a curved surface that is provided with at least one patterned optical coating. The at least one patterned optical coating is provided on at least one sub-area of the curved surface and is missing on at least one adjacent sub-area.
US08647709B2
A method of inhibiting or preventing bonding between snow or ice and a substrate. The method includes applying an adhesive to the substrate, broadcasting an aggregate onto the adhesive, the aggregate having the capacity to receive an anti-icing chemical into the aggregate, and applying the anti-icing chemical onto the aggregate so that at least a portion of the anti-icing chemical is received into at least a portion of the aggregate.
US08647688B2
The present invention relates to a continuous method of fermenting wort, said method comprising: -fermenting wort with a biologically active yeast to produce an alcohol containing fermented liquid; -introducing the fermented liquid containing at least 10 g/l of biologically active yeast into a maturation vessel; -separately removing yeast containing sediment and supernatant liquid from the vessel; and -optionally recirculating at least a part of the yeast containing sediment to the wort fermentation; wherein the residence time of the fermented liquid in the maturation vessel exceeds 6 hours. The present method offers the advantage that it combines maturation and yeast separation into one processing step, whereas conventional continuous processes require at least two separate processing steps, one for yeast separation and one for maturation. Secondly, the present method is very robust as the relatively high residence time that is needed for maturation ensures that effective sedimentation is achieved under virtually all conditions.
US08647680B2
Methods and compositions for inducing apoptosis of cells, such as macrophages, at a lesioned site of a body vessel are disclosed herein. Nitric oxide can be directly or indirectly delivered to a treatment site to increase macrophage apoptosis. Delivery can include site specific delivery of nitric oxide gas, nitric oxide in aqueous solution or a substance(s) which releases nitric oxide or causes nitric oxide to be generated from an endogenous source. Delivery can be achieved by a delivery system such as a catheter assembly, stent or other suitable device.
US08647676B2
The present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition, and to a process for the preparation of such a composition. The invention also relates to the use of such an antimicrobial composition. The present invention further relates to the use of the antimicrobial composition as a pharmaceutical.
US08647672B2
The invention relates to an implant material comprising a polymer which is partially cross-linked by means of a metal acrylate salt.
US08647667B2
A solid oral controlled-release dosage form of hydrocodone is disclosed, the dosage form comprising an analgesically effective amount of hydrocodone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and controlled release material.
US08647659B2
Described herein are intracameral implants including at least one therapeutic agent for treatment of at least one ocular condition. The implants described herein are not anchored to the ocular tissue, but rather are held in place by currents and gravity present in the anterior chamber of an eye. The implants are preferably polymeric, biodegradable and provide sustained release of at least one therapeutic agent to both the trabecular meshwork and associated ocular tissue and the fluids within the anterior chamber of an eye.
US08647655B2
A composition comprising a structural component comprising linear acrylic homopolymers or linear acrylic copolymers and a biobeneficial component comprising copolymers having an acrylate moiety and a biobeneficial moiety is disclosed. A medical article comprising the composition in the coating thereof and a method of fabricating the medical article are also disclosed.
US08647653B2
A powdery composition, comprising: a) core-shell particles having a shell of hydrophobic or hydrophobized particles; and b) a carrier powder comprising a carrier and at least one of an at least partially water soluble liquid and a water reactive substrate reversibly bound to the carrier by at least one of the capillary action, absorption and adsorption is provided. The core-shell particles have a core, comprising: water; and 0 to 10 wt. % of a total core weight of a dissolved or emulsified material. The carrier comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of silica, a silica-metal mixed oxide, phyllosilicate, starch, hollow glass spheres, nylon, sugar, cyclodextrines and polysaccharides, and a weight ratio of the carrier powder to the core-shell particles is from 1/1 to 1/9. A creamy composition is manufactured from the powdery composition-by an energy input in form of pressure, shear, temperature, vibration and/or solvent addition, the energy input being sufficient to release the liquid water or the liquid aqueous phase from the core-shell material and subsequently dissolving or flushing the produce or products from the carrier.
US08647651B2
Antimicrobial mixtures comprising or consisting of: one or more branched or unbranched alkanediols having 6-12 carbon atoms, one, two or more compounds chosen from the group consisting of the tropolones of the formula (I) wherein the substituents R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 independently of one another have the following meaning: H; linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having up to 30 C atoms; OH; OR6, wherein R6 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having up to 30 C atoms; COOH; COOR7, wherein R7 is a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having up to 30 C atoms; NO2; NH2; F, Cl, Br, I; are described.
US08647641B2
The present invention relates to the use of live mycobacterium of the M. tuberculosis complex for preparing a medicament, wherein the function of the zmp1-gene is inactivated, pharmaceutical compositions prepared from such mycobacteria as well as a method for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a disease or medical condition using said pharmaceutical composition.
US08647627B2
Pharmaceutical compositions useful as vaccines are described containing a purified surface or excreted protein qualitatively or quantitatively associated with a type of cancer, at least one interleukin (IL), and at least one colony stimulating factor (CSF), where the purified surface or excreted protein is provided in an amount sufficient to induce an immune response in an individual administered the composition. Such compositions can be used in methods for treating individuals having cancer, and for inducing an immunotherapeutic response in the same.
US08647625B2
The present invention provides peptides, and fragments thereof, and antibodies, or fragments thereof comprising the same, wherein the peptide comprises at least one amino acid substitution compared to wild type 5c8 antibody. The present invention also provides compositions and methods of treating CD154-related diseases or disorders in a subject.
US08647618B2
A method and composition for treating cancer comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of attenuated Salmonella typhimurium containing a plasmid carrying the coding sequence encoding a truncated human interleukin-2 and optionally an oil containing a high antioxidant concentration.
US08647616B2
Gene-modified, inflammation-specific monocytes that comprise a 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene, where the 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene is expressed to produce functional 1-alpha-hydroxylase enzyme when the monocytes transdifferentiate into gene-modified, inflammation-specific macrophages. Gene-modified, inflammation-specific macrophages that comprise a 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene. A method for treating one or more than one inflammation-related condition or disease, the method comprising administering gene-modified, inflammation-specific monocytes that comprise a 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene, where the 1-alpha-hydroxylase gene is expressed to produce functional 1-alpha-hydroxylase enzyme when the monocytes transdifferentiate into gene-modified, inflammation-specific macrophages.
US08647612B2
Dithiol compounds and derivatives thereof are disclosed. The agents are useful for treating ocular disease, especially presbyopia and cataract.
US08647611B2
The invention relates to a composition comprising at least one hyperbranched polyol having at least two hydroxyl groups and at least one reaction product of at least one oil-soluble high carbon polar modified polymer and at least one polyamine.
US08647609B2
Disclosed is composite powder comprising infrared-ray blocking particles; and ultraviolet-ray blocking particles coated onto one surface of each of the infrared-ray blocking particles, and cosmetics composition using the same, wherein the composite powder using both the infrared-ray blocking particle and the ultraviolet-ray blocking particle enables to simultaneously block the infrared and ultraviolet rays. Thus, if the composite powder of the present invention is applied to the cosmetics, it is possible to minimize the rough wrinkles, irregular pigmentary deposits, loss of skin elasticity, disturbance of skin barrier function, skin damages such as cancer of the skin, and skin aging, and also to boost SPF (Sun Protection Factor) and PA (Protection Factor of UVA) of the related art sunscreen. Especially, the present invention uses the composite powder prepared by coating one surface of the infrared-ray blocking particle with the ultraviolet-ray blocking particles, instead of mixing powder prepared by simply mixing the infrared-ray blocking particle and the ultraviolet-ray blocking particle. That is, since the small-sized ultraviolet-ray blocking particles are coated onto and stably fixed into the surface of the infrared-ray blocking particle, it is possible to prevent aggregation of the ultraviolet-ray blocking particles, thereby preventing deterioration in uniformity of adhesion to the skin, and deterioration of the ultraviolet-ray blocking efficiency.
US08647608B2
Dental compositions are provided comprising a compound of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein n is an integer from about 2 to about 5.
US08647595B2
Disclosed is a method for rapidly separating radioactive copper from nickel that contains radioactive copper and radioactive cobalt, which comprises dissolving nickel that contains radioactive copper and radioactive cobalt in an acid solution and leading it to pass through a chelating-ion exchange resin-filled column to thereby make nickel, radioactive copper and radioactive cobalt held by the chelating-ion exchange resin, and then leading an acid solution to pass through the chelating-ion exchange resin-filled column to elute nickel and radioactive cobalt, and thereafter leading an acid solution having a higher concentration than that of the previous acid solution to pass through the chelating-ion exchange resin-filled column after nickel and radioactive elution therefrom to thereby elute radioactive copper.
US08647593B2
Magnetic microplate assemblies are disclosed for assaying of biological activated magnetic particles from a supernatant. The assemblies include a magnetic microplate holder and a microplate including a plurality of wells for retaining the magnetic particles. The microplate holder includes a plurality of magnets for attracting the magnetic particles to the wells and a plurality of detents for securing the microplate in the holder. The detents allow the microplate to be tightly retained in the holder when the assembly is turned over to discard supernatant and wash buffer applied to rinse supernatant from the magnetic particles.
US08647592B2
Method for transport of suspensions containing mechanically sensitive material with a sample-transporting device comprising transport conduits and at least one system for accelerating a sample or aliquot through the transport conduit from at least two burets.
US08647577B2
The described embodiments may provide a method of fabricating a chemical detection device. The method may comprise forming a microwell above a CMOS device. The microwell may comprise a bottom surface and sidewalls. The method may further comprise applying a first chemical to be selectively attached to the bottom surface of the microwell, forming a metal oxide layer on the sidewalls of the microwell, and applying a second chemical to be selectively attached to the sidewalls of the microwell. The second chemical may lack an affinity to the first chemical.
US08647573B2
An automated and autonomous diagnostic apparatus that is capable of dispensing collection vials and collections kits to users interesting in collecting a biological sample and submitting their collected sample contained within a collection vial into the apparatus for automated diagnostic services. The user communicates with the apparatus through a touch-screen monitor. A user is able to enter personnel information into the apparatus including medical history, insurance information, co-payment, and answer a series of questions regarding their illness, which is used to determine the assay most likely to yield a positive result. Remotely-located physicians can communicate with users of the apparatus using video tele-medicine and request specific assays to be performed. The apparatus archives submitted samples for additional testing. Users may receive their assay results electronically. Users may allow the uploading of their diagnoses into a central databank for disease surveillance purposes.
US08647564B2
There is provided a high-strength steel plate having acicular ferrite and bainite as a main microstructure and an austenite/martensite (M & A) as a second phase under the control of a cooling rate above the austenite transformation temperature. The high-strength steel plate comprises: carbon (C): 0.03 to 0.10 wt %, silicon (Si): 0.1 to 0.4 wt %, manganese (Mn): 1.8 wt % or less, nickel (Ni): 1.0 wt % or less, titanium (Ti): 0.005 to 0.03 wt %, niobium (Nb): 0.02 to 0.10 wt %, aluminum (Al): 0.01 to 0.05 wt %, calcium (Ca): 0.006 wt % or less, nitrogen (N): 0.001 to 0.006 wt %, phosphorus (P): 0.02 wt % or less, sulfur (S): 0.005 wt % or less, and the balance of iron (Fe) and other inevitable impurities. The method for manufacturing a high-strength steel plate may be useful to economically and effectively manufacture a high strength steel, which is able to secure excellent properties such as high strength and high toughness since the acicular ferrite and bainite may be effectively formed without adding expensive elements such as molybdenum (Mo).
US08647555B2
A processing method for in-mold coating integrative system is used in cooperation with an injection molding machine. The injection molding machine comprises a rotatable work platform and a combination of at least one male mold and at least two female molds. The rotatable work platform is divided averagely into several work areas, and the processing proceeds sequentially in each work area by the rotation of the rotatable work platform. The processing method comprises following steps: injection molding a solid workpiece firstly, and leaving the solid work-piece on the male mold; rotating the rotatable work platform; performing surface coloring; rotating the rotatable work platform; injecting UV top-coat, the top-coat female mold is made of light-directing material and has a die cavity and a UV paint cavity on the surface of the solid workpiece, and a UV top-coat layer is injected into the UV paint cavity through a paint channel; irradiating the UV top-coat layer by a UV top-coat hardening lamp; and demolding to achieve a finished product. The method is of benefit to mass production, and can reduce labor cost and processing cost.
US08647553B2
In a process of producing a stretch sheet, a strip-shaped laminate sheet 10A having an elastically stretchable elastic layer 1 and substantially inelastic, inelastic fiber layers 2 and 3 partially joined to each other at bonds 4 or a strip-shaped fibrous sheet containing an elastic component and a substantially inelastic component and having embossed regions formed by embossing in parts is stretched in directions starting from the bonds 4 or the embossed regions to obtain a stretch sheet 10. The stretch sheet has raised ridges and recessed grooves extending in the direction perpendicular to the stretch direction, and the bonds 4 or the embossed regions are present in the ridges.
US08647547B2
A method for processing lignocellulosic precursors that includes the following steps: A. provide a suitably sized lignocellulosic precursor with less than 11% moisture content; B. pack a hydrothermal processing vessel with between 1 and 3 times the free flow volume of the lignocellulosic precursor; C. subject the lignocellulosic precursor in the hydrothermal processing vessel to steam below 100 bar for up to 10 minutes; E. explosively decompress to ambient pressure; and then dry the resultant lignocellulosic product to below about 15% moisture content.
US08647546B2
A plurality of hard particles 102 is arranged in a mold 302 which suppresses movement of the hard particles 102 so as to be close to each other, and the hard particles 102 arranged in the mold 302 are fixed with resin 103, thereby forming a friction surface 101. Therefore, a pad 100a in which the plurality of hard particles 102 is arranged on the friction surface 101 can be more easily manufactured.
US08647545B2
A method, machine and blade of a wind-turbine are disclosed. At least a component of a blade includes at least one layer of a composite structure. The layer is built up by a number of unconnected single roving-bundles, which are aligned unidirectional and which shows a common direction. The roving-bundles are laid down automatically into a forming tool.
US08647543B2
Fiber reinforced polymer foam articles are disclosed. Through the system and process of the present disclosure, fibers can be incorporated into the foam article during an injection molding process while minimizing fiber breakage. Thus, foam articles can be produced having relatively long fibers. For instance, when using a feed stock containing fibers having a length greater than about 0.7 cm, such as from about 1 cm to about 1.3 cm, foam articles can be produced in which at least about 10% by volume of the fibers have a length greater than 3 mm and wherein at least about 1% by volume of the fibers have a length greater than about 7 mm.
US08647542B2
A formwork system for use in slip form casting central cores of high rise buildings provides a rebate form for a rebate at the level of each floor slab which is subsequently to be cast. The rebate form is designed to carry ferrules to be cast into the core at the level of the rebate to provide anchoring points for incorporation of reinforcement associated with the floor slab. The ferrules are carried from the rebate form via plugs which are stripped from the ferrules after casting when the rebate form and main slip form to which it is attached is withdrawn.
US08647537B2
An oxide sintered body includes indium oxide and gallium solid-solved therein, the oxide sintered body having an atomic ratio “Ga/(Ga+In)” of 0.001 to 0.12, containing indium and gallium in an amount of 80 atom % or more based on total metal atoms, and having an In2O3 bixbyite structure.
US08647532B2
The present invention relates to the discovery that melanoidins, and higher molecular weight fractions of products containing melanoidins, provide significant corrosive inhibition, which render these melanoidins suitable for use as anticorrosive agents in corrosive environments. In addition to being highly anticorrosive, the melanoidins of the present invention are environmentally friendly and non-toxic, and can be found in animal food and in human foodstuffs.
US08647513B2
The present invention provides a method for collecting oil with a modified clay. By mixing the modified clay and oil, the oil can be adsorbed to the clay. The modified clay is obtained by intercalating a hydrophobic polymer such as acidified poly(oxyalkylene)-amine into layered silicate clay, mica or talc to enlarge the interlayer space. The modified clay thus becomes hydrophobic and adsorption to the oil is promoted.
US08647507B2
Disclosed is a membrane cartridge used in a submerged membrane separator. A peripheral portion of a filtration membrane is joined to the surface of a filtration plate. A portion higher than the surface of the filtration plate corresponding to the peripheral edge of the filtration membrane is formed on the surface of the filtration plate further on the outer side than the peripheral edge of the filtration membrane.
US08647500B2
A mineral feed can be hydrotreated in a trickle-bed reactor or other stage in a continuous gas-phase environment. The effluent from the hydrotreatment stage can be separated to remove gas-phase impurities. The remaining liquid effluent from the hydrotreating stage can then be introduced, in total or in part, into a second stage/reactor. A feed of biocomponent origin can also be introduced into the second stage/reactor. The second stage/reactor can be operated to perform deoxygenation of the mixture of biocomponent feed and hydrotreated liquid effluent in a continuous liquid phase environment.
US08647499B2
The present invention describes a method for hydrocracking and/or hydrotreating hydrocarbon-containing feeds using a catalyst comprising at least one hydro-dehydrogenizing metal selected from the group made up of group VIB and non-noble group VIII metals of the periodic table and a support comprising at least one zeolite having at least pore openings containing 12 oxygen atoms, modified by a) at least a stage of introducing at least one alkaline cation belonging to groups IA or IIA of the periodic table, b) a stage of treating said zeolite in the presence of at least one molecular compound containing at least one silicon atom, c) at least one stage of partial exchange of said alkaline cations by NH4+ cations in such a way that the proportion of alkaline cations remaining in the modified zeolite at the end of stage c) is such that the alkaline cation/aluminum molar ratio ranges between 0.2:1 and 0.01:1, and d) at least one thermal treatment stage.
US08647498B2
A corrosive environment sensor for measuring corrosive environment inside a space between a first member that is a conductor and a second member that is a conductor or insulator includes: a base having a surface which cam face the first member that is a conductor; and an electrode which is provided on the surface of the base and formed with a material different in ionization tendency from the first member and which faces at a distance the first member so as to form a galvanic coupling with the first member, and the corrosive environment sensor measures a galvanic current between the electrode and the first member.
US08647496B2
An apparatus, a method, and an electrolytic solution are described for electropolishing metallic stents made, for example, of high-strength medical alloys. The apparatus may include an electropolishing container made from material of low thermal conductivity. The apparatus may include at least one spiral cathode for optimization of solution agitation and/or voltage distribution in the electrolytic solution. Further, an electrolytic solution including at least dimethylsulfate is described. A method for improved electropolishing to consistently produce smooth surfaces is also described.
US08647495B2
Even a site having a complicated curved surface shape, such as a welded spot on a bottom of a nuclear reactor core, is simply and electrolytically etched without discharging an etching liquid in a large amount, whereby grain boundary on the surface of the nuclear reactor core internals can be confirmed visually.When the surface of nuclear reactor core internals is electrolytically etched, a sponge provided with holes having a communicating structure is integrated with an etching liquid, and the etching liquid is gelled, while the integrated combination is disposed in front of an electrode, followed by the application of voltage to turn on electricity at a state in which said electrode is electrically connected to the cathode of a direct-current power supply, and brought into contact with or approximated to the surface of the core internals electrically connected to the anode of the direct-current power supply.
US08647491B2
An aqueous cyanide-free electrolyte bath for plating of tin alloy layers on substrate surfaces comprising (i) a tin ion source and a source for another alloy element, characterized in that it further contains (ii) N-methyl pyrrolidone is described.
US08647483B2
Devices for receiving fluid such as water are described. Principally (although not necessarily exclusively) designed for use as chlorinators, the devices may divert water flowing in conduits into the devices for treatment and subsequent return to the flow stream. A device may connect to a pipe without tools and require only one hole to be formed in a pipe wall.
US08647482B2
The present invention discloses an electrochemical-catalytic converter, which can remove nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HCs) and particulate matter (PM) in exhaust gas. The electrochemical-catalytic converter comprises a cell module, wherein nitrogen oxides are decomposed to form nitrogen through electrochemical promotion, and wherein carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter are catalyzed to form carbon dioxide and water by an oxidation catalyst.
US08647474B2
The invention disclosed herein relates to the use of laser energy to weld or melt selected locations in papermachine clothing (“PMC”) and other industrial and engineered fabrics. The invention also relates to an improved seam for a papermaker or other industrial fabric that has properties such as strength, durability, openness, adequate number of support points, and fiber support index (FSI) essentially the same as the fabric body. The invention also relates to a fabric having a durable seam, wherein the seam width as measured in the MD is a fraction of the width of a normal seam or a seam that is formed using a conventional technique of equal strength.
US08647470B2
Process for the production of paper, board and cardboard having high dry strength by addition of an aqueous composition comprising a nanocellulose and at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of the anionic polymers and water-soluble cationic polymers, draining of the paper stock and drying of the paper products.
US08647468B2
A process for treating cellulosic fibers comprising pre-treating the fibers with an enzyme in a first enzymatic treatment followed by mechanical pre-treating the fibers in a first mechanical treatment and a second enzymatic treatment followed by a second mechanical treatment of the fibers to form micofibrillated cellulose. In this way it is possible to produce mircofibrillated cellulose (MFC) in an improved and energy efficient way.
US08647466B2
Combinatorial evaluation of dry semiconductor processes is described, including rotating a mask comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein the mask is positioned between a dry semiconductor processing source and the substrate, and performing a dry semiconductor process through the apertures of the mask at a plurality of intervals during the rotating the mask to combinatorially create a plurality of processed regions on the substrate, wherein the apertures of the mask are arranged in such a way that the plurality of processed regions have different geometries relative to the processing source, and analyzing the processed regions to determine effects of time and geometry on the processed regions.
US08647463B2
Provided is a low-cost method for easily forming a transparent conductive pattern that has a low electrical resistance and high transparency, and that is highly invisible to the eye. The method for forming a transparent conductive layer pattern includes the steps of (1) detachably forming a transparent conductive layer on a substrate; (2) then forming, on a support, a negative-patterned heat-sensitive adhesive image; (3) bonding the substrate to the support so that the transparent conductive layer and the heat-sensitive adhesive layer are in close contact with each other; (4) forming a pattern of the transparent conductive layer on the substrate by detaching the support from the substrate to transfer a portion of the transparent conductive layer, the portion being in close contact with the heat-sensitive adhesive layer, to the heat-sensitive adhesive layer; and (5) fixing the transparent conductive layer on the substrate by applying a coating material for a protective layer onto a front surface of the substrate on which the pattern of the transparent conductive layer is formed and impregnating the transparent conductive layer with the coating material.
US08647460B1
Provided is a shoe having a bottom surface that is adjacent to the ground in normal use. A sole, which is sufficiently durable and/or strong for long-term outdoor use, forms at least a portion of the bottom surface, and an upper portion extends above the sole. A plurality of small material particles are bonded to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe.
US08647448B2
A steel piston ring and a steel cylinder liner are described which comprise as the main body a steel composition which has good nitridability. The steel composition consists of the following elements: 0-0.5 weight % B, 0.5-1.2 weight % C, 4.0-20.0 weight % Cr, 0-2.0 weight % Cu, 45.30-91.25 weight % Fe, 0.1-3.0 weight % Mn, 0.1-3.0 weight % Mo, 0-0.05 weight % Nb, 2.0-12.0 weight % Ni, 0-0.1 weight % P, 0-0.05 weight % Pb, 0-0.05 weight % S, 2.0-10.0 weight % Si, 0-0.05 weight % Sn, 0.05-2.0 weight % V, 0-0.2 weight % Ti and 0-0.5 weight % W. The steel piston ring and the steel cylinder liner can be manufactured in a casting process using the machinery and technology employed for the manufacture of cast iron parts.
US08647444B2
A method of washing ware in an automatic ware washing machine, is disclosed, using a rinse aid composition containing a polysaccharide. The polysaccharide adsorbs on the ware resulting in a sheeting action of the rinse solution leading to improved drying of the ware.
US08647440B2
Disclosed is a substrate treatment method intended for a substrate having, on its surface, a composite product of an inorganic material containing silicon oxide and an organic material containing carbon and fluorine. The method comprises: an ultraviolet ray treatment step for irradiating the surface of the substrate with ultraviolet ray to remove a part of the organic material; a hydrogen fluoride processing step which is conducted after the ultraviolet ray processing step and which is for supplying a steam of hydrogen fluoride onto the surface of the substrate to remove at least a part of the inorganic material; and a heating processing step which is conducted after the ultraviolet ray processing step and which is for heating the substrate to cause the shrinkage of a part of the organic material that remains unremoved.
US08647436B2
Isotopically-enriched graphene and isotope junctions are epitaxially grown on a catalyst substrate using a focused carbon ion beam technique. The focused carbon ion beam is filtered to pass substantially a single ion species including a single desired carbon isotope. The ion beam and filtering together provide a means to selectively isotopically-enrich the epitaxially-grown graphene from given carbon precursor and to selectively deposit graphene enriched with different carbon isotopes in different regions.
US08647429B2
The present invention relates to effect pigments based on uncoated or coated flake-form substrates having an outer coating comprising a) TiO2 and b) Al2O3, MgO and/or CaO and c) SiO2 and d) ZnO and/or e) at least one mixed oxide of the elements mentioned under a) to d), and to the use thereof, inter alia in paints, coatings, printing inks, plastics and cosmetic formulations.
US08647422B1
A phase change ink composition comprising a wax; an optional colorant; and a modified polysaccharide salt.
US08647417B2
A vacuum insulation unit having at least one thermally insulating, evacuatable porous core material which is sealed in an airtight manner and a sorption medium, wherein the sorption medium containing at least one porous metal-organic framework comprising at least one at least bidentate organic compound coordinated to at least one metal ion.
US08647411B2
A method of removing mercury from a process gas by means of a sorbent and a filter (10) involves applying said sorbent to at least one filtering surface (12) of the filter (10). A first parameter, which is indicative of the amount of mercury that needs to be removed in said filter (10), and a second parameter, which is indicative of the amount of material that has been collected on said filtering surface (12), are measured. A measured value of said first parameter is compared to a mercury set point. When said measured value of said first parameter is higher than said mercury set point, the cleaning of said filtering surface (12) is delayed, compared to the point in time suggested by a measured value of said second parameter.
US08647403B2
Methods and systems for gasifier fines recycling system are provided. The system includes a gasifier slag removal system configured to separate first fines from a particulate slag removed from a gasifier by at least one of settling and filtering, a second fines handling system configured to receive second fines from a source other than the gasifier, and an injection system configured to mix the first fines and the second fines and a fuel for injection into the gasifier.
US08647397B2
The invention provides methods of modifying the lipids produced by microbial organisms through genetic engineering. The invention also provides genetically engineered microbes and methods of fermenting microbes for oil production. Also provided are oils, fuels, oleochemicals, chemical precursors, and other compounds manufactured by such modified microorganisms. Exemplary oil-bearing organisms include organisms containing one or more exogenous genes encoding a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase, fatty acyl-CoA/aldehyde reductase, fatty acyl-CoA reductase, fatty aldehyde reductase, fatty aldehyde decarbonylase, and/or an acyl carrier protein.
US08647386B2
An intervertebral implant system for a human spine including a first body having a first external surface to be disposed adjacent a first vertebrae during use and a first internal surface opposite the first external surface, a second body having a second external surface to be disposed adjacent a second vertebrae during use and a second internal surface opposite the second external surface, an elongated insertion instrument releasable coupleable to the first or second body during use, and a spacer linearly advanced between the first internal surface of the first body and the first internal surface of the second body during use. The elongated insertion instrument guides at least a portion of the linear advancement of the spacer, and wherein the linear advancement of the spacer results in expansion of the intervertebral implant such that the first external surface and the second external surface move away from one another to expand a height of the implant.
US08647385B2
An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure.
US08647383B2
An intraocular lens in which deterioration in contrast is suppressed even when the optical axis of the intraocular lens is decentered from the optical axis of the eyeball when the intraocular lens is inserted into the eye while the advantage of a conventional aberration reduction type intraocular lens that the image is seen clearly is sustained by employing such a power distribution as respectively having at least one positive power deviation region (E1) having a power larger than that represented by the reference power distribution and at least one negative power deviation region (E2) having a power smaller than that represented by the reference power distribution in the central region of the intraocular lens assuming that a power distribution being set to cancel the spherical aberration of cornea when the intraocular lens is inserted into the eye is the reference power distribution.
US08647374B2
A patient temperature control system (10) uses variable temperature gradient warming/cooling in combination with a warming/cooling device (16), such as a blanket, to increase efficiency in driving a patient's temperature to a desired setpoint, with reduced occurrence of and magnitude of overshoot conditions. In operation, the controller (26) of the system (10) senses the temperature of a patient (12) via a sensor (31), for comparison to a temperature of the circulating water, sensed via sensor (30). If the patient temperature is not sufficiently close to a setpoint temperature, the system (10) is operable to warm/cool the circulating water to a temperature which differs from the patient's temperature by a temperature gradient of 10 ° C., or some other preselected initial temperature gradient. After a subsequent time interval, if the patient temperature has not moved sufficiently close to the setpoint temperature, the controller (26) incrementally raises or lowers the temperature of the circulating water, to intensify the a warming/cooling effect. This procedure repeats at desired intervals, to more efficiently reach the setpoint temperature. Thus, the system (10) is capable of automatically increasing or decreasing the temperature gradient, dependent upon subsequently sensed patient temperatures.
US08647371B2
The invention encompasses a bone screw for use in the human body including a shaft having a threaded region along at least a portion of its length and a screw head including a locking mechanism to secure the screw, for example to a bone plate. In certain embodiments, the thread has an outer diameter dimensioned to pass through the screw hole in the implant. The screw head is configured to cooperatively engage at least a portion of the screw hole of the implant so as to prevent the screw from coming out of the implant and avoided soft tissue damage and other complications associated with unintended screw removal.
US08647369B2
A spinal fixation device for securing to a spine includes a body having one or more longitudinal members extending between a pair of wedge members. Each wedge member defines one or more openings therethrough for the reception of a bone screw. The wedge members are disposed on opposite ends of the one or more longitudinal members. One of the wedge members is positionable within a first intervertebral space and the other wedge member is positionable within a second intervertebral space. The one or more longitudinal members define a length that spans one or more vertebrae. The one or more longitudinal members are positionable within the one or more vertebrae when the wedge members are positioned within the respective first and second intervertebral spaces to maintain the body in a minimal profile orientation relative to the spine.
US08647366B2
A delivery mechanism for deploying a closure device includes several slidable members, a plunger, and attachments to tension members of the closure device. Deployment of the closure device includes controlling placement and expansion of the device within tissue using the tension members, the plunger, and the slidable members.
US08647364B2
A method and apparatus for sealing a puncture or incision formed percutaneously in tissue separating two internal portions of the body of a living being with an anchor, a sealing plug and a filament connecting the anchor and sealing plug. The method and apparatus provide for automatic tamping and/or cinching of the sealing plug when the apparatus is withdrawn from the puncture site. The automatic tamping and/or cinching is facilitated by transducing a motive force generated by the withdrawal of the apparatus into a tamping and/or cinching force.
US08647363B2
A hydraulically actuated medical instrument includes an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends, a hydraulically actuated end effector at the distal end of the shaft and a fluid flow path extending through the shaft to the end effector. The end effector may be directly manually operated by way of a handle located at the proximal end of the shaft or remotely, for example, via robotic controller. Articulation joints may be provided along the shaft, between the shaft and end effector or handle, or elsewhere. The hydraulic actuation of the present invention permits multiple axis instrument articulation, miniaturization and simplified instrument fabrication.
US08647360B2
An inferior vena cava filter (340) for use in the inferior vena cava (4) to capture thrombus (8) passing through the inferior vena cava (4) towards the heart and lungs to prevent pulmonary embolism comprises a proximal support hoop (302), a distal support hoop (312) and a plurality of support struts (303) extending between the proximal support hoop (302) and the distal support hoop (312). The filter (340) also comprises a plurality of capture arms (121) which are movable from a capturing configuration to an open configuration. The capture arms (121) are biased towards the open configuration. A biodegradable suture holds the capture arms (121) in the capturing configuration.
US08647341B2
An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing and a shaft affixed to the housing. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and a pair of jaw members attached to a distal end thereof. The forceps also includes a drive assembly for moving one of the jaw members relative to the other jaw member from a first position wherein the movable jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to each other to a second position wherein the jaw members are closer one another for manipulating tissue. A movable handle is included which is rotatable about a pivot to force a drive flange of the movable handle into mechanical cooperation with the drive assembly to move the jaw members from the open and closed positions. The pivot is located a fixed distance from the longitudinal axis and the drive flange is located generally along the longitudinal axis. The forceps is connected to a source of electrosurgical energy connected to each jaw member such that the jaw members are capable of conducting bipolar energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a tissue seal.
US08647336B2
A medical device, system and method are provided for thermal medical treatment. A medical device for cryogenic treatment may include a tip and a thermal guard or shield. The tip may be at a distal end of a catheter shaft, having a distal surface and lateral surfaces. The thermal guard may be coupled to the catheter proximal of the distal tip, surrounding the longitudinal axis and exposing the distal surface, to resist heat transfer from body fluids to the lateral surfaces of the tip. An efficiency of heat transfer from selected tissue to be treated to the distal surface of the cryogenic tip is thereby increased.
US08647335B2
A laser applicator has a catheter (12) that contains a optical fiber and a lateral decoupling area at the distal end. The end section of the strand is preformed to a loop (16) the plane of which runs crosswise to the main section (14) of the strand. This makes possible an extensive linear introduction of laser energy into the surrounding tissue. The invention is suited especially for the treatment of arrhythmia.
US08647320B2
A device for adding a medicine to an infusion solution in an infusion container having a removal opening provided with a seal area. A transfer cap, which has a first hollow spike for piercing the seal area, is connected to the removal opening of the infusion container. A receiving means for a medicine container is formed at the transfer cap, which has a second hollow spike for piercing a seal at the medicine container. A valve is arranged between the first and second hollow spikes in the transfer cap, where the valve interrupts the connection between the first and second hollow spikes and can be moved into the open position by the action of a force.
US08647318B2
An underpants-type disposable diaper is of a size and a water absorption capacity suitable for infants 3 to 6 years old, and is capable of preventing the protrusion of the groin portion of the diaper in use so that leakage does not occur. The leakage can be avoided by increasing the size and the water absorption capacity of the diaper main body to a level suitable for infants 3 to 6 year olds still using diaper and at the same time improving the tracks of a plurality of elastic members disposed along the peripheral edges of leg holes so as to reduce the elasticity in the vertical direction of the crotch section and prevent the protrusion of an infant's groin.
US08647316B2
An ostomy receiving bag includes front and rear walls sealed along a rim of the bag and a cover sheet attached to the bag. The bag has a lateral midline located between an upper end of the bag and a bottom end of the bag, with an inlet opening nearer to the upper end than to the bottom end of the bag. The cover sheet is attached to the upper end of the bag at the rim and covers at least part of one of the walls to form a pocket and an unattached edge between the upper end of the bag and the bottom end of the bag. A collecting volume of the bag is reduced by at least 25% when the bottom end of the bag is placed under the cover sheet to a position between the lateral midline and the upper end of the bag.
US08647314B2
Strip-shaped forms of administration for administering an active ingredient via the mucous membrane of the gums.
US08647313B2
A safety IV catheter includes a unitary, resilient needle guard received in a catheter hub. The needle guard includes a proximal arm or wall that includes an opening through which a needle passes for axial movement. When the needle is retracted from the catheter, it releases the force that had previously prevented movement of the needle guard within the catheter hub. This in turn causes the needle guard to snap into a position in which it is clamped onto the needle shaft and in which its distal wall blocks access to the needle tip. In this condition, the spring needle guard and needle can be removed from the catheter hub. A slot or crimp may be formed in the needle shaft that engages with the needle guard after the protected needle and needle guard are removed from the catheter hub, thereby to prevent removal of the protected needle from the needle guard.
US08647307B2
A needle protection device including a needle holder for operable coupling to an injection device and from which an injection needle projects, a blocking device which projects from the needle holder and is radially distanced from the injection needle, a needle protection element which can be moved into a first position and, from the first position, to a protection position in which it surrounds the injection needle, and which can be blocked from leaving the protection position by the blocking device, and a safety member arranged between the injection needle and the needle protection element in such a way that it can be displaced in relation to the injection needle, wherein the needle protection element includes an engagement element and the safety member includes a counter-element, the engagement element and counter-element mutually engaging when the needle protection element is moved into the first position, the needle protection element thereby entraining the safety member during movement of the needle protection element into the protection position.
US08647301B2
A safety catheter device includes a catheter hub, a housing removably coupled to the catheter hub; a needle, and a member, the housing including a radially outwardly directed projection operable to engage the interior aspect of the catheter hub and radially moveable inwardly sufficiently to disengage therefrom, the projection being held against moving radially inwardly sufficiently to disengage when the needle is in a first position with the needle distal tip exposed and being free to move radially inwardly sufficiently to disengage coincident with the needle being moved into a second position with the needle distal tip disposed in the housing.
US08647300B2
The device according to the invention for connecting a suction hose has a connecting piece which is designed in such a way that the suction hose can be pushed over a region of the connecting piece in a sealing manner. The device also comprises a sleeve which can be pushed over the aforementioned region of the connecting piece, at least partially covering said piece and leaving room between the sleeve and the connecting piece for the suction hose. The connection between the sleeve and the connecting piece can only be separated by the destruction of at least one of said two parts. The design of the exterior of the sleeve prevents a second suction hose from lying in a sealing manner against the sleeve. A suction hose that is connected in a sealing manner to the claimed device can therefore not be removed without destroying the device. In addition, it is impossible to push a hose with a greater diameter onto the sleeve in a sealing manner.
US08647296B2
An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system. The methods of detecting occlusions may be dynamic.
US08647294B2
A direct stream hydrodynamic catheter system is provided for the removal of thrombus, lesions and the like including provisions for the infusion of drugs, lysing fluids and the like into a blood vessel. Physician controlled high powered direct fluid jet streams emanate from a fluid jet emanator in the form of robust radially directed fluid jet streams to impinge upon and ablate difficult and strong thrombus or lesions within a blood vessel. Effluent aspiration is controlled by an exhaust regulator in the form of a roller pump, but effluent removal can be assistingly influenced by the fluid pressure associated with the radially directed fluid jet streams.
US08647284B2
A system for presenting information representative of patient electrophysiological activity, such as complex fractionated electrogram information, includes at least one electrode to measure electrogram information from the heart surface, at least one processor coupled to the at least one electrode to receive the electrogram information and measure a location of the at least one electrode within the heart, and a presentation device to present the electrogram information as associated with the location at which it was measured on a model of the patient's heart. A memory may also be provided in which to store the associated electrogram information and measured location. Data may be analyzed using both time-domain and frequency-domain information to create a three-dimensional map. The map displays the data as colors, shades of color, and/or grayscales, and may further utilize contour lines, such as isochrones, to present the information.
US08647279B2
A one-dimensional array is used for transmit operation, allowing connection with an imaging system for planar scanning and avoiding transmit electronics in the transducer array. A multi-dimensional array is used for reception only, avoiding transmit interconnects while providing greater coherence in elevation. Both arrays are moved to scan different planes, allowing acquisition of data representing a volume. This transducer arrangement may be used for scanning breasts for cancer screening.
US08647274B2
According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnosis apparatus includes a motion information generating unit and a control unit. The motion information generating unit generates first motion information on cardiac wall motion of at least one of a left ventricle and a left atrium and second motion information on cardiac wall motion of at least one of a right ventricle and a right atrium, on the basis of a first volume data group and a second volume data group; generates first correction information and second correction information by correcting the first motion information and the second motion information such that the first motion information and the second motion information are substantially synchronized with each other, and generates a motion information image in which the first correction information and the second correction information are arranged along the time axis. The control unit controls to display the motion image information.
US08647264B1
A medical diagnostic system includes an otoscope, which is configured to generate at least a first image (e.g., digital photograph) of a tympanic membrane of a patient, and an apparatus for diagnosing acute otitis media within the patient. The apparatus includes a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium. The computer-readable program code includes a first computer-readable program code that evaluates the at least a first image of the tympanic membrane of the patient relative to a database containing at least one image of a tympanic membrane of at least one archived patient, to thereby detect indicia of acute otitis media in the patient.
US08647254B2
An epicardial clip for reshaping the annulus of the mitral valve of a heart. The epicardial clip includes a curved member having an anterior segment configured to be positioned in the transverse sinus of the heart, a posterior segment configured to be positioned on the posterior side of the heart, such as on or inferior to the atrioventricular groove, and a lateral segment extending between the anterior segment and the posterior segment. The lateral segment includes a curve such that the first end of the member is positioned at or above the plane of the mitral valve and the second end of the member is positioned at or below the plane of the mitral valve.
US08647247B2
Among other things, a case forming system is provided. The system includes a conveyance apparatus for conveying case precursors along a conveyance path and a case set-up apparatus characterized by a case forming member. Upstream case precursors are conveyed along the conveyance path for operation thereupon by the case forming member. A case forming mandrel of a mandrel assembly is movably mounted in relation to the conveyance apparatus for continuous motion with respect thereto. The continuous motion is delimited by travel of the case forming mandrel between an upstream locus and a downstream locus of the conveyance path, and reversible extension of the case forming mandrel towards case precursors during travel between the upstream locus and the downstream locus of the conveyance path.
US08647246B2
The present invention discloses a sealing system for sealing together at least a pair of flexible pouch material layers. The sealing station can have a first sealing bar, a second sealing bar and a drive system that is in contact with the first sealing bar. The drive system is operable to move the first sealing bar between an open position and a closed position such that the first sealing bar can apply a predefined pressure on the flexible pouch material layers when positioned or located between the sealing bars. A pressure sensor is also included and in communication with the drive system, the pressure sensor operable to detect if the drive system applies less or too much pressure than the predefined pressure on the flexible pouch material layers located between the first and second sealing bars.
US08647237B2
A method for selectively coupling a motor to a drive train of a motor vehicle using a clutch having a first clutch part driven by the motor, a second clutch part associated with the drive train and an actuator, the method includes the steps of: accelerating the first clutch part while simultaneously activating the actuator during a first actuation phase without engaging the first and second clutch parts; suspending activation of the actuator until a predefined rotational speed difference is reached between the first and second clutch parts; and engaging the first and second clutch parts during a second actuation phase upon reaching the predefined speed difference.
US08647229B2
A method and apparatus for a transmission system selectively positioning sets of planet gear support bearings (50, 55, 80, 90) to achieve an optimized load distribution among a set of drive planet pinions (22) and a set of idler planet pinions (70) disposed in engagement between two reaction gears (30, 40) in the transmission system (A, A1), for splitting an applied load between at least two pathways between an input and an output.
US08647223B2
A durable V-belt formed by fastening plate-like elements juxtaposed annularly using a ring. The element comprises a saddle face on which the ring is disposed, columns extending radially outwardly from lateral ends of a saddle face, and flank faces formed on lateral ends of the column to be contacted with a groove of a V-pulley to transmit power. An angle between outer circumferential portions of the flank faces is substantially identical to or smaller than an open angle of the groove of the V-pulley; and an angle between inner circumferential portions of the flank faces is larger than the angle between the outer circumferential portions.
US08647214B2
A method and electronic device for analyzing golf swings associates actual ball flight data with sensed swing characteristics. The electronic device includes a location-determining component; a sensor; a display; and a computing device all housed within a portable, handheld or wearable enclosure. The computing device may associate the ball flight data with the swing characteristic data by storing the data together in memory, linking the data in memory, displaying representations of the data together, or by any other method. The computing device may also create a reference profile for a golfer based on ball flight data and sensed swing characteristics for a plurality of golf swings and may associate swing characteristics with particular golf clubs.
US08647210B2
A constant velocity universal joint includes an outer joint member in which at least one end portion is open, an inner joint member for transmitting torque together with the outer joint member through balls under a state in which angular displacement is allowed, and a boot for closing an opening portion of the outer joint member. The boot has a small diameter end portion fitted onto a shaft extending from the inner joint member, a lip portion abutting on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft, and a ventilation groove for establishing communication between an inside and an outside of the boot. The lip portion and the ventilation groove are formed in an inner peripheral surface of the small diameter end portion of the boot.
US08647209B1
Online games embedded in webpages of websites may be created and/or served through a system and/or method. The games may be embedded in websites that are hosted separately from the games. The games may be designed by the website operators and/or other entities associated with the websites, and may include content from the websites to drive engagement with the websites and their content. An interface may be provided to the website operators to facilitate efficient and intuitive configuration of games that use website content. Such games may be served separately from the websites. As such, the games may provide a convenient, efficient, and/or effective mechanism for enhancing engagement of users with the website and/or its content.
US08647206B1
Systems and methods for interfacing video games and user communications are provided. Communications amongst users can affect a video game provided to the users. For example, communications can be monitored to determine when a video game event occurs and then a video game event can be generated. Moreover, one or more aspects of the video game can affect communications amongst the users. For example, the active user of a video game may be used to adjust the prominence of communications amongst the users.
US08647202B2
A game-interactive customizable companion object includes a body, a communication subsystem housed within the body, and a behavior subsystem configured to control movement of the body. The behavior subsystem may include an initiation module configured to set initial behavioral characteristics of the companion object in accordance with the companion object profile, and an update module configured to change behavioral characteristics of the companion object responsive to control commands received from the entertainment system via the communication subsystem.
US08647200B2
An example game device performs a game process based on operation data representing an operation performed on a controller. The game device generates a first game image representing a game space as viewed from a first virtual camera which is set in the game space, and displays the first game image on a television. A second virtual camera, different from the first virtual camera, is set in the game space based on operation data for a terminal device. The game device generates a second game image representing the game space as viewed from the second virtual camera, and displays the second game image on the terminal device. In response to an execution of a predetermined operation on the terminal device 7, the game device stores image information regarding the second game image in a predetermined storage device.
US08647199B2
Presented is a system and method for generating bingo game bonuses that are non-banked, for use with pooled bingo games. The system generates pools of money for use in bingo games by deducting a percentage of the amount used to purchase bingo cards (in the present invention, virtual bingo cards). Each bingo game automatically enrolls active players in one or more bonus games, exemplified by “4 corners,” where the amounts to be given away to players as bonuses are calculated to be equal, over time, to the amount taken in from players buying bingo cards. The house has no stake in the bonus awards.
US08647193B2
A server is provided with an input device with which an input for selecting a minimum bet unit out of a plurality of minimum bet units can be made. Minimum bet unit information indicative of the selected minimum bet information is transmitted to a gaming machine. On receiving the minimum bet unit information, the minimum bet unit in the gaming machine having received the minimum bet unit information is changed to the minimum bet unit selected in the server.
US08647182B2
An exhaust fan assembly is provided for expelling contaminated air from a building. The assembly includes a plenum, a fan assembly attached to the plenum, and a windband mounted on top of the fan assembly. The fan assembly is constructed of cylindrical outer and inner walls which define a bearing chamber and surrounding annular space. A fan driven by a shaft extending downward from the bearing chamber draws exhaust air from the plenum and blows it up through the annular space to a nozzle at the top of the fan assembly.
US08647167B2
An illuminated display device with a base member with a plurality of cavities therein. Illumination devices illuminate the cavities and emit light through an opening of the cavities in a pattern, and a speaker can emit sounds in synchronization with the pattern. A panel with translucent portions can overly the base member and the cavities. An animated talking character can have an animated mouth cavity complex with multiple predetermined mouth lighting configurations simulative of human utterances. The cavities can be open, or optical waveguide material or positive members can be disposed therein. Reflective material can enhance internal reflectance and light emission.
US08647166B2
The present document describes an entertainment device including one or more mini-crafts provided in a fluid medium within the sides of an electromagnetic frame. Each mini-craft includes a magnet and has a different cutoff frequency. Motion of the mini-crafts may be controlled by a user using a controller such as joystick, remote control etc. A processor computes, based on the multidirectional navigation signals received from the controller, electromagnetic signals for each coil in the electromagnetic frame. The electromagnetic signals are amplified and sent to the coils to generate superimposed rotating magnetic fields which cause the mini-crafts to rotate separately within the electromagnetic frame, each mini-craft following a distinct magnetic field with a frequency that is lower than its cutoff frequency.
US08647164B2
An organic electroluminescent element includes a laminated body incorporating an anode substrate, an anode, at least one non-light emitting organic layer A exhibiting positive hole transportability, at least one light emitting organic layer B, at least one non-light emitting organic layer C exhibiting electron transportability, a cathode, and a cathode substrate in the sequence set forth. At least 80% by weight of the organic layer A and the organic layer C in the laminated body is formed via a wet process, and the laminated body is made with an adhesion process between the organic layer A and the organic layer B, or between the organic layer B and the organic layer C.
US08647159B2
An apparatus for effecting electrical termination with a plurality of types of termination structures includes: (a) a base member presenting a face in a first direction; and (b) a plurality of electrically conductive connection members extending in the first direction from the face. Each respective connection member of the plurality of connection members presents a rod-shaped post. Each post has a first portion presenting a threaded structure and has a second portion presenting an unthreaded structure. The rod-shaped post of selected connection members may further include a tapped opening located along a longitudinal axis of the respective connection member.
US08647150B2
A waterproof electrical connector for electrically connecting wiring to a mating connector having a concavity, the waterproof electrical connector having a contact connected to an end of a wire, a housing having a fitting section configured to at least partially house the contact and configured for insertion into the concavity, a seal integrally arranged on an outer periphery surface near a top end of the fitting section, which sealingly contacts an inner wall of the concavity when the fitting section is inserted into the concavity, and a lock which prevents the housing from exiting the concavity once the fitting section has been inserted into concavity to a predetermined depth is disclosed.
US08647147B2
A connector assembly for use with dual conductor cable is disclosed. The connector assembly includes a first connector, a second connector, first and second fixture wires, and first and second connector terminals. The first and second connectors are removably attachable. The first connector includes a first connector base, two prongs extending from the first connector base, and a first connector slot for accepting the first connector terminal. The second connector includes a second connector base, two wings extending from the second connector base, and a second connector slot for accepting the second connector terminal. The wings are sized and configured to accept the two prongs when the first and second connectors are joined. The first and second connector terminals include a spike extending generally away from the base of the connector into which the terminal has been secured. The first connector terminal is secured in the first connector in electrical communication with the first fixture wire, and the second connector terminal is secured in the second connector in electrical communication with second fixture wire. The first and second connectors, when joined by the insertion of the prongs between the wings, define a central portion sized to allow the passage of the dual conductor cable to which the first and second connectors are connected. When the first and second connectors are joined with the dual connector cable located in the central portion, the spikes of the first and second terminals penetrate into the dual conductor cable, whereby the dual conductor cable is placed into electrical communication with the first and second fixture wire.
US08647144B2
A plug of a connector includes plug-side electrode terminals arranged therein, the plug having a first engagement part on one end side in a direction of arrangement of the plug-side electrode terminals and a second engagement part on the other end side. A jack of the connector includes jack-side electrode terminals arranged therein, the jack having a third engagement part on one end side in a direction of arrangement of the jack-side electrode terminals and a fourth engagement part on the other end side. A guide member has a fifth engagement part and a sixth engagement part, the fifth engagement part configured to engage with the first engagement part of the plug and the third engagement part of the jack, the sixth engagement part configured to engage with the second engagement part of the plug and the fourth engagement part of the jack.
US08647141B2
A board-to-board connector assembly has a female connector and a male connector. The female connector has a first insulative housing, multiple first terminals and a latching bar. The first insulative housing has a locking recess and a releasing recess. The latching bar is mounted pivotally on the first insulative housing and selectively engages the locking recess or releasing recess. The male connector has a second insulative housing, multiple second terminals and two latched elements. The latched elements are mounted in the second insulative housing and each latched element has a latched hole selectively engaging with the latching bar to prevent the male connector from falling out of the female connector.
US08647140B2
An electrical plug-in connector/an electrical connection system is used between a socket of an igniter module and an electronic control unit for a restraint system in motor vehicles. The plug-in connector comprises a housing with one or more locking arms for locking the housing to the socket. The locking arms reinforce the lock mechanism when a force is applied to pull the plug-in connector from the socket without actuating the locking arms. Alternatively, the plug-in connector/connection system comprises a housing with one or more locking arms that are selectable between a locking position and an unlocking position. The locking arms are at least partially elastic, and serve to lock the housing to the socket. When a force is applied to pull the plug-in connector from the socket, the locking arms are locking when in the locking position and releasably snapping when in the unlocking position.
