US08743307B2
A display device includes a first substrate, a gate line disposed on the first substrate and including a gate electrode, a gate insulating layer disposed on the gate line, a semiconductor layer disposed on the gate insulating layer, a data line disposed on the semiconductor layer and connected to a source electrode, a drain electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer and facing the source electrode and a passivation layer disposed on the data line, in which the semiconductor layer is formed of an oxide semiconductor including indium, tin, and zinc. The indium is present in an amount of about 5 atomic percent (at %) to about 50 at %, and a ratio of the zinc to the tin is about 1.38 to about 3.88.
US08743304B2
A liquid crystal display includes a substrate including a longer first side and a shorter second side, a plurality of gate lines disposed on the substrate, a plurality of data lines disposed on the substrate perpendicular to and insulated from the gate lines, and a plurality of pixel electrodes, each pixel electrode electrically connected to a data line by a switching element, wherein a number of the gate lines is about half of a number of the pixel electrodes, and the data lines extend in a direction which is substantially parallel to a direction of the first side.
US08743299B2
A projection display apparatus comprises a reflective LC display device and a polarizing beam splitter having a polarizing separative plane and wired grids. The LC molecules of the device are aligned such that i) a segment on a second subtracted, produced by projecting a major axis of each LC molecule perpendicularly onto the second substrate, makes an angle of 42 to 48 degrees counterclockwise or counterclockwise in relation to a direction of a straight line on the second substrate, formed by projecting each wire grid perpendicularly onto the second substrate and ii) of both ends of the segment, one end meeting an end of each LC molecule, which is positioned nearer to the second substrate than the other end, is positioned nearer to an intersection at which a plane including the polarizing separative plane and a plane including the second substrate mutually intersects, than the other end of the segment.
US08743297B2
A liquid crystal light adjusting device includes: a first liquid crystal layer on which light from one surface is incident; and a reflective film which reflects light transmitted through the first liquid crystal layer, wherein the first liquid crystal layer has adjacent alignment regions, and orientation directions of liquid crystal molecules in the adjacent alignment regions are different.
US08743279B2
Provided is an image display device including a high frame rate signal generating unit (20) that increases a frame rate of an input video signal, a frame rate adjusting unit (30) that adjusts a frame rate by setting a non-emission frame at a predetermined cycle on a high frame rate video signal output from the high frame rate signal generating unit (20), and a display panel (40) that displays a video based on a video signal output from the frame rate adjusting unit (30).
US08743276B2
An opening/closing door 10 for openably closing the opening of a housing includes: a door body; a locking member for holding the door body in a closed state by engagement with a part of the housing; and a lever 11 that is linked with the locking member and has one end rotatably supported by the door body, the door body including: a storage part 24 for storing the lever 11 along the surface of the door body when the locking member is placed in a locking state completely; and a protrusion 12 that protrudes outside the storage part 24 and comes into contact with the lever 11 when the locking member 13 is placed in the locking state incompletely.
US08743272B2
A feature amount is calculated from input image data, then a scene of the input image data is determined based on the feature amount and the reliability of the scene is calculated. Then correction processing is performed on the input image data that corresponds to the determined scene and the scene reliability of the scene.
US08743266B2
A focus extending optical system has optical lenses and a focus extender. The optical lenses form an image of light, from an object, on an image sensor. The focus extender adjusts a wavefront so as to change a position of the image, formed by the optical lenses, in accordance with a distance from an optical axis and thereby extends a focus range. The focus extending optical system satisfies a condition that a value of a second MTF is less than or equal to three times a value of a first MTF. The first MTF is an MTF at a spatial frequency of ½ of a Nyquist frequency of the image sensor. The second MTF is an MTF at a spatial frequency of ¼ of the Nyquist frequency.
US08743263B2
An image capture module includes a liquid lens having a first and a second electrode, and a first and a second conductor element in electrical contact with the first and second electrode, respectively, the first and second conductor elements being each intended for connection with a voltage generator for driving the liquid lens. The first conductor element includes an electrically conductive body having a peripheral region for contact with the first electrode of the liquid lens with a light diaphragm aperture in a central region thereof.
US08743249B2
A data transfer circuit includes at least one data transfer line that transfers digital data, at least one data detecting circuit connected to the transfer line, holding circuits that hold digital values corresponding to input levels and that transfer the digital values to the transfer line, a scanning circuit that selects a holding circuit, at least one test-pattern generating circuit that generates a digital value, the test-pattern generating circuit connected to the transfer line, at least one test-column scanning circuit that selects the test-pattern generating circuit, and a start-pulse selecting circuit that controls starting of the scanning circuit and the test-column scanning circuit. The start-pulse selecting circuit transfers a digital value to the data transfer line by activating the test-pattern generating circuit.
US08743244B2
An apparatus and method for providing augmented or mixed reality environments based on other user or third party information, such as from a profile, is disclosed. Also, an apparatus and method for providing a transparent display device with adaptive transparency is disclosed. The transparent display device with adaptive transparency may be used to generate the augmented reality environment.
US08743228B2
The invention provides data for display on the display area for a child frame when the child frame is synthesized and displayed on the parent frame in picture-in-picture playback in order to give the displayed area of the child frame in conformity with the video content in the parent frame, as well as providing a video display apparatus etc. for displaying the child frame at an appropriate displayed position using the data for display. A video display apparatus 1 includes: decoders 101 and 103 for decoding two sets of video data; a synthesizer 105 for synthesizing the decoded videos to output; an input unit 108 for commanding display/non-display of the child frame; a processing controller 109 for controlling the operations of decoders 101 and 103 in accordance with the command; and a position designator 110 which receives the command and the data for display and time information and designates the displayed position of the child frame to the synthesizer 105. The position designator 110 determines the displayed position of the child-frame video in accordance with displayable time information of the child-frame video and information on the displayed area or displayable area depending on time, included in the data for display.
US08743218B2
An imaging apparatus includes a correction lens correcting a shake of an image on an imaging device, a driver driving the correction lens, a detector detecting an amount of shake of the imaging apparatus, a determining unit determining, based on an amplitude of an output from the detector, whether the shake is within a normal range, and a controller controlling the driver based on a result of the determination. The controller controls the driver to drive the correction lens in a first mode when the shake is within the normal range, the first mode driving the correction lens according to a result of the detection, and to stop the correction lens or drive the correction lens in a second mode when the shake is out of the normal range of camera shake, the second mode suppressing an amount of movement of the correction lens more than for the first mode.
US08743216B2
In a communication system including a plurality of image supply apparatuses and an image output apparatus, If communication with a first image supply apparatus using a first protocol is disconnected before completion of output processing of an image supplied from the first image supply apparatus under communication control by a second communication control unit which controls communication relating to an image using a second protocol, and a second image supply apparatus requests a connection, the image output apparatus establishes a connection of communication with the second image supply apparatus using the first protocol and holds a connection to the second image supply apparatus using the second protocol until the completion of the output processing of the image.
US08743214B2
A system for determining one or more camera calibration parameters is disclosed. The system comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to: a) provide a first pattern for display on a display screen; b) receive a first image from a camera viewing the display screen; c) provide a second pattern for display on the display screen; and d) receive a second image from the camera viewing the display screen. The relative position of the display screen and the camera are the same as when the first image was captured using the camera. The processor is further configured to determine an image location which is a projection of a known physical location on the display screen by using at least in part a first feature identified in the first image and a second feature identified in the second image and determine one or more calibration parameters based at least in part on the determined image location. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US08743211B2
A video test pattern generator and method include a control sequencer configured to control one or more address counters to generate a video test pattern. A first memory is configured to store pixel values for transitions between portions of the video test pattern and configured to store a repeated pixel value. A second memory is configured to store pattern information to determine placement of the pixel values for the transitions and the repeated pixel values. A repeat counter is configured to control a number of the repeated pixel values produced before a next transition.
US08743209B2
An image pickup apparatus is provided which realizes an improvement in the accuracy of a subject tracking function of the image pickup apparatus during continuous shooting. This image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit configured to capture a plurality of auxiliary images during an interval between capturing of a main image and capturing of a next main image; a first subject tracking processing unit configured to detect a region where a subject that is the same as a main subject exists, from a first region that is a part of a first auxiliary image among the plurality of auxiliary images; and a second subject tracking processing unit configured to detect a region where a subject that is the same as the main subject exists, from a second region of a second auxiliary image among the plurality of auxiliary images, the second region being larger than the first region.
US08743206B2
A beam combiner is configured to generate a combined image by combining a first image and a second image, and transmit the combined image to a user. One or more light pipes are coupled to the beam combiner from one or more indicator lights. Each light pipe is configured to receive light from a respective indicator light and transmit the light from the respective indicator light to the beam combiner, which is then seen by the user.
US08743201B2
The present invention discloses a time-sequential multi-spectrum image acquiring device structure which uses a single camera module to achieve multi-spectrum image acquiring in a time-sequential architecture, thereby providing a simple, lightweight telemetry system and reducing the development and operation costs thereof. For example, a visible and near infrared (VNIR) imaging system reduces the use of four camera modules (each including an optical lens, filter, sensor, and image signal processing unit) to single camera module, the VNIR imaging system acquires multi-spectrum images having the same image geometric parameters for image calibration and can simplify the calibration process.The present invention is implemented by introducing a multi-spectrum filter wheel capable of rotating in high speed in the camera module and controlling the image acquiring frequency of the sensor and the synchronicity of the wheel rotating speed for multi-spectrum image acquiring. The present invention is suitable for use in multi-spectrum images acquiring of airborne telemetry requiring lightweight system, such as multi-spectrum images acquiring of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
US08743199B2
A multifacet mirror comprises a catoptric structure configured to reflect light from a first field of view onto an image plane comprising a plurality of sensors, the catoptric structure having a surface comprising a plurality of facets separated by a plurality of catoptric regions; wherein a facet of the plurality of the facets has a second field of view that is smaller than the predetermined field of view; and wherein a catoptric region of the plurality or catoptric regions between two facets of the plurality of facets is configured to reflect light from a world point within the first field of view onto two of the sensors of the plurality of sensors.
US08743196B2
A system and method for performing an external inspection on a rotor blade of a wind turbine are disclosed. The system may generally include a frame configured to extend at least partially around an outer perimeter of the rotor blade and a sensing device coupled to the frame. Additionally, first and second spacer arms may extend from the frame. The first spacer arm may be configured to contact a pressure side surface of the rotor blade. The second spacer arm may be configured to contact a suction side surface of the rotor blade.
US08743192B2
A method for controlling an image capture device obtains an image captured by a camera of an electronic device, detects an eye area in the obtained image, and determines a matching subject template by comparing the detected eye area with a plurality of subject templates. The method further determines a control command corresponding to the matching subject template, and sends the control command to the image capture device to adjust movements of the image capture device.
US08743182B2
When the distance to an object is short and a release button is fully-pushed, one photographing unit acquires a left image. Translucence-processing is performed for the left image, and an optimum movement distance of a viewpoint between left and right images is calculated. The left image objected to the translucence-processing and the calculated optimum movement distance are superimposingly displayed on a live view image of a liquid crystal monitor, and the correlation coefficient of an object region and a background region are calculated for the live view image and the acquired left image. It is determined whether or not the correlation coefficient of the object region is equal to or greater than a first threshold value and whether or not the correlation coefficient of the background region is equal to or greater than a second threshold value, and if the threshold value determination is positive, one photographing unit acquires the right image.
US08743179B2
Disclosed is a compact type 3D image photographing apparatus which adjusts a convergence angle with respect to a subject using two lenses in order to photograph a stereoscopic image. The compact type image photographing apparatus includes a housing; a first actuator having a first lens and disposed in the housing so as to be moved left and right; a second actuator having a second lens, disposed in the housing so as to be moved left and right, and disposed to be spaced apart from the first actuator; a left/right driving part which is disposed at each of the first and second actuators so as to move the first actuator or the second actuator left and right when power is applied; an image sensor which is disposed at each lower side of the first and second actuators so as to photograph a subject through the first and second lenses; and a control part which is disposed at a lower side of the image sensor so as to control power supplied to the left/right driving part, the first actuator and the second actuator.
US08743162B2
Improved evaluation of temporal response of a display is achieved by displaying a plurality of test patterns. The number of pixels of each test pattern driven at the first driving level is greater than the number of pixels driven at the second driving level. In addition, each pixel is driven at a first driving level in multiple consecutive test patterns (e.g., for multiple consecutive frames) such that the actual output of the pixel when driven at the first driving level matches the uncompensated “ideal” output of that pixel when driven at the first driving level. In other words, the output of the pixel driven at the first driving level would be same as the output of that pixel after having been driven at the first luminance for a time period exceeding the maximum fall time of the pixel. The pixel is then driven at the second driving level.
US08743157B2
An audio/visual (A/V) electronic device includes a display and an integrated visual angular limitation device employed to limit a viewable angular area of the display. One or more directional acoustic transducers that have an associated characteristic acoustic pattern will include at least a portion of the associated characteristic acoustic pattern in cooperative alignment with the limited viewable angular area of the display.
US08743155B2
A display device capable of correcting display of deteriorated pixels without causing a nonconstant tonality or improper color balance is provided. The display device includes a display section with plural pixels; signal lines; a data generation circuit; a D/A converter for sequentially converting a tone data to an analog voltage and outputting the analog voltage to the signal lines; a switch circuit for outputting a signal corresponding to the pixel state by switching the signal lines; an A/D converter for sequentially detecting the signal; and a detection circuit for estimating the state of the pixel from the signal. The D/A converter includes an output range setting means for setting an allowed output range of the analog voltage. The display device includes an output correction circuit that controls the output range setting means in accordance with the state of the pixel detected by the detection circuit.
US08743152B2
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including: a display pixel section including pixels each composed of an arrangement of red, green, and blue subpixels and an additional subpixel of a specified color; and a signal processing section configured to extend signal levels of an input image signal, extract a signal component of the specified color from extended red, green, and blue signals, determine a signal level of the specified color, perform an extension process based on the signal level of the specified color, modulate the red, green, and blue signals subjected to the extension process in accordance with a specified modulation level so as to have different brightness from that of an original image, and modulate brightness of a light source. The input image signal used to determine the modulation level and the input image signal subjected to a modulation process and displayed are of different frames.
US08743147B2
The present invention provides a character highlighting control apparatus including a character pixel extractor and a highlighting degree controller. The character pixel extractor is configured to extract a pixel corresponding to a character part from input image data. The highlighting degree controller is configured to carry out control in such a way that a maximum emission luminance of a display device is linked with input image data, to thereby selectively increase an emission luminance of an extracted pixel on a display screen and avoid increase of an emission luminance of a background part on the display screen.
US08743144B2
There is provided a mobile terminal including a movement information acquisition section for acquiring movement information of a mobile terminal possessed by a user, a picked-up image acquisition section for acquiring a peripheral image of the mobile terminal, which is imaged by an imaging device, a transmission section for transmitting the movement information acquired by the movement information acquisition section to a server device which is connected to the mobile terminal via a network, a reception section for receiving community information which is generated by the server device based on a history of the movement information and which can be shared between the user possessing the mobile terminal and another user other than the user possessing the mobile terminal, and a display control section for displaying, on a display screen, a displayed image included in the community information in a superimposed manner on a peripheral image of the mobile terminal.
US08743142B1
A present invention pixel processing system and method permit complicated three dimensional images to be rendered with shallow graphics pipelines including reduced gate counts and facilitates power conservation by utilizing a single unified data fetch stage (e.g., unified data fetch module) that retrieves a variety of different pixel surface attribute values (e.g., depth, color, and/or texture values) in a single stage. Different types of pixel surface attribute data (e.g., depth, color, texture) associated with multiple graphics processing functions (e.g., color blending, texture mapping, etc.) are retrieved in the single unified data fetch graphics pipeline stage. The pixel surface attribute values may be placed in corresponding variable fields of a pixel packet row. The pixel packet rows including the pixel surface attribute values are forwarded to downstream graphics pipeline stages (e.g., an arithmetic logic pipestage).
US08743133B2
An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of input units configured to correspond to respective image data items to be obtained, an obtaining unit configured to obtain the image data items corresponding to the input units when the input units are operated, a determination unit configured to determine, when one of the input units is operated within a predetermined period of time, layout for displaying a corresponding one of the image data items in a display unit, and configured to determine, when at least two of the input units are operated within the predetermined period of time, layout for displaying image data items corresponding to the operated input units in the display unit in parallel, and an output unit configured to generate display data for a single screen using at least one of the image data items obtained using the obtaining unit in accordance with the layout determined using the determination unit and output the display data to the display unit.
US08743131B2
A method for executing processes within a computer system is provided. The method includes determining when to switch from a first process, executing within the computer system, to executing another process. Execution of the first process corresponds to a computer system storage location. The method also includes switching to executing the other process based upon a time quantum and resuming execution of the first process after the time quantum has lapsed, the resuming corresponding to the storage location.
US08743111B2
A stereoscopic image display includes a display panel, an active black stripe controller, which analyzes an information of a 3D depth between left eye image data and right eye image data, obtains a 3D depth value, compares the 3D depth value with a predetermined threshold value, and assigns data copied from the left eye image data and the right eye image data as data to be written to second division subpixels of pixels of the display panel when the 3D depth value is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, a data driving circuit which converts digital data received from the active black stripe controller into a data voltage and supplies the data voltage to data lines of the display panel, and a gate driving circuit sequentially supplying a gate pulse to gate lines of the display panel.
US08743109B2
A stand-alone platform and a method for the multi-dimensional rendering, display, manipulation, and analysis of full high resolution volumetric data sets. The systems and methods provide the ability to volumetrically render images with extremely high resolution in applications such as medical imaging procedures, digital microscopy such as in use of a confocal microscope, and other areas where extremely large data sets are produced from the imaging process. Certain embodiments of the system and methods produce left and right eye images of the rendered data, for viewing in parallax via a synchronized headset, and the ability to manipulate the data and display of image data easily and in real time.
US08743103B2
In accordance with revealed embodiments of the present invention, a source driver is provided, which is capable of providing a variety of polarity inversion patterns of source driving signals. Additionally, due to properly utilizing a multiplexing device and a switching device, hardware architecture of the inventive source driver is no more complicated than that of the conventional source driver. As a result, the present invention provides a source driver having the greater performance than the conventional source driver without increasing hardware cost and circuitry complexity.
US08743102B2
A gamma tab voltage generator includes a plurality of, a data calculator configured to generate a buffer selection information and a buffer combination information based on a current capacity of buffer, a plurality of digital-to-analog converters configured to generate gamma tab voltages based on a gamma tab voltage information, a buffer selector configured to connect input terminals of the buffers selected based on the buffer selection information to output terminals of the digital-to-analog converters, and a buffer combiner configured to connect output terminals of the selected buffers to one another in response to the buffer combination information.
US08743099B2
A display adjusting device adapted for adjusting display parameter(s) of a display unit includes a light sensing unit for sensing an environmental illumination associated with the display unit; an image capturing unit for capturing an image of a user in front of the display unit; and a controlling unit, electrically connected to the display unit, the light sensing unit and the image capturing unit, for selectively adjusting a first display brightness of the display unit to a second display brightness according to the environmental illumination, calculating a distance between eyes of the user and the display unit according to the image, and selectively adjusting the second display brightness to a third display brightness according to the distance.
US08743093B2
A display apparatus includes first scan lines and second scan lines arranged along one direction on a substrate, data signal lines are arranged intersecting the one direction, and display pixels are selected by a scan line selection signal. A first display circuit is connected to the first scan lines using the scan line selection signal and sequentially supplying an image signal which is sequentially input to a pixel electrode. A second display circuit is connected to the second scan lines using the scan line selection signal and includes a holding circuit which holds the image signal and supplies a voltage in accordance with the signal held by the holding circuit to the pixel electrode. A mode switching circuit performs mode switching between an analog display mode and a digital display mode in accordance with a mode switching signal.
US08743090B2
Disclosed is a display device equipped with an input section that can be operated accurately. A display device equipped with an input section (50) of the present invention includes a correcting section (39), which includes a sensor location detecting section (28) that detects the location of the optical axis of light projected from the light-projecting section. To the sensor location detecting section (28), the location information of a pointer is inputted as the location of the optical axis of the light. The correcting section (39) also includes a sensor shape detecting section (29) that detects the shape of the light-receiving region receiving the light projected from the light-projecting section. The display device equipped with an input section (50) further includes a pointer location correcting section that corrects the pointer location. The pointer location correcting section corrects the location information of the pointer when the shape of the light-receiving region detected by the sensor shape detecting section (29) changes.
US08743085B2
A touch input device for switching driving signals includes a touch panel and a panel driving circuit for driving the touch panel. The panel driving circuit includes a selecting circuit, a driving signal generating circuit, and a touch sensing circuit. The driving signal generating circuit transmits a driving signal to the touch panel. The selecting circuit includes a multiplexer, which controls sensing lines that do not comprise either an X directional measuring channel or a Y directional measuring channel to be grounded or floating in accordance with the driving signal.
US08743074B2
A transparent capacitive touch panel comprising a transparent substrate, a transparent cover lens and a transparent adhesive layer is provided, wherein a first transparent electrode layer and a second transparent electrode layer are disposed on the transparent cover lens and the transparent substrate respectively. The transparent adhesive layer is used to bind the first transparent electrode layer and second transparent electrode layer in order to combine the transparent cover lens and the transparent substrate disposed in parallel. Thereby, the manufacturing process of the transparent capacitive touch panel is simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the same is lowered.
US08743072B2
A display device provides a user with tactile feedback using a tactile user interface. The display device includes a display unit, a tactile feedback unit, and a controller. The controller detects a first control input selecting a first object displayed on the display unit, detects a second control input controlling the first object that is consecutive to the first control input, controls the first object in response to the second control input, generates first tactile feedback according to properties of the first object in response to the second control input, detects a third control input controlling the first object that is consecutive to the second control input, the third control input being detected in a region of a second object displayed on the display unit, and maintains the first tactile feedback in response to the third control input while the first object is controlled by the third control input.
US08743066B2
A method includes detecting a cover on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device, and automatically increasing sensitivity of the touch-sensitive display to a touch when the cover is detected, without user interaction.
US08743057B2
A low-cost haptic feedback keyboard device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a displayed environment provided by a computer. The haptic keyboard device can be a keyboard having multiple keys, or can be a wrist rest or other attachment coupled to a keyboard. The device includes a housing that is physically contacted by the user and rests on a support surface. An actuator is coupled to the housing and applies a force to the housing approximately along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the support surface, where the force is transmitted to the user contacting the housing. In one embodiment, the force is an inertial force that is output by moving an inertial mass. The keyboard device can be used in conjunction with another haptic device, such as a mouse, trackball, or joystick.
US08743055B2
A handheld controller which includes at least two disparate sensors, such as a motion sensor and a touchpad sensor. A processor deployed in either handheld controller or separate product implements a hybrid pointing and selection method that uses data from the first sensor to adjust the sensitivity to stimulus of the second sensor, and vice versa. The respective sensor data are thus tempered and combined to generate a cursor control signal that includes a large scale control component to control size and movement of a rough pointer region, and a fine scale control component to control position of a precise pointer within the rough pointer region.
US08743054B2
A controller for a display device includes a processor configured to receive an indication of the orientation of a user of the display device; receive an indication of the orientation of the display device; and generate a graphical representation of a user of the display device using the received indications, such that the orientation of the graphical representation of the user is adapted based on the orientation of the display device.
US08743053B2
Systems and methods are presented for applying visual effects while in a mode that restricts cursor movement to track an existing path. While in cursor path restriction mode, spatial inputs may be received from a pointing device configured to control a cursor on a display, with the spatial inputs signaling positions on the display. The cursor moves on a restricted path that tracks an existing path in response to the spatial signals, with the cursor confined to the restricted path even when spatial signals may indicate a point not on the restricted path. During the cursor movement, in addition to the movement of the cursor, there may be an alteration of what appears on the display, where the alteration depends on movement of the cursor along at least a portion of the restricted path.
US08743051B1
An electronic device automatically reverses a left-right orientation of content displayed by the device when detecting that a user is viewing content of the device via a mirror. Some embodiments reverse the content upon detecting a trigger such as a reflection of an image displayed by the device, indicating that the device is displaying content against a mirror. In some embodiments, the device reverses the content upon detecting that blinking markers displayed by the device are inverted or upon detecting a blinking marker flashing in a particular pattern consistent to that emitted by the device. Some embodiments reverse the content upon detecting both the reflection of the image and a reflection of the user. Further, some embodiments reverse the content upon determining that the user is facing a mirror and switches back to its normal orientation when the user is viewing the content by directly looking at the device.
US08743048B2
A disclosed electrochromic display element includes a display substrate, a counter substrate facing the display substrate, display electrodes arranged between the display substrate and the counter substrate, electrochromic layers formed on the respective display electrodes, a plurality of drive elements arranged on the counter substrate at predetermined intervals, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged on the drive elements, a charge retention layer formed over the pixel electrodes as a continuous layer, the charge retention layer being formed of a mixed film including a polymer and one of electric conductive microparticles and semiconductor microparticles, and an electrolyte layer sandwitched between the display substrate and the charge retention layer.
US08743042B2
Provided are a display device capable of preventing image noise arising from changes in potential of a common electrode and auxiliary capacitor lines at the time of a switch between a normal mode and a memory mode and a method for driving such a display device. In a case where it is necessary to cause the common electrode and the auxiliary capacitor lines to change in potential along with a switch between the normal mode and the memory mode, the change in potential is made while electrically connecting a node of each memory circuit to a corresponding source line with the corresponding source line having its potential fixed and with the memory circuit having its a switch circuit in a conductive state.
US08743026B2
A display device includes a pixel array section, the pixel array section having pixels arranged in a matrix form, at least one of the pixels including an electro-optical element, a write transistor, a holding capacitance, a drive transistor, and a switching transistor. A write scan line is disposed for each pixel row of the pixel array section and adapted to convey a write signal to be applied to the gate electrode of the write transistor. The wiring structure of the write scan line does not intersect with the wiring pattern connected to the gate electrode of the drive transistor.
US08743025B2
A light-emitting device and an electronic apparatus, which are capable of preventing reduction of the amount of current flowing through light-emitting elements and which have an excellent display characteristic, are provided. Cathode wiring lines 13 connected to a cathode 12 are provided to surround an effective area 2a outside the effective area 2a where a plurality of pixels 103R, G and B having light-emitting elements are provided. First to third power source lines 103G, 103B and 103R connected to pixel electrodes are provided between the cathode wiring lines 13 and the effective area 2a.
US08743017B2
A metamaterial that includes a metallic wire and a supporting member. The metallic wire has a length of substantially half the wavelength of electromagnetic waves, and is coiled in the shape of a spring. The supporting member fixes the metallic wire such that the central axis of the metallic wire is parallel in direction to an electric field generated between a signal line through which an electric current flows and a ground. The metallic wire placed in such manner resonates with electromagnetic waves having a wavelength approximately twice as long as the metallic wire, and exhibits a negative dielectric constant.
US08743016B2
An antenna with improved radiation efficiency is provided. The antenna includes an antenna array proximately coupled to a feed line. The antenna array includes a plurality of resonating lines. Each resonating line includes a plurality of axially aligned resonators. The resonators have a resonating surface. The resonating surfaces of the resonators at the ends of the resonating lines are larger than resonating surfaces of the resonators in the middle of the resonating lines. Power is supplied to each resonating ling through a feed line. Electrical field is uniformly distributed along the antenna array so as to improve the radiation efficiency of the antenna.
US08743010B2
An antenna device includes a T-shaped element having a first end part, a second end part, and a third end part, the first end part being a feeding point, the T-shaped element being bifurcated at an intermediate point; and a stub having one end connected between the intermediate point and the second end point and another end connected to ground, the stub forming a π-shaped configuration with the T-shaped element; wherein a length of a first line between the first end part and the second end part is longer than a length of a second line between the first end part and the third end part; and the length of the first line and the length of the second line correspond to a first resonance frequency and a second resonance frequency.
US08743004B2
A feed assembly for a parabolic dish reflector is described. The feed assembly includes a waveguide cavity locatable at the focal point, or any other desired off-boresight location corresponding point, of the parabolic dish, at least one first radiating element optimized for operation at a first frequency band and provided on a top surface of the waveguide cavity, and a plurality of second radiating elements each optimized for operation at a second band of frequencies and provided on the top surface of the waveguide cavity.
US08743000B2
A thin electromagnetic phase shifting element, named phase and amplitude shifting surface (PASS), is disclosed. The PASS is capable of independently altering both the phase and the amplitude distribution of the electromagnetic fields propagating through the structure. The element comprises a few patterned metallic layers separated by dielectric layers. The patterns of the metallic layers are tuned to locally alter the phase and/or the amplitude of an incoming electromagnetic wave to a prescribed set of desired values for the outgoing electromagnetic wave. The PASS can be applied to design components such as gratings, lenses, holograms, and various types of antennas in the microwave, millimeter wave and sub-millimeter wave.
US08742999B2
An antenna element has a slit including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending in a first direction so as to separate first and second feed points from each other, and the second portion extending in a second direction different from the first direction. The slit is configured to resonate at an isolation frequency to produce isolation between the first and second feed points, and configured to form a current path around the slit. A current distribution along the current path generated by exciting through the first feed point is different from a current distribution along the current path generated by exciting through the second feed point, thus providing different radiation characteristics by the different current distributions.
US08742994B2
A housing includes a 3-D composite structure. The structure includes a flex foil. An antenna trace is provided on a first surface of the flex foil. A shield, which may be a sheet, is positioned on the antenna trace. A resin is molded to the first surface, the shield and the antenna trace. The resultant structure allows for a thin-walled design that can communicate efficiently via wireless signals.
US08742993B2
Techniques and devices based on antenna structures with a MTM loading element.
US08742990B2
A circular polarization antenna includes a substrate, a ground plane, a tuning stub, a feeding element, and a cavity structure. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The feeding element is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The ground plane is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and has a hole. The tuning stub is disposed on the second surface of the substrate and connected to the edge of the hole. The cavity structure is connected to the ground plane and configured to reflect an electromagnetic wave.
US08742989B2
Systems and methods for constructing integrated three dimensional electromagnetic element arrays using a bulk resonator are illustrated. In several embodiments, the integrated three dimensional electromagnetic element arrays include electromagnetic elements buried within the bulk resonator. In many embodiments, inclusion of a third dimension in the electromagnetic element array can alleviate or eliminate the trade-offs that are experienced in conventional integrated antennas by using the third physical dimension to provide an additional degree of freedom to manipulate electromagnetic boundary conditions in the near-field of the substrate, affecting both the resulting electromagnetic near- and far-fields. In several embodiments, three dimensional electromagnetic element arrays are formed by mechanically stacking substrates on which integrated planar circuits are formed (i.e. chips) using conventional die stacking techniques.
US08742987B2
A vehicle-to-vehicle communication filtering system is provided to selectively process broadcast messages between a host vehicle and a remote vehicle. A processing unit evaluates a time-to-collision status between the host vehicle and the remote vehicle sending the message. The time-to-collision status is a function of a relative distance and a relative velocity between the host vehicle and the remote vehicle which are determined from data provided within a first portion of the message received from the remote vehicle. An attentive factor is assigned to each of the remote vehicles based on the time-to-collision with respect to each remote vehicle. The attentive factor identifies a proportion of messages broadcast from the remote vehicle to be targeted for security processing. Security processing of the message is performed based on a second portion of the message unless the attentive factor indicates the message should be ignored.
US08742986B2
Various methods and apparatuses that utilize a wireless time reference system are provided herein. One example method involves calibrating independent, spatially-located clocks of a geoposition system in order to geolocate an object having an associated object tag. The example method may include transmitting an RF pulse pair, receiving the pulse pair at multiple locations, utilizing respective frequencies of first and second spatially-located clocks to produce count values to effect measurement of an interarrival interval at each of multiple locations, determining a ratio of count values relative to said first and second spatially-located clocks, and utilizing said ratio to calibrate time indications of said clocks. Other related methods and apparatus are also provided.
US08742980B2
A radar device that detects a target includes two or more transmitting antennas and two or more receiving antennas, including a combination of two or more transmitting antennas and receiving antennas that form two or more reference paths at which spatial phases become identical; an envelope detection unit that acquires an envelope of a reception signal received by the receiving antenna in each of the reference paths; a determination unit that decides a phase correction amount between the reference paths from a delay amount that yields a minimum value of an integrated distance between envelopes of the reception signals of the reference paths; and a correction unit that aligns phases of all reception signals received by the two or more receiving antennas, using the decided phase correction amount.
US08742976B1
A method and apparatus for providing power management for a device including a radar unit and an ad hoc network node are presented. The present invention involves various individual components of the device being turned on and off in various sequences in order to minimize power draw of the device. This involves starting individual components ahead of when they are required so they are fully functional when needed.
US08742973B1
An aircraft based radar system is provided. The radar system includes processing electronics configured to estimate a vertical loading on the aircraft using radar return data and a time value.
US08742972B2
A method for controlling devices connected together, and which includes determining a type of a first device, determining what key buttons on a remote controller are needed to operate the determined type of the first device, activating the key buttons on the remote controller that are needed to operate the determined type of the first device, receiving an input signal indicating a selection of at least one key button, transmitting the received input signal to a second device that is different than the first device, generating, by the second device, a remote control signal corresponding to the received input signal, transmitting, by the second device, the generated remote control signal to the first device, and performing a function on the first device corresponding the input signal indicating the selection of said at least one key button on the remote controller.
US08742967B2
An analog to digital converter generating a number of corresponding voltages in response to a number of values of a grey level is provided. The analog to digital converter includes a decoder and an operational amplifier. The decoder provides first to third output voltages having the same level when w most significant bits (MSBs) of the grey level correspond to the same value, provides first and second intermediate voltages in response to the x MSBs next to the w MSBs when the w MSBs correspond to different values, and selectively has the first to the third output voltages equal to one of the first and the second intermediate voltages. The operational amplifier obtains a pixel voltage by interpolating the first to the third output voltages, wherein the sum of w and x is smaller than or equal to the bit number of the gray level.
US08742963B2
A recording circuit is provided. The recording circuit includes a multiplexing circuit configured to receive a plurality of input signals and to produce a multiplexed output signal including the plurality of input signals, and a plurality of sampling circuits electrically coupled in parallel to each other, each sampling circuit being configured to sample a portion of the multiplexed output signal corresponding to an input signal of the plurality of input signals and the sampling circuits configured to alternately produce an output signal corresponding to the sampled portion.
US08742955B2
In step ST11 of FIG. 5, a map image is displayed. In step ST12, moving-route marks are added to the map image. In step ST13, image-pickup-position marks are added to the map image. In step ST14, a current position mark is added to the map image. In step ST15, a predetermined range is determined based on an image-pickup position. Furthermore, predetermined ranges are determined based on a moving route and a current position. In step ST16, the number of types of landmark sign to be included in the map image is reduced in ranges other than the predetermined ranges. Since landmark signs which are positioned far from the image-pickup position, the moving route, and the current position and which are not important for a user are not added to the map image, map display is performed while display of the landmark signs is optimized.
US08742954B2
The present invention is directed to a method for determining vehicular speeds over various travel routes that includes the steps: (a) for a plurality of mobile communication devices, determining a respective first geographic location at a first time and a second geographic location at a second later time; (b) determining a respective velocity for each cellular communication device over the distance between the first and second geographic locations; and (c) based on the respective velocities, providing to a driver at least one of (I) a velocity over a selected travel route, (ii) a traffic volume over the selected travel route, and (iii) an estimated time of travel over the selected travel route.
US08742953B1
A marine fuel system and method includes receiving a fuel level signal from a fuel level sensor for a marine fuel tank on a marine vessel and discriminating between condition A comprising an increase in the true amount of fuel in the fuel tank above a given level, and condition B comprising a transient increase in the level of fuel in the fuel tank above the given level due to vessel movement, which may include movement due to waves, rough water, people moving on the vessel, and so on, while the vessel is stationary at a dock or filling station and being re-fueled. An alert signal is output in response to condition A and not to condition B.
US08742952B1
Traffic awareness systems and methods include receiving data regarding a first aircraft and determining the location of the first aircraft relative to the location of a second aircraft. An indication of the first aircraft may be provided to a display based on a determination that the relative location of the first aircraft is within a field of view associated with the display.
US08742947B2
A parking space monitoring device that calculates a parking space with higher accuracy. The parking space monitoring device includes an obstacle detection unit (2, 3, 4) that uses a relative distance (Ri) and relative angle (θi) between an obstacle (Cp) near a vehicle (1) and the vehicle to detect a relative position (Pi(R1, θi)) of the obstacle with respect to the vehicle, a memory (8) that stores the relative position (Pi) detected by the obstacle detection unit in association with movement information of the vehicle, and a parking space calculation unit (7) that calculates a parking space based on the relative information (Pi) and the movement information that are stored in the memory.
US08742936B2
A method and a control unit are provided for detecting when the driver of a motor vehicle becomes inattentive. In order to be able to reliably draw conclusions about the presence of inattentiveness of the driver, it is proposed to observe not only a steering inactivity phase but also a steering action which follows the steering inactivity phase. A detected implementation of the steering inactivity phase and of the steering action are logically combined with one another, and the result of this logic combination is then used as a measure of the severity of the inattentiveness of the driver. In addition, the measure of the severity of the inattentiveness of the driver depends on at least one driver-specific parameter which is determined during the execution of the method. The inattentiveness of the driver can also be detected during the time interval in which the at least one driver-specific parameter is determined.
US08742933B2
An attention assistance device configured to help maintain a user's focus on a given task. In one embodiment, text is presenting to a user on a touchscreen. The user tracking the text using a finger is monitored. The user is stimulated when the finger stops tracking the text for a predetermined period of time. In another embodiment, an electronic device presents an output configured to be tracked by a user. A monitoring device observes the user tracking the output. A sensory stimulating device stimulates the user when the “tracking” falls below an attention threshold.
US08742932B2
A hand wash and sanitation device that controls the hygiene of the personnel while performing their work related functions in areas where complete asepsis is required. The hand wash and sanitation device that controls the use of the device by each one of the workers by using biometrics parameters and keeps records of the use of the device by each one of the workers during the preset schedule. The hand wash and sanitation device that detects if the personnel had properly sanitized their hands during a preset schedule and then takes the necessary steps to ensure the proper sanitization. The hand wash and sanitation device includes a hollow housing enclosing a biometric scanner connected to the housing, the biometric scanner reads a biometric parameter of a user, a screen located on the housing and connected to the biometric device, a liquid dispenser operatively connected to the biometric scanner, wherein the liquid dispenser dispenses a predetermined amount of an antiseptic formulation, a computer device including a software program, and the computer device is connected to the liquid dispenser and to the biometric dispenser.
US08742914B2
Tire pressure information is sensed. The sensed tire pressure information is stored in a transmission buffer. A control program is executed to transmit the tire pressure information from the transmission buffer to an external receiver device according to each of a plurality of communications formats incorporated into the control program and not according to a manufacturers' code.
US08742913B2
A method of programming a tire pressure monitoring device includes the step of forming a physical interface between a tire pressure monitoring device and a programming device. The programming device includes a first memory including a plurality of selectable programs that provide instructions defining a communication protocol for communication between a tire pressure monitoring device and a receiver. The method further includes the step of selecting through a user interface of the programming device a desired one of the plurality of selectable programs and loading the selected one of the plurality of selectable programs from the first memory device of the programming device to a second memory device disposed within the tire pressure monitoring device.
US08742906B2
An output adjustment ECU includes: a request reception section for receiving an output request of alarm information to a driver from a drive assist ECU; a usefulness determination section for, when the request reception section receives the output request, determining whether or not outputting first alarm information that is the alarm information of which the output request is received is useful for the driver; a content modification section for, when the usefulness determination section determines that the outputting is not useful, modifying a content of the first alarm information to generate second alarm information that is alarm information useful for the driver; and an output execution section for outputting the first alarm information when the usefulness determination section determines that the outputting is useful, and outputting the second alarm information when the usefulness determination section determines that the outputting is not useful. In this manner, appropriate alarm information is outputted.
US08742901B2
This disclosure provides systems and methods for detecting a change in environmental conditions utilizing sampling circuitry configured to sample an environmental sensor while a processor remains in a low-power state or a sleep state. According to some embodiments, a pre-filter performs a simplified analysis of the sensor samples to determine if the processor should wake and perform additional analysis on stored sensor samples. Specific examples are provided for detecting motion using passive infrared detectors. Accordingly, systems and methods for reducing the power consumption of a motion detection system are provided herein.
US08742892B1
A method and apparatus for simplified setting and imprinting the touch icons of a touch pad used for electrical devices and appliances in homes, other residences and other building by installing the touch pad directly on walls or an electrical wall box individually and in a cascaded chain connected via a bus line with or without power feed, including the attaching of the pads to each other for providing aligned larger sized touch panel, wherein the setting of the touch icon is via loading data to a memory or via setting switches and the imprinting is selected via a program provided for printing a pre-formatted and pre-cut decorative sheet attached to the touch pad by a front cover with self-locking.
US08742883B2
A method and system provides for monitoring, troubleshooting and acquiring diagnostics information from an aspirating dispensing system (10). The dispensing system (10) uses an aspirator (12) with a plurality of liquid inlet ports and a flow meter (30) connected in liquid communication with at least one of the liquid inlet ports and a liquid source. The system monitors, troubleshoots and acquires diagnostics information from one or more components of the dispensing system by monitoring operation of the flow meter (30).
US08742879B2
There is provided a transformer capable of significantly reducing leakage inductance while satisfying safety standards. The transformer includes: a winding part having a plurality of coils wound on an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrically-shaped body part while being stacked thereon; and a terminal connection part extended from one end of the winding part in an outer diameter direction and having a plurality of external connection terminals coupled to a distal end thereof, wherein the terminal connection part includes at least one lead groove formed in a radial direction and at least one catching groove formed in the lead groove in a manner in which a width of the lead groove is extended in a winding direction of the coils.
US08742876B2
The disclosure relates to a transformer coil which can be cooled by a heat pipe and has a primary winding and a secondary winding and relates to a transformer which is formed from transformer coils which can be cooled in this way. The heat from the transformer coil is dissipated by the heat pipe. The evaporator of the heat pipe is arranged in the area of the windings and forms at least one extensive evaporator segment, which extends in the circumferential direction of the windings and along the winding axis of the transformer coil and in the process covers a multiplicity of the turns of the secondary winding.
US08742872B2
In a MEMS device having a substrate 1, a sealing membrane 7, and a movable portion 3 of beam and an electrode 5 which have a region wherein they overlap with a gap in perpendicular to a substrate 1 surface, a first cavity 9 is on the side of the movable portion 3 in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, and a second cavity is the other cavity, and an inner surface a of a side wall A in contact with the electrode 5, of the first cavity 9, is positioned more inside than an inner surface b of a side wall B in contact with the electrode 5, of the second cavity 10, in the direction parallel to the substrate surface, such that the movable portion 3 does not collide with the electrode 5 when mechanical stress is applied from outside to the sealing membrane 7.
US08742867B2
The present invention provides a capacitively coupled stripline to microstrip transition which comprises a stripline, a microstrip, an upper conductive ground plane, a lower conductive ground plane, an insulating layer and an insulating fixing component. The stripline is positioned between the upper conductive ground plane and the lower conductive ground plane, and has a stripline overlap section. The microstrip is mounted on the upper conductive ground plane, and has a microstrip overlap section which penetrates the upper conductive ground plane. Wherein the microstrip overlap section, the insulating layer and the stripline overlap section are attached uniformly and tightly in sequence and fixed together by the insulating fixing component. The present invention further provides an antenna comprising this transition.
US08742866B2
An electromagnetic coupler including a conductor pattern formed in a first conductor layer, a feed pattern connected to a feeding system and a ground pattern separated from the feed pattern. The feed pattern and the ground pattern are formed in a second conductor layer parallel to the first conductor layer. A first linear conductor and a plurality of second linear conductors are formed perpendicularly to the first and the second conductor layers. The first linear conductor connects the conductor pattern and the feed pattern. The plurality of second linear conductors connects the conductor pattern and the ground pattern. In addition, the conductor pattern is symmetrical in shape with respect to the connection point between the conductor pattern and the first linear conductor. The plurality of second linear conductors are symmetrical in position with respect to the first linear conductor in a planar view.
US08742856B2
The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for providing an output oscillating signal at a desired frequency. In at least one example, the apparatus includes a weak inversion structure configured to set a small reference current. A current mirror configured to provide a replica current based on the small reference current and a tuning word. A ring oscillator is configured to be powered by a supply at a voltage determined based on the replica current. The tuning word is adjustable to change the voltage such that the ring oscillator provides the output oscillating signal at the desired frequency.
US08742851B2
A CMOS distributed amplifier with distributed active input balun is disclosed. Each gm cell within the distributed amplifier employs dual-output two-stage topology that improves gain and linearity without adversely affecting bandwidth and power.
US08742847B1
An amplifier, a dynamic-bias generation device of the amplifier and a dynamic-bias method of the amplifier are provided. The dynamic-bias generation device comprises an input stage, an output stage, a detection unit, a dynamic-bias generation unit and a switch unit. The input stage having a plurality of bias terminals converts an input signal of the amplifier into at least one current signal according to the voltage of the bias terminals. The output stage receives and converts the current signal into an output signal of the amplifier. The detection unit detects the current signal. The dynamic-bias generation unit generates a plurality of bias voltages according to the current signal. The switch unit dynamically determines the connection relations between the bias voltages of the dynamic-bias generation unit and the bias terminals of the input stage according to the detection result of the detection unit.
US08742843B2
Various embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods to reduce average power dissipation in transceiver stages such as power amplifiers and low noise amplifiers (LNAs) that process signals of varying output amplitudes. Power dissipation may be reduced by varying the supply voltage in sympathy with the amplitude of the signal and/or the stage current density which may also be varied in sympathy with the signal amplitude.
US08742835B2
The switch circuit comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a forth switch, a fifth switch, a sixth switch and a seventh switch. The first switch couples the voltage input terminal to one terminal of a flying capacitor. The second switch couples one terminal of the flying capacitor to one terminal of the output capacitor. The third switch couples one terminal of the flying capacitor to a common terminal. The fourth switch couples the other terminal of the flying capacitor to one terminal of the output capacitor. The fifth switch couples one terminal of the output capacitor to a positive voltage output terminal. The sixth switch couples the other terminal of the flying capacitor to the common terminal. The seventh switch couples the other terminal of the flying capacitor to a negative voltage output terminal.
US08742834B2
A control unit alternately repeats a first state in which a first switch and a third switch are on and a second state in which a second switch and a fourth switch are on. A voltage detection unit compares the output voltage that occurs at one terminal (OUT terminal) of an output capacitor with a negative threshold voltage, and generates an abnormality detection signal which is asserted when the output voltage is higher than the threshold voltage Vt. When the abnormality detection signal is asserted, the control unit switches the on resistance of the first switch to a value that is higher than that in a normal state.
US08742830B2
A fuse sensing circuit is disclosed. Embodiments include: providing a sense input terminal; providing a sense output terminal; and providing first and second capacitors that are configured to charge and discharge based on the sense input terminal, wherein the first and second capacitors are further configured to discharge current to a fuse unit cell, and the sense output terminal is configured to indicate a fuse state of the fuse unit cell based on the discharging of the first and second capacitors. Embodiments include the indicated fuse state being based on a discharge rate difference between the discharging of the first capacitor and the discharging of the second capacitor.
US08742824B2
A driver circuit is used for driving a plurality of switch elements connected between a power supply terminal and a common terminal. Each switch element includes an anode connected to the power supply terminal, a cathode, and a gate. The cathode is connected to a common terminal. The gate controls electrical conduction between the anode and the cathode. The driver circuit includes a switch circuit connected between the power supply terminal and the common terminal, and a driver into which a drive current flows. The switch circuit is in parallel with the switch elements, and electrically connects or disconnects the power supply terminal and the common terminal in response to a control signal supplied thereto. A transmission line, having a specific characteristic impedance, is connected between the common terminal and the driver circuit.
US08742822B2
According to one embodiment, a first CMOS inverter receives an input signal corresponding to a first power supply voltage, and is driven by a second power supply voltage which is smaller than the first power supply voltage; a second CMOS inverter is connected to a rear stage of the first CMOS inverter, and is driven by the second power supply voltage; a first driving adjustment circuit adjusts a current driving force of a low level output of the first CMOS inverter; and a second driving adjustment circuit adjusts a current driving force of a low level output of the second CMOS inverter.
US08742817B2
A clock system of an integrated circuit includes first and second transistors forming a switch that is used when switching the clock system between a resonant mode of operation and a non-resonant mode of operation. An inductor forms a resonant circuit with capacitance of the clock system in resonant mode. The switch receives a clock signal and supplies the clock signal to the inductor when the switch is closed and disconnects the inductor from the clock system when the switch is open. First and second high impedance voltage sources supply respective first and second voltages to the switch and a gate voltage of the first transistor transitions with the clock signal around the first voltage and a gate voltage of the second transistor transitions with the clock signal around the second voltage such that near constant overdrive voltages are maintained for the first and second transistors.
US08742815B2
Temperature-independent delay elements and oscillators are disclosed. In one design, an apparatus includes at least one delay element, a bias circuit, and a current source. The delay element(s) receive a charging current from the current source and provide a delay that is dependent on the charging current. Each delay element may be a current-starved delay element. The delay element(s) may be coupled in series to implement a delay line or in a loop to implement an oscillator. The bias circuit controls generation of the charging current based on a function of at least one parameter (e.g., a switching threshold voltage) of the at least one delay element in order to reduce variations in delay with temperature. The current source provides the charging current for the delay element(s) and is controlled by the bias circuit.
US08742814B2
Method, modules and a system formed by connecting the modules for controlling payloads. An activation signal is propagated in the system from one module to the modules connected to it. Upon receiving an activation signal, the module (after a pre-set or random delay) activates a payload associated with it, and transmits the activation signal (after another pre-set or random delay) to one or more modules connected to it. The system is initiated by a master module including a user activated switch producing the activation signal. The activation signal can be propagated in the system in one direction from the master to the last module, or carried bi-directionally allowing two way propagation, using a module which revert the direction of the activation signal propagation direction. A module may be individually powered by an internal power source such as a battery, or connected to an external power source such as AC power.
US08742811B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can suppress characteristic deterioration in each transistor without destabilizing operation. In a non-selection period, a transistor is turned on at regular intervals, so that a power supply potential is supplied to an output terminal of a shift register circuit. A power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor. Since the transistor is not always on in a non-selection period, a shift of the threshold voltage of the transistor is suppressed. In addition, a power supply potential is supplied to the output terminal of the shift register circuit through the transistor at regular intervals. Therefore, the shift register circuit can suppress noise which is generated in the output terminal.
US08742807B1
An apparatus comprising a first phase circuit, a second phase circuit, and a current steering circuit. The first phase circuit may be configured to generate a first portion of a phase interpolated clock signal in response to (i) a control signal, (ii) a first bias signal, and (iii) a feedback of said phase interpolated clock signal. The second phase circuit may be configured to generate a second portion of the phase interpolated clock signal in response to (i) the control signal, (ii) a second bias signal, and (iii) the feedback of the phase interpolated clock signal. The current steering circuit may be configured to generate the first bias signal and the second bias signal in response to a reference bias signal.
US08742804B2
A semiconductor device with low power consumption and a small area is provided. By using a transistor including an oxide semiconductor for a channel as a transistor included in a flip-flop circuit, a divider circuit in which the number of transistors is small, power consumption is low, and the area is small can be achieved. By using the divider circuit, a semiconductor device which operates stably and is highly reliable can be provided.
US08742802B2
A highly-reliable gate driving circuit achieved by suppressing the amount of hot-carriers generated in a MOSFET. In the gate driving circuit having NOEMI circuits, same-type NOEMI circuits are connected in series with a p-channel MOSFET constituting a gate charging circuit and an n-channel MOSFET constituting a gate discharging circuit, respectively, so as to suppress the amount of hot-carriers generated in the p-channel MOSFET and the n-channel MOSFET.
US08742797B2
A double switched track-and-hold circuit includes an input buffer having a first switched amplifier circuit for passing an input signal in a track mode and isolating the input signal from a buffer output in a hold mode, and a track-and-hold core circuit responsive to the input buffer and having a second switched amplifier circuit for tracking the input signal in a track mode and isolating the input signal from a track-and-hold output in a hold mode. The first and second switching amplifier circuits turn off approximately simultaneously during the hold mode to provide enhanced isolation.
US08742796B2
Embodiments of the present technology are directed toward circuits for gating pre-charging sense nodes within a flip-flop when an input data signal changes and a clock signal is in a given state. Embodiments of the present technology are further directed toward circuits for maintaining a state of the sense nodes.
US08742790B1
A level shift circuit includes a first latch circuit configured to receive a clock signal, a digital data signal, a first supply voltage, and a second supply voltage, and generate a first output signal based on the digital data signal. The first output signal has a first voltage level corresponding to the first supply voltage, and a second voltage level corresponding to the second supply voltage. At least one capacitor is configured to receive the first output signal, and retain a voltage value corresponding to the output signal. A second latch circuit is configured to receive the voltage value, a third supply voltage, and a fourth supply voltage, and generate a second output signal based on the voltage value. The second output signal has a third voltage level corresponding to the third supply voltage and a fourth voltage level corresponding to the fourth supply voltage.
US08742785B2
A driving method of an electrophoretic display is provided. The driving method includes the following steps. A plurality of pixels of a display panel of the electrophoretic display are configured as a plurality of blocks. A common voltage of the display panel is set to a first voltage. A plurality of scanning signals are inputted to a plurality of scanning lines of the display panel in order in which scanning lines corresponding to the same block receives the same scanning signal. A plurality of data lines of the display panel are measured to obtain at least one peak voltage corresponding to each of the blocks. A feed through voltage corresponding to each of the blocks is determined according the peak voltages corresponding to the blocks. A plurality of driving signals which drive each of the blocks are adjusted according the feed through voltage corresponding to each of the blocks.
US08742777B2
Embodiments include a method and system for testing an electric circuit. A carrier signal of a first frequency is modulated with a multi-tone signal to generate a test signal. The test signal is applied to an input of a circuit under test (CUT). A crest factor of an output signal that corresponds to the test signal received at an output of the CUT is measured. A crest factor differential between the measured crest factor and a reference crest factor is determined. If the crest factor differential exceeds a threshold value, the CUT is determined to be defective.
US08742771B2
An example integrated control circuit includes a regulator, a first comparator, a second comparator, and a counter. The regulator is to charge, during a time period, a capacitor. The first comparator is to provide an output indicating when a voltage on the capacitor reaches a first threshold voltage. The second comparator is coupled to provide an output indicating when the voltage on the capacitor reaches a second threshold voltage. The counter is coupled to begin counting in response to the first threshold voltage being reached and is coupled to stop counting in response to the second threshold voltage being reached. The counter is coupled to provide an output representative of the capacitance value of the capacitor during the time period and the integrated control circuit receives a bias current at the terminal from the capacitor to provide power to operate the integrated control circuit after the time period has ended.
US08742763B2
The present invention provides a battery module state detection method. The battery module includes a battery unit and is connected to a load. The method for detecting the battery module status includes the following steps. First, measure an on-load voltage value of the battery unit and a load current value of a load. Next, calculate an instant resistance value of the battery unit according to a no-load voltage value of the battery unit, the on-load voltage value and the load current value. Finally, obtain an operating state of the battery unit according to the instant resistance and a relationship between the internal resistance and discharging time. By the method of the present invention, the user can monitor the remaining energy of the battery module accurately in real time and therefore prevent the electrical hazard caused by over-discharging the battery module.
US08742758B2
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a plurality of coil elements for receiving magnetic resonance signals of a subject in a plurality of selectable combinations. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus also includes a sensitive region storage device for storing respective sensitive regions for the combinations of the coil elements, a setting device for setting scan regions, a calculation device for calculating a scan volume rate indicating each of proportions of overlap regions between the scan regions and the sensitive regions to the scan regions, and a sensitivity volume rate indicating each of proportions of the overlap regions to the sensitive regions, and a selection device for selecting each combination of the coil elements used to receive the magnetic resonance signals of the subject, out of the combinations of the coil elements, based on the scan volume rate and the sensitivity volume rate.
US08742754B2
Methods and systems for displaying microstructural integrity and/or connectivity of a region of interest (ROI) in a patient are disclosed. Methods and systems for tissue segmentation and atlas-based tissue segmentation in ROI of a patient using diffusion MRI data are also described. A method for studying microstructural integrity and/or connectivity of a region of interest (ROI) in a patient includes acquiring, via an imaging system, diffusion magnetic resonance (MRI) data in the ROI by using an Icosahedral Diffusion Tensor Encoding Scheme (IDTES); computing, via the imaging system, mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) by using logarithm-moment algorithm (LMA); and displaying, on a display, the microstructural integrity and/or connectivity of ROI based on the computed MD and FA. The diffusion MRI data includes diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data or diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. In some cases, displaying the microstructural integrity and/or connectivity of ROI takes place in real time.
US08742735B2
A system including a power transistor configured to receive an alternating current (AC) line voltage and a control circuit. During a rising portion of a half cycle of the AC line voltage, the control circuit is configured to turn on the power transistor when the AC line voltage reaches a first value and turn off the power transistor when the AC line voltage reaches a second value. The second value is greater than the first value. During a falling portion of the half cycle, the control circuit is configured to turn on the power transistor when the AC line voltage reaches the second value and turn off the power transistor when the AC line voltage reaches the first value.
US08742733B2
Methods and apparatuses for substantially eliminating torque pulsation in a doubly fed induction machine are disclosed. An example method comprises: measuring a stator current of the doubly fed induction machine, measuring a rotor current of the doubly fed induction machine, calculating a total magnetic flux density in an airgap of the doubly fed induction machine, calculating a tangential force density, calculating an electromagnetic torque, repeating the calculation of the electromagnetic torque over one electrical cycle to estimate a torque pulsation, determining a new rotor current that substantially eliminates the torque pulsation by referencing a set of optimal rotor currents in a look-up table, and changing the rotor current in response to the determination. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08742728B2
A rechargeable battery system that controls charge/discharge of a lithium ion rechargeable battery, includes: an internal resistance detection unit that detects or estimates an internal resistance value indicating an internal resistance at the lithium ion rechargeable battery; and a discharge control unit that executes control so as to set a discharge suspension period while the lithium ion rechargeable battery is discharged if the internal resistance value detected via the internal resistance detection unit during discharge of the lithium ion rechargeable battery exceeds a first threshold value.
US08742725B2
Provided is a secondary battery system which can accurately detect a state of a secondary battery system (such as a secondary battery state and a secondary battery system failure). The secondary battery system (6) includes dV/dQ calculation means which calculates a dV/dQ value as a ratio of a change amount dV of a battery voltage V of a secondary battery (100) against a change amount dQ of an accumulation amount Q when the accumulation amount Q of the secondary battery (100) is changed. The secondary battery system (6) detects the state of the secondary battery system (6) by using the dV/dQ value.
US08742717B2
In one aspect, the a system for charging an electrical storage device of a computer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one user input device that is operatively connected to the computer and configured to communicate input data to the computer in response to an action of a user. The input device has one or more transducers that are configured to receive a mechanical force resulting from user input to the input device and to convert the received mechanical force into electrical energy. The input device also has a connector that is configured to operatively connect the user input device to the electrical storage device of the computer and to deliver the electrical energy from the user input device to the electrical storage device.
US08742715B2
A sensor system for providing control of an electric motor having an inductive angle sensor system including a first inductive coil configured for affixation to a rotor shaft of the electric motor wherein rotation of the rotor shaft causes corresponding rotation of the first inductive coil. A second inductive coil fixedly mounted in spaced relationship to the first inductive coil. An evaluation circuit coupled to the second inductive coil and to the electric motor operative to determine a rotor shaft angle for the rotor shaft of the electric motor through evaluation of an induced magnetic field between the first and second inductive coils.
US08742711B2
An active user interface system includes a gimbal assembly that is configured as a dual-input/single-output differential mechanism. The differential mechanism implements a speed reduction from the inputs of the differential mechanism to the output of the differential mechanism. Speed reduction enables the maximum drive torque that is supplied to the user interface about one rotational axis to be greater than the maximum drive torque that is supplied to the user interface about another, perpendicular axis.
US08742708B2
In an electric power steering system, a drain terminal side of a semiconductor relay is positioned to face a heat sink through an insulation film layer. The semiconductor relay has a source terminal between a gate terminal and a drain terminal. The source terminal is provided between the gate terminal and the drain terminal with respect to parts of the gate terminal, the drain terminal and the source terminal, which extend generally in parallel each other on the same plane.
US08742706B2
The invention relates to an electronically commutated electric motor. The electric motor comprises a stator, and a rotor, in particular a permanent-magnetic rotor. The electric motor further comprises a control unit connected to the stator. The control unit is designed to actuate the stator such that the stator can generate a magnetic rotating field for rotationally moving the rotor. According to the invention, the control unit of the electric motor is provided with a power output stage having semiconductor switches. Subject to the low-resistance, or short-circuited, semiconductor switch of the power output stage, in particular as a result of defect, the control unit is designed to actuate the stator for generating the rotating field such that during a complete rotor revolution, the rotor can provide a mechanical output, or in the operational mode, a braking torque of the electric motor caused by the defect is reduced, or completely neutralized, by the low-resistance, or short-circuited, semiconductor switch.
US08742694B2
A lighting device includes a DC/DC power converter, a controller/processor electrically connected to the DC/DC power converter, a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the DC/DC power converter, and two or more LEDs comprising at least a first color LED and a second color LED electrically connected to the LED current control circuit. The LED current control circuit provides an on/off signal having a cycle time to each LED in response to one or more control signals received from the controller/processor such that the two or more LEDs produce a blended light having a specified color based on how long each LED is turned ON and/or OFF during the cycle time.
US08742679B2
An apparatus and computer readable storage medium are disclosed for supplying power to a load such as a plurality of light emitting diodes. A representative apparatus comprises a primary module, a first secondary module couplable to a first load, and a second secondary module couplable to a second load. The primary module comprises a transformer having a transformer primary. The first secondary module comprises a first transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, and the second secondary module comprises a second transformer secondary magnetically coupled to the transformer primary, with the second secondary module couplable through the first or second load to the first secondary module.
US08742672B2
The present invention provides a light source dimming control circuit, which includes a voltage signal generator for generating a first voltage signal between a predetermined voltage level and a ground level; a reference voltage signal generator for generating a reference voltage signal at an output end according to the first voltage signal and a second voltage signal; a first switch with a first end coupled to an output end of alight source; a first resistor with a first end coupled to a second end of the first switch, and a second end coupled to a ground end; a switch controller coupled to the first switch and the voltage signal generator for controlling on/off states of the first switch according to a sawtooth signal and the first voltage signal; and a current controller for controlling current flowing through the first resistor according to the reference voltage signal.
US08742653B2
An adhesion of a nickel plating layer to a metal shell is improved, and an effect of improving a corrosion resistance by providing the nickel plating layer is sufficiently exerted. A spark plug 1 includes a cylindrical metal shell 3 that extends in an axial CL1 direction, and a nickel plating layer 31 that is made of metal containing nickel as a main component and covers an outer surface of the metal shell. In a monochrome image of 256 gradations where black is 0 and white is 255, which is obtained by observing a cross-section perpendicular to an outer surface of the nickel plating layer by a transmission electron microscope with an acceleration voltage of 200 kV, an average value in 256 gradations of the monochrome image is 170 or larger and 230 or smaller.
US08742650B2
In the manufacture of a laminated piezoelectric/electrostrictive element by lamination of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film and an electrode film containing either platinum or an alloy composed mainly of platinum and having a thickness of 2.0 μm or less, both or either one of yttrium oxide (Y2O3) and cerium oxide (CeO2) is added to the electrode film or the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film, and the electrode film and the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film are fired simultaneously. This simultaneously achieves a reduced thickness and improved thermal resistance of the electrode film and a reduced change in piezoelectric/electrostrictive properties with time, thereby producing a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element with good initial piezoelectric/electrostrictive properties and with a small change in the piezoelectric/electrostrictive properties with time.
US08742646B2
An ultrasound acoustic assembly includes a number of ultrasound acoustic arrays, each array comprising an acoustic stack comprising a piezoelectric layer assembled with at least one acoustic impedance dematching layer and with a support layer. The acoustic stack defines a number of dicing kerfs and a number of acoustic elements, such that the dicing kerfs are formed between neighboring ones of the acoustic elements. The dicing kerfs extend through the piezoelectric layer and through the acoustic impedance dematching layer(s) but extend only partially through the support layer. The ultrasound acoustic assembly further includes a number of application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) die. Each ultrasound acoustic array is coupled to a respective ASIC die to form a respective acoustic-electric transducer module. Methods of manufacture are also provided.
US08742642B2
An electric motor with a permanent magnet excitation comprises permanent magnets retained in a pole housing and associated with the flux-conducting element, wherein at least one permanent magnet and a flux-conducting element are arranged so that they are in positively interlocking engagement.
US08742638B1
There is provided a hydrodynamic bearing assembly including a sleeve; and a shaft rotatably inserted into a shaft hole and constituting a bearing clearance, wherein at least one of an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and an outer circumferential surface of the shaft includes upper and lower radial dynamic pressure grooves having a herringbone pattern, and conditional expressions a+b>c+d and b−a>c−d>0 are satisfied.
US08742616B1
A bulk energy storage device for an energy source. The energy storage device includes a circular or conveyor, such as a rail track, which may be formed with slopes. An electrical conductor, such as a third rail or overhead electric cable, connects to an electric grid. Coupled masses, such as rail cars, which travel on the conveyor, have motor/generators that are electrically connected to the conductor. The coupled masses can be raised on a magnetic field and driven by a linear electric motor having a stator embedded in the track and a rotor attached to the undersurface of the masses. Power from the grid is drawn via the third rail to propel and store energy in the ring of masses. When the grid needs to draw power from storage, the linear motor acts as a generator, supplying power to the grid by converting mass momentum into electric power.
US08742611B2
A hydropower generating system includes a pump, a container data center, and a hydropower generating module. The container data center includes a number of cooling pipes. Each of the cooling pipes includes a water intake and a water outlet. The water outlet is connected to the pump. The pump is for pumping water from a source to the cooling pipes. The water flows along the pipes to dissipate the heat generated by the container data center. The hydropower generating module includes a turbine and a generator. The turbine is arranged under the water outlet. The hydropower generating module is electrically connected to the pump. The water flowing out from the water outlets is able to turn the turbine, causing the turbine to drive the generator to generate electrical power, the generated electrical power is supplied to the pump.
US08742606B2
The present disclosure prevents an inrush current generated when one side is completely discharged, or charged voltages are different from one another because a DC link capacitor and an ultra-capacitor are directly connected to each other, by driving a load motor after completing initial charging by making each voltage the same through the performing of switching between a DC link capacitor and an ultra-capacitor during initial ignition, so as to safely perform initializing regardless of the charged-discharged state of an electricity storage device during initial ignition.
US08742604B2
Systems and methods for combined flow control and electricity generation are described. Various embodiments may include an energy recovery device adapted to produce an electric current. At least a portion of the electric current may be used to power a pump. A control system may be adapted to adjust operating parameters of the system to stabilize or maximize the efficiency of the energy recovery device.
US08742599B2
A method and system for uniquely identifying each semiconductor device die from a wafer is provided. Identifying features are associated with device die bond pads. In one embodiment, one or more tab features are patterned and associated with each of one or more device die bond pads. These features can represent a code (e.g., binary or ternary) that uniquely identifies each device die on the wafer. Each tab feature can be the same shape or different shapes, depending upon the nature of coding desired. Alternatively, portions of the one or more device die bond pads can be omitted as a mechanism for providing coded information, rather than adding portions to the device die bond pads.
US08742589B2
A semiconductor embedded module 1 of the present invention has a configuration in which a semiconductor device 20, which is an electronic component such as a semiconductor IC (die) in a bare chip state, is embedded in a resin layer 10 (second insulating layer). In the semiconductor device 20, a redistribution layer 22 is connected to land electrodes. A protective layer 24 (first insulating layer) is provided on the redistribution layer 22, and is provided with openings such that external connection pads P of the redistribution layer 22 are exposed. Also, the resin layer 10 is formed to cover the protective layer 24, and vias V are formed at the positions of the respective external connection pads P of the redistribution layer 22. The grinding rate of the resin layer 10 is larger than that of the protective layer 24.
US08742580B2
A method and structure are provided to enable wire bond connections over active and/or passive devices and/or low-k dielectrics, formed on an Integrated Circuit die. A semiconductor substrate having active and/or passive devices is provided, with interconnect metallization formed over the active and/or passive devices. A passivation layer formed over the interconnect metallization is provided, wherein openings are formed in the passivation layer to an upper metal layer of the interconnect metallization. Compliant metal bond pads are formed over the passivation layer, wherein the compliant metal bond pads are connected through the openings to the upper metal layer, and wherein the compliant metal bond pads are formed substantially over the active and/or passive devices. The compliant metal bond pads may be formed of a composite metal structure.
US08742579B2
A semiconductor device is made by providing a sacrificial substrate and depositing an adhesive layer over the sacrificial substrate. A first conductive layer is formed over the adhesive layer. A polymer pillar is formed over the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the polymer pillar to create a conductive pillar with inner polymer core. A semiconductor die or component is mounted over the substrate. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die or component and around the conductive pillar. A first interconnect structure is formed over a first side of the encapsulant. The first interconnect structure is electrically connected to the conductive pillar. The sacrificial substrate and adhesive layers are removed. A second interconnect structure is formed over a second side of the encapsulant opposite the first interconnect structure. The second interconnect structure is electrically connected to the conductive pillar.
US08742575B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device that comprises a first insulating film provided on a main face of a semiconductor substrate; a first pedestal provided at a first wiring layer on the first insulating layer; a second insulating film provided on the first wiring layer; and a second pedestal provided at a second wiring layer on the second insulating film, wherein, when the first and second pedestals are projected in a direction perpendicular to the main face onto a plane parallel to the main face, the second pedestal is larger than the first pedestal, and the whole of the first pedestal is disposed at an inside of the second pedestal.
US08742574B2
Semiconductor devices are described that have a through-substrate via formed therein. In one or more implementations, the semiconductor devices include a top wafer and a bottom wafer bonded together with a patterned adhesive material. The top wafer and the bottom wafer include one or more integrated circuits formed therein. The integrated circuits are connected to one or more conductive layers deployed over the surfaces of the top and bottom wafers. A via is formed through the top wafer and the patterned adhesive material so that an electrical interconnection can be formed between the integrated circuits formed in the top wafer and the integrated circuits formed in the bottom wafer. The via includes a conductive material that furnishes the electrical interconnection between the top and bottom wafers.
US08742565B2
An improved system and method for assigning power and ground pins and single ended or differential signal pairs for a ball grid array semiconductor package. In certain embodiments, the system uses a hexagonal pattern where the grid may be represented by a multiplicity of nested hexagonal patterns.
US08742559B2
To suppress the reduction in reliability of a resin-sealed semiconductor device. A first cap (member) and a second cap (member) with a cavity (space formation portion) are superimposed and bonded together to form a sealed space. A semiconductor including a sensor chip (semiconductor chip) and wires inside the space is manufactured in the following way. In a sealing step of sealing a joint part between the caps, a sealing member is formed of resin such that an entirety of an upper surface of the second cap and an entirety of a lower surface of the first cap are respectively exposed. Thus, in the sealing step, the pressure acting in the direction of crushing the second cap can be decreased.
US08742548B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of first trenches by etching a substrate, forming first spacers covering both sidewalls of each of the first trenches, forming a plurality of second trenches by etching a bottom of each of the first trenches, forming second spacers covering both sidewalls of each of the second trenches, forming a plurality of third trenches by etching a bottom of each of the second trenches, forming an insulation layer covering exposed surfaces of the plurality of the substrate, and forming a contact which exposes one sidewall of each of the second trenches by selectively removing the second spacers.
US08742547B2
A semiconductor wafer includes: a first semiconductor chip area formed with a semiconductor element; a second semiconductor chip area formed with a semiconductor element; and a scribe area sandwiched between the first and second semiconductor chip areas; wherein: the first semiconductor chip area includes a first metal ring surrounding the semiconductor element formed in the first semiconductor chip area; and the metal ring is constituted of a plurality of metal layers including a lower metal layer and an upper metal layer superposed upon the lower metal layer, and the upper metal layer is superposed upon the lower metal layer in such a manner that an outer side wall of the upper metal layer is flush with the outer side wall of the lower metal layer or is at an inner position of the first semiconductor chip area relative to the outer side wall of the lower metal layer.
US08742545B2
A strip plate structure and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the strip plate structure comprises a strip plate array comprising a plurality of strip plates arranged in a predetermined direction with spacing. Each of the strip plates includes a first surface facing one side direction of the strip plate structure and a second surface facing an substantially opposite side direction of the strip plate structure; and a plurality of strip sheets. Each strip sheet alternately abuts either the first surfaces or the second surfaces of two adjacent strip plates.
US08742543B2
The invention is directed to an avalanche photodiode containing a substrate and semiconductor layers with various electro-physical properties having common interfaces both between themselves and with the substrate. The avalanche photodiode may be characterized by the presence in the device of at least one matrix consisting of separate solid-state areas with enhanced conductivity surrounded by semiconductor material with the same type of conductivity. The solid-state areas are located between two additional semiconductor layers, which have higher conductivity in comparison to the semiconductor layers with which they have common interfaces. The solid-state areas are generally made of the same material as the semiconductor layers surrounding them but with conductivity type that is opposite with respect to them. The solid-state areas may be made of a semiconductor with a narrow forbidden zone with respect to the semiconductor layers with which they have common interfaces.
US08742540B2
A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor and a method for forming the same are provided. The MIM capacitor includes an insulator on a bottom metal plate, a top metal plate on the insulator, a dielectric layer on the top metal plate and on at least sidewalls of the top metal plate and the insulator, and an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer over the top metal plate and the bottom metal plate. The dielectric layer preferably extends on an exposed portion of the bottom metal plate not covered by the top metal plate and the insulator.
US08742537B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device including: a semiconductor substrate; first and second element isolating trenches that are formed in one main surface of the semiconductor substrate separately from each other; a first insulating material that is formed within the first element isolating trench; a plurality of first element formation regions that are surrounded by the first element isolating trench; first semiconductor elements that are respectively formed in the first element formation regions; a second insulating material that is formed within the second element isolating trench; a second element formation region that is surrounded by the second element isolating trench; a second semiconductor element that is formed in the second element formation region; and a stress relaxation structure that is formed between the first element isolating trench and the second element isolating trench.
US08742536B2
Forming of filled isolation trenches, in particular the transition area in trenches and recesses free of silicon during the realization of MEMS structures of SOI wafers. A reliable dielectric insulation of adjacent silicon regions is to be obtained. The insulation is achieved by filled isolation trenches. The end portions of the trench fill that are freed from the surrounding silicon by etching are free of conductive not completely removed silicon strips in the recess including the active sensor structure. This is accomplished by slanted wall of isolation trenches. Additionally, the trench fill should be removable at the transition area in an efficient manner. The technological realization does not require specific additional process steps.
US08742531B2
The present invention relates generally to electrical devices. The present invention relates more particularly to electrical devices including dendritic metal electrodes. One aspect of the present invention is an electrical device comprising a first electrode comprising at least one dendritic metal structure; a second electrode; and an electrically active structure disposed between the dendritic metal structure and the second electrode.
US08742522B2
A method of making a semiconductor radiation detector wherein the metal layers which serve as the cathode and anode electrodes are recessed from the designated prospective dice lines which define the total upper and lower surface areas for each detector such that the dicing blade will not directly engage the metal during dicing and therefore prevent metal from intruding upon (smearing) the vertical side walls of the detector substrate.
US08742518B2
A magnetic tunnel junction device includes a reference magnetic layer and a magnetic free layer including first and second magnetic elements that are magnetically exchange coupled. The magnetic exchange coupling between the first and second magnetic elements is configured to achieve a switching current distribution less than about 200% and a long term thermal stability criterion of greater than about 60 kBT.
US08742517B2
A capacitive sensor is configured for collapsed mode, e.g. for measuring sound or pressure, wherein the moveable element is partitioned into smaller sections. The capacitive sensor provides increased signal to noise ratio.
US08742509B2
A FinFET comprises an isolation region formed in a substrate, a cloak-shaped active region formed over the substrate, wherein the cloak-shaped active region has an upper portion protruding above a top surface of the isolation region. In addition, the FinFET comprises a gate electrode wrapping the channel of the cloak-shaped active region.
US08742505B2
One or more embodiments relate to an apparatus comprising: a first transistor including a channel in a fin; and a second transistor including a channel in a fin, the channel of the first transistor being doped with a first dopant of a first polarity and counter-doped with a second dopant of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, a concentration of the first dopant being approximately equal to a concentration of the second dopant, wherein the first transistor and the second transistor are of a same conductivity type.
US08742504B2
A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, an insulating layer, a first semiconductor layer, a dielectric layer, a second semiconductor layer, a source and drain junction, a gate, and a spacer. The method includes the steps of forming a semiconductor substrate, forming a shallow trench isolation layer, growing a first epitaxial layer, growing a second epitaxial layer, forming a gate, forming a spacer, performing a reactive ion etching, removing a portion of the first epitaxial layer, filling the void with a dielectric, etching back a portion of the dielectric, growing a silicon layer, implanting a source and drain junction, and forming an extension.
US08742503B2
After formation of a gate stack, regions in which a source and a drain are to be formed are recessed through the top semiconductor layer and into an upper portion of a buried single crystalline rare earth oxide layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate so that a source trench and drain trench are formed. An embedded single crystalline semiconductor portion epitaxially aligned to the buried single crystalline rare earth oxide layer is formed in each of the source trench and the drain trench to form a recessed source and a recessed drain, respectively. Protrusion of the recessed source and recessed drain above the bottom surface of a gate dielectric can be minimized to reduce parasitic capacitive coupling with a gate electrode, while providing low source resistance and drain resistance through the increased thickness of the recessed source and recessed drain relative to the thickness of the top semiconductor layer.
US08742499B2
In a semiconductor chip in which LDMOSFET elements for power amplifier circuits used for a power amplifier module are formed, a source bump electrode is disposed on an LDMOSFET formation region in which a plurality of source regions, a plurality of drain regions and a plurality of gate electrodes for the LDMOSFET elements are formed. The source bump electrode is formed on a source pad mainly made of aluminum via a source conductor layer which is thicker than the source pad and mainly made of copper. No resin film is interposed between the source bump electrode and the source conductor layer.
US08742498B2
A method for fabricating a high voltage semiconductor device is provided. Firstly, a substrate is provided, wherein the substrate has a first active zone and a second active zone. Then, a first ion implantation process is performed to dope the substrate by a first mask layer, thereby forming a first-polarity doped region at the two ends of the first active zone and a periphery of the second active zone. After the first mask layer is removed, a second ion implantation process is performed to dope the substrate by a second mask layer, thereby forming a second-polarity doped region at the two ends of the second active zone and a periphery of the first active zone. After the second mask layer is removed, a first gate conductor structure and a second gate conductor structure are formed over the middle segments of the first active zone and the second active zone, respectively.
US08742497B2
A semiconductor device is provided, in which work of a parasitic bipolar transistor can be suppressed and a potential difference can be provided between a source region and a back gate region. A high voltage tolerant transistor formed over a semiconductor substrate includes: a well region of a first conductivity type; a first impurity region as the source region; and a second impurity region as a drain region. The semiconductor device further includes a third impurity region and a gate electrode for isolation. The third impurity region is formed, in planar view, between a pair of the first impurity regions, and from which a potential of the well region is extracted. The gate electrode for isolation is formed over the main surface between the first impurity region and the third impurity region.
US08742493B2
A semiconductor device has a plurality of vertical channels extending upright on a substrate, a plurality of bit lines extending among the vertical channels, a plurality of word lines which include a plurality of gates disposed adjacent first sides of the vertical channels, respectively, and a plurality of conductive elements disposed adjacent second sides of the vertical channels opposite the first sides. The conductive elements can provide a path to the substrate for charge carriers which have accumulated in the associated vertical channel to thereby mitigate a so-called floating effect.
US08742491B2
Provided is a top-channel only finFET device. The devices described herein may provide a native device that is compatible with a finFET process flow. A gate may be formed on the top of a fin providing the channel region of the device. In an embodiment, the gate is provided only on one side of the channel, for example, on the top of the fin. The sidewalls of the fin including channel may abut an isolation structure. In an embodiment, isolation structures are formed between the fins to provide a planar surface for the formation of a gate.
US08742486B2
An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a memory cell. The memory cell includes a first trench formed in a semiconductor substrate and a second trench formed in said semiconductor substrate adjacent to said first trench. The first trench and the second trench each define a first side wall and a second sidewall respectively. The memory cell further includes a first storage element formed on the first sidewall of the first trench and a second storage element formed on the second sidewall of the second trench.
US08742484B2
Openings are formed by lithography and subsequent dry etching at the portions of a first protective film which correspond to connecting holes of second plugs which will be described later, namely at the portions thereof which align with first plugs, wherein the openings have a diameter greater than that of connecting holes by about 0.4 μm.
US08742482B2
A semiconductor device including: a bit line being arranged on top surfaces of first and second contact plugs via a first insulation layer and extending in a direction connecting a first impurity diffusion layer and a second impurity diffusion layer; a bit line contact plug being formed through the first insulation layer and electrically connecting the bit line to the first contact plug; a first cell capacitor having a first lower electrode beside one of side surfaces of the bit line; a first insulation film insulating the bit line and the first lower electrode from each other; and a first contact conductor electrically connecting a bottom end of the first lower electrode to a side surface of the second contact plug.
US08742475B2
In one aspect of the present invention, a field effect transistor (FET) device includes a first FET including a dielectric layer disposed on a substrate, a first portion of a first metal layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and a second metal layer disposed on the first metal layer, a second FET including a second portion of the first metal layer disposed on the dielectric layer, and a boundary region separating the first FET from the second FET.
US08742471B2
To reduce the pixel size to the smallest dimensions and simplest form of operation, a pixel may be formed by using only one ion sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET). This one-transistor, or 1T, pixel can provide gain by converting the drain current to voltage in the column. Configurable pixels can be created to allow both common source read out as well as source follower read out. A plurality of the 1T pixels may form an array, having a number of rows and a number of columns and a column readout circuit in each column.
US08742462B2
First and second PMOS transistors are defined over first and second p-type diffusion regions. First and second NMOS transistors are defined over first and second n-type diffusion regions. Each diffusion region is electrically connected to a common node. Gate electrodes are formed from conductive features that are each defined within any one gate level channel that is uniquely associated with and defined along one of a number of parallel gate electrode tracks. At least a portion of each of the first and second p-type diffusion regions are formed over a first common line of extent that extends perpendicular to the first parallel direction. The first and second n-type diffusion regions are formed in a spaced apart manner relative to the first parallel direction, such that no single line of extent that extends across the substrate perpendicular to the first parallel direction intersects both the first and second n-type diffusion regions.
US08742460B2
A transistor device is described that includes a source, a gate, a drain, a semiconductor material which includes a gate region between the source and the drain, a plurality of channel access regions in the semiconductor material on either side of the gate, a channel in the semiconductor material having an effective width in the gate region and in the channel access regions, and an isolation region in the gate region. The isolation region serves to reduce the effective width of the channel in the gate region without substantially reducing the effective width of the channel in the access regions. Alternatively, the isolation region can be configured to collect holes that are generated in the transistor device. The isolation region may simultaneously achieve both of these functions.
US08742456B2
An integrated trench-MOS-controlled-thyristor plus trench gated diode combination, in which the trenches are preferably formed at the same time. A backside polarity reversal process permits a backside p+ region in the thyristor areas, and only a backside n+ region in the diode areas (for an n-type device). This is particularly advantageous in motor control circuits and the like, where the antiparallel diode permits the thyristor to be dropped into existing power MOSFET circuit designs. In power conversion circuits, the antiparallel diode can conveniently serve as a freewheeling diode.
US08742455B2
An apparatus includes an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device. In one embodiment, the protection device electrically coupled between a first node and a second node of an internal circuit to be protected from transient electrical events. The protection device includes a bipolar device or a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). The bipolar device or SCR can have a modified structure or additional circuitry to have a selected holding voltage and/or trigger voltage to provide protection over the internal circuit. The additional circuitry can include one or more resistors, one or more diodes, and/or a timer circuit to adjust the trigger and/or holding voltages of the bipolar device or SCR to a desired level. The protection device can provide protection over a transient voltage that ranges, for example, from about 100 V to 330V.
US08742454B2
In a semiconductor device having a semiconductor substrate on which a diode and an IGBT are formed, a cathode region of the diode and a collector region of the IGBT are formed in a range exposed to one surface of the semiconductor substrate. On the surface, a first conductor layer that is in contact with the cathode region, and a second conductor layer that is in contact with the collector region are formed. The work function of the second conductor layer is larger than the work function of the first conductor layer.
US08742450B2
A III-nitride power semiconductor device that includes a plurality of III-nitride heterojunctions.
US08742447B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer; a substrate over the light emitting structure; a first reflective layer having a plurality of dielectric layers including a first dielectric layer having a first refractive index over the substrate, and a second dielectric layer having a second refractive index different from the first refractive index over the first dielectric layer; and a second reflective layer over the first reflective layer, the second reflective layer having a refractive index lower than the refractive index of each dielectric layer of the first reflective layer.
US08742443B2
An LED epitaxial structure includes a substrate, a buffer layer, a functional layer and a light generating layer. The buffer layer is located on a top surface of the substrate. The functional layer includes a plurality of high-temperature epitaxial layers and low-temperature epitaxial layers alternatively arranged between the buffer layer and light generating layer. A textured structure is formed in the low-temperature epitaxial layer. A SiO2 layer including a plurality of convexes is located on the textured structure to increase light extraction efficiency of the LED epitaxial structure. A manufacturing method of the LED epitaxial structure is also disclosed.
US08742442B2
A method for patterning an epitaxial substrate includes: (a) forming an etch mask layer over an epitaxial substrate, and patterning the etch mask layer using a patterned cover mask layer to form the etch mask layer into a plurality of spaced apart mask patterns; and (b) etching the epitaxial substrate that is exposed from the mask patterns, and removing the mask patterns such that the epitaxial substrate is formed with a plurality of spaced apart substrate patterns.
US08742440B2
Disclosed is a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element comprising a p-type nitride semiconductor layer 1, a p-type nitride semiconductor layer 2, and a p-type nitride semiconductor layer 3 placed in order above a nitride semiconductor active layer, wherein the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 1 and p-type nitride semiconductor layer 2 each contain Al, the average Al composition of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 1 is equivalent to the average Al composition of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 2, the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 3 has a smaller band gap than the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 2, the p-type impurity concentration of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 2 and the p-type impurity concentration of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 3 are both lower than the p-type impurity concentration of the p-type nitride semiconductor layer 1, and a method for producing same.
US08742428B2
Methods of forming ternary III-nitride materials include epitaxially growing ternary III-nitride material on a substrate in a chamber. The epitaxial growth includes providing a precursor gas mixture within the chamber that includes a relatively high ratio of a partial pressure of a nitrogen precursor to a partial pressure of one or more Group III precursors in the chamber. Due at least in part to the relatively high ratio, a layer of ternary III-nitride material may be grown to a high final thickness with small V-pit defects therein. Semiconductor structures including such ternary III-nitride material layers are fabricated using such methods.
US08742425B2
A thin film transistor array substrate includes a thin film transistor including a gate electrode, an active layer, and source and drain electrodes, a pixel electrode on a same layer as the gate electrode, a lower electrode of a capacitor, the lower electrode being on the same layer as the gate electrode, a first insulating layer on the gate electrode and the lower electrode, a second insulating layer between the active layer and the source and drain electrodes, an upper electrode on the first insulating layer, the upper electrode including a first layer made of a same material as the active layer, and a second layer made of a same material as the source and drain electrodes, and a third insulating layer that covers the source and drain electrodes and the upper electrode and exposes the pixel electrode.
US08742421B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a display device which can be manufactured with usability of a material improved and with a manufacturing step simplified and to provide a manufacturing technique thereof. One feature of a display device of the present invention is to comprise an insulating layer having an opening, a first conductive layer formed in the opening, and a second conductive layer formed over the insulating layer and the first conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer is wider and thicker than the second conductive layer, and the second conductive layer is formed by spraying a droplet including a conductive material.
US08742402B2
An organic light-emitting device including a first electrode and a first layer, wherein the first electrode includes a first element-containing zinc oxide layer and the first layer includes a cyano group-containing compound.
US08742398B2
A photodetector includes one or more photodiodes and a signal processing circuit. Each photodiode includes a transparent first electrode, a second electrode, and a heterojunction interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. Each heterojunction includes a quantum dot layer and a fullerene layer disposed directly on the quantum dot layer. The signal processing circuit is in signal communication each the second electrode. The photodetector may be responsive to wavelengths in the infrared, visible, and/or ultraviolet ranges. The quantum dot layer may be treated with a chemistry that increases the charge carrier mobility of the quantum dot layer.
US08742397B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a first nitride semiconductor layer, a dopant doped semiconductor layer on the first nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer on the dopant doped semiconductor layer, a delta doped layer on the active layer, a superlattice structure on the delta doped layer, an undoped layer on the superlattice layer, a second nitride semiconductor layer including a first n-type dopant, a third nitride semiconductor layer including a second n-type dopant, and a fourth nitride semiconductor layer including a third n-type dopant.
US08742396B2
A III nitride epitaxial substrate which makes it possible to obtain a deep ultraviolet light emitting device with improved light output power is provided. A III nitride epitaxial substrate includes a substrate, an AlN buffer layer, a first superlattice laminate, a second superlattice laminate and a III nitride laminate in this order. The III nitride laminate includes an active layer including an AlαGa1-αN (0.03≦α) layer. The first superlattice laminate includes AlaGa1-aN layers and AlbGa1-bN (0.9
US08742395B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a stacked structure, a first electrode and a second electrode. A first semiconductor layer is broken into several pieces. Light is taken out from a light emitting layer side to a third semiconductor layer side. The first electrode includes a first region connected to the first semiconductor layer and a second region directly connected to the second semiconductor layer. The second electrode is connected to the third semiconductor layer, is provided above the second region from an upper direction of view, and has a thin wire shape or a dot shape.
US08742393B2
The SrTiO3 buffer layer is formed by lamination of the Sr2+O2− layer and the Ti4+O24− layer. The surface of the buffer layer is terminated with the Ti4+O24− layer. On the buffer layer, a LaAlO3 thin film layer is formed. The thin film layer includes a La3+O2− layer and an Al3+O24− layer alternately laminated in order on the SrTiO3 buffer layer.
US08742367B2
An apparatus for optically analyzing samples contained in sample sites of a sample holder, the apparatus has a first light source and at least one second light source, a monochromator having an input to which first light source is optically connected or connectable and an output for monochromatized light, light guiding portion for guiding light originating from the first and from the at least one second light sources to the sample sites, and a detector for detecting light from the sample sites. A light relay having a first input optically connected to the output of the monochromator, at least one second input optically connected or connectable to a second light source such that the light from the second light source by-passes the monochromator, and a first output for guiding light from selected input of the light relay to the sample sites. Based on the apparatus and light relay a versatile sample analyzer can be achieved in a cost-effective manner.
US08742366B2
A fluid treatment apparatus particularly for sterilizing drinks comprises an elongate tubular duct (110) and an elongate UV light source (111) extending longitudinally of the duct (110). The fluid flows longitudinally of the duct (110) in a thin annular low passage (114) which extends around the UV light source (111). A mixing device (112) disposed between adjacent longitudinal portions of the duct (110) for diverts all of the fluid flowing along a first portion of the passage (114) through fluid mixing means (113,116) in the device (112) and returns the mixed fluid to a second portion of the passage (114). Micro-organisms in the thin flow of fluid are killed as they come within close proximity of the light source (111). The mixing device (112) causes all of the flow to be thoroughly mixed and returned to the flow passage (114). The provision of a plurality of mixing devices along the length of the duct (110) increases the likelihood that all microorganisms receive a sufficient lethal dose of UV radiation.
US08742364B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for point of use location treatment of potable water supplies on demand on board passenger vehicles, such as aircraft. The systems described generally provide increased safety features, alternate ultraviolet light sources, and reduced power consumption.
US08742360B2
Plural camera heads are each placed in a position capable of detection of radiation emitted from a radiation source. Compton cones obtained from the detection data output from each of the plural camera heads are projected onto three-dimensional space and an image based on the radiation source is reconstructed. In addition, projected images from projecting Compton cones obtained from the detection data output from each camera head onto two-dimensional planes are also employed for determining a three-dimensional space excluding regions where the radiation source is not present. Reconstruction of images based on the radiation source is then performed within the determined three-dimensional space.
US08742354B2
A radiation image capturing device includes: an image capturing unit that captures a radiation image using irradiated radiation; a radiation detection unit that detects the radiation; a determination unit that determines whether image capturing preparation is completed; and a control unit that starts detection of the radiation by the radiation detection unit, in a case in which the determination unit determines that the image capturing preparation is completed, and controls the image capturing unit to capture a radiation image, in a case in which the radiation detection unit detects the radiation.
US08742351B2
When a system is powered on and becomes ready for a measurement, it automatically begins to acquire an interferogram (IFG). When a new IFG is acquired, if a background (BKG) IFG is present in a memory but there is no sample IFG (S2 and S4), the new IFG is compared with the BKG-IFG and, if the two IFGs are identical, the new IFG is added to the BKG-IFG (S5, S6 and S7). When an operator sets a sample in a sample chamber and the new IFG shows a change, the IFG is stored as a sample IFG (S8). Then, a sample measurement is initiated. After that, when a new IFG is found to be identical to the sample IFG stored in the memory (S9 and S10), the new IFG is added to the sample IFG (S13). The sample measurement is completed when the number of sample IFGs stored in the memory has reached a predetermined accumulation number. Thus, the sample measurement is automatically performed, for which the operator only needs to set a sample. The workload on the operator is reduced and the measurement task can be efficiently performed.
US08742350B2
A proximity sensor includes a printed circuit board (PCB); a first cup and a second cup embedded in the PCB; an electromagnetic radiation transmitter operably mounted in the first cup; and an electromagnetic radiation receiver operably mounted in the second cup.
US08742347B2
A non-destructive approach for the 3D localization of buried hot spots in electronic device architectures by use of Lock-in Thermography (LIT). The 3D analysis is based on the principles of thermal wave propagation through different material layers and the resulting phase shift/thermal time delay. With more complex multi level stacked die architectures it is necessary to acquire multiple LIT results at different excitation frequencies for precise hot spot depth localization. Additionally, the use of multiple time-resolved thermal waveforms, measured in a minimized field of view on top of the hot spot location, can be used to speed up the data acquisition. The shape of the resulting waveforms can be analyzed to further increase the detection accuracy and confidence level.
US08742346B1
A plasma system for changing a microscopy material sample comprises a microscopy material sample holder for holding a microscopy material sample in place in a desired orientation, and a receptacle holder for receiving the sample holder and an RF antenna. The microscopy sample is positioned relative to the antenna so that no point on the antenna is in direct line-of-sight contact with the microscopy sample. This feature of avoiding direct line-of-sight contact between the antenna and the sample assists in preventing, or at least minimizing, ion sputtering of system component material onto the specimen or sample 10 that is being trimmed. Moreover, portions of the system which are in direct line-of-sight contact with the sample are comprised of material having a low sputtering yield, preferably carbon. The material may comprise graphite, and may be in the form of a carbon coating or a carbon paint.
US08742339B2
A mass analyzer is provided comprising a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which ions are transmitted. A plurality of pseudo-potential corrugations are created along the axis of the mass analyzer. The amplitude or depth of the pseudo-potential corrugations is inversely proportional to the mass to charge ratio of an ion. Transient DC voltages are applied to the electrodes in order to urge ions along the length of the mass analyzer. The amplitude of the transient DC voltages applied to the electrodes is increased with time and ions are caused to be emitted from the mass analyzer in reverse order of their mass to charge ratio. Two AC or RF voltages are applied to the electrodes. The first AC or RF voltage is arranged to provide optimal pseudo-potential corrugations while the second AC or RF voltage is arranged to provide optimal radial confinement of ions within the mass analyzer.
US08742337B2
A mass spectrometer includes an Electron Impact (“EI”) or a Chemical Ionization (“CI”) ion source, and the ion source includes a first coating or surface. The first coating or surface is formed of a metallic carbide, a metallic boride, a ceramic or DLC, or an ion-implanted transition metal.
US08742333B2
Described herein are methods and systems related to the use of the pre-existing ion injection pathway of a mass spectrometer to perform beam-type collision-activated dissociation, as well as other dissociation methods. Following injection and selection of a particular ion type or population, that population can be fragmented using the pre-existing ion injection pathway or inlet of a mass spectrometer. This is achieved by transmitting the ions back along the ion injection pathway. As the ions pass into the higher pressure regions located in or near the atmospheric pressure inlet, the ions are fragmented and then trapped. Following fragmentation and trapping, the ions can either be re-injected into the primary ion selection device or sent on to a secondary mass analyzer.
US08742332B2
A mass spectrometer and a mass spectrometry method adapted for mass spectrometry of a hardly volatile minuscule organic foreign matter of several μm often causing a device defect are disclosed. A sample gasified by a sample heating probe is introduced into an ion source, and the sample thus ionized is detected by being separated in accordance with the mass-to-charge ratio. In this mass spectrometry technique, the sample heating probe is covered with a cylindrical gas guide mechanism, and the gasified sample is led efficiently to the ion source by the gas guide mechanism, thereby making possible the contribution by the sample components which otherwise might be dispersed and wasted in the prior art. As a result, the mass spectrometry with higher sensitivity and S/N than in the prior art is realized.
US08742330B2
When ions accumulated in the exit side end of ion guide are to be injected into ion trap as packets, the application of square wave high frequency voltage to ring electrode from main voltage generating unit is stopped. Once nearly all the ions have been injected into ion trap, the application of square wave high frequency voltage from main voltage generating unit to ring electrode is momentarily started, at which time the application of square wave high frequency voltage is started from a phase in the range of 90°±40° or 270°±40°. It is thereby possible to reduce the extent of spread of ions immediately after application of high frequency voltage and to improve the ion trapping efficiency.
US08742327B2
A method of determining auto-calibrating information of a test sensor includes providing an optical read head that includes a light source, a light guide and a detector. The read head forms an opening that is sized to receive a test sensor. The detector includes a linear-detector array or single detector. A test sensor is provided having apertures formed therein. The test sensor is placed in the opening of the optical read head. Light is transmitted from the light source through the apertures. The light transmitted through the apertures using the detector or detecting the absence of light being transmitted through the test sensor using the detector is detected. The detected light or the absence of detected light information from the detector is used to determine the auto-calibration information of the test sensor.
US08742323B2
A semiconductor module including a semiconductor chip having a light receiving device formed at a front thereof and a light permeable cover having a front, a back, and a side. The light permeable cover is disposed opposite to the front of the semiconductor chip such that the front of the semiconductor chip is covered by the back of the light permeable cover. The light permeable cover is provided at the outer circumferential region of the front thereof and at the side thereof with a light shielding layer. It is possible to prevent the incidence of unnecessary light from the side of the light permeable cover of a CSP and to easily adjust the distance between a lens and the front of the semiconductor chip within tolerance.
US08742309B2
An imager may include depth sensing pixels that provide an asymmetrical angular response to incident light. The depth sensing pixels may each include a substrate region formed from a photosensitive portion and a non-photosensitive portion. The depth sensing pixels may include mechanisms that prevent regions of the substrate from receiving incident light. Depth sensing pixel pairs may be formed from depth sensing pixels that have different asymmetrical angular responses. Each of the depth sensing pixel pairs may effectively divide the corresponding imaging lens into separate portions. Depth information for each depth sensing pixel pair may be determined based on the difference between output signals of the depth sensing pixels of that depth sensing pixel pair. The imager may be formed from various combinations of depth sensing pixel pairs and color sensing pixel pairs arranged in a Bayer pattern or other desired patterns.
US08742306B2
Apparatuses, methods, kits, and systems relating to transferring electromagnetic energy to an energy application zone via a source of electromagnetic energy are disclosed. Some apparatuses may include a processor configured to determine a preliminary amount of energy to be dissipated in an object located at least partially in the energy application zone and determine a corrected amount of energy based on the preliminary amount of energy and calibration information. The processor may be further configured to estimate an amount of energy dissipated in the object. The processor may also be configured to cause the source to transfer energy to the energy application zone at least until the energy dissipated in the object as estimated equals the corrected amount of energy.
US08742304B2
A combination microwave and refrigerator system is constructed having a single plug input supply. The microwave oven is adapted to provide power to a refrigerator, and to auxiliary receptacles adapted for low power operation. The current to the low power receptacles and the refrigerator is controlled by the controller for the microwave oven according to the duty cycles of the connected appliances to avoid overload conditions.
US08742303B2
A heating apparatus includes a heating element adapted to be disposed on a substrate. The heating element includes electrodes and a multi-layer conductive coating of nano-thickness disposed between the substrate and electrodes. The multi-layer conductive coating has a structure and composition which stabilize performance of the heating element at high temperatures. The multi-layer conductive coating may be produced by spray pyrolysis.
US08742288B2
An apparatus 101 for singulating an object is disclosed. The apparatus 101 comprises a laser 103 configured to emit a laser beam 105 with a Gaussian irradiance profile, as well as a beam-shaping device 115 configured to reshape the Gaussian irradiance profile of the laser beam 105 emitted from the laser 103. In particular, the beam-shaping device 115 has a plurality of aspherical lenses 117, 119 to redistribute irradiance of the laser beam 105, so as to reduce variation of the irradiance in an effective irradiation spectrum of the laser beam 105 for singulating the object. By redistributing the irradiance of the laser beam 105, irradiation energy may be more efficiently delivered to the semiconductor wafer 102 for laser singulation, compared with conventional laser beams with Gaussian irradiance profiles which are non-uniform. A method of singulating an object is also disclosed.
US08742272B2
According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of electrical contacts, which may be used for establishing an electrical pathway between first and second electrically conductive surfaces. In an exemplary embodiment, an electrical contact may include an electrically conductive base member and at least one resilient contact member. The at least one resilient contact member may have a configuration at least partially defined by a laser cut in or into the electrically conductive base member. The at least one resilient contact member may also be formed so as to protrude outwardly from the electrically conductive base member.
US08742263B2
Provided is an anisotropically conductive member that has a dramatically increased density of disposed conductive paths, can be used as an electrically connecting member or inspection connector for electronic components such as semiconductor devices even today when still higher levels of integration have been achieved, and has excellent flexibility. The anisotropically conductive member includes an insulating base and a plurality of conductive paths made of a conductive material, insulated from one another, and extending through the insulating base in the thickness direction of the insulating base, one end of each of the conductive paths protruded on one side of the insulating base, the other end of each of the conductive paths exposed or protruded on the other side thereof. The insulating base is made of a resin material and the conductive paths are formed at a density of at least 1,000,000 conductive paths/mm2.
US08742261B2
A transparent conductive film includes a number of first transparent conductive stripes extending along a first direction and a number of second transparent conductive stripes extending along a second direction and intersecting the number of first transparent conductive stripes. The first conductive stripes are spaced from each other and extend substantially along a first direction. The second transparent conductive stripes are spaced from each other and extend substantially along a second direction. The first transparent conductive stripes are electrically connected with the second transparent conductive stripes. The first transparent conductive stripes and the second conductive stripes are arranged in patterns such that the transparent conductive film has an anisotropic impedance. The first direction is a low impedance direction. A resistivity of the transparent conductive film in the low impedance direction is smaller than the resistivity of the transparent conductive film in the second direction and any other direction.
US08742259B2
This holder includes a conductor metal part designed to be warmed for assembly of the electrical component on the metal part. It also includes a part made of synthetic material, jointed with the metal part, guaranteeing cohesion of the holder. This part made out of synthetic material contains a mass with a low melting point and a mass with a high melting point, inserted between the mass with a low melting point and the metal part. More specifically, the mass with the high melting point is made in a material with a melting point greater than the melting point of the mass with a low melting point.
US08742256B2
An electronic device enclosure includes a rear panel and a blocking board. The rear panel comprises a front surface and a back surface opposite to the front surface. A through opening is defined in the rear panel. The blocking board comprises a main body, a first flange and a second flange opposite to the first flange. A first stopping piece is extends from the first flange. A second stopping piece is extended from the second flange. A latch portion is located on the first flange. A first protrusion is located on the second flange. The latch portion and the second protrusion extend through the through opening by being elastically deformed, the latch portion and the second protrusion abut on the front surface, and the first stopping piece and the second stopping piece abut on the back surface.
US08742253B1
New photovoltaic device configurations utilize combinations of n-copper indium selenide (n-CIS) absorber and p-type semiconducting organic/polymeric or inorganic materials to maximize the efficiency of solar energy conversion into electric power. Fabrication methods to produce various device configurations, based on n-CIS thin films, nanoparticles, organic or polymeric materials deposited on flexible or rigid substrates are described, that simplify process steps and hence the costs for high volume solar cell manufacturing.
US08742248B2
A photoelectric conversion module and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The photoelectric conversion module may include a light-receiving substrate in which a first functional layer having a photoelectrode is formed, a counter substrate that faces the light-receiving substrate and is electrically coupled to the light-receiving substrate and in which a second functional layer having a counter electrode is formed. The photoelectric conversion module may include a sealant formed between the light-receiving substrate and the counter substrate and positioned so as to divide a plurality of unit photoelectric cells formed between the light-receiving substrate and the counter substrate. The photoelectric conversion module may include a plurality of interconnection units electrically connecting adjacent unit photoelectric cells. The light-receiving substrate and the counter substrate may be divided into a photoelectric conversion area in which the unit photoelectric cells are formed, a sealing area in which the sealant is formed outside the photoelectric conversion area and a non-photoelectric conversion area outside of the sealing area. The interconnection units may be electrically connected to each other by a bypass unit, which may be configured to electrically connect a plurality of functional unit photoelectric cells and bypass a defective unit photoelectric cell.
US08742245B2
A lamp having a light emitting diode, a Peltier device, a heat sink, a translucent, thermally conductive window, and an optical fluid. The Peltier device is in thermal communication with the light emitting diode and converts a waste thermal energy discharged by the light emitting diode into an electrical energy. Conductors transfer the electrical energy from the Peltier device to a boost circuit which converts a level of a voltage associated with the electrical energy output from the Peltier device to a higher, more useful value. The heat sink transfers a second thermal energy from the Peltier device. The optical fluid is located between the translucent, thermally conductive window and the light emitting diode. The optical fluid has an angle of diffraction having an intermediate value relative to an angle of diffraction associated with the light emitting diode and an angle of diffraction associated with the translucent, thermally conductive window.
US08742243B2
The present disclosure provides a method for recognition. The method includes inputting a melody and obtaining pitch tracking information of the melody; obtaining beat information of the melody; determining a clarity value according to the pitch tracking information; implementing a first comparison process first to filter a first set of candidate songs from a database and then implementing a second comparison process to filter a second set of candidate songs from the first set of candidate songs if the clarity value is larger than a predetermined threshold; and determining at least one final candidate song from the second set of candidate songs.
US08742236B1
A novel maize variety designated X18C115 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X18C115 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X18C115 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X18C115, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X18C115. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X18C115.
US08742233B2
The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated NPFA6899, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPFA6899 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line NPFA6899, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line NPFA6899, and plants produced according to these methods.
US08742227B1
A novel maize variety designated X05A912 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X05A912 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05A912 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05A912, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05A912. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05A912.
US08742218B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XB003A12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB003A12, cells from soybean variety XB003A12, plants of soybean XB003A12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB003A12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB003A12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB003A12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB003A12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB003A12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB003A12 are further provided.
US08742214B2
A soybean cultivar designated S100289 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S100289, to the plants of soybean cultivar S100289, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S100289, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S100289. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S100289. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S100289, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S100289 with another soybean cultivar.
US08742210B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7535357 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7535357, to the plants of soybean 7535357, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7535357 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7535357 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7535357, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7535357 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7535357 with another soybean cultivar.
US08742196B2
The invention provides an adhesive support article for supporting a body part of a user. A single-sided stretchable adhesive tape blank is precut into a sheet having a central anchoring portion and a plurality of outwardly extending fingers. The sheet is marked with visual indicators to guide the user of the support article for applying the central anchoring portion onto a first exterior surface of the body part and for stretching the fingers before adhering them at a predetermined distance away from the central anchoring portion. The adhesive support article can also be provided in a support system with at least one corresponding body landmark article, providing further guidance for applying the support article to the desired body part.
US08742194B2
A hydrocarbon-containing mixture including acetylene and butenyne is disclosed. The hydrocarbon-containing mixture can include 10% to 89% acetylene, 10% to 89% butenyne, and at least 0.25% dimethyl butadiyne. A method and system for producing the hydrocarbon-containing mixture is also disclosed. The system can include an acetylene production subsystem comprising at least one vessel and an acetylene output for delivering acetylene to a finishing vessel via a finishing vessel inlet. The finishing vessel can include a diffuser in fluid communication with the finishing vessel inlet, and gas exiting the diffuser can pass through a reaction chamber filled with solid calcium carbide before passing through a finishing vessel outlet.
US08742189B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst for dehydroaromatizing C1-C4-aliphatics, said catalyst being obtainable by twice treating a zeolite from the group of MFI and MWW with NH4-containing mixtures, in each case with subsequent drying and calcination. The catalyst comprises molybdenum and, if appropriate, as further elements, Cu, Ni, Fe, Co, Mn, Cr, Nb, Ta, Zr, V, Zn and/or Ga.The present invention further provides a process for dehydroaromatizing a mixture comprising C1-C4-aliphatics by conversion in the presence of the catalyst.
US08742186B2
Described herein is a process for producing an alpha olefin by obtaining a feed stream of internal olefins having a first carbon number and alpha olefins having a first carbon number. The olefins are isomerized to increase the quantity of the alpha olefins. The olefins are then fractionated, subjecting the overhead material to catalytic metathesis to produce a mixed olefin effluent of internal olefins having a second carbon number and other hydrocarbons. The first isomerization reactor and fractionator are prepared to receive the olefins having a second carbon number, where the internal olefin intermediate is isomerized in the prepared first isomerization reactor. The second isomerization effluent is fractionated in the prepared first fractionator to separate the alpha olefins having the second carbon number from the internal olefins having the second carbon number. A corresponding system is also described, along with a heat pump that may be incorporated into the process.
US08742180B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods of effecting process control in a reaction system for the production of 1,4-butanediol, the method including determining at least one property of a sample from the reaction system using Raman spectroscopy, and adjusting at least one parameter of the reaction system in response to the at least one determined property. Embodiments may also include methods of producing 1,4-butanediol, the method including reacting allyl alcohol with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst to produce a reactor fluid, sampling the reaction, determining at least one property of the sample using Raman spectroscopy, and adjusting the reaction in response to the at least one determined property.
US08742179B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing aryl-, heteroaryl- or alkenyl-substituted unsaturated hydrocarbons, containing: reacting aryl halides, heteroaryl halides or alkenyl halides with alkynes or alkenes in the presence of a palladium catalyst to obtain a crude product, and subsequently distillatively purifying the crude product in the presence of a compound having at least one NC═S group.
US08742175B2
The present invention discloses novel aromatic ketone compounds with functional substitution groups at para- or meta positions which can be used as photo-initiators or effective components of photo-initiator mixtures for the photopolymerizations of ethylenically unsaturated systems. The preparation of these compounds is also disclosed.
US08742173B2
Provided are various compounds of Formula (I): Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the above compounds. Additionally, methods of inhibiting macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) activity in a mammal are provided, as are methods of treating or preventing inflammation in a mammal. Further provided are methods of treating a mammal having sepsis, septicemia, and/or endotoxic shock. Also provided are methods of treating a mammal having an autoimmune disease, and methods of treating a mammal having a tumor.
US08742170B2
Provided herein are processes for the production of methionine or selenomethionine from homoserine. In particular, the processes proceed via the production of 4-substituted 2-aminobutanoic acid intermediates or derivatives thereof.
US08742168B2
The disclosure relates to a process in which methanol is carbonylated in a reaction zone in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a reaction mixture (A) comprising acetic acid, hydrogen iodide, methyl iodide, water and the catalyst. At least a part of the reaction mixture (A) is withdrawn from the reaction zone. The withdrawn part of the reaction mixture (A) is introduced into a flash zone where it is brought into contact with an alkylimidazolium iodide to form a secondary mixture (B), and where the secondary mixture (B) is separated to obtain a vapor stream (BV) which comprises the acetic acid, water and methyl iodide, and a liquid stream (BL) which comprises the catalyst, the alkylimidazolium iodide and hydrogen iodide. The vapor stream (BV) is processed to purify the acetic acid, and the liquid stream (BL) is recycled to the reaction zone. The reaction mixture (A) is brought into contact with the alkylimidazolium iodide in the flash zone 1) by introducing to the flash zone separately from the withdrawn part of the reaction mixture (A) an extraneous alkylimidazolium iodide; or 2) by introducing to the flash zone separately from the withdrawn part of the reaction mixture (A) an alkylimidazole and forming the alkylimidazolium iodide in situ by reacting the alkylimidazole with the hydrogen iodide or the methyl iodide.
US08742165B2
The invention relates to a class of novel surfactants that have utility in the recovery and/or extraction of oil.
US08742164B2
A method for producing toluenedicarbamate includes a carbamate production process of producing toluenedicarbamate by reaction between toluenediamine, urea, and/or N-unsubstituted carbamic acid ester, and alcohol; and a benzoyleneurea reduction process of reducing a disubstituted benzoyleneurea and a derivative thereof to 10 mol or less relative to 100 mol of toluenedicarbamate, wherein the disubstituted benzoyleneurea is represented by formula (1) below and has a methyl group and an amino group:
US08742156B2
Carbamimidothioic acid esters of formula (I) and 2-nitro-N-[4-(pyridin-4-ylamino)phenyl]-4-(quinolin-4-ylamino)benzamide are used for the treatment of influenza, and for the inhibition of a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. Formulae (I), (II).
US08742154B2
There is provided herein a linear tri-block copolymer having the average formula (1): ABA (1) wherein A is a polyalkyleneoxide unit or an aliphatic modified polyalkyleneoxide unit both of the general formula: R5O(CaH2aO)dY and wherein B is an internal polysiloxane unit of the general formula: [X(CaH2aO)bR2[SiO(R1)2]cSi(R1)2R2(OCaH2a)bX] wherein X and Y are divalent organic groups selected from a secondary amine or a tertiary amine and a ring-opened epoxide, such that when X is a ring-opened epoxide, Y is a secondary or tertiary amine, and when Y is a ring-opened epoxide, X is a secondary or tertiary amine. In addition, there is provided herein a method of making a linear tri-block copolymer having the average formula (1) and personal care and softener compositions comprising the same, specifically a hair conditioner.
US08742141B2
The present invention provides compounds and methods of inhibiting and treating metastatic prostate cancer. The compounds include MEK4 inhibitors. In another aspect the invention provides methods of identifying inhibitors of metastatic prostate cancer by screening for inhibitors of MEK4.
US08742139B2
Phenyliodonium ylide derivatives substituted with electron donating as well as electron withdrawing groups on the aromatic ring are shown for use as precursors in aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions. The iodonium ylide group is substituted by nucleophiles such as halide ions to provide the corresponding haloaryl derivatives. No-carrier-added [F-18]fluoride ion exclusively substitutes the iodonium ylide moiety in these derivatives and provides high specific activity F-18 labeled fluoro derivatives. Protected L-dopa-6-iodonium ylide derivative have been synthesized as a precursors for the preparation of no-carrier-added 6-[F-18]fluoro-L-dopa. The iodonium ylide group in this L-dopa.derivative is nucleophilically substituted by no-carrier-added [F-18]fluoride ion to provide a [F-18]fluoro intermediates which upon acid hydrolysis yielded 6-[F-18]fluoro-L-dopa.
US08742130B2
The present invention provides new hydrate forms of triazole, triazole alkaline salt, and alkali doped 1,2,4-triazole. The present invention also discloses processes for manufacturing new hydrate forms of triazole, triazole alkaline salt, and alkali-doped 1,2,4-triazole. The present invention also relates to compositions for different applications of new hydrate forms of triazole, triazole alkaline salt, and alkali doped 1,2,4-triazole. In addition, the present invention provides co-crystal form of triazole with acid, and methods of preparing thereof.
US08742125B2
2-Trifluoromethyl-5-(1-substituted)alkylpyridines of formula (I) wherein R1 and R2 independently represent H, C1-C4 alkyl, or either of R1 or R2 taken together with R3 represent a 4- to 6-membered saturated ring, or R1 taken together with R2 represents a 3- to 6-membered saturated ring optionally substituted with an O or a N atom, R3 represents C1-C4 alkyl or R3 taken together with either of R1 or R2 represent a 4- to 6-membered saturated ring, and X represents CH2, O or S, are produced efficiently and in high yield from an 4-alkoxy-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-en-2-one (II) wherein R represents a C1-C4 alkyl by condensation with an enamine (III) wherein R1, R2, R3 and X are as previously defined, and R4 and R5 independently represent C1-C8 alkyl, C2-C8 alkenyl, C1-C8 arylalkyl, C1-C8 haloalkyl, C1-C8 alkoxyalkyl, C1-C8 alkylaminoalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl or R4 and R5 taken together with N represent a 5- or 6-membered saturated or unsaturated ring, to provide an intermediate of the formula (IV) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and X are as previously defined followed by cyclization in the presence of ammonia or a reagent capable of generating ammonia. Both reactions are performed in the same nonpolar solvent without isolation and purification of intermediates.
US08742124B2
The invention concerns a compound of the Formula (I), wherein Qa is heteroaryl and is substituted with halogeno; R1 and R2 are hydrogen; and Qb is phenyl or heteroaryl, and Qb may optionally bear 1 or 2 substituents selected from hydroxy, halogeno and (1-6C)alkyl, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt thereof; processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of diseases or medical conditions mediated by cytokines.
US08742118B2
Methods for the synthesis of 2-alkoxy-5-(pyridin-2-yl)pyridine of formula I or salts thereof are provided.
US08742115B2
This invention relates to co-crystals and salts of CCR3 inhibitors of formula 1, pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and methods of using the same as agents for treatment and/or prevention of diseases related with the CCR3-receptor.
US08742114B2
The invention describes the preparation and use of fluorescent stains for nucleic acids derived from unsymmetrical cyanine dyes, dimmers, trimers, or tetramers. In particular, the invention describes unsymmetric cyanine dyes, dimmers, trimer and tetramers having a water soluble substituent. The dyes of the invention possess superior fluorescent properties when complexed with nucleic acids, and have utility in any application which requires detection of nucleic acids, such as detection of nucleic acids in solution, in gels, in blots, in microarrays, and in bacteria and cells, and for use in analysis of cell structure, membrane integrity, and function. The presence of the water soluble substituent results in improved water soluability and stability, resulting in improved detection of nucleic acids.
US08742109B2
This invention is directed to methods of preparing certain spiro-oxindole derivatives, which are useful for the treatment and/or prevention of sodium channel-mediated diseases or conditions, such as pain.
US08742098B2
This application discloses compounds according to generic Formula I: wherein the variables are defined as described herein, and which inhibit Btk. The compounds disclosed herein are useful to modulate the activity of Btk and treat diseases associated with excessive Btk activity. The compounds are further useful to treat inflammatory and auto immune diseases associated with aberrant B-cell proliferation, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Also disclosed are compositions containing compounds of Formula I and at least one carrier, diluent or excipient.
US08742090B2
The present invention provides an array of compositions useful for effecting and/or exhibiting changes in biological functioning and processing within cells and in biological systems containing such cells. In effect, these compositions combine chemical modifications and/or ligand additions with biological functions. The chemical modifications and/or ligand additions provide additional characteristics to the compositions without interfering substantially with their biological function. Such additional characteristics include nuclease resistance, targeting specific cells or specific cell receptors localizing to specific sites within cells and augmenting interactions between the compositions and target cells of interest as well as decreasing such interactions when desired. Also provided by the present invention are processes and kits.
US08742080B2
A process for the preparation of compounds having formula (I) is disclosed, wherein: —R1 is a methoxy or methylthio group; —R2 is a O-glycosyloxy residue. Compounds having formula (I) are prepared by reacting the corresponding precursor having R2═OH and the suitably protected 1-acetyl-glycose.
US08742078B2
The present invention is directed to analogs of aminoglycoside compounds as well as their preparation and use as prophylactic or therapeutics against microbial infection.
US08742067B2
An active polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4, having an anti-tumor activity, and compositions and methods including the active polypeptide.
US08742061B2
It is aimed to provide a polyarylene sulfide film for an acoustic instrument vibrating plate excellent in heat resistance, molding processability, acoustic properties, and also heat moldability. Provided is a polyarylene sulfide film wherein the elongation at break in either a longitudinal direction or a width direction of the film is 100% or more and 250% or less, and the Young's modulus in either a longitudinal direction or a width direction of the film is 1.5 GPa or more and less than 4 GPa.
US08742060B2
Processes for producing nitrogen containing compounds include producing hexamethylenediamine (HMD), adiponitrile (ADN), adipamide (ADM) and derivatives thereof from adipic acid (AA) obtained from fermentation broths containing diammonium adipate (DAA) or monoammonium adipate (MAA).
US08742059B2
A polymer precursor including a part which sequences an unsaturated bond having a π electron orbit and a single bond alternately is disclosed. The polymer precursor has a first functional group and a second functional group which form a repeating unit constituting a polymer skeleton of an end product by an intramolecular reaction. At least a part of a conjugated state formed by the π electron orbit in the molecule is disconnected or weakened due to a three-dimensional structure of the molecule and a transmittance with respect to an electromagnetic wave of at least one wavelength selected from the group consisting of 436 nm, 405 nm, 365 nm, 248 nm and 193 nm is improved.
US08742045B2
Provided is a method of living radical polymerization which does not necessitate complicated and intricate synthesis of a dormant species and which is highly efficient. A halogenated derivative compound is used as a dormant species for initiating living radical polymerization. The derivative compound is obtained by halogenating an alcohol compound having a non-conjugated structure or an amine compound having a non-conjugated structure with a halogenating agent capable of halogenating an alcohol or amine. A radical produced by elimination of halogen from the halogenated derivative compound is allowed to react with the unsaturated bond of the monomer. Thus, the monomer, which has a radical-reactive unsaturated bond, is polymerized by living radical polymerization. Preferably, the halogenating agent is a compound (NIS or the like) which also has a function as a catalyst.
US08742044B2
A method for producing a polymer nanocomposite, includes: after expanding an interlayer space of a layered inorganic compound using an organic onium salt, immobilizing a radical polymerization initiator having a group represented by formula (1) on an interlayer surface of the layered inorganic compound via a covalent bond; and carrying out surface-initiated radical polymerization in a monomer from the immobilized radical polymerization initiator. Preferably, in the radical polymerization initiator having the group represented by the general formula (1), at least one of X1 to X3 in the formula is a chlorine atom, or R1 in the formula is a C1-25 alkylene group or a C2-25 alkenylene group optionally interrupted by an oxygen atom or an ester group and optionally substituted by a phenyl group: R1 represents a C1-25 alkylene group, a C2-25 alkenylene group, a C5-8 cycloalkylene group, or a C6-12 arylene group.
US08742040B2
Solid titanium catalyst component, olefin polymerization catalyst, and olefin polymerization process
A solid titanium catalyst component (I) comprising titanium, magnesium, halogen, a specific cyclic ester compound (a) and a specific cyclic ester compound (b), an olefin polymerization catalyst containing this catalyst component (I), and an olefin polymerization process using this olefin polymerization catalyst are disclosed. According to the solid titanium catalyst component, the olefin polymerization catalyst and the process for preparing an olefin polymer of the invention, an olefin polymer having high stereoregularity and a wide molecular weight distribution can be prepared with high activity, preparation of an olefin polymer excellent not only in molding properties such as high-speed streatchability and high-speed moldability but also in rigidity becomes possible, and besides, production cost can be reduced.
US08742028B2
The present invention provides a solid support for Fmoc-solid phase synthesis of peptides. In particular, the solid supports of the invention may be utilized to produce peptide acids.
US08742022B2
Presently described are coating compositions comprising a polymerizable resin composition and a non-ionic unpolymerizable surfactant. In some embodiments, the coating comprises greater than 10 wt-% of non-ionic unpolymerizable surfactant. In other embodiments, the coating composition comprises an an additive comprising a silicone group or a fluorinated group and a hydrophobic group. Also described are articles comprising the cured coating compositions. In one embodiment, an article is described comprising a cured coating wherein the cured coating exhibits a property of an initially visible simulated fingerprint reducing in visibility in 1-20 minutes. Also described is a method of determining the fingerprint visibility of a coating composition and a polyacylate composition useful as an additive. In another embodiment a coated surface is described comprising a polymeric organic material comprising a plurality of pores wherein a portion of the pores are interconnected and comprise a lipophilic liquid.
US08742021B2
Ionomers and ionomer membranes, consisting of a non-fluorinated or partly fluorinated non-, partly or fully-aromatic main chain and a non- or partly-fluorinated side chain with ionic groups or their non-ionic precursors, have a positive impact on the proton conductivity of the ionomers. Various processes produce these polymeric proton conductors.
US08742016B2
Procedure for the manufacture of carboxylated ethylene polymer blends, in which in a 1st step, in a fluid mixing reactor, to 100 pbw of a particulate ethylene polymer—chosen from among ethylene homopolymers (HDPE, LDPE) and/or linear ethylene copolymers with 2 to ≦20 wt.-% polymerized-in C3-12-olefin units (LLDPE, EOP), with a melt-flow rate MFR (190° C./2.16 kg)≧20 g/10 min—are added 0.05-15 pbw of a α,β-ethylenically unsaturated mono and/or dicarboxylic acid or its anhydride (carboxyl monomer), or a monomer mixture containing at least one carboxyl monomer and 0.01-10 pbw of a radical initiator or initiator mixture, and graft-polymerizing at reaction temperatures of 30-120° C., over a reaction time of 5-120 min and subsequently, in a 2nd step, reacting a mixture continuously fed into a reaction extruder of 100 pbw of the modified ethylene polymer obtained in the 1st solid phase step, 150-4,000 pbw of an ethylene polymer or polymer blend with a melt flow rate MFR (190° C., 2.16 kg)<20 g/10 min, as well as 0-4,000 pbw of an olefinic elastomer, at temperatures of 160-260° C. and continuously removing the graft-modified ethylene polymer blend that has a degree of carboxylation of 0.05-1 wt.-%. The products obtained are especially suitable as adhesion promoters and/or adhesives for numerous substrates, preferably on and between metallic surfaces.
US08742014B2
An object of the invention is to provide a liquid resin composition with low viscosity while containing polymer particles. Further, another object of the invention is to provide a liquid resin composition containing a large quantity of polymer particles without increasing the viscosity of the liquid resin composition. A liquid resin composition of the invention is comprising a liquid resin component and polymer particles each having an elastic core layer, an intermediate layer formed with a monomer having two or more double bonds and coated on the core layer, and a shell layer coated on the intermediate layer; wherein the polymer particles are dispersed at a ratio of their volume average particle diameter (Mv) to their number average particle diameter (Mn) of 3 or lower.
US08742010B2
A polyaziridine introduced into a two-component waterborne polyurethane dispersion coating system increases the cure rate of a coating composition formed from the coating system.
US08742008B2
A process for forming a new group of siloxane-based compositions by a one-step co-hydrolysis and the compositions formed thereof. The siloxane-based compositions being functionalized with a carbon-carbon double (C═C) bond and a silicon-hydrogen (Si—H) bond. The C═C bond and hydrogen (H) each being attached directly to a silicon (Si) atom of the silicon-oxygen (Si—O) backbone of the siloxane-based composition. The C═C bond may be from a vinyl or an aromatic radical like a phenyl substituent. The C═C bond substituent provides the functionality needed for forming crosslinkages through standard dehydrocoupling catalysts without the need for siloxane fluids or organic compounds containing alkyl or aryl functional groups. The process provides for varying proportions of silanes as starting monomers to tailor the desired silicon, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen ratios in the siloxane-based compositions or resins. The siloxane-based compositions may be used as precursors or replacement resins in the fabrication of other materials.
US08742004B1
A highly durable coating composition particularly suited for use on printed articles requiring protection from exposure to the natural elements, chemical exposure, or abrasion. The coating composition generally comprises a fluoropolymer resin, an acrylic polyol resin and a melamine resin. Optionally, a polyisocyanate crosslinking agent may also be included to accelerate curing of the coating.
US08742000B2
A coating composition is provided, the starting materials of which comprise nano SiO2, film-forming substance, film-forming aid, accelerator, acid, and water. The composition has pH of 3-9. A passivated zinc-plated material is also provided. The zinc-plated material comprises zinc-plated substrate and passivated coat adhered to the surface of the zinc-plated substrate, wherein the passivated coat is formed by curing the coating composition. The coating composition can impart to the zinc-plated material excellent corrosion resistance, water resistance, high temperature resistance, surface conductivity, and adhesion to the zinc-plated substrate. Additionally, the coating composition contains no Cr6+, and satisfies the requirement of EU RoHS Directive.
US08741997B2
The present invention consists of the use, in a chlorinated and filled thermoplastic composition containing at least one chlorinated thermoplastic resin and at least one mineral filler, as an agent improving the thermal stability and UV resistance of the said composition, of a linear amphiphilic copolymer characterized in that: it consists of at least one hydrophilic monomer and at least one hydrophobic monomer, it has an average molar mass by weight of between 5,000 g/mol and 20,000 g/mol and a polymolecularity index less than or equal to 3, and preferentially an average molar mass by weight of between 10,000 g/mol and 15,000 g/mol, and a polymolecularity index less than or equal to 2.5. It also concerns a manufacturing process for a chlorinated and filled thermoplastic composition implementing the said copolymer, as well as the composition obtained directly by the said process.
US08741989B2
This invention relates to a composition suitable for use in making moisture resistant gypsum products. In particular, this invention relates to resin dispersions and their use in combination with gypsum to form moisture resistant gypsum compositions which are settable by hydration. Further, the invention relates to moisture resistant products formed from such settable gypsum compositions, e.g. panels and boards, and a method for the manufacture of such moisture resistant gypsum products.
US08741982B2
A bioactive and osteoconductive bone cement is produced from polyacrylates or polymethylacrylates by addition of small amounts of polymerizable monomers containing anionic groups which cause the cement surface to mineralize after being incubated in simulated body fluid. The obtained mineralized layers contain calcium phosphate phases such that the formation of fibrous intermediate layers is prevented once the bone cement has been implanted in bones. Optionally, other additives, e.g. biocompatible calcium salts, biocompatible buffering substances, or x-ray contrast agents, antibiotics, antimicrobial agents, and/or anti-inflammatory agents can be added in order to improve the properties of the cement for individual purposes. The bone cement can be used for anchoring prosthesis components in the bone, stiffening bones, filling and reconstructing all types of bone defects, as dowels for bone screws, or as an implant material for anchoring screws and other implants used for osteosynthesis.
US08741980B2
A hardenable two part acrylic composition, a polymer component of the two part hardenable composition and a method of producing a polymer component of the two part composition are disclosed. The hardenable two part acrylic composition includes an acrylic polymer composition first part and an acrylic monomer composition second part. The acrylic polymer composition first part includes a first type of acrylic polymer particles wherein each first type of acrylic polymer particle is formed of a network of coalesced emulsion polymerized acrylic microparticles or is macroporous. The acrylic polymer composition may include emulsion polymerised acrylic polymer particles of particle size between 10 and 2000 nm and includes the use of acrylic polymer particles formed of a network of coalesced emulsion polymerized acrylic microparticles as a dough time reduction agent in a hardenable two part acrylic composition.
US08741978B2
A prepreg which is capable of being cured-in-place into a solid surface by irradiation, heating or a combination of the two is prepared. The cured-in-place solid surfaces can be used as veneer cladding for rigid substrates such as floor and wall tiles, kitchen and bath counter tops, sinks, cabinet door veneers, bath surrounds, architectural surfaces such as columns and roofs and the like.
US08741972B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to recycled polyethylene terephthalate compositions, fibers and articles produced therefrom, and methods for producing same. In a further aspect, the invention relates to homogenized post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate. In a further aspect, the invention relates to extruded polymer compositions, polymer mixtures, fibers, and/or Bulked Continuous Filament fibers comprising post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate. In a further aspect, the invention relates to processes for preparing recycled polyethylene terephthalate compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08741949B2
Carnitin-Palmitoyl-Transferase-1 (CPT-1) inhibitor for use in treating and/or preventing disorders caused by delipidation of neural tissue.
US08741940B2
Synergistic microbicidal compositions containing N-(n-butyl)-1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one or N-methyl-1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one.
US08741931B2
The present invention relates to compounds having formula: which are useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising said compounds and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also provides processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US08741923B2
The invention provides compounds of Formula (I) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and other diseases.
US08741922B2
The present invention relates to substantially crystalline and solid state forms of N-(4-(7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-7-yl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-4-oxo-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxamide (Form A-HCl, Form B, Form B-HCl, or any combination of these forms), pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treatment therewith.
US08741919B2
New heterocyclic compounds that may be used to modulate a histamine receptor in an individual are described. Pyrido[4,3-b]indoles are described, as are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the compounds in a variety of therapeutic applications, including the treatment of a cognitive disorder, psychotic disorder, neurotransmitter-mediated disorder and/or a neuronal disorder.
US08741916B2
1,3,8-trisubstituted-1,3,8-triaza-spiro[4.5]decan-4-one derivatives as ligands of the ORL-1 receptor
The present invention is directed to novel 1,3,8-trisubstituted-1,3,8-triaza-spiro[4.5]decan-4-one derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions mediated by the ORL-1 G-protein coupled receptor.
US08741900B2
The present invention provides phenyl-heteroaryl derivatives of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof These compounds are useful in the treatment of RAGE-mediated diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease. The present invention further relates to methods for the preparation of compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and the use of such compounds and/or pharmaceutical compositions in treating RAGE-mediated diseases.
US08741899B2
The present application relates to calcium channel inhibitors comprising compounds of formula (I), formula (II), formula (III), or formula (IV), wherein L1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and Rc are as defined in the specification. The present application also relates to compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions.
US08741898B2
Polycyclic heteroaryl substituted triazoles and pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds are disclosed as being useful in inhibiting the activity of the receptor protein tyrosine kinase Axl. Methods of using the compounds in treating diseases or conditions associated with Axl activity are also disclosed.
US08741896B2
Compounds of the formula (I), in which X, R1 and R2 have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are PI3K inhibitors and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and tumors.
US08741893B2
The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula 1 or an addition salt thereof, a pharmaceutical composition containing the compound, a method for its preparation as well as the use of the compound as an hypnotic agent or anesthetic agent: wherein each symbol is as defined in the Specification.
US08741890B2
The present invention relates to new substituted prolinamides of general formula (I) wherein D, Y, A, B, R3, R4 and R5 are defined as in the specification, the tautomers, the enantiomers, the diastereomers, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, which have valuable properties.
US08741889B2
The present invention provides a method for treating a patient having cancer comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of compound (1), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, having the formula: The present invention also provides a kit containing the above compound.
US08741888B2
A sleep composition including zolpidem and quetiapine in combination provides a healthy sleep pattern allowing the user to get seven or eight hours sleep. The amount of each ingredient in the combination is lower than the amount usually needed to provide this amount of sleep when the ingredients are being used alone.
US08741880B2
This invention pertains to the discovery that agents which inhibit the binding of cortisol to its receptors can be used in methods for preventing neurological damage associated with glucocorticoid therapy in ventilator-dependent low birth weight preterm infants. Mifepristone, a potent glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, can be used in these methods.
US08741879B2
Novel compositions in petroleum jelly-free unguent form, in particular for topical application, contain a vitamin D compound and optionally an active agent of the family of steroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
US08741866B2
The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) targeting a transthyretin (TTR) gene, and methods of using the dsRNA to inhibit expression of TTR.
US08741865B2
Disclosed are methods for treating immune disorders using inhibitors of Hom-1. The inhibitors include an RNAi agent containing the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.
US08741856B2
Avermectin and milbemycin compounds, particularly the substance ivermectin, for preparing an antiviral medicament for the treatment, prevention or amelioration of a Flavivirus infection, such as those caused by YFV (yellow fever virus), DENV (Dengue virus), JEV (Japanese encephalitis virus), TBEV (tick-borne encephalitis virus) or MODV (Modoc virus) are provided. The antiviral compositions of the present invention are suitable for oral administration to a Flavivirus-infected subject or a subject at risk of a infection, such as a human or other mammal.
US08741853B2
The instant invention constitutes an unique subject matter as a whole which has four individual aspects: (1) a class of chiral, non-racemic, synthetic carnitinoid analog carrier molecules which constitute biocompatible transport compounds not found in nature; (2) a subsequently formed, mitochondria-targeting, coupled antioxidant-carrier complex comprising an antioxidant reversibly attached to and releasable from the synthetic carrier molecule; (3) a method for introducing a biologically active antioxidant into the interior of mitochondria of a living cell for subsequent reaction with such reactive oxygen species may then be present; and (4) a system for delivering a biologically active antioxidant to the interior of mitochondria within a living cell.
US08741848B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition that comprises polymeric microspheres containing epidermal growth factor (EGF) for the application, by the parenteral route, into the lower limbs of diabetic patients with cutaneous chronic ischemic ulcerative wounds. The pharmaceutical composition described herein, in contrast with the state of the art, is useful because reduce the administration frequency during the treatment and allows for the healing of the ulcerative wounds in a shorter time interval with respect to the injection of equivalent quantities of non-encapsulated EGF.
US08741842B2
This document provides natriuretic polypeptides. For example, this document provides polypeptides having a natriuretic activity. In some cases, a polypeptide provided herein can have natriuretic activities without inducing excessive hypotension. This document also provides methods and materials for inducing natriuretic activities within a mammal.
US08741836B2
The invention relates to polypeptides comprising an amino acid sequence which is an analogue of pramlintide, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these polypeptides, and these polypeptides for use as medicaments.
US08741835B2
A method and pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the effect of glucocorticoids, particularly dexamethasone, which suppress growth hormone secretion, by administering ghrelin or a ghrelin analogue, for example, H-Inp-D-Bal-D-Trp-Phe-Apc-NH2 (SEQ ID NO:73) or other suitable ghrelin agonist, to counteract the catabolic effects of dexamethasone and other natural glucocorticoids.
US08741829B2
Provided are azeotrope-like compositions comprising tetrafluoropropene and hydrofluorocarbons and uses thereof, including use in refrigerant compositions, refrigeration systems, blowing agent compositions, and aerosol propellants.
US08741822B2
This invention relates to base ester compounds and complex ester compounds that can be used as a base stock for lubricant applications or a base stock blend component for use in a finished lubricant or for particular applications, and methods of making the same. The base ester compounds and complex esters described herein comprise dimer and/or trimer esters, and their respective branched derivatives.
US08741812B2
This invention relates to novel physiological oxysteroids and oxysteroid hormones which are C27 modified sterols, particularly derivatives of intermediates in cholesterol synthesis, including lanosterol, zymosterol and desmosterol, including C27 diol and C27 acid derivatives, as well as related compounds and analogs thereof. The invention relates to treatment of cholesterol-related conditions by modulating the rate of cholesterol synthesis or cholesterol metabolism by administration of the oxysteroids, analogs or antagonists thereof. Methods are provided for ameliorating, treating or preventing macular degeneration by administering an agent which stimulates the expression or activity of steroid sulphotransferase (SLUT2), particularly SLUT2B1b, or which stimulates the expression or activity of CYP27A1 or sterol 27-hydroxylase. Assays for identification of analogs, antagonists or modulators of the oxysteroids or of sterol 27-hydroxylase are provided.
US08741811B2
Biological samples including cell-free DNA fragments are analyzed to identify imbalances in chromosomal regions, e.g., due to deletions and/or amplifications in a tumor. Multiple loci are used for each chromosomal region. Such imbalances can then be used to diagnose (screen) a patient for cancer, as well as prognosticate a patient with cancer, or to detect the presence or to monitor the progress of a premalignant condition in a patient. The severity of an imbalance as well as the number of regions exhibiting an imbalance can be used. A systematic analysis of non-overlapping segments of a genome can provide a general screening tool for a sample. Additionally, a patient can be tested over time to track severity of each of one or more chromosomal regions and a number of chromosomal regions to enable screening and prognosticating, as well as monitoring of progress (e.g. after treatment).
US08741808B2
The present invention provides a composition including a polymer nanoparticle and at least one agricultural active compound incorporated with the nanoparticle, wherein the nanoparticle are less than 100 nm in diameter, and the polymer includes a polyelectrolyte.
US08741801B2
Platinum (Pt)-based alloys are effective catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) or fuel oxidation in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). A wet-chemical approach for preparing monodisperse Pt3Ni, Pt3Co and Pt3Fe nanocubes and Pt3Ni nanoctahedra which are terminated with {100} and {111} facets, respectively, were developed. Such nanoscaled electrocatalysts supported on carbon black with controlled shape, e.g., octahedral configuration, is provided. ORR activity on the Pt3Ni nanoctahedra is ˜5.1 fold higher than that of nanocubes with a similar size, and their C-supported samples are highly active with respect to commercial Pt/C.
US08741796B2
A high-refractivity low-dispersion optical glass that can be stably supplied and has excellent glass stability and that has coloring reduced, composed of in mass %, 5 to 32% of total of SiO2 and B2O2, 45 to 65% of total of La2O2, Gd2O2 and Y2O2, 0.5 to 10% of ZnO, 1 to 20% of total of TiO2 and Nb2O5, and optionally other components. The optical glass has a refractive index nd of 1.89 to 2.0, an Abbe's number νd of 32 to 38 and a coloring degree λ70 of 430 nm or less.
US08741789B2
A flame resistant textile material comprises a textile substrate, a flame retardant finish applied to the textile substrate, and an infrared-absorbing finish applied to the textile substrate.
US08741774B2
A method for producing an electrical feedthrough in a substrate includes: forming a first printed conductor on a first side of a substrate which electrically connects a first contact area of the substrate on the first side; forming a second printed conductor on a second side of a substrate which electrically connects a second contact area of the substrate on the second side; forming an annular trench in the substrate, a substrate punch being formed which extends from the first contact area to the second contact area; and selectively depositing an electrically conductive layer on an inner surface of the annular trench, the substrate punch being coated with an electrically conductive layer and remaining electrically insulated from the surrounding substrate due to the annular trench.
US08741767B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a cell region and a core region adjacent to the cell region, active regions in the cell region and the core region, an interlayer insulating layer covering the active regions, upper cell contacts penetrating the interlayer insulating layer in the cell region, the upper cell contacts being adjacent to each other along a first direction and being electrically connected to the active regions, and core contacts penetrating the interlayer insulating layer in the active regions of the core region, the core contacts being adjacent to each other along the first direction and including upper connection core contacts electrically connected to the active regions, and dummy contacts adjacent to the upper connection core contacts, the dummy contacts being insulated from the active regions.
US08741762B2
A method for preparing a die for packaging is disclosed. A die having first and second major surfaces is provided. Vias and a mask layer are formed on the first major surface of the die. The mask includes mask openings that expose the vias. The mask openings are filled with a conductive material. The method includes reflowing to at least partially fill the vias and contact openings to form via contacts in the vias and surface contacts in the mask openings.
US08741760B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of first conductive patterns, a second conductive pattern having a top surface of which stepwisely or gradually decreases in height in a direction from a side facing the first conductive pattern toward an opposite side, a first insulation film formed over the plurality of first conductive patterns and the second conductive pattern, and a third conductive pattern formed over the first insulation film.
US08741759B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a gate stack over a substrate, forming spacers adjoining opposite sidewalls of the gate stack, forming a sacrificial layer adjoining the spacers, removing a portion of the sacrificial layer, removing a portion of the spacers to form a recess cavity below the left spacers. Then, a strain feature is formed in the recess cavity. The disclosed method provides an improved method by providing a space between the spacer and the substrate for forming the strained feature, therefor, to enhance carrier mobility and upgrade the device performance.
US08741750B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor body is presented. The semiconductor body includes a p-conducting zone, an n-conducting zone and a pn junction in a depth T1 in the semiconductor body between the p-conducting zone and the n-conducting zone. The method includes providing the semiconductor body, producing the p-doped zone by the diffusion of an impurity that forms an acceptor in a first direction into the semiconductor body, and producing the n-conducting zone by the implantation of protons in the first direction into the semiconductor body into a depth T2>T1 and the subsequent heat treatment of the semiconductor body in order to form hydrogen-induced donors.
US08741743B2
A method for making a semiconductor device is provided which comprises (a) creating a first mask for the epitaxial growth of features in a semiconductor device, said first mask defining a set of epitaxial tiles (219); (b) creating a second mask for defining the active region of the semiconductor device, said second mask defining a set of active tiles (229); and (c) using the first and second masks to create a semiconductor device.
US08741741B2
A method for manufacturing an SOI wafer that has an SOI layer formed on a buried insulator layer and is suitable for photolithography with an exposure light having a wavelength λ comprises: designing a thickness of the buried insulator layer of the SOI wafer on the basis of the wavelength λ of the exposure light utilized for the photolithography that is to be performed on the SOI wafer after manufacturing; and fabricating the SOI wafer that has the SOI layer formed on the buried insulator layer having the designed thickness. As a result, there is provided a method for designing an SOI wafer and a method for manufacturing an SOI wafer that enable the variation in the reflection rate of the exposure light due to the variation in the SOI layer thickness and hence variation in the exposure state of a resist to be inhibited in a photolithography operation.
US08741738B2
The disclosure relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a semiconductor apparatus with a metallic alloy. An exemplary structure for an apparatus comprises a first silicon substrate; a second silicon substrate; and a contact connecting each of the first and second substrates, wherein the contact comprises a Ge layer adjacent to the first silicon substrate, a Cu layer adjacent to the second silicon substrate, and a metallic alloy between the Ge layer and Cu layer.
US08741734B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a trench defining an active region. A wall oxide is formed on side walls of the active region extending in the longitudinal direction, and an element isolation layer is formed in the trenches. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming line-shape first trenches on a semiconductor substrate so as to define an active region; forming a wall oxide on surfaces of the first trenches; forming a second trench which separates the active region into a plurality of active regions; and filling the trenches with an element isolation layer.
US08741732B2
A plurality of metal layers includes a top metal layer. An Ultra-Thick Metal (UTM) layer is disposed over the top metal layer, wherein no additional metal layer is located between the UTM layer and the top metal layer. A Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) capacitor is disposed under the UTM layer and over the top metal layer.
US08741726B2
Methods are disclosed of forming and removing a reacted layer on a surface of a recess to provide mechanisms for improving thickness uniformity of a semiconductor material formed in the recess. The improved thickness uniformity in turn improves the uniformity of device performance.
US08741724B2
A semiconductor device includes first, second and isolation regions; a first insulating film and gate electrode formed over the first region; a second insulating film and gate electrode formed over the second region; a first sidewall formed on a side of the first gate electrode and a second sidewall formed on a side of the second gate electrode; first source and drain regions formed adjacent opposite sides of the first gate electrode; second source region adjacent to the one side of the first gate electrode and overlapping the first source region, an impurity concentration of the second source region being different from an impurity of the first source region; a second drain region overlapping the first drain region and overlapping the first gate electrode; and a metal silicide formed on the first source region and the first drain region.
US08741707B2
A method for fabricating an edge termination, which can be used in conjunction with GaN-based materials, includes providing a substrate of a first conductivity type. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface. The method also includes forming a first GaN epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the first surface of the substrate and forming a second GaN epitaxial layer of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The second GaN epitaxial layer is coupled to the first GaN epitaxial layer. The substrate, the first GaN epitaxial layer and the second GaN epitaxial layer can be referred to as an epitaxial structure.
US08741693B2
A package structure includes a micro-electromechanical element having a plurality of electrical contacts; a package layer enclosing the micro-electromechanical element and the electrical contacts, with a bottom surface of the micro-electromechanical element exposed from a lower surface of the package layer; a plurality of bonding wires embedded in the package layer, each of the bonding wires having one end connected to one of the electrical contacts, and the other end exposed from the lower surface of the package layer; and a build-up layer structure provided on the lower surface of the package layer, the build-up layer including at least one dielectric layer and a plurality of conductive blind vias formed in the dielectric layer and electrically connected to one ends of the bonding wires. The package structure is easier to accurately control the location of an external electrical contact, and the compatibility of the manufacturing procedures is high.
US08741684B2
Disclosed are methods for co-integration of active and passive photonic devices on a planarized silicon-based photonics substrate. In one aspect, a method is disclosed that includes providing a planarized silicon-based photonics substrate comprising a silicon waveguide structure, depositing a dielectric layer over the planarized silicon-based photonics substrate, selectively etching the dielectric layer, thereby exposing at least a portion of the silicon waveguide structure, selectively etching the exposed portion of the silicon waveguide structure to form a template, using the silicon waveguide structure as a seed layer to selectively grow in the template a germanium layer that extends above the dielectric layer, and planarizing the germanium layer to form a planarized germanium layer, wherein the planarized germanium layer does not extend above the dielectric layer.
US08741678B2
A transparent conductive electrode stack containing a work function adjusted carbon-containing material is provided. Specifically, the transparent conductive electrode stack includes a layer of a carbon-containing material and a layer of a work function modifying material. The presence of the work function modifying material in the transparent conductive electrode stack shifts the work function of the layer of carbon-containing material to a higher value for better hole injection into the OLED device as compared to a transparent conductive electrode that includes only a layer of carbon-containing material and no work function modifying material.
US08741675B2
Provided are a mask for an application of paste and a method of manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device by using the same. The method includes preparing a light emitting structure including first and second conductive semiconductor layers and an active layer disposed therebetween, which has at least one electrode formed on a surface of the light emitting structure; disposing a mask having an open part exposing a portion of the surface of the light emitting structure therethrough and a recess part corresponding the electrode in a region thereof on a surface of the light emitting structure; and applying wavelength conversion material-containing paste to the surface of the light emitting structure through the open part.
US08741674B2
Provided is a group-III nitride semiconductor laser device with a laser cavity of high lasing yield, on a semipolar surface of a support base in which the c-axis of a hexagonal group-III nitride is tilted toward the m-axis. First and second fractured faces to form the laser cavity intersect with an m-n plane. The group-III nitride semiconductor laser device has a laser waveguide extending in a direction of an intersecting line between the m-n plane and the semipolar surface. In a laser structure, a first surface is opposite to a second surface. The first and second fractured faces extend from an edge of the first surface to an edge of the second surface. The fractured faces are not formed by dry etching and are different from conventionally-employed cleaved facets such as c-planes, m-planes, or a-planes.
US08741672B2
Exemplary embodiments of the invention disclose a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor array panel having reduced overall processing time and providing a uniform crystallization. Exemplary embodiments of the invention also disclose a crystallization method of a thin film transistor, including forming on a substrate a semiconductor layer including a first pixel area, a second pixel area, and a third pixel area. The crystallization method includes crystallizing a portion of the semiconductor layer corresponding to a channel region of a thin film transistor using a micro lens array.
US08741670B2
A method for producing an integrated optical device includes the steps of growing a first stacked semiconductor layer including a first optical waveguiding layer, a first cladding layer, and a side-etching layer; etching the first stacked semiconductor layer through a first etching mask; growing, a second stacked semiconductor layer including a second optical waveguiding layer and a second cladding layer through the first etching mask; and forming a reverse-mesa ridge structure by etching the first and second cladding layers. The step of etching the first stacked semiconductor layer includes a step of forming an overhang by etching the side-etching layer by wet etching. In the step of growing the second stacked semiconductor layer, the second cladding layer is grown at a lower growth temperature and a higher V/III ratio comparing to those in the growth of the second optical waveguiding layer.
US08741660B2
The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including an outer sheath; a plurality of tubes within the sheath, in which at least one of the tubes acquires a sample, and at least one of the tubes expels a fluid that is immiscible with the sample, in which the at least one tube that acquires the sample is extendable beyond a distal end of the sheath and retractable to within the sheath; and a valve connected to a distal portion of the sheath, in which the valve opens when the tube extends beyond the distal end and closes when the tube retracts to within the sheath.
US08741659B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a composition is disclosed for measuring a binding affinity between a nucleic acid and a test substance, which contains an organic fluorescent substance capable of binding to an RNA and which emits fluorescence having an intensity greater while the organic fluorescent substance is liberated from an RNA than while the organic fluorescent substance is bound to an RNA. This enables a highly accurate and easy measurement of a binding affinity between a test substance and a nucleic acid, and allows various substances to be examined as a test substance.
US08741658B2
A method and devices analyze for the presence of cyanide in samples using colorimetric analysis of samples after contacting with cobinamide or monocyanocohinapmide.
US08741655B2
A transport system is provided for a sample testing machine. The transport system includes a carrier holding a set of test sample devices and a drive subsystem for moving the carrier through the sample testing machine. The drive subsystem includes a reciprocating motor-driven block engaging the carrier and moving the carrier back and forth in a predetermined longitudinal path extending along a longitudinal axis from an entrance station to a plurality of processing stations in the sample testing machine. The processing stations are accessed as the carrier is moved along the path. The carrier includes features in the form of slots or voids that are detected by strategically placed optical interrupt sensors. As the carrier moves, the slots are detected by the sensors to thereby continuously track the position of the carrier and the test devices as they are moved through the instrument.
US08741652B2
The present invention describes the genetic engineering of production microorganisms used in biotechnology to improve their properties so that they produce industrially useful products more efficiently from fermentable sugars derived from biomass. The engineered microorganisms endowed with functional coupling of oxidation and reduction of substrates by dehydrogenases requiring pyridine nucleotides (NAD/NADH) result in simultaneous enhancement of reduction potential enzyme activity involving the transfer of electrons. In particular, this invention relates to the construction of an excisable gene expression cassette for expression of two different dehydrogenases leading to enhanced production of ethanol.
US08741625B2
Thermophilic microorganisms having a deodorizing ability for short chain fatty acids, which are the offensive odor components, are provided. Disclosed are thermophilic microorganisms having a deodorizing ability for short chain fatty acids, which belong to Bacillus licheniformis.
US08741619B1
A method for purifying protein aqueous is provided. A protein aqueous is first provided. An absorption material is mixed into the protein aqueous to form a first mixture. The first mixture is separated into a solid-liquid two phases solution by a first separation process. A buffer solution is added into the solid phase from the solid-liquid two phases solution which has a target protein therein to form a second mixture. Then, a second separation process is performed to separate the second mixture to obtain a purified protein aqueous.
US08741613B2
The present invention provides a novel biosynthetic pathway for the production of isoprene from 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol or 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol. Further embodiments provide non-naturally occurring microorganism that have been modified to produce isoprene from 3-methyl-2-buten-1-ol or 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol and methods of producing isoprene using said microorganism.
US08741607B2
An HCV/GBV-B chimeric virus which maintains the replication function of HCV and is capable of infecting tamarin is disclosed in order to construct an HCV animal model which can be used as a development or evaluation system for therapeutic agents for HCV. The HCV/GBV-B chimeric RNA comprises an RNA of hepatitis C virus and an RNA of GB virus-B, wherein the RNA of hepatitis C virus comprises an RNA encoding leucine at the 1804th position and lysine at the 1966th position in the amino acid sequence of the polyprotein of hepatitis C virus.
US08741603B2
The invention describes the integration of polynucleotides into chromosomal DNA of S. spinosa species, which are useful for the production of insecticides, integrants thereof, and also to the use of the integrants. The invention includes the stable integration and expression of an oxygen-binding protein, VHb, which results in increased spinosyn production.
US08741597B2
A reaction medium for detecting and/or identifying Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, comprising a combination of two enzymatic substrates for alpha-glucosidase.
US08741591B2
The present invention encompasses a glucose indicator protein, a biosensor comprising one or more glucose indicator proteins, and methods of use thereof.
US08741585B2
The present invention is directed to the detection of target analytes using electronic techniques, particularly AC techniques.
US08741580B2
The present invention relates to methods of detecting renal transplant rejection and other forms of renal damage. Protein markers or renal damage are provided, along with assays for detecting said markers. Also provided are methods for identifying markers of renal damage.
US08741578B2
Provided are compositions and methods useful for treating and diagnosing cell proliferative disorders associated with Hsp90 and/or ZAP-70.
US08741577B2
A surface-immobilized multilayer structure of a plurality of vesicles (2), the structure comprising at least one linker (4) immobilized onto the surface, the at least one linker (4) being bound to at least one other linker, which is attached to a vesicle, which optionally may have another linker (5) bound to another linker (5) attached to another vesicle (2), wherein the structure either comprises at least two vesicles (2) bound via linkers (5) to each other or at least two vesicles (2) bound via linkers (5) attached to the vesicles to one linker (4) immobilized onto the surface (1).
US08741574B2
Methods of assessing genomic instability in breast cancer tissue by measuring the expression level of genes CDKN2A, SCYA18, STK15, NXF1, cDNA Dkfzp762M127, p28 KIAA0882, MYB, Human clone 23948, RERG, HNF3A, and ACADSB or a nucleic acid sequence comprising about 90% or greater sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 21 in breast cancer tissue, an array suitable for use in such methods, and related methods and compositions.
US08741569B2
The present teachings are generally directed to methods for normalizing at least one species of small nucleic acid that is present in a population of small nucleic acid species, wherein the relative concentration of at least one small nucleic acid species is substantially greater than the relative concentration of at least one other small nucleic acid species in the population. At least one small nucleic acid species is normalized using a multiplicity of primers comprising degenerate sequences. In some embodiments, a small nucleic acid species is identified by inserting at least part of an extension product from a normalized population into a vector and subsequently sequencing the insert. In some embodiments, a small nucleic acid species is identified by determining the sequence of at least part of an extension product.
US08741565B2
A method for detecting a target nucleic acid of a pathogen in a test sample, the method comprising preparing a target nucleic acid detecting reagent and contacting the target nucleic acid detecting reagent with an oligonucleotide microarray. A kit for detecting a target nucleic acid of a pathogen in a test sample is also described. The kit comprises at least one primer pair and an oligonucleotide microarray comprising at least one probe.
US08741558B2
The subject matter relates to relates to a one-bead-one-sequence composition, a library of tagged chemicals comprising a plurality of one-bead-one-sequence compositions, a method for identifying a candidate molecule from a library of tagged chemicals, and a composition produced by a process, all as described herein.
US08741533B2
A method of manufacturing toner is provided. The method includes preparing a first liquid by dissolving or dispersing toner components in an organic solvent, preparing a second liquid by emulsifying the first liquid in an aqueous medium, and evaporating the organic solvent from the second liquid. The toner components include a colorant, a release agent, and one or both of a binder resin and a precursor thereof. The evaporating includes flowing down the second liquid as a liquid film in substantially a vertical direction along an inner wall surface of a pipe that is depressurized, heating the liquid film at a temperature not higher than a glass transition temperature of the binder resin, and supplying the pipe with a depressurized water vapor from a supply opening disposed on an upper part of the pipe.
US08741530B2
A method of forming an image on a substrate with an electrophotographic photoreceptor and a toner, a photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor contains a resin having a structural unit represented by the following formula (A) the toner containing toner matrix particles formed in an aqueous medium; the toner has a volume median diameter (Dv50) of from 4.0 μm to 7.0 μm; and the relationship between the volume median diameter (Dv50) and the percentage in number (Dns) of toner particles having a particle diameter of from 2.00 μm to 3.56 μm satisfies following formula (1) Dns≦0.233EXP(17.3/Dv50) (1).
US08741528B2
An electrostatic charge image developing toner including toner particles containing a colorant, a binder resin and a release agent; and an external additive, in which the external additive contains inorganic particles having hydrocarbon oil that contains a saturated hydrocarbon having a ring structure on the surfaces thereof.
US08741514B2
An electrophotographic photosensitive member has a surface layer that contains a urea compound having two or more urea moieties. Each of the urea moieties has a carbonyl group and two nitrogen atoms. Each of the two nitrogen atoms connects to an alkyl group and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group or a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group.
US08741513B2
The present invention provides a novel alizarin derivative compound and a simplified and low cost method for preparing an alizarin derivative compound including: obtaining a compound represented by Formula (2) using a compound represented by Formula (3); and obtaining an alizarin derivative compound represented by Formula (1) using the compound represented by Formula (2); in Formulae (1) to (3), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; n represents an integer of 1 to 3, L represents a specific alkyl group; Q represents an atomic group needed to form an aromatic ring or a heteroaromatic ring with adjacent carbon atoms; and P represents an atomic group which includes an atom(s) selected from a hydrogen atom, a carbon atom, an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a silicon atom and a boron atom, and which is needed to form a ring structure group with adjacent two oxygen atoms and two carbon atoms;
US08741506B2
The present invention provides a mask and a repairing method therefor. A reference area is selected in a configuration pattern of a mask template, the reference area is corresponding to a to-be-shaded area of a mask; a repair area is formed on a drillable member according to the reference area; a hollow area is formed in the repair area of the drillable member, the hollow area is corresponding to the to-be-shaded area; the drillable member is attached to the mask, the hollow area is corresponding to the to-be-shaded area; and shading material is coated on the drillable member, so as to form a shaded layer on the to-be-shaded layer.
US08741505B2
Disclosed is a device and method for stacking a fuel cell stack, which enables automated accurate stacking of components constituting the fuel cell stack by using a phosphor coated thereon. Accordingly, when a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), a separation plate, etc. are automatically stacked in sequence they are coated with phosphor at a predetermined position on each of the MEA, the separation plate, etc. A phosphor sensor is then positioned and configured to automatically determine whether or not the MEA and separator have been accurately stacked by detecting the presence of phosphor on the stacked MEA and separator plate respectively.
US08741503B2
A protective layer (20) is formed in a picture frame shape and a thin film shape between an electrolyte membrane (1) and a peripheral edge portion of a catalyst layer (30) by applying ink by an ink jet method. The protective layer (20) is formed directly on the electrolyte membrane (1) to a thickness in the range of about 0.1 μm to 5.0 μm.
US08741501B2
A membrane electrode assembly for a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell includes a nano-engineered polymeric membrane between an anode and a cathode. The membrane is an electrical insulator, but permits that passage of protons through the membrane. The membrane has a plurality of blind pores therein, each blind pore having an electrically-conductive coating along its inner wall that is in electrical contact with the adjacent one of the anode or cathode. The electrically-conductive coating includes a catalyst, such as platinum, for promoting the liberation of a proton and an electron from a chemical molecule, such as hydrogen, and/or for promoting the combination of a proton, an electron and another molecule, such as oxygen, to form yet another molecule, such as water.
US08741494B2
A method for operating a fuel cell power plant to provide end-use electricity, end-use heat and end-use reformate includes the steps of providing a fuel cell power plant that consumes reformate to provide electricity and heat, said fuel cell power plant having a nominal reformate flow rate and including a fuel processor system for generating reformate from a hydrocarbon fuel; operating the fuel processor system so as to provide a reformate flow at a rate greater than the nominal reformate flow rate; operating the fuel cell power plant using a first portion of the reformate flow to generate the electricity and the heat, the first portion being less than or equal to the nominal reformate flow rate; and providing a second portion of the reformate flow as the end-use reformate.
US08741493B2
A fuel production system and has an object to provide a fuel production system that is capable of producing HC with high efficiency by using variable energy. A first device is a CO/H2 generating device that simultaneously generates CO and H2 by performing electrolysis on CO2 and water. A second device is a H2 generating device that generates H2 by performing electrolysis on water. When electric power derived from natural energy is used, the first device is seriously affected by its variation. Therefore, a steady-state portion of generated electric power (straight line in a figure) is supplied to the first device while the remaining variable portion (the portion above the straight line) is supplied to the second device.
US08741484B2
Positive electrode active materials comprising a dopant in an amount of 0.1 to 10 mole percent of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd or a combination thereof are described that have high specific discharge capacity upon cycling at room temperature and at a moderate discharge rate. Some materials of interest have the formula Li1+xNiαMnβ-δCoγAδXμO2−zFz, where x ranges from about 0.01 to about 0.3, δ ranges from about 0.001 to about 0.15, and the sum x+α+β+γ+δ+μ can approximately equal 1.0. The materials can be coated with a metal fluoride to improve the performance of the materials especially upon cycling. The materials generally can have a tap density of at least 1.8 g/mL. Also, the materials can have an average discharge voltage of around 3.6 V.
US08741483B2
In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode 1, a negative electrode 2 and a non-aqueous electrolyte, a positive electrode active material wherein a particle of at least one compound selected from Er hydroxide, Er oxyhydroxide, Yb hydroxide, Yb oxyhydroxide, Tb hydroxide, Tb oxyhydroxide, Dy hydroxide, Dy oxyhydroxide, Ho hydroxide, Ho oxyhydroxide, Tm hydroxide, Tm oxyhydroxide, Lu hydroxide, and Lu oxyhydroxide is dispersed and adhered on a surface of a positive electrode active material particle containing Li is used.
US08741478B2
A pouch-type rechargeable battery and its method of manufacture includes: an electrode assembly having a resin layer attached to the outer surface of an electrode tap, and a pouch having a sealing part formed on the ends of the top and bottom thereof, housing the electrode assembly. The resin layer is positioned inside the sealing part and sealed by heat and pressure for preventing it from being exposed outside the sealing part. Thus, the pouch-type rechargeable battery is adapted to seal the resin layer in the sealing part, instead of exposing it outside the sealing part so as to reduce the longitudinal length of the battery, thereby improving the capacity of the battery.
US08741477B2
A bipolar secondary battery includes a power generating element in which a bipolar electrode and an electrolyte layer are stacked. The bipolar electrode includes a positive-electrode active material layer formed on one surface of a current collector and a negative-electrode active material layer formed on the opposing surface of the current collector. Peripheral edges of the bipolar electrode and electrolyte layer are bonded through a seal. Edges of the positive-electrode active material layer and the negative-electrode active material layer on opposite surfaces of a respective current collector are offset from each other. The edge of a seal portion facing an inner edge of the edges of the positive-electrode active material layer and the negative-electrode active material layer is positioned inside an outer edge of the edges of the positive-electrode active material layer and the negative-electrode active material layer.
US08741472B2
An electric storage device includes: a battery block including a chassis with a plurality of storage cells installed therein; a control unit placed on the chassis for monitoring states of the plurality of storage cells based on signals concerning their physical quantities; a plurality of wires arranged on the chassis for directing the signals to the control unit; a confining member fixed on one surface of the chassis, where the control unit is placed, for defining a route along which the plurality of wires are arranged. The confining member includes a first direction restrainer defining the route for bending the wires, withstanding a reaction force accompanying bending of the plurality of wires, and a second direction restrainer withstanding a force exerted by the plurality of wires which are inserted into the route and tend to be lifted up toward a leaving direction from the one surface of the chassis.
US08741460B2
A lithium ion secondary battery includes a flat-shaped electrode wound body. Positive and negative terminals are connected respectively to the body and placed to partially protrude from a battery lid. Assuming that the body length in a winding axial direction is W, the body size in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction and parallel to the flat surfaces is H, and a distance between a farthest position in a connecting range of one of the terminals, in which the terminal is connected to an uncoated portion, from the lid and the body edge located on the lid side is X, the values W, H, and X are determined so that a point defined in a plane (X/H, H/W) by values (X/H) and (H/W) is located in a triangle defined by joining three points, (0.50, 0.70), (0.32, 0.40), and (0.70, 0.40) in the same plane.
US08741456B2
A battery temperature control apparatus capable of controlling the temperature of a battery to reach a suitable condition is provided. Thermal capacity determining unit 61, based on the temperature of battery 1 detected by battery temperature detector 2 and a target temperature stored in storage unit 5, determines the thermal capacity necessary for setting the temperature of battery 1 to the target temperature. Temperature regulating ability determining unit 62, based on the temperature of battery 1 detected by battery temperature detector 2 and the temperature of the temperature regulating medium detected by medium temperature detector 4, determines the temperature regulating ability of fan 3. Flow rate controller 63, based on the thermal capacity determined by thermal capacity determining unit 61 and the temperature regulating ability determined by temperature regulating ability determining unit 62, controls the flow rate of the temperature regulating medium sent by the fan. The temperature of battery 1 becomes close to the target temperature due to the temperature regulating medium sent from fan 3.
US08741455B2
A secondary hybrid aqueous energy storage device includes an anode electrode, a cathode electrode which is capable of reversibly intercalating sodium cations, a separator, and a sodium cation containing aqueous electrolyte, wherein an initial active cathode electrode material comprises an alkali metal containing active cathode electrode material which deintercalates alkali metal ions during initial charging of the device.
US08741454B2
A proton exchange membrane (PEM) with an ion exchange capacity of not less than 1 molar equivalent per kilogram and less than 20% water swelling is provided. The PEM includes a polymer having a polyphosphazene backbone with a polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene as a polyaromatic side chain, a non-polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene as a non-polyaromatic side chain, and an acidic functional group linked to the non-polyaromatic side chain. The polyaromatic functional group linked to the polyphosphazene provides for increased thermal and chemical stability, excellent ionic conductivities and low water swelling. The mole fraction of polyaromatic functional groups linked to the polyphosphazene backbone is between 0.05 and 0.60.
US08741453B2
Disclosed are a current interrupting device and a secondary battery including the same. According to an embodiment, a current interrupting device comprises a first terminal; a second terminal; a fuse coupled to the first and second terminals; and a fuse body surrounding an exterior of the fuse to seal the fuse, wherein the first and second terminals include thin portions connected to the fuse, and the thin portions have a thickness less than a thickness of other portions of the first and second terminals.
US08741444B2
A process for surface treating iron-based alloy includes providing a substrate made of iron-based alloy. A chromium layer is then formed on the substrate by vacuum sputtering. A silicon oxide layer, an alumina layer, and a boron nitride layer are formed in that order by vacuum evaporation.
US08741442B2
A surface modified electrode, included in an electronic device comprises an electrode layer, and a functional organic material. The functional organic material comprises an amine-substituted polymeric material which is on the surface of and in contact with the electrode layer. Such surface modified electrodes are useful for producing electronic devices.
US08741435B2
According to various embodiments, a coating mixture is capable of being applied on a substrate. The coating mixture includes acidified graphite particles, a suspension of polytetrafluoroethylene resin in water, and silver ion doped microporous particles. When the coating mixture is applied to a surface of the substrate, the coating resists growth of microorganisms.
US08741430B2
Amino-formaldehyde resins may be prepared using formulations including formaldehyde, glycerin and at least one amino compound selected from the group consisting of urea, melamine, and mixtures thereof; under reaction conditions sufficient to prepare a resin, wherein; the amino-formaldehyde resin is prepared in a substantial absence of a sulfonating agent, ethylene glycol, and polyalkylene glycols. If the amino compound is urea, then the urea is present in a molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea ranging from 0.70 to 1.30; if the amino compound is melamine, then the melamine is present in a molar ratio of formaldehyde to melamine ranging from 1.3 to 2.2; and if the amino compound is a mixture of urea and melamine, then the mixture of urea and melamine is present in a molar ratio of formaldehyde to urea and melamine ranging from 0.35 to 1.3.
US08741426B2
The present invention provides a blend comprising one or more epoxy resins and a mixture which comprises 0.3 to 0.9 amine equivalent, per equivalent of epoxide of the epoxy resin used, of a hardener component a) and as hardener component b) a compound of the formula I, a process for preparing this blend, the use of the blend of the invention for producing cured epoxy resin, and an epoxy resin cured with the blend of the invention.
US08741422B2
A carbon nanotube plate is provided, having a first carbon nanotube layer composed of many first carbon nanotubes, and a second carbon nanotube layer disposed on the first carbon nanotube layer. The second carbon nanotube layer is composed of many second carbon nanotubes placed in an orderly manner on the first carbon nanotube layer. At least two second carbon nanotubes are located along a curve. The surface of the second carbon nanotube layer has a whirlpool pattern.
US08741420B2
A component is disclosed. The component comprises a substrate comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, where the inner surface defines at least one hollow, interior space, where the outer surface defines one or more grooves, and where each of the one or more grooves extends at least partially along the surface of the substrate and has a base. One or more access holes extend through the base of a respective groove to place the groove in fluid communication with respective ones of the at least one hollow interior space. The component further comprises a coating disposed over at least a portion of the substrate surface, where the coating comprises one or more layers. At least one of the layers defines one or more permeable slots, such that the respective layer does not completely bridge each of the one or more grooves. The grooves and the coating together define one or more channels for cooling the component.
US08741412B2
A seam comprising a first piece of laminated fabric, a second piece of laminated fabric, a layer of adhesive hydrostatic polymer, and a seam tape wherein the first and second pieces of laminated fabrics are coupled together at a common border with the layer of adhesive hydrostatic polymer to form a seam, and wherein the seam tape is at least partially coupled along the seam. A method of forming a seam comprising stacking, in order, a first piece of laminated fabric, at least one strip of adhesive hydrostatic polymer, and a second piece of laminated fabric, ultrasonically coupling the first piece of laminated fabric, strips of adhesive hydrostatic polymer, and second piece of laminated fabric together, wherein at least a portion of adhesive hydrostatic polymer from the strips of adhesive hydrostatic polymer is extruded through the seam, and applying a seam tape along at least a portion of the seam.
US08741411B2
A method for manufacturing a multi-piece board having a frame section and a multiple piece sections connected to the frame section includes forming a frame section from a manufacturing panel for the frame section, sorting out multiple acceptable piece sections by inspecting quality of piece sections, forming notch portions in the frame section and the acceptable piece sections such that the notch portions allow the acceptable piece sections to be arranged with respect to the frame section, provisionally fixing the piece sections and the frame section in respective positions, injecting an adhesive agent into cavities formed by the notch portions when the frame section and the piece sections are provisionally fixed to each other, and joining the acceptable piece sections with the frame section by curing the adhesive agent injected into the cavities.
US08741404B2
The present invention relates to a packaging comprising a container surrounding a container interior, wherein at least the inner surface of the container in contact with the container interior is produced from a composition which comprises a thermoplastic polymer, and a plasticizer composition comprising—a polymeric plasticizer and a polyol ester, and wherein the container is at least partly filled with a lipophilic packed product.
US08741403B2
A flexible disposition apparatus includes a body made of a flexible material and at least one attaching element integrally formed on at least one lateral surface of the body, and the body includes a containing portion and an opening interconnected to the containing portion, such that the containing portion and the attaching element can combine at least one electronic device with a power bank, or combine at least one expansion module with an electronic device to constitute an electric connection in order to reduce the carrying volume and enhance the practicality of the apparatus.
US08741402B2
Food packaging articles, food packaging webs, and food packaging methods comprising a myoglobin blooming agent and synergist that promote or preserve the desirable appearance of food products are provided. The food contact layer of the packaging webs may comprise a myoglobin blooming agent and a synergist.
US08741400B2
This invention provides a latent image pattern formed body that allows to observe a latent image having excellent visibility and authenticity discrimination and design properties than those of related arts when observed from the oblique direction. The latent image pattern formed body includes, in at least part of one surface of a substrate, a latent image region, an outline region arranged on an outline of at least part of the latent image region, and a background region arranged on a background of the latent image region and the outline region. In the latent image region, a plurality of first elements having a concave or convex shape are arranged at a first pitch in a first direction. In the background region, the plurality of first elements are arranged at the first pitch in the first direction in a phase different from that of the first elements in the latent image region. In the outline region, the plurality of first elements are arranged at the first pitch in the first direction in a phase different from that of the first elements in the latent image region or background region adjacent to the outline region. In the latent image region, the background region, and the outline region, a plurality of second elements having a color different from that of the substrate are arranged at a second pitch in a second direction.
US08741383B2
Provided is a method of producing an optical film which has an excellent strength and a low refractive index, and can be used for an optical antireflective film. The production method includes preparing a coating liquid including a capsule having a shell of a halogenated compound of an element of Group 2 by forming an emulsion of one of an aqueous solution including a compound containing an element of Group 2 and an aqueous solution including a compound containing a halogen, and an organic solvent, applying the coating liquid on a substrate, and heating the coating liquid, thereby forming an optical film containing a hollow particle having the shell of a halogenated compound of an element of Group 2.
US08741379B2
Various embodiments of methods and devices for coating stents are described herein.
US08741373B2
Provided are compositions and methods for producing stable foods and beverages that contain high concentrations of additives such as essential fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids, and other fatty acids; phytochemicals, including phytosterols and carotenoids; oil soluble vitamins; alpha lipoic acid; other oils; and coenzymes, including Coenzyme Q10, and other oil-based additives.
US08741372B2
A fat base is described comprising a mixture containing from 4 to 20% C12:0 lauric acid, preferentially from 5 to 17%, from 30 to 50% C16:0 palmitic acid, preferentially from 34 to 45%, and 4 to 10% C18:0 stearic acid, preferentially from 4.5 to 7.5%, and from 20 to 40% C18:1 oleic acid, preferentially from 25 to 35%, the balance being a mixture of other C4:0 to C22:0 fatty acids, having application, for example, as filling for wafer biscuits.
US08741370B2
High protein expanded products are produced by extrusion with unique blends of ingredients, such as wheat protein isolates, modified wheat starch, salts, gums and moisture. The mixture is extruded in a twin-screw extruder with the temperatures in the range of 50 to 140° C., screw speeds of 250 to 450 rpm and with a back pressure of 350 to 1200 psi for different recipes. A range of expanded wheat crisps and other expanded products with wheat protein contents ranging from 30 to 90% are obtained from this process. The expanded products have good cell structure with varying cell sizes when viewed under a microscope. This process can be used to develop a varied range of products such as, wheat crisps, wheat curls, wheat loops etc. The products may be used in nutritional or health bars and other comestible having a high protein and low carbohydrate content.
US08741367B2
The present invention is related to a food product-forming apparatus, with a movable form-body, in which the food product is formed, and a knock out cup, which executes a knock-out-movement, that removes the food product from the form-body, whereas the knock out cup comprises an at least partially permeable bottom, through which a fluid-medium can be ejected and whereas, during the knock-out movement, a fluid-medium cushion is created, at least temporarily beneath the permeable bottom. The present invention furthermore comprises a process for the production of food products.
US08741358B2
The objectives are to find a substance or a composition capable of promoting the production of ghrelin with physiological activities such as growth hormone secretion effect, and to provide a pharmaceutical comprising it as the active ingredient. The pharmaceutical is a ghrelin production promoter comprising Rikkunshi-to as the active ingredient.
US08741351B2
The present invention relates to injectable compositions comprising biocompatible, swellable, substantially hydrophilic, non-toxic and substantially spherical polymeric material carriers which are capable of efficiently delivering bioactive therapeutic factor(s) for use in embolization drug therapy. The present invention further relates to methods of embolization gene therapy, particularly for the treatment of angiogenic and non-angiogenic-dependent diseases, using the injectable compositions.
US08741349B2
In one embodiment, an antiviral material includes at least one microparticles selected from tungsten oxide microparticles and tungsten oxide composite microparticles. The microparticles have an inactivation effect R of 1 or more expressed by [R=log C−log A], when there is evaluated a virus titer by inoculating on a specimen to which the microparticles are adhered, at least one virus selected from a low pathogenic avian influenza virus (H9N2), a high pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) and a swine influenza virus, and irradiating the specimen with visible light having a wavelength of 380 nm or more and illuminance of 6000 1× for 24 hours.
US08741346B2
The invention relates to a method for the preparation of soluble molecular complexes, comprising one or more active substances which are poorly-soluble in an aqueous medium, included within one or more host molecules, characterized in comprising the following steps: (a) bringing one or more active substances into contact with one or more host molecules, (b) carrying out a molecular diffusion step by bringing a dense fluid into contact, under pressure, with the mixture obtained in (a), in static mode, in the presence of one or more diffusion agents and (c) recovery of the molecular complex thus formed.
US08741344B1
The present invention relates to a tablet comprising Nimorazole. In particular, the invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition or a tablet comprising Nimorazole or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, for dispersion in water and administration via a tube to a patient with swallowing difficulties.
US08741339B2
The present invention provides an active targeting polymer micelle encapsulating a drug, preventing an inappropriate release of a drug which may damage a normal cell. A polymer micelle 100 includes a backbone polymer unit 10 that has a target binding site 11 and a backbone polymer unit 20 that has a drug 14 and is free from the target binding site 11, such polymer units 10 and 20 being disposed in a radial arrangement in a state where the target binding site 11 is directed outward and the drug 14 is directed inward, in which: i) when the micelle is bound to a target 40 while maintaining the radial arrangement, the micelle is taken up into a cell 50 supplying the target 40 through endocytosis, and the drug 14 is released into the cell 50 by collapse of the radial arrangement in the cell 50; and ii) when the radial arrangement collapses in blood 60 before the micelle is bound to a target 40, the unit 20 is excreted through metabolism, to thereby prevent a normal cell from being damaged by the drug 14.
US08741336B2
Systems and methods for longevity, anti-aging, fatigue management, obesity, weight loss, weight management, delivery of nutraceuticals, and treating hyperglycemia, Alzheimer's disease, sleep disorders, Parkinson's disease, Attention Deficit Disorder and nicotine addiction involve synchronizing and tailoring the administration of nutraceuticals, medications and other substances (for example, stimulants) in accordance with the body's natural circadian rhythms, meal times and other factors. Improved control of blood glucose levels, extended alertness, and weight control, and counteracting of disease symptoms when they are at their worst are possible. An automated, pre-programmable transdermal administration system is used to provide pulsed doses of medications, pharmaceuticals, hormones, neuropeptides, anorexigens, pro-drugs, stimulants, plant extracts, botanicals, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, phytochemicals, phytonutrients, enzymes, antioxidants, essential oils, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, coenzymes, or other physiological active ingredient or precursor. The system can utilize a pump, pressurized reservoir, a system for removing depleted carrier solution, or other modulated dispensing actuator, in conjunction with porous membranes or micro-fabricated structures.
US08741335B2
Improved hemostatic agents take the form of granules or particles that can be used to stanch, seal, or stabilize a site of hemorrhage, including a noncompressible hemorrhage.
US08741331B2
A composition is provided, wherein the composition comprises a water-swellable, water-insoluble polymer, a blend of a hydrophilic polymer with a complementary oligomer capable of hydrogen or electrostatic bonding to the hydrophilic polymer. The composition also includes a backing member. Active ingredients, such as a whitening agent, may be included. The composition finds utility as an oral dressing, for example, a tooth whitening composition that is applied to the teeth in need of whitening. The composition can be designed to be removed when the degree of whitening has been achieved or left in place and allowed to erode entirely. In certain embodiments, the composition is translucent. Methods for preparing and using the compositions are also disclosed.
US08741328B2
The present invention provides a nerve regeneration-inducing tube in which collagen having excellent adhesive property, cell growth property and differentiation inducing property to nerve cells is used as a scaffold for the nerve regeneration. The nerve regeneration-inducing tube is characterized in using the collagen which is made the concentration of sodium chloride contained therein not more than 2.0% by weight or, preferably, 0.1 to 1.5% by weight in a dry state. Purification of collagen is carried out by means of an isoelectric precipitation where the pH is 6.0 or higher and is lower than 10.0.
US08741324B2
The present invention relates to liquid pesticide concentrate compositions which comprise at least one organic pesticide compound that is sparingly or even insoluble in water and which upon dilution with water form stable aqueous nanoparticulate formulations. The liquid pesticide concentrate compositions of the invention comprise: a) at least one organic pesticide compound C having a water solubility of not more than 1 g/l at 25° C./1013 mbar, b) at least one organic solvent S having a water solubility at least 10 g/l at 25° C./1013 mbar, and which is capable of dissolving the pesticide compound C, or a mixture of at least one organic solvent S with water, provided that the weight ratio of water to solvent S does not exceed 1:2, c) at least one non-ionic blockcopolymer P comprising at least one polyethyleneoxide moiety PEO and at least one hydrophobic polyether moiety consisting of repeating units selected from C3-C10-alkyleneoxides and styrene oxide, d) optionally one or more non-polymeric surfactants, wherein the weight ratio of the non-ionic blockcopolymer to the organic pesticide compound P:C is from 0.6:1 to 10:1 and wherein the components a), b) and optionally d) make up at least 95% of the composition. The invention also relates to aqueous pesticide compositions which are obtained by diluting the concentrate pesticide compositions of the invention with water and to their use for plant protection.
US08741320B2
A cosmetic or dermatological preparation based on a W/O emulsion which is present as a plurality of shaped bodies. The shaped bodies are solid, semisolid and/or dimensionally stable at room temperature and comprise one or more of a wax, a lipid, an emulsifier, a natural polymer and a synthetic polymer.
US08741311B2
Immunogenic compositions comprising partially glycosylated viral glycoproteins for use as vaccines against viruses are provided. Vaccines formulated using mono-, di-, or tri-glycosylated viral surface glycoproteins and polypeptides provide potent and broad protection against viruses, even across strains. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising monoglycosylated hemagglutinin polypeptides and vaccines generated therefrom and methods of their use for prophylaxis or treatment of viral infections are disclosed. Methods and compositions are disclosed for influenza virus HA, NA and M2, RSV proteins F, G and SH, Dengue virus glycoproteins M or E, hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E1 or E2 and HIV glycoproteins gp120 and gp41.
US08741295B2
The invention relates to PD-1 antibodies and PD-L1 antibodies and uses thereof.
US08741291B2
The present invention relates to Multifunctional Antibody Conjugates, comprising an antibody or antigen binding portion thereof, comprising at least a fragment of a light chain constant kappa region (CLκ) comprising K188 according to Kabat numbering; a linker comprising the formula X-Y-Z, wherein Z is a group is covalently connected to the antibody through the side chain of K188, Y is a linear or branched biologically compatible connecting chain, and X is a group covalently connected to at least one Effector Moiety.The invention further provides specific MAC compounds and compositions of the invention.
US08741287B2
The present disclosure relates to glycosylated and deglycosylated human PlGF-1, methods of using the glycosylated and deglycosylated human PlGF-1, antibodies that bind to human PlGF-1, methods of using the antibodies and human PlGF-1 immunoassays and kits.
US08741278B2
The present invention relates to a composition and method for reducing blood glucose levels in a mammal, such as canines and humans. The composition includes bran, cinnamon, yeast, gelatin, and optionally, wheat germ oil, octacosanol, and/or flavor. The method includes administering the composition to the mammal and, if the composition lacks wheat germ oil, also administering wheat germ oil to the mammal.
US08741271B2
Compositions for cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing are described. The compositions comprise essential oils and are stable, non-toxic and environmentally sustainable. Also disclosed are deodorants and scalp refreshers having these properties.
US08741270B2
Naphthalimide compounds are used in tissue bonding and protein cross-linking applications. When activated by an activating agent, such as light in the 400-500 nm absorption range, the naphthalimide compounds form chemically-reactive species that cross-link proteins, bond connective tissues together, and bond tissues and other biomaterials together. A naphthalimide-labeled biomolecule, such as a naphthalimide-labeled chitosan, is also capable of bonding tissues without subsequent direct illumination of the contacted tissue area. The naphthalimide compounds may be used in tissue or arterial repair, stabilization of an expanded arterial wall after angioplasty, tethering pharmaceutical agents to tissue surfaces to provide local drug delivery, and for chemically bonding skin care products, sunscreens, and cosmetics to the skin.
US08741260B2
The invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for increasing transport of GDNF across the blood brain barrier while allowing its activity to remain substantially intact. The GDNF is transported across the blood brain barrier via one or more endogenous receptor-mediated transport systems.
US08741259B2
Disclosed are oxo-hydroquinazolines that are useful as selective TSHR agonists. The compounds may be used for detecting or treating thyroid cancer, or treating a bone degenerative disorder.
US08741258B2
Disclosed herein is a method of generating hydrogen from a bio-oil, comprising hydrogenating a water-soluble fraction of the bio-oil with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst, and reforming the water-soluble fraction by aqueous-phase reforming in the presence of a reforming catalyst, wherein hydrogen is generated by the reforming, and the amount of hydrogen generated is greater than that consumed by the hydrogenating. The method can further comprise hydrocracking or hydrotreating a lignin fraction of the bio-oil with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrocracking catalyst wherein the lignin fraction of bio-oil is obtained as a water-insoluble fraction from aqueous extraction of bio-oil. The hydrogen used in the hydrogenating and in the hydrocracking or hydrotreating can be generated by reforming the water-soluble fraction of bio-oil.
US08741254B2
The present invention relates to a method of preparing a porous silicon nanorod structure composed of columnar bundles having a diameter of 50-100 nm and a length of 2-5 μm, and a lithium secondary cell using the porous silicon nanorod structure as an anode active material. The present invention provides a high-capacity and high-efficiency anode active material for lithium secondary cells, which can overcome the low conductivity of silicon and improve the electrode deterioration attributable to volume expansion because it is prepared by electrodepositing the surface of silicon powder with metal and simultaneously etching the silicon powder partially using hydrofluoric acid.
US08741244B2
Methods for removing carbon dioxide and other pollutants from a gas stream are provided. The methods include obtaining hydroxide in an aqueous mixture, mixing the hydroxide with the gas stream to produce bicarbonate products or a combination of carbonate and bicarbonate products in an admixture, separating the products from the admixture, and using the products to perform ion-exchanges with one or more group-1 or group-2 salts to precipitate carbonates, wherein obtaining the hydroxide comprises obtaining a group-1 or group-2 salt; mixing the salt with acid and water, acid and steam, or acid, water, and steam to produce a protonated brine solution; and electrolyzing the protonated brine solution to produce a hydroxide; and wherein mixing the hydroxide with the gas stream comprises altering the product equilibrium to favor the production of bicarbonate products.
US08741243B2
Sorbent bodies comprising activated carbon, processes for making them, and methods of using them. The sorbent bodies can be used to remove toxic elements from a fluid, such as from a gas stream. For instance, the sorbent bodies may be used to remove elemental mercury or mercury in an oxidized state from a coal combustion flue gas.
US08741238B2
In one aspect, the invention provides processes for producing an enriched copper concentrate from a copper-and-nickel-containing ore. Processes of the invention may include an initial step of comminuting the ore, to provide a ground ore comprising copper minerals and nickel minerals. The ground ore may be subjected to a floatation process, to separate the ground ore into distinct fractions, such as first and second concentrates. A first concentrate may for example be made up of copper-enriched-and-nickel-containing solids, while a second concentrate is made up of nickel-enriched-and-copper-containing solids. The floatation process may for example fractionate the ore so that the concentration of copper minerals is higher in the first concentrate than in the ore, and the concentration of the nickel minerals is higher in the second concentrate than the ore.
US08741233B2
A disposable blood analysis cartridge for analyzing a blood sample including an optical light scattering measurement channel is described. In use, processed sample may be introduced into a sheath fluid channel at an angle, α, of approximately 90 degrees, relative to the direction of flow of the sheath fluid. In addition, delivering the sample from the side into the sheath fluid may facilitate better positioning of the core within the hydrodynamic focusing channel for measurement.
US08741227B2
An isolator includes a workroom having a first sterilizing material supply port, a first sterilizing material discharge port, a first gas supply port and a first gas discharge port, a sterilization chamber having a second sterilizing material supply port, a second sterilizing material discharge port, a second gas supply port and a second gas discharge port, a sterilizing material supply unit, a first sterilizing material supply path connecting the sterilizing material supply unit to the first sterilizing material supply port, a second sterilizing material supply path connecting the sterilizing material supply unit to the second sterilizing material supply port, a first circulating path connecting the first sterilizing material discharge port to the sterilizing material supply unit, a second circulating path connecting the second sterilizing material discharge port to the sterilizing material supply unit, a first gas supply path, a second gas supply path, a first gas discharge path, a second gas discharge path, and a control unit.
US08741222B2
Various systems, devices, NO2 absorbents, NO2 scavengers and NO2 recuperator for generating nitric oxide are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, an apparatus for converting nitrogen dioxide to nitric oxide can include a receptacle including an inlet, an outlet, a surface-active material coated with an aqueous solution of ascorbic acid and an absorbent wherein the inlet is configured to receive a gas flow and fluidly communicate the gas flow to the outlet through the surface-active material and the absorbent such that nitrogen dioxide in the gas flow is converted to nitric oxide.
US08741219B2
A sample processing system comprising: a transporting apparatus for transporting a sample; a plurality of sample processing apparatuses, arranged along a direction in which the sample is transported by the transporting apparatus, for processing the sample transported by the transporting apparatus; a base on which at least one of the sample processing apparatuses is placed; and a movement restricting section for restricting, on the base, a movement area within which the sample processing apparatus moves, wherein the movement restricting section allows the sample processing apparatus to move on the base so as to change orientation of the sample processing apparatus, is disclosed. A base for a sample processing system and a sample processing apparatus are also disclosed.
US08741213B2
A stack of copper plates is placed in a melting chamber having a closed roof of refractory material. The stack is placed in a tilted orientation leaning against a side wall of the melting chamber, with lower edges of the copper plates resting on an inclined hearth surface. A door to the melting chamber is closed to block the infiltration of oxygen. A burner is fired into the melting chamber to heat the closed roof of refractory material, and the stack of copper plates is melted under the influence of combustion products from the burner and heat radiated from the closed roof. Molten copper is drained downward from the bottom edge of the inclined hearth surface to avoid immersing the copper plates in a molten bath.
US08741209B2
A mixture for making a ceramic article includes a ceramic forming component, a liquid vehicle, a cellulosic binder, and a stabilizer comprising an acetate salt. The disclosure also provides a method of making the ceramic article including extruding the mixture to form a ceramic green body, drying the ceramic green body to remove at least a portion of the liquid vehicle, and optionally firing to form the ceramic article. The ceramic green body possesses excellent strength and excellent skin properties without increasing the organic load or the addition of hydrated clays.
US08741203B2
A method and a device for processing a light-polymerizable material (5, 55) for building up an object (27) in layers, using a lithography based generative manufacture having a construction platform (12) for building up the object (27), a projecting exposure unit (10, 60) that can be controlled for locally selected exposing of a surface on the construction platform (12, 62) to an intensity pattern having a prescribed shape, and a control unit (11, 61) prepared for polymerizing overlapping layers (28) on the construction platform (12, 62) in successive exposure steps, each having a prescribed geometry, by controlling the projecting exposure unit (10, 60), in order to thus successively build up the object (27) in the desired shape, said shape resulting from the sequence of layer geometries. The invention is characterized in that a further exposure unit (16, 66) for exposing the surface of the construction platform (12, 62) is provided on the side opposite the projecting exposure unit (10, 60), and that the construction platform (12, 62) is designed to be at least partially transparent to light, and that the control unit (11, 61) is designed for controlling the further exposure unit (16, 66) at least while building up the first layer (28), said layer adhering to the construction platform (12, 62), for exposing in the prescribed geometry.
US08741193B2
The injection molding method for injecting a resin into a cavity formed within a mold is provided with a heating step in which the temperature of a cavity surface forming the cavity of the mold is heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a heat distortion temperature of the resin and an injection step in which after the heating step, during a decrease in temperature of the cavity surface of the mold, the resin is injected into the cavity.
US08741190B2
To obtain a water-resistant polarizing film free from deterioration in dichroic ratio caused by water-resistant treatment, it is critical that adjacent sulfonic acid groups or sulfonate groups in the organic dyes to be used for the polarizing film are spaced at moderate intervals. In a process for producing a water-resistant polarizing film of the present invention, the polarizing film before water-resistant treatment includes an organic dye which comprises an azo compound 20 represented by the following general formula (2)
US08741176B2
A liquid crystal compound with high optical anisotropy is provided. The liquid crystal compound is represented by formula (I), wherein each of R1 and R2 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms; the alkyl group and the alkenyl group are unsubstituted or substituted by —O—, —CO—, or —COO— groups; each of X1, X2, X3, and X4 represents hydrogen or fluorine, and at least one of X1, X2, X3, and X4 is fluorine; m is 1, 2, or 3; n is 0, 1, or 2, and 2≦m+n≦3.
US08741174B1
A reduced weight DF-200 decontamination formulation that is stable under high temperature storage conditions. The formulation can be pre-packed as an all-dry (i.e., no water) or nearly-dry (i.e., minimal water) three-part kit, with make-up water (the fourth part) being added later in the field at the point of use.
US08741173B2
A combination of calixarene bisphosphite ligand and an organophosphine ligand. The combination can be employed with a catalytic metal to form a complex catalyst. The catalyst can be employed in ahydroforaiylation process for producing a mixture of aldehydes.
US08741162B2
Methods of manufacturing a nanoimprint stamp are provided. The method may include forming a pattern on a surface of a master substrate, depositing an etch barrier layer on a surface of a stamp substrate, coating a photoresist on one of the surfaces of the master substrate and the stamp substrate on which an etch barrier layer is formed, forming a photoresist pattern by pressing the master substrate against the stamp substrate, forming a hard mask by etching the etch barrier layer using the photoresist pattern, and etching the stamp substrate using the hard mask as an etch mask.
US08741157B2
A system and method for stabilizing bromine in an industrial water system by monitoring and flexible dosing of chlorine oxidant and halide ion stabilizer residual levels. The system comprises chlorine oxidant, and a halide ion source with a halogen stabilizer.
US08741155B2
A method and system of providing ultrapure water for semiconductor fabrication operations is provided. The water is treated by utilizing a free radical scavenging system and a free radical removal system. The free radical scavenging system can utilize actinic radiation with a free radical precursor compound, such as ammonium persulfate. The free radical removal system can comprise use of a reducing agent. The ultrapure water may be further treated by utilizing ion exchange media and degasification apparatus. A control system can be utilized to regulate addition of the precursor compound, the intensity of the actinic radiation, and addition of the reducing agent to the water.
US08741154B2
The described implementations relate to water denitrification. One method obtains nitrate levels in influent and effluent of a moving bed media filter and determines carbon levels in the effluent. The method also doses carbon feedstock into the influent based on both the nitrate levels and the carbon levels.
US08741151B2
The scale inhibitors in a variety of aqueous systems, or a part or sample thereof, also including one or more dissolved interfering ions, are separated therefrom and analyzed, such scale inhibitors comprising a polymer containing at least one anionic functional group, e.g., a strong acid functional group or a phosphonate or phosphate ester, and such analysis including treating these aqueous systems with a cationic substrate or a free cation.
US08741144B2
The process and apparatus are for removing a solute from a solute-bearing solid product by means of a solvent which remains in liquid state throughout the entire oil extraction process. In one embodiment, the solvent is normally in gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is used mainly in liquid state within the method and apparatus of the present invention by maintaining such pressure and temperature values within the apparatus so that the solvent will remain in this liquid state.
US08741142B1
A multistage anaerobic digester for treatment of wastewater including complex organic polymers, includes a hydrolysis stage converting the complex organic polymers received at an inlet to solubilized monomers at an outlet; an acidogenesis stage, coupled to the outlet of the hydrolysis stage, converting the solubilized monomers into intermediate products at an outlet of the acidogenesis stage; an acetogenesis stage, coupled to the outlet of the acidogenesis stage, converting the intermediate products into simple molecules at an outlet of the acetogenesis stage; and a methanogenesis stage, coupled to the outlet of the acidogenesis stage, converting the simple molecules to an end product, the end product including a quantity of methane and a quantity of carbon dioxide.
US08741141B2
The wall member of a water collecting case forms a projecting portion projecting to the outer side and recessed portions recessed to the inner side.
US08741138B2
A filter element is removably supported within a housing comprising a filter head and a collection bowl. The element is removed from the lower end of the housing when the collection bowl is removed. The element includes an annular side wall which supports the element on radial ribs within the collection bowl; and a series of projections or posts which engage ribs on the bowl and cause the element to rotate in conjunction with the bowl when the collection bowl is screwed off of the head. The rotation of the element breaks the seal stiction between an upper seal on the element and the filter head, such that the element remains with the bowl. Openings around the sidewall facilitate fluid flow around the lower end cap. The element is supported by the collection bowl as the bowl is removed, and easily removed from the bowl and replaced.
US08741134B2
In a preferred embodiment, a sample container storage part for storing a number of sample containers S, a nozzle for dropping a sample component separated and supplied by an LC and an additive liquid such as digestive fluid supplied from another liquid supplying part to the sample container S, a carrying mechanism for carrying and positioning the sample container at an arbitrary position under the nozzle, and a second nozzle, serving as a suction/injection mechanism, for sucking in the fractionated/collected sample component and injecting the sample component to another LC. The carrying mechanism provides a rotation mechanism. The carrying mechanism rotates over 180 degrees and carries the sample container S completed with fractionating/collecting to the position of the second nozzle, and the sample is sucked in by the second nozzle and injected to the LC of next stage.
US08741133B2
A hydrocarbon removal apparatus includes a plurality of fibers and a backing substrate. Each of the plurality of fibers includes a proximal end and a distal end. Each proximal end is secured to the backing substrate.
US08741129B2
This invention is directed to a process for producing a hydroprocessed product. The invention is particularly advantageous in that substantially less hydrogen is absorbed during the process relative to conventional hydroprocessing methods. This benefit is achieved by using a particular solvent as a co-feed component. In particular, the solvent component contains at least one single ring aromatic compound and has a relatively low boiling point range compared to the heavy hydrocarbon oil component used as another co-feed component.
US08741128B2
Deep desulfurization of hydrocarbon feeds containing undesired organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds to produce a hydrocarbon product having low levels of sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing compounds, is achieved by first subjecting the entire feed to an extraction zone to separate an aromatic-rich fraction containing a substantial amount of the refractory organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds and an aromatic-lean fraction containing a substantial amount of the labile organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds. The aromatic-lean fraction is contacted with a hydrotreating catalyst in a hydrotreating reaction zone operating under mild conditions to convert the labile organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds. The aromatic-rich fraction is oxidized to convert the refractory organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds to oxidized organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds. These oxidized organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds are subsequently removed, producing a stream containing reduced levels of organosulfur and organonitrogen compounds.
US08741126B2
The subject of the present disclosure is an aviation gasoline composition that is lead-free and free of oxygenated compounds meeting the specifications of the ASTM standard comprising isopentane, isooctane, and (alkyl)aromatics. The aviation gasoline composition according to the disclosure may be obtained simply and economically from a mixture of hydrocarbon bases usually available in a refinery.
US08741122B2
Process for the reduction of oxygen in aqueous chlorine- and/or chloride-containing solutions in the presence of a catalyst comprising nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes.
US08741118B2
A sensor control apparatus includes: a gas sensor including an oxygen concentration detection cell having a first solid electrolyte body, a reference electrode and a detection electrode, and a heater; an electric current supply unit that supplies electric current to the oxygen concentration detecting cell; an activation determination unit; a heater control unit that sets a first target temperature equal to or higher than an activation determination temperature when the activation determination unit determines that the temperature of the gas sensor is equal to or higher than the activation determination temperature; an automatic stop detection unit; and a first temperature switching unit that controls electric current supplied to the heater such that the target temperature of the heater is switched to a second target temperature different from a temperature at which blackening is generated in the first solid electrolyte body when an automatic stop is detected.
US08741109B2
A method for purifying a crude acetone raw material containing low molecular weight impurities using two columns is disclosed. Crude acetone raw material is fed into a first column; adding an alkaline reagent and an oxidative agent into the first column to form high molecular weight impurities; removing a top fraction from the first column by distillation to form bottom fraction containing an acetone mixture containing high molecular weight impurities; feeding the bottom fraction containing the acetone mixture obtained to a second rectification column at a charge point on the column; adding an alkaline reagent to the second column above the charge point of the bottom fraction fed; and separating a purified acetone from the high molecular weight impurities and removing the purified acetone as a top fraction by distillation in the second column, wherein the second rectification column is operated at atmospheric pressure.
US08741099B2
Disclosed is a liquid processing apparatus that includes: a rotational unit configured to rotate a substrate to be processed while the substrate is being held horizontally; and a processing liquid supplying unit configured to supply a processing liquid to the bottom surface of the substrate to be processed which is rotating. The rotational unit includes an enclosing member surrounding the periphery of the substrate to be processed, the enclosing member includes a plurality of guide grooves formed on the bottom surface of the enclosing member and configured to guide the processing liquid, and each of the plurality of guide grooves elongates outwardly from the inner periphery and is arranged in the circumferential direction of the enclosing member.
US08741098B2
Disclosed herein is a table 2 for use in a plasma processing system 1 that includes an electrically conductive member serving as a lower electrode 21 for plasma formation, a lower dielectric layer 22 (first dielectric layer) formed on the electrically conductive member so that it covers the center of the upper surface of the electrically conductive member, serving to make a high-frequency electric field to be applied to plasma via a substrate uniform, and an upper dielectric layer 24 (second dielectric layer) having a relative dielectric constant of 100 or more, formed on the electrically conductive member so that it is in contact at least with the edge of the substrate, in order to prevent a high-frequency current that has propagated along the electrically conductive member face from leaking to the outside of the substrate (wafer W).
US08741097B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber including a dielectric window; a coil-shaped RF antenna, provided outside the dielectric window; a substrate supporting unit provided in the processing chamber; a processing gas supply unit; an RF power supply unit for supplying an RF power to the RF antenna to generate a plasma of the processing gas by an inductive coupling in the processing chamber, the RF power having an appropriate frequency for RF discharge of the processing gas; a correction coil, provided at a position outside the processing chamber where the correction coil is to be coupled with the RF antenna by an electromagnetic induction, for controlling a plasma density distribution on the substrate in the processing chamber; a switching device provided in a loop of the correction coil; and a switching control unit for on-off controlling the switching device at a desired duty ratio by pulse width modulation.
US08741072B2
A tank cleaning system for use at a drilling location, including a first cuttings storage vessel comprising an inlet and an outlet, at least one tank cleaning machine configured to clean a tank, a disposal vessel, and a module including a pump configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids from a clean water vessel to the at least one tank cleaning machine, and a fluid connection configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids from the outlet of the first cuttings storage vessel to the disposal vessel.
US08741069B2
A cleaning apparatus for microsurgical instruments has a flush chamber closed off at one end by a first plug adapted to liquid-tightly grip one end of the instrument, allowing a portion of the instrument to extend past the first plug and out of the flush chamber. The other end of the flush chamber is closed off by a second plug having an inlet port. Liquid injected through the inlet port on the second plug passes through an internal passageway formed in the instrument and exits the instrument through the portion that extends past the first plug. In another embodiment the instrument has an internal passageway and an end cap through which flushing ports are formed which communicate with the passageway. A first plug having an inlet port is liquid-tightly attached to the end cap and liquid injected into the first plug passes through the plug, through the flushing ports and through the passageway to clean detritus from the instrument.
US08741067B2
Methods for cleaning a surface of a photomask and for increasing the useable lifetime of the photomask are disclosed. One method includes, a first wafer print processing using a photomask and a pellicle disposed across the photomask, and cleaning the photomask. The cleaning the photomask includes directing a laser beam through the pellicle toward the photomask, the laser beam having a wavelength that is substantially equal to a local maximum of an absorption spectrum of the photomask, heating the photomask with the laser beam, and transferring heat from the photomask to a contaminant disposed on the photomask, thereby thermally decomposing the contaminant.
US08741062B2
An apparatus, such as an ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) apparatus, including a precursor source configured for depositing material on a heated substrate in a deposition reactor by sequential self-saturating surface reactions. The apparatus includes an in-feed line for feeding precursor vapor from the precursor source to a reaction chamber and a structure configured for utilizing heat from a reaction chamber heater for preventing condensation of precursor vapor into liquid or solid phase between the precursor source and the reaction chamber. Also various other apparatus and methods are presented.
US08741049B2
An ink composition is disclosed which includes a pigment, self-dispersing resin particles including a hydrophilic constituent unit and a hydrophobic constituent unit, at least two nonionic surfactants including (a) a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of from 15 to 19 and (b) a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of from 10 to less than 15, a water-soluble organic solvent, and water. An ink set and an image forming method are also disclosed.
US08741041B2
A phase change ink composition includes a carrier; an optional colorant; and a lignosulfonate compound of the formula wherein R is hydrogen or and wherein the cationic counterion+ is a nitrogen-alkyl cationic counterion, a nitrogen-aryl cationic counterion, a nitrogen-alkylaryl cationic counterion, or a nitrogen arylalkyl cationic counterion; and wherein the cationic counterion contains at least eight carbon atoms.
US08741040B2
A phase change ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, and optionally, a colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In particular, the crystalline component comprises an aromatic ether.
US08741031B2
A composite hollow ceramic fiber includes a porous hollow core supporting a thin, dense sheath. The non-gas-tight core comprises a first ceramic material and an interconnecting network of pores. The gas-tight sheath comprises a second ceramic material. The fiber is made by extruding core and sheath suspensions from a spinnerette. The core suspension includes particles of the first ceramic material, a polymeric binder, a solvent, and a pore former material insoluble in the solvent. The sheath suspension includes particles of the second ceramic material, a polymeric binder and a solvent. The nascent hollow fiber is coagulated in a coagulant bath to effect phase inversion of the polymeric binders. The resultant green fiber is sintered in a two step process. First, the binders and pore former material are burned off. Second, the sheath is densified and the second ceramic material is sintered without fully sintering the core.
US08741026B2
Branched nanowire preparation methods, compositions, and articles are disclosed. Such branched nanowires are useful for electronics and optical applications.
US08741017B2
Air filter cartridges for use in air cleaner assemblies are described. The air filter cartridges typically comprise a stack of strips of fluted media, having an inlet flow face and an outlet flow face. A projection is provided extending outwardly from adjacent the outlet flow face of the media pack, as a projection supporting a seal arrangement. The seal arrangement is typically rectangular, with four straight and four rounded corners. The projection can be configured with open corners, and in some instances comprises tabs, to facilitate flexing of the projection to accommodate variations in a housing seal surface, with which the cartridge is installed. Air cleaner assemblies and components therefor, using cartridges in accord with the descriptions herein, are described.
US08741014B2
In a multi-stage steam-water separation device and a steam-water separator, a first swirl vane (6) which causes a gas-liquid two-phase flow to rise while swirling is provided in a first riser (5) of a first steam-water separator (2), and a second swirl vane (12) which causes the gas-liquid two-phase flow which has passed through the first swirl vane (6) to rise while swirling at a speed higher than that provided by the first swirl vane (6), is provided in a second riser (11).
US08741012B2
An avionic bay with a device for filtering cooling air for aircraft electrical equipment. The device includes at least two filtration grilles provided with apertures and which are disposed successively one behind the other in order to filter the air drawn from a cooling air vein before distributing it to an aircraft electrical equipment item. The apertures of the second grille are offset transversely in relation to the apertures of the first grille.
US08741002B2
An unleaded gasoline composition comprising: (i) a gasoline base fuel; and (ii) component A, wherein component A is an alkyl alkenoate compound, or a mixture of alkyl alkenoate compounds, selected from compounds of formula I: wherein R1 is a linear alkenyl group containing 3 to 5 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by a methyl group, and R2 is a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The gasoline composition of the present invention exhibits good lubricity. The gasoline composition of the invention in another aspect provides increased sensitivity.
US08741000B2
An energy efficient process for converting biomass into a higher carbon content, high energy density slurry. Water and biomass are mixed at a temperature and under a pressure that are much lower than in prior processes, but under a non-oxidative gas, which enables a stable slurry to be obtained containing up to 60% solids by weight, 20-40% carbon by weight, in the slurry. The temperature is nominally about 200° C. under non-oxidative gas pressure of about 150 psi, conditions that are substantially less stringent than those required by the prior art. In another embodiment, the biomass water slurry can be mixed with a coal water slurry to further optimize the carbon content and pumpability of the biomass slurry.
US08740999B2
A method and apparatus for assembling a fuel cell stack is disclosed, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of dunnage cassettes adapted to cooperate with a plurality of containers, a fixture, and an assembly device to simultaneously assemble a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies together with a plurality of bipolar plates.
US08740986B2
A finger joint prosthesis includes a joint body 14 having first and second joint elements pivotably connected about an axis of rotation and anchoring bars 30, 32 extend from the joint body for securing to a proximal and a distal phalanx. The anchoring bars 30, 32 include one or more securing eyes 40, 42, 44 with openings for receiving fixing screws therein. To provide improved primary and secondary fixing, an end securing element is provided distally from the axis of rotation on the anchoring bar 30, 32 of at least one joint element.
US08740981B2
The nuclear implant according to this invention constitutes, between two overlying and underlying vertebrae Va, Vb of a spine segment Sr, an intervertebral support device that damps shock and ensures the mobility of the functional unit that is formed by the vertebrae of a vertebral column, whereby the nuclear implant includes a filling element (2) that includes at least one continuous wire (50, 51) that is arranged—inside a nuclear space Es that is obtained after nucleotomy of the intervertebral disk Di—along a profile in the shape of a ring whose stack of coils (55) makes it possible to delimit a central internal space (52).
US08740979B2
Disclosed are methods and devices for restoring or establishing nutrient flow to the nucleus pulposa. An implant comprises a nutrient flow path for extending between a source of nutrients and the nucleus pulposa. The implant is positioned within the patient such that a first end is in nutrient flow communication with a subject nucleus pulposa, and the source end is positioned in nutrient flow communication with a source of nutrients.
US08740973B2
A medical device that is at least partially formed of a biodegradable polymer. The medical device can be at least partially formed by MEMS technology. The medical device can include one or more micro-structures that are also formed by MEMS technology. The medical device can include one or more biological agents that can be controllably and/or uncontrollably released from the medical device,
US08740967B2
A stent includes a plurality of wavy annular bodies each formed in an annular shape from a wavy linear member, and a connection part provided between the adjacent wavy annular bodies, interconnecting the adjacent wavy annular bodies coaxially, weaker than the wavy annular bodies and rupturable. The connection part extends in a slanting manner relative to an axial direction in which the wavy annular bodies are aligned, and interconnects that one inflexed part of one wavy annular body which is curved in a shape projected toward the other wavy annular body adjacent to the one wavy annular body and that the other inflexed part of the other wavy annular body which is curved in a shape projected toward the one wavy annular body.
US08740961B2
A method of treating a target site within a vascular channel of the body uses a catheter assembly having proximal and distal occluders which are positioned in occluding states at positions proximal and distal of a target site to define an occluded region therebetween. An agent is injected into the region. An intervention is performed at the target site while the vessel is occluded and the agent is in the region. The catheter assembly is removed from the channel. Intervention may include expanding a balloon within a temporary stent structure against the channel, collapsing balloon and then removing the collapsed balloon and stent structure from the channel. A balloon stent assembly comprises a catheter assembly, a temporary stent surrounding a balloon, the temporary stent placeable in a contracted state by the catheter assembly and in an expanded state by inflation of the balloon.
US08740960B2
A device that is used to reduce the pain of a needle stick to a person, the device having a casing containing a vibratory device and a temperature reducing device, and a method for using the device to reduce the pain of a needle stick by applying both thermal and vibration analgesia to a subject during a needle stick.
US08740950B2
Methods and techniques for attaching a cross connector to a pair of contralaterally implanted spinal rods in a patient are disclosed. In one arrangement, the cross connector is subcutaneously placed to interconnect contralaterally to a pair of rod connectors that are percutaneously attached respectively to a pair of rods in existing spinal constructs implanted on opposite sides of spine.
US08740938B2
Disclosed are systems, methods, and devices for closing an opening. The methods, systems, and devices include a looped body. The looped body includes a first looped portion having a first apex and a second apex separated by a first distance while the looped body is in a pre-deployed state. The first looped portion is configured to resiliently move to a deployed state in which the first apex and the second apex are separated by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance.
US08740929B2
A spacing device for use in fenestrations of the paranasal sinus, the device including a sheath which forms a hollow body defining at least two apertures. The sheath includes at least one layer loaded with an active substance. The ratio q of the external diameter ra of the hollow body to the internal diameter ri of the hollow body is about 1.2 to 3.0.
US08740926B2
A system (1) for piercing and positioning a piece of body jewelry or ear jewelry (100) in a skin portion is provided. The system includes a pinching and sighting device having first and second gripping members (10a, 10b) which are adapted to grip a skin portion between them. The gripping members (10a, 10b) include an aiming member (11) to allow alignment of the pinching and sighting device relative to at least the position of the desired entry hole for piercing. Furthermore the pinching and sighting device includes a portion (12a) for arranging and aligning a cartridge (3). The cartridge has a pressing member (31) which is adapted to press at least one piercing member (101) arranged in the cartridge out of an opening (26) formed in the cartridge. A system and a method of preparation before piercing and positioning a piece of body jewelry or ear jewelry are also provided.
US08740921B2
The invention provides improved medical devices, therapeutic treatment systems, and treatment methods for treatment of the lung. A lung volume reduction system includes an implantable device having an elongate body that is sized and shaped for delivery via the airway system to a lung airway of a patient. The implant is inserted and positioned while the implant is in a delivery configuration, and is reconfigured to a deployed configuration so as to locally compress adjacent tissue of the lung, with portions of the elongate body generally moving laterally within the airway so as to laterally compress lung tissue. A plurality of such implants will often be used to treat a lung of a patient.
US08740918B2
Provided is a surgical instrument including an external tube (2) and two elongated members (4) positioned in the tube (2), each of which includes a distal end (10a) for capturing one of the two tissue zones (M1, M2) to be attached. The instrument (1) may further include a catching member (22, 25) for each tissue (M1, M2) to be attached; a rod (15, 16) linked to each catching member (22, 25) enabling tension to move axially, the rod (15, 16) being separable from said catching member (22, 25) when a tension is exerted on it beyond a certain threshold; and a member (17a) forming a stop for locking axially each catching member (22, 25) during the tensioning.
US08740916B2
A uterine manipulator includes an elongate shaft and a tip hub. The elongate shaft has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is configured to be inserted into a vagina. The tip hub is disposed at the distal end and is configured to releasably receive and support a tip mount for engaging a uterus. The elongate shaft includes one or more channels extending between the distal and proximal ends. The channels are configured to releasably receive catheter tubing.
US08740914B2
Systems and methods for placing spinal implants within an intervertebral region. In some embodiments, a surgical positioning tool may be provided that allows for access to an implantation site to be gained along a first axis, and then allows a spinal implant to be repositioned from the first axis to a second axis at an angle with respect to the first axis. The spinal implant may, in some embodiments, comprise a recess comprising two adjacent bars configured to engage elements of the surgical positioning tool to allow for the aforementioned repositioning.
US08740912B2
A tool set for preparing a joint, inserting an implant or removing an implant from a joint in an open or less invasive procedure generally comprises a set of nested tools, pin guides, jigs, and/or immobilization elements. The nested tool set comprises at least one pin and at least one cannulated tool. In some embodiments, the cannula can comprise tangs that project from the distal end of the cannula. The tangs can be offset such that drilling would remove different amounts of bone relative to drilling through a centered drill guide. The cannulated tool kit generally can comprise at least one tool guide/cannula, drill bits/reamer, syringe, and/or inserter. With the pin positioned into the joint, at least one cannula is positioned over and around the pin. The channel of the cannula guides the other tools into the joint. A plurality of cannulae in a nested arrangement can be used to afford selectively sized channels for tools and/or implants based on selected cannulae configuration. Jigs can be used to facilitate the procedure. Multiple implants can be placed to immobilize the joint.
US08740908B2
A bone collection system includes a plunger, a tube, and a manifold. The plunger has a bore therethrough, an insertion portion, and an inlet that accepts material being harvested from a patient. The insertion portion includes a filter to prevent passage of bone fragments. The tube accepts the insertion portion, defining a first and a second chamber of the tube. The filter separates the first and second chambers of the tube. The manifold is accepted by the tube, and has an outlet accepted by a suction source. The inlet of the plunger is in fluid communication with the first chamber, the first and second chambers are in fluid communication through the filter, and the second chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet. Material being harvested is drawn through the bone collection system, and bone fragments of the desired size collected in the first chamber.
US08740903B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for fixing bone with an osteosynthesis splint. In embodiments of the present invention, a splint may be introduced into a bone at a fracture site, or may enter the rib at an opening near a fracture site and extend along the intramedullary canal across the fracture site.
US08740901B2
An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes a pair of spaced apart electrically conductive tissue contacting surfaces which each have an insulator disposed therebetween, the conductive surfaces are connected to an electrosurgical energy source. The first jaw member includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within the insulator which extends towards the second tissue contacting surface to create a gap therebetween. The cutting element is inactive during the sealing process while the two pairs of electrically conductive surfaces are activated to seal tissue. During the cutting process, the cutting element is energized to a first potential and at least one electrically conductive tissue contacting surface is energized to a different potential to effect a tissue cut through the tissue held between the jaw members along the already formed tissue seal.
US08740895B2
Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat, ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue in an airway of a patient. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue while cooling non-targeted tissue to protect the non-targeted tissue from damage. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input.
US08740893B2
A microwave antenna assembly is disclosed. The antenna assembly includes an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal ends. The antenna assembly also includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor each disposed within the elongated member and extending along the longitudinal axis. A portion of the inner conductor is deployable relative to the outer conductor such that the antenna assembly may transition from a first configuration to a second configuration. The antenna assembly also includes an expandable sheath at least partially disposed about a distal portion of the inner conductor and defining at one or more lumens configured to couple to a supply of dielectric material used to regulate the expansion of the expandable sheath.
US08740891B2
A flexible multi-tubular cryoprobe, including a housing for receiving an inlet flow of near critical cryogenic fluid from a fluid source and for discharging an outlet flow of the cryogenic fluid. A plurality of fluid transfer tubes are securely attached to the housing. This includes a set of inlet fluid transfer tubes for receiving the inlet flow from the housing; and, a set of outlet fluid transfer tubes for discharging the outlet flow to the housing. Each of the fluid transfer tubes is formed of material that maintains flexibility in a full range of temperatures from −200° C. to ambient temperature. Each fluid transfer tube has an inside diameter in a range of between about 0.10 mm and 1.0 mm and a wall thickness in a range of between about 0.01 mm and 0.30 mm. An end cap is positioned at the ends of the plurality of fluid transfer tubes to provide fluid transfer from the inlet fluid transfer tubes to the outlet fluid transfer tubes.
US08740889B2
An ophthalmological laser system and operating method wherein laser-supported operative interventions can be achieved with higher accuracy. The cornea is irradiated with an ophthalmological laser and a detection light confocally recorded, the cornea being scanned in three-dimensions by irradiation with an illuminating laser power using a scanner unit along several directions at several points. Using the simultaneously recorded detection light the position and/or shape of a posterior boundary surface of the cornea is determined. A lamella parallel to the posterior boundary surface can then be cut.
US08740869B2
An absorbent article, for example, a diaper, a training pant, a swimming pant, or a feminine care article, and so forth, includes a topsheet, which forms a body-facing surface of the absorbent article, a backsheet disposed distally from the topsheet, which forms a garment-facing surface of the absorbent article, an absorbent core positioned between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a heat-activatable expandable treatment on the garment-facing surface. The heat-activatable expandable treatment is present on the garment-facing surface in a visually distinctive shape or pattern and provides visual and/or tactile cues to a user of the absorbent article.
US08740868B2
A male fluid discharge guard and collection device for use in connection with a male undergarment. The device comprises a cup-shaped pocket with a backside and a forward lip, the backside being attachable to a pair of male undergarments using an adhesive bonding strip, while the forward lip is extendable and retractable to provide an opening for which fluid may be discharged into the device. The pad provides a shield that prevents a male undergarment from being saturated or otherwise soiled by discharge from a male genitalia. The device may be utilized with undergarment briefs, boxers or boxer briefs using the same retention means and mode of operation.
US08740862B2
Disclosed is an infusion flow regulator, in which a reference point is set within a manipulating range of a manipulation unit for regulating a flow rate in the infusion flow regulator, so that a manipulating point of the manipulation unit can be tuned with reference to the ratio of a flow rate measured at the reference point in relation to a prescribed injection flow rate, whereby the flow rate can be quickly and accurately tuned to the prescribed flow rate. The disclosure also includes an infusion flow regulating set including the infusion flow regulator, and an infusion flow regulating method using the same.
US08740861B2
Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same. The valves may include a valve seat and a valve element, and be configured such that one of the valve seat and the valve element includes a main portion and a seal portion that is less tacky than the main portion and is in contact with the other of the valve seat and the valve element when the valve element is in a closed position.
US08740858B2
A syringe kit for mixing two medicinal fluids includes first and second barrels containing medicinal fluids therein. The first barrel includes a connecting tube portion at a tip portion having a male screw on an outer periphery, and a non-roughened inner tapered surface on an inner periphery. The second barrel includes a second plunger, a screw tube portion with a female screw on an inner periphery thereof freely engageable with the male screw of the connecting tube portion, and a nozzle portion situated inside the screw tube portion with a non-roughened outer tapered surface fitting to the non-roughened inner tapered surface. A surface of the male screw and the outer periphery of the connecting tube portion, or a surface of the female screw and the inner periphery of the screw tube portion are roughened to a surface roughness in a range between Ra 1.0 and Ra 2.0 micrometer.
US08740857B2
A medical delivery system comprising a container and a coupling mechanism movable between a coupling position wherein distal movement of a drive mechanism is transferred to an actuator, and a non-coupling position wherein distal movement is not transferred to the actuator. Moreover the present invention relates to a dosing assembly for use in the medical delivery system and a container for use in the medical delivery system. Finally, the present invention relates to medical delivery system comprising a dosing assembly having means for preventing a drive stem of the dosing assembly from being moved in a distal direction.
US08740856B2
A stopper adapted for attachment with a plunger rod for use within a syringe barrel is disclosed. The stopper includes a main body defining an open rearward end and a closed front end. The open rearward end is adapted to receive a front forward end attachment portion of the plunger rod. The stopper also includes a core member integrally formed with the main body adjacent the closed front end. The core member includes a nose portion having a conical tip configured for entering an outlet opening of the syringe barrel. The closed front end of the stopper has a profile configured to cooperate with an internal surface of the syringe barrel wall to prevent reflux and reduce dead space within the barrel.
US08740853B2
A flexible endoscopic device including an elongate flexible member having opposite ends, an effector assembly mounted on one of the opposite ends of the flexible member, and a handle mounted on the end of the flexible member opposite the effector assembly. The handle includes a fastener for receiving a portion of the flexible member spaced from the end of the member opposite the effector assembly. The device also includes an actuator assembly extending through the flexible member and operatively connected to the effector assembly for actuating the effector.
US08740844B2
The present invention generally relates to a medical device for delivering a therapeutic agent to an internal portion of a patient's body. The medical device includes a shaft and a self-expanding delivery member in operative communication with the shaft. The delivery member is shaped from a porous material that is capable of releasing a therapeutic agent to an internal portion of a patient's body. The medical device further includes a therapeutic agent delivery lumen in fluid communication with the delivery member to fluidly connect the delivery member with a therapeutic agent source. A retention member may also be provided to selectively collapse the delivery member.
US08740843B2
Catheter balloons (10) for delivering a bioactive (260) to a body vessel in a greater amount and/or more quickly are provided, as well as related methods of treatment. The catheter balloon may include a dual balloon assembly at the distal portion (300) of the catheter having an inner balloon (44), an outer balloon (42) with apertures (43) concentrically arrayed around the inner balloon, and a catheter shaft (30) adapted to deliver a carrier (270) through the apertures of the outer balloon. The bioactive is disposed on a portion of at least one of the inner and outer balloon surfaces. Radial outward expansion of the inner balloon urges the outer balloon into contact with the wall of the body vessel. The carrier is introducible within the catheter shaft to pass through the annular lumen (242) between the balloons and through the apertures of the outer balloon. The carrier interacts with the bioactive in order to release a therapeutically effective amount of drug to the wall of the body vessel.
US08740841B2
A balloon catheter may include a multi-lumen tube having an inflation lumen and a guide wire lumen. The multi-lumen tube may include a proximal end and a distal end and may terminate at a distal tip. The catheter may include an extension tube extending distally from the distal tip of the multi-lumen tube and a dilatation balloon disposed about the multi-lumen tube and the extension tube. The distal tip of the multi-lumen tube may be under the balloon.
US08740840B2
A system for remotely controlling the positioning within the body of a patient of an elongated medical device optionally having a control handle, comprises a robotic system and a remote controller configured to control the robotic device. The robotic system comprises a handle controller; a sled member coupled to the handle controller, the sled member being configured to position the medical device within the body of the patient; and a sled base configured to advance the sled member towards the body of a patient, the sled bed being coupled to a sterile barrier effective to maintain sterility inside the sled base. A medical device introducer is effective to guide the elongated medical device into a patient's body.
US08740839B2
Described here are paranasal sinus devices for treating paranasal sinus conditions. The devices include a cavity member, ostial member, and nasal portion. One or more of the cavity member, ostial member, and nasal portion may deliver an active agent for sustained release to treat the paranasal sinus condition. Exemplary paranasal sinus conditions are sinus inflammation due to functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and rhinosinusitis.
US08740833B2
A venous shunt method adapted to shunt cerebral spinal fluid in a patient. A fluid control device having a fluid passage is adapted to be placed allowing cerebral spinal fluid to flow through the fluid passage. A catheter having a lumen, the catheter being in fluid communication with the fluid control device. At least a portion of at least one of the catheter and the fluid control device being subjected to an anti-thrombogenic treatment.
US08740824B2
A vest for a human body has an air core coupled to a pulsator operable to subject the vest to pulses of air which applies and releases high frequency pressure forces to the body. The pulsator has two diaphragms connected to a brushless electric dc motor with rotary to reciprocating linear motion transmitting mechanisms comprising scotch yokes having anti-lash assemblies operable to generate air pulses in an air pulsing chamber. The diaphragms also increase the pressure in a manifold chamber. A check valve connects the manifold chamber with a pulsing chamber to allow pressurized air to flow from the manifold chamber into the pulsing chamber. An air flow control valve in communication with the manifold chamber is used to adjust the pressure of the air in the manifold and pulsing chambers. A programmable motor controller adjusts the duration of operation and speed of the motor to vary the operational time and frequency of the air pulses.
US08740823B2
Devices and methods for attaching a belt cartridge to a belt drive platform. A clip attached to the belt is inserted into a slot in the drive spool of the belt drive platform. The cover plate of the belt cartridge fits into a channel beam in the housing of the belt drive platform, thereby securing the cartridge to the housing. Belt guards, for protecting the cartridge, belt drive platform, patient and rescuer, are rotatably attached to the cover plate and are secured around spindles disposed on the sides of the housing.
US08740819B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and corresponding method to capture individual representational motions made by a person while performing a neuropsychological test. A user of the apparatus and method may be allowed to view, edit, classify, and retrieve any captured and recorded motions made by the person. In one embodiment, a capture unit, such as a digitizer, captures the motions made by a person while performing a Clock Drawing Test, and the captured data may then be reported in a myriad of ways. The apparatus and method also provide a means to standardize administration and scoring of writing utensil and paper based neuropsychological testing administered to a person or control and test groups for domestic or international applications. By analyzing individual representational motions made by a person while performing a neuropsychological test, unexpectedly more information may be gleaned from the test than was available to physicians from only a completed drawing.
